American Magazine, Nov. 2013
The flagship publication of American University. This magazine offers a lively look at what AU was and is, and where it's going. It's a forum where alumni and friends can connect and engage with the university.
The flagship publication of American University. This magazine offers a lively look at what AU was and is, and where it's going. It's a forum where alumni and friends can connect and engage with the university.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
on campus<br />
Emmy-award winning<br />
newsman Anderson Cooper is AU’s<br />
<strong>2013</strong> Wonk of the Year. The CNN<br />
journalist collected the award at a<br />
packed Bender Arena, October 19,<br />
during All-<strong>American</strong> Weekend.<br />
Lauded for his reporting from<br />
some of the most perilous places<br />
on the planet—Egypt and Syria<br />
among them—Cooper, 46, garnered<br />
widespread praise for his emotional,<br />
hard-hitting coverage of Hurricane<br />
Katrina in 2005, which helped CNN<br />
land a prestigious Peabody Award.<br />
Cooper, whose brother<br />
committed suicide in 1988, says<br />
he empathizes with other people’s<br />
suffering. “I wanted to be around<br />
other people who spoke the<br />
language of loss. I found when<br />
I went to wars, when I went to<br />
places where terrible things were<br />
happening, life felt very real there<br />
and very precious,” says Cooper.<br />
“You can’t stop suffering. You can’t<br />
stop terrible things from happening,<br />
but you can bear witness.”<br />
bottom photo courtesy of CNN<br />
Celebrating<br />
change makers<br />
Honored by the Kennedy Political<br />
Union (KPU), which marks its 45th<br />
anniversary this year, Cooper<br />
is AU’s second Wonk of the Year.<br />
President Bill Clinton collected the<br />
inaugural trophy in 2012.<br />
The university created the<br />
award to recognize a well-known<br />
individual who represents the<br />
embodiment of a wonk: someone<br />
smart, passionate, focused, and<br />
engaged who creates meaningful<br />
change in the world.<br />
Let’s talk #americanmag 15