Kinky Friedman explores the First Amendment at SWT

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — Southwest Texas State University will examine freedom of speech issues in music on March 6, hosting Kinky Friedman, singer, writer and social commentator, along with Kenneth Paulson, senior vice president of the Freedom Forum and executive director of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, at 7:30 p.m. in the SWT Alkek Teaching Theater.

Friedman and Paulson will take an irreverent but relevant look at our First Amendment freedoms.

Friedman’s presentation, Jewboys and Jesus: Candid music and conversation with Kinky Friedman, will be accompanied by Jeff “Little Jewford” Shelby in an evening of controversial music and discussion about First Amendment protections for the arts. The program will be taped for broadcast on Speaking Freely, a weekly PBS show hosted by Paulson.

Born and reared in Texas, Friedman has been entertaining audiences since the ’70s with his cheeky humor. First as a singer and comedian, then as a mystery writer with books like Elvis, Jesus & Coca-Cola and The Mile High Club, Friedman’s outlook on life – according to his official Web site – has been admired and/or quoted by everyone from Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings to George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Paulson’s expertise includes free speech and press and free expression in the arts. In his role at the First Amendment Center, Paulson draws on his background as both a journalist and lawyer to promote greater understanding of the First Amendment. Paulson also is an adjunct professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Friedman’s appearance is part of a three-day glimpse into the world of mass communication as part of SWT’s Mass Communication Week March 5-7. Sponsors of the March 6 event include the Freedom Forum, the Society of Professional Journalists, the SWT Department of Mass Communication and the SWT Friends of Fine Arts and Communication. For more information, please contact Fred Blevens at fred@swt.edu or call (512) 245-2656.