Essential Estrogen

Have you heard who is going to be headlining First Amendment Day (Note: PDF Document) at Iowa State University this year? First Lady of the Press H-E-L-E-N T-H-O-M-A-S!

Thomas, a former UPI journalist and current columnist for Hearst Newspapers, has covered every president since JFK. She is scheduled to speak on Thursday, April 19, at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall (ISU Memorial Union).

The festivities kick off that morning with an 8 a.m. freedom march from the Ames City Hall to Beardshear Hall on campus.The walk is followed by "Feast on the First Amendment," which includes debates, political cartoons, organization booths, music and food.

Other activities include panel discussions on both the future of talk radio (Friday, 1:30 p.m.) and "Journalists in Jeopardy" (Thursday, 2 p.m.); and a comedy and political satire show (Friday, 11 p.m.).

Here's the best part: All events are free and open to the general public. Get all the latest info by visiting the First Amendment Day web site.