'Undercover author' to speak at North Central

Author Ted Conover will speak at North Central College today about his undercover experiences as an illegal migrant and a prison guard, both chronicled in two of his books.

His talk is free and will be held at noon in North Central's Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.

In 1987, Conover traveled with a group of would-be immigrants, crossing the border from Mexico to the United States in order to document their experience. The result was his book "Coyotes: A Journey Across Borders with America's Illegal Migrants." His most recent book is "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing," in which he shares intimate stories of his undercover life as a prison guard at Sing Sing and how that job affected his family life at home and his views on life and humanity.

His campus visit is the capstone event for the college's First-Year Experience, an interdisciplinary program for North Central's first-year class. Students read his book "Coyotes" and addressed case studies on issues such as immigration, food production and drug use. Conover's talk is co-sponsored by the First-Year Experience program and Cultural Events.

This lecture is one of many ongoing programs hosted at North Central College to enrich and broaden the academic and cultural outlook for the college and community.

For a comprehensive schedule of lectures, art exhibits, musical performances and theatrical productions, visit www.northcentralcollege.edu/show .

-- Submitted by North Central College