Noted Author Pete Hamill Lectures to Freshman Class as Part of St. John’s University’s Lecture Series

Pete Hamill, well known novelist, essayist and veteran journalist whose career has spanned more than 40 years, spoke to an exuberant crowd of over 3,000 St. John’s University freshman at Carnesecca Arena on the Queens Campus. Hamill marked the fourth such speaker to headline the Academic Lecture Series sponsored by St. John’s University’s Office of the Provost, the Department of Student Life, the Discover New York and Core Curriculum, Student Government Inc. and the President’s Multicultural Advisory Committee.

His book, Downtown: My Manhattan, was required reading for the Class of 2010 as part of the University’s core-curriculum course “Discover New York.” These freshmen have already been introduced to New York City as part of their summer orientation and the author’s tome clearly painted a more vivid picture as only Hamill can. That was even more apparent with the boisterous ovation he received while walking to center court at Carnesecca Arena.

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Flattered by the cheers of the first-year college students Hamill laughed, “I feel like (U2 lead singer) Bono.”

But Hamill soon got serious and stressed the importance of a new generation seated before him.

“The way we live our lives is what it’s all about,” said Hamill. “Part of learning about New York City and the world around you is to listen and look at the variety of possibilities before you,” he said.

It was a message to the student body that hit home with St. John’s freshman Matthew Knotts, a native of Maryland.

“He (Hamill) was everything I thought he would be and more. I liked his book. I’m not from New York but I have a great appreciation for the city through his writing because there were so many personal things in the book that I could relate to.”  

Even an uncooperative microphone couldn’t detour Hamill’s 45-minute lecture that spoke to the importance of family, his childhood, responsibility and his love of writing which was even more heightened after visiting the University’s new Institute for Writing Studies on the Queens Campus in a private tour with St. John’s Provost Julia A. Upton, RSM, Ph.D., before his lecture.

“I saw your new writing institute this evening and was very impressed. Writing is very important no matter what field of study you’re in – so go there, because you’ll be richer person for the experience,” added Hamill.

And what of his writing and the message he’d like to leave with those who have read or will read Downtown: My Manhattan.

“The book and my life is a trip through Oz” he noted.

And those in attendance on this fall night at Carnesecca Arena knew exactly what he had meant after having read and heard from the wizard himself.