THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 9, 1995 TAG: 9511090355
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Johnnie Cochran, lead attorney for the O.J. Simpson defense team, is scheduled to appear at Norfolk State University Saturday to discuss the trial, perhaps the most infamous in the nation's history.
Cochran will speak at 7 p.m. at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall as part of a project to raise scholarship money for six historically and predominantly black universities. The schools are Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia State University in Petersburg, St. Paul's College in Lawrenceville and Elizabeth City State University.
Tickets to the event are $22 for adults and $15 for students. Each school is slated to receive $2,000 for its scholarship funds.
``Norfolk State University is not the sponsor of this event,'' said Gerald D. Tyler, director of NSU's university relations.
``However, I personally view it as a practical educational opportunity for students of NSU and several other institutions of higher learning within our neighboring geographical area to hear one of America's foremost practicing attorneys.''
NSU was chosen as the site for Cochran's speech because it is geographically central to the schools involved. Echols Hall can also accommodate between 7,500 and 9,000 people, Tyler said.
The event is sponsored by Crown Prince Inc., a Virginia Beach entertainment promotion and production company. The company's managing partner, Lewis Hudgins, is a 1974 NSU graduate who has lobbied investors and worked to promote the event.
Hudgins said: ``He's coming because we sent him a letter about historically black colleges. We wanted an opportunity to ask him about the O.J. trial.''
``He's a champion for black folks at this point and definitely a mentor and role model for young black folks,'' Hudgins said. ``He does a lot of things in the black community.''
Hudgins would not disclose Cochran's fee. But he noted, ``It is nowhere near what he could be asking nationwide.'' ILLUSTRATION: Johnnie Cochran
TO ATTEND
Johnnie Cochran will speak at NSU's Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall
at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 for students and $22 for the
general public. Call Ticketmaster outlets, 671-8100, and the NSU
Ticket Center, 683-9009.
by CNB