North Texas Daily

Javier Navarro / Intern

Rainn Wilson, best known as the hilarious, deadpan beet farmer Dwight Schrute on the U.S. TV series “The Office,” will speak tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the UNT Coliseum as a part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.

The actor will speak about his social project SoulPancake, which encourages people to think and explore topics such as spirituality, creativity, religion, arts and philosophy.

Assistant director of the Student Affairs Administration Blake Rexroat said that this is an opportunity for students to attend a free event where they will be exposed to someone who they wouldn’t ordinarily see on a regular basis.

“The neat thing about this is that I hope that students take advantage of the opportunity to come listen to someone speak that’s actually creating a major impact nationally and globally as well,” Rexroat said.

Rexroat said Wilson will speak for about 45 minutes and will answer audience questions for a few minutes afterward.

The event will also feature a book signing following the lecture between Coliseum gates E and F. Books will be available for purchase at the signing.

Zachary Brown, President of the Student Government Association, said the SoulPancake project is a good way for students to be inspired and engage in thought-provoking discussions and he said he hopes they will leave the event with more perspective on life.

“I would expect [students] to leave this event with more questions than answers, but at least the questions are in your head,” Brown said. “People are literally going to expect Dwight Schrute from ‘The Office,’ but I think they’re going to leave with something a lot more thorough and a lot more meaningful.”

Advertising senior Stephanie Clausen said she is excited for the lecture and hopes to learn a thing or two from it.

“I plan on going into the film industry later in life, and I think Mr. Wilson has really done a good job here,” Clausen said. “It’s like he reinvented the wheel, except it’s better fit and paving some roads a long the way.”

During the last SGA election, students voted on which guest they would like to see come to campus, and Wilson actually came in fourth place, Rexroat said.

With the top three names not being available, the DLS Committee called the agency representing Wilson and said he was available to speak and his speaking fee fit the budget. President Bill Clinton and director Christopher Nolan topped the list.

Starting tomorrow at noon, the first 300 students who stop by the Vice President of Student Affairs office in Suite 202 in the Hurley Administration Building will receive vouchers for floor seats to the lecture. Students must show their ticket and student ID to receive the voucher.

UNT students are allowed one free ticket and can also purchase up to four guest tickets for $15 each.

Students can still get their free ticket by stopping by the information desk on the third floor of the Union or by going online.

Rexroat said the expected turnout for the event is about 2,500.