Ben Stein reflects on career, family life

An audience of University students and other community members came to Foellinger Auditorium expecting a political lecture from actor, writer and jack-of-all-trades Ben Stein. Instead, he spoke to the audience of more than 1,000 people about his life and some of the lessons he has learned along the way.

"I am not here to represent President Bush or the Republican Party," Stein said. "Instead, I am here representing all the gangsters across the world."

Stein, known as the monotonous teacher in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," rarely touched on politics during the lecture sponsored by the Illini Union Board despite its original marketing as a discussion on its current state in the United States.

"These are ways to save your life," Stein said. "I am now 63 and I didn't learn most of these lessons until I was 42 or 43."

The lessons he presented stemmed from a story about the frustrations of raising his son while he was a junior high student.

"He is now a college freshman, but back in junior high he was a nightmare," Stein said.

Stein said his son used to come home, leave his clothes all over the house and go up to his room to play online video games.

Stein advised audience members to work hard, save money and respect and honor people while remembering nobody is perfect.

"Don't try to be a superhero," Stein said. "We are all human, we make mistakes."

Madeline Henry, area coordinator for Facts and Figures on the Union board and senior in Communications, said every year the board tries to find a speaker that will engage students and contribute new ideas.

Scott Mayle, senior in Engineering, said he enjoyed the speech even though it turned out to be different than his expectations.

"He kept it general, and it was cool to hear his words of wisdom," Mayle said.