The University Of Utah: MUSE To Welcome George Takei To The U

Press release from The University of Utah:

The University of Utah MUSE Project

November 16, 2021

My “U” Signature Experience

Takei has recently published a graphic novel, “They Called Us Enemy,” about his family’s experience in Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. It tells a harrowing story of the uprooting and imprisonment of his family for the duration of the war.

Following their release, Takei and his family returned to Los Angeles—after considering a move to Salt Lake City—and the young Takei continued his schooling. He became a college student at UCLA where he studied acting. This led to a casting interview with Gene Roddenberry, the creator of “Star Trek.”

Takei’s life is an inspiring story of rebuilding, and MUSE believes students at the U will find his presentation both enjoyable and deeply relevant to the work they’re doing in their own lives.

“All of us, and perhaps college students most of all, are in the process of rebuilding after the great disruption of the pandemic,” said MUSE Associate Director Libby Henriksen. “Mr. Takei’s presentation and dialogue with U students will be a rich opportunity for them to explore both individual and collective ways forward.”

MUSE will have free copies of “They Called Us Enemy” for U students available for pickup at the MUSE office, located in the Sill Center, beginning Nov. 22.

MUSE is an office established as a Presidential Initiative in 2010. Its mission is to build an enhanced and inspiring educational culture for all U undergraduates. For more information, please visit the MUSE office at the Sill Center or check out muse.utah.edu.

This press release was produced by The University of Utah. The views expressed here are the author’s own.