5:25 p.m
Rachel Maddow wraps up the show with wisdom.
You don't have to find your soul mate while in college, but now is a good time to start thinking about it, Maddow said.
"One thing I wish that I'd thought about in college: It's easy when you're of college age to prioritize romantic life."
Our apparent oppression isn't going to fly with her.
"Tyranny of romance in young adult life is stupid," she said during her conversation at Emens Auditorium.
She suggests being more thoughtful, saying that history and philosophy should not be underrated.
"It will make you a more effective person."
5:20 p.m.
The slow economy was another talking point.
"We're going to be a different country by the time we get out of it unless we start getting out of it faster," Maddow said.
Running for office is a noble ambition, Maddow said.
But Letterman said the Republican Party can't seem to find a strong candidate.
"Many of these guys seem pathetic and laughable," he said.
Conversation circled back to the humor of seeing Donald Trump moderate an upcoming debate. "Why Trump?" Maddow asked.
"His hair!" is offered from the crowd.
By association, then, "His hair is actually running for office," Letterman said.
Maddow shows off clever reporting on information that might sound like a joke.
"Mitt Romney has hired a Sarah Palin speech writer," she said. "You guys keep thinking I'm setting up jokes. This is news!"
She admitted that she likes "basically all alcoholic beverages."
When Gora was asked if she drinks, the president responded: "I like wine — in moderation."
5:07 p.m.
Letterman said he realized the importance of politics once he had a son.
For Maddow, a woman who has made a career of voicing her political opinion, she hopes for a more civil type of politics.
"Politics ought to be inspiring," Maddow said. "It shouldn't always be vicious."
Her next comment dealt with universal health care. The political commentator said she believes prisons and defense are the only two universal health care systems. She has advocated to stop HIV segregation in southern prisons.
She told the crowd she isn't interested in politics, but her current job and daily production schedule can be draining.
She said she "wants a job that's easier."
That drew a question from Letterman about what she does to prepare for her show.
"A lot of sitting and reading," she said. "It's research."
4:55 p.m.
The conversation about Occupy participants being pepper sprayed at the University of California-Davis turned to questions about the armament of campus police across the country.
"You can't count on institutions to police themselves," Maddow said. "... and cops can't be afraid of robbers."
Gora assured the crowd that an incident like that wouldn't happen at Ball State, and Letterman echoed the sentiment.
"Parents send their kids to these universities with the trust that this won't happen," he said.
The point of the Occupy movement isn't to elect new politicians, Maddow said. It is to change politics.
"Less about picking new people. More about picking new questions."
4:41 p.m.
President Jo Ann Gora has joined the conversation between Ball State alumnus David Letterman and MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow.
When the conversation turned toward the Penn State scandal, Gora said the university should not have sacrificed dignity to protect the school's football program.
Gora compared the absurdity of sacrificing children's safety to Donald Trump moderating a political debate, which Maddow said will take place soon.
Both women have said they believe Penn State should have forfeited their remaining games.
4:20 p.m.
David Letterman opened his conversation at John R. Emens Auditorium with familiar, jovial comments.
"I graduated with a solid 2.0," he said. "Let's hear it for mediocrity."
Students welcomed him on stage with a standing ovation.
3:55 p.m.
Organizers brought a third chair on stage, and students speculate who might fill that seat. Follow the hashtag #MaddowBSU for live updates from @dn_campus and our media partners.
EARLIER:
Ball State alumnus David Letterman will return to campus for his second on-stage conversation this afternoon at 4 p.m., this time with MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow.
Tom Taylor, vice president for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications, told the Daily News this could become an annual event — depending on the availability of Letterman and his possible guests.
"Some of what's going on in the political scene today will be one topic of conversation, but also how here are two people very prominent in the media — how is the media affecting the political debate?" Taylor said. "How is social media affecting it?"
Today's conversation will take place at 4 p.m. in John R. Emens Auditorium as part of the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series.
Maddow will also broadcast "The Rachel Maddow Show" live from Ball State's campus after the conversation, Taylor said.
Stay connected:
Check out bsudailynews.com throughout the afternoon for more coverage.
To submit questions via Twitter for the conversation, use the hashtag #MaddowDave.
To get updated information from student media throughout the event, check out the hashtag #MaddowBSU.
You can also follow @dn_campus, @newslink_BSU and @WCRD for live updates.
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