UGA cancels Liberian journalist's lecture

The University of Georgia has canceled a guest lecture by an award-winning Liberian journalist after concerns were raised that it could expose students and the campus community to the Ebola virus.

Wade C.L. Williams was to set to deliver the McGill lecture on Thursday -- a talk about her experiences covering the Ebola crisis. An editor for Front Page Africa, a news website and newspaper in Monrovia, Liberia, she works in one of the West African countries hardest hit by the virus.

The university issued a statement saying the change was out of an abundance of caution.

Dean Charles N. Davis posted this notice today on the website of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications:

"Many people are aware that we have postponed a lecture by Liberian journalist Wade C.L. Williams previously scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 23.  The reason this lecture was postponed is simple — Williams was traveling directly from Liberia to the U.S. and would have been within the 21-day incubation period that the CDC recommends.

"The safety of our students is of primary concern and if the CDC suggests waiting 21 days to see if any symptoms develop, we feel it is important to heed that warning.  We did not want to lose out on this educational opportunity, so we were able to secure The Washington Post journalist Todd Frankel to join us for our events this week.  Frankel has covered the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, but has well-surpassed the 21-day incubation period having returned from his travels Sept. 1.

"We hope you will join us for the public lecture Frankel will give as he shares his experiences Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. in the UGA Chapel.