By
Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Game show host speaks to 300 Arizona college students about life's lessons
PHOENIX - Ben Stein is no stranger to Tucson's "crazy" nightlife.
"The last time I was around this many students was the first time I ever came to Arizona - it was about 10 years ago and a young woman who had worked for me was a student at the University of Arizona, and she and her roommates took me to a place called Dirtbag's," Stein said. This prompted cheers from UA students attending a leadership conference at the State Capitol, where the speech was held.
"It was an experience I will never forget. It was like being in the middle of an ongoing riot."
Stein delivered the keynote address at the Arizona Students Association's 14th annual conference. More than 300 students from the UA, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University attended the workshop to learn about legislative issues and lobbying.
Stein captured the full attention of the group for about an hour, using humor and entertainment to teach some of life's important lessons.
The lessons began with a few dos and don'ts for students who are pulled over for drunken driving.
"If you're pulled over by a policeman for drinking and driving - which you should never do - if he asks to see your driver's license, do not say to him, 'sure you can see my driver's license, if you'll hold my beer,'" Stein said as the students roared in laughter.
Removing his glasses occasionally to make eye contact with audience members, Stein also spoke about his experiences with government and politics and warned students not to stay in jobs that bore them.
If a job pays almost nothing but is interesting, Stein explained, then that job should be kept because it would be worth more than what the wage would have been.
Stein said he learned his best lesson when he was a speech writer for former President Richard Nixon at the age of 27.
"If you could work at the very top-most levels of government - state or federal level - it's paradise.
"I cannot recommend highly enough that if you're going to go to the government, try and get the highest possible level."
Stein recommended that jobs within the Senate, House of Representatives, or White House are great for students at their young age.
Before allowing time for questions from the audience, Stein added a few more tips for college students.
"When I come speak to sweet, young things like you, I want to tell you little bits of wisdom that I have collected and things I wish someone had told me when I was (your age)."
These lessons included getting into habits of working hard, avoiding laziness, keeping strong connections among friends, and to help those in need.
"An incredibly vital lesson that you've probably already heard before but I will tell it to you, and I am telling it to you on the basis of experience - drugs really suck. They are the worst," he added.
Stein ended his lecture by stressing the importance of showing appreciation for family members.
"I was very, very good to (my parents) and I'm awfully glad I was. I wish I'd learned it when I was your age. You will never regret showing love and affection for your family," he said.
Stein also mentioned his passion for Hollywood and his current career.
He ended by speaking about his role in the 1980s film "Ferris Bueller Day's Off," and reciting the line that made him famous -"Bueller... Bueller... Bueller..."
The crowd rose to its feet when Stein walked off the stage and quickly rushed to take pictures with him and get his autograph.
While Joe Lin, a UA agricultural technology management senior, waited in line to meet Stein, he said he got more out of the speech than he expected.
"I liked how he blended humor into lots of important life lessons," Lin said.
Sam Chang, UA's ASA co-director said that listening to Stein's speech was a great way to end a successful day.
"I couldn't imagine a better speaker - everyone was paying close attention to what he had to say," said Chang, who helped plan the events.
Chang also added that the UA had the largest student representation at the conference, and he was very pleased with the results of the entire day's activities.
