Anderson Cooper spoke at Bucknell University's Weis Center for the Performing Arts as part of the University's The Bucknell Forum series on Tuesday night.

Bucknell University Division of Communications
Tickets were free to hear journalist Anderson Cooper speak Tuesday night at Bucknell University’s Weis Center for the Performing Arts.

Bucknell University Division of Communications
A packed auditorium greeted CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on Tuesday night at Bucknell University in Lewisburg.

Anderson Cooper spoke at Bucknell University’s Weis Center for the Performing Arts as part of the University’s The Bucknell Forum series on Tuesday night.

LEWISBURG — “This is an administration that views the media as opposition,” CNN’s Anderson Cooper, referring to President Donald J. Trump, said Tuesday at Bucknell University’s Weis Center for the Performing Arts.

He went on to say, though, that this is not the first time Cooper has faced scrutiny. He also faced opposition within President Barack Obama’s administration.

As part of the Bucknell Speaker Forum, the news anchor addressed the audience in a 20-minute speech and then opened the floor to audience questions.

Bucknell Provost Barbara Altmann introduced him and said, “I have rarely seen a crowd this big at Bucknell.”

Despite the snowy weather, the Weis auditorium was filled to its 1,200-plus seat capacity, which necessitated the need for three overflow rooms on campus with live streaming feeds. Tickets were free and the keynote address was open to the public. The crowd was diverse, with all ages and ethnicities waiting in line for a ticket, some for 90 minutes.

“Who would have thought Anderson Cooper is hotter than a rock star,” said Barb Moyer, of Montandon.

“Not many people with a lot of clout come here, so I was excited to see and hear someone who has a lot to say about recent events,” said Bucknell student Ella Tazuana Johnson.

Cooper’s appearance was timely with Trump completing his 11th day in office. His core message was apolitical as he chose to focus on the role of journalists.

“I really do not view myself as a Republican or a Democrat,” he said, believing that maintains his objectivity, a cornerstone of journalism.

Despite the fact that Trump has criticized Cooper and CNN repeatedly, Cooper did not return any ire.

“You should be rigorous in combatting bias… every day I think about this,” he said.

Cooper is the anchor of “Anderson Cooper 360” on CNN and a regular correspondent for CBS’s “60 Minutes.” In addition, he co-moderated the second presidential debate in 2016.

As an author, he wrote the memoir “Dispatches from the Edge” in 2006, which was a New York Times’ bestseller. The journalist has been the recipient of an Edward R. Murrow Award and eight Emmy awards.

As Cooper opened his address to the audience, he jokingly asked, “Shouldn’t you all be watching ‘The Bachelor’?”

Throughout his address, Cooper’s playful tone was mixed with solemnity about his profession saying, “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by news.”

Following that remark, he emphasized his optimistic view of the nation’s current state.

“What gives me hope is the power of the individual to reach out and help,” he said. “Each of us can make a difference.”

The journalist outlined a litany of positive indicators for the nation’s future including that literacy is on the rise and that “wars are less frequent and less deadly.”

Following his appearance, Cooper left the auditorium to meet with fans in the lobby. There he signed books and took selfies with attendees. He was at ease even as a crush of students circled around him to take pictures.

He seems to be embracing his role, not only as a journalist, but as an educator, as he was in this instance. Perhaps the best advice he offered students actually came from his own mother, Gloria Vanderbilt: “Follow your bliss.”