Century Tower soon won't be the only thing towering over UF.
On Oct. 25, National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal will be speaking at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The Accent Speaker's Bureau is paying O'Neal $70,000 for his appearance.
The event is open to students and the public, according to Corey Portnoy, chairman of Accent.
Admission is free and determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
During the show, students will be able to ask questions of O'Neal, who started in the NBA in 1992 and retired last June.
"He's a sports icon," Portnoy said.
In the past, Accent has brought speakers ranging from comedians Demetri Martin and Andy Samberg to former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
Jazmine Armstrong, a sociology junior, is looking forward to hearing the 7-foot-1-inch-tall basketball player's perspective on education.
Advertising senior Jordan Crandall, an avid sports fan, said he would be interested in hearing what O'Neal has to say.
"I think he's a pretty funny guy," Crandall said."It would be cool to stand next to him to see how I stacked up."
