The annual series' aim is to bring together the worlds of academic exploration and practical politics to illuminate discussion of the broader principles and ideas of representative government. Such a synthesis is true to the spirit of the lecture's honorees - John C. Bollens, John C. Ries, and Marvin Hoffenberg - former distinguished professors in UCLA's Department of Political Science.

The Swarr Prize is an annual award given to a graduate student in Political Science for authoring the best unpublished research paper. Awardees are recognized by faculty for the quality of their research as well as the originality of their idea and are presented the Swarr Prize at the Department’s annual Swarr lecture and lunch.

Established by the friends and family of E. Victor Wolfenstein following his death in 2010, the lecture brings a leading scholar to UCLA each year to speak on a subject in one of Victor's many fields of research, which included African-American thought and politics, Ancient Greek political theory, psychoanalysis and Marxism.

The "U Heard It Here" series is dedicated to exploring a deeper understanding of politics and contemporary issues. Series events will present scholars and thought leaders across a range of topics.