Panel addresses economics, human rights, education
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Saturday morning, Gary Becker, Nobel Laureate in Economics and a professor of Economics at the U of C, and Amartya Sen, Lamont University Professor and professor of Philosophy and Economics at Harvard University, debated on the role of the economist and economic scientific theory in modern democracy. Hugo Sonnenschein, president of the University, moderated the event.
Becker addressed crime and education, which he feels are two areas of research which more economists should address in economic science theory.
“In modern economics, [it is believed that] you either contribute to elimination of poverty or continuation of poverty or continuation of poverty. You either contribute to a [prospering] economy or a stagnant economy,” Becker said. “The purpose of the economist is to eradicate poverty.”
Neoclassical economists have often been criticized for not understanding that economic theory may not be applicable in practice, especially for third world countries.
Sen, one such critic, challenged Becker’s belief that neoclassical economic theory does not necessarily work when applied to developing societies. He argued that in a country like India, where the collective family unit is more valuable than the individual, the focus of neoclassical economic theory may not work.
“It is assumed that Becker’s theory works very well in economics,” he said. He concluded that Becker needs to broaden his theory. “The general model is rich, but it could be richer.”
“The debate wasn’t contentious enough. Their views weren’t divergent enough for a real debate,” said David Zanni, a fourth-year student in the College.
A senior at Stanford, Olivia Samad, disagreed. “I wasn’t bothered when there wasn’t a huge debate. How economics is related to modern democracy is an issue that economists don’t talk enough about,” she said. Samad went on to add that Becker and Sen and other economists must challenge themselves to find solutions to gap of economic theory and practice.
The human rights panel featured Abdullai Ahmed An Na’im, professor of Law and fellow of the Law and Religion program at Emory Law School, Peter Edelman, professor of Law at Georgetown Law and Jacqueline Bhabha, director of International Studies, Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. Martha Nussbaum served as moderator.
The human rights panelists discussed a range of topics including the human rights of children, low-income individuals , and immigrants in the U.S. Bhabha brought up the issue of illegal alien minors who, in the U.S., are kept in detention centers for months and even years at a time.
According to Bhabha, these individuals are not allowed basic human rights such as a fair trial or adequate medical coverage.
“Xenophobia is [used] to determine policy, at least, to a certain extent,” Bhabha said. She went on to state that “effective mechanisms to give [these] children a voice is not in place.”
All the panelists discussed how the U.S. legal system and government policy must be changed in order to address the needs of all citizens and non-citizens in the United States.
“I was impressed by Peter Edelman and his love for children. We should promote politics that would bring children as true citizens,” said Francis Addo, a junior at the University of Iowa.
The Education panel featured Kwame Anthony Appiah, professor of Afro-American studies and Philosophy, Derek Bok, President Emeritus and 300th Anniversary Professor at Harvard University, Hanna Gray, President Emeritus of the University of Chicago and Harry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service professor, Walter E. Massey, President of Morehouse College and Charles Vest, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“On most college campuses, there isn’t a good consensus on what makes a [good] citizen,” said Bok.
The three-hour panel discussed a variety of topics in academia.
“I’ve had a long history of being an elementary school teacher. I’m surprised that the panel didn’t address primary school education. The idea of maintaining a strong, free public school is an integral part of a democracy and I wished they could have discussed the issue,” said Eileen Ochler, an elder hostel member of Hastings, Michigan.
Originally published April 14, 1998
Saturday, April 18, 1998
Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Aristide, Campbell present visions for democracy, Chicago Maroon
Aristide, Campbell present visions for democracy
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell were featured in the closing plenary session of The Challenge of Modern Democracy, last Saturday, April 11.
The two political figures discussed their respective visions of Democracy for the 21st Century. Campell spoke about her role as a first female prime minister. A true democracy, according to Campbel, must strive to include the opinions of women and men as well as people of all ethnicities.
“What is a democratic culture? It is a culture where the people are sovereign. Democracy has been a moral powerful force,” said Campbell.
Campbell referred to a comment made by Martha Nussbaum, professor of Law at the U of C, who spoke at a previous panel: “In ancient Athens, our first democracy, only 10 percent of people were considered citizens.” Campbell went on to contrast ancient Greece to modern day Canada.
“In Canada, the Chinese did not get the right to vote until 1949, Aboriginal people did not get the right until the late 1950s.” Campbell cautioned individuals to keep history in perspective when looking at the past events of a democratic society. Campbell commented that in the past certain ethnic, religious, cultural groups, and women have been denied their rights as citizens in democratic countries, including Canada and the United States.
During Campbell’s time as prime minister, she held conferences in order to hear diverse viewpoint and opinion of the Canadian people on issues as varied as cultural issues and gun laws.
“People are not abstractions. They are people of flesh-and-blood who have to live with the laws that I formulate. Democracy should be something they can believe in,” she said.
Campbell’s vision of democratic rule included a smaller government.
During her short tenure as Prime Minister, Campbell, a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, cut the size of the federal cabinet by one third and restructured government ministries to make them more responsive “to the policy needs of the 1990s,” as stated in a conference press release.
Campbell also expressed the importance of policy attention to issues of abortion, birth control, and sexual assault.
Following Campbell, Aristide discussed the challenges of ruling Haiti, being exiled during a coup d'état and then returning to finish his five-year term as president of Haiti.
During Aristide’s first seven months in office his government pursued a program of change based on the principles of participation, transparence and justice.
Aristide discussed the importance of democracy in a country such as Haiti that has been afflicted by despotic rulers.” According to Aristide, Haitian citizens have an average 85 percent literacy rate and an average income is less than $1,000. At the same time, he does not feel that it these statistics are a reason to give up hope or believe that democracy cannot effect change.
“Our greatest challenge is to look objectively at the gap existing between the rich and the poor. Democracy is for the people. This means food, clean water, education and health care. These are basic human rights.”
After completing his five year term as President, Aristide founded the Aristide Foundation for Democracy. Under Aristide’s leadership the Foundation is dedicated to deepening the roots of Haiti’s democracy by opening avenues of participation to all Haitians. The foundation has three major program areas: sponsoring forums and public dialogues on the issues such as justice, land reform, and the economic future of the nation, supporting literacy programs in Haiti, and fostering community-based initiatives.
“I think Caribbean politicians should look towards Aristide as an example of the kind of politician that Caribbean countries need. He cares for the people and stands up for them. Aristide stands up for what he believes in,” said Sherlina Nageer, a fourth-year student in the College.
Another student felt disappointed with one of Aristide’s comments. “During the question and answer period, an audience member asked Aristide and Campbell what their greatest political wish was for their country, and Aristide wished that the U.S. would be ‘nice’ to Haiti.
“I think he depends too much on the U.S., but at the same time it is hard to criticize him for this economic dependence which is somewhat inevitable,” she said.
The two-and-a-half hour event drew hundreds of students. Many attendees commented they enjoyed the panel discussion.
Aristide has studied in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Israel. He completed a post-graduate degree in psychology at the State University in Haiti.
Kim Campbell was educated at the University of British Columbia and the London School of Economics. In 1996, Campbell was named Consul General for Canada in Los Angeles.
Photo Caption: Renato Mariotti (l). one of the organizers of the Challenge for Modern Democracy Conference, introduces the conference’s closing plenary session, featuring Kim Campbell (c), former Prime Minister of Canada, and Jean-Bertrand Aristide (r), former President of Haiti.
Originally published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell were featured in the closing plenary session of The Challenge of Modern Democracy, last Saturday, April 11.
The two political figures discussed their respective visions of Democracy for the 21st Century. Campell spoke about her role as a first female prime minister. A true democracy, according to Campbel, must strive to include the opinions of women and men as well as people of all ethnicities.
“What is a democratic culture? It is a culture where the people are sovereign. Democracy has been a moral powerful force,” said Campbell.
Campbell referred to a comment made by Martha Nussbaum, professor of Law at the U of C, who spoke at a previous panel: “In ancient Athens, our first democracy, only 10 percent of people were considered citizens.” Campbell went on to contrast ancient Greece to modern day Canada.
“In Canada, the Chinese did not get the right to vote until 1949, Aboriginal people did not get the right until the late 1950s.” Campbell cautioned individuals to keep history in perspective when looking at the past events of a democratic society. Campbell commented that in the past certain ethnic, religious, cultural groups, and women have been denied their rights as citizens in democratic countries, including Canada and the United States.
During Campbell’s time as prime minister, she held conferences in order to hear diverse viewpoint and opinion of the Canadian people on issues as varied as cultural issues and gun laws.
“People are not abstractions. They are people of flesh-and-blood who have to live with the laws that I formulate. Democracy should be something they can believe in,” she said.
Campbell’s vision of democratic rule included a smaller government.
During her short tenure as Prime Minister, Campbell, a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, cut the size of the federal cabinet by one third and restructured government ministries to make them more responsive “to the policy needs of the 1990s,” as stated in a conference press release.
Campbell also expressed the importance of policy attention to issues of abortion, birth control, and sexual assault.
Following Campbell, Aristide discussed the challenges of ruling Haiti, being exiled during a coup d'état and then returning to finish his five-year term as president of Haiti.
During Aristide’s first seven months in office his government pursued a program of change based on the principles of participation, transparence and justice.
Aristide discussed the importance of democracy in a country such as Haiti that has been afflicted by despotic rulers.” According to Aristide, Haitian citizens have an average 85 percent literacy rate and an average income is less than $1,000. At the same time, he does not feel that it these statistics are a reason to give up hope or believe that democracy cannot effect change.
“Our greatest challenge is to look objectively at the gap existing between the rich and the poor. Democracy is for the people. This means food, clean water, education and health care. These are basic human rights.”
After completing his five year term as President, Aristide founded the Aristide Foundation for Democracy. Under Aristide’s leadership the Foundation is dedicated to deepening the roots of Haiti’s democracy by opening avenues of participation to all Haitians. The foundation has three major program areas: sponsoring forums and public dialogues on the issues such as justice, land reform, and the economic future of the nation, supporting literacy programs in Haiti, and fostering community-based initiatives.
“I think Caribbean politicians should look towards Aristide as an example of the kind of politician that Caribbean countries need. He cares for the people and stands up for them. Aristide stands up for what he believes in,” said Sherlina Nageer, a fourth-year student in the College.
Another student felt disappointed with one of Aristide’s comments. “During the question and answer period, an audience member asked Aristide and Campbell what their greatest political wish was for their country, and Aristide wished that the U.S. would be ‘nice’ to Haiti.
“I think he depends too much on the U.S., but at the same time it is hard to criticize him for this economic dependence which is somewhat inevitable,” she said.
The two-and-a-half hour event drew hundreds of students. Many attendees commented they enjoyed the panel discussion.
Aristide has studied in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Israel. He completed a post-graduate degree in psychology at the State University in Haiti.
Kim Campbell was educated at the University of British Columbia and the London School of Economics. In 1996, Campbell was named Consul General for Canada in Los Angeles.
Photo Caption: Renato Mariotti (l). one of the organizers of the Challenge for Modern Democracy Conference, introduces the conference’s closing plenary session, featuring Kim Campbell (c), former Prime Minister of Canada, and Jean-Bertrand Aristide (r), former President of Haiti.
Originally published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Persian Cultural Society celebrates Noruz, Chicago Maroon
Persian Cultural Society celebrates Noruz
Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Persian Cultural Society at The University of Chicago hosted the first annual Persian New Year Celebration or Noruz, on Saturday, April 11 at Hutchinson Commons. Noruz is the Persian term for ‘new day.’
Dr. Heshmat Moayyad, professor of Persian literature in the College, gave a short lecture on Noruz.
Approximately 220 students attended the dinner which was catered by Reza’s restaurant.
Noruz, of Zoroastrian origin, a pre-Islamic religion, has been celebrated in Iran for over 2,500 years, said Moayyad during his lecture. According to Moayyad, Noruz is a cultural family affair celebrated in Iran. “Noruz does not bring divisions or conflict between different cultures [in Iran], but rather it brings these religious groups together,” he said.
For Iranians, Noruz ceremonies are representative of the never ending cycle of rebirth. In order to celebrate Noruzm new clothes are bought and houses are cleaned to welcome the new year. The event, which lasts for 13 days, traditionally starts on the first day of spring.
“Noruz has always been celebrated in my family. It’s a joyous time. It represents a new beginning for each year. During Noruz, there are always big parties and celebrations among the Iranian community. Seeing as this is the first year that the Persian Cultural Society has been active, we thought this should be our big event of the year,” said second-year student in the College Jahan Moslehi, president of the Persian Cultural Society.
In honor of the Persian New Year, members of the Persian Cultural Society set up a haftseen, a table set up with specific items symbolic of the new year. Each table includes seven articles, all of which begin with the “s”: sporouts (sabez), pudding (samanu), apples (seeb), the sweet dry fruit of a service tree (senjed), garlic (ser), sumac berries (sonaq), and vinegar (sekeh). According to ancient folklore, these items symbolize the triumph of good over evil.
“Items in the haftseen are symbolic of fertility and happiness, explained Moayyad. Other objects placed on the haftseen include coins representing prosperity, painted eggs, symbolic of the Creation, and candles representing each child in the family.
“I think we surprised a lot of people as to how smoothly the event went. We were truly honored to have Dr. Heshmat Moayyad. The Persian Cultural Society would like very much to have a close relationship with the Persian Department at the U of C in the coming years,” said Moslehi.
Featured dishes for the buffet style dinner included chen geh, a tender beef dish, koubideh, a spiced beef dish, chicken kebabs, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, kasha-bademajan, a traditional eggplant dish, grilled vegetables, pita bread, and mastokhiar, a side-dish composed of yogurt and cucumbers.
Student government gave a small subsidy for the event while the Arab Union, local businesses and restaurants also helped sponsor the dinner.
Originally Published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Persian Cultural Society at The University of Chicago hosted the first annual Persian New Year Celebration or Noruz, on Saturday, April 11 at Hutchinson Commons. Noruz is the Persian term for ‘new day.’
Dr. Heshmat Moayyad, professor of Persian literature in the College, gave a short lecture on Noruz.
Approximately 220 students attended the dinner which was catered by Reza’s restaurant.
Noruz, of Zoroastrian origin, a pre-Islamic religion, has been celebrated in Iran for over 2,500 years, said Moayyad during his lecture. According to Moayyad, Noruz is a cultural family affair celebrated in Iran. “Noruz does not bring divisions or conflict between different cultures [in Iran], but rather it brings these religious groups together,” he said.
For Iranians, Noruz ceremonies are representative of the never ending cycle of rebirth. In order to celebrate Noruzm new clothes are bought and houses are cleaned to welcome the new year. The event, which lasts for 13 days, traditionally starts on the first day of spring.
“Noruz has always been celebrated in my family. It’s a joyous time. It represents a new beginning for each year. During Noruz, there are always big parties and celebrations among the Iranian community. Seeing as this is the first year that the Persian Cultural Society has been active, we thought this should be our big event of the year,” said second-year student in the College Jahan Moslehi, president of the Persian Cultural Society.
In honor of the Persian New Year, members of the Persian Cultural Society set up a haftseen, a table set up with specific items symbolic of the new year. Each table includes seven articles, all of which begin with the “s”: sporouts (sabez), pudding (samanu), apples (seeb), the sweet dry fruit of a service tree (senjed), garlic (ser), sumac berries (sonaq), and vinegar (sekeh). According to ancient folklore, these items symbolize the triumph of good over evil.
“Items in the haftseen are symbolic of fertility and happiness, explained Moayyad. Other objects placed on the haftseen include coins representing prosperity, painted eggs, symbolic of the Creation, and candles representing each child in the family.
“I think we surprised a lot of people as to how smoothly the event went. We were truly honored to have Dr. Heshmat Moayyad. The Persian Cultural Society would like very much to have a close relationship with the Persian Department at the U of C in the coming years,” said Moslehi.
Featured dishes for the buffet style dinner included chen geh, a tender beef dish, koubideh, a spiced beef dish, chicken kebabs, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, kasha-bademajan, a traditional eggplant dish, grilled vegetables, pita bread, and mastokhiar, a side-dish composed of yogurt and cucumbers.
Student government gave a small subsidy for the event while the Arab Union, local businesses and restaurants also helped sponsor the dinner.
Originally Published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Tuesday, April 07, 1998
Conference addresses blacks in business
Conference addresses blacks in business
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The African American MBA Association (AAMBA), hed the 13th annual DuSable Business Conference April 3-5. The event was entitled “Managing Ourselves: The role of image and Perception in Defining Our Success.”
Over 300 U of C Graduate School of Business (GSB) students, alumni, faculty and Chicagoland business men and women attended lectures and panel discussions that addressed the role of blacks in the domestic and international business world.
“This is probably the most successful conference so far,” said Renee Hagins, a DuSable conference co-chair and MBA/MPP ‘98. “From the staff, faculty, and students we have had a great response. Even though AAMBA does not have a large number of people as a student body, we have really managed to come together, and I think that says a lot about the importance of this conference and the importance of diversity in the business world.”
Hagins, Ruby Davidson, and Teresa Halsey, second-year students in the GSB, served as the co-chairs for the DuSable conference. They stated that the conference serves as a vehicle to explore issues such as racism and limited business opportunities that affect African-American professionals and the community at-large.
An awards ceremony was held Friday evening, April 3, at the DuSable Museum to honor the GSB Alumni if 1998. Arthur Turnball, Class of ‘26, the first black to get an MBA from the U of C, Maurice Baptiste, Class of ‘40, and Joseph Southern, Class of ‘45 were presented with awards. Lionel Wallace, Class of ‘42, was posthumously awarded.
“I am awestruck that we were able to find the first four black minority alumni at the GSB,” said Rodney Tyson, president of AAMBA and a second-year student in the GSB. He went on to add that in the first half of the centurry, corporations or firms “did not allow the opportunity for diversity” and that these four 1998 GSB alumni epitomize success even when the opportunities were not necessarily available to them.
Connie Evans, President of the woman’s Self-Employment Project (WSEP), Thomas Jones, vice chair and director of the Travelers Group and chief executive officer of Smith Barney Assets Management in 1997, and J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. were also honored with awards.
Jones shared insights with the audience in recounting his successful career. “Most of us don’t have the opportunity , whatever the task is, to do it in an excellent way,” he said. Jones went on to state that operating at a level of 95 percent versus 100 percent in work is crucial in ones level of success.
“If you get to where I am 27 years down the road, the difference between 95 percent and 100 percent make a difference. Others didn’t even perceive hwo the race was being lost,” he said. According to Jones, character, continuous personal self-growth, and lots of practice are also instrumental in success in any professional field.
Evans, who has 17 years of experience in developing grassroots programs, discussed the importance of economic self-sufficiency for women. “We don’t just help women to find jobs but tto create jobs of their own,” he said.
The conference continued on Saturday, April 4providing a full day of workshops, lectures, and award ceremonies downtown at the Graduate School of Business’ Gleacher Center and the Sheraton hotel.
Workshops included such topics as business ethics, black enterpreneurship, and the role of the lobal marketplace for blacks.
One topic at the Global Marketplace workshop was President Bill Clinton’s recent visit to several African nations and recent efforts to facilitate the growth of these nations.
Marvin Zonis, a professor of International Economy at the GSB, discussed the importance of starting out from an area and/or geographic location where [there] is less competition and building the way up.
“Seven or eight countries in Africa will be growing and profitable in the years to come,” he said.
Zonis stressed the students and recent GSB graduates can find opportunities to network and start the foundation for international business opportunities in the future. “David Greer [a first-year student at the GSB] recently left for Cairo, Egypt, another country that is underutilized [in the current market.]”
Greer, who was featured in the February issue of the GSB alumni magazine, aims to own his international business one day.
During the GSB scholarship luncheon, several Hyde Park high school students were honored with Ronald H. Brown awards. Rae Lewis Thornton, a Chicago-based AIDS activist, spoke at the scholarship luncheon. Lewis-Thornton discussed the importance of self-knowledge and personal development.
“She talked about cards, houses and dating successful men, which used to be a priority for her,” said Dale Caldwell, a senior manager at Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group and national director of diversity recruiting for the GSB and Wharton School of Business.
“This is the biggest limiting factor as African-Americans, who are too focused on our own success without thinking about where we have come from and the community as a whole,” he said.
For the evening dinner banquet, Edward Lewis, CEO & Publisher of Essence Magazine, gave the keynote address. Lewis touched on his expansion of Essence Inc. and the importance of support for black-owned businesses.
“Mr. Lewis’ speech was excellent. It was both motivating and inspiring to young entrepreneurs,” said Sherman Galbreath, a fourth-year student in the College.
On the morning of Sunday, April 5, a GSB alumni Brunch was held at the Sheraton. Most attendees and AAMBA members felt the conference could be improved by having a more diverse group of attendees.
“I would like to see other groups attend the conference as well including Hispanics and Asian-Americans. In order for us to succeed, we need to know how to relate to each other,” said Johnnie Watson III, a first-year student in the GSB.
Originally published Tuesday, April 7, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The African American MBA Association (AAMBA), hed the 13th annual DuSable Business Conference April 3-5. The event was entitled “Managing Ourselves: The role of image and Perception in Defining Our Success.”
Over 300 U of C Graduate School of Business (GSB) students, alumni, faculty and Chicagoland business men and women attended lectures and panel discussions that addressed the role of blacks in the domestic and international business world.
“This is probably the most successful conference so far,” said Renee Hagins, a DuSable conference co-chair and MBA/MPP ‘98. “From the staff, faculty, and students we have had a great response. Even though AAMBA does not have a large number of people as a student body, we have really managed to come together, and I think that says a lot about the importance of this conference and the importance of diversity in the business world.”
Hagins, Ruby Davidson, and Teresa Halsey, second-year students in the GSB, served as the co-chairs for the DuSable conference. They stated that the conference serves as a vehicle to explore issues such as racism and limited business opportunities that affect African-American professionals and the community at-large.
An awards ceremony was held Friday evening, April 3, at the DuSable Museum to honor the GSB Alumni if 1998. Arthur Turnball, Class of ‘26, the first black to get an MBA from the U of C, Maurice Baptiste, Class of ‘40, and Joseph Southern, Class of ‘45 were presented with awards. Lionel Wallace, Class of ‘42, was posthumously awarded.
“I am awestruck that we were able to find the first four black minority alumni at the GSB,” said Rodney Tyson, president of AAMBA and a second-year student in the GSB. He went on to add that in the first half of the centurry, corporations or firms “did not allow the opportunity for diversity” and that these four 1998 GSB alumni epitomize success even when the opportunities were not necessarily available to them.
Connie Evans, President of the woman’s Self-Employment Project (WSEP), Thomas Jones, vice chair and director of the Travelers Group and chief executive officer of Smith Barney Assets Management in 1997, and J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. were also honored with awards.
Jones shared insights with the audience in recounting his successful career. “Most of us don’t have the opportunity , whatever the task is, to do it in an excellent way,” he said. Jones went on to state that operating at a level of 95 percent versus 100 percent in work is crucial in ones level of success.
“If you get to where I am 27 years down the road, the difference between 95 percent and 100 percent make a difference. Others didn’t even perceive hwo the race was being lost,” he said. According to Jones, character, continuous personal self-growth, and lots of practice are also instrumental in success in any professional field.
Evans, who has 17 years of experience in developing grassroots programs, discussed the importance of economic self-sufficiency for women. “We don’t just help women to find jobs but tto create jobs of their own,” he said.
The conference continued on Saturday, April 4providing a full day of workshops, lectures, and award ceremonies downtown at the Graduate School of Business’ Gleacher Center and the Sheraton hotel.
Workshops included such topics as business ethics, black enterpreneurship, and the role of the lobal marketplace for blacks.
One topic at the Global Marketplace workshop was President Bill Clinton’s recent visit to several African nations and recent efforts to facilitate the growth of these nations.
Marvin Zonis, a professor of International Economy at the GSB, discussed the importance of starting out from an area and/or geographic location where [there] is less competition and building the way up.
“Seven or eight countries in Africa will be growing and profitable in the years to come,” he said.
Zonis stressed the students and recent GSB graduates can find opportunities to network and start the foundation for international business opportunities in the future. “David Greer [a first-year student at the GSB] recently left for Cairo, Egypt, another country that is underutilized [in the current market.]”
Greer, who was featured in the February issue of the GSB alumni magazine, aims to own his international business one day.
During the GSB scholarship luncheon, several Hyde Park high school students were honored with Ronald H. Brown awards. Rae Lewis Thornton, a Chicago-based AIDS activist, spoke at the scholarship luncheon. Lewis-Thornton discussed the importance of self-knowledge and personal development.
“She talked about cards, houses and dating successful men, which used to be a priority for her,” said Dale Caldwell, a senior manager at Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group and national director of diversity recruiting for the GSB and Wharton School of Business.
“This is the biggest limiting factor as African-Americans, who are too focused on our own success without thinking about where we have come from and the community as a whole,” he said.
For the evening dinner banquet, Edward Lewis, CEO & Publisher of Essence Magazine, gave the keynote address. Lewis touched on his expansion of Essence Inc. and the importance of support for black-owned businesses.
“Mr. Lewis’ speech was excellent. It was both motivating and inspiring to young entrepreneurs,” said Sherman Galbreath, a fourth-year student in the College.
On the morning of Sunday, April 5, a GSB alumni Brunch was held at the Sheraton. Most attendees and AAMBA members felt the conference could be improved by having a more diverse group of attendees.
“I would like to see other groups attend the conference as well including Hispanics and Asian-Americans. In order for us to succeed, we need to know how to relate to each other,” said Johnnie Watson III, a first-year student in the GSB.
Originally published Tuesday, April 7, 1998
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