Dukakis leads political discussion series As part of an ongoing lecture series titled “Campaign 2004,” former Gov. Michael Dukakis, political science professor William Mayer and former columnist for the Boston Globe and MSNBC political analyst David Nyhan offered their views on the upcoming election last Wednesday. Drawing from his own experience on the campaign trail, Dukakis, the 1988 democratic presidential nominee, said, “Running for the presidency is the toughest thing you will ever have to do as a politician.” Mayer, faculty advisor to the NU College Republicans, began the discussion and focused on the economy. Mayer said he feels Bush has “handled challenges facing his presidency effectively,” including corporate scandal and September 11. After criticizing the Bush administration for its handling of the economy and the war in Iraq, Nyhan touched on the recent ads attacking democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry for his service in Vietnam. The panel was co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the University Libraries. The next panel discussion will be “Religion at the Ballot Box” with Dukakis and other speakers on Oct. 21 in 335 Shillman.
Forum details Iraq experience As a freelance contributor to GQ Magazine, Sean Flynn spent two weeks following Jerry Burke, a former major in the Massachusetts State Police currently serving in Iraq. At a Ford Hall Forum event Sept. 29, Flynn told the audience at the Raytheon Amphitheater about his experience overseas. “I figured … that we were just hearing the bad stuff,” Flynn said of his thinking before going to Iraq. “Then I got there and it was worse by a magnitude of 10.” Burke was one of 12 American civilians sent to assess law enforcement systems in Iraq last May. The next Ford Hall Forum, “Thirty Years After School Busing: Where Do We Go Next?” will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Old South Meeting House.
Former African pres. speaks at O’Bryant The former president of the Republic of Mauritius, Karl Auguste Offmann, spoke at the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute Thursday night. The former president of the African island off the coast of Madagascar shared with a crowd of students, faculty members and others his beliefs on unity and his socio-economic policy, which he said was based on reaching a harmony while in a struggling economic state within a multi-cultural society. Offmann, who is currently the Lloyd G. Balfour African president-in-residence at Boston University’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center, told the crowd in his speech that “social rank does not matter, rather social well being does.”
International students learn to network International students were given advice on how to network in the United States on Friday in preparation for the upcoming career fairs. The seminar called “Networking at Career Fair for International Students” included discussions on visa status, employment options and how students can use their international experience to their best advantage. Associate Director of Career Services Ketty Rosenfeld, along with several international alumni who are currently working in the United States, were present to provide guidance, instruction and preparation to a room full of international undergraduate and graduate students. “International Students bring a diversified culture and perspective to the workplace,” Rosenfeld said. Over 90 companies are expected to be at the Career Fair for Business, Engineering and Technology today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cabot Cage.
CUP announces Homecoming theme The Council for University Programs announced the theme for Homecoming Week 2004: “Where everybody knows your name.” The week of events, focusing on student organization spirit and Husky pride, begins Monday, Oct. 25 and runs though Saturday, Oct. 30, Homecoming day. Events will include a banner and parade float competition, homecoming royalty events and voting, free food and activities in Krentzman Quad and on Centennial Common, home hockey and football games and comedian Lewis Black in Blackman Auditorium. Information packets regarding entries into the banner competition and Homecoming Day Parade will be sent to student groups this week. Student organization nominations for Homecoming king and queen are also included in the packet, which is due Oct. 12.
OSCCR director to leave for MIT Another Northeastern official will be leaving the university Oct. 29 to join the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After four years of serving as the director of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR), Bill Fischer said he will begin his new position as associate dean of student conduct and risk management at MIT Nov. 1. Fischer said he was excited about his new job but was sad about leaving Northeastern. “It was a very difficult decision … it’s a promotion in terms of job responsibility and salary and at the end of the day it was impossible to turn up,” he said. Fischer will be joining former ResLife officials M.L. Langlie and Andy Ryder who also took positions at MIT.
