April 1, 2004

‘A Day with Northwestern’ brings together leading faculty, distinguished alumni

Consumers advocate David Horowitz and NBC News Correspondent Kelly O’Donnell — both alumni journalists — will highlight the April 17 “A Day with Northwestern in Evanston,” Northwestern Alumni Association’s 35th annual Seminar Day.

Athletic Director Mark Murphy will discuss the challenges in balancing athletic and academic excellence.

photo by Stephen Anzaldi

“A Day with Northwestern” features hour-long sessions by distinguished Northwestern faculty and alumni discussing timely topics in economics and business, journalism, law, music, sports, medicine, arts and entertainment and other subjects.

Horowitz, Fight Back! Inc. and FightBack.com President, is well known for his Emmy Award-winning television series “Fight Back! With David Horowitz.” He will speak at 11:30 a.m. during a keynote presentation at Norris University Center’s Louis Room.

Horowitz will discuss finding truth, trust and honesty in what he considers a consumer world of threats, lies and media hype. He also will suggest practical solutions for fighting back — and winning.

O’Donnell will discuss her recent assignments relating to the war in Iraq, the U.S. presidential campaign and NBC’s “Today” Show at 2:15 p.m. in the Louis Room.

In addition to covering national stories as an anchor for the weekend edition of “Today,” O’Donnell is a substitute weekend anchor on “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” and a contributor to “Dateline NBC.”

If world events prevent O’Donnell’s visit, a program change will be announced.

In addition to keynote talks by Horowitz and O’Donnell, this year’s Seminar Day features hour-long sessions by the following distinguished guests.

• Patrick M. McCarthy, M.D., newly appointed chief of the division of cardiac surgery, co-director of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Cardiovas-cular Institute and professor of surgery, will discuss the ability to correct cardiac disease through surgery.

• Alumnus Brian Westbury, chief economist, Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson, Inc., will discuss the U.S. economy’s shift away from a manufacturing base toward an information age.

• Northwestern Athletic Director Mark Murphy will discuss the challenges facing the athletic program as the Univer-sity strives to balance athletic and academic excellence.

• Alumnus Howard Tullman, president of Kendall College, will address the difficulties of managing people and team issues during aggressive business and organizational change in troubled economic times.

• Michael Kocour, senior lecturer in music performance studies, will explore the artistic progress in America’s contribution to art music.

• Douglass Cassel, clinical professor and director of the Center for International Human Rights, will discuss the current relationship between civil liberties, human rights and the “war” on terrorism.

• Loren Ghiglione, dean of the Medill School of Journal-ism, will focus on unethical journalists who have been making news, rather than reporting it.

• Irwin Weil, professor emeritus of Slavic languages and literatures, will discuss the Russian view of the U.S.

• Alumnus William Savage, English department lecturer, will examine the idea of “Chicago” as a text, something written and re-written over time.

• Laura Kipnis, professor of radio/television/film, will describe the experiences of an academic winding her way through the mass media on her recent book tour.

• Bill Anthony, director of the Study Abroad Office, and two undergraduate study abroad students will present an overview of recent and expected trends and timely issues related to study and research abroad.

Admission is $60 with lunch, or $45 for a half day with lunch. Single sessions are $20.

For more information or to register online, visit www.alumni.northwestern.edu/education.
The registration deadline for Seminar Day is April 9.