MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

April 4, 2004

Experts on Empowerment, World Issues Speak at Seminar Day

EVANSTON, Ill. --- David Horowitz, consumer advocate and president and CEO of Fight Back! Inc., and Kelly O’Donnell, NBC News correspondent, will headline Northwestern Alumni Association’s “A Day with Northwestern in Evanston” -- the 35th Annual Seminar Day on Saturday, April 17.

The event is open to the public and will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Northwestern University’s Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston campus.

Admission to the daylong event is $60 with lunch or $45 for a half-day with lunch. Single sessions are $20 each. Tickets for students are available at a special rate of $5 for all day with lunch.

Horowitz, the luncheon and keynote speaker, will empower attendees by providing solutions to what he calls “media hype and lies,” during his 11:30 a.m. talk, “Wake up America: The Alarm Clock is Ringing,” in the Louis Room. A Northwestern alumnus, Horowitz is well known for his Emmy Award-winning television series, “Fight Back! With David Horowitz.” He also is the president and chief executive officer of Fight Back! Inc. and Fightback.com. Horowitz has written syndicated newspaper columns and best-selling books and has been featured in national media television programs.

O’Donnell, featured speaker and Northwestern alumna, will discuss her experiences as a reporter in her session, “On Assignment,” at 2:15 p.m. in the Louis Room.

O’Donnell covers national stories as a news anchor for the weekend edition of “Today.” She also is a substitute weekend anchor on “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” and contributor to “Dateline NBC.” Her timely talk will include her experiences with the war in Iraq, the presidential campaign trail and election, the “Today Show” news desk and other world events.

In response to this year’s attempt to attract more students to “A Day with Northwestern,” O’Donnell will host a reception for young alumni and students. The dessert and coffee reception will immediately follow her session and will run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

A variety of seminars, thought-provoking discussions and demonstrations of cutting-edge technology will also be presented by Northwestern faculty and alumni. Other sessions will include:

• Brian Wesbury, chief economist at Griffin, Kubik, Stephens, & Thompson, Inc. and Kellogg School of Management alumnus, will return by popular demand to share his insights on the U.S. economic future in this election year.

• Laura Kipnis, professor, radio/television/film, School of Communication, will describe her experiences as an academic navigating the mass media on her most recent book tour for “Against Love: A Polemic.”

• Irwin Weil, professor emeritus, department of Slavic languages and literatures, Northwestern’s Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, will discuss how the American experience is viewed through a Russian eye.

• Mark Murphy, director of University athletics and recreation, will discuss the challenges facing the athletic program as the University strives to balance academics and athletics, as well as address the changes occurring in intercollegiate athletics nationally.

“This, our 35th year, promises to be the best to date for ‘A Day with Northwestern in Evanston,’” said Alexis H. Sarkisian, chair of this year’s event. “The topics are timely and exciting, and the board has organized an outstanding program of faculty and alumni speakers who represent the best of Northwestern. We invite all to attend for an enjoyable and stimulating day of learning. There is definitely something for everyone.”

Detailed information and registration is available on the Northwestern Alumni Association Web site at www.alumni.northwestern.edu/education.