You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

Globalization and Social Responsibility Conference to focus on grassroots groups

By Kathleen Schindler '06
February 18, 2003

Many people throughout the world perceive globalization as a serious threat to their jobs, income, health, local environment, national identity or some aspect of their personal identity, be it religious, cultural or ethnic.

To address those concerns, and provide a forum for dialogue, St. Olaf College is presenting the 2003 Globalization and Social Responsibility Conference this Thursday through Saturday. The event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the St. Olaf faculty of social and applied sciences, this third annual conference will explore the impact of globalization from the perspectives of people whose lives are being negatively affected by the global economy.

The conference is intended to explore issues raised by grassroots groups, encourage participants to examine the legitimacy of the claims and counterclaims, and consider personal activities or public policies to address these concerns.

Guest presenters include: · William S. Reese, 2002-03 Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow to St. Olaf College and International Youth Foundation chief operating officer, who will speak on "America's Role in the Changing World" at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Boe Memorial Chapel;

· A panel presentation, "Putting Principles into Practice," on Friday at 3:45 p.m. in Buntrock Commons, Black and Gold Ballroom, and featuring Joe Bock of the Refugee Committee and Larry Weis of the Resource Center of the Americas;

· Sharon Shepela, professor of psychology at Hartford Women's College and visiting scholar at the Clark University Center for Holocaust Studies, who will address "Guts Takes Practice: Raising Moral Children and Transforming Adults" at 8 a.m. Saturday in Boe Memorial Chapel, room 101;

· Mark Rupert, international relations and political economics faculty at Syracuse University and author of Producing Hegemony and Ideologies of Globalization, who will speak on "Global Politics for the 21st Century" at 11 a.m. Saturday in Buntrock Commons, Black and Gold Ballroom.

A variety of breakout sessions also will be held Saturday morning at the college. For a complete list, go to http://www.stolaf.edu/services/conferences/global/index.html.

St. Olaf College, a national leader among liberal arts institutions, fosters the development of mind, body and spirit. It is a residential college in Northfield, Minn., and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college provides personalized instruction and diverse learning environments, with nearly two-thirds of its students participating in international studies.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.