10/17/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Donna J. Wood, David W, Wilson Chair in Business Ethics at UNI, (319) 273-2196

Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

Note to editors/news directors: A 200 dpi JPEG image of Donna Wood is available at http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/wood.jpg

 

UNI conference on business ethics to tackle corporate America's recent problems

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host a conference on ethics, "Beyond Enron: A Crisis of Capitalism," from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 11 in Lang Hall Auditorium.

Donna Wood, who holds the university's first David W. Wilson Chair in Business Ethics, said the conference will address what many perceive as an epidemic of shady business practices in corporate America.

"The crisis in capitalism -- think Enron, Arthur Andersen, WorldCom, Tyco, ImClone, and so many more -- is deep and widespread," said Wood. "Without transparency and good information, how can investors, employees and others trust in our companies? Without trust, can a company, or capitalism itself, survive? What is required to restore and sustain trust in America¹s corporations?  This conference will address what we as individuals, investors, employees, managers and citizens can do."

A number of prestigious, well-versed speakers will participate. They are Norm Bowie, Elmer Andersen Professor of Corporate Responsibility, University of Minnesota; Charles Grassley, U.S. senator;

Marjorie Kelly, editor-in-chief, "Business Ethics" magazine; Robert Koob, president, UNI; Jack Krogstad, former research director of the Treadway Commission, and professor at Creighton University; John Mahon, chair of International Business Policy and Strategy at the University of Maine; John Meyer, senior vice president, controller and chief ethics officer at Sprint; John Sorensen, president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association; Tim Throndson, International Tax Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers; David W. Wilson, president and CEO, Wilson Automotive Group in California and Arizona; and Wood.

"We expect an afternoon of lively discussion, resulting in broader and deeper understanding of the problems and possibilities facing a number of stakeholders such as investors, employees, communities and retirees," Wood explained.  

UNI is home to one of the largest and most prominent contingents of scholars in the field of business ethics and responsibility, according to Farzad Moussavi, interim dean of the university's College of Business Administration (CBA). "We have the obligation and the standing to convene this important conference of discussion and learning about what needs to happen to restore the health and vigor of democratic capitalism," he said.

Further, as a result of a $1 million gift from UNI alumnus David W. Wilson of Laguna, Calif., the university boasts an endowed chair of business ethics, shared by the colleges of humanities and fine arts, and business administration. James Lubker, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, said the chair, established in 2000, "enables UNI students to obtain a unique perspective on how ethics guide the decision-making process both in business and in everyday life."

            For more information about the conference, contact UNI's Conferences and Event Services, (319) 273-6899.

 

 

10/17/02

News Brief

Following is a story lead and the University of Northern Iowa sources who can best address this topic. Feel free to contact the sources directly.

UNI professor says illegal alien tragedy could have been prevented

Earlier this week, Iowa made national news when the bodies of 11 illegal aliens were found in a railcar near Denison. Authorities surmise the individuals were trapped in the car as they tried to come into the country illegally.

Mark Grey, UNI professor of anthropology and director of the New Iowans program, a highly successful effort designed to help Iowans work with immigrant populations, says it will become increasingly important for the state -- and the nation -- to communicate with immigrants and those who want to migrate.

"This tragedy would have been less likely to happen if our nation welcomed immigrants as people first and not just as labor," said Grey. "The poverty and desperation that drives so many immigrants to the United States and Iowa, forced these people to risk and ultimately lose their lives. Yet, this tragedy could have been prevented if we had sent a clear message that they are welcomed in our communities rather than forcing them into life-threatening situations."

Grey and his colleague Anne Woodrick have produced three books about welcoming immigrants to Iowa, one for citizens and community leaders; one for businesses, and one for Christian churches (co-sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa). All three are on the Web at: www.bcs.uni.edu/idm/newiowans/

Contact:

Mark Grey, professor of anthropology and director of the New Iowans program, (319) 273-3029

Sarai Beck, executive director, Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, (515) 255-5905

James O'Connor, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

 

 

10/17/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

C. David Christensen, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, (319) 273-2760

Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761     

Chilean teachers visit UNI to learn about science education

CEDAR FALLS -- A group of 21 elementary and middle-school science teachers from Chile will spend five weeks at the University of Northern Iowa as part of a major education reform effort in that country.

            The teachers will be on campus Monday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Nov. 22. During their stay, they will learn about teaching strategies that support active learning in science, as well as physical science lessons and life science lessons that use the same approach. They will observe these strategies being used in classrooms at UNI's Malcolm Price Laboratory School.

C. David Christensen, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, is the program co-director. He said the teachers also will learn methods of teaching science that help the learner build meaning through "hands-on and minds-on experiences." UNI instructors for the program are Larry Escalada, assistant professor of physics; Tim Cooney, professor of earth science; Cherin Lee, associate professor of biology, Jody Stone, associate professor of teaching; Leigh Zeitz, associate professor of educational technology; Greg Stefanich, professor of science education; Linda McCartney, adjunct instructor of curriculum and instruction, Carmen Montecinos, co-director and professor of educational psychology; and Christensen.

This is the fifth year UNI has participated in the program, which is funded through a contract with the Chilean Ministry of Education.

          

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10/17/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Karen Mitchell, UNI associate professor of communication studies, (319) 273-2640

James O'Connor, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

Upcoming play at UNI challenges racism

            CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- "Just Living: White Men Challenging Racism," will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 24-26, by the Interpreters Theatre, in room 40 of Lang Hall at the University of Northern Iowa.

            The play is based on the book "White Men Challenging Racism:  Thirty-five Personal Stories" by Harry Brod, UNI professor of religion and director of the University Honors Program; Cooper Thompson, diversity educator in Cambridge, Mass.; and Emmet Schafer, faculty member at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.  It was adapted for the stage and directed by Lucas Messer, a UNI graduate student from Danville, and Jana Gymer-Koch, a UNI graduate student from Coon Rapids.

            "Just Living" attempts to demystify the role of racism through a series of interviews.            Admission is free.  For further information, contact Karen Mitchell at (319) 273-2640.

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