http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/03/28/3e8424135909f
[Shannon Jensen/The Daily Pennsylvanian]
World Bank head draws protesters
By Greg Maughan
March 28, 2003
Protest was not listed in the program for yesterday's forum with
World Bank President James Wolfensohn -- but that didn't stop local
anarchists from adding it to the agenda.
Security for Wolfensohn's appearance was tight. Before the annual
Granoff Forum began, there were close to half a dozen uniformed
police in and around Zellerbach Theatre, as well as several
plainclothes security personnel.
Still, several protesters -- most of whom were not Penn students --
did manage to gain entrance to the forum. But despite the contingent
of protesters in the audience, Wolfensohn was able to deliver his
prepared remarks without incident.
The former investment banker opened by remarking on the current war
in Iraq, noting that it is too early to assess the war's impact on
the World Bank, but also stressing that "our world is going to be
reshaped."
Wolfensohn also lamented the problems that scandals at companies like
Enron have created for the World Bank as it tries to encourage
developing nations to eliminate corruption.
"Recently, the events in corporate America have made it difficult to
use the United States as an example," he said.
In his closing remarks, Wolfensohn highlighted the challenges facing
his organization.
"The issues today are of equity, social justice, poverty and
ultimately peace," he said. "Unless we deal with those issues, your
children are going to be handed a world that's a lot less good than
we have today."
The attack on Wolfensohn began after only a few questions from the
audience.
"I'm actually appalled," said Philadelphia resident Peter Kropotkin,
"that you are able to sit there and lie to these people and say that
the World Bank is a success."
School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston responded angrily to
Kropotkin's comments, saying it was "a very inappropriate time for
sermons."
Protesters also distributed pamphlets outside Zellerbach featuring a
mailman saying, "I've got a news flash! CAPITALISM IS WAR!" on the
cover.
Mike Bakunin -- a protester who had been booed away from the
microphone after calling Wolfensohn a "rich scumbag" -- also gave
Wolfensohn a harsh critique.
"I think that he's pretty typical of the charming figurehead that
they put in front of the public, giving people a nicely packaged set
of lies," he said.
However, few audience members agreed with the protesters, and most
questions were more positively framed.
"I think the World Bank makes a lot of positive contributions to
emerging economies," said Brian English, a graduate student in the
Graduate School of Fine Arts.
"He seemed very sincere, and his background seems to indicate that he
cares about developing nations," he added.
Tickets for the event were only picked up with a Penn ID at a
temporary box office set up outside the building, and backpacks were
not allowed inside -- causing several students to be turned away at
the doors.
Inside Zellerbach, seats in the orchestra section had been removed
and a barrier wall had been erected, creating an empty space in front
of the stage that stretched about 25 feet.
Wolfensohn is a friend of College alumnus Michael Granoff, who
sponsors the annual forum on globalization.