Student Activists Plan to Interrupt Alan Greenspan

The Living Wage Campaign and the Coalition Against Sexual Violence are planning to protest tomorrow's Commencement Day exercises, but they pledge to respect the solemnity of the occasion.

Organizers say they "will not disrupt [the official graduation exercises] but every single person will know [we're there]."

Then, in the afternoon, the Living Wage Campaign will join forces with the Coalition Against Sexual Violence to stage a "counter-Commencement," to protest speaker Alan Greenspan's economic policies and his selection as speaker.

"I think Alan Greenspan represents the most dismal future we can choose," said Amy C. Offner '01 of the Coalition.

Demonstrators said they will walk out about 10 minutes into Greenspan's speech, and then march across Mass. Ave. to Holyoke Center, where they will stage a counter-Commencement rally.

Organizers, who will be massed toward the front of the audience, will raise orange and red balloons as a signal for the walk-out to begin.

Organizers expect 100 to 200 students to participate in the walk-out.

Student and Faculty speakers will then address the assembled crowd at the counter-Commencement. Lecturer on Women's Studies Juliet B. Schor will be speaking. Organizers have also approached Fletcher University Professor Cornel R. West '74; Warburg Professor of Economics, Emeritus John Kenneth Galbraith; and Professor of Law Lani Guinier '71.

According to organizers, West expressed an interest in participating earlier in the year but has not yet confirmed, Guinier has not yet replied, and Galbraith will not be able to attend due to illness.

Event organizers said the Living Wage Campaign and the Coalition have joined forces not to further each organization's specific goals, but to demonstrate against a common enemy: Greenspan.

Daniel R. Morgan '99, a member of the Living Wage Campaign, said Greenspan's fiscal policies, including bolstering the stock market and keeping wages stagnant, are in part respon- sible for the economic inequality that makesthe Campaign necessary.

"All these fiscal policies work to promote aneconomy in which the needs of most people are notmet," Morgan said.

Organizers also said they believe thatGreenspan's selection betrays the liberal artsmission of the University because it propagatesthe concept of University as pre-professionalbusiness organization.

Morgan called Harvard a "breeding ground" forfuture financial managers, and he said he feelsthe University's selection of Greenspan places anundue emphasis on business.

"[Harvard says] the Wall Street model of careeris the best one," Morgan said. "We're being pushedtoward investment banking and consulting."

At the ceremony, students will wear brightorange stickers on their mortar boards tocontradict this image.

Some of the stickers will read, "Leaders notBankers," "Build on Your Education, Don't Bank onIt," and "I-Bank, Therefore I Am?"

Organizers pledge to respect all of Harvard'srules and regulations and will uphold Greenspan'sright to free speech.

As a result, they do not expect anyintervention on the part of the University.

"Interrupting us would be a much biggerspectacle than they would want," Morgan said. "Idon't expect them legally or pragmatically toprevent us from walking out."

Organizers also said they plan to launch amajor publicity campaign at both today's Class Dayexercises and tomorrow's Commencement.

Alumni will be the major target of theleaf-letting campaign. Morgan said he hopes thecampaign will inspire a groundswell of alumnisupport to sway the University's opposition toadopting a living wage.

"We're asking alumni to pledge not to give toHarvard until Harvard adopts a living wage," hesaid.

Organizers said they hope the Commencementrally will launch a summer of campaigns.

"People are becoming more and more aware ofeconomic injustice at Harvard," Offner said. "Ithink next year will be a really great year-Ithink [the campaign] will be really strong.

"All these fiscal policies work to promote aneconomy in which the needs of most people are notmet," Morgan said.

Organizers also said they believe thatGreenspan's selection betrays the liberal artsmission of the University because it propagatesthe concept of University as pre-professionalbusiness organization.

Morgan called Harvard a "breeding ground" forfuture financial managers, and he said he feelsthe University's selection of Greenspan places anundue emphasis on business.

"[Harvard says] the Wall Street model of careeris the best one," Morgan said. "We're being pushedtoward investment banking and consulting."

At the ceremony, students will wear brightorange stickers on their mortar boards tocontradict this image.

Some of the stickers will read, "Leaders notBankers," "Build on Your Education, Don't Bank onIt," and "I-Bank, Therefore I Am?"

Organizers pledge to respect all of Harvard'srules and regulations and will uphold Greenspan'sright to free speech.

As a result, they do not expect anyintervention on the part of the University.

"Interrupting us would be a much biggerspectacle than they would want," Morgan said. "Idon't expect them legally or pragmatically toprevent us from walking out."

Organizers also said they plan to launch amajor publicity campaign at both today's Class Dayexercises and tomorrow's Commencement.

Alumni will be the major target of theleaf-letting campaign. Morgan said he hopes thecampaign will inspire a groundswell of alumnisupport to sway the University's opposition toadopting a living wage.

"We're asking alumni to pledge not to give toHarvard until Harvard adopts a living wage," hesaid.

Organizers said they hope the Commencementrally will launch a summer of campaigns.

"People are becoming more and more aware ofeconomic injustice at Harvard," Offner said. "Ithink next year will be a really great year-Ithink [the campaign] will be really strong.