NPR Journalist Lisa Mullins Speaks in Kagin Ballroom

Lisa Mullins, host of the National Public Radio daily program "The World," spoke before a crowd exceeding capacity at 7 p.m. in the Kagin Ballroom Tuesday, Feb. 5. Her speech was enitled "America Discusses War: The World Studies America" and was part of the Broadcast Journalist Series that is cosponsored by Macalester and Minnesota Public Radio.

Mullins used tapes from her show of interviews with foreign correspondents to illuminate international perspectives on the impending war with Iraq as well as perceptions of American lifestyle and culture. "We try and find points of contact with the rest of the world," she said of the program.

She also used tapes of her interviews with colleagues to describe the experience of wartime journalism. "Our reporters face tremendous hazards," she said.

Mullins described the international opinion of the United States as "the 500 lb. Gorilla at the table, impossible to ignore," and explaimed to the audience that "America has an image problem."

A question and answer session followed the speech, during which several community members voiced their disapproval of public radio's stance on the impending war. Mullins explained that journalists are obligated to pose countering perspectives to their guests, and that such tactics should not be misconstrued as opinion.

Mullins has been a journalist for 20 years, having worked throughout the United States as well as China, Mexico, Italy, Mexico and Northern Ireland.


Presidential Search Committee Still Searching…

The Presidential Search Committee issued a memorandum on Jan. 29 updating the campus community on the committee's progress. According to the memo, the Position Prospectus, a summary description of the institution and the position, is now on the Presidential Search website which is accessible from the Macalester homepage. The Prospectus has also been mailed to over 2,500 potential candidates, the memo states.

The committee is in the process of expanding the applicant pool, and according to its current schedule will meet in mid-February and mid-March before beginning interviews in April. By May, they hope to be conducting campus visits with finalists. The cooperation and flexibility of the community is requested in the event that such visits can not be scheduled before Commencement weekend.

The memo was written by David A. Ranheim '64, Chair of the Search Committee