Dartmouth
Dartmouth plays host to a Republican primary debate tomorrow, focusing solely on the economy. Here's a page of events for those in the local area. I'll be on Bloomberg TV tomorrow morning (around 10) as host Margaret Brennan broadcasts from the Green. [Update -- I blogged too soon. I've been bumped.] From the Washington Post's overview:
The Washington Post and Bloomberg TV, in partnership with WBIN-TV and host Dartmouth College, present the first debate of the 2012 campaign focused exclusively on the issue that matters most to American voters: the economy. Join us here on washingtonpost.com/debate on Tuesday, October 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET for the first debate to focus on the how to solve the nation's debt crisis and economic problems.
Dartmouth is sponsoring a lecture series this summer on "Leading Voices in Politics and Policy," which is integrated with one of our courses in public policy. (Most students who are rising juniors are on campus for their "sophomore summer.") I will be on stage with Secretary Geithner to moderate a Question and Answer session focusing on fiscal policy. This couldn't be more timely. If you are in town, come by Spaulding Auditorium at 4:00 p.m. For the rest, you can link to the livecast of the event and learn more about the series here.
And here's the video:
It has been all Commencement, all the time, at Dartmouth for the past week. I thought he was an unusual choice, but Conan O'Brien delivered as the keynote speaker. Here's the part of his speech where he pivoted from comedy to something more:
Eleven years ago I gave an address to a graduating class at Harvard. I have not spoken at a graduation since because I thought I had nothing left to say. But then 2010 came. And now I'm here, three thousand miles from my home, because I learned a hard but profound lesson last year and I'd like to share it with you. In 2000, I told graduates "Don't be afraid to fail." Well now I'm here to tell you that, though you should not fear failure, you should do your very best to avoid it. Nietzsche famously said "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." But what he failed to stress is that it almost kills you. Disappointment stings and, for driven, successful people like yourselves it is disorienting. What Nietzsche should have said is "Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you watch a lot of Cartoon Network and drink mid-price Chardonnay at 11 in the morning."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the inaugural Presidential Lecture at Dartmouth yesterday. It was a very engaging hour, spent roughly half in lecture mode and half in Q&A. I think mayors are fascinating people to put in front of students. Most public policy issues have a local dimension, and in many cases -- health, education, the environment, for example -- local actors will play very important roles. And mayors are the people we elect to get things done. According to Bloomberg, what's the most important public policy issue facing the nation? Immigration.
Enjoy!
It has been all inauguration, all the time at Dartmouth these past couple of days, as President Jim Yong Kim takes office on campus here. One of the events hosted as part of the celebration was a panel on leadership featuring General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt '78, Brown University president Ruth Simmons, Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter, Dartmouth Trustee chair and Freddie Mac head Ed Haldeman '70, and global health pioneer Paul Farmer MD. The panel was moderated by Tuck School of Business Professor Sydney Finkelstein. It runs about 90 minutes and is available here:
Enjoy!
