Thatcher to talk politics in Comm 226

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher will discuss the New World Order in a speech to students in Annenberg Dean Kathleen Jamieson's Communications 226 class next month. Jamieson's students are eager to see Thatcher in the flesh. "I think it's very exciting," said College junior Susan Feigenbaum. "Especially because the class is putting a lot of emphasis on women in politics." According to Jamieson, Thatcher is a prime example of an important woman leader. "I've always wanted to bring major women figures here," Jamieson said. "And Margaret Thatcher is the most unusual and powerful speaker I've ever seen." Students said they could not remember having a speaker as famous as Thatcher at the University. "I was amazed that we could get someone like Margaret Thatcher in our class," College senior Dave Quinton said. Jamieson and Women's Studies Chair Carroll Smith-Rosenberg, however, will not rest on their laurels after bringing Thatcher to campus. "I would hope to bring every living woman head of state to Penn," Jamieson said. "We hope to have Benazir Bhutto some time soon." According to Jamieson, Thatcher will be speaking for about 40 minutes on the "new world order," and will answer students' questions for 20 minutes afterwards. She added that this is not the first occasion that Thatcher was expected to appear on campus, but this time will be the first that it actually will occur. "Thatcher is a personal friend of [former Ambassador to England] Walter Annenberg," said Jamieson. "She's coming to speak as a personal favor to him." Jamieson explained that she met with Thatcher when she was on business in England to finalize the arrangements. Any interested students not in her class will also be given the chance to see Thatcher, Jamieson said. For security reasons, students must bring a University ID and sign up in the Annenberg main office by Tuesday. She will be speaking at the Harrison Auditorium at the University Museum on February 4 at 1:00 p.m.