News Brief: Wednesday, March 8, 2000

Nader to speak on campus today "As Ralph Nader just recently announced his candidacy for president, we thought bringing him to campus would be both a good way to promote his campaign and to remind people that there are cases of individuals who can protect the public interest against corporate irresponsibility," said College freshman Emily Quesada, a PSAS member. Nader, 66, is making his second presidential run as a Green Party candidate, having campaigned in 1996 on a self-imposed $5,000 budget. Nader is probably best known as a consumer, environmental and citizen advocate. He first achieved national attention for authoring a book on unsafe practices in the automobile industry. Its publication preceded his testimony at congressional hearings in 1966 that led to the passage of Federal motor vehicle and highway safety laws. Since then, Nader has written and lectured about corporate wrongdoing and unregulated power, environmental degradation, government secrecy and consumers' and workers' rights. He has also organized several citizen groups, which became known as "Nader's Raiders," to investigate industries and the government. Philadelphia City Councilman David Cohen, who has previously supported PSAS and its attempts to bring sweatshop labor abuses to the attention of the Penn administration, will also speak at the event. Nader last came to Penn in October as part of ECOnference 2000, the largest event ever held for student environmentalists. -- Chris Bordelon