U. sponsors business forum

Should they choose, University students can bask in the glow of some of the world's greatest business and political minds -- in Penn's own backyard. The first-ever Wharton Global Business Forum -- a three-day event -- kicks off tonight at the downtown Curtis Center. Condoleeza Rice, the former Stanford University provost who would likely serve as national security adviser if George W. Bush wins the presidency, will address the audience. Previously held as six individual Wharton conferences, the forum will combine representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe, India and Latin America and is being organized by Wharton and the Lauder Institute. "We wanted to do something international, since over 40 percent of Wharton and Lauder students are international," Wharton staff member and event coordinator Anhna Vuong said. "Why not leverage the Wharton name, bring in top speakers and make it a high-profile event at Penn?" Luminaries attending the event include Chinese Ambassador Li Zhaoxing, China.com Chief Executive Officer Peter Yip and Alberto Dahik, the former vice president of Ecuador. "We wanted a high caliber of speakers, not a consultant one year out of Penn," Vuong explained. Some issues common to many of the panels include the effects of the Internet and advanced telecommunications, e-Commerce and funding strategies. Students on the organizing committee have spent six months choosing topics and then arranging for speakers. The gala is expected to draw 800 people, with 1,200 people expected for the panel discussions themselves. Students from more than 20 universities will be in attendance, including representatives from Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, Dartmouth and Duke. "One of the primary purposes is to be an outreach program for Wharton -- both for the Penn community and the larger Philadelphia community," second-year Lauder Institute student and Eastern European Committee Chair David Poritzky said. A career fair with global companies is being held as part of the forum on Saturday night. "We hope to collaborate with other schools eventually, such as the Fels Center," Vuong said. "But no other school is able to leverage their name like Wharton can to get corporate sponsorships," he added. Registration information can be found at http://www.whartonglobal.com. "We'd like for people to leave the conference knowing that the world goes beyond America's borders to other corners of the world," Vuong said.