Southeastern Massachusetts University - Scrimshaw Yearbook (North Dartmouth, MA)

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SOUTHEASTEBN MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL ECONIVIIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE WTHEASTERN XSSACHUSETTS REGKDNAL ECONOMSC EVELGPMENT iONFE RENCE SMU plays a vital role in the economic life of the region through its colleges and facilities which make professional and teaching services available to commerce and industry. For this reason, the University proudly hosted the first Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Economic Development Conference on January 2O. Present at the conference were: Governor Michael Dukakis and his cabinet, Lt. Governor John Kerry,' U.S. Representative Barney Frank, regional mayors, local labor and civic leadersg university members: and concerned citizens. All had come to discuss the area's oppressive problems candidly in the first open forum of such magnitude ever held in southeastern Massachusetts. Beginning with speeches, the conference soon broke up into four separate workshops consisting of the Governor's cabinet. VVithin these workshops, questions were fielded, issues debated and plans formulated by the cabinet and the conference attendees. Such recognition from the state house made it a big day for SMU. Governor Dukakis stated that SMU will play a critical role in fabricating a regional strategy to encourage economic development in the area. Being the only university in the region, Dukakis states that SMU should serve as the centerpiece for any economic development. The governor said he will seek to encourage the location of high tech firms in the area by building up SMU. This university is an absolutely indespensible ingredient to the future of this region as a place where knowledge based economic growth can occur. lt's a good university now, and we're going to work together to make it a great university - a center for computer literary training, a home for co-operative research and development programs with knowledge- based industries, and a symbol that this region is ready for its economic future, stated Governor Dukakis. SMU was chosen as the conference site not only because of its location and facilities but also in recognition of its expanding partnership with the region in solving its economic problems. SMU has involved itself not only in serving the existing business community, it also played a major role in the effort to bring new high-tech industry to the area. This conference placed SMU at the start of a new and irrevocable relationship with the region of southeastern Massachusetts that is fully backed by the state government.

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campaigning for office were lieutenant governor candidate John Kerry and on behalf of his father, Ted Kennedy Jr. lectured to the SMU audience. Broadening the spectrum of educational lectures were an assortment of special interest speakers. While each of these guests were appealing to their sponsors and related interest groups, they were also offering enlightenment to the general audience. The nature of these lectures become the essence of a university education for those who take full advantage of the opportunities. Above, Tom Jackson makes a point with audience member Kathy Tewig. On the right is Ralph Nader. On November 9, Russell Means, a leader of the American Indian lVlovement, came to SMU to try to disprove at least 491 years of lies about his people and to discuss contemporary industrial society. Addressing a standing room only crowd, Means was at times angry, at times humorous, but he was mostly solemn while talking of the plight of his people. Speaking out against reservations l concentration camps l and the adoption of one out of every four of our children, he concluded that the white man 's treatment of Indians has been a genocide. A strong advocate of women 's rights, he commented on the basic injustice of returning human privileges that should have never been taken away in the first place. March 3 lst marked the discussion with the author of Guerilla Tactics in the Job Market, Tom Jackson. Mr. Jackson spoke of the in's and out's of the job market, Offering sound advice and suggestions for soon-to-be graduates and for those who may be thinking of a career move. In the SMU Auditorium on April 19, Ralph Nader, America's leading consumer , brought his social commentary to the attention of southeastern Massachusetts. lVlr. Nader focused on the function of student activism during the Reagan years and consumer involvement in activist groups and projects such as Mass PIRG. The consumer activist posed the question, why go to school? These days, he said, education is giving people job skills, as defined by big corporations. lf education were teaching skills for the lbettermentl of the economy, we would have more jobs generating small businesses. He encouraged student involvement but warned that Political Activist groups in schools are constantly confronted with opposition. He pointed out that the students are the risk takers. Today, he said, students should realize what a great impact they can have on people. Students are the peak of idealism. They know where to get information and they gather together more easily.

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H UMAN RIGHTS WEEK Being a cultural center, SMU is looked upon by the community as a harbinger for civil and human rights. Recognizing this responsibility, SMU acknowledges February as Black Awareness Month and chooses this month in which to hold its own Human Rights Week from the 14th to the 18th of February. Organizers referred to Human Rights Week as a celebration of the unique similarities and differences of human kind. The affair featured a variety of lectures, films, workshops and performances intended to expose some of human kind's similarities and differences. One of the week 's highlights was a lecture on Human Rights in the 198O's by John G. Healy, executive director of Amnesty international. Amnesty International was the recipient of the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize. The group is a world wide human rights movement which works impartially for the release of prisoners of conscience who have neither used or advocated violence. The feature highlight of the week was a lecture by Pulitzer Prize winning author Alex Haley. lVlr. Haley's book, Roots, was the biggest best seller in U.S. publishing history. His lecture was centered on The Family and Human Rights. He discussed the origin of prejudice in children, all alike in innocence, who receive impressions from society. He told of how children learn names for people and attach adjectives and nicknames that they hear other people use, we tend, so many of us, without ever really thinking about it, to grow up and become adults and go across the whole of our lives, very often entertaining some entirely erroneous, fallacious impression of a whole group or groups of people who we never know really, for ourselves, anything about. What we need so desperately to know above everything else at all is, we need so desperately to know about each other. In this country, the various groupings that we have, we spend so much time, so much energy, pointing out the differences between us that we 're almost obscured to how alike we are. W f . . 1 P 51. Below left: John Healy, left and below: Black Student Union members present Alex Haley with a token of their love, admiration and appreciation.