Volume Thirty-One • Number Ten • 30 June 2003

Plaza formally openend

The John Watkins Plaza was formally opened on Tuesday 24 June when Mickey Watkins, John Watkins' widow, was the guest of honour.

The Plaza is a manifestation of one of LSE's key aspirations, that of matching quality of environment with quality of teaching and research. The new square outside LSE's library has been transformed from a tarmac area into a pleasant seating and meeting square for students, staff and visitors alike.

In addition, there is also the new Plaza café, serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and snacks and Fairtrade coffee. This is run by the School's catering services, with plans for evening and weekend opening from autumn 2003.

The plaza is named after Professor of Philosophy John Watkins, who taught at LSE from 1950 to 1989. He was Emeritus Professor until his death in 1999. Professor Watkins was a major philosopher with a wide international reputation who, over a 40 year academic career, made key contributions to LSE and the wider academic world.

Funding for the Plaza was given by an anonymous donor in support of the School's Campaign for LSE.

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Farewell party

There is to be a farewell staff party for Tony Giddens on Monday 14 July. Tony steps down as Director in September after six and a half years.

The party, which will take place in the Great Hall, Lincolns Inn, from 6pm to 8.30pm, will feature a band as well as other entertainment.

All staff should have received an invitation a few weeks ago. If you have not already responded, please do so by Monday 30 June or as soon afterwards as possible. If you have any queries, please email: events@lse.ac.uk.

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Celebrating an era

Anthony Giddens became the School's eleventh Director in 1997. Since then, he has strengthened LSE's reputation as a focus for debate which has included a programme of public lectures, talks, seminar, debates, art exhibitions and concerts.

To mark his time here, a booklet, LSE: the place to be, has been produced. This little book records, in pictures and quotes, the variety of important and world-renowned speakers that have come to the School during Tony's directorship.

If you would like a copy of the booklet, please contact Jessica Winterstein, ext 7060, or email her at: j.winterstein@lse.ac.uk and you will be sent a copy.

Alternatively, you can come to the Press Office, 6th floor, Tower One, and pick up a copy.

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Joint venture for LSE

Enterprise LSE has formed a joint venture with Duke Corporate Education to provide specialised custom executive education programmes to meet the business learning needs of companies throughout the world.

Named Duke Corporate Education and Enterprise LSE, the venture will draw upon Duke Corporate Education for a business focus and the academic resources of LSE for a geo-political and economic focus. It will formally begin its work when an office is opened in mid-July in Tower Two.

Duke Corporate Education was named the number one custom corporate educator in the world in the 19 May issue of the Financial Times. By bringing together the strengths of two groups of world-class educators, the venture will offer an unparalleled range of expertise across the fields of management, political science, and social sciences.

To find out more, contact Enterprise LSE, ext 7128, email: enterprise@lse.ac.uk.

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Media bites

• 'Central Europeans, perhaps more than anyone, could persuade highly educated and urban Iraqis that there is now a unique opportunity for self-government. This message is more credible coming from a Pole or a Czech than from an American or a Briton. The Romanian and Serb reformers have experience of dealing with a persistent old guard; all central and eastern European post-communists know what it is to be manhandled by superpowers. The 'New Europeans' genuinely understand the predicament of Iraqis - and have no salient ulterior motive.'
  
  Abby Innes, Financial Times, 17/06/03
   
• 'We need to consider giving the sort of choices to the poor that the middle-class and the better-off have been used to exercising for many years. It looks as though something like this is already happening in London, where patients have been given freedom of choice of hospital for key operations and are not only getting that choice, but getting their operation much quicker than they otherwise would have.'
  
  Julian Le Grand, The Observer, 22/06/03
   
• 'To me the government has a programme that is more focused than that of any other left of centre government in Europe. Its aim is to create and sustain (for the first time) a social democratic consensus in this country, and to integrate this transformation with stable economic growth. Most of the government's current problems in the area of public services come from resistance to reform on the part of vested interest groups, plus the fact that deep-seated change takes time to achieve. Success won't come from the coining of slogans, but from the determination to press on and to make its policies bite.'
  
  Anthony Giddens, The Observer, 22/06/03
   
• 'There is no doubt that Berlusconi's position vis-à-vis other heads of state will be weakened. He can't go to Brussels with his head high and say that he is loved in Italy or that he has never committed a crime because the trial in Milan has merely been suspended.'
  
  Robert Leonardi, The Scotsman on Sunday, 22/6/03
   
• 'President Putin has always been concerned about, first of all, the money that Iraq owes to Russia from the Soviet era, and he will want some kind of undertaking that Blair will support him in his quest to make sure that when Iraq reaches economic development again, that that money will be repaid. He is also concerned about the fact that there were contracts in place with Saddam Hussein that Russia would have a part in the exploitation of the oil fields. And he will want some kind of undertaking, again, that Blair would support his demand that Russia should participate in the restructuring and that those contracts should be upheld.'
  
  Margot Light, Voice of America, 23/06/03

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Evening concert

After the great success of their last concert at the School, the fabulous Allegro Ensemble, comprising violin, double bass, accordion, bandoneon, guitar and piano, is warmly welcomed back with An Evening of Traditional and Modern Tango and Latin American Music.

The performance will take place on Thursday 3 July, 6.30pm, in the Shaw Library, with a programme comprising:

Astor Piazzolla: Michelangelo 70, Lunfardo, Revirado La muerte del Angel, Sentido Unico, Libertango, Soledad; Anibal Troilo: Tres y Dos, Che Bandoneon; Eduardo Blanco: Plegaria; Horacio Malvicino: Buenos Aires Today; Angel Villoldo: El Choclo; Igor Stravinsky: Tango; Carlos Gardel: Tomo y Obligo; and an anonymous piece, Tango of Auschwitz.

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Lights, camera, action

This summer, the School looks set to star in an international movie.

The rooftops of LSE have been chosen as the location for the opening sequences in a new action film called Sons of the Wind. Production company Dan Films plan to be on site from July until late August, with a crew of up to 60 stunt people, technicians and support staff.

The film follows a group of 'urban gymnasts' who excel in daredevil rooftop jumps. The plot has the group based in London, then moving to Bangkok where they become involved in a turf war with martial arts gangs. The stars of the film are are the French troupe of athletes, the Yamakasis, and the director is top French commercials director Julien Séri.

Location manager Algy Sloane said: 'The producer, Julie Baines, asked me to find a location with a variety of rooftops, all interconnected and obviously in London. LSE has proved the right place. We're working closely with School staff to make sure we can maximise the time and potential the location has, taking into account safety and other factors.'

Rachel Ward, LSE conference manager, said: 'In July and August the priority at LSE is Summer Schools. However, this filming should not conflict with Summer School teaching, and provides an extra income boost over a relatively quiet time. We hope School staff and students will also enjoy the buzz of having a film crew around campus.'

For more, see www.danfilms.com, click on Films and then Sons of the Wind. At present the film is scheduled for release in late 2004.

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Trade forum

A two-day conference to discuss trade issues has been organised by the Commonwealth Business Council and LSE's Global Dimensions research programme. It will take place on 7 and 8 July.

Further information is available online at: www.globaldimensions.net. To register, please contact Rocky McKnight, 020 7852 3629, email: r.t.mcknight@lse.ac.uk.

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Exec short courses

After a very successful launch earlier this year, the Open Enrolment programme from LSE Executive Education is continuing in September.

Senior managers from local and international organisations, both in the public and private sectors, have already benefited from attending our courses. These are designed to provide a stimulating environment for participants to engage with their fellow students, update their skills and knowledge, and develop new approaches to the challenges and opportunities facing their organisations.

The September programme will be:

• Modern Economics for Senior Executives. Tutor: Professor Danny Quah

• Financial Analysis and Valuation. Tutor: Drs John Board and Pascal Frantz

• Making Effective Decisions on Complex Issues. Tutor: Professor Larry Phillips

• Public Sector Planning and Organisational Strategy. Tutor: Dr Michael Barzelay.

If you would like further information, please see the website: www.lse-execed.com, or email: exec.ed@lse.ac.uk.

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Workshop

Michael Porter's recent report for the Department of Trade and Industry, UK Competitiveness: moving on to the next stage, promises to become a seminal work.

Illuminating about Britain's recent past, the report is forthright about policies the country needs to face the future.

In order to assess what Porter is saying in more detail, and reflect on the report's strengths and weaknesses, the Business History Unit (BHU) is organising a one day workshop to take place on Wednesday 8 October.

The workshop will feature papers from Nick Crafts, Will Hutton, Geoffrey Owen, Robert Taylor, Nick Tiratsoo, Jim Tomlinson, and John Wilson.

For further details, please see: www.lse.ac.uk/collections/BHU/seminars.htm. Places are limited, so please book early.

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Public lectures

School Public Lecture

Joel Trachtman
The World Trade Organisation, Poverty and 'Global Apartheid'

Tuesday 1 July, 6pm, Old Theatre

Prior to the 2002 Johannesburg Summit, Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa, described the present international distribution of wealth as 'global apartheid'. To what extent in the trade law system complicit in the creation of a system of global apartheid?

Joel Trachtman is professor of international law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is a member of the boards of the American Journal of International Law, the European Journal of International Law and the Berkeley Journal of International Law. He has also consulted for many organisation including the US and the World Bank.

Free and unticketed.
 

LSE Lawyers' Alumni Group

Howard Davies

Thursday 3 July, 6.30pm, Old Theatre

Howard Davies will be speaking on a topic relating to the legal implications of financial regulation.

Free but ticketed.

LSE students can collect a ticket from ODAR, 7th floor, Tower One, LSE staff should email: alumnievents@lse.ac.uk, giving name and room number. A ticket will then be sent through the internal post.
 

School Public Lecture

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil

Monday 14 July, 3.30pm, Old Theatre

The lecture will be given in Portuguese. Translation headsets will be provided.

Free but ticketed. Staff can request tickets online from the events website, students can collect tickets from the LSESU reception. For further information, email: events@lse.ac.uk.

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Value and its place

The Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science is holding a conference on Friday 10 October, 1.30-6pm, and Saturday 11 October, 9.30am-6pm, in the Old Theatre.

Entitled The Place of Value in a World of Facts, the conference will bring together major thinkers in philosophy and the natural and social sciences to debate the foundations of beauty, truth and goodness, and their relevance in the modern world.

What in the world has value? Why do we hold that some things 'ought to be the case', others 'ought not'? Is the concept of 'ought' a human invention, or is value latent in the very structure of the universe? How do humans or any other agents get committed to ethical rules of conduct? If 'you can't get an ought from an is', where can you get it from? Can - or should - science itself be value free?

The conference is set to be a significant event in the life of LSE. Rarely has a group of speakers of such distinction and intellectual range shared a public platform. The speakers are:

Richard Dawkins, Michael Redhead, Jesse Prinz, Philip Kitcher, Frans de Waal, Martin Rees, Simon Blackburn, Anne Harrington, Partha Dasgupta, Daniel Dennett, Oliver Goodenough, Ian Hacking, William Irons, and Elaine Scarry.

The event is open to the public but prior registration is required. If you wish to register, free, call 020 7955 6053 Or visit: www.lse.ac.uk/events.

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Academics abroad

Dr Ernestina Coast, lecturer in population studies in the Social Policy Department, will be a visiting scholar at the African Population and Health Research Center.

The centre is based in Nairobi and Dr Coast will be be visiting there for five months from August. While at the centre, she will be researching HIV/AIDS issues in east Africa, looking especially at the risks faced by rural-urban migrants.

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LSE people

Emeritus Professor Ken Minogue was awarded a Centenary Medal for Services to Political Science by the Australian Federation on Monday 16 June at a special ceremony held at Australia House.

The medal, which is a one-off award in celebratation of 100 years of the Australian Federation, was awarded to those Australians who have made a significant contribution to the bettering of Australia.

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Summer catering

Until further notice, opening times for LSE catering facilities will be as follows:

• Robinson Room: closed
• Café Pepe: closed
• Brunch Bowl: 9am-5pm (Mon-Fri)
• Plaza Café: 9am-6pm (Mon-Fri)
• Beavers Retreat Bar: 12-2pm/5-7pm (Mon-Fri)
• Staff Dining Room (SCR members/guests only)
  • dining room 12.30-2pm (Mon-Fri)
  • coffee bar 10am-4.30pm (Mon-Fri)

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Fictional LSE

Did you know that Jed Bartlett, US president in the popular TV series West Wing, holds an MSc and a PhD from LSE? See: www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/bios/President_Josiah_Bartlet.html, for a biography.

Many thanks to Mike Cushman for bringing this to the attention of News&Views.

If you come across any other 'fictional' mentions of LSE - in books, films or TV, please let the Press Office know. Just email: t.sym@lse.ac.uk.

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Latest CentrePiece

The summer edition of CentrePiece, the thrice-yearly magazine of the Centre for Economic Performance, is now available.

Covering a number of important issues, contributers for this edition are: Andrew Bernanrd, Stephen Redding, Peter Schott and Helen Simpson who look at regional pay differences among skilled workers in their article All is Not Equal, and Hilary Steedman and John West on Clearing the Jungle, their manifesto for vocational education in Britain.

In Good Practice Needs a Helping Hand, Howard Gospel and Jim Foreman argue that employers deserve help in starting joint industrial training schemes while Leon Feinstein looks at the links between pre-school tests and final academic achievement in Very Early Evidence. Lastly, Peter Kenen reflects on the early performance of the European Central Bank in his article Five Years of the ECB.

CentrePiece costs £13 for a yearly subscription (students £8). Individual copies cost £5. For further information or to order a copy, please email: centrepiece@lse.ac.uk.

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Disability equality

Progress report on LSE circles network
Through an informal network based on the work of the national Circles Network, we provide readers, notetakers, social contacts and non-medical support for students with disabilities or dyslexia.

Since February this year, a grant from the EU has funded three part-time project workers who have been developing systems and guidelines for a more structured service.

Plans for next academic year include a Circles website, an email forum, and a programme of training events. In this way, we aim to support students in providing an opportunity for them to support other students.

This will be through a programme of organised opportunities to develop such skills as first aid, touch typing, British sign language, and public speaking.

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Noticeboard

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LSE News & Views is published every Monday during term by the Press & Information Office. Printed by Reprographics Department. The aim is to provide a means of communication for all members of the School as well as news and information about people and activities. Articles, news and photographs are welcome. Contributions should be sent to Toni Sym, Press & Information Office, 6th Floor, Tower 1, to arrive NO LATER THAN ONE WEEK before publication date. All personal ads carry a standard charge of £2 for up to 50 words.

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