Ralph Nader to speak on campus
By JULIA MILLER-LEMON
News Writer
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader will address the Notre Dame community today at 3 p.m. in the Jordan Auditorium of the Mendoza College of Business.
Titled "Legislating Corporate Ethics," the talk is sponsored by the Notre Dame Law School and is part of the business lecture series.
Nader ran for president in 2000 as a Green Party candidate and has been a prominent figure in consumer issues. He founded organizations responsible for the establishment of several major federal consumer protection agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Administration.
Numerous other consumer-actions groups, such as the Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen, the Clean Water Action Project, Disability Rights Center and the Project for Corporation Responsibility, were all started by the Study for Responsible Law, Nader's original research organization.
Organizers said that Nader is expected to speak about the plausibility of legislating ethics at the corporate level and the effect that such legislation would have on the business world.
Nader has recently headed an effort to create a new organization to set standards for corporate accountants.
Lisa Casey, a Notre Dame law professor, said Nader will most likely address Wall Street scandals that have occurred over the past year and the need for legislation that will better protect consumers and their interests. Since the admission of false profits and the demise of Enron last year, the accounts of other major corporations have come under close scrutiny and more scandals have been revealed, leading many to question the integrity of corporate America.
Andrew Casad, the facilitator of Notre Dame Greens, said that he's very excited to hear Nader's thoughts on responsible business ethics, especially since Nader is commonly regarded as "America's most well-known consumer advocate."
"The progressive issues don't get enough attention on campus, so it should be a very interesting lecture," Casad said.
Nader received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1955, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1958.
All News Stories for Wednesday, March 26, 2003
