NBC correspondent Mitchell will speak

Andrea Mitchell, the chief Congressional correspondent for NBC News, will speak at the University tonight on the current budget crisis and the power struggle between Congress and President Bush. Mitchell, a 1967 College graduate, will appear on NBC Nightly News from Washington at about 6:30 p.m., and then shuttle to the University to speak and answer questions posed by students. "We're expecting a lot of questions about the budget," said Emily Nichols, chairperson of Connaissance, which is among the groups sponsoring the speech. "Right now, all eyes are focused on the budget process in Congress, and I'm sure she'll give a lot of insight." Mitchell's speech kicks off a new Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series. The next part of the series will feature an informal discussion Wednesday night with two members from the rock group The Hooters. The speech will begin at 9:30 p.m. in the Zellerbach Theater. Richard Smith, vice chairperson of Connaissance, said that Mitchell will most likely concentrate on the budget crisis, the balance between Congress and President Bush, and trends in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections. "The budget is her main story now, but she's right on top of all the issues so I'm sure she'll be able to answer just about anything," said Smith, a junior in the College and Wharton. Mitchell began her career as the program director of the University's radio station, WXPN--FM. After graduating, she covered Pennsylvania politics for KYW--AM, Philadelphia's all-news station. In 1978, Mitchell joined NBC News as a Washington-based correspondent. She's covered the Energy Department and energy legislation on Capitol Hill, including reporting on the aftermath of the Three Mile Island incident. Mitchell was a key correspondent covering the 1988 Presidential race, from the Iowa Caucuses to election night. She's also reported on Reagan's 1984 campaign former Vice President Walter Mondale's election campaign in 1980. The Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series began this semester as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations and is co-sponsored by Connaissance, the Student 250th Committee, and the Alumni Relations Student Advisory Committee. Hooters band members Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian and producer Rick Chertoff are expected to talk about censorship in the music industry, their own careers and how they began at the University, and how to get started in music. They will speak Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in the rooftop lounge of High Rise East.

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