World Bank head draws protesters

Protest was not listed in the program for yesterday's forum with World Bank President James Wolfensohn -- but that didn't stop local anarchists from adding it to the agenda.

Security for Wolfensohn's appearance was tight. Before the annual Granoff Forum began, there were close to half a dozen uniformed police in and around Zellerbach Theatre, as well as several plainclothes security personnel.

Still, several protesters -- most of whom were not Penn students -- did manage to gain entrance to the forum. But despite the contingent of protesters in the audience, Wolfensohn was able to deliver his prepared remarks without incident.

The former investment banker opened by remarking on the current war in Iraq, noting that it is too early to assess the war's impact on the World Bank, but also stressing that "our world is going to be reshaped."

Wolfensohn also lamented the problems that scandals at companies like Enron have created for the World Bank as it tries to encourage developing nations to eliminate corruption.

"Recently, the events in corporate America have made it difficult to use the United States as an example," he said.

In his closing remarks, Wolfensohn highlighted the challenges facing his organization.

"The issues today are of equity, social justice, poverty and ultimately peace," he said. "Unless we deal with those issues, your children are going to be handed a world that's a lot less good than we have today."

The attack on Wolfensohn began after only a few questions from the audience.

"I'm actually appalled," said Philadelphia resident Peter Kropotkin, "that you are able to sit there and lie to these people and say that the World Bank is a success."

School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston responded angrily to Kropotkin's comments, saying it was "a very inappropriate time for sermons."

Protesters also distributed pamphlets outside Zellerbach featuring a mailman saying, "I've got a news flash! CAPITALISM IS WAR!" on the cover.

Mike Bakunin -- a protester who had been booed away from the microphone after calling Wolfensohn a "rich scumbag" -- also gave Wolfensohn a harsh critique.

"I think that he's pretty typical of the charming figurehead that they put in front of the public, giving people a nicely packaged set of lies," he said.

However, few audience members agreed with the protesters, and most questions were more positively framed.

"I think the World Bank makes a lot of positive contributions to emerging economies," said Brian English, a graduate student in the Graduate School of Fine Arts.

"He seemed very sincere, and his background seems to indicate that he cares about developing nations," he added.

Tickets for the event were only picked up with a Penn ID at a temporary box office set up outside the building, and backpacks were not allowed inside -- causing several students to be turned away at the doors.

Inside Zellerbach, seats in the orchestra section had been removed and a barrier wall had been erected, creating an empty space in front of the stage that stretched about 25 feet.

Wolfensohn is a friend of College alumnus Michael Granoff, who sponsors the annual forum on globalization.

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