Chicago Society

Chicago Society (founded 2001) is a recognized student organization at the University of Chicago. It hosts speakers in a wide variety of fields, from politics and economics to music and art. Chicago Society events vary greatly in scale, from small private gatherings to large public conferences. Chicago Society brings top speakers from all over the world to the University of Chicago, providing forums for discussion and debate on a multitude of issues.

Past Conferences

Chicago Society has hosted four large conferences over the last four years: "Petroleum: Prospects and Politics," (2007) "China and the Future of the World" (2006), "Consolidating Democracy in Mexico" (2004), and "Colombia: Confronting Conflict, Striving Towards Peace" (2003).

"Petroleum: Prospects and Politics"

The petroleum conference featured three panels and two keynote speakers, including Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States and Alan Hegburg, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Energy Policy. The conference received coverage in nationwide and international news organizations including Bloomberg News [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aHT9zppqg.U8&refer=news] , The International Herald Tribune [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/20/business/bxshake.php] , and China Post [http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/archives/business/2007521/110234.htm] .

"China and the Future of the World"

The China conference featured four panels and three keynote speakers, including Wang Guangya, the Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, Christopher R. Hill, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Peter W. Rodman, then the United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. Chicago Society won the 2006 Outstanding Student Event Award at the University of Chicago for its work on the conference. The conference commanded significant coverage in campus publications [http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/060413/china.shtml] [http://maroon.uchicago.edu/news/articles/2006/05/02/experts_gather_at_ih.php] [http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0608/features/china.shtml] as well as in outside sources [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-04/30/content_581391.htm] [http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/afx/2006/04/30/afx2708861.html] [http://english.people.com.cn/200604/30/eng20060430_262332.html] [http://www.iseff.com/2006/04/china-and-future-of-their-software.html] [http://www.cces.cn/cces/shownews.asp?newsid=938] [http://www.bjreview.cn/EN/06-20-e/viewpoint.htm] and official records [http://www.dod.mil/policy/sections/public_statements/speeches/asd/isa/rodman/apr_28_06.html]

"Consolidating Democracy in Mexico"

The Mexico conference addressed the continuing challenges to Mexican democracy. Guests included Santiago Creel, then Mexico's Secretary of the Interior, and Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, a founder of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and three-time presidential nominee.

Other Events

Chicago Society hosts many events every year. A [http://chicagosociety.uchicago.edu/pastevents.htm comprehensive list] can be found on the website. Past guests have included: Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; Reginald Robinson, winner of the MacArthur Genius Grant; Charles Wheelan, author of ; Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation; and David D. Hiller, publisher and CEO of the Chicago Tribune.

External links

* [http://chicagosociety.uchicago.edu Official Site]
* [http://chicagosociety.uchicago.edu/mexico/ "Consolidating Democracy in Mexico" Official Website]
* [http://chicagosociety.uchicago.edu/china/index.htm "China and the Future of the World" Official Website] including full conference video and transcripts
* [http://petroleum.uchicago.edu "Petroleum: Prospects and Politics" Official Website]