The Fashion Institute of Technology hosted its 2nd Annual Fashion and Finance Forum on Tuesday, October 23. A packed Haft Auditorium filled with FIT and SUNY alumni got a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear the featured conversation between Nobel Laureate economists Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz and ask questions of them. Moderated by Robert Johnson, Executive Director of the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), the forum was a chance to examine how and why certain economic policies work on the verge of the upcoming Presidential election.
SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher had the opportunity to introduce the panelists to the audience. She explained how SUNY, with its large system of institutions, is making such a difference in the worlds of energy, community vibrancy, the global economy, health care, and international relations. Chancellor Zimpher summed up the role of SUNY in these times through a quote by NY Times columnist David Leonhart – “Education, educating more people, and educating them better is simply the best bet any society can make.”
FIT President Joyce Brown began the evening explaining FITs position as a public institution and how it has been affected through declining state and city funding as a result of the downturn in the economy. In spite of this fact, FIT has continued to attract talented and motivated students from around the world every year.
The theme of history and the effect of domestic and global economic policies carried throughout the evening. Stiglitz and Krugman went back a century to the policies of the Great Depression and how they are affecting current policies. Members of the audience also asked questions of the panelists ranging from such topics as the economic power of the 1% to market fundamentalism of post-Soviet countries.
The event was also hosted by the Institute for New Economic Thinking and the Shakespeare and Company Booksellers, which provided copies of the books The Price of Inequality, by Joseph Stiglitz, and End this Depression Now, by Paul Krugman, to members of the audience. SUNY, the New York Times, RCN Business, and the Jassin Consulting Group served as sponsors.
This forum was the second in a series of upcoming events coordinated by the SUNY Alumni Relations Team. The first being the Alumni Day at the Ballpark, held at the NY Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game at Citi Field on September 24, 2012. The Alumni Relations team is still planning more events!
In the meantime, keep up with us through the GenerationSUNY blog, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook to know about where you can catch up with SUNY Alumni next!