| Emory Report | October 13, 1997 |
Volume 50, No. 8 |
On a bright and sunny Oct. 9 afternoon, a group of about 50 people gathered between the massive staircases in front of Gambrell Hall and witnessed the dedication of the Claus M. Halle Institoute for Global Learning.
Standing before the crowd of faculty, administrators, staff, students and friends, President Bill Chace stressed Emory's commitment to enhanced internationalization. "We can no longer say the United States is the proper place from which to examine the world's problems; the globe is becoming the essential laboratory for an increasing number of scholars," Chace said. "Today's students will pursue their professions and live their lives in a global neighborhood."
Chace affirmed the Halle Institute would play a key role in Emory's internationalization effort. "It will encourage and support international scholarship and teaching throughout the University." He praised the endowment gift of Claus and Marianne Halle and said the institute will be "a continuing testament to their wisdom, insight and generosity."
"This institute and everything it represents will change the face of Emory," Chace said. "It will help us to be a part of the group of people who will attack the most disturbing and painful problems in the world today."
Halle said he and his wife have been working to enhance German-American relations and greater international understanding since his retirement from Coca-Cola in 1989. He spoke of his interest in international affairs and his deep conviction that scholars and students must acquire greater knowledge of the world. Halle urged students to gain a firm intellectual grounding in history, geography and foreign languages and expressed the hope that the institute would bring about a greater global interest and understanding across campus and encourage more students to pursue international careers. He expects the institute's work to focus initially on Europe and Asia.
The dedication was preceded by a small luncheon hosted by Chace. In attendance were Halle family members Bernhard and Gisela Halle from Germany, Brad Currey, chair of the Board of Trustees, and senior Emory officials. German Consul General Herr Klaus Zehentner attended the formal ceremony.
Marion Creekmore, vice provost for International Affairs and the first director of the Institute, described some future plans for the Institute. He noted plans to bring distinguished international visitors to campus as Halle fellows, to arrange faculty and visiting expert-scholars discussion forums on academic and public policy issues, and to facilitate student research abroad.
Tom Remington, Halle Professor of Global Learning, described the institute's first initiative-a series of faculty development seminars. Over the next three years the annual seminars will examine the evolving political, economic and security institutions of the post Cold War-era Europe. Participants in the seminar will include faculty members from several schools and divisions within the University. They will spend the spring semester in research and discussion at Emory, followed by a trip to Europe for on-site research and consultations with scholars and policy-makers.
The seminars will stimulate greater faculty cooperation and collaboration across campus. They will also seek to increase understanding of the trends toward globalization and integration and reflect this understanding in the participants' scholarship, academic exchanges and teaching.
Claus Halle's career with the Coca-Cola Co. spanned 45 years. He rose to become senior vice president of the company and president of Coca-Cola International. Since retirement in 1989, he has chaired bilateral business councils and served as trustee of The Carter Center, the Southern Center for International Studies and the Woodruff Arts Center.