In sharing her views on globalization problems that affect the American working class, Dana Frank, University of California Santa Cruz professor, related the issue to the movie “The Blob.”
She said powerful corporations moving overseas is but one problem that’s threatening the country, just like a huge jelly mass that can only be stopped with the right formula.
“Our job is to figure out what that formula is going to be,” she said.
Frank’s Tuesday night lecture, “Working People and the Challenge of Globalization,” drew more than 100 audience members to the Eugene Hilton Conference Center. Venezuelan singer and University alumnus Irene Farrera set the tone for the evening by playing several songs inspired by the struggles of farmers and human rights activists.
The lecture was one of several events planned during spring term by the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics.
Although Frank said she does not have all the answers for improving working conditions, she stressed the idea that individuals should not be intimidated by the complexity of globalization.
“There’s a notion that only experts can understand the global economy,” she said, “but it’s not going to be two experts in lab coats saving the world.”
Frank said one prevalent problem for American workers is that corporations are changing their locations frequently, so it’s harder to maintain steady employment.
“They’re not being loyal to people of any particular place,” she said.
Margaret Hallock, labor education professor and Morse Chair director, said Frank has fresh views on labor issues and passionately believes in them.
“Dana is more than an academic scholar, she’s also a dedicated activist,” she said.
Chad Sullivan, senior jazz studies and history major, said he can relate to the misconception that only experts understand globalization issues because he has faced such opinions first hand as a member of the Human Rights Alliance.
“People always say you don’t know what you’re talking about.”