Colin Powell to speak

Gen. Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- a man urged by many to seek the presidency, a philanthropic leader and, depending on the outcome of the presidential election, a likely candidate for Secretary of State -- will visit campus today and speak in the IU Auditorium.\nPowell will speak on "Challenges of a Changing World" at 4 p.m. Those with tickets must be seated by 3:45 p.m. A standby line will start at 3:15 p.m., eventually filling empty seats. Overflow seating will be provided at alternate locations.\nThe reaction of campus to his lecture, sponsored by Union Board, has been similar to reactions he's received across the country: the 3,200 available tickets were gone in four hours.\nA goal of the Union Board for years, Powell's lecture is made possible by joint sponsorship with the IU Foundation, said senior Carrie Smith, Union Board lectures director. Powell will participate today in a private awards dinner sponsored by the Foundation.\n"(Powell) tells you his mind, some things that will challenge you, some things you don't necessarily agree with or want to hear," said senior Mike Gosman, Union Board president. "But he speaks from the heart and gives an interesting perspective."\nThe Union Board's contribution to Powell's speaking fee is $22,800, Smith said. It is less than the group paid for Mikhail Gorbechev, she said, and a cost that allows Union Board to attract other big lectures.\n"(Powell) is such an eloquent speaker, an inspiring orator," Gosman said. \nBut his speeches are great not only because of his manner, but because of his message, Gosman said.\nPowell's most recent message has been as chairman of America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, a national organization fighting for advancement and protection of American children.\nIt's all part of a life devoted to people, said Lt. Cnl. Wayne Pollard, professor of military science.\n"(Powell) is an incredible American success story," Pollard said. "For someone to maintain their values and virtues in the process (of success) is rare these days."\nPowell was born in New York City in 1937 to Jamaican immigrant parents, raised in South Bronx and educated in New York public schools. He participated in Army ROTC and graduated from City College of New York as a second lieutenant.\nAbout 125 Air Force/Army ROTC cadets from IU will attend the lecture, Pollard said. He said they are interested in strategic issues of the world, Powell's opinions on army morale and, of course, hearing from a man who once stood in their shoes.\nIn 35 years of military service, Powell received many awards including the Purple Heart from service in Vietnam. His last assignment, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the highest military position in the defense department. In that capacity, he oversaw Desert Storm and the Persian Gulf War.\nThe Powell Doctrine calls for clear, definitive national interests and an exit strategy before military action begins, Pollard said. Another of Powell's major roles has been philanthropy, he said.\n"(Powell) is a fair leader but a very compassionate person," Pollard said. "He has the ability to blow away the typical military stereotype."\nAs Powell retired from the military with a positive image and good airtime from the Gulf War, his name came up as a presidential candidate, said Gerald Wright, political science professor. As with President Eisenhower, "both (political) parties were kind of flirting with him," Wright said.\nHe announced he was a Republican, although he didn't share many of the beliefs from the party's 1996 platform, Wright said.\nAs to whether Powell could be president in the future, Wright has his doubts.\n"Whether he still has that glow, I don't know," he said. "(If) he takes a position like secretary of state, he has to make decisions, and he can't be all things to all people."\nWright said Powell's reluctancy to use force could be a problem.\n"He's really quite close to a military isolationist," Wright said, "which is reasonable from a military man's standpoint, but from the multiple goals of a president in foreign policy, that's quite a restrictive role."\nWright believes other factors are involved in Powell's not running for higher office.\n"He doesn't have a real stomach for partisan politics," Wright said. "He was a general. He was outside the partisan give and take."\nPowell will give a 50-minute lecture, followed by a 10-minute question and answer session. Organizers expect only a small portion, if any, of his talk will address Tuesday's presidential elections -- in which Powell has campaigned for George W. Bush.\n"He kind of stays above the fray of politics," Gosman said.