Ban Ki-Moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, was forced to cancel a speech in Evanston Thursday when his flight to Chicago did not arrive as scheduled.
Ban was scheduled to give speak at the Rotary Club International Headquarters, 1560 Sherman Ave., in recognition of their efforts to eradicate polio. At the event, he was also to be awarded the Rotary International Award of Honor.
There are no definite alternate plans yet, but it is possible that Ban will instead meet privately with the Rotary officials today in Chicago.
The Daily asked students and area residents what they would say if they had a chance to talk to the secretary-general.
What would you ask the U.N. secretary-general?
Sheina
Kalinchak,
Chicago resident:
“What would be his recommendation to U.S. politicians to clean up the mess in Iraq?”
Daniel Santos,
Brazilian citizen:
“Does he think that U.S. citizens call
themselves … better than the rest of the world?”
Tucker Dean,
Communication senior:
“Does he have the power to make spring come early?”
Bryce Norbitz,
Communication junior:
“I would never ask a public official anything. I’d whisper to a friend, ‘Ask about Iraq.'”
Robert Wallace,
Classics professor:
“I hope he can put some teeth into his commendable drive to improve the world’s climate.”
Rene Jovel,
Weinberg junior:
“What is keeping the UN from actually helping the people in Darfur?”