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Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks to sold-out UCLA crowd

Madeleine Albright, the first woman to become U.S. secretary of state, spoke at Royce Hall Wednesday night about globalization, technology and other issues.

By Alisha Rosenwein-Noss

Jan. 30, 2014 4:35 a.m.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright would sit in a tent in her living room as she reviewed private material to ensure that no spies would ever see them, she told a sold-out crowd in Royce Hall Wednesday night.

Privacy and security concerns were just some of the topics Albright discussed during her visit to UCLA as part of the Luskin Lecture Series. She spoke about effective ways for the U.S. to apply its military and diplomatic advantages to an increasingly decentralized world, as well as what steps must be taken to advance equality and democracy.

Wednesday’s lecture, “The Next Generation of Global Leadership,” examined questions of equality, democracy and leadership that face a new era of diplomats, elected officials and public intellectuals. Albright, who was the first female U.S. secretary of state, examined Syria’s civil war and privacy issues regarding the National Security Agency and reflected on her time at the United Nations.

“America is more secure if we are involved abroad, otherwise the problems come home,” Albright said.

When asked about the surveillance activities of the NSA in a question-and-answer session after her lecture, she said the government needs such information to make good decisions.

“You need to know what your friends and enemies are thinking and doing,” Albright said. “A lot of foreign policy is collecting information. An ambassador is the eyes and ears of the president.”

Albright acknowledged the need for a public debate about the balance between the NSA’s surveillance and personal privacy since technology has moved faster than the change in ideals.

“Just because we can, should we? That’s the big question,” Albright said. “We don’t want to see another terrorist event.”

But she said incidents such as former analyst Edward Snowden’s release of confidential government documents are very damaging to foreign policy, she said. She added that a lot of foreign relations is based on trust.

At Wednesday’s lecture, Albright received the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor.

“It is a privilege for the campus to bestow the UCLA Medal upon Secretary Albright, whose tireless commitment to expanding democracy and ensuring human rights around the world are an inspiration to countless people,” said Chancellor Gene Block in a statement. “With principled vision, she has been a trailblazer for women and a champion for diplomacy throughout her life.”

Many of the lecture attendees said they enjoyed Albright’s wit and straightforward answers.

“I found it insightful and inspiring to hear a woman who has been in the political sphere,” said Andrea Jones, a masters in public policy student who attended the lecture.

Albright’s lecture was sold out, with about 2,000 people attending and 600 on the waitlist to get in. It took about a week for the lecture to fill to capacity, and when the event opened to the UCLA campus, tickets ran out in one day, said Alex Boekelheide, the executive director of communications at the Luskin School of Public Affairs.

The UCLA Luskin Lecture Series is meant to encourage public discussion on issues relevant to the betterment of society. Previous speakers include former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Los Angeles Police Department Chief William J. Bratton.

On Wednesday, Albright ended her lecture with one final call to action: “Beat ‘SC,” she said as the crowd cheered.

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Alisha Rosenwein-Noss
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