Hawker becomes antitrust research fellow
April 11, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- A Western Michigan University researcher recently became a fellow of a national antitrust advocacy group.
Dr. Norman W. Hawker, associate professor of finance and commercial law in WMU's Haworth College of Business, was named a fellow of the American Antitrust Institute, a public interest organization dedicated to supporting an aggressive antitrust agenda. Beginning May 1, he will be researching and writing on topics of interest to the institute, working full time through the summer months and on a reduced schedule throughout the academic year.
A former assistant attorney general of Michigan, Hawker has long supported aggressive antitrust enforcement. The author of numerous law review articles on antitrust issues, he has also studied the history of the legislation, enacted in 1890 and 1914. Hawker has a special interest in the Microsoft antitrust case currently before a federal appeals court, and much of his work with the AAI will focus on the technology industry. He will also investigate what business schools teach future managers about antitrust laws and competition.
"Although Norm is not currently practicing antitrust law, he has experience in it and he certainly has a passion for it," says Bert Foer, president of the AAI. "I was familiar with him because of his vocal opinions on the Microsoft case, mainly through an American Bar Association discussion group. Norm's observations made a lot of sense to me, so when his name came up as a potential fellow, it seemed like an excellent match."
Hawker earned his bachelor's and law degrees at the University of Michigan in 1981 and 1985, respectively.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American Antitrust Institute is an independent nonprofit education, research and advocacy organization. Its mission is to increase the role of competition, assure that competition is fair, and challenge unduly concentrated power in the American and world economy. To achieve that goal, the AAI educates the public about the benefits of competition and the ways in which fair competition can be enhanced; generates research and multidisciplinary approaches to a national competition agenda; and advocates competition-oriented policies at the state, national and international levels.
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu