Few people captured by the Taliban live to tell the tale. David Rohde ’90, a New York Times journalist who four months ago escaped from the Taliban in a tribal area of Pakistan, spoke to a packed List 120 Monday about his experience.

Loui’s Diner has long been famous among Brown students as a good place to end the night, start the morning or a combination of the two — but now the diner’s pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes, muffins and barbecued chicken-and-cheese ravioli may be recognized across the nation.

Against the backdrop of a weakened economy, a shrunken endowment and a significantly diminished budget, the University’s highest governing body is set to convene this weekend to evaluate the changes the University has undergone in the last year and determine if additional adjustments are needed.

Saturday’s sun shone on an unlikely scene near Kennedy Plaza. Children scampered by in colorful animal masks, musicians jammed on a stage and vendors clamored for the attention of passersby. The inaugural Providence Sustainability Festival was held all day downtown, bringing together students and grandparents, activists and local business owners to teach and learn about environmentalism in the area.

Eight years ago, the University began a plan to increase the size of its faculty, build new facilities and strengthen the endowment, all funded by the largest capital campaign in Brown’s history. But as the $1.4 billion Campaign for Academic Enrichment nears its end, new economic challenges have forced administrators to adapt in ways not many would have anticipated just a few years ago.

Valerie Wilson, currently associate dean of the Graduate School, will replace Brenda Allen as associate provost and director of institutional diversity starting July 1.

Before his lecture Tuesday, former senator and 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards spoke with The Herald about poverty, life after his 2008 presidential run and his plans for the future.

The University’s broad plans to improve its image abroad and bolster the study of international issues on campus are moving forward despite slow progress on some initiatives due to the economic crisis.

Predicting a slow recovery for the endowment, the Corporation focused this weekend’s meeting on long-term plans to reduce the University’s budget by about $90 million over the next five years, and revised ambitious plans for two major capital projects so they could begin even during a period of economic recession.

With an economic crisis throwing a wrench in the University’s ambitious spending plans, the Corporation will have some major decisions to make when it convenes for a meeting this weekend.