Quiche Indian talks
about human rights
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 19, 1988 -Page 3
BY PAUL DE ROOIJ
Last December, 400 police
officers arrested a five-foot
Guatemalan woman. The person
receiving this special attention was
1iigoberta Menchu, a Guatemalan
Quiche Indian, arrested for exposing
the grim events in Guatemala.
Menchu told about 250 members
of the Ann Arbor community the
history of that country and what has
been happening there recently in a
speech last night.
"I don't like to talk about
statistics, but it is necessary to gain
some appreciation of the situation in
Guatemala," said Menchu. "In
Guatemala today there are 125,000
infant orphans, 46,000 widows,
200,000 refugees, one million plus
displaced persons, 40,000
disappeared." She said these figures
are conservative estimates and the
actual figures are likely to be much
higher. In a country of eight million
people these statistics suggest that
mass crimes have occurred, she added.
Guatemalans had hoped the
situation would improve with Vincio
Cerezo, Guatemala's new president
elected in 1985. But Menchd said
after one and a half years it was clear
that he was not in control.
"We have witnessed only a
cosmetic change in political process
in Guatemala," she said. The
military and the death squads
continued to operate without any
restraint. "People are still not
allowed to organize freely, and they
always fear for their lives."
"I am asked about the human
rights situation in my country, and I
am always at a loss how to answer
this," she said. "I can't answer that
the number of mutilated bodies found
in the clandestine graveyards has
fallen. Today many houses are in
mourning, and most are afflicted by
the main form of violence: hunger.
There is no respect for human rights
in Guatemala today," Menchd said.
She emphasized that human rights
should involve people's health,
education, food, and peace.
Menchd outlined two alternatives
for Guatemala today. "Either we have
a national dialog to address the most
basic demands of the majority of the
population, or we face the likely
alternative that the country will be
plunged into a civil war."
"The current trends are ominous,
but I am hopeful," she added, asking
for both help and solidarity.
ROBIN LOZNAK/Doaily
Rigoberta Mench6, a Guatemelan Indian political activist, addresses
students about the grim political situation in her country.
Homecoming
time
change irks alumni
BY FRAN OBEID
ABC's decision to televise this
Saturday's football game between
Michigan and Indiana has left several
alumni groups scrambling to rear-
range their homecoming activities to
fit the later starting time of the
game.
The game, originally scheduled to
start at 1 p.m., will begin at 3:30 so
ABC can televise the game nation-
ally. But Alumni Association offi-
cials said they never knew about the
change until 10 days ago, and now
they are trying to inform alumni
about the change in plans.
Though ABC tentatively planned
to broadcast the homecoming game
More than six months ago,
confirmation of televising the game
came after the Oct. 8 game against
Michigan State, said Assistant Ath-
letic Director Bruce Madej.
According to the Big Ten contract
with ABC, the network does not
have to make the starting time of a
televised game public until six to 12
days before the game.
"We had been hoping that the
game would not be televised so that
we could play at 1:00 p.m. instead of
3:30. We're just trying to please the
fans," Madej said.
Kay Vandebash, who works at the
Alumni Center, said that as a result
of the time change, she has had to
reschedule the annual "Go Blue"
brunch to noon. The alumni will
'We're just trying to please the fans,'
- Assistant Athletic Director Bruce Madej
Duderstadt to the alumni," Colburn
said. "We're also focusing on stu-
dent-alumni interaction. The alumni
are very interested in today's stu-
dents."
Several groups such as the Black
Graduates, the School of Engineer-
ing, and the School of Dentistry as
well as other groups, have had to
reschedule their reunion dinners.
"We've been planning our reunion
for over six months," said Dr.
Michael Razzoog, associate dental
professor and chair of the dental class
reunion for 1973. "There is no way
realistically, that we can communi-
cate the time change of our reunion
functions. It's hard to predict how the
time change will affect participa-
tion."
Speaker
Jews
must be
unified
BY SCOTT LAHDE
Diaspora Jews and those in Israel
have different priorities, but all Jews
should be one nation, said a speaker
sponsored by the Union of Students
for Israel yesterday.
Jay Shapiro, the Israeli author of
From Both Sides Now: A Survey of
Israel-Diaspora Relations, spoke to
an audience of about 25 people on
the current state of Israel. Jews, he
said, are one of the only races
without a home.
"To be a minority is not bad,
because most minorities have a
majority somewhere," he said. "It
would be good for Jews to have a
place where there are no questions
asked."
"The Jews haven't had
sovereignty for 2,000 years," said
Shapiro. Jews live all over the
world, he said, yet they do not have
their own home. "Israel is
imperfect... it's the only one."
The current state of turmoil in
Israel must be dealt with as a whole
people; yet, Shapiro said, "the
American Jewish community does
not realize our problems because
they don't live with us."
Shapiro, originally from
Philadelphia, has experienced both
Western culture and Israeli culture.
He said Jews outside of Israel differ
in their view of being Jewish and m
how seriously they regard the current
state of affairs.
"A yarmulka worn here is a
religious statement, in Israel it is
also a political statement," he said.
He mentioned that the diaspora -
Jews not living in Israel - does not
come in direct contact with problems'
facing Israel.
Shapiro feels the diaspora is
falling out of touchdwill the
common goals of Jews. He
encourages all Jews to be more
aware and educated about the current
state of Israel. He also stressed the
importance of making Aliyah, the
trip to Israel, if one feels strongly
about doing so.
"The relationship of Israel and the
influential American Jewish
communities has to be a tight one.
Jews are one big family," he said.
He highlighted the necessity of
forming strong bonds with Israel and
dealing collectively with the conflict
with the Palestinians.
He lived in the United States
before he made Aliyah in 1969, and
has spent most of the last 20 years
in Israel. Shapiro works as an
engineer for IsraelikAircraft
Industries.
march with the band to the game as
previously planned, she said.
"The change of game time has
caused tremendous problems," said
Bill Colburn, -associative executive
director for the Alumni Center.
"Attempts are being made to inform
alumni but only some alumni groups
are able to do mass mailings with
such short notice,"
The Alumni Center is registering
more than 2,000 alumni and is in-
volved in accommodating many of
them. About one-third of returning
alumni are from out-of-state.
"This homecoming is important
to us for it gives us the opportunity
to introduce President (James)
THE
LIST
Ex-'U' researcher wins Nobel Prize
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
Speakers
Marita Golden - African-
American feminist, novelist and King-
Chavez-Parks visiting scholar will
read from her works at CAAS
Lounge, 200 W. Engin., 6:30 pm.
"Conflicts Between Mother and
Fetus Revisited" - Thomas E.
Elkins, M.D. (Chief, Gynecology),
and Carl Cohen (Philosophy), South
Lecture Hall, Med Sci II, 12 noon.
Feel free to bring lunch.
Center for Russian and East
European Studies - Brown Bag
Lecture Series, Title to be announced,
Yuri N. Afanas' yev, Lane Hall
Commons Rm., 12 noon.
CSE Theory Seminar - Speaker
to be announced, 1301 EECS Bldg,
3:30 pm.
"Greeks and Alcohol: Are We
at Risk?" - An Ann Arbor police
officer will speak to a large gathering
from the University's Greek system.
Held at the Alpha Gamma Delta
House, 1322 Hill Street, 8 pm.
"ESR Imaging" - Chem. Prof.
Ms. Peiying Gong , 1200 Chem
Bldg., 4 pm.
"New Frontiers in Old U of M
Chemistry" - Prof. Douglas C.
Neckers, Bowling Green State
University, 1300 Chem. Bldg, 3:30
pm.
"Resolving the Prophets
Problem The Way of a Snake
on a Rock" - Prof Carl Gans,
Rackham Amphitheatre, 8 pm. Free
admission. Reception to follow final
lecture in Rackham Assembly Hall.
"Physical Activity and Other
Risk Factors for Cerebrovas-
cular Disease Among Women"
- Asst. Prof. Barbee Myers, Ph.D.,
Arizona State University, 1033 Dental
School (Sm and in Kellogg Bldg.),
12:10 Sharp-1 pm.
"The Interface of Technology
and Art in Today's and To-
morrow's Film Production" -.
Ray Fielding, Schorling Aud. in the
School of Education Bldg, 610 E.
University, 8 pm.
Meetings
UMASC Meeting - 2439 Mason
Hall, 8 pm.
University Lutheran Chapel,
"Holden Village Vespers" -
1511 Washtenaw Ave, 9 pm. For info
call 663-5560.
U of M Taekwondo Club -
2275 CCRB, 6:30-8:15 pm. Tim Frye
@ 662-8637.
Furthermore
Alcohol Awareness Week -
Cider and a variety of literature will be
passed out in U of M Diag to all
passers-by. 11 am-3 pm.
"It's Called ... Beans and Rice"
- Central American Food and Talk
(English or Spanish), Guild House, 6
pm, bring $2 for a variety of foods.
Study Abroad Workshop -
International Center, 4-5 pm. U-M
International Center sponsor, 764-
9310.
Catlin Cob - An informal presen-
tation of solo dance, Dance Bldg,
Studio A Theater, 1310 N.University
Ct., 2:30-4 pm. 763-5460.
Film/Discussion Series -
Mexican-Americans: Viva La Raza,
Mason Hall Rm. 447, 4-6 pm.
Depicts the grievances of Mexican
American Community In LA and
success of Cesar Chavez in organizing
Chicano Workers.
Star Trax - Performing at
Mountain Jacks, 8:30-12:30 pm. May
add your vocals to background music
of 400 songs, and receive performance
recording absolutely free.
Homecoming 88 - Thursday,
October 20, Kickoff Party at Good
Time Charley's , 9 pm.
SIGMA, Donald Bemis Recep-
tion -Tribute Rm, (1322 SEB), 4-6
pin.
Pre-Interviews - Aerospace Corp.,
1303 EECS, 5:15-7:15 pm. Lockheed,
1311 EECS, 6-8 pm.
Conducting the Long-Distance
Job Search - Career Planning and
Placement, 4:10-5 pm.
Employer Presentation -
Macy's, 7-8:30 pm and Aetna Life &
Casualty, 10-4 pm, both held in the
Michigan Union, Kuenzel Rm.
Harvard University John F.
Kennedy School of Govern-
ment - 12-1 pm and 4-5 pm, in
Michigan Union, Welker Rm.
Performances
"The Nocturne: A Romantic
Retrospective" - Piano recital by
David Kaiserman, School of Music
Recital Hall, 8 pm.
"Arsenic and Old Lace" - Ann
Arbor Civic Theatre presents the clas-
sic comedy, Michigan Theater, 603 E.
Liberty, 8 pm.
BY NOELLE SHADWICK
Gertrude Elion, one of three peo-
ple who won the Nobel Prize in
Medicine Monday, spent the last 40
years pioneering research in new
medicines, and acting as a liaison
between University faculty and the
World Health Organization.
Elion won the award for work she
did in developing seven new drugs to
combat diseases such as herpes,
malaria, and gout.
Elion's position in the chemo-
therapeutic World Health Organiza-
tion led her to consult with the re-
search team directed by University
pharmacy professor Dr. Leroy
Townsend.
Townsend's research involved an-
tiparisitic drugs and cancer
chemotherapy, two areas familiar to
Elion. In the 1950s, Elion shared the
discovery of 6-Merceptaopurine, one
of the first compounds to lay the
foundation for Modern Chemother-
apy.
She suggested the direction of the
research based on information she
gathered at International World
Health Organization conferences held
in Geneva, Switzerland.
Elion has given several seminars
and lectures at the University for the
past 20 years, in addition to consult-
ing with Townsend. The University
awarded Elion with an honorar-y de-
gree in 1983.
Elion shares the Nobel prize with
George Hitchings, her colleague at
Wellcome Research Laboratories in
Research Triangle, Park, N.C., and
James Black from Great Britain.
The award represents "40 years of
work," said the now retired Elion. "It
was given for an overall approach as
well as (the seven new) drugs them-
selves," she said.
The medicines Elion developed
have not only cured diseases, but also
have laid the foundations for future
scientists to cure new diseases.
HEALTH & FITNESS
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