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. 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Oxford colleges are accredited by the U.S. Dept. of Education to accept students with Guaranteed Student Loans. Multi-national student housing and social activities are offered, and cultural tours are conducted by WISC. A special summer session is directed by WISC. INTERN IN WASHINGTON, D. C. RECREATIONAL SPORTS *BIKE RIDING C INIC- STRESSING RIDING TECHNIQUE AND FORM i