Page 2 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 2, 1988 Speaker: Nicaraguan is democratic BY PAUL de ROOIJ In Nicaragua, democracy does not mean voting for two virtually indis- tinguishable choices once every four years, but it does mean participating daily at the grassroots level in a de- cision-making process. This is the reality of Nicaragua today, said Gary Ruchwarger, author of several books on Nicaragua and co-director of the Popular Participa- tion Studies Program in Managua. "The Sandinistas are master organizers; they work like ants to organize most segments of the population," Ruchwarger told a dozen students at the Guild House last night. This is why the Nicaraguan people have successfully resisted the contra onslaught financed by billions of U.S. dollars, he said. THE SANDINISTAS suc- cessfully organized the population, drying up any source of support for the contras. As a result, the contras today are a discredited and marginal- ized mercenary fighting force only kept alive by massive U.S. infu- sions of money. Most Nicaraguans are members of at least one mass organization such as cooperatives, unions, women's groups, militias, neigh- borhood committees or adult literacy groups, he said. "People in these organizations spend their time discussing issues of local concern and electing local peo- ple," Ruchwarger said. The degree of popular participation is larger than anything imaginable in the United States. These organizations are largely autonomous, and they have arisen from the grassroots up, Ruchwarger added. Since the 1979 revolution in Nicaragua, the people have attained a major voice in determining the poli- cies affecting them, he said, but it's still difficult to dissolve the old pa- ternalistic perceptions of the role of the government in people's lives. RECENTLY, a neighborhood in Esteli found that the sewer chan- nel in front of their houses was causing most of the disease in the community. "People had to learn that 'papa-government' was not go- ing to come and channel the sewer," he said. He added that "People had to learn how to organize themselves and find ways to solve local problems." Popular participation has been the key to Nicaragua's survival and the key difference between the meaning of democracy in the U.S. and Nicaragua. But mass organizations have suf- fered from the contra war and the current economic crisis. "People used to go to their neighborhood committees after work; today most people are forced to moonlight in- stead," he said. Continued from Page 1 "There are a lot of people who ,do not have accurate information ~ About birth control. We want to help them think about the different meth- ods," Sarris said. Last year 1,440 women visited University Health Services for pregnancy tests, she said. Though the cap is new to the United States - it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last May - women in England have been using the cap for 60 years, said Cindy Pearson, the program di- rector at the National Women's Health Network (NWHN) in Wash- ington, D.C. SOCIAL WORK DAY Thursday, Nov. 3, 1988 6-9 PM Assembly Hall, 4th Floor, Rackham Building Alumni, professors, and administrators will speak on career opportunities in social work and University of Michigan programs " Masters in Social Work " Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Science FOR MORE INFORMATION: 764-5330 POLICE Armed Robbery A man was robbed at gunpoint early Monday evening in the 300 block of Maynard St. by a suspect who fled with items valued at less than $600, Ann Arbor police said. Sgt. Sherry Vail said the victim was approached by the suspect and three other men shortly after 6:30 p.m., and the suspect asked if he could have the victim's leather NOTES jacket. When the victim refused, the suspect grabbed two gold chains from the victim's neck and punched him in the chest, Vail said. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and took the jacket and chains, and the men left the scene, she said. No shots were fired, Vail said, and the victim apparently was not in- jured. An investigation into the rob- bery is continuing, she said, and no arrests have been made. - By Nathan Smith April 13 Could Be The Most Important Day of Your Career Why April 13? Because that's when you can take the CINEMA DIRECT iY IN BREF Compiled from Associated Press and staff reports Proposal A ignores infants with AIDS, state official says LANSING - A proposal to ban state-funded abortions for poor women would force pregnant AIDS victims to give birth to infants afflicted with the deadly disease, a state health official said yesterday. "Nobody is encouraging abortions, but we do believe it's a persona choice," said Raj Wiener, acting state public health director. Passage of Proposal A would deny that choice to poor women, Wiener said at a news conference on behalf of People's Campaign for, Choice. Between 50 and 75 percent of the babies born to women with AIDS eventually develop the disease and have a life expectancy of one year to 18 months, she said. Michigan now has 13 cases of children with AIDS, three-fourths of whom contracted AIDS while in their mother's wombs. Another 72 infants are infected with the AIDS virus but have not developed the disease, she said. The number of cases of children with AIDS is expected to rise to 25 to 30 cases by 1991, she said. State jobless rate falls in Sept. DETROIT - The jobless rate in half of Michigan's 12 labor markets rose from August to September while the rate fell in the rest of the state, the Michigan Employment Security Commision said yesterday. Overall, the unemployment rate for the state in September fell to 6.6 percent from 7.0 percent in the previous month. But officials said that the change was insignificant because of the seasonal employment swings. "The labor market in Michigan in pretty much all the areas has been stable in the last several months," said Von Logan, deputy MESC director for internal affairs. The highest unemployment rate continued to be in the Flint area, while the lowest was in the Ann Arbor area, where 3.6 percent of the work force was without jobs. Young claims win over arson DETROIT - Official firefighting figures prove that Detroit won a strategic battle in its war against Devil's Nights arson, Myor Coleman Young said yesterday. A total 229 blazes - a drop of 21 percent from last year - erupted in the city during the three-day Devil's Night Halloween Weekend, Young said. On Saturday, a below-average number of 56 fires broke out, and Monday's 69 blazes were typical for any night of the year in the city, the mayor said. Officials reported 104 Sunday. "This was the quietest Devil's Night in years," he said. "The- youngsters are beginning to get the message from us and from their parents." Gov't predicts slow growth WASHINGTON - The governient said yesterday that its chief economic forecastinggauge dipped 0.1 percent in September, the third: decline in the past five months. Private economists said the Commerce Department's Index of Leading Indicators was signaling slower growth but probably no recession next year. The latest declines have been interspersed with large monthly gains, including a 1.5 percent advance in June, the biggest gain since late 1986. Analysts said the leading index was indicating a slowing of the robust economic growth of the past year. "There is absolutely no question that the economy is slowing down," said Lawrence Chimerine, chief economist of the WEFA Group, an economic consulting firm. While many economists believed that the new president would face a recession in his first year in office, most are now predicting the downturn will not occur until 1990 at the earliest. EXTRAS State samaritans send samolians to save Sparty EAST LANSING - Brian Parks wanted to show his school spirit when he sent in his donation to the "Save qur Sparty" fund. The Albany, Calif. resident and 1985 Michigan State University graduate sent a $5 bill, but not just any $5 bill. Lincoln's face was covered with a picture of Sparty. Under the picture were the words, "Go Green, Go White." And "E Pluribus Sparty" were pasted below the bill's serial number. Parks' contribution is one of about 500 that have trickled in so far, said Terry Fossum, a Michigan State development fund employee handling the donations. So far, the contributions, ranging from $5 to $500, total about $30,000 of the $75,000 needed to restore the 43-year- old ceramic statue. Years of weather and attacks by vandals had left "The Spartan," the symbol of Michigan State athletics, with cracks, gashes and missing parts. A committee banded together last November to raise money to restore the 10-foot-6, 3-ton figure. Restorers hope to have the project complete in time for Sparty's 44th birthday on June 9th. 1 1 Fur qu b rs+- I ndamentals of Engineering examination and become ualified as an engineer-in-training. . . the first step in becoming a Professional Engineer. If you're an engineering student consider this. P.E. registration allows more career flexibility and choice. Professional Engineers aren't locked out of a career path; jobs are theirs for the choosing in government, industry, construction and pri- vate practice. Many employers require registration for advancement to senior engineering positions. It will never be easier to take the exam than now, while courses are still fresh in your mind. The test, developed by the Nation- al Council of Engineering Examiners, will be administered on April13 at sites selected by the Michigan Board of Professional Engineers. The cut-off date for exam applications is Jan. 1. For more information, call the state board at (517) 335-1669. Clip and return the coupon below for a free brochure on howto become a P. E.: BARGAIN MATINEE $3.00 UNTIL 6 PM DAILY SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS FIRST SHOW ONLY TUESDAY BARGAIN DAY $2.00 ALL SHOWS CONT. SHOWS DAILY/LATE SHOWS FRI & SAT 1:25, 3:15, 5:00, 7:40, 9:25, 11:30 BAT 21 1 12:55, 3:00, 5:05, 7:35, 9:40, 11:55 MADAME SOUSATZKA sI 12:40, 2:55, 5:10, 7:25, 9:45, 12:10 RETRIBUTION 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:45, 9:55, 12:05 Sn BIRD Sun.Thur. 100, 4:00, 8:00 i. & Sat. 1:00, 4:00, 7:15, 10:15 HALLOWEEN 4 12:50, 2:45, 4:45, 7:35, 9:30, 11:35 MYSTIC PIZZA 9:35, 11:40 PUMPKINHEAD 1:15, 2:55, 4:45, 7:50, 10:05, 11:50 1 THE ACCUSED 1 12:45~ 2:50, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30, 11:451 Please send me the free brochure, "Why Become a P.E.? The NCEE Guide to Registration." ~~1 F PUNCHLINE ® 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50,12:15 s: i i i i i 10 A LIEN NATION I 1:05,3:10, 5:10, 7:25,11:25 r GORILLAS IN THE MIST = 1 1:30, 4:15, 7:30, 10:00, 12:20 City: State: Zip Code: Return to: The National Council of Engineering Examiners Student Information P.O. Box 1686 - Clemson, S.C. 29633-1686 _ r DIE HARD ®[I 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 9:45, 12:10 U I CROSSING DELANCEY ® I 1:00,3:10,5:15,7:15,9:20, 11:20 I WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBITi 1:15. 3:20, 5:20, 7:25 EI I 0I Sitbigan 1a1IQ The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscription rates: For fall and winter (2 semesters) $25.00 in-town and $35.00 out-of-town, for fall only $15.00 in-town and $20.00 out-of-town. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and the National Student News Service. Editor in Chief.........REBECCA BLUMENSTEIN Sheala Durant, Michael Paul Fischer, Mike Fischer, Robert Managing Editor........................MARTHA SEVETSON Flaggert, Andrea Gacki, Margie Heinlen, Brian Jarvinen, D. News Editor.......................EVE BECKER Mara Lowenstein, Mike Rubin, Ari Schneider, Lauren University Editor......... .....ANDREW MILLS Shapiro, Chuck Skarsaune, Mark Swart, Usha Tummala, NEWS STAFF: Victoria Bauer, Scott Chaplin, Miguel Nabeel Znberi. Cruz, Marion Davis, Paul De Rooij, Noah Finkel, Kelly Photo Editors..........................KAREN HANDELMAN Gafford, Alex Gordon, Stacy Gray, Tara Gruzen, Donna JOHN MUNSON Iadipaolo, Steve Knopper, Mark Kolar, Ed Krachmer, Scott PHOTO STAFF: Alexandra Brez, Jessica Greene, Jose Lahde, Kristine LaLonde, Michael Lustig, Alyssa Juarez, Robin Lozna, David Lubliner, Lisa Wax. 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