Students push
for 'Willy' as
official mascot
The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 20, 1989 - Page 5
Minority artists inspire
western, modern art
BY AMY KOCH
To many students, the Univer-
sity's hallowed "wolverine" exists
only as a carnivorous mammal
strung from the walls of the Ruth-
ven Natural History Museum.
Willy the Wolverine, a personifi-
cation of the spirit indigenous to
Ann Arbor, seeks to transform this
nondescript mammal into a trade-
mark with character.
"Most incoming freshmen have
no idea what an actual wolverine
looks like," said LSA senior Leslie
Duberstein. "Willy the Wolverine
shows what Michigan really stands
for and promotes school spirit."
Willy the Wolverine is the
brainchild of LSA juniors Dave
Kaufman and Adam Blumenkrantz.
The popularity of their Willy logo
on boxer shorts and T-shirts led
Kaufman and Blumenkrantz to create
the Willy mascot who runs around
the football field and entertains
spectators.
"Students at games love Willy,"
Blumenkrantz said. "They hug him,
laugh at him, take pictures of him,
and use him as an outlet for the
games' competitive tensions. He
makes the 105,000 person stadium a
lot more intimate."
But Blumenkrantz criticized the
University Athletic Department for
not recognizing Willy as the
University's mascot.
"The Athletic Department is
content with their success and very
closeminded to changes. They are so
focused on competition that they are
missing the whole point of the ath-
letic program by not accepting
Willy; this is entertainment," said
Blumenkrantz. "We see no reason for
the University not to accept an extra
dimension of school spirit."
"I think Michigan needs a mas-
cot," said Caryn Ciagne, a member
of the Athletic Department's True
Blue Recruitment Program. "It's an
added attraction for spectators and,
since most other schools have one,
Michigan could use Willy to
compete with other Big Ten
mascots."
Don Lund, associate athletic di-
rector, said that he "sees no need" in
instituting Willy the Wolverine or
any other mascot into University
athletics. "We have a strong tradition
and stability that other schools are
envious of - you can't argue with
success," he said.
After five months of existence,
Willy has his own coupon book and
has been named Grand Marshal by
the University Activities Center for
the homecoming day parade.
"We feel that Willy's success
must be rooted within the Athletic
Department's acceptance of him,"
said Blumenkrantz. "If they make
him official, our long-term goal will
be satisfied - to have an official
mascot to symbolize the spirit of U
of M."
BY VERA SONGWE
Imagine: You always thought
you were the creator, the inventor.
And then one day someone comes
along and tells you it had been done
before.
"The Essence of the Spirit," a
lecture series sponsored by the
Minority Affairs Committee, is
meant to show the influence of
minority artists on western artists.
Works by Asian, African, and Indian
artists greatly influenced what is
called Modern Art today.
The art work of Asian American
students and professionals goes on
exhibit tomorrow on the third floor
of Rackham and lasts until Feb. 14.
"Prior to the emergence of Asian
art in the West, most western artists
basically did portraits or saloons,"
said Natasha Raymond, the art
coordinator and organizer of the
lecture series. "There was no art for
art's sake. The emergence of the
Asian art made artists interested in
getting into the essence of life and
depicting the vitality of life which
was the basic form of Asian art and
many other minority art."
Today Asian artists have
developed some their techniques
from western culture and the
exchanging process still goes on.
The other purpose of the series is
to make people confront the basic
stereotypes they have of Asian
Americans and other minorities, and
for Asian Americans to confront
themselves. It is an attempt to tell
the Asian Americans that there is no
need to be confused with their double
heritage, but to use both to develop
into individuals, Raymond added.
The lecture series showed the
influence of Asian art on western
artists such as Vincent Van Gogh
and other prominent artists of the
20th centuries. A
"It is interesting to see our
culture derived from so far back and
vice versa," said LSA first-year
student Brian Fromma, who attended
the lecture. "It shows how much we
rely on each other," he said.
Mike Dashner, the Native
American representative at Minority
Student Services, also gave a lecture
on the varying Native American
cultures and explaining the
differences between the tribes and
some of the rituals as well wearing a
traditional costume made of eagle
feathers.
"There is a lot of
misunderstanding of native American
culture," Mike said. "When most
people think of Indians, they think
only of the cowboys they see on
TV, but there are about 300 tribes
with varying customs."
Francelia Clark, a lecturer for the
English Composition Board, said, "I
learned a lot and I felt a sense of
sharing and effectiveness."
Panel addresses Black Greeks
Student group to conduct
voluntary classes in Korean
BY MARTIN OTT
Inequalities within the Black
Greek system and differences
between Black and white Greeks
were among the highly contested
issues discussed yesterday in an open
forum on Black Greek/non-Greek
issues.
A standing room only audience in
Stockwell's Blue Carpet Lounge
argued with the panel of faculty and
students which discussed initiation
practices, academic and economic
problems within the system.
The Black Greek Association
organized the meeting to generate
dialogue between Greeks and non-
Greeks on campus and to discuss
some of the problems with how
Black fraternities are perceived, said
association president Audrey Wright.
Tony King, a School of Public
Health gradaute student and former
president of the group, praised the
Black Greek system for keeping
students in the University and
encouraging them to graduate.
"The Greek system is no different
than the Black community as a
whole. There is both good and bad
involved in both."
But others present pointed out
failings within the system.
"The frats and sororities have
gone against the tradition they were
founded for," said Barbara Robinson
from Minority Student Services.
BY DIANE COOK
For the first time, the Korean
language is being taught at the Uni-
versity.
But the courses are "unofficial,"
and taught voluntarily by graduate
students. The classes are part of the
Korean Student Association's efforts
to establish a University Korean
language program.
Four years ago, KSA pushed for
the program and failed, due to lack of
student interest and faculty support.
In a renewed effort, the group orga-
nized classes last October, then gar-
nered more than 3,500 petition sig-
natures one month later in favor of
the program.
To increase interest in the pro-
posed program, the group has invited
more than 300 business, commu-
nity, and church leaders to a Korean.
language conference on Saturday,
Jan. 28, at Rackham, said Harkmore
Lee, president of KSA and LSA se-
nior.
But the group is still having
problems getting the courses estab-
lished officially. "The three key
things needed are student interest,
funding, and a faculty advisor," Lee
said.
Prof. Luis Gomez, chair of the
Department of Asian Languages and
Cultures, sat the course must have
a sponsor to become an official
University class. "I can give them
moral support, but I don't have the
time to be an official sponsor,"
Gomez said.
In order for the proposal to be in-
troduced to thehLSA Curriculum
Committee -- the final decision
making body on University courses
- KSA must find a faculty spon-
sor. Though they have approached
several professor, no one yet has ac-
cepted.
Gomez said a sponsor is needed to
assure the department that the pro-
gram will continue even after the
students leave the University.
After the proposal is introduced,
it generally takes the University one
year to hire the course's professor
and negotiate the salary.
R l* The University of Michigan
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Sun. CANCELLATION. The Eva Jessye Afro-
Jan. 22 American Collection Concert, originally
scheduled for today in Rackham at 4:00 p.m.,
has been cancelled.
For up-to-date program informatin on School of Music
events call the 24-Hour Music Hotline: 763-4726
GRADUATE DEGREES IN
RADIATION PROTECTION AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
" Interested in a professional people-oriented career
associated with the management of radiation
sources in medicine, industry, government, or private
business?
" Interested in nuclear power, indoor radon, nuclear
medicine or radiation regulations?
You can expect increasing job and salary potentials due
to increasing demand for our masters and doctorate
graduates. Today's job market will impress you.
. Graduate degrees are avail- . Various fellowships and work pro-
able for those with undergrad de- grams are available for student
grees in the sciences or engineer- support.
ing and earn starting salaries
between $30,000 - $40,000. CHECK IT OUT: (313) 764-0523
I1
I
r
ON"
OMEGA
PIZZA
C)
Serving Ann Arbor for over 25 years
DINE-IN, CARRY-OUT,
FREE HEATED DELIVERY
Limited delivery area
769-3400
NEW EXTENDED MENU: Now also offering Italian dinners and
Sicilian-style (deep dish) pizza
NEW HOURS: Mon. - Thurs. 11am - 1:30 am
Fri. - Sat. 11am - 2 am
Sun.
2 pm - 12 am
SUPER BOWL SPECIAL
good Fri. Jan. 20 thru Sun. Jan. 22
Two 14-inch pizzas with two items
OMEGA plus two 16 oz. soft drinks
N1017"7A
nni. * fIl64 00
SPIZZA ui i v
Limited delivery area
L.................................... ....... .......
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
r r .1 - -
s1 I
BENEII I
1 i
r 1 ."
N""*
This
Spring Break,
goreyhound®
instead.
For just $49.50 each way,
you and your friends can
afford to pile on Greyhound.
Whether it's the beach, the
slopes or your hometown,
going Greyhound won't
cramp your style.
$AO 50
A NOW E D M
FULLY
LOADED
A.:
DIG DOAa NiINES
.+
i
NIP Ji X11=
FREE