'U' teleco highlights HistoryIM byRuthLittmann The Michigan Daily - Friday, February 2, 1990 - Page 3 nference Black Ionth Daily Staff Writer Thousands of people at colleges, universities, military installations, secondary schools, and government agencies tuned into yesterday's na- tionwide teleconference titled "Beyond the Dream II- A Celebra- tion of Black History." The two-hour long conference; commemorating the beginning of Black History Month, combined documentaries on Blacks in art, liter- ature, and entertainment with panel discussions about challenges facing Black Americans in education, eco- nomics, and politics. University Vice Provost for Mi- nority Affairs Charles Moody partic- ipated in the conference, which was aired via satellite from Fairfax, Va. Addressing the issue of Blacks in education, Moody said, "There are more Blacks incarcerated today than in college." Moody said a remedy for this problem lies "not in cosmetic changes of society... You have to change the institutions." Teleconference panelists also called for parent involvement in schools. They said, however, that it is in the best interest of all citizens to get involved with education. "People have to remember one thing," said Moody, pointing out the need students have for role models. "We're all in this together. We should all be mentors and sponsors of students. We are all one." Unity among Blacks was a pre- vailing theme of the conference as panelists proposed that the freedom of Blacks is "indivisible. "If any one of us is impover- ished, all of us are," the panelists agreed. Bernice King, daughter of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dis- cussed the Civil Rights Movement, saying, "As long as we remain con- nected, the dream of the 1960s and our dream today won't slip away." Democratic National Committee Chair Ronald Browne, who also par- ticipated in the conference as a pan- elist, urged the Black community to take an active part in politics. "Politics is not a spectator sport," Browne said. "It takes in- volvement. You don't change insti- tutions just because you change leadership, but it can help." So that explains it ... Getting an edge on the finals competition, graduate student Xiaoying Wei cracks open a book on the third floor of the Undergraduate Library. * ' Symposium addresses economic, political issues to face world in 190s Transfer students attempt to adjust to life at a big school by Gwen Shaffer by Eric Phillips A University professor told a 200-member audience last night that "communists are still leading figures Win Eastern European countries," de- spite the recent reforms. During a Rackham Amphitheater symposium, Assistant Sociology Professor Michael Kennedy added, "Communists are not the major threat. Indeed, the communists have played a major role in democratic transitions in those countries." Kennedy was one of eight profes- sors predicting world political and *economic prospects for the '90s yes- terday at a symposium entitled "An Agenda for the 1990's: Political and Economic Issues.". The symposium, sponsored by several University study centers, ad- dressed issues ranging from "Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East" tQ "The Dilemma of Democracy in China" through brief presentations from scholars. All the presentations utilized rich historical traditions to explain recent changes in world poli- tics. Kennedy said economic transi- tions and national animosities will serve as two dilemmas for Eastern European democracy in the 1990s. "In particular, national animosities are more likely to be fueled than ex- tinguished by democracy," he said. Professor of Sociology Martin Whyte optimistically assessed democracy's chances for evolution in communist China. "I do not come out pessimistic, despite the brutal events of last summer, because you can see the robust seeds of democ- racy being sown," he said. 'One of the motivations behind the change in Japan is their international image as science and technology vacuum cleaners.' - Eleanor Westney 'U' Visiting Professor "What's happened since the events of last summer is an effort to put the genie back in the bottle. But there are lots of reasons for opti- mism," he said. "I would anticipate that we will find democratic trends again surfacing in China in the 1990s," added Whyte. Visiting Professor Eleanor West- ney, from the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology, discussed the Far East at the symposium, concen- trating on the technological rivalry between the U.S. and Japan. "It's undeniable that in many areas Japan is a major contributor to technology and increasingly to science," she said. "One of the motivations behind the change in Japan is their interna- tional image as science and technol- ogy vacuum cleaners," she added. Due to this perception, Japan has become more of an innovator than a copier, Westney said. "Some in the U.S. say that the Japanese are cul- turally incapable of invention," she added. The last speaker at the sympo- sium, History Prof. Geoff Eley, commented on the current integra- tion of the European community. "The European state system is in the process of being remade," he said. "I think we will be able to call the years of 1989 to 1992 one of the great constitution-making periods in European history." L. . (--- - Entering a large four-year University can be a difficult adjustment for anyone, but the transition can be especially tough for transfer students, who comprise about 10 percent of the University's population. Although community colleges - where most transfer students are drawn from - and the University are working to ease that adjustment, "there is always room for improvement," said LSA counselor Mark Steinberg. Currently, transfer students attend "the standard two-day orientation, get the general introduction to the campus, and then are set free," Steinberg said. For the first time last fall, transfer students received additional "follow-up calls to make sure everything was going smoothly." Associate Director of Admissions Don Swain said he would like to see more guidance for new transfer students, since "they have an awful lot to learn in a short time." Some minor things, such as a transfer student lounge or intramural sports teams specifically for transfer students would be helpful in providing a more supportive environment, he added. Among the adjustments found most difficult for transfer students is "dealing with a depersonalized institution," Steinberg said. rA:.Nw A.,i bO: Third-year LSA student Gerri Mason, who transferred from St. Claire Community College, agreed. "It was tough learning how to get access to things, especially after coming from a small school." Another hard transition for transfer students is learning how to deal with the high degree of competition at the University. Students used to receiving A's and B's at their community colleges are suddenly no longer getting those kind of grades, and find it disappointing, Steinberg said. "It's not unusual to find first semester grades a half-letter grade lower than at the time of admittance," according to Swain. However, the grades usually moves back up in time, he added. Mason said he was frustrated about having to work harder than he did at his community college, but it has been a positive experience for him. "I really felt challenged. To get a decent grade at Michigan is quite a thrill," he said. A primary concern for both staff and transfer students is the question of whether community colleges adequately prepare students for the substantially more intense course- work at the University. "There is no blanket answer to this," said Steinberg. "It depends on the program and the community college." At Wayne County Community College, as at most others, support services are available for students who plan to go on and obtain a four- year diploma, according to Vice Provost of Student Affairs Caroline Williams. "We provide program guides, listings of equivalent courses, and financial aid assistance." Typically, "sequential" programs such as foreign languages, math, and the sciences cause more problems for transfer students, Swain said. "Our introductory classes tend to be more intensive in (those) areas," said Steinberg. However, Washtenaw Com- munity College Director of Student Support Services Don Simms disagreed. "The coursework atea large school only seems harder because you don't get the individual attention and help that you do at a community college," he said. Religious Services AVAVAVAVrA CANTERBURY HOUSE (Episcopal Church Chaplaincy) 218 N. Division (at Catherine) SUNDAY SCHEDULE Holy Eucharist-5 p.m. in St. Andrews Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Virginia Peacock Celebrant: The Rev. Susan McGarry Supper-6:00 p.m. WEEKDAYS Morning Prayer, 7:30 a.m., M-F Evening Prayer, 5:15 p.m., M-F Call 665-0606 ST. MARY'S STUDENT PARISH 331 Thompson St. Weekend liturgies: Sat. 5 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 noon & 5 p.m. Confessions, Fri. 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Catholic Update Class, Mon. nights, 7 to 8:30p.m. Topic for Feb. 5: "Catholicism's Understanding of God" Series on Second Vatican Council, Feb. 7, 7:30 - 9 p.m. Topic: Religious Freedom Bible Study Group, Tues. at 7p.m. CALL 663-0557 THE LIST What's happening in Ann Arbor today THEATERS 1 & 2 . 5TH AVE. AT LIBERTY - 761.9700 $2.75 SHOWS BEFORE 6 PM & ALL DAY TUESDAY* ( SOME EXCEPTIONS MAY APPLY) FETRNGATROONDEIGT UFIN "REL.UTERD OPOR Friday Northwalk - the north-campus night-time walking service runs from 8p.m.-1:30 a.m. n 2333 Bursley or call 763-WALK Safewalk - the night-time safety walking service runs from 8-11:30 p.m. in UGLi Rm. 102 or call 936-1000 UM Taekwondo Club-- beginners welcome 6-8 p.m. 1200 CCRB Teaching Seminar --- tips from a time management consulant 3 p.m. 4051 LSA; social hour 4 p.m. 4051 LSA International Folkdancing --- UM folkdance club teaching 8-9 p.m., 9-11 p.m. open requests at Angell Elem. School, 1608 S. University American and Chinese Mass Media --- second day of the symposium on the Beijing incident 9-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4 p.m. in Lane Hall Commons Room Perceptions and Expressions 1990 --- reception opening exhibit on UM black artists 4-6 p.m. { Michigan Union Art Lounge "Allegory and Irony in Dante's De V u 1 gari Eloquentia" --- Gary Cestaro speaks 4:30 p.m. 4th Floor Commons MLB "Las Corrientes Parodicas en la Nueva Novela Latinoamericana" --- Elzbieta RFD Boys' Benefit for Women's Crisis Center --- show begins 8 p.m. at the Ark Saturday Voice of the Turtle --- folk music performed 8 p.m. Hillel, 1429 Hill St. St. Olaf Choir --- performs 8 p.m. Hill Auditorium Teach In for Peace --- Common Ground Theatre Ensemble workshop 12 noon-5 p.m. Michigan League Students of Color in Struggle: Linking with our Communities - -- UCAR teach-in 1-5 p.m. Alice Lloyd "Pulmonary Rehabilitation" -- - Denise Frick speaks for AA Breather's Club 10 a.m. Cranbrook Tower, 2901 Northbrook Antigone -- performed 8 p.m. at Community High Craft Theatre, 401 N. Division (Sun. also) Sunday Iranian Student Cultural Club - coffee hour and movie; 204 p.m. in 3050 Frieze; Persian language classes from 4-6 in 3050 Frieze Safewalk and Northwalk - the nighttime walking services begin operation Sunday at 8 p.m. for Safewalk in Rm. 102 UGLi or call 763-1000; Northwalk is in 2333 Bursley or call 763-WALK Javanese Gamelan --- music and Bring in this ad for one free 12 oz drink. Expires 2/8/90. ~ B ET TE 'I M I D L E R PG-.13 ©Touchstone Picturs and The Samuel Goldwyni Company "THRLLING!" -Michael Wilmington, LOS ANGELESTIMES "TWO THUMBS UPI" -SISKEL & EBERT /J 10alle A ,&A YC*4p Oft, f~An / Ay4 / O'- f lY WOd Ca"", ."A _.I4 4ap d. Ma' / p o q/55/77 06. el xp@ , e T T M