The Michigan Daily -Monday, October 8, 1990 - Page 3 Group barricades parking lot, stages 'rally for homeless MSU ignores ordinances; by David Rheingold Daily Staff Reporter The dispute over the Downtown Development Authority's (DDA) use of tax dollars erupted once again when a group of Homeless Action Committee (HAC) members blocked cars from entering a park- ing lot behind Kline's Department Store Saturday morning. Ann Arbor police surveyed the situation, but said City Administra- tor Del Borgsdorf instructed them to allow the group to remain in the lot. Borgsdorf was not available for comment. HAC members protested the planned construction of a parking structure next to the lot, which would require the demolition of three houses already there. Instead of building the new parking deck, the group feels DDA funds should be used to construct 1,500 afford- able housing units. "We're not talking about general fund money at all, which is where salaries and all that comes from; we're talking about the DDA for development downtown," said HAC member Laura Dresser, a third-year graduate student. "We're saying, 'You want to put it into this $9 million parking structure; why don't you build $9 million worth of housing?' It doesn't ever affect the city budget. The city will tell you that they } don't have money, but they're talk- ing about the general fund. They're not talking about DDA money," she said. Nearby merchants refused to shantie by Matthew Pulliam Daily Staff Reporter s stand comment on the incident. HAC members felt the city council has preferred business inter- ests over the homeless in the past, whenever it has opted to build park- ing structures. City council member Terry Mar- tin (R-Second Ward) said businesses have a strong influence over the spending of tax money because they pay the bulk of property taxes. "The taxpayers in this town are paying a very high tax because their assessments are very high, because we have so much property that's not taxable, like the University of Michigan," she said. Martin added that at least 50 per- cent of the property in the city is non-taxable. Council member Mark Ouimet (R-Fourth Ward) felt the city alone doesn't have the power to resolve the issue. "The homeless situation is not going to be resolved by a lo- cal city council," he said. Ouimet stressed a joint effort be- tween the government, the private sector, and the homeless them- selves. Federal funding for housing, however, has been cut by 80 per- cent since 1980, according to a brochure distributed by HAC on Saturday. Later that day, approximately 120 people attended a rally in the lot which featured live music and free food. Sixteen speakers also ad- dressed the crowd about such issues as AIDS education and discrimina- tion against the homeless. "I think the upshot of this is go- Bowing to pressure from student activists, the Michigan State Uni- versity administration has ignored its own ordinances and allowed shanties in "People's Park" to stand for a second straight week. The shanties were erected on Sept. 23 as part of a protest led by the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) -' an MSU student organization - against MSU ordinances that limit freedom of expression. According to Michigan State University regulations, structures are only allowed in People's Park during the day. The regulations require that all shanties be disassembled after 9 p.m. The FSC is now engaged in talks with MSU officials, including Presi- dent of Student Affairs Moses Turner. Mark Fisk, coordinator for the FSC, said the talks have not re- sulted in any binding compromise or changes. Turner was not available for comment. "The FSC feels that they have to negotiate, but I don't think that much will change," Fisk said. Fisk said the MSU administra- tion will attempt to use the current Persian Gulf crisis to its advantage in any negotiations with the FSC. Said Fisk, "I think that they're also taking any possible war in the Middle East into account. They want to stop protests, and will use a na- tional crisis to sway opinions in their favor." Shanties in People's Park are covered with messages criticizing the MSU policies and in particular, the armed police force of the Board of Trustees. Last spring, five students were ar- rested by MSU police while trying to defend their shanties from destruc- tion. The charges, which were later dropped, included "camping" and "standing with intent to camp." "I would say that most students... are indifferent, but the minority that really cares is overwhelming in their support," Fisk said about student's reaction to the issues. MSU first-year business student Dan Dunigan emphatically de- nounced what he sees as "oppression and tyranny." "Basically, (MSU) wants to con- trol what students think and say. I think that no person, no matter how powerful, should be able to decid, what a person can or cannot say," said Dunigan. "I wholly support free speech." Mike Pratt, a sophomore in the College of Business, expressed nei- ther support for the MSU adminis- tration nor the opinions of the FSC. "I am unbiased. I feel that they (FSC) have every right to express themselves," Pratt said. Summing up the FSC's struggle, Fisk said, "The FSC is the most po- litically significant solidarity movement at MSU in the last 15 to 20 years. The struggle against our administration has clearly demon- strated that they are against student - empowerment." ROB KROENERT/Daily Richard Keller was one of approximately 120 people who protested the city's funding of a proposed parking structure instead of 1500 affordable housing units, in the parking lot behind Kline's on Saturday. ing to be that we really pissed off a lot of people in the business com- munity, and they're going to put a lot more pressure on city council to get moving quicker with the houses," said HAC member Jen Rubin, a graduate student involved with community organizing and school social work. .4 Foreign faculty find frustration, fulfillment at 'U' Wy Jesse Snyder Like many at the University, Patrice Som6 is a long way from home. An assistant professor in French language literature, Som6 left his home of Burkina Faso - formerly Upper Volta, French West Africa - only a month ago. Ann Arbor takes some adjusting to, Som6 said. "American culture is ilesigned, enjoys, and is notorious for being hard to adjust to." But, he added, things are getting better with time. Right now Some is busy "just trying to get into rhythm with the general dance of this institution." Cedomil Goic has been here much longer, but he still doesn't feet completely at home. A native of Antofagasta, in northern Chile, he first came to the University in 1974 Os a visiting professor. The political situation in Chile, primarily the military control of the University of Chile, forced him to return in 1976. He is now a professor of Span- ish-American literature and the third person to hold the honorary chair of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. "It was hard to adjust at first and I didn't know it at the time, but my children experienced difficulties," he said. Prof. Goic now feels accepted, but admits, "I do feel a little isolated sometimes." As foreign professors, Som6 and Goic are not a rarity. Pat McIntosh, University personnel analyst, said that as of October 1989 there were 341 foreign professors at the University, up from 311 in 1987. Karen Shill, foreign faculty/staff employment coordinator at the International Center, said, "If you count resident aliens, there are over 1,000 foreign faculty members." In some ways Som6 and Goic are not reflective of the majority of foreign faculty. Shill, whose job includes helping foreign staff obtain the appropriate visas necessary for their long term goals, said the majority of foreign faculty are from Korea, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, and the Peoples Republic of China and are primarily based in the fields of engineering, science, and mathematics. "Regrettably, there are not enough American Ph.Ds in the engineering, science, and mathe- matics fields," said Shill. "If not for foreign faculty, this University wouldn't be able to function." "Not only are the majority of graduate students in these fields for- eign, but we put out more foreign Ph.Ds than we do American," Shill said. Foreign faculty depend on the University as much as the Uni- versity depends on them. Graduate student Ravi Vaidya, for example, came to Michigan for the "higher academic standards" which were not available in India. Many professors come for the same reason. "Universities in underdeveloped countries just don't have the equip- ment, computers, or the finances needed to hire assistants for these professors," said Shill. While most visiting professors stay at the University only a few years, very few return home. Many remain in the United States as permanent residents. Prof. Goic, for example, taught at the Universities of Texas, Wisconsin, Quebec, and Berkeley between 1964 to 1973. There are problems inherent in the use of foreign faculty. Other nations often resent the brain drain of their brightest individuals. The J- 1 visa, or exchange visitors visa, helps to lessen this impact on underdeveloped nations. With a J-1 visa, a person can train or teach in the U.S for three years and then is obligated to return to his or her homeland for a minimum of two years to upgrade their field of study. Another problem is one of adjustment. Shill said students in other countries are often told what classes to take, what schools to go to, and what jobs to take after graduation. "The element of choices here astounds people," said Shill. "They are not used to free speech, not used to arguing in class. To them the professors speak gospel." Of course, there are language difficulties. While foreign students are subject to language requirements, professors are not. This can create resentment among American stu- dents who do not understand their instructors. "It's hard enough learning cal- culus anyway," said Shill. In addition, language difficulties do not help the feeling of isolation many foreigners have. Shill said another problem is minority resentment toward for- eigners who are taking advantage of job opportunities minorities have waited a long time for. "The position of minorities has not been appropriately addressed," said Shill. "It's a difficult issue. You can't ignore the fact that some people are unhappy, but some remarkable people are foreigners." Som6 has noticed this resentment as well. "Blacks feel themselves at a lesser educational level than white Americans," Som6 said. "And then it's always an African who is succeeding. They feel they didn't get what they deserved while newcomers do." "Black Americans have to learn how to utilize themselves to carry themselves out to a higher level," said Some. Som6, who applied for an job opening in Third World Studies and Literature, is encouraged by the interest American students have i: Africa although he knows it has only developed recently. Som6 said it gives him a "sense of usefulness." One of the biggest differences between American culture and Some's culture, he said, is the western idea of time enslavement, or the unspoken desire to break out of the bonds of work. "At home, work and relaxation are the same thing. A half dozen people would cultivate while two people would be drumming the whole day," Som6 said. "Singing and working, it's a totally different aura." Taken by a priest at age fr educated in Europe, Som6 retur his family and found he co speak his native language. He through a double initiation, g ation from the schools of Et and initiation into the culture people. Somdewhose autobiograp under consideration by Harpe Row, with Paramount Pi interested in a movie version, s plans to go home once a ye keep the ties with his people. "I can't be American," said. "But I can be a bridge." i 3~at Grmzinrs " Truan's Gourmet Chocolates (of Detroit)! " Trebor Hard Candies (of Quebec)! " 1300 Greeting Card Designs! " A Variety of Stuffed Animals! " T-Shirts! " Baskets, Mugs, Buttons, Calendars, Kites, and Stationery!--------- 10% OFF All Plush Stuffed Animals with this Ac 1214 S. University " NOW open In the South U. Galleria Isy ve and :1 med-io - uuldn't . went gradu- ~ urope, , of his ~ hy is er and ctures ;aid he ear to Some a. -w 7 4. v. s 4 a a r " A r s t w 4 s. C" s 4. I Wh HE I at's happening in MEETINGS1 ENACT-UM - 7 p.m., Danaj Building1 Washtenaw County/Ann Arbory Chapter of the National Organi- zation of Women - 7 p.m., 1917 Washtenaw Ave. Jewish Feminist Group's Potluck1 Dinner - 7 p.m., Hillel, 14291 Hill Street PIRGIM - contact Mary Faber 662-6597 SPEECHES Guild House Monday Evening. Writers Series - 8:30 p.m., 802 Monroe Street Monika Maron: Reading from Her Works - 8 p.m., Rackham LIST Ann Arbor today p.m., Room One Career Planning & Placement Employer Presentation Presen- tation: Dayton Hudson Corpo- ration: Hudsons's and Marshall Field's, 6 p.m., Keunzel Room, Michigan Union Undergraduate Sociology Program Open House --4 p.m., 3001 LSA Bldg. Faculty Carillon Recital - MargoHalsted, 7:15 p.m., Burton Memorial Tower Faculty Organ Recital - Robert Glasgow, 8 p.m., Hill Auditorium Workshop in Gender Stereo- types -7 p.m., 2436 Mason Hall Greek Dance Class - 8 p.m., Read Sheran My Thoughts -I i U I 1. 2. 3. 4. 5' 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. "I don't need one." "I like mine because I did it." "My friends liked it." "It costs too much to get it done profession "I copied mine from a book." "It has worked before." "Who cares - I'm only applying for a sum "I had a Copying Specialist typeset mine. "I took a resume writing class." "I'll discuss my skills in the cover letter." [ally." The Taubman American Institutions Internship Program Presents... INTERNSHI PS in Government, Business and Non-Profit Organizations Pnaram f nlnp fnrnb Cnm rc mer job." i A-lowm%\ w !'1 rA B wm w M 0% U ' '