$ouljah
proposes
';solutions
to society
by Julie Robinson
Daily Staff Reporter
Some students who attended Sister
Souljah's lecture in Hale Auditorium
last night might have come expecting
"an irate, irrational, young black female
rapper with no information at all."
But Souljah's lecture proved to con-
tain plenty of information.
She discussed problems in Ameri-
can society, specifically those plaguing
the African American community.
She encouraged audience members
to integrate her words into their per-
sonal lives.
With an imitation of Sally Struthers
holding a baby, Souljah told the audi-
ence, "I'm talking to you if you're a
3lack African person, in African soci-
ety T equals 'we' and we're all con-
nected."
Souljah pointed out the difference
between American and African society.
She criticized students who are con-
fused, promiscuous, complacent and
disrespectful.
"How can he respect you when you
givehim the mostprecious partof your-
self without knowing him?" she asked
female audience members.
She added, "Young brothers think
thattobe amanis tobe a gangster. They
determine manhood by how many Black
women they can destroy and by how
much property they can obtain by any
means necessary"
She said this chaos "comes from a
lack of understanding ofhow acommu-
nity should be organized."
Her speech did not merely point out
problems. Souljah detailed her solu-
tions rationally - as if she has become
used to defending and explaining her
statements on a daily basis.
"It is easy for me to articulate prob-
lems as it is for most. Wemust each take
responsibility forourindividualselves,"
she said.
"In educating yourself you must
know who you are, but also what it
means."
Souljah also encouraged students to
becomeentrepreneurs, supplementtheir
educations with an extensive list of
books by African American authors,
and reconsider marriage to support the
crumbling Black family.
Applause and choruses of "rnmm-
hmms" broke out as Souljah
deconstructed the theory of reverse rac-
ism.
'There is no such thing as reverse
racism," she said. "If there was, we
would have to do to them what they
have done to us."
The Michigan Daily -Wednesday, March 31, 1993 -Page 3
Mayoral forum
touches student,
Greek concerns
The teary-eyed DeBoer cou ple answers questions at a press conferenc e yesterd ay at the Campus Inn after a judg e
denied them custody of their two-year-old adopted daughter.
Court awards custody of
chfld tobiologP i.al aents
by Jonathan Berndt
Daily City Reporter
The candidates came to campus for
the first annual Mayoral Forum spon-
sored by the Greek system and gave
their own lectures on political science,
philosophy, economics and physics.
Attendance floated around 20 all
night, about average for some lectures,
but organizers Sandy Sussman of the
Interfraternity CouncilandValWildeof
the Panhellenic Association (Panhel)
said they would share their notes with
other students through regular weekly
meetings.
Sussman and Wilde are both public
relations chairs.
"I'm a little displeased," Sussman
said. 'There weren't as many people
here as we thought (would be)."
The candidates continued with their
basic campaign thoughts.
Mayor Liz Brater mentioned many
of the task forces she has created to help
solve problems including student cel-
ebrations, conflicts with downtown
merchants, and transportation and park-
ing.
"The urban atmosphere and close-
ness to the University draws people in
and brings conflicting lifestyles," she
said, adding that communication be-
tween residents, students, police and
theadministrationwouldhelpforgenew
solutions to the recurring problems.
Paul Jensen, the Tisch Party candi-
date, said the future was his focus.
"We're living in very fast-moving
times," he said. "Very complex prob-
lems are going to be the focus. I'm
lookingtobringAnn Arborintothe21st
Century."
Jensen said he is interested in "fos-
tering an ongoing, working relationship
with the University."
Emily Salvette, the Libertarian can-
didate, made her platform clear.
"It is absolutely essential that all
people are treated with the same respect
for their rights to life and property," she
said.
Republican challenger Ingrid
Sheldon said her philosophy is basedon.
neighborhoods and communicationbe-
tween all parties.
"Part of the responsibility of being a
resident in Ann Arbor is you also a
neighbor," she said. Sheldon praised
the Greek system for its philanthropic
efforts and "giving back to the commu-
nity."
Brater, in response to a question
about bicycle safety in the city, talked
about how potholes form - "It's im-
plosion basically" -and the city's pro-
gram to fill them.
Overall the Greek representatives
thought the evening went well.
"I think it was very worthwhile,"
said Panhel President Joey Faust. "It
gave students an opportunity to ask
questions."
Ann Arbor couple
plans to appeal case
to Michigan or U.S.
Supreme Court
by Will McCahill
Daily Crime Reporter
The Michigan Court of Appeals
ruled yesterday against Jan and
RobertaDeBoer, theAnnArbor couple
fighting to maintain custody of the
two-year-old girl they have raised since
she was three weeks old.
The court decided that a
Washtenaw County judge acted inap-
propriately in assuming jurisdiction
over the case in January.
The ruling supported prior deci-
sions made by courts in the biological
parents' home state of Iowa. Daniel
and Cara Schmidt have been fighting
toregain theirbiologicaldaughtersince
she was three weeks old, first in Iowa
courts and now in Michigan.
In a press conference at the Cam-
pus Inn yesterday afternoon, Roberta
DeBoer chastised the media for ac-
costing the couple at their home ear-
lier in the day.
She likened the court ruling to the
death of the child.
"Our daughter is dying," she said
angrily. "If you all want to be invited
to the funeral you're welcome to it."
Neither of theDeBoers could hold
back their tears as they answered ques-
tions about the child and the case.
Roberta DeBoer was too overcome
with emotion toanswer aquestion about
what she would tell the girl - who the
DeBoers have named Jessica - about
the possible change in custody.
"She is so bonded and attached to us
(that) there is such a great need for
Jessica to be around us," Jan DeBoer
said.
The DeBoers have been granted 21
daysto turn thegirlover to the Schmidts.
They plan to appeal to the Michigan
Supreme Court.
"They are not thinking about run-
ning away from this," said Suellyn
Scamecchia, the assistant University
law professor who is representing the
DeBoers.
Scarnecchia said the decision of the
court, whilenotunexpected, was still an
incredible blow to the couple.
She said the courts need to start
considering the rights of the child as
opposed to the rights of the adults in-
volved. She said yesterday's decision
was a disappointment to child advo-
cates across the country.
She added the Michigan Supreme
Courtis not obligated to hear the appeal,
in which case the only remaining option
would be to take the case to the U.S.
Supreme Court.
She said she is petitioning Judge
WilliamAger-theWashtenaw County
Circuit Court designated to enforce
yesterday's decision - to extend the
amount of time the DeBoers have to
exercise their legal options.
Scarnecchia said the DeBoers
would bemore likely to take the case to
the U.S. Supreme Court if Ager grants
the extended stay.
She added the Schmidts have asked
to visit the girl during each of the next
three weekends, but said the DeBoers
have not made a decision on the re-
quest.
Cara Schmidt told an Iowa televi-
sion station yesterday: "We'rejustvery,
very thankful to God that she's finally
going to be able to come home."
John Brent, one of the Schmidts'
attorneys in Michigan, said he was
happy with the court's decision and
that the couple is preparing to make the
transfer of custody "as painless and ...
as sensitively as possible."
He added he doubted the Michigan
Supreme Court would agree to hear the
case because of the legal precedent
barring a third party, such as the
DeBoers, from seeking custody of an-
other couple's child.
Both DeBoers said they would not
try to remain part of Jessica's life if
they ultimately were forced to turn her
over to the Schmidts.
Jan DeBoer said despite the pain
that outcome would bring, he would
not want to risk emotionally harming
the girl any more than has been done.
"In our minds, Jessica will always
be our daughter," he said.
"We wish that the biological par-
ents would have mercy on her,"
Scarnecchia said.
Scarnecchiaconfinned reports that
the DeBoers are negotiating with Hol-
lywoodagents and television networks
to sell their rights to the story.
However, she denied a report that
the bidding had exceeded $500,000.
- The Associated Press contributed
to this report
If you have a strong
piano background,
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to learn to play the
BELLS
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Burton Tower
For Spring,
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764-2539
Pran reveals horror
of Khmer Rouge
by Sarah Kiino
Daily Staff Reporter
Atlast, freedom seemed tobewithin
his grasp. Suddenly, a land mine ex-
ploded, immediately killing two ofDith
Pran's companions. Pran was slightly
injured.
This brush with death only days
before his escape from Cambodia to
Thailand in 1979 was not Pran's first.
Pran, a Cambodian photojournalist
now living in the United States, spoke
last night in an address marking the
opening night of Asian Pacific Heritage
Month.
Pran, who is the subject of the movie
'The Killing Fields," spoke about his
harrowing experiences living in Cam-
bodia under the brutal Khmer Rouge
regime during its 1975-79 "reign of
terror."
"People could not complain, pro-
test, or ask any questions," he said.
"You were your own responsibility for
your own fate."
The Khmer Rouge held Pran, along
with three Western journalists, for ex-
ecution after it took control of Cambo-
dia in 1975.
Pran persuaded the regime to re-
lease the foreigners, but he was forced
to endure four years of torture and star-
vation in the forced labor camps, or
"killing fields" of the regime.
"You had to remember you were in
the cage with the tiger - there was no
way out."
Although Pran survived the Came
bodian holocaust, his father, three broth-
ers, and a sister did not.
"The thing that saved my life was
praying, pretending to be stupid and
telling the Khmer Rouge I was a taxi
driver," he said. "You could not cry or
show fear.... If you showed pain, you
were considered a traitor."
Although the Khmer Rouge is no
longer in power, the Cambodian peace
is still in fragments, Pran said.
He fears after the United Nations-
supervised elections in May, the 20,000
member United Nations peacekeeping
force will leave Cambodia, with chaos
ensuing.
He said, "We believe strongly thatin
order to keep a holocaust from happen-
ing again, those responsible have to be
brought to justice."
Correction
Republican City Council candidate for the 2nd Ward Jane Lumm has no plans to attend the Final Four of the NCAA
men's basketball tournament in New Orleans. She will be in Ann Arbor this weekend. This was incorrectly reported in
yesterday's Daily.
Student groups
Q AIESEC, meeting, Business Ad-
ministration Building, Room
1276,6p.m.
Hindu Students Council, Reli-
gious Parallels with Hinduism,
MLB, Room B135, 8p.m.
Q Hillel, Silence=Death, movie, 6:30
p.m.; Reform Havurah Freedom
Seder, 6:30 p.m.
Q Newman Catholic Student Fel-
lowship Association, Commu-
nal Penance Service, St. Mary
Student Parish, 331 Thompson
St., 7 p.m.
U Social Group for Lesbians, Gay
Men, and Bisexuals, meeting, East
Quad, checkroom at front desk, 9
p.m.
U Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Club,
practice, beginners welcome,
CCRB, Martial Arts Room, 8:30-
9:30 p.m.
U TaeKwonDo Club, regular work-
out, CCRB, Room 2275,7-8:30
p.m.
U Taiwanese American Students
for Awareness, City of Sadness,
last hour of movie, East Quad,
check at front desk for room, 9
p.m.
Q Time and Relative Dimensions in
Ann Arbor, meeting, Mason
Hall, Room 2439, 8 p.m.
Q Undergraduate Philosophy Club,
Building, Wrestling Room G21,
7:30-9 p.m. Room, 8 p.m.
Q U-M Students of Objectivism,
business meeting, MLB, Room
B119 ,7 p.m.
Events
Q Allocation for Estimation, lecture,
Mason Hall, Room 451,4 p.m.;
coffee and cookies, Mason Hall,
Room 1443, 3:30 p.m.
Q ArtVideo, "The Chandler Pohrt
Collection," and "Fritz Scholder,"
Art Museum, AV Room, 12:10
p.m.
Q Avian Brain Chimeras: Neural
Transplants for the Study of
Species Behavioral Differences,
lecture, Medical Science Build-
ing II, Room 5732, 12 p.m.
Q The Clay Artistry of MaiJarmut
and Other Baltic Artists,
CREES lecture, School of Art,
Room 2216-19,4 p.m.
Q Haiti Solidarity Group, Rice and
Beans Dinner, discussion of up-
coming observer delegation to
Haiti, Guild House, 802 Monroe}
SL, 6 p.m.
Q Human Rights in Russia Before
and After the August Coup,
CREES Brown BagLecture,Lane
Hall, Commons Room, 12 p.m.
U IdentificationofEnergeticHeavy
8-10 p.m.
Q Protest of Diag Policy, Diag, 12-1
p.m.
Q Sexual Assault and People with
Disabilities, workshop, South
Quad, African-American Lounge,
7 p.m.
Student services
U Consultation for Student Lead-
ers and Student Organizations,
speak with peer and professional
consultants regarding leadership
and organizational development,
SODC, Michigan Union, Room
2202, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Q ECB Student Writing Center,
Angell Hall Computing Center,
7-11 p.m.
U Northwalk Safety Walking Ser-
vice, Bursley Hall, 763-9255, 8
p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Q Peer Counseling, U-M Counsel-
ing Services, 764-8433,7 p.m.-8
a.m.
Q Psychology Undergraduate Peer
Advising, Department of Psy-
chology, West Quad, Room
K210, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Q Safewalk Safety Walking Service,
UGLi, lobby, 936-1000, 8 p.m.-
1:30 a.m.
U Safewalk Safety Walking Ser-
vice-AngellHall, Computing
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