The Michigan Daily -- Monday, February 14, 1994 - 3
Holocaust
survivor
gives talk
Of courage.
'By ANDREA MacADAM
-DAILY STAFF REPORTER
Holocaust survivor Sora Seiler
'Vigorito offered a message of hope
when she related her search for spiritu-
Gality to a packed Pendleton Room of
A the Michigan Union last night.
Liberated from Auschwitz at the
age of 4 1/2, Vigorito is the youngest
known survivor of Nazi doctor Josef
]Mengele's experiments on twins.
-.Vigorito's sister, Hanna, died during
the nine-month ordeal.
Vigorito discussed her quest for
a -religious enlightenment and the jour-
ney that started withChristianity but
eventually brought her back to Juda-
ism.
Struggling to understand the hor-
rors of her past, Vigorito said she con-
verted to Catholicism when she was 14
after an orphanage nun said the Holo-
caust was an act of God.
"There was a war inside of me," she
said. "I needed to feel safe in an unsafe
world and I thought this was the an-
swer."
Vigorito said, however, that ev-
erything changed after she had chil-
dren.
"I became increasingly concerned
hat maybe my children would never
Hknow they were Jewish," she said. "My
branch on the tree would be cut off."
Conservatives to
rethink strategy
JUDITH PERKINS/Daily
Sora Seiler Vigorito addresses a full crowd last night at the Michigan Union about her Holocaust experiences
LOS ANGELES TIMES
WASHINGTON - After a frus-
trating year watching Bill Clinton steal
much of the rhetorical thunder on the
right, conservatives are mapping a
counterattack.
The blueprint that emerged this
weekend from a conference of national
conservative leaders and grass-roots
activists is aimed at exploiting what
they view as the juicy targets offered by
Clinton's policies. These range from
his tax hikes and espousal of family
values to his response to international
crises in Bosnia and North Korea.
"Clinton has reinvigorated the
right," said David Keene, chair of the
American Conservative Union, one of
the sponsoring organizations of the
three-day annual Conservative Politi-
cal Action Conference, which con-
cluded Saturday.
The strategy that emerged at the
sessions included efforts to:
Contrast Clinton 's centrist prom-
ises with his liberal performance.
"He talks about fighting crime, but
he cuts the budget for the Drug En-
forcement Administration," said Uni-
versity of Delaware sophomore Tho-
mas Hart, one of the 1,800 participants
who packed the forums at the three day
conference.
Spotlight the president's alleged
weak points, such as foreign policy:
"We are on the same downward spiral
as we were in the Carter years when the
U.S was feared by none, respected by
few and ignored by many," said Senate
GOP leader Bob Dole of Kansas.
In his keynote address to the con-
ference, Dole chided Clinton for tem-
porizing with North Korea while it
develops a nuclear arsenal, and with
Serbia while it mauls beleaguered
Bosnia. Dole urged that the United
States lift the arms embargo against
Bosnia, unilaterally if necessary.
Another Clinton weakness, conser-
vatives believe, is Clinton's push for
health reform, which they contend be-
trays his underlying liberal thrust.
"When the American people under-
stand what Clinton's plan entails in
cost, jobs and freedom," said Republi-
can Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, " it is
going to get a reception that is going to
make the weather outside seem warm
and wonderful."
Convince citizens that conserva-
tive principles and policies can better
meet their every day needs.
Conservatives find another glaring
contradiction in Clinton'sstresson fam-
ily values. Former drug enforcement
czar William Bennett told one confer-
ence session that Clinton's talk of tra-
ditional values is fine, but added:"The
American people want him to govern
by them and live by them."
Although Clinton's popularity has
rebounded recently in public opinion
polls, and he enjoyed a string of legisla-
tive victories in the latter months of
1993, those successes have spurred the
conservatives' energy and enthusiasm.
From then on, Vigorito said she
became involved in both religions, cel-
ebrating Christmas aswell as Chanukah
and sending her children to Sunday and
Hebrew school classes.
But she said she fully embraced
Judaism after a Rabbi's song of hope
sparked memories of her months at
Auschwitz. It was the same song that
other prisoners of the camp often
chanted before their impending deaths.
"These Nazi guards (at Auschwitz)
had to hear the overcoming of the
trauma that could not destroy the Jew-
ish soul," Vigorito said. "I needed to
realize the powerful faith ofmy people."
Getting involved in the Jewish
community was especially difficult
because of a sense of guilt she felt over
her religious background.
"I felt I had betrayed my people
because I had pledged an allegiance to
(Jesus Christ)," Vigorito said. "But it
was a part of my journey that must be
acknowledged."
Throughout the speech, Vigorito
spoke of hope and stressed the impor-
tance of moving forward, even after a
traumatic experience such as hers.
"I should hate God and I should
hate mankind but I don't," she said. "I
have my faith back. I have defeated
Hitler."
Audience reaction to Vigorito's talk
was favorable.
Ann Arbor resident Anat Shiftan
said she was pleased at the high audi-
ence turnout and said she felt discus-
sions on the Holocaust are important
amid the anti-Semitic Holocaust revi-
sionism.
Another local resident, Sara
Mendel, praised Vigorito's strength and
courage.
"I was very moved," she said.
"This is a woman who came out
with a beautiful heart and a message
of hope."
Ohio's Oberlin Colleg
* 'Very impressive' Nancy Dye becomes college's 13th
president following nationwide search, student input
By RANDY LEBOWITZ
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
The nation's first co-educational college
finally has a female president.
The recent appointment of Nancy Dye, who
'Will be the 13th president of Oberlin College in
Oberlin, Ohio, marks the first time a woman has
been selected for the position.
Dye, the current dean of faculty at Vassar
College, was chosen by a search committee
made up of representatives from the board of
trustees, alums, faculty, staff and student body
of Oberlin College, after S. Frederick Starr, the
current Oberlin president, announced his resig-
nation, effective June 30.
Other schools currently with female presi-
dents include Duke University, Sarah Lawrence
College, Lincoln University and Spellman Col-
lege.
Starr expressed his approval of Dye's ap-
pointment. "Having met Dean Dye and dis-
cussed fundamental issues of education with
her at some length, I am confident that she and
Oberlin will be a superb fit and that she will be
able to carry forward all the most important
efforts currently under way and to initiate new
e appointsf
ones that will benefit Oberlin students," he said.
The committee conducted a nationwide
search for its new president, reviewing and
interviewing more than 200 candidates before
selecting Dye, who also served as dean of arts
and sciences at the University of Kentucky
from 1984-88.
But while the search committee was confi-
dent with its decision, some students at Oberlin
said they were unsure of her capabilities.
Greg Munno, the editor in chief of the
weekly student newspaper at Oberlin, explained
the student body's involvement in the selection
process.
"Oberlin has an odd selection process. The
three final candidates are brought to campus for
a series of lectures and open forums," he said.
Students were encouraged to attend these
meetings and debates to become acquainted
with the candidates.
Dye's final competitors for the presidency
included one male candidate, Ronald
Rosbottom, the dean of faculty at Amherst
College, and one African American female
contender, Ruth Simmons, a vice provost at
Princeton University.
But the goal of the selection committee was
not specifically to appoint a minority member
to the presidency, Munno said.
"The gender/race issue tended to be less
important once the candidates came to cam-
pus," he said.
Munno said the students were least im-
pressed with Dye's performance, which he
first woman president
called "nervous and off."
"But the students want to believe that in
other settings she is very impressive," he said.
Chris Pinelo, a student representative on the
search committee, expressed his concern for
the student body's response.
"(Dye) did not do very well in the open
forum. She approached the questions in an
academic, impersonal sort of way," he said.
Pinelo added, however, that the committee
was confident in Dye's abilities. "The process
was fair, thorough, and went far beyond what
anyone could have seen in an open forum,"
Pinelo said.
Pinelo also expressed his feelings about the
appointment of a female president. "It's a posi-
tive thing," he said.
Rostenkowski
*charged personal
items to account
THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON -- Ways and Means Chairman Dan
-ostenkowski (D-Ill.) acknowledged charging his official
expense account for unspecified items he bought for "per-
sonal use" at the House stationery store, according to letters
his lawyer released Saturday. The billing for personal pur-
chases, which is prohibited under House rules, occured
inadvertently, Rostenkowski said in two letters to House
Administration Committee Chair Charlie Rose (D-N.C.).
The letters spelled out several grounds for Rostenkowski's
decision to reimburse the federal government about $82,000
from personal and campaign accounts for questionable
purchases from the House Office Supply Service since
.1988.
"It appears that there were some purchases by myself or
others of items for personal use," Rostenkowski wrote in a
lan. 6letter to Rose. "I fully intended to pay for these items."
That letter blamed the billing for personal items "on
office procedures that proved to be inadequate to insure that
such expenditures would be identified and brought to my
attention."
In a second letter to Rose dated Feb. 1, Rostenkowski
said, "I never intended for the House to pay for any item
purchased for personal use, and certainly would have made
reimbursement had such items been called to my attention at
Whe time."
The five-page Jan. 6 letter said a reimbursement of
$64,728 covered questionable purchases of items since
1990. Those included gifts to foreign officials "both abroad
and in this country," other "gifts to those who had counseled,
Thespians contemplate future of
multicultural theater in next century
By MARIA KOVAC
FOR THE DAILY
As the 21st century nears, thespians
are concerned about the direction
multicultural theater is headed.
As a part of the Colored Museum
Project, several panels were assembled
in Rackham Auditorium this weekend
to discuss different aspects of multi-
ethnic theater.
The first panel of the Saturday af-
ternoon symposium consisted of five
theater professionals from the Univer-
sity, Wayne State University and the
University of Southern California. Their
topic of discussion was "Multi-Ethnic
Theater in the 21st century: Defining
Working Principles of
Multiculturalism."
The Colored Museum Project is a
week-long series of dialogues and
workshops surrounding the future of
theater in the next century.
Keynote speaker and University
music education Prof. James
Standifer told the small audience
the United States will be the most
multicultural country on Earth by
the year 2000 and he is worried that
American theater is not in a position
to follow suit.
"How much of what we see in
multicultural theater is authentic? ...
How much is stereotypical?" he ques-
tioned.
OyamO, an instructor in the Uni-
versity theater department, said,
"Multicultural plays tend to be safe in
order to keep subscribers in the age of
shrinking funding.
"Stereotypes do exist and I don't
think they're going to be wiped out. ...
Somethings are embedded in this coun-
try."
Gary Anderson, an instructor at
Wayne State University, believes
"there's not a balance in the diversity of
theater."
Victor En Yu Tan, associate pro-
fessor of lighting design at the Univer-
sity, agreed with Anderson. "The ma-
jority of theaters do mainstream plays.
One Asian play every decade is consid-
ered diversity."
The entire panel agreed that the
acceptance of multiculturalism in
American society will have to im-
prove before there is hope of im-
proving multiculturalism in Ameri-
can theater.
Ruban Sierra, a west coast theater
professional, said, "The goal of theater
is to hold up a mirror to society, but it
depends on who is holding up the mir-
ror and what part of society it's holding
it up to."
Rostenkowski
assisted or supported my activities in public service" and
some items "donated to charities in my district to use as
items at fund-raising auctions."~
House rules permit members to charge official accounts
for gifts to foreign dignitaries while abroad, but not domes-
tically. Those rules also ban purchases for political or
campaign-related expenses.
Reimbursed items, according to Rostenkowski's Janu-
ary letter, included "various bowls, mugs, plates, china,
clocks, paperweights and decorative items ... bearing the
congressional seal" and "magnifying glasses, picture frames,
cameras, albums and some luggage."
1994 SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS
WILL BE HIRING SUMMER CONFERENCE:
--FRONT DESK STAFF--
Gain valuable work experience.
I: Provide anality and nrofessional service to our
Group Meetings
U Comedy Company Writers'
Meeting, University Activities
Center, Michigan Union, 7 p.m.
Q Ninjutsu Club, IM Building,
Room G21, 7:30-9 p.m.
F1 Ruc ...r:r r nkir -10-m
nity Service Learning," Buzz
Alexander, sponsored by the
Office of Community Service
Learning, LSA Building, Room
2553, noon.
J "God's Camel: Competitive
rif-in:a Anr:pnt A..hin
Student services
Q 76-GUIDE,peercounselingphone
line, call 76-GUIDE, 7 p.m.-8 a.m.
L Campus Information Center,
Michigan Union, 763-INFO;:
events info., 76-EVENT; film
inf ,A1RI a M
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