The MichiganDaily - Tuesday, November 1, 1994 - 3
.Authors to give benefit readings to fight hunger tomorrow
By JENNIFER LI
For the Daily
Charlie Baxter, a University En-
glish professor, is concerned about
the plight of the hungry.
Baxter, who has taught English at
the University for five years, is par-
ticipating in the Writer's Harvest, a
national benefit reading for the hun-
gry along with several other local
authors.
As co-chair for the organization
of the nationwide reading, Baxter is
Shahak calls
Israel policy
on occupied
lands unjust
0 Hebrew University
professor is a
concentration camp
survivor
By MAGGIE WEYHING
Daily Staff Reporter
Calling many of Israel's policies
toward non-Jews discriminatory, a
Hebrew University professor ad-
dressed about 50 students and faculty
members Sunday night.
Israel Shahak, a survivor of the
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
and professor of chemistry at Hebrew
University in Jerusalem, spoke about
his recently published book, "Jewish
History, Jewish Religion, the Weight
of Three Thousand Years."
Shahak's book focuseson the West
Bank, which Israel has occupied since
1967. Shahak said he believes that
Israeli policy is heavily influenced by
,what he called Jewish classical ideol-
igy- pethe perod in Judaism immedi-
ately before modernity.
"I believe that the state of Israel is
still heavily influenced by classical
ideology and it is this ideology which
determines the policy of Israel. Fur-
tiermore, this policy is not demo-
atic," Shahak said.
-Shahak asserted that Israel's poli-
cies includes blatant discrimination'
against non-Jews, a system he called
"apartheid," in the West Bank.
He said that while American me-
dia use the term "Israeli settlement"
when speaking of the West Bank, it is
not one.
"A Palestinian living in the West
Bank sees 70 percent of the land de-
nied to his people. Seventy percent of
the land is set aside for Jews only. The
same is for Americans who wish to
*rent land in the West Bank, if they are
not Jewish, they cannot."
This activity, which Shahak deems
"racism," is tied to the tradition of
classical Judaism and is unjust, he
said. This system, he said, is detri-
mental to the quest for peace.
"I think that the peace process
could go on if the empty land which
the Israeli government has confis-
.cated was returned to Palestinian farm-
ers," he said.
He asserted that Israeli policy
makes it almost impossible for those
prisoners who have killed Jews to be
set free, while other prisoners are
often freed.
"Right now, the democracy in the
West Bank can be described in two
ways: a democracy that is accepted
only if it does not conflict with security,
anda democracy whose values are sub-
ordinate to the values of Jewish tradi-
tion. This is not only wrong, but it is
unrealistic as well," Shahak said.
working to get people involved.
Baxter said his writing allows him
to express himself in front of a larger
audience.
"Writing is viewed as a solitary or
private activity," Baxter said. He also
said writing gives people the oppor-
tunity to "break out."
Baxter is the author of highly ac-
claimed novels, usually stories set in
the Midwest. His most recent novel,
"Shadow Play," was published in
1993. He is also the author of "First
Event to be held on 200 college
campuses, locally at Rackham
Rackham Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m.
The proceeds from ticket dona-
tions of $5 for students and $10 for
non-students will go to local organi-
zations fighting hunger, including
Food Gatherers. In addition to the
reading, SOS and American Express
will launch the second Charge Against
Hunger, an awareness, fundraising
and volunteer campaign.
From Nov. 1 to the end of the year,
three cents will be donated to SOS,
with the goal of raising up to $5 mil-
lion each time an American Express
card is used to make a purchase.
Joining Baxter are Betty Louise
Bell, Alice Fulton and Laurence
Goldstein, who will also read from
their works. All three are University
faculty members and noted authors.
WTickets will be available at Borders
Books and Music and at the door. For
more information about the event,
contact Andrea Beauchamp at 764-
6296.
Light," which includes such works
such as "Relative Stranger" and
"Imaginary Paintings."
Last year, the University raised
$1,500 in conjunction with the Writ-
ers Harvest to fight hunger.
Sponsored by Share Our Strength
(SOS) and American Express, the
Writer's Harvest will be held at 200
bookstores and college campuses
across the United States tomorrow. In
Ann Arbor, the event will be held in
ME AND MY BAGS OF LEAVES
Rain fizzles out
'green' lobby's
Halloween rally
JOSH KOLEVZONIDaity
Gabe Schwarts, LSA first-year student, poses with garbage bags full of leaves on the corner of Hill and Washtenaw.
e D e
Wolpe says Ener economis
means low wages for workers
By SCOT WOODS
Daily Staff Reporter
A pro-environmental lobbying
group used the Halloween holiday to
mourn the death of several pieces of
"green" legislation that failed to pass
the 103rd Congress.
The Public Interest Research
Group in Michigan (PIRGIM) even
mocked up headstones for bills such
as the Clean Water Act, the 1872
Mining Act and the Endangered Spe-
cies Act for its 11 a.m. rally on the
steps of the Graduate Library. The
grim reaper (really John Mank, a
PIRGIM volunteer) stood watch.
But after a lack of publicity and a
steady drizzle, the event, which was
to focus on the environmental records
of the candidates for Michigan's 13th
congressional district, fizzled.
'The rain and gloom is almost
appropriate." said Tom Geiger,
PIRGIM's campaign director, adding
that there was little for PIRGIM to
celebrate this year.
The rally instead became a peti-
tion drive, with a half-dozen volun-
teers speaking to students as they en-
tered and exited the library.
Geiger said the non-partisan orga-
nization, which has an annual budget
of about $60,000 and 15,000 mem-
bers statewide, is trying to alert the
public about the state of environmen-
tal legislation at both the state and
national levels.
"The last Congress was long on
tricks but short on treats for the envi-
ronment," Geiger said in a written
statement.
This fall, PIRGIM is attempting to
get candidates from both parties to
sign on to a promise to support 16
individual pieces of "green" legisla-
tion if elected. In addition to the bills
in its legislative "graveyard," PIRGIM
advocates measures including a na-
tional bottle deposit bill, government
purchasing of recycled materials, pol-
luters-pay laws and wetlands preser-
vation.
Both candidates for Michigan's
13th district responded to PIRGIM' s
survey. Democrat Lynn Rivers agreed
to support all 16 pieces of legislation,
Her opponent, Republican John
Schall, agreed to nine of them.
'Those are issues I think there are
solid, substantive reasons to support
that legislation," Rivers said. "As 1
work through legislation at the fed-
eral level, the environment will al-
ways be in my thinking."
A spokesman for Schall's cam-
paign said the Republican candidate
chose to support measures that he felt
had the best impact on the environ-
ment with the least damage to the
economy.
PIRGIM has not been able to get
responses to its survey from either
Democrat Bob Carr or Republican
Spence Abraham, who are running
for Michigan's open U.S. Senate
seat.
DETROIT (AP) -- Democrat
Howard Wolpe got a polite reception
before the Detroit Economic Club
yesterday when he laid out his vision
for a Michigan economy that includes
high wages for highly skilled work-
ers.
Wolpe said an economy built on
poorly paid workers is shortsighted.
"John Engler's agenda really is an
agenda that points to lower wages,"
he said. "You do that, you begin low-
ering the standard of living for all our
state. Somebody's got to buy those
products."
Wolpe received polite applause at
the end of his speech, but was not
interrupted with applause once while
he delivered it. About 450 people
came to hear Wolpe, compared to
about 1,300 who heard incumbent
Gov. John Engler earlier this year.
Polls have shown Engler with a
hefty lead. At a news conference be-
fore his speech, Wolpe pulled out a
press clipping from the eve of the
election four years ago showing
Low business
formation rank
cited in speech to
Economic Club
Engler trailing incumbent Democrat
James Blanchard by double digits.
"I feel very good. There is a tre-
mendous amount of energy and
grassroots activity that I've not seen
in a lot of elections," he said.
"Volunteers are coming out of the
woodwork."
The challenge for his campaign in
the last days before the Nov. 8 elec-
tion is to persuade Democrats that the
cause can be won, Wolpe said.
"I'm finding that people are just
being made angry by the constant
drumbeat (of Engler's lead). ... Get-
ting out the vote is going to be the
key," he said.
Wolpe tried to persuade his audi-
ence to look beyond the current re-
bounding auto business and into the
future.
He said national studies have given
Michigan low grades for new busi-
ness formation and only average
grades for things such as physical
infrastructure and work force educa-
tion and training.
His own administration would in-
vest more state pension funds in
Michigan businesses, provide a re-
search and development tax credit for
small businesses and more technical
assistance for new and small busi-
nesses, he said.
Wolpe also repeated his criticism
of Engler's tax record, claiming the
governor is masquerading as a tax-
cutter despite having raised taxes on
liquor, tobacco and long distance tele-
phone calls. He also accused the gov-
ernor of planting a "$1 billion time
bomb" under Michigan schools.
Wolpe contends the Proposal A school
finance plan approved by voters in
March is underfunded by that amount.
En virorunental Pledges
The candidates for the 13th District Congressional
seat were asked to sign a pledge by a local
environmental group. Here are their responses.
Schall
/
/
Rivers
/ National Bottle Bill to promote recycling.
/ Require 50% recycled content in newspapers and
packaging and government purchasing of recycled
products.
Poland opposition party leader to speak
TRACEY ROGERS
For the Daily
Jacek Kuron, an influential Polish
politician who was instrumental in
the breakdown of Communist rule in
his country, will speak tonight at 7:30
in the West Conference room at
Rackham Ampitheatre.
The University's Copernicus En-
dowment and the Ann Arbor chapter
of the Polish-American Congress are
sponsoring the event.
Kuron is the deputy chairman of
Poland's largest opposition party and
has a long personal history of in-
volvement in political affairs.
In 1964, Kuron was sentenced to
three years in prison and expelled
from the Communist Party for his
criticism of the government.
Later on, he formed the Com-
mittee to Defend Workers (KOR),
which went on to join with Soli-
darity. In 1982, he was accused of
plotting to overthrow the govern-
ment and sent back to prison. Af-
ter receiving amnesty in 1984,
Kuron continued his active role in
politics by participating in talks to
terminate Communist rule in Po-
land.
After the official breakup of the
Communist government, Kuron
served as minister of labor and social
policy, and was elected a member of
parliament in 1989.
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Moratorium on new solid wasted incinerators until 2000
Strengthen Safe Drinking Water Act,
Expand public reporting on toxics
Clean up hazardous waste dumps
Require more fuel efficient cars to curb global warming
Move away from nuclear and fossil fuels to renewable
energy.
Stengthen Endagered Species Act.
Strengthen wetlands preservation
Designate Arctic Wildlife Refuge as wilderness area
Stop new offshore drilling
Set standards for grazing
Stop giveaways of destruction of public lands.
Eliminate subsidies for polluting industries.
V I
Group Meetings
U U-M Gospel Chorale Rehears-
als, School of Music, Room 2043,
7:30-9:30 p.m., 764-1705
U. Alianza Meeting, Trotter House,
Mail Lobby, 7 p.m., 764-2677
Q Thai Students Association Plan-
ning Meeting, Michigan Union,
Michigan Room, 6 p.m., 663-
7299
U Orthodox ChristianFellowship,
Michigan Union, CrofootRoom,
Events~
UInformation Meeting About U-
M Study Abroad Program in
Spain, Modern Language Build-
ing, Room Bi116,5-6 p.m., 764-
43111
Ingrid B. Sheldon, Michigan
League, Henderson Room, 6:30
p.m., 668-4664
U "Middle East: Inside the Peace
Process: Water, Economy,
Boundaries," Speaker Dr.
Elizibeth Barlow, International
Center, 603 E. Madison, 12 p.m.
Q "The Future of NASA" and
"The Romance of Space
Travel," Prof. Eric S. Rabkin,
Dental Building, Room G378,
7:30 p.m.,
U "UnveilingUzbekWomen: Cen-
tral Asian History Without Ide-
ology," Speaker Marianne
Kamp, East COnference Room,
Rackham Building, 4 p.m.
QI "An Interview With JIack
War,"phot exhibit by AmirPasic
University Art Lounge
Q Antonya Nelson, reading from hei
work, Rackham Amphitheater, 4
stu&nt services
U Career Pathways In Asian Stud
ies, Panel Presentation, Student
Activities Building, THird Floor
Conference Room, 6-7:30 p.m.
763-6093
Q 76-GUIDE, peer counseling line
call 76-GUIDE, 7 p.m.-8 a.m.
U English Composition Board Peer
Tutoring, Angell Hall Courtyard
Computing Site, 7-11 p.m.
U Campus Information Center,
Michigan Union, 763-INFO;
events info 76-EVENT of
Stu ent fetrmeei
are here!.
Dormitory residents may pick up a Directory in
their hall lobby this week (one per room, please).
if you don't live In a dorm, don 't despair...
On-campus Directory distribution:
*Wednesday, Nov. 2 Diag 10am-Ipm
eFriday, Nov. 4 Michigan Union 10am-2pm
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