The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 14, 1994 - 3 *Ginsberg 'howls' at censorship Beat poet visits Ann Arbor to promote his new CD box set and political agenda By JOSHUA GINSBERG Daily Staff Reporter Allen Ginsberg, the controversial Beat Generation poet, came to Bor- ders Books and Music Shop yester- day singing and reading his poetry to promote his new CD set while railing against government censorship. Holy Soul Jelly Roll, a boxed an- thology of Ginsberg's work from 1949-93, includes poems and songs with musician Phillip Glass, a live cut with punk band The Clash, and *roughly a half hour of work with Bob Dylan. It also includes several poems by Blake, which Ginsberg converted into songs. One of the highlights of Holy Soul Jelly Roll is the historic first reading of Ginsberg's best-known poem, "Howl." The poem sparked a 1957 Supreme Court ruling that the poem is not obscene. Ginsberg denied the rumor that he would no longer read "Howl," saying that he would continue to read it infre- quently. "I only read it when there's a state occasion, reading in a new state or a new country or a fund-raiser. Otherwise it becomes an act." "It's interesting to listen to the audience" in some of the record- ings, said Ginsberg, noting the laughter that some of his early po- etry induced. From the audience, he said, one might believe that he was a comedian rather than a poet. Ginsberg voiced frustration that his work is banned from the airwaves, following a 1988 federal obscenity statute. "The radio and television is the main market place of ideas," he said. He asserted that the Federal Commu- nications Commission by not allow- ing him radio play is interfering with his profession. "People have developed an audi- tory intelligence. They listen to Dylan and Cobain on the radio ... exactly where my work is being censored." Ginsberg expressed concern that the recent midterm election would give more power to censorship orga- nizations. During the reading, he dedicated the poem, "Sphincter," to Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), who was a chief sponsor of the 1988 obscenity law. Releasing Holy Soul Jelly Roll is an accomplishment for Ginsberg in the sense that a major part of his archives has become accessible to the general public. "I never thought it would be out in my lifetime," he said. Stanford University recently opened a complete Ginsberg archive, which contains more work with Dylan and numerous recorded versions of his poetry. Ginsberg said reaction to Holy Soul Jelly Roll has been very posi- tive. He also noticed that he has been attracting a larger high school-age audience. He said he found it ironic that during the hours that high schoolers are reading his books, it is illegal for them to hear them broad- cast on the radio. The promotional-reading and sign- ing fit conveniently into Ginsberg's schedule, he said. He was planning to be in Ann Arbor for several reasons including a retreat at Jewel Heart, the Buddhist center in Ann Arbor, and a reading tonight at Eastern Michigan University with the Chinese poet Bei Dao. Ginsberg said he comes to Ann Arbor at least twice a year due to his involvement with Jewel Heart. He plans on returning Feb. 16 for a ben- efit reading with Phillip Glass. As far as future projects, he mentioned the possibility of releasing all of his Blake songs on one set. Poet Allen Ginsberg reads at Borders Book and Music Shop yesterday. Blood battle moves to the F.'t: vka 2S f !FT . I -oK b' k s ~r ~ {, '1rr . By JODI COHEN Daily Staff Reporter As the battle rages on, the two teams are continuing to draw blood. Unlike many battles, there haven't been any fatalities. Instead partici- pants are saving lives. The 13th annual blood battle be- tween the University and Ohio State University enters its second and final week today. After collecting blood at various residence halls last week, the drive moves to the Union today and will remain there until Friday. In this event, sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a service frater- nity, and the American Red Cross, the two schools are competing to see which college can collect the most blood during a two-week period. As of Thursday, the University had collected 48 percent of its goal of 2,100 pints, while its rival had col- lected 41 percent. However, Ohio State had more donors every day last week except Wednesday. Each day of the drive, there is a quota that the sponsors hope to reach. Last week, many of the goals were not met. Student co-chair of the battle Katy Vincent said, "We regret that we were under goal in the dorms, but we need to make goal in the Union. The entire region is counting on us." Recently, the blood supply level in southeastern Michigan has been very low. Dick Folsom, area manager of the donor resources center for the Ameri- can Red Cross, said, "Even as re- cently as two weeks ago, our blood supply level was below the emer- gency level." The organizers have tried to change some aspects of the drive this year to appeal to more students. In the 'If you weigh 110 pounds, are 17 years old, and eel well, there is no reason why you shouldn't give blood.' -Neal Fry Red Cross worker past, it has taken two hours to donate blood. "This year, donation time has gone down. There are not many waits at all," Vincent said. Other APO blood drive workers seem to agree that the. drive is going well. LSA senior Karen Wu said, "People with appointments have been pretty good about showing up. There have been some walk ins. There are not huge lines, but the beds seem to be pretty full." APO encourages appointments, but also relies on walk-in donors. About one-third of the donor spaces are filled with appointments each day. During the first four days of the drive, residents of Mary Markley Residence Hall donated the most blood. The quota for that day was 160 pints, and 169 pints were collected. RC junior Jonathan Choe, another student who has been working at the drive, said, "Things are going well for Markley. The first two hours we had 50 units and that's putting us on track for today. People are getting in and out in about an hour. Today is going really smoothly." Many first-year students arrived at the drive only a few hours before their calculus exam scheduled for Thursday night. They studied while waiting in line, and while giving blood. "I can't move, so why not study? The drive was here and convenient and I wanted to help it. The test is in three hours so l'll be fine," Engineer- ing first-year student Timothy McTigue said. Another donor agreed about the importance of giving blood. LSA first- year student Rebecca Akst said, "I feel better now that I did it because I know that if anyone needs it, I'm helping out." Students waiting in line to donate had various feelings. One of the calmer students, LSA first-year student Zarin Daruwalla said, 'I'm not nervous. I don't think it's anything different. I'm just giving blood." However, some students were more frightened, especially those who had never given blood before. "I'm nervous. The fact that a needle will be in my arm and blood will be dripping out of me is scary,' LSA first-year student,Jenel Steele said. Neal Fry, the Red Cross blood drive representative at the Univer. city, said, "It is just a pinch for a fewi minutes, but the rewards are so grati fying." She also said, "If you weigh 110 pounds, are 17 years old, and feel well, there is no reason why yoU shouldn't give blood." Now that the first week is over, the drive will move to the Union from 1:00 until 6:30 p.m. each day this week. Fry said, "We are counting on tha graduate students especially to come to the Union." Vincent said that she hopes to b even more successful at the Union than they were at the residence halls; "Last week we didn't do as well as we should have, but please come to the Union so that we can beat OSU," she said. LSA first-year student Judith Hoffman and buddy Erica Wilcox look at an exhibit at the Hands-On Museum yesterday. 'U, students ore A2 museum with men-en buddies By SPENCER DICKINSON Daily Staff Reporter Yesterday, 22 University student volunteers put aside homework as- signments or afternoon naps and par- ticipated in a group outing of the U- M Best Buddies. The students, paired with their mentally challenged "buddy" ex- plored the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, learning about science and getting to know each other better. The Best Buddies program matches local kids with mental im- pairments with University students who volunteer to spend time each week just being a friend. "The point is to create a friend- ship," said Alexandra Ballin, an LSA junior and program director. "We look for committed students, then match them with buddies based on common interests." Justin Birmingham, an LSA se- nior enjoys playing basketball with his buddy Alex Bloom. Jessi Light, an SNRE first-year student, takes walks and talks on the phone with her buddy Cora Howling. College buddies - as student vol- unteers are called - make a year- long commitment to a buddy found through Best Buddies site co-ordinator Gary Stelzer, who finds most of the buddies through the Washtenaw County School District. Students are expected to call their buddies weekly, and to plan an activ- ity twice a month. The focus of the program is individual interaction, but twice per term students and buddies all get together to compare notes, and have fun as a large group. The Hands-On Museum proved a perfect location for the activity. Mu- seum staffer Missi Mercer served as a guide to the group. "We see two or three groups of developmentally chal- lenged people per month," she said. "It's great when they find exhibits that really turn them on." The buddies were fascinated. Popular exhibits included a dish- shaped speaking device, a giant slinky and a pipe organ. Lisa Wachter enjoyed enclosing herself in a giant bubble as Danielle Lauzon, an LSA sophomore looked on. "This is my second year in the program," Lauzon said. "Lisa and I go to the mall, and talk on the phone, and last month ..." "We went to a fair," Wachter in- terjected. "We talk about my boy- friends," she said. Kari Rubel is a huge sports fan. She likes to talk sports with LSA senior Kelly Potts on walks in the Arb or over dinner. "We like to listen to songs together too," Rubel said. Zach Woods said of buddy Paul Schmitt, an Engineering senior, "He's my friend, my best buddy. We talk about anything we want." The program provides support for the buddies and their families through a long-term relationship with a student. LSA junior Emily Barkett has known her buddy Joline Clayton for more than a year. "I've met her fam- ily, and I went to her birthday party. It really is a lasting friendship and that's what's important," Barkett said. The museum outing went well, and other group activities are planned for later in the year. Stefanie Griffin, program coordinator and an LSA stu- dent, said, "We'll go caroling around Christmastime, and we're hosting Best Buddies Day." Best Buddies Day is an event for all the Michigan Best Buddies chapters to meet for a day of fun and games. fU 3045S. 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