LI t. 1Iv The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 20, 1995 - 5 .Women of color gather, discuss issues at annual By Christy Glass Daily Staff Reporter A diverse group of students gath- ered for the second annual women of color symposium Saturday in the Busi- ness School to discuss common issues minority women face in society. Tamera Woodard, an LSA senior and an event organizer, said the symposium's goal was to empower women of color. "The point of the symposium is to bring ourselves to the forefront," Woodard said. "We want to empower ourselves, because historically women of color have been an ostracized group." The first keynote speaker was Toyomi Igus, the managing editor of the academic publications at the Uni- versity of California at Los Angeles's Center for Afro-American Studies. In her speech, Igus used the rela- tionship between her African Ameri- can grandmother and her Japanese mother to show how women of color can overcome their differences and work toward common goals. "Although these women were very different, they became the best of friends because they focused on the two things they had in common - their love for my father and for me," she said. Igus said that today women of color must come together in the same way to combat their shared concerns. "Today, as women of color, we must focus on our common bonds, be- cause in this country right now we have more similarities than differences," she said. "As women we need to stop fight- ing each other and work together." The speech was followed by a day long schedule of workshops led by University faculty and graduate stu- dents and a second keynote speech by Lorraine Gutierrez, a visiting profes- sor from Washington, D.C. The work- shops focused on issues such as spiri- tuality, sexuality, motherhood and body images. Sumaya Villanueva, a graduate student in sociology and a facilitator for the workshop on sexuality, said the workshop explored the ways women of color could define them- selves outside current sexual roles and stereotypes. "A lot of times women feel they don't have an option," she said. "Usu- ally women link their sexuality to reproduction and motherhood, or as a sexual object. It seems like there is not much leeway." Teri Rosales, a graduate student in sociology, also served as a facilitator at the symposium. She said that the event was empowering for women of color on campus. "I came here with the confidence that there would be other women with the same issues as me," she said. "It is a real comfort to know that other women have the same struggle as myself." rmposium Thylias Moss, an English professor and last year's keynote speaker, facili- tated the workshop on motherhood. "One of my main points is a defi- nition of motherhood, and about the establishment of memories for my children," she said. "As a mother, I want to establish lasting images for my children after I am gone." Although50to 100participantswere expected, only about 30 attended. Tanya Clay, an LSA senior and coordinator for this year's symposium, said that the low turnout was a disappointment. However, Clay said she was pleased with the symposium. "Every- body enjoyed the workshops and we had a lot of great speakers," she said. University employee Carol Griffin discusses racial and gender issues at the women of color symposium Saturday. *Students, school board spar over magazme Nigel Hawthorne IHelen Mirren THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE ESGOODRICH UALITY THEATER FREQUENT MOVIEGOER Present This Coupon When Purchasing A large Popcorn & Receive One FREE 32oz. Drink i r L Albert Finney AMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE GROSSE POINTE (AP) -Given achoice of surrendering editorial con- trol of their literary magazine or los- ing funding, Grosse Pointe South High School students say they would rather *give up the money Debate over control of the maga- zine began after some parents com- plained that the February issue of Im- prints contained contributions that deal with suicide, religion and violence. "They just want us to print things that are uplifting to students," Im- prints editor Michele McShea said last week. "Living in Grosse Pointe, Owe have a very sheltered community. We're presenting a view that you wouldn't ordinarily see here. But just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist." But school board member Sears Taylor contends the magazine over- stepped its bounds. "I don't think the schools should have to pay for somebody else's gra- tuitous use of violence, or dangerous glamorization of suicide, or the sacri- legious treatment of any religious person," Taylor said. The articles range from wildly irreverent to darkly foreboding. One student describes the fictional sport of killing postal carriers. There is a poem about killing "the Lord with a bastard sword" and sewing His head back on. But most disturbing to Taylor and some other parents was a short story titled "Scissors" by Jenny Holmes. The story chronicles the depression of an unnamed girl who seeks solace from her pain by peri- odically cutting herself with scissors. The girl eventually kills herself by slicing her wrists in a hot tub. The number for a suicide hotline is printed under the story. "The thought of a young girl in a bathtub bleeding to death with a copy of Imprints next to her scared the hell out of me," Taylor said. Taylor vowed to cutoff funding for Imprints, whose $8,000 annual budget comes from school coffers, unless the students give up editorial control. A booster group at the school already has announced it will not fund awards given annually to stu- dents who work on Imprints. great scores.. Kaplan helps you focus your test prep study where you need it most. We'll show you the proven skills and test- taking techniques that help you get a higher score. I great skills... Kaplan has the most complete arsenal of test prep tools available. From videos to software to virtual reality practice tests with computerized analysis to great teachers who really care, nobody offers you more ways to practice. CALL: 1-800-KAP-TEST get a higher score KAPLAN _ Macintosh Performa® 6115 w/CD 8 MB RAM/350 MB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, 15" color display, keyboard, mouse and all the software you're likely to need. PowerBook® 520c w/Modem 12MB RAM/320MB hard drive amd modem. Student racing for great deals on Macintosh pulls 3g's.