LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 4, 1996 - 5
*Knitwits stitch
gear for homeless
Groups ask for casinos
By Michole Brown
9 Fpr the Daily
Lisa Weiss welcomes visitors with a
smile as warm and soft as the balls of
yarn she skillfully transforms into hats
:ard mittens for the homeless.
Ten steps into Weiss's brightly lit
office, a brilliant display of more than
100 multi-colored hats, gloves and
scarfs knitted by student and faculty
members of the Knitwits lays neatly
arranged, begging to be stroked, snug-
led and worn.'
The Knitwits are a small, but quickly
growing, group of faculty, staff, alums,
community residents and students who
-knit hats, gloves, scarfs, afghans, slip-
pers and even baby sweaters for the less
fortunate.
Weiss, the University's graphic
designs office manager, works with
Mary Price, assistant director for the
*Institute for Humanities, to coordinate
the Knitwits.
"We've proven that students, along
o with faculty and staff, can get involved
-fwith many kinds of volunteer services,
and that we're also eager to," Price said.
This group of crocheting cronies start-
ed itwo years ago when Weiss wanted to
find a way to help Project Serve even
though she was not able to travel to
Alternate Spring Break destinations. She
decided to put her kniting talents to work
for the good of those in need of warmth.
* By the time spring break rolled
around, Weiss had single-handedly knit-
ted more than 60 hats for distribution by
Project Serve.
"'My hands hurt," she said. smiling. "I
asked for help the next year."
Help was just what she got, and a lot
of it. More than 100 people came to
Weiss's aid last year.
Almost 700 hats, gloves and scarfs
made by the Knitwits were distributed to
many charitable organizations across the
nation last year, including Boys and
Girls Clubs in Denver and New York
City, The Cheyenne River Reservation in
South Dakota, Hmong refugee children
in St. Paul, Minn., and the Bahweting
Anishnabe School in Sault St. Marie.
This year, the Knitwits passed out
more than 100 knit kits at Festifall to stu-
dents interested in knitting hats for the
Prospect Place homeless shelter in Ann
Arbor. Weiss and Price said they were
both overwhelmed by the large amount
of student support they received.
LSA first-year student Jessica Kelly
picked up a knit kit at Festifall, and has
since knitted seven hats.
"I usually find the time to knit right
after class," Kelly said. "I lay on the floor
with the yarn and avoid homework."
Kelly, vwho has taught her boyfriend,
roommate and several curious bypassers
in her dorm how to knit, said she feels
positive about the group's mission.
"It really doesn't take too much out of
your day," she said. "One hour or so out
of your afternoon is gonna make the dif-
ference for some little kid walking to
school"
The Knitwits are now more than 200
strong, and more than half are students.
There are no meetings, no dues and no
board of directors.
Local members receive e-mail
announcements on what their next pro-
jects will be, when they are due, and
where to come pick up yarn, needles
and instructions for knitting each item.
The yarn and needles for their various
projects are usually donated by other
charity organizations as well as local
stores such as Meijers and Target.
Meijers donated the yarn for the lat-
est project, knitting slippers for local
nursing home residents.
The Knitwits are not only a local
group. Thanks to the World Wide Web's
Charity Knitting Network, there are also
members in Texas, Oregon and Vermont.
The items created by the Knitwits
TORONTO (AP) - More than two
dozen municipalities and businesses
have approached the provincial govern-
ment to request casinos.
"We really haven't turned down any-
thing," said Ab Campion of the
Consumer Ministry.
Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Fort Erie
and Point Edward are hoping for full-
scale, resort casinos like those already
in Windsor, Orillia and, by December,
Niagara Falls.
Other communities are lining up for
up to 50 permanent charity casinos -
limited to 100 or so video slot machines
and 40 table games - to replace the
4,200 three-day "Monte Carlos" that
roved the province last year.
The race will likely heat up next
month after Bill 75 is passed in the leg-
islature. The bill governs charity casi-
nos and allows for video lottery termi-
nals in bars and restaurants. As for full-
scale casinos like Windsor's, the gov-
ernment has said it wants a
provincewide referendum - likely
next fall - before approving any more.
But a number of pitches are already
on the table.
Many economically depressed com-
munities are eyeing casinos like lottery
players down to their last bucks.
DATING
Continued from Page 1
"I think it would be very uncomfort-
able," said Engineering senior Kristy
Walker. "If other students found out they
might feel they are paying more atten-
tion to you or giving you extra points."
LSA junior Jeff Shore agreed.
"Obviously the (student) could be
doing it to get a good grade and that
would be unfair to the class," he said.
However, students said relationships
between faculty members and students
were acceptable if the student was not
in the faculty member's class.
"I think it's OK if (students) date pro-
fessors if they're not in the class," said
LSA first-year student Sarah Gregor. "I
don't think it's proper for you to date
your own professor."
But Jordan said these outside rela-
tionships also may lead. to problems
should the student becomes academi-
cally involved with the faculty member
in the future. For instance, students
might ask for a letter of recommenda-
tion from a professor they are currently
dating.
The policy further states that these
relationships may lead to difficulties.
"The Senate Assembly has conclud-
ed, and the University concurs, that the
asymmetry of the faculty-student rela-
tionship means that any sexual relation-
ship between a faculty member and a
student is potentially exploitative and
should be avoided," the policy reads.
Sanjay Patel (behind), an LSA senior, and Charlie Walker, an RC junior, display
hand-knitted hats, which they deliver to the needy.
have been distributed both locally as
well as internationally, through
Alternative Spring Break.
Anita Bohn, the director of Project
Serve, said she is more than apprecia-
tive of the work the knitwits have done
for ASB.
"It's a good way for students to use
their hobby to help other people," she
said.
Because the number of knitted items
was so high last year, the Knitwits have
outgrown ASB. This year they will col-
lect two drives of knitted wear. One
drive, at the end of November, will go
toward local charities, and the second,
before spring break, will be distributed
by Project Serve nationwide.
Anyone interested in becoming
involved with the Knitwits can come to
Weiss's office in 3410 Michigan Union
before Nov. 21 and pick up a knit kit.
Interested students can also e-mail the
Knitwits at knitwits@umich.edu, or call
Price or Weiss at 936-3518 or 763-
5493, respectively.
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The-extra that I
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j I . make your own personal greeting cards :
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Voter apathy persists
on campus in '96
By Meghan Belanger
Eor the Daily
Despite recent visits by the MTV
"Choose or Lose" bus and Rev. Jesse
Jackson to encourage voter registration,
many students are not registered to vote
and have no plans to change that in the
near future.
Students give a number of reasons for
.not registering, from lack of knowledge
about the specifics of the American
political scene, to general discontent.
"I don't know much about either
party," said LeeAnn Benkert, an RC
first-year student who is not registered
to vote. "I don't want to go in there and
Just choose a name because it sounds
rnicer."'
Benkert blames herself for not being
nformed about party differences.
"It's my own ignorance and it's my
fault. I'm lazy," Benkert said. "Maybe
If look into it more, I can decide if I
want to vote."
Some students feel discontented with
the nation as a whole.
"I don't really believe in everything
this country stands for, so I don't really
want to fully commit by voting,"
Benkert said. "Basically, I'm lazy and
scared."
LSA junior Alan Cohen said he feels
informed about the issues and candi-
dates, but agrees with Benkert's discon-
tent with the American system.
"I don't respect the rights of others to
decide on issues which will affect my
life. Conversely, I don't wish to affect
O'CONNOR
Continued from Page 1-
Syverud, who described O'Connor as
a "very decent and fair person," said the
middle-of-the-road justice, and the
Court in general, currently face some
:controversial issues.
"I don't always agree on how she
comes out on things, but I'm relieved
all the time that there's someone with
an open mind on the Supreme Court,"
Syverud said, citing recent cases on
abortion and freedom of religion
issues.
the lives of others," Cohen said. "My
contributions to others are personal, not
by forcing my views on them."
But Cohen said he has no problem
with other people casting their votes.
"I do not think it's wrong to vote or
have democracy," he said. "I simply
choose to abstain from the process
because it is wrong for me."
According to the Los Angeles-based
American Voter Coalition, citizens
have become increasingly cynical and
believe that their vote does not matter.
Michigan State University student
Dan Fitzpatrick said he does not plan
on registering.
"It would be dumb for me to vote. I
haven't really been paying attention,"
he said.
While many students are decidedly
apathetic about the political process, RC
first-year student Patty Brady feels voters
need express their opinion.
"I think it's important for people to
vote so that they're represented. It's
important for people to pay attention
to what's going on around them and
to vote for what they want," Brady
said.
Personally, Brady sees her vote as
crucial.
"Voting is important to me because in
the government's eyes I have power," she
said. "It's the only power I really have."
According to the AVC, roughly 70
million Americans are ineligible to
vote in elections because they are not
registered.
"I don't think she'll talk about those
issues directly, but probably about how
the difficult issues should be faced,"
Svverud said.
Syverud said O'Connor has led a
unique life - from growing up on a
Texas ranch with no electricity to being
the first female justice on the high
court.
Before being nominated to the high
court, she served as an Arizona state
senator from 1969-75 and as the Senate
majority leader. She also served as the
assistant attorney general of Arizona
from 1965-69.
DOLE
Continued from Page 1.
the focus of Dole's speech. She said her
husband's proposed 15-percent across-
the-board tax cut and 5500-per-child
tax credit would ease the strain on
American families.
"I think we would all agree that pay-
ing over 38 percent of our incomes to
taxes is not right," Dole said.
Dole said her husband has a lot to
offer small business owners. She said
her husband would cut the capital gains
tax rate in half, as well as roll back estate
taxes and restore a tax deduction for
home offices. She also said he would
initiate making Individual Retirement
Accounts of up to $2,000 available for
spouses not in the workplace.
Various audience members stood up
and shared stories of hardship with the
group, at Dole's request. After each
story, Dole told the audience how her
husband would help them if elected.
"Women are particularly vulnerable
today," Dole said after one woman
spoke of her experience with violent
crime. "But Bob Dole will work with
governors to make sure there's no more
parole for violent criminals."
Dole said her husband would initiate
a constitutional amendment guarantee-
ing victims' rights, such as the right to
object to a plea bargain, in cases of vio-
lent crime. "We need an all-out war on
crime and drugs," Dole said.
Voters should think about crime
issues when considering whom to sup-
port because the president has the
power to appoint the judges that deal
with crime on a daily basis, Dole said.
This year's election is especially crucial
because the next president may need to
appoint as many as three Supreme
Court justices, she said.
WEC members said they found Dole's
speech entertaining and informative.
"She's a wonderful speaker," said
Betty Brodacki, a Macomb County res-
ident. "(The issues Dole discussed) are
very important. They're on the right
track to solving the problems."
Engler said Dole's visit is another
example of how important the state will
be in determining the election.
"Michigan is a bellwether state.
Michigan in many ways will decide the
election," he said. "We're a state where
people are concerned about tax burdens
and we can see first hand that, in
Michigan, cutting taxes and reducing
government has beeni responsible for an
economic resurgence."
r~
The University of Michigan
School of Music
Tuesday, October 8
University Philharmonia Orchestra
Pier Calabria, conductor
- Beethoven: Symphony no. 5
" Sibelius: Lemminkdinnen's Homeward Journey, op. 22, no. 4
" Grieg: Four Symphonic Dances, op. 64
Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m.
Wednesday-Sunday, October 9-13
Theatre & Drama Production
Pamela by Carlo Goldoni
Directed by John Russell Brown
Trueblood Theatre, Wed.-Sat. 8p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m.
Tickets: $14, $ 7 students; Wed. preview: $7
(313.764.0450)
Friday Night Free Film Series
Canterbury House
The Episcopal Chaplaincy at University of Michigan
721 East Huron Street 665-0606
Great films, lively discussion, free admission and popcorn!
Each film begins at 8:00 at Canterbury House, with
conversation following.
LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST Friday, October 4
The controversial film that was banned by the Moral Majority
ROMERO Friday, October 11
A gripping drama of faith and martyrdom in El Salvador
HEAVEN CAN WAIT Friday, October 18
Time to lighten up! Warren Beatty sparkles in this romantic comedy with a
spiritual twist
JESUS OF MONTREAL Friday, October 25
This great film stars Keanu Reeves and got a bunch of obscure awards
DEAD MAN WALKING Friday, November 1
A true boy meets girl story, but only a nun (Susan Sarandon) can love this
good'ole boy on death row (Sean Penn)
DRINK THOMAS MANLEY LACERS'
yr Il
Sunday, October 13
Stearns Collection Lecture Series
"This Republic of Strings," a lecture-recital
Andrew Lawrence-King, harp
Recital Hall, 2 p.m.
36th Annual Conference on Organ Music:
Hommage a Langlais, October 13-16
Organ Recital by Laurence Jenkins
Hill Auditorium, 4 p.m
Carillon Recital by Patrick Macoska
Burton Memorial Tower, 7:30 p.m.
Faculty Recital by Robert Glasgow
"The French Symphonists"
Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m.
Y
Monday, October 14
Carillon Recital by Ray McLellan
Burton Memorial Tower, 7:30 p.m.
University Musical Society Choral Union
Janice Beck, organ; Thomas Sheets, conductor
* Durufl6: Requiem
. Langlais: Premiere Symphonie, Messe Solennelle
Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15
Organ Recital by Timothy Tikker
Music of Franck, Langlais, Tournemire and Tikker
Hill Auditorium, 3:30 p.m.
"****! WALKS THE _