WE Lft WI Unt News: 76-DAILY Advertising: 764-0554 One hundred sax years of edztorl freedo Monday February 17, 1997 .. .. r, a.: ,. . CZhicano poet speaks of civilrights By Alice Robinson Daily Staff Reporter When it comes to the Mexican American civil rights movement, Ana Castillo knows what she's talking about. She should - she was there. Castillo, the author/activist who gave the closing address for Chicano History Week celebrations on campus rday, said she came out of the 'i cano rights movement of the 1970s "with the realization that because I was a woman, I was experiencing the revo- lution differently from my male coun- terparts." About 50 people gathered in East Hall to hear Castillo's comments and to get their newly purchased books signed. Castillo, who has published four books of poetry and three novels, often Ows on her experiences and observa- tions from the Chicano rights move- ment, which took place from 1965- 1975, as well as social issues and her own cultural background for her writ- ing. The event was sponsored by La Voz Mexicana, with help from the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives, the Womens' Studies epartment and other University artments. The Chicago-born author said she became more reflective after the 1970s. "In the '80s, I continued to write, and my world began to expand," Castillo said. Encompassing a wide variety of political and personal experiences in her hourlong reading, Castillo spoke earnestly about people she admired - migrant farm workers' advocate Cesar gavez and Sister Diana Ortiz, an Xmerican nun working in Guatemala who was sequestered and tortured. See CHICANO, Page 7A Aibright tours Italy The Washington PostF ROME - Never at a loss for a cliche, the Italian press greeted America's new secretary of state yesterday as the "iron lady" of U.S. diplomacy. The comparison with Britain's Margaret Thatcher may be a bit of a stretch, but Madeleine Albright did display a certain Thatcheresque streak in her ministerial debut on the world stage. She lectured the Italians on not doing business with "rogue states" like Libya and Cuba, informed Russia that NATO expansion will go ahead regardless of any Kremlin objec- tions, and rejected a French demand that a European be appointed to head NATO's Southern Command. At the end of the day, she posed for photographs with tourists on a hill overlooking the Forum. "Awesome," said a star-struck American student, echoing a word used by Albright earlier this month to describe U.S. for- eign policy. "It's the secretary of state." In the absence of a great deal of new substance, style took center stage on Albright's visit to Italy at the start of a nine-country, I1-day world tour. 4 Albright's aides were anxious to draw attention to their boss' penchant for speaking her mind in closed-door ses- sions with Italian leaders, and her will- ingness to depart from her brief. "Her style is frank and direct, but not rude," said one official, in describing Albright how the secretary had told Italian lead- ers that the European policy of fostering a "critical dialogue" with countries like Iran was going nowhere. Albright preferred to describe her style as "friendly," an implied contrast to the aloof, lawyerly ways of her predeces- sor, Warren Christopher. "It's a very people-to-people style. Everybody has their own style, and I am trying my own out" she told reporters. To underline the new informality, she chose to begin her trip by donning a black Stetson hat acquired during a visit to Texas. It remains to be seen how well the Albright style is greet- ed in France and China, where diplomats are expected to fol- low rigid rules of procedure. But it appeared to go down well with the Italians, who seem grateful for any kind ofAmerican attention. Italy may boast the world's fifth-largest economy, after the United States, Japan, Germany, and France, but Italian leaders are forever complaining about being left out in the diplomatic cold. Italy strongly supports the Clinton administration's push for the eastward expansion of NATO to include former Warsaw Pact members Poland, Hungary, and the Czech See ALBRIGHT, Page 7A MARGARET MYERS/ Bonn Howard and Jonathan Itchon gather on the Diag Friday for a kiss - in honor of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pride and St. Valentine's Day.i DagKiss-In ce lbrates relationsh ips, acNwceptance By Susan t. Port Daily Staff Reporter When Robert Welcher embraced and kissed his partner Friday on the Diag, he demonstrat- ed more than affection. He took a step toward displaying his rela- tionship to others. The Queer Unity Project celebrated St. Valentine's Day by sponsoring the Kiss-In event at noon Friday on the Diag. Welcher, a Rackham second-year graduate student, said he participated in the event with mixed feelings. "In a way it's liberating but it's still in a way scary," Welcher said. "I am not generally shy about showing affection in the public, but even in a town like Ann Arbor you still get these looks. "If it was a straight couple kissing in the middle of the Diag, no one would take notice." Welcher's boyfriend, Engineering senior Dreste Prada, said affection between homosex- uals should be shown on more than one day. "I think it's a great event, but it's too bad it's only once a year," Prada said. "It's one holiday that celebrates all these queer folks out here showing affection." Approximately 100 students, faculty and other members of the University community gathered together to listen to speeches and poetry relating the experiences of gay, lesbian and bisexual community members. LSA first-year student Greta Gerwick said she thought the Kiss-In was a good idea. "I think that gays should be as comfortable See KISS-IN, Page 7A 'U' joins national festivities to honor engineers this week JEANNIE SERVAAS/Daily The Black Greek Association sponsored the annual Step Show on Friday, when black fraternity and sorority members performed unique dancing routines that combined rhythmic stomping, spoken words and singing. Black Greek Association -steps to history month By David Rossman Daily Staff Reporter National Engineers Week has existed since 1951, but it is new to the University this year. Despite the snow, nearly 50 Engineering students gathered for brunch yesterday at Pierpont Commons to help kick off the week's festivities. "We're celebrating the engineering profession," said Engineering senior Ankur Agarwal, fundraiser for National Engineering Week. "We want to get peo- ple more excited about engineering." Coordinators said the week - spon- sored by Motorola and the National Society of Black Engineers - is a chance for students to reflect on accomplishments and envision the future. Taryn Rosema, director of N a t i o n a l Engineers Week events at the ~'~' ~University, said ~ she hopes this. year's festivities will set the stage for celebrations in future years. "It should be a blast'Rosema said. "People are excited, and the events are open to all students" Tony Glinke, president of Ann Arbor Plastics - a firm supplying plastic products to local companies such as the Borders Group and Domino's Pizza - spoke to a small crowd yesterday. "To grow, you must change," Glinke said. "To change, you must have guts, skills and conviction.' Much of Glinke's talk aimed to rally students to take a more involved role in. their education and job selection. "You must take complete responsibili- ty for your life and career" Glinke said. "Education is a lifelong journey - not a By Ericka M. Smith Daily Staff Reporter African American History Month stepped to a different beat Friday night as Black Greek Association members honored their organization and culture at the second- annual Step Show Competition. After four months of planning and rehearsals, the African American Task Force-spon- sored event drew more than 300 peo- "We started planning in November," Montgomery said. "(The African American Task Force) served as financial and advisory support for them, but the BGA really got together and made the show a success." At the event, members of fraternities and sororities dressed in similar outfits and stomped their feet in rhyth- mic patterns that imitated songs and musical beats. Performers also chanted their sorority and fraternity names while stomping. After performing in the show, LSA senior Naimah Muhammed, a member of Alpha Gamma Psi sorority, said the step show was a display of unity and cultural diversity. "African American men and women are doing positive JEANNIE SERVAAS/Daily Tony Glinke, president of Ann Arbor Plastics, gave career advice to engineering students yesterday at the Plerpont Commons. are consumed, unlike art - where goods are interpreted in a "philosophi- cal" manner. "Engineers must produce products One of the largest events this week is Outreach to Schools, an opportunity for Engineering students to visit local sec- ondary schools and entice young chil- I I I