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LOCAL/STATE

The Michigan Daily -- Tuesday, October 21, 1997 - 7

~speaker calls for
Arab involvement

State begins new
portion of welfare
reform initiatives

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By Reilly Bromna
Dagy Stafff Reporter
Randa Fahmy, counsel to Sen.
Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), spoke to
Utadversity students last night about
the potential power of the Arab-
American community in politics.
"Arab Americans should get more
involved in the political process.
Senator Abraham feels that Arab
Americans can make more of a differ-
ence," Fahmy said.
The event was sposored by the
American-Arab Antidiscrimination
Committee, a campus student group.
The commitee's president, Heidi
Arraf, said she hopes more Arab
Americans understand how important
they can be in the political process.
. "Unfortunately, we aren't as politi-
cally active as we should be. Many
Arab Americans have assimilated to
American culture, and have lost some
of their heritage in the process;' she
said.
Fahmy assists Abraham on legisla-
tive and legal issues, but because of
her Arab heritagc, she has become a
voice for Abraham's concerns for
ArabAmericans. Abraham is the only
Arab American in the Senate.
Fahmy said the problem among the
Arab~ American population today is
that newer generations aren't used to
politics in Amenica.
"Politics here isn't the same as

where some Arabs are coming from"
Fahmy said. "Also, some have lost
touch with their culture. Getting more
people to identifyv with their culture is
important."
Fahmy suggested two ways that
Arab Americans can significantly
influence politics today.r
"First, voter education is key.
People need to register to vote, and
then actually vote," she said. "As a'
people, we need to block vote."
Secondly, she said monetary conti-
butions are just as important.
"The fact is, money gets the mes-
sage out to others," Fahmy said.
During a Q&A session, one student
challenged America's foreign policy,
goals in the Mideast.
"I don't think American foreign
policy is objective enough,' the stu-
dent said. "The role America should
play in areas like the Middle East is
amibiguous at this point. But it's clear f
that more Arab Americans could
make a difference"~
Michigan has more Arab
Americans than any other state. Arraf
said it is time for this voting block to
become more vocal.Y
"People think, 'There's not much I
can do,"' Arraf said. "However, by
simply taking art in local}organiza-:
tions and taking time to activate your- BRYAN MCLELLAN/Daily
self, (you) can really make the Arab Randa Fahmy, counsel to Sen. Spencer Abraham, addresses the role of Arab
American community a strong force." Americans in the political community last night.

DETROIT (AP) -The newest phase
of a state plan to find jobs for welfare
recipients enlists church-based volun-
teers to serve as mentors and provides
reimbursements for employment-relat-
ed expenses.
"Today, a new wave of welfare
reform begins in Michigan," Gov. John
Engler said at the Family Independence
Agency's Greydale district office yes-
terday.
"We are here to kick off our commit-
ment to goals that will ensure success
for welfare recipients who long to break
free of dependency and determine the
future for their families, their children
and themselves'" he said.
Project Zero, a year-old program cre-
ated by Engler to help welfare recipi-
ents, is scheduled to open six new sites
over the next three weeks. The state
already has six other Project Zero sites.
Engler noted that only 26 percent of
welfare clients in Detroit's Greydale
district have earned income; 30 percent
of all families have income below the
poverty standard; 7,000 households
receive food stamps; and more than
3,000 welfare cases qualify' for Project
Zero.
Tentative plans for the new sites are
built on the lessons of the first six sites.
In Greydale, participants will have a
shuttle service available for jobs and
will also get reimbursements for job-
er related expenses for up to one year.
r- Program directors also noted the
e need for mentors, especially church
volunteers, to help get people back on
g their feet.
1- Ottawa County was the first Project
e Zero site to turn to churches. One year
I-later, it was the only one of the pro-
iOXFORD
nContinued from Page 1.
dents the chance to live in co-ops.
)f "I think that co-ops give students
n one of the few chances to live in a
N community with real issues,"
Kriegman said, adding that students
e who live in co-ops are responsible for
their house's building maintenance,
o cooking and cleaning.-
t. Built in the early 1 960s, Oxford

"Today, a new
wave of welfare
reform begins..."
--- Gov. John Engler!
gram's first six sites where everyone on
welfare when the program began was
either working or off the system.
The Ottawa County plan was created
by the district's local staff, who signed a
one-year, $99,000 contract with Goad
Samaritan Ministries. That group,
which had a network of churches
already doing social work, established-a
program that teamed recipients with
volunteer mentors to help with rides,
baby-sitting and encouragement.
In Kent, County, the Family
Independence Agency hopes to wdc% k
with the Grand Rapids Area Center for
Ecumenism, which has a plan to reach
hundreds of churches representing dif-
ferent racial and ethnic components of
the community.
In Detroit, state officials are talking
to representatives of Joy of Jesus,a
ministry and redevelopment organiza-
tion, about mentoring and employment
programs for welfare recipients in the
two new Project Zero areas.
Project Zero's first six sites are
Detroit, Wavne County, and Alpen~a,
Menominee, Midland and Ottawa
counties. Last month Engler
announced the new districts, includ-
ing two Detroit locations and
Berrien, Kent, Hillsdale and
Manistee counties.
Housing was originally intended to be
a co-op.
Hartford said Oxford was one of a
few buildings built to accommodate the
influx of baby boom students who
came to the University during the
1960s.
"That era of building on campus
didn't produce the most wonderful
buildings, Hartford said. "They're not
our greatest buildings, but at the same
time, the property is fairly valuable."

i i 91 0

IDIAG
Continued from Page 2.
,.rBrazilian granite now surrounding the M adds a
slightly-different touch to the Diag's centerpiece.
"The M will stand out more, just as Michigan
shoulfdstand out in this world," Schoenfield said.
However, not all students like the newly restored
"They didn't polish it. They didn't make it bet-
60," said Nick Heilbert, an LSA junior.
-"I expected some big improvement, but it's not
restored."
With the return of the M, some students said
their traditional superstitions also are back.
"It'spart of Michigan tradition ," Tigay said. "It's
about time it came back. Now there's just one more
thing I have to avoid walking on."
Rose-Malina agreed with Tigay.
"It really brings together a lot of the students,"
he said.
*- Qdy Saff Reporter Peter Meyers contributed
to this report.
REACTION
Continued from Page 1.
19Fi'i-ca cu1Pohr r c nn~vr n mth im ~nnrP to*nrn


ISHER great group of kids."
ntinued from Page :1 former Memphis coach Larry Finch and forme
Brigham Young coach Roger Reid also have inter
are also on the academic committee. viewed for the position. Reid also has sent his resume
Fisher received strong support in Mobile after his to Goss.
iday meeting. The players "don't deserve the wait they're beinf,
I think it's probably Steve Fisher's job to turn put through right now," Wade said. "I know the uni"
Nn," Nicholson said. versity wants to make the right decision, but these
But Fisher's prominence as a national figure may players are not only good players, they're great stu"
help him overcome the team's comfort zone so dents."That's why we went from worst to first (ii
se to the season. the last two reasons).
South Alabama assistant coach Tommy Wade "We had great character."
ady has the support of current team members. Despite Fisher's outstanding record while a
spite being a candidate for the position, Wade Michigan, a conference championship eluded him it
tinues to lead practices for the Jaguars. his eight-season tenure.
The bottom line is this,' Wade said. "I'm loyal to The South Alabama program already is ahead o'
se players. These players who are here, I brought Fisher in two respects, as last season it won the Sur
n in." Belt conference crown and participated in the NCAA
knd that bond is what allows Wade to maintain tournament.
ims of the top spot at the Sun Belt school. Fisher's Michigan team was not invited to the
All the players have endorsed me for the head NCAA tournament last year.
thing job," Wade said. "They have publicly said - Daily Snorts Writer Dan Stillman contributed t(
tThey have told the president that and they're a this report
Law student Jason Blankenship was glad Fisher was(
fired, saying he presents a bad image of the University. He
said he would give up wins in exchange for a clean program. Andrea Cmoss i*, 1989
"The image projected by Coach Fisher's action (or inac- "l applaudi Tom Goss for mnakin
tion) reflects poorly on the institution that I, and many Michigan athletics in the right
others, have chosen to attend," he said. "I'd honestly pre- hop his effort d isn't end witi
Ifer to lose all the basketball games in the world, if the bsktacohined
alternative was to win many games with a hint of impro- h erimn f~nceto
pri ety." fetes."
Rackham student Joe Gutowski said the only way to get
to the truth is by having Martin step forward. Gutowski, Ma theW BerkOWitz, S
rwho said he respects both the players for standing by their "Coach Fisher not only w~a f
coach and Goss for making the move, said the only way of players, but he was hont, re'
getting to the truth of the accusations is to have Martin step woking Without Coach Fi~her'
forward. have never had the pleasure od
"Even after months of following the 'scandal' that is lir,
Michigan basketball, I still don't think the whole story is out ~ SatnEgnel
there," Gutowski said.#arnEg
"Martin still hasn't said anything regarding his involve- "Th' boto ne is that Stev
ment with Michigan basketball players or coaches. If only c :;l: ii > a winni ng aset
Martin would speak on that topic, perhaps a lot of the pre-' M~buth roram had beenu
adsent uncertainty would be washed away." top a behad roresvely be

rnup hic

yoaw risner w Vas Ine.verA gI.ive I inecance co I..)prove is~
innocence.
-"It's a Black Day for some blue alums ... and I'm seeing
red," he said. "Fisher has been found guilty by Goss and
Bollinger before the coach had a chance to defend himself.
*'Shame on you two, you've done a great disservice to
the University. ... Maybe the University should be de-
Go~ssedi."
Engineering senior Brian Wietzke said Fisher is innocent
'of any wrongdoing, but his skills as a coach are not right for
the job.
;.Wietke used Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski as
an example of the model coach - a presence on and off the
court According to the senior, Fisher, who recorded a 184-
82 career mark in his eight-year tenure as coach, hasn't got-
ten enough out of his players.
r "He might be the nicest guy, a father figure, but he does-
*instill a work ethic in his players;' he said. "He doesn't
motivate his players to win."

Recycle, the Daily.


'TALK O0' THlE TOWN... KAwAcw LO
jah.Pat (fat) adj. 1. exceptionally good : fine. 2. some bomb@$$
msh mack.
me%. yo...check out Pee Wee Bustin' some phat grooves.
grinds (grindz) n. 1. a snack, meal, Beverage, or any sort of
edible material. 2. food that tends to hit the spot; usu. of low
quality gruel.
ex. hey Frankie, you gots some phlat grinds to go with my brew?
*special thanks to Charlie Sojka
Y- O.please leave comments for Kunche Lu at: Iukfumich.edu

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