I A LOCAL/STATE - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 28, 1998 -3 Students receive racist letter Officials at Indiana University- Purdue University at Indianapolis Law Whool said last week they may know who sent a racist letter to black taw stu- dents at the university, the Chronicle of -4figher Education reported. Twenty-six first-year law students received the single-page letter -, signed "Ray A. Sism" -- after return- "ing from winter break. Marshall Collins, a university spokesperson, said the letter may have been sent by some- one within the university. The letter criticized the university's affirmative action policies and said black law students are unwelcome in the "White Man's law school." The let- ter added that although the black stu- dents have already been admitted, "we don't have to let you graduate." Campus police officials said they are sti1l investigating the incident. Norman Lefstein, dean of the law school, has offered a cash reward to anyone who can identify the author of the letter. Computer error benefits students ..An error in a computer program that caused some University of Minnesota !students to receive extra scholarship money was detected this past Thursday, the Minnesota Daily reported Monday. The University of Minnesota Office *f Scholarships and Financial Aid acci- dentally paid the maximum amount of Minnesota State Grant money to all scholarship recipients, including those who did not fulfill the 15-credit requirement for the semester. Grant ;,money was deposited directly into the students' bank accounts. The 2,500 students that mistakenly .received extra money will be mailed a letter notifying them of the error and *equesting them to return any excess grant money by Feb. 6. Mlan banned from Oslo campus A Norwegian man who was prohibit- ,ed from attending the University of Oslo because of his body odor is taking his case to the European Court of uman Rights in Strasbourg, France, 4he Chronicle of Higher Education -reported yesterday. The university barred the man. whose name has not been released, from attending the institution in 1981 after his strong odor and dirty clothing prompted complaints from students and faculty. The man was 4udying astrophysics and claimed that living in a plastic, foam shack nce 1978 helped him acquire a more profound understanding of astrophysics. In several related cases, courts have iuled against the man Internet abuser on probation A University of Florida student who ed a 14-year-old girl he met via the iternet into a motel was sentenced last Tuesday to five years of probation, the independent Florida Alligator reported Friday. Florida engineering senior Daryl ^Bnks. who was apprehended after 1egirl identified him from an ATM !urity video, pleaded no contest to %,Ud assault of a person under age 16. Conditions of his probation dlude the completion of a psycho- sexual therapy program, no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with anyone under 16. Banks was also ordered to undergo testing -esexually transmitted diseases. The girl began conversing with -Banks through an America Online chat room last May. Banks eventually asked the girl if she wished to meet him, but the girl told him she was only 14 years old. Banks convinced Oer to sneak out, and picked her up at her home. -Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Christine M. Paik from the CIjronicle of Higher Education and the University Wire. Interest in Peace Corps continues to grow Mike Spahn Dlly Staff Reporter Ihirty-six years after then-President John Kennedy announced his idea for the Peace Corps from the steps of the Michigan Union, the interna- tional service effort has grown into a foreign ser- vice program costing $222 million per year. With President Clinton's plans to expand the Peace Corps by 5,000 volunteers and $48 million, the program is continuing to flourish. The proposed expansion should meet a growing national interest in volunteering, said Patti Madigan, Peace Corps spokesperson. "It's a natural extension of Peace Corps and where we're going," Madigan said. "General inter- est is up. We had over 150,000 people contact us in 1997 to get information about volunteering." The suggested funding increase would raise the Peace Corps budget from its current $222 million to $270 -- a 21 percent increase. In addition, Clinton said he hopes to double the number of overseas volunteers to 10,000. Sarah Naasko, the University's Peace Corps coordinator, said the corps is an important pro- gram that deserves government support. "The Peace Corps is one of the most efficient foreign aid programs we have," Naasko said. "It manages to reach out and touch a lot of people." But Sage Westman, a spokesperson for the Michigan Republican Party, said the proposed fund- ing increase shows that Clinton is not concentrating on the most important issues in the United State>. "I think the President likes to hand out a lot of social spending policies ... which help only certain people," Westman said. "We need to focus spending on America's key problems, such as education." Adam Silver, vice president of the campus chap- ter of the College Republicans, said he agrees with Westman. Silver said a potential budget surplus should go toward improving education and secur- itg Medicare. "I think we need to look at necessities pertinent to Americans right now" Silver said. Dentistry lecturer Kari Gould, who served in the Peace Corps on the island ofVanuatu in the South Pacific, said the experience taught her that "all humans have basically the same needs." The i University provides the fifth most volun- teers of any institution in the country, and Naasko said she "suspects interest will only increase." Gould said that although domestic issues are very important, she doesn't think Peace Corps funding has to take away money from such programs. "Having Peace Corps funding doesn't really take away from ... our domestic policies," Gould said. Madigan said she does not foresee a major bat- tle over the funding increase, adding that the Peace Corps is a widely accepted program. "We have always received strong bi-partisan support in Congress," Madigan said. "Funding is always a challenge, but it's one we look forw ard to working on with Congress." Six current members of Congress who serval in the Peace Corps all said they support the funding increase. Seth Amgott. a spokesperson for Rep. Christopher Shays, (R-Conn.) who served in Fiji, said Shays will support the new plan when it comes to the House of Representatives. "Chris will work very hard with a bi-partilan coalition and (Peace Corps) Director (Mark) Gearan to get this passed." Amgott said. The budget increase will probably go to support new programs and aid recruiting efforts, Madigan said. "This allows us to send out mere volunteers and respond to new requests for volunteers." Madigan said. Naasko said the funding could help to restart-the recently closed Peace Corps recruiting site at Michigan State University. Sipeaking plainly Ethnic greek organizations build cultural awareness By Rachel Edelman Daily Staff Reporter A variety of ethnic sororities and fra- ternities on campus, many of which are currently participating in a ws inter rush or application process, offer students an opportunity to gain a sense of cultural awareness and to become actively im olved in their communities. Students can choose from five black fraternity chapters. five black sorority chapters, a Latino/a fraternity and sorori- ty and an Asian Pacific American sorori- ty and fraternity. The 10 black sororities and fraternities are part of the Black Greek Association. Each chapter establishes its own set of rules and guidelines. "I think one of the main reasons (to join a black sorority) is to have a bond," said LSA junior Aiisya Lowey, president of Alpha Gamma Psi. "When you're of the same ethnic group. there are a lot of issues that are specific to that ethnic group. At a predominantly white univer- sity, it's very important to have those bonds." Although each chapter in the Black Greek Association has its own applica- tion process., students usually attend a general informational meeting and then apply to one specific chapter. Individual chapters determine whether they want to accept new members for the winter term. Delta Sigma Theta, the largest black sorority on campus with 23 members, is one of the chapters accepting applica- tions for the winter semester. "Delta Sigma Theta is a sisterhood committed to public service. It's a life- time commitment "said president Sandra Enimil, an LSA senior. Individual chapters are involved in a wide range of service activities, includ- ing fund-raising, tutoring and mentorship programs and workshops. The University's Asian Pacific American sorority. Kappa Alpha Theta Phi and Asian Pacific American fraterni- ty, Lambda Phi Epsilon, are not official- ly affiliated with one another, but have worked together in the past. Both chap- ters held rush activities last week. Kappa Alpha Theta Phi, which has had a chapter on campus for two and a half years, has 17 active members. About 10 women are rushing this semester. "Our main focus is promoting APA pride for all women," said Education senior May Gong, Kappa Alpha Theta Phi's rush chair. "We look for committed, dedicated women. We have them meet us during rush events" Lambda Phi Epsilon is the first nation- al Asian American fraternity. It has had a chapter on campus since 198,1. "We try to focus on Asian American awareness and try to dispel stereotypes about Asian Americans," said LSA sophomore Steven Wong, the fraternity's vice president. "It opened my eyes and brought me back to my roots. It enlight- ened me and taught me a lot" Many members of Lambda' Phi Epsilon and Kappa Alpha Theta Phi are involved in various Asian Pacific American organizations on campus, including the United Asian American Organization, the Singapore Students Association, the Indian American Students Association and the Asian American Association. These organiza- tions are dedicated to promoting t4hnic awareness on campus. "It's especially important in a region such as the Midwest," said LSA seniQrAl Chu, a member of Lamda Phi Epsilon. "Many (students) are away from home -- it helps them to find a home away from home." The one Latina sorority on campus, Delta Tau Lambda, was founded .in 1994. The University's chapter ii e first chapter of this sorority in the nation, with 10 active members. "Being a minority, there are certain issues you have to deal with. You almost feel safe in familiar surroundings. We are women who will help the people in our community throughout our lives," said an LSA senior Lori Nicholson, the sorority's vice president. Delta Tau Lamba is currently working to build a national presence and is not accepting winter applications. PAUL TALANIAN/Daily Robert McChesney, a professor of middle eastern studies at New York University, speaks in the Rackham Building yesterday about the way Tamerlane's tomb shaped social and political identities in Samarqand. MS A votes dw ballot question We would like to wish all University Faculty, Staff and all students from across the globe and the Muslim world a very happy and joyous, By Kristin Wright Daily StaffReporter TIhe Michigan Student Assembly decided last night not to include a ques- tion on the March election ballot asking whether the assembly should urge University administrators to continue to use race as a factor in admissions processes at the University. Budget Priorities Chair David Burden said MSA should put the ques- tion on the ballot not to indicate the assembly's stance on the issue, but to allow students to voice an opinion on the issue. "1I think that it is a very controver- sial issue and I would have liked to have students decide what the stu- dent opinion is, rather than have MSA do it." said Burden, an Engineering senior. Members of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary said that putting the question on the ballot would be inappropriate. Rackham student Julian Heilig said he did not support the resolution because factors including athletic tal- ent, geographical location and alumni status of applicants are considered by admissions as well. "Why is it that some of our friends in MSA have targeted race and ethnicity.?" asked Heilig. MSA members and other students also discussed the importance of informing and educating the campus about affirmative action and its com- plexities before placing a question addressing the issue on the ballot. Budget Priorities Vice Chair Joe Bernstein said he does not support the affirmative act ion ballot question because of the complexities of the University's admissions policies. "The admissions policy is more complicated than just affirmative action," said Bernstein, an LSA sophomore. "There are more issues there. There needs to be more dis- cussion about it and more education about it before we actually put it on the ballot." The wording of the ballot question also sparked discussion at last night's meeting. Rackham student Nadia Kim said the ballot question would further misconceptions about the affirmative action policy. "Just by doing this, it is totally per- petuating misinformation,"'Kim said. "I really urge you to not put this on the ballot unless it encompasses the whole issue." MSA President Mike Nagrant said that although he does not vote on MSA resolutions, he did not favor last night's proposal for an affirma- tive action ballot question. "I usually feel that MSA should allow students to determine their own fate, but I think that we would not be treating the issue with the respect that it deserves," Nagrant said. "It could really play an active part of determining the fate of affir- mative action in this country. I think that the way things turned out tonight was for the best." ElD RAK M U Our object should be peace within, andI Pakistani Students Association Islamic Affairs Committee http://www.umich.edu/-pakistan/ peace without. We want t y live peacefully with outc immediate neighbors and' with the world at lrge. ' -Qauid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah Founder of Pakistan What's happening in Ann Arbor today GROUP MEETINGS C Adult Support Group for Relatives with Family Members with Mental illness, 994-6611, r St. Alzheimer's Association, Call for information, 741-8200. J "Americans of Color Abroad," Sponsored by the International Center, International Center, Ronm',4- 2.An m. Room 9, 10 a.m. SERVICES Li Camnu Infnrmation Centers. 763- s 1