LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 2, 1998 - 3A MPUS elva Study: Race in admissions benefits blacks William Bowen, former president of *rinceton University and co-author of a new book titled, "The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions," is scheduled to speak about the benefits of using race as a factor in college admissions. Bowen's study included 45,000 stu- dents at 28 selective colleges who entered college in 1976 or 1989. He found that race-based admissions provided promis- ing careers for black students. 40 Sponsored by Dialogues in Diversity, the talk is set for Nov 12 at 4 p.m. in room 1800 of the Chemistry Building, with a reception to follow at 6 p.m. in the Vandenberg Room of the Michigan League. Exhibit examines impact of American Revolution A new exhibit at the Clements Library provides a look at the impact the American Revolution had on the rest of the world. The exhibit, titled "Atlantic Perspectives on American Independence: 1750-1815," includes letters, maps, peace treaties and politi- cal cartoons documenting the world's reaction to the American Revolution. The exhibit is free of charge and will run through the end of the year. he library viewing room is open from 1:00 to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Alpha Phi to sponsor run/walk Alpha Phi is scheduled to hold a 5K run and 2 mile walk Sunday, Nov. 8 at *oon in front of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. The run starts on the corner of South University Avenue and East University Avenue, goes around Palmer Field and ends on the Diag. Prizes will be raffled off after the race. The entry fee is $10 before Nov. 8 and $15 the day of the race. Registration will be available at the Central Campus Recreation Building, North Campus Recreation uilding, Angell Hall and on the ' iag on Nov. 4. All proceeds will go the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center and the Alpha Phi Foundation. Exhibit details Michigan book artists' work The Special Collections Library cur- rently is presenting an exhibit detailing the work of 34 Michiganders, titled "Michigan Book Artists 1998." The exhibit shows how the identity of a book is explored by Michigan artists and is on display until Dec. 23 on the 7th floor of the Graduate Library. Christine Swenson, curator of graph- ic arts at the Toledo Museum of Art, ,will give a talk about the exhibition Wov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Special Collections Library on the 7th floor of the Hatcher Graduate Library. Firm sponsors millenium art competition Anderson Consulting is sponsoring a contest for students from 15 select- ed universities across the nation to enter a work of art depicting the ,changing workforce in the next mille- nium. "The Young Artist's Vision of Change in the Next Century" con- test is held in conjunction with the Anderson Consulting Van Gogh exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. Entries are due by Nov. 20 and *he winner from each school will receive a $1,000 savings bond. More information can be found at http://www.ac.com. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Adam Zuwerink. Speaker addresses Puerto Rican issuest By Nick Falzone Daily Staff Reporter In response to the 100th anniversary of the United States' colonization of Puerto Rico, two campus and Ann Arbor groups sponsored a talk Friday night to support Puerto Rican independence. Northeastern Illinois University Prof. Jose Lopez, who is from Puerto Rico, and others spoke out against the occupation of the island. About 60 people attended the event, sponsored by the Puerto Rican Solidarity League and the Ann Arbor chapter of the Revolutionary Anti- Imperialist League, held in Hutchins Hall. Corey Fielder, a RAIL member, spoke about the prejudices that still exist in U.S. prisons. "In prisons, there are higher percentages of blacks and Chicanos than whites," Fielder said. "America has committed genocide of blacks and Hispanics through its mass prison roundup" Many students in the audience said they agreed with Fielder's statements. "The prison system is definitely a continual tool of oppression," Education senior Sara Falls said. "And Michigan is the third most incarcerating state in the nation." Lopez, who took the stage following Fielder, also focused on American prisons. "Look inside American prisons, and you will see about 1.5 million people," Lopez said. "About 70 percent of them are young people of color." Currently there are 15 Puerto Rican political activists in U.S. prisons, including Lopez's brother, Lopez said. These men and women have been jailed since April 4, 1980, for conspiring to over- throw the United States govemment. Lopez said he believes these charges are contradictory. "They were exposing colonialism, which is a crime against humanity. It's not a crime to struggle against this," Lopez argued. Lopez's speech also examined the history of Puerto Rican oppression under colonialism. This persecution began in 1511 with the first Spanish attempt at Puerto Rican colonization and has con- tinued until now, Lopez said. "It's been an accumulation of resistance against Spain and the United States," Lopez said. "We have been put under the worst condi- tions possible. It is under that adversity that we have recreated our" identity. Lopez insisted that Puerto Rican colonialism is. a historical problem resolvable only through inde- pendence. Until an emancipation occurs, Puerto Ricans will. continue to resist American oppression, Lopez said. "From 1898 to 1998, it has been nothing more than- a colonial offensive to get rid of the Puerto Rican nation," Lopez said. "But we have had hundreds of. thousands of Puerto Ricans who have resisted." Many students said they enjoyed Lopez's speech - especially learning the history of the issue. "I didn't know that much about Puerto Rican history," said Liz Budnitz, an LSA senior. "It's something this University community needs to become more aware of.: I Dance Marathon Dlag rally raises interest, recruits helpers By Josh Kroot Daily Staff Reporter The crowd in the Diag did the electric slide while the DJ spun some tunes on the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, More than 50 people participated Friday in the Dance Marathon Rally on the Diag, encouraging students to sign up for the event. "We're out here to generate publicity for Dance Marathon," said LSA senior Craig Cucinella, the external director for the program. Dance Marathon, an annual event scheduled for Feb. 6-7, raises money for the Children's Miracle Network and William Beaumont Hospital - organiza- tions that provide medical care to chil- dren who could not otherwise afford it. Individuals or organizations sponsor Dance Marathon participants, who dance to DJs and live performers. Dancers remain on their feet for the duration of the 30-hour event. Last year's marathon was the first at the University. It included approximately 70 dancers and 400 volunteers, and raised $35,000, Cucinella said. Event planners expect this year's marathon will be larger. "We are anticipating that size will at least triple," said LSA sophomore Vikram Sarma, the program's dance rela- tions chair. Organizers plan to hold events throughout the year to publicize Dance Marathon. "We will be having a swing night on Nov. 16," Cucinella said. The event, open to all students, is scheduled to be held in the Michigan Union Ballroom from 8-12 p.m. and will feature free swing lessons. Sarma said the publicity has been effective thus far. "We had three people signed up last year at this time" Sarma said. "This year, i we've already signed up 35 people in one week." Students who participated in Dance Marathon last year described it as a very emotional experience. . "The key moment came in the last' hour of the marathon, seeing all of the, families come up on stage and thank-1 ing us all," LSA sophomore John Perri, said. Cucinella said the event's mood is "indescribable." "People who entered the building did not want to leave;' he said. The marathon will be held at the Indoor Track and Tennis Building. Students interested in participating in the event can contact the organizers via e . mail at umdm.info@umich.edu. APA Continued from Page 1A "These are internationally renown professors that are leaving. For the University to let it happen is upsetting," Pai said. Gary Okihiro from Cornell and Columbia universities, echoed the importance of faculty to Asian American studies programs. "Student bodies change. Student interests change "Okihiro said. "Faculty are more permanent. They are the key in deter- mining the curriculum." Pai added that attending the conference helped her gener- ate ideas as to what actions students can take to ensure the strength of the program. "There are definitely concrete strategies we can capi- talize on," Pai said. "The most important thing is to get the faculty." DARBY FRtEDLS/Daaty Eastern Michigan University Prof. Alfonso iilingworth-Rico speaks at the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, held in the Michigan Union yesterday. Me xanstudents celebrate El a de los Muertos University students working to further the program are not alone. Students from Oberlin College who attended the con-i ference also are trying to expand Asian American studies pro-" gram. "Going into the 21st Century, students need to be prepared- to live in a multi-ethnic society," said Maria Kong, a sociolo- gy major from Oberlin College. "We want to present the histories of a group that has been marginalized," Kong said. "Those experiences are; part of an experience that all students should learn: about" . Rhoe said he's pleased that undergraduate students had a significant role in this year's conference "There was more progress than in years past," Rhoe said.: "I really feel this progress will set permanency and continu4 ity in future conferences. The next EOC conference will be held in November 1999° at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. a p - - - - . r By Dan Weiss Daily Staff Reporter The idea was to remember the dead, and they did - with music, food and laughter. Community members yesterday celebrated the Mexican festival El Dia de los Muertos, also known as The Day of the Dead, in the Michigan Union, following a weekend of events that included a dance and a comedy performance. The event was modeled after the traditional Mexican ceremony, which originated in Mexico 500 years ago when Catholic and indigenous tradi- tions met. Brightly colored decorations, called papel picado, hung from the ceiling, and at the front of the room stood a large altar holding various objects important to the ceremony, including candles representing the dead, colorful flowers called teloache and ofrenda - offerings to the dead. The celebration was in marked contrast to traditional American mourning for the dead. "The way people in the U.S. deal with death is very black," said Diego Bernal, co-chair of the student group La Voz Mexicana. Bernal noted the bright colors and the rich food of the celebration. "It's supposed to be fun." The evening began with a perfor- mance by the Native American drum group Treetown. The group sat in a circle singing and loudly beating a drum. Following Treetown, Eastern Michigan University Prof. Alfonso Illingworth-Rico gave a presentation on the history of El Dia de los Muertos. He spoke about how people in Mexico make their way to cemeteries on El Dia de los Muertos to remem- ber their dead relatives and friends. Scrubbing the graves, he said, is very important, as is laying real flowers. "If you want to cry on the tomb, you have to come early in the morn- ing," Illingworth-Rico said. He added, however, that for the most part "men don't cry" in Hispanic cultures. After his presentation, the cere- mony began. One by one, people walked up to the altar, lit a candle and spoke about the dead they were hon- oring. Far from somber, they remem- bered their dead with amusing stories that often drew laughter. Karla Lopez, a student at Eastern Michigan, remembered her grand- mother by noting her good cooking. "She could heal the sick with her food," Lopez said, telling a story about her maternal grandfather falling ill at the ocean and being revived by her grandmother's cook- ing. "He was amazed because he had never felt so good." Although most people devoted "ofrendas" to family and close friends, one woman remembered the singer Selena, and another Jesus Christ. After the offerings, people ate from a banquet table of traditional Mexican dishes, which included a pastry called pan dulce, whose sweet aroma is supposed to call forward the spirits of the dead. Because the last thing youw ant tn college is a long-term commitment. 9 A A ,A ,i 'I ', -uY r " r ,'a 9 * a e P .. 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