LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 7, 2000 - 5 *African health care focus of week-long conference Voting rights still main MSA issue By Shabnam Daneshvar Daily Staff Reporter SBringing in social scientists and public health offi- cials from across the country and around the world, the University's first conference focusing on "Africans on Health Care, and the Health of Africans" issues started Monday and will continue throughout the week. "What's impressive about this conference is that the focus for this seminar is in obstetrics and gynecology, which is usually not the most public health-minded subject,' said Adeotokumbo Lucas, professor of inter- national health at Harvard University. Nancy Hunt, an assistant professor in both the *.bstetrics and Gynecology department in the Hospi- tals and the history department, directed the event and said conferences like these are important because they help "focus a spotlight on the strides being made on African health issues, and the tremendous challenges, like AIDS and the effects of war, that still remain." Nigerian physician Mairo Mandara, chair of obstet- rics and gynecology at the Hospital for Women and Children in Abuja, Nigeria led yesterday's event. Her speech focused on impoverished women in igeria, who cannot afford to deliver their babies in nospitals. Mandara said the women resort to "really old midwives" or more recently, Muslim volunteers to aid them. Although the volunteers work with better equip- ment and are trained, the government is threatening to shut down the services because it is not govern- ment sponsored. Mandara said being sensitive to other cultures' practices is essential to ameliorate their health issues. "You may have many beautiful programs that may not work because you need to understand the culture. For example when working in North Nigeria, with more Muslims, it is important to realize they do not appreciate giving birth with four to five doctors and nurses looking at them," she said. Elisha Renne, assistant professor for both the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies and anthropolo- gy said the conference not only helps to bring aware- ness to health problems but allows students and faculty to join forces. "This conference is a good way to get people in the community linked up and serve as a real resource for students and staff," she said. Other events scheduled for the week include a speech given by Mandara about complications in childbirth on Wednesday at 1014 Tisch Hall. She will focus on problems with uncontrolled urination due to fistulas, or holes between the bladder and the vagina in young women. A speech about HIV AIDS and human rights will James to stand trial in sch FLINT (AP) - A man accused of carelessly storing the handgun that authorities say a 6-year-old boy found and used to kill a classmate must and trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge, a judge ruled yesterday. The boy and his 8-year-old brother were living with defendant Jamelle James in what prosecutors described as a "flophouse." The boy took James' gun to Buell Elementary School on Feb. 29 and fatally shot 6-year-old Kayla Rolland in their first-grade lass, police said. The boy isn't harged. District Judge John Conover called the boys' living arrangements a "time bomb." "That's absolutely as negligent as you get. What in the world did the defendant expect to happen" with a loaded gun in the house, Conover said. "Who feeds them? Who clothes them? Who disciplines them? Who nurtures them? Who says 'I love you' before they go to bed and when they get, up? No one," he said.. The boys' mother is facing child neglect charges. She had left her sons at the house because she was evicted from her home about nine days before the shooting. Defense lawyers pointed to James' roommate and the boy's uncle, Sir Marcus Winfrey, as the owner of the gun. "So Marcus Winfrey was buying the bullet, buying the holster. Whose gun do you think it was," attorney Bob Polasek said. "I think it's clear whose gun it was." Winfrey was indicted on a federal weapons charge related to the gun. The 6-year-old testifi that he had seen James pl the gun, a .32-caliber sem pistol, and demonstrated h twirled it in his hands. Th tor had to copy the hand m the judge because the bo short behind the witness seen.e boy said he had se and some quarters in as James' room - an answ after Genesee County. Prosecutor Daniel Stamo him that was what he police. In his closing argument Stamos said James should I better than to leave the gu did. "An innocent 6-year-old and he's the person who's t that," Stamos said, pointing SAM HOLLENSHEAO/Oaily' Nana Obobla-Akotol from Ghana wore her traditional apparel to a lecture on the health of Africans yesterday at Rackham. She is royalty in her village. be given by Allen Herman, dean of the National School of Public Health, Medical University of South Africa, on Thursday at the School of Public Health at 3 p.m. The conference series is sponsored several groups including the Interest Group on African Women's Health, the Michigan African Studies Initiative of the Center far Afroamerican and African Studies, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. ool shooting ed Friday "He left a gun in a shoebox of candy, aying with quarters and easily accessible to a 6- iautomatic year-old Any responsible person haw James could foresee these kinds of actions e prosecu- were dangerous. reckless and life- otions for threatening." y was too [he boy denied shooting Kayla and box to be blamed another boy to whom he said en the gun he had given the gun. shoebox in "} wasn't playing with the gun, I er he gave wasn't," the boy said Friday. Assistant A 6-year-old girl who prosecutors s reminded say was in the classroom when Kayla had told was shot was on the witness stand about five minutes yesterday. yesterday, The girl shyly testified that the 6- have known year-old boy was the one who shot n where he Kayla. "He'd steal pencils from her .. he'd is dead ... be pinching other kids," she said, her he cause of face barely visible over the witness g at James. box. By Lisa Koivu Daily Staff Reporter In -the second meeting led by new Michigan Student Assembly President Hideki Tsutsumi, the assembly voted on chairs for committees and commissions, as well as passed a resolution supporting the Annual Take Back the Night March. The meeting in the Michigan Union started with former Students Rights Commission Chair Abe Rafi calling on the assembly to support the fight against the legislation which limits people to voting at the address listed on their dri- vers licenses. "This law disenfranchised students when it went into effect on April 1. MSA is listed as plaintiffs in this law- suit, we may be able to change the poli- cy," Rafi said. Joe Reilly, spokesman for the Student of Color Coalition, asked foe the new assembly to examine secret societies on campus The SCC occupied the Michi- gan Union tower in protest of the senior honor society, Michigamua "New Tradi- tions for a New Millennium." "Take a strong stand in denouncing secret societies," Reilly told the assem- bly. "They're flawed with elitism and racism and they shouldn't be incorporat- ed in public institutions."' After constituents time, Tsutsumi then told the assembly to be patient as he and Vice President Jim Secreto learned all of the rules for the assembly. "I'm less nervous today, but we have many things to do Please be patient. I'll move very slowly." Tsutsumi said. Tsutsumi, an LSA senior, empha- sized the significance of teamwork. "During elections there was competi- tion between parties, but now it's impor- tant that we all work together. Parties don't exist anymore, we all need to work together," Tsutsumi said. "MSA is too detached, most students don't know who we are. I'm going to make another sign saying who I am so more students will know where to go to." Secreto then surprised Tsutsumi with a new sign to carry around saying "Hi! Hideki is MSA President Now." Tsutsumi then gave his recommenda- tions for other members of the executive board. LSA Rep. Siafa Hage was elected to be the new treasurer for the assembly, and election director Alok Agrawal, an Engineering senior, was elected to be the new Student General Counsel. "I'm looking forward to working with the assembly:' Agrawal said. "We want to be a team-onented executive board" After Hage and Agrawal were select- ed, the assembly voted on representa- tives to be the chairs and vice chairs of various committees. Hage was voted to be the chairman of the Budget Priorities Committee, the committee that allocates money to stu- dent groups. LSA Rep, Ross Kirschner was chosen to be the Campus Gover- nance Committee chairman LSA Rep Matt Nolan was selected to be the Com- munications chairman and Rdakham Rep Jessica ( urtin and I SA Rep . Rodnlfo Palma- Lulhcn were ,elected to be Peace and lusrice commisson co- chairs Curtin then asked the assembly to pass a resolution calling for MSA to support the Annual Take Back the Night March on April 8. The march is held to support those who have been sexually assaulted, and bring recognition of the crime to the community. "We need to support the fight against sexism and rape on campus. There is a whole range of issues that need to be addressed and it is important that this is an integrated issue:' Curtin said "Most men target minority women because of the power differential and thati, why we want to get everyone involved' Nolan, though, wanted to take out a clause, which mentioned affirmative action, saying that the assembly should support the march, but not necessarily take a stand on affirmative action. Rep. Kieu-Anh King said affirmative action affects women also, and should therefore be a part of the resolution. "We shouldn't be afraid of talking about affirmative action. To not do so would be to deny that affirmative action has made an impact on women;' King said. The assembly voted to pass the reso- lution, but drop the affirmative action clause. 4'' ' " > 'a , .,.~.r,. 4t,;.-. h "<4 "<..A . a A-a A<4~ 4W'' '< A 4 4 A' ' "'2' - Summer Session2000 f, v Disp a dIt~ecut''ve ,J a Don't let your money go downa the dr ain. 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