LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 22, 2001- 3A *CAMPUS Erasmus U. law prof. to lecture on global society The University of Michigan Center for International and Comparative Law will hold the first of two discus- sions titled "Topics in International Law" today from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in .1524 Rackham. In the discussion, Mary Footer, an Erasmus University at Rotterdam law professor, will speak about "Rethink- ingthe Concept of Culture in Global Society." Footer's talk will be in 118 Hutchins all. The event is free and open to the public. Journalists to read their latest works The University English Department will hold a presentation included in its Visiting Writers Series at 5:00 p.m. hursday in Rackham Amphitheater. 41Miles Harvey and Michael Paterniti, two freelance journalists recently fea- tured in National Public Radio inter- views, will read from their new books. Harvey will read from "The Island of Lost Maps," his look into the high- stakes underworld of map thieves. University alum Paterniti will read from "Driving Mr. Albert," his story of a road trip with a pathologist who is carrying with him samples of lbert Einstein's brain. Paterniti's arti- es have been published in Rolling Stone Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, Details and Esquire. The event is free and open to the public. Qing dynasty, early 20th Century fiction subject of talk The University's Center for Chinese Studies will hold a Brown Bag Lec- ture tomorrow from noon until 1 p.m. in room 1636 of the School of Social Work Building at 1080 South Univer- sity Avenue. Visiting Prof. of Asian languages Alexander des Forges will talk on late Qing and early Republican fiction. This lecture is titled "Inventing the stallment Plan: Simultaneity, Frus- Wation, and Excess at the Turn of the Century." The lecture is free and open to the public. Cookies and coffee will be served at the event. Nobel Symposium to discuss laureates The University Center for the Study Complex Systems will present the second half of the 5th annual Nobel Symposium on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The first half took place Jan. 11. Three University scholars will dis- cuss the work of one of this year's six Nobel laureates. Physics Prof. Jasput Singh will speak on Zhores Alferov and Herbert Kroemer. Chinese languages arid literature Prof. Yi-Tsi Feuerwerker will speak on Gao Xingian. Another *eaker, who is yet to be announced, will speak on Alan Heeger, Alan Mac- Diarmid and Hideki Shirakawa. This second half of the sympo- sium will be at 231 West Hall. This event is free and open to the pub- lic. Reading features 'U' writers' work The University English Department will present the second of two nights in its Mark Webster Reading Series at $ p.m. Friday. Jan. 12 was the first night in the series. The event will include readings of original poetry and fiction by Univer- sity instructors and graduate stu- dents. .On Friday, instructor Eileen Conner will read her poetry and instructor and or Mojo's Almanack e-zine editor tz Swanson, a self-described "post- mddern feminist Longfellow," will read his fiction. The event will be held in Rack- ham West Conference Room and is free. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Whitney Elliott. Chinese prepare to celebrate New Year By Maria Sprow Daily Staff Reporter While Americans spent the last half of Decem- ber in preparation for the upcoming new year, the Chinese have only begun. Starting Wednesday, many Chinese will take three days off to cele- brate their new year. "In China, people congratulate themselves on the New Year," Chinese studies Prof. David Rol- ston said. "Traditionally, there is a creature called the Nian that eats people. If you manage to escape it and make it to the new year, *you deserve to be congratulated." This year, the Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 24, according to the Western calendar. According to the Chinese, it is the beginning of the year 4699, not 2001. The date of the Chinese New Year varies every year because the Chinese follow a lunar calendar, unlike the Western calendar. New Year's Day is always the day of the new moon. Last year the' Chinese New Year fell on Feb. 5th. Traditionally, New Year's festivities lasted 15 days, with an emphasis on family and friends. Fireworks, which are believed to scare away evil influences, are also a big part of the New Year's celebrations. "It was a process of going to visit other people and paying their respects," Rolston said. Other Chinese traditions include buying cere- monial door gods and a kitchen god. Door gods are draped over the external doors of people's homes to protect them; kitchen gods act like spies on the household. The Chinese put honey on the lips of the kitchen god so they can only say sweet things about the household, Rolston said. Kitchen gods are later burned to signify their departure and return to heaven. Money is also burned for traveling expenses. Students in Ann Arbor might not be able to participate in all of the traditional Chinese cele- brations, but they still celebrate the New Year. The Main Street Area Association is holding its 9th annual Chinese New Year celebration Sat- urday. The celebration starts at I p.m. at Champi- on House Restaurant on Liberty Streets, when a large, traditional Chinese dragon will walk down Fourth Avenue and Main, Liberty and Washing- ton streets, blessing stores as it goes by. It also features calligraphy artists and paper cutting demonstrations. The Chinese Students and Scholars Associa- tion is hosting a celebration party on Sunday in the Michigan League. The festivities include a fashion show, a Peking opera, a dance party, Chinese movies and a video of the New Year's Eve festivities that will happen tomorrow in China. "This is the biggest holiday in China and every family will buy something to celebrate the coming new year. They will dress in new clothes and eat the best food. The kids like it because they get money from parents," said CSSA President Weiguo Zhang, a University graduate student. Unlike Western astrology, which is based on 30-day intervals, the C(hinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle of 12 different animals. The incoming Chinese year is the Year of the White Snake. The snake comes from an ancient Chinese tragic love story between a man and "Lady White,' which originated around A.D. 618. Last year was the Year of the Dragon. According to the zodiac, the Year of the Snake is a year of preparation for potential hardships and difficulties. To overcome hardships, it's important to remain close to friends and family and keep focused on goals, the Chinese zodiac says. Many students said they won't make any pre- dictions about the upcoming year. "I have no idea what to expect," Zhang said. Student drops from running for open city council seat By James Restivo Daily Staff Reporter When LSA senior Chiddima Ozor heard about the vacant seat on the Ann Arbor City Council, she applied with hopes of giving back to the city where she has spent her entire life. "I was interested in doing a little more for the commu- nity - and this was a means for me to do it," Ozorr said. "I didn't feel like I was a part of the place where I had grown up." Ozor asked Thursday to be dropped from considera- tion for the Ward V council seat because she said her current status as a student would hamper her ability to be an effective city council member. "Since I'm a student, taking a full load, I stepped out of the race," Ozor said. "The position could easily turn into a 20-30 hour a week job and it wouldn't be best for the city if I stayed." Although Ozor isn't being considered anymore, she brought important student issues to the proceedings, including parking, affordable housing and the coopera- tion between the city and the University. "There needs to be more communication between the University and the city," Ozor said. "There is not enough understanding or accommodation specific to students." Ozor and eight other residents went through intensive questioning last Tuesday by the city council and again from community members on Thursday. Remaining candidates are Augustine Amaru, Jean Bogan, Willie Cambell, Susan Crabb, Angela Jackson, Ira Mark, Rebeckah Warren, and Wendy Woods. All are residents of Ward V, which includes downtown Ann Arbor and the western parts of the city. Susan Pollay, interim public information officer for the city of Ann Arbor, said the candidates offer a wide range of opinions and experiences for council to choose from. "We hada pretty exciting array of people," Pollay said. "There are many topics that have a great bearing on stu- dents and the community." Issues such as underground sewage, the State Street renovation and parking may be looked at in the next year, Pollay said. Council members face the decision of choosing some- one for the vacant seat who will sit until elections this November. Jean Carlburg (D-Ward III) said the council "will have no difficulty" choosing a well-qualified replacement from the applicants. "I was very pleased that they all had a lot of experi- ence in the community," Carlburg said. "We just need to figure out what's the best choice for the city." Councilman Joseph Upton (R-Ward II) said last week's two and a half hour questioning gave him a very good feel for the candidates because none focused on only a single issue. "We have to try to evaluate if they are qualified and if they have a strong background in community service," Upton said. "We need someone who would represent that: ward well." Ozor said the questioning was beneficial to her because it taught skills she will need for her professional life. "A lot of students are ill-equipped for the length and the intensity of an interview," Ozor said. "There was no way of knowing what they would ask - it provided me a lot on an individual level." The other eight candidates should find out by today whether they have received the seat or not, Upton said. "It's a tough decision, but.the council will choose a good person - someone who will serve well." The victor may be sworn in at tonight's city council meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m. TOM LAN/Daily Lady Liberty lies in a coffin in front of the Federal Building during the "Funeral for Democracy" held Saturday to coincide with George W. Bush's inauguration in Washington. Local UGreen;s hold demccratc uner al duling inauguration w U By Stephanie Schonholz Daily StaffReporter At the same time George W Bush was being sworn in as the 43rd presi- dent of the United States in Washing- ton, about 50 protesters held a "funeral for democracy" in front of the Ann Arbor Federal Building. Demonstrators carried makeshift signs reading "Democracy Where?" and "Mourn the Death of the Truth" while shouting "Hail to the thief'!" and chanting "What do we want? Democracy. When do we want it? Around the time that Bush was plac- ing his hand on the Bible, a protester dressed as the Statue of Liberty inten- tionally fell to the ground, mimicking respiratory distress. Two "medics" attempted to revive her, failed and laid her in a wooden coffin. Ryan Desana, a junior at Eastern Michigan University, said "disenfran- chisement began when only two par- ties were able to debate" during the campaigns. The demonstrators advocated what they called "instant runoff vot- ing," or "allowing voters an oppor- tunity to show their support for the can- didates they really ted the prefer without throwing the election niding to their least favored contender." Id have The Huron Valley Greens and the Uni- versity Student Greens stated in -Justin Palk writing that "the 'arty member most outrageous dis- e n fr a n c h i s e m e n t L4JJ? welcomes A Fndrlsr fr DAVIIDWILCOX( DAVE CARTE & TRACY CRAMMER WEAVRMAA l CNRI!IUAUf THOiMMlON TO DD lNIDE EDDI E MOHIO (ONl KIR MATT WArtOI.M.cti 9 a TICKETS Y Detroit Ecjison TIC~ds1IKEStOfc Foundatin Y~y' o rk CROWNEPLAZA_ ANN ARBOR (kvk tan ne1ie P hoot 76-TKTS , m r saM E .wrqptyc. Now!" The rally, organized by the Huron Val- ley Greens and the University Student Greens, intended to make the public aware of what the protesters said was the downfall of democracy in "The leio wasn't hand way our four fathers woul wanted it." A UM Major Events / Division of Student Affairs presentation h '° "Uhf od akt1Mrhn fVn akpc P Huron Valley GreenI Crab I this past presidential election. Rob Haug, a second year graduate student, as well as several other protesters said they were furious with many aspects of the 2001 presidential election. "I'm not going to sit down and let the election go the way it did," Haug said. "Hopefully we'll change corpo- rate involvement in future elections." Justin Palk, a University alum and member of the local Huron Valley Greens, said he thought "there was an insane amount of corporate contribu- tions" funding the presidential cam- paigns and said he believed "the election wasn't handled the way our founding fathers would have wanted it." occurred when the media, con- trolled by the same corporate donors, focused only on a short list of approved issues and treated as taboo many huge, crucial questions" like trade policy, the drug war, wel- fare reform and military spending. The Greens said they hope the future holds great change in our election process including "unhook- ing democracy from deadly infusions of soft corporate money" and "allowing all political parties freer access to the ballot, to debates and to the media." The protesters also marched down State Street, vocalizing the protest's themes along the way. 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