LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 3
Senior grasps chance to speak at graduation
NYU implements
program to track
foreign students
NEW YORK - New York Universi-
ty will monitor the status and academic
progress of foreign students and visit-
ing scholars as part of a new, comput-
erized government tracking system, a
New York University official said.
The Immigration and Naturalization
Service, which tracks foreigners in the
United States, has created a new online
database that it will use to track visitors
with student visas, according to a recent
memo from the university's Office of
International Students and Scholars.
Although INS requirements for for-
ein students will remain the same, the
agency no longer will tolerate late or
erroneous information about students,
OISS Director Gail Child Szenes said.
The announcement about the new
program came on the heels of an
embarrassing snafu last week when the
INS issued updated student visas to
Mohammed Atta and Marwan Al-She-
hhi, despite the fact the two men died
when they piloted planes into the World
Trade Center months beforehand.
Applications from
minority students
rise for U. Texas
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -
More students than ever before, includ-
ing a record number of minority appli-
cants, want to attend Texas A&M
University this fall.
As of March 11, a total of 19,689
high school and transfer students had
applied for admission as freshmen,
with increases in all categories includ-
ing black and Hispanic populations.
Black applicants totaled 954, with a
13 percent increase from past averages.
Hispanic applicants total 2,330, a 3
percent increase, Ashley said.
"The increase is incredible. We
thought the negative publicity would
bring them down," Ashley said.
Even though the number of applica-
tions increased, the admissions office
cannot predict whether recent negative
publicity about Texas A&M's accept-
ance of minorities will decrease the
number of prospective students who
decide to attend Texas A&M. A recent
study by Texas A&M's Race and Eth-
nic Studies Institute found minorities
attending the school felt unwelcome.
U. Virginia policy
changed following
5 bomb threats
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Fol-
lowing a string of erroneous bomb
threats on University of Virginia build-
ings, the administration has revised and
clarified its policies for such situations.
Five bomb threats have been made on
University buildings over the past five
weeks. University police have made only
one arrest in connection to the threats
but are pursuing leads, University Police
Sgt. Melissa Fielding said.
The most significant policy change
stemming from the spate of threats is
classes no longer will be canceled in
the event of a bomb threat.
Instead, professors have been instruct-
ed to announce an alternative meeting
site at which to gather if regular class-
room buildings are closed because of a
threat. Once students and professors
gather at the alternative site, a University
official will inform the group which
available classroom space they may use.
U. Hawaii GSIs
mull possibility of
forming union
HONOLULU - The state Legisla-
ture voted down a bill to form a collec-
tive bargaining unit for graduate
assistants, but teaching assistants and
part-time lecturers at the University of
Hawaii say unionization is still possible.
Senator Suzanne Chun-Oakland, of
the state House education and labor
committee, said graduate students can
still collaborate with the administration
to reach a resolution.
The vice-president of administration
and chief financial officer of the Uni-
versity of Hawaii James Sloane, testi-
fied to the education and labor
committees on the institution's senti-
ments concerning the bill.
- Compiled from U-Wire reports by
Daily Staff Reporter Maria Sprow
By Kara Wenzel
Daily Staff Reporter
RC senior Marit Dewhurst said her active
involvement in campus life helped win her
place as this year's spring commencement stu-
dent speaker.
"I'm one of those students who tries to partic-
ipate in as much as possible," Dewhurst said.
"I'm very involved with Project Serve in a lead-
ership role."
A committee made up of undergraduate stu-
dents, faculty and staff select the top three or four
candidates for student speaker from an entrant
pool of 21 students, Patty Mullaney of the Office
of University and Development Events said.
A subcommittee then reviewed the top speech-
es and made a recommendation, she added.
"It's a blind process," Mullaney said. "We do
not know the names of the students. We just read
their speeches."
Mullaney said the commit
winner's speech to convey as
experiences all students can rela
Dewhurst's reaction to realiz
chosen as commencement spe
nite shock."
"When I got the call, I m
woman on the phone four or
was really sure I was the
Dewhurst said.
Dewhurst would not say e
speech is about, but she said
themes of graduation and leavin
"It was sort of in the form of
what the University of Michig
she added.
Some of Dewhurst's colle
Serve said they think she is ame
getic members of their staff.
"She brings a lot of energy to Project Serve,"
tee looks for the LSA senior and Project Serve member Sarah
sense of common Miller said. "She's got a spunky personality and a
ate to. really good heart."
zing she had been, Project Serve Program Director Aubrey Mac-
'aker was "a defi- farlane-Baranowski said Dewhurst has been an
integral part of organizing the program Volun-
ust've asked the teers Involved Every Week.
five times if she "She helped to get that program where it is
right person," right now," Miller added,-
Macfarlane-Baranowski said Dewhurst's
exactly what her "focus is social justice. She really knows how to
it touches on the reach out to groups on campus."
ng. Project Serve co-worker and Engineering grad-
a poem, capturing uate student Gregory Garza said Dewhurst "rep-
an means to me," resent(s) the heart and soul of Project Serve."
Dewhurst has also spent her time working at
agues at Project the Office of Academic and Multicultural Affairs,
ong the most ener- participating in student activism, community serv-
ice and workshops at juvenile detention centers.
MSATopefuls
Her concentration is called "Community
Empowerment Through the Arts," which she
designed herself.
"Marit has led the ideal college life - I'm
almost envious. She's got this ability to carve her
own path," Garza said. "She's innovative and she
has always created something for herself in addi-
tion to creating something for other people."
After graduation, Dewhurst plans on
attending a one-year master's degree program
in education at either Stanford University or
Harvard University.
"I think that my experience here at the Univer-
sity of Michigan has been incredible. It's an
honor to be able to speak and share in the spirit of
finishing up four years here with my classmates;"
Dewhurst said.
She said she is a little nervous about giving the
speech..
"I hope I can do a good job," she said.
Continue
campaign until last hour
By Tomislav Ladika
Daily Staff Reporter
Student government e
opened at midnight last n
didates will continue car
ensure votes will be ca
minute elections end tomo
The polls for the Mich
Assembly, LSA Studentl
and the University of Mi
neering Council will bec
today and tomorrow unti
Students can vote for an
representing their scho
online ballots, which are
www.umich.edu/~vote.
Election Director and L
Collin McGlashen said vo
their candidates by prefer
process is self-explanatory
Many candidates said t]
tinue campaigning as long
are open. Students First c
Nooromid said along wi
his campaign strategy inc
ing or calling friends and
handing out quarter-sheet
House'
MSAeCions
lection polls Winter 2002
ight and can- Diag and going door-to-door through
npaigning to residence halls where his friends live.
ast until the "I make an effort to make more of
rrow night. an acquaintance, not just handing (stu-
igan Student dents) a quarter-sheet," said Nooromid,
Government an LSA sophomore.
chigan Engi- He added that he relies on his
open all day friends to build a base of support
1 11:59 p.m. through word of mouth and then talks
y candidates to students his friends know
ool through Instead of trying to familiarize his
available at name with voters, independent MSA
candidate Jarvis Williams said his
SA freshman strategy late in the campaign process
ters must list is to assure votes from students who
ence, but the earlier in his campaign pledged to
y. vote for him.
hey will con- MSA Defend Affirmative Action
g as the polls Party candidate Kate Stenvig said she
andidate Bob will talk to people who signed DAAP's
ith chalking, pro-affirmative action petition to the 6th
ludes e-mail- Circuit Court of Appeals last year.
3 co-workers, "A lot of it now is getting people
flyers on the who we know support us to come out
redefines'act o
and vote," Stenvig said.
Blue Party candidate Ashley Earle
said her greatest challenge is encour-
aging students to vote in general and
informing them of how to cast their
vote.
Nooromid said he has been encour-
aging students to vote early during the
election process to ensure "they won't
procrastinate and forget to vote."
Seeing students vote occasionally
encourages their friends to vote also,
Nooromid added.
All of the time students commit to
campaigning combined with the usual
academic pressure requires sacrifices.
In addition to campaigning, Nooro-
mid said he must study for exams -
occasionally requiring him to skip
classes.
Stenvig said she also has not attend-
ed many classes while campaigning up
to 18 hours a day this week.
Last-minute campaigning and cut-
ting classes is worth the effort and sac-
rifice because candidates only have a
few hours left to affect the outcome of
the elections, Earle said.
fterrorism'
The change "makes it more difficult
for a prosecutor to misuse this law for
political reason," said Rep. Leon Drolet,
a Republican from Macomb County's
Chesterfield Township.
Bill Flory, a lobbyist for the American -
Civil Liberties Union in Michigan, said
the House version of the bill is better
than the original version.
LAU tRIBRES OLL/aiy
The plight of women around the world is a problem, said Robin Morgan, a public
speaker from New York at an event at Angell Hall last night.
Public needs to be
cognizant of plight
of wVomen In world
LANSING (AP) - The state
House voted unanimously yesterday
to define a terrorist act as one that
was premeditated.
The House changed the legislation
- the centerpiece of a large package
designed to thwart terrorism in Michi-
gan - to satisfy many representa-
tives' concerns about civil liberties.
The bill originally defined "terrorist
acts" as violent felonies intended to
intimidate, coerce or change the civilian
population or the government.
A number of Democrats and con-
servative Republicans were worried
the bill would be too sweeping and
punish people participating in a rally
or demonstration.
1.
By Rahwa Ohebre-Ab
Daily Staff Reporter
As the United States continues its
patriotic efforts and the fight against
terrorism, there is a very different
story going on in Afghanistan where
women are fighting .an even tougher
battle.
This was the message that public
speaker Robin Morgan, also known
for her work in political theory, femi-
nist activism and as the founder of
Ms. magazine brought yesterday to
the Angell Hall.
"It's so interesting how she used her
research on the position of women in
the '80s to what is going on today in
2002. It just goes to show that not a
lot has changed for women," LSA
junior Becca Moeller said.
Morgan said that many men, espe-
cially here in the United States, do
not seem to understand the things
that are going on in their own coun-
try with violence to women, much
less other countries.
"Many men think that all this dan-
ger and hunger is all out of this coun-
try and that no such thing could be
possible in the United States, but many
suffer here - be it the battered, raped
or molested woman," Morgan said.
Morgan was scheduled to come
earlier point this year could not due
to security in New York.
Being a resident of Manhattan
caused Morgan to think twice about
traveling so soon to Ann Arbor.
"We had Ms. Morgan scheduled
before Sept. 11, but after the attacks,
she came now to address global fem-
inism in light of the tragedies," said
Sexual Assault Prevention and
Awareness Center Peer Education
Co-Coordinator Audrey Lance.
Morgan's lecture was directly
influenced by the Sept. 11 attacks
and her experience as a native New
Yorker and as a journalist.
SAPAC Training and Education
Coordinator Alicia Rinaldi said, "Our
goal is not to educate on violence
against women only, but to show the
bigger picture.
"The systematic and institutional
oppression of women has been at the
forefront of the women's movement
since the '60s and it is connected to
many things, one of the greater being
terrorism," Rinaldi said.
Morgan addressed the issue of why
women are the usual target in so
many cultures.
"Women are always the first indi-
cator of some sort of fascism and
the reason is because they stand at
the interception of the family and
sexuality. If you control junction,
you control nearly everything,"
Morgan said.
In speaking about terrorism, Mor-
gan said there are different ways to
look at the issue.
"There is no way that you can
learn terrorism in the 'normal way'
because it is defined by the U.S.
administration. Look at it like this:
One man's terrorist is another man's
freedom fighter," Morgan said.
Though presented to a small audi-
ence, Morgan's lecture kept the rapt
attention of everyone in attendance.
"She was very well thought out
and eloquent," Shaman Drum Book-
shop employee Jimmy Johnson said.
I
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Mark your calendars -All majors and all college levels invited.
This is your chance to go inside this world-famous resort, build your resume
and meet students from around the world.
Check out a Walt Disney Wold( College Program paid internship.
Housing is offered. College credit opportunities may be available.
Visit our website at wdwcollegeprogram.com and
then come to the presentation. Attendance is required to interview
Wednesda, March 208, 5:30PM
THE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS
Geoff Smith Lecture;
Talk by Nobel Laureate
Prrnf Hrhert Vroemer. 4
gan Union
"Islamic Attitudes
Towards Jews and
Judaism - Old and New";
Sponsored by the Center
a.m.-5:00 p.m., Michigan
League
"Stop the Violence: A
SERVICES
Campus information
Centers, 764-INFO,
info@umich.edu, or
www.umich.edu/~info
S_.1 FE Walk i 7-QA IIK
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