LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 1, 2002 - 3A
CAMPUS
Former senator to
talk about possibility
of peace in Mideast
Former U.S. senator George Mitchell
will speak in Hill Auditorium Thursday
at 3 p.m. His lecture is titled, "Is World
Peace an Impossible Dream?"
Mitchell, who is known for his efforts
to encourage peace in the Middle East
and Northern Ireland, currently directs
the American Red Cross Liberty Relief
Disaster Fund.
Fields medalist to
give physics lecture
"Geometry and Physics: A Marriage
Made in Heaven" is the topic of the
second annual Ford Motor Company
Distinguished Lecture in Physics. The
lecture will be given by Sir Michael
Atiyah, a University of Edinburgh
mathematician who won the Fields
Medal for mathematical achievement.
Atiyah will focus on the traditional
relationship between physics and
geometry and how new theories have
affected both disciplines. He will speak
in the Business School's Hale Auditori-
um Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Titanic artifact
preserver lectures
on techniques
Techniques used to preserve artifacts
found on the Titanic will be the topic
of a lecture by Eastern Michigan Uni-
versity historic preservation Prof. Lau-
ren Sickels-Taves. A team led by
Sickels-Taves is now involved in the
preservation of these artifacts. She will
speak Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the
Ladies Literary Club of Ypsilanti, 218
N. Washington St.
Engineering grad
school fair Thursday
The College of Engineering will
sponsor a graduate school information
fair for undergraduates Thursday, where
Engineering department representatives
will answer questions about the Univer-
sity's graduate programs. The fair will be
held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Media
Union Atrium on North Campus.
Lecture to show link
between journalism
and anthropology
A conference on "relocating ethnog-
raphy" will bring experts in the field of
anthropology and journalism to the
University this weekend to discuss the
connections between the two subjects.
Participants will discuss how jour-
nalists use anthropology in reporting
the news and how anthropologists use
various media to distribute their find-
ings. Several documentary films will
be shown. The conference will run Fri-
day through Sunday and most events
will be held in the Michigan Union's
Kuenzel Room.
Washington prof.
0 lectures on recent
Chinese history
The recent history of Chinese gov-
ernment is the topic of "Restructuring
the Chicken to Frighten the Monkey," a
lecture by Washington University polit-
ical science Prof. Andrew Mertha.
Mertha will address the administra-
tive re-centralization in China during
S'the past three years. The talk will be
held tomorrow at noon in room 1636
of the School of Social Work Building,
1080 S. University Ave.
Discussion to focus
on ways to change
the European Union
Professors from Europe and the Unit-
ed States will speak on ways the Euro-
pean Union is changing the face of its
member countries in "EU Enlargement:
The Changing Political Map of Europe."
University of Croatia Law Prof. Sin-
isa Rodin, Manchester Metropolitan
University European integration Prof.
Neill Nugent and University of Vir-
ginia political science Prof. Arista Cir-
tautas will lead the discussion. They
will speak Friday at 2 p.m. at 120
Hutchins Hall, Law School
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Jordan Schraeder
Oni er'enCefoue Oyi S}
On . .me laS ant
By C. Price Jones
Daily Staff Reporter
After the Sept. 11 attacks, cries from the public
against Americans of Middle East descent harped
back to similar public outcry against Japanese
Americans during World War II. Addressing the
role of western governments, media and private
organizations in creating and fostering these senti-
ments was the purpose of a daylong conference
on Saturday, titled "Perspectives on the Muslim
World: Unveiling the Truth."
"It is really European anti-Semitism that gave
birth to the situation we have today (in Israel),"
University of California at Berkeley Islamic stud-
ies Prof. Hatem Bazian said. He added that the
problems between Israelis and Palestinians are
fueled by "the perception that Europe and Ameri-
ca are divorced from what is taking place ... dis-
tancing themselves from the reality."
Bazian was the last in a list of speakers who
discussed the media's involvement in blaming
Palestinians for the current conflict - specifically
addressing the "manufactured perceptions" that
American citizens adopt as fact. As an example,
he said the visit of Vice President Dick Cheney
and U.S. Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni to the
Middle East was not to develop a peace plan but a
mission to garner support for an invasion of Iraq.
Bazian also accused American journalists of
developing ideas based on false facts and
research.
"Thomas Friedman needs to check his research
in Journalism 101 before writing the propaganda,"
Benzian said. Friedman is The New York Times
foreign affairs columnist.
The keynote speaker of the conference, Rep.
Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) addressed the falsity
in the idea that "curtailment of ... liberties would
make us safer."
Rivers examined the fear of the House of Rep-
resentatives to vote against security and terror leg-
islation - the Patriot Act and the recent
anti-terrorism acts - which allow secret evidence
and secret charges, wire tapping and suspension
of the client-attorney privilege.
"We are turning our back on our constitution,"
Rivers said. "When we put too much power in the
LSA sophomore Lena Masri attends a candlelight vigil commemorating Palestinian "Land Day" outside
of the Union Saturday night, following speeches by Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) and Judy Bonlor.
hands of the government, we are all at risk." She
added that such laws, including those allowing
people to be detained indefinitely, contradict the
"crystal clear" 14th Amendment.
This year's conference focused on dispelling
notions that Muslims are terrorists, fanatics or
extremists and misconceptions of Islam as a mili-
tant, backwards and intolerant religion.
The theme is "unveiling the truth, getting the
truth and facts out. ... Students felt that after
(September 11) a lot of facts were distorted,"
Gameel Zindani, the conference organizer, said.
He added that the attendance and quality of the
speakers had improved from the previous year.
The conference ended with speeches from Rep.
Rivers and Judy Bonior, the wife of Rep. David
Bonior (D-Mt. Clemens).
The Muslim Students Association sponsored
the conference, held at the Michigan League and
the Union.
Luse, Whelan announced
Sofficial LSA-SG winners
LAUREN BRAUN/D
Children of the Asociaclon Latina Alacanzando Suenos, an organization which
supports the local Latino community, are interviewed by emcee Michael Esoinza.
Latino show aims
to boost presence
By Soojung Chang
Daily Staff Reporter
Amidst a weekend of multicultural
events, Latino students ushered in
Spring with their well-received second
annual cultural show Friday.
"This year's show is called 'Presencia
Latina.' It's all about us trying to make a
presence for ourselves on campus, LSA
junior and show co-coordinator Celso
Cardenas said.
"I was kind of nervous but I was real-
ly happy with the turnout," Cardenas
said, who was initially concerned about
competing events, some held concurrent
to the show.
This year's show was held in the
Power Center to accommodate a larger
crowd. "It's a big step up from last year
because last year we were at the Union
(Pendleton Room)," said LSA sopho-
more Myrna Vaca, one of the show's
emcees.
"I'm very excited to see a lot of non-
Latinos coming out to support us," she
said. "I think everyone had a wonderful
time."
The show featured both new and
returning acts from last year's show.
Among the returning acts was singer
and LSA sophomore Vanessa Sanchez,
who sang two Spanish songs.
Other acts included performances of
original songs, skits in English and
Spanish about modern issues such as
homosexuality, and a performance by
students from the Association of Latinos
Achieving their Goals, a program for the
children of migrant workers in Washte-
naw County and the beneficiary of pro-
ceeds from the show.
Cardenas said he was happy about the
large turnout from the local Ann Arbor
community, many of whom are migrant
workers, in addition to University stu-
dents. "For them to see something like
this is that much more powerful for
them," he said.
According to Cardenas, the show's
goals are to unite the Latino community
and showcase Latino culture.
By Annie Gleason
Daily Staff Reporter
After a one-week delay, Students
First presidential candidates
Monique Luse and vice presidential
candidate Tim Whelan were declared
winners last Friday over Blue Party
candidates Gwen Arnold and Erica
Velasco, edging them out by 136
votes in a close LSA-Student Gov-
ernment race.
Election officials decided to
recount the LSA-SG elections last
week to ensure fairness after an
appeal made by Michigan Student
Assembly candidates revealed a
glitch in the computer system,
which could have rejected the votes
of some LSA students. LSA-SG
results were not changed by the
recount, but candidates agree it was
an important measure to concur
with MSA.
"I think it was necessary to keep it
fair," Whelan said. "But, it was more
for MSA, so I was thinking hopeful-
ly it wouldn't effect the LSA results
as much."
The race produced a record-break-
ing voter turnout, surpassing last
winter's election turnout by 595
votes.
"We knew it would be a close
race," Whelan said. "I attribute (the
high voter turnout) to everyone's
hard work. ... We were going against
good opponents."
He also said the diversity of the
slate had a lot to do with increased
student interest and the ability to
mobilize large groups of voters.
Luse agreed, saying that Students
First's idea of "pulling across cam-
pus gave a reason to vote for many
students who may not have had one
before."
Blue Party member and re-elect-
ed LSA representative Jill Barkley
attributed much of the high turnout
to the increased visibility of MSA
and LSA-SG over the past semester.
"Both governments have been more
visible with big issues that students
care about," she said. "Students are
realizing that student government
does play a role in what goes on
and that MSA can create real
change."
Luse said she is looking forward
to getting started, but doesn't plan
on introducing any new initiatives
to the government in the remaining
month of school. She will instead
focus on laying groundwork for
future projects and on following
through on initiatives started by the
previous representatives, including
the implementation of a later spring
break.
She also said she will focus on
any transitional issues that may
arise out of her plans to expand the
scope of LSA-SG outside of aca-
demics, an issue which many Blue
Party candidates were opposed to
during the elections. But Luse said
she doesn't anticipate any prob-
lems.
"I totally believe that we're going
"People's ideas can be splintered and
varied in different ways. ... We're just
planning on moving forward in a positive
direction.
- Monique Luse
LSA-SG president elect
to have a cooperation," she said.
"People's ideas can be splintered and
varied in different ways. ... We're
just planning on moving forward in a
positive direction."
While Blue Party vice presiden-
tial candidate Erica Velasco agreed
problems may not arise, she said
she is not sure whether she will
continue with the government if
LSA-SG does become too "politi-
cal."
Blue rep. Jill Barkley supported
Velasco's notion, saying that some
people are nervous the government
will lose itsfocus, but said she
thinks if enough people work togeth-
er, LSA-SG will be successful.
"I hope that some of the represen-
tatives (who want to broaden the
scope) can find a commission on
MSA that will interest them, and I
hope they can find things on LSA-
SG that are more academic,"
Barkley said.
The winning candidates are a mix
of returning and new representatives.
First time Students First rep.
Stewart Gold said he is planning on
learning a lot from the veteran
members of the government.
"Knowing that we're the new group,
we can definitely learn from mem-
bers of the Blue party," he said.
Persian cultural show celebrates
Sprng and the Iranian New Year
By Mica Doctoroff
Daily Staff Reporter
Dancing, singing and joking their
way through the night, performers at
the Persian Students Association's
Fourth Annual Norouz Cultural Show
entertained an exuberant crowd at the
Power Center Saturday night.
Celebrating Norouz, the first day of
spring and beginning of the Iranian
New Year, the show demonstrated the
eclectic and multifaceted nature of Per-
sian American culture with acts rang-
ing from comedy skits to traditional
Persian dances.
"The show serves as a foothold for
Persians in the metropolitan area to
come and see upcoming young Per-
sians furthering their culture and
spreading it to their audience," said
LSA junior Mace McDonald, a mem-
ber of PSA.
Saturday's performance nearly
filled the Power Center, attracting
roughly 800 spectators as well as
numerous performers from many
backgrounds, PSA co-president and
Engineering sophomore Bahareeh
Aslani said.
The show has expanded greatly
since its debut in the Michigan Union
Ballroom four years ago, which drew a
crowd of about 300.
Introducing the show, LSA senior
and emcee Reza Breakstone, joked,
"To accommodate our Persian and
our English speakers, I thought I
would speak English with a Persian
accent." Breakstone's lighthearted
attitude set the tone for the rest of
the show, which included many
satirical pieces on traditional versus
modern Persian culture.
"We put on this show to reflect our
dual culture," said PSA co-president
and Engineering junior Mahshid
Pirzadeh who acted in the show.
State Representative Marc Shul-
man (R-West Bloomfield) was hon-
ored at the show. He was
instrumental in recently naming
March 20 Iranian American Day in
the state of Michigan.
"Our state is based on diversity and
Iran has a great deal of heritage and
culture that has benefited our state,"
Shulman said.
Acts ranged from "Rounama," a
dance depicting the customs surround-
ing a traditional Iranian wedding cere-
mony, to a hip hop dance incorporating
Latin, Persian and reggae music.
"I thought it was wonderful,"
LSA senior Pamela Imbasekaran
said. "I have a lot of friends who
are Persian and it was really great
to be able to come out and support
them," she said.
THE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS
Blood Drive; Sponsored
by Greek Week 2001,
Noon-6 p.m., Anderson
On m Uihinn[Ii
Music
"Project Ohr: Domestic
Violence, Sexual Abuse
and Judaism"; Sponsored
by the Jewish Women's
Forum. 7 p.m.. Hillel.
"UptheGrove/Renyolds
Poetry Project"; Spon-
sored by Cameron Cheek,
6 - 9 p.m., Michigan
SERVICES
Campus Information
Centers, 764-INFO,
info@umich.edu, or
www.umich.edu -info
S.A.F.E. Walk, 763-WALK,
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