LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 24, 2003 - 5A Ex-Green Party candidate discusses Native American rights By Soojung Chang Daily Staff Reporter Many may not remember Winona LaDuke, Ralph Nader's running mate for the 2000 presidential elec- tions. But while the two lost their bid for the White House, LaDuke - a spokeswoman for Native American rights and an environmental activist - is still advocat- ing for the same causes that the Green Party champi- oned. "She's one of the top thinkers of our time," Law stu- dent Maren Norton said, referring to LaDuke, who graduated from Harvard University. LaDuke has been promoting Native American and indigenous peoples' rights since the age of 18, when she addressed the Unit- ed Nations on behalf of the International Indian Treaty Council. LaDuke delivered the keynote address at the Annual American Indian Law Day Symposium Friday at Hutchins Hall in the Law School, addressing how glob- alization and the environment impact Native American communities. While discussing globalization, she commented on the current war in Iraq and its effect on her community. "As I watched the 7th Cavalry advance into Iraq, I had a really bad feeling in my stomach," LaDuke said. She expressed concern about the high percentage of Native Americans that are enlisted in the military, say- ing "my community is over there in (in Iraq)." Law student Matt Pryor said he agreed with LaDuke's statements about the war. "I think the general sentiment that she conveyed about how it's a war for oil ... and a war without a base of support was very well stated," he said. LaDuke also said questions regarding whether the United States. is fighting a just war are especially rele- vant to Native American communities, who were once the victims of what she called "the righteousness of American military power." She compared the war in Iraq to the type of colonialism that allowed European settlers to justify their conquest of the Native Ameri- cans and their continued oppression. "The development of the largest economy in the world, the United States, is directly related to the underdevelopment of native people," LaDuke said. .She said Native Americans have suffered the most in "As I watched the 7th Calvary advance into Iraq, I had a really bad feeling in my stomach' - Winona LaDuke Native American civil rights activist the violation of their land rights, which has caused structural poverty and a loss of political power. LaDuke is currently director of the Land Recovery Project on White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, where she resides with her family. It is a small, community-based project dedi- cated to recovering the reservation's original land base. "The only compensation for land is land," LaDuke said. The reservation is home to LaDuke's tribe, the Mississippi Band of Anishinaabeg. They are currently involved in many projects that aim to improve the environmental condition of their reservation, including a campaign to protect the tribe's right to farm wild rice, or "manoonin," in the face of competition from scientists seeking patents for genetically modified versions of their native crop. LaDuke argued that modern farming practices are unsustainable and more damaging to the environment than her tribe's traditional farming meth- ods. Public Health student Elizabeth Lowerey said she had mixed feelings about LaDuke's attack on genetical- ly modified wild rice. "I see some of the benefits of genetic engineering, but I do see that there are dangers," Lowery said. But Lowery said she is in favor of LaDuke's proposal to utilize wind technology as a cleaner method of pro- ducing electrical power. "Indian reservations on the Great Plains are some of the windiest places in the nation," LaDuke said. The event was hosted by the Native American Law Students Association and the Environmental Law Soci- ety. It also included a panel titled "The Intersection of Environmental and Indian Law." I 'African Lights' highlights history, aids Ethiopian drought victims By Sohail Choksy and Min Kyung Yoon Daily Staff Reporters In a night of entertainment and education filled with dance, music and skits, the African Students' Association's sixth annual African Cul- tural Show was an attempt to raise awareness of African culture and contributed to the relief efforts of the ongoing Ethiopian drought. The show, titled "African Lights: The Connec- tion," was held at the Michigan Union Ballroom Saturday night. LSA junior Eileen Buckle, vice president of the African Students' Association, said the show began six years ago in order to educate the Uni- versity community about Africa and to dispel the myths and stereotypes that most people hold about African culture. "Many people do not realize the rich contribu- tions that Africa makes to the world, from exporting petroleum products to the production of precious stones. The purpose of our organiza- tion is to unite and to actively educate our com- munity about the richness of African culture," she said. Buckle also emphasized the need for educa- tional awareness in order to remove personal and 'U' to add mo By Victoria Edwards Daily Staff Reporter Students should soon be able to access their laptops from any place on campus, thanks to a wireless network that the University is working to develop. Associate Provost for Academic, Information and Instructional Technology Affairs James Hilton said the entire campus should be wired within a few years."We are currently working for the infrastructure needed for a campus-wide deployment. In the next couple of years, we will see ubiquitous wireless technology," Hilton said. Presently, wireless technology has already been employed at the computing sites in Angell Hall and the Shapiro Undergraduate and Hatcher Graduate libraries. The University is looking to do the same thing in the Michigan League, Michigan Union and Pierpont Commons areas, Information Technology Central Services Execu- tive Director Katherine Bridges said. But Hilton said because the University is spread out, the current level technology makes it logistically impossible to make an immediate complete cam- pus-wide transition to wireless computing. "So we are evaluating technology, the stan- dards needed to support it on campus and the infrastructure. And we expect over the next two years the technology will mature to a level that. social misunderstandings about African culture. "We want all persons who come to this show to not only be entertained, but to also be educat- ed," she said. "Our goal is to get people to think about their own personal misconceptions and how these hinder them from expanding mentally and socially. In times such as these, it is through education that we gain true liberation." The show's theme centered around the rela- tionship of native Africans and those who have been displaced throughout the African Diaspora, which began in the early 16th century and dis- placed tens of millions of Africans from their ancestral continent to various sites throughout the western world. "We will explore the divergence amongst blacks that has occurred from the time of the Middle Passage up until the present era," Buckle said. LSA freshman Anisha Patel said the show dis- pelled inaccurate perceptions about the African culture prevailing in today's society and present- ed the true Africa. "People tend to think Africa has not pro- gressed in terms of what we perceive as progres- sion," Patel said. "But the show showed clearly that was not the case." The show presented a wedding proposal skit that illustrated the conflict and tension between American blacks and native Africans due to cul- tural differences. It also showed a depiction of the civil rights movement during the 1960s, a fashion show displaying colorful traditional clothing, a fusion of modern and traditional dances and a dramatization of the Middle Pas- sage - the route of the former slave trade. "I think it portrayed everything correctly, such as the civil rights and the Middle Passage," Engi- neering freshman Tayo Ladeinde, whose parents are from Nigeria, said. "The wedding proposal was accurate and it showed the conflict and ten- sion well." Part of the proceeds from the show will be donated to an Ethiopian drought relief fund. Since last year, Ethiopia has faced a severe drought that has forced the displace- ment of many communities. As a result, there are high levels of malnutrition, mor- tality, illness and threats to food security, especially in the Afar, Somali and western Harerge regions. Close to 6.5 million Ethiopians, directly affected by the severe drought in 2002, are facing another famine of the same magnitude that was reached in 1984 through 1985, according to the World Vision Ethiopia Officials. re wireless computing sites would support a campus-wide wireless environ- ment.-But we obviously can't deploy that until it comes,"Hilton said. There are students who do not feel that the University should spend more money on becom- ing wireless. "Personally, I would rather see them put more computers in the labs than wiring new places," LSA junior Brett Schroeder said. But ITCS spokeswoman Susan Harris said that at this point, there are no direct costs to stu- The biggest benefit of this new wireless technology is mobi ity. dents for use of these public zones, as each Uni- versity department is responsible for maintaining its own wireless infrastructure. "This has been highly requested by stu- dents and faculty and staff. The mission is to serve all University students, not just a specific school or college. They already have wireless communication in some schools and buildings, but they are set up specifically for that college," Harris said. She added that the mission of common campus buildings and University libraries is to set this service up for all students. The libraries have had this program available since January 27. Special pilot programs have been implemented in Angell Hall's computing site and the University's libraries. This is new for the campus to pilot a larger public implementation in the area, and to see how it goes, Harris said. The University libraries, the Michigan Unions and Informational Technology Cen- tral Services are all in partnership to implement this transition, she added. The biggest benefit of this new wireless pro- gram is mobility, Harris said. LSA senior Jared Cook said wireless comput- ing would be helpful, considering the lack of wired computer access. He said it is often hard to get a standard computer at places like Angell Hall, and more people using wireless would free up lab space. Bridges said a wireless card is needed in addi- tion to the laptop to activate the system, if the card is not already built in to the laptop. A wire- less card can range in price from $75 to $100. "Anyone with a laptop that is wireless and able can access it. You authenticate it the same way as any other service by putting in a uniqname and password," Bridges said. This website, www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/wireless, gives an overview of the technological instructions for get- ting started with wireless computing. FRANK PAYNE/Daily Residence Hall librarians picket in front of the Michigan Union Friday afternoon. They have decided to postpone today's demonstration in favor of increased negotiations. Librarians halt picket to furthier negotiations LGBT community increases visibility withKss-In event By Elzabeth Anderson and Eve Ueberman Daily Staff Reporters Special guest appearances and a display of enthusiasm and rainbows marked this year's fourth annual Queer Visibility Kiss-In and rally. The event, held on the Diag Friday afternoon, was designed to promote the les- bian, gay, bisexual and transgender community on campus and was the closing event of Queer Visibility Week. Surrounded by more than 100 students and community members, sever- al speakers took the podium to inform the ralliers about the LGBT com- munity. Many spoke of the seeming invisibility of LGBT students on campus. "By simply holding a woman's hand on this campus, I become invisible, Rackham student Julie Konik said. "We need to show the diver- sity in our queer community," she added. Speakers emphasized the necessity and force of an LGBT presence on campus. "You cannot turn back. You can't pretend we don't exist. We are central to campus," Konik said. "You may try to keep us in the closet, try to push us away ... but we will keep coming back." Michigan Student Assembly LGBT Co-Chair Stacy Agosto, an event organizer, said one of the main purposes of the rally was to educate the University population. "Events like this try to push boundaries," Agosto, an RC junior, said. LSA sophomore and speaker Eryk Glenn said he appreciated the support for the LGBT community showed by those attending the By Carmen Johnson Daily Staff Reporter After pickets by the Graduate Employees Organization and contract negotiations with the University last week, the Residence Hall Librarians will not be striking today - even though two issues of their contract remain unresolved. Although a strike was scheduled today, GEO is demonstrating a "good faith gesture," GEO President Dan Shoup said. "We hope that by not having a strike, it will help the process of negotiations while still reserving the right to take action in the immediate future if this week's bargaining proves unsuc- cessful," Shoup said. University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said the GEO's decision not to strike will help to facilitate further discussion on the matter. "With GEO not striking, it gives us positive indications that they are ready for more negoti- ations," Peterson said. Negotiations will resume tomorrow when the issue of wages and retroactive pay coverage for Residence Hall Librarians - who are stu- dents in the School of Information - will be discussed. Rebecca Yoo, head librarian at Mosher-Jor- dan Residence Hall, said although the librari- ans work 30 hours per week while taking a full course load, the Residence Hall Librarians are paid at a lower rate than Graduate Student Instructors. Last week, the University proposed that residence hall librarians receive the same salary as other University librarian associ- ates, who are also School of Information students, but do not kork in the Residence Hall libraries. University librarian associ- ates are paid approximately 75 percent of "I think the Residence Hall Librarians are less respected than GSIs, but they put in so much time into their jobs. " - Rachel Warnick LSA senior what other GSIs make, Yoo said. "We just want to be paid fairly," Yoo said. "Librarians all over the world are paid low, even though you have to have a masters degree to be a librarian." Another issue that will be discussed tomorrow is the GEO's current proposal to extend retroactive pay coverage to last semester, when the University agreed to officially recognize the librarians as GEO members. The University has not counter-proposed the back-pay proposal, Peterson said. LSA senior Rachel Warnick, who works at the Mosher-Jordan Residence Hall library, said the librarians provide a very valuable service to the living community of the residence halls. "I think the Residence Hall Librarians are less respected than GSIs, but they put in so much time into their jobs," Warnick said. GEO Chief Negotiator Gretchen Andry said she was disappointed at the lack of compro- mise by the University. "We have demonstrated our willingness to make compromises at the bargaining table by offering counter-proposals on every issue, but the University refuses to make any effort to move forward." FRANK P AYNE/Dily LSA senior Scott Toporek and Eastern Michigan University senior Cesar Rowley exchange kiss at the 4th annual Kiss-In rally on the Diag Friday. get it's not easy to be out," Glenn added, "I want to congratulate us for being ourselves." The rally concluded with a kiss-in, where all attendees were invited to pucker up. Most students who attended said they found the rally and kiss-in inspir- ing. LSA senior Erika Erlandson said she was thankful that support for the community has grown. "It's important to have visibility. It's important for everyone to be here," Erlandson said. But not all University community members supported the visibility aspect of the rally. LSA junior Jae Lee said although he didn't mind the :n <;:: .:..r?