12B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magazine - Thursday, October 24, 2002 ARi PAUL - OUGHT THE LAW The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magazi The search for another superstar 'AmericanRh THE PEOPLE VS. DORFMAN Here's a synopsis of the law- suit I plan to file against LSA sophomore Rick Dorfman: Facts: Mr. Dorfman has, on occasion, sought criminal proceedings against certain Arab students for simply standing in the same room as him. Mr. Dorfman has had the audacity to be so un-American as to chal- lenge the University's right to spon- sor free speech and assembly. Counts: Mr. Dorfman's actions have made him a disgrace to the Jewish people. Mr. Dorfman gives the 'U' a bad name. Relief Requested: Mr. Dorfman should make a for- mal and public apology to President Coleman and the University Board of Regents for filing a frivolous lawsuit against them. Mr. Dorfman should make a for- mal and public apology to the Arab students he claimed were threaten- ing him when they were doing noth- ing more than standing in the Angel Hall computer lab. Mr. Dorfman should pay Ari Paul no less than $25,000 for making him ashamed of being Jewish and for giving him the knowledge that he attends the same school as a kid who acts like a kindergartener. For those of you still wondering, I'm not being serious ... about fil- ing a lawsuit anyway. But I stand by every one of these points, and I want to make it clear to him that he is doing a horrible disservice to the people he claims to represent. Everyone, at this point, knows about the lawsuit he filed against the University for allowing the Palestine Solidarity Conference to take place. His main beef with the conference was that it allowed peo- ple to publicly state that Palestinians are people and that Israel isn't perfect (although his official point was that several speakers at the conference posed a threat of "terrorism"). And as every educated and reasonable person expected, the lawsuit was laughed out of court. But what really irks me about the founder of the newly formed Michigan Student Zionists (the American Movement for Israel was- n't Zionist enough for him) is an incident that not many people know about but that I alluded to in my lawsuit. About a week before the confer- ence, I was standing in the Angel Hall computer lab when I heard a deafening squawk that I quickly I Iszc OUN4 Students, Faculty, and Staff mention this ad and receive 15"/ off any entree Szechuan, Hunan & Mandarin Specialties Dine-in or Carry-out Expires 1 2/1 5/02 Not valid with any other offer t14 M-Th 11:30-10 Fri & Sat 11:30-11, Sun 12-11 Last Half-Hour pk Carry-Out Only W.LIBERTY z * SZE *CHUAN uf BG M WEST Stadum CAR W WASH W STADIUM 2161 W. Sfi (near Stadium & Liberty '769-,y'722W open 7 d6ay5 a wee identified as Dorfman's lawyer, Deborah K. Schlussel, an ultra-con- servative talking head whose ranti- ngs are posted on the website of the Jewish Defense League (for those of you that don't know what that is, it is, in short, "the only good Arab is a dead Arab"). Schlussel and Dorfman went into the lab and got onto a computer. I called an Arab friend of mine (that probably makes me a self-hating Jew) and told him to come on over. I thought it would be fun to prove to them that criticizing Israel is not inherently anti-Semitic (the fact that I think this also probably makes me a self-hating Jew). When my friend showed up with his cohorts, Dorfman saw us and ran out of the computer lab. He came back with the two DPS officers. One of the officers told us that Dorfman claimed that we had intimidated him, threatened him and blocked his path. The truth is, we didn't even say or do anything to him. We didn't even come within 40 feet of him. The only contact that any of us made was that one of us went up to Schlussel and politely asked her if she wanted to participate in a pub- lic debate, which she devilishly declined. In short, Rick Dorfman actually believes that if Arab stu- dents are within 40 feet of him, then he is being intimidated and threatened. This guy makes me want to sew my foreskin back on. The fact that he is so full of hate and ignorance offends me as a human being, but it offends me as a Jew when I see him on CNN claiming to represent the University's Jewish community. Though some groups like Hillel have quietly opposed his actions, I feel it's time that someone make this very clear to him. Rick Dorfman, your activity on this campus stands in firm opposi- tion to the tenets of tolerance that Judaism is based on. It is time that you either change your ways or be quiet. Because you are so devoid of compassion for other people, so full disrespect of those that choose not abide by your dogma, you and peo- ple like you leave a scar on the face of the Jewish community. I'm not going to threaten you with a silly lawsuit or a sit-in or some kind of direct action, but I'm going to make a plea, from one Jew to another: Either shape up or ship out. As long as people like Dorfman file lawsuits challenging our civil liberties and call police officers to protect him every time an Arab enters the room, the fighting is not going to stop. People like Dorfman need to reform themselves, but they're not going to do without reasonable people driving them to do so. -Ari Paul can be reached at aspaul@umich.edu. Idol' in Moto wn By Jeff Dickerson Daily Arts Editor DETROIT - If you happened to be near the Greektown Casino in Detroit on Monday morning, you may have noticed something other than the typi- cal crowd of tourists and people start- ing their work week. More than 5,000 people lined up the streets outside of the Atheneum Hotel in downtown Detroit, hoping to take the first step in becoming the next Jennifer Lopez or Nick Carter by try- ing out for the popular television series "American Idol." Doors opened bright and early at 8 a.m. Monday, but devoted fans of the show lined up by the thousands long before the first person auditioned. "We got here last night about 10:30 and we waited all night," said Mandy Dixon, 16. "It's been my dream forever to be a singer. I want to be the next Kelly." Dixon was one of many who hoped to get a good spot in line by arriving early. "The first person in line got here about 11:30 in the morning on Saturday," said Selena Norris, 17. "I heard there were people who came as early as Wednesday, but they gave up because of the cold" Detroit is the first of seven stops on the "American Idol" contestant search. From there the search continues in New York, Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., Miami, Austin, Texas and ends Nov. 17 in Los Angeles "American Idol" debuted on FOX this summer and became a ratings phenome- non for the fourth network, besting the offerings by big time competitors NBC and CBS. The program boosted the sag- ing reality series trend, dominating the coveted younger audience bracket. The show is a "Star Search" for the new millenium, but instead of perform- ing for a star rating, contestants must prove their talents to the "American Idol" judges. Producer Randy Jackson, '80s songstress Paula Abdul and British producer Simon Cowell make up the judges panel, each with their own way of critiquing hopeful superstars. Cowell quickly became notorious for his brutally frank comments, often leav- ing timid contestants in tears. "I'm here to snot on Simon's face," claimed Andrew Papke, 17. Ironically the judges were not in town on Monday. The tryouts were simply preliminary screenings where each person had mere seconds to impress the representatives from the show. The judges will arrive in Detroit on Friday to finalize the list of who will be flying out to Los Angeles for the second round. For the second installment of the series, FOX will be bringing on a fourth judge, but that person is yet to be announced. The see-through shirt wear- ing, all smiles hosting Ryan Seacrest will bring back his annoying personali- ty as well, but co-host Brian Dunkel- man will not be joining him. The "American Idol" craze has con- tinued since Kelly Clarkson was announced as the winner last month as viewers anxiously await the debut of the new season airing sometime at the beginning of next year. "I figured this is an opportunity and when you've got an opportunity knock- ing on your door, you have to take it," said Megan Cox, 17. "I live too close to pass this up." EMMA FOSICKA/Dail) Thousands battle the cold in an effort to be on FOX's hit show "American Idol." v: '.fir. ° j% r =. ::,<: .> <:: : People flocked to the Atheneum fron as close as Novi to as far away as Min nesota. "I drove up from Toledo just tc be here," said Michael Dow, 23. "I love the show "American Idol" and I love tc sing, so I thought I'd give it a try." Many of those in line were students some in college but most still in higl school. A few even got permission tc miss school. "I'm here just for the expe rience," said Kim Maes, 16. "My mon is the attendance clerk at school so I did n't have to worry about skipping class." From the seven cities on the searcl tour, about 100 people will be asked tc fly to Los Angeles where the they wil then be reduced to 30. Chances are we may see a local crowned as the nex "American Idol." _ N'eed Suieas! / hr pays $4-$193 (12 ai'~ I. 'JL YZ Csi v of ti anon mwa.k/;;a uIGN'P 1l1'u. '7P~hooLbIG