LOCAL/S TATE
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 19; 2002 - 3
CAMPUS
Ses
Philosophy prof to
give lecture on
Confucianism
There will be a brown bag lecture
today at noon by University of Ver-
mont philosophy Prof. Sin Yee Chan on
"The Confucian Notion of 'Ching'
(Respect)" at the School of Social
Work on South University Avenue.
Bring a bag lunch, although free cook-
ies and coffee will be served.
Artist to talk
about war-related
violence at Union
Controversial Australian artist George
Gittoes will give a slide illustrated lec-
ture titled "Night Vision: The Artist as
Witness" on his graphic drawings and
paintings of war-related violence around
the world today at noon in the Kuenzel
Room of the Michigan Union.
Architect influence
on the University
to be lecture focus
"Alexander Jackson Davis: His 1838
Architectural Designs for the Universi-
ty and His Impact on Campus Plan-
ning" will be the topic of a lecture
given by University building preserva-
tionist Julia Truettner today at 3 p.m. at
the University Observatory meeting
room on 1398 E. Ann St. and Observa-
tory St. Truettner will discuss the influ-
ential 19th-century architect known for
his bold Italian designs.
Showing of prize-
winning Mira Nair
film to take place
There will be a free showing of the
critically acclaimed film "Monsoon
Wedding" tomorrow at 7 p.m. in
Auditorium C of Angell Hall. The
film, directed by Mira Nair, is a com-
edy-drama about a Punjabi family in
New Delhi as they prepare for their
daughter's wedding.
New York Times
biology writer will
give free reading
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York
Times biology writer Natalie Angier will
read from and discuss a collection she
edited titled -"The Best American Sci-
ence Writing 2002" tonigt, 8 pm. at
Shaman Drum Bookshop on South State.
Street. There will be a signing and
refreshments following the event.
Bolshoi Theater
and Swan Lake
focus of lecture
There will be a brown bag lecture
sponsored by the University Center for
Russian and East European Studies
tomorrow at noon at the School of
Social Work. University musicology
Prof. John Wiley will talk on "The Bol-
shoi Theater and Swan Lake."
Electronic Judaic
resources to be
discussed at talk
The University Center for Judaic
Studies will host a free lecture titled
"Judaica Electronica: Exploring and
Mastering (the University's) Digital
Judaic Resources" given by Univer-
sity Judaic Curator Elliot Gertel
tomorrow at 4 p.m. in room 4059 of
the Shapiro Undergraduate Library.
Rackham student
to talk on national
parks in Belize
The Washtenaw Audubon Society will
host a slide-illustrated talk titled
"National Parks in Belize" given by
Rackham student Osmany Salas tomor-
row at 7:30 p.m. at the University
Matthaei Botanical Gardens on 1800 N.
Dixboro Rd. Salas is the executive direc-
tor of the Belize Audubon Society,
which manages eight national parks and
reserves in Belize.
Reporting in India
to be addressed by
NY Times writer
The University Center for South
Asian Studies will host a free talk titled
"Reporting India" given by Celia Dug-
ger, the former co-chief of The New
York Times South Asian bureau Thurs-
day at 6 p.m. in room 1840 in the School
of Social Work.
I Inkivarcit nrnf to
Local issues pushed by MSA candidates
By Carmen Johnson
Daily Staff Reporter
To gain votes for this week's Michigan Student
Assembly elections, parties and independent candi-
dates have campaigned to bring more focus to
classroom issues instead of national topics like the
possibility of war in Iraq.
Some students said that when MSA votes on res-
olutions concerning national or international
affairs, others question whether these issues should
be part of MSA's debates.
As the voice of the student body, MSA primarily
works on issues that affect student and campus life,
but it only takes two representatives to bring up a
resolution.
Some controversial resolutions, which some stu-
dents say have no effect, include last fall's resolu-
tion in support of the war in Afghanistan and a
resolution supporting the University's race-based
admissions.
Independent candidate Paul Scott said his cam-
paign platform gives more attention to classroom
issues, like extra help for students taking foreign
language classes without having to pay for a tutor
and the option of taking the fourth semester of the
foreign language requirement in English.
"MSA should be devoting more time to class-
room concerns. Some resolutions are meaningless
and often divide the campus" Scott said.
All resolutions, even those based on non-campus
issues, should be discussed said Joe Bernstein,
MSA general counsel and Students First member.
"We have to be realistic about these types of
purely symbolic resolutions," Bernstein said.
"However, when students feel very strongly about
these issues, they feel comforted with a resolution
and it's important for them to have a voice on
MSA."
The Blue Party said it wants to put MSA back on
track and work on issues that directly affect stu-
dents because the purpose of MSA is to represent
the student body to the administration, Blue Party
leader Darth Newman said.
"Although we can't stop a resolution from being
brought up, we can vote to remove the resolution
from the agenda or vote "no." By voting "no" on a
resolution, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are
against the resolution, it means that the resolution is
not germane to MSA," Newman said.
But the Defend Affirmative Action Party views
national concerns, like the March on Washington
and the University's admissions policies, which the
party strongly supports, as issues that directly affect
students.
MSA President and Students First member
Sarah Boot said Tuesday MSA meetings, during
which resolutions are discussed, are forums for stu-
dents to bring up issues of importance.
"Every day MSA works on things that directly
affect students" Boot said. "What's the real objec-
tion of these resolutions? Maybe it's just that some
representatives are against the mostly liberal slant
of controversial resolutions."
Bell practice
Number of donors down in
Blood Battle from last-year
LSA sophomore Amy Liao practices the carillon in Burto"Twe
yesterday afternoon.
RSGseeks input
on CU)
By Elizabeth Anderson
Daily Staff Reporter
Although elections for
government typically bring
posters and enthusiastic car
ballot questions are also a
part of elections.
This sensegrthe Rackhan
Government has formulated th
endum questions on the ba
which they hope to educate stu
gain knowledge of their opinio
University's use of race as a
admissions.
The recently written "Re
to Let Rackham Students
Whether to Support the Ui
of Michigan's Affirmative
Policies" motivated the inc
the ballot questions, all o
aim to connect the Univ
policies and lawsuits with F
students.
Rackham Student Governm
ber Christopher Cox said the]
was put on the table by the R
dent after "BAMN did a spie
for RSG's support.
One referendum questi
whether Rackham students "su
University of Michigan's af
action policies." The follow-up
admissions
ask about support of the lawsuits facing
the University.
"It is important for the students to
student have their voice heard on this issues,"
colored RSG president Brian Hulsebus said,
ndidates, stressing the importance of the ques-
crucial tions. He added that the matter has
become timely because of recent deci-
m Student sions made by the appellate courts.
ree refer- Cox said he thought the "purpose
llot with (of the referendum) was just to get
dents and information" out to Rackham stu-
ns on the dents about the trials and the Uni-
factor in versity's admissions policies.
"We're supposed to be a student
-solution government and representing the
Decide students," Cox said, adding that the
niversity results will better inform the repre-
e Action sentatives about their constituents'
lusion of opinions.
)f which Although the referendum questions
ersity's will be voted on today and tomorrow
Rackham during online voting, some Rackham
students said they had no knowledge of
ent mem- the questions.
resolution Cox, a graduate student in SNRE,
SG presi- said that although he does not support
l" asking the University's policies, he thinks most
of his "colleagues are very much in sup-
on asks port of it."
apport the Hulsebus declined to comment on his
firmative position on the referendum questions so
questions as not to affect student voting.
By Min Kyung Yoon
Daily Staff Reporter
More blood donors are required for
the University to beat Ohio State Uni-
versity in this year's Blood Battle, which
has one week left to go.
"Michigan is currently a little behind
OSU," said LSA junior Kate Papazian,
co-chair of the Alpha Phi Omega
Blood Drive. "The OSU blood drive
began earlier than Michigan and start-
ed really well."
The Blood Battle is co-sponsored by
Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fra-
ternity, and the Red Cross.
Compared to last year after the Sept.
I1 attacks, the number of blood donors
at the end of the first week has been
lower this year with an estimate of 1,000
donors so far, Papazian said.
"We have been a little slower this
year,' she said. "There were more partic-
ipants at this time last year and our goal
is higher this year."
For the first time this year, blood
donors can also register to give bone
marrow, which is being sponsored by
MENINGITIS
Continued from Page 1
making it about 75 percent effective.
Meningitis is more likely to strike
those living in crowded settings,
like college freshmen living in resi-
dence halls, Winfield said. Fresh-
men living in residence halls are
almost three times as likely to con-
tract meningitis as college-age peo-
ple who do not live in the halls.
The mortality rate for meningitis
is 10 to 15 percent. Fifty percent of
those who survive are permanently
disabled and can lose fingers and
feet due to gangrene or be mentally
impaired, he said.
Winfield said data showing that
freshmen living in residence halls
contract meningitis at a higher rate
led the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention to change its recom-
mendations regarding the vaccine.
Vaccines used to be suggested only
for those traveling into countries with a
high incidence of meningitis, but now
the vaccine is "strongly recommended"
(but not required) for all college fresh-
men living in residence halls.
Winfield also described the draw-
backs to both shots. The meningitis
vaccine costs about $80 and is good for
only three to five years. Both shots also
have side effects ranging from swelling
and soreness at the injection site to
low-grade fever.
University Students Against Cancer.
USAC senior advisor Anita Gupta, an
LSA senior, emphasized the need for
minority students to be part of the bone
marrow registry because of a lack of
minority bone marrow.
"The number of minorities on the
bone marrow registry is low," Gupta
said. "The numbers of Caucasians are
the highest and blacks are the lowest on
the registry, while Asians are a little
higher than Indians."
Once registered on the bone marrow
registry, an individual is on the registry
until age 60, Gupta said.
Gupta explained how the process con-
sists of donating blood and waiting to be
matched, which may take as long as 20
ALREADY PLANNING YOUR SCHEDULE
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MAKE ROOM To WRIE FOR THE DALY.
No EXPERIE NCE NECCESARY
cAL 6WAIY
"It's very simple and is also an easy
access. I decided to donate blood to save
people's lives"
- Heather Ley
LSA junior
years. Once someone's blood is
matched, a physical is performed to fur-
ther confirm the match of the blood.
Next is a one-day procedure to extract
bone marrow from the hipbone.
LSA junior and blood donor Heather
Ley stressed the importance of donating
blood and the convenient location of the
blood drive.
"It's very simple and is also an easy
access," Ley said. "I decided to donate
blood to save people's lives."
Through the bone marrow drive,
Gupta hopes people who decide to
be part of the registry are doing it
from the heart.
"You are giving a chance for someone
to live," Gupta said.
HERITAGE,"Idon't prcice e ything tt I did in
Continued from Page 1
ancestors or the one in which they were my hometown. It's not that I am
raised. Often times, the two cultures
conflict between their beliefs, celebra- forgetting. I make an effort to practice
tions and lifestyles. Consequently, many
said they feel they need to belong to one what my culture asks, but I am too
or the other because it is too difficult to
belong to both. busy.
on
www.sauravel.com
TRAVEL
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> onf T HE PHO AE
~ on CAMPw'
>> On THE ITREET
LSA senior Jiann Jung grew up in a
Korean household and said she puts a lot
into maintaining her cultural back-
ground on a daily basis.
"Yes, I try to keep up with my culture.
I have lots of Korean friends, and I
watch Korean dramas. I also talk with
my parents often, which helps. ... I
think they're kind of in the middle of
two backgrounds - not really in theirs
and not in the American either. Some-
times if I go to Korea, I feel like I don't
fit in there, but in the U.S., I don't fit
here either. It gets really confusing,"
Jung said.
Others, like Engineering senior
Dhruv Gupta, said they feel that when
they are not surrounded by people of
their same background, they become
caught up in what the majority prac-
tices and fail to remember their for-
mer practices.
"I don't practice everything that I did
in my hometown. It's not that I am for-
getting. I make an effort to practice what
my culture asks, but I am too busy. Back
- Dhruv Gupta
Engineering senior
The University of Michigan College of Literature,
Science, and the Arts presents a public
lecture and reception
From the first time Fernandez came
to the University, she was contacted by
various Hispanic organizations to help
maintain her heritage by spending time
with people of the same culture.
Fernandez said she believes that
"you never have to forget where
you're from. If you forget about
where you're from you become a
fake person," Fernandez said.
Fernandez added that she feels that
continuing to speak Spanish has helped
her maintain her Hispanic background.
As the second most commonly spoken
language in the nation, Fernandez said
Hispanics feel it is important to preserve
the language within their homes and
communities.
Language is also an important
aspect of the Asian cultures. Goo
said a lot of parents would send
their children to grammar schools
Some minorities said they feel
more comfortable around people of a
similar background. But Goo said
surrounding yourself with people of
the same background only leads to
segregation.
"I have never witnessed discrimi-
nation or derogatory comments from
different groups (at the University).
But, I noticed they hang on to each
other and segregate themselves,"
Goo said. "Someone the other day
pointed out the Chinese Christian
Fellowship to me. If it's Christian,
why does it need to be only Chinese?
Why segregate? Because people feel
more comfortable. But for me it's
different. I don't feel comfortable
with any particular group."
There are also things that minori-
ties leave behind and cannot com-
pletely regain in the American
Nt A
.
I