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:XERCISE
mtinued from page 5B
o, students align their senses with
ture through meditation. They
11 learn a deeper sense of concen-
ition, sharpening one's focus. The
155 is free.
Salsa
In addition to the mini-courses,
idents can find a great alternative
urce of exercise through a pro-
am called MSalsa.
"MSalsa class is a very high-ener-
atmosphere," described Daniel
lmirall, and LSA graduate student
id co-founder of MSalsa.
"I have a great time going. They
ake it fun and comfortable at all
vets. You won't feel out of place
cause there are people who have
e same ability level as you and you
f to meet new kinds of people who
> every week," said LSA junior
ephanie Gardiner, a former MSal-
attendee.
MSalsa has over 150 students any
ven night with over 700 on the
tive roster.
"It is incredible how large the

"I had a great
time going. They
make it fun and
comfortable
at all levels."
- Stephanie Gardiner
LSA junior
organization has grown over the
last four years since its inception,"
Almirall said.
Anyone interested in learning the
Rueda de Casino technique of Salsa,
can attend the Beginner level session
in the Michigan Union Ballroom
Monday starting at 7 p.m.
Almirall said that new students
interested in learning how to dance
are highly encouraged to attend.
More information is available at
www.umich.edu/-msalsa.
Students can find full details,
including meeting dates, location,
payment information and registration
at uuis.umich.edu/minicourses/.

0 5 5The Michigan Daily T
it's because I'mgay, isn't it? with Steve Du B o i s
zL ON THE FACEBOOK AND FOOLING AROUND

SHUBRA OHRI/Dail
LSA sophomores Amber Farrington
and Matt Johnson use moves they
learned at MSalsa.

ast Friday I met this guy for
lunch. On Saturday, I met anoth-
er guy, for dinner. On Sunday, I
fooled around with the latter in a campus
building. And such a busy weekend isn't
uncommon... thanks to the godsend, the
gaysend, The Facebook.
This isn't to say that The Facebook
should be renamed fuck-buddybook. The
Facebook serves a much more expan-
sive and beneficial purpose for me and
perhaps other homosexuals: To provide
a connection to the remotely accessible
gay culture and its participants ... to
anonymously meet and interact with not
only potential hook-ups, but also poten-
tial friends and dates. And of this utiliza-
tion of The Facebook, I am proud.
I wonder if this sounds weird to read-
ers, both homosexual and heterosexual.
Am I alone in my investment in The
Facebook as a legitimate means of cor-
respondence? I think, hope,. that in the
least, homosexuals see where I'm com-
ing from. Heterosexuals, especially
males I'm presuming, similarly use the
online venue for potentially promiscu-
ous means. To that end, then, I hope
those of all sexual orientations under-
stand and appreciate The Facebook. But
beyond that commonality, I'm arguing
for a discrepancy in perception of Face-
book based on sexual orientation. For
heterosexuals, The Facebook might be
a secondary social resource ... perhaps
Jo Hetero tells a Facebook story to a
friend - an actual friend - at din-

ner. However, The Facebook comprises
something entirely different to gay cul-
ture, and because of this, homosexuals,
or at least this homosexual, place a dif-
ferent premium on The Facebook.
Homosexual culture is subverted.
That is, it remains relatively dormant to
the dominant, implicitly favored, major-
ity heterosexual culture. Facebook, then,
provides a means by which homosexu-
als can meet and develop relationships
that otherwise might be uncultivated or
nonexistent. Thus, The Facebook holds
a different significance to homosexuals,
or to any culture that experiences sub-
version by the invisible hand of society.
Personally, I use it because it is a, nay,
the convenient, covert way to meet other
queers without direct pressures from my
housemate to meet his other gay friend
("You'll get along great!"), or without
the awkward hello to the other gay kid
in my English class ("So ... do you like
butt sex, too?).
Such online means of meeting and
getting to know others is (generally)
not viewed as sketchy in the homosex-
ual world, but it may be stigmatized in
the heterosexual one. Maybe those that
criticize meeting people online, with
whatever intentions, can't comprehend
the timidity with which minorities have
to approach social situations, i.e. when
I refrain from hitting on a cute guy
because I can't tell if he's straight or
gay. Sometimes it's complicated, folks;
it really is. And The Facebook attempts

to remedy such awkwardness by provid-
ing infinite potential of communicative
resources. I mean, I'd be a fool not to
poke that hot guy!
If social scenes were different ... if
I didn't have to go to the gay bar (read:
Aut Bar), or the straight bar on gay night
(read: Necto) ... if I didn't live in a cul-
ture that facilitates heterosexual rela-
tionships more than homosexual, or one
that emphasizes the separation of demo-
graphics based on sexuality (why isn't
there a straight/gay night at Necto?),
then I probably wouldn't need an entity
like The Facebook to meet other gay
guys. I certainly would still use it, as
it connects me to high school friends,
fellow University flip-cuppers, and that
cute guy from Washington University,
but I'd have a completely different per-
spective on it.
In reality, I must rely on Necto, et
al. to meet others of a similar sexual
nature, and even attending such venues
can be fruitless (not literally, obviously).
Queers can be fake, superficial, horny.
And that's great. But oftentimes, such
homosexually concentrated domains
can be overwhelming and surpris-
ingly, understimulating. I might seek
out another means of communication
- a less public domain, an environment
where I can be comfortable and free of
a contrived and pressured gay climate.
Enter The Facebook.
Maybe I'll find a simple hook-up. Per-
haps I'll get lucky and find a date. Maybe

Interfratern*ity Council
Winter Recruiltment
Fraternity Forum
Thursday, January 20th 7pm
Michigan Union - Ballroom
Register & Get Rush Details
Recruitment Dates
Sunday 1/23 3pm-7pm
Monday 1/24 6pm-9pm
Tuesday 1/25 6pm-9pm
Wednesday 1/26 6pm-9pm
Events will be held at
individual chapters houses
www.umich .ed u/greeks
Questions?
ifc.rush@umich.edu

a closeted homosexual will find me andk< sn
I'll introduce him to the beautiful, gay
world. Or perhaps my future life part-
ner is that cute guy in the OSU Smells
group. Regardless of intent or outcome,
such utilization of The Facebook is not The new
only justified but also undeserving of Chinese CL
criticism from within and outside the .
homosexual community. Kui iGarden
Gay.com, chat rooms, The Facebook
- these are the means of communica-
tion for minority and majority demo-
graphics alike. But for the homosexual (313) 995-1786
demographic, perhaps The Facebook has 116 S.Main St.
emerged as our generation's anonymous (Between W. Huron and
socializing mechanism. And it's weird Washtenaw) Carryout
- I haven't heard any homosexuals accepted.
criticizing heterosexuals' use of The Open 7 Days
Facebook; yet, I've certainly heard het-
erosexuals stigmatize and bastardize my
savior, The Facebook.
I'm not asking for sympathy, for a tis-
sue. Save it. Ijust don't like the smart-ass
looks that follow the phrase "I met him
online." It's not as easy as you think to
meet significant, substantial queers. And
oftentimes it's not even that easy to meet
a dull, cute one to hook up with.
It's a tough, straight world out there,
but some homo's got to do it.
Steve didn't want to write a Face-
book column, butfelt it had to be done. Vietnamese & Chines
If you agree, disagree or are ambiva- Dine-In & Carry-Out
lent to his sentiments, e-mail him at 1220 S. University (at the c
duboiss@umich.edu. Better yet, just S
Facebook him! 1
Fs
Friday, Jan. 21 S
11
t through
Sunday, Jan. 23 ' 7.
Sunday
ECA Winter Extravaganza: A cap-
pella groups, dancing teams and other
acts will perform at the Lydia Mendels- t:
sohn Theatre Sunday nightbeginning at 8
p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased
at the Michigan Union Ticket Office or at
the U-Go's Student Lounge from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. (734) 846-1196.

'ren
use Cuisine
t
orner of Forest)
iun-Thur.
1 am to 10 pm
ri
l am to 11 pm

A guide to who's where, e
washapnnanyou need to be there ..hyi e W eekend Lis

Friday
Collage Concert: Students from the
School of Music will perform at Hill
Auditorium. The event starts at 8:15 p.m.
and tickets are available at the Power
Center box office from 3to7 p.m. on the
day of the show only. Free.
Amp Fiddler: The musician will per-
form with Nomo at the Blind Pig Friday
night, located at 208 S. First St. Door
open at 9:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. $15
cover. (734) 996-8555.
The Child: The Departent of The-
ater and Dra Dapresents a stged read-
ing of this Sarah Schulman play at the
Trueblood Theater in the Frieze Building.
The reading begins at 8 p.m. Free. (734)
764-9537.
New Beat Happening: Formerly
known as Friday Night Live, student and
local performers from all genres of music
will play at the Michigan League Under-
ground starting at 9 p.m. Free.
Saturda
Poker/Open Mic Night: Card sharks

will gather for a competitive poker tour-
nament on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Leon-
ardo room in Pierpont Commons. Open
mic night begins afterwards. Performers
must be affiliated with the University and
arrive by 7:45 p.m., as spots are limited.
Free.
The Arte Project Returns: The sec-
ond meeting regardingithe construction of
The Arte Project mural will take place on

Saturday from 12to9 p.m. at the William
Monroe Trotter House. Ernesto Cuevas
Jr., facilitator for the project, will be there
to assist students. Free. (734) 763-9044.
Paisley Product 2005: This year's
annual Prince tribute features Midwest
Product and Dykehouse. Doors open at
9:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. $8 cover. $10
21 and under. (734) 996-8555.


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The Vietnam Protestors
A retired KGB agent, now living
in Canada, has said, "Ameri-
cans think the protest move-
ment was theirs, when in fact
it was ours." The protestors
were too eager to believe all
the propaganda they were fed.
Gary Lillie & Assoc., Realtors
www.garylillie.com

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