NEWS The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 5, 2005 -3 ON CAMPUS Journalist to discuss sexism in the media The Institute for Research on Women and Gender presents writer and scholar Katha Pollitt today from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Hussey Roomof the Michigan League. Pollitt's work has appeared in numer- ous publications, such as The New York Times, The New Yorker and Harper's Magazine and she is the recent recipient of the Michigan Media Award, an annual award honoring journalists who excel in their coverage of gender issues. During the lecture, Pollitt will discuss sexism in the media and its impact on women. 'U' holds Leadership Award ceremony The Michigan Leadership Award cer- emony will be held today from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Michigan Union. For 25 years, these awards have honored the contributions of students and student organizations in categories such as Pro- gram of the Year and Outstanding Student Leader. The office of Student Activities and Leadership, Division of Student Affairs is sponsoring the event. CRIME NOTES Drunken woman leaves marks through town After pouring water on someone and punching a man in the face, an Ann Arbor woman was arrested for drunk driving early Saturday, according to the Ann Arbor Police Department. A 25-year-old man said he was eating at the Jimmy John's in the 1200 block of South University Avenue when he saw the 23-year-old woman pour water on another person. The man said when he asked her what her problem was, she approached him and punched him above the eye. Police said they saw the woman leaving in her car, pulled her over and arrested her for drunk driving. Police said the man had red marks on his face but did not require medical atten- tion. The man said he did not want to press charges. Phantom Intruder makes noise, worries woman A woman said she heard an intruder attempting to enter her home in the 700 block of Arbor Street early Sunday through a bathroom window off the fire escape, according to AAPD. The woman said she could hear sham- poo bottles being knocked from the show- er ledge at around 3 a.m. The woman said she went to look in the bathroom and the window was partially open. Nothing was stolen and police said Celebrating separately, graduating together Seniors prepare to take walk toward Rackham in community-specific groups By Breeanna Hare Daily Staff Reporter On the weekend of April 29, about 5,000 Univer- sity undergraduates will become alumni, according to the University's statistics on graduation rates. In a crowd of that size, it can be easy to feel lost. For this reason, many students will also participate in separate commencements designed for specific multicultural groups within the University. Most students participate in smaller communities at the University but have never been able to incorpo- rate that kinship into the larger graduation ceremony. Minority groups across campus, therefore began to hold separate commencements - including the Black Celebratory, La Celebracion Latina and the Lavender Graduation. The oldest of the three, Black Celebratory - or Black Celeb - began in 1993 to "celebrate the com- monalties and differences that characterize the expe- riences of African Americans and other students at the University," according to Black Celeb's website. Funded by the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives, a committee of students, faculty and staff gather to create a memorable last semester for the black graduating class. Black Celeb's planning committee not only decides on the keynote speaker, student speakers and the recipient of the Cornerstone Award - which is given to a faculty member that has had significant impact on the black student community - but it also plans social events, such as bowling nights and ski trips that offer the entire black community an oppor- tunity to relish the last few months with their fellow graduating seniors. This year, the keynote speaker will be Univer- sity alum Kenya Ayers - a psychologist, educator, entrepreneur and author who will address the positive results that arise from the difficulties of being a black student at the University. "The graduating seniors wanted to encompass the experience they've had here and what they feel like the University has been for them. It's been a difficult journey, especially for African Americans, but some good has come out of it. (A) juxtaposition, I think, aptly describes the black experience at the Univer- sity," LSA junior and Planning Committee volunteer Cecelia Calhoun said. "Black Celeb is a wonderful event to have, and it's more intimate than the larger commencement ceremony," Calhoun added. "Sometimes, in a large university environment, graduation can be daunting because it's very formal and enforced. Black Celeb atmosphere is different - It's very warm, inviting and familiar, and being able to walk across the stage with friends is a wonderful opportunity." Calhoun said that while she noticed the larger Uni- versity body assumes that Black Celeb is an exclusive event, it was actually created to provide inclusive- ness. "To my knowledge, I've had some people say that it's separatist, but anyone can participate," she said. "I want to emphasize that these graduations aren't exclusive. I don't care where you come from, if you identify with the black community, you're more than welcome to participate." La Celebracion Latina Director Sylvia Mayers said the graduation ceremony created for the Latino com- munity is not exclusive because Latino students can identify with other ethnic communities while still considering themselves Latino. "The Latino community is a little bit different because you get students that really identify with their (Latino) identity, but you also have those that have mixed feelings," Mayers said. She added, "You don't have to be Latino to participate." In 1999, six years after Black Celeb began, OAMI responded to the requests of the Latino community to have a commencement ceremony that recognized Latin students' specific cultural contributions to the University as well. "Students were the people who wanted to get this going," Mayers said. "They were graduating and wanted something similar to Black Celeb, in par- ticular, the same emphasis on their culture. It's just an opportunity to highlight the Latino community or members who feel they're a part of it. We have stu- dents who are in Black Celeb that also come to La Celebracion to show support or feel that they are also a part of the Latino community." As with Black Celeb, each year a committee is composed of students, as well as OAMI staff and faculty, to decide on a theme for the ceremony and choose a keynote speaker. "This year, the theme is 'Beyond Academia; LY Ahora QuO?' Translated, it means 'What's the next step in our lives?' and the focus is on civic respon- sibility," Mayers said. "We try to (get alumni) for keynote speakers if possible, and they often come for free," she added. This year University alum Cecilia Munoz will be speaking at the ceremony. uunoz is a part of the executive staff of the National Council of La Raza - an activist organization for Latinos. Mayers said that similar to Black Celeb, La Cel- ebracidn is a small and personal ceremony. "La Celebracion highlights the efforts and support the University has given to the community ... as well as the students' individual achievements." Mayers said that although the ceremony has grown tremendously since it began, it remains an intimate celebration for students and their families. "Students are getting more involved, and in light of minority retention problems, we try to have it here as an incentive for people to want to graduate. I've had students tell me all the time that it has helped to keep them focused." Despite the other commencements that are sched- uled on the same day as La Celebraci6n, Latino students are still planning to attend it. LSA senior Andrea Coronil said she is looking forward to it and has a friend returning from a study-abroad program to participate. "I think it's an important event because as Lati- nos, we try to create a sense of community among the Latino students," Coronil said. "La Celebracion is a way of sharing (our sense of community) together and our accomplishments at the University, especial- ly as a minority group." If the separate ceremony were not held, Coronil added, "I think it wouldn't be as much of a sense of closure in terms of college and in terms of being a 'part of thetatinocommunity. It's acelebration of my FILE PHOTO Student celebrate during the Class of 2004 graduation ceremonies held at Michigan Stadlun on Saturday, May 1, 2004. cultural identity." Ronnie Sanslow, a staff member of the Les- bian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs Office, started the Lavender Graduation in 1995 to provide a commencement for students who identify with the LGBT community. Lav- ender graduations are now performed at uni- versities across the country, even though the tradition began in Ann Arbor. The Lavendar graduation was started because "there were cultural heritage celebrations but noth- ing for LGBT students so that they could leave the University with a positive last experience. They too (could feel valued) for their contributions to the University," Lavender Graduation Director Jennifer Almquist said. Almquist said the Lavendar Graduation is different from other ceremonies because sex- ual orientation and gender identity are factors that are not readily visible. She said the cer- emony is an opportunity for students who are not involved in the LGBT community but who are out in their personal lives to celebrate their identities in a public setting. The ceremony itself is similar to other com- mencements, except that students write an introduction that will be read as they walk across the stage and receive their Lavender Degree - which represents their connection to the community. "'This. year, we have re-instituted an award for leadership," Almquist said. "So part of the ceremony is going to be honoring leaders in the community, outstanding group of the year and outstanding ally of the year. M AYdve also" planned a guest speaker, the Program on Inter group Relation's associate director, Roger Fishe, who is a tremendous ally to the community." Graduating LSA senior Andrea Knittel, whd said she has been active in the LGBT commu- nity for the majority of her time at the Universi ty, said she chose to participate in the Lavender Graduation because the University commence- ment "is big and impersonal." "I like the idea of celebrating with my commit= nity," Knittel said. "I don't know a lot of people; but at Lavender Graduation, I'll know just about everybody who walks with me. The opportunity doesn't come along often." Knittel said she wanted to bring a sense of closure to her identity outside of the academi realm. "To be recognized as a member of the come munity is important. I've been involved in a lot of student organizations and in LGBT activism and as I'm graduating, I feel like my academic career is at a turning point and my activism is at a turning point. So it's more of a commence- ment from not so much academic things, but activities that I've participated in." But Knittel also acknowledged the value of the larger graduation ceremony. "The larger graduation ceremony is impor- tant to show that while we have these differ- ences, we still have something in common - we're&lWwearing caps and gowns , The most important thing, Almquist said, i for students to find whichever ceremony they; need to bring finalityto their time atLh Jni- veTsity. they were unable to they arrived. find anyone when THIS DAY In Daily History HENDRIX Continued from page 1 He added that he has been talking to' architects about rejuvenating areas that are currently surrounded by warehouses to create a downtown atmosphere. "I'm thinking Main Street in Royal Oak, five-fold. I want it open until 4 am." Hendrix also said he wants to attract more people to the city to draw in more revenue. "The more I can get you to Detroit, the more I can pay for Cass Cor- ridor." Hendrix said. But, he added, "I want you to come Detroit because its fun, not because you're Mother Theresa." Hendrix's daughter and University alum Erin emphasized her father's inter- est in the younger generation. "Just because my father is not 30 years old does not mean that he does not have policies and interests in the younger community. I think his history speaks for itself," she said. Another important part of his campaign is a plan to fight crime by re-instating the Detroit Police Depart- ment's narcotic units and gang squad and to give teenagers what he calls, "Positive options." These include an initiative to encourage businesses to provide teenagers with employment and to re-open the Belle Isle Zoo. Hendrix's opponent and current Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is the youngest mayor in the history of Detroit and has faced constant attacks during his administration for a variety of allegations including incompetence, cronyism, rumors of wild parties in the Manoogian Mansion and police cover- ups. Hendrix made reference to some of these allegations during his speech. But some feel that the Mayor is often blamed for problems out of his control. "There is a lot of grassroots dissat- isfaction with Kwame's leadership, mainly dealing with the budget gap. They are $93 million dollars in the red even though they proposed a bal- anced budget not too long ago," said Craig Regester, Program Coordina- tor of the Residential College, who currently lives in Southwest Detroit. But, "I am sure he is going to be blamed for all of Detroit's problems that have existed for 20 years." He added. Kilpatrick's office was called, but he could not be reached for com- ment. Hendrix was invited to the event on behalf of the, NAACP, the University chapter of Metropolitan Organizing Strat- egy Enabling Strategy and the Detroit Project. McPhail will be invited to speak next week in an event organized by the same groups. Hendrix has worked in city gov- ernment for over two decades. He was the manager of Bill Clinton's 1992 election campaign in the state of Michigan. He has served as dep- uty mayor and chief of staff during the tenure of Mayor Dennis Archer. Pot legislI protected ation April 5, 1983 - A proposal that would have repealed the Ann Arbor city pot law which enforces a $5 fine for use of Mari- juana was rejected yesterday. The proposal was expected to face staunch opposition, but a large student turn-out in the 1st and 3rd wards helped defeat the proposal. Had the proposal passed, a backup pro- posal passed by City Council would have made the fine for use of marijuana $25. An unofficial poll showed that the proposal failed by a three-to-two mar- gin - 13,897 voted against the proposed repeal of the legislation, while 8,923 cast their ballots in favor of repealing it. CORRECTIONS The Hazing Report mentioned on page 1 of yesterday's edition of the Daily was a compilation of evidence of hazing activ- ity in three fraternities, and one sorority, not just in Alpha Epsilon Phi. Get the skills you need to succeed and lead in today's competitive job market with a graduate degree from Illinois Institute of Technology. Full- and part-time programs available. Ph.D., M.S., Programs include: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Business Computer Science Engineering Math and Science Teacher Education Psychology An Afternoon in Corporate Strategy, an Evening with the Red Sox I,,*