Thursday, October 19, 2006 - The Michigan Daily - 7A
MARRIAGE
Continued from page 1A
amically, there are no premarital
relations of any sort. No touching,
no nothing. Given that, the logical
solution is to get married:'
LSA senior Aliyah Rab, who
shares an apartment with Jukaku
and is also married, echoed those
thoughts.
"It's harder to not date and to
just be normal" she said, "Once
you get this religious marriage,
you're allowed to be normal by
American standards."
Rab and her husband, Zeeshaun
Ahmad - who graduated from
the Ross School of Business last
spring - met in Statistics 350
more than two years ago.
The two found they shared
interests, goals and values. After
spending a year and a half visiting
each other's families, they were
engaged in March and married in
May.
These couples are part of a gen-
eration of college-age Muslims
who are increasingly likely to
marry, Rab said.
"If you look at a couple of gen-
erations ago, like my older broth-
er's generation - he's 33 now
- they were very, very goal-ori-
ented,' she said.
For them, finding a mate often
took a backseat to their studies
and careers, Rab said.
As today's students relax about
their futures, they are able to
socialize more and find partners
earlier, Rab said.
"People now are more like, it's
OK to get married," she said. "I
don't know what I'm doing (as a
career), but it's OK to get mar-
ried."
A MODEL STUDENT
There is much that sets Rab
apart from other University stu-
dents.
First, there is her hijab - the
traditional headscarf worn by
many Muslim women. Less prom-
inent but more distinct is the small
silver band on her right ring fin-
ger.
She is not a typical student, but
she is happy that way - being
both Muslim and married means
thinking about her actions in a
new way.
"I always have to think," she
said. "(When you wear a hijab),
you're always a model of a greater
thing."
Being married, she said, is
similar in that she must now think
about how her actions reflect on
her husband and his family.
Rab's former roommate, Lubna
Khan, roommate who graduated
from the University this spring,
agreed. Khan was married in June
to Michael Dann, an Amherst,
Mass., native with a Christian
upbringing who converted to
Islam at age 15.
"You start thinking about hav-
ing a good influence on people
around you," Khan said. "It made
me really think about where I
wanted to be in my religion and
perfect the flaws."
While many students see long-
term commitments as burdens, to
Khan and Rab they mean another
pair of shoulders to help bear the
load.
Rab said the financial security
of marriage allowed her to aban-
don her pre-med track in favor
of anthropology, which she pre-
fers. She hopes to attend graduate
school in Chicago, where her hus-
band works as a consultant.
"A spouse is like a backbone, a
frame," she said. "It provides that
for you for everything, which is so
nice."
GROWING TOGETHER
Back atNYPD, El-Sayed folded
his hands and looked thoughtfully
at his young wife.
"Being able to grow with your
significant other is an experience
that a lot of people miss out on,"
he said. "(Sarah and I) are happy
and lucky to have the opportunity,
thank God."
Since their marriage, Jukaku
and El-Sayed have grown togeth-
er in the same way many serious
young couples do. They visit the
library, get dinner and indulge
their frequent dairy cravings.
"Getting ice cream is the num-
ber-one thing we do together," El-
Sayed said.
Like many young Muslim cou-
ples, El-Sayed and Jukaku do not
live together.
They are in the first yearlong
stage of a two-step marriage pro-
cess that is traditional in most
Arab and some Indo-Pakistani
Muslim cultures. Increasingly,
American Muslims are adopting
this practice. During the interim,
the two live separately and do not
consummate their union.
"It's a time to get to know each
other more personally," El-Sayed
said. "It gives you time to finish
up whatever you need to figure
out."
Most surveys show that divorce
rates among Muslims are lower
than the U.S. average. The two-
step process is one reason for this
trend, El-Sayed said.
"The interesting thing about
the Muslim perspective on (com-
mitted relationships) is that it's a
lot more serious," he said. "If you
think about the difference between
a really serious boyfriend or girl-
friend and marriage, it's the ring
on your finger and the contract
- the stakes are higher."
For Jukaku and El-Sayed, high-
er stakes meant adjusting, both
academically and socially.
Next year, El-Sayed will be in
medical school. Though he has
been accepted into the Univer-
sity's program, his formidable
MCAT score means he could be
traveling as far as Cambridge,
Mass., to Harvard University.
If he does move, Jukaku, who
plans to teach high school, plans
to accompany him.
Other changes were necessary.
Jukaku said most of her friends,
including Rab, were supportive,
but that a few were less sensitive.
"They just fell off the face of
the Earth when I got married,"
she said.
Time with their own families
has diminished as well. They now
split their weekends between each
other's family homes in Shelby
Township and West Bloomfield.
El-Sayed even gave up playing
Michigan lacrosse, a seven-year
passion to which he devoted more
than 25 hours per week.
"I wanted to make sure this
went the right way," he said. "I
figured you can only play lacrosse
for so long, but you'll be mar-
ried for the rest of your life."
Since settling into the routine of
married life, he has returned to
the sport, much to his wife's plea-
sure.
"Good choice. I tried to tell you
earlier," she said to him over his
objections.
The couple's attitude toward
married life is as optimistic as it
is unusual.
"Whatever we have to rethink
or change is forthe better," Jukaku
said. "It wasn't anything we lost."
El-Sayed said he always knew
he would marry young.
"I was going to meet one girl
and I was going to marry her," he
mused in his thick basso voice.
"In some senses, I feel like that's
the purest form of a relationship
with someone. It cuts out all the
B.S."
Suicide note leads police to dismembered body
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A
note found on the body of a suicide
jumper led police to a French Quar-
ter apartment where they found a
woman's charred head in a pot, her
arms and legs in the oven and her
torso in the refrigerator, police said
yesterday.
Zackery Bowen, 28, leapt from
the seventh floor of a luxury hotel
in the Quarter on Tuesday night,
police said. His note, found in his
pocket, identified the woman as his
girlfriend but did not mention her
name.
The body was found in the sec-
ond-floor apartment that Bowen
and his girlfriend, Adriane Hall,
had shared on the edge of the Quar-
ter above a voodoo shop, according
to the landlord. Authorities said
they were trying to find Hall, but
did not speculate on the identity of
the dismembered woman.
A woman who identified herself
as Priestess Miriam Chamani in
the Voodoo Spiritual Temple and
Cultural Center below the apart-
ment said Wednesday that the cou-
ple had recently moved in.
"You see people and never know
what's going on with them" the
woman said.
STUDY
Continued from page 1A
effort to achieve a diverse student
body. The study claims that a black
male with the median GPA and test
scores for all admitted blacks had a
28-percent chance of being accept-
ed to the University in 1999. This
chance increased to 43 percent in
2005.
A white applicant with the same
test scores and GPA had a 1-percent
chance both years.
In a written statement, Peter-
son said the study relied on flawed
analysis that statistical experts have
rejected as unsound and misleading.
She also pointed out that the study
missed crucial pieces of information
considered in the University's admis-
sions process, like extracurricular
activities and application essays.
"No top university admits stu-
dents solely on the basis of grades
and test scores," she said.
Roger Clegg, a spokesman for
the Center for Equal Opportunity,
defended the study's methodol-
ogy, saying it did not make sense
to consider subjective variables like
application essays and letters of rec-
ommendation.
Even if the center could control
for essay quality, Clegg said, it is
not possible that the gaps in SAT,
scores and GPA between black and
white admitted students could be
explained by differences in applica-
tion essays.
"There is no reason to think that
African Americans are better at writ-
ing essays than whites," Clegg said.
The Center for Equal Opportu-
nity was founded in 1995 by Linda
Chavez, who was appointed by for-
mer U.S. President Ronald Reagan
to the U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights. The center is dedicated to
eliminating race-based affirmative
action and campaigning against
bilingual education.
The study's release comes less
than three weeks before Michi-
gan voters will vote on Proposal 2,
which seeks to ban the use of race
and gender in admissions and gov-
ernment hiring and contracting. The
University's admissions policies
have often been a rallying point for
opponents of racial preferences.
Peterson questioned the timing
and motives of the release.
"This is a politicized attempt by
(the Center for Equal Opportunity)
to narrow the focus of the debate to
college admissions at a single insti-
tution, rather than acknowledging
the broader potential impact on state
employment and contracting, K-12
schools and public universities and
community colleges," Peterson said.
While the Center for Equal
Opportunity is dedicated to ending
race-based affirmative action pro-
grams and is openly supportive of
Proposal 2, Clegg denied that the
center coordinated its efforts with
the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
campaign.
i
MORI
Continued from page 1A
Opponents of MCRI, or Pro-
posal 2, say it would eliminate
programs that help underrep-
resented groups overcome dis-
crimination.
MCRI would not just affect
racial minorities, but also
women, Rodgers said.
Ryan Fantuzzi, co-chair of
Washtenaw County MCRI, said
if the proposal passes, women
will be admitted to college
based solely on their qualifica-
tions.
He said it would eliminate
gender discrimination in public
education.
Sue Kaufmann, associate
director of the University's Cen-
ter for the Education of Women,
published a study on MCRI's
impact on women in January.
According to the study, if
MCRI is passed, many Univer-
sity programs may be eliminated
that encourage women to pursue
opportunities in fields where
they are underrepresented, such
as math and science.
Fantuzzi said MCRI will not
affect any outreach programs
and would only ban programs
that give gender preferences.
Elizabeth Tappan, president
of the Society of Women Engi-
neers, said MCRI will adversely
affect women's programs.
"Affirmative action has given
women inroads into male-domi-
nated fields," she said. "It reduc-
es the isolation and challenge
of being the only woman in the
room."
The study says Proposition
209, a California initiative sim-
ilar to Proposal 2 that passed
in 1996, led to a decline in the
number of women working in
skilled trades and attending col-
lege.
Kaufmann said she is con-
cerned that if there is a decline
in the number of working women
in Michigan, it could cause more
problems for the state's already
fragile economy.
GRADS
Continued from page IA
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W S TIP? E-MAIL Others leave for financial rea-
sons, though most often it is not
due to tuition hikes but a change
MICHIGANDAILY.COM. in financial stability because of
family problems or crisis, Monts
said.
When black students leave,
ally _ __ many times it is to attend a col-
lege in their home state, Monts
said. The University does not
offer full financial aid pack-
IC a ss ifiages to out-of-state students, he
said, and therefore there is no
complete way to alleviate their
tuition burden.
"One of the reasons why
(black graduation rates) have
somt-0 t-O tifn e a out- been so much lower in the past
is because students from minor-
- ity groups have faced financial,
social and cultural barriers,"
University spokeswoman Julie
The Mich lki~u I~igan Dai .ly i Peterson said.
Monts said the study has also
found that the campus climate
can be unwelcoming.
For Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006 another person or even to a group. To combat this problem,
ARIES SCORPIO Monts advises students to join
ethnic student organizations like
Black Student Union or the cam-
pus chapter of the NAACP. But
some students say organizations
are not enough.
"There are not a lot of black
professors that are tenured," said
LSA senior Staci Daniels, who is
black. "It's hard to find someone
to help us along who's had the
same experiences."
Daniels credits the Office of
Academic Multicultural Initia-
tives for helping foster a con-
nection between faculty and
minority students to create an
inclusive environment.
The question that looms over
the University is how much Pro-
posal 2 on next month's state
ballot, which would ban some
affirmative action programs in
Michigan, would affect gradu-
ation and enrollment rates if
passed.
Monts said Proposal 2, also
known as the Michigan Civil
Rights Initiative, would have a
much heavier impact on the state
than Proposition 209, a similar
initiative that passed in 1996 in
California.
"Circumstances in Michigan
are much more dire than in Cali-
fornia," he said. "We only have
one highly selective higher edu-
cation institution, whereas Cali-
fornia has nine highly ranked
campuses."
Monts said California
schools can admit many more
in-state students and better
reflect the diversity of the
state. At Michigan, out-of-
state students compose more
than one-third of the student
body, and thus in-state spots
are more competitive.
Many minorities say that the
campus is not always welcom-
ing to them and that may be why
some black students leave.
John Matlock, director of the
Office of Academic Multicul-
tural Initiatives, who is part of
Monts's task force, said many
racial incidents that occur on
campus happen because it is pre-
dominantly white.
"Minority students and white
students both look at the Uni-
versity to fix (racial) problems,"
he said. "Students have to create
that friendly environment."
I
t
I
(March 21 to April 19)
Close friendships and partnerships can
really deepen today in terms of affection
and mutual admiration. Everything
seems to be more important and defi-
nitely more intense!
TAURUS
(April 20 to May 20)
If you fall in love with someone today,
it will be a memorable relationship.
Relationships that begin now have a
fated quality to them (right out of the
movies).
GEMINI
(May 21 to June 20)
You might feel that you're madly in
love with someone. Relationships and
romantic contacts are unusually intense
today. (This is definitely good diary
material!)
CANCER
(June 21 to July 22)
There's a strong energy in the air.
today. One good way to use it is to make
where you live look more beautiful. Get
rid of what you no longer need.
Streamline your belongings.
LEO
(July 23 to Aug. 22)
Your conversations with others defi-
nitely have vigor and energy today! You
mean what you say, and you say what
you mean. (Believe me, people will hear
you.)
VIRGO
(Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)
When shopping today, you feel practi-
cally obsessed about buying something.
Wait until late in the day to shop. Avoid
major purchases in the morning and
early afternoon.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23 to Oct. 22)
It seems like all your emotions about
practically anything are deepened today.
You feel a strong need to belong to
(Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)
You're willing to work on behalf of
others today. You have a desire to relieve
the causes of suffering for someone. You
can't go wrong, because what goes
around comes around.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)
You have an opportunity to deepen
your bond with a friend today. You might
turn a casual acquaintance into a bud-
ding relationship that lasts a lifetime.
CAPRICORN
(Rec. 22 to Jan. 19)
If someone in authority is trying to
dodge an important issue, you'll come at
this person again and again. You want to
get at the real truth about something.
(It's important to you.)
AQUJARIUS
(Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)
Political, religious and philosophical
discussions are quite intense today. Keep
in mind that you can't reason anyone out
of something he or she wasn't reasoned
into in the first place.
PISCES
(Feb. 19to March 20)
Love relationships are very intense
today. If you're in love with someone,
everything seems to be "way-out" in a
wonderful, passionate way.
YOU BORN TODAY You're highly
independent. You do your own thing
(and others let you). Nevertheless,
you're not afraid to take responsibilty
for othsers. You're highly dependahle.
You're a loyal friend and a faithful fam-
ily member. Be open to exciting new
beginnings this year. Each door you
open will lead to another door, which
leads to another door, and so on. You're
starting a new cycle.
Birthdate of: Evander Holyfield, box-
ing champ; John Lithgow, actor; Ty
Pennington, TV host.
MSA
Continued from page IA
'Okay; let's sit down and figure
out what our process is going to
be,"' he said.
On Oct. 8, Baker realized
that no one was searching for an
election director, so he began
his own search.
The person Baker found was
Ben Beckett, his former cam-
paign manager from when he ran
for a representative position as an
independent last March. Baker
knew that nominating a former
campaign manager was not ideal,
but he had full faith in Beckett.
"I would never have gone
to the assembly with someone
who I thought would have been
biased in any way," he said.
The MSA Executive Board
did not agree and refused to
nominate Beckett.
"We as the nominating group
didn't feel comfortable," Yost
said. "We couldn't in good faith
put forward that nominee."
At the meeting, Baker shouted
at the MSA executives, urging
them to approve his nomination.
He did not succeed, however,
because the MSA Code states
that only the executives or the
Rules and Elections Committee
chair can nominate the election
director. Baker was aware of
this stipulation but believed he
was entitled to present his nom-
ination because he said he had
been acting as the Rules and
Elections Committee chair.
He said Van Hyfte was not
taking charge.
Instead, the executives put
forward Tim Wiggins as their
nomination for election direc-
tor. Wiggins, an LSA senior,
had previously been on MSA
but has been disaffiliated from
MSA and S4M for over a year.
During the meeting, Baker
also said there was a lack of
leadership in the Rules and
Elections Committee and tried
unsuccessfully to add a vote to
recall Van Hyfte as chair to the
agenda.
When Van Hyfte was given
the opportunity to speak, she
said Baker's statements were
fallacious because the Rules
and Elections Committee had
only one meeting for the semes-
ter, and she did not think this
was enough time to show a lack
of leadership.
Baker took offense to Van Hyfte's
statement and began to yell.
"Who do you think you are to
come in front of all these people
and accuse me of lying?" he
shouted at Van Hyfte.
Sensing the tension in the
room, Susan Wilson, the director
of the Office of Student Activi-
ties and Leadership, and Anika
Williams, the MSA Administra-
tive Coordinator, stepped in to
calm Baker.
Yost then made a motion for a
five-minute recess to "get some
control over the meeting and
bring it back down to earth."
The motion was approved.
The meeting resumed after
the recess, only to have anoth-
er recess called by MSA Vice
President Justin Paul moments
later. During the recess, Paul
met with Van Hyfte, Baker,
Wilson and Williams to resolve
the issue.
When the meeting resumed,
Van Hyfte proposed to move
the election dates back a day
to Nov. 16 and 17. This move
bought an extra week for the
Rules and Elections Committee
to find a qualified individual for
the position, during which she
found Bouchard. Because some-
one was nominated for the posi-
tion 36 days before the election,
MSA was able to elect Boucha-
rd to the position as long as he
starts working 29 days before
the contest.
At the end of the meeting,
Baker apologized to MSA for
his behavior and resigned from
his position as Rules and Elec-
tions vice chair.
"I thought it was best to
remove myself from the process
and focus on some of the health
issues, like insurance, that I
wanted to focus on this semes-
ter," said Baker, who is also a
co-chair of the Health Issues
Commission.
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b
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