The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 5A

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 5A

PREVENTION .To increase male involvement
in sexual assault prevention,
From Page 1A SAPAC founded Men's Activisim
in 2004, which is the youngest of
ager of SAPAC, echoed Rider- SAPAC's three programs, which
Milkovich's remarks that sexual include Networking, Publicity
assault is a problem that should and Activism and Peer Educa-
be dealt with by the community tion.
as a whole, regardless of gender. Men's Activism workshops
"It affects the community and teach men on campus about
thus has to be presented as a com- sexual violence prevention and
munity issue," Kubec said. raise awareness about male rape.
LSA senior Carley Flanery, a Flanery said she has seen consis-
peer education coordinator for tent growth in the number of men
SAPAC, said often times people involved in SAPAC over the past
judge organizations like SAPAC four years.
for being female-driven and "It is becoming more accepted
* organized against males, which for men to be involved in sexual
she said is not the case. violence issues," she said.
"When I tell people that I Rider-Milkovich said
work for SAPAC, some people SAPAC would like to encourage
still think it's a women-centered, increased male involvement in
men-bashing organization or a sexual assault prevention in the
counseling center like CAPS," future.
Flanery said. "There is a lot of room to
Flanery added that conse- engage a lot of men to our work,"
quently, men often tend to feel Rider-Milkovich said. "Right
that they do not have a place in now there are 30 Men's Activists
sexual violence organizations andIwould love to see that num-
like SAPAC because "they feel ber grow to 100. There is enough
they won't be seen as capable of work to be done."
helping." Flanery said the ultimate goal
NORTH CAMPUS be open for free skating until 10
NroRTHageCAMUp.m. each day.
From Page 1A Last semester's events
included hot air balloon rides,
is to increase student awareness a Haunted Bell Tower Hallow-
about opportunities and events een event and football tailgates.
on North Campus and bring With a marketing team, student
more people to the area. input and collaboration with the
" "We are doing these 'bam- North Campus Affairs Commis-
wow' events (that are) kind of sion, a commission within CSG
new (and) exciting (that have) that works to increase commu-
never been done on Michigan's nicaionbetweenstudentgroups
campus," Zollweg said. "Some on North Campus, Go North!
are ... off the wall but things that plans to provide students with
are destination value that are even more events this semester.
bringing a lot of students and the Along with smaller scale
community to North Campus." projects, Go North! plans to
As part of the Winter Blast host a March Madness event
festival - slated to take place and Springfest - a collabora-
on Feb. 17 and 18 outside of Pier- tive event with the University of
pont Commons - the GoNorth! Michigan Engineering Council
Initiative will include an ice rink at the North Campus Adminis-
for students. Zollweg said she trative Complex - at the end of
expects a larger crowd for this the semester.
event because the installation Zollweg said the initiative
and preparation for an ice rink brings new events to students
on North Campus is something while gathering ideas from
that hasn't been done before. around the University to create
"Our programming team a stronger sense of community.
(has) worked very diligently "The essence of Go North! is
and very collaboratively with a not that we are always creating
lot of different units to make it our own events," Zollweg said.
happen," Zollweg said. "We are "We are really trying to expand
expecting about 1,000 people our umbrella to incorporate the
over the two days." academic side and to cross-pro-
Along with UMix at Pierpont mote events and ideas."
Commons from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Zollweg said Go North! also
on that Friday, Winter Blast will helps students experience a dif-
host a DJ, hold ice-sculpting ferent side of North Campus and
contests and prize giveaways, in learn about what North Campus
addition to the ice rink that will has to offer academically, social-
MOCK ROCK women's water polo was recog-
From Page lA nized for raisingthe mostmoney
as a team for the event.
The University athletic train-
left to be desired, it was risque ers, members of the march-
at times," Daley said during the ing band, cheerleaders and the
judging. dance team also performed.
Daley attempted to improve Women's swimming, women's
his team's performance by rap- soccer and women's rowing
ping for the crowd after his teams performed skits that
critiques and received loud highlighted the University's
applause. athletic and academic qualities
The team won the "Better compared to other Big Ten uni-
Luck Next Year" award, and the versities.

of Men's Activism is to build bet-
terpartnerships with the Athletic
Department and the Inter-Coop-
erative Council by eventually
training student-athletes and
members of co-ops to facilitate
their own workshops.
"We want men and do have
many men who are involved,"
Flanery said. "Showing that they
do have a place and that we want
men to be involved is crucial."
Men's Activism seeks way to
engage men through activities
like "No Shave November" last
year, which encouraged men to
grow a beard and explain the
importance of sexual consent to
people who asked them about
their beard.
LSA senior Kathleen Carbone,
president of University Students
Against Rape, said many men
don't believe they have been sex-
ually assaulted after experienc-
ing an incident. Students Against
Rape invites both female and
male survivors to discuss their
experiences in a comfortable
group setting, Carbone said.
ly and creatively.
"There are a lot of students
(at) Michigan (who) have never
been up there ... We want to
bridge that gap in saying 'Here
is the Michigan experience,
and it includes North Campus
because there is a lot of really
great things happening,"' Zoll-
weg said. "We are trying to start
our own traditions up on North
Campus and (give it) a desti-
nation value, not just the lost
abyss."
LSA freshman Alex Kokaly
said he believes in the poten-
tial of the upcoming Go North!
events, but wonders if Central
Campus residents like himself
will take the journey to North
Campus.
"I think the main challenge is
getting the people who live on
Central to make the trek up to
North Campus, but my friends
and I are always willing to do
something fun," Kokaly said.
Engineering freshman Isaiah
Murray, who lives in the Baits I
Residence Hall, said he thinks
the new events from Go North!
may help alter negative feelings
toward North Campus.
"I think that people get the
misconception that because
North Campus is ... outside of
(central campus) that there's
nothing to do up here," Murray
said. "Something like Winter
Blast could possibly change that
outlook a little bit."
The show left the crowd
cheering and audience members
were visibly excited to see stu-
dent athletes perform on stage
instead of the field.
Engineering junior Nick Ber-
lage said he enjoyed the perfor-
mance and found it to be one the
most humorous he had seen in
his time at the University.
"Having been to the last few,
this year was definitely the fun-
niest and had the best dance
moves," Berlage said.

AP PHOTO
The bombardment of Homs, the hot bedof the resistance to President Bashar Assad's regime, has intensified over recent
days, after Syria's allies Russia and China vetoed a Western and Arab-backed resolution at the United Nations.
Russia advocates for
ref orms amid violence

Assad forces Russian Foreign Minister-
p n Sergey Lavrov flew into Damas-
continue topound cus yesterday, accompanied by
o i i o his foreign security chief, to try
opposition in Homs to boost a plan that would keep
Assad in power, even though
BEIRUT (AP) - Days after many prominent members of the
blocking a U.S.-backed peace opposition reject that entirely.
plan at the U.N., senior Rus- "It's clear that efforts to stop
sian officials pushed for reforms the violence should be accompa-
yesterday during an emergency nied by the beginning of dialogue
meeting with Syrian President among the political forces," Lav-
BasharAssad, promoting a settle- rov said, according to the Russian
ment to end the uprising without news agency ITAR-Tass. "Today
removing him from power. we received confirmation of the
Thousands of flag-waving gov- readiness of the president of Syria
ernment supporters cheered the for this work."
Russians in the Syrian capital of The visit was also a sign that
Damascus, while to the north, Moscow wanted to get a first-
Assad's forces pounded the oppo- hand assessment of the situation
sition city of Homs - underscor- on the ground in Syria -and
ing the sharp divisions propelling the raucous welcome the diplo-
the country toward civil war. mats received from thousands
The violence has led to the of regime supporters appeared
most severe international isola- aimed , at showing that Assad's
tion in more than four decades of grip is firm, at least in Damascus.
Assad family rule, with country Syria has been- a key Russian
after country calling home their ally since Soviet times, and Mos-
envoys. cow remains a major arms sup-
France, Italy, Spain and Bel- plier to Damascus even as Assad
glum pulled their ambassadors unleashes his forces to crush
from Damascus, as did six Gulf not only peaceful protesters, but
nations, including Saudi Ara- army defectors who are fighting
bia. Germany, whose envoy left the regime.
the country this month, said The U.N. estimates the govern-
he would not be replaced. The ment crackdown has killed more
moves came a day after the U.S. than 5,400 people since March,
closed its embassy in Syria and making Syria's conflict one of
Britain recalled its ambassador. the deadliest of the Arab Spring.
Turkey, once a strong Assad Hundreds more are believed to
supporter and now one of his have died since the U.N. released
most vocal critics, added its that figure in January, but the
voice to the international con- chaos in the country has made it
demnation, with Prime Minister impossible for the world body to
Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying update its figures.
his country cannot remain silent Yesterday's visit by Lavrov
about massacres in Syria. He and intelligence chief Mikhail
said Turkey would "launch a Fradkov was evidence that Rus-
new initiative with countries sia does not want to be seen as
that stand by the Syrian people giving Assad a free hand to crush
instead of the regime." his opponents in the wake of Sat-
His comments reflect a grow- urday's veto at the U.N. Security
ing movement by the U.S., Council.
Europe and countries in the Both Russia and China
region to organize a coalition of blocked a Western- and Arab-
nations to back Syria's opposi- backed resolution supporting
tion, though what kind of sup- calls for Assad to hand over some
port remains unclear. Over the powers as a way to defuse the
weekend, U.S. Secretary of State 11-month-old crisis.
Hillary Rodham Clinton called Russia has opposed any U.N.
for "friends of democratic Syria" call that could be interpreted as
to unite and rally against Assad's advocating military interven-
regime. tion° or regime change. Russia
The Obama administration and China also used their veto
suggested yesterday it might powers in October to block an
provide humanitarian aid to the attempt to condemn the violence
Syrian people, but did not specify in Syria.
howor to whom. Moscow, delivered its own

message to Syria yesterday, call-
ing on all sides to hold a mean-
ingful dialogue.
"Necessary reforms must be
implemented in order to address
legitimate demands of the people
striving for a better life," Lavrov
told Assad, according to ITAR-
Tass."
Assad replied that Syria is
determined to hold a national
dialogue with the opposition and
independent figures, saying his
government was "ready to coop-
erate with any effort that boosts
stability in Syria," according to
the Syrian state news agency
SANA.
Repeated efforts by the Arab
League and Russia to broker
talks have been rejected by the
Syrian opposition, which refuses
any negotiations while the crack-
down continues. The opposition
has also said Assad's proposed
reforms, including a new consti-
tution and eventual multiparty
elections, are aimed at keeping
his hold on power.
In yesterday's talks, Assad
told Lavrov that Russia's posi-
tion has played "a key role in sav-
ing our motherland," according
to ITAR-Tass.
As Lavrov's convoy snaked its
way along Damascus' Mazzeh
Boulevard, it was greeted by a
sea of Assad supporters cheering
the vetoes at the U.N.
"Thank you Russia and
China," read one banner that
had photos of Assad and the
Russian president. Many stood
in the rain carrying Syrian flags
as well as the red, blue and white
Russian banner.
"I am hereto thank Russia for
its stand in the face of the world
conspiracy against Syria," said
Manya Abbad, 45. "I wish the
Arabs adopted similar stances."
The Assad regime says terror-
ists acting out a foreign conspir-
acy to destabilize the country
are behind the uprising, not
people seeking to transform the
authoritarian regime.
But in the flashpoints of the
conflict, witnesses, residents
and human rights workers say
Assad's forces are shelling and
firing indiscriminately. The
troops renewed their assault
yesterday on one of the main
centers of the opposition, the
city of Homs, with activists say-
ing tanks were closing in on a
restive neighborhood.


*CSG
From Page 1A
discussed the upcoming Lansing
Blitz, a collaborative event with
other colleges in the state to fos-
ter discussion of student issues.
CSG President DeAndree
Watson said he was glad to see
some of those vacancies filled
and to increase representation
within the Assembly.
"It's extremely important that
people who are elected show
up to meetings," he said. "I'm
also excited that we have good
relationships with the school
and college governments who
are standing ready to fill those
vacancies when they do exist so
that we can make sure we always
have an adequate (amount of)
students who are here repre-
senting the voices of the stu-
dents."
The Assembly has the capac-
ity to have 57 sitting representa-
tives, but not every school and
college sends, or even elected,
the representatives available
to them. The University Medi-

cal School, the School of Public
Health, the School of Natural
Resources and the Environment,
the Taubman College of Archi-
tecture & Urban Planning, the
Ford School of Public Policy and
the School of Music, Theatre &
Dance do not send representa-
tives to Assembly meetings.
Sean Walser, chairman of
CSG's External Relations Com-
mission, attended the meeting to
discuss Lansing Blitz, which is
slated to take place in late March
and will provide an opportunity
for students from the state's 15
public universities to meet with
state legislators in Lansing to
advocate for issues pertinent to
students.
Walser said CSG is currently
planning on spending $1,000 to
pay for two University buses to
take students to Lansing for the
two-day event. Walser said he
and other members of CSG are
discussing logistics of the event
with student organizations
including the University's chap-
ter of College Democrats, the
University's chapter of College
Republicans and the Michigan

Political Union.
Watson said the event is an
opportunity to provide a forum
for students to voice issues
they've experienced, and devel-
op ways to overcome them.
"I'm really excited that we're
going to provide an opportunity
for students to voice their con-
cerns directly to the people in
Lansing," Watson said. "Hear-
ing directly from a large group
of students simultaneously will
get that message to them loud
and clear."
Only one resolution, a pro-
posal to hold a joint meeting
between the University Council,
a CSG council created in 2010
composed of delegates from dif-
ferent schools to connect the
University Activity Center to
other school's student govern-
ments, and the Student Assem-
bly, was discussed. There were
also no speakers for Community
Concerns, a portion of the meet-
ing that typically lasts anywhere
from 10 to 30 minutes and allows
members of the University and
Ann Arbor community to dis-
cuss issues.

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