Troupe raises homeless issue BY DONNA IADIPAOLO You're sitting in English class, discussing oppression in Latin America, when three shabbily- dressed people abruptly enter the classroom. "Ignore them," the professor tells the class, annoyed. "They're invisi- ble." But they move their belong- ings into the room, saying that it looks like a good place to spend the night. "Hey, you can't build a home here; you're trespassing!" a student yells. "You're mentally ill; get out of here!" another protests. BUT the people don't leave; they begin to settle into the room. And it's not until the lights go down that you realize you're watching a play about homelessness in Ann Arbor. It's a story that doesn't end when the script does. "This is a real situation ," said Ross Heine, a member of the Homeless Action Committee's the- ater group, organized hy former homeless people, University stu- dents, and English Prof. Buzz Alexander. "We're using theater as a tool to enlist people - for concrete action. This is not theater for enjoyment. It's to get people to listen and act. We wouldn't be doing it otherwise, Alexander said. In the play Heine portrays "Joey," who struggles to deal with the loss of his home, job, car, and family. He based the role on his own experiences. "I LIKE working with the (theater) group," he said. "I've had people help me in life, now I'm re- turning it." Alexander helped form the un- I named group last winter in his The- ater and Social Change class. Since then they have performed in three other classes. "I think it's really good that they are doing this skit because there is so much misunderstanding concern- ing the homeless and this helps to educate people and get people in- volved with the issue," said Liz Kraut, an LSA junior, who saw the performance of Joey's Story in Alexander's class last Thursday. Renuka Uthappa, an LSA senior and group member, described Joey's Story as "guerilla theater," because the actors usually burst into class- rooms and surprise the audience. THE GROUP gave their first formal, public performance Monday night before a group of homeless at the Ann Arbor Shelter. The performers said they were seeking See Theater, Page 5 The Michigan Daily - Friday, June 3, 1988 -Page 3 Michigan's campaign for SSC heightens BY ERIC LEMONT "I must say, I thought it was a Michigan scientists and politi- quite well-selected site," said STF cians tried to convince t h e chair Wilmot Hess. He hailed the Superconducting Super Collider Site abundance of open farmland and dis- Task Force to choose Stockbridge as persed housing along and within the the site for the $4.4 billion atom 53-mile oval ring the collider would 'We would be the center of high-energy physics in the World for the rest of our lives.' - Gov. James Blanchard smasher during the group's visit last occupy. week. The collider is an underground The Department of Energy's task track through which protons will be force toured the town and listened to accelerated at close to the speed of presentations from state officials and light. The particles will then collide " gscientists in a closed meeting. The head-on with each other, breaking DoE will choose a site in November down into smaller particles. By ana- from among the seven proposed lyzing these collisions, scientists across the country. expect to gain new insight into the ROBIN LOZNAK/Daily The STF kept most of its find- atom and the universe. Renuka Uthappa, an LSA senior, and Earl Uomoto, an Ann ings and opinions confidential, but Many say the project will attract Arbor resident, are both members of the Homeless Action members praised Stockbridge, physicists from around the world to Committee's theater group working to recruit members in the Michigan's proposed site for the See SSC, Page 4 fight against homelessness. collider. Non-profit groups seek space at Art Fair BY RYAN TUTAK The Latin American Solidarity Many non-profit groups which Committee, a student group aimed at have participated in previous Ann raising community awareness of Arbor Street Art Fairs may be ex- U.S. foreign policy in Latin Amer- cluded from this year's eventbecause ica, is 18th on the waitlist. But their designated space is under con- LASC member Thea Lee, a Rack- struction, art fairs officials said. ham graduate student, said no group For the past 10 years, these should be excluded from the fairs. groups - many of which are politi- "They should commit themselves cal - set up booths on the corner of to finding a space that will accom- East and South University Streets, modate the 80 groups that had spaces but the University has torn up most in the past," she said. "We're just of East University north of South U. asking that they preserve the status to lay electrical duct lines for new quo." buildings. Art fairs officials have reserved But Pellerito said the interests of the part of the road not under con- local businesses are more important struction for a large performing arts than those of the non-profit groups. stage, said Peter Pellerito, the Uni- "THE ART FAIR will sur- versity's senior community relations vive without the non-profit groups officer who organizes the fairs' non- but the non-profit groups will not profit groups. survive without the art fair," he said. THE GROUPS probably will Pellerito, this year's chair of the be situated on the southeast corner of Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, North University and State Streets, added that local business influences Pellerito said. He said 50 non-profit art fairs management because the groups have confirmed booths, and fairs are a "big drawing card" for that another 37 are on a waitlist. tourism. Lit)chef The Student's Restaurant We specialize in serving traditional American breakfasts We also serve the following: " Hamburgers " Cold Sandwiches " Fallafel + Mexican Dishes " Hoagies * Humus +'Fried chicken " Babaghnooj Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 808 S. State St. 662-2028 between Hill & Packard for pick-up He said artists and store owners -"We're trying to provide the best question the non-profit group's possible space for the non-profit or- commitment, adding that some ganizations and to take care of the groups who left after one or two needs of as many of neighbors and days created empty space that other constituents as possible," he said. artists could have used. He said Sue Froelich, who coordinates artists also become upset when two out of three of the annual street groups "corral people and pressure fairs, said proportionally more non- them to look at material. profit groups will receive space this Lee, who said she has been at the year than artists. She said 200 of the art fair the last three years, disagreed, 1,000 artists who applied for booths saying groups vacated few spaces, will receive spaces. and don't have large enough staffs to leave their tables and solicit patrons. CITY COUNCILMEMBER U LOOK YOUR BEST!! Liz Brater (D-3rd Ward), a member if your hair isn't becom- of the Mayor's Art Fair Committee, * yu arintbcm said a secondspot may be found to ing to you-You should accommodate the remaining groups. be coming to us! Pellerito said finding enough DASCOLA STYLISTS open space is difficult since the ar- DA rangement of the booths must com- ', 7ii itiu ply with fire and safety standards. ~1AGARtDEN SpeciazinginSzechuan,Hunan&PekingC uisine CARRY OUT and DELIVERY DINING AND COCKTAILS Mon - Thurs 11:30 a.m. -10:00 p.m. Open 7 days Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00p.m. a week Sat. 12:00 p.m.-11:00p.m. Sun. 12:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. 3035 Washtenaw, AnnArbor 971-0970