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(03/23/93 10:00am)
Brewery owner Fritz Maytag presented a replica of an ancient Sumerian beer produced for the first time since 3,000 B.C. to over 300 people at the University Museum on Sunday. He said he reproduced the beer for fun, but also to contribute to scholarship. Maytag, a tradesman familiar with the brewing process, said that by using references in Sumerian hymns, he can identify beers better than scholars. "The articles written are ignorant of brewing," Maytag said. "Brewing texts are written by scholars who know nothing of brewing." Before the anxious audience was allowed to sample any beer, Maytag described how his small San Francisco brewery reproduced the recipe for "Ninkasi" beer by consulting an ancient Sumerian hymn. "Ninkasi" is the Sumerian goddess of brewing. In order to be true to the ancient recipe, Maytag used fermented bread and stewed dates instead of malted barley, which is a common ingredient in modern beer. Patrick McGovern, an archeochemist at the University Museum, said that ancient peoples, who were originally hunters and gatherers, may have settled on farms in order to brew beer. McGovern said his chemical analysis of Iranian drinking vessels reveal remnants of ancient beer. "Beer is the popular beverage in lower Mesopatamia," he said. The audience became active participants in the event when author and beer expert Michael Jackson delivered a tutored tasting of 12 beers. They represented chronology tracing the history of beer from ancient Sumeria to the present. Jackson said that the beers in his tasting sample produced before prohibition are much more diverse than those produced afterwards. Before prohibition, Philadelphia had over different 100 breweries. Once beer was again legalized, it became much more commercial and standardized, he said. Jackson's eager audience frequently got ahead of him in the lecture, tasting beers before he presented them. And, although the ancient Nikasi beer contains little alcohol, Drex Patton of Swarthmore gave it a positive rating anyway. "It's better than no beer at all," he said.
(03/02/93 10:00am)
Photographer and writer Mary Pat Kane discussed the meaning behind the AIDS quilt with 25 students at a slide presentation on Wednesday night. Kane said she displays her photographs of the quilts to area schools in order to convey the dramatic impact of AIDS. "I found the quilt so emotional and riveting that I put this together," Kane said. While many schools are afraid to confront their students with sexual issues, Kane said she believes the quilt serves as a useful educational tool because parents and teachers do not feel threatened by it. Now displaying more than 20,000 names of people who have died of AIDS, the quilt covers more than twelve football fields, according to Kane. There are quilts representing AIDS victims from nations around the world such as Japan, Spain and Nigeria. The AIDS quilt project began in 1987, when 1,200 quilts were displayed in panels on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Although the current number of quilts seems immense, the 20,000 names they bear represent only 13 percent of the 152,000 AIDS deaths in the United States, and two percent of AIDS related deaths worldwide, Kane said. Organizers doubt whether the quilt will ever be displayed again in its entirety because it has grown so large, Kane said. The quilt now serves as a traveling monument and donation box, surviving solely on the artistic and monetary contributions of the public. The construction of each quilt is left to the discretion of family or friends, said Kane. Some are simple collages of a person's possessions, which range from a runner's numerous t-shirts to a single teddy bear. Famous personalities such as Rock Hudson and Liberace are elaborately commemorated with eye-catching designs. Other quilts exemplify the mystery of the AIDS epidemic by including only the first name of an anonymous loved one. Corporations such as Levi Strauss Jeans and Columbia Pictures commemorated quilts to employees who were infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. While most of the quilts were compassionate towards the victims, some were quite hostile to the stigma attached to the AIDS virus. For instance, one quilt protests the "anti-HIV" stance of the U.S. Olympic Committee towards its athletes. Students attending the presentation were struck silent upon seeing a slide commemorating a mother who died of AIDS, but never met her surviving daughter. The quilt was made by the healthy child's new adoptive mother. "I don't think anyone could look at these pictures and not be moved," said College senior Brad Goldberg. "It was definitely emotional. I never have seen the quilt in person before, I've just heard about it," said College senior Jennifer Trupkin. "Now seeing the slides makes me want to see the quilt." The presentation was sponsored as part of AIDS awareness month by Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health. Sections of the AIDS quilt will be on display at Temple University between April 19 and 21.
(03/02/92 10:00am)
Highlighting the event, Ida Chen spoke to a captivated audience of about 300 people at the University City Sheraton. Chen retold the story of her struggle to be elected a judge as an Asian-American woman. As a minority, she said it is difficult for her to obtain the necessary political connections. She also said winning was especially difficult because judges in Philadelphia are not appointed, but are chosen by popular election. "Why would anyone want to be a judge in Philadelphia?" Chen said. "You have to be elected by the people -- that's when all my problems began." Chen's other accomplishments for the Asian-American community include being the first to teach law outside of Hawaii and the first to be placed on the Human Relations Commission. Chen encouraged women of color to take similar initiatives. "Don't wait for history to unfold itself," Chen said. "You should write your own history." Comparing the experiences of women of color from different heritages, commemorative remarks were made by four introductory speakers. Sandra Paquet, assistant professor of English, related her Caribbean upbringing to the black woman's experience. A mother of three and a woman of color, Paquet pointed out the difficulties in attaining legitimacy by job performance in the Caribbean. But, Paquet feels that her future is brighter after moving to the United States. "To begin again in another country is to be in love with the future," Paquet said. Ellen Somekawa, a doctoral candidate at the Greenfield Intercultural Center, then spoke about stereotypes and categorizations of Asian Americans. Ileana Garcia, a College senior, talked about Latino women at the Univeristy. Garcia said that Latino students are often categorized at the Univeristy, but they shouldn't feel pressured to conform. "You don't have to blend in," Garcia said. Cynthia Newcomer, an affirmative action officer for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, spoke about racism and her experience as a Native American woman. An awards presentation honoring faculty and students followed the speeches. More than 25 students and faculty were honored for their efforts in advancing opportunities for women of color. Ella Bower, speaking on behalf of Mayor Ed Rendell, also proclaimed March 1 to be Women of Color Day in Philadelphia. This will open up March as National Women's History month. Students attending the luncheon found it especially interesting because members from many minority women's groups were represented. Tania Caceres, an Engineering junior, said she was excited to see a Latina as an honoree. "It was very inspirational to be here because there was no Latino representation here last year," she said. Kimberly Battle, an engineering graduate student, said she found the luncheon informative. "It's my second year coming to this event," Battle said. "You get an idea of what women are doing on campus."
(02/27/92 10:00am)
Finding a job will be especially difficult for international students this summer. Speaking about new working restrictions in United States immigration law, a panel of lawyers and University advisors addressed a group of nearly 60 University students Wednesday evening in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. First summarizing the amendments to the Immigration Act of 1990, Philadelphia immigration lawyer discussed how they restrict the off-campus working options of international students. Baumann said that these students can work at on-campus jobs only for up to 20 hours per week or at "commercial entities" serving University students. Consequently, many international students will not be able to find off-campus jobs this summer, said Baumann. The new immigration law restrictions were put into effect in order to protect American jobs, but according to Baumann, international students have only a negligible effect on the U.S. economy. Dubbing the new law the "McDonald's" law, Baumann said that only those off-campus companies which have difficulty finding American applicants would likely go through the tremendous paperwork involved in hiring a foreign student. "For a highly skilled job, employers will be reluctant to fill out attestations . . . only employers like McDonalds will want to recruit," Baumann said. Pointing out loopholes in the new law, Baumann then suggested ways in which international students can still find off-campus jobs. The lawyer spoke about F-1 Curricular Practical training, a provision in the immigration law allowing international students to work off campus as an integral part of their curriculum. But Martin Muoto, former president of the International Students Association, said the University discourages internships. He added that his organization recently sent a letter to deans of the four undergraduate schools suggesting that the University offer internship courses. "They would encourage both foreign and American students to take on the challenge of working abroad," said Muoto, a College junior. These internship courses, according to Muoto, might qualify international students to apply for F-1 Curricular Practical Training. Furthermore, Baumann suggested that international students may wish to change their F-1 student visas to more permanent J-1 or H-1 visas, which might help them obtain off-campus employment more easily. Ron Klasco, a Philadelphia immigration lawyer from Dechert Price and Rhoads, followed Baumann's discussion with an extensive talk about how to obtain a permanent work permit, an H-1 Visa. Advisors from the Offices of International Programs and Career Planning and Placement then discussed the University's position on the new restrictions and offered some innovative solutions to summer job dilemmas. Mary Heiberger from CPPS suggested that international students look into unpaid internships instead of paying jobs. "We're still digesting some of the alternatives we have," said Heiberger. "Unpaid experience has the same career-building effect." Heiberger also suggested that international students might look for work at a U.S.-based company in their native countries. Students attending the lecture, many of whom were international students, found it informative. Wharton senior Chris Rodskog said he was distressed by the new legislation, but he found the lecture useful. "What they told me about the rules was sort of depressing," said Rodskog. "What they told me from a practical point of view was very helpful." College sophomore Pronab Saha said the lecture gave him some insights. "I think it was informative," said Saha. "It informed us about the loopholes and what to be aware of."
(01/23/92 10:00am)
Warning about the dangers of a bankrupt military-industrial complex, Russian physicist Boris Altshuler spoke to a group of nearly 50 University students yesterday. Altshuler, a theoretical physicist at the Lebedev Physical Institute in Moscow, served as spokesperson for former Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov when he was in exile. Showing how some of Sakharov's scientific ideas can be symbolically applied to politics, Altshuler compared black holes and the implosion of the hydrogen bomb to the decaying infrastructure of Russia. Using the metaphor of a dying beast, he said that Russia is just as dangerous as the former Soviet Union because of its unstable infrastructure. "The living rhinoceros is dangerous, but the decaying rhinoceros is not less dangerous," said Altshuler. According to Altshuler, nearly 50 percent of Russia's Gross National Product is spent on its peacetime military. The United States, by comparison, spends less than 10 percent. He added that the Russian military-industrial complex is difficult to dismantle or transform because it encompasses such a large portion of society. Altshuler warned that former Soviet scientists, who formed the core of the military complex, are now unemployed and may look to other countries for jobs. "They really can't survive in Moscow, they must go somewhere," said Altshuler. Altshuler also said that the proliferation of nuclear weapons to other countries is much more likely under the bankrupt Russian economy than it was before the collapse of the Soviet Union. "I would not be surprised if some missiles will be sold to Iran," said Altshuler. Altshuler warned that another coup is possible unless shortages are alleviated by the West. "The ship is sinking very quickly," he said. "In a couple of months everything will be destroyed." Altshuler suggested that the West sponsor scientific and commercial ventures with full control of its investment to prevent sabotage by the Russian black market. "I understand there is a recession in the United States, but science must be saved in Russia to benefit the whole world," said Altshuler. The physicist cautioned that human rights must not be ignored and that all foreign aid programs must be tied to human rights. "We must not forget the human rights," he said. "Otherwise you help totalitarian governments." Students seemed to enjoy the presentation, but said they felt Altshuler may have been overly cynical about the current situation. "I think he has a pessimistic view, but he's probably right," College senior Nishi Garg said. College senior Audrey Beeber said she was interested in Altshuler's evaluation of the difficulties facing the Russian science. "He reiterated that there is a brain drain that's really bringing down their resources," she said. Altshuler will conclude his visit to the University today when he lectures to a small group of physics students about cosmology.
(01/20/92 10:00am)
Speaking about the ideas of Andrei Sakharov and their influence on Russian politics, Russian physicist Boris Altshuler will address University students Wednesday. Altshuler, a theoretical physicist at the Lebedev Physical Institute in Moscow, was Sakharov's last protege and served as his spokesman while the dissident physicist was exiled in Gorki in the 1980s. Fired from his job as a physicist because of his support of Sakharov's anti-Communist ideas, Altshuler worked as a janitor for five years. When former president Gorbachev brought Sakharov out of exile in 1988, he also restored Altshuler as a physicist at the Lebedev Institute. According to University Physics Professor Sidney Bludman, who suggested that Altshuler speak at the University, the Russian professor will speak about how Sakharov's ideas contributed to liberalization in Russia. Referring symbolically to the Soviet military-industrial complex in an abstract of his lecture, Altshuler warned that the former Soviet Union is still dangerous. "A decaying rhinoceros is not less dangerous than the living one," wrote Altshuler. Altshuler will give a speech that is open to the public at 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Logan Hall 17. He will also speak to a smaller group of physics students about cosmology Thursday at 12 p.m. at the David Rittenhouse Laboratory room 2N36. Altshuler's wife, Lorissa Miller, will read original poetry to Soviet Studies professor Elliott Mossman's International Studies 602 class Wednesday morning at 10:30. as a guest of the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies. According to Professor Bludman, Miller's poetry presents literary ideas, covering issues of human rights, the suffering of minorities, glasnost, and democracy.
(11/15/91 10:00am)
It will be a long journey to class today for students in American Civilization 280. They're meeting on Capitol Hill. Am Civ Lecturer Frank Luntz and about 50 students from his Campaigns, Consultants and Candidates class will travel to the nation's capitol for a packed schedule of debates and discussions with political experts and politicians. Luntz said that he wants his course on political campaigns to go beyond classroom theory and delve into real politics. "You can learn only so much about politics from a classroom," he said. "I want my students to come face to face with real politicos making real decisions and to try to think critically, not just to make assumptions about politics." The class is scheduled to leave Philadelphia early this morning and arrive at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill at 9:30 a.m., where they will hear a lecture on "The Political Legacy of Vietnam and the Iraqi War" from Adrienne Cronauer, the disc jockey the movie Good Morning Vietnam was based on. The students will then participate in a panel discussion entitled "Who's really running the show?" Panelists include Bob Schieffer of CBS News, Cokie Roberts of ABC News, Walter Mondale's 1984 Campaign Manager Bob Beckel, and Pat Caddell, who served on the inner circle of the presidential campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Gary Hart, Joseph Biden, and is currently running Jerry Brown's campaign. The panel discussion, in which students will ask questions of the experts, is expected to be broadcast on the C-SPAN cable network. ABC anchorman Sam Donaldson will then give a speech to the class entitled "Get Yelled At!" from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The afternoon will include a talk by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) on how he won his Senate seat by 1000 votes, and Harrison Hickman, the chief campaign strategist for presidential candidate Sen. Bob Kerry (D-Neb.), who will discuss the 1992 presidential campaign. After meeting with Hickman, the class will meet with two "surprise guests." Luntz said that C-SPAN may cover the entire day's events on a live broadcast starting at 10 a.m. Even if the events are not shown live, highlights would then be shown tonight and throughout the weekend on the cable network. Luntz's students said they are anxiously anticipating the trip and are grateful to have such a special opportunity. "I'm pretty psyched in general," said College sophomore David Seidman. "We're learning from the cream of the crop . . . the names speak for themselves." "Professor Luntz sets the standard for excellence for the study of political science," said College sophomore Jamie Daves. "We're learning from a practitioner, not an observer." Attendance for class members is not mandatory, and Luntz said he is allowing classmates to bring a guest for $15 to cover the cost of students who cannot otherwise go. Luntz added that the student's agenda may extend into the evening, but he said the evening activities are "off the record."
(10/18/91 9:00am)
Published last year in New Yorker magazine, the story traces the life of Chrissy and how she developed a relationship with a man named Jazz. Her life story is revealed in a series of weekly discussion groups in rural Kentucky. "I met Jazz a year ago, in a traffic court," Mason read. "We'd both been in minor fender benders on the same road on the same day, at different times. We'd both failed to yield." Mason is most famous for her 1985 novel In Country, which tells the story of a young girl's struggle to understand the Vietnam War. The book was made into a movie in 1989 starring Bruce Willis and Emily Lloyd. Following the reading, Mason fielded questions from the audience about her writing career. Mason said she has written since childhood, but did not begin to write "seriously" until she was out of college. She said she had no formal study in writing aside from two undergraduate writing classes. "I read a lot," Mason said. Mason also said she was influenced in college by such writers as J.D. Salinger, Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. She added she was also influenced by modern writers such as Joan Dideon and Tom Wolfe. Mason then provided tips for aspiring writers in the audience. "The act of writing fiction is an act of discovering what it's all about," Mason said. "The writing is up to you. You do it the way you want it." Mason also explained how she got the idea to write In Country. "I didn't lose anyone in Vietnam," Mason said. "Having lived through the turmoil of the 60's, the story was personal, but not autobiographical." Students at the reading said they found it enjoyable. "I was excited she was coming," College sophomore Pam Grebow said. "I had written a paper on her in high school and I was glad to be able to hear her in person." "I thought one of the most interesting things about her writing was the truth in it," said Jorie Green, a Philadelphia high school student.
(10/07/91 9:00am)
Comparing the practices of Christianity around the world, theologian Rosemary Ruether presented a history of third-world Christian theology and its effects on women in an hour-long speech at the Christian Association Wednesday. In the lecture, entitled "Liberating the Future: A Cross-Cultural Feminist Perspective," Ruether cited several examples of how, in the past, women have been oppressed by the practice of Christianity in their societies. Ruether, who is a theologian at the Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, said that despite the great differences of geography between Third World countries, they all share similar problems from "neo-colonial exploitation." Ruether added that the exploitation of women crosses class lines and has been duplicated around the world by the spread of Christianity. Ruether said that often the thought of indigenous religions of the third world countries were combined with Christianity to reinforce oppression. "Two layers of justification, cultural and religious, were used to justify the oppression," she said. Ruether explained that third-world women are now going back to the Bible and reinterpreting the roles of women. "Now Christian feminists are reclaiming the liberating traditions of the Bible," she said. Those who attended the lecture said that they found it very interesting. "Her lecture was very affirming of the women's experience" said Ann Best, a student at the Lutheran Seminary at Mt. Airy. Wharton sophomore Christina Berwanger, undergraduate representative to the Christian Association's Board of Directors, said she found the lecture very enjoyable. "I really enjoyed Rosemary's lecture because it really enlightened me on women's issues in the third world," she said. Ruether's presentation is part of the lecture series "Liberating the Future," honoring the 100th anniversary of the University's Christian Association.
