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(02/28/92 10:00am)
Labor leader Cesar Chavez, who has been active in the struggle for farm workers' rights since the early 1960s, told a University audience yesterday that "the struggle moves on," but warned that "we have moved backwards." Previous reforms and legislation protecting farm workers have not been enforced, and instead have been eroded by politicians concerned only with corporate welfare and not with human welfare, Chavez explained. Chavez -- who came to campus yesterday for a four-hour visit sponsored by 28 organizations including Movimento Estudiantil Chicano De Aztlan and Connaissance -- spoke to more than 100 people in the University Museum auditorium about the continuing problems facing farm workers in America. The founder and president of the United Farm Workers of America urged the audience to join in his fight to ban deadly pesticides and improve conditions for farm workers. Each year, thousands of farm workers and their children contract cancer because of repeated exposure to the pesticides used to harvest grapes, Chavez said. "Pesticides are, by nature, poisonous; there are no safe pesticides," Chavez said. An imposing speaker, Chavez pounded on the podium several times during his speech to emphasize his points. Chavez was born in Arizona in 1927 and began working as migrant farm worker at age ten. Although he has endured three hunger strikes in his lifetime, the activist looked much younger than his 64 years and seemed to have the energy typically associated with college-age activists. Chavez gave a graphic description of working conditions for farm workers in the southwest, saying they are deprived of water and are not allowed to take breaks during their strenuous work days, even to use the bathroom. Migrant farm working women are often hired only after promising sexual favors to their employers in return, he said. "They force women to make a decision between their dignity and their livelihood," Chavez said. And although Chavez's topic was weighty, he peppered his forty-five minute speech with humorous anecdotes which left the audience laughing. "We're told pesticides are not really harmful," he said. "It scrapes the paint off cars, but it's not really harmful." Chavez said he uses humor when speaking about serious issues because it draws people into the cause instead of alienating them. Chavez said change will eventually come about. "[Public action] is not charity," Chavez said, asking those in attendance to join his struggle. "It's doing good work for social justice." Chavez, who recently spoke at several other Ivy League schools, is on a four-state tour and will later continue on to Mexico and Canada. Elizabeth Cedillo, vice-president of MEChA, said she was pleased with the large turnout. "To see so many people from a diverse background co-sponsor and attend [the speech] gives me faith in the community of the University of Pennsylvania
(04/23/91 9:00am)
For the past two years, "diversity" has been the catchphrase for incoming freshman classes during their Diversity Education Program on Labor Day. But next year, the Class of 1995 will also learn about "pluralism" -- a move which organizers say incorporates a broader definition of student interaction. "Diversity is the mere presence of other groups," said Bob Schoenberg, assistant director of Student Life Programs. "Pluralism is a pro-acting, working together of different groups." From that definition, organizers of this fall's awareness programs are altering the content of the controversial program to encourage more interaction between students from different backgrounds. The focus on pluralism is based on the Faust Report, a study of student life released last November, which defines a plural community as a society where individuals from different cultural backgrounds "maintain their separate identities, yet come together in a community enriched by both its members' differences and their similarities." Student Life Program Director Terri White said last week that the move is a natural progression beyond the current program. And although the focus is shifting toward pluralism, the directors are not certain how this shift will alter the program. "We are at the very beginning of the planning process," Schoenberg said. He added that the task force for the planning of the day has not formulated any specific plans about the program. "We're not intending to bring the groups together during the day," Schoenberg said. "It's an educational day." Many of the changes stem from the results of the questionnaire distributed to students at the end of the day-long program and released in a report last week. The questionnaire covered five aspects of the day -- general impressions, content and flow of the day, overall evaluation and demographics. And the survey showed that while 12 percent said they felt the program was not useful, 84 percent said the program was interesting. "The responses are very positive," Schoenberg said. The majority of complaints about the program were generated from the opening session which involved a keynote address by novelist Maya Angelou and speeches by President Sheldon Hackney, Provost Michael Aiken, Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson and Black Student League President Buzz Thomas. In the surveys, students said the speeches, except for the keynote, were repetitive and too similar to the speeches heard the night before at convocation. And while most of the results differed only slightly over the two years, a higher percentage said they found it more difficult to meet people in the workshop -- 14 percent as compared to six percent -- and fewer students felt comfortable talking to people during the workshop -- 89 percent compared to 95 percent. White said more students indicated that they would be willing to participate in similar programs throughout the year. "We are going to provide students with suggestions of follow-up programs they can do on their own," White added. And while both Schoenberg and White said the word "diverse" is sometimes overused, they said they are encouraged by the program results. "[Diversity is] talked to death," White said. "But I see students talking among themselves and wrestling with these issues." "Sure people may wince when they hear the word 'diversity,' but are they running from the word or the concept behind the word?" Schoenberg added. Schoenberg encouraged students to volunteer as facilitators for the September program adding that all interested students should call him at 898-5044.
(04/18/91 9:00am)
According to UMC Vice-chairperson John Shu, the decision to dismiss the PPA last Wednesday was based on the group's absence from at least four consecutive meetings. Those absences violated part of the newly-ratified UMC constitution, which states that groups which miss more than two consecutive meetings without an adequate excuse are subject to Council review. UMC Chairperson Nalini Samuel said the PPA had missed over four meetings in a row and was not participating adequately in the UMC. She also added that PPA's lack of participation was not fair to other UMC groups which attend all of the meetings. The College senior said she repeatedly tried to contact the president of the PPA and informed members about the UMC meetings, but they did not come. Samuel stressed that the UMC is still united and that the PPA could apply for readmission in the fall. "This is a message to all groups to stress the importance of UMC membership," Samuel said PPA President Rebecca De Villa did not return repeated phone calls to her room over the past two days. PPA Vice President David Alas said he doesn't feel animosity toward the UMC. "I can't blame the UMC for the actions they took," Alas said. "We weren't living up to our responsibilities." He said the PPA has been reorganizing due to internal problems and has not had enough time to commit to the UMC. "I would like to see in the future that we rectify the situation, but it's not a priority," Alas said. He said the benefits of being a member of the UMC were not essential to the PPA because they are more of a support group for Philippine students than a political group. "We can't help but feel that we let them down," Alas said. Alas said the group has been having internal problems between Philippine natives and Philippine Americans and has been attempting to solve them this year. The Engineering senior added that the schism between two sects of the PPA must be filled before they can become a unified organization, adding that the upcoming board would affect the direction of the group. Shu said the decision was not easily reached. "It involved very long and deliberate debating," Shu said. "We followed the rules of our constitution." The PPA did not attend the meeting when the vote on their status was taken, Samuel said. She informed them by letter of the Council's decision. Samuel said the UMC would make every effort to contact the new board in the fall, but Alas said he does not anticipate the PPA applying for readmission until the spring.
(04/12/91 9:00am)
Who says there is no culture in college? Not the United Minorities Council. And this weekend, they plan to prove it. Just a week before Spring Fling, the UMC is presenting a Celebration of Culture from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow on Superblock to promote awareness of the many cultures which are represented in the University community. According to College sophomore Shailesh Rao, one of the volunteers for the event, the celebration was created to help people learn how other cultures represent themselves. "It will promote a better understanding of cultural differences," Rao said. Nine University groups will participate in the event, which organizers said will be held rain or shine. Participating groups include the Black Student League, Caribbean American Students Association, Chinese Students Association, the South Asian Society and several others. The Student Activities Council, along with the UMC, is funding the day-long event. Organizers said they expect Superblock to be full of people listening to a Reggae band or the African Women Sekere Dance Ensemble or other musical groups. During the day-long festival, students will be able to choose between such varying fare as a Chinese Lion Dance and a South Asian Fashion Show. And of course, students will be able to sample foods from many of the ethnic groups, prepared by authentic cooks. Rao said restaurants from the area, including Indian Palace, will have stands on Superblock. Rao said this is the UMC's first Celebration of Culture. The group planned one last year but it was cancelled due to rain. Korean Cultural Society external vice president Greg Shin said the groups have been planning the event for at least five months. The Wharton junior said a large tent will be set up in case of rain so the celebration can continue. Shin said he hopes the event will promote diversity on campus. "As far as I know, every UMC group is participating," Shin said. "It's an event that will show off the unique aspects of various cultures on campus." Shin said tables for each cultural group will surround a stage in the center of Superblock. Each group will have approximately 45 minutes to give a presentation. "It's going to be a fully-packed schedule," Shin said. College senior and UMC Chair Nalini Samuel said the event is a mini-Spring Fling with culture. "It's great because it's the first time minority groups have worked together to show the University community what we're all about," Samuel said, adding that she hopes the celebration becomes an annual event.
(04/11/91 9:00am)
In an overgrown, grassy plot with a partially gutted building at 31st and Spring Garden streets, over 50 adults and 65 children attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a new children's day care center yesterday morning. The kindergarten and pre-kindergarten children, wearing bright yellow hard hats and wielding plastic shovels, attempted to hollow a foundation for The Caring Center -- a new non-profit day care center which should begin operation next year. The children, many of whom belong to members of the University community, are currently attending the ISI Caring Center at 35th and Filbert streets. Last May, the center's owners, the Institute for Scientific Information, decided to permanently close the nine-year-old center, according to Marguerite Miller, associate editor of Almanac. Parents, who praise the center's staff and program, formed an organization to save the center. Miller, who has a two-year-old child in the center, said the high quality of child-care at the center could not be sacrificed. The University agreed to guarantee the loans for the construction of the center. "This was not just a converted church basement," Miller said of the ISI building which was constructed to be a day care center. "[The closing] was something we just couldn't see happening." The ceremony began with the children trooping off a school bus while waving signs which said "Don't bottle up our day care money." Some quietly sat on the grass while others quickly tested out their new shovels by digging up the nearest plot of ground. Ruth Drye, president of The Caring Center and general manager of Le Bus restaurant, said parents and administrators are hoping to negotiate to keep the the ISI location open until The Caring Center is ready for occupancy, which they hope will be by November. However, they are also looking to alternate locations if ISI closes the center before The Caring Center is opened. And although the University has guaranteed the loans and co-signed with the center, Drye said they are prepared to meet their financial responsibilities. "We have a very strong business plan," she said. "We will be paying our way." Before the official digging began yesterday, the children sang their rendition of "Heigh Ho" from the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. "Heigh ho. Heigh ho. It's off to work we go. We dig, dig, dig, all day long. Heigh ho. Heigh ho," the children chorused. And while the children enjoyed being in the sunshine and playing with their shovels, their minds were far from the speeches and the new center. Their minds were on the refreshments -- apple juice, cake and cookies. When asked what she thought about the event, three year-old Ilana Millner, whose mother is founding director of ISI Caring Center, said, "I'm still hungry." Other children similarly declined to comment. "I don't wanna talk," said Danny Coleman, a student at The Caring Center for all but two months of his two years. "Why are they talking about my Caring Center?" he inquired. The new center will accomodate 145 children from ages six weeks to six years. The 14,000 square foot building will be two stories high and also contain an outdoor play area. Happy Fernandez, director of the Childcare and Family Policy Institute at Temple University, and Ralph Smith, executive director of Philadelphia Children's Network and a University professor, also spoke at the ceremony. Smith said his son thoroughly enjoyed going to the center. "They were probably the best two years of his life," Smith said. Media resident Jane Coleman, whose son Danny attends the center, said her children enjoy the center. "I think it's the staff -- they make it an excellent [center]," Coleman said. "My kids have always wanted to go."
(04/10/91 9:00am)
Meeting students at the University is easy. But matching their names to their faces is often next to impossible -- especially if the student is an upperclassman and not in the Freshman Record. But starting next semester, this could be less of a problem. In an effort to raise college scholarship money for high school students in the West Philadelphia area, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is publishing a new facebook which will include sophomores, juniors and seniors. College senior Geoffrey Cousins, editor of the book, said he borrowed the idea for Faces in the Crowd from a friend at Dartmouth College who also published a facebook of the same name. The book is different from the freshman facebook because it lists only upperclassmen. "It's not like a competition," Cousins said. "No freshmen will be in our book." A student's home address, academic major, birthday and Greek affiliation will be listed under his or her photograph. Students will also be listed by their first names in a separate section of the black and white, paperback book. And although a campus mailer said a student's freshman picture would be used if students did not submit a new picture, Cousins said he hasn't confirmed this with the publishers of the Freshman Record. Albert Moore, the assistant director of student activities and editor of the Freshman Record, said Faces could not use the actual pictures used in the Record. "I would be the only person who would have the pictures," Moore said. "And we don't keep the pictures." As of yet, Cousins said he doesn't know what will be put in the picture space if no photograph is available. In the past, Brown University has printed a picture of a teddy bear in the spaces while Dartmouth has left the space blank. Cousins said they will obtain the necessary information from the Office of the Registrar and other University records through the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. "I'm almost positive we'll get [the information] from the Registrar," Cousins said, adding that the group might not list a student's birthdate if people complain. Janet Ansert, the assistant registrar for biographical database and academic records, said the only information given to Alpha Phi Alpha was the information on mailing labels -- a student's name and local address. Ansert added that Tricia Phaup, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, gave the group permission to use the mailing labels but did not release a student's Greek affiliation or birthdate. Cousins said the amount of money raised depends on the number of books bought and the amount of advertisements sold. He said that three-fourths of the students at Dartmouth bought the book. "It seems like it's going well," Cousins said. "Everyday I go to my mailbox and it's full of letters and orders." The last day to order the $10 book is April 26.
(04/04/91 10:00am)
Students can make a difference. At least that's what members of the Students for Asian Affairs, a two-year-old club for Asian students, said they have learned. And after one year, the students are finally achieving one of their goals -- a course that will examine Asian Americans' influence in American history. Starting in the fall semester, all students will be able to enroll in American Civilization 222 -- Asians in America: History, Culture and Contemporary Issues, taught by Jean Wu, who currently serves as dean and director of the division of general studies at Bryn Mawr College. College junior and SAA chairperson Phan Lam said Wu is highly respected and an expert in the Asian American field. Wu, who is currently teaching at Bryn Mawr, earned her doctorate and master degrees from Harvard University and has taught at Harvard and Brown universities. "There were definitely other candidates on the list," Lam said. "But we were very lucky to get her." Wu spoke to members of SAA at their meeting on Tuesday night and said the students would take an active role in the class because they are part of the history of Asians in the U.S. "It's a totally evolving, new field," Wu said as she perched on the edge of a chair in Ashurst lounge. "You are making an ethnic identity." Wu also stressed the importance of realizing that the course is about Asians whose lives have been shaped by living in America. "It's very different from the dominant experience, but it's part of the American experience," Wu added. Wu said the class would use one main text -- Ronald Takaki's Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. She said the book would be supplemented with copies of articles and fictional books. "Fiction provides a learning about the human condition," Wu said. "It touches a different part of us." The American Civilizations department worked with members of SAA to implement the course. Lam said when SAA went to the Am Civ department to propose the course, the department was already planning a similar course. "American Civilization was very receptive," Lam said. "They did most of the work." Melvyn Hammarberg, undergraduate chair for the Am Civ Department, said they have been planning courses about the history of Asians, Native American, blacks and Latinos in the U.S. "It's part of a whole series of courses we would like to see developed in the department," Hammarberg said yesterday. But he added that proposed budget cuts may delay the formation of other courses. Hammarberg said the course should appeal to a wide spectrum of people and anticipates a positive response to the class. "We're going to do everything in our power to continue the course," Hammarberg said.
(03/28/91 10:00am)
Author and AIDS activist Larry Kramer told a crowd of 200 last night the United States government is responsible for the genocide of millions of people because it has not taken a strong stance against AIDS. Kramer, the keynote speaker for Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days, spoke before a packed seminar room in the David Rittenhouse Laboratories last night for over an hour. The event was one of the highlights of BGLAD. The day also featured a rally in College Green and Jeans Day, in which students, faculty and staff were asked to wear jeans in support of bisexuals, gays, and lesbians. Kramer, who wrote the books Reports From the Holocaust and Faggots and is co-founder of ACT--UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, began his speech with a list of facts which left the audience silent. He said one person dies in an AIDS-related death every eight minutes, over six million people are HIV infected and, by the year 2000, over 20 million people will be infected worldwide. The 55-year-old Yale University graduate, who has tested HIV positive, said he feels younger than his years even though he may look old. "Hope is the only thing that keeps us alive," Kramer said. "I still have hope." Throughout his speech, which was peppered with biting comments about political leaders, Kramer blasted the government for its discrimination against AIDS victims and its poor leadership decisions. "AIDS. . . is a metaphor for hate -- the hatred of the reigning class for the minorities," Kramer said. "Minorities are the expendable ones, the ones who can be left to die." Kramer said the government is responsible for all AIDS-related deaths because it has not formed an organization to deal with the crisis. He also added that the leaders appointed by the government, which he called conservative and right-wing, have not acknowledged the crisis. Kramer related how one of the doctors in charge of AIDS research was described to him. "[I was told if] Dr. Windom's IQ was any lower, you'd have to water him," Kramer said. "We laugh, but he was in charge of our lives." Kramer said the only solution to the crisis would be an all-out effort by the President, the United States government and governments throughout the world to unite to find a cure. "Twenty-million people are going to die," Kramer said. "Will you be as silent as your President? Are you going to be an accomplice to this holocaust?" Kramer, who ended his speech with a plea for the audience to join in his fight, recieved a standing ovation from the audience. Helen Kolenda, a Philadelphia resident and a member of ACT--UP, said Kramer's speech pushes people toward activism. "His whole experience is enough to make anyone angry," Kolenda said. "He's very bitter and with good cause."
(03/27/91 10:00am)
On any given day, hundreds of students roll out of bed five minutes before class, toss on their worn, torn, button-fly Levi's they wore the night before and think nothing of it. Today, however, these same students will be challenged to think about the message they are sending out by wearing their denim. And that's exactly what organizers of BGLAD -- Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian Awareness Days -- are hoping for. Today is Jeans Day -- an annual event where students, faculty and staff are asked to don jeans in support of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community. But the message behind Jeans Day goes beyond just support, organizers say. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance member Sloan Wiesen said Jeans Day can be interpreted many different ways. Wiesen said jeans are the apparel of choice because they are a normal, everyday part of life for many Americans. He said that by focusing on jeans, people are forced to think about something that they feel is normal and natural. It will give people a taste of what feels like to worry about public presentation, Wiesen said this week. "Lesbian, gay and bisexuals have to choose every day whether to be visual," the College junior said. He also said that Jeans Day brings issues facing the lesbian, gay and bisexual community into classrooms and dormitories. "It gets people thinking about the issues," Wiesen said. "Hopefully, it might get straight people to start to think about what it would be like if they had to think about [the same issues lesbians, gays and bisexuals have to think about]." Jeans Day turns the tables on heterosexuals by making them think about what it would be like if they had to worry about how the public would react if they held hands with their girlfriend or boyfriend, Wiesen added. "It makes people think about what would happen if that which is normal to them was seen as abnormal to someone else," he added. Jeans Day, which became a regular event across the nation in the 1970s, has been protested on campus in the past. One year members of a fraternity protested the day by declaring it "Heterosexual Footwear Day." "I think it's happened almost every year," Wiesen said. "But more recently, fewer have done it." In addition to Jeans Day, today is also the centerpiece day of BGLAD. A rally for homosexual rights is scheduled for 1 p.m. on College Green. Engineering senior and BGLAD Scheduling and Events Chairperson Sheryl Rose said Rita Addessa, director of the Philadelphia Lesbian Gay Task Force, will speak at the rally. Rose added that members of the University community will also speak. The keynote address, featuring playwrite and novelist Larry Kramer, will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. in room A-1 of David Rittenhouse Laboratory. Kramer is founder of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, or ACT--UP, and Co-Founder of Gay Men's Health Crisis.
(03/25/91 10:00am)
In a sparsely attended poetry reading on Friday, black and lesbian poet Julie Blackwomon read stories and poems about lesbianism from her book Voyages Out II. Only 10 University members attended the hour-long reading at Stiteler Hall, which was part of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian Awareness Days. Audience members laughed as Blackwomon read a humorous short story about a woman who gave up other women for Jesus soon after accepting her sexual orientation. "Was I upset?" the lover asked. "You're damn right I was upset." The lover in the story sarcastically adds that Jesus was into sadomasochism and bisexuality because he is nailed to a cross and is always with other men. In another poem, the "Emancipation of Fanny Gordon," a woman denies her sexual orientation until she is 62 years old. During her lifetime, she marries and has children -- always denying her feelings for other women. "I find that poem rather sad," Blackwomon said after reading the poem. In her poem "Love Poem For Survivors of Ongoing Child Abuse," Blackwomon said recovery is a continuing process. "Sister, you are not alone, you are not guilty, it is not your fault," Blackwomon read. Blackwomon then read exerpts from "Ophelia," a short story about a white woman, who insists that her inner self was black, and her black lover. The story traces the development of the two from the time they meet to the time they form a relationship. After the reading, Blackwomon autographed copies of her book and answered questions from the audience. College junior Doreva Belfiore, treasurer of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance, said the low turnout could be attributed to lack of publicity. But she added that she was still pleased. "We wanted to feature a local gay or lesbian writer," she said. Belfiore also said she enjoyed Blackwomon's short stories -- especially about the conflicts between black and white lesbians. "She treats it in a humorous way but brings out the issue and confronts us with it," Belfiore said.
(03/21/91 10:00am)
Laughter and tears were intertwined as friends and faculty members held a memorial service for Diane Hunter, who was acting head of the Freshman English program and a doctoral candidate at the University. Hunter died suddenly last week at Bryn Mawr Hospital, just five weeks after learning she had cancer. Over 150 people packed Rosenwald Gallery in Van Pelt Library last night, each with their own remembrance and anecdote of the teacher, colleague and friend they knew. Colleagues fondly recalled Hunter's meticulous work, students remembered her energetic lectures and friends memorialized her caring attitude and her infectious laugh. Penelope Laurans, an associate dean at Yale University, knew Hunter when Hunter taught at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr. She said she admired the English teacher, describing her as young, attractive, engaged to be married and involved in her work. Laurans recounted the way she used to spy on Hunter as she walked the grounds of the Baldwin School with her fiance, Peter Hunter. She remembered Hunter as a caring teacher who involved herself with all of her students. "You all believe you had a special relationship with her," Laurans said. "You all did." David Anderson, an English graduate student, recalled meeting Hunter, his first acquaintance on campus. She soon became a surrogate mother and a caring friend who changed those she worked with. "Diane Hunter changed people's lives . . . one student at a time, one person at a time," Anderson said. Hunter's daughter, Katherine, vividly described her mother's dedication to teaching even in the face of her own tragedy. During her mother's five-week battle with cancer, Katherine said her mother continued to grade papers until the day before she died, and encouraged her students to continue their academic pursuit. "She was the best mother and wife our family could have had," Katherine Hunter said. "She loved with a fierce, deep loyalty." Other members of the English department said Hunter was an excellent teacher, a knowledgeable student and a kind friend. After the hour-long remembrance, which ended in a standing ovation for Hunter's life and achievements, University students and teachers clustered around each other -- hugging each other, remembering their friend and expressing their shock over her sudden death. The English department is starting a Diane Hunter fund in her memory. John Richetti, chairperson of the English department, said the annual award would be given to the best student dissertation.
(03/21/91 10:00am)
The name may have changed but BGLAD -- Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days -- will once again attempt to raise awareness and acceptance of homosexuals in the University community for the next several days. The events -- sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance, along with other University organizations -- will include dances, discussions and movies beginning today. And although events run all week, Engineering senior Sheryl Rose said next Wednesday is the focal day because it includes the keynote address, a rally and is "Jeans Day". BGLAD Scheduling and Events Chairperson Rose said the rally, which will begin at 1 p.m. on College Green, will give gays, lesbians and bisexuals a chance to vocally assert their sexual orientation. "The rally is a visual show of support of what we're trying to do," Rose said. College senior Amy Sonstein, an LGBA member, said the rally attracts attention and makes people aware of the homosexual community on campus. "I hope people will realize that it is OK to speak out about [homosexuality]," Sonstein said yesterday. The keynote address on Wednesday, featuring Larry Kramer, will begin at 7:30 p.m. room A-1 of David Rittenhouse Laboratory. Kramer, who wrote Faggots and Reports from the Holocaust, is founder of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, or ACT-UP, and Co-Founder of Gay-Men's Health Crisis. Kramer's speech, which is titled "AIDS, The War is Lost," will detail how the AIDS epidemic is a crisis, Rose said. The same day, all students will be asked to wear jeans to show their support for lesbian, gay and bisexual rights. Rose said the Awareness Days are important because they stimulate discussion on campus. "There's a silence on campus about lesbian, gay and bisexual causes," Rose said. "BGLAD gets people talking about it." And although Rose said it is inevitable that some University members will protest against Awareness Days, she said that most community members are supportive of the events. "We've found that the vast majority are supportive," Rose said, adding that the dissent is sometimes helpful because it proves that homophobic people do exist. She also said the days have three stated goals: to foster a supportive homosexual community, to combat homophobia, and to make the homosexual community less foreign to the heterosexual community. "Until we're visible, it's difficult to overcome the prejudices and the general fear of homosexuality," Rose said. Other events of the week include: · Julie Blackwomon, a renowned lesbian poet, will read poetry from her book Voyages Out II and Other Works on Friday, March 22 in Stiteler B-21 at 5 p.m. · Beverly Dale, executive director of the Christian Association, will lead a discussion entitled "From Homophobia to Acceptance: My Story" on Sunday, March 24 in room 305 of Houston Hall at 8 p.m. · Tuesday, March 26 is Women's Night. Ivy Young, a lobbyist in the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, will speak about family rights.
(03/20/91 10:00am)
A member of the rap group Public Enemy and the group's public relations manager will visit campus today to speak about problems facing the black community. Chuck D. and Harry Allen, of the unconventional and controversial group, will cover the topics of unemployment, homelessness, poor health care and education in a speech entitled "Rappers Against Racism" at 4 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium. The rap group has attracted nationwide attention and controversy since the release of its first album, "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," by taking an often militant stance in addressing racism and other social issues. The group has been accused of being anti-Semitic, racist and violent in its call for black empowerment, but has also spoken out against racism and drugs in subsequent albums, entitled "Welcome to the Terrordome" and "Fear of a Black Planet." Among the group's chief supporters is filmmaker Spike Lee, who used its music in the film "Do the Right Thing." Chuck D. is the group's "Lyrical Terrorist" or lead performer. Allen, known as the "Media Assassin," writes some of the group's material. Although Public Enemy's message may offend some listeners, members of the Black Student League said they booked the group because its message should be heard and they expect it to attract a crowd. "Public Enemy is one of the first rap groups whose rap dealt with the problems in the black community," said BSL president and College junior Jessica Dixon. Sponsored by the BSL, Connaissance and five other University groups, the organizers said they expect to attract a large crowd, not only from the University but also from local high schools. "Hopefully we'll get some of the younger people out to hear what they have to say," Dixon said. Dixon said the BSL scheduled the event for 4 p.m. so high school students could come to the event without fear of travelling home in the dark. She also said there would be fewer problems if the event is held in the early evening. Wharton sophomore Martin Dias, the corresponding secretary of BSL, said the rappers are unpredictable. "You can't always be sure of what [Chuck D.] is going to say," Dias said. "He speaks about the negative aspects of drugs and gangs and the effect on the community." Dias said he hopes people of other races will attend the speech even if they disagree with Public Enemy's message. "He tries to deal with social issues across the board," Dias said. "It's not just a black thing, it's an American thing." The speech is open to the public, including members of the local community not affiliated with the University.
(03/19/91 10:00am)
Diane Hunter, the acting director of the Freshman English program died of cancer Wednesday. Hunter, who was diagnosed with cancer on February 15, died at Bryn Mawr Hospital one day after being admitted. Several administrators said they knew she had cancer but did not expect her illness to progress so quickly. Administrators, teachers and students said they were all shocked by her sudden death and said they will miss her energy and enthusiasm for teaching. They all said the 54-year-old doctoral candidate earned their respect in her four-and-a-half years at the University. Hunter left an administrative position at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr in 1986 to pursue her doctorate at the University in 18th and early 19th century English literature. In 1990, Hunter became the director of Freshman English when David Espey took a one-year leave of absence as a Fulbright fellow. College senior Jennifer Applegate took Hunter's freshman seminar class four years ago. She described Hunter as an energetic teacher who spent the class either perched on the edge of her desk swinging her legs or pacing the room. "She inspired her students," Applegate said. "She was very fair and she was lots of fun." Peter Schurman was also in the freshman seminar class. The College senior said Hunter was a caring teacher who established a rapport with her students. He said Hunter was different because she shared her life with her students and opened up to them, even inviting her students to her house for an end of the semester party. "I don't think the English Department will have an easy time replacing her," Schurman said. English professor Paul Korshin, Hunter's dissertation instructor, said Hunter's position was unique because she was older than most doctoral candidates. He said her teaching and administrative experience enabled her to be one of the best Freshman English directors the department has had in the past 20 years. "Everybody loved her completely," Korshin said. "She knew almost as much as her professors did and that made her very unusual." English Professor David Delaura, who knew Hunter for almost four years, said she brought maturity, experience and freshness to the English department. "For someone who entered our program only three or four years ago, she made an impact on all of us," Delaura said. "Being around her made me feel fortunate to be her teacher, her colleague and her friend." Alice Kelley, the undergraduate chair of the English Department, said that although she did not know Hunter well, she was an extraordinary person who handled her job with ease. Kelley said Hunter cared for each of her students in a very special way. "I'll miss her," Kelley said. "She was somebody I was hoping to get to know well." Hunter, who was born in West Virginia, graduated in 1958 from Wellesley College. After only one year of teaching, she won one of the four or five awards the School of Arts and Sciences gives each year to teaching fellows. Hunter is survived by her husband, Peter, a daughter and two sons. The English Department will have a memorial service for Hunter at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Special Collections department on the sixth floor of Van Pelt Library.
(03/04/91 10:00am)
The second annual Souls of DuBois conference brought over 100 people together to celebrate black identity in the W.E.B. DuBois College House Saturday. The theme of the conference, "Examining Our Identity: A Day of Introspection," permeated all aspects of the day-long event with seminars, exhibits and concerts all examining blacks and their identity. Associate Social Work Professor Howard Arnold made the keynote address, tracing the history of the college house and black presence at the University. Arnold, who served as faculty master of the DuBois house from 1974 to 1977 and also in 1980, called for an increase in minority faculty, retention rates of black students and courses offered in the Afro-American studies department during his half-hour speech. But he emphasized that progress can only happen when students unite to promote change and encouraged students to unite to change the University. "Change takes place with struggle," Arnold said as he explained the steps which brought about the formation of the DuBois House. He said students joined together and formulated many of the programs which exist today. "You really need a vision and collective action," Arnold said. Arnold also encouraged the students to become role models for elementary and high school students in the West Philadelphia. "I think that there are young people in the West Philadelphia schools that have some problems we need to face," Arnold said. Arnold was just one of several faculty members who participated in the conference. After a continental breakfast, the conference members attended one of the three seminars which focused on concerns of W.E.B. DuBois. English Professors Sandra Paquet, Houston Baker and Herman Beavers led discussions about families and their identity, race, class and education in the 1990s. Baker, the director for Center for the Study of Black Literature and Culture at the University, led one seminar discussing the American educational system. He said the U.S. should consider itself a third world country because American demographics show that only a few people posess most of the country's wealth while the majority of the citizens are poor. Baker emphasized, though, that people should be taught about different cultures instead of being indoctrinated with ideas. "It begins with a recognition of the incredible diversity that characterizes our shores," Baker said. DuBois Faculty Master Risa Lavizzo-Mourey said she was pleased with the event, sponsored by the college house and the Afro-American Studies Program, and said she was encouraged with the interaction spurred by the seminars. "What's more important than the number [of participants] is the quality and interaction of the seminars," Lavizzo-Mourey said. College sophomore Walter Dawson said the conference was interesting but wished more people had come to see the displays. "It would be interesting to see . . . just the general population of the campus come to see this," Dawson said. "Sometimes racism is just based on not knowing someone else's culture."
(03/01/91 10:00am)
Civil rights leader H. Rap Brown told over 200 people in Houston Hall last night that blacks must continue Malclom X's struggle for black equality. In his hour-long speech, Brown, who also uses the name Jamil Al-Amin, said people should work toward Malcolm X's goals instead of placing him on a pedestal. Brown, the former head of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, said the black struggle must have a focus and a viable program. "[Malcolm X] was about trying to find a program that would allow him to deal with oppression," Brown said. "Struggle is an ongoing process." Brown, who hardly paused for breath during his speech, urged students to pick up Malcolm X's cause where the leader left off. He said they should study his methods to avoid making the same mistakes that Malcolm X made. He added that Malcolm X should not be separated from the Civil Rights movement because because the two are intertwined. Brown also spoke about problems currently facing society, including untrustworthy leaders, immoral people, and the destruction of the earth. He warned the audience that the preservatives in food eventually contaminate the body, causing cancer. He said the estrogen injected into animals eventually alters the human body, and attributed the rise in homosexuality to the meat which makes men "soft." He also said that the estrogen in the meat makes women mature early and have children. To avoid contamination, people should fast and stop eating foods containing preservatives, he said. Brown added that minorities should not assimilate into the mainstream culture they want to be freed from because it leads to self-hatred and loss of identity. "Racism systematically verifies itself every time the slave breaks free by imitating the master," said Brown. Brown also warned the audience of the dangers of using definitions to identify people and places. "The whole concept of the third world refers to a first world and a second world," he said. As his speech ended, Brown requested that the audience refrain from clapping because it went against his religious doctrine. Instead, many members in the audience shouted out their praise. Jason Hurwitz, a College freshman, said he enjoyed the speech. "It's tough for me to relate," he said clutching his tape recorder. "But, the great part is trying to learn how to relate." "It was unbelievable that he could speak for an hour without even seeming to catch his breath," Hurwitz added. "It shows he is dedicated and knowledgeable." The speech was one of the last events to commemorate Black History Month, which ended yesterday.
(02/26/91 10:00am)
The University minority community and the Admissions Office put their best foot forward this weekend as they hosted 168 minority high school seniors for the University's annual Invitational Scholars Weekend. For the past three days, 168 possible members of the Class of 1995 partied, studied and ate at the University and say they have enjoyed it. The students will be on campus through this afternoon. Several student organizers of the event said they consider it a valuable service to the high school seniors. They said it gives them a chance to learn about the University and gives them a good idea of what life at the University is like. Organizers said that although they would like to attract more minority students to the University, they do not try to "sell" the University to the high school students. The high school students who participated overwhelmingly said they came away with a positive impression of the University. As the students were herded to pizza receptions, activity fairs, basketball games and tours of Philadelphia, they said they learned that the University is committed to bringing them into the community. And while some students said the University is an ideal school for them, others said they appreciated the honest impressions of the college they received from their hosts. "My hosts have been very frank and candid," said New Yorker Alisha James. "I know it's going to be like that, but it doesn't discourage me." Student hosts, who volunteer to house the seniors, are not screened before the weekend. Sonia Elliot, the University's assistant director for minority recruitment, said hosts attend a training session prior to the weekend. Elliott said because hosts know the importance of the weekend, they are helpful. "They are, to a certain extent, more powerful recruiters than we are," Elliott said. And although many hosts participated to help the scholars, they said they learned something about themselves in the process. "You don't realize how much you like this school until you have the opportunity to talk to someone else," said College sophomore Tomilola Ogunba. While many prospective students said they wanted to attend the University, others expressed concern about its costs. Joanne Po, a Long Island resident, said she is concerned about the minority attrition rate. She said she could probably manage the academics, but the cost of the education bothers her. "I'm worried that it's not because of my academics, but because I couldn't afford it," she said. "Student loans don't go as far as they should." But the scholars had other things on their mind besides academics and financial worries. Many came to experience the social side of college life. Several students said they enjoyed Sunday's Penn Performance Night the most. They said they were impressed by Penn 6-5000, Mask and Wig and the other student groups which performed. "It was really great," said Pennsylvania resident Lynda Pham. "All students did it and it seemed so professionally done." According to organizers, there were only a few minor glitches in the weekend, which the University started planning for in September. According to Pippa Porter-Rex, the director for minority recruitment, some students were unable to attend the Sunday morning tour of Philadelphia because there wasn't enough room on the buses. "For the first time in seven years, more students wanted to go then signed up," said Porter-Rex. Undergraduate Admissions organized the first official weekend in 1984. Although the department is one of the sponsors, many other organizations have contributed to the weekend. "It really is a campus-wide effort," Elliott said. Although no statistics have been collected, Elliott said the weekend draws many students to the University. University students have told Elliott the weekend was a determining factor in their decision to attend. "It really is a wonderful recruitment effort," Elliott added.
(02/25/91 10:00am)
Defense Attorney Kenneth Mundy, whose clients include former Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry, asserted that current legal practices do not adequately address the social causes underlying drug problems in an animated speech delivered to about 100 people Friday. Mundy, who recently represented Barry against drug charges, kicked off a weekend-long conference that explored how attorneys can help end the drug problem. The third annual conference was set up to commemorate Sadie T.M. Alexander, the first black woman to graduate from the University Law school, and was sponsored by the Black Law Students Association. In his hour-long speech, Mundy said new generations must be taught not to depend on drugs. He urged blacks to reaffirm their self-esteem by becoming involved in athletics and by learning about black history in the school. "Prevention is always more valuable than the cure," he said. The lawyer also said drug users should be rehabilitated instead of jailed, calling for the establishment of a nationwide system that would provide affordable housing for recovering addicts. He also supported legalizing marijuana, citing studies which show it is less dangerous than cigarette and alcohol use. "It is not as much a legal dilemma as it is a social dilemma," Mundy said of the nation's drug problem. The speech was followed by the unveiling of a portrait of Alexander, which will hang in the Law School. The conference, entitled "A Legal Approach to the Drug Problem," continued on Saturday with five seminars addressing different aspects of the drug dilemma. Panelists wrestled with such issues as the effects of drugs on children, whether traditional law enforcement measures work better than community activism, and if drug testing violates constitutional rights. Members of the Guardian Angels, the Nation of Islam, the Drug Enforcement Administration and several community organizations served as panelists. In a seminar about community activism versus traditional law enforcement, Samuel Murphy, a Nation of Islam member, said black people must learn that when they take drugs, they destroy the black community. "It's a conspiracy to keep us doped up and drugged up so we can never be men," he said. In the same seminar, Willis Jones, regional coordinator for the East Coast Alliance of Guardian Angels, said community programs do decrease drug use because the children are involved in youth programs and activities and do not need the drugs. Although conference co-chairperson Kimberly Kelly had expected more students to attend, she said she was pleased with the weekend. "The conference was very successful, although I had expected more," the first-year law student said. "I think that the timing wasn't good because many first-year law students had papers due." "It's one thing to plan and plan and plan, but it's another to see its fruition," she added. First year law student and registration chair Tanya Taylor said she was excited that students of other races and schools attended the conference because it improved the conference.
(02/22/91 10:00am)
The University's Asian American Student Alliance continued to denounce the term "Oriental" Wednesday, enlisting the help of the Mayor's Asian American Advisory Board and a visiting professor to push for the term "Asian/Pacific American." In a press conference attended by fifteen University students and community members at the Greenfield Intercultural Center, Ji-Yeon Yuhfill of the AASA, Tsiwen Law of the Mayor's Asian American Advisory Board and Ronald Takaki, a professor of Ethnic Studies at University of California at Berkeley said the term "Oriental" is offensive, derogatory and racist. Representatives of the AASA also criticized the University for not renaming the Oriental Studies Department or including Asian American studies in the department. Yuhfill said the terminology affects all Asians at the University and the issue should not be ignored. "We hope that they'll realize this is a public concern and not a concern of just a few persons," the History graduate student said. Takaki, who came to the University for a two-day visit as part of Black History Month, also said the term "Oriental" should be discarded. The word, which means east, was applied to Asians because they lived east of London. He said to refer to a diverse culture by its location is demeaning. Takaki said the term Oriental destroys the morale of many Asians because it makes them feel as if they are outsiders. "It's not just that we dislike the term," Takaki said. "It is harmful psychologically for us." He said the phrase "Asian American" should not be hyphenated because that implies that the Asians are not Americans. "No, that's not the way it works," Takaki said, "We're not schizophrenic, we're Americans." Debbie Wei, a member of Asian Americans United, Inc., said people have been slow to make this change. "Philadelphia is a little slow on the uptake [of the term]," Wei said. "Penn is even slower." She also said that just as women do not want to be called "girls" or "ladies", Asian don't want to be referred to as "Orientals." "The group that's being named has the most at stake," Wei said. "All this griping seems childish." She added that people who are not affected by the terminology can say that the names do not matter. Nalini Samuel, chair of the United Minorities Council, supported the use of "Asian/Pacific Americans." "I think it will take a few years to catch on," Samuel said. "But I think the Administration will be receptive to it."
(02/13/91 10:00am)
Stressing that many blacks do not have adequate knowledge of their roots, the Rev. Lawrence Burnley said at a discussion yesterday that people should not ignore their culture or other people's cultures. "As a people, we are blind to our own cultural heritage," Burnley said. The hour-long lecture by Burnley, associate minister for programs of the Christian Association, focused on the black influence on Judeo-Christian history as part of Black History Month. The speech, which fifteen students attended, dealt with Western Civilization's attempts to "whiten" Egypt and recent attempts to alter this perception. While some audience members took notes, Burnley read from a prepared speech citing numerous examples of ways in which Egyptian traditions influenced Judeo-Christian beliefs, including monotheism. Burnley added Egypt has been historically separated from Africa for hundreds of years but nevertheless has had a tremendous influence on African affairs. He added that this separation is similar to saying that California is not a part of the U.S. Burnley said during the speech, held at the Christian Association, that evidence found indicates that a highly civilized society lived in Egypt prior to the rise of Europe. In order to justify the enslavement of Egyptian people, Europeans claimed that the blacks were sub-human, he said. But Burnley added that blacks should be proud of any Egyptian accomplishments that would reflect well in the black community. Tanika Beamon, a College senior, said Burnley's speech was an accurate description because Western Civilization has attempted to change history. She added that the University does not explore these issues in depth in many of her classes. "It is true that history has been whitened," Beamon said. College junior Rodney Archer said white supremist doctrines of the 19th century have slanted history by placing more emphasis on accomplishments by white people. "It's definitely necessary for people to refute the lie because it's basically the lie that has subjugated the minds of humanity for thousands of years," Archer said. "Until we assert the truth, no person is able to be free."
