Angela Davis draws capacity crowd
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Originally published Tuesday, January 20, 1998
Political activist and writer Angela Davis spoke yesterday to a crowd of nearly 2,000 people in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, as part of the University of Chicago’s Tenth Annual Dr. Martin Lutjer King Day celebration.
The event, organized and sponsored by The Coordinating Council for Minority Issues (CCMI), was free and open to all members of the University and greater Chicago. However, due to overcrowding, over 100 people were turned away.
“I’m delighted by the response, the support that people showed. Given the fact that we had over 2,000 people cramming themselves into Rockefeller Chapel shows that we picked the right speaker,” said Kathy Stell, deputy dean of Students in the University; assistant to the Provost; and chair of CCMI.
Davis’s speech focused on what she called “The Prison Industrial Complex” a modern phenomena which she believes exists in the United States.
According to Davis, the number of inmates in U.S. prisons and jails are increasing at an alarming rate. “Almost 2 million people are currently locked up in U.S. prisons and jails. They are, as Barbara Fletcher puts it, ‘the truly forgotten,’ she said.
Davis asserted that the majority of incarcerated individuals in the U.S. are black males, and the real root of crime is produced by “poverty and racism.” In addition to this, Davis pointed out that while the majority of inmates are male, the number of women being put “behind bars is increasing at an even greater rate than men.
Davis sees the growing reliance of imprisonment as the government’s solution to complex social problems, combined with corporate interests in the punishment industry.
“We often assume prison has nothing to do with us if we aren’t there,” said Davis. “But it has permeated our culture.”
Davis believes that the privatization of prisons benefits U.S. capitalist interests. “In some places, prisons contract labor well below minimum wage, ten cents to 44 cents per hour,” Davis alleges that some major companies such as IBM, Motorola, Microsoft, Honeywall, and Nordstrom are implicated in prison labor violations.
Davis said that Martin Luther King believed that individuals do have the power to realize change. While she said that many attempt to take a neutral position in socio-political matters, she believes that “adopting a manner of acquiescence” is not appropriate.
“Where are the wars against corporate crime, Where are the wars against police crime? Where are the wars against hate violence? Davis asked.
“The growth in prison [inmates] was what really hit me about Davis’ speech,” said Lawrence Pausback, a former Friendship House volunteer and staff member who attended The University of Chicago in the 1950s.
“Especially, the emphasis on the incarceration of women. I thought the percentage was smaller.”
Over the past few weeks, students and student leaders at the U of C have either applauded or decried the choice of Davis as a speaker for the commemoration of King.
Many U of C conservatives have expressed concern with the selection of Davis for the King Day Celebration.
“I believe that Martin Luther King stood for equal opportunities for al Americans, regardless of
race. But key to his vision was the believe that a color-blind America was to achieved through non-violent means. Angela Davis, whose Marxist views and association with such militant groups as the Black Panthers, in my opinion, does not properly represent Martin Luther King’s legacy of non-violence,” said John Roland, president of the University of Chicago Republicans, and a third-year in the College.
King Day organizers disagreed, however. “The idea of the Martin Luther King Day speaker is to have someone speak who has an interesting perspective on Dr. King. We are not having a contest to see who most resembles King,” said Stell.
The University of Chicago Republicans have established another event celebrating DR. King, which is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21. The event will feature conservative black radio talk show host Reginald Jones.
Many at the event, however, express their support in the choice of Davis as a key note speaker.
“King had a passion for justice. King and Davis had a different means of achieving that same end.
For that, Davis embodies the King spirit,” said Tiffany Rockette, vice president of the Organization of Black Students (OBS), and a third-year in the College.
Others felt that the event was organized by the College Republicans would provide another diverse viewpoint on King.
“I think it’s great that that College Republicans are celebrating Martin Luther King Day in their own way. Bringing in different points of view is what academic exchange is about. Their response is perfectly appropriate,” said Stell.
Some in attendance disagreed.
“The Republicans tried to divide us. Basically, the Republicans called King a Communist. Now, it’s strange that they are trying to promote his image. [Reginald Jones] speaks for no one but himself. He does not represent the black community,” said Albert Thompson, a Hyde Park resident.
The King Day celebration included performances from various other student and community organizations.
The celebration began with a traditional Native American dance entitled ’La Danza de los Concheros’ performed by Grupo Folklorico Internacional, a troupe which includes children and adults.
The Evangelistic Crusaders Church of God sang two songs as well. Soul Umoka, and Make a Joyful Noise (MAJ’N,) two University music groups, also sang two selections.
An afternoon reception with Davis was held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Ida Noyes Hall. Along with CCMI, eleven other student organizations sponsored the event, including OBS, Hispanic Association for Cultural Expression & Recognition, Jewish Students Union (JSU), Sexual Violence Prevention Resource Center (SVPRC) and SistaFriends.
Planning for the King day celebration has been ongoing since spring of last year. Davis was selected to be the keynote speaker in August of 1997 according to a representative of CCMI.
Past speakers for the U of C King celebration have included Dr. Joycelyn Elders, former U.S. Attorney Surgeon General, Bishop Arthur Frazier, and Clarence Page, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
Davis’ political activism began as a young woman in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1950s and 1960s. She traveled and lectured extensively throughout the U.S., several countries in Africa, Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Davis has long been an advocate for civil and human rights, especially the U.S. prison system. In the early 70s, Davis’ name was placed on FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List and she was later incarcerated for a period of sixteen months.
Along with the help of a “Free Angela Davis” campaign, she was released from prison. All charges against Davis were dropped in 1972.
Davis continues to be active with the fight for improving the U.S. penal system. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Prison Activist Resource Center.
Davis is currently working on a comparative study of women’s imprisonment in the U.S., the Netherlands and Cuba.
Photo Caption: The choir of the Envangelistic Crusaders Church of God in Christ performed as part of Monday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration
Photo Credit: Andrew Fish
Originally published January 28, 1999
Thursday, January 28, 1999
Thursday, October 01, 1998
Gang Economics, The University of Chicago
Gang economics
University of Chicago Magazine
October 1998
By Pamela Appea
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9810/html/invest5.htm
It's not every economist who decides to tackle the topic of urban youth's involvement with gangs and drugs. Yet, says Steven Levitt, assistant professor in economics and the College, "crime is an extremely important issue and one that is really not studied enough, especially in academe-an economist might have something interesting to say."
As gang-related juvenile crime has increased during the past 15 years, Levitt explains, it has affected both participants' employment rates in the legitimate sector and the overall economic infrastructure of certain neighborhoods of big cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
In 1997, Levitt, now 31, and Harvard sociologist Sudhir A. Venkatesh, AM'92, PhD'97, combined their quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to study the finances of street gangs. Their recent paper, presented in April at the U of C's Center for Race, Gender, and Politics, explored the socioeconomic structure of an inner-city, African-American gang. They found that, contrary to public perceptions, few gang members pocket lots of money. Indeed, says Levitt, the gang members could not make a living off their profits from drug sales alone.
Over a four-year period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a former gang member, who now works in the legitimate business sector, kept careful records of his gang's profits, passing the information to Venkatesh on looseleaf sheets copied from the gang ledger. Levitt then created an economic model based on the gang's general expenses and its revenue from drug dealing and membership dues. For safety reasons, Levitt and Venkatesh chose to keep confidential their sources and the now-defunct gang's whereabouts and members.
The focus gang had a leader, three officers, about 75 foot soldiers, and some 200 rank-and-file individuals. The gang leader pocketed a documented average of $100,000 a year. Officers, who managed gang funds and drug operations, received an average of $1,000 a month, says Levitt, while the foot soldiers, the equivalent of part-time workers, earned no more than minimum wage selling drugs on the streets. Rank-and-file individuals, the freelancers of the drug world, did sporadic drug dealing for the gang.
During a profitable period, each gang member's earnings increased, and during times of infighting or gang wars, the foot soldiers got a boost in salary for the same amount of work. This cause-and-effect relationship in the gang's pay scales fits perfectly with an economic theory called compensating differentials, says Levitt. According to this theory, when a worker exerts more effort, or has to work with higher-than-usual risks, the worker will be compensated for the added labor and risk-taking.
Another economic theory, called tournament economics, became apparent during interviews with members of the focus gang about why they stayed in the group. Each member had a chance-albeit a small one-to become the gang leader, the person who takes the lion's share of the gang profits. Such a "tournament" situation, explains Levitt, emphasizes risk-taking for the chance of financial gain.
Levitt plans to do further multi-disciplinary research on gangs and crime, focusing on school-age children in Chicago and the socioeconomic factors that lead to gang alliance. "I think we are just getting started," Levitt says. "This financial data has raised a lot of questions on why people join gangs, since it is not that lucrative."-P.J.A.
University of Chicago Magazine
October 1998
By Pamela Appea
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9810/html/invest5.htm
It's not every economist who decides to tackle the topic of urban youth's involvement with gangs and drugs. Yet, says Steven Levitt, assistant professor in economics and the College, "crime is an extremely important issue and one that is really not studied enough, especially in academe-an economist might have something interesting to say."
As gang-related juvenile crime has increased during the past 15 years, Levitt explains, it has affected both participants' employment rates in the legitimate sector and the overall economic infrastructure of certain neighborhoods of big cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
In 1997, Levitt, now 31, and Harvard sociologist Sudhir A. Venkatesh, AM'92, PhD'97, combined their quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to study the finances of street gangs. Their recent paper, presented in April at the U of C's Center for Race, Gender, and Politics, explored the socioeconomic structure of an inner-city, African-American gang. They found that, contrary to public perceptions, few gang members pocket lots of money. Indeed, says Levitt, the gang members could not make a living off their profits from drug sales alone.
Over a four-year period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a former gang member, who now works in the legitimate business sector, kept careful records of his gang's profits, passing the information to Venkatesh on looseleaf sheets copied from the gang ledger. Levitt then created an economic model based on the gang's general expenses and its revenue from drug dealing and membership dues. For safety reasons, Levitt and Venkatesh chose to keep confidential their sources and the now-defunct gang's whereabouts and members.
The focus gang had a leader, three officers, about 75 foot soldiers, and some 200 rank-and-file individuals. The gang leader pocketed a documented average of $100,000 a year. Officers, who managed gang funds and drug operations, received an average of $1,000 a month, says Levitt, while the foot soldiers, the equivalent of part-time workers, earned no more than minimum wage selling drugs on the streets. Rank-and-file individuals, the freelancers of the drug world, did sporadic drug dealing for the gang.
During a profitable period, each gang member's earnings increased, and during times of infighting or gang wars, the foot soldiers got a boost in salary for the same amount of work. This cause-and-effect relationship in the gang's pay scales fits perfectly with an economic theory called compensating differentials, says Levitt. According to this theory, when a worker exerts more effort, or has to work with higher-than-usual risks, the worker will be compensated for the added labor and risk-taking.
Another economic theory, called tournament economics, became apparent during interviews with members of the focus gang about why they stayed in the group. Each member had a chance-albeit a small one-to become the gang leader, the person who takes the lion's share of the gang profits. Such a "tournament" situation, explains Levitt, emphasizes risk-taking for the chance of financial gain.
Levitt plans to do further multi-disciplinary research on gangs and crime, focusing on school-age children in Chicago and the socioeconomic factors that lead to gang alliance. "I think we are just getting started," Levitt says. "This financial data has raised a lot of questions on why people join gangs, since it is not that lucrative."-P.J.A.
Friday, August 21, 1998
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition gathers in Hyde Park
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition gathers in Hyde Park
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Religious leaders, civil rights activists, and community residents came together Saturday morning to promote racial unit in Hyde Park as part of the 27th annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition’s four day conference in Chicago. The gathering attracted hundreds of people, and took place on site at the South-Side based organization on East 50th Street.
At the conference, individuals from all over the country discussed civil rights issues in the 1990s. During the week, workshops and speeches focused on decreasing urban violence, poverty and prejudicial attitudes.
The conference theme, “Leave no one Behind” aims to unify members of the black community in addition to promoting the benefits of a truly multicultural and equal society, the Reverend Jesse Jackson explained.
“Our community has been in trouble. And has been said before, it takes a village to raise a child. Well sick villages raise sick children and well villages raise well children. We want well children. We must stop the violence and save the children,” Jackson said.
The conference also addressed the importance of economic independence, especially for minorities and lower-income individuals.
“All black people should have some interest in learning how the markets work,” said Roy Brown, a Bronzeville resident and a in Rainbow/PUSH Coalition member. “Investing in stocks is one of the avenues this country offers in order to become financially independent,” he said.
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., said “Until we can reach back and grab every American who has been left behind, we cannot say we have a better union, we cannot say the economy is experiencing unparalleled growth.” Jackson Jr. explained that everyone should be included in this vision.
Other issues addressed at the conference included political involvement of the black community. U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun urged members of the audience to go out to the polls in November with the idea that every citizen can make a difference.
The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition held a blood drive in order to donate blood to the recent injured victims of the terrorist bombing in Kenya and Tanzania.
Other speakers at the Saturday event included Minnesota Senator Paul Wellsteon, Reverend Al Sharpton of New York City, Congressman Bobby Rush and Ambassador Andrew Young.
Originally published August 21, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Religious leaders, civil rights activists, and community residents came together Saturday morning to promote racial unit in Hyde Park as part of the 27th annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition’s four day conference in Chicago. The gathering attracted hundreds of people, and took place on site at the South-Side based organization on East 50th Street.
At the conference, individuals from all over the country discussed civil rights issues in the 1990s. During the week, workshops and speeches focused on decreasing urban violence, poverty and prejudicial attitudes.
The conference theme, “Leave no one Behind” aims to unify members of the black community in addition to promoting the benefits of a truly multicultural and equal society, the Reverend Jesse Jackson explained.
“Our community has been in trouble. And has been said before, it takes a village to raise a child. Well sick villages raise sick children and well villages raise well children. We want well children. We must stop the violence and save the children,” Jackson said.
The conference also addressed the importance of economic independence, especially for minorities and lower-income individuals.
“All black people should have some interest in learning how the markets work,” said Roy Brown, a Bronzeville resident and a in Rainbow/PUSH Coalition member. “Investing in stocks is one of the avenues this country offers in order to become financially independent,” he said.
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., said “Until we can reach back and grab every American who has been left behind, we cannot say we have a better union, we cannot say the economy is experiencing unparalleled growth.” Jackson Jr. explained that everyone should be included in this vision.
Other issues addressed at the conference included political involvement of the black community. U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun urged members of the audience to go out to the polls in November with the idea that every citizen can make a difference.
The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition held a blood drive in order to donate blood to the recent injured victims of the terrorist bombing in Kenya and Tanzania.
Other speakers at the Saturday event included Minnesota Senator Paul Wellsteon, Reverend Al Sharpton of New York City, Congressman Bobby Rush and Ambassador Andrew Young.
Originally published August 21, 1998
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition gathers in Hyde Park
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition gathers in Hyde Park
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Religious leaders, civil rights activists, and community residents came together Saturday morning to promote racial unit in Hyde Park as part of the 27th annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition’s four day conference in Chicago. The gathering attracted hundreds of people, and took place on site at the South-Side based organization on East 50th Street.
At the conference, individuals from all over the country discussed civil rights issues in the 1990s. During the week, workshops and speeches focused on decreasing urban violence, poverty and prejudicial attitudes.
The conference theme, “Leave no one Behind” aims to unify members of the black community in addition to promoting the benefits of a truly multicultural and equal society, the Reverend Jesse Jackson explained.
“Our community has been in trouble. And has been said before, it takes a village to raise a child. Well sick villages raise sick children and well villages raise well children. We want well children. We must stop the violence and save the children,” Jackson said.
The conference also addressed the importance of economic independence, especially for minorities and lower-income individuals.
“All black people should have some interest in learning how the markets work,” said Roy Brown, a Bronzeville resident and a in Rainbow/PUSH Coalition member. “Investing in stocks is one of the avenues this country offers in order to become financially independent,” he said.
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., said “Until we can reach back and grab every American who has been left behind, we cannot say we have a better union, we cannot say the economy is experiencing unparalleled growth.” Jackson Jr. explained that everyone should be included in this vision.
Other issues addressed at the conference included political involvement of the black community. U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun urged members of the audience to go out to the polls in November with the idea that every citizen can make a difference.
The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition held a blood drive in order to donate blood to the recent injured victims of the terrorist bombing in Kenya and Tanzania.
Other speakers at the Saturday event included Minnesota Senator Paul Wellsteon, Reverend Al Sharpton of New York City, Congressman Bobby Rush and Ambassador Andrew Young.
Originally published August 21, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Religious leaders, civil rights activists, and community residents came together Saturday morning to promote racial unit in Hyde Park as part of the 27th annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition’s four day conference in Chicago. The gathering attracted hundreds of people, and took place on site at the South-Side based organization on East 50th Street.
At the conference, individuals from all over the country discussed civil rights issues in the 1990s. During the week, workshops and speeches focused on decreasing urban violence, poverty and prejudicial attitudes.
The conference theme, “Leave no one Behind” aims to unify members of the black community in addition to promoting the benefits of a truly multicultural and equal society, the Reverend Jesse Jackson explained.
“Our community has been in trouble. And has been said before, it takes a village to raise a child. Well sick villages raise sick children and well villages raise well children. We want well children. We must stop the violence and save the children,” Jackson said.
The conference also addressed the importance of economic independence, especially for minorities and lower-income individuals.
“All black people should have some interest in learning how the markets work,” said Roy Brown, a Bronzeville resident and a in Rainbow/PUSH Coalition member. “Investing in stocks is one of the avenues this country offers in order to become financially independent,” he said.
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., said “Until we can reach back and grab every American who has been left behind, we cannot say we have a better union, we cannot say the economy is experiencing unparalleled growth.” Jackson Jr. explained that everyone should be included in this vision.
Other issues addressed at the conference included political involvement of the black community. U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun urged members of the audience to go out to the polls in November with the idea that every citizen can make a difference.
The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition held a blood drive in order to donate blood to the recent injured victims of the terrorist bombing in Kenya and Tanzania.
Other speakers at the Saturday event included Minnesota Senator Paul Wellsteon, Reverend Al Sharpton of New York City, Congressman Bobby Rush and Ambassador Andrew Young.
Originally published August 21, 1998
Friday, August 07, 1998
Hiroshima survivor shares memories at anniversary, Chicago Maroon News Articles
Hiroshima survivor shares memories at anniversary
Pamela Jane Appea
University Wire
08-07-1998
(Chicago Maroon)
(U-WIRE)
CHICAGO, Ill. -- One pleasant summer day, nine-year-old Hideko Tamura said goodbye to her mother, who was going to the center of town to run some errands.
Before Mrs. Tamura walked out the door, she turned to her daughter and said, "I'll be back before lunch time."
That was the last time Hideko saw her mother.
On that day, August 6, 1945, the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Thousands of people died in the intense inferno in the center of town.
Hideko Tamura Snyder, a survivor of the Hiroshima bomb, gave a lecture Thursday as part of the 53rd commemoration of the dropping of the Hiroshima bomb.
The Illinois Peace Action (IPA) sponsored the event, which took place at the Henry Moore Nuclear statue on Ellis Avenue between 56th and 57th streets.
Over 70 community residents and students attended.
The organization aims to bring about the elimination of nuclear weapons across the world. IPA has hosted a commemoration of the bombing at Hiroshima at the site of the Henry Moore statue for the past 25 years, said Bernice Bild, the former director of IPA and a Hyde Park resident.
This marks the first time that Snyder has spoken at the site of the Henry Moore statue.
In the 1940s, Chicago scientists participated in a collective effort called the Manhattan Project, a think tank that helped create the nuclear bomb.Snyder took members of the audience back to World War II, and related her experiences as a young girl.
"Fifty-three years ago my life changed, my city disappeared," Snyder said to the audience.
On that day, Snyder lost not only her mother but a cousin who Snyder said was like a brother to her.
According to Snyder, when she and other people went out to find their relatives, they were greeted with chaos and despair."From rescue station to rescue station, I hummed my mother's favorite song, hoping [to find my mother]," she said.
Snyder said that she hoped that her mother did not have a painful death.
"I saw a girl who was too weak to walk, who was asking for water, softly, please give me water," she said.
"With the burning and the heat of a 1,000 suns, our bodies melted. Our bodies were naked. People's skin hung like rags with our insides showing. That was truly naked. It was the most terrifying experience" she said.
In addition to the harm the atomic bomb had on the residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Snyder stated that the water, plants, grass were affected by radiation.
"The people who ate the vegetables and drank the water had a terrible time and died. The water in Nagasaki was contaminated for over 32 years.
"If it takes us 100 years, or more, we must work together eliminating such lethal, lethal machinery. The bomb is so counter to civilization, it is so counter to human life. We are so easily swayed by arguments for defense. How absurd it was for human beings to be killed and perish in this fashion." she said.
Activist musicians performed before and after Snyder's talk.
Kevin Martin, executive director of IPA, spoke of current issues on nuclear energy. "The U of C astrophysics department has a computerized nuclear testing system which they use to continue nuclear capability," he alleged.
He went on to suggest that this information on nuclear energy is used by the U.S. Department of Defense."It is very important to remember what happened 53 years ago. It is important to rededicate ourselves to make sure that it never happens again," said Martin.
"I have a long term commitment to anti-nuclear activity," said Ron Chew, a Vietnam war veteran and longtime IPA member living in Oak Park, Illinois.
"[Hideko Tamura] was so authentic and you could just feel her experience. It was the most heart warming and heart wrenching talk of who we so loosely deal with nuclear energy," he said.
Snyder is currently a psychotherapist and social worker for radiation patients in the Chicago Hospitals.
She is the author of One Sunny Day: A Child's Memories of Hiroshima.
Pamela Jane Appea
University Wire
08-07-1998
(Chicago Maroon)
(U-WIRE)
CHICAGO, Ill. -- One pleasant summer day, nine-year-old Hideko Tamura said goodbye to her mother, who was going to the center of town to run some errands.
Before Mrs. Tamura walked out the door, she turned to her daughter and said, "I'll be back before lunch time."
That was the last time Hideko saw her mother.
On that day, August 6, 1945, the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Thousands of people died in the intense inferno in the center of town.
Hideko Tamura Snyder, a survivor of the Hiroshima bomb, gave a lecture Thursday as part of the 53rd commemoration of the dropping of the Hiroshima bomb.
The Illinois Peace Action (IPA) sponsored the event, which took place at the Henry Moore Nuclear statue on Ellis Avenue between 56th and 57th streets.
Over 70 community residents and students attended.
The organization aims to bring about the elimination of nuclear weapons across the world. IPA has hosted a commemoration of the bombing at Hiroshima at the site of the Henry Moore statue for the past 25 years, said Bernice Bild, the former director of IPA and a Hyde Park resident.
This marks the first time that Snyder has spoken at the site of the Henry Moore statue.
In the 1940s, Chicago scientists participated in a collective effort called the Manhattan Project, a think tank that helped create the nuclear bomb.Snyder took members of the audience back to World War II, and related her experiences as a young girl.
"Fifty-three years ago my life changed, my city disappeared," Snyder said to the audience.
On that day, Snyder lost not only her mother but a cousin who Snyder said was like a brother to her.
According to Snyder, when she and other people went out to find their relatives, they were greeted with chaos and despair."From rescue station to rescue station, I hummed my mother's favorite song, hoping [to find my mother]," she said.
Snyder said that she hoped that her mother did not have a painful death.
"I saw a girl who was too weak to walk, who was asking for water, softly, please give me water," she said.
"With the burning and the heat of a 1,000 suns, our bodies melted. Our bodies were naked. People's skin hung like rags with our insides showing. That was truly naked. It was the most terrifying experience" she said.
In addition to the harm the atomic bomb had on the residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Snyder stated that the water, plants, grass were affected by radiation.
"The people who ate the vegetables and drank the water had a terrible time and died. The water in Nagasaki was contaminated for over 32 years.
"If it takes us 100 years, or more, we must work together eliminating such lethal, lethal machinery. The bomb is so counter to civilization, it is so counter to human life. We are so easily swayed by arguments for defense. How absurd it was for human beings to be killed and perish in this fashion." she said.
Activist musicians performed before and after Snyder's talk.
Kevin Martin, executive director of IPA, spoke of current issues on nuclear energy. "The U of C astrophysics department has a computerized nuclear testing system which they use to continue nuclear capability," he alleged.
He went on to suggest that this information on nuclear energy is used by the U.S. Department of Defense."It is very important to remember what happened 53 years ago. It is important to rededicate ourselves to make sure that it never happens again," said Martin.
"I have a long term commitment to anti-nuclear activity," said Ron Chew, a Vietnam war veteran and longtime IPA member living in Oak Park, Illinois.
"[Hideko Tamura] was so authentic and you could just feel her experience. It was the most heart warming and heart wrenching talk of who we so loosely deal with nuclear energy," he said.
Snyder is currently a psychotherapist and social worker for radiation patients in the Chicago Hospitals.
She is the author of One Sunny Day: A Child's Memories of Hiroshima.
Saturday, August 01, 1998
The University of Chicago Magazine
On the Shelf
Two Lucky People
In October 1932, students in Jacob Viner’s graduate course in economic theory, Economics 301, found themselves seated in alphabetical order, an arrangement that put Rose Director beside Milton Friedman.
Over the next six years, the two fell in love, got married, and began an intellectual partnership fueled by their interest in economics and social justice.
In Two Lucky People (University of Chicago Press), Rose Director Friedman, PhB’32, and Milton Friedman, AM’33, tell their story.
The 1976 Nobel laureate in economics, Milton taught at the U of C for 31 years, leaving in 1977 to become a senior research fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution.
Though Milton received most of the recognition, he credits Rose with helping him develop his economic and public-policy theories. Authors of countless articles and books, including the best-selling Free to Choose, the Friedmans have now written a personal account of their lives, including travel and work in France, Chile, and Japan.
They also make some economic arguments, not unexpectedly calling for the deregulation of industry and private life.—P.J.A.
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9808/html/books.htm
Two Lucky People
In October 1932, students in Jacob Viner’s graduate course in economic theory, Economics 301, found themselves seated in alphabetical order, an arrangement that put Rose Director beside Milton Friedman.
Over the next six years, the two fell in love, got married, and began an intellectual partnership fueled by their interest in economics and social justice.
In Two Lucky People (University of Chicago Press), Rose Director Friedman, PhB’32, and Milton Friedman, AM’33, tell their story.
The 1976 Nobel laureate in economics, Milton taught at the U of C for 31 years, leaving in 1977 to become a senior research fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution.
Though Milton received most of the recognition, he credits Rose with helping him develop his economic and public-policy theories. Authors of countless articles and books, including the best-selling Free to Choose, the Friedmans have now written a personal account of their lives, including travel and work in France, Chile, and Japan.
They also make some economic arguments, not unexpectedly calling for the deregulation of industry and private life.—P.J.A.
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9808/html/books.htm
Apocalypse-not yet
In June the keepers of the Doomsday Clock, a symbol of nuclear apocalypse, moved its hands forward five minutes closer to midnight-the largest forward jump in 30 years. The clock, which appears on the cover of every issue of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and has been reset 15 times since its 1947 inception, now reads 11:51 p.m.
After India and Pakistan-previously undeclared nuclear powers-conducted nuclear tests this May, the Bulletin's board of directors, chaired by Leonard Rieser, SB'43, decided to reset the clock in hopes of increasing public awareness of the continuing international nuclear threat.
While cold war tensions have eased, there has been no subsequent move toward nuclear disarmament; indeed, according to Rieser, "opportunities have been missed and open doors have been closed."
By resetting the clock, the Bulletin's board also wants to underscore the failure of the U.S. and Russia to ratify a 1996 United Nations nuclear-test ban treaty; signed by 150 countries, it has been ratified by the governments of only 15. "Our leverage with the other countries is just much reduced," Rieser says of the U.S.'s ability to get other nations to sign the treaty, "when we haven't done what we signed on to do."
When the Doomsday Clock was last reset in 1995, it stood at 14 minutes to midnight, the second earliest setting in its history. The clock came closest to midnight in 1953, when it was reset at 2 minutes before 12 after U.S. testing of hydrogen bombs, while the earliest setting came with the end of the cold war in 1991, at 17 minutes before midnight.
The clock, like the Bulletin itself, was part of a larger, post-World War II movement by a group of scientists (including Rieser) who had worked on the Manhattan Project and were concerned about the need to regulate nuclear energy and promote its peaceful use. Current board members include two U of C faculty members: Stephen Walt, professor in political science, and Don Q. Lamb, Jr., professor in astronomy & astrophysics. U of C physics professor emeritus John A. Simpson, who helped found the Bulletin, is president of its board of sponsors.
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9808/html/adinfinitum.html
Originally published August 1998
After India and Pakistan-previously undeclared nuclear powers-conducted nuclear tests this May, the Bulletin's board of directors, chaired by Leonard Rieser, SB'43, decided to reset the clock in hopes of increasing public awareness of the continuing international nuclear threat.
While cold war tensions have eased, there has been no subsequent move toward nuclear disarmament; indeed, according to Rieser, "opportunities have been missed and open doors have been closed."
By resetting the clock, the Bulletin's board also wants to underscore the failure of the U.S. and Russia to ratify a 1996 United Nations nuclear-test ban treaty; signed by 150 countries, it has been ratified by the governments of only 15. "Our leverage with the other countries is just much reduced," Rieser says of the U.S.'s ability to get other nations to sign the treaty, "when we haven't done what we signed on to do."
When the Doomsday Clock was last reset in 1995, it stood at 14 minutes to midnight, the second earliest setting in its history. The clock came closest to midnight in 1953, when it was reset at 2 minutes before 12 after U.S. testing of hydrogen bombs, while the earliest setting came with the end of the cold war in 1991, at 17 minutes before midnight.
The clock, like the Bulletin itself, was part of a larger, post-World War II movement by a group of scientists (including Rieser) who had worked on the Manhattan Project and were concerned about the need to regulate nuclear energy and promote its peaceful use. Current board members include two U of C faculty members: Stephen Walt, professor in political science, and Don Q. Lamb, Jr., professor in astronomy & astrophysics. U of C physics professor emeritus John A. Simpson, who helped found the Bulletin, is president of its board of sponsors.
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9808/html/adinfinitum.html
Originally published August 1998
Wednesday, June 03, 1998
Wife of Black Panther leader calls for community activism
Wife of Black Panther leader calls for community activism
Pamela Jane Appea
University Wire 06-03-1998
(Chicago Maroon) (U-WIRE) CHICAGO --
Akua Njeri, National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement (NPDU) president, spoke last Friday evening at Ida Noyes Hall. The event was sponsored by the U of C Students for the Freedom of Fred Hampton.
The U of C organization was founded several months ago in order to increase awareness of the imprisonment of Fred Hampton, Jr. Hampton is the son of Fred Hampton, renowned 1960s Chicago Black Panther organizer.
Five years ago, the younger Hampton was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a 1992 Chicago arson. The fire, according to Chicago police files, did not warrant a fire truck, and onlookers allege that the store did not close for more than 15 minutes.
Njeri, Hampton mother, along with other individuals and organizations, are lobbying for the freedom of Hampton Njeri's speech addressed the effects of police brutality, the "drug economy," and racism on black individuals in Chicago.
"There is no tradition of democracy for African people under U.S. law," Njeri said. "In the '60s, we were united in the Civil Rights movement, and then the Black Power movement.
Black power challenged white liberalism." Njeri explained how the Black Panthers started programs that allowed "blacks to liberate themselves."
"The government said our children were... [unable to be educated]. Poverty meant that children were going to school without food in their bellies."
The Black Panther movement began a free breakfast program for elementary school children in order to help black and underprivileged children in their school careers. The Panthers also began a free sickle cell anemia test and a specialized Afrocentric school curriculum.
"I thought it was important how [Njeri] constantly related the movement to what is going on now was the key," said Hoang Phan, co-founder and president of the U of C Students for the Freedom of Fred Hampton, Jr., and NDUP member.
While the Black Panther movement is now defunct, Njeri still said she believes in community activism as a way for blacks to help themselves."I believe that we're at a real historical turning point. African people are rising up to take charge of our lives," said Njeri.
"The NPDU's goal is to allow freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of determining ourselves as a people. We believe that social development and economic development are the solution. We are building a movement that will change the political terrain of the people," she said.Njeri also discussed how youths must undergo police searches and police brutality.
The lecture was followed by a question and answer period.
"As a white person living in Chicago, I see the differences of how blacks and whites are treated. I think that African people have democratic rights like everyone else. Njeri's courage to keep on fighting for the African community is striking," said Sandy Thompson, member of the NDUP, and North Side resident.
"It was eye opening to hear the specifics of Fred Hampton Jr.'s arrest. It would have been nice, however, if Njeri had gone into more specific correlation of the laws and the effects that they have on the black community," said Lynn Headley, a fourth-year student in the College.
A U of C Students for the Freedom of Fred Hampton member stated that more RSOs, including members of Organization of Black Students and Sistafriends, should become more involved in political organization and community activism.
"I think it's problematic that a lot of the cultural groups on campus -- not just SF and OBS -- don't get involved with political organizing. Their main concern seems to be cultural shows. I can't say what people should do," he concluded.
Njeri is a former Black Panther member who was present during the 1969 police raid that assassinated husband, Hampton Sr., and Mark Clark, another Black Panther officer.
Members of the Free Fred Hampton, Jr. coalition will be hosting a march on June 10 to Mayor Richard Daley's office, the federal building, 230 South Dearborn Street.
The lecture was funded by the Center for Race Studies.
Pamela Jane Appea
University Wire 06-03-1998
(Chicago Maroon) (U-WIRE) CHICAGO --
Akua Njeri, National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement (NPDU) president, spoke last Friday evening at Ida Noyes Hall. The event was sponsored by the U of C Students for the Freedom of Fred Hampton.
The U of C organization was founded several months ago in order to increase awareness of the imprisonment of Fred Hampton, Jr. Hampton is the son of Fred Hampton, renowned 1960s Chicago Black Panther organizer.
Five years ago, the younger Hampton was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a 1992 Chicago arson. The fire, according to Chicago police files, did not warrant a fire truck, and onlookers allege that the store did not close for more than 15 minutes.
Njeri, Hampton mother, along with other individuals and organizations, are lobbying for the freedom of Hampton Njeri's speech addressed the effects of police brutality, the "drug economy," and racism on black individuals in Chicago.
"There is no tradition of democracy for African people under U.S. law," Njeri said. "In the '60s, we were united in the Civil Rights movement, and then the Black Power movement.
Black power challenged white liberalism." Njeri explained how the Black Panthers started programs that allowed "blacks to liberate themselves."
"The government said our children were... [unable to be educated]. Poverty meant that children were going to school without food in their bellies."
The Black Panther movement began a free breakfast program for elementary school children in order to help black and underprivileged children in their school careers. The Panthers also began a free sickle cell anemia test and a specialized Afrocentric school curriculum.
"I thought it was important how [Njeri] constantly related the movement to what is going on now was the key," said Hoang Phan, co-founder and president of the U of C Students for the Freedom of Fred Hampton, Jr., and NDUP member.
While the Black Panther movement is now defunct, Njeri still said she believes in community activism as a way for blacks to help themselves."I believe that we're at a real historical turning point. African people are rising up to take charge of our lives," said Njeri.
"The NPDU's goal is to allow freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of determining ourselves as a people. We believe that social development and economic development are the solution. We are building a movement that will change the political terrain of the people," she said.Njeri also discussed how youths must undergo police searches and police brutality.
The lecture was followed by a question and answer period.
"As a white person living in Chicago, I see the differences of how blacks and whites are treated. I think that African people have democratic rights like everyone else. Njeri's courage to keep on fighting for the African community is striking," said Sandy Thompson, member of the NDUP, and North Side resident.
"It was eye opening to hear the specifics of Fred Hampton Jr.'s arrest. It would have been nice, however, if Njeri had gone into more specific correlation of the laws and the effects that they have on the black community," said Lynn Headley, a fourth-year student in the College.
A U of C Students for the Freedom of Fred Hampton member stated that more RSOs, including members of Organization of Black Students and Sistafriends, should become more involved in political organization and community activism.
"I think it's problematic that a lot of the cultural groups on campus -- not just SF and OBS -- don't get involved with political organizing. Their main concern seems to be cultural shows. I can't say what people should do," he concluded.
Njeri is a former Black Panther member who was present during the 1969 police raid that assassinated husband, Hampton Sr., and Mark Clark, another Black Panther officer.
Members of the Free Fred Hampton, Jr. coalition will be hosting a march on June 10 to Mayor Richard Daley's office, the federal building, 230 South Dearborn Street.
The lecture was funded by the Center for Race Studies.
Tuesday, May 19, 1998
Thai cultural show features traditional dances, music, food
Thai cultural show features traditional dances, music, food
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The sound of Thai classical symphonic music greeted attendees of the first annual U of C Thai Cultural Night. The event took place Saturday night, May 16, at Hutchinson Commons in the Reynolds Club. Siam Square hosted the show, which attracted 130 students and community residents, Pechluck Suwatanapongched and Justin Ruaysamran, fourth-year students in the College, served as emcees for the event.
“It went well. I liked the performances. Everything went very smoothly. All in all, the event was very successful,” said Sompid Saamipak, president of Siam Square and a fourth-year student in the College.
Members of the Buddhadharm Temple began the program with three selections of classical music. Traditional classic music instruments include thereat thum, a rectangular instrument which curves outward, the zither, a stringed instrument with a hollow body, roughly similar to a guitar, the timbrel, and the gong kettle similar to a stringed instrument with a hollow body, roughly similat to a guitar, the timbrel, and the gong-kettle drums.
The instrument selections combined religious and secular themes of love, nature and spirituality. Thai classical music is no harmonic and combines melodic and rhythmic elements. One of the selections paid homage to a famous Thai waterfall, and the instruments imitated the sounds of water in nature.
Fon Tien, or the candle dance, followed. The six dancers synchronized their hand and body body movements to the music while swirling each of the two candles in an arch-like shape.
“The candle dance was magnificent. It was delicate and slow, and they danced together very well,” said Raksapok Thanaanuwong, a second-year student in the College.
Next, Pariya Phualsuk, of the Northwestern Thai Student Organization, read a Thai poem. “The poem stressed that women should be educated. It stressed the importance of being well-rounded both inside and outside the home,” explained Samipak.
Following the poem, the Manora dance was performed by Judy Pongched, a first-year student at Hinsdale High School. This classical dance originates from an ancient Thai folktale Manora was a princess who was kinari, or a mythical creature, half-bird and half human.
Suwatanapongched explained the story. Manora’s guardian wanted to keep her confined in a castle, so the guardian took Manora’s wings and claws away so that she would not be able to escape. One day, it was decreed that in order to escape terrible destruction of the kingdom, one animal of each kind would be sacrificed.
“Manora asked for her wings and claws back to do one last dance. In the end, Manora flies to freedom,” Suwatanapongched said.
Pallop Karnchanapanurach, treasurer for Siam Square and a third-year stydent in the College, then performed the Sai Phon song.
King Bhumiphol of Thailand actually composed the song which extols the importance of rain. The song praised the essence of nature after rainfall because trees are greener and crops will grow about being nourished by water.
A similar celebration, Loi Krathong is an annual festival celebrated in Thailand where the people pay homage to the Mother of waters by gathering at all the rivers, ponds, and lakes under the full moon.
The program concluded with the Ramwong Matrathan, which means a dance in a circle. This traditional dance is from central Thailand is usually celebrated after the harvest.
“It is an ancient village performance. Usually a guy flirts with a girl and they pair up with each other,” Samipak said.
“It is a great effort of the students here. They worked very hard. This [show] demonstrates the pride in their heritage,” said Achara Raz, MA ‘76 and director of business affairs at the International House.
A member of the Buddhadharm Temple agreed. “I just feel good and proud that I can be part of the show. If people who’ve seen the show travel to Thailand [one day]. I know they’ll love it,” said Busaba Pardungkiattisak, a resident of Wheaton, Illinois.
Dishes served at the dinner included Ar-Jard, cucumber salad, Nua Dad Dream, a beef dish, Gai Yang, traditional thai chicken, basil eggplant, and Musmun Gai, a spicy chicken and potato dish cooked with peanuts and coconuts. The event was funded by the Buddhadharm Meditation Center, Siam Restaurant, Student Government, the Pongched family, and the Thai Association of Illinois and other businesses.
Photo Caption: Dancers perform at the first annual Thai cultural show Saturday night.
Photo Credit: David O.
Originally published May 19, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The sound of Thai classical symphonic music greeted attendees of the first annual U of C Thai Cultural Night. The event took place Saturday night, May 16, at Hutchinson Commons in the Reynolds Club. Siam Square hosted the show, which attracted 130 students and community residents, Pechluck Suwatanapongched and Justin Ruaysamran, fourth-year students in the College, served as emcees for the event.
“It went well. I liked the performances. Everything went very smoothly. All in all, the event was very successful,” said Sompid Saamipak, president of Siam Square and a fourth-year student in the College.
Members of the Buddhadharm Temple began the program with three selections of classical music. Traditional classic music instruments include thereat thum, a rectangular instrument which curves outward, the zither, a stringed instrument with a hollow body, roughly similar to a guitar, the timbrel, and the gong kettle similar to a stringed instrument with a hollow body, roughly similat to a guitar, the timbrel, and the gong-kettle drums.
The instrument selections combined religious and secular themes of love, nature and spirituality. Thai classical music is no harmonic and combines melodic and rhythmic elements. One of the selections paid homage to a famous Thai waterfall, and the instruments imitated the sounds of water in nature.
Fon Tien, or the candle dance, followed. The six dancers synchronized their hand and body body movements to the music while swirling each of the two candles in an arch-like shape.
“The candle dance was magnificent. It was delicate and slow, and they danced together very well,” said Raksapok Thanaanuwong, a second-year student in the College.
Next, Pariya Phualsuk, of the Northwestern Thai Student Organization, read a Thai poem. “The poem stressed that women should be educated. It stressed the importance of being well-rounded both inside and outside the home,” explained Samipak.
Following the poem, the Manora dance was performed by Judy Pongched, a first-year student at Hinsdale High School. This classical dance originates from an ancient Thai folktale Manora was a princess who was kinari, or a mythical creature, half-bird and half human.
Suwatanapongched explained the story. Manora’s guardian wanted to keep her confined in a castle, so the guardian took Manora’s wings and claws away so that she would not be able to escape. One day, it was decreed that in order to escape terrible destruction of the kingdom, one animal of each kind would be sacrificed.
“Manora asked for her wings and claws back to do one last dance. In the end, Manora flies to freedom,” Suwatanapongched said.
Pallop Karnchanapanurach, treasurer for Siam Square and a third-year stydent in the College, then performed the Sai Phon song.
King Bhumiphol of Thailand actually composed the song which extols the importance of rain. The song praised the essence of nature after rainfall because trees are greener and crops will grow about being nourished by water.
A similar celebration, Loi Krathong is an annual festival celebrated in Thailand where the people pay homage to the Mother of waters by gathering at all the rivers, ponds, and lakes under the full moon.
The program concluded with the Ramwong Matrathan, which means a dance in a circle. This traditional dance is from central Thailand is usually celebrated after the harvest.
“It is an ancient village performance. Usually a guy flirts with a girl and they pair up with each other,” Samipak said.
“It is a great effort of the students here. They worked very hard. This [show] demonstrates the pride in their heritage,” said Achara Raz, MA ‘76 and director of business affairs at the International House.
A member of the Buddhadharm Temple agreed. “I just feel good and proud that I can be part of the show. If people who’ve seen the show travel to Thailand [one day]. I know they’ll love it,” said Busaba Pardungkiattisak, a resident of Wheaton, Illinois.
Dishes served at the dinner included Ar-Jard, cucumber salad, Nua Dad Dream, a beef dish, Gai Yang, traditional thai chicken, basil eggplant, and Musmun Gai, a spicy chicken and potato dish cooked with peanuts and coconuts. The event was funded by the Buddhadharm Meditation Center, Siam Restaurant, Student Government, the Pongched family, and the Thai Association of Illinois and other businesses.
Photo Caption: Dancers perform at the first annual Thai cultural show Saturday night.
Photo Credit: David O.
Originally published May 19, 1998
Conference panelists examine causes, effects, solutions of Asian economic crisis
Conference panelists examine causes, effects, solutions of Asian economic crisis
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Singaporean and Malaysian Students’ Union and the Hong Kong Students Association (HKSA) at the University of Chicago hosted an economic conference last Saturday afternoon at the Biological Sciences Learning Center.
The conference entitled “The Asian economic crisis: Is There a Solution?” featured several academic and business representatives.
Before the conference, members of the Spartacist League and the Spartacus Youth Club congregated outside the building to protest International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent offer to lend $43 billion dollars to Indonesia to aid the country’s faltering currency, the ruppiah.
IMF offered the loan in an attempt to avert economic collapse, but a representative of the organization said that employees of “U.S. Imperialism” and the CIA should not be involved.
Peter Ho, president of HKSA and a second-year student in the College, said the aim of the conference was not only to increase awareness of the economic problems in East Asian countries and their significance in the global economy, but also to analyze the origins of the crisis and propose plausible solutions.
The first panel discussion featured James Yuen, director of the Hong Kong Trade Council; Jack Chiang, deputy director General of the Tapei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago; and Glenda Wenchi Kao, professor of Finance at DePaul University. Other panelists included Dali Yang, assistant professor of Political Science atthe U of C and Robert Z. Aliber, professor of International Economics and Finance at the Graduate School of Business (GSB),who served as moderator for both panel discussions.
Yuen discussed the continued viability of the Hong Kong market since the 1997 reunification of Hong Kong into Communist China.
He explained how How Kong has continued its free trade system, despite political changes.
According to Yuen, investment and business opportunities still exist in Hong Kong. He said his main concern was currency devaluation and rising price of land and property, but added that Hong Kong’s current economic policy has spelled prosperity.
“Our recovery will be faster than any other country,” he concluded.
According to several other panelists, countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China and Japan have been more seriously affected.
“You really have to have a prudent economic policy. Probably what went wrong in Thailand is that people were getting overzealous with the stock market,” said Kao. She pointed to the fact that in the nineties, property companies were building numerous condominiums and shopping malls, especially in the capital city of Bangkok.
“Banks gave out loans without checking. The end result was that it brought a lot of uncertainty,” she said.
According to Kao, when investors began to realize a possible economic slump, they panicked.
“People were trying to change the currency,” she explained. The baht deeply depreciated in mid-to-late 1997 and Thailand went into a state of economic depression.
“There are no winners in the Asian economic crisis. There are survivors and there are losers. If you run on borrowed money, you run on borrowed time,” added Yang.
“The [first] panel wasn’t as effective because two of the panelists were representatives of the government,” said Jennifer Rim, a fourth-year student in the College.
“It didn’t really address any of the issues that we came here to talk about: hard core social problems [in Asia,]” she said.
The second panel discussion focused more on strategies for economic reform. Kim Young-guen, director of Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea, Mary Ainger, senior Information Analyst at Northern Trust Corporation, and Robert LeFleur, chief Investment Strategies at Northern Trust Corporation, gave the keynote speeches. Other panelists were Professor David E. Altig, adjunct professor of Economics at the U of C, Francesco Caseli, assistant professor of Economics, and David Hummels, assistant professor of Economics.
Ainger discussed the Japanese economy. [S]He said that lower interest rates and excess capacity are not viable solutions for Japan.
According to LeFleur, Asia has had to contend with new factors which affect its prosperity. He discussed new competition, deteriorating trade bubbles, excess capacity and over-leveraged debt.
LeFleur stated that the two keys to recovery for East Asian markets were strong economic growth in the U.S. and positive policy responses. According to LeFleur, countries such as Taiwan and Hong Kong will begin to differentiate themselves as players in the global market.
Originally published Tuesday, May 19, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Singaporean and Malaysian Students’ Union and the Hong Kong Students Association (HKSA) at the University of Chicago hosted an economic conference last Saturday afternoon at the Biological Sciences Learning Center.
The conference entitled “The Asian economic crisis: Is There a Solution?” featured several academic and business representatives.
Before the conference, members of the Spartacist League and the Spartacus Youth Club congregated outside the building to protest International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent offer to lend $43 billion dollars to Indonesia to aid the country’s faltering currency, the ruppiah.
IMF offered the loan in an attempt to avert economic collapse, but a representative of the organization said that employees of “U.S. Imperialism” and the CIA should not be involved.
Peter Ho, president of HKSA and a second-year student in the College, said the aim of the conference was not only to increase awareness of the economic problems in East Asian countries and their significance in the global economy, but also to analyze the origins of the crisis and propose plausible solutions.
The first panel discussion featured James Yuen, director of the Hong Kong Trade Council; Jack Chiang, deputy director General of the Tapei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago; and Glenda Wenchi Kao, professor of Finance at DePaul University. Other panelists included Dali Yang, assistant professor of Political Science atthe U of C and Robert Z. Aliber, professor of International Economics and Finance at the Graduate School of Business (GSB),who served as moderator for both panel discussions.
Yuen discussed the continued viability of the Hong Kong market since the 1997 reunification of Hong Kong into Communist China.
He explained how How Kong has continued its free trade system, despite political changes.
According to Yuen, investment and business opportunities still exist in Hong Kong. He said his main concern was currency devaluation and rising price of land and property, but added that Hong Kong’s current economic policy has spelled prosperity.
“Our recovery will be faster than any other country,” he concluded.
According to several other panelists, countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China and Japan have been more seriously affected.
“You really have to have a prudent economic policy. Probably what went wrong in Thailand is that people were getting overzealous with the stock market,” said Kao. She pointed to the fact that in the nineties, property companies were building numerous condominiums and shopping malls, especially in the capital city of Bangkok.
“Banks gave out loans without checking. The end result was that it brought a lot of uncertainty,” she said.
According to Kao, when investors began to realize a possible economic slump, they panicked.
“People were trying to change the currency,” she explained. The baht deeply depreciated in mid-to-late 1997 and Thailand went into a state of economic depression.
“There are no winners in the Asian economic crisis. There are survivors and there are losers. If you run on borrowed money, you run on borrowed time,” added Yang.
“The [first] panel wasn’t as effective because two of the panelists were representatives of the government,” said Jennifer Rim, a fourth-year student in the College.
“It didn’t really address any of the issues that we came here to talk about: hard core social problems [in Asia,]” she said.
The second panel discussion focused more on strategies for economic reform. Kim Young-guen, director of Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea, Mary Ainger, senior Information Analyst at Northern Trust Corporation, and Robert LeFleur, chief Investment Strategies at Northern Trust Corporation, gave the keynote speeches. Other panelists were Professor David E. Altig, adjunct professor of Economics at the U of C, Francesco Caseli, assistant professor of Economics, and David Hummels, assistant professor of Economics.
Ainger discussed the Japanese economy. [S]He said that lower interest rates and excess capacity are not viable solutions for Japan.
According to LeFleur, Asia has had to contend with new factors which affect its prosperity. He discussed new competition, deteriorating trade bubbles, excess capacity and over-leveraged debt.
LeFleur stated that the two keys to recovery for East Asian markets were strong economic growth in the U.S. and positive policy responses. According to LeFleur, countries such as Taiwan and Hong Kong will begin to differentiate themselves as players in the global market.
Originally published Tuesday, May 19, 1998
Sunday, May 17, 1998
Theology conference encourages spiritualism, racial unity
Theology conference encourages spiritualism, racial unity
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Thirty years ago James Cone, currently of New York’s Union Seminary, burned the midnight oil, like any other intellectual , in order to write.
Cone, who had studied the great Western theologians and thinkers for years in the seminary, decided, however, to break away from what he deemed to be the uninspiring type of publication produced by his peers in order to pen the groundbreaking book entitled Black Theology & Black Power.
This single work opened the floodgates to theological and intellectual discourse across the nation on the discipline of black theology, a previously unheard of concept.
This past weekend marked the first U of C black theology conference held anywhere in the United States. It was hosted by the Martin E. Marty Center and the University of Chicago Diversity School. The conference, organized by Associate Professor of Theology Dwight Hopkins, along with Divinity School students, was entitled “Black Theology as Public Discourse: From Retrospect to Prospect,’ and helped to honor the 30th anniversary of the publication of Cone’s book.
“I think we needed to be better prepared for the overwhelming response,” said Hopkins. “Hotels were not available. People called and said they could not come because there wasn’t a place to stay, particularly students. [This response demonstrates that] black theology is an essential issue.”
Over 2,500 community leaders, students and faculty congregated in Hyde Park in order to discuss, debate, and question black theology and examine black theological issues in relation to every social reality of blacks, both during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and current times.
Cone, Cornel West, professor of Afro-American studies and religion at Harvard University, Manning Marable, professor at Columbia University, and Emilie Townes, of the St. Paul School of Theology, were featured speakers for the conference. The conference also featured workshops and panel discussions.
West spoke Friday, April 3, at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel about the relevance of black rage with black individuals’ intense desire to be considered human, which every individual grapples with in their lives from a theological standpoint.
“[Cone’s] classic … changed the lives of thousands and thousands of young brothers and sisters who were trying to reconcile the times of the Civil Rights movement and their own Christianity,” said West.
Cone spoke on the afternoon of Saturday, April 4 for the annual U of C Aims of Religion Address at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. Cone talked about his awakenings, prompted by the unjust assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
“The Civil Rights and the Black Power movements awakened me from my theological slumber. The curriculum at Garrett and Northwestern did not deal with the questions that black people were asking,” said Cone.
Cone detailed the beginning of his search for his “theological identity.”
“Malcolm taught me how to make theology black and to not be ashamed of my African roots. Martin taught me how to make theology [truly] Christian and to deal with socio-political injustices,” he said.
In that time period Cone declared that his identity was transformed from a Negro theologian to a black theologian.
“As someone who has followed black theology, it has challenged me to be critically engaged with issues of black liberation … and to rethink creatively the foundations of the black theological movement,” said Kazi Joshua, director of organization for the conference, research assistant to Hopkins, and a third-year student in the Divinity School.
Cone went on to discuss the idea that liberation theology must strive to include disenfranchised individuals of other minority groups.
“After the Holocaust, theologians asked whether anti-Semitism was an extractable segment of the C Christianity. [Then] Feminist theologians asked whether patriarchy is so deeply rooted In Christianity. Gay and lesbian theologians are asking whether homophobia is part of the Christianity, third-world theologians are asking the same,” he said.
Cone challenged individuals to explore Christianity, which he says has been used for unjust purposes by white theologians and white ministers.
“Christianity was used to justify slavery, colonialism, and socio-economic injustices for over 500 years. I sometimes wonder how they are not embarrassed with their unwillingness to deal with the issues,” he said.
Cone concluded that individuals should not give up hope. However, Cone believes the “radical edge of theology” should not be dulled or dropped, but rather honed for education, racial healing, and theological discourse.
Originally published Tuesday, April 7, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Thirty years ago James Cone, currently of New York’s Union Seminary, burned the midnight oil, like any other intellectual , in order to write.
Cone, who had studied the great Western theologians and thinkers for years in the seminary, decided, however, to break away from what he deemed to be the uninspiring type of publication produced by his peers in order to pen the groundbreaking book entitled Black Theology & Black Power.
This single work opened the floodgates to theological and intellectual discourse across the nation on the discipline of black theology, a previously unheard of concept.
This past weekend marked the first U of C black theology conference held anywhere in the United States. It was hosted by the Martin E. Marty Center and the University of Chicago Diversity School. The conference, organized by Associate Professor of Theology Dwight Hopkins, along with Divinity School students, was entitled “Black Theology as Public Discourse: From Retrospect to Prospect,’ and helped to honor the 30th anniversary of the publication of Cone’s book.
“I think we needed to be better prepared for the overwhelming response,” said Hopkins. “Hotels were not available. People called and said they could not come because there wasn’t a place to stay, particularly students. [This response demonstrates that] black theology is an essential issue.”
Over 2,500 community leaders, students and faculty congregated in Hyde Park in order to discuss, debate, and question black theology and examine black theological issues in relation to every social reality of blacks, both during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and current times.
Cone, Cornel West, professor of Afro-American studies and religion at Harvard University, Manning Marable, professor at Columbia University, and Emilie Townes, of the St. Paul School of Theology, were featured speakers for the conference. The conference also featured workshops and panel discussions.
West spoke Friday, April 3, at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel about the relevance of black rage with black individuals’ intense desire to be considered human, which every individual grapples with in their lives from a theological standpoint.
“[Cone’s] classic … changed the lives of thousands and thousands of young brothers and sisters who were trying to reconcile the times of the Civil Rights movement and their own Christianity,” said West.
Cone spoke on the afternoon of Saturday, April 4 for the annual U of C Aims of Religion Address at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. Cone talked about his awakenings, prompted by the unjust assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
“The Civil Rights and the Black Power movements awakened me from my theological slumber. The curriculum at Garrett and Northwestern did not deal with the questions that black people were asking,” said Cone.
Cone detailed the beginning of his search for his “theological identity.”
“Malcolm taught me how to make theology black and to not be ashamed of my African roots. Martin taught me how to make theology [truly] Christian and to deal with socio-political injustices,” he said.
In that time period Cone declared that his identity was transformed from a Negro theologian to a black theologian.
“As someone who has followed black theology, it has challenged me to be critically engaged with issues of black liberation … and to rethink creatively the foundations of the black theological movement,” said Kazi Joshua, director of organization for the conference, research assistant to Hopkins, and a third-year student in the Divinity School.
Cone went on to discuss the idea that liberation theology must strive to include disenfranchised individuals of other minority groups.
“After the Holocaust, theologians asked whether anti-Semitism was an extractable segment of the C Christianity. [Then] Feminist theologians asked whether patriarchy is so deeply rooted In Christianity. Gay and lesbian theologians are asking whether homophobia is part of the Christianity, third-world theologians are asking the same,” he said.
Cone challenged individuals to explore Christianity, which he says has been used for unjust purposes by white theologians and white ministers.
“Christianity was used to justify slavery, colonialism, and socio-economic injustices for over 500 years. I sometimes wonder how they are not embarrassed with their unwillingness to deal with the issues,” he said.
Cone concluded that individuals should not give up hope. However, Cone believes the “radical edge of theology” should not be dulled or dropped, but rather honed for education, racial healing, and theological discourse.
Originally published Tuesday, April 7, 1998
Tuesday, May 05, 1998
Klaus delivers third annual Stigler lecture
Klaus delivers third annual Stigler lecture
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
In the late 1980s, Czechoslovakia was still under Soviet rule. Those in power viewed the theory and practice of free market economics to be irrelevant or even dangerous. During this epoch, Vaclav Klaus came to visit the University of Chicago.
After years of secretly reading and discussing the ideas of famed Chicago economists such as George Stigler and Milton Friedman, Klaus had come full circle. Shortly after this visit, Klaus was ready to put economy theory into practice in his own country after 40 years of Communist rule.
Although Klaus was never formally trained in Chicago, he enthusiastically claims wherever he goes that the strong spiritual connection is just as important as a degree
Klaus, former prime minister of the Czech Republic and chair of the Civic Democratic Party, spoke to a full crowd at Mandel Hall in the Reynolds Club on Monday, May 4.
President Hugo Sonnenschein and Robert Hamada, dean on the Graduate School of Business (GSB) made the opening remarks. Klaus’ speech, entitled “The Preaching of George Stigler, Communism and Its Transformation” was the U of C’s third annual George Stigler lecture.
Klaus addressed the issue of economic reform in the post-Communist Czech Republic.
“I do not believe in the possibility of a [totally] smooth economic transition. We are not in a brave new world of perfect markets or perfect government,” Klaus said.
“The market economy flourishes now … We know that the best way to discourage monopolistic practices is to encourage domestic and foreign investors.”
In a light moment, Klaus joked, “There is an American expression, there is no free lunch, and there is no free reform [either,]” he said.
Klaus detailed the difficulties of transforming a Communist state into a democracy. “The non-zero cost of reform meant that there was a heavy price to be paid,” he said.
According to Klaus, after 40 years of administered prices under Communism, the return to a normal pricing system in the Czech Republic did not go smoothly. He felt it was necessary to rapidly privatize as many businesses as possible during the beginning of his tenure as prime minister.
Klaus related the story to his audience: “In the early days, [in] 1990, American businessmen came knocking on my door asking, “When do you plan on privatizing Czech Telecom, the country’s telephone company?”
Klaus explained that every single business, including the first grocery store and the first hairdresser, needed immediate attention in the process of privatization. He stated that Western investors at the time did not understand how basic changes had to be implemented.
The second stage of economic reform is more classical. In the years to come, Klaus believes that more attention will be paid to privatization of banks and Telecom.
“The citizens expect a visible, tangible change,” said Klaus.
“In the past few years, it is difficult to explain the gradual process of transformation and implementation of a viable economy in the Czech Republic,” he said.
Klaus discussed the importance of economic theory in the revitalization of the Czech economy. “Without theories, it would be a hopeless endeavor,” he said.
Klaus praised Stigler’s economic theory and social scientific research. He stated that Stigler’s ideas have made an important impact for the international community.
Attendees enjoyed the lecture.
“I think he is a very interesting figure. He stands for George Stigler’s ideas and represents the importance of the market and the role of the government,” said Carlos Perez-Verdia, a fourth-year graduate student in Economics. Perez-Verdia went on to add that Klaus has demonstrated to the world that economic theory put into practice does work.
“I think Vaclav Klaus is a great politician because he made a huge socio-economic transformation [of his government.] I admire his respect of individual freedom, freedom of ideas, and democratic rule,” said Tomas Serebrisky, a third year Economics graduate student.
“I research capital markets in central Europe. He is the one who transformed the market in the Czech Republic. In history, he is a very important person,” said Marnie Gracey, a first-year student in the GSB.
Klaus has a degree from the Prague School of Economics, where he studied international economic relationships and economic trade. He also studied Economics in Italy and at Cornell University.
Former George J. Stigler lecture speakers include George Schulz and Milton Friedman. The event is sponsored by the George G. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State. Funds for speakers’ honorariums are provided by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Inc.
Originally published Tuesday, May 5, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
In the late 1980s, Czechoslovakia was still under Soviet rule. Those in power viewed the theory and practice of free market economics to be irrelevant or even dangerous. During this epoch, Vaclav Klaus came to visit the University of Chicago.
After years of secretly reading and discussing the ideas of famed Chicago economists such as George Stigler and Milton Friedman, Klaus had come full circle. Shortly after this visit, Klaus was ready to put economy theory into practice in his own country after 40 years of Communist rule.
Although Klaus was never formally trained in Chicago, he enthusiastically claims wherever he goes that the strong spiritual connection is just as important as a degree
Klaus, former prime minister of the Czech Republic and chair of the Civic Democratic Party, spoke to a full crowd at Mandel Hall in the Reynolds Club on Monday, May 4.
President Hugo Sonnenschein and Robert Hamada, dean on the Graduate School of Business (GSB) made the opening remarks. Klaus’ speech, entitled “The Preaching of George Stigler, Communism and Its Transformation” was the U of C’s third annual George Stigler lecture.
Klaus addressed the issue of economic reform in the post-Communist Czech Republic.
“I do not believe in the possibility of a [totally] smooth economic transition. We are not in a brave new world of perfect markets or perfect government,” Klaus said.
“The market economy flourishes now … We know that the best way to discourage monopolistic practices is to encourage domestic and foreign investors.”
In a light moment, Klaus joked, “There is an American expression, there is no free lunch, and there is no free reform [either,]” he said.
Klaus detailed the difficulties of transforming a Communist state into a democracy. “The non-zero cost of reform meant that there was a heavy price to be paid,” he said.
According to Klaus, after 40 years of administered prices under Communism, the return to a normal pricing system in the Czech Republic did not go smoothly. He felt it was necessary to rapidly privatize as many businesses as possible during the beginning of his tenure as prime minister.
Klaus related the story to his audience: “In the early days, [in] 1990, American businessmen came knocking on my door asking, “When do you plan on privatizing Czech Telecom, the country’s telephone company?”
Klaus explained that every single business, including the first grocery store and the first hairdresser, needed immediate attention in the process of privatization. He stated that Western investors at the time did not understand how basic changes had to be implemented.
The second stage of economic reform is more classical. In the years to come, Klaus believes that more attention will be paid to privatization of banks and Telecom.
“The citizens expect a visible, tangible change,” said Klaus.
“In the past few years, it is difficult to explain the gradual process of transformation and implementation of a viable economy in the Czech Republic,” he said.
Klaus discussed the importance of economic theory in the revitalization of the Czech economy. “Without theories, it would be a hopeless endeavor,” he said.
Klaus praised Stigler’s economic theory and social scientific research. He stated that Stigler’s ideas have made an important impact for the international community.
Attendees enjoyed the lecture.
“I think he is a very interesting figure. He stands for George Stigler’s ideas and represents the importance of the market and the role of the government,” said Carlos Perez-Verdia, a fourth-year graduate student in Economics. Perez-Verdia went on to add that Klaus has demonstrated to the world that economic theory put into practice does work.
“I think Vaclav Klaus is a great politician because he made a huge socio-economic transformation [of his government.] I admire his respect of individual freedom, freedom of ideas, and democratic rule,” said Tomas Serebrisky, a third year Economics graduate student.
“I research capital markets in central Europe. He is the one who transformed the market in the Czech Republic. In history, he is a very important person,” said Marnie Gracey, a first-year student in the GSB.
Klaus has a degree from the Prague School of Economics, where he studied international economic relationships and economic trade. He also studied Economics in Italy and at Cornell University.
Former George J. Stigler lecture speakers include George Schulz and Milton Friedman. The event is sponsored by the George G. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State. Funds for speakers’ honorariums are provided by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Inc.
Originally published Tuesday, May 5, 1998
Saturday, April 18, 1998
Panel addresses economics, human rights, education
Panel addresses economics, human rights, education
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Saturday morning, Gary Becker, Nobel Laureate in Economics and a professor of Economics at the U of C, and Amartya Sen, Lamont University Professor and professor of Philosophy and Economics at Harvard University, debated on the role of the economist and economic scientific theory in modern democracy. Hugo Sonnenschein, president of the University, moderated the event.
Becker addressed crime and education, which he feels are two areas of research which more economists should address in economic science theory.
“In modern economics, [it is believed that] you either contribute to elimination of poverty or continuation of poverty or continuation of poverty. You either contribute to a [prospering] economy or a stagnant economy,” Becker said. “The purpose of the economist is to eradicate poverty.”
Neoclassical economists have often been criticized for not understanding that economic theory may not be applicable in practice, especially for third world countries.
Sen, one such critic, challenged Becker’s belief that neoclassical economic theory does not necessarily work when applied to developing societies. He argued that in a country like India, where the collective family unit is more valuable than the individual, the focus of neoclassical economic theory may not work.
“It is assumed that Becker’s theory works very well in economics,” he said. He concluded that Becker needs to broaden his theory. “The general model is rich, but it could be richer.”
“The debate wasn’t contentious enough. Their views weren’t divergent enough for a real debate,” said David Zanni, a fourth-year student in the College.
A senior at Stanford, Olivia Samad, disagreed. “I wasn’t bothered when there wasn’t a huge debate. How economics is related to modern democracy is an issue that economists don’t talk enough about,” she said. Samad went on to add that Becker and Sen and other economists must challenge themselves to find solutions to gap of economic theory and practice.
The human rights panel featured Abdullai Ahmed An Na’im, professor of Law and fellow of the Law and Religion program at Emory Law School, Peter Edelman, professor of Law at Georgetown Law and Jacqueline Bhabha, director of International Studies, Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. Martha Nussbaum served as moderator.
The human rights panelists discussed a range of topics including the human rights of children, low-income individuals , and immigrants in the U.S. Bhabha brought up the issue of illegal alien minors who, in the U.S., are kept in detention centers for months and even years at a time.
According to Bhabha, these individuals are not allowed basic human rights such as a fair trial or adequate medical coverage.
“Xenophobia is [used] to determine policy, at least, to a certain extent,” Bhabha said. She went on to state that “effective mechanisms to give [these] children a voice is not in place.”
All the panelists discussed how the U.S. legal system and government policy must be changed in order to address the needs of all citizens and non-citizens in the United States.
“I was impressed by Peter Edelman and his love for children. We should promote politics that would bring children as true citizens,” said Francis Addo, a junior at the University of Iowa.
The Education panel featured Kwame Anthony Appiah, professor of Afro-American studies and Philosophy, Derek Bok, President Emeritus and 300th Anniversary Professor at Harvard University, Hanna Gray, President Emeritus of the University of Chicago and Harry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service professor, Walter E. Massey, President of Morehouse College and Charles Vest, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“On most college campuses, there isn’t a good consensus on what makes a [good] citizen,” said Bok.
The three-hour panel discussed a variety of topics in academia.
“I’ve had a long history of being an elementary school teacher. I’m surprised that the panel didn’t address primary school education. The idea of maintaining a strong, free public school is an integral part of a democracy and I wished they could have discussed the issue,” said Eileen Ochler, an elder hostel member of Hastings, Michigan.
Originally published April 14, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Saturday morning, Gary Becker, Nobel Laureate in Economics and a professor of Economics at the U of C, and Amartya Sen, Lamont University Professor and professor of Philosophy and Economics at Harvard University, debated on the role of the economist and economic scientific theory in modern democracy. Hugo Sonnenschein, president of the University, moderated the event.
Becker addressed crime and education, which he feels are two areas of research which more economists should address in economic science theory.
“In modern economics, [it is believed that] you either contribute to elimination of poverty or continuation of poverty or continuation of poverty. You either contribute to a [prospering] economy or a stagnant economy,” Becker said. “The purpose of the economist is to eradicate poverty.”
Neoclassical economists have often been criticized for not understanding that economic theory may not be applicable in practice, especially for third world countries.
Sen, one such critic, challenged Becker’s belief that neoclassical economic theory does not necessarily work when applied to developing societies. He argued that in a country like India, where the collective family unit is more valuable than the individual, the focus of neoclassical economic theory may not work.
“It is assumed that Becker’s theory works very well in economics,” he said. He concluded that Becker needs to broaden his theory. “The general model is rich, but it could be richer.”
“The debate wasn’t contentious enough. Their views weren’t divergent enough for a real debate,” said David Zanni, a fourth-year student in the College.
A senior at Stanford, Olivia Samad, disagreed. “I wasn’t bothered when there wasn’t a huge debate. How economics is related to modern democracy is an issue that economists don’t talk enough about,” she said. Samad went on to add that Becker and Sen and other economists must challenge themselves to find solutions to gap of economic theory and practice.
The human rights panel featured Abdullai Ahmed An Na’im, professor of Law and fellow of the Law and Religion program at Emory Law School, Peter Edelman, professor of Law at Georgetown Law and Jacqueline Bhabha, director of International Studies, Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. Martha Nussbaum served as moderator.
The human rights panelists discussed a range of topics including the human rights of children, low-income individuals , and immigrants in the U.S. Bhabha brought up the issue of illegal alien minors who, in the U.S., are kept in detention centers for months and even years at a time.
According to Bhabha, these individuals are not allowed basic human rights such as a fair trial or adequate medical coverage.
“Xenophobia is [used] to determine policy, at least, to a certain extent,” Bhabha said. She went on to state that “effective mechanisms to give [these] children a voice is not in place.”
All the panelists discussed how the U.S. legal system and government policy must be changed in order to address the needs of all citizens and non-citizens in the United States.
“I was impressed by Peter Edelman and his love for children. We should promote politics that would bring children as true citizens,” said Francis Addo, a junior at the University of Iowa.
The Education panel featured Kwame Anthony Appiah, professor of Afro-American studies and Philosophy, Derek Bok, President Emeritus and 300th Anniversary Professor at Harvard University, Hanna Gray, President Emeritus of the University of Chicago and Harry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service professor, Walter E. Massey, President of Morehouse College and Charles Vest, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“On most college campuses, there isn’t a good consensus on what makes a [good] citizen,” said Bok.
The three-hour panel discussed a variety of topics in academia.
“I’ve had a long history of being an elementary school teacher. I’m surprised that the panel didn’t address primary school education. The idea of maintaining a strong, free public school is an integral part of a democracy and I wished they could have discussed the issue,” said Eileen Ochler, an elder hostel member of Hastings, Michigan.
Originally published April 14, 1998
Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Aristide, Campbell present visions for democracy, Chicago Maroon
Aristide, Campbell present visions for democracy
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell were featured in the closing plenary session of The Challenge of Modern Democracy, last Saturday, April 11.
The two political figures discussed their respective visions of Democracy for the 21st Century. Campell spoke about her role as a first female prime minister. A true democracy, according to Campbel, must strive to include the opinions of women and men as well as people of all ethnicities.
“What is a democratic culture? It is a culture where the people are sovereign. Democracy has been a moral powerful force,” said Campbell.
Campbell referred to a comment made by Martha Nussbaum, professor of Law at the U of C, who spoke at a previous panel: “In ancient Athens, our first democracy, only 10 percent of people were considered citizens.” Campbell went on to contrast ancient Greece to modern day Canada.
“In Canada, the Chinese did not get the right to vote until 1949, Aboriginal people did not get the right until the late 1950s.” Campbell cautioned individuals to keep history in perspective when looking at the past events of a democratic society. Campbell commented that in the past certain ethnic, religious, cultural groups, and women have been denied their rights as citizens in democratic countries, including Canada and the United States.
During Campbell’s time as prime minister, she held conferences in order to hear diverse viewpoint and opinion of the Canadian people on issues as varied as cultural issues and gun laws.
“People are not abstractions. They are people of flesh-and-blood who have to live with the laws that I formulate. Democracy should be something they can believe in,” she said.
Campbell’s vision of democratic rule included a smaller government.
During her short tenure as Prime Minister, Campbell, a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, cut the size of the federal cabinet by one third and restructured government ministries to make them more responsive “to the policy needs of the 1990s,” as stated in a conference press release.
Campbell also expressed the importance of policy attention to issues of abortion, birth control, and sexual assault.
Following Campbell, Aristide discussed the challenges of ruling Haiti, being exiled during a coup d'état and then returning to finish his five-year term as president of Haiti.
During Aristide’s first seven months in office his government pursued a program of change based on the principles of participation, transparence and justice.
Aristide discussed the importance of democracy in a country such as Haiti that has been afflicted by despotic rulers.” According to Aristide, Haitian citizens have an average 85 percent literacy rate and an average income is less than $1,000. At the same time, he does not feel that it these statistics are a reason to give up hope or believe that democracy cannot effect change.
“Our greatest challenge is to look objectively at the gap existing between the rich and the poor. Democracy is for the people. This means food, clean water, education and health care. These are basic human rights.”
After completing his five year term as President, Aristide founded the Aristide Foundation for Democracy. Under Aristide’s leadership the Foundation is dedicated to deepening the roots of Haiti’s democracy by opening avenues of participation to all Haitians. The foundation has three major program areas: sponsoring forums and public dialogues on the issues such as justice, land reform, and the economic future of the nation, supporting literacy programs in Haiti, and fostering community-based initiatives.
“I think Caribbean politicians should look towards Aristide as an example of the kind of politician that Caribbean countries need. He cares for the people and stands up for them. Aristide stands up for what he believes in,” said Sherlina Nageer, a fourth-year student in the College.
Another student felt disappointed with one of Aristide’s comments. “During the question and answer period, an audience member asked Aristide and Campbell what their greatest political wish was for their country, and Aristide wished that the U.S. would be ‘nice’ to Haiti.
“I think he depends too much on the U.S., but at the same time it is hard to criticize him for this economic dependence which is somewhat inevitable,” she said.
The two-and-a-half hour event drew hundreds of students. Many attendees commented they enjoyed the panel discussion.
Aristide has studied in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Israel. He completed a post-graduate degree in psychology at the State University in Haiti.
Kim Campbell was educated at the University of British Columbia and the London School of Economics. In 1996, Campbell was named Consul General for Canada in Los Angeles.
Photo Caption: Renato Mariotti (l). one of the organizers of the Challenge for Modern Democracy Conference, introduces the conference’s closing plenary session, featuring Kim Campbell (c), former Prime Minister of Canada, and Jean-Bertrand Aristide (r), former President of Haiti.
Originally published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell were featured in the closing plenary session of The Challenge of Modern Democracy, last Saturday, April 11.
The two political figures discussed their respective visions of Democracy for the 21st Century. Campell spoke about her role as a first female prime minister. A true democracy, according to Campbel, must strive to include the opinions of women and men as well as people of all ethnicities.
“What is a democratic culture? It is a culture where the people are sovereign. Democracy has been a moral powerful force,” said Campbell.
Campbell referred to a comment made by Martha Nussbaum, professor of Law at the U of C, who spoke at a previous panel: “In ancient Athens, our first democracy, only 10 percent of people were considered citizens.” Campbell went on to contrast ancient Greece to modern day Canada.
“In Canada, the Chinese did not get the right to vote until 1949, Aboriginal people did not get the right until the late 1950s.” Campbell cautioned individuals to keep history in perspective when looking at the past events of a democratic society. Campbell commented that in the past certain ethnic, religious, cultural groups, and women have been denied their rights as citizens in democratic countries, including Canada and the United States.
During Campbell’s time as prime minister, she held conferences in order to hear diverse viewpoint and opinion of the Canadian people on issues as varied as cultural issues and gun laws.
“People are not abstractions. They are people of flesh-and-blood who have to live with the laws that I formulate. Democracy should be something they can believe in,” she said.
Campbell’s vision of democratic rule included a smaller government.
During her short tenure as Prime Minister, Campbell, a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, cut the size of the federal cabinet by one third and restructured government ministries to make them more responsive “to the policy needs of the 1990s,” as stated in a conference press release.
Campbell also expressed the importance of policy attention to issues of abortion, birth control, and sexual assault.
Following Campbell, Aristide discussed the challenges of ruling Haiti, being exiled during a coup d'état and then returning to finish his five-year term as president of Haiti.
During Aristide’s first seven months in office his government pursued a program of change based on the principles of participation, transparence and justice.
Aristide discussed the importance of democracy in a country such as Haiti that has been afflicted by despotic rulers.” According to Aristide, Haitian citizens have an average 85 percent literacy rate and an average income is less than $1,000. At the same time, he does not feel that it these statistics are a reason to give up hope or believe that democracy cannot effect change.
“Our greatest challenge is to look objectively at the gap existing between the rich and the poor. Democracy is for the people. This means food, clean water, education and health care. These are basic human rights.”
After completing his five year term as President, Aristide founded the Aristide Foundation for Democracy. Under Aristide’s leadership the Foundation is dedicated to deepening the roots of Haiti’s democracy by opening avenues of participation to all Haitians. The foundation has three major program areas: sponsoring forums and public dialogues on the issues such as justice, land reform, and the economic future of the nation, supporting literacy programs in Haiti, and fostering community-based initiatives.
“I think Caribbean politicians should look towards Aristide as an example of the kind of politician that Caribbean countries need. He cares for the people and stands up for them. Aristide stands up for what he believes in,” said Sherlina Nageer, a fourth-year student in the College.
Another student felt disappointed with one of Aristide’s comments. “During the question and answer period, an audience member asked Aristide and Campbell what their greatest political wish was for their country, and Aristide wished that the U.S. would be ‘nice’ to Haiti.
“I think he depends too much on the U.S., but at the same time it is hard to criticize him for this economic dependence which is somewhat inevitable,” she said.
The two-and-a-half hour event drew hundreds of students. Many attendees commented they enjoyed the panel discussion.
Aristide has studied in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Israel. He completed a post-graduate degree in psychology at the State University in Haiti.
Kim Campbell was educated at the University of British Columbia and the London School of Economics. In 1996, Campbell was named Consul General for Canada in Los Angeles.
Photo Caption: Renato Mariotti (l). one of the organizers of the Challenge for Modern Democracy Conference, introduces the conference’s closing plenary session, featuring Kim Campbell (c), former Prime Minister of Canada, and Jean-Bertrand Aristide (r), former President of Haiti.
Originally published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Persian Cultural Society celebrates Noruz, Chicago Maroon
Persian Cultural Society celebrates Noruz
Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Persian Cultural Society at The University of Chicago hosted the first annual Persian New Year Celebration or Noruz, on Saturday, April 11 at Hutchinson Commons. Noruz is the Persian term for ‘new day.’
Dr. Heshmat Moayyad, professor of Persian literature in the College, gave a short lecture on Noruz.
Approximately 220 students attended the dinner which was catered by Reza’s restaurant.
Noruz, of Zoroastrian origin, a pre-Islamic religion, has been celebrated in Iran for over 2,500 years, said Moayyad during his lecture. According to Moayyad, Noruz is a cultural family affair celebrated in Iran. “Noruz does not bring divisions or conflict between different cultures [in Iran], but rather it brings these religious groups together,” he said.
For Iranians, Noruz ceremonies are representative of the never ending cycle of rebirth. In order to celebrate Noruzm new clothes are bought and houses are cleaned to welcome the new year. The event, which lasts for 13 days, traditionally starts on the first day of spring.
“Noruz has always been celebrated in my family. It’s a joyous time. It represents a new beginning for each year. During Noruz, there are always big parties and celebrations among the Iranian community. Seeing as this is the first year that the Persian Cultural Society has been active, we thought this should be our big event of the year,” said second-year student in the College Jahan Moslehi, president of the Persian Cultural Society.
In honor of the Persian New Year, members of the Persian Cultural Society set up a haftseen, a table set up with specific items symbolic of the new year. Each table includes seven articles, all of which begin with the “s”: sporouts (sabez), pudding (samanu), apples (seeb), the sweet dry fruit of a service tree (senjed), garlic (ser), sumac berries (sonaq), and vinegar (sekeh). According to ancient folklore, these items symbolize the triumph of good over evil.
“Items in the haftseen are symbolic of fertility and happiness, explained Moayyad. Other objects placed on the haftseen include coins representing prosperity, painted eggs, symbolic of the Creation, and candles representing each child in the family.
“I think we surprised a lot of people as to how smoothly the event went. We were truly honored to have Dr. Heshmat Moayyad. The Persian Cultural Society would like very much to have a close relationship with the Persian Department at the U of C in the coming years,” said Moslehi.
Featured dishes for the buffet style dinner included chen geh, a tender beef dish, koubideh, a spiced beef dish, chicken kebabs, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, kasha-bademajan, a traditional eggplant dish, grilled vegetables, pita bread, and mastokhiar, a side-dish composed of yogurt and cucumbers.
Student government gave a small subsidy for the event while the Arab Union, local businesses and restaurants also helped sponsor the dinner.
Originally Published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Persian Cultural Society at The University of Chicago hosted the first annual Persian New Year Celebration or Noruz, on Saturday, April 11 at Hutchinson Commons. Noruz is the Persian term for ‘new day.’
Dr. Heshmat Moayyad, professor of Persian literature in the College, gave a short lecture on Noruz.
Approximately 220 students attended the dinner which was catered by Reza’s restaurant.
Noruz, of Zoroastrian origin, a pre-Islamic religion, has been celebrated in Iran for over 2,500 years, said Moayyad during his lecture. According to Moayyad, Noruz is a cultural family affair celebrated in Iran. “Noruz does not bring divisions or conflict between different cultures [in Iran], but rather it brings these religious groups together,” he said.
For Iranians, Noruz ceremonies are representative of the never ending cycle of rebirth. In order to celebrate Noruzm new clothes are bought and houses are cleaned to welcome the new year. The event, which lasts for 13 days, traditionally starts on the first day of spring.
“Noruz has always been celebrated in my family. It’s a joyous time. It represents a new beginning for each year. During Noruz, there are always big parties and celebrations among the Iranian community. Seeing as this is the first year that the Persian Cultural Society has been active, we thought this should be our big event of the year,” said second-year student in the College Jahan Moslehi, president of the Persian Cultural Society.
In honor of the Persian New Year, members of the Persian Cultural Society set up a haftseen, a table set up with specific items symbolic of the new year. Each table includes seven articles, all of which begin with the “s”: sporouts (sabez), pudding (samanu), apples (seeb), the sweet dry fruit of a service tree (senjed), garlic (ser), sumac berries (sonaq), and vinegar (sekeh). According to ancient folklore, these items symbolize the triumph of good over evil.
“Items in the haftseen are symbolic of fertility and happiness, explained Moayyad. Other objects placed on the haftseen include coins representing prosperity, painted eggs, symbolic of the Creation, and candles representing each child in the family.
“I think we surprised a lot of people as to how smoothly the event went. We were truly honored to have Dr. Heshmat Moayyad. The Persian Cultural Society would like very much to have a close relationship with the Persian Department at the U of C in the coming years,” said Moslehi.
Featured dishes for the buffet style dinner included chen geh, a tender beef dish, koubideh, a spiced beef dish, chicken kebabs, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, kasha-bademajan, a traditional eggplant dish, grilled vegetables, pita bread, and mastokhiar, a side-dish composed of yogurt and cucumbers.
Student government gave a small subsidy for the event while the Arab Union, local businesses and restaurants also helped sponsor the dinner.
Originally Published Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Tuesday, April 07, 1998
Conference addresses blacks in business
Conference addresses blacks in business
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The African American MBA Association (AAMBA), hed the 13th annual DuSable Business Conference April 3-5. The event was entitled “Managing Ourselves: The role of image and Perception in Defining Our Success.”
Over 300 U of C Graduate School of Business (GSB) students, alumni, faculty and Chicagoland business men and women attended lectures and panel discussions that addressed the role of blacks in the domestic and international business world.
“This is probably the most successful conference so far,” said Renee Hagins, a DuSable conference co-chair and MBA/MPP ‘98. “From the staff, faculty, and students we have had a great response. Even though AAMBA does not have a large number of people as a student body, we have really managed to come together, and I think that says a lot about the importance of this conference and the importance of diversity in the business world.”
Hagins, Ruby Davidson, and Teresa Halsey, second-year students in the GSB, served as the co-chairs for the DuSable conference. They stated that the conference serves as a vehicle to explore issues such as racism and limited business opportunities that affect African-American professionals and the community at-large.
An awards ceremony was held Friday evening, April 3, at the DuSable Museum to honor the GSB Alumni if 1998. Arthur Turnball, Class of ‘26, the first black to get an MBA from the U of C, Maurice Baptiste, Class of ‘40, and Joseph Southern, Class of ‘45 were presented with awards. Lionel Wallace, Class of ‘42, was posthumously awarded.
“I am awestruck that we were able to find the first four black minority alumni at the GSB,” said Rodney Tyson, president of AAMBA and a second-year student in the GSB. He went on to add that in the first half of the centurry, corporations or firms “did not allow the opportunity for diversity” and that these four 1998 GSB alumni epitomize success even when the opportunities were not necessarily available to them.
Connie Evans, President of the woman’s Self-Employment Project (WSEP), Thomas Jones, vice chair and director of the Travelers Group and chief executive officer of Smith Barney Assets Management in 1997, and J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. were also honored with awards.
Jones shared insights with the audience in recounting his successful career. “Most of us don’t have the opportunity , whatever the task is, to do it in an excellent way,” he said. Jones went on to state that operating at a level of 95 percent versus 100 percent in work is crucial in ones level of success.
“If you get to where I am 27 years down the road, the difference between 95 percent and 100 percent make a difference. Others didn’t even perceive hwo the race was being lost,” he said. According to Jones, character, continuous personal self-growth, and lots of practice are also instrumental in success in any professional field.
Evans, who has 17 years of experience in developing grassroots programs, discussed the importance of economic self-sufficiency for women. “We don’t just help women to find jobs but tto create jobs of their own,” he said.
The conference continued on Saturday, April 4providing a full day of workshops, lectures, and award ceremonies downtown at the Graduate School of Business’ Gleacher Center and the Sheraton hotel.
Workshops included such topics as business ethics, black enterpreneurship, and the role of the lobal marketplace for blacks.
One topic at the Global Marketplace workshop was President Bill Clinton’s recent visit to several African nations and recent efforts to facilitate the growth of these nations.
Marvin Zonis, a professor of International Economy at the GSB, discussed the importance of starting out from an area and/or geographic location where [there] is less competition and building the way up.
“Seven or eight countries in Africa will be growing and profitable in the years to come,” he said.
Zonis stressed the students and recent GSB graduates can find opportunities to network and start the foundation for international business opportunities in the future. “David Greer [a first-year student at the GSB] recently left for Cairo, Egypt, another country that is underutilized [in the current market.]”
Greer, who was featured in the February issue of the GSB alumni magazine, aims to own his international business one day.
During the GSB scholarship luncheon, several Hyde Park high school students were honored with Ronald H. Brown awards. Rae Lewis Thornton, a Chicago-based AIDS activist, spoke at the scholarship luncheon. Lewis-Thornton discussed the importance of self-knowledge and personal development.
“She talked about cards, houses and dating successful men, which used to be a priority for her,” said Dale Caldwell, a senior manager at Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group and national director of diversity recruiting for the GSB and Wharton School of Business.
“This is the biggest limiting factor as African-Americans, who are too focused on our own success without thinking about where we have come from and the community as a whole,” he said.
For the evening dinner banquet, Edward Lewis, CEO & Publisher of Essence Magazine, gave the keynote address. Lewis touched on his expansion of Essence Inc. and the importance of support for black-owned businesses.
“Mr. Lewis’ speech was excellent. It was both motivating and inspiring to young entrepreneurs,” said Sherman Galbreath, a fourth-year student in the College.
On the morning of Sunday, April 5, a GSB alumni Brunch was held at the Sheraton. Most attendees and AAMBA members felt the conference could be improved by having a more diverse group of attendees.
“I would like to see other groups attend the conference as well including Hispanics and Asian-Americans. In order for us to succeed, we need to know how to relate to each other,” said Johnnie Watson III, a first-year student in the GSB.
Originally published Tuesday, April 7, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The African American MBA Association (AAMBA), hed the 13th annual DuSable Business Conference April 3-5. The event was entitled “Managing Ourselves: The role of image and Perception in Defining Our Success.”
Over 300 U of C Graduate School of Business (GSB) students, alumni, faculty and Chicagoland business men and women attended lectures and panel discussions that addressed the role of blacks in the domestic and international business world.
“This is probably the most successful conference so far,” said Renee Hagins, a DuSable conference co-chair and MBA/MPP ‘98. “From the staff, faculty, and students we have had a great response. Even though AAMBA does not have a large number of people as a student body, we have really managed to come together, and I think that says a lot about the importance of this conference and the importance of diversity in the business world.”
Hagins, Ruby Davidson, and Teresa Halsey, second-year students in the GSB, served as the co-chairs for the DuSable conference. They stated that the conference serves as a vehicle to explore issues such as racism and limited business opportunities that affect African-American professionals and the community at-large.
An awards ceremony was held Friday evening, April 3, at the DuSable Museum to honor the GSB Alumni if 1998. Arthur Turnball, Class of ‘26, the first black to get an MBA from the U of C, Maurice Baptiste, Class of ‘40, and Joseph Southern, Class of ‘45 were presented with awards. Lionel Wallace, Class of ‘42, was posthumously awarded.
“I am awestruck that we were able to find the first four black minority alumni at the GSB,” said Rodney Tyson, president of AAMBA and a second-year student in the GSB. He went on to add that in the first half of the centurry, corporations or firms “did not allow the opportunity for diversity” and that these four 1998 GSB alumni epitomize success even when the opportunities were not necessarily available to them.
Connie Evans, President of the woman’s Self-Employment Project (WSEP), Thomas Jones, vice chair and director of the Travelers Group and chief executive officer of Smith Barney Assets Management in 1997, and J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. were also honored with awards.
Jones shared insights with the audience in recounting his successful career. “Most of us don’t have the opportunity , whatever the task is, to do it in an excellent way,” he said. Jones went on to state that operating at a level of 95 percent versus 100 percent in work is crucial in ones level of success.
“If you get to where I am 27 years down the road, the difference between 95 percent and 100 percent make a difference. Others didn’t even perceive hwo the race was being lost,” he said. According to Jones, character, continuous personal self-growth, and lots of practice are also instrumental in success in any professional field.
Evans, who has 17 years of experience in developing grassroots programs, discussed the importance of economic self-sufficiency for women. “We don’t just help women to find jobs but tto create jobs of their own,” he said.
The conference continued on Saturday, April 4providing a full day of workshops, lectures, and award ceremonies downtown at the Graduate School of Business’ Gleacher Center and the Sheraton hotel.
Workshops included such topics as business ethics, black enterpreneurship, and the role of the lobal marketplace for blacks.
One topic at the Global Marketplace workshop was President Bill Clinton’s recent visit to several African nations and recent efforts to facilitate the growth of these nations.
Marvin Zonis, a professor of International Economy at the GSB, discussed the importance of starting out from an area and/or geographic location where [there] is less competition and building the way up.
“Seven or eight countries in Africa will be growing and profitable in the years to come,” he said.
Zonis stressed the students and recent GSB graduates can find opportunities to network and start the foundation for international business opportunities in the future. “David Greer [a first-year student at the GSB] recently left for Cairo, Egypt, another country that is underutilized [in the current market.]”
Greer, who was featured in the February issue of the GSB alumni magazine, aims to own his international business one day.
During the GSB scholarship luncheon, several Hyde Park high school students were honored with Ronald H. Brown awards. Rae Lewis Thornton, a Chicago-based AIDS activist, spoke at the scholarship luncheon. Lewis-Thornton discussed the importance of self-knowledge and personal development.
“She talked about cards, houses and dating successful men, which used to be a priority for her,” said Dale Caldwell, a senior manager at Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group and national director of diversity recruiting for the GSB and Wharton School of Business.
“This is the biggest limiting factor as African-Americans, who are too focused on our own success without thinking about where we have come from and the community as a whole,” he said.
For the evening dinner banquet, Edward Lewis, CEO & Publisher of Essence Magazine, gave the keynote address. Lewis touched on his expansion of Essence Inc. and the importance of support for black-owned businesses.
“Mr. Lewis’ speech was excellent. It was both motivating and inspiring to young entrepreneurs,” said Sherman Galbreath, a fourth-year student in the College.
On the morning of Sunday, April 5, a GSB alumni Brunch was held at the Sheraton. Most attendees and AAMBA members felt the conference could be improved by having a more diverse group of attendees.
“I would like to see other groups attend the conference as well including Hispanics and Asian-Americans. In order for us to succeed, we need to know how to relate to each other,” said Johnnie Watson III, a first-year student in the GSB.
Originally published Tuesday, April 7, 1998
Wednesday, March 11, 1998
Singing with Soul, University Wire
Singing with Soul; Pamela Jane Appea
University Wire
03-11-1998
Chicago Maroon
(U-WIRE) CHICAGO -- Standing on the Hyde Park Union Church's dark brown pew, Marcel Hamilton, an energetic, bright-eyed kindergartner at Salem Christian Academy, was one of over 400 attendees at Soul Umoja Gospel Choir's winter concert.
The concert, held Saturday, March 7, was entitled "A Love that Conquers All."Hamilton, along with community residents and students, clapped their hands and moved to the gospel music in the tradition of Southern Black Christian churches.
Mike and Gina Thurston, famed Chicago-based gospel singers, Make A Joyful Noise (MaJ'N) of the University of Chicago, and My Father's Children of the South Side, also performed at the three-and-a-half hour long concert.
The 16-member Soul Umoja choir has been a presence on campus since its inception in January 1996. They have performed at two Vigil Against Violence concerts as well as at several other U of C events.
"The concert was extremely impressive. I was so pleased with the choir members, especially the lead singers and musicians of the choir.Soul Umoja had more people in the choir last concert, but the quality of sound from the choir was a lot better," said Jonathan Shepherd, co-founder and executive board member of Soul Umoja and fourth-year student in the College.
MaJ'N started the evening off. The 11-person group sang two light choral pieces. Next up, Soul Umoja's testimonial segment included "Praise the Lord," "Washed Away," and "More than I Can Bear."
Marvin Chambers, a member of the choir and a fourth-year student in the College, recounted a parable in Luke which paralleled the message of the "Washed Away" song.
"[When] Jesus was upon the hill, there were two thieves also there. The first thief mocked Jesus and said, Why don't you save yourself and us?"
Familiar with the story, attendees laughed loudly.
"The second thief rebuked him. Don't you hear God? Chambers said.
He concluded that audience members should learn from the inspirational and redemptive message of the parable and apply it to their day to day experiences.
Continuing the concert, several women, including Adrienne Baytops, a third-year student in the College, and Gmerice Hammond and Shanda Siler, both second-year students in the College, sang a Freedom Song in honor of Black Women in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Soul Umoja's two other segments were entitled "Overcoming Because of God's Love" and "Our Response to God's Love.
"The music performed at the concert primarily employed traditional Christian religious themes such as forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.
According to Shepherd, hymns, spirituals, anthems, and gospels all fall under the category of gospel music. Except for hymns, the other music forms have their roots in the early slavery era. The term 'gospel' means good news about the Lord.
"Gospel music originated during the times of slavery when black slaves needed to sing songs that encouraged them during their times of despair and tribulation and also offered praises to God with words that also held Biblical truths," said Andrea Minus, a second-year student in the College.
"For me, gospel is the highest form of art that expresses the vexations of this life and the affirmation of this life. It is at once and the same time a protest of conditions that can be social, psychological, spiritual and also an articulation of the goodness of this life," said Kazi Joshua, a third-year student in the Divinity School.
My Father's Children and Gina and Mike Thurston had more modern interpretations of traditional gospel songs.
Gina Thurston's songs touched on social issues such as homelessness and drug abuse in the black community."Gospel music is uplifting and encouraging," said Regina Sligh, a member of My Father's Children.
"What impressed me about this concert is that when you see the lack of African-American students here at this university is that they are [still] able to put on a concert like this," said Rashad Burgess, A.B./M.A. '97 and co-founder of Soul Umoja.
"The fact that the choir is student-run and student-performed says a lot about the direction that the University of Chicago is moving in." added Bryan Lewis, a former U of C student and a current Georgetown College senior.
Cost for the concert totaled to nearly $3,800. Student Government and Rockefeller Memorial Chapel gave Soul Umoja an large allocation to support the cost of the concert.
According to Shepherd, local churches in Chicago and businesses in Hyde Park supported the choir in financial contributions. The cost for a prepaid ticket to the concert was $5 for a U of C student, $6 for non-students, and $7 at the door for general admission.
Soul Umoja is having its Open House this Wednesday, March 11 at Hyde Park Union Church at 7:00 p.m in order to invite those who want to learn more about the choir.
Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the choir.
University Wire
03-11-1998
Chicago Maroon
(U-WIRE) CHICAGO -- Standing on the Hyde Park Union Church's dark brown pew, Marcel Hamilton, an energetic, bright-eyed kindergartner at Salem Christian Academy, was one of over 400 attendees at Soul Umoja Gospel Choir's winter concert.
The concert, held Saturday, March 7, was entitled "A Love that Conquers All."Hamilton, along with community residents and students, clapped their hands and moved to the gospel music in the tradition of Southern Black Christian churches.
Mike and Gina Thurston, famed Chicago-based gospel singers, Make A Joyful Noise (MaJ'N) of the University of Chicago, and My Father's Children of the South Side, also performed at the three-and-a-half hour long concert.
The 16-member Soul Umoja choir has been a presence on campus since its inception in January 1996. They have performed at two Vigil Against Violence concerts as well as at several other U of C events.
"The concert was extremely impressive. I was so pleased with the choir members, especially the lead singers and musicians of the choir.Soul Umoja had more people in the choir last concert, but the quality of sound from the choir was a lot better," said Jonathan Shepherd, co-founder and executive board member of Soul Umoja and fourth-year student in the College.
MaJ'N started the evening off. The 11-person group sang two light choral pieces. Next up, Soul Umoja's testimonial segment included "Praise the Lord," "Washed Away," and "More than I Can Bear."
Marvin Chambers, a member of the choir and a fourth-year student in the College, recounted a parable in Luke which paralleled the message of the "Washed Away" song.
"[When] Jesus was upon the hill, there were two thieves also there. The first thief mocked Jesus and said, Why don't you save yourself and us?"
Familiar with the story, attendees laughed loudly.
"The second thief rebuked him. Don't you hear God? Chambers said.
He concluded that audience members should learn from the inspirational and redemptive message of the parable and apply it to their day to day experiences.
Continuing the concert, several women, including Adrienne Baytops, a third-year student in the College, and Gmerice Hammond and Shanda Siler, both second-year students in the College, sang a Freedom Song in honor of Black Women in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Soul Umoja's two other segments were entitled "Overcoming Because of God's Love" and "Our Response to God's Love.
"The music performed at the concert primarily employed traditional Christian religious themes such as forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.
According to Shepherd, hymns, spirituals, anthems, and gospels all fall under the category of gospel music. Except for hymns, the other music forms have their roots in the early slavery era. The term 'gospel' means good news about the Lord.
"Gospel music originated during the times of slavery when black slaves needed to sing songs that encouraged them during their times of despair and tribulation and also offered praises to God with words that also held Biblical truths," said Andrea Minus, a second-year student in the College.
"For me, gospel is the highest form of art that expresses the vexations of this life and the affirmation of this life. It is at once and the same time a protest of conditions that can be social, psychological, spiritual and also an articulation of the goodness of this life," said Kazi Joshua, a third-year student in the Divinity School.
My Father's Children and Gina and Mike Thurston had more modern interpretations of traditional gospel songs.
Gina Thurston's songs touched on social issues such as homelessness and drug abuse in the black community."Gospel music is uplifting and encouraging," said Regina Sligh, a member of My Father's Children.
"What impressed me about this concert is that when you see the lack of African-American students here at this university is that they are [still] able to put on a concert like this," said Rashad Burgess, A.B./M.A. '97 and co-founder of Soul Umoja.
"The fact that the choir is student-run and student-performed says a lot about the direction that the University of Chicago is moving in." added Bryan Lewis, a former U of C student and a current Georgetown College senior.
Cost for the concert totaled to nearly $3,800. Student Government and Rockefeller Memorial Chapel gave Soul Umoja an large allocation to support the cost of the concert.
According to Shepherd, local churches in Chicago and businesses in Hyde Park supported the choir in financial contributions. The cost for a prepaid ticket to the concert was $5 for a U of C student, $6 for non-students, and $7 at the door for general admission.
Soul Umoja is having its Open House this Wednesday, March 11 at Hyde Park Union Church at 7:00 p.m in order to invite those who want to learn more about the choir.
Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the choir.
Tuesday, March 03, 1998
Senator Paul Simon to lecture at Ida Noyes
Senator Paul Simon to lecture at Ida Noyes
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Former Democratic Senator Paul Simon will give a lecture on Wednesday, March 4 at Ida Noyes Hall. The event is sponsored by Habeus Corpus, the Pre-Law Society at the University.
Currently a public policy professor at Southern Illinois University, Simon devoted over 40 years to his political career. Simon, a 1998 presidential candidate, retired from the United States Senate in 1996 after serving two terms.
During that time, he served on the Budget, Foreign Relations, Indian Affairs, Judiciary and Labor, and the Human Resources Committee. He also wrote and enacted the National Literacy Act, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Job Training Partnership Act Amendments, and several provisions of the Goals 2,000 Act.
“[Simon] is Illinois’ most respected figure. His uncompromising integrity, honesty, and effective legislative skills in both Illinois and national politics are outstanding,” said Rafi Jafri, a fourth-year student in the College and President of the Habeas Corpus.
Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Simon spent ten years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1997 Simon was appointed to National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board.
“President Clinton’s nomination of former Senator Paul Simon to the National Institute for Literacy Advisory seemed to be a reasonable choice because of Simon’s history of government leadership. It seems however, that the National Institute for Literarcy could focus more on making jobs available and accessible to the poor, rather than reducing welfare dependency,” said Ronald Stover, a Ph.D. candidate in the Divinity school.
“I am excited to have Paul Simon visit because of the insight he can provide as far as current and past political events go, not only as a former Senator, but as a distinguished scholar,” said Parag Gupta, a second-year student in the College and Vice President of Habeas Corpus.
Seating for the event will be limited. For more information, contact Jafri at rkjafri@midway.uchicago.edu or Gupta at pgupta2@midway.uchicago.edu.
Originally published Tuesday, March 3, 1998
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Former Democratic Senator Paul Simon will give a lecture on Wednesday, March 4 at Ida Noyes Hall. The event is sponsored by Habeus Corpus, the Pre-Law Society at the University.
Currently a public policy professor at Southern Illinois University, Simon devoted over 40 years to his political career. Simon, a 1998 presidential candidate, retired from the United States Senate in 1996 after serving two terms.
During that time, he served on the Budget, Foreign Relations, Indian Affairs, Judiciary and Labor, and the Human Resources Committee. He also wrote and enacted the National Literacy Act, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Job Training Partnership Act Amendments, and several provisions of the Goals 2,000 Act.
“[Simon] is Illinois’ most respected figure. His uncompromising integrity, honesty, and effective legislative skills in both Illinois and national politics are outstanding,” said Rafi Jafri, a fourth-year student in the College and President of the Habeas Corpus.
Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Simon spent ten years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1997 Simon was appointed to National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board.
“President Clinton’s nomination of former Senator Paul Simon to the National Institute for Literacy Advisory seemed to be a reasonable choice because of Simon’s history of government leadership. It seems however, that the National Institute for Literarcy could focus more on making jobs available and accessible to the poor, rather than reducing welfare dependency,” said Ronald Stover, a Ph.D. candidate in the Divinity school.
“I am excited to have Paul Simon visit because of the insight he can provide as far as current and past political events go, not only as a former Senator, but as a distinguished scholar,” said Parag Gupta, a second-year student in the College and Vice President of Habeas Corpus.
Seating for the event will be limited. For more information, contact Jafri at rkjafri@midway.uchicago.edu or Gupta at pgupta2@midway.uchicago.edu.
Originally published Tuesday, March 3, 1998
Tuesday, December 02, 1997
Full Service-Interview with Michelle Obama
Full Service
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Maroon Reporter Pamela Appea spoke to Director of UCSC Michelle Obama about community service opportunities at the University of Chicago.
Maroon: Starting from scratch as a director of a new program must have been incredibly challenging. What do you feel that you have accomplished in your year here at the University of Chicago.
Obama: The major challenge for me is really understanding this University community. I’m not a University of Chicago product in any way, shape or form. So I’m coming in as a complete outsider needing to understand the culture of this place.
To understand the moods and wishes of the students is difficult. What moves the students on this campus? What gets them out of their dorm, out of the Reg into [other] things? Not to say that academics isn’t the primary reason why students are here but there is so much more to gain from community service.
How do you motivate students to do something other than study? The community side is, I wouldn’t say a cakewalk, but I know what the issues between the community and the university are. I know the positive and negative perceptions. I know the history.
I know how community residents perceive this place: the community sees this place as completely inaccessible.
But at the same time, I understand that we are fortunately housed in a community, in a neighborhood, surrounded by vibrant, creative engaging programs, people and places who would love nothing more than to work more closely with the University.
They may not know how they want to do it or how we can best be of support but I think with the right conversations and relationships this program will succeed. It is not difficult cultivating opportunities.
The community is lining up outside the door trying to get to the students. The challenge is how to connect students, not just to find out what they want to do but to think about what the community needs.
Maroon: How does a University of Chicago student get involved in community service through UCSC?
Obama: People do it in a variety of different ways. It’s easiest to schedule an appointment [at the Reynolds Club 001] although there are plenty of people who just drop by.
There are also office hours. It depends on what the individual student is looking for.
If a student came in to the Reynolds Club and said to [Pamela Bozeman, assistant director of the community service center] ‘I want to volunteer. I don’t know what I want to do, but I just want to volunteer.’
We would definitely want to sit down and think through a little more with you what your strengths are, what time commitments you wanted. Do you want to work for an agency or a specific center? Do you want to work with kids? Is transportation an issue for you?
We try to get your information on the database. We encourage you to look at the database or if there are specific other opportunities that may be available which are not in the database, we’ll do the legwork in trying to see what else is out there.
We also get ‘requests’ for lack of a better term from groups from fraternities, dorm houses that want to do group service projects and are looking for a way to spend a Saturday or doing some good in the communities.
So those are some of the ways that students can get involved.
From the beginning of this year, our office has begun to manage funding work-study community service opportunities that are paid positions during the academic year.
We’re trying to encourage students who may not feel they have the time to get involved with community service. Not everyone can afford to get involved, between a heavy academic course load, a work-study job and whatever financial [constraints they may have].
Paid opportunities open up community service to a broader set of students. Everyone on this campus could spend a year in some way, shape or form devoted to community service.
Maroon: this past year, the Dean of Student Services increased the Student Activities Fee by 59%. Some of the money is purportedly being used for community service. If so, how is it being used?
Obama: Last year, with the increase of the student activities fee what was created for the first time was a separate fund for community service RSOs [Registered Student Organizations].
That was done with the hard work of the Office of the Dean of Student Services. Thirty thousand dollars, generated from student activities fees, was set aside or designated specifically for community service.
People would argue that $30,000 out of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that students pay for student activities is simply not enough, but we are measuring the fact that there were no dollars set aside simply for community service last year. The University community service groups were left to fight it out among the other RSOs.
Our office was responsible for coordinating what is called the Community Service Fund (CSF.) CSF consists of a committee of 13 members; the majority of which are students. Of the nine students, there is on SG (Student Government) representative. Then there are four community members who were appointed by the USCS office.
The students were elected by the USCS advisory council. We, the USSC oversee.
There are 13 or 14 organizations which are designated University community service organizations, such as APO, the service organizations such as APO, the service fraternity, Habitat for Community, Student Teachers and Science Partners for Teachers.
So those community service groups come to us for their annual allocations. Also, there are separate standards for reviewing requests. Our office manages the process of allocating those dollars but those are student dollars and they go to student activities.
None of the money goes to USCS which is how it should be. In that sense, its just like SG. Student Government money doesn’t go to ORCSA (Office of the Reynolds Club and Student Activities.)
Maroon: The SummerLinks program, which was created last year by the community service center, offered paid community service positions to U of C students. What was this program like?
Obama: Most students worked a full forty-hour week. There was a wide variety of jobs. Internships ranged from working as a policy assistant in the mayor’s office to teaching in the public schools to working on exhibits at the Museum of Science and Technology.
Others also worked for a program at the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club or at the Washington Park Youth Program. Having housing available helped to create a community among the interns; it was one of the big successes of the program.
Interns were able to come together on a regular basis and examine and view other issues to learn about what their fellow interns were doing and learn about what was going on in almost all of their agencies.
Maroon: Community service programs may abound but oftentimes volunteers are not sufficiently equipped with the skills or the support system to do community service. How did the SummerLinks internship differ? How did the students respond to such a program with the structured workshops and the range in workshop discussion?
Obama: Community service can be extremely isolating. Number one, it’s much harder than people anticipate. A lot of people go to volunteer thinking it will be neat, a ‘fun’ thing to do. It is the hardest stuff you can do because the issues in service are very complex.
You can work your fingers to the bone for a whole summer and only scratch the smallest part of the surface of the problem. Sometimes it can be overwhelming.
So, you need to be able to share those frustrations and find productive ways of addressing the issue aside from just quitting, of saying this is too hard, forget it.
At SummerLinks, we [a] had 100 percent success rate; no one left the program, no one quit. That’s not to say every placement was perfect.
Some people felt completely overworked or some people felt completely overworked or some people felt their relationship with supervision was less than perfect. For next year, the only limitation of SummerLinks is that you have to be a returning student.
Because there are so few slots and so many applications, we want to make it available to thirty new students and we will try to find a way to integrate last summer interns in the program. Also, the SummerLinks internship is not exclusively for work-study students.
Maroon: So in conclusion, what are your goals and expectations for the university in terms of community service for this year to come?
Obama: My hopes are that students will put community service on their agenda. The way I look at it, every college student has four years. For college students that’s twenty-four quarters. That’s a lot of time even if you are pre-med, working two jobs.
Out of that time, I would hope that students would plan a way to incorporate some period of that time to somebody besides themselves. Whether that is to a student organization that’s doing community service, whether it’s a work-study job or volunteering or whatever. If you don’t do it now, don’t fool yourself that you are going to be some altruistic person later on, because you not.
We live in a society that you can’t afford that, people have to find a way to get to know their community. Chicago is a place where you can experience anything you want. Good or bad, positive or positive or negative, political or non-political.
Students should be actively involved in the forefront as leaders developing skills that you just don’t learn in the classroom. I’m not saying that one set of skills is better or worse than one another, but they’re different. If you’re going to be an effective leader in whatever you do whether you’re a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher, these experience are going to be critical to developing the skills that its going to take to be a member of this community. Community service does this for students. I’ve seen it time and time again.
MICHELLE OBAMA
Position
Associate Dean of Student Services and Director of the University Community Service Center (UCSC)
Education
Princeton University, B.A.
Harvard Law School, J.D.
Support Mechanism supported by UCSC
Database of hundreds of volunteer community service opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students
Created SummerLink programs offers paid positions for 30 summer positions
A resource for a few paid work-study community service positions in Chicago.
Offers volunteer training sessions once a quarter
Hosts the UCSC discussion series. Topic of past discussion have included education reform and juvenile justice.
Provides a Neighborhood bus tour once per quarter to promote social awareness. A previous tour went to Woodlawn/Kenwood neighborhood. The next planned tour will be of Pilsen/Little Village.
Originally published December 2, 1997
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
Maroon Reporter Pamela Appea spoke to Director of UCSC Michelle Obama about community service opportunities at the University of Chicago.
Maroon: Starting from scratch as a director of a new program must have been incredibly challenging. What do you feel that you have accomplished in your year here at the University of Chicago.
Obama: The major challenge for me is really understanding this University community. I’m not a University of Chicago product in any way, shape or form. So I’m coming in as a complete outsider needing to understand the culture of this place.
To understand the moods and wishes of the students is difficult. What moves the students on this campus? What gets them out of their dorm, out of the Reg into [other] things? Not to say that academics isn’t the primary reason why students are here but there is so much more to gain from community service.
How do you motivate students to do something other than study? The community side is, I wouldn’t say a cakewalk, but I know what the issues between the community and the university are. I know the positive and negative perceptions. I know the history.
I know how community residents perceive this place: the community sees this place as completely inaccessible.
But at the same time, I understand that we are fortunately housed in a community, in a neighborhood, surrounded by vibrant, creative engaging programs, people and places who would love nothing more than to work more closely with the University.
They may not know how they want to do it or how we can best be of support but I think with the right conversations and relationships this program will succeed. It is not difficult cultivating opportunities.
The community is lining up outside the door trying to get to the students. The challenge is how to connect students, not just to find out what they want to do but to think about what the community needs.
Maroon: How does a University of Chicago student get involved in community service through UCSC?
Obama: People do it in a variety of different ways. It’s easiest to schedule an appointment [at the Reynolds Club 001] although there are plenty of people who just drop by.
There are also office hours. It depends on what the individual student is looking for.
If a student came in to the Reynolds Club and said to [Pamela Bozeman, assistant director of the community service center] ‘I want to volunteer. I don’t know what I want to do, but I just want to volunteer.’
We would definitely want to sit down and think through a little more with you what your strengths are, what time commitments you wanted. Do you want to work for an agency or a specific center? Do you want to work with kids? Is transportation an issue for you?
We try to get your information on the database. We encourage you to look at the database or if there are specific other opportunities that may be available which are not in the database, we’ll do the legwork in trying to see what else is out there.
We also get ‘requests’ for lack of a better term from groups from fraternities, dorm houses that want to do group service projects and are looking for a way to spend a Saturday or doing some good in the communities.
So those are some of the ways that students can get involved.
From the beginning of this year, our office has begun to manage funding work-study community service opportunities that are paid positions during the academic year.
We’re trying to encourage students who may not feel they have the time to get involved with community service. Not everyone can afford to get involved, between a heavy academic course load, a work-study job and whatever financial [constraints they may have].
Paid opportunities open up community service to a broader set of students. Everyone on this campus could spend a year in some way, shape or form devoted to community service.
Maroon: this past year, the Dean of Student Services increased the Student Activities Fee by 59%. Some of the money is purportedly being used for community service. If so, how is it being used?
Obama: Last year, with the increase of the student activities fee what was created for the first time was a separate fund for community service RSOs [Registered Student Organizations].
That was done with the hard work of the Office of the Dean of Student Services. Thirty thousand dollars, generated from student activities fees, was set aside or designated specifically for community service.
People would argue that $30,000 out of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that students pay for student activities is simply not enough, but we are measuring the fact that there were no dollars set aside simply for community service last year. The University community service groups were left to fight it out among the other RSOs.
Our office was responsible for coordinating what is called the Community Service Fund (CSF.) CSF consists of a committee of 13 members; the majority of which are students. Of the nine students, there is on SG (Student Government) representative. Then there are four community members who were appointed by the USCS office.
The students were elected by the USCS advisory council. We, the USSC oversee.
There are 13 or 14 organizations which are designated University community service organizations, such as APO, the service organizations such as APO, the service fraternity, Habitat for Community, Student Teachers and Science Partners for Teachers.
So those community service groups come to us for their annual allocations. Also, there are separate standards for reviewing requests. Our office manages the process of allocating those dollars but those are student dollars and they go to student activities.
None of the money goes to USCS which is how it should be. In that sense, its just like SG. Student Government money doesn’t go to ORCSA (Office of the Reynolds Club and Student Activities.)
Maroon: The SummerLinks program, which was created last year by the community service center, offered paid community service positions to U of C students. What was this program like?
Obama: Most students worked a full forty-hour week. There was a wide variety of jobs. Internships ranged from working as a policy assistant in the mayor’s office to teaching in the public schools to working on exhibits at the Museum of Science and Technology.
Others also worked for a program at the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club or at the Washington Park Youth Program. Having housing available helped to create a community among the interns; it was one of the big successes of the program.
Interns were able to come together on a regular basis and examine and view other issues to learn about what their fellow interns were doing and learn about what was going on in almost all of their agencies.
Maroon: Community service programs may abound but oftentimes volunteers are not sufficiently equipped with the skills or the support system to do community service. How did the SummerLinks internship differ? How did the students respond to such a program with the structured workshops and the range in workshop discussion?
Obama: Community service can be extremely isolating. Number one, it’s much harder than people anticipate. A lot of people go to volunteer thinking it will be neat, a ‘fun’ thing to do. It is the hardest stuff you can do because the issues in service are very complex.
You can work your fingers to the bone for a whole summer and only scratch the smallest part of the surface of the problem. Sometimes it can be overwhelming.
So, you need to be able to share those frustrations and find productive ways of addressing the issue aside from just quitting, of saying this is too hard, forget it.
At SummerLinks, we [a] had 100 percent success rate; no one left the program, no one quit. That’s not to say every placement was perfect.
Some people felt completely overworked or some people felt completely overworked or some people felt their relationship with supervision was less than perfect. For next year, the only limitation of SummerLinks is that you have to be a returning student.
Because there are so few slots and so many applications, we want to make it available to thirty new students and we will try to find a way to integrate last summer interns in the program. Also, the SummerLinks internship is not exclusively for work-study students.
Maroon: So in conclusion, what are your goals and expectations for the university in terms of community service for this year to come?
Obama: My hopes are that students will put community service on their agenda. The way I look at it, every college student has four years. For college students that’s twenty-four quarters. That’s a lot of time even if you are pre-med, working two jobs.
Out of that time, I would hope that students would plan a way to incorporate some period of that time to somebody besides themselves. Whether that is to a student organization that’s doing community service, whether it’s a work-study job or volunteering or whatever. If you don’t do it now, don’t fool yourself that you are going to be some altruistic person later on, because you not.
We live in a society that you can’t afford that, people have to find a way to get to know their community. Chicago is a place where you can experience anything you want. Good or bad, positive or positive or negative, political or non-political.
Students should be actively involved in the forefront as leaders developing skills that you just don’t learn in the classroom. I’m not saying that one set of skills is better or worse than one another, but they’re different. If you’re going to be an effective leader in whatever you do whether you’re a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher, these experience are going to be critical to developing the skills that its going to take to be a member of this community. Community service does this for students. I’ve seen it time and time again.
MICHELLE OBAMA
Position
Associate Dean of Student Services and Director of the University Community Service Center (UCSC)
Education
Princeton University, B.A.
Harvard Law School, J.D.
Support Mechanism supported by UCSC
Database of hundreds of volunteer community service opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students
Created SummerLink programs offers paid positions for 30 summer positions
A resource for a few paid work-study community service positions in Chicago.
Offers volunteer training sessions once a quarter
Hosts the UCSC discussion series. Topic of past discussion have included education reform and juvenile justice.
Provides a Neighborhood bus tour once per quarter to promote social awareness. A previous tour went to Woodlawn/Kenwood neighborhood. The next planned tour will be of Pilsen/Little Village.
Originally published December 2, 1997
Tuesday, November 04, 1997
Affirmative action inspires lively debate
Affirmative action inspires lively debate
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The U of C Republicans and the U of C Democrats co-sponsored a debate on affirmative action Wednesday afternoon in the Social Sciences building.
The members of the panel debated whether affirmative action should remain a factor in the admissions policies of universities nationwide and minority recruiting at the U of C.
The four-person panel consisted of Justin Jones, a third-year student in college, Geogg Fischer, a second-year student and Douglass Cook, a first-year student. Kurt Dudas, a fourth-year student, moderated the 40-minute event.
The speakers presented their arguments for or against affirmative action in two, three, or five minute constructive and rebuttals following official debate style.
According to Jones, once a student enrolls at the University, they must rise up to a certain standard. If the workload proves to be too difficult, then the individual can transfer to be too difficult, then the individual can transfer to another institution or take some time off.
Jones pointed out that during their first year, many students of all races must decide whether the University environment is appropriate for them.
The U of C Republicans stated that affirmative action was a “form of racism in order to combat racism” and is totally ineffective for addressing the “racial wounds” and “racial inequality” in U.S. society.
Young argued that SAT scores and grades need to be taken into account first. He went on to say that, if anything, the socio-economic background of the student, not the race, should be taken into account during the University application process.
“Blacks and whites are equal intellectually. Therefore, if you take into account background, raece need not to be taken into account,” said Previn Makodi, a third-year student in the College who attended the event.
According to Ted O’Neil, dean of College admissions, the University of Chicago has no set racial or cultural quota policy when student applications are considered. But O’Neill believes that a “racially divisive” university is desirable, and the Admissions Office actively attempts to recruit African-American and Latino students.
Students enjoyed the debate and the question and answer sessions that followed. Some felt that the U of C Republicans did not speak as well as they could have, nor did they effectively field the questions from the audience.
“The Republicans didn’t justify why affirmative action has not been a positive influence in America. They never really proposed an alternative,” said Nia Stokes, a first-year student in the College.
“It wasn’t our strongest debate. However, we look forward to future debates. We think we have the winning arguments and hope to even the score. The debates are a good forum to get students involved in addressing important issues in today’s society,” said John Roland, president of the college Republicans and a third-year student in the College.
“The Democrats brought up the issue of merit, and once you get into a job or a school you have to work on the same level as everyone,” said Dequiana Brooks, a first-year student in the college, who agreed with the U of C Democrats’ argument.
“Here, people won’t say you didn’t do your homework or problem set, but because you’re black that’s okay. Everyone has to work very hard,” she said.
The debate was originally planned in conjunction with the visit of Ward Connerl, the main proponent of Proposition 209, California’s anti-affirmative action legislation, who spoke at the Law School last week.
Originally published November 4, 1997
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The U of C Republicans and the U of C Democrats co-sponsored a debate on affirmative action Wednesday afternoon in the Social Sciences building.
The members of the panel debated whether affirmative action should remain a factor in the admissions policies of universities nationwide and minority recruiting at the U of C.
The four-person panel consisted of Justin Jones, a third-year student in college, Geogg Fischer, a second-year student and Douglass Cook, a first-year student. Kurt Dudas, a fourth-year student, moderated the 40-minute event.
The speakers presented their arguments for or against affirmative action in two, three, or five minute constructive and rebuttals following official debate style.
According to Jones, once a student enrolls at the University, they must rise up to a certain standard. If the workload proves to be too difficult, then the individual can transfer to be too difficult, then the individual can transfer to another institution or take some time off.
Jones pointed out that during their first year, many students of all races must decide whether the University environment is appropriate for them.
The U of C Republicans stated that affirmative action was a “form of racism in order to combat racism” and is totally ineffective for addressing the “racial wounds” and “racial inequality” in U.S. society.
Young argued that SAT scores and grades need to be taken into account first. He went on to say that, if anything, the socio-economic background of the student, not the race, should be taken into account during the University application process.
“Blacks and whites are equal intellectually. Therefore, if you take into account background, raece need not to be taken into account,” said Previn Makodi, a third-year student in the College who attended the event.
According to Ted O’Neil, dean of College admissions, the University of Chicago has no set racial or cultural quota policy when student applications are considered. But O’Neill believes that a “racially divisive” university is desirable, and the Admissions Office actively attempts to recruit African-American and Latino students.
Students enjoyed the debate and the question and answer sessions that followed. Some felt that the U of C Republicans did not speak as well as they could have, nor did they effectively field the questions from the audience.
“The Republicans didn’t justify why affirmative action has not been a positive influence in America. They never really proposed an alternative,” said Nia Stokes, a first-year student in the College.
“It wasn’t our strongest debate. However, we look forward to future debates. We think we have the winning arguments and hope to even the score. The debates are a good forum to get students involved in addressing important issues in today’s society,” said John Roland, president of the college Republicans and a third-year student in the College.
“The Democrats brought up the issue of merit, and once you get into a job or a school you have to work on the same level as everyone,” said Dequiana Brooks, a first-year student in the college, who agreed with the U of C Democrats’ argument.
“Here, people won’t say you didn’t do your homework or problem set, but because you’re black that’s okay. Everyone has to work very hard,” she said.
The debate was originally planned in conjunction with the visit of Ward Connerl, the main proponent of Proposition 209, California’s anti-affirmative action legislation, who spoke at the Law School last week.
Originally published November 4, 1997
Tuesday, October 14, 1997
Students emerge from the closet on Coming Out Day
Students emerge from the closet on Coming Out Day
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
An enthusiastic crowd congregated outside Cobb Hall last Friday afternoon in observance of National Coming Out Day. Countless people gave mini-speeches about their gay identity, ranging in tone from personal to the political. On their way to and from class, many students and faculty took the time out to listen.
The event entitled “Come Out – Speak Out” was hosted by Queers & Associates, the gay and lesbian organization on The University of Chicago campus. Queers and Associates, like countless other organizations nationwide, commemorate National Coming Out Day, an event which has been officially celebrated since 1988.
“The main idea of National Coming Out Day, is to encourage openness on campus. People can feel free to talk about sexuality and sexual orientation,” said Kathryn Campbell-Kibler, a member of Q & A and a fourth-year student in the College.
At the University, the Coming Out Group is a support group which meets weekly to help people deal with issues of sexual orientation. A representative described the group as a space for people of all orientations to explore and develop their sexual identity. Its particular focus is in discussing and dealing with issues surrounding the questioning of one’s sexual orientation, and the process of coming out to oneself and others.
A facilitate who has contact information and professional references is always present at the group.
The Coming Out Group meets alternate Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 p.m., starting Wednesday, October 2nd, at Brent House, 5540 South Woodlawn Avenue.
October is also the Gay History Month. In a press release, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced the theme of the fourth annual event is “Charting the Future, Reclaiming the Past,” which will highlight the often ignored contributions of gay figures and the community in history.
During Lesbian & Gay History Month, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community examines its political struggle, cultural achievements and collective creativity.
“Lesbian & Gay History Month creates a more honest and complete understanding of history by telling untold stories,” said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD’s Executive Director. “It provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the distance we have traveled as a community and to honor the stewards of that journey.”
Originally published October 14, 1997
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
An enthusiastic crowd congregated outside Cobb Hall last Friday afternoon in observance of National Coming Out Day. Countless people gave mini-speeches about their gay identity, ranging in tone from personal to the political. On their way to and from class, many students and faculty took the time out to listen.
The event entitled “Come Out – Speak Out” was hosted by Queers & Associates, the gay and lesbian organization on The University of Chicago campus. Queers and Associates, like countless other organizations nationwide, commemorate National Coming Out Day, an event which has been officially celebrated since 1988.
“The main idea of National Coming Out Day, is to encourage openness on campus. People can feel free to talk about sexuality and sexual orientation,” said Kathryn Campbell-Kibler, a member of Q & A and a fourth-year student in the College.
At the University, the Coming Out Group is a support group which meets weekly to help people deal with issues of sexual orientation. A representative described the group as a space for people of all orientations to explore and develop their sexual identity. Its particular focus is in discussing and dealing with issues surrounding the questioning of one’s sexual orientation, and the process of coming out to oneself and others.
A facilitate who has contact information and professional references is always present at the group.
The Coming Out Group meets alternate Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 p.m., starting Wednesday, October 2nd, at Brent House, 5540 South Woodlawn Avenue.
October is also the Gay History Month. In a press release, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced the theme of the fourth annual event is “Charting the Future, Reclaiming the Past,” which will highlight the often ignored contributions of gay figures and the community in history.
During Lesbian & Gay History Month, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community examines its political struggle, cultural achievements and collective creativity.
“Lesbian & Gay History Month creates a more honest and complete understanding of history by telling untold stories,” said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD’s Executive Director. “It provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the distance we have traveled as a community and to honor the stewards of that journey.”
Originally published October 14, 1997
Tuesday, October 07, 1997
SASA Screens The Making of the Mahatma
SASA Screens The Making of the Mahatma
Film kicks off celebration of Indian independence
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The South Asian Students Association (SASA) and the South Asian Outreach Program presented a screening of The Making of the Mahatma, this past Saturday in the Max Palevsky Cinema.
A discussion led by the film’s critically acclaimed director, Shyan Benegal, and actor Raj Kapoor, who played Gandhi, immediately followed the film. 240 students and faculty members attended the event.
Benegal’s film chronicles Gandhi’s life and experiences in South Africa as a young barrister and later as a community activist and lobbyist for Indians under apartheid rule. The movie also explores Gandhi’s satyagraha movement. Satyagraha, literally meaning “hold firmly” or “grasp the truth,” also refers to the non-violent principles which Gandhi later used in India’s national movement.
“In some other films, Gandhi has been portrayed like a deity or a martyr, and in The Making of the Mahatma, he was portrayed as a real person with family issues. You could really see how the progression of his ideas and how Gandhi developed these ideas,” said Samir Soneji, SASA president and a fourth-year student in the College.
The Making of the Mahatma screening was funded by the Illinois Art Council, the University of Chicago South Asian Department, and film tick sales.
This is the first of several university-sponsored events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India and Pakistan’s independence from the British.
SASA’s next event will highlight cultural and religious themes of Tibet on Wednesday, October 8, at the I-House from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The evening will include traditional folk dancing and singing. SASA, the South Asian Outreach Educational Project, and Tibetan Alliance of Chicago are sponsoring the event.
Originally published October 7, 1997
Film kicks off celebration of Indian independence
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The South Asian Students Association (SASA) and the South Asian Outreach Program presented a screening of The Making of the Mahatma, this past Saturday in the Max Palevsky Cinema.
A discussion led by the film’s critically acclaimed director, Shyan Benegal, and actor Raj Kapoor, who played Gandhi, immediately followed the film. 240 students and faculty members attended the event.
Benegal’s film chronicles Gandhi’s life and experiences in South Africa as a young barrister and later as a community activist and lobbyist for Indians under apartheid rule. The movie also explores Gandhi’s satyagraha movement. Satyagraha, literally meaning “hold firmly” or “grasp the truth,” also refers to the non-violent principles which Gandhi later used in India’s national movement.
“In some other films, Gandhi has been portrayed like a deity or a martyr, and in The Making of the Mahatma, he was portrayed as a real person with family issues. You could really see how the progression of his ideas and how Gandhi developed these ideas,” said Samir Soneji, SASA president and a fourth-year student in the College.
The Making of the Mahatma screening was funded by the Illinois Art Council, the University of Chicago South Asian Department, and film tick sales.
This is the first of several university-sponsored events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India and Pakistan’s independence from the British.
SASA’s next event will highlight cultural and religious themes of Tibet on Wednesday, October 8, at the I-House from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The evening will include traditional folk dancing and singing. SASA, the South Asian Outreach Educational Project, and Tibetan Alliance of Chicago are sponsoring the event.
Originally published October 7, 1997
Friday, May 30, 1997
Culture Night Celebrates Korean Community Campus
Culture Night Celebrates Korean Community Campus
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Korean Undergraduates of the University of Chicago (KUUC) held their 15th annual Culture Night Saturday, May 24, at the International House Assembly Hall. Approximately two-hundred students and community residents attended the event.
“Culture Night is one big night for the community. Community Night [showcases] everything from Loose Roots [a traditional drum troupe] to MOIM [Korean] poetry,” said fourth-year student in the College Brian Kim, president of KUUC.
In the introduction to the Culture Night, Kim explained that KUUC, in working with other organizations for Culture Night, “[has] had problems and controversies this year,” he emphasized that in working together all of these organizations have also had success. “Culture Night brings all the U of C Korean groups together,” concluded Kim.
Other organizations participated in the Korean Culture Night, including MOIM, a journal which translates previously-published Korean poetry; Kilmok, which publishes student-written work with a Korean-American perspective; The Korean International Students Association (KISA), comprised of native Koreans; and Loose Roots.
The Executive Director of Korean American Community Services in Chicago In Chul Choi, A.B. ’92 gave the keynote speech for the event. Choi’s speech, entitled “Korean-American Values” discussed whether young Korean-Americans are obligated to assimilate fully into U.S. culture or maintain a separate Korean identity.
Choi began his speech by pondering the mass emigration of South Koreans in the United Sates in the late 1960s into the early 1980s. According to Choi, now that immigration has subsided somewhat in the late nineties, it is “the phase for enrichment and empowerment for Korean-Americans.”
Choi explored many issues, including mainstreaming or assimilation, class issues and identity during his approximately half-hour speech.
“We are in America, but not of America,” said Choi; he explained how as minorities, in the race-conscious society of the United States, Korean-American second-and third-generation youth are still feeling the same sense of otherness as that experienced by their immigrant ancestors. Choi urged Korean-Americans not to internalize negative images or stereotypes of Koreans that may persist in U.S. culture. At the same time, Choi urged Korean-Americans to maintain strong links to the positive aspects of this society.
Choi then challenged Koreans and Korean-Americans to examine their own behavior and ideals.
“Are we practicing stereotypes? [In the U.S.] are we treating African-Americans and Hispanics fairly in the stores [that we own?] In the factories [in Korea]are we treating Filipinos and other immigrants fairly? In every day life, how do we interact with people [in general?] asked Choi.
Choi concluded that it is possible for Korean-Americans to live successful productive lives here in the U.S.
“What I got out of the speech was : Don’t assimilate too much, but, [at the same time,] you must learn how to adapt to U.S. culture,” said a third-year student in the College, Phyllis Son, a member of MOIM and KUUC.
The Culture Show included many diverse artistic acts, incorporating both traditional Korean culture and modern Korean-American culture.
Towards the beginning of the program, students performed a fan dance. The costumes displayed in the fan dance were colorful and handmade; the dresses were made of flowing material, the vests were multicolored, and the headpieces were elaborate and ornate.
“The [performed] fan dance originated from the 15th –century during King Sejoung’s dynasty,” explained Son. Such dances, according to Son, attracted royalty and courtesans who traveled all the way to China to view the elegant dance style.
Son explained that Sejoung’s reign was not only a period of cultural enlightenment but also the establishment of a written Korean language.
A little later on in the program, six students performed a modern hip-hop dance. One performer explained how his group’s performance fused the experience and music of different cultures.
“Our performance was just to show people how hip hop [music and dance] is [also] part of a Korean-American music. We put a lot of effort and work into it,” said John Oh, a member of the six-person U of C “Deux + Woda—X” and a first-year student in the College.
At the conclusion of the event, Loose Roots performed two different numbers. Dressed in traditional white costume with a combination of red, blue, or yellow vests, the performers played drum music of South Asia and South-East Asia. The music of Loose Roots aims to produce awareness of Korean culture, according to group members.
Other acts during Korean Culture Night included Korean poetry reading, a fashion show, a Tae-Kwon Do demonstration, a Modern Dance numbers, and “Voices of Korea,” a musical presentation by Hoon-Sang Lee.
Many attendees enjoyed the variety of acts of Culture night, according to many members of the organizations involved with Korean Culture Night., however some personal politics were involved in the planning of Culture Night.
“There should be more of a community among the Korean [RSOs],” said fourth-year student in the College Steve Ko, a KUUC member. He explained that the lack of community made it somewhat difficult to work together for Culture Night.
“[Obviously,] with every community, there are different opinions, said Ed Kim, KUUC treasurer and a fourth-year student in the College. However, Kim explained that there is a problematic lack of unity among the Korean RSOs, but he concluded that in the years to come each organization should strive to work together in a more effective manner and put personal politics aside.
The cultural show cost between $3,500 -$4,000, according to Kim. KUUC received financial support from the East Asian Languages and Civilization department at the U of C, Student Government, and from KUUC ticket sales. The organization also did some fundraising for the event. The post-Culture Night party cost an additional $400.
A caterer from Koreatown provided the buffet-style dinner before the event. Gam poong gi (spicy chicken), kim chee (pickled radish), bul gol gi (a beef dish), and na mul (bean sprouts) were among the meat and vegetarian dishes.
After the show, KUUC hosted a dance party held at Ida Noyes.
Originally published May 30, 1997
The Chicago Maroon
By Pamela Appea
The Korean Undergraduates of the University of Chicago (KUUC) held their 15th annual Culture Night Saturday, May 24, at the International House Assembly Hall. Approximately two-hundred students and community residents attended the event.
“Culture Night is one big night for the community. Community Night [showcases] everything from Loose Roots [a traditional drum troupe] to MOIM [Korean] poetry,” said fourth-year student in the College Brian Kim, president of KUUC.
In the introduction to the Culture Night, Kim explained that KUUC, in working with other organizations for Culture Night, “[has] had problems and controversies this year,” he emphasized that in working together all of these organizations have also had success. “Culture Night brings all the U of C Korean groups together,” concluded Kim.
Other organizations participated in the Korean Culture Night, including MOIM, a journal which translates previously-published Korean poetry; Kilmok, which publishes student-written work with a Korean-American perspective; The Korean International Students Association (KISA), comprised of native Koreans; and Loose Roots.
The Executive Director of Korean American Community Services in Chicago In Chul Choi, A.B. ’92 gave the keynote speech for the event. Choi’s speech, entitled “Korean-American Values” discussed whether young Korean-Americans are obligated to assimilate fully into U.S. culture or maintain a separate Korean identity.
Choi began his speech by pondering the mass emigration of South Koreans in the United Sates in the late 1960s into the early 1980s. According to Choi, now that immigration has subsided somewhat in the late nineties, it is “the phase for enrichment and empowerment for Korean-Americans.”
Choi explored many issues, including mainstreaming or assimilation, class issues and identity during his approximately half-hour speech.
“We are in America, but not of America,” said Choi; he explained how as minorities, in the race-conscious society of the United States, Korean-American second-and third-generation youth are still feeling the same sense of otherness as that experienced by their immigrant ancestors. Choi urged Korean-Americans not to internalize negative images or stereotypes of Koreans that may persist in U.S. culture. At the same time, Choi urged Korean-Americans to maintain strong links to the positive aspects of this society.
Choi then challenged Koreans and Korean-Americans to examine their own behavior and ideals.
“Are we practicing stereotypes? [In the U.S.] are we treating African-Americans and Hispanics fairly in the stores [that we own?] In the factories [in Korea]are we treating Filipinos and other immigrants fairly? In every day life, how do we interact with people [in general?] asked Choi.
Choi concluded that it is possible for Korean-Americans to live successful productive lives here in the U.S.
“What I got out of the speech was : Don’t assimilate too much, but, [at the same time,] you must learn how to adapt to U.S. culture,” said a third-year student in the College, Phyllis Son, a member of MOIM and KUUC.
The Culture Show included many diverse artistic acts, incorporating both traditional Korean culture and modern Korean-American culture.
Towards the beginning of the program, students performed a fan dance. The costumes displayed in the fan dance were colorful and handmade; the dresses were made of flowing material, the vests were multicolored, and the headpieces were elaborate and ornate.
“The [performed] fan dance originated from the 15th –century during King Sejoung’s dynasty,” explained Son. Such dances, according to Son, attracted royalty and courtesans who traveled all the way to China to view the elegant dance style.
Son explained that Sejoung’s reign was not only a period of cultural enlightenment but also the establishment of a written Korean language.
A little later on in the program, six students performed a modern hip-hop dance. One performer explained how his group’s performance fused the experience and music of different cultures.
“Our performance was just to show people how hip hop [music and dance] is [also] part of a Korean-American music. We put a lot of effort and work into it,” said John Oh, a member of the six-person U of C “Deux + Woda—X” and a first-year student in the College.
At the conclusion of the event, Loose Roots performed two different numbers. Dressed in traditional white costume with a combination of red, blue, or yellow vests, the performers played drum music of South Asia and South-East Asia. The music of Loose Roots aims to produce awareness of Korean culture, according to group members.
Other acts during Korean Culture Night included Korean poetry reading, a fashion show, a Tae-Kwon Do demonstration, a Modern Dance numbers, and “Voices of Korea,” a musical presentation by Hoon-Sang Lee.
Many attendees enjoyed the variety of acts of Culture night, according to many members of the organizations involved with Korean Culture Night., however some personal politics were involved in the planning of Culture Night.
“There should be more of a community among the Korean [RSOs],” said fourth-year student in the College Steve Ko, a KUUC member. He explained that the lack of community made it somewhat difficult to work together for Culture Night.
“[Obviously,] with every community, there are different opinions, said Ed Kim, KUUC treasurer and a fourth-year student in the College. However, Kim explained that there is a problematic lack of unity among the Korean RSOs, but he concluded that in the years to come each organization should strive to work together in a more effective manner and put personal politics aside.
The cultural show cost between $3,500 -$4,000, according to Kim. KUUC received financial support from the East Asian Languages and Civilization department at the U of C, Student Government, and from KUUC ticket sales. The organization also did some fundraising for the event. The post-Culture Night party cost an additional $400.
A caterer from Koreatown provided the buffet-style dinner before the event. Gam poong gi (spicy chicken), kim chee (pickled radish), bul gol gi (a beef dish), and na mul (bean sprouts) were among the meat and vegetarian dishes.
After the show, KUUC hosted a dance party held at Ida Noyes.
Originally published May 30, 1997
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