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D DJan. 30 - Feb. 11, 2007 Newspaper for the University of Houston-Downtown Fall Volume 38 Issue 1
ateline: owntownS t u d e n t - R u n s i n c e v o l u m e o n e
42Slavery O’Kane e r SExercise? 5P a r k
E s s e I N T E R V I E W
Gallerywing!
segami elgoog
Minimum Wage Policy Good?
By Andrzej Wojcik Staff Writer
Back in the early 90’s,comedianChrisRockeloquentlysummed up the plight of theminimum wage worker: “Youknow what it means whensomeone pays you minimum
wage?Youknowwhat your bossis trying to say?It’s like, ‘Hey ifI could pay youless,Iwould,butit’s against thelaw.’”
O n c eagain, the issueof the federalminimum wage forefront of the
ue. Washingtonen notice of the
the workers ofave slavedawayhour for almost started to take this month the Representativesion raising the
has come to thenational dialoghas finally takgrumblings ofAmerica,whohfor $5.15 ana decade, andaction. EarlierU.S. House ofpassed legislatfederal minimum wage by a
whole$2.10toawhooping$7.25anhour.However,itistooearlytocelebrateyet.
Just because such a‘progressive’billhasbeenpassedintheHouse,whichiscontrolledheavilyby theDemocrats, ithasquiteawaytogobeforetheaverageU.S.minimumwageworkerseesachangeonhisorherpaycheck.It has to be first approved by the Senate, in which the Democratshave only a slim majority, andthenbeapprovedbytheexecutivebranch,ourRepublicanPresidentBush. This leavesa lotof roomforapotentialderailingofsuchaneededchange.
ThevoiceofBusiness,aschanneled by many Republicansand moderate Democrats, hasspoken against the proposedincrease,citingthatthesubsequent
higher labor costs would put amajor holdup in its operations.Manysmallbusinessownershavearguedthatraisedwagesfortheirworkers would lead to increasesin prices, thus hurting theAmerican consumer. There hasevenbeentalkofpossiblelayoffsinordertocompensateforlostnetrevenue; though, there has beennotalkfromtheCEOswhomakehundredsoftimesmoreperhourthan their employeesof possiblesalarycutsforthemselves.
Fortunately, andcompassionately, the powers-that-be are also listening to thefears of the employers. SenateDemocratshavesignaledthattheywould be willing to add billionsof dollars in tax breaks in ordertomakeminimumwageincreaseeasier for business to swallow.
The White House indicated thatit would support a raise in theminimum wage as long as itcame in conjunction with taxrelief to help small businesseskeep their competitive edge andkeeptheeconomygrowing.Thefinal package presented to the Presidentforapprovalwillbetheresult of negotiations betweenbothlegislativechambers.
Ifallgoeswell,thewageincrease would go into effect inthree stages over 26 months. Itwould go to $5.85 an hour 60days after signed into law, thento$6.55anhourayearlater,andfinally to $7.25 an hour a year after that.This is a very long time towaitfortheestimated5.6millionworkers in the United Stateswho currently make minimum
See WAGE pg 8
One More Time!Metro revives the UPass another semester
By Kristopher OverholtStaff Writer
Last semester, Metrosparkedmuchcontroversyamongcolleges city-wide, includingUHD, as they announced thedeathofa fadedblue friend: theMetro UPass. In the previoustwo-and-a-half years at UHD,theUPasscouldbepurchasedforabout$20andallowedstudentsatmostuniversitiesacrossHoustontoridethelocalMetrobuses,Parkand Ride commuter buses, andthe MetroRAIL for an unlimitednumber of rides during thesemester.Itwastargetedtowardscollege students and available at
schoolsthatelectedtoparticipateintheUPassprogram.TheUPasswas advertised on the Metrowebsite as away for students tonot only travel between schooland home, but also to specialevents and for quick runs to thegrocerystore.
After much deliberationand controversy last year, MetrohaddecidedtodoawaywiththeUPass andallother storedvaluecardsasofDecemberof2006infavorofanewtechnology-packedpassnamedtheQCard.Thiswasmet with thousands of studentsoutragedattheideaofa200%to900%costincreasejustforthemto get to school and back, notincluding additional bus or train
rides. The Student GovernmentAssociation at UHD organizedan informational campaign forstudents, collaborating withnumerousotherschoolsacrossthecity,andspoketoMetrodirectlyatthemonthlyBoardofDirectorsmeetinglatelastsemester.
Surprisingly, Metroresponded one week later andcalled for a special studentopenforumwithChairmanDavidWolffof theMetroBoardofDirectors.Thisimmediatelyspelledsuccessin students’ voices being heardbecause such an opportunityfor students to speak one-on-onewithaMetroChairmanwasunprecedented. It allowed muchmoredialogueandmanyconcernsto be expressed in a close-quartered format.The75-minuteforumheldquiteadifferenttonethanthe3minutesthatMetrohad
See UPASS pg 8 Will U be commuting by car come next semester?
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S t u d e n t - R u n s i n c e v o l u m e o n e
Is the
editorial Jan. 30 - Feb. 11, 2007
IS IT JUST ME?!?Slavery in the Fifth Grade
by Dr. Yvonne Kendall
My mom is a womanwarrior. She’sbeena teacher inClarksville Tennessee for over45 years, so she started back inthe day when teachers actuallytaught and students actuallylearned (I was her student oneyear, so I know). Part of thattimeshewasaprincipal. Whileshe was a principal, the captainof the elementary school ship,standardized reading and mathscores went up annually. Thiswas not common in the schoolsystem. On the theory that nogood deed goes unpunished, shewas busted down to remedialmath teacher for lodging andlosing a discrimination lawsuit.Thenumberofminorityprincipalswas reduced once she lost thesuit. Things that make you go“hmmm.”
Now, her so-calledpunishment was nothing of thekind. What they didn’t realizewas that she loves to teach. Imean, she LOVES to teach.When asked to teach kids withtheworstskillsinmath,shewaseager to get to work. Many ofthese kids are so frustrated thattheybecomedisciplineproblems.Everyyearshebroughtmoreandmorekidsuptoandbeyondgradelevel,easilysurpassinganyotherteacher of remedial skills in herschool. Some teachers becamejealous, but others learned fromher.
So, mom is sailing alongand then one day her fifth grade students were supposed to beworkingonanassignment. OnelittleWhitegirlinaredtunicwasnot working. She just sat therewhile my mother approached.When asked why she was notworkinglikealltheotherstudents,thefollowingdialogueensued:
Smug little White girl: “Idon’thavetolistentoyou.”
Curious Black teacher:“Whynot?”
Proud little White girl:“You’reBlackandI’mamaster.”
Deadpan, but interestedBlackteacher:“Masterofwhat?”
Thiswaswhenthegirlandotherstudentsexplainedthattheirsocial studies teacher had themreenacting the pre-Civil War
periods by dividing intomasters and slaves. Thenext day they switchedover and little missy, notliking the slave thing,threwhergreentunicontothe floor and stomped on it.Therehadevenbeenanemail (which my motherhad not yet seen) thataskedfacultyandstaffnotto be abolitionists, don’tfree the slaves. Moreaboutthislater.
Mymotherwentupinsmoke.Sherememberedthat she could not takeday courses at the localuniversityfortyyearsagobecause “White studentsmightbeoffended.” Sheremembered how herhusband,withadoctorateandexperience,waspassedoverinapromotionatthatsame university twentyyears ago for a Whitewoman with a Master’sdegree and no experience. Sheremembered that fifteen years ago her attorney daughter, mysister, and MD husband tried tomove into a nice neighborhoodwithaduckpond. Theywanteda nice place to live with theirfour-year-old son. They didn’trealizetheywouldbeintegratingthe neighborhood. Their housewas burned out by Whiteneighborhoodteenagers.Nobodywaseverarrested,althoughitwasclearthatneighborsknewwhodidit. She remembered that five years ago the city council had votedto ban the naming of any streetafterapersonso that theycouldavoidnamingastreetafterworldfamousOlympianandClarksvillenativeWilmaRudolph.
Despite recent gains, sheknew that the legacy of slaverywasstillwithus.Shealsoknew
enough about child developmentto know that fifth grade was much tooyoungforsuchanexperiment.She went to the White teacher,who was not willing to change.Shewent to theWhiteprincipal,whosawnoharminit.ShewenttotheNAACPandtheygotbusy.They went to the Director ofSchools,andhetookitseriously.Themediafoundoutandreportedthatmymotherwastheonlyonewhohadcomplained.Meanwhile,ajanitor,secretary,teacher’saideand two teachers admitted tomomthatthishadbeenbotheringthemforthefouryearsithadbeenin practice. Even some parentshad expressed concern but theprincipalhadexplaineditaway.
At this point the mediastoriestookoff.Thestorybrokeright around the MLK holidayand within days, newspapers
and radio stationsin four Tennesseecities (includingNashville, thecapital, andMemphis, thelargest), threeFlorida cities, twoAlabama cities,Arkansas,Virginia,a New York-basedinternet site, aJapanese animéinternet fanzine,Jet Magazine, andmy current home,Houston Texaspickedupthestory.There were blogseverywhere; mymom didn’t evenknow what a blogwasbeforethis.
The basicresponse outsideof MiddleTennessee wasprettyconsistentasoutrage.However,
many local newspaper readerscouldn’t figure out what the big deal was. Why should onelittlegirlwhowentoverthetop,stop an “innovative” teachingexercise. Why was my mom“overreacting”?
These people just don’tget it. Iwas talking tomysisteraboutit.IfyouaskedkidstoplayNazisandJewsindeathcampstolearnaroundWWII,wedecided,the Anti-Defamation Leaguewould be on Clarksville likewhiteonrice,buttwiceasdeep.Aside from teaching kids to bebullies, it teaches little Whitekids to treasure their privilegedpositionandremindslittleBlackkidsofthetortureofourAfricanAmericanancestors.
Recent reports released bythe Houston Police Departmentthatannouncedstatisticsshowing
Blackpeopleweretwiceaslikelyto be tasered when stopped forthe same reasons than Whites,showsthatwearestilllivingthatpoisonouslegacy.Well-meaning,but insensitive teachers in amulticulturalsocietymustbecomeawareof this. This isrealityforus. Reality.Notmouldyhistory,current reality. Asking childrentoreturntoatimethatisnotyetoveriscruelandsenseless.
And by the way, the noteagainstabolitionistswaspromptedby a specific event. Another little Whitegirldecidedthatshedidn’tlikebeingenslavedsoshereadabitmoreof thehistorybookanddecided to be a runaway slave.She was missing half the day.Yougo,girl. Kudos to the littleWhitesistagirl.
Asonepersonironicallyputiton(ofallthings)theaniméfansblog“Slaveryexercisenotsuchagoodidea?Whoknew?”■
Torture revisited for young childron through slavery erecises
CONTACT US
Managing EditorDon [email protected]*[email protected](713) 221-8569
Assistant Editor
Business Manager Scott [email protected] (713) 221-8192
Layout DesignJuan [email protected]
Staff Writers:Monica MazaKristopher OverholtAndrzej Wojcik
Guest Writers:Dr. Yvonne Kendall
Faculty Advisor: Anthony [email protected](713) 221-8520
EDITORIAL POLICY: The opinions and commentaries expressed within reflect the views of the contributing writers. No opinions expressed in the Dateline Downtown reflect the viewpoints of the University of Houston-Downtown or its administration or students. Dateline Downtown reserves the right to edit or modify submissions for the sake of clarity, content, grammar or space limitations. Electronic submissions should be sent to the editor and all other submissions, which must include a saved copy on a floppy disc, should be sent to the Dateline Office in S260. All submissions become property of Dateline Downtown and may not be returned. If you have any questions, please call (713) 221-8569.
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editorialJan. 30 - Feb. 11, 2007
Bullets not ButterRecap of the State of the Union Address
By Don PieperEditor
Tuesday, 23 January 2007,PresidentBushdeliveredtheStateoftheUnionaddresstoCongressandtheAmericanpeople.Facingdecliningpopularity,evenwithinhis own party, an increasinglyunpopular war, and a number ofissues of stretching executivepower and limiting civil rights,the President faced the nationto give his analysis of the yearbehindandpredictionsoftheyearahead.
Perhaps the largestsingle issue, though seeminglystrategically placed later in hisspeech,Mr.BushspokeabouttheAmerican military, and militaryoperations. He called for theexpansion of the active militaryby 92,000 troops in the next five years,justdaysafterannouncingthe deployment of an additional22,000totheMiddleEast.Somepeople may criticize the cost interms of these specific troops. But a glaringly absent aspect istheincreasing,butmostlyhidden,cost of our military. The mostobviousoftheseincreasescomesintheformofprivatecontractorsoperating alongside coalitiontroops. These private companieshave obtained massive contractsin the region and are passing italong to their personnel in theform of high wages, reasonablygood accommodations, andfrequent time off. A recentstudy announced that more than100,000contractorsarecurrentlyoperatingalongsideourtroopsinIraq.Whilemanyofthesehandlenon-combat related occupations,they all earn considerably morethan the troops with whomthey serve. Indeed, the contractcompanies need not activelyrecruit soldiers and Marinesinto their ranks; they are dailyapproached by troops interestedingettingoutofthemilitaryandcomingbacktotheMiddleEasttoearn topdollar. Iwaspersonallyoffered a $150,000 salary (thefirst $87,000 being tax free) to do security work, essentially the
sametasksIwasdoinginIraqforabout a quarter of those wages.I must admit that I consideredtakingthepositionforsometime.Many experienced troops aretakingthosepositions,furtheringdepletingourpersonnelresources.Asadirectresult,themilitaryhasbeenforcedtoincreaseenlistmentand re-enlistment bonuses inordertoattempttocompetewiththe private sector. Bonuses of$20,000 for re-enlistment are nolongerunheardof.
In the long term, thereare additional costs thatare little considered in themainstreammedia.TheVeteransAdministration has been overburdened and under fundedsince the war began. Perhapscasualty rates were not takeninto consideration when theadministration planned out thecost of the war. But returningveteranswillaffect theeconomyinanumberofways.Thosewithmajor disabilities will receivea stipend for life, as well asmedical treatment from the VA.In addition, they will be lessproductive members of society,unabletophysicallycontributeastheymighthaveotherwise.Othersmay be impacted physically ormentallyinwaysthatmayneverprove quantifiable. It is for these reasons that some economistshaveplacedthetotalcostsofthewaratwellover$3trillion.
The President invoked thememoryof9-11onceagain.Forsome,thesecontinuedinvocationsaresimplypoliticallyuseful.Forothers,theyareoutrightoffensive.HeclaimedthatAmericaistaking“the fight to the enemy,” further solidifying his dualistic moralstance. He specifically mentioned Sunni Muslim terrorists, butneglectedtostatethatourfriendsthe Saudis maintain as theirofficial religion, the Wahabi sect, a large and violent group fromwhich many terrorists come.Mr. Bush also mentioned Shiaterrorists, noting the funnelingoffundsfromIranintogroupsinIraqandelsewhereintheMiddleEast, specifically the Hezb’Allah. RampinguptensionsbetweentheUnitedStatesandIranmaynotbe
wiseinthecurrentglobalclimate,particularlyconsideringthatmostof the “coalition of the willing”hasleftIraqalready.
Relatedtoterrorismandtomilitary build-up, the Presidentwants to double the size of theBorderPatrol.Atthesametime,hewantstograntatemporaryworkerprogram to migrant workersfrom Mexico and other Centraland South American nations, inorder to relieve the pressures atoursouthernborder.Federal lawprevents the U.S. military fromengaginginoperationswithintheUnited States. We have alreadyseen the loop hole in this lawas governors in the southwest,including Texas, have called upNationalGuardtroopstosupporttheBorderPatrol.NationalGuardtroopshavebeenusedforyearsin
See BUSH pg 8
S t u d e n t - R u n s i n c e v o l u m e o n e
PAgE 3
arts & Ent. Jan. 30 - Feb. 11, 2007
O’Kane Gallery
Audrey BullerA Magic Realist in Retrospect
TheO’KaneGalleryopenedthisyearwithawonderfuldisplayentitled“AudreyBuller:AMagicRealist in Retrospect.” UHD ishonored tohouse,until the2ndofMarch,27ofMs.Buller’sworks.AudreyBullerwasCanadianborn,butbeganpaintinginNewYorkatanearlyage.Sheseemstoleadtheviewer to her ideas through herbrush, but not quite all the way.Bullerexpectstheviewertomeetherhalfway, tomakesomeefforttoreachtheideaontheirown.Herpaintingsarenotquiteliteral,andso the viewer must relate his orherownemotionstothisuniquelymodernexperience.
Magic Realism is a genre
thatgrew,inpart,fromsurrealism,thoughitissometimesconsidereda subcategory of postmodernism.Thegenreheld anhonoredplaceintheartcommunityinthe1930’sand 1940’s, until abstractionismtookcenterstage.
Reaching across variousart forms, magic realism is acontrasting of the realistic withthe fantastical. Perhaps the mostfamous examples of this are inthe field of literature, where such writers as Franz Kafka (“TheMetamorphosis”), Toni Morrison(“Beloved” and “The BluestEye”),andLauraEsquivel(“LikeWater for Chocolate”) are oftenclassified. In music, magic realism canbeexpressedbytheuseofnon-instrument sounds, such as traffic, inafusionofotherwisetraditionalmusical elements in order toinvokeanemotionalreaction.
Of course in the visualarts, Audrey Buller was amongthe heavy weights. Described aspossessing an “ordered design ofgreat intelligence” by New Yorkartist Reginald Marsh, her worksweredisplayedattheArtInstituteofChicago,theNationalAcademyof Design, the Whitney, and theMuseumofModernArtduringherdecadeofimmensepopularity.
Perhaps in response tochanging times following WorldWar II, the art world quicklychangedtheirfocustosuchartistsas Jackson Pollock and MarkRothko, abstract contemporariesof Buller’s. She did not like themove, telling a friend that “theyhavenoeyesforobjectivepaintingjust now. They dismiss it all asrealism, nothing else, and howmeager thatwouldbe if thatwasalltherewastoit.”
Magic Realism has been agreatly underrepresented art styleforthelasthalfcentury,relegatedchiefly to serious artists and an occasional art history course.O’Kane’sdirector,MarkCervenka,
feels that Buller’s works deservegreater exposure, and is offeringthemuptoUHDstudents,andtoallHoustonians.
Maketimebetween,before,orafterclassestostopinandseewhatyouthinkofBuller’svision.■
By Don PieperEditor
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Gain ExperienceGet PublishedGet Paid
500 words = $25Submission does not guarantee publication.Suggestions/Complaints
S t u d e n t - R u n s i n c e v o l u m e o n e
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Native Houstonian Parker Esse
iNTERVIEW with Parker Esse
Swing! the musical iscoming to the Hobby CenterJanuary 30th - February 11th.It received five nominations, including“BestMusical,”at the2000 Tony Awards. This showis a celebration of the dancephenomenon that occurredduring the 30’s and 40’s andwillhighlightamixtureofstylesincludingJive,LatinSwing,WestCoast Swing, Hip-Hop Swing,and Country Western Swing. IwasfortunateenoughtotalkwithParker Esse, one of the show’sperformers.
DL: You’re a nativeHoustonian. Which part ofHoustonareyoufrom?
PE: I grew up in RiverOaks and went to St. John’s.Then Iwent to theHighSchoolfor thePerformingArtsandwasaDancemajor.
DL: There must be a lotof preparation that goes into ashow like this. My experienceperformingwasinahighschoolmarching band and my banddirector used to tell us “perfectpractice makes perfect.” Howlongisatypicaldayforyouwhenyourehearse?
PE:Werehearseonetoninep.m.andhaveaone-hourdinner.
Just like with a marching band,repetitionisthekeyandswinghaspartnering.Youhavetobuildthatrelationshipandworkonmakingthemlookgoodandthenyoucanmakeyourselflookgood.Swing!isahardershow.Mostofushavedonetheshowbefore,butwestillonly have two weeks. Swing! isa marriage between dance andmusic.Themusiciselectrifying.This is my third time doingSwing!IdidtheshowinChicagoandBostonandwhentheyaskedmetodoithereIwasmorethanhappytocomehomeanddothis.It’s great to be with my familyagain.IdidashowcalledFossethat was all dance and I wouldhurtaftertheshow.Weputalotintoourperformanceanditdoesweardownthebody.
DL:Iknowthisshowmustbe physically demanding. Whathas been your worst injury sofar?
PE: I’ve only had minorinjuries. Itmaynotsound likeabig deal but the last time I didSwing!Ijammedmythumb.Butthinkaboutit;Ihavetoleadandthrow my partner in the air fortheshowandthattookitstollonit.Ihadtowearawristbracetostabilize my thumb. Dancing isverydemanding.Wedophysicaltherapy after we dance besideswhat we do before we dance:the warm-up and stretching.Wehave togetadjustmentsand just
maintain our bodies. I mean,after a show the first thing we do isgrabicepacksandplacethemofvariouspartsofourbodiestohelp with the inflammation. For me, I’ve always had problemswith my left shoulder and leftknee. I think the longest I wasoutofashowwasoneweek.ButI’veneverhadananyinjurybadenoughtowhereIhadtobeinthehospital,knockonwood.
DL: In Act I, the numbercalled “Harlem Nocturne” iscalled “a fine example of Swing!’scleverinteractionbetweenmusicanddancewithadancerandthebass.”Whatsortofinteractionisthis?
PE: There’s aninstrumentalist on stage. It’s abassplayerandtherearedancersthat dance around and interactwith him. It’s one lady andthreemenwhoarevyingforherattention.
DL:Sortoflikea“callandresponse,”likeinmusic?
PE: Yes, definitely. For my number in Act II, it’s a dancecompetition. The story is that agirllostherpartnerandpicksmeoffthecorneratthelastminutesoshehastoteachmesomemovesasmuchasshecanandthenwehave to dance. Everything thatcan go wrong does go wrong.(laughing)It’scomedicandIhavealotoffundoingit.YouknowIwalk on stage with toilet paperon my shoe, when I’m dancingwithhermyglasses falloffsoIhave to act like I’mblind.ThenIaccidentallyripherskirtoff.IttakesalotformypartnerandItolooklikewe’reoutofcontrolandstillbesafebecauseIamliftingherintheair.
DL: InAct II, the number“Caravan” says “the band getsone for itself.” Is this some sortoffreestylemomentforthem?
PE:It’sthehalfnumberanditfeaturestapdancing.There’saladythattapsandthenthreemencome on stage and try to showherupbutshekeeps impressingus with her tapping. You know
for a show like this, there is norightorwrong.Imeanwhenwehear the music start, we just goforit.
DL: Going back to yournumber,isitabreakfromtherestoftheshow?Theshowsoundssohigh energy but is your numberthe time that you can finally breathe?
PE:It’sinterestingthatyouaskedmethatbecauseyouwouldthink so but it’s actually morechallenging for me. I’ve hadtraining in jazz, tap, and balletand to put that aside and makemyself “mess up” and look badishard.It’slikeasingerthatyouknowhasabeautifulvoiceandiftheytriedtosingbadlyitwouldbehard.Imeanitgoesagainstallthoseyearstraining.Ittakesalotto look smoothandafterwards Ifeel like I ran a marathon.Mycharacterisanervouswreck so I’m eitherholding my breath orhype rven t i l a t i ng .Once I leavestageI’m usually outofbreath.Thisshow is highimpact likeaerobics classforus.
D L :I hate toadmititbutI’ve neverseen a livem u s i c a l .What can Iexpect as afirst timer? What makesthis a uniqueexpe r i enceas opposed toan opera or aplay?
P E :The minuteyou hear themusic andthe couplescome outanddance,itis amazing.
Themusicwilleffectyou.It’sthejoyandcelebrationof theswingeraofmusic.ThinkbacktowhenthestockmarketcrashedandtheDepression began. The youngpeople went swing dancing asan emotional release. They lefttheir worries at the door youknow. That’s what we want foryou.Asperformers,wehopethatyougainanexperiencefromtheshow, whether you’re humminga song afterwards or you reallylikedoneofthemovesonstage.
DL:Allperformers “feed”off the audience.Howdoweasan audience influence a musical?
PE: Just being thereis great. To have a naudience enjoy ourshow is what we livefor. Without you, we would benothing.Reactions like laughter,applause, and the energy we
feel really motivates us togive our all. Your
response tells usthatwe’redoingok.IlovewhatI
do.Onceyouseea show, and then
you realize thatwe do eighta week and
sometimestwo aday, it isexhaustingbutwelove
whatwedo.DL: Why do you
think that this type ofentertainment has lastedsolong?
PE:Swingistimeless.Youcanmeasuretheswingerabyyearsbutthemusicis still prominent in theway that we relate to itandanyonecanrelate toit.Itnevergetsold.
DL: My schoolhas a theatre program.Obviously there aredifferences betweenactingandwhatyoudo;
however is it that big ofSee MUSICAL pg 8
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By Monica MazaStaff Writer
Swing!
S t u d e n t - R u n s i n c e v o l u m e o n e
PAgE 5
STUDeNT LiFe Jan. 30 - Feb. 11, 2007
NYU Students pleased by bill to cut student loan rates
(U-WIRE) NEW YORK- Interest rates on need-basedfederal loans may be cut in halfover the next five years.
The legislationwaspassedby theHouseofRepresentativesonWednesdayand isnowbeingdebatedintheU.S.Senate.
The legislation was oneof six bills introduced by theDemocrats in their first 100 hours in Congress. It is aimedat lowering interest rates forstudents receiving need-based,federallysubsidizedStaffordandPerkinsloans.
Thebill,whichcutsinterestrates for undergrads from thecurrentrateof6.8percent to3.4percent,wouldtakeeffectonnewloans made after July 1 of thisyear.
Barbara Hall, associateprovost of enrollmentmanagement, said she does notbelieve the new legislation willhave an effect on financial aid at the university, because it isunlikely lenders will withdrawfromprovidingloans.
As of fall 2006, 13,704undergraduate and 12,861graduate and professional NewYorkUniversitystudentsreceivedsome form of financial aid. Almost 8,000 undergraduates receivedsubsidizedStaffordloanswithanaverage loan amount of $3,847,Hallsaid.
The bill passed the Housewitha356-71vote,accordingtothe U.S. Clerk’s Office. Largely a bipartisan initiative, all 232Democrats voted in favor of thebill,while124Republicansvotedforit,71votedagainstitandeightdidnotvote.
HallcalledformoreeffortsbyCongress toprovidealternateformsofaid.Shesaidshewantsto see Congress provide morefederal grant money as opposedto“encouraging”loans.
John Doty, a spokespersonforNewYork’s8thCongressionalDistrict representative JerroldNadler,saidcongressmanNadlersharedHall’spreferenceforgrantsinsteadofloans.
“Pell Grants haven’t goneup,forexample,”Dotysaid.“Thecongressman ismore in favorofgrants,notsomuchloans,whichstudentshavetopayback.”
PellGrants,whichstudentsdonothavetoreplay,areanotherform of financial aid available to low-income families. Thesegrantshavebeencappedat$4,050since2003,whentheamountwasincreased by $50, according toCollegeBoard.
Doty hopes Congress willtake more action.”People areexcited by H.R. 5 [the bill], butcan it cover more people? Canit do more?” Doty said. “That’swhat we hope will be addressedinthefuture.”
Alicia Hurley, NYU’sassistant vice president forgovernment and communityaffairs, said the early focus onhigher education affordabilityis a good sign. It’s a terrific sign that among the Congress’s topinitiativesfortheyear--andindeedwithin their first 100 legislative hours--isaninitiativethataimsatmakinghighereducationmoreaffordable,”Hurleysaid.
Hurley acknowledged theprogresstheCongresshasmade.
“Asyoumayknow,itwasinthepastyearorsothatthestudentloaninterestrateswereincreasedduring an attempt by the 109thCongress to find some savings opportunities,”Hurleysaid.
Last February, Congresspassed legislation increasing theinterest rate on Stafford Loansandcut$12.7billionfromfederalstudent loan programs over five years.
“ItiscommendableforthenewCongresstoundothepreviousCongress’ negative policies,”Hurley said, but it remains tobeseenwhether this is the“bestinvestmentof$6billion.”
Despite this, Hurley saidshe was optimistic about thefutureoffederalfunding.
“The good news is thatit is only the beginning of along-overdue conversationin Washington, D.C., aboutthe federal funding for highereducation,”shesaid.
By Nick Brennen & Sergio HernandezWashington Square News U-WIRE (NYU)
See BILL pg 8
Justice Better Than Never
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -They were two black teenagerswalkingaruralroadinFranklinCounty, Miss., only hoping tohitch a ride. Some white menpulled over for them but tookthemanywherebuthome.
The last thing CharlesEddie Moore and HenryHezekiah Dee saw were thewatersof theMississippiRiverrolling over their faces. Theywere weighted and drownedalive after a tortuous beatingfrom several Klansmen in thesolitudeofHomochittoNationalForest.
Ithappenedinthesummerof 1964, in the heat of thecivil rights movement and oneyear before its climax with thepassage of the National VotingRights Act. Their bodies werefound two months later nearTallulah, La., during a searchfor three civil rights workerswhohadalsodisappeared.
Itwasatimewhenblackshadlessrepresentationthanthedirt they stood on, and theirtormentors knew that nothingcouldbedonetokeepthemfromterrorizinginnocentpeople.
Orcouldthey?James Ford Seale was
one of two white suspectsinitially arrested in connectionwith the killings, but once theFBI handed the case over tolocal authorities, a justice ofthe peace almost immediatelythrew out the charges. Nearly43yearslater,nowattheageof71, Seale was surprised to find authoritiesonceagainknockingathisdoor.
FindingSealesevenyearsafter the Justice Departmentreopened the case might havebeen a surprise for authoritiestoo, since Seale’s family hadbeentellingthemforyearsthathe was dead. But rattlesnakesdon’tcommitsuicide.
Seale’s arrest is anexample of the many newlyreopened cases from the civilrightsera,wheremilitantracistswho’dthoughttheirviolentpastwasput to rest under time andan unmindful judicial systemare now being plucked fromretirement and nursing homestofacelawsneverupheld.
“Forty years ago, thesystem failed,” said FBIDirector Robert Mueller,who appeared with JusticeDepartment officials and siblingsofthevictimsatanews
conference inWashington.“WeintheFBIhavearesponsibilityto investigate these cold case,civil rights-era murders whereevidence still exists to bringbothclosureandjusticetothesecases that for many, remainunhealedwoundstothisday.”
It might come across asabsurd to now put harmlesssenior citizens in shackles forthingsthattookplaceinancienthistory, but the differencebetween good and evil neverages. While some tight-lippedelders responsible for theviolence of the 1950s and ‘60sstill walk our streets with animageofinnocence,thefamiliesofvictimshavespentnearlyhalfa century wondering why thepeopletheyloveddiedandwhynoonewasheldresponsible.
If it wasn’t for these newprosecutionsintheSouth,therewould be no conviction for the1963bombingofthe16thStreetBaptist Church in Birminghamthat killed four black girls, norwould there be convictions inthecaseofthethreecivilrightsworkers officials were looking forwhentheyfoundMooreandDee.
See JUSTICE pg 8
By Mike FaulkThe Crimson White (U. Alabama)(U-WIRE)
S t u d e n t - R u n s i n c e v o l u m e o n e
Page �
STUDeNT LiFeJan. 30 - Feb. 11, 2007
Dear EarthTalk: Are the animals used in classroom dissection taken from the wild? If so, wouldn’t this be endangering their populations? Are there other environmental issues associated with classroom dissection? -- William Conway, via e-mail
According to the HumaneSociety of the United States(HSUS), most animals used indissection--includingamphibians,birds, snakes, turtles, fish and invertebrates--are takenfromthewild, even though many havebeen declining in population.Smithsonian Institutionresearchers who surveyed 14major dissection supply catalogsfoundonlyonethatoffered“farm-raised” amphibians; none of theothers verified their sources.
ResearchersfromtheWorldConservation Union reported in2004thatathirdofallamphibianspeciesaroundtheglobe,includingfrogs, were threatened withextinction.Althoughhabitatloss,pollutionandclimatechangesarethe primary causes, demand fordissectionspecimensonlymakesmattersworse.Analystsestimatethatassixmillionwildfrogsaredestroyed each year in the U.S.alonefordissection.
Takingfrogsfromthewildalsoincreasesinsectpopulations,includingthosethatcarrydisease.Frogseatmorethantheirweightin bugs every day. Farmers theworld over have long relied onfrogstokeepcropspest-free,butalackoffrogsinrecentyearshasled many farmers to switch topesticides. Concerns about this
promptedIndiatobanfrogsalesin1987.Indiahadbeenearning$10million yearly on frog exports,but was spending $100 millionimportinginsecticides,accordingtothegroupMercyforAnimals.
Theuseofformaldehydeinpreserving animal specimens isalso a concern. Classified by the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency as a “hazardous airpollutant, water pollutant andwasteconstituent,”formaldehydecancausenausea,headachesandbreathing difficulties in people, and has been linked to cancerin animal studies. Teachers andstudents involved in frequentdissections are exposed to itregularly.Further,schoolsdiscardmillions of formaldehyde-ladenclassroom specimens each year,raisingquestionsaboutitseffectsonthelargerecosystemaswell.
Animal advocacy groupsandsomeeducatorsalsoquestiondissection on both practicaland ethical grounds. While itis intended to interest studentsin science, they say, it may behaving an opposite affect whilealso encouraging cruelty toanimalsoutsideclass.Accordingto the Physicians Committee forResponsible Medicine (PCRM),a 1997 study of seventh gradersfound that fetal pig dissectionsfostered callousness towardanimals and dissuaded studentsfrom pursuing science careers.PCRM also cites surveys whereasmanyas90percentofstudentssaidtheyshouldbeabletooptoutofdissection.
A number of computer-based teaching tools now on themarketprovidealternativestolive
animal dissection. Digital FrogInternational’s award-winning“DigitalFrog2”allowsastudentto“dissect”acomputer-generatedfrog with a digital scalpel. Thenon-profit TeachKind provides a comprehensive online listingof such resources. Nine U.S.states--Florida, California,Pennsylvania,NewYork,RhodeIsland,Illinois,Virginia,OregonandNewJersey--nowhavelawsthatallowstudentstobegoutofcuttinganimalsand tousesuchalternatives. Other states haveimplementedpolicies that serveasimilarpurpose.
CONTACTS: HSUS,hsus.org/animals_in_research/animals_in_education; PCRM,www.dissectionalternatives.org;TeachKind, www.teachkind.org/dissectalt.asp.
Got An EnvironmentalQuestion? Send it to: EarthTalk,c/o E/The EnvironmentalMagazine, P.O. Box 5098,Westport,CT06881;submititat:www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: [email protected]. Read pastcolumns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.■
Putting a Stamp on History
This month, the Harris CountyPublic Libraries will be “Putting aStamp on History” with a city-widecelebration of Black History Month.ThefollowingissomeofthefreefareavailabletoHoustonians.
Tue6Feb@3pm:DiscussionofToniMorrison’s“Beloved.”TomballBranch-30555TomballPkwy
Wed 7 Feb @ 11am: Discussion of Zora Neale Hurston’s“TheirEyesWereWatchingGod.”WestUBranch-6108Auden
Thu 8 Feb @ 4pm:Screening of “Malcom X: ThePlain Truth,” followed by adiscussion with local historianLankford Bolling. HighMeadowsBranch-4500AldineMailRoute
Mon 12 Feb @ 3:30pm:Poetry Slam. North ChannelBranch-15741WallisvilleRoad
For more information on theseandotherevents,logontowww.
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cont. Jan. 30 - Feb. 11, 2007
WAgEcontinued from page 1
wage. They have been waitingalmost a decade for a raise, thelast increase having taken effectinSeptemberof1997.Thisisthelongeststretchoftimewithoutanincreasesincetheminimumwagewasestablishedin1938.Workingfor$200aweek—minus tax—isnotmuchmoneytosaytheleast.Definitely not enough to be able to liveinacitylikeHouston,whererentalonecanconsumeanentiremonth’s paycheck. Then, whataboutfood?Transportation?
When Chris Rockworked at McDonald’s beforebreaking into comedy, he didnot earn all that much less thancurrent Mickey Dees workers.That was literally decades ago,andhecomplainedaboutitthen.Iftheminimumwagefunctionedas was intended, to provide aliving wage for people willingtodoAmerica’sdirtywork, thenitwouldhavebeenraisedalongtime ago. It’s about time thegovernment addresses this issueanddoessomethingaboutit■
UPASScontinued from page 4
previouslyallocatedforastudent(oranyone) tospeakat itsboardmeetings.
After students voiced theiropinionsandquestionsforoveranhouratthespecialstudentforum,thedaycametoanendwithagrimfeelingofthefuturesurvivabilityfor the beloved UPass. Metrotook time to deliberate on theissue. On January 5, 2007, Ireceived a letter from ChairmanWolffstatingthatavailabilityofthe UPass would be extended toAugust21,2007,forschoolsthatwishedtoparticipate.
Inshort:theUPassisbackforanothereightmonthsatleast.Atthestartof thisproject,whenItookonthetaskofchairingthe“Save the UPass” committee intheSGAatUHD,Iknewitwouldbe a monumental task to haveour 2100 voices at UHD heardby an organization as large asMetro.Additionally,afterhavingscrutinized Metro and theirpractices closely for over five years,Ihadanunsettlingfeelingthat, thoughourvoicesmightbeloudandclear,Metrowouldnotundo the implementation of the
new Q Card system, especiallysince it was costing Metro over$300 million. But that did notstifle our efforts. With the UPass being restored for eight moremonths,thestudentsatUHDwhodependuponMetro’sserviceswillbe relieved for the time-being.Another benefit of the delayed switchover is that Metro riderswillhaveaclearandfairwarningofthefutureswitchoverdate;thatis, if thenewsystemdoesn’tgetdelayedforafurtherlaunch.
However,thestudentsacrossHouston are not the only onestrying to figure things out until Augustcomes.ThenewchangeswillaffectallbusandMetroRAILriders across Houston as 2-hourtrain passes and all stored valuecards disappear, in addition toother changes. The first launch date of February 4, 2007 wascancelled and Metro hopes “towork out the expected bugs andsoftentheshocktotransitriders.”Metro says that it “willphase initsnewfarestructureandQCardpayment system over severalmonthsandhopestocompletethechangeoverthissummer.”
So, why did Metro grantthestudentsanothereightmonthsof such a convenient and lovedstudent pass? It may be thattheir new multi-million dollar“improvement machines” wouldnot have been in order by theirown estimated implementationdate.Itisgood,attheleast,toseethattheywereresponsiveenoughto customer needs in extendingtheUPassprogram.Furthermore,thousands of students across thecity now have a fair warning,withseveralmonthstosavefundsfor the rise in fare structure, find alternativetransportation,suchascarpooling,ortopurchaseacar.
The UPasses are availablefrom the 3rd floor cashier’s office at UHD. The passes can bepurchasedanytimeuntiltheyrun out, and there are plenty ofpasses to go around. UHD hasordered 2300 UPasses, which iseven more than ordered in thepastsemesters.Thepasseswillbevalid untilAugust 31, 2007 andwillcontinuetogetyouridesonanyMetrobusortheMetroRAILuntilthatdate.
After the Q Card systemis implemented, all bus ridesor train passes will carry a 50%discount for students, which ishelpfulforallstudentsacrossthecity. But don’t let that fool you
into thinking the Q Card systemwillbeasconvenientandsimpleasthecurrentUPasssystem.
I would like to thank theUHDSGAandtheotherstudentswho contributed the hard worktowardsgettingourvoicesheardbyMetroontheUPassissuelastsemester. For more informationontheupcomingQCardsystem,you can visit Metro’s websiteat www.ridemetro.org. You canalso follow updates closely withMetro’s brand new weblog athttp://blogs.ridemetro.org.■
BUSHcontinued from page 4
borderstatestoobserveandreporton drug smuggling operations.Thishasbeenlargelyignored,andlikelyunknown,bytheAmericanpeopleandthemedia.Therecentbuild up, however, should belooked into by Congressionaloversightcommittees.Thisisyetanotherexampleoftheexecutiveexceedingitspower.
Despite the increases tothese agencies, Mr. Bush beganhis speech with the declarationthat Congress must balance thebudgetwithoutraisingtaxes.ThePresidentdidnotmentionwhichprograms he thought should beeliminated in order for this tooccur.
AgainMr.BushpushedhisNo Child Left Behind initiative,but did not indicate from wherethe much needed funding wouldcome.He encouraged theuseofschool choice for all children.The problem with this, as hasbeen demonstrated by a recentstudy at the University ofHouston-Downtown’s own Dr.Amy Brandon, school vouchersand choice programs, whileadvantageoustothosewhoareableandchoosetoparticipate,actuallyreduces the overall performanceofthepublicschools.
The President stated thatmost Americans should obtaintheir medical care throughprivate, possibly work funded,health insurance. He mentionedtax benefits for lower income families if they have no accesstoemployersponsoredinsuranceprograms,andtheguaranteethatchildren, the disabled, and theelderly should be taken care ofregardless of other factors. Asa demonstration of how a lowerincome family would benefit,
Mr. Bush pointed out that afamilyoffourearning$60,000ayearwould receive$4500 in taxbenefits. However, in a two parent household, if both mother andfather worked earning minimumwage,theywouldearnonly1/3ofthat figure combined. At the same time,thePresidentsuggestedtheneedforjudicialreform,limitingthe rights of citizens to sue formedical malpractice. The rightto seek redress of grievances iscentral to any democracy, and itisfrighteningtoseetheamountofsupportthatthepoliticalrighthasgiventhisissue.
Lastly,Mr.Bushsuggestedareductioningasolineconsumptionby 20% over the next ten years.While he mentioned no specific planning,at least thissuggestionis in keeping our nation withinthe first world as we move further intothe21stcentury.
MUSICALcontinued from page 4
aleaptocrossover?IseeHughJackmanandMatthewBroderickdoingitbutisithardtomakethattransition?
PE:No. It’sadifferentsetof tools. I asked Hugh JackmanthatwhenIworkedwithhimandit’snotthatdifferentfromacting.You have to do your research,figure out the character’s background,andthinkaboutwhatyour character’s relationship iswith the other characters. Withtheatre, you get one shot buteachaudienceisdifferentandasa performer you get that instantgratification that you miss out on with film. Many actors have backgroundsintheatreandmostofthemsaythattheatreisbetter.It is more difficult to go from film to stage then from stage to film.
DL: Is there anythingyou would say to the ones whoare thinking about making thetransitionintoBroadway?
PE: Absolutely. Nevergiveupandneverexceptno foran answer. Always strive forthe best. There will be lots ofrejections. You have to knowthatthisiswhatyouwant.Ifyouwantitbadenoughthenyoucando it.You’ll have many passingjudgments—you’re too tall, tooshort,toothin,toofat—butdon’tletitgettoyou.
DL: Don’t take anythingpersonal.
■
PE: Right because if youdo then you won’t survive thisbusiness. And you know if youauditionanddon’tgetsomethingthentomeit’slikeitjustwasn’tinthecardsforyouandtherewillbesomethingbetter.
Tickets are available byphone at (713) 558-8887 oronlineatwww.tuts.com.Studentdiscounted tickets are availableonehourbeforeperformance.■
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NoraToiv,presidentoftheNYU College Democrats, alsosees this new legislation as justthebeginning.
“I think the bill is a first step in addressing the obstacles thatexistformanystudentstoattendcollege,” Toiv said. “Collegetuition and the general costs ofschool are very unfair to low-income students. Colleges needtomakeamore conscious efforttoopentheirdoorstolow-incomestudents,asdoesCongress.”
JuniorRiazParsianisaidheis looking forward tograduatingwithlowerinterestrates.
“Investing in students isthe most important thing forCongresstodo,”hesaid.“Wearethefuture.”■
JUSTICEcontinued from page 4
Thosethreeworkers,JamesChaney,Andrew Goodman andMichaelSchwerner,bytheway,werealsomurdered.
Theargumentamongthoseopposedtochargingsuspectsinoldercrimesisoneofjustlettinggoofthepastwhenasuspectisconsidered“tooold” tosend toprison. In thatcase, Iguess thevictims were “too passionate”about their beliefs, or just “toofar”fromhometoexpectmakingitbackalive.Goahead-wrapalittle more arbitrary points oncircumstances to pardon thosewho still aren’t apologetic forwhattheydid.
The victims were “tooyoung” to die and the presentisnever“toolate”toreopenthecases their families never sawfinished.
Mike Faulk is managingeditor: news of The CrimsonWhite. His column runs onFridays■.
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