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(11/19/02 4:59am)
Last week, members of Students for Justice in Palestine distributed flyers in front of the Starbucks coffeehouse on S. Indiana Ave. urging students and community members to boycott the chain. Why? The SJP members had a bone to pick with the chairman and chief global strategist of Starbucks, Howard Schultz (an American Jew) because of the vocal and financial support he's given to the State of Israel. \nTo boycott a company because its chairman stands behind the only democracy in the Middle East (not to mention the most reliable American ally in that region) goes against our American values. Furthermore, a boycott of Starbucks would cause the company's many charitable programs to lose money. The attempt by SJP to start a boycott in Bloomington is not only anti-Semitic in nature but morally corrupt. \nFirst, it's important to distinguish between constructive criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism. Criticizing Israel's foreign and domestic policies isn't anti-Semitic. To single out Israel as the only country where companies shouldn't invest is anti-Semitic. Heaping blame for the Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts onto Israel, without mentioning the human rights abuses committed by the Arab states and the Palestinian Authority, is anti-Semitic. \nAnyone who supports a democratic American ally like Israel should be publicly commended, and Schultz is no exception. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that allows its citizens a basic right that we in the U.S. take for granted -- the right to vote. \nAs for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, let the facts speak for themselves. Israel is by no means the only country occupying lands inhabited by people who want independence. Turkey, Iraq, Syria, France, China and Russia are also doing so. But what separates Israel from these countries is it's has been the only nation to offer statehood to the people living in the territories it controls. In 2000, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat all of Gaza, 95 percent of the West Bank and all of East Jerusalem to create an independent Palestine at Camp David. Unfortunately, Arafat and his negotiating team not only rejected Barak's offer, but didn't even try to work with Barak to amend it. The Palestinian response to the Israeli offer of statehood has not been a peaceful one. Instead, it has been manifested in a campaign of terrorism targeting Israeli soldiers and civilians alike for over two years. \nPainting cruel lies about the only Jewish state in the world, a Starbucks boycott would hurt the communities that the corporation has assisted through a variety of social and charitable initiatives. The Starbucks Foundation has donated $1 million over a period of four years to the Jumpstart program, helping give children from low-income families the skills needed to begin school. Starbucks hasn't only donated money to Jumpstart, it also co-sponsors the annual "All Books for Children" book drive with the organization in September. \nAnother Starbucks program aimed at giving back to the public is the Make Your Mark initiative. The initiative matches the number of hours that Starbucks employees volunteer in their communities with cash donations to local non-profit groups.\nThe boycott of Starbucks that SJP members desire is not only anti-Semitic and anti-American, but would also drain money from important programs. The next time you spot an SJP member handing out flyers about Starbucks, march into the coffeehouse on S. Indiana Ave. and order two cups of coffee instead of one.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
With the click of a mouse, students can now express feedback regarding the mandatory activity and service fees that appear on their Bursar bills. \nThe Office of the Dean of Students recently constructed a Web site allowing students to view prospective fee changes and submit their views via e-mail to the Committee for Fee Review. The site is available at campuslife.indiana.edu/feereview.\nSix student voting members are on the committee, which supervises mandatory fee levels and analyzes proposals by the organizations that charge them. Each year, the committee recommends various changes to what appears on students' Bursar bills. These commentaries are available on the committee's Web site.\nSenior Meredith Suffron, IU Student Association president and non-voting chairman of the committee, said the site was created to solicit student feedback.\n"We wanted to make sure that students could make their voices heard, and make as much information available to them as possible," she said. "I think it's important for students to see how much they actually spend on these services, and they would probably be interested to see where their money is going."\nSuffron said that this year the committee has recommended that the fee for recreational sports be listed separately from other mandatory charges on Bursar bills. She said the mandatory activity fee is $53.61, but most students do not know that $34.84 of that payment goes toward recreational sports.\n"I think the overall fee sounds deceiving," she said. "When students see a mandatory fee of over $50, they start to question it. More than $30 of that goes to recreational sports. The committee believes that if students see the recreational sports charges itemized separately, they will see that the overall charges are pretty reasonable."\nAssociate Dean of Students Damon Sims serves the committee as a non-voting advisory member.\n"There are an extraordinary set of programs available to students," Sims said. "The nice thing about a mandatory fee is that the costs are spread among a lot of people, and therefore, the programs are made relatively inexpensive for the individual student. \nBut at the same time, there are some substantial fees on that list. I think the committee has done a great job determining what the proper level of those fees should be, and it's reflective of the students' interests because students are the ones making the decisions."\nSuffron said she hopes every student will log onto the committee's Web site.\n"This is the only practice on campus where students are allowed fee level input," Suffron said. "It's important for them to be informed about how their money is spent."\nGraduate student Junghoon Kim expressed enthusiasm about the site.\n"I think it is a positive step because students can have a significant impact on decision-making," he said.\nStudents can e-mail comments to cfr@indiana.edu.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Students no longer have to rely solely on the advice of friends when choosing professors. They can now consult www.pickaprof.com, a Web site that provides instructor reviews, grading histories and biographies at no charge to its members.\nBut ranking professors is not the site's only objective -- it also gives students the opportunities to plan their schedules before registration and reserve textbooks.\nThe site is maintained by founders Chris Chilek and John Cunningham. Although the Web site is new to IU, its founders said about half of the undergraduates at the 15 colleges it serves use it within two semesters.\nChilek and Cunningham said they saw the need for such a service while still in school at Texas A&M. Both graduated from the university last year.\n"We noticed there was a really limited amount of information available for students to learn something about their classes and professors before they picked them," Chilek said. "The pieces of information that were available were few and far between and not organized in a way that would allow easy comparison.\n"So we set out to make a more comprehensive and interactive feedback system for students to learn about professors and classes before the first day of class." \nCunningham said data for the site comes directly from universities, with the professors having the option to submit biographies.\nEach instructor is rated on a scale of one to five, the latter being the highest score. All the professors' scores are averaged to obtain an overall rating. So far, several hundred IU students have posted instructor evaluations. \n"I would encourage everyone to leave more," Cunningham said. "Students often include information about lectures, homework and exams, so the more reviews we get, the more useful the service becomes."\nSenior Jo'El Rouse expressed enthusiasm for the site.\n"I think the site is a good idea because students can see professors' track records and to what degree they are challenging," he said. "I was always big on talking to people and trying to find out information about a class I was interested in and the professor who taught it"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Tonight, Jewish students across campus will begin celebrating Rosh Hashana. Along with Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana is one of two High Holidays that comprise the holiest days on the Hebrew calendar. \nHelene G. Simon Hillel Center Assistant Director Josh Stein explained the significance of Rosh Hashana for the Jewish community.\n"It's a chance for Jews to reflect on the year that's passed and plan for the year to come," he said. "Students will have the opportunity to think about their actions during the past year and do some introspection. They can also repent for any wrongdoings before the start of the Jewish year 5762."\nMany students have reserved seats for dinners to wlcome the High Holidays at 5 p.m. tonight at Hillel and McNutt Quad. Afterward, an IU bus will take students from Hillel and all the residence halls to St. Paul Catholic Center on 1413 E. 17th Street, where Jewish Studies Professor Michael Morgan will lead a service for Reform Jews at 7 p.m.\nAt 8:30 p.m., Rabbi Sue Shifron, Hillel director, will oversee a service for Conservative Jews at the church.\n"I hope there will be a willingness to forgive, and an ability to look within during this time," she said. "After Tuesday's events, I hope the High Holiday period allows people to find light out of darkness so we can move forward into the process of rebuilding."\nHillel President Philip Ohriner, a senior, echoed Rabbi Shifron's sentiments.\n "In general, I think the citizens of this country have turned to religion to deal with the recent terrorist attacks," he said. "In light of what's happened, students will hopefully enter the new year realizing how precious life is."\nReform and Conservative services will be held Tuesday at St. Paul Catholic Center at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. respectively. In addition, a Tashlich ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday behind Woodburn Hall. Participants will toss pieces of bread into the Jordan River to symbolize the casting away of sins they have committed during the past year. Students also have the option of attending Rosh Hashana services at the Chabad House, 518 E. Seventh Street. Rabbi Yehoshua Chincholker, Chabad director, will lead services tonight at 7 p.m. and Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.\nSophomore Jon Harari is enthusiastic about celebrating the holiday at the Chabad House.\n"Jewish students will discover they have a Jewish family at Chabad which makes you proud and excited to be a Jew at IU, regardless of your religious background," he said. "It's nice to see people who come to Chabad House for the first time instantly become part of the family."\nFor more information on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayer services and events at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, visit www.idsnews.com or call 336-3824. The Chabad House can be reached at rabbi@indiana.edu or 332-4511.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Monday evening marked the beginning of Rosh Hashana for Jewish students throughout campus. The holiday, along with Yom Kippur, focuses on asking forgiveness for wrongdoings committed during the previous Hebrew year before the start of the new one. The prayer services conducted by the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center and the Chabad House reflected the nationwide concern over last week's terrorist attacks.\nMany students welcomed Rosh Hashana Monday night by attending dinners at Hillel and McNutt Quad. They were asked to donate to an emergency relief fund in response to last Tuesday's tragic events. \n"It's a mitzvah (commandment) to give tzedekah (money for charity) before the holiday," Hillel assistant director Josh Stein told dinner guests.\nFreshman Michael Tanney, who attended dinner at Hillel, said he felt the experience was a positive one.\n"The High Holiday period is where you start over," he said. "It's great that people had the opportunity to meet other students at dinner and cultivate new friendships for the new year."\nAfter dinner, an IU bus picked up students at every residence hall and transported them to and from St. Paul's Catholic Center, 1413 E. 17th St. \nProfessor of Jewish Studies Michael Morgan, who has led Reform services through Hillel for 22 years, opened the service by expressing sorrow about the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. \n"We've had experiences this past week that none of us will ever forget," Morgan said. "I can't think of a time when starting anew meant so much"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Assistant Director of the Il Pitigliani Jewish Community Center in Rome Laura Mincer accomplished two personal milestones this week. Not only did she venture to Bloomington for the first time, but her visit also marked the first time she set foot in the United States.\n"It has been very exciting," she said. "This is a very little piece of America, but Bloomington is very nice."\nMincer traveled to campus to present her original unpublished research paper, "Ida Kaminska: Images from her Life" at a three-day conference, "Beyond The Shtetl: Yiddish Language and Culture in 20th Century Eastern Europe." \nThe event was held Sunday through Tuesday in the Oak and Georgian Rooms of the Indiana Memorial Union, and was put together by the Russian and East European Institute and the Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program.\nAssistant Professor of Jewish Studies Jeffrey Veidlinger coordinated the conference with the Dr. Alice Field Cohn Chair in Yiddish Studies, Dov-Ber Kerler.\n"We realized there was a lot of research in Eastern European Yiddish studies, but there was no forum where all of these people could come together and share their ideas," Veidlinger said. "This conference is a means of uniting Yiddish studies scholars from around the world."\nMore than 30 field members from across the United States and eight other countries presented research papers in panels focusing on the a variety of concentrations, including "Cultural Policies and the Left" and "Yiddish Today." \nEach panel consisted of between two and three researchers who responded to questions and comments from the audience, which consisted of more than 60 registered participants, after presenting their manuscripts.\nJeremy Dauber, assistant professor of Germanic languages and literatures at Columbia University, oversaw the panel on youth culture.\n"It's great when you bring together people in the field whose names you know but who you have never met," he said. "These presentations show just how complex Yiddish movements within Eastern Europe were."\nRussian and East European Institute Assistant Director Denise Gardiner confirmed between eight and 10 conference term papers will be published in an upcoming book.\n"I hope this conference gives a very good impression of IU and the programs it offers," Gardiner said.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
After several years in the entertainment industry, Busy Philipps has become a familiar face to young audiences. Her big break came in 1999, when she was cast as high school outcast Kim Kelly on the short-lived but critically acclaimed NBC series "Freaks and Geeks." After the show's cancellation, the 22-year-old Philipps won roles in the independent film "The Smokers" and the MTV television movie "Anatomy of a Hate Crime."\nSince the beginning of the current television season, she has been riding a wave of success playing Audrey, the snobby college roommate of Joey Potter (played by Katie Holmes) on the popular WB series "Dawson's Creek." In addition to being a regular on "Dawson's Creek," Philipps can be seen in the upcoming independent film "Home Room," which focuses on the repercussions of a school shooting.\nRecently, Weekend asked Philipps, who attended Loyola Marymount University and whose father is a Purdue University alumnus, to analyze Audrey, discuss why audiences enjoyed "Freaks and Geeks" and relay some of her experiences working with her "Dawson's Creek" co-stars.\nQ: Your birth name is Elizabeth. How did you earn the nickname "Busy"?\nA: It started when I was a baby, before I was even cognizant, really. My parents thought I was a crazy little kid, and they started calling me Busy Liz, and then it turned into Busy. I was a wild baby.\nQ: "Freaks and Geeks" was only on the air for one season, but it developed a cult following. Why do you think it struck a chord with teenage audiences?\nA: The people I've met who were fans of the show were not really teenagers or high school students. Viewers who were college-age or older really clung to the show. I think the show appealed to people who had some distance from high school and could laugh at it. The show took place in 1980, so people who grew up in that era could relate to the music and styles and what we were talking about. I think we did a really good job of being a realistic high school where everyone's not attractive and the guy doesn't always get the girl, and if he does, it's not what he expected. I think the people related to the weirdness of the show. It's not what they were used to seeing in a high school dramedy. It's interesting to be on "Dawson's Creek" now because it is the opposite of what "Freaks and Geeks" was.\nQ: How is Audrey different from Kim?\nA: I think they're worlds apart. Kim was this burnt-out girl from the wrong side of the tracks in 1980 who was sort of a bully and didn't have any friends. She smoked a lot of pot and cigarettes, she didn't have a lot of money and she didn't do very well in school. She was the "bad girl," but there was so much underneath; she really wanted to be accepted by the other freaks. Audrey is this rich girl from Beverly Hills who has always gotten what she wants. She has some bitchy qualities, but she's not unintelligent because she's at this fictitious Ivy League East Coast university. She always has the best clothes and is very fashion-forward, outgoing and crazy.\nQ: What dynamic do you feel Audrey brings to "Dawson's Creek"?\nA: I don't pause because I think a lot of the show's talent is very quiet and pensive, and I made the decision that Audrey talks really fast and gets it all out there. It's really interesting because they have written her so that she doesn't really talk like the other members of the cast.\nQ: Do you feel "Dawson's Creek" realistically portrays the lives of college students?\nA: Yes and no. I think topically it does, but I went to college, and my dorm room was about the size of Audrey and Joey's bathroom on the show. It's the glamorized television version of what college is like.\nQ: Do you enjoy working with Katie Holmes and the other cast members?\nA: Everyone's really great and very professional, and it's a great environment. Katie is really sweet, Josh (Jackson) is really funny, James (Van Der Beek) is very sweet and quiet, but Michelle (Williams) is my best friend on the set. She's not just a work friend; we're going to continue our friendship after "Dawson's Creek" ends. I think Michelle is going to have a great career for the rest of her life.\nQ: Have you have any interesting behind-the-scenes experiences that you wish to share?\nA: Josh brings his dog to work every day, but his dog smells really bad and will follow you around if you're eating food. I love dogs so much, and I'm the biggest animal lover, but that dog is gross. Michelle and I hang out in my trailer and listen to music, and when we're not working, Katie and I go out for dessert. Katie introduced me to bananas foster, which is bananas cooked with rum and caramel.\nQ: Tell us about your upcoming movie "Home Room."\nA: I worked with Erika Christensen from "Traffic," and it focuses on these girls in high school who are victims of a school shooting and their forced friendship because of it. They forcibly come together, and through the course of the movie, forge a friendship to survive.\nQ: What are your long-term career aspirations?\nA: I've always said since the beginning of my career that my ultimate goal is to just work as much as I can for the rest of my life in projects that are interesting to me and to take parts that are different than other parts that I've played. Kim Kelly is so different than Audrey on "Dawson's Creek" and both of them are different than the part I play in "Home Room." I've gotten a chance to play all sorts of different roles, and that's what I hope I can do for the rest of my life.\nQ: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors in Bloomington?\nA: My biggest advice is that if this is what you want more than anything else in the world, then you owe it to yourself to try. I never doubted that I would work, and every time I went to an audition, I went into the room with the knowledge that I was going to get the part. Ninety-nine times out of 100 I didn't, but I think you have to have confidence in yourself, because people are going to tell you tens of thousands of reasons why you're not going to work and why you're not going to get parts. If you don't really want it with everything that you've got, you may as well not even try. Also, if you want to do theater, move to New York. If you want to do films and TV, move to Los Angeles.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
When questioning the loyalty of Congress to Israel, David Gillette uses what he calls the "three-in-the-morning test."\n"If you wake members of Congress up in the middle of the night from a deep sleep and ask them where they stand regarding Israel, the vast majority will say that they are very supportive," he said. "They realize that Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, has acted as one of our strongest allies."\nGillette, a senior lobbyist for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), discussed the state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Sept. 11, and American efforts to broker a cease-fire between the two parties, at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center Monday at 7 p.m.\nWhile there has been a dramatic change in the U.S. and other parts of the world since Sept. 11, the atmosphere in the Middle East has remained the same, he said.\n"Many things changed in the world after Sept. 11, but in the Middle East, not a lot has changed," Gillette said. \nHe explained that while Israel has been very cooperative with the U.S. in its war on terror, many other countries in the Middle East have not shown the same enthusiasm. \n"From Sept. 12 on, Israel has been a very staunch ally of the U.S. A relationship exists where if the U.S. needs it, Israel provides it, and vice versa," he said. "Shortly after the attacks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave an order to Israeli intelligence to turn over all information that could help the Americans. When you look at the other countries in that region, it's business as usual. You don't have the full cooperation from them to move toward democracy and fight terrorism."\nGillette discussed the implications of the recent Israeli seizure of a ship in the Red Sea containing 50 tons of weapons that were on their way to the Palestinians. \n"As U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni was meeting with (Palestinian Chairman) Yasser Arafat, Israel seized these weapons, which are in violation of the Oslo Accords. There's no way Arafat did not know about the weapons shipment. While Arafat may be talking about a shift to peace, he does not have the courage or the will to actually do it," he said.\nGillette said Iran sold the weapons to the Palestinian Authority to gain power in the Palestinian territories.\n"In the past, the Iranians have sponsored terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad who terrorize Israelis," Gillette said. "By selling the weapons to the Palestinians, they wanted to gain a foothold in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to launch terror attacks against Israel."\nGillette pointed out that Arafat and the Palestinians still have not accepted Israel's right to exist.\n"Arafat has accepted the fact that Israel exists, but he has not accepted the legitimacy of Israel," he said. "Even when offered practically everything that they had been fighting for at Camp David over a year ago, the Palestinians were not willing to take it. Arafat has the power to exercise authority and disarm groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad."\nHe acknowledged that members of Congress are responsible for maintaining the strong alliance between the U.S. and Israel, and hopes that Representative Baron Hill can meet with students to discuss the issue.\n"It is Congress that makes sure our ties to Israel remain," he said. "Many congressmen in Indiana like John Hostettler and Baron Hill have been very supportive of the Israeli leadership."\nSophomore Yasmin Schnayer, co-chair of the IU chapter of AIPAC, said she hoped Gillette gave audience members a better understanding of the conflict in Israel.\n"I think most people are apathetic to Israel unless they have a stake in it," she said. "Most people have a bare minimum grasp on what's happening there. Hopefully, this can help change that."\nRabbi Sue Shifron, Hillel director, agreed with Schnayer and expressed that a knowledge of history is essential when analyzing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n"I think many students are not informed about events there, and the media doesn't always portray what happens accurately," she said. "If people want to understand the conflict, they have to look at Israel's history"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
In November, a recommendation was made to the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee to raise the price of parking tickets by $5 and to give the revenue to the IU Auditorium. Recent criticism stemming from the proposal has put pressure on the University to explain where parking ticket revenues go.\nThe parking ticket price increase was proposed to the committee by Bruce Jacobs, associate vice chancellor of administrative affairs for Residential Programs and Services. He made the proposal with hopes of bridging the $200,000 gap between what students pay for shows at the IU Auditorium (which are discounted), and the actual prices of show tickets. \nDoug Porter, parking manager of IU Parking Operations, revealed that his organization does not receive money from the state legislature or student tuition, and only earns income from four sources: parking permits, meters, garages and fines, which presently range from $20 to $200 depending on the violation. \nHe revealed that the University grossed about $2.2 million from parking tickets during the 2000-2001 fiscal year, and predicts that approximately $1.9 million will be collected at the end of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.\nIn contrast, the City of Bloomington received $537,270 in ticket revenues during 2001, according to Mayor John Fernandez's office.\n"We hope fines will change people's parking behavior," Porter said. "Hopefully, after they get a ticket, they'll park legally to avoid getting another one. Parking tickets are not mandatory payments, they're voluntary ones."\nPorter also said the approximately $5.3 million received annually from its four income sources go toward maintaining parking garages, paying worker salaries and office expenses and renovating campus parking lots. He said $350,000 is used to cover the bond issue on the Poplars Garage on 6th St., and $500,000 is required for the bond issue on the garage at the corner of 11th St. and Fee Lane. \nParking lot renovations can also be expensive, Porter said. He explained that, for example, the cost of renovating the Memorial Stadium parking lot came to $400,000. In addition, Parking Operations must pay about $4.5 million for worker wages and office expenses. Porter explained the philosophy behind the proposal to raise ticket prices.\n"If people were content with no more parking garages or facilities, we wouldn't have to change the rate," he said. "If everybody got legal and we had no tickets to collect, we'd have to cut expenses or find other ways to earn revenues."\nHowever, IU Student Association President Jake Oakman said he disapproved of such an increase.\n"I'm concerned that we might have a slippery slope effect where if another organization like the Indiana Memorial Union needs extra money, people might say, 'Let's raise the price of parking tickets,'" he said. "Besides, ticket prices are high enough as it is."\nTPAC will likely vote on the issue within the next two months, said junior Josh Nix, a member of committee.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Monday night, students watched as Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat told "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace that his dream was for Israelis and Palestinians to live together in peace. Then, in direct juxtaposition, viewers were shown Palestinian television footage of Arafat delivering speeches in Arabic calling for a holy war and encouraging young people to become suicide bombers. Students also watched clips from the Palestinian version of "Sesame Street" in which children sang of spilling their blood and giving their lives for the Palestinian cause.\nThe video, entitled "Arafat In His Own Words," was shown to students by Neil Lazarus, an Israeli advocacy trainer who is the founder and director of AwesomeSeminars.com and TrainMe.org , which provide seminar information and resources to people who wish to become more effective in defending Israel. \nLazarus conducted a training session aimed at improving students' abilities to spread pro-Israel messages and counter propaganda Monday evening in the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center. The seminar was sponsored by the IU chapter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).\nLazarus began the workshop by pretending to be a Palestinian propaganda speaker and giving attendees the opportunity to challenge him. The exercise was a jumping-off point in explaining to students what they did wrong and how to respond to anti-Israel sentiment on campus.\nHe said Israeli public relations in the United States is poor because professional Israeli speakers face a language barrier and national pride prevents them from portraying Israelis as victims of terrorism. Lazarus also said many Israeli speakers respond to accusations against their homeland with long historical explanations of the conflict in the region. He said they should instead focus on a single message and replay it in their answers to questions about Israel.\n Lazarus had workshop participants practice replaying short messages such as "Israel has the right to defend itself" and "terrorism is wrong" when responding to accusations against the country. \n"You have to remember that the speaker sets the agenda," he said. "You have to think 'How do I brand Israel positively?' and set your own agenda when you speak."\nLazarus told students that they need to keep their audience in mind.\n"We're trying to convince the majority of people who have opinions about Israel, but no knowledge," he said.\nHe also discussed various public speaking techniques, such as beginning all statements with "it's like," "it's not like," "it's similar to," "it reminds me of" and "you have to understand" in order to speak in a common language that all listeners can relate to.\nHe instructed students not to excessively focus on Israeli history when defending the country.\n"If we focus on the past, we're not going to move forward," he said.\nLazarus told his audience that a pro-Israel stance can be effective if it is presented correctly.\n"We have an agenda that wins," he said. "We have justice on our side. In 2000, Israel offered the Palestinians 95 percent of the West Bank and all of Gaza to form their own state, but their leaders turned down the offer."\nHe said students should travel to Israel to show support.\n"It's not enough to just advocate Israel," he said. "You have to talk the way you walk."\nSophomore Calli Schiller, co-chair of the IU chapter of AIPAC, said she felt Lazarus' workshop taught students how to respond to inaccurate information about Israel in the media.\n"Most students don't have time to read four or five newspapers, so they turn on CNN to get quick news," she said. "The problem with CNN and a lot of other networks is that they give people a distorted view of what's happening in Israel. We're trying to be more pro-active with events like this to correct misinformation."\nJunior Joe Brown said he picked up new techniques to use when defending Israel.\n"I learned that it's more important to concentrate on a future context than to focus completely on the past," he said.\nThe next AIPAC event will be a lecture by AIPAC Midwest and Southwest Regional Field Organizer David Newman March 20 at Hillel.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
To many television viewers, Joan van Ark is best known as Valene Ewing. She began playing Valene, the often-troubled sister-in-law of J.R. Ewing (played by Larry Hagman) in 1978 on the popular CBS series "Dallas." Shortly thereafter, she and Ted Shackelford (who played her TV husband Gary) became the focus of the "Dallas" spin-off series "Knots Landing," which ran for 14 seasons on CBS.\nVan Ark, now 58, was a mainstay on "Knots Landing" from its premiere in 1979 until her departure in 1992 (she returned for the final episode in 1993) and won two Soap Opera Digest Awards for her portrayal of Valene. In 1997, the Boulder, Colo., native reprised her TV alter ego in the reunion miniseries "Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac."\nAlthough she is known to many for her television work, which also includes numerous TV movies and series guest appearances, van Ark is also an accomplished stage actress. She was the second youngest student to attend the Yale University School of Drama on a scholarship, and her theater accolades include a Tony nomination for "The School for Wives," a Theater World Award for "The Rules of the Game" and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for "As You Like It." In addition, she lent her voice to the now-defunct animated series "Tarzan and the Super 7," "Spider-Woman," "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "Santo Bugito." \nIn recent years, she earned an Emmy nomination for directing a Directors Guild of America documentary on domestic violence and homelessness, and appeared in the independent films "Held for Ransom" and "UP, Michigan!" Van Ark can currently be seen on late night television as the hostess of an infomercial for the Slim Down Solution weight loss system, and she is awaiting the premiere of her episode of Lifetime's "Intimate Portrait" biography series. \nVan Ark also maintains a Web site (www.joanvanark.com). Her husband, broadcast journalist John Marshall, coordinates the online news service eNewswires (www.enewswires.com).\nRecently, in an interview with the IDS Weekend, van Ark discusses, among other things, portraying Valene, the success of "Knots Landing" and working with Julie Harris, who played her mother on the series.\nQ: What do you think attributed to the success of "Knots Landing"?\nA: "Knots" was so much more about us, versus some of the high-glam shows like "Dallas" and "Dynasty," which were about diamonds and riches. "Knots" was more about us, and you could relate. All of those characters became friends of yours that you went to check out every week.\nQ: Why do you think audiences liked the character Valene?\nA: I feel that when it would look like she was the victim, those were the best times for Valene. Michele Lee's character Karen called her the "The Little Engine That Could." She had the spirit to overcome and triumph.\nQ: Do you have a favorite memory from the set of "Knots Landing"?\nA: One time, there was a script that called for a young Valene, so I suggested my daughter Vanessa for the part. When it came time to shoot her scene, I said, "Just do it however you want." During the scene, a huge tear splashed down her face right on cue. She was brilliant. Afterward, the director brought her back to my dressing room and said, "You have another star in the family." That was a wonderful, wonderful memory.\nQ: What was it like to work with Julie Harris on the series?\nA: There are no words to describe working with someone who is as stunning, spiritual, unique -- all of it. She is amazing, sensitive and thoughtful; I love her with all my heart and soul. I just went back to New York on March 18 to take part in a tribute to her at Lincoln Center. With all the difficulty she's experienced recently (Harris suffered a stroke last year), she did an interview for my episode of "Intimate Portrait." Julie told me later that she did the interview with my photo in her lap. \nQ: What was it like to prepare for your episode of "Intimate Portrait"?\nA: It's an hour-long show that's the story of your life and career, and it's been the most involving process. You have to provide 350 photographs and an interview list of people that have been a part of your life. Jane Kaczmarek was interviewed because I worked with her on an after-school special that I directed. I've also done a five-hour interview where they ask you everything from A to Z, and it's been nuts, but it's also been fulfilling.\nQ: Why did you decide to endorse the Slim Down Solution?\nA: Well, I run eight to 10 miles a day, and I'm very careful about what I eat, so the fitness area is something I'm definitely a part of. They sent me this outline of what this product was, and I researched it and found that it is in fact a fat blocker. I've always felt that taking care of yourself is very important, and I went down to Florida last summer and shot the infomercial. \nQ: Who do you play in "UP, Michigan!"\nA: I play a Joan Collins wannabe, and I wore a black shag wig and over-the-top clothes. It's a fun sort of coming-of-age movie that was done outside of Chicago. They are still looking for a distributor. It's silly, goofy fun and I wore a lot of leopard skin. I know Joan Collins in real life, and she's a cheerleader; she has unbelievable energy.\nQ: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?\nA: When people ask me for advice, I put my own spin on the Nike phrase "Just do it." My thing is "Don't think. Just do it." Don't overthink it; let your heart and your soul do it. I watched the Olympics, and I watched the athletes compete. They can't think, think, think; they just do it. That is a huge piece of advice.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
At a Tibetan teach-in held Sunday, Larry Gerstein, a psychology professor at Ball State University and the president and co-founder of the International Tibet Independence Movement, began by asking his audience to whisper the words "free Tibet" repetitiously. He then explained that even whispering those words in the Tibetan region would prompt an arrest by the Chinese police and a prison sentence. Possession of a photo of the Dalai Lama, the religious and political leader of Tibet, or participation in a political demonstration would warrant the same punishment. \nThe teach-in was one of several events sponsored by the ITIM, Students for a Free Tibet and the Tibetan Cultural Center to mark what would have been a visit by the Dalai Lama. He canceled his visit to Bloomington in February, citing illness brought on by exhaustion.\nGerstein explained the history of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the reasons it is important to the Chinese government to maintain control of the territory. He said Chinese officials claimed Tibet belonged to China due to an ancient marriage between Tibetan and Chinese royalty, and they claimed they were freeing Tibet from a theocratic government. \n"If the marriage argument was a valid reason for an invasion, then all of Europe would be owned by other countries," he said. "Also, at the time China took over Tibet, the Dalai Lama was trying to change the government so it would not be a theocracy. He realized it would not be beneficial to the average Tibetan."\nGerstein said the Chinese are motivated not to withdraw from Tibet because overpopulation is causing China to run out of land to accommodate its people, and Tibet is a useful buffer zone between China and India. \n"There are about one million Chinese military troops on that border," he said. "There are a lot of unreported skirmishes between Indian and Chinese soldiers in that area."\nHe said from 1959 until the late 1980s, Chinese troops destroyed 6,000 Tibetan monasteries, and in doing so, they also sabotaged Tibetan culture.\n"In Tibet, monasteries are not just religious centers," he said. "They are all-purpose community centers for Tibetans."\nGerstein said the Buddhist religion of Tibet is seen as a threat to communism by the Chinese government, and since 1959, 1.2 million Tibetans have died or committed suicide as a result of the Chinese occupation. He said many Chinese citizens do not know what is really going on in Tibet because of the country's educational curriculum.\n"The Chinese are very sophisticated as far as controlling what is taught in their schools," he said. "They've been able to lead people into believing these myths the same way many of us grew up reading things in our textbooks about the Native Americans and Christopher Columbus."\nHe also explained that Tibet has a high supply of untapped uranium, and the Chinese mine Tibetan uranium to build weapons.\nGerstein said Tibet has a right to the independence it had before 1949, and it is difficult for the United Nations to put pressure on China because the country is one of five permanent members of the organization. \n"Tibetans have a legal right to control everything," he said. "They had their own flag, their own government, their own currency and their own treaties with other countries before the Chinese came in."\nGerstein said the U.S. government supports the Tibetan cause, but cannot be too vocal due to economic ties with China.\n"The bottom line is money," he said. "There is a lot of money for corporations in goods that are made in China. The U.S. is hoping that its economic partnership with China will eventually lead to the destabilization of the Chinese government, but the Chinese government knows what our motivation is."\nGerstein also advocated for the release of the Panchen Lama, the second highest Tibetan religious leader, from Chinese custody. At age six, the Panchen Lama, who will turn 13 on April 25, was taken by the Chinese government to Beijing several days after being recognized by the Dalai Lama. He has not been seen since.\nSenior Natalie Baker, a Students for a Free Tibet leader, said one hypothesis states that Chinese officials are keeping the Panchen Lama as a political prisoner and teaching him to support China. After the Dalai Lama's death, Baker said the Chinese might release the Panchen Lama so he can rule Tibet as a leader who is behind China's policies.\nNamgyal Shallung, a research associate at the IU Law School Center for Human Rights in Indianapolis, was born in Tibet and escaped to India at age six. He said the causes for Tibetan and Taiwanese independence from China are connected.\n"I spoke with someone from China recently, and he said that Taiwan is like someone's teeth and Tibet is like the lips that protect the teeth," he said. "If Tibetan independence can be achieved peacefully, then independence can likely be achieved peacefully for Taiwan."\nBesides the teach-in, several other Tibetan educational events were held throughout the weekend. Students for a Free Tibet held three screenings of the Tibetan foreign language film "Himalaya," which received an Oscar nomination in 2000 for best foreign film. The movie chronicles the struggle for tribal leadership in a village in Nepal, and that tribe's annual journey to the holy salt lakes in northern Tibet.\n"We felt it would be a good introductory film for people to learn about Tibetan culture," Baker said. "Tibet is unique in that its struggle is not just about human rights, but it is also political, environmental and cultural."\nIn addition, a picnic was held at the Tibetan Cultural Center, 3655 Snoddy Rd., Saturday afternoon. Tuesday, Students for a Free Tibet will hold a screening of "The Search for the Panchen Lama: The World's Youngest Political Prisoner" at 7 p.m. in Woodburn Hall 005.\nFor more information, visit the ITIM Web site (http://www.rangzen.com) or the Tibetan Cultural Center site (http://www.tibetancc.com).
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Last week, two librarians from different parts of the globe came together in Bloomington to trade ideas and learn from one another. Liu Caixia, head librarian at Beijing University of Physical Education (BUPE), met with Mary Strow, head librarian at IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, to learn about programs available at U.S. libraries. The meeting was the most recent exchange between the two educational facilities that have been affiliated with each other since 1989.\nBetween Tuesday and Thursday, Liu and Wang Huizhai, a BUPE library staff member, visited the HPER Library, the Lilly Library, the Main Library, the Monroe County Public Library, the Fine Arts Library and the Kinsey Institute Library. \nStrow said Liu was eager to learn how U.S. libraries function.\n"She was very interested in looking at U.S. libraries and the different services that U.S. libraries offer," Strow said. "There are a lot of things that we take for granted, such as interlibrary loans, that they don't have. Also, students don't work in her library, and here, we rely a lot on students, so that was a new concept for her too. We gave her a lot of names and addresses of people to talk to about these programs."\nStrow also gave Liu two boxes of books about physical education and sports and recreation to add to the BUPE Library. She said the books are crucial for BUPE students because they are written in English.\n"Whether or not students are interested in the subject matter, they use them to learn English," Strow said.\nThe visit marked the first time Liu had visited the United States. She was introduced to American food at various restaurants and a barbecue Wednesday night at Strow's home.\nRichard Doty, a media relations specialist for the Office of Communications and Marketing, said in a press release that Liu spoke through an interpreter, Hui Tian. Hui supervises the English program at BUPE and is spending a year in Bloomington as a HPER employee.\nIn addition, Wang, who is considering applying to the School of Library and Information Science, was given the opportunity to meet with Rhonda Spencer, SLIS director of admissions and placement. Liu and Wang returned to China on Friday.\nOver the past 13 years, students and staff from both schools have visited each other on many occasions. In May 2001, Strow was one of 40 HPER representatives to visit BUPE and hike along the Great Wall of China. Liu and Strow met for the first time during that exchange, and Strow received six boxes of Chinese books.\nIn the future, more BUPE librarians will visit IU, and Liu will send Strow more Chinese books about ping pong and martial arts. Strow said she will probably return to BUPE in 2005.\n"It's a great reciprocal relationship," Strow said.\nHPER Dean Tony Mobley said exchanges between the two schools have a lot of educational value.\n"The world is getting to be a much smaller place," he said. "When you have an international experience, it adds richness to your life and background that you can bring back to the classroom, and you can develop a world view." \nFor more information about BUPE, visit http://www.cscse.edu.cn/laihua/c-gaoxiao/bjtydx.html. For more information about the HPER Library, visit http://www.indiana.edu/~libhper/index.html.
(04/18/02 10:01pm)
Barbara Barrie is known to TV audiences as Brooke Shields' grandmother on the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan." But she is also familiar to Bloomington residents as Evelyn Stohler, the sympathetic mother of an aspiring Little 500 bicycle race champion in the 1979 film "Breaking Away." Barrie received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the movie, which was penned by IU alumnus Steve Tesich and was shot on-location in Bloomington. In 1980, she reprised her film role in the short-lived ABC series that was based on the movie and earned an Emmy nomination.\nIn addition to "Breaking Away" and "Suddenly Susan," Barrie, 70, has acted in many other films, TV projects and plays. She portrayed Goldie Hawn's mother in the 1980 film "Private Benjamin" and was named best actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964 for "One Potato, Two Potato." Barrie also garnered a Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award for "The Killdeer" and a Tony nomination for "Company" and recently completed a stint in the New York City production of "The Vagina Monologues." \nShe is also a colon cancer survivor, and spends much of her time trying to raise public awareness about the disease. Barrie chronicled her struggle with colon cancer in her memoir "Second Act: Life after Colostomy and Other Adventures." \nRecently, she took time out from her schedule to speak with the IDS Weekend about her experiences on the sets of "Breaking Away" and "Suddenly Susan," as well as her memories of Bloomington.\nQ: What attracted you to the role of Evelyn Stohler?\nA: It was a terrific role, and I loved the script. It was just a wonderful part, and Steve offered it to me as I met him; I didn't audition for him. I said, "Are you sure," and he said, "You're the one."\nQ: Did you visit any local businesses or restaurants during filming?\nA: No. We went home to sleep at the hotel right after we finished working. We worked a lot, but Paul Dooley (who played her on-screen husband) and I went to a couple of flea markets in neighboring towns.\nQ: How did the cast get along?\nA: We got along great. We all liked each other a lot. \nQ: Do you still keep in touch with the rest of the cast?\nA: Well, Paul Dooley and I keep in touch, and Dennis Christopher (who played her son) and I have seen each other over the years. Also, Hart Bochner (who played an IU student) and my children became friends. \nQ: Why do you think "Breaking Away" was so successful?\nA: It was very well-directed and very well-cast, and I think the story of a kid surmounting his obstacles is always a great story. It was an excellent film.\nQ: Why do you think the "Breaking Away" TV series did not do as well as the film?\nA: It was politics. The big honchos at ABC all changed in the middle of the first season. It was the tradition for the new people, unless shows were out-and-out hits, to end everything and start over. We were doing quite well, and then suddenly, one day we were just shut down. That's what we figured, anyway. \nQ: What did you think of Bloomington while you were filming "Breaking Away"?\nA: I loved it because I went to the University of Texas, which was very much like Bloomington. The campus and the ambience in both places were really very similar.\nQ: Do you have a favorite memory from behind the scenes of the movie?\nA: I remember Dennis Quaid staying in his hotel room and cooking and eating health food with his then-girlfriend. He was very much into health food at the time. \nQ: Did you have the opportunity to tour the IU campus and interact with students during filming?\nA: Not really, but there were a lot of extras in that film, so even now someone will come up to me and say, "I was in the store" or, "I was in the stadium."\nQ: Are there any similarities between you and the character you played?\nA: I also have a son who I'm very close to and I adore him, but otherwise not really. \nQ: What was it like to work with Brooke Shields on "Suddenly Susan"?\nA: It was terrific. Brooke is a very accessible girl and she's very smart. She was really the leader of the pack. The star of the show has to be a leader, and she definitely was a leader.
(04/18/02 5:24am)
Junior Jessica Peltz feels a very strong personal connection to Israel. She spent six weeks in the country last year, and as part of her trip, trained for one week with the Israeli army.\n"The patriotism that Israelis have is amazing," she said. "They have a lot of national pride, and they're so happy to be able to live there."\nPeltz participated in the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center's celebration of Israeli Independence Day ("Yom Ha'atzmaut" in Hebrew) yesterday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m. on the Collins Living-Learning Center lawn. Signs that read "Happy 54th Birthday Israel," as well as Israeli flags, were displayed to honor the occasion, and Israeli music could be heard playing in the yard.\nSheryl Rosen, Hillel program director, said the event allowed students to voice their support for Israel.\n"It's important for people to show their dedication to Israel and that they care about Israel existing for many years into the future," she said.\nIsraeli foods such as hummus, pita bread, figs, dates and cucumber salad were served to participants and visitors, as well as a birthday cake decorated to look like the Israeli flag. Students also had the chance to make their own candles, necklaces and bracelets.\nBen Lewis, a sophomore, said due to recent events in Israel, its citizens are not able to celebrate the 54th anniversary of Israeli independence in peace.\n"Israelis don't have the opportunity to celebrate this year because they're so concerned with security issues," he said. "It's important to show our support for Israel now more than ever."\nThe IU chapter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee distributed pamphlets entitled "Your Guide to Israel" at Collins and various other locations on campus. "Your Guide to Israel" included maps of and information about the 1947 United Nations partition plan and Israel's borders after the Six Day War of 1967, as well as an article from The Jerusalem Post mourning Shmuel Akiva Weiss, an Israeli soldier killed by Palestinian gunmen April 8 in Jenin, a city on the West Bank.\nSophomore Calli Schiller, AIPAC co-chair, said the event was an opportunity to educate students who do not know very much about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n"I think it's so important to get education across," she said. "By us being out here showing our love for Israel, other people can hopefully begin to understand the conflict on a much deeper level as opposed to the superficial CNN level."\nIn addition to the Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration, Hillel students supported Israel by participating in a large pro-Israel rally Monday afternoon in Washington, D.C. Hillel Assistant Director Josh Stein traveled with 45 students via bus to the Capitol, where they joined over 100,000 people who shared their support for Israel. \n Rally speakers included former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, author Elie Wiesel and Representative Dick Armey (R-Texas).\n "I thought Rudy Giuliani was the most powerful speaker because of his close connection with terrorism and his sympathy for what Israel suffers on a daily basis," Stein said. "I was moved by the number of both Jewish and non-Jewish speakers and participants who sympathize with Israel's struggle."\n Sophomore Moshe Siegel attended Monday's rally in Washington as well.\n "I think it showed the world that people from all over America are supporting Israel," he said.\n Stein said some Hillel students will travel to Washington to attend the AIPAC Policy Conference April 21-23.
(04/18/02 4:00am)
Barbara Barrie is known to TV audiences as Brooke Shields' grandmother on the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan." But she is also familiar to Bloomington residents as Evelyn Stohler, the sympathetic mother of an aspiring Little 500 bicycle race champion in the 1979 film "Breaking Away." Barrie received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the movie, which was penned by IU alumnus Steve Tesich and was shot on-location in Bloomington. In 1980, she reprised her film role in the short-lived ABC series that was based on the movie and earned an Emmy nomination.\nIn addition to "Breaking Away" and "Suddenly Susan," Barrie, 70, has acted in many other films, TV projects and plays. She portrayed Goldie Hawn's mother in the 1980 film "Private Benjamin" and was named best actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964 for "One Potato, Two Potato." Barrie also garnered a Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award for "The Killdeer" and a Tony nomination for "Company" and recently completed a stint in the New York City production of "The Vagina Monologues." \nShe is also a colon cancer survivor, and spends much of her time trying to raise public awareness about the disease. Barrie chronicled her struggle with colon cancer in her memoir "Second Act: Life after Colostomy and Other Adventures." \nRecently, she took time out from her schedule to speak with the IDS Weekend about her experiences on the sets of "Breaking Away" and "Suddenly Susan," as well as her memories of Bloomington.\nQ: What attracted you to the role of Evelyn Stohler?\nA: It was a terrific role, and I loved the script. It was just a wonderful part, and Steve offered it to me as I met him; I didn't audition for him. I said, "Are you sure," and he said, "You're the one."\nQ: Did you visit any local businesses or restaurants during filming?\nA: No. We went home to sleep at the hotel right after we finished working. We worked a lot, but Paul Dooley (who played her on-screen husband) and I went to a couple of flea markets in neighboring towns.\nQ: How did the cast get along?\nA: We got along great. We all liked each other a lot. \nQ: Do you still keep in touch with the rest of the cast?\nA: Well, Paul Dooley and I keep in touch, and Dennis Christopher (who played her son) and I have seen each other over the years. Also, Hart Bochner (who played an IU student) and my children became friends. \nQ: Why do you think "Breaking Away" was so successful?\nA: It was very well-directed and very well-cast, and I think the story of a kid surmounting his obstacles is always a great story. It was an excellent film.\nQ: Why do you think the "Breaking Away" TV series did not do as well as the film?\nA: It was politics. The big honchos at ABC all changed in the middle of the first season. It was the tradition for the new people, unless shows were out-and-out hits, to end everything and start over. We were doing quite well, and then suddenly, one day we were just shut down. That's what we figured, anyway. \nQ: What did you think of Bloomington while you were filming "Breaking Away"?\nA: I loved it because I went to the University of Texas, which was very much like Bloomington. The campus and the ambience in both places were really very similar.\nQ: Do you have a favorite memory from behind the scenes of the movie?\nA: I remember Dennis Quaid staying in his hotel room and cooking and eating health food with his then-girlfriend. He was very much into health food at the time. \nQ: Did you have the opportunity to tour the IU campus and interact with students during filming?\nA: Not really, but there were a lot of extras in that film, so even now someone will come up to me and say, "I was in the store" or, "I was in the stadium."\nQ: Are there any similarities between you and the character you played?\nA: I also have a son who I'm very close to and I adore him, but otherwise not really. \nQ: What was it like to work with Brooke Shields on "Suddenly Susan"?\nA: It was terrific. Brooke is a very accessible girl and she's very smart. She was really the leader of the pack. The star of the show has to be a leader, and she definitely was a leader.
(04/03/02 5:00am)
To many television viewers, Joan van Ark is best known as Valene Ewing. She began playing Valene, the often-troubled sister-in-law of J.R. Ewing (played by Larry Hagman) in 1978 on the popular CBS series "Dallas." Shortly thereafter, she and Ted Shackelford (who played her TV husband Gary) became the focus of the "Dallas" spin-off series "Knots Landing," which ran for 14 seasons on CBS.\nVan Ark, now 58, was a mainstay on "Knots Landing" from its premiere in 1979 until her departure in 1992 (she returned for the final episode in 1993) and won two Soap Opera Digest Awards for her portrayal of Valene. In 1997, the Boulder, Colo., native reprised her TV alter ego in the reunion miniseries "Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac."\nAlthough she is known to many for her television work, which also includes numerous TV movies and series guest appearances, van Ark is also an accomplished stage actress. She was the second youngest student to attend the Yale University School of Drama on a scholarship, and her theater accolades include a Tony nomination for "The School for Wives," a Theater World Award for "The Rules of the Game" and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for "As You Like It." In addition, she lent her voice to the now-defunct animated series "Tarzan and the Super 7," "Spider-Woman," "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "Santo Bugito." \nIn recent years, she earned an Emmy nomination for directing a Directors Guild of America documentary on domestic violence and homelessness, and appeared in the independent films "Held for Ransom" and "UP, Michigan!" Van Ark can currently be seen on late night television as the hostess of an infomercial for the Slim Down Solution weight loss system, and she is awaiting the premiere of her episode of Lifetime's "Intimate Portrait" biography series. \nVan Ark also maintains a Web site (www.joanvanark.com). Her husband, broadcast journalist John Marshall, coordinates the online news service eNewswires (www.enewswires.com).\nRecently, in an interview with the IDS Weekend, van Ark discusses, among other things, portraying Valene, the success of "Knots Landing" and working with Julie Harris, who played her mother on the series.\nQ: What do you think attributed to the success of "Knots Landing"?\nA: "Knots" was so much more about us, versus some of the high-glam shows like "Dallas" and "Dynasty," which were about diamonds and riches. "Knots" was more about us, and you could relate. All of those characters became friends of yours that you went to check out every week.\nQ: Why do you think audiences liked the character Valene?\nA: I feel that when it would look like she was the victim, those were the best times for Valene. Michele Lee's character Karen called her the "The Little Engine That Could." She had the spirit to overcome and triumph.\nQ: Do you have a favorite memory from the set of "Knots Landing"?\nA: One time, there was a script that called for a young Valene, so I suggested my daughter Vanessa for the part. When it came time to shoot her scene, I said, "Just do it however you want." During the scene, a huge tear splashed down her face right on cue. She was brilliant. Afterward, the director brought her back to my dressing room and said, "You have another star in the family." That was a wonderful, wonderful memory.\nQ: What was it like to work with Julie Harris on the series?\nA: There are no words to describe working with someone who is as stunning, spiritual, unique -- all of it. She is amazing, sensitive and thoughtful; I love her with all my heart and soul. I just went back to New York on March 18 to take part in a tribute to her at Lincoln Center. With all the difficulty she's experienced recently (Harris suffered a stroke last year), she did an interview for my episode of "Intimate Portrait." Julie told me later that she did the interview with my photo in her lap. \nQ: What was it like to prepare for your episode of "Intimate Portrait"?\nA: It's an hour-long show that's the story of your life and career, and it's been the most involving process. You have to provide 350 photographs and an interview list of people that have been a part of your life. Jane Kaczmarek was interviewed because I worked with her on an after-school special that I directed. I've also done a five-hour interview where they ask you everything from A to Z, and it's been nuts, but it's also been fulfilling.\nQ: Why did you decide to endorse the Slim Down Solution?\nA: Well, I run eight to 10 miles a day, and I'm very careful about what I eat, so the fitness area is something I'm definitely a part of. They sent me this outline of what this product was, and I researched it and found that it is in fact a fat blocker. I've always felt that taking care of yourself is very important, and I went down to Florida last summer and shot the infomercial. \nQ: Who do you play in "UP, Michigan!"\nA: I play a Joan Collins wannabe, and I wore a black shag wig and over-the-top clothes. It's a fun sort of coming-of-age movie that was done outside of Chicago. They are still looking for a distributor. It's silly, goofy fun and I wore a lot of leopard skin. I know Joan Collins in real life, and she's a cheerleader; she has unbelievable energy.\nQ: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?\nA: When people ask me for advice, I put my own spin on the Nike phrase "Just do it." My thing is "Don't think. Just do it." Don't overthink it; let your heart and your soul do it. I watched the Olympics, and I watched the athletes compete. They can't think, think, think; they just do it. That is a huge piece of advice.
(03/04/02 6:45am)
Ricardo Moraes, program supervisor for Bradford Woods Outdoor Center, said he felt inspired to lead a discussion on what it means to be labeled "Hispanic" or "Latino."\n"Being from a Latino and Hispanic background, I feel it is really important to cultivate leadership in the Latino community and to connect with the Latino community here," he said. \nMoraes led the discussion "Latinos: Who Are We?" Saturday as part of the third annual Indiana Latino Student Leadership Conference orchestrated by the La Casa Latino Cultural Center. \nTitled Leadership Achievements Through Indiana Networking Organizational Success (LATINOS), the conference took place in Woodburn Hall and focused on Latino culture and career opportunities for Latinos. About 150 college students, high school students and community members from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan attended.\nJose Arredondo, an assistant professor of education at Valparaiso University, who was the first Mexican representative in the Indiana government and also served as sheriff of Lake County, delivered the opening keynote address.\n"What will most influence the way we live in the future is not terrorism or technology, but whether we will live in this country as one," Arredondo said. "One problem is that people think Hispanics are all \nthe same. We're not. Neither are blacks or caucasians."\nParticipants were able to choose any four hour-long workshops they wanted to attend. Only one program was available during the 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. time slot -- a panel discussion entitled "Successful Leadership: Taking Charge of Your Career Path." Sponsored by the IU Latino Alumni Association, the panel featured a variety of Hispanic professionals who emphasized the importance of internships, networking and charting career goals. \nA presentation by Olivia Martinez, associate director of the IU Career Development Center, and Daniel Pascoe, the center's assistant director, preceded the panel discussion.\nThe closing address was given by Mary Jane Gonzalez, president of the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.\n"I challenge all of you to apply this information that you learned today in your personal and professional lives now and in the future in order to become an effective leader," Gonzalez said. "Higher education is essential for Hispanics and the U.S. economy, which will need to rely on the Hispanic workforce."\nA dance followed at 8 p.m. in the Leo R. Dowling International Center, 111 S. Jordan Ave. \nSenior Noemy Villalpando said the conference was informative and helpful.\n"It was my first time attending a Latino conference and I learned a lot," she said. "It is great to see that there are a lot of different career opportunities open to us as Latinos."\nLa Casa Director Lillian Casillas also said the event was a valuable educational experience for its participants.\n"Students were given the opportunity to hone in on issues relevant to them," she said. "Not every university has a Latino studies program, and students from other universities got a taste of the Latino studies program at IU."\nMore information about La Casa and the IU Latino Studies Program are available at www.indiana.edu/~lacasa and www.indiana.edu/~latino.
(03/01/02 5:19am)
Approximately 150 students from IU and other universities throughout Indiana, Illinois and Michigan will participate in career networking and discuss current issues affecting Latinos Saturday at the third annual Indiana Latino Student Leadership Conference, sponsored by the La Casa Latino Cultural Center.\nLa Casa Director Lillian Casillas said in addition to college students, some high school students and community members are expected to attend.\n"The main objectives are to talk about current issues facing Latinos and to give students an opportunity to network," she said. "College students who are seeking jobs and internships will be able to meet professionals who can help them after graduation, and the high school participants will get a chance to interact with college students. Community members will be able to recruit people for jobs and internships." \nThe conference will begin with a continental breakfast and registration in La Casa at 8 a.m. \nAlong with various events, a panel discussion titled "Life After College" will be held in Woodburn Hall 101 at 1:30 p.m. "Life After College" will feature representatives from a variety of organizations who will speak about issues facing Latinos who are entering the job market.\nYolanda Trevino, assistant dean of the Research and University Graduate School, will lead a panel discussion comprised of Latino graduate students from different areas of study entitled "Career Paths and Graduate Studies" in Woodburn 119 at 11:30 a.m.\n"I'd like students who hear the panel to consider graduate studies as a viable option and to have them see themselves clearly and consider their futures," she said. "The national census is saying that the Latino community is growing, and Indiana is becoming more diverse, so it is important as Midwestern Latinos to address issues affecting the Latino community." \n After the final workshop of the day, Mary Jane Gonzalez, president of the Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will deliver a closing address.\nA dance will follow the conference at 8 p.m. in the Leo R. Dowling International Center, 111 S. Jordan Ave.\nSenior Vanessa Montalvo, a La Casa staff member, will lead a workshop entitled "Latino Trivia: How Much Do You Know?" at 2:45 p.m. in Woodburn 104.\n"It's important to allow students to meet new people that they can depend on after graduation and to talk openly about what Latinos are experiencing in the workforce," Montalvo said.
(02/14/02 4:33am)
Starvation is commonplace in Afghanistan, but hunger is not the only threat to the lives of its people. Afghans are put in danger every day due to the presence of 10 million landmines installed between 1979 and 1989, when Soviets occupied the country. \nNeesha Mirchandani, manager of operations for the Afghan Women's Mission, an organization founded in 2000 to raise funds for the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, discussed this and more in a lecture entitled "RAWA: Afghan Women Boldly Speak Out." She spoke to a full audience 7 p.m. Tuesday in School of Law room 121. \nIn addition to landmines, Afghanistan's population must also avoid 4,949 "cluster bomblets" (explosives painted the same color as food baskets) that were dropped by the United States. So far, 4,000 Afghans have died as result of American and British bombs, and hundreds of Afghan children will die before they reach five years of age.\nMirchandani's presentation dealt with the history of the struggle for women's rights in Afghanistan and the effects that the recent American and British bombing campaigns have had on the Afghan population.\n RAWA was founded in 1977 by Meena Kishwarkamel, a 20-year-old student, to fight for the protection of women's rights in the country. She heightened her efforts after the 1979 Soviet invasion, but her life was cut short when she was assassinated by KHAD, the Afghan sect of the KGB, Feb. 4, 1987.\n "They thought that if they killed Meena, RAWA would die off, but instead, RAWA grew stronger," Mirchandani said.\nShe added that before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the world was not concerned with the plight of the Afghan population, especially its female members. \n"Before Sept. 11, Afghanistan was a forgotten tragedy," she said. "It's ironic that it took a tragedy like Sept. 11 to wake up the world."\nMirchandani explained that before the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, 40 percent of the country's doctors and 70 percent of its teachers were women. Now, according to Physicians for Human Rights, nearly 100 percent of Afghan women suffer from some type of mental illness or depression due to events brought on by almost 23 years of war. \nShe said that in addition to acts of cruelty committed by the Taliban, the Afghan population, especially women, were also subjected to human rights violations by the Northern Alliance, which ruled the country from 1992 until 1996 as the United Front.\n"Under the Northern Alliance, there was chaos," she said. "That's why the Taliban were heralded when they came to power, but in fact, they were worse."\nAs a result, she said RAWA hopes the current interim government, which includes Northern Alliance generals and warlords, will not become permanent.\n"Members of the Northern Alliance were rewarded by the U.S. for helping its war on terrorism," she said. "They know how to fight, but they don't know how to run a country that has been through 23 years of war. They started the oppression of women in Afghanistan, so when you think of the Taliban, also think of the Northern Alliance."\nShe tried to break down stereotypes of Afghan men by explaining that many members of the Taliban and Northern Alliance came to Afghanistan from Pakistan and other nations.\n"Afghanistan is a peaceful country, and it was not the Afghan men who were doing this," she said. "Many Afghan men were recruited at gunpoint."\nMirchandani also revealed that RAWA is very concerned with the "looting, raping and mayhem" that are presently occurring in Afghanistan.\n"Looting, raping and mayhem will continue if a government that is not elected stays in power," she said. \nShe said RAWA is very pleased with the schools it has established in the region, as well as the reopening of Malalai Hospital, which caters to Afghan refugees in Pakistan.\nMirchandani culminated her presentation by asking the audience, "Why should you care? Imagine this was you."\nA reception followed at the home of School of Law Lecturer Cathy Crosson, who hosted Mirchandani during her stay in Bloomington.\n\"The indiscriminate attack on Afghanistan by the U.S. has done nothing to help the people's situation there, especially the women\'s situation," Crosson said.\nSenior Rebecca Riall, one of the event's coordinators, said the struggle for women's rights in Afghanistan is far from over.\n"A lot of people have an idea from the media that everything is better because of the war, but women in Afghanistan are in just as much danger now than they ever were," she said.\nThe presentation was sponsored mainly by the Monroe County Green Party, IU College Libertarians, Department of English, Department of Communication and Culture, Department of American Studies and Bloomington V-Day.