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(11/22/04 4:08am)
In his 1964 movie, "Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," director Stanley Kubrick shows us events that could have concluded the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the film, a rogue army general plans to wage a nuclear war against communist Russia over fears they are putting fluoride in the American water supply. \nAlthough the film was released 40 years ago -- at a time when Cold War tensions between the world's largest nuclear powers were high -- we can still apply Kubrick's satirical analysis of the situation to the current political climate.\nCountries seek to acquire nuclear technology for several reasons. One of these is the prestige that comes with being identified as a nuclear power. Nuclear threats are also often used as a deterrent against aggressive nations, especially when basic diplomatic practices fail. If Iraq was a nuclear threat, as stated by the U.S. government, it might have chosen to use its weapons of mass destruction as a response to the U.S. invasion.\nThis idea was reinforced in a symposium titled "Nuclear Proliferation in Asia: The Roots of the Problem and Possible Solutions" Thursday in the Persimmon Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. Many speakers expressed the view that nuclear proliferation was inevitable and banning testing would not slow the spread of nuclear capability. \nManagement of nuclear proliferation, over current prohibitive practices, is a progressive way of addressing a 50-year-old problem. In the long run, nuclear fuel may be the only solution to the world's looming energy problems and furthermore, nuclear arms' trading has contributed to the rehabilitation of lax economies all over the world. Perhaps what world leaders are failing to understand is the proposal being made by the rest of the world: either we all get nukes or no one gets any nukes.\nIn February of this year, President George W. Bush stated that "proliferation (of weapons of mass destruction) cannot be tolerated." Just under two years ago, Bush joined Russian President Vladimir Putin in signing a treaty that reduced the nuclear weapons stockpiles of both countries to their "lowest level in decades." This will decrease the number of warheads each nation has to between 1,700 and 2,200, according to the White House Web site.\nIf we compare this with 2001 and 2003 figures on the Arms Control Association and Nuclear Threat Initiative Web sites (www.armscontrol.org and www.nti.org), Russia and United States have approximately 6,094 and 7,295 active strategic warheads, respectively. China, the United Kingdom and France have between 200 and 500 warheads each. Estimates for alleged 'nuclear threats' such as India and Pakistan are far lower -- somewhere between 25 to 100 warheads each. \nFormer Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, tried to bring the issue to the attention of the world community. Arias, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1987, stated that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council were the main nuclear arms suppliers of the world by the 1990s. The Security Council is comprised of France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia and the People's Republic of China. All these countries throw about considerable weight in council decisions because they have veto power. \nIt should also be noted that the major nuclear powers of the world, with the exception of France and China, signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. China was in the test stages of developing its first atom bomb and detonated its first atomic device in 1964 prompting the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by 98 nations. France, China, India, Pakistan and Israel, along with other countries conducting nuclear research refused to sign the treaty setting a terrible precedent. \nThe emergence of North Korea and, increasingly, Iran as possible nuclear threats should force us to realize that the proliferation of nuclear weapons is inevitable. The world community needs to accept the fact that in 50 years nuclear weapons will still be around and their management will be a more constructive effort than non-proliferation. Of course, there is always the possibility of confrontation. However, if the world community places reasonable limits on a country's stockpiles and encourages political engagement over aggression, the reasons for use of nuclear weapons will be limited as well.
(11/19/04 4:42am)
A symposium addressing the proliferation of nuclear capability in Asian countries pushed for more debate on the issue Thursday. The forum, sponsored by the Committee on Asian Security in the Persimmon Room of the Indiana Memorial Union, focused on the nuclear aspirations of North Korea, South Korea, China, India and Pakistan, as well as reasons for the continuation of the conflict. \nJ. Peter Scoblic, executive editor for The New Republic, stated that nuclear proliferation in Asia has not yet been addressed, seriously, as a problem.\n"It doesn't just mean boosting the arms control framework," he said.\nScoblic argued that the United States should pursue the possibilities that are currently available. \n"At least North Korea has a set of demands, unlike Iran ... We should exploit these options," he said. "When you can't get an immediate solution, as in the case of North Korea ... in the short term, we may have to settle for a short-term solution."\nBill Finan, editor for Current History, agreed that it was a pressing issue.\n"The question of nuclear proliferation is an urgent one," Finan said. \nFinan suggested intelligence failures as partly responsible for the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region. \nThe concept that countries assume a higher status in the international community after acquiring nuclear capability is one that should not be perpetuated, Finan said.\n"(It should be) a mark of shame rather than a mark of progress," he said. \nOne of the more prominent views expressed by most of the speakers was that the spread of nuclear weapons is inevitable. Many proposed that "management" was better than containment. \n"At best, one can manage proliferation," said IU Professor Sumit Ganguly, director of the India Studies Program. "We can come back in 50 years and (nuclear weapons) will still be around."\nGanguly noted that countries look to acquire nuclear weapons for a number of reasons. Nuclear capability conveys prestige and also deters potential threats, he argued. \n"The (nuclear capabilities) of the U.S. ... arouses concern (among other countries)," he said.\nDinshaw Mistry, associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, stated that current attempts at controlling nuclear proliferation have not been effective in stopping the production or testing of nuclear weapons. \n"Have these countries stopped testing missiles? No. They've developed new missiles," Mistry said.\nIU Professor of East Asian Languages and Culture Michael Robinson addressed the issue as a "world crisis." \n"We don't have the Cold War relationships ... that locked the region," he said. "Unlike the last 50 years ... this one is a real crisis."\nDespite three separate six-party talks aimed at resolving North Korean nuclear policy, each has failed in reaching a compromise or solution to the conflict. North Korea chose not to participate in a fourth round of talks in September.\n"This agreed framework never worked, but it was a tacit agreement that (encouraged) engagement," Robinson said. "I always think of parenting when I think of North Korea," Robinson said. "Who is the parent here?"\nFollowing China's involvement in holding the six-party talks and fostering dialogue between the United States and North Korea, Robinson said he was hopeful about the possible outcome.\n"I remember hearing about the talks and being very optimistic," Robinson said. \n-- Contact staff writer Obaid \nKhawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu
(11/12/04 5:18am)
The North Korean Human Rights Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush Oct. 18 after months of lobbying by four IU student groups. The bill enables North Koreans to stay in the United States as refugees and includes a humanitarian aid package, as well as the appointment of a special envoy for North Korean human rights.\n"Until this bill was passed, (human rights in North Korea) were largely ignored," said graduate student Daniel Levin, founder of IU Students for North Korean Human Rights. "If you do a Google search, there are more than 30 stories on it today alone."\nThe ad hoc group, which was started over the summer, requested the help of IU College Democrats, IU College Republicans and Students for Global Democracy in a letter-writing campaign. \nThe groups wrote to Indiana senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar to push for the bill, which passed both houses of Congress unanimously.\n"One of the prime movers in North Korean human rights is Senator Evan Bayh," Levin said. \nThe act will provide a minimum of $24 million per year in humanitarian aid during the next three years, with money going toward human rights programs and the introduction of radio broadcasts into North Korea.\n"They have a very pervasive propaganda machine," Levin said. "What radio broadcasting will do is stop the monopoly over information."\nPreviously, North Koreans who left their country would become South Koreans by law. Under the new bill, North Korean defectors can claim refugee or political asylum status in the United States. \n"They've (controlled) these people, now, for generations," Levin said.\nHe added that the act would call for negotiations with foreign governments to help in the effort, which is a change in policy for the United States.\nSenior Mandy Carmichael, president of IU College Democrats, said she was proud of the outcome and is optimistic about the impact the act will have.\n"It's very difficult to say what the result will be," she said. "I think it's too soon to say, but I'm optimistic about this bill's ability to improve relations."\nLevin contacted IU College Democrats about signing a petition and getting involved in a letter-writing campaign along with the IU College Republicans, Carmichael said. \n"He asked that the IU College Democrats and College Republicans sign the petition so that it was a bipartisan effort," she said. \n"I think human rights have been a very important issue for Democrats ... I'm not saying that it hasn't for Republicans," she said, "(but) the Democratic Party has a history of fighting for human rights issues."\nFormer IU College Republicans Chairman and senior Angel Rivera said human rights were a "big concern" for him as an American because he enjoys basic rights that people in other nations are often denied.\n"I thought (it) was very appropriate for our group," Rivera said. "It shows (North Korea) and the world that (North Korean human rights are) a priority in U.S. foreign policy." \nAlthough the passage of the bill ensures U.S. support for human rights programs in North Korea, making sure food and financial aid reaches those who are suffering could be difficult.\n"They could very well feed their own people, but they feed the military first," Levin said.\nThe required height for admittance into the North Korean military is currently 4 feet 10 inches, he said. \nLevin added that the efficient distribution of aid was something that they would watch for.\n"No package will be perfect," he said.\nRivera said the passage of the bill was an improvement over the previous negligence of both U.S. and North Korean governments to address the issue.\n"(The North Korean government doesn't) want to provide human rights for their people," Rivera said. "It's an improvement no matter how minor ... $4 million dollars goes a long way in a poor country." \nCarmichael was hopeful as well and added that the signing of the act "sent a message."\n"We can't pass a bill and expect it to work perfectly, but I hope it will change things," Carmichael said. "It sends a powerful message (to North Korea) that the (United States) will not tolerate this kind of behavior."\nLevin said it was easy for people to complain about the political system and not make an effort to change it but that change was possible.\n"When you show you're serious about an issue, (politicians) do take you seriously," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(10/28/04 4:31am)
Iran's endorsement of the re-election of President George W. Bush last week marked the first time the two countries have been this confused about their relationship since 1998.\nYes, that's right. \nIt was in the 1998 World Cup that Iran claimed its first World Cup game victory ever. The team achieved this by beating the U.S. 2-1 in first-round matches. While I'm not accusing former U.S. and Iranian players of having political inclinations, I think the incident sheds light on the volatile relations between the two countries. During the last century, the two have had strong diplomatic ties and been engaged (indirectly) in wars against one another. Like old dirty political friends, they've participated in underhanded activities, too, like the Iran contraband scandal in the 1980s. \nDespite the apparent absurdity of Iran's approval of President Bush and the Republican Party, the statement has some logic behind it. \nNormally, a country nominates a foreign political party because they feel they will benefit from that party being in power. \nSo why does it seem so absurd that Iran is endorsing Bush? \nFor starters, they've been labeled as part of the "axis of evil" by the Bush administration, accused of harboring terrorists and been threatened with sanctions over their nuclear aspirations in the last two years. \nBush shrugged off the support. Scott Stanzel, Bush campaign spokesman, said it was "not an endorsement we'll be accepting anytime soon," in an Associated Press article.\nFurthermore, the country has struggled under U.S. sanctions for the past decade.\nIran takes issue with Democratic initiatives like former president Bill Clinton's order to halt all U.S. trade and investment in the country in 1995.\n"We haven't seen anything good from the Democrats," said Hasan Rowhani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in an Associated Press article. Rowhani added that, historically, Democrats have harmed Iran more than Republicans.\nIt should also be noted that many beneficial deals for Iran have involved Republican administrations. It could be argued, for example, that Iran was responsible for Ronald Reagan's election in 1980, partly because of Jimmy Carter's ineffectiveness at dealing with the 52 Americans that were being held hostage in the nation's capitol, Tehran. Reagan, who was sworn in the day Iran agreed to release the hostages, was, in turn, involved in illegally supplying Iran with weapons during their war with Iraq. \nThere could be similar parallels with the current relationship between the two countries. By deposing governments in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States. has simultaneously eliminated alleged terrorist cells and also gotten rid of possible threats to Iran.\n"Iran is a very complex society grappling with social issues, economic issues and regional issues," said Shayar Daneshgar, a professor in the Central Eurasian studies department at IU. "These things cannot be solved in one day. Iran realizes that it cannot do this itself ... (it needs) to be a part of the international community."\nDaneshgar, who lived in Iran until he was 20 years old, said that the current government had many elements, including Islamic hardliners and reform-minded people, but the solution to this problem is not ousting the oppressors and establishing a new government. Iraq and Afghanistan are perfect examples of such foreign policy measures and -- although the nations have shown some promise -- they will need continual financial and military support to foster a democracy.\n"Societies have to go through changes themselves. We cannot impose changes (effectively) from the outside," Daneshgar said. \nCurrently, the public of Iran does not have any influence over what their government says. Iran, similarly, has no influence over Bush or the United States. Perhaps this dilemma could be solved more easily on the football pitch, though the axis would have home advantage.
(10/18/04 5:43am)
The U.S. ambassador to Mongolia said she hopes the two nations can regard each other as "friendly neighbors" Friday at the annual Mongolia Society Conference. \nAmbassador Pamela Slutz and Tserendorj Jambaldorj, minister-counselor for Mongolia and deputy chief of mission to the United States were two of the dignitaries to attend the meeting which IU hosted in conjunction with the Central Eurasian Studies Conference. Bloomington last hosted the Society three years ago.\n"In the 16 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations (between the U.S. and Mongolia) ... our relationship has broadened and deepened," Slutz said. "You'd think that would be unusual -- Mongolia and the U.S. share no common borders -- but we do share a lot of common values."\nThe conference featured a variety of experts on the region, ranging from independent scholars and university professors to Buddhist monks from Mongolian Buddhist College and Arvijikhui Monastery. In addition to paper and research presentations, attendees also viewed films and listened to musical performances. The performance "Silk Road: A Musical and Cultural Journey," which featured musicians and performers from Inner Asia, concluded the weekend's events. \n"Small nations have always viewed major powers' policies with apprehension," Jambaldorj said. "But things are different in the case of Mongolian-U.S. relations. There is no (negative) legacy in the relationship between Mongolia and the United States."\nJambaldorj added he was confident that U.S.-Mongolia relations would be expanded in all sectors but urged for more cultural exchanges through art performances and exhibitions. He also cited the rare and unique tradition of 'throat singing,' which is only found in certain northern Mongolian regions such as Buryat and Tuva. \n"It's very difficult for smaller countries to introduce themselves ... especially to the general public," he said. "The Mongolian Society is one channel that improves exposure."\nHenry Schwarz, professor of Mongolia and modern China studies at Western Washington University, echoed Jambaldorj's sentiments but also acknowledged the lack of coverage on the land locked nation, which is a part of the U.S.-led coalition for the war in Iraq.\n"If Mongolia is not in the news today then there was nothing 30 years ago," Schwarz said. "I'm very happy that things are going in the right direction ... each year we have more papers and more panels. The general public might not be aware of it but the academics are."\nSchwarz, who has been president of the Society since 1998, suggested that one reason for the lack of awareness among the American public could be the small Mongolian population living in America.\n"(In America) we have 'China towns' and 'Korea towns'... people are aware of those countries because of face to face interaction," he said. "We don't have that with Mongolia. Mongolians won't be as visible (because of their numbers)."\nAfter gaining its independence from Chinese rule in 1921, Mongolia established a communist government in 1924 with the help of the Soviet Union. It was not until 1990 that the formerly communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party gradually began to hand over power to the Democratic Union Coalition. The recent elections have led to an even split between the two parties.\n"The June 27 parliamentary election this year served to highlight the need for continual reform… of Mongolia's democratic process," Slutz said. "It's going to be an interesting challenge for Mongolia to try and craft this (government)."\nSlutz, who has examined Mongolia's electoral process as an election observer, maintains that the democratic process need to be more transparent, although the system is often better than many other countries in the region.\n"They've had eight elections now. All of them have been peaceful, not all have been free and fair," she said. "It often serves as a role model for other Central and East Asian countries struggling to achieve the same goals."\nJambaldorj also said the process is not perfect but argued that it shows promise.\n"(The transition) to a democracy and a market-oriented economy was not an easy, smooth process. Currently, more than 75 percent of Mongolia's domestic production is produced by the private sector," he said. "It is the practice of democracy that makes a country ready for democracy."\nMongolian exports to the U.S. are largely textiles and garments. \nThe speakers at the conference also addressed terrorism and the war in Iraq.\nJambaldorj, who took office in September of 2001 just 10 days before the attacks, stated that the country had been "relatively free" of terrorist attacks, despite its support of the war in Iraq and the 'war on terrorism.'\n"Many things have changed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, especially regarding U.S.-Mongolia relations," he said.\nAmbassador Slutz acknowledged Mongolian support for the war in Iraq, stating that the U.S. had started to help Mongolia develop its peacekeeping abilities since 1997.\n"Since 2000, the U.S. has provided Mongolia with over $2 million dollars in assistance to the Mongolian Armed Forces to help them develop U.N. standard international peacekeeping capability," she said. "Since August 2003, Mongolia has sent over 400 peacekeepers to Iraq."\nMongolia also sent two teams of advisors to Afghanistan and currently has 120 peacekeepers on the ground in Iraq. \n"The deployment of these troops is the first instance in modern times that Mongolian soldiers have gone abroad," Slutz said.\n-- Contact staff writer Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(10/15/04 4:22am)
The U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia will be speaking at the Mongolia Society meeting today at 9 a.m. in Woodburn Hall room 101. Ambassador Pamela Slutz and Deputy Mongolian Ambassador to the U.S., Ts. Jambaldorj will be two of the dignitaries attending the conference. The State Department's new Mongolia desk officer will also be present.\nIU is holding the annual meeting in conjunction with the Central Eurasian Studies Society conference. Featured events will include research paper presentations, film viewings and musical performances. \nBoth ambassadors will be keynote speakers for the event.\nThe meetings are free and open to the public, and will touch upon issues like education, interethnic relations and socio-economic problems within Mongolia. \nThe Buskirk-Chumley Theater will hold "Silk Road: A Musical and Cultura l Journey," featuring artists performing dances and music of the inner-Asian region Saturday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.\n"The Mongolian Society (at IU) is the oldest Mongolian society in the world," said Susie Drost, manager and treasurer for the Society. \nCurrently in its 43rd year, the international Society was founded in 1961 by John Gombojab Hangin while he was a graduate student at Columbia University. After transferring to IU, Hangin established the Mongolian Society, which is based in Bloomington. \nThe Society usually meets with various organizations in order to gain members, said Drost. Last year's meetings were held in New York with the Association for Asian Studies.\n"IU is the only university in the U.S. that teaches Mongolian studies," she said. \nPossessing some of the largest untapped mineral deposits in Asia, Mongolia became a 'soviet satellite' in 1921 after gaining independence from Chinese rule -- with the help of the Soviet Union. In 1990, the country's formerly communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party began to gradually hand over power to the Democratic Union Coalition. The recent elections left the government cabinet positions equally divided between the two parties. \n"It's one of the most successful democracies in post-Soviet (inner-Asia)," said Christopher Atwood, associate professor the Central Eurasian Studies department. "You can't say the same about Russia ... Uzbekistan ... Azerbaijan." \nHe added that such a society was relevant to the United States because Mongolian history influenced Eurasian history.\nDespite improving political and trade ties with economic powers, such as China, Japan, Russia and the U.S., the country remains reliant on economic aid and is vulnerable to harsh weather.\n"It's one of the few countries in the world where nomadic pastoralizing is still being practiced," he said. "Other aspects of their art and culture are also very distinctive." \n"IU is famous among people in Mongolia (that know about the U.S.)," he said. \n-- Contact staff writer Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(09/22/04 4:32am)
Honorable Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia was the guest lecturer for the Branigin lecture on the 'Global response of courts to terrorism' Tuesday in the Moot Court Room of the School of Law. Among the issues addressed in the lecture were the last 'century of terrorism,' European Court of Human Rights cases and recent judicial decisions in countries concerning alleged terrorists. \n"In some instances, terrorism is the struggle for ideas, for independence," Justice Kirby said. "It is very important for all of us to keep these distinctions in mind." \nWhen referring to the 'century of terrorism,' Justice Kirby cited examples such as anarchy in Europe leading up to the First World War, the Irish Easter Rebellion of 1916 and the call for independence by British colonies in South Asia in the 1930s. \nHe said terrorism problems being dealt with in U.S. courts were not new and that similar issues had been debated in European courts for decades.\n"We are not alone; we are dealing with problems that are very similar and occur very close together," Justice Kirby said. "These are global issues, and they're being dealt with in international courts." \nHe cited Germany, Italy and Spain as countries with "large terrorism problems."\nJustice Kirby has served on the High Court of Australia since 1996 and is currently a member of the International Bioethics Committee on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Global Panel on Human Rights of UNAIDS and the Ethics Committee of the Human Genome Organization. \nIn the 1990s, he served as Special Representative to the Secretary-General of the U.N. for Human Rights in Cambodia. He has served on several other U.N. bodies as well. \n"We bring a range of scholars and thinkers," said Law Professor Alfred Aman of the Branigin lecture series. "Justice Kirby is one of the greatest human rights judges in the world."\nProfessor Aman, who is also director for the Institute for Advanced Study, added that the institute strives to be interdisciplinary in its choice of speakers.\nThe last Branigin lecturer to speak was jazz musician Fred Hersh, who performed a composition and went on to lecture on the creative process in April.\nThe Justice Kirby was the first speaker in the series this semester.\nBranigin lectures planned for later in the semester include Linda and Michael Hutcheon, both professors at the University of Toronto, who will explore the theme of aging as it relates to opera. \n-- Contact staff writer Obaid Khawaja at .
(04/16/04 5:04am)
Noted Islamic studies scholar Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr spoke to a room of more than 100 about religious and Islamic studies in America Thursday in Woodburn Hall. The lecture was the second Victor Danner memorial lecture in Islamic studies and was sponsored by the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, the Middle Eastern and Islamic studies program and funded by the College of Arts and Sciences.\nDr. Nazif Shahrani, chair of the department of near eastern languages and cultures, introduced Nasr, referring to him as currently being "perhaps the most honored ambassador of Islam.\n"He has furthered the understanding of Islam," he said.\nNasr, quoting intellectuals from both the East and the West, spoke of the various problems he thought hindered the study of Islam in the U.S. \n"Of course, Islamic studies have expanded greatly in the past decade," he said, but he added that the mainstream study of Islam was based on a "truncated view of Islam."\n"The more society is secularized, the more (society) is interested in religion," he said.\nOriginally born in Tehran, Iran, in 1933, Nasr came to the U.S. to finish his secondary education and, later, studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He returned to Iran in 1958 where he served as professor of the history of science and philosophy at Tehran University and also as president of Aryamehr University. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1979 following the Iranian revolution.\nAn author of around 50 books and hundreds of articles, Nasr has lectured all over the United States, as well as in Western Europe, the Middle East, India, Australia and Japan. \nHe is currently the University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University.\nTwo trends occurring in the past few decades are the emergence of a generation of scholars of U.S. origin that are writing on Islam and the immigration of foreign Islamic scholars to the U.S, Nasr said. \n"The problem that exists is that most of (U.S.) scholars don't know much about Islam," he said. He added that many contemporary Muslim scholars are not like the Muslim scholars of old, saying some were simply looking to sell their name. \nNasr also cited language differences as being an element in the inability of these scholars to adequately address the religion.\n-- Contact nation & world editor Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(04/07/04 5:40am)
Little progress was made at the recent six-nation talks concerning North Korea's nuclear program, but an event at IU tried to bring about change to a different issue -- North Korea's human rights violations.\nAuthor Soon Ok Lee and her son Daniel Choi -- both survivors of North Korea's prison camp system -- were among guest speakers at a conference looking at the North's human rights crisis. The event was held in the Whittenberger Auditorium of the Indiana Memorial Union.\n"(North Korea) is a totalitarian regime under Kim Jong Il," Soon said with the help of a translator. "Because of that, there are no human rights ... to the extent that people in North Korea don't know what human rights means."\nSoon spent more than 50 years in North Korea before being wrongfully charged and sentenced in 1986 to 13 years in prison. \nAfter being imprisoned for seven years, Soon escaped and fled to South Korea in 1995.\nChoi was chosen to be a prison guard when he was 17 years old and served for three years.\n"When I arrived in South Korea, they showed a movie called 'Schindler's List,' and I was surprised at the similarities between the (German) concentration camps and the North Korean prisons," he said.\n"Hitler could kill people because no one outside the country was talking about it." \nChoi added that people need to start discussing the North's human rights issue and urged audience members to contact their Representatives. \nJack Rendler, vice chair for the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, which co-sponsored the event, said the only positive aspect of the situation has become the recent increase in information coming out of North Korea.\n"There's always a signature violation by a regime ... for me, forced abortion and infanticide are North Korea's signature violations."\nRendler gave the example of prison camps set up for the sole purpose of forced abortions. He added that women in their third trimester would be allowed to give birth, but prisoners would then be forced to kill the baby.\n"North Korea is the violator of our time, of your generation," Rendler said. "You guys aren't 'bought and sold' yet ... you're the ones they (North Korean government) are worried about."\nRendler urged the audience to protest human rights abuses in North Korea. Soon agreed.\n"Just like (Saddam) Hussein, I hope that Kim Jong Il is rooted out of North Korea," Soon said, "and I hope you remember North Korea."\n-- Contact nation and world editor Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(03/29/04 5:34am)
Close to 75 demonstrators turned out to protest Vice President Dick Cheney's Friday visit to a Jeffersonville, Ind., fundraiser. Cheney came to support Republican Mike Sodrel, who is running for the ninth Congressional district office. \nKevin Boehnlein, Sodrel's campaign manager, said that $150,000 was raised, with 75 percent of the funds coming from within the district. \n"We hit all of our goals," Boehnlein said. "That's the most amount of money raised in the district, as far as I know."\nThis was the first visit to Jeffersonville by a "high-level politician" since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson dedicated the local post office, Boehnlein said. \n"It helps build credibility for a campaign, (and) gives psychological support," he said. "We're hoping that high-level support will help us like it did in 1964."\nCheney, speaking to about 400 supporters at the $250-per-person event, praised the Bush administration for freeing the Iraqi people and cracking down on terrorists, according to The Associated Press.\nActivists demonstrated outside Kye's restaurant, where the reception was held. The demonstrators, in opposition to Cheney's statements, accused Bush of starting a war "based on lies."\n"For me, this has been an unjust war from the beginning," said Tom Wannemuehler, a resident of Louisville, Ky. "We need a change of administration."\nWannemuehler, who was protesting Cheney's visit, said he thought the weapons of mass destruction claims being made by the Bush administration were outrageous. \nChristine Perlin, one of the protesters, said one of the reasons she opposed the war was because victims of war are women and children.\n"As is becoming clear now, he (President Bush) wanted to invade Iraq from the start," Perlin said. "You're talking about al Qaeda and Iraq, and there isn't any connection (between the two)."\nShe added that working with countries would be a more effective way to deal with international disputes. \n"We need to work with our international allies ... get some professional diplomats involved in this, and, of course, the United Nations," Perlin said.\nAcross the street, Republican supporters voiced their support for the vice president. The two groups occasionally engaged in shouting matches over a myriad of issues. \nRobin and Brian Zipperle, who attended the reception, said although they were pleased that people came out to voice their opinions, they thought the protesters took for granted their right to protest. \n"It was wonderful that these people came out to protest, but if they were in (Saddam's) Iraq, then they wouldn't have been able to," Robin said. \nWannemuehler said he is concerned about the impact political fundraisers have on the community in which they are held.\n"It's amazing how much money is being spent (on campaigning)," he said. \nPerlin agreed politicians should consider the host community when hosting fundraisers.\n"Politicians take the profit and leave the expenses with the town they were in."\n-- Contact Nation & World editor Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(03/29/04 4:00am)
J.J. Beckman and John Beckman, residents of Louisville, Ky., protest Dick Cheney's visit. The vice president was attending a fund-raising reception for local politician Mike Sodrel.
(02/05/04 4:27am)
Howard Dean supporters gathered at the Monroe County Public Library Wednesday for a voter drive. The group, which calls itself the Bloomington Dean Supporters, will be sending postcards to undecided registered voters in Wisconsin and Virginia and calling voters in Michigan urging them to vote for Gov. Dean in the primaries and caucuses to be held the next week. \n"Every win matters," said Eldon Robison, the Indiana deputy coordinator, to the supporters. "There are rights for people living in this country, and there are responsibilities for people living in this country."\nThe Michigan caucus allows people to register to vote up until the last day, and BDS members will be getting people registered and offering people rides to the polls, Robison said.\n"This has been an Internet-heavy campaign," he said. "We've raised $45 million (nationally) through this campaign."\nPeople who come to the meetings have different levels of involvement, Robison said.\n"Sometimes people decide to be heavily involved, and sometimes they don't," he said. \nThe supporters began meeting monthly as of April 2003. \n"We've done quite a lot of things, like sending people to Iowa," said Jennifer Perry, a volunteer for BDS. "We're trying to get the word out." \nThe group organizes its own meetings, but the national campaign tells the group where to focus its voter-drive efforts.\n"I think a lot of people wait until the democratic nominee is chosen (before voting)," Perry said. "It seems easier to wait it out, but I wish people were more interested."\nDebra Marr, a volunteer for BDS, travels to Bloomington from Morgan County to attend the meetings. She has been supporting Dean since May.\n"(This group) gives me hope," said Debra Marr. "I really think (Dean's) our only hope for real change because he's willing to do something that's not popular, but is right."\n-- Contact nation & world editor Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(02/02/04 5:57am)
While some IU students spent their Sunday morning sleeping in, hundreds of Bloomington Muslims congregated at the Islamic Center of Bloomington to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the 'Festival of Sacrifice.'\nThe early-morning Eid prayers were followed by a sermon and a breakfast. \n"We are here to take care of the world," guest speaker Fisal Hammouda said in his sermon. Hammouda urged listeners to help those in need, whether they were of the same faith or not. \nIU students from various countries and Bloomington residents came to offer their prayers and greeted each other following the sermon. The traditional Eid greeting is "Eid Mubarak," which means "Holiday blessings." \nBloomington resident and president of the Muslim Student Association, Imad Rahman, said the Bloomington community was a "personification of Islam."\n"A lot of people associate Islam with one particular country," Rahman said. "This community is a reflection of how diverse Islam really is." \nRahman, who has been living in Bloomington for more than a year, said he was surprised by the number of people that showed up.\n"[Eid prayer] is not obligatory … and on a cold morning, with the roads still bad, we had a big turnout."\nEid al-Adha is one of the two major celebrations in the Islamic calendar -- Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, being the other -- and commemorates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son as a test of his faith. According to the Quran, the Muslim holy book, as Abraham raised his knife a lamb took the place of his son and was slaughtered instead. \nEid al-Adha is incorporated into the annual pilgrimage to Mecca -- known as the Hajj -- and involves the sacrifice of an animal. Families eat about one third of the animal and give the rest to the poor.\nKhidhir Zakaria, a doctoral candidate studying educational psychology at IU, has been living in Bloomington for four years. Originally from Malaysia, Zakaria remembers his first Eid being hard.\n"The first Eid was very difficult for me because I missed my family," he said. "[But] as time passes you feel you belong in the community."\nZakaria, who is married and has four children, said his family usually receives guests at their home after prayers.\n"I bring my family here every year to celebrate," he said.\nAli Rizvi, a senior at IU, has been living in the U.S. for the past four years and wasn't able to visit his family, who live in the Middle East, for Eid. \n"I think I've only spent one Eid with my family," he said. "[But] everyone here's been really nice."\n-- Contact nation & world editor Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(02/02/04 5:00am)
People gather for breakfast at the Bloomington Islamic Center after the Eid al-Adha prayers.
(12/03/03 6:00am)
"I think we've started to see the beginning of something very interesting," said IU graduate student Gary Breaux, who worked with the study. "It's an exciting find in a field that was supposedly already predicted."\nIn the future, the breakthrough could revolutionize nanotechnology, technology the size of one-billionth of a meter.\nThe discovery runs contrary to conventional scientific theory, which states that substances melt at a lower temperature if they are reduced in size. Gallium melts at a low temperature, making it easier to work with, and was used because of this property. However, tests carried out by researchers at IU show that clusters of gallium atoms, as small as 17 atoms, actually melt at temperatures as high as 727 degrees Celsius. \n"Based on what people knew previously, if you made something smaller it would turn into a liquid," chemistry professor Martin Jarrold said. "What we've found is regions where (clusters of) 50 and 55 atoms don't melt easily, (clusters of) 39 and 40 atoms do melt easily and (clusters of) 17 atoms don't melt easily."\nThe project, funded by the National Science Foundation, was developed three years ago and research was done by a group led by Jarrold. The group started getting results over the summer, Breaux said. \nJarrold said there is still no explanation as to why certain gallium clusters maintain their physical state at high temperatures.\nJarrold said the findings are a breakthrough but added that, although there are potential applications, current nanotechnology deals with things that are still too large to be able to use the findings practically.\n"Nanotechnology is not really shrinking things down to the sizes we're looking at," he said. "In the future this is a problem that people will have to address. We're kind of doing the groundwork for the future."\nThe researchers have begun testing other materials as well. \n"We've done a lot more work than the work that's just been published," Jarrold said. "Recently we've been looking at sodium chloride, but that's behaving as expected"
(11/11/03 5:46am)
This summer, three students founded the Web site www.thehoosierweb.com, which is currently host to about 1,300 users and receives 25 page hits each day.\n"It's a place students can go to meet other IU students and get their opinions out there," said Chris Shemmer, one of the site's moderators.\nThe Web site was designed by Shemmer, a junior, and two of his friends, Jason Kilpatrick and Michael O'Neill. Registration is free for anyone with an indiana.edu e-mail address. \n"After we were ranked 'No. 1 party school' we decided it was something we needed," Shemmer said. \nKilpatrick and O'Neill, who work as Web designers, visited the campus before designing it. Similar Web sites have been started on several other campuses, including Arizona State University, the University of Miami and Pennsylvania State University. There also are plans to start a Web site for Purdue University.\nTo promote the site, Shemmer said the group relied on word of mouth. \n"We went to tailgate on Homecoming weekend and had a banner up, but we mainly spread the word by telling people," Shemmer said. \nIU alumnus Stephen Nowak, who graduated last May, said he still uses the site even though he's not in Bloomington. \n"I think it's a good way of keeping things in perspective," Nowak said. "A lot of freshmen have questions about lots of things and I remember being in the same position."\nAlthough Nowak wasn't able to hear about the site by "word of mouth," he did find out about it through an e-mail.\n"It sounded like something that should have been started long ago," Nowak said. "I'm an (alumnus) and I think it's a good way to stay connected with the school." \nHowever, some students, like freshman Lauren Fishering, use the Web site purely for entertainment. \n"I do it out of sheer boredom and because it's entertaining," Fishering said. \nThe Web site is not affiliated with the University and is largely unregulated. \n"It serves as a centralized forum for IU students to use," Shemmer said. "I've been getting a lot of positive responses from people, so I hope it keeps going."\n-- Contact staff writer Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(10/17/03 5:35am)
The national unemployment rate -- currently at 6.4 percent -- continues to drop, and IU economists expect this decrease to continue until sometime next year, causing some students to worry about finding a job after graduation.\nAlmost two years after the recession, the job market is still in the slump it was in after the information technology boom. \n"I think it'll be better this year than it was last year," said Willard Witte, IU associate professor of Economics and director of the IU Econometric Model Research. "But students are still going to have a tough time."\nHe added that the shift away from manufacturing industries and toward more service-based jobs has added to the slump in the market. \n"Nowadays people have to be more dynamic in that they probably won't be keeping the same job for the rest of their life," Witte said. "Jobs that are being created are for service-type industries like medical services, telecommunications and media."\nWitte said Indiana has been hit particularly hard because it is largely a manufacturing state.\nAngela Patterson, a graduate student studying journalism, said finding employment is still very difficult.\n"I think what they look for these days is experience," Patterson said. "It also really helps to know people in the industry."\nPatterson, 22, will graduate in December and has yet to find a job despite completing two internships.\n"It's a cycle," Patterson said. "If a blue collar worker loses his or her job then that will affect me because those are people who would buy my newspaper."\nIU offers several programs to help students choose and develop their careers. One of these is the Kelley School of Business' Undergraduate Career Services, which holds career fairs, posts student web resumes and offers counseling as well as a number of other services.\n"Most students think that once class is done we're done, but that's not true," Susie Clarke, director of Undergraduate Career Services, said. "We're here 12 months out of the year, so people have every opportunity to get in touch with us."\nThe center also has "virtual job fairs" in which employers post jobs on the Web site. UCS will be holding another "virtual job fair" on Nov. 7. Students who are interested may sign up at the UCS Web site at http://bpo.indiana.edu/bpo-cgi.\nClarke added that despite the job market slump, UCS is doing well. \n"This program has been consistently successful and we're doing as well or better than our Big Ten peers," Clarke said. "We've had roughly 80 percent of students find jobs even in the current tight market."\nHowever, Clarke said she is aware of the obstacles that students are going to face while looking for jobs for the next year.\n"The bar continues to rise and it's not just your classmates that are competition, it's much more global," Clarke said. "Students just have to find what they enjoy doing and have the skills for."\n-- Contact staff writer Obaid Khawaja at akhawaja@indiana.edu.
(10/08/03 5:24am)
The Citizen's Alliance for the Legalization of Marijuana will go ahead with plans to hold its annual festival despite the IU Student Association's denial of funds for the event, members said.\nThe state and University chapters of CALM said they are looking to collaborate on this year's event, which will be held sometime this fall or in the spring. Members said the plans are still in the works.\n"We're working on the relationship between the state and campus chapters," said Mike Truelove, the president of the board of state CALM. "(We) will adapt to what's required." \nTruelove said the campus chapter has been amending its constitution to fit University requirements since the summer.\n"Right now, we're going through a transition. All student groups are being given leeway to fit in with the new requirements," Truelove said. \nThe group was looking to receive funding for its annual CALMFEST. In previous years the festival, which has featured acts such as Blue Moon Revue and Alma Azul, has been held during the spring semester. Guest speakers and informational booths, including ones on the oppression of Tibet, are also found on the concert grounds.\nTruelove said board members are trying to change the event for the fall so the organization can keep up membership.\n"The festival has limited impact since people would go to the concert and then break up for the summer," Truelove said. "But we'll almost certainly be having CALMFEST this year."\nTruelove added there might be plans for a similar indoor festival in December and they would be asking for grants from IUSA again in January, saying that timing may have been an issue that led to the earlier refusal.\nThe student congress refused to grant CALM its initial funding proposal of $2,700 as well as the subsequent suggestion by the finance committee of $1,375 on Sept. 23, claiming that it was too much. The Grass Roots Initiative Fund, which was developed in 1991 to help fund non-profit groups, had a budget of $10,000 for the year. \n"I think the main reason (for the decision) was that they were asking for a quarter of our GRIF budget, which many people thought was too much," said IUSA congressional secretary Alan Grant.\nGrant added that the organization was hoping the festival would draw up to 700 people. \nJesse Laffen, chief policy advisor for IUSA, said the denial of funds was not a way of penalizing the group. \n-- Contact staff writer Obaid Khawaja at okhawaja@indiana.edu.
(09/29/03 6:01am)
The "three year bus plan," which lets students board all Bloomington Transit buses and the IU Stadium Express by showing their student ID, entered its final phase-in year this semester. \nBut University transport and IU Student Association officials say they hope to add more services for students in the coming years.\nThe bus plan was an IUSA initiative, introduced in August 2000, aimed at reducing congestion on campus and providing off-campus students a way of getting to classes and around town at the expense of a fixed transportation fee. \nThe initial plan was to introduce a "universal bus pass," which would make all IU and BT buses accessible to students. \nBut cost prevented implementation of the program, officials realized early in the process. Students would have had to pay double the amount they currently pay for the transportation fee -- around $30 per semester. \nSo the Midnight Special and Stadium Express routes were added instead over the last three years, said University Transportation Director Maggie Whitlow. \nDespite the bus plan not turning out as expected, Lew May, general manager for BT, said the program has shown considerable progress.\n"We're very happy with the success of the plan," May said. "There's been a continual upward trend in ridership growth."\nMay added that BT had experienced some of the heaviest days in the company's history during the first week of classes, with an average of 14,000 students using buses each day.\n"We've never exceeded that before and ridership is up 7.5 percent for the first three weeks of the school year," he said.\nA number of old BT buses will be replaced with new ones and "bio-diesel" fuel, which allows for a cleaner burn, will also be introduced, May said.\nWhitlow said she hopes the program is fully realized in the end. \nIUSA President Casey Cox also expressed hope for the plan in the future.\n"I imagine it will be fully implemented in the next couple of years," he said. "It's come this far, so why not go ahead and phase it in completely."\nIUSA said it is looking into improving the efficiency of the Midnight Special, which runs Thursday through Saturday and stops at various places on and off campus. The service has experienced problems since its inception, with students complaining that buses weren't making all the stops or arriving on time, but Cox said these problems are being addressed. \n"One of our big issues is expanding on the Midnight Express," Cox said. "Bloomington is a social community and I think the University has an obligation to provide safety for its students"
(04/30/03 5:38am)
You flip on the six o'clock news and find a geeky correspondent giving the latest on the U.S.-North Korea stand-off, only he seems to have his tongue planted firmly in his cheek throughout the report. \nThe man is none other than Mo Rocca, senior correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart", who will be bringing his talents to Alumni Hall at 7:30 p.m. tonight. His performance is expected to be a combination of a multimedia presentation with an interactive lecture, as well as a question and answer session about the show.\nOn the Daily Show, Rocca is known for his satirical news reports on current events. His coverage of the 2000 U.S. presidential elections ("Indecision 2000") earned "The Daily Show" a Peabody and Emmy award. \n"He's pretty damn funny," said freshman Dave LeBourveau. \nAlthough LeBourveau isn't a big fan of "The Daily Show", he thinks Rocca's clever.\n"I loved his U.S. election coverage," he said. "It takes real talent to be able to do something like that night after night."\nBefore starting his professional career in television, Rocca was president of Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Show, a student run theatrical organization. \nBefore his stint with "The Daily Show", Rocca honed his skills as writer and producer for such popular children's TV shows as PBS's "Wishbone", ABC's "Pepper Ann", and Nickelodeon's "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss." \nHe also took the position of consulting editor for adult magazine Perfect 10, which features 'unenhanced' models. \nRocca has also taken the stage numerous times, assuming the role of 'Doody' in the Southeast Asia tour of "Grease" and also played the role of the 'Professor' in the Paper Mill Playhouse version of South Pacific. \nIn addition, Rocca has also been featured in such publications as GQ, Elle and The Washington Post.\nUnion Board Comedy Director Adam Hitchcock said he is looking forward to Rocca's performance, which he said he will be fairly topical and interactive.\n"I love his sense of humor," he said. "He is so intellectual, which is a type of humor that isn't done as often."\nFreshman John Jutte plans on going to Rocca's performance because he enjoys his style of reporting.\n"He's one of those guys that are really understated," he said of Rocca. "The casual viewer may not even know who he is or even if he's joking."\nHe added that Rocca helps make current affairs more interesting. \nHitchcock said he expects to fill Alumni Hall, which seats 650 people.\n"All types of people enjoy 'The Daily Show'," he said. "I saw a recent study which said that college students get information on the news more from comedy sources than anywhere else. Students are learning about the news from 'Saturday Night Live' and 'The Tonight Show', so I think everyone will enjoy Mo Rocca, not just those interested in politics"