The C o w l Established in 1935 VOL. LII NO. 9 PROVIDENCE COLLEGE • PROVIDENCE, R.I. November 18, 1987 Amnesty Intern’l Fights For Rights by Marianne Sadowski in which his article was to appear Last Thursday, November 12, was never published. Providence College’s chapter of Brkic is a freelance reporter who Amnesty International met and specializes in cases of fraud and discussed two cases of prisoners of corruption. In June, 1987, Brkic’s conscience, and then wrote letters article “ The Heroes of Our Coun­ requesting the immediate and un­ try Serbia Were Playing” was sup­ conditional release of prisoners. posed to be published in Katedra, Prisoners of conscience are peo­ a student magazine. Reportedly, ple who have been detained or im­ the article was somewhat critical of prisoned for the peaceful expres­ certain Serbain political leaders sion of their beliefs or rights, or for (especially Slobodan Milosevic, the their race, culture, political beliefs, president of the Serbian League of Communists). This edition of The first case involved Dr. Juan Katedra was never distributed. Macaya, a Chilean pediatrician and On September 29, 1987, Brkic human rights worker who is involv­ was arrested and appeared before ed with the human rights section of the Belgrade Court for Petty Of­ the Catholic Church in Chile fences, and was found guilty by the (Vicaria de la Solidaridad). judge for “ publishing the article In May, 1986, Dr. Macaya was ‘The Heroes of Our Country Ser­ charged with assisting a man in­ bia Were Playing’ in which he jured in a confrontation with the disparaged socio-political organiza­ Photo by Joseph E. Gaines police. The injured man had gone tions and bodies in connection with Students are putting good use to the game room located in Lower Slavin, which houses pool table and to Vicaria to seek medical help; Dr. various video games. their activities.” Macaya attested that he was Brkic was sent to Padinska Skela unaware of the source of the man’s Prison, and on September 30th, he Government May Cut Student injuries, and was only carrying out began a hunger strike (as far as A.I. his professional and humanitarian knows, he is still on strike). His duties. lawyer has disclosed that he has The next night, the man ap­ recently been taken to a prison Aid Off at Some Schools peared at Dr. Macaya’s home, and hospital, and is currently being I Dr. Macaya, suspecting that the, denied access to a lawyer. WASHINGTON, D.C. man had been involved in an arm­ Amnesty International has (CPS)—Colleges and trade schools colleges, universities and trade ministration funds and Pell Grants, schools for fiscal year 1985. Thirty- ed confrontation with the researched the situation and has who allow future student loan department spokesman Bill Jamroz authorities, contacted human rights two percent of the institutions had said. found Brkic to be a prisoner of default rates to exceed 20 percent attorneys. When the man was conscience. In addition to appeal­ could be excluded from all federal default rates greater than 20 per­ About 2,000—or 32 percent— found and arrested at Dr. of the institutions named in Ben­ ing for his immediate and uncon­ grants and assistance, U.S. cent, including 500 with default Macaya’s house, the doctor was nett’s list had default rates greater ditional release, Amnesty Interna­ Secretary of Education William rates of more than 50 percent. charged with “ assisting an armed than 20 percent. The overall default tional thinks Brkic should be Bennett reiterated during a Nov. 4 The secretary has ordered an im­ group.” granted immediate access to a rate in the heavily subsidized loan press conference. mediate review of the schools with Amnesty International sees the lawyer. program is about 13 percent. The Education Department had default rates exceeding 50 percent, action taken against Dr. Macaya as If you would like to see Dr. Juan However, rates vary widely from announced its intention to deny and if those investigations reveal part of an attempt to discredit Macaya and Milovan Brkic releas­ school to school. In West Virginia, loans to students at schools where evidence of “ waste, fraud or Chilean human rights movements, ed, and would like to see an end to for example, almost half of the the default rate is high in The abuse,” the institutions could be and finds no evidence that Dr. all torture, Join Amnesty Interna­ loan recipients from West Virginia Federal Register in late October. fined or declared ineligible to Macaya has committed the tional. The letter you can write in State College had defaulted, com­ Defaults in the Guaranteed Stu­ participate in federal student assis­ criminal charge he is accused of. 15 minutes can save a life, or can dent Loan program cost taxpayers tant programs. pared to the 9.95 percent default Therefore, he is considered a stop someone from being tortured rate for West Virginia University. more than $1.6 billion a year and Schools whose default rates fall prisoner of conscience. Presently, or imprisoned. have become “ intolerable,” Ben­ between 20 and 50 percent, Bennett Nationally, there are 2.2 million Dr. Macaya is still imprisoned, but Torture is non-discriminatory. borrowers defaulting on the loans, nett said at the press conference. explained, have until December, Amnesty International is working For information on PC’s worth $5.63 billion, Jamroz said. “Virtually one-half of the 1989, to get those default rates for his release. Amnesty Internation, contact P.O. The primary responsibility to Guaranteed Student Loan budget lower than 20 percent. If they fail The second case involves Box 3612, and look for more case repay loans rests with former goes to default payments,” Bennett to do so, they could lose the right Milovan Brkic, a Yugoslavian in­ presentations in The Cowl. students, but institutions bear a said, he called it “ a disgraceful to participate in the Guaranteed vestigative journalist, who has been All o f the above information is responsibility as well, Bennett said. situation that no one, neither Con­ Student Loan program. imprisoned for “ publishing an ar­ factual, and was compiled from But punishing institutions for the gress nor the executive branch, Those schools would also ticle...in which he disparaged socio­ Amnesty International press irresponsibility of their alumni intended.” become ineligible to receive any political organizations and releases and Urgent Action Bennett released a campus-by­ other federal money, including would punish future students, said bodies,” even though the magazine releases. campus list of default rates at 7,295 research grants, Veterans Ad­ Mary Preston of the United States Student Association (USSA). The plan would particularly hurt Dr. Conley Speaks on low-income students who attend INSIDE THE COWL trade school, she said. While trade Rhode Island History schools may have higher default by Christopher Reilly dependence was led by Rhode rates than colleges and universities, Island. Registration Blues they provide an opportunity for the The History Club sponsored a Dr. Conley referred to Rhode Read about one student’s registration experiences on page 7 of the poor to receive training and lecture on Monday, November 16 Island as "last in peace" because Editorials Section. establish careers. “ There’s no by Dr. Patrick Conley, Associate it was the last of the thirteen reason to punish all the people who Professor at Providence College, original colonies to ratify the Con­ benefit from that institution dealing with the Constitutional stitution. The ideas which they felt because 1 out of 5 don’t repay their history of Rhode Island. the Constitution lacked were ones loans.” Dr. Conley is an active historian, which presently are fundamental to Post Palazzi II The government, she said, serving as the Chairman of the the United States. should review financial aid offices Rhode Island Bicentennial Founda­ Rhode Islanders were wary of a Matt Palazzi leaves Friar Hoop to enure students are properly tion and Vice Chairman of the U.S. strong central government which team again. See story on page 24. counseled before taking out loans. Constitutional Council. He is the would threaten both state and in­ “ There should be more grants most published writer at Pro­ dividual rights. Another argument available,” she added. “ People vidence College. they had concerned the article that from low-income families can't The lecture given on Rhode upheld slavery.. Finally, Rhode always assume large debts to con­ Island was titled, “ First in War, Island representatives wanted the tinue their educaiton.” First in Peace.” Dr. Conley told of idea of popular referendum includ­ The cost of student loan defaults the active role Rhode Island played ed in the Constitution. has skyrocketed in recent years, in the fight for independence. Dr. Conley related that, in the Diet and Exercise News largely because of the surge in bor- According to Dr. Conley, Rhode eighteenth century, Rhode Island Islanders were the first colonists to was criticized for these views, but Learn how to keep healthy and happy while in college. See page 17 * AID formally oppose the British govern­ later history reveals how important o f the Features Section. Continued on page 4 ment’s treatment of the colonies. they were. The eventual victory for in­ Pell Internship Set for R.I. Residents penses, including transportation, Students who are residents o f food, and lodging, during the in­ Rhode Island can apply for Pell in­ ternship, although assistance will ternship, which involves working be provided for finding low cost with the Congressional staff of housing, usually at a local college Senator Pell’s office for one week in Washington. Some expenses can during the Spring semester in be partially reimbursed.