Women March Against Unfair Treatment in Iran Theresa Wray Contributing Reporter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
California State University, Northridge Volume 50 • Number 88 Since 1957 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 http://sundial.csun.edusundial.csun.edu A financially independent student newspaper Women march against unfair treatment in Iran THERESA WRAY CONTRIBUTING REPORTER ormer prisoner of Iran, Sussan Golmohammadi, was a student at UCLA Fin the 1970s while her parents were in Iran during the oppres- sive Shah regime. It was at UCLA that she learned of the revolution that was taking place in her own country. “I met students who stood up against the Shah,” she said during the International Wom- en’s Day march in Westwood on Saturday. “I returned in 1979 because we were told that KrIstINe Keller / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER we would have more freedom Voices of dissent carried over the march held in to work and go to school.” Westwood on Saturday. Participants were protesting But freedom for women the abuse of women in Iran and Afghanistan in never came. observance of International Women’s day. Golmohammadi’s hus- smaller. This time, nearly 500 watched in silence, refusing to band was killed and she was KrIstINe Keller / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER people gathered in Westwood to comment to the press, while a imprisoned for three years after Activists Jodie Evans and Tighe Barry from Code Pink took the stage at a rally held in Westwood on Saturday. Other speakers included anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. join their cause. few oppositionists yelled at the returning to Iran and joining People on the street crowd, blaming them for block- the women’s movement. After show their support for women’s more patriarchal laws in Islamic ter of the International Women’s watched as the crowd made ing traffic. her release from prison, she rights around the world. and imperialist regimes.” Day Coalition. its way through the largely “Go back to your own coun- was placed on house arrest for Supporters of the Interna- The coalition has been con- “Our message is that we Iranian community where try and leave us alone,” one 10 years and told not to leave tional Women’s Day Coalition, ducting annual marches since don’t need to choose between several shops advertised their man shouted as he pushed his the country. But Golmoham- who led the march, gathered at 1911, but this year their mes- the two regimes. We are here to businesses in Farsi, the primary way through the crowd to the madi joined the hundreds of noon on Wilshire and Veteran sage was different. liberate ourselves,” she said. language of Iran. The crowd other side of the street. women who exiled to Europe avenues and marched through “This time we have two Greenberg came to Los chanted, “Break the chains for Overall, the peaceful march and became activists. Westwood to El Conte Avenue, enemies: the Islamic Republic Angeles to help organize Sat- the women of Iran, break the was well organized with police On Saturday, Golmoham- near the UCLA campus. of Iran and U.S. imperialism,” urday’s march. The L.A. chap- chains for the women of the officers in cars and on motor- madi stood among hundreds Many participants denounced said Mary Lou Greenberg, a ter of the coalition conducted a world” as it passed through the cycles escorting supporters as of men, women and children the Iranian and U.S. regimes by long-time human activist and Women’s Day march two years neighborhood streets. in Westwood who gathered to wearing placards that read, “No member of the New York chap- ago, but the crowds were much Most of the onlookers See MARCH, page 3 Business, humanities students visit China Great wall of Matador DYLAN MILES many internationally influential College of Business and Eco- that they would provide the STAFF REPORTER cities in China, such as Bei- nomics. “So that when they do necessary means to allow stu- jing and Shanghai, in order to graduate, they are better able to dents the chance to experience ighteen students from give students an even sense of capitalize on that knowledge.” this worldly opportunity, the the College of Business both the economic and cultural The trip was made pos- only stipulation being that the and Economics and the impact that China has and will sible due largely in part to a grant had to accommodate the ECollege of Humanities were continue to have on the world. $165,000 grant from the U.S. needs and interests of more chosen for an overseas field trip “Our goal is that (students) Department of Education to the than one college of education. to China during spring break. develop a certain bonding, cer- College of Business and the The grant was offered as a The students, who were tain ties, and a certain apprecia- College of Humanities. way to combine the interests of picked from 200 applicants, tion for the culture, history and It was over a year-and-a-half parallel colleges and to allow will participate in the week- trade relations,” said Dr. Rafi ago when Efrat approached the long, faculty-led excursion, Efrat, director of the program department of education with See CHINA, page 3 which will lead participants to and associate professor in the his grant proposal in the hopes Media’s manipulated war coverage discussed JOANNA BECKETT cooperation and ethical ques- The spectrum at which the are guilty of media manipula- STAFF REPORTER tions that arise when wars are manipulation occurs varies, she tion during times of war, even covered from the historical and said. Some governments use the United States. he relationship between contemporary perspective. manipulation of war coverage “Our government is the best war and media cover- “All governments seek to to promote their point of views, at manipulating war news, we age was presented by manipulate information and while others concoct fabricated have sophisticated operations, Tthe Center for Ethics and Values news about war,” said Melissa stories and to the extreme of we spend the most resources, last Wednesday. Wall, associate professor of spectrums. And even others we are the best,” said Wall. The “War and Journalism” BrIAN MouNt / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER journalism. Wall began the dis- resort to killing journalists to She traced the evolution of the CsuN men’s volleyball team, which is ranked symposium featured journal- cussion with her presentation, prevent them from presenting media war coverage, beginning No. 3 in the nation, beat No. 8 usC in four games ism and English department “Censorship, Cooperation and their view of the war, said Wall. Friday at the Matadome. For full story, see page 16. speakers, who addressed issues (not much) Criticism: How The Wall stressed early in her pre- regarding censorship, military Media Cover War News.” sentation that all governments See WAR, page 3 INdex A&E SPORTS TODAY'S WEatHER Arts & Entertainment 9-11 Opinion 12 Linkin Park entertains while Mens volleyball shares Daily Spotlight 13 opener Chiodos steals the spotlight championship conference title Classifieds 14 Sports 15 & 16 SEE PAGE 9 SEE PAGE 16 Sunny HIGH 77 LOW 52 Daily Sundial • CSUN • Tuesday, March 11, 2008 • 3 [email protected] MARCH their support visible. Continued from page 1 “The orange ribbon means that we are in solidarity against they made their way through these things,” said Adela Ríos, the streets of Westwood. member of the organization. As the war in Iraq and “It is not enough to sit at home Afghanistan continues and the and get upset at your TV. If you U.S. threatens war on Iran, the don’t make it visible, it doesn’t plight for women has become count.” more intensified. Women are Alison Scott, president of the caught in the middle of both Students for Critical Thinking regimes, said Greenberg. club at California State Univer- “The U.S. tries to promote sity Los Angeles marched with the war on terror by saying they the crowd. Her nine-member are concerned about women,” group endorsed the coalition to said Greenberg to the West- bring awareness to the student wood crowd. “But this isn’t population. true. They are not helping to “It’s important for us to rec- liberate women. They are mak- ognize how crucial this is to ing it worse.” what our own future could be The International Women’s like. It’s not limited to some- Day website states that while one else,” said Scott. “We have the U.S. claims to be a “libera- a strong culture of objectify- tor” of Iraq, they have actually ing and taking advantage of caused nearly one million deaths women, even if it is not overt. and the disruption of millions of In a lot of the ways it is subtly embedded in our culture.” families. Many female chil- KrIstINe Keller / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER dren who have escaped the U.S. Scott spoke out about the Voices of dissent carried over the march held in Westwood on saturday for International Women’s day. the bombs and raids have been sold U.S. sanctions against Iran, say- partiipants gathered at noon on Wilshire and Veteran avenues and marched to el Conte Avenue by uClA. into prostitution. ing that we are being led into Aída Reyes is a member of another war by the pretense of support the coalition and many in your life and don’t wear the sion,” she said. “Our revolution women in Europe for a five- The World Can’t Wait national protecting women’s rights. have been against it for religious veil,’” Scott said. “We’re say- becomes the blame because the day march for women’s rights. organization. She came to the “They say they want to reasons.