VOLUME 37 November 1, 2004 Special Election Section rce for campus n . and information Edition ~\ THECURRENTONLlNE.COM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~••••• ~ •••••• ~~ •••••••••••••••••••• UNIVEASITYOFMISSOURI - S~LOUIS Ben Stein wins lots of laughs BY KATE DROLET Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Conservative _.--.. - Edito;~ il;~ChieI -- · ·· ·- Ford, and as a columnist for the Wall humorist Ben Street Journal, the Washington Post · Stein and other distinguished print media. autographs a "Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Stein has published 16 books, Current Bueller?" ranging from economic analyses to life newspaper for More than 350 Ben Stein fans in Los Angeles to his most recent Fontbonne heard this irnmortalizecnine in person ' comedic publication, "How to Ruin student Karen on Thursday, Oct. 28, as the Your Life." He is also a public Draggish at a Renaissance man who coined the advocate of the Bush-CheneY reception phrase visited UM-St. Louis for the campaign. before Stein's ·evenmg. Stein lives in Los Angeles, horne of lecture on Casey Ulrichl The Current The University Program Board some of the world's most famous Thursday Amnesty International sponsored Stein's appearance .. celebrities. His definition of a star, night. sponsored a cell phone drive "We felt that we bring a lot of though, reaches beyond Hollywood. on the MSC bridge for the liberal speakers [to] campus. We felt it 'There are stars in this world and a Bridgeway Women's Center. was important' to briI)g a moderate star, to me, is not a person who stands conservative," Jonathan Lidgus, in front of a camera and reaas lines and graduate student, counseling and UPB gets paid $20 million. A star is not a advisor, said. person who pretends to get shot, and Amnesty Stein entertained the audience with then gets up and gets the makeup and his rendition of the role he played in the ketchup washed off and then goes popular film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and has sushi for lunch," he said. but his career includes more "A star to me is a man or woman , collects accomplishments than the well-known who wears a uniform and walks down teacher role onscreen. the street in Fallujab or Ramadiyah or Stein suggested that America show women, emergency medical personal gratitude. Stein graduated as valedictorian at Najaf or Mosul or Kirls:uk or Baghdad. its gratitude for the military techniciarL~, emergency room doctors, "If you think about hfe without the Yale Law School and has worked as a That is a real star: a person who risks community by paying service those who keep utilities from failing people in your family or who are clost phones to lawyer and an economist He has his life for very modest pay defending members more. He advocated a tax during inclement weather, people who to you, it's pretty damn dreary.' H( taught at several universities, including this country. And whether or not you increase for the wealthy rather than for work to advance the field of medicine said that the best thing a person can de the University of California, agree if they should have been sent, the working middle class. and citizens who advanced teclmology in life is "be good to the people whe • fight abuse Pepperdine University and American they're doing incredibly brave, . He said tbatpeople also owe those throughout histOlY. are good to you." University in Washington, D.C. He incredibly important work and they are who protect America at home, Family, Stein said, is the most served as a speech writer for Former the real stars." including police officers, firemen and important group to which we owe see BEN STEIN, page 12 BY PATRICIA LEE StajJWriter For the second consecutive year, 'Lessons frOm South Africa' the llM-St. Louis community helped UMSL meets $57,000 .~" victims of domestic violence by collecting cell phones for a local women's shelter. From Oct. 26 to 'teaches about community goal for United Way Oct. 28, members of Amnesty International and Horizons BY PAUL HACKBARTH sponsored a used cell phone dri¥e on BY KRISTEN TONER for the ast i~ yearn. She glad]' sra]rc,Vrl&er the MSC Bridge. StajJWdter donates her time as a volUnleer to th Last year, during a three day nited Way each year, along with he period, Amnesty International While watching out for elephants full time position with the Universit) UM-St. Louis has reached its goal collected cell phones. This year, in South Africa. Miranda Dlll1can, In Steffanie's ey s, her not-for-profi 60 of $57,000 for the Unit.ed Way Fund their goal is to collect phones. community development specialist at work is considered giving. 100 Drive. This annual campaign builds Phones will be donated to the UM-St. Louis, participated in a The Fund Drive normally runs fo funds for the nited Way of Greater Bridgeway Women's Center in St. professional development exchange two to three weeks but is not restricte. St. Louis, the local branch of the program between UM-St. Louis. and to that time frarpe. Each year the fun. Charles. Bridgeway shelters about United Way. 200 women and children, and helps the University of the Western Cape in rai 'ing goal is set a little higher and i The Fund Drive began Sept. 20 and about 1()() others who do not live at South Africa in 2004. D~can came successfully obtained. During th, was cheduled to end Oct 11 , but was back to share what she learned in a campaign, donation cards are sent ou the shelter. extended to Oct 22 by Chancellor forum called "Lessons from South to faculty and staff across camplli Victims of domestic violence will Thomas F George. receive the phones so that they can Africa," and spoke with faculty and Each donor is then given the option t, The Chancellor, who bas been the community on Oct 28. individually select the amount an. make emergency calls. The shelter involved with the United Way for Duncan worked with Mediation method in which to donate. will distribute the phones based on several years, now serves as a chair on and Transformation Practices, a 'We have been very fortunate, the individmil needs of each person. the university and college section of w private consultant organization that is have very generous people at th The site director of the Bridgeway Casey Ulrichl The Current I the United Way of Greater St. Louis helping African communities make University," Rockette said. Women's Center, Pat Kulik, said that Miranda Duncan, community development specialist for the board. George helps work with 20 the phones can help in several ways. the transformation to democratic Each branch of tJle United Wa University of Missouri .. Extension, discusses "Lessons from South other colleges and universities in St. systems after years of apartheid. MTP across the country invests only in nOll The cell phones are invaluable Africa" as a part of the "Lunch and Learn" series on Oct. 28 Louis to aid them in their campaigns. is designed to solve disputes in profit, tax-exempt charities that ar resource for women who have not "It' very critical for the city of St. communities and implement public governed by local volunteers lik yet moved out of a violent situation. decided to transform an adverse between farm owners and workers. Louis," George said of the United Way . Amnesty International participation through meetings. Rockette. Contribution reach an, office culture into one of support and The discussion group first recognized campaigns. "It serves so many worth­ These meetings focused on affect 1,400 conununity-basB Coordinator Jessie Conner, senior, cooperation." The group set goals, the critical information and the while agencies." deepening democracy in South organizations. These organizations ar social work, said that it is important identified the relevant information partners that would assist in sol ing Steffanie Rockette, associate Africa. In one meeting, the nation's top community solution ' that women have this safeguard. needed for change and used dial~gue, these land disputes. director of Des Lee Collaborative organizational therapy was the main providers. "What happens is, on average, coaching and problem solving. Vision and special assistant to the Vice issue. women go back to their situation, so , Another meeting looked at Chancellor of University Relations, Duncan said, "This meeting see SOUTH AFRICA, page 12 when they stop at the shelter they i methods to solve land disputes has been coordinating the Fund Drive see UNITED WAY, page 3 have an opportunity to pick up a phone," Conner said. "Wben they're ready to leave the home they can have a pl!Jne just in case anything Scheduling conflict leaves happens. It's really a lifesaver." . Waiting to play ... Even after wireless service has been discontinued, emergency calls ASUM without a speaker can sti11 be made on cell phones, regardless of how old the technology Date mix-up finds Missouri Rep. Sherman Parker in is. ''We only give them the cell phone to dial 911 ," Kulik said. I Chicago, while a dinner for him is held at UMSL HE very phone that has ever been used can sti11 be used to call 911." BY WILL MELTON tbe representative's whereabouts. The cell phones can be used for News Editor Meanwhile, ASUM board other purposes as well Bridgeway members Erin Abraham, junior, has a partnership with the Shelter sociology, and Ben DeClue, senior, Alliance so if they cannot use the Rep. Sherman Parker, R-12th political science, were actively phones, they can still get money for district ended up in Chicago instead recrtlltlllg potential audience them. of the Pilot House on Thursday night. members from the flow of students According to the Missouri The St.