Eastern Illinois University The Keep January 1999 1-22-1999 Daily Eastern News: January 22, 1999 Eastern Illinois University Follow this and additional works at: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_1999_jan Recommended Citation Eastern Illinois University, "Daily Eastern News: January 22, 1999" (1999). January. 9. http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_1999_jan/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 1999 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in January by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 51˚ Chance The Daily Friday 42˚ of showers January 22, 1999 Inside Eastern Sports Alternative www.den.eiu.edu Wrestlers Eastern Illinois University spring break Charleston, Ill. 61920 fall hard Learn how to go out Vol. 84, No. 84 Purdue dominates 12 pages and make a difference within Panther wrestling team the community over break. News en route to 31-3 victory. See Verge section B “Tell the truth and don’t be afraid.” Story on Page 8A Reserve Eastern’s day of diversity fund Culture Shock: Bailey said. LGBAU member Moran Experiences Beasley said he was bothered by money of International the recent murder of Matthew Shepard, the Wyoming college stu- Students dent who died as a result of homo- By Laura Irvine phobic violence. still up Staff editor “That really disturbed me,” he said. Four international students When asked about what kind of gathered Thursday to discuss their reaction they’d each prefer when for grabs experiences in the United States at they reveal their sexual orientation, the fourth annual “Opening Doors” the group was unanimous. Diversity at Eastern conference. “The less of a reaction the better.” AB holds off giving Hooi Wei Choo, a marketing major from Malaysia; Krishna The importance estimates to fee-funded Desar, a sociology major from Nepal; Subash Ghimire, a graduate of diversity boards from student student in education administra- By Dan Ochwat activity fee increase tion, also from Nepal and Machiko Staff editor Hamaguchi, a political science By Chris Sievers major from Japan, all gave their An hour long discussion on the Student Government editor views on life in America. state of diversity today and ways of The students talked about class- improving it filled the session “A Apportionment Board members es in America and the way students dialog: the Importance of Thursday decided not to release act towards their teachers. Diversity.” any suggestions to the fee-funded Hamaguchi said students in Caridad Brito, assistant profes- boards regarding the extra Japan dress formally for class, and sor of psychology, moderated the $100,000 available next fall from Ghimire said the discussion, which was held at 2 the student activity fee increase. More inside structure of the p.m. in the Mattoon/Charleston Last spring, senate members Athletic Director way classes are Room of the Martin Luther King passed a bill to allow a $5 fee Richard run in Nepal are Jr. University Union. increase for the fall of 1999 and McDuffie gives also more for- Teshome Abebe, vice president for academic affairs, began the ses- the fall of 2000. update on mal. sion by asking, “Are we preparing This fee increase will bring an Eastern’s Title IX “It is very easy our students for a world yet to extra $100,000 to the student compliance as to talk to teach- come?” He continued saying he activity reserve fund. part of diversity ers here. In didn’t know what his future held AB members contemplated workshop Nepal it is differ- Page 8A for him, but at some point he knew offering suggestions to the five ent,” he said. Lacey Buidosik / Assoc. photo editor he would be somewhere, because fee-funded boards on how to split Teshome Abebe, the Vice president for academic affairs, speaks to a he’s achievement driven. And with this $100,000. crowd of about 200 in the University Ballroom, in the Martin Luther King Opening the Closet Door the help from individuals to broad- The five fee-funded boards University Union Thursday during the Opening Doors: Diversity at By Matt Neistein en his mind and direct it, he was include sports and recreation, Eastern conference. Abebe congratulated the board of Trustees on Staff writer shown where to go and how to University Board, dramatic perfor- electing Carol Diane Surles as the first black woman President of a make it. mances, Student Senate and University equivalent to Eastern’s size. Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Abebe made the point that facul- Apportionment Board. Bisexual & Allies Union ty need to direct students into the Some AB mem- Thursday morning shared their world of acceptance and knowledge bers were con- Opening doors, opening stories about coming out during a of diversity. An audience member Student cerned if sug- panel discussion. reacted saying faculty can give out activity fee gested dollar During the discussion, the floor extra credit to go to various diversi- amounts were minds,Abebe’s address was opened for members of the ty events and expand diversity with- Fee increases of made available to panel to each tell their story about $5 in Fall 1999 in the classroom setting. the five fee-fund- By Tammie Sloup and cross them. “coming out of the closet.” and Fall 2000 will ed boards they Staff editor “The faster the world structure create an addi- LGBAU member Damon would feel like changes; the faster thinking Faculty & the Student tional $100,000. Edwards said his coming-out story they had to use Teshome Abebe, vice presi- changes,” he said. was a humorous anecdote. with Disabilities that money. dent for academic affairs, stood at Recognizing diversity and “I called my best friend and AB members also discussed the the podium and asked about 200 accepting it continues to be a asked him, ‘What’s another word By Geneva White possibility of not giving out all of faculty, staff and administration painful challenge, he said. But the for happy?’” Edwards said. Staff writer the $100,000 and holding some of members to stand. challenge is “essential.” He said homosexuals do not the money for additional alloca- “You made history when you Abebe said he hopes to seek special treatment. The director of Disabled tions for program ideas that could selected Carol Surles as the first accomplish three things: an hon- “They may want to be just like Student Development at Ball State come later. black woman (to be Eastern’s est acknowledgment of the histo- you,” he said. University, spoke to an audience Mike Hansen, AB chair, said next president),” Abebe said. ry of one another, involvement in LGBAU member Patrick, who that included students, faculty and the board did not want to make a “Give yourself a standing ova- a transition process with sus- asked his last name be withheld for administration on the disabled. commitment to the fee-funded tion.” tained conversations and personal confidentiality, said he was grateful Richard Harris’s presentation, boards. Abebe, the keynote speaker responsibility for change. for his open-minded family. titled “Faculty and the Students “AB has decided to hold off for the fourth annual Opening Social health also must be He said he is glad to have an with Disabilities: A Partnership” giving the fee-funded boards an Doors diversity conference, said reached, he said. This would “accepting mother” and said when discussed the ways society as a estimate of how much money they Eastern is taking strides toward mean everyone has “full opportu- he came out to her, she replied that whole treats the disabled. will receive out of the additional diversity. nities.” she loved him. “For years in this society we $100,000,” Hansen said. “We do Language diversity can be a “Powerlessness is a dangerous LGBAU member Kathy Bailey have decided what people with dis- not want to make any commitment difficult barrier, Abebe said. and contagious disease,” he said. said she has been “out of the clos- abilities should and should not do,” to the fee-funded boards that we “Language has limits...but Eastern’s faculty and staff rec- et” for seven years. She said her Harris illustrated these points by may have to break later.” human potential has few,” he said. ognize a curriculum that only coming-out was not as smooth as showing cartoons and using humor. Hansen said as of now the AB Global diversity has been teaches about western civilization Patrick’s. One cartoon in particular showed a will not conduct a meeting reached and civilization contin- and does not prepare the student “My mother cried and asked blind man drawing graffiti in braille. because they will be preparing ues to change, he said. People see leaders of the 21st century, he what she’d done wrong and my budget requests. the borders, construct the borders said. father told me it was just a phase,” See DIVERSITY Page 2A MAGAZINE friday.1.22.99 8 pages Volunteers travel the country to help the less fortunate by erin weed Staff writer hile many Eastern stu- about social issues, experience dif- dents take off for Spring ferent cultures, make lasting friend- W Break with their bags ships and to have some fun,” packed with beach towels and tan- Walters said. ning lotion, more than 150 students, There are 19 sites all over the faculty and staff members will be United States this year doing all dif- crusading to make a difference in ferent types of community service the lives of the less fortunate on projects.There are different types of Alternative Spring Break 1999. work available, ranging from work- Alternative Spring Break was ing with people one on one to started by Al Joyner, Roy Lanham building houses and other types of and Holly Walters in 1993.