November 22, 2006 www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca/endeavour Volume 42, Issue 7 News Sports Features Entertainment Women in Islam • page 2 Nursing Profile • page 5 Big John Bates • page 10 Syncronized Skating • page 14 Citizens cry out for safer crosswalk on the left side of the ramp and pavement markings on the ramp. “It’s better now but it’s still lacking,” said first-year Nursing student, Stephanie Wiechnik. “It needs to be safer.” The Citizens for Safe Passageway believe the overpass is a long-term solution to an ongoing problem and would eliminate any safety concerns for pedestrians and motorists. “I would do this for my own son, I would definitely do this for someone else’s son,” said Art Roesler, Adam’s father. The group has been petitioning residents for more than two weeks and will present the petition, which to date boasts more than 2,000 signatures, to city council Monday. Many students at Lethbridge Community College, some who reside on the Westside, have mixed reactions to the plan. “I think it is a good step but it won’t solve all the issues,” said Modderman. “A lot of drivers are distracted. They have cell phones, other drivers and the sun to worry about and pedestrians are the least of most of their concerns.” For some, the current upgrades are simply not enough. “It’s a blind corner, especially when Photo by Anne-Marie Jackson going up and the sun is in your eyes, Laureen and Art Roesler, parents of 23-year-old Adam Roesler, lay flowers at the sight where their son was killed by a car at a there is no way you are going to see Whoop-Up Drive crosswalk in August. The family is petitioning for safer passageway at the westside junction. anybody,” said upgrading student Adam Hogg. All citizens are encouraged to Death prompts students to assist petition for a safe overpass come and voice their opinions at city council. Amber Lonie Friday to highlight their intentions to “They seem to be oblivious to The petition is currently being Endeavour Staff rally for an overpass for pedestrians to pedestrians. A couple of times, I had to distributed on local Westside businesses safely cross the merging and exiting run to be safe.” Changes to pedestrian crosswalks on as well as schools throughout the city. traffic lanes from Whoop-Up Drive to This area has seen improvements Whoop-Up Drive, where 23-year-old University Drive. in the last couple of years including Adam Roesler was killed in August, have “I just learned to be very cautious a pedestrian button located on the made an impact with motorists but not because drivers don’t even notice you,” approaches to the crosswalk and See follow-up in the enough to silence a new advocacy group, said Liana Modderman, a Lethbridge new signage for the pedestrian speed Citizens for Safe Passageway. Endeavour Nov. 29 resident who frequently uses the reduction zone. The group will hold a news conference crosswalks. Additional advance warning flashers THE NEW Friday, Nov. 24 Student Appreciation Troll Rugby Keg Party Night $1.00 Highballs Fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 25 75 cent draft Cheap drinks $10 = 1 cent draft mugs 8-10 p.m. 202 - 5 St. S ... 328-6099 25 cent wings Prizes! November 22, 2006 News Page 2 In Brief Early retirement The application process for the Early Retirement Initiative recently closed at the end of October. College staff recieved 72 submissions, a lot more than anticipated. An e-mail sent out by LCC President Tracy Edwards, said staff in the Human Resources Department are working to validate eligibility Deans and other supervisory staff are considering the impact of the potential departure of staff that has applied. Final decisions on early retirement will be made by December and the college is looking at funding options to maximize the number they will be able to award. Early retirement incentives may be granted to all LCC employees with the following objectives. To facilitate human resources planning and renewal in the college; to reduce salary costs to the college over a period of time; to facilitate early Hala Higgy (left) and Laila Ali were speakers at the Women in Islam presentation. Photo by Tony Clarke retirement for staff member who desire it; to increase staffing flexability; to increase opportunities for promotion for existing staff to facilitate succession Islamic women speak out planning, if feasible. The final decision to approve or deny Tony Clarke thing to wear a hijab where as here, if I diamond, protecting them whatever way an application will be made by the Endeavour Staff am walking to school, I get stared at.” they can,” said Ali. “The media is always president of the college “We do stick out and I believe it has trying to cover what is going on in the Muslim women have more rights to do with the curiosity of people, but Muslim world from the way men deal within the Islamic world than those there have been issues where my friend with women. And of coarse when you proposed in the Western media, a was called a terrorist and other racial have an action, the bad action is always Harvest Hoedown Univerisity of Lethbridge students group comments,” she said. “Overall, it is not noticed and the media attack this so it is explains. The Harvest Hoedown held at LCC bad, it’s just easier to wear it back home.” unfortunate.” “I don’t blame people for thinking the on Nov. 3 at the DA Electric Barn was a Husam Ali took a male perspective, Simple gestures can often be way they do, the media has created a lot huge success. addressing issues like forced marriage misconstrued. Muslim men and women of mislead information about us, so we The event sold 214 tickets and and divorce during his speech. do not shake hands with each, nor do are here to clarify these issues,” said Hala was able to raise $6,300 for entrance “Not every place in the Muslim world, they pray side by side. This is not a Higgy, a member of the Community of scholarships for the fall semester. This force their daughters into marriage,” said sign of dominance but rather, as Ali Discovering Islam. was an increase in success from the Ali. “It does still happen, but this practice explained, they do not shake hands so Higgy spoke candidly about common inaugural event last year that made is changing because today’s generation one cannot show advantage over the misconceptions about Muslim women to $5,000. of Muslim women know their rights and other. In Islam, the women pray behind more than 20 people during the Women “The primary objective is to celebrate in Islam no one has the right to force the man, not because she is less, just to in Islam presentation at the University of the agriculture industry in southern marriage.” show respect to the lady not having to Lethbridge Saturday. Alberta, we succeeded in that it was a Ali said in the case of divorce in Islam, bend over in front of the man. For Higgy, one misconception is the great party,” said committee member there are more consequences for the man “Men and women are equal; there use and meaning behind the traditional Vince Ellert. “The people that attended rather than the woman. are just physical and psychological headscarf known as a hijab. recognized that this is a vital industry to “He has to financially provide for the differences,” said Laila Ali, who spoke on “Many religions in the world believe our economy and were in the mood to woman and the rest of the family,” he women’s responsibilities and rights. “It in covering up, Islam didn’t invent it, just celebrate. Everyone I talked to said they said. “It is easier for the women. All that is important for everyone to know that endorsed the idea,” she said. “The hijab is had a good time and would come again is required of her is to give back whatever Muslim women have the right to vote, a sign of modesty and self-respect. By me next year.” gift was given to her by her husband at birth control, education, keeping their dressing with my hijab, I am respected The auction had a selection of 12 marriage.” name and choosing or asking someone for my personality and inner beauty, men decorated cows and a couple of roosters, Despite public opinion Muslim men to marry them. A woman has to protect talk to you differently showing more with over half of them created by local cannot just walkout on a marriage, he herself, her home, family and husband’s respect.” high school and elementary students. said adding Muslim women have the wealth.” Higgy said the reaction she gets from “If we can do a repeat performance same right as men to ask for a divorce Laila enforced the point that women in people in the west compared to back in next year the committee will be very and are not treated less than men. Islam must continue to be educated and her homeland, is quite different. happy. “Men in Islam treat the women like a know they are considered equal to men. “Back home it is obviously a common News Page 3 November 22, 2006 Students have designs Oberg outlines platform on Christmas giving on post-secondary Kelly Burke Ashlee Heron Endeavour Staff Endeavour Staff Lyle Oberg, Conservative leadership Lethbridge Community College candidate, outlined his platform for Interior Design students began their education at LCC on Thursday.