THE CHRONICLE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1995 DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA E933E Asian Americans gather Speakers to examine diverse roots challenge By HARRIS HWANG "We wanted to do something They came from countries that might debunk the model such as China, Korea, the minority myth," Jer said. "Most students Phillipines and India. Or at of the Asians at Duke are from least their forefathers did. middle- [to] upper-class subur­ By HARRIS HWANG Last Friday, about 900 Asian- bia, so most of the Duke com­ Three speakers urged nearly American college students rep- munity might think that all 500 students from about 30 resenting universities from Asians are from the [middle or East Coast universities to step Colby College in Maine to the upper class]. Not all Asian forward in the battle to elimi­ University of Miami journeyed Americans are from this class. nate Asian-American discrimi­ to Duke to attend the 17th an­ There is a significant percent­ nation Saturday. nua! East Coast Asian Student age in our nation's inner cities." Speaking as part ofthe 17th ' Union Conference, marking the Attendees said raising such annual East Coast Asian Stu­ first time that Duke has ever awareness in American society dent Union Conference, they hosted the event. is important in an effort to gain addressed the conference's This year's conference ex­ equal rights for Asian Ameri­ theme, "Exposing the Plight of pounded on the cans. Asian Pacific Americans in our theme,"Exposing the Plight of "You look at places like Nation's Inner Cities," and re­ Asian Pacific Americans in our Chinatown, and when you go counted their own experiences Nation's Inner Cities." Trinity there, it's a lot different from overcoming prejudice. J.D. senior Darren Jer, co-coordina­ suburban areas," said Kei Hokoyama, keynote speaker, tor of the conference, said the Kurihara, a junior from the TOM HOGARTY/THE CHRONICLE sought to dispel myths and ste­ theme was relevant to the so­ University of Vermont. "You see reotypes held about Asian J.D. Hokoyama, keynote speaker for ECASU 1995, addresses Americans. cioeconomic climate at Duke. See ECASU on page 6 • students about confronting the model minority myth. "We need to confront myths like the model minority myth— a stereotype that we have made it in the country, are rich and Prop. 187's legal, political effects discussed secure, and have overcome all By HARRIS HWANG forms of discrimination," such as health care and educa­ can Legal Center of Southern ers. Hokoyama said. A discussion Saturday on tion. Supporters of the law say California. "It's harmful to the One attendee of the confer­ California's controversial immi­ it will help California and other sick and the poor." ence, Dean Nafarrette, a senior "In reality, we are not all the gration policy touched on states save money and stem il­ One panelist said the initia­ at the U.S. Naval Academy, model minority. We run the broader issues of racial attitudes legal immigration. Since the tive shows how groups such as agreed that the proposition whole range. We also have in­ in America. election, there have been numer­ Mexicans and Asians have be­ marginalizes minorities, regard­ dividuals who are struggling," Speaking in Page Auditorium-, ous lawsuits filed to oppose the come scapegoats for the Ameri­ less of whether or not they are he said. four panelists gathered with initiative on grounds that it will can public. "The majority ofthe illegal immigrants. "Proposition Hokoyama currently serves about 500 members ofthe East marginalize legal immigrants people who are illegal did not 187 is directed towards all mi­ as president and executive di­ Coast Asian Student Union and American citizens who are come across the Mexican border. norities," Nafarrette said. "{You] rector of Leadership for Asian Conference to address the legal members of minority groups. Why don't people talk about the take it personally because it's Pacifies, a non-profit organiza­ and political ramifications of "The law will be abused [be­ Canadian or Italian [illegal im­ your own race, it's you." tion founded in 1982 to increase Proposition 187. cause] people with accents or migrants]? Who are they attack­ the number of leadership posi­ Nevertheless, panelists tions among Asian Americans. Passed in last November's people who don't speak English ing? People of color," said Emma stressed that the issues raised election, the controversial Cali­ can't defend themselves," said Gee, co-founder and chair ofthe by Proposition 187 should not be Hokoyama sought young fornia state initiative denies il­ panelist Carolyn La, staff attor­ board of directors of Pacific viewed in purely racial terms. leaders in the audience to ex- legal immigrants public services ney at the Austin Pacific Ameri­ Asian-American Women Writ­ See PROP 187 on page 14 *- See SPEAKERS on page 13 • Author calls for gender equity in NCAA sports By ALLISON CREEKMORE Setting a Course for College A feminist journalist and au­ Athletics." The conference was thor came to campus this week­ presented by the Duke Journal end demanding gender equity of Gender Law and Policy in in athletics. the TerrTen y Sanford Institute of "It's time for equal opportopportuu- Public iPolic y on Friday and nity," said Mariah Saturday. While Nelson, who specifi­ Nelson played varsity cally writes about basketball at gender issues and Stanford in the late sports. "If women 1970s and later • B^ KL. TU had 70 percent ofthe played professional r athletic opportuni­ basketball in Europe, ties and men had 30 her career since then percent [of the ath­ has focused on sports TOM HOGARTY/THE CHRONICLE letic opportunities] and feminism; she has for the next 100 Nelson written for several With flying colors... years, that would be 0 newspapers and peri­ Vice President and Vice Provost Leonard Beckum (r.) was honored by the Omega Zeta chapter of justice." odicals and has also published Omega Psi Phi fraternity Sunday night at a banquet In the Bryan Center's Von Canon Hall. Nelson headlined a confer two books on the same subjects. ence titled "Gender and Sports See GENDER on page 14 • THE CHRONICLE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20. 1995 World and National Newsfile Egypt takes issue with Israeli weaponry Associated Press Rebels attack: Kuki rebels By YOUSSEF IBRAHIM An unconfirmed report on Sunday in Middle Eastern countries, notably Iran, hurled explosives and attacked se­ N.Y. Times News Service Maariv, an Israeli daily, said that as a Iraq, and Libya, do not pose a nuclear curity forces during weekend elec­ PARIS — Egypt's foreign minister, conciliatory gesture, Israel was prepared threat. tions in southeastern India's Amr Moussa, said on Sunday that, af­ to allow Egyptian scientists to visit their Peres, Moussa, and Arafat were in Manipur state that killed six people, ter 15 years of relative serenity in rela­ Israeli counterparts to discuss nuclear Paris at a conference on the future of a news agency said. tions with Israel, "serious difficulties" issues. the Mediterranean after peace comes had emerged. At issue, he said, are Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for the Is­ about. Witness finds: A witness with Israel's nuclear weapons program and raeli Foreign Ministry, would not com­ Moussa's remarks came at the end of knowledge of links between the Sicil­ the "fragile and vulnerable" state of ment beyond saying: "There are talks a tense week during which Prime Min­ ian Mafia and Italian politicians has talks between Israel, the Palestinians, given prosecutors new evidence going on between us and the Egyptians ister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel accused against Giulio Andreotti, a former Syria, and Lebanon. on a possible compromise." him of leading a hostile campaign to prime minister under investigation In a wide-ranging conversation here, But Peres insisted that Israel had not embarrass Israel over the nuclear non- on suspicion of Mafia ties. he said that Arab countries would insist wavered in its refusal to sign the proliferation issue. The treaty to limit that Israel accept some restraints on its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. the number of countries with nuclear Gramm defends: Sen. Phil nuclear arms, because of concerns that Israel's stated position is that it will not weapons is up for indefinite extension Gramm, defending the fact that he "Israeli extremists" could come to power sign until it is satisfied that other See WEAPONS on page 5 > did not serve in Vietnam, says his and be tempted to use them. actions are different from President Moussa spoke at his hotel here after Clinton's because he supported the war instead protesting it. attending meetings on Saturday with Britain using border checks the Israeli foreign minister, Shimon ISSlie rises: Republican presiden­ Peres, and the chairman of the Pales­ tial hopefuls Sen. Phil Gramm, R- tine Liberation Organization, Yasser to keep out immigrant flood Texas., and Senate Majority Leader Arafat. The meetings failed to budge the Bob Dole, R-Kan., are making affir­ frozen peace negotiations. By WILLIAM MEILLER Major was forced to make the state­ mative action an early campaign is­ Peres sounded conciliatory in his re­ N.Y. Times News Service ment after the immigration issue — sue, saying they want to end such sponse on Sunday, saying in a state­ LONDON —At a time when anti-im­ with its undertones of nationalism and programs as they now exist. ment: "It is only natural that differences migrant feeling is on the rise in several racism — landed on the political agenda of opinions exist even among friends." European countries, Britain vowed last with the unexpected resignation of a In impromptu remarks to reporters, week to maintain its border checks in government minister. he said that talks on Saturday between order to keep out a feared flood of immi­ Taking the political community by Weather Moussa and Arafat had softened dis­ grants from the Third World and East­ surprise, Charles Wardle, who was im­ Tuesday agreements over the slow pace of Mid­ ern Europe.