FEATURes OP/ED A & E SPORTS SLUG takes The battle between LSO educates Indoor Track performs a field trip Google and China campus solidly in Oshkosh >> page 4 >> page 6 >> page 8 >> page 10 FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010 THE LAWRENTIAN Vol. CXXVII, No. 12 Lawrence University's student newspaper since 1884 www.Lawrentian.com King and Crean elected president and vice-president Katie Van Marter any concerns or comments they Public relations is an area both Staff Writer may have. representatives feel needs more He stated, “These committees time commitment from LUCC. In LUCC election officials are so important to students, yet the future they hope to make the announced the future leaders of few students attend the meetings. I entire process more transparent the Lawrence community’s govern- want to get these committees filled and help students see how they ing body Jan. 25. Andy King is the so that students will directly have can change their campus for the president-elect, while Ellie Crean their voices heard by the admin- better. was voted vice president. istration and that students will While the proceedings of LUCC At the center of both candi- continue to have a say in changes may need to be better publicized, dates’ platform is a desire to make affecting, say, Student Welfare both candidates felt the General LUCC more visible and accessible issues like internet, changes in Committee did an excellent job to the student body. King express- the campus center, dining services, increasing voter turn out this year. es a desire to make sure that etc.” The number of people who voted the representatives of the differ- As chair of the Finance in this election was double the ent districts all have their voices Committee, Crean hopes to make number from last year. heard. the financial side of LUCC easi- Crean believes this to be evi- er for people to understand. She dence of a slightly increasing inter- In addition to this, he wants Photos courtesy of LUCC to encourage all students to feel thinks this means making sure est in LUCC. LUCC is doing, and what we have decisions that truly represent the comfortable with coming to the that the student activity fee is used “It is important to me that the potential to do for the cam- needs and interest of both the stu- Student Welfare and Resident Life “in the most responsible and fair we sustain this interest and cre- pus. I hope that LUCC can make dents and faculty.” Committee meetings to discuss ways as possible.” ate more awareness about what Office of Multicultural Affairs Muslim Students Association fosters religious education Wesley Hough-Cornwell observe a fast early in the year, percentage of women, and can- discusses culture shock in forum Staff Writer Islam said he hoped to speak with not and should not be applied to Erty Seidel [My travels in] Europe, South Bon Appétit to get specially catered everyone. Staff Writer America, those were okay. Here Lawrence’s newly founded foods and re-arrange serving times Both Hossain and Khan com- was just… wow, I didn’t know you Muslim Students Association of so students would correctly be mented on statements posted on Tuesday, Jan. 26 marked this could fry cheese.” Lawrence hosted its kick-off Cook- able to participate in fasting. campus by another group that year’s third Identity Forum, a The questions mainly revolved In on the fourth floor of Hiett Islam also hopes that MSA will strictly associated the concept series of discussions about top- around differences in cultures Sunday evening, Jan. 24. The group be a good informational resource of “jihad” with killing. After get- ics, issues and concerns for the and international perceptions of had existed in a previous incarna- for students who do not know ting past the shock of the misuse Lawrence community about multi- America. Most of the panelists said tion a few years ago, but died out much about Islamic religion and and misunderstanding of “jihad,” culturalism and diversity. Fourteen that they had completely different after most of its members gradu- culture. Recognizing the stigma Hossain and Khan realized the audience members made for a ideas of America before their first ated in 2007. that sometimes accompanies his importance of educating students responsive audience as the six travels here. The group officially formed religion, Naveed said that one of on campus about their religion panelists talked about their experi- “My friends and I thought that this past September after the cel- the group’s missions is to clear up and culture. ences with culture shock, the topic it was all New York, and all the ebration of Eid, one of the big- myths that have negatively brand- To combat such stereotypes, of Tuesday’s forum. girls looked like Jessica Alba. So all gest Muslim holidays. Many of the ed Muslims. members of MSA posted signs on “It’s important to continue my friends were jealous that I was Muslim students on campus, the Tamanna Hossain and Aimen the walls of the fourth floor lounge to educate, connect and continue going to this land of Jessica Alba,” majority of them international stu- Khan reiterated the comments Sunday night. Each poster had a channeling diversity on our cam- said Pyun. dents, gathered with friends and made by Islam. myth followed by a clarifying fact pus,” said Pa Lee Moua, assistant Khan added, “Views of America host families to celebrate this holi- Khan stressed the need for about the religion and culture. dean of students for multicultur- in Pakistan are very different from day. It was here that the students “Islam to be portrayed in the right Some showed the group’s humor al affairs and organizer of the what America actually is [...] It’s decided to re-form the MSA on light.” In order to do so, accord- and ability to recognize the absur- Identity Forum. not just this huge army invading campus. ing to Hossain, people must look dity of claims about the religion. Moua continued, “The Identity Iraq and Afghanistan.” Naveed Islam explained that beyond the media portrayals of One such poster stated the Forum serves many purposes to Most of the panelists felt that the Lawrence campus actually has the religion. following: “Myth: All Muslim men help break down barriers, cre- the misconceptions went both a large Muslim population, and Hossain also wanted to make have four wives. Reality: No, even ate social interaction, and build ways, however. that he is hoping the MSA will clear that despite overwhelming Muslims don’t have stamina high a more inclusive and welcoming “Some people have this idea grow and provide for the needs of beliefs that Muslim women are enough.” atmosphere.” in their head that Africa must be the Muslim students on campus. forced to wear certain clothes or The panel was comprised completely different,” said Fosu, For instance, when students are genitally mutilated, these ste- of Ranga Wimalasuriya from Sri “but I was surprised how much it reotypes only account for a small See MSA on page 2 Lanka, Kyu-po Pyun from South was like America.” Korea, Aimen Khan from Pakistan, Molle added, “The good thing Slavena Molle from Bulgaria, Kofi about studying abroad is that you WASHINGTON — President carry the dream forward and Fosu from Michigan and Ghana, learn a lot about your own culture In other news... Barack Obama delivered the to strengthen our union once and John Jones from the Bronx, as well as your host culture.” State of the Union address more.” New York and Rose Wasielewski, Jones summed up, saying, SAN FRANCISCO — The iPad Wednesday, Jan. 27. In addition —www.cnn.com diversity center programs coordi- “One thing is that we’re all trying tablet, a combination between to addressing key issues such as nator. to figure out where we’re going in keyboard-free laptop and smart- health care, climate change and PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A teen- “There’s actually not much of a life. Everyone just wants to find phone, was unveiled Wednesday Afghanistan, he focused on his age girl was rescued from rubble culture shock,” said Molle, starting what it is that makes them happy.” in San Francisco. Steve Jobs, ideas for stimulating the econ- on Wednesday, 15 days after off the forum. “Of course there are The next Identity Forum will Apple’s CEO, said the device is omy, which included increas- the magnitude 7 earthquake and differences, but mainly in the little be held Feb. 23, and will deal with so fast, “it screams,” and that ing jobs, freezing government its aftershocks. At least 200,000 things.” the topic of “Race: the Face of it also has a reader function for program spending and institut- people have been killed in the Jones had a different outlook, Diversity.” books and magazines. ing a small business tax credit. earthquakes. saying, “My greatest culture shock —www.cnn.com He hopes Americans will “seize —news.bbc.co.uk came from moving to the Midwest. this moment-to start anew, to MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Hi: 14°F Hi: 19°F Lo: 1°F Lo: 9°F 5-DAY 5-DAY Source: weatherbug.com Partly Cloudy WEATHER FORECAST Mostly Sunny Mostly Cloudy Chance of snow Partly sunny THE LAWRENTIAN 2 NEWS FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010 Other posters, howev- MSA er, addressed issues with a more serious tone, allowing continued from page 1 members of the group to respond to misconceptions on campus: “Myth: Jihad means killing non-Muslims. Reality: Jihad means “struggle.” The greatest Jihad is battling your own demons.” Islam explained that the Cook-In, which attracted more than 50 attendees, was a great way to “make a big deal about MSA,” and to promote the group to both Muslims and non- Muslims on campus.