Si nous elected new USG president By Erica Joseph News Editor and Kevin Librett Staff Writer Marcia Knous was elected president of the Undergraduate Student Government for next year at yesterday's meeting. Knous, a sixth semester student, served as USG Student Affairs Committee chairwoman this year. Knous defeated William Narkiewicz, 12-7. who was later elec- ted vice president, over newly elected USG memhers Jay Stolfi and Kerri Preissel. Narkiewicz. also a sixth semester student, and former External Affairs Committee chairman, said during his nomination speech he would not have time to efficiently fill the president's post, hut would do the best he could if elected. After being nominated for the vice president's position. Narkiewicz said he would have time for that post. See page 4 The outgoing Undergraduate Student Government (Larry Clay Brownstein photo). (Jtonnrrttatt ftttlg (Eamjma Serving Storrs Since 1896 Vol. LXXXVII No. I 14 The University of Connecticut Wednesday. April 18. 1984 Co-op directors board elected Chris Istvan representative. Ldmund two of the Board members Staff Writer Mierwinski; alumni represen- weren't re-elected."' The UConn Co-op held tative and general manager "I really think there has to elections last week for its William Simpson. he a lot of reform to the elec- Board < >f Directors and the ten Sixteen people vied for the tion procedure.." Murray said. new memhers will lx?gin their 10 positions and another posi- "I find it very much to be two-year term in Septemher. tion is l>eing saved for a ineffective." The undergraduate rep- branch student to fill. Driscoll. who will he start- resentatives that have heen The elections were held last ing his second full term in the elected are Douglas Berns- Tuesday, Wednesday, and fall, said."I was very happy tein, Vickie Bouffard. Rohert Thursday in conjunction with that we had more candidates C'hapin, David Karas, Marcia the Undergraduate Student than spots. The elections Lewis. Linda Morris. Scott Government elections at were reasonably successful. l^urray. and Karen I'azdar. various sites on campus. We're looking forward to get- Re-elected to the graduate No results were available ting our new people on the bpsmon was Ron Pape while on the number of students board." AUiin Driscoll was re-elected who voted for the hoard of As a second semester stu- as a university staff represen- directors. dent who will I*' beginning his tative. The director's continu- Bouffard said," We had a first term in the fall. C'hapin ity their terms are'students better turnout this yea* ana said.'Tin interested to see Steve Merlino, Joseph KUIMC, there was more competition. I how it works and hopefully I The warmth of spring made this .ttudent shed his and Harry Johnson; faculty thought it was interesting that See page 4 shoes before leaving the library (l.arry Clay Brown- stein photo). ^^ Libyan embassy sniper Inside: • Students have fun in the kills officer in London sun page 5 LORByN(AI')—Hundreds of police sharpshooters encircled • DeLorean not entitled the Libyan embassy on Tuesday after a gunman in an embassy to bankruptcy claim window raked a protest rally with submachine gun fire, killing .1 page 0 policewoman and wounding 11 of the dissidents Blue-bereted officers arrivedvtt the scene by helicopters and buses, training their rifles on the'embassy from rooftops and • Agora Ballroom isn't a from behind trees, lamp posts and cars. ballroom in the traditional "There was 10 possible provocation and no possible pretext sense page 7 for this murderous onslaught." said Home Secretary Leon Brit- tan. He said Britain had protested to the Libyan government ol Col. Moammar Khadafy over "the most disgraceful and barbaric • Bored with quarters? outrage that London has seen for a very long time." page I I Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was visiting Portugal, said she was "gravely concerned." Some lawmakers urged that the embassy be closed. Brittan told reporters contact had been made with "senior Weather people" in the l.ihyan Linbassy. and "they are prepared to cooperate." It was unclear if police would In- allowed into the embassy to search for the gunman Under international convention the Considerable cloudi- embassy is Libyan territory and can only IK- entered by in- ness with afternoor vitation showers or thun- Richard Wells, chief spokesman for Scotland Yard said those derstorms, highs 55-60 inside the embassy had not made any demands. Cloudy with patchy fog Police in flak jackets surround the Libyan Peoples Police said they had arrested seven people for questioning. and a chance of showers Bureau in London after several people were shot (UPI including six at Heathrow Airport outside London and one as he tonight, lows 40-45 photo). left the embassy. Police did not identify those arrested. Editorial Editor In Chief Rosemafc Hames Managing Editor Susanne Dowden Business Manager Ilene Feldman Connecticut Assistant Managing Editor John Paradis Office Manager Lois McLean Advertising Manager , Liz Gracia News Briart Dion, Erica Joseph. Liz Hayes Daily Assignments |cnn Yearwood. Thomas Barone Sports Bob D Aprilf. Dana Gauruder. Kim Harmon Arts Emilia Dc*>icki. Neil |ones. Carrie Bramen Features Doug Clement, Dianne Gubin Campus Wire Andrea Wil'lams. Scott Stickles, Laura Lovely Copy t Aimee Hartnett, Greg Bar den Serving Storrs since 1896 Photography Manager Charles Hisey Photography George Edwards. Larry Clay Brownstein Vol. LXXXVII No. 114 Wednesday, April 18, 1984 Aaron Spicker —————————————————————————^——— •Editorial' ■Commentary wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmLc\ Wanda C(X>k* Total Concern Awareness Month 1984 If you want it done right... This year the period of April 6-May 5 has been designated as Awareness Month by Total Con- cern, an advocacy group for present and future students with disabilities here at the university. Promoting a better awareness of persons with handicaps is one of the primary goals of Total Con- If you're one of the thousands of students that were cern. Through its various projects, the group attempts to dispel the myths about persons with waiting with great expectation to see who took the disabilities that are still prevalent in our society. The most prevalent myths are: the sadness major Undergraduate Student Government posts, myth, the segregation myth, the patience myth, the personality myth, the love myth, the childlike myth, the dangerous myth, and the sick myth. your wait is over. The Sadness Myth is the idea that the disabled are sad. This myth has been proven wrong. The fact is that disabled persons are no sadder than most; they experience happiness, joy, sad- We have a vice president that didn't have the time ness, loneliness, friendship, and other feelings like other people. for the first job he ran for, president. Fortunately, the The Segregation Myth is the idea that the disabled like to be with their own kind, the fact is opportunity became available to take another post that, in most cases, disabled people have been largely forced into segregation. The choice to par- that he assures the campus he has the time for. It's not ticipate in educational, social, vocational and other experiences with non-disabled people has often that life gives second chances so handily, but not been theirs. The Patience Myth is well-known to special educators who have been told by others, "(Ml then, serving on USG is no ordinary experience. yc >u must be so patient; I could never do that." This kind of attitude sets the disabled apart from all We also have a new USG president that says the others. Everyone needs patience in one thing or another. This myth reflects the belief that per- sons with handicaps almost always need help. Disabled people are often pegged dependent, image of USG is tarnished by the student press even though they have demonstrated their independence. because it reported the organization's incompetence, The Personality Myth is based on the idea that all disabled persons have a heart of gold. lack of training and organization and unprofessional "She's crippled, but she makes up for it with her personality." The same myth is implied by behavior. assumptions that disabled people are naive, innocent, good-natured people. These are all stereotypes which deny the fact that one's personality is not determined by his disability. We know that the student government here can The Love Myth is the idea that children with disabilities need more love than other children. serve the student body adequately if they have a The fact is, everyone needs love. Persons with disabilities don't need more love, but they do need specific constitution so their roles are clear and if the less rejection than they now receive. group gets its organization straightened out. No one The Childlike Myth, the idea that disabled adults are childlike, is expressed about the men- tally retarded. It is true that people have different abilities in learning and expressing themselves. believes that the members of USG intend to shortchange However, if a 34-year-old behaves in some ways like a child, it's probably more accurate to the students. assume that the person has been socialized to such inappropriate behavior. The myth that dis- New president Marcia Knous said after her election abled adults are childlike is not expressed outright about people with physical handicaps, blind- ness or deafness. And yet. the myth prevails with respect to these disabilities too. This is evident last night that communication must be improved bet- in the tone of voice and diminutive versions of names used with disabled adults. Disabled adults ween the students, administration and area councils. have the right to demand respect as adults. The new USG newsletter, Van Garde, may be just the The Dangerous Myth, or the idea that persons with handicaps such as mental retardation or vehicle to get this information across to the stu physical deformities are more prone to criminal behavior and deviant sexual behavior, has been dents.