OCR Text |
Show Your Campus PAGEA8 MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2005 Islam class explores an often misunderstood faith Did you get your G r a n t discount Playboy offer? • Richie Wilcox Your Campus Editor I called the offices in New York for Playboy Publishing Group. I was directed to a woman that sounded a lot like a sister of Marge Simpson. She asked for the code on the card. I gave it to her and left the research to her. She told me that anyone can get "blacklisted" from receiving playboy material all "It doesn't get any better than this!!" Is what the post they need to do is ask to do card says. Playboy recently so. She said that she would sent out solicitations to many get back to me about the list. of the male students at UVSC She let me know that the list offering them a student dis- came from something called counted subscription to their the "Male Sophomore Datamonthly magazine. As a re- base." That is all the info she sult, a flood of phone calls gave me. This is where I hit a poured in from upset parents brick wall. and students. Most of the I am still doing the research complaints \vgre in regard to to find out what the "Male how a company like Playboy Sophomore Database" is but was able to obtain a list and I don't have any leads. So in contact information for male short if you do not wish to be UVSC students. placed on a list you have two So I looked for the number options number one: go to the online. The number that dex- registrar and ask for the "Reoniine listed directed me to a quest to Prevent Disclosure of Midwest call center. When I Directory Information" form asked about the buying and or call Playboy 1-800-999selling of lists the agent was 4438 and request that they more than confused. I re- not send you any more offers. quested the number for the There will also be a petition main offices, which neither going around sponsored by she nor her supervisor could Steven Morley. If you have give me. I then asked where any questions about the petithe home offices are located tion or would like to sign it I she put me on hold. After can give you details. If you some a nice acoustic rendi- have any questions you would tion of "Good Day Sunshine," like to see addressed please (rather appropriate I thought) contact me: ombuds@uvsc. she came back on and said edu, 863-8665, or weekdays that the offices are in New for 8am-2pm in SC 107. York, New York. Grant Dickinson is currently the Student Ombudsman on campus. He helps students solve many of the problems they face during their education. Come visit him in SC 107. To post a question for his column, e-mail him at ombuds@uvsc.edu. As UVSC's Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Brad Cook is a busy man. This semester, however, Cook is returning, to his academic roots to share his expertise with the students of UVSC. Cook is UVSC's resident Islam scholar and is teaching a class titled "Introduction to Islam". According to Vice-President Cook, understanding Islam is essential in today's political environment. "[Islam] is one of the world's great religious traditions with tremendous contributions to world civilization," Cook said. "It is a world-wide religion, and it is a growing religion within the United States. It has an important and vital voice in world affairs with nearly 44 countries claiming to be primarily Islamic. So, its world position makes it critically important to be accurately understood." Vice-President Cook gained his interest in Islamic studies as a result of spending part of his childhood in Saudi Arabia. "This turned out to be a defining period for me since upon my return to the US I found myself gravitating academically to subjects related to the Middle East and Islam," Cook explained. After returning to the United States and attending Stanford University, where he was a starting cornerback on the Cardinal football team, Cook returned to the Middle East. "My undergraduate and masters work focused on the Middle East, and after graduation, I got a job at the American University of Cai- ro. After that stint I worked in Kuwait for 2 years for a private American company after the first Gulf War," said Cook. Following this, Cook obtained his PhD from Oxford University where he specialized in contemporary Islamic studies. "According to Cook, one of the goals of the class is to help students understand the historical background of one of the.world's great monotheistic traditions and to assist students in developing a greater awareness of Islam which will broaden their perspective and understanding. Along with this the class will explore the role Islam plays in,the Middle East, in Global politics, and locally. In doing this, Cook hopes that the misconceptions of Islam will be replaced with a true understanding of the world's second largest religion. Naturally, he is concerned with the erroneous beliefs about Islam being propagated since 9/11. ""After 9/11 the stereotypes of Muslims in the mass media have painted a sinister and threatening picture of Islam, making many fearful and xenophobic of Muslims," Cook elucidated. "Islam, like all major religions, is complex and highly variegated and simply cannot be defined by its extremist elements. Clearly the most misunderstood element of Islam is how multidimensional and highly differentiated it is depending on its location. But, at its core Islam provides a peaceful, meaningful and fulfilling system of meaning for its adherents." Getting in shape with the Racquetball Club Kyomi Bollick way to help out right here on campus. Hitting the courts with our Did you know that the av- very own UVSC Racquetball erage college student in the • club is a great opportunity United States gains approxi- to get those bodies moving. mately five pounds over the "Playing on the racquetball club has made me a stronger winter holidays? No wonder so many of our member of society by develNew Year's resolutions focus oping the spiritual, mental, on losing weight and getting and physical aspects of my in shape. Now that the first personality," said club memmonth of the year is almost ber Ryan Grover. Racquetball is a quick paced, over, it's time to get serious about making our resolutions exciting game, fun all year happen. Luckily for students around, but especially in the at UVSC, we have found a winter because the courts are Your Campus Writer RHOKIOIV • »••-•- " - • .• <:•::?:•,'V^fcx' >> 3' Be*i 2.5 B a t h ;fe\^;^^ year round. From beginners to experts, anyone can join. The club practices twice a week and participates in tournaments once or twice a month. Whether you are looking: for some serious competition; or just prefer to work up a1 sweat having fun with othei! students on campus, the Racr quetball club is the place to be. • To join contact club advisor Vince Minner at 801-8635651. '•W---V >•••--• Why Rent? Buy A New HTbwnhome In Provo! T o w n h o m e s inside. Anyone can join this nationally ranked club and all levels of skill are encouraged to get involved. Richard Bunker, club member for several years loves the sport. "It's an adventure, its fun, you get to travel and be in shape," he said. Next month the team will travel to Arizona for* nationais where they have placed 2nd for the last two years. The club practices twice a week and prepares for events like nationals, but focuses on intercollegiate competitions across the state J' . • , 1 •:.m O v e r 1 , 5 0 0 F i n i s h e d S q u a r e F e e t , 21OO T o t a l S , . ( t .. . _..frSfc. UVXNews ' • U n f i n i s h e d Basement'^;- • ;J 'Jvf*% ":jm ' O n e C a r G a r a g e ••vv>^'^''':'\v;\'' ^ri'^ f b • Private Fenced Backyards . • M a s t e r S u i t e -w/ W a l k - I n C l o s e t r* L a u n d r y U p s t a i r s . v . t:m A b u n d a n t C l o s e t S p a c e - '"•;,'.',";:'.;-;::, fc,'•;';••:' •;V- $^O/ M o n t h K O A Fe^|;^:''\:v : 'i|i v;/ ; :i ; ',-'•• N l i n u t e s f r o m B^VXJT^ • ' *^ : - ' .: I-TL5 A c c e s s a n d . ? r o y o , Mall^"1.'"-'.-/ ;Contact Megaii at (^6l) 42O-29|^ V •• i L - p r P I O N ( 8 O 1 )3 7 7 - 4 5 2 1 E E R "•••;•'$- • • • - ' • ^ • ^ ^ -V-.V •"•' - '•/'• ,/•>•- ^m'^r'' .;;-.; ,. J^OO s o u t h 142O east - I?rovo O Down No Closing Costs S794/month principal and interest 4 now in black and white (black and white TV may be required) . I! v > VC »\\ ".A.1I JHomes Marketed t>y O.R.. Morton Inc. " A.11 Offers are subject to c h a n g e . For updated information contact your agent and he or she will have tho most updated information. America's #1 Homebuilder www.drlt.orton .com >> A * it * J |