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Show Friday, May 4, 1990 THE SIGNPOST 3 Convocation Soviet society is corrupt system By Joyce Zabriskie and Barbara LeFevre Staff writers of The Signpost What do people in the Soviet Union like to do for pleasure? They drink Vodka from big glasses. What do they do afterwards? According to Matvei Finkel, Thursday's Convocation speaker, they stand around for hours on end asking each other, "Do you respect me?" Finkel, a "loyal Soviet citizen for 30 years," married an American in 1979 provoking the anger of the Soviet secret police (KGB). After losing his job as an aerospace engineer, he immigrated to the United States with the help of friends. He currently teaches Russian language and Soviet culture at Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash, and lectures around the country about life in the Soviet Union. Potatoes, cabbage and bread are the staples of meals in the Soviet Union, said Finkle. "It's kind of a joke to talk about diet in the Soviet Union. People eat everything they can steal." "The Soviet Union is a very corrupt society," Finkel said. The black market, or "second economy," thrives because legally-obtained salaries are grossly inadequate. If a citizen is Honors student council adopts African project By Amber Robinson Contributing writer of7fie Signpost The honors student advisory council recently adopted a service project in Mali, Africa. The project is a commitment to assist a group of 72 villages known in Mali as Ouelessebougou. Mali is located in the center of drought-stricken, sub-Saharan, Africa and is also one of the four poorest nations in the world with an annual per capita income of $120 and a literacy rate of 5 to 10 percent. In May 1985, a group of seven Utahns from the Salt Lake Community Services Council visited Mali, adopting Ouelessebougou as a "sister community." The Ouelessebougou Utah Alliance was founded as a volunteer organization. All funds go directly to the villages rather than funnel through the project or the African government. The organization made a long term pledge to help the people of Ouelessebougou become self-sufficient by balancing technology with natural resources. The Alliance has sent doctors, dentists andhydrologists to work with the people of Ouelessebougou. Wells have unemployed for one year, he will be sent to prison. Through friends, Finkel was able to boost his 90 ruple-a-month income by 1000 ruples a month by illegally fixing umbrellas. This is the solution for many Soviets because of the economic conditions. "Don't condemn the Soviet people for this practice," Finkel said. "They want to provide a better life for their families, nothing fancy, nothing big like a house or two cars." Finkel said that Gorbachev enacted an anti-liquor campaign because 65 percent of the male population were alcohol and drug abusers. Because alcohol consumption is the major pastime, this policy upset the Soviet people. They have been forced to stand in line to purchase vodka for 2-3 hours at a time. Standing in line, one disgruntled citizen told Finkel, "Fm going to the Kremlin to kill Gorbachev." Upon his return to the line, Finkel asked him what happened. The man replied, "The line to kill Gorbachev is much longer than this one." The prohibition of alcohol has also affected the working economy. Because 25 percent of the Soviet budget comes from the sale of vodka, there isn't any money for education. been built to provide clean water, new farming techniques have been taught and "Women's Rural Training Centers" have been created. To support the Alliance, students from WSC, BYU and U of U formed the Ouelessebougou Student Coalition. In August, members of the alliance and students of the coalition will travel to Ouelessegoubou to witness the progress made. A Hunger Banquet will be held Thursday, May 24 with all funds donated to Ouelessebougou. To join the Student Coalition contact Allison Bozniak at 626-6230 or Amber Robinson at 778-2000. Harvey as an Time 8 p.m. May 2-5, 1990 Wildcat Theater $1 t v Small business has been allowed under Gorbachev, but there are drawbacks. Soviet people don't know about money or the economy, and although it is labeled capitalism, entrepreneurs must receive permission from authorities. On top of this, Finkel said they equate security with Socialism, not capitalism. Gorbachev says they have to move to the open market, but there is no market. These contradictions are very confusing, and their businesses fail. "Because people don't believe in their future, their products are very expensive," he said. "He (Gorbachev) has to educate his people about capitalism and free-market economy." What American tourists see in the Soviet Union is very different than mainstream Soviet life. The hotels are designed by French architects, and food is imported from New Zealand. Finkel's mother, upon her arrival in the United States, couldn't understand why homes had two bathrooms for three people and was amazed that toilet paper was colored and perfumed. "You are spoiled," she said. Commenting on the vast differences between the two countries, Finkel said, "Even the unemployed in the United States make more than engineers in Soviet Union." DeBoer (continued from page 2) "When I found out the morning of the parade, that the drums were in a railroad box car, sitting on a side track in Ogden, I convinced the rail road officials to open up the car and let me get them out. That was a very close call, but I made it." "Right after Stephen Nadauld was selected as president, there was a parade downtown," said DeBoer. " The college officials wanted him to be involved and ride in a really nice white limousine, unfortunately," remembered DeBoer," it had blackened windows, so no one could see in. It was more of the thought that counted in that case." American GI who is captured ana Drainwasnea during the Korean War. He's sent back to the United States, where he becomes a pawn in a sinister plot to take over the country. Frank Sinatra gives one of his finest performances as an army intelligence major who's determined to stop Harvey's mission. COLLEGE ACTIVITIES BOARD Multi-Cullural Projrami Commltlie NEWS JAPAN'S TRADE SURPLUS FALLS: Japan's trade surplus dropped for the third year in a row, to $53.5 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, from $77.3 billion in the previous year, the Finance Ministry said. Reasons: a rise in import prices, resulting mostly from higher oil prices; and a strong domestic economy, which created strong import demand, economists said. BUSH PROPOSES TECH TRADE EASE: The Bush administration Wednesday proposed easing export controls on many high-tech items sold into Eastern European nations. Those items include the powerful PCs that use the i386 microprocessor, which acts as a computer's brain; satellite ground stations; and fiber optic cables used for long-distance telephones. SOUTH AFRICA TALKS HELD: Nelson Mandela called for an end to the "master and servant" relationship in South Africa during talks between the white minority government and the African National Congress. The talks, set to end Thursday, are about ending apartheid. Thirty-nine MPs of the ultra-right Conservative Party staged a walkout from Parliament in protest. MUGGER HITS JACKPOT: A knife-wielding mugger robbed a messenger of $478 million in financial certificates in London Wednesday, forcing the Bank of England to provide an amount equal to the value of the stolen certificates to avoid problems for their owners and to eliminate the risk that a shortage of liquidity would increase overnight lending rates. REBELS KIDNAP U.S. WORKER: Colombian rebels are believed to have kidnapped a U.S. mining company worker. U.S. Embassy officials in Quito, Ecuador, said there was no new information on the Peoria, 111., who is believed to have been taken into Ecuador by the rebels. International News Copyright 1990, USA TODAYApple College Information Network The Signpost -Editorial Advertising Production Spring Quarter, 1990 The Signpost is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall, winter and spring quarters, and weekly during the summer quarter by the WSC Department of Communication. The Signpost is distributed free of charge and is available by subscription for $9 per quarter. Signpost offices are located in the Union Building in Room 267. Mail correspondence should be sent to: WSC Signpost, Weber State College, Ogden, Utah 84408-2110. Editor in Chief Brett Hart Managing Editor Paul Parkinson New. Editor J J. Nielson fff Attention Applications for Station Management and Spanish Program Director positions are now being eccepted. Get them in the studio or in the station manager's box. A pplications 88.1 BRIEFS whereabouts of Scott Heimdal of Asst. Newi Editor Sandra D. Chapman Arts After Hours Editor. .Paul B. Johnson Asst. Arts After Hour Jana Doxey Sports Editor Jon Yorgason Asst. Sports Editor .Karen Packham Signature Editor. Nee La Palmer Asst. Signature Editor Debbie Boman Photography Editor Quinn Jacobson Asst. Photo Editor Alan Gamble Photographers ...... . . . Clark Hurd Robeen Gillem Copy Editor Christopher A. Gamble Advertising Manager Leisel Wayment Production Manager .Brand! Johnson Ads Production Mgr .RosanaRentmeister Production Staff .Angie Donehoo Advisor J. Larry Stahle 280 Editorial Advisor .... ... .DaleOberer Publisher Jr. Randolph Scott 9 due by 3:00 pm April 27 KWCR - Annex 3 L |