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Show feature by Myriam Hernandez For many of us, Russia is an obscure and fearful country, but people that have been there know the other side of the story. We are all familiar with the many talks between the governments of Russia and the United States about Nuclear Arms and other issues. But what do we really know about Russia and its people? Close to home we have an insight to Russia. Jackie Haus. Campus Life Director, was in Leningrad for 16 days in 1982. Haus studied in Wales with ah international program doing her undergradute studies. One of the courses was Soviet Studies. It was a six month comculprehensive study of Soviet language and ture. "I got interested in the Russian lanI guage, so when I got back to the States, in said 12 months Iowa, studied Russian for Huas. So when I went to Leningrad I was able to communicate with the Russian peo- ple. Hauss family and friends were all nervous when they learned she was going to Russia. This was basically because of the publicity we get about Russia, which is terrifying, said Haus. According to Haus, Russian people are wonderful. They are warm and loving. Until cold. you get to know them they appear to be This is because their society taught them to be that way, said Haus. They dont know who they can trust, Haus added. Haus noted that she was fortunate because she had an opportunity to stay with a Russian family. I met them at the ballet, Haus said. So instead of being with the tour group I went with the family. I was invited to stay with them. Few people get to do that. The three member family shared a small two bedroom apartment and a common kitchen-bathroowith two other people. We had to play the stereo so people could not, hear us talking, said Haus. The family spent two months salary making her a meal to help her feel welcome. I didnt care for the meal too much, said Haus, but after you see the effort and the money put in it, you appreciate it. Haus said Russian people are just like any other people. They have the same feelings and values as everybody else. It is because of their society they do what they do, said Haus. They have to learn to live in harmony with their society in order to survive," Haus feels that Russian and American relations can be compared to an example close to home. People outside of Salt Lake do not know what Salt Lake is like. They hear about the L.D.S. Temple and they think because you are from Salt Lake you must be L.B.S.," said Haus. This makes us understand that we do not know about a different culture until we have lived there. When we see things first hand we feel a lot better about other peoples culture." Haus said that people show little interest in learning about Russia because of the bad publicity. We have been programmed to see Russia as a communist country. said Haus, we tend to think people there walk like puppets, with nothing in their minds. According to Haus, there is a high level of alcoholism in Russia. Russia is such a closed up society that drinking is an easy and cheap way to escape from reality. Haus said that Russian people are very attached to their families, because they feel they are the only people they can trust. But people from outside dont see it that way, said Haus. She noted that we form our impressions of Russians by the actions of their government and they do the same with us. According to Haus, it is like the fact that Russian people are not allowed to chew gum, because only bad people chew gum. Therefore they think the streets of America must be covered with chewed gum. That is what m . Russians have been taught. said Haus. I think, though, the misinformation is about 5050 about both countries. According to Haus, even though Russians have a national newspaper called Pravda, which means truth, the government likes to twist the news. Part of it is because it's run by the government," said Haus, the government has to have control to keep its system going. If they allow the only newspaper to question what they are doing, the system could fall. According to Haus, this is used as a support. Keeping people uninformed is a good strategy for the government. Russians do not function as we do. The reason why they do certain things is like comparing apples and oranges, said Haus. We have a different history and background, so we function differently. If we look at Russian history, said Haus, we get a better understanding of why they behave as they do. They have always been put down. Now they are struggling to be number one in the world. It does not matter how they get there, said Haus. According to Haus if students have the opportunity to visit Russia they should go. Parents should not be afraid to let their children go. It will help them to appreciate what they have and not take it for granted," said Haus. Jackie Haus, campus life director, risited Leningrad for 16 days in 1982. Johnson Teaches How To Get To The Answer by Cara Cahoon Learning how to get to the answer, thats what I call thinking," said Chris Johnson, assistant professor of physical sciencesT According to Johnson, thinking is exactly what youll be doing if you take a physical science class from him. Johnson received a bachelor of arts from Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, and a Masters from the University of Utah; both degrees are in physics. He is currently working on his dissertation for a Ph.D. in mathematical biochemistry. Johnson worked at Sperry Industries and at the University of Utah before coming to Westminster. He disliked working for industry, According to Haus, Americans are Americans anywhere they go, but people from the south may have different values and heritage than those from the north. It is the same with Russian people. They have a long history of to being persecuted said Haus. According Haus we can see that in the importance they for put on blue jeans. They pay up to $200 havea Russia in If people pair, said Haus. cars they are very upper class. The experience made me appreciate what I have, but at the same time I was ashamed of the fact that we take so much for granted. exists According to Haus, the differencewas m Ilaus between the governments. Russia during the May Parade, which is similar to the 4th of July Parade. Some Russian students took advantage of the parade to protest against nuclear arms, said Haus. I marched with them. do not According to Haus, Russian people the can we If get either. want nuclear arms of instead other each understand to people and everybody media to the listening else especially politicians we could understand that Russian people are just people like and said he did not like the large classes at the U of U; his smallest class consisted of 70 students. ULj, ikla typalasahaauaA- he felt students were not able to get as involved in the class. After teaching at Westminster, where an average class contains 15 students, Johnson will never go back to a large school, unless it is in research. Students have said that Johnsons classes are interesting because Johnson himself is an interesting person. Music is an important part of Johnson's life. As a serious hobby he plays piano, flute, and guitar; performing classical music for such occasions as the Eccles Scholarship reception. Johnson plays classical music; Bach is his favorite, but he enjoys modern Hrf music too. KCGL. the modern music experience was his most preferred radio station. Johnson is also an thletic person. 1 was a He Is still involved .jock in. high ackoi. in sports as an intramural team member and captain of the Westminster staff volleyball team. While he is interested in a variety of things, Johnson especially likes science because it allows him to get people to start thinking. I teach the answer to the question why, and the whys just happen to be in science. This science professor came to Westminster last school year. For those who wish to take any of his classes, there will be more opportunities to do so because, in his own words, I like it here, so I plan to stick around for awhile." Mb i -- v. J V i IS. The first time Reagan and Gorbachov was alked, one of the things they discussed brming an international student exchange students program. If this really happened, e countries, both ould learn more about H mid be a lot better off this way, said Haus. we could understand each other better. Issue No. 5 Oct 31, 1986 j - 'N -:- JohM ! 1 L.- 1 - to teach a claxs on the plaza. anf physics professor, takes admntage of a sunny day Forum 11 |