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Show .THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2007 Group brings African students together Jaime Winston STAFF WRITER When Kenyan student Patrick Shem came to the U for his doctorate degree, he was picked up at the airport and a house was available for him to stay in near campus. .- "One of the main functions of the Afr i c a n Student Union is that they assist ' students from Africa when they come here," said Shem, the secretary of ASU, who earned his undergraduate and master's degree at the University of Nairobi. "We've got quite a number of students from all over the continent of Africa." ASU provides places to stay and jobs for students coming from Africa. They also organize gatherings for African students, guest lectures, performances at events such as Plaza Fest and Crimson Nights, projects with groups on and off campus, charity projects and an African Film Series. Last year, the group invited ambassadors from South Africa and Nigeria to give guest lectures. It performed an African song at International Week for U President Michael Young and created a website, www. utah.edu/Africa. The group also supports African refugees from countries such as Burundi, Somalia and Sudan. One of the toughest challenges faced by African students is the change in the community setting, said Chawa Mahlaya, president of ASU. Mahlaya, originally from Botswana, said that in Africa general attitudes are based around the community, while American attitudes are more individualistic. Another challenge is finding other African students on campus. "Sometimes you don't even see a black person for the first 20 days you're here, and when you see a black person, you're not sure if they're African or African-American," Mahlaya said. "In America professors are so informal, so relaxed," Shem said. "In Kenya we follow the British system. Professors are so formal that you address them by their titles. I'm getting used to it, but I'm having a hard time calling my professor Jennifer." Mahlaya found ASU through an international orientation. Shem was contacted by the International Center by the group when he arrived in Utah. Often a department on campus will contact the group about an African student who is coming to Utah. However, many Africans who come to Utah for school end up staying in hotels for weeks before finding a place to live, Mahlaya said. "We're trying to find out how we can get a better reception for African students coming in," she said. The International Center has a privacy policy, which doesn't allow student information to be released to the group. Over the coming year, the group plans to work with the International Center to find ways of letting more African students know about ASU before they arrive in Utah. ASU also plans to work with another group on campus, the Sudanese Students Voice. The two groups may be able to combine resources to assist African students. In addition, ASU would like to get in touch with other international groups, as many international students share the same struggles, Mahlaya said. The group can also be used as a resource for all students who want to learn about Africa. "We would love for people to understand Chawa Mahlay, the new president of the African Student Union, acquaints herself with her new cubicle in the Union. Mahlay has been president of the ASU for two weeks. Mahlay is pursuing a masters degree in Social Work and a masters degree in Public Administration at the U. See AFRICANS Page 4 Saints have come to the meetings on more than a few occasions. The CRU hosts a barbecue at the beginning of the Fall Semester at the Residence Halls to help spread awareness about the group, but Moder said the group mostly relies on students to advertise events by word of mouth. The group also hosts a fall and spring retreat where members from all "movements," which is what they refer to their groups as, come together for a weekend to discuss their religious views. Both Moder and Opp emphasized that CRU meetings held every Thursday revolve around a central theme of discussion and, unlike a typical Sunday sermon, the meetings take shape as an open forum where people can converse on a personal or group level. "I have been involved for about four years," Moder said. U students Mike Jones and Bryant Strain emcee during the Campus Crusade for "Four years ago there were 12 Christ weekly club meeting at the Capital Church on Thursday night. people, today 50 to 80 people who is also a student leader in (come to the Thursday meetGROUP TALKS group and a senior in business ings)." at the U. RELIGION The group meets at the The group gathers on a Capital Church at 1010 E. 700 continued from Page 1 weekly basis and says they South, where a local pastor invite everyone to join the allows the members to use a since he was a freshman at the discussion. Although the room for their weekly meetU, and now, he serves as a stu- group is primarily a Christian ings. The group also provides cjent leader for the group. organization, they welcome shuttles to and from its Thurs"There are people that are students from all faiths, Chaz day meeting house and the interested in seeing something said, adding that some ac- Residence Halls. different than the predomi- tive members of The Church j.long@ nant religion," said Josh Opp, of Jesus Christ of Latter-day chronicle.utah.edu NO ADVANTAGE TO PRIVATE PRISONS continued from Page 1 A Department of Justice document found at www. tors under the provisions of whiteh0use.gov/0mbA3udget/ the Adam Walsh Act." fy2oo8Zjustice.html outlines Executive Director of the budget changes expected in Utah Department of Correc2008. It indicates increased tions Tom Patterson urged budgets for federal law en- the committee not to "throw forcement, including "$8 mil- out the idea of privatization" lion to aggressively pursue despite the UCJC's research apprehension of sexual preda- findings. U MIGHT BENEFIT FROM MEDICAID BILL different methods of bringing that about," said Utah Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City. "There are dozens of possibilities for expanding the drug program, but right now continued from Page 1 nothing has been decided." The program has saved the Medicaid funding for pre- state more than $3 million scription drugs increased in dollars since 2003 and could 1990 from $4.4 billion to $26.6 assist further, if more patients billion in 2003, a 6 percent in- who require drugs at reduced crease in the state budget di- costs were to receive them rected toward health care. from the U. "Research is being conduct"We're at the beginning ed for the potential utilization stages of finding out what the of the drug-pricing system and federal government will allow us to do," said Cathy Dupont, associate general counsel for the state. The 340B program does not require Medicaid patients to pay more for drugs and could make more state money available to patients, Dupont said. Rumi club celebrates poet's 800th birthday Clayton Norlen the heart," he said. "Rumi's idea of love is inclusive of all STAFF WRITER people regardless of country, Born Sept. 30, 1207. re- race or religion. His message nowned Persian poet Rumi is needed today." has his birthday celebrated Rumi did not write his 800 years later. poems down or edit them, On Saturday, Rumi's birth- Sorkhabi said. Often, it was day's eve, the U Rumi Poetry in moments of ecstasy while Club will be hosting the pro- Rumi was dancing or in gram "In the Ocean of Rumi: meditation that he would reCelebration of Rumi 800" in cite poems for his disciples OSH from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. to recorded. In his work, The program includes lectures the central theme is always love, stemming from Rumi's on Rumi's life and poetry. There will be readings of thought that everyone is givRumi's poetry in both Eng- en a heart and the ability to lish and Persian and perfor- love with it. mances of Persian music by One of Rumi's poems reads, the AVA Musical Group influ- "Go and wash off all hatred enced and inspired by Rumi's from your chest/ seven times poetry. The event is free and with water/ then you can beopen to the public. come our companion/ drink"I was first exposed to Rumi ing the wine of love." as a boy in my Persian text"Rumi's poetry has music books," said Rasoul Sorkhabi, in it," said Amir Keramat a a member of the Rumi poetry member of the AVA musical club and a research professor at the Energy and Geoscience Institute. "He's been a source of inspiration and consultation for me." "The content of Rumi's poetry transcends time, countries, language and culture, because he writes on group. "When his poetry is read in Persian, music is in its nature." In its original context, Rumi's poetry is steeped in musical influences. Sorkhabi said that in Persian, Rumi's poetry has an innate music to it expressed in rhyme that isn't preserved in its translation. Modern translators have begun to translate Rumi's poetry in the form of free verse that Sorkhabi feels captures its true essence. The U's Rumi Poetry club was founded this year and holds monthly hour-long meetings the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. For more information on the club or the Rumi Celebration tomorrow, contact Sorkhabi at rumipoetryclub@earthlink. net. c.norlen@ chronicle.utah.edu In an interview after the hearing, Lundahl commented that the study was the most current and thorough academic analysis of private versus public prison operations that he is aware of. a.raymond@ chronicle.utah.edu "If the Medicaid program can save money, it could make Medicaid more available and pay providers more for their services," she said. l.groves@ chronicle.utah.edu TAKE YOUR LUNCH IN THE PARK Park City Mountain Resort is currently hiring individuals to join their team of incredible employees. Park City Mountain Resort offers great ski/ride benefits, a fun work environment, flexible schedules and much more!!! Find out more at one of our job fairs. 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