Kathmandu delegate praises democracy By Katy Moeller Emerafd Contribute* When there was no democra cy in Nepal, the student forum was the only forum for political activities, said the newly elect ed deputy mayor of Kathman du. Nepal. Thursday Nabindrn Raz Joshi is a mem ber of a three-party delegation from Nepal sponsored by the Eugene/Kathmandu Sister City Committee. A strong believer in student activism. Joshi made an unscheduled visit to the Uni versity to meet with the "honor able president" Bobby Lee. “Democracy should he the concern of everyone," said Joshi. who was elected in Nepal's democratic elections. A college student during the panchayut system, a time when political parties were outlawed and the parliament was dis solved hv King Mahendra. Joshi remembers the brutality that existed. During a visit to the neighbor ing city of Trissuli, Joshi and 22 others on their way to a student conference were taken by police, repeatedly beaten and left in a forested area. Joshi said. "We told them to kill rather than keep beating us," he said. The concern that students in other countries have shown for Nepali people has made a dif ference. Joshi said. “When I was in prison for four years, someone gave us news that there was an under ground meeting in Moscow. In the meeting they demanded for our release. It was great news It was happiness for us for at least 15 days. We got inspira tion from that.” he said. Joshi said ho does not believe it is necessary tu encourage stu dents to get involved in student unions. "First, let people to Ik; ready to think. If they think, then we won't have to snv that they should he active in student unions. They will already be active themselves." he said Though thousands of miles from the Kingdom of Nepal, the south-central Asian country between India and China that boasts the highest mountain range in the world, Joshi does not feel out of place in Eugene. “When I was in Eugene the first day. I thought I was in my own home." he said There have been a few cultur al differences that he has noticed, though. “There is on independent thinking in American people which is very, very positive." |oshi said. "Nepali people feel that soci ety is the most important for them. Americans feel the indi vidual is the most important for them." he said. Joshi was also surprised to find that nearly every person he talked to had been divorced. In Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, w hich has a pop ulation of about one million, there have only been IK cases of divorce this year. |o,shi said The independence that women in the United States enjoy is not yet a reality in Nepal, bill Joshi said he believes that will change now that there is a democracy. “In your country there is no difference between men and women. In my country there is still a difference. Most women are dominated." he said The Kathmandu/Eugene Sis ter City Committee is working with Joshi on a student exchange program that will allow students interested in going to Nepal to do intern ships QUESTION: Are you sick of the snow yet? "Yeah. It’s cool for the moun tains. but it sucks in the valley. JASON MURRAY senior, finance/management "Hell, no. I love the snow. You get to nail innocent bystand erb wiiii biiuwudiis. SAM PARKS sophomore, undeclared "No. It eases my tensions about global warming." PAT DEVINE sophomore, undeclared "I really like the snow, and I think it's sad that j people I disdain it." CHRISTIANA NICHOLS senior, english "Yes. I come from a desert country, and it's too cold here, it nuns my eyes. HASSAM ALQADHY freshman, computer science "Yeah. I don't have a car and I can't use my bike. It's also cold, and I can t afford to heat my house." SOPHIE HILL senior, biology ET ALS vnrriM.N A»ki«piad* will nt««l f«>? and pt&ta lonighl at f K) to t MU ( mkr Know t hut inofo informal ton iali I4J AM O wilt have 4 ptiblii heami# i on (.emnn oUnttixi rule change* tontgnl at 7 in Room I5S Straub Foe mom tnlmmoitmi tail »4ti 1724 MISO.U AMOt S ASUO vmll *p*m*«>r ulections for the Muslim Student A*»<* tattoo tonight from 6 to 8 in Kooiii i 12 Willamette wot more information, mil :)4b 1724 t uftrn* I moil le f lub vs ill nvm.t luiughl at 7 JO at hugene Bitvfle Work*. 1st i*< I or mo! «• imi VVi*tJ»in||!»»n S»r« information call JW'1 ! jn« ( uunl> ( oum <1 of Ur|«niMlmni will havr jjurtl »jM'tik«’i» Vir^ilttH *»ml Ch#ndi<«t ihow tlidm •twf ih<*fe their it•»!*»> from 11 Hi a in to I ^ m dt Oildfelltiwt Imr.jilp. L' 1 H loo rMtltaii .Si Th« Ikarkeiow* iravr*!**! lli« full Unj