Africa Day to present true images By Edward Klopfenstein Members of the African Stu dents Association will sponsor Afnui Day lodav in ho|w»s of turn ing the tide of negative images haunting many portrayals of Africa "When people talk, about Africa, all that they sis- is forests." said Sahoed Adejumohi. puhlii relations representative for the African Students Assoi uition "You don't see anyone here reporting front the cornfields of Nebraska." Africa Day will begin with a slide show of Tanzania at 11 :t() a in in the FMU Fir Room. All events will lie in the Fir Room At noon. Jean-Claudo Solon, a memlM*r of the exiled Aristide government of Haiti and an exile himself, will discuss the < urrent situation in Haiti Two South African students currently studying at the Uni versity. Pam Masango and S'phindile Khumalo, will discuss their home country's elections at 1 p.m At 2 p.m . Tom l.webugo will lead a disi USSion on the situation in Rwanda, whit h will be fol lowed by a presentation on l.ilx-rin by Sam Gollnh and Kenne M. Fahnbulleh Table display s will also depict various parts of Africa. Adejumobi said Africa Day, part of a week of s[>eoial days i el ebroting regions of the world, is intended to enlighten Universi ty stutl**nts about the realities of present-day Africa "Thev (Americans) think wv run around naked and don't dress the same." Masango said She and Adejumobi pointed to an AT&T ad aired a few years ago where Afru_a was depit ted by a monkey "Some people just don't get more than what the media pre sent.'' Adojumobi said Rwanda was one of Adejumo in's examples of how tile media portray a situation int orrectly The fighting in Rwanda in which thousands have been killed isn't just ethnii hut also tH:onomit . Adejumobi said Ten sion is high as mori' people < otn pete for dwindling resoun es. he said Adejumobi blames coloniza tion for harming the African economy and the media for main taining the international banking community ’s mistrust of African investments l lie media report only Africa's famines and hardships, lie said, not tile continent's successes and triumphs Adejumobi said the number of African students at the l inivorsi ty lias fallen over the years The decrease lias tieen caused by both political and economic problems, he said. Adejumobi has rescan lied the issue m the (msl hi the I Writs and 1 Writs. Oregon recruited African students as part of its role in l' S Cold War politics Hi* said ln*s with Africans wen* built as a way of fighting Communism In tho lll70s, Africa’s oil boom prompted main Africans to attend American universities, but vs ith the is onomu dec line of the t'lHDs only the rich are able to send their children these davs The University administration has also helped in the dec line by not building ties vsith Afro an alumni Adejunmbi said Africa is just not a high pri ority here." Adejumobi said lit* points to the Office of Inter national education and l.vi hange as to what he said the Universe ty is doing right in keeping African students at the si hool The International Communi ty Services Program has helped retain many African students at the University Adejumobi and Masango said it's not just the lfniversity admin istration that the 40 Afru an stu dents here have problems with but also University students "I fee| like Eugene Is this white sheet, and I'm the hlai k spot." Masango said Many Africans who come to the United States go through a long period of culture shoe k because the\ are not used to being a minority. Adejumobi said "There is definitely a period of adjustment." Adejumobi said, "as many have had to deal with igno rant attitudes for the first time VOTE Continued from Page 1 The group also included Glen Lekalakala and Wilson Nthabu Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, was released from prison in February 1990 and has since helped lead the African National Congress through polit ical turmoil generated bv both the white-led government and the Inkathn Freedom Party Friction between the IFF and the ANC, Musango said, was very hard to ignore, she said Ma-,.m go has always lx nil at the heart of that friction he< a use she is from Soweto, the heart of mm h polit ically-based violence Thousands of deaths in South Africa during the past few years have been attributed to disputes about political ideology, ai i ord ing to Hews reports Being in the United States dur ing such a historic time was dif ficult for most of the South African students at tin- Universe tv M.iMiigo suit! I'hc four have created a mini-communication network and they < all oat ti other after hearing more news from home. But |ust bet ause the four are several thousand miles from home doesn't mean they won't t elebrate if Mandela wins We’re definitely going to get together." she said, adding that the celebration will recruit more than just South Africans "We're going to t elebrate for anyone who's been suppressed." A FRIT, I UN lecture full of insights anil outbursts about dating, love, and sex m the 90s Topics will include • the difference between love anil lust • whether alcohol is a sexual stimulant • some interesting pick up lines • simple romance rules • the truth about whether men explode ll they don't have sex • homophobia • breaking up • sell esteem • how to make condoms feci oh-so-much better I’ti u nUil by / for more information I’hursday, May 5, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Ben Linder Room, EMU FREE REFRESHMENTS!!! i *\ m »n "?n m m m ■! 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