Aug. 23, 2006 | The Reflector

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“Education for Service”

Volume 85, Issue 1

August 23, 2006

THE

Reflector

Photo by Megan Komlanc

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U n iv e r s i t y o f I n d ia Ha n na Avenue I ndia

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Things to do if you are under 21

Legal fun under 21. See Page 2.

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Abolohom, Hove remembered

Ghamdan Abolohom b. June, 13, 1982 d. May 14, 2006

Ghamdan Abolohom was known as a devout Muslim and Lauren Hove as an avid dancer. The two students came to the University of Indianapolis from separate countries but touched many lives. As the two are mourned, their friends and family reflect on two lives lived with passion and drive. See Page 3 for their stories.

Lauren Hove b. May 5, 1987 d. July 2, 2006

n MAR ELIAS

Mar Elias students endure Lebanese, Israeli conflict while at UIndy Shelly Grimes Managing Editor

Editor’s note: During the Israeli and Lebanese five-week conflict, 47 students from UIndy’s extension campus in Northern Israel studied on UIndy’s main campus while some of their homes became potential war zones. The students left UIndy with no cease-fire in effect. Here are their thoughts and feelings during the fighting. As war erupted in Israel this summer, Areeje Saidy, an Arab-Israeli student studying at UIndy, found herself with mixed feelings. During one day of conflict, Saidy heard on television about the bombings near her home city of Nazareth, Israel, but had not yet been able to contact her family and find out if her hometown and loved ones were okay. Saidy was one of 47 students taking summer classes on the Indianapolis campus to fulfill degree requirements at UIndy’s extension site, Mar Elias. Mar Elias is located in Northern Israel, where the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, was firing rockets. “What is happening right now in Israel is not our normal,” Saidy said just hours after the bombing. “We [Mar Elias students] are very afraid. We are safe here in America, but back in Israel, we will have to listen, hear, watch the bombs coming in.” The Mar Elias Campus is located in Ibillin, Galilee. Rev. Elias Chacour, newly appointed archbishop of the Melkite Catholic Church for Galilee, developed the program. Chacour’s dream was to open a university that would draw Christians, Muslims, Druze and Jews together for study and dialogue. With the help of UIndy, the campus opened in the fall of 2003 and is the first and only Arab university in Israel. The first group of students came to Indianapolis in the summer of 2005. This year’s Mar Elias students arrived in the United States June 20 for six weeks of classes before leaving Aug. 4, ten days before the cease-fire. War between

Israel and the Islamic group Hezbollah environmental science and computer culture. Alaa Shibly, who lived in the began mid-July after Hezbollah militants science—as well as many activities. United States for several years as a child abducted two Israeli soldiers at the North Hannah Cartwright, UIndy’s Mar Elias before moving to Jerusalem, said that he Israel/South Lebanese border, leaving the program coordinator, said the activities encountered several Americans with misstudents feeling helpless, Saidy said. were designed to give students a view construed perceptions about Israel. “[It was a] show of support for Pal- of American culture. Activities included “One guy asked if we had cars in estinians whose own militant movement, a weekend trip to Chicago, volunteering Israel,” Shibly said with a laugh. “I said, Hamas, had carried out a similar abduc- with Habitat for Humanity, trips to down- ‘No, we have camels.’” tion,” said Dr. Milind Thakar, assistant town attractions and attending Christian, Mark Ghattis, who also lived in the professor of history and political science. Jewish and Muslim worship services. United States for several years before “Israel’s response was to start mass bom- Cartwright said the activities served as moving to Jerusalem, said that while he bardment of Lebanon including civilian a sort of “new student experience” that doesn’t know what the current conflict in areas. It then proceeded to invade south- brought the group closer together. Israel will bring, he feels that the Amerern Lebanon ican media while the are one reaHezbollah son that these responded mispercepback by firtions occur. ing rocket “The meshells into dia ...makes Israeli terriIsrael sound tory.” like a hell While hole, like the conwar is broken flict raged out and you at home, can’t even Saidy said walk down that she was the street,” simply tryGhattis said. ing to keep “People say, up with the ‘You live in demands of Jerusalem; college life you must until she have school could get canceled all more inforthe time bemation. cause there “There are so many are no news bombings reports this and stuff.’ Photo contributed by Hannah Cartwright week [from I’m like, ‘No home]. The Mar Elias students in front of the Habitat for Humanity house they there aren’t. I newspapers go clubbing closed be- worked on this summer. every night!’ cause many It’s stereoof them were in Haifa where there were “The students are a great support typed as a war zone, and we hear stuff many bombs,” Saidy said. “We all want system for each other,” Cartwright said. on television that is over-exaggerated.” to go back home and see it. We can’t do “There’s only so much we [as staff] can Thakar agreed that there are many anything in the day. We can’t think about provide them, and only so much we can misconceptions about people who live anything else.” do other than worry.” in that part of the world, especially ArWhile studying at Indianapolis, the While learning about the American abs. Cartwright said that these students group had a full course load—the stu- culture, Mar Elias students were more consider themselves to be Arab-Israelis, dents’ majors include communication, than happy to educate others about their and all have differing political views and

n NINGBO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Chinese students to study at UIndy Elyse Kaiser Entertainment Editor Ben Reed Online Editor

A group of 31 Chinese students will study at the University of Indianapolis during the school year. The students are a part of a newly formed partnership between UIndy and the Ningbo Institute of Technology (NIT), a branch of Zhejiang University in China. This partnership provides NIT students the opportunity to earn a UIndy bachelor’s degree in finance, international business or English. These are all degrees that are not normally available for students at NIT.

All students involved in the program must pass an English proficiency exam and meet UIndy admission requirements for transfer students. After being accepted into the program, every student will have the option of staying at NIT or traveling to UIndy to finish studies. There are a total of 200 students involved in the program this year. The students who choose to stay at NIT will take courses similar to those at UIndy. John Langdon, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, visited the NIT campus this summer to discuss how the courses would be taught. “The primary purpose of my visit was to discuss the content and design of courses to be taught

Photo contributed by Phylis Lan Lin

Phylis Lan Lin lectures students at NIT during her visit.

in China by NIT faculty that would satisfy our general education core for those NIT students who will not be coming to Indianapolis,” he said. A major concern of both schools was that not every NIT student who applied to study at UIndy would be able to obtain a United States visa. Everyone involved in the partnership was surprised to learn that all 31 students who applied were granted visas. “This may be considered a vote of confidence in our program by the U.S. embassy and is the result of careful preparation and negotiation by UIndy and NIT faculty, especially Dr. Phylis Lin and Ms. Zhao Ping of NIT,” Langdon said. Lin is the presidential international ambassador and director of Asian programs. Another concern is how well the students will adjust to life at UIndy. “U.S.-Chinese relations have been very amicable in the recent years, so there is no fear for the safety of the students. There are, however, many cultural differences between the two countries that may make the transition for the Chinese students at UIndy difficult,” said Jyotika Saksena, assistant professor of international relations. According to Lin, these differences will be centered mostly around differences in food and language. “Most of the students traveling to UIndy are coming from metropolitan areas in China,” said Lin. “The American pop culture is already very familiar to them.”

religious backgrounds. “An Arab is someone who speaks the Arabic language. It is a cultural, not political, definition,” Thakar said. “Arabs are mostly Muslim by religion, both Sunni and Shia, but some are Christian [including] Catholic, Orthodox, Nestorian, Protestant.” Shibly and Ghattis said that they feel the news on television is often embellished, so they get reports on the situation from family members whenever possible instead. “My family has another house in Haifa, and it was almost bombed,” Shibly said. “My brother walked outside and saw a rocket fly over his head and bash into a train station.” Ghattis said that the violence was indirectly affecting many of his family members, although he knew of no attacks near his home. “My mom’s family lives in the West Bank, and the check points are closed. So I can’t go see my family anymore,” Ghattis said. “The people in the West Bank can’t get jobs. They’re barely living on bread. [The government] won’t let them out because of suicide bombings or something, but a lot of them just want to get out and make some money, get some food for the family.” Despite the problems in Israel, the students said they were trying to have fun while in America and that they were enjoying their stay. Saidy, who declared bowling as her favorite thing about America, said that she had enjoyed several new freedoms. “It’s been wonderful. It was my dream to travel to America, to get to know the culture. I am very happy here,” Saidy said. “The Israeli girl is sometimes limited. She can’t go outside after 10 at night. Here, the girl has no limits... My family gives me free time, and I can do pretty much what I want, but my culture doesn’t like that.” While in the United States, Mar Elias students kept a blog detailing their experiences, thoughts and emotions, which can be found at http://www.Marelias. Blogspot.com.

n SHOOTINGS

White, Rai face charges Abby Adragna News Editor

After two University of Indianapolis students were accidentally shot and killed in separate incidents over the summer, the two students charged in connection with the shootings have been scheduled for trial dates and face potential fines and jail time if convicted. According to the Marion County’s Prosecutor’s office, UIndy senior Subash Chandra Rai, 22, is charged with reckless homicide and pointing a firearm. Sophomore Christopher White, 20, is charged with reckless homicide and criminal recklessness. Rai was charged in connection with the shooting of UIndy senior Ghamdan Mohammed Abolohom, 23, of Yemen, on May 14, and White was charged in connection with the shooting of UIndy sophomore Lauren Hove, 19, of Zimbabwe, on July 2. Reckless homicide and criminal recklessness are both Class C Felonies, and pointing a firearm is a Class D Felony. Conviction of a Class C Felony involves a prison term of two to eight years and a fine of up to $10,000. Conviction of a Class D Felony involves a prison term of six months to three years and a fine of up to $10,000. Rai is scheduled for a jury trial at 9 a.m., Monday, Sept. 11 in criminal court 3. White is scheduled for a jury trial at 9 a.m, Monday Sept. 11 in criminal court 3.

Their trials will be separate. Abolohom was killed at a residence located about a mile from the university. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. According to an Indianapolis Star report of the incident, Abolohom was pronounced dead later that night at Wishard Memorial Hospital. According to police reports, Hove was shot at a Southside residence located a few blocks from campus. The reports said that police were dispatched to the residence around 6:20 p.m. According to the affidavit for probable cause, Hove was found dead at the scene. A campus memorial service for Abolohom was held May 16 in the university chapel. Another service was held later that day at a local mosque. A memorial service for Hove was held July 14 at Christ Church in Nashville, Tennessee. A memorial fund also was set up for Hove through Bank of America. The fund is called the “Lauren Hove Memorial Fund.” A campus memorial service for Hove is being planned for the beginning of the fall semester. University President Beverley Pitts said she is saddened by the two incidents and knows that these tragedies have had an impact on the entire campus. “They’re obviously two horrible tragedies,” she said. “I think just the affect on

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