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DAILY COLLEGIAN DailyCollegian.com
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
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Tibetan monks to visit UM By AvivA LuttreLL Collegian Staff
A group of visiting Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery will be welcomed to the University of Massachusetts campus by Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and his wife on Wednesday, Sept. 25, according to a University press release. For two days, the monks will create a sand mandala in the Fine Arts Center lobby using millions of grains of colored sand poured from traditional metal funnels called chak-purs, according to the release. The mandala
is a traditional Buddhist symbol of the universe, and is made up of different geometric shapes and ancient spiritual symbols. As part of the welcoming ceremony, which is set to take place at 8:30 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center Lobby, Chancellor Subbaswamy will greet the leader of the visiting monks, Geshe Dhondup, and present him with khatas, a type of traditional ceremonial scarf, according to the release. “The monks will then consecrate the mandala area with prayers and multiphonic chants, Tibetan long horn trumpets and cymbals. They will then begin
the geometric drawing symbolizing the universe that will house the Buddha,” the release said. The process of creating the mandala involves each monk holding a chak-pur while simultaneously running a metal rod along its surface, causing the sand to flow. The closing ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. Sept. 27 in the FAC Concert Hall. Senator Stan Rosenberg will be a featured speaker at the event. According to the release, “most sand mandalas are deconstructed shortly after their completion” as a metaphor for how temporary life
is. During the process, sand will be swept up and placed into an urn. Following tradition, half will then be distributed to the audience at the closing ceremony as a blessing for health and healing, according to the release. The rest will be deposited in a nearby body of water to carry the healing blessing to the ocean, where it can spread throughout the world. This event is presented by the UMass Fine Art Center’s Asian Arts & Culture program as part of its 20th anniversary. Aviva Luttrell can be reached at aluttrel@umass.edu.
Bread and jams
Lenny Schwartz and Steven Arcieri perform at the first Greeno open mic of the semester on Sept. 23.
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Are all-nighters really worth it? Students voice their opinions By veronicA StrAcquALurSi Collegian Correspondent
College students are all too familiar with the concept of an “all-nighter.” UrbanDictionary.com defines an “all-nighter” as “ditching sleep to spend several more hours cramming for tests, only to notice that you’ve drooled on your desk in front of the class the next day.” Whether it’s cramming for tomorrow’s test or busting out that final paper that’s been assigned for weeks, it may be tempting to witness the sunrise through tired eyes, fatigued hands reaching for another caffeinated beverage— all in the name of last-minute preparation. At the University of Massachusetts, there are those who sleep, and then there are those who sleep after the deadlines are over. UMass resource economics major Tyler Besse said he pulls all-nighters often just for good measure. Besse and his friend David Joy, whom Besse calls the “king of allnighters,” have a tradition they call “Morrill Monster Mayhem.” Besse and Joy stock up on Monster energy drinks, head to the Morrill Science Center and study there all night. “If I’m going to stay up all night, I’m going to make the most of it,” Besse said. Jeff Mitchell, a UMass marketing and English double major, doesn’t often use this strategy.“While it can be helpful, I find myself more productive going to bed early
“I’ve never done one before because I like to sleep. I don’t usually put myself in a position where I would have to.” Samantha Gillis, senior journalism major and waking up early,” Mitchell said.Although it is only three weeks into the semester, some have already started the allnight study sessions.“Last night I did one. I stayed up doing economic homework,” said junior economics major Lan Jiang. Some use all-nighters to get a head start on their work. Nick Pietila, a senior at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, recently stayed up to do his math homework that isn’t due until October. For some students, however, pulling an all-nighter has never been in the agenda, In all four years of college, senior journalism major Samantha Gillis has never pulled an all-nighter. “I’ve never done one before because I like to sleep. I don’t usually put myself in a position where I would have to,” said Gillis. When Janelle Bourgeois was an undergraduate, it was always writing papers that kept her up late. Now that Bourgeois is a graduate student at UMass, she’s changed her habits. “You can try doing [allnighters], but you won’t get as far as you need to,” see
SLEEP on page 3
Kenya’s president declares end of seige By nichoLAS Soi And roByn dixon Los Angeles Times
NAIROBI, Kenya — President Uhuru Kenyatta declared an end to the Nairobi shopping mall siege after a final day of shooting and explosions Tuesday, but many key questions about the terrorist attack remained unanswered. In a somber speech to the nation, Kenya’s leader spelled out the toll at least 72 people dead, including six soldiers and five of the attackers. But he offered no details on what happened in the final dramatic confrontation between security forces and attackers, in which repeated explosions toppled several floors of the mall and sent a thick plume of smoke into the air. Nor did he explain what happened to hostages reportedly held by members of the al-Qaeda-linked Somali militant group al-Shabab, which claimed responsibility for the attack. Persistent reports that foreigners, including several Americans, were among the attackers also remained unconfirmed. Kenyan
authorities said 11 suspects were arrested, but the president did not say whether they were detained at the Westgate mall or at other sites. Kenyatta said several bodies, including those of some of the attackers, remained buried under the collapsed floors. His comments appeared to suggest that civilians, possibly hostages, might also be buried in the mess. The Kenya Red Cross Society said 51 people were missing. Kenyatta declared three days of mourning and praised Kenyan spirit and national unity. Many people stood in line to give blood or donate cash in an outpouring of support after the attack began around noon Saturday. Extraordinary stories of survival and courage emerged along with the thousand people who escaped. British news reports said an offduty British special forces officer went repeatedly into the building to rescue people. An uncle told reporters that 4-year-old Elliot Prior told one of the gunmen: “You are a bad man,” and was let go. Kenyan news reports cited closed-circuit TV foot-
age that showed a pregnant woman arguing with attackers, who shot and killed her. The incident has also raised fears that al-Shabab’s new leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, may increasingly focus on high-impact terrorist attacks outside Somalia. Godane took over the movement in July after rivals were killed in a violent grab for power. Al-Shabab’s media office said Tuesday on Twitter that Godane was planning to make a statement soon on the mall attack. The group has suffered setbacks in Somalia at the hands of African forces, including Kenyans, who are assisting the weak central government. Al-Shabab is increasingly unpopular in Somalia because of its violent attacks there. It has said it attacked the Nairobi mall to punish Kenya for sending its forces across the border. Kenyatta, elected in March, faces International Criminal Court charges for crimes against humanity stemming from postelection violence in 2007 and 2008. The crisis was his first major test as leader.
The nation’s security forces won praise from many Kenyans for the full assault that eventually ended the drama. But critics faulted the frequent contradictions between government ministers, the self-congratulatory tone of messages by government officials on social media, and the paucity of information on what really happened. Authorities said over the weekend they were making a final assault, then declared victory early Tuesday. But explosions and shooting continued throughout much of the day. “Kenyan government Twitter accounts would be better used for valuable, timely info updates than for self-congratulation,” said prominent Kenyan tech guru Erik Hersman. Kenyatta said intelligence reports suggested that three Americans and a British woman may have been involved in the attack, but that it was too early to confirm this. Forensic experts were working to establish the attackers’ identities, he added. U.S. officials have said they are checking those
reports, but also could not confirm them. His comments fuelled speculation that Samantha Lewthwaite, widow of one of those involved in the 2005 suicide bombing of London’s Underground, might be involved. Lewthwaite narrowly escaped arrest in Kenya last year and was reported to be in Somalia. Al-Shabab denied any women were involved. “We have an adequate number of young men who are fully committed and we do not employ our sisters in such military operations,” the group said. It also accused the Kenyan government of understating the casualties. “The incoherent ramblings of Kenyan officials and the blatant discrepancies with regards to the mujahedeen at Westgate betrays their fears,” a spokesman for the group said on Twitter. Kenyan authorities dismissed the comments as propaganda. “We have shamed and defeated our attackers,” Kenyatta said. “These cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices.”