| Summary: | Student art show opens in Cyrus Running Gallery. Ehnerfs final game: quarterfinal match against Centre in Kentucky. 13 CONCORDIAH Concordia College Moorhead Minnesota Volume 86 Number 21 March 16,1990 MAR 1 6 1990 Students form VOICE to address campus needs by Laura Selm news reporter A grass roots, quasi-governmental student organization has been founded in an effort, according to its creators, to augment a stagnant and restricted Student Association. VOICE, a new student action group at Concordia, is founded on the belief that student concerns are not being addressed properly, and the only way to change is through a non-elected student organization. "Running for Student Association president was a great learning experience," said Dave Gibbons, founder and president of VOICE. While campaigning Gibbons was shocked with the . amount of student concerns that weren't being met. 'There are louder voices than you'd believe," said Gibbons. The group has two main goals. The first is to inform the student Icelandic Women's Alliance provides model for the world by Lori Eastlund editor Icelandic women have been breaking down political barriers since placing their first women in Parliament. Now, as they reach a 22.2 percent membership there, they realize they still have mountains to move. "Many women who participate in government soon become frustrated and unhappy," said Kristin Halldorsdottir at a convocation Wednesday morning. "They don't feel comfortable in a system men built and furnished with [the men's] own needs in mind." Halldorsdottir, one of the first three women elected to Parliament in Iceland, was on campus along with Gudny Gudbjornsdottir, another leading woman politician in Iceland. The two women spent the day speaking to various groups at Concordia. The day culminated with a reception at the Hjcmkomst Interpretive Center. The Women's Alliance Movement, of which Gudbjornsdottir is a founder and which Halldorsdottir has represented for six years, now has 12 representatives in Parliament and is pioneering new ways of running a political party. The goal of the movement is to run lists of women candidates for public office who are sensitive to "neglected" issues. Their platform focuses on women, children, health care, peace and disarmament. According to Halldorsdottir, They do not want to produce professional politicians, but instead to put people in office who will stay in touch with the public that elected them. They want women to be an equal force; to free women from from the *fcmininc condition,' and enable them to live and work like men, she said. 'The middle-aged men say we are not 'real' politicians," said Halldorsdottir, "but we could care less." "Why are there so few women in government?" she asked. "Who dares to say women are not clever or intelligent enough?" Compared to Iceland's 22.2 percent, women currently make up only 2 percent of the U.S. Senate and about 8 percent of the House of Representatives. Icelandic women have proven their solidarity by staging a "Women's Day Off" which put the whole nation at a standstill. 25,000 women gathered for the outdoor meeting, refusing to do any work. As a result, with children and housework to do themselves, the men were "very unproductive," Halldorsdottir said. Halldorsdottir described the way the Alliance has been criticized for its style of organization. Originally, there was no individual leader. The group reached decisions collectively, "working together with respect for one anolhcr"--a style the women have found to suit them better than the traditional procedures. They decided to elect a leader who would serve a one year term for each year, so, at least officially, they would have a figurehead. "We have staged a show of force," said Halldorsdottir, "a force to change the world." body what resources arc open to them through the administration and SA. The group also hopes to show students how to utilize the resources. Another goal of VOICE is to make the administration more aware of student concerns. They want to tell administrators what they want done, why they want it done, and how the administration can help them. One project VOICE is currently working on is recycling. They will be assisting the Campus Recycling Committee with publicity efforts and implementation of their upcoming pilot project. VOICE also plans to begin aluminum recycling projects in the Normandy and the Kiosk. The group originally intended to begin an independent paper recycling program in high-traffic areas such as the P.O.s and the computer labs until the recycling committee's plans go into effect, but met stiff opposition in the administration. Another student concern Gibbons would personally like to tackle is intervisitation. "In a meeting with Dean Lanning, I became convinced that progress could be made in this area," said Gibbons. "With the right arguments and diplomatic strategy, I think we could see some positive changes in the visitation policy." "It's hard to get much done from a . confrontational standpoint," said Gibbons. "The group hopes to work together with the administration in a intelligent, adult manner." "They have the right to voice their concerns, said Dean of Students, Morris Lanning. The administration will respond to them, but they need to recognize that SA is the official voice of the students." Although it has a similar purpose, Gibbons maintains that VOICE is not out to reshape the Students Concerns Board. VOICE would do the same thing as the Student Concerns Board, but take it further. Gibbons would like to use a professional consultant to make the surveys more scientific. please see VOICE/ 4 SandeastlirY. Students on tour In Florida construct "Sand Clausens.", photo by Steve Hanson.
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