In the interest of airing Ohio's pollution problems, Ohio Public Interest Research Group (OhioPIRG) has invited Congressman Dennis Kucinich to a Clean Air NOW Rally on Saturday.
The rally, which will be held in Tappan Square at 1 p.m., will address Ohio's air pollution. "Ohio is one of the worst clean air polluters," said first-year Yuri Futamura. According to Futamura, a member of OhioPIRG, Ohio is the number one emitter of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These pollutants contribute to over 4,000 premature deaths as well as acid rain in the northeastern United States.
Kucinich adds great weight to OhioPIRG's cause. A representative from district 10 in Columbus and former mayor of Cleveland, Kucinich has shown a strong interest in the environment during his political career.
The rally will also be attended by Kurt Waltzer, a member of the Ohio Environmental Council. Futamura said, "He's a national leader on clean air issues. He's a national hero when it comes down to clean air issues."
OhioPIRG plans to attract residents of Oberlin in addition to Oberlin students. They have advertised in downtown Oberlin and plan to hold the rally in clear sight of Main Street in hopes of drawing passers-bys.
According to OhioPIRG, most of Ohio's pollution problems can be attributed to 23 coal-fired power plants. These plants are exempt from the Clean Air Act of 1970 because they were built before the law was written.
OhioPIRG hopes to stir up emotion against the severity of air pollution with the rally. OhioPIRG is counting on Kucinich to deliver a rousing speech. "He's really a fiery speaker," said Futamura. After his speech, OhioPIRG plans on getting the crowd involved with live music and chants, which will contribute to a "really lively atmosphere," she said.
Amongst all of the rally hoopla, Kucinich will supposedly reveal a new bill proposal concerning pollution.
Research Psychologist Gregory Herek, who works at the University of California, Berkeley, will visit Oberlin this Saturday to give a talk on the causes of homophobia entitled "Sexual Prejudice: The Psychology of Homophobia and Heterosexisms." The talk is from 7-9 p.m. in King 306.
Herek is an expert on prejudice against lesbians and gay men as well as anti-gay violence. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and received that organization's 1996 Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest.
Herek has testified before Congress about policy matters involving sexual orientation, including the House Armed Services Committee's hearings on gays in the military.
He has also edited books about hate crimes, sexuality in the military, stigma and AIDS.
Angela Nichols, the lesbian, gay, bisexual intern at the Multicultural Resource Center, said Herek is highly respected in his field, and she is excited to have him on campus.
Legendary English Professor Andrew Bongiorno, dear to the hearts of many at Oberlin, passed away on Nov. 28. He was 98.
Bongiorno attended Oberlin in the early 1920s before joining the English department in 1925. Bongiorno served as chairman of the English department from 1949-1952 and 1958-1964 before retiring in 1967. Even after retiring, he was still very much a presence in the city and college community. In the twilight of his years Bongiorno never gave up his thirst for knowledge.
Bongiorno emigrated to Ohio from Palermo, Sicily in 1911, and shared a classroom with Langston Hughes in the Cleveland schools. Aside from teaching at other institutions, such as the University of Arizona, Scripps College at Claremont, the College of the Pacific and Case Western Reserve, Bongiorno was also a member of the Modern Language Association of America, The Dante Society of America, The Renaissance Society of America, AAUF and Phi Beta Kappa.
Bongiorno's fields of specialty included literary criticism, Milton and Dante. At Oberlin, he taught 17th century metaphysical poetry, history of literary criticism, Milton and Dante.
"He was a comparativist before we even had comparative literature," said English Professor David Young. "He was a scholar and a gentleman who truly led the life of the mind until the end."
English Professor Robert Pierce also recalled a quality of serenity in Bongiorno. "Andrew Bongiorno was very gentle, kind and soft-spoken. He was one of the saints of our faculty," he said.
Librarian Emiko Custard knew him as a man of intellect, vitality and old values. Custard said, "For me, Andrew was the quintessential European gentleman, ever so dignified, gentle and religious. His entire life was dedicated to teaching and Oberlin College. . . I just loved him dearly and shall miss him very much."
Upon his retirement in 1967, the English department established the Andrew Bongiorno Scholarship Fund for excellence achieved in English.
Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 11, December 4, 1998
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