Forum dispels stereotypes By Lindsay Young Assignment Reporter Kari Yanai never wore a kimono when she lived in Japan. Ebru Gokdag, from Turkey, doesn’t ride a camel or read and write regularly in Arabic. Natasha Sekitoleko, from Uganda, isn’t hungry or poor. Women from different countries spoke Thursday in die Nebraska Union about stereotypes and other issues they face while in America. Six women participated in the International Women’s Forum, which was sponsored by the Women’s Center as part of Women’s Week. Soledad Quinonez, who moderated the forum, said organizers wanted to dispel stereotypes of international women and their countries. Panelists would be discussing their individual experiences and would not be speaking for their countries, she said. In Turkey, Gokdag said, women are paid the same as men, and the Turkish prime minister is a woman. But regardless of surface equality, Turkish women still do not have the opportunities of American women. Battered women are common in Turkey, she said. So when Gokdag came to America, she was surprised when touching a woman on the arm could be considered harassment or abuse. Because her feelings about abuse and harassment have changed, Gokdag said, it will be difficult to return to a country that thinks nothing of those issues. Other panelists said men and women in their home countries were seen as equals. Gabriela Velasquez, from Venezuela, said she is one of only a few women in her engineering classes at he University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “In my country it is common for women to be engineers,” Velasquez said. Stereotypes panelists have of the United States also surfaced. Panelists agreed their concepts of Americans came from movies and tele vision shows, especially the most popu lar television show worldwide - “Baywatch” “People in Belgium tend to think if they watch ‘Baywatch’ they can judge America,” Geysels said Geysels said she is confused by Americans who identify themselves by their ancestors. She said she has met people who have told her they are one fourth Belgian. “It’s like, ‘Yes - is there supposed to be a connection?”’ Police arrest suspect for distributing pornography From Staff Reports A Lincoln man was arrested this week for distributing child pornog raphy in an Internet chat room. Lincoln police received a com plaint from a New Hampshire computer user Feb. 19 that he had received sexual pictures of young boys through a sexually oriented Internet chat room, Lincoln police Sgt. Ann Heermann said. The New Hampshire computer user knew the pictures were sent by someone in Lincoln, so he reported it to police here. The technical investigations unit acted on the tip and obtained Andrew Schuler’s name from the Internet provider he used to send pictures, Sgt. A1 Bemdt said. Police then gathered informa tion for a search warrant, which they served at Schuler’s apartment in the 3700 block of Faulkner Drive Wednesday morning. When police searched the home, they found videos and computer files with young males engaging in sexual activity. Schuler, 31, was arrested for possession and distribution of child pornography, both felony offenses. The U.S. Attorney is interested in the case and will press charges. Berndt said policing the Internet is difficult because of the amount of information on it. “There are a lot of things out there people think should be ille gal.” Pioneering playwright shares experiences with English class PLAY from page 1 Crowley told students that in 1968, when “The Boys in the Band” was first produced, life was drasti cally different from today. “Back then plays like ‘The Boys in the Band’ were considered closet plays, and artists were said to have feared consequences,” Crowley said. “Over the years, plays have emerged as works of the imagination.” Crowley said people are becom ing more aware that artists have the right to do whatever they want. Taking questions from students, Crowley explained what his parents and the public thought of his work. “I consider the public my family,” Crowley said. “It is a strange and abnormal life - a playwright and a writer - and I am part of a different kind of family, an abnormal family. “As for my parents, well, they were supportive knowing that they had a weird kid.” But Crowley said he didn’t think his parents liked the direction he took in writing. “All of my writings do reflect times and experiences of my own life,” he said. Crowley, who originally wanted to be a scene designer, said he decid ed to become a playwright when something painful occurred in his life. “I was getting over some broken hearted matter, and I decided to write about the situation,” he said. “Writing is beyond satisfying - it is almost thrilling. There is no better place to dramatize a situation in life than on paper.” Crowley told students that the process of writing does not always come naturally, not even for him. In fact, one of the biggest chal lenges in Crowley’s life is sometimes his writing. Writing affects him pro fessionally and personally, he said. “It is hard to keep on going some times,” Crowley said. “The challenge is trying to find enough stimulus to keep an interest in my career and the things I believe in.” Finding things in life to keep him going have cultivated some of Crowley’s successes. Crowley said in order to be suc cessful, one must “go out and do the things they need to do.” “The excitement and role of show biz is a neurotic thing - we are all neurotic in this world,” Crowley said. Wolf said he was pleased that his students enjoyed the momentous opportunity to meet with Crowley. Jill Matlock, a sophomore sec ondary education major, said meet ing with Crowley made his plays come alive. “I loved it,” Matlock said. “I now know how these plays were written - not by a name on a page, but by a man. “This is something that I will not forget.” “For Reasons that Remain Unclear” is being performed tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Wagon Train Project/7th Street Loft, 512 S. 7th St. Crowley will take part in a question-and-answer session after the performance. The play also will be performed Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, $5 for students. For ticket information and/or reservations call the Wagon Train Project, (402) 435-5592. ttie web! 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