Another day on the Diag

This is a view of the center of the Diag at the University of Michigan during an Oct 17th  protest againt pollution and greenhouse gases (Photo by Michael S. Sanders).

By Michael S. Sanders

ANN ARBOR Mich.- The protest begins with about 100 people gathering around a band that has determined to play despite the wind blowing umbrellas inside out and slight rain. After playing a number, the true reason for the music is revealed. One young lady from the crowd merges with a megaphone. Mary stands up and describes her feelings of discouragement with the way the Earth’s environment is heading with polluted water and greenhouse gases.

“But then I come here and I see all you guys, and it makes me so happy and so humbled all the time to be working with people who believe in change and they believe in something good, and it keeps me working everyday with the same ability and initiative at the University of Michigan.” said Mary who failed to revial her last name.

After a number of speeches, everyone gathered together for a group picture. Mary arranges everyone to spell out the number 350 to represent the level at which carbon dioxide in the atmosphere when it becomes dangerous to people. More pictures are taken with people linking arms, doing the wave, and giving the peace sign. Soon, the entire crowd has disperses.

Located in the heart of the U of M campus, the diag serves as a gathering spot for events, protest, and meeting place. On this particular cold overcast day, a group of some 25 people, who preferred not to go to the school’s football game, have gathered in the center of the diag, in front of the Hatcher Graduate Library to protest against polluting forms of energy, especially coal, and pressing for further development in wind and solar energy.

Running from the intersection of South State St.; North University, to South University and East University avenues, the Diag is composed of a brick side walk that runs diagonally across central campus. Many trees dot the landscape, nearly all which have turned color by this day. The area resembles a small park. In the center of the brick sidewalk lays a golden brass M, the university’s logo.

Protesters such as Mary are not the only action the diag sees on a regular basis. Tailgaters, petitioners, skateboarders, bikers, photographers, and dog walkers, are all likely to be seen at the busiest spot on campus.

A few weeks earlier, a group of incoming freshman were touring the school campus. No surprise their tour took them through the Diag. As they walked through, their tour guide described the Diags significance.

"Passing by the Diag, there's always something to do", the guide said.

She also mentions the tradition of different fraternities taking turns guarding the M against vandalizes. The guide tells the group of one local legend surrounding the diag. If the brass M is stepped on by  freshmen students before taking their first exam, they will fail that exam. This curse can only be broken under the condition that the student streaks from the M to the natural history museum and back, about a distance of about one third of a mile each way, within the 12 strokes of midnight. Unfortunately, the campus clock tower no longer rings at midnight.

Disabilites director a man of multiple talents

By Michael Sanders

YPSILANTI, Mich. - An author, hostage negotiator, soccer couch, prison warden, rap artist, J. Silvia Goncalve, , has had the privilege of doing just about everything in life.

As the director of Eastern’s Students with Disabilities Office, Goncalve works with students to encourage and support Eastern student's and help to accommodate their needs.

Russell Sommer, an Eastern alumni student says, "Dr. Silva is one of the most open and friendly employees at EMU. He is the first to sing good morning to everyone at the office and willing to take time out to see how your doing."

A number of the multiple careers Goncalve has experienced have been in the area of psychology. In his book “Life 100”, Goncalve discusses the key to a better attitude and more positive outlook on life. “Life 100” focuses on the four pillars of four aspects of life: physical, emotional, social, and spiritual.

“It’s a science based self improvement program” Goncalve said.

“Life 100” takes the four pillars and shows how to apply them to everyday life and how much time should be spent I each aspect of life. “Life 100” has people focus 90 percent of their time on the present, 9 percent planning for the future, and 1 percent reflecting on the past.

Money made from sales of Goncalve’s book goes toward funding a Brazilian orphanage that his mother started. The orphanage now consists of four or five houses run by church members and volunteers.

George Pariseau, a former assistant to Goncalve in the disabilities office at Eastern, first met Goncalve while learning about “Life 100”.

“Silva is a man who has impeccable integrity, a great sense of humor, and an uncommonly optimistic perspective on life.”

Other areas of psychology in which Goncalve has had experience include hostage negotiations.

“There’s a lot of variables to it”,Goncalve said. “The process is you have to stabilize the scenario.”

Team work is a key part in negotiating. However there is such a thing as to much team work. If too many agencies become involved with the case, arguments arise over how the situation is to be handled.

“In a nutshell, you have to have a very good team put together.”

Fortunately, Goncalve has had a good team every time.

 “Several times I had several negotiations and all the hostages came out alive.”

Similarly, Goncalve has worked as a prison warden where he had the opportunity to mentor to young prisoners. Surrounded by other inmates in an isolated environment often makes things worse for inmates rather than to help correct them.

“Very few people come out of prison rehabilitated” he said

Despite such a depressing environment, Goncalve still tried to see the best of things in his work.

"The coffee was free, the food wasn't bad."

In the prison, Goncalve tried to teach inmates about values and morals, but the prisoners ignored him. All they wanted was to listen to rap music. In order to mentor to them more effectively, Goncalve turned all his lessons into rap songs that he taught to the prisoners. One of Goncalve’s favorite rap lesson include, “Upbeat Saturday morning”

Goncalve's songs helped him communicate better with the inmates about values and morals.

"I got a call from one of the boys a couple years ago," he said, "twelve years latter, he still remembers."
Goncalve currently has six songs written. He hopes to write more and eventually record his own CD of rap songs.

Lyrics of “Upbeat Saturday Morning”

By J. Silva Goncalve

Upbeat Saturday morning

Upbeat everyday

We do our homework

And then we can play

On the way up, on the way up.

"In summary, I'm a workaholic.", says Goncalve

Ann Arbor welcomes famous band trio

The children's band Gemini plays
for about 30 people during a
Sept. 26 concert in Ann Arbor.
(Photo by Michael S. Sanders)

By Michael S. Sanders

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Weather and overcast skies, did not prevent the children’s band Gemini, from performing for Ann Arboners.

After playing ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’, one of the brothers commented,

“Hopefully we won’t see any rainbows because that also probably means we’ll get some rain.”

Ironically the area in which the band was playing was in front of a large mural with a rainbow on it. Fortunately, no rainbows ever occurred during the Sept. 26 performance.

As the trio prepares for a musical number in the Kerry Town Courtyard, people quickly gather to around to hear a band that has won numerous awards for their beloved and prestigious children’s music. As the Gemini band begins to play, a few young toddlers get up to dance along. Others boys and girls soon join in. After getting the energy out of their system, the kids settle back down to listen again.

For 36 years, the Gemini band, consisting of San and Laz Slomoviits have preformed for children. Emily, a daughter of one of the brothers also contributes to the group. The brothers have lived in Ann Arbor since they immigrated to the United States from Israel in 1973.

In a gesture of gratefulness to the city, the band even devoted a song to an Ann Arbor deli across the street from where they were performing.

“Let’s go get a sandwich at the deli, cause I’m sick and tired of peanut butter and jelly. Something to really fill my belly; let’s go get a sandwich at the deli.”

After a performance with the bones, Gemini got the audience moving again, with their song, 'You gotta sing."

The song had the audience jumping, waving, flapping their arms, hopping, waving, spinning around, and stomping.

The band then introduced a fourth member of their group, limber jack, the wooden dancing string puppet. Four young toddlers volunteered to help move limber jack. Stage frightened, one decided to sit out. The three remaining kids help move limber jack’s arms and legs as the band plays the violin.

The brothers themselves play the guitar, fiddle, mandolin, pennywhistle, harmonica, slide whistle, Native American flute, spoons, and tambourine. One instrument unique to the band is the bones. The bones, consisting of a set of two wooden sticks, are held like chop sticks. While sitting in a chair, a person raises their hand a few inches above their leg. Using the other hand, the bones are hit between the persons open hand and leg.

Finally, after more than an hour long performance, Gemini puts limber jack back in his case until the next time he is scheduled to perform.