‘America’s Birth Certificate’ to be displayed in Oviatt Library

The History Department, along with several co-sponsors, will make the first statement on a historically significant map on Tuesday, said Michael Meyer, a professor in the department. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a presentation and display in the Oviatt Library’s Presentation Room on a map the Library of Congress purchased about two years ago called the 1507 Waldseemüller Map, which is the first to use the name “America.” “It was considered a cultural treasure in Germany, and that’s why it took so long to get here,” said Meyer, adding that the map was in the possession of Prince Johannes Waldburg-Wolfegg. There will be a large visual display of the map during the presentation. The map is a duplicate. “This map is of great historical significance,” said Peter Prager, special assistant to the dean of the Oviatt Library. “It’s going to be a very interesting presentation and discussion about the map.” There will be two speakers at the event. The first speaker, Margrit Krewson, who played a key role in getting the map and bringing a copy of it to CSUN, will talk about the acquisition process of “America’s Birth Certificate.” The second speaker, Ronald Grim, will give a speech titled “Inventing America: Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map and its historical significance.” There will be a reception after the presentation and both parts of the event are free.

– Samuel Richard

A.S. leaders put together trip to meeting to protest fee hikes

Associated Students leaders, along with students from 22 other California State University campuses, are organizing a protest at Thursday’s CSU Board of Trustees meeting as board members discuss a possible student fee increase. The proposed 2006-07 CSU budget includes an 8 percent fee increase, and the board and its Finance Committee will discuss the budget in its entirety. As part of a unified effort with other CSU campuses, leaders from CSUN are putting together an organized trip that will take students to the board meeting in Long Beach on Thursday morning to have a presence during the open meetings of the day. The trip is partly a result of a recent California State Students Association conference held at Humboldt State University, when CSU student leaders discussed the implications of the new increase and whether student trustee Corey Jackson will vote to approve it or not. Students who are interested in attending can contact Peter Gallego, A.S. director of legislative affairs, at 818-677-2477.

– Ryan Denham

Africa Week starts Monday morning, ends Friday night

Africa Week begins today, with events scheduled through Friday night. “This event is to celebrate the accomplishments of the continent of Africa and bring awareness to the contributions that black people have made to the advancement of knowledge throughout the world,” said Tom Spencer-Walters, chair of the Pan-African Studies Department. “It is also to provide diversified cultural and intellectual content to our diverse campus.” Spencer-Walters said the week was also intended to help strengthen the bond between the African continent and the scattering of its peoples. The week’s events will kick off Monday in the University Student Union’s Grand Salon with traditional African dancing and drumming, with flags from different African nations displayed on the Oviatt Library Lawn. Bishop Edward McKenzie will discuss post-Apartheid South Africa on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the USU Flintridge Room. “Two big events are coming for Thursday and Friday,” Spencer-Walters said. The former king of Rwanda, King Kigeli V, now in exile, will be speaking on Thursday in the Oviatt Presentation Room in the Oviatt Library at 2:30 p.m. Daphne Ntiri, former consultant of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization will be speaking on changing mind-sets in regards to female circumcision on Friday at 11 a.m. in the USU Grand Salon. On Friday, there will be a banquet, which will feature a fashion show and dance ensemble, with King Kigeli V as the distinguished speaker. The event is presented by the African Studies Interdisciplinary Program, the Pan-African Studies Department and the African Student Organization. Sponsors include the Provost’s Office, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Humanities, the Educational Opportunity Program, and the Black Student Union, among others. For further details and information, contact the Pan-African Studies Department at 818-677-3311.

– Bethania Palma