The Michigan Daily Vol. LXXXVI, No. 32-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Friday, June 18, 1976 Ten Cents Twelve Pages PROSECUTORS KEEP REASON SECRET VA motive uncovered By GEORGE LOBSENZ The motive behind the perplexing poison-induced murders of patients at Ann Arbor's Veteran's Adminis- tration (VA) Hospital last summer is apparently known to federal prosecutors but they will not discuss it before the trial of two nurses arrested in connection with the case. In further developments, the possibility that other individuals were involved in the crimes was also raised by the prosecutors, while accused murderers Filipina Narciso, 30, of Ypsilanti and Leonora Perez, 31, of Evan- ston, Ill. were arraigned in Detroit and Chicago. THE TWO Filipino women were indicted Wednesday by a 23- member grand jury on five counts of murder, one count of con- spiracy to commit murder and ten counts of injecting the lethal muscle-relaxant Pavulon into the intraveneous medicine of pa- tients. The two nurses worked in the intensive care unit of the Fuller Rd. facility last summer when a mysterious outbreak of breathing failures afflicted more than 50 patients. Investigators attributed the respiratory attacks to the powerful muscle-relexant Pavulon, a drug that makes breathing impossible without artificial aid. Eleven patients died as a result of the attacks, and at least six of the deaths were classified by investigating authorities as murders, ARRAIGNED before U. S. Magistrate Barbara Hackett at the Federal Building in Detroit, Narciso declined to enter a plea. According to U. S. Assistant Attorney Richard Delonis, Narciso "stood mute saying 'I am innocent and on advice of my counsel I plead mute."' A plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf by attorney Thomas O'Brien of the Ann Arbor firm O'Brien, Moran & Dimond. Narciso was denied bail following comments by the prose- cutor regarding the severity of the charges facing the nurse. O'Brien said he would appeal the bail ruling. PEREZ WAS brought before U. S. Magistrate Carl Sussman in Chicago who set bail at $500,000, and ordered Perez removed immediately to the Michigan jurisdiction. U. S. Assistant Attorney Richard Delonis said he expected Perez to be arraigned in Detroit Monday. At a news conference earlier in the day, Delonis revealed that the motive for the slayings was known by prosecutors but that it would not be disclosed before the trial. Delonis said the killer's motive was to play a major part in the prosecution's See PROSECUTORS, Page 10 BULLETIN WASHINGTON (/) - Rep. Wayne Hays, embroiled in a con- gressional sex scandal, has told House leaders he will resign his chairmanship of the Administration Committee effective Monday, sources close to the leadership said last night. He also has indi- cated to congressional colleagues that he will soon announce plans not to run for his 15th two-year term in November. Daily Photo by STEVE KAGAN CAST MEMBERS OF Theatre Company of Ann Arbor, Inc.'s "Bitch, You Crazy!" rehearse for tonight's opening performance. The production premieres at 8 p.m. in Schorling Auditorium. U.,S. may leave Lebanon WASHINGTON (P)--President Ford and mem- bers of the National Security Council held a 90- minute White House discussion of the Lebanon situation late yesterday, including the question of whether to evacuate American citizens. But no announcement of any decisions was made, and presidential Press Secretary Ron Nes- sen told reporters he would not say anything more last night. JOINING THE council members at the meeting was retired Ambassador L. Dean Brown, who has been a temporary U.S. diplomatic representative in Beirut. Ie is being sent by Ford to escort the bodies of slain Ambassador Francis Meloy and economic counselor Robert Waring back to Wash- ington. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger drove away from the meeting without speaking to reporters. Nessen would say only that "the President re- viewed the situation . . . was brought up to date, and there was a very thorough discussion." "THAT IS ALL that is going to be said this evening," the spokesman added. He did not in- dicate when there might be further White House action or comment in the wake of the slaying of the American diplomats. In Beirut, Palestinian and leftist guerrillas promised to report on the interrogation of sus- pected assasins of Meloy, Waring and their Leba- nese driver. See U.S., Page 10 'U' must bow to changing sex roles By LAURIE YOUNG Fourth in a Five Part Series With w o m e n increasingly asserting their new roles, the University must re- spond by both accommodating and wel- coming the changing needs of men and women alike. "There is a general commitment to change," says Regent Sarah Power, "on the part of President Fleming and the Regents. The Commission for Women and the Affirmative Action Office oper- ate out of the President's office. We were one of the first and few universi- ties to have collected and analyzed data (about affirmative action)." "THE KEY question," according to University Natural Resources Prof. Peter Sandman, "is whether or not symbolic and personal changes can lead to in- stitutional changes. The University is not prepared, but it is not closing up." Title IX, a law which under the 1972 Educational Act prohibits sex discrimin- ation in any area of public education, is a good stepping stone for the University. At present, following the guidelines of Title IX, the University is undergoing a major self-evaluation to pinpoint the areas where sex discrimination practices are occurring. "Title IX provides substantive rights for students. Areas such as housing, fi- nancial aid, athletics, course offerings More women required and student organizations are being in- conscientious job, it may work." vestigated," Virginia Nordby, interim Compliance with Title IX, however, Title IX Policy Coordinator, explains. does not demonstrate a willingness on "The University has been trying to elim- the part of the University to take initia- inate discrimination practices in these tive-they are legally bound to follow areas for awhile, but now under federal .the law's stipulations. law, Title IX gives students the right." "I am more interested in the Univer- sity's commitment," says Power, "not "THE EXTENSIVE debate which Title Title IX and Title VII (a protection IX brings about is healthy," says Nord- against race discrimination)." by. "People are better educated and A more active recruitment of women more convinced that we have a serious students, faculty, and staff is one positive problem. If we accept the task of self- action which Power suggests the Univer- evaluation with good grace and do a See 'U, Page 10