4 Page 2 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 14, 1984 Bill may hurt open meetings law LANSING - Legislation allowing public bodies to evaluate their employees behind closed doors won approval in a House committee yesterday despite a journalist's contention it will gut the state's Open Meetings Act. On an 8-0 vote, the House Towns and Counties Committee sent the bill, sponsored by Rep. Richard Fitzpatrick (D-Battle Creek) to the full House. THE PROVISION makes the law "just about" 50 percent ineffective, said Tim Richard, editorial page editor of the Observer and Eccentric Newspapers. The committee is also studying a bill that would exempt "threatened" litigation against a gover- nment body from public discussion. If that measure also passes, Richard said, "The act wil be 100 percent ineffective. You might as well repeal the whole act." However, proponents of the measure, including Don Elliott, representing the Michigan Association of School Administrators, said the bill will serve the public interest by allowing "constructive criticism' of officials. "THERE ARE too many instances where such criticism has been misinterpreted by the media or certain segments of the public," Elliott said. He ad- ded that questions of publicly criticizing officials, as well as possible legal expenses incurred afterwards, "results in a reluctance to evaluate the administrator in many districts." Elliott added, "We are not attempting to dodge an- ything - we are attempting to create harmony in school districts." Currently, public bodies are allowed to meet in private only under a certain limited number of cir- cumstances, among them to consider the dismissal or discipling of a public officer, employee or other in- dividual. Under both current law and the committee revision, the meeting could be held in private only at the request of the person being evaluated. The com- mittee also approved an amendment allowing closed- door sessions only for "periodic personnel evaluations." The committee also approved a measure requiring public bodies to publish a notice in local newspapers of public meetings which are to be held in private homes. The bill requires the notice to run at least two days before the meeting. Jews asked to back Jordan aid From AP and UPI WASHINGTON - President Reagan tried to persuade Jewish leaders yesterday that American military aid to Jordan would be in Israel's "strategic interest," but they greeted his idea with silence and a few hisses. Reagan has upset Jews by proposing to sell portable Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Jordan and Saudi Arabia. In ,addition, the administration is seeking about $200 million from Congress to finance creation of an 8,000-man Jordanian strike force that could be dispatched anywhere in the Persian Gulf where trouble flares. "IT IS IN America's strategic interest - and I believe it is in Israel's strategic interest - for us to help meet Jordan's legitimate needs for defense against the growing power of Syria and Iran," Reagan told an audience of about 3,000 at the Young Leadership Conference of the United Jewish Appeal. On Capitol Hill, Rep. Larry Smith (D-Fla.), said he would lead a fight today to block the Stinger sales. He said he has the backing of about 50 House members, but acknowledged he may not succeed within -the ,0 days allowed for congressional veto of an intended arms sale. A similar move is under way in the Senate. To block the sales, both the House and Senate must pass separate bills forbidding the deals. If they are vetoed by the president, two-thirds of both chambers must vote against the sales to override his veto. However, the deals could be thwarted after the 30-day deadline if delivery - rather than sales - of the missiles is prohibited by Congress. Deputy White House press secretary Larry Speakes said Reagan was willing to continue campaining personally for approval of the sale if necessary. Reagan told the group assistance to Jordan "does not threaten Israel, but enhances the prospect for mideast peace by reducing the dangers of the radical threat" from Syria and Iran. Reagan ... met by silence, hisses Get acquainted with the low rates and wide choice of dependable GM cars available for almost every need at National Car Rental. We've got a new location in your neighbor- hood and feature low unlimited mileage rates on daily, weekly and weekend rentals. You pay for gas and return the car to the renting location. Available at: Briarwood Amoco/3230 South State Street (1-94 at State) Ann Arbor, 769-8437 WE GIVE YOU NATIONAL ATTENTION. AND THAT'S THE TRUTH. Herdsman gets acquittal fmm jude in slavery case (Continued from Page 1) ' determined unavailable to appear at the trial, said in his testimony that Asam used "strong" language frequen- tly when talking to the farmhands, and that Fulmer said four or five times he wished there were someplace else to go. SEVERAL witnesses during the trial testified that they knew Asam as "Adams.',' When. questioned about this after the trial, Morgan said Asam "was using an alias to hide his true identity," and that Asam "wasn't a very truthful person." Defense Attorney Ellis asked Joiner for an acquittal before presenting his evidence, but the judge denied the motion until the presentation of eviden- ce was complete. Joiner granted the motion for acquit- tal after Ellis's closing statement. Ellis said in his closing statement that the Kozminskis enslaved Asam "almost as much as Louie and Bob," adding that Asam was "probably the only guy who ever touched Louie. Even if it was to put his arms around him and give him a little knuckle rub." Asam said Monday he had been in the state prison several times, once on a larceny charge. Asam is currently being held at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan for writing bad checks. Also yesterday, in a separate hearing, Joiner delayed ruling on John Kozminski's motion for a new verdict or a new trial. IN BRIEF Compiled from Associated Press and United Press International reports High court permits execution WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court yesterday cleared the way for the execution today of convicted Texas murdered James David Autry, who came within minutes of being put to death last October. The justices, by a 7-2 vote, refused to hear arguments aimed at overtur- ning Autry's death sentence, including the contention that the condemned man has suffered enough. Autry's life was spared Oct. 5 by Justice Byron White only minutes before he was to die by lethal injection. One of the arguments raised by Autry's lawyers in an effort to stave off his fourth execution date was that killing Autry now - after his "ordeal" in Oc- tober - would be "cruel and unusual punishment." Autry's lawyers hoped the U.S. Supreme Court or Texas Gov. Mark White would halt the execution, which would be the 14th in the United States since Gary Gilmore was killed by a firing squad in Utah in 1977. Autry was convicted and sentenced to death for gunning down Port Ar- thur, Texas, grocery store clerk Shirley Drouet, 43, over a six-pack of beer. Defense says Mass. barroom rape started as 'just a joke' FALL RIVER, Mass. - Saying that a purported gang rape started out as "just a joke," a defense attorney told a jury yesterday his client tried to have sex on a barroom pool table with a willing woman who then asked to go home with him. "Everyone thought it was just a joke," Edward Harrington, the attorney for Daniel Silva, told a jury in opening arguments. Harrison, a former mayor of New Bedford, told the jury that the attempt at sex between his client and a 22-year-old mother of two "was consensual in nature." He said Silva would take the stand to testify that "there was no screaming no crying, until the others came around the pool table." When the woman got off the pool table to leave, "she came back to him and put her arms and legs around him and said 'take me home,"' Harrington said. Harrington said Silva had met the woman prior, to the night of March 6,; 1983 when the woman said she was attacked and raped by a gang of; strangers at Big Dan's, a bar in New Bedford's North End. Harrington's opening arguments came as the defense opened its case in an; afternoon trial of Silva, 27, and Joseph Vieira, 28. Four other men are being tried in a separate morning trial, at which the prosecution is still presenting its side.x State police, FBI investigate $750,000 armored car theft- BERKLEY, Mich. - Police yesterday stepped up their search for an ar- mored car driver who disappeared along with his bulletproof van Monday during a routine cash pickup at a suburban Detroit supermarket. Neither police nor officials of Total Armored Car Service Inc. would say how much money was in the van, but a police source quoted by the Detroit News estimated it contained $750,000 in cash, checks and food stamps. Investigators, hampered by a lack of witnesses, said they did not know if the driver absconded or was hijacked during the five-minute period his two co-workers were inside the A&P store. The driver was identified as John Murray, 39, of River Rouge, a four-year employee of Total Armored Car Service. He was driving a 1978 white Ford van with an orange stripe and lettering, marked 114 on the front and rear. State police yesterday joined the FBI and Berkley police in the search for the driver and van. Police said they questioned about a dozen people, in- cluding Murray's co-workers and members of his family. Polish church and state feud over crucifixes in high schools WARSAW, Poland - The Roman Catholc Church and Poland'sCom- munist authorities squared off yesferday over 1heg6'grnmeiits'dr to remove crucifixes from high schools, and both sides insisted they would not back away from the fight. Cardinal Jozef Glemp convened his senior bishops in Warsaw and later issued a statement saying "crosses should be returned where society demands so that the rights and demands of believers be respected." "The church will not retreat," said a statement read by Bishop Jan Mazur to more than 4,000 cheering teen-agers at a Mass at the Church of the Tran- sfiguration in Garwolin, 40 miles south of Warsaw, where the controversy broke out last week. In Warsaw, government spokesman Jerry Urgan declared religious symbols cannot be displayed in schools. This is government policy and it will not change." Attorneys stress contradiction in MSU rape trial testimony MASON, Mich. - The alleged victim in the Michigan State University gang rape case underwent her second day of cross-examination yesterday as defense attorneys stressed contradictions in her testimony. The mood in the Ingham County Circuit Court trial grew tense at times as defense lawyers drove home their contention that contradictions in the woman's testimony prove their clients are innocent. The prosecution has insisted that conflicts over such issues as whether she had two beers or three should have no impact on the outcome of the trial. On the major point - whether the woman consented to sex with the men- her testimony has been consistent, the prosecution argued. The trial - which began last week - is to continue tomorrow. Seven young men are charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the incident which occured in.November, 1982 at a MSU dormitory. - 3 IN, for the good time Spnng Polo Tops Fresh stripes and solids fo spring. Made of 65% poly ester/35% cotton blend. Sizes S-M-L. WHILE 2000 LAST CHAINWIDE 10099 NEXT TO MEIJER THRIFTY ACRES® O " CARPENTER ROAD " FORD ROAD AT CANTON CENTER Mnn. th Sat. 10 am. tn nm. ,,.S .;; .. .... A t . Shemt-Otgan BMWl Wednesday, March 14, 1984 Vol. XCIV-No. 129 (ISSN 0745-967X) The Michigan Daily is edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan. Published daily Tuesday through Sunday mornings during the University year at 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109. Sub- scription rates: $15.50 September through April (2 semesters); $19.50 by mail outside Ann Arbor. Summer session published Tuesday through Satur- day mornings. Subscription rates: $8 in Ann Arbor; $10 by mail outside AnnA Arbor. Second class postage paid at Ann Arbor, Michigan. POSTMASTER:. Send address changes to THE MICHIGAN DAILY, 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, MI48109. The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and subscribes to United Press International, Pacific News Service, Los Angeles Times Syn- dicate and Field Enterprises Newspaper Syndicate. 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