4 Page 2 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 22, 1986 RESIDENTS PETITION FOR STA TUS QUO City council requests zoning proposal study By STEPHEN GREGORY The Ann Arbor City Council last night asked the city planning com- mission to consider a proposal that would halt the expansion of frater- nities, sororities, and cooperatives west of Washtenaw Avenue and south of Hill Street. A resolution asks the commission to review a zoning plan that would make it illegal to turn 44 homes in the area from being used by large groups. A petition signed by nearly 70 residents of the area was included with the resolution proposal ex- pressing support for rezoning. NEIGHBORS in the past have op- posed the establishment of Collegiate Sorosis sorority on Lincoln Avenue, saying it would upset the balance between students and residents in the area. The fight over Collegiate Sorosis is still being waged in the courts. Area residents expressed in the resolution their desire "that the stock of family housing in this area be preserved for that use." Andrea Van Houweling, a resident. of the area, said the rezoning would give the residents the same zoning terms they had prior to 1984 whereby no home smaller than 5,000 square feet could legally be converted into a group home. Although none of the petitioners' homes are currently larger than 5,000 square feet, Van Houweling said the zoning terms changed in 1984, allowing the homes to be added onto until they met the requirement. Julie Casa, another resident of the area, said she hoped the resolution would "restore the stability of the balance that we have of neighbors and students." Abbate says U.S. should aid Sandinistas (Continued from Page 1) the war zones in central Nicaragua and near the Atlantic coast. "ONCE THE WAR is over, everyone will be amazed at what they (the Sandinistas) will do," she said. She added that even though 50 percent of their budget goes to fight the war with the Contras, they are still "paving the roads between cities and making great stides in health." Abbate says she doesn't understand where Reagan get his information about the Sandinistas. Reagan has called them "an outlaw regime" of Marxists-Leninists that kill and tor- ture civilians. "The Sandinistas do not kill people," she says. "They are the people." Unlike former President Anastasio Samoza's National Guard, which went unpunished for its "abuses against the people," the Sandinistas ae punished for their crimes by serving time in jail, Abbate said. ABBATE SAYS she felt much more comfortable in Nicaragua than in Honduras and Guatemala. In Hon- duras, for example, the military stop- ped the bus Abbate was on, searched the luggage, and checked for passpor- ts. She had similar experiences in Guatemala. "There was the most police that I've ever seen," she said. "I felt like I was being watched." "They had checkpoints and come on the bus and look at everybody," she added. "In Nicaragua, there were men in .uniform, the Sandinistas. But there was a different feeling. They were friendly and approachable," she said. Think You're Pregnant? Free Pregnancy Test Completely Confidential Pregnancy Counseling Center 529 N. Hewitt, Ypsilanti Call: 434-3088 (any time) ABBATE BECAME interested in Nicaragua as a high school senior in Rochester, Mich. when a nun spoke to her class about Nicaragua. Last September, she joined the Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC). This heightened her interest in Central America, leading her to decide before Thanksgiving that "it would be fun to go down." Her visit was affiliated with an in- dependent program, Casa Nicaraguence de Espanol. The program required four hours of Spanishnclasses every weekday mor- ning and two hours of political meetings in the afternoon. ABBATE WAS apprehensive at first because she didn't know what to ex- pectin Nicaragua. On the plane there, for instance, a man next to her leaned over and said in a thick accent, "you going to get undressed? "It took Ab- bate a moment to realize he had asked her if she was "going to Honduras." Abbate lived in Managua with an older woman and her two gran- dchildren. The house wheregshe stayed had a tile floor and walls that didn't quite reach the ground. The family had a broken refrigerator, a broken television set, and running water except for one day a week when it was shut off for conservation pur- poses. ABBATE SAID that most of the people "support the Sandinistas and their policy and what they are trying to do. No one I spoke to liked the Con- tras. There is definitely not support for the Contras." Abbate described the Contras as "a band of bandits. They are losing strength," she said, "and are small groups that are trapped without any territory. Abbate's younger sister Mandy has trouble with some of the stories she hears because they contradict what the Reagan Administration says. "It's hard for me to understand because of all the stuff I hear from Reagan," she says. Her sister's attitude is "very representative of how we've been in- doctrinated by the administration," said Abbate's friend Kim Clum, an LSA sophomore and a member of LASC. "The Reagan administration propaganda against Nicaragua is so strong that it's almost impossible not to get sucked in by it," she said. Yet Abbate strongly emphasizes that Nicaragua is not communist. She said that there is Cuban influence, but the Cubans helped out on a literacy campaign. "THERE WAS over 50 percent illiteracy and now there is less than 12 percent," she said. "I asked the people about the Cubans and they said that they asked for help. They needed teachers, and advisors. They (Cuba) were the only ones that responded." Abbate had the support of her parents throughout the trip. Her father, Dominick, felt that it would be an educational experience for her. Her mother, Kathy, who agrees with Abbate on political issues, was very happy that her daughter wanted to see for herself what was going on in Nicaragua,' but both' parents were worried for their daughter's safety. "She is the kind of person that would need to see for herself," said Abbate's friend Lisa Roberts, an engineering sophomore. "She didn't just accept what she read about it. She wanted to know for herself exactly what it was like." Abbate was at first apprehensive about how she would be treated. She said "at times it was embarrassing to be an American." She told a story about attending a funeral for two men who were killed by Contras. "I felt so bad being there since my government killed them. But people made it a point to come up and say, 'You're not responsible for this. You're being down here represents that you're dif- ferent from your government.''s EVEN AFTER seeing what goes on in Nicaragua, Abbate's view of America did not drastically change. "I don't hate our country. The political situation isn't good, but I do have the option to try to change it," Abbate said. Abbate feels that the experience has changed her somewhat. "Just seeing the Nicaraguans, being with them and their incredible spirit and their accep- tance of us and what our government does, is just a whole new perspective. I feel incredibly lucky that I had the opportunity to go down there and see and learn what I did. And I'm glad that I'm coming back and speaking and people are listening." IN BRIEF COMPILED FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS Terrorists could enter U.S. EL PASO, Texas - Determined, sophisticated terrorists could easily cross the border into the United States, according to federal officials whose agencies are on alert after the bombing of Libya. The vast, open spaces of the 1,952-mile border between the United States and Mexico, coupled with limited manpower of federal agencies, has made it relatively easy for illegal aliens to slip in, officials said yesterday. It would be just as easy for a professional terrorist, they said. Authorities along the 4,139-mile border between the United States and Canada also are on the watch for imposters and false passports that could give away a potential terrorist. "The best we can do is to be alert to the possibility of terrorist activity," said Larry Richardson, the chief Border Patrol agent for the El Paso district. "An unarmed terrorist, someone handled routinely, would have a lot of odds in his favor." "The most damaging thing a terrorist can carry (across a border) is his armament," Richardson said. "But if you provide it in the country, and mix him in with the population," the actual crossing of the border would be a relatively minor problem, he said. Allies wanted stronger strike against Libya, Reagan says WASHINGTON - President Reagan said yesterday that after he decided to launch a limited military strike against Libya, some U.S. allies suggested a coordinated, "all-out" attack to force a change in Moammar Khadafy's policy of exporting terrorism. In an interview with The Associated Press and other news agencies, the president said the suggestions were "that we look seriously together at real major action" against Libya. He did not name the nations or the leaders who offered that advice. But the Washington Times, in a report published yesterday, quoted a senior administration official as saying French President Francois Mit- terand told U.S. envoy Vernon Walters he would support the mission only if it were strong enough to be aimed at overthrowing Khadafy. High court rules news media need not verify slander WASHINGTON - The news media do not have to prove the truth of defamatory statements that prompt libel lawsuits, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday. By a 5-4 vote in a case involving The Philadelphia Inquirer, the justices said the Constitution requires people who sue the news media to prove that the defamatory statement about them is false. Past rulings had established that public officials and public figures who sue for libel have the burden of proving the allegedly libelous statements were untrue. But until yesterday, state laws varied over who - a plaintiff or defendant - has the burden of proof when a private citizen sues the news media. In other action, the court: Agreed to decide in a Florida case whether all recipients of federal aid, including virtually all public schools, are barred from discriminiating against people with contagious diseases, including'AIDS. Dollar fals: Consumers to pay NEW YORK - The dollar skidded to new lows against the Japanese yen yesterday, and economists said the latest plunge would give an extra boost to American manufacturers while costing consumers money. Japan's central bank, concerned that the dollar's fall is hurting Japanese exporters, reportedly tried but failed to prop up the dollar by buying roughly $1 billion on the open market. The dollar slid to 171.90 yen in Tokyo and then to 171.05 yen in New York. The rates in both cities were the lowest closes of the post-World War II period. The dollar's previous lows were 174.90 yen on March 18 in Tokyo and 172.30 yen Friday in New York. A lower dollar helps U.S. companies compete with the Japanese at home and abroad. But it makes American consumers have to pay more for Japanese imports such as cars and electronic equipment. Marcos says Aquino will fall MANILA, Philippines - Battles between soldiers and communist rebels have taken nearly 100 lives in three days, and Ferdinand Marcos predicted yesterday that the insurgents will oust President Corazon Aquino within a month. Marcos, who fled the country Feb. 26 for Hawaii, accused Mrs. Aquino and members of her Cabinet of being sympathetic to the communists. The official Philippine News Agency said 23 guerrillas, 17 soldiers and a civilian were killed in the latest clash, which occurred yesterday in Cagayan province on the northeastern coast of Luzon Island. The death toll in five actions since Friday is 61 soldiers, 30 New People's Army in- surgents and the civilian. Marcos claimed in a videotaped interview released here yesterday that what he called Mrs. Aquino's lack of leadership had strengthened the rebels and weakened the military. He predicted that opposition to Mrs. Aquino will grow, her government will fall within a month and instability will spread through Asia. "The moment the Philippines goes under, the country is taken over by the communists, then we have a problem in the entire Asian Pacific," the former president said. "It may end up with the entire Asian Pacific star- ting a serious war, and it may be a third world war. This is what I'm worried about." Recent statements by Marcos have been increasingly strident and onimous. His supporters have begun demonstrating in the streets and he urges them on. Vol. XCVI- No. 138 The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967 X) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms. Subscription rates: September through April-$18 in Ann Arbor; $35 outside the city. One term-$10 in town; $20 outside the city. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and subscribes to United Press International, Pacific News Service, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, and College Press Service. 0 n 0 p FM Students sue under weatherization law (Continued from Page 1) Andrew Komblevitz, an attorney for Spears and Woltersom, declined to comment, saying he had not resear- ched the students' claim and the weatherization law. The company has 28 days to respond to the suit. "The point we're trying to make is the way that housing is in Ann Arbor, students can't afford to not speak up," said Dotson. "They just weren't giving us any response. They think students are going to roll over and play dead," she said. Before the students signed the lease, Dotson said, they were not given a written summary of utility cost history for the house. "I think what a lot of students don't realize is that landlords are required to get a copy of the utility cost history" said Dotson, adding that students are often MEDIATRICSunaware of their rights as tenants. PRESENTS G -.. Group faults safety dept 'destruction (Continued from Page 1) down," he said. Linzie said the attacks on the shanty were racially motivated, but the University has only responded as if it were commonplace vandalism. "I think it's clear that we need a multi-racial movement to combat apartheid and racist violence on this campus," he said. "It's clear that the administration should prioritize cam- pus safety. The tearing down of the shanty illustrates both of these poin- ts." UNIVERSITY President Harold Shapiro last week approved the shan- ty's continued existence on the Diag as long as it serves an educational purpose, but Linzie questioned the University's commitment to the sym- bol of black suffering. "I think their actions speak louder than words," he said. "Why is the University going to allow these racist attacks to continue?" he said. Despite the repeated attacks, Pifer said the Safety Department has no suspects. "We've interviewed one guy who saw someone tearing it down, but he said he didn't know who it was," said Pifer. He added that he didn't know if the same person was respon- sible for the attacks, but said, "I sup- pose if they keep doing it we're going to catch them." Linzie charged that the repeated at- tacks on the shanty point out how dangerous it could be for people on the Diag. "What if a woman was attacked on the Diag at the same place as the shanty stands on three consecutive weekends? If it's possible for the shanty to be destroyed without any kind of security check in two hours, it's also possible for a woman to be at- tacked," he said. "That area is un- I U Editor in Chief .............. ERIC MATTSON Managing Editor ......... RACHEL GOTTLIEB News Editor ................ JERRY MARKON Features Editor.............CHRISTY RIEDEL NEWS STAFF: Eve Becker, Melissa Birks, Laura Bischoff, Rebecca Blumenstein, Marc Carrel, Dov Cohen, Adam Cort, Laura Coughlin, Tim Daly, Nancy Driscoll, Rob Earle, Ellen Fiedelholtz, Amy Goldstein, Susan Grant, Stephen Gregory, Steve Herz, Mary Chris Jaklevic, Philip Levy, Michael Lustig, Amy Mindell, Caroline Muller, Kery Mura- kami, Jill Oserowsky, Joe Pigott, Kurt Serbus, Martha Sevetson, Wendy Sharp, Cheryl Wistrom. Opinion Page Editor..........KAREN KLEIN Associate Opinion Page Editor. .. HENRY PARK OPINION PAGE STAFF: Rosemary Chinnock, Peter Ephross, Leslie Eringaard, Gayle Kirshen- baum, Peter Mooney, Susanne Skubik, Caleb Southworth. Arts Editor............... NOELLE BROWER Associate Arts Editor..........BETH FERTIG Books................REBECCA CHUNG Film ..................... SETH FLICKER Sports Editor ............... BARB McQUADE Associate Sports Editors ...... 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