I E fintyeaftdat .Ninety-seven years of editorial freedom 1akt1Q 1Vol. XCVII - No. 55 Copyright 1986, The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan - Wednesday, November 19, 1986 Ten Pages Crowd urges 'U' to grant Mandela degree By STEVE KNOPPER ' Members of the Free South Africa Coordinating Committee (FSACC) and two University professors argued for more than an hour last night with the committee which is reviewing the University's honorary degree policy. The debate occurred at the committee's first open hearing. Most of the argument stemmed from a Board of Regents bylaw which prohibits conferring honorary degrees on people who cannot attend the University's graduation ceremonies. ADVOCATES of a degree for jailed South African leader Nelson Mandela were outraged last May when they learned of the bylaw shortly before commencement. The group had been lobbying to get the University to give Mandela a degree. FSACC member Barbara Ransby, the second speaker at the hearing, said, "We hadn't even been listened to ... we were constantly met with walls of 'no comment"' after the group collected more than 2,500 signatures, solicited letters of recommendation from around the world, and lobbied University officials in support of conferring the degree on Mandela. Ransby offered three suggestions for a more effective debate over the bylaw: Hold an "open and honest dialogue" about the rule; abandon the rule which keeps confidential the actions of both the committee reviewing the honorary degree policy and the committee which chooses honorary degree recipients; and look at the issue in a timely matter - that is, do not "allow the issue to be drawn out another year." T H O M A S Holt, director of the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies, who renominated Mandela for an honorary degree in last month, said he was "concerned about the moral ambiguity of the University's position on South African reconstruction" and that the University "should honor achievement based on qualities we claim to teach." FSACC member Brett Stockdill said the University was "hypocritical to deny (the degree to) those who have made obvious sacrifices." He said the regents and See MANDELA, Page 5 The Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolution last night opposing the Board of Regents bylaw which requires honorary degree nominees to be present at commencement. MSA urged the ad hoc review committee for the honorary degree policy to recommend a change in this bylaw and stated its support for an honorary degree for jailed South African leader Nelson Mandela. "The administration has already successfully delayed the granting of such a degree for several months by refusing to consider Mandela's case because of the current bylaw constrictions,"the resolution said. - Wendy Sharp Daily Photo by PETE ROSS' John D'Arms, Dean of Rackham, addresses an audience of ap- proximately 40 at the honorary degree policy meeting last night. D'Arms is the head of the ad hoc committee to review the honorary degree policy at U-M. cutting enI - use' use angers students By MARTIN FRANK The students who resigned Monday from the Research Policies Committee were making a statement against the advisory committee that reviewed the guidelines for research, the students said yesterday. The students felt that the advisory committee appointed by Shapiro was "intentionally biased and unrepresentative. In forming this committee, (University) President (Harold) Shapiro bypassed the normal selection process for the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs and Michigan Student Assembly representation,". said a prepared statement released by the students. MSA Miltary Research Advisor Ingrid Kock, one of the students who resigned from the committee, said the students felt that resignation would call attention to what they felt was a hurried discussion of the University's research policy. The students wanted more discussion on the possibility of extending the "end-use" clause, which bans only classified research that can kill or maim humans, to all forms of sponsored research. They were denied discussion time because the RPC had to meet a time schedule, which the students said was too rushed. "WE believe that were we to stay on the committee, we would legitimize a process that's flawed," said history graduate student Eric Caplan, another student member who resigned. Added Kock, "We felt that it was more effective if we make a statement than accept the weak statement (currently being negotiated) of the RPC." Biochemistry graduate student Marisela Velez and physics graduate student Michael Massey also resigned. THE RPC is one of the groups See STUDENTS, Page 2 N. Korean president dispels death rumors SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korean president Kim Ii Sung, who had been reported slain or ousted in a coup, made an official appearance today in Pyongyang, greeting the Mon- golian premier, the official North Korean news agency reported. A photograph also distributed by the Korean Central News Agency showed the 74-year-old Kim shaking hands with Zhambyn Batmunkh in an airport welcoming for the Mongolian leader. AN ASIAN diplomat in Pyongyang, contacted by telephone from Peking, told The Associated Press that he had seen Kim at the airport and "he is in absolutely good health." "Everything is all right in this country, the situation is absolutely normal," the diplomat said, speaking on condition that he not be identified. "There seems to be nothing correct about these reports of an assassination or power seizure." The photo, and an earlier report by the Korean Central News Agency and Radio Pyongyang on the airport greeting, dispelled rumors about the fate of Kim and a struggle for control of this communist country of 19 million which he has led since its creation in 1948. A FLURRY of reports that Kim had been killed or deposed began Sunday when the defense ministry in Seoul said broadcasts from North Korean loudspeakers along the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas said Kim had been shot to death. Japan's Kyodo News Service said in a dispatch from Hanoi See N. KOREAN, Page -5 Student aid status altered By MICHAEL LUSTIG When Congress passed a law re-authorizing federal financial aid funds last September, it changed the definition of an independent student to clear up ambiguities in the old rules, according to Assistant Director of Financial Aid Lynn Borset. Under the new rule, any student under 24 will automatically be classified as dependent unless he or she falls under one of six exceptions. THE old law required students to meet three criteria to be considered self-supporting: They couldn't be claimed as an exemption on parents' income taxes, receive more than $750 in parental support a year, or live with parents for more than six weeks a year. An unmarried student had to meet these standards for two consecutive years, and a married student was required to meet them for only one year. Borset said that in the old system it was not always easy to document whether or not students followed the rules. If questions arose, the financial aid office asked the applicant to provide additional information on personal expenses and resources. By requiring that additional information, Borset said, the office went "a step towards meeting the spirit as well as the letter of the law." The new method - scheduled to be effective for the 1987-88 school year and Jan. 1 for Guaranteed Student Loans - is clearer and more detailed than the previous rules, according to Borset. Students under 24 will be considered dependent unless he or she: -Is an orphan, ward of the court, or a veteran; See LAW, Page 5 Daily Photo by SCOTT LITUCHY On te lookout Ann Arbor skateboarder John Conlee, age 14, climbs atop of the sculpture in front of the University Museum of Art. He and his friend Nathan Kuder are "just a couple of skateboarders messing around," Conlee said. Pierce makes stops at area shelters By EVE BECKER Ann Arbor Mayor Ed Pierce appeared briefly last night at the two area homeless shelters, talking to staff and looking at conditions in the shelters to commemorate Homeless Awareness Week. Pierce said the shelters need more space to accommodate more people, especially during the winter months. "THE city has put money into the shelter, but it doesn't want to run it," he said, because non-profit organizations are better equipped than the city is to run the day-to- day operations of the shelters. Shelter staff and homeless guests commended Homeless Awareness Week because it can help increase awareness of the problems which City, 'U' oI the homeless face, but they were skeptical about whether the mayor's brief visit would affect the condition of the homeless in the city because there is little low- income housing. Pierce said he visited the shelters to show the people running them that Homeless Awareness Week was more that just a gesture. RESIDENTS of the shelter were surprised that the mayor would visit the shelter, and thought that more public officials should visit. Some questioned Pierce about city policies and his visit to Nicaragua, but most did not talk to him because they just considered him a 5serve 'Homeless Awareness Week' visitor to the shelter. Other programs being planned for the week, such as bucket drives and a benefit dance, will help raise money for the shelters. Homeless Awareness Week was created by a resolution proposed by Pierce and passed by the Ann Arbor City Council. The City of Ann Arbor and the University are sponsoring events throughout the week in order to raise awareness about the problems of the homeless. THE community awareness committee, formed by resident staff and students in Bursley Hall, has mounted efforts to raise awareness about the homeless before, but the group has concentrated on raising awareness in Bursley Hall. This year the activities planned for the week attempt to make the program University-wide. Much of the University's activities, such as movies, an open house at'the shelter, and a shelter clean-up, were started by students and staff in Bursley. At Monday's meeting of the Ann Arbor City Council, the city of Ypsilanti presented a proclamation. commending the attention to the plight of the homeless. Similar resolutions were presented by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and by a representative of State Rep. Perry Bullard (D-Ann Arbor). MANDY King, a worker at a daytime shelter run by the Ann Arbor Shelter Association, said she doubted the motives and effectiveness of the mayor's visit. "I expect him to come in and say a few good words, give wonderful, wonderful praises, and then to walk out and never think of it again," said King. "If they (the city) really wanted to help, we need emergency vouchers because we're overcrowded," she said. See CITY, PAGE 5 TODAY- Gift horse Another silly bet Some people never learn," said Ann Arbor's state Senator Lana Pollack, in announcing an Ohio Ring.. . W hen you see news happen, you can now call 76-DAILY and it will ring (we hope). Following INSIDE- PIRGIM: Opinion discusses the public interest group's funding problems. See Page 4. I i