Ninety-seven years of editorial freedom VOLUME XCVII - NO. 98 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17,1987 COPYRIGHT 1987 THE MICHIGAN DAILY City picks Students primary confront'U' candidates on racism By JERRY MARKON By EUGENE PAK black students. In January, the flier Ann Arbor voters chose two Republicans and one At a special meeting yesterday, a was slipped under the door of a Democrat in yesterday's primary elections, but Democrats seem likely to retain control of the council in group of students and local residents Couzens lounge where a group of thegenral seectins tis Arannil.demanded University officials take a black women were meeting. Athe general electionsthis April. stronger stand against racism. Citing racist events in Forsyth Although Fourth Ward Republican candidate Jerry Twenty one students and two county, Georgia, Howard Beach, Schleicher will be a heavy favorite in the April election, community members met with New York, and at the University, ;Fifth Ward Republican Phil Spear is unlikely to unseatcomnt mebrmtwih NwYkadtteUivsty Democratic Rncubentanhyp ears ue ntlystInterim University President James Ransby emphasized that the Democratic incumbent Kathy Edgren. Currently, Duderstadt and Assistant Vice Couzens flier was not an isolated Democrats control the council with a 7-4 majority. President for Academic Affairs incident. In the First Ward, which traditionally votes Robert Holmes yesterday in the Holmes pointed out that Democratic, Rev. Ann Marie Coleman should easily Roer F lm esg estrda y in Couens building director Paul defeat Republican Ron Witchie. Coleman yesterday Th $, Fleming Administration Building. McNauhton and the Housing defeated Robert Elton by a 527-3 18 margin, according to N The group, an ad hoc committee McaghtnadteHuig unffialtllies.b Wtchie, ha s ld a in A n Arbohto bagainst racism, asked for expansion Division distributed letters unofficial tallies. Witchie, who has lived Ann Arbor Dily Photo by SCOTT uTUCHY of University's minority services criticizing the incident, however, for only six months, received 88 votes in an uncontested Interim University President James Duderstadt and University students discuss racial and programs, and an official students still felt the central race. problems and their possible solutions yesterday in the Regents' room. The students condemnation and investigation of a administration is not taking an See VOTERS, PAGE 3 demand an official condemnation of the racist flier found at Couzens Hall. flier declaring "hunting season" on See DUDERSTADT, Page 2 Report proposes changes for graduate aid By ANDY MILLS A final report on financial aid for graduate students is drawing the attention of University admini- strators to the plight of the current aid system. Called "a stunningly impressive report - comprehensive, solid, and very thoughtful," by John D'Arms, dean of the Rackham graduate school, the report by the Task Force on Graduate Financial Aid criticizes the aid packages doled out by the University as well as the lack of communication between graduate schools. The task force was created in November 1985 by then-University Vice President Billy Frye to study the distribution of financial aid to graduate and professional students and recommend changes. The "Cross Report," named for task force chair John Cross, an economics professor, recommends an infusion of $4.5 million into the aid program, $3.2 million of which would fund additional graduate fellowships. According to D'Arms, this money would come from a 1 percent departmental budget cut made to transfer money the University's general fund. One of the most striking recommendations of the report, released Dec. 3, is a proposal to equalize tuition rates for resident and non-resident graduate students. According to the report, "The University of Michigan charges the highest graduate level tuition of any publicly supported University in- the nation." If implemented, the report would have all graduate students paying out-of-state tuition. "Politically, that's a highly sensitive issue," said D'Arms. "There isn't any likelihood that that's going to be moved on very fast." THE THREAT of the Uni- versity losing its national prominence in the future, because it isn't offering adequate aid, was also a major concern of the task force. The report also criticized the way financial aid is managed, saying I distribution must be centralized.i The report calls for a central database to provide information on student financial need. "Our mechanisms for managing and distributing financial aid lack coherence and consistency," the report says, adding that information services are in a "state of chaos." The report also criticizes the amount and duration of current aid packages. In addition to not providing enough fellowships, the task force said the length of aid is inferior to aid given by competing universities. "The major difference with some of the better endowed institutions is their long-term (financial) support," said D'Arms. "We haven't been willing and able to commit long term packages." Because of the national reputation of the University's law and medical schools, they are not forced to use aid as a recruitment See REPORT, Page 2 American Cu By MARTIN FRANK The American Culture program has implemented a new concentration plan beginning this semester so that its students can have both more structure and more flexibility in their studies. The interdisciplinary program will now offer six pre-designed concentration tracks in addition to the old option of a self-designed track. The six new tracks cover: Arts and Media, British and American Studies, Minority } Studies, Intellectual History and Literature, Latino Studies, and Society and Politics. Students who choose their own track are required to write a senior thesis, as well as fulfill the prerequisites. Each track has specific requirements, and students must take courses outside of the American Cultures program to fulfill these ture changes Y requirements. For example, students following the British and American Studies track must take a course on British History since 1688 in LSA's History Department. All American Cultures students are required to take History 160 and 161, which cover American history, and either a course on ethnic or minority studies or women's studies. Each track, including prerequisites, totals between 41 and 44 credits. Requirements or cognate classes may be taken in colleges besides LSA. "WE FEEL that this new plan will give more structure to our students and bring more faculty in as advisors," said American Culture Director James McIntosh. Each student in the program must meet with a concentration advisor for their chosen track. There are currently 30 undergraduates in the requirements American Culture concentration, 10-12 faculty members, and about 45 graduate students who also serve as teaching assistants and advisors. This ratio gives the students individual attention that they feel is lacking in other concentrations. "I've had lectures with 400-500 people in them. It makes you feel like a little fish in a very large fish tank," said American Culture Senior Michael Gan. Laura Wendorff, a graduate student in the program, is excited by the new track system because she says it allows for creative and innovative work and allows students to pursue their own concentrations. "The (track system) synthesizes many different things and makes you look at subjects from different viewpoints so the classes bring See REQUISITES, Page 3 Protesters to appeal 'guilty' verdict By STEVE BLONDER Most of the 108 protesters found guilty of trespassing at U.S. Rep. Carl Pursell's office will appeal the court's decision, according to defendant Siri Striar. The defendants have until April 24 to file an appeal. The main basis for an appeal is the judge's refusal to admit testimony regarding the reasons for the protests, said Defense Attorney Eric Lipson. Fifteenth District Court Judge George Alexander felt this evidence did not directly apply to the case, and his decision was upheld during an earlier appeal. An appeal may also be filed because defendants felt the judge held biases. "The judge was biased. He really acted like a prosecutor," said defendant Randi Metsch, a graduate student. Also, appeals may be filed based on evidentiary rulings made by Alexander during the trial or on the jury instructions he gave before the jury began deliberations. Daily Photo by SCOTT LITUCHY Right twice a day LSA junior Jim Stockman checks his watch against the Burton Memorial Tower clock. An electrical failure froze "Big Burt" at five past nine, ac- cording to Building Maintenance Supervisor Robert Leighton. Antenna J By HAMPTON DELLINGER Each weekday afternoon a satellite dish on top of the Modern Languages Building catches and broadcasts live Soviet television signals. Last Monday the 16 foot-wide red antenna began tracking Soviet television satellites that relay news picks up Russian and Eastern European Studies major, said, "I should be very interested in the satellite, but nobody's saying look at the neat system, use the neat system." The dish was supposed to become operational Nov. 1, but difficulties focusing on the Soviet signals caused the delay. Soviet TV many potential uses. "The material will make it easier to acquire Russian linguistic skills and will be a great help to people in Soviet area studies and those interested in contemporary Soviet life." Another committee member, Political Science Prof. Matthew Evangelista, said the dish will help students in his Soviet media course INSIDE Support the ralley today at noon on the Diag to stop the depdrtation of Palestinian nationals from the U.S. OPINION, PAGE 4 Attention-grabbing Dead of Winter starring Mary Steenburgen will not disappoint movie goers. ARTS, PAGE 5