Ninety-seven years of editorial freedom VOLUME XCVII - NO. 73 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1987 COPYRIGHT 1987, THE MICHIGAN DAILY r'U' seeks ideas F to improve 1r undega lie Interim Pres offers $1 million By REBECCA BLUMENSTEIN know best what exactly is needed," he said. This week interim University President James A committee of students, faculty, and ad- Duderstadt will announce a new initiative to allocate ministrators will choose the best ideas submitted. $1 million to create programs he hopes will im- The decision will be made by May 1. - prove undergraduate life. "If we don't have enough good ideas, we are not He is soliciting suggestions from students, going to feel pressured to use all of the money," faculty, staff, or administrators who propose a said Duderstadt. The $1 million will be allocated "creative" way to improve undergraduate life. from the general fund of the University's budget. "We'want to financially support creative ideas," Dudersladt is not worried that his plans may said Duderstadt. He has set an April 1 deadline for discriminate against departments which may need prosals. money, but do not necessarily submit the best pro"I would not be surprised to receive some proposal. He said the money will go where it will proposals from students or housing - they may See DUDERSTADT, Page 5 LSA may alter foreign language requirement By MARTIN FRANK February meeting. If adopted, the proposal will take LSA faculty members yesterday passed a motion effect for all LSA students entering in the fall of that could force all incoming LSA freshmen to take a 1988. language competency test. The rule would change The Foreign Language Committee, a sub - current policy allowing students to forego their committee of the LSA Curriculum Committee, re = language requirement if they take four years of a viewed the language requirements which have been in language in high school. effect since 1969. A review of the University's foreign language The Foreign Language Committee found that in policy was initiated in response to growing faculty most cases students who complete four years of high concern that students are placing out of University school language study cannot match the proficiency language reqjuirements when they should not be. of students who complete the four term requirement at The faculty will vote on the proposal at its See LSA, Page 5 Doily photo by SCOTT LITUCHY Buzzer Beater Indiana's Steve Alford, shown here shooting over Antoine Joubert in the first half, beat Michigan with a last second shot last night at Crisler Arena. For more on the Wolverines'85-84 loss, see page 9. 'U' official to back city housing restriction By JERRY MARKON A top University official plans to speak out tonight in support of a proposal that would severely restrict housing for fraternities and sororities in the North Burns Park area. Vice Provost for Information Technology Douglas Van Houweling will outline neighborhood complaints against group housing at a public hearing before the Ann Arbor Planning Commission. The hearing is at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Van Houweling, who lives at 920 Lincoln St., is president of the North Burns Park Association, a neighborhood group that has accused the Greeks of causing noise, litter, and parking problems. He will be the group's only official speaker. THE PROPOSAL, which has been partially approved by the City Planning-Department, would rezone the area south of Hill Street and west of Washtenaw Avenue to prohibit "group" housing on 45 lots. It would not affect 21 existing fraternities, sororities, co- operatives, and non-residential groups. If the proposal is approved by the Planning Commission - which appears likely - it would then go before the Ann Arbor City Council for final approval. Van Houweling was out of town yesterday and could not be reached for comment. His wife, Andrea, also a member of the association, said he "certainly has the students' best interests at heart." "I don't think it's against student concerns," she said. "We would never have chosen to live in a neighborhood with students if we didn't like students and enjoy living with them." BUT REPRESENTATIVES of the PanHellenic Association, which is organizing to oppose the rezoning, view Van Houweling's appearence as a conflict of interest with his duties for the University. "I see a conflict of interest... I'm suprised. I thought he was taking more of a low profile," said Panhel advisor Mary Beth Seiler. Seiler said seven members of the University's 20 sororities to show up. "They should not keep groups out of the neighborhood because of a behavior problem," Seiler said. "This is a 'There isn't enough housing for students in Ann Arbor as it is. Where are the students supposed to go?' a -MaryBeth Seilerr PanHellenic advisor Greek system will speak at the public hearing, including the presidents of Panhel and the InterFraternity Council. In addition, Panhel officials expect representatives from nearly all of the university community. There isn't enough housing for students in Ann Arbor as it is. Where are the students supposed to go? Don't they have the See GREEKS, Page 2 Betas move into revamped $1 illionll house B'y LAURA STERN After living four months in the Bell Tower Hotel, compliments of fraternity alumni, 20 Beta Theta Pi members have left room and laun- dry service behind to join other fraternity brothers in their new house. Though delayed because of con- struction, fraternity members have completely moved into their new house on the corner of East Mad- ison and State Street. Members of the fraternity - which is the oldest on campus - look forward to the semester with their 18 newly-initiated brothers. Founded in 1845, the Betas pur- chased their property in 1891 and later donated much of the plot to the University to build South Quad. Construction of the new house, the fourth on that property, was mostly funded by alumni con- tributions. By its completion next fall, the house will cost an esti- mated $1 million and board 62 of See BETAS, Page 3 i Envoy Waite returns to Beirut, seeks release of hostages BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - reporters. lease of Americans here. Waite said Anglican Church envoy Terry "I think if we get some res- trading arms for lives cheapens Waite returned to Beirut yesterday olution to this hostage crisis that human life. to resume his efforts to gain the re- will be a step toward Lebanon ex- Waite has been credited with lease of Americans and other periencing the peace that the people helping to win freedom for three foreigners held hostage in Lebanon. here deserve." Americans who had been held by "Signs have been given to me Waite, personal envoy of Arch- Islamic Jihad, a pro-Iranian Shiite that now is a reasonable time to bishop of Canterbury Robert Run- Moslem group. come back, and one is able to pur- cie, criticized secretU.S. arms sales Sixteen foreigners remain mis- sue the contacts and hopefully to be to Iran, which the Reagan ad- sing in Lebanon -- six Americans, able to try and work a resolution to ministration says was made at least five Frenchmen, two Britons, one the problems we face," Waite told partly in an effort to help win re- Italian, an Irishihan, and a South Korean. State St merchants INSIDE Elliot Abrams' comments on Central America show the made - quacy of Reagan's foreign policy. By VIBEKE LAROI tration of high demand and low OPINION, PAGE 4 supply. Ann Arbor is in the middle After seeing his new movie "Everyone thinks State Street is of a boom and the national econ- 'Wisdom,' Arts encourages golden," says one local realtor. omy is doing well, according to autuer Emilio Estevez to get And according to merchants, rent is local merchants. smart and get out of showbiz. skyrocketing due, to high demand "Over the last few years, Ann ARTS, PAGE 7 and the new tax law. Arbor has become a prime location Things aren't the way ,they used for business and residents, so n one of two games over the to be on State Street. Music Mart supply and demand come into the w eog vr was evacuated, a handwritten picture," said Karl Malcolm, com - weekend. "closed" sign sits in the window of mercial sales manager of Thorton SPORTS, PAGE 9 Sneakers 'n' Cleats, and Escoffier Dalitz, a realtor company which moved leases property on State Street. The main reason for the eva - "Everybody thinks State Street W EATHER cuation of stores is high rents, is golden." although some stores faced prob - Many stores, however, are not lems such as mismanagement and able to survive high rental rates. Morning fog, then partly sunny building inadequacies. Rent doubled in the past three with a high near 40. State Street is a classic illus - See RISING, Page 2 '"iy p"otoobySC^""LITUC"Y An unidentified carpenter works on the front staircase of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house. He said work would take about a week to complete.