4v 41v Ninety-seven years of editorialfreedom V~r)TT ITk4P YVT'T - kTCn1 'I0 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY. APRIL 22.1987 COPYRIGHT 1987, THE MICHIGAN DAILY IV u~ vr.-...... ...... - ... . ..... .__ . . _. . . . of\..&, & && Gay group presents demands By EDWARD KLEINE University administrators agreed to go ahead with several demands made by a campus gay rights group, including adding "sexual orientation" to the University's non-discrimination logo. Members of Lesbian and Gay Rights on Campus (LaGROC) met with University Vice President for Student Services Henry Johnson on Friday to discuss their demands. Although nothing is definite, LaGROC members are calling the meeting a victory because the University will consider the demands. Office of Affirmative Action Director Virginia Nordby, who also attended the meeting, said the University was considering most of the demands, and would pursue the demand for adding "sexual orientation" to the University's Non-Discrimination Logo. She also said her office would provide pamphlets on sexual orientation for residence hall packets that LaGROC requested. Many of the group's demands could not be met through Johnson or Nordby and had to be referred to other offices such as housing. Johnson's office is in a position to pursue eight of their 12 original demands, LaGROC members said. The group originally presented its demands to University President Harold Shapiro in March. MEMBERS of LaGROC are still pursuing other demands, including the establishment of a gay studies department at the University, a required class on tolerance and diversity, a clause in the regental bylaws saying the University will not discriminate because of sexual orientation, increased funding for lesbian and gay programs, and requiring all residence hall staffers to attend "gay raps," in which they will listen to gays and lesbians discuss their experiences. "I think that we're making progress on a number of fronts in See GAYS, Page 3 I scream . . . you scream ... LSA sophomores Audrey Wright (right) and Candy Sterle eat ice cream in the Diag yesterday and enjoy the sunshine. Talks continue for 'U' nurses ) By EVE BECKER University Hospital and medical center nurses met with a state-appointed mediator last night in an attempt to reach a solution in talks for a new nursing contract. The Professional Nurse Council has threatened to strike if the seven-month old negotiations do not end by April 28. At press time, the talks were continuing and officials on both sides were not sure if an agreement would be reached. The nurses' contract expired September 30, and has been extended on a week-to-week basis since then. The nurses' union voted in February to authorize a strike when necessary in order to place pressure on the University to close negotiations. Issues which have remained unresolved include the nurses' call for: increased staffing, transfer and promotion based on seniority, permanent work schedules, and a salary increase which would include the period since the contract ended in late September. HOSPITAL officials will not comment on the issues, because they are in the process of bargaining. Officials say they hope negotiations will close soon, but are not now formulating emergency plans to handle a strike. In 1981, nurses walked off the job for three weeks for the first time in the hospital's 112-year history. The issues discussed then were largely the same as those being discussed this year. Nurses complained that they were understaffed, working excessive overtime hours, and often changing shifts three times a week. The hospital operated at 60 percent capacity during the strike, and non-emergency services were cut back. The hospital reassigned administrative nurses to patient care duties and hired temporary registered nurses. Hospital officials estimated that 50 to 60 percent of nurses participated in the walk-out. "There's nothing we can really say right now; it would be speculation," said John Turck, director of public relations for the University hospitals. He said that a strike now would cause different problems than it caused six years ago because nurses now have increased technological duties. "Nursing functions have changed to a certain extent. Nursing has continued to advance. More and more things have become technologically oriented," Turck said. Police officer keeps Ann Arbor informed Suomala heads PR dept. By STEVE BLONDER Sergeant Jan Suomala is more than the Ann Arbor Police Department's public relations officer. He peers out at you from behind his desk after going through the day's police reports. He answers the questions of college students who call and ask if the latest break- in was anywhere near their apartment. Suomala's official titles are Administrative Services Division Property and Records Supervisor and Assistant Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Preparedness. In nglish, Suomala said, this means 'm the keeper of the records." He has been involved in almost all stages of police work over his 31-year career. During that time, he has been a foot patrol officer, a detective, and now, Records Supervisor. Profile "I like dealing with all of the people, and dealing with the media," Suomala said. His call list includes many radio stations and newspapers, television stations, the Red Cross, and all of the area schools. Suomala's co-workers describe "JP" or "Sarge" as a pleasant man 'rubadubb dub,"'she said. SHE ADDED that Suomala tells great mother-in-law jokes, but refused to elaborate. According to Evelyn Suomala, the most unique thing about her husband "is his sense of humor." She added, "People are intimidated by him. You have to really get to know Jan, though." Records Clerk Cathy Reese added that Suomala does more than just administer the department; he's also a great teacher. "He's easy to understand. If someone has a problem, he'll sit down and explain the problem and correct it. He's also a great listener and is willing to work out problems," Reese said. The 52 year-old Suomala and his family have lived in Ann Arbor since 1953 when his father took a job working for a nearby auto factory. "I know half the town and a lot of them know me," he said. While walking the beat in the 1960s, Suomala met a lot of people with whom he has maintained contact. CURRENTLY, one of his four children, a senior at Pioneer High School, lives in the family home. Their children range in age from 17 to 31. Suomala has one granddaughter about whom he constantly raves: "She's my little Suomala wrestler," he once said. An another part of Suomala's ; :-.-nlvnn n :l.;.-fnnt.a e :,- ti Daily Photo by DANA MENDELSSOHN Dogging it LSA senior Phillip Seiden loves to skate to work, but he usually doesn't get stopped by a dog, as he was yesterday in the Diag. Students reme-mber Ar-menian genocide By HEATHER ROSE The University's Armenian Students Club is holding a vigil on the Diag today in memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed by Turkish soldiers in the early part of this century. Armenian communities across the country recognize April 24 as a day of commemoration. The expulsion of Armenians from their native Turkey began 72 years ago and lasted five years. According to Jenny Gurahian, a graduate student in anthropology, the vigil is "a remembrance on the part of Armenian students," she said. Gurahian said most of the 200 Armenians on campus and across the nation had relatives who died in the genocide. "We all have grandparents telling the stories of the horrors so it's in our lives now to do what we can." The ceremonies will continue Thursday night with a requiem service in honor of the dead. A classical guitar concert playing of traditional Armenian songs will follow. The concert, Gurahian said, was planned because "we destroy culture as much by only See VIGIL, Page 14 Daily Photo by DANA MENDELSSOHN Sergeant Jan Suomala, Ann Arbor Police Department public relations of- ficer, who has been with the force for over thirty years, has seen dramatic changes take place in the city-most of it due to the University. BAM to hold nwon hag rally By EUGENE PAK Black Action Movement members will hold a noon rally today on the Diag to inform the University community about the INSIDE Students should take pride in their accomplishments in the past year. OPINION, PAGE 4 Need to recuperate? Catch next week's May Festival concerts. ARTS, PAGE 10 The Michigan baseball team hosts Cleveland State in a douheheader this afternoon at fierce rivalry exists between her husband and daughter-in-law law whenever Michigan plays against her alma mater, Ohio State. An avid sports fan, Suomala also follows Michigan basketball, officers don't try to scare people, but try to help. ONE OF the most frustrating incidents Suomala remembers is hearing a mother tell her child, "You better be good or the