The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, October 13, 1987- Page 5
U'U
officials hear anti-rape plea
By ELIZABETH ATKINS
Representatives of People Organized to Wipe
Out Rape (POWOR) met with University
President Harold Shapiro and other administrators
yesterday to discuss the University's role in rape
prevention and women's safety on campus.
Cathy Cohen, a University graduate student
and coordinator of POWOR, presented the
group's four demands to Shapiro and University
Vice President for Student Services Henry
Johnson.
First,POWOR asked for the creation of a
mandatory University course on sexism, racism,
and classism and to increase on-going training of
University Public Safety and Security personnel
about acquaintance rape.
Second, the group called for the University to
increase funding for the University's Sexual
Assault and Prevention Awareness Center
(SAPAC) for more educational programs,
outreach, and support services for rape survivors.
SAPAC Director Julie Steiner attended the
meeting and said it signifies a positive step
toward creating a safer campus.
"From a student's standpoint it might feel
frustrating, like nothing was accomplished,"
Steiner said. She added the adminstration has
been helpful and supportive in dealing with rape
prevention and awareness programs in the last
two years of the center's operation. "While we
have a lot more we can do, we've already done a
lot."
POWOR also proposed mandatory sexual
assault awareness workshops for sports teams and
residence halls.
Steiner said she and Johnson are working
together to create such workshops.
POWOR also requested that the Interfratemity
Council establish a policy condemning acquaint-
ance rape and undergo sexual assault prevention
training.
Earlier this month - in response to the recent
acquittal of a former University student in a rape
trial - Cohen and members of the group led
about 150 community members in a rally in
front of Shapiro's house. He agreed to meet with
group representatives to discuss POWOR's
demands.
Ann Vanek, a POWOR member and LSA
senior, attended the meeting. "I feel nothing was
really accomplished. They're not willing to be
committed to much," she said.
High coua
By RACHEL STOCK
Debate over when a state Medicaid
abortion funding ban should begin
continued last week as lawyers for
both sides or the controversy argued
before the Michigan Supreme Court.
Right-to-Life groups say the ban
should take place immediately, while
pro-lifers are calling for a hold until
April 1.
The Right-to-Life initiative, star-
ted last February, said Michigan
should cut Medicaid-funded abortions.
The legislature approved the petition
during the summer
Most observers agree the legalities
of a petition-initiated ruling are con-
fusing. This ruling, now in its fourth
appearance before a state court, was
reviewed last August by the state
Court of Appeals that delayed the
t debates Medicaid abortion
initiative's start to April 1.
People's Campaign for Choice, an
umbrella pro-choice organization,
recently circulated a counter-petition.
The group must collect 120,000
signatures by December in order to
get the Medicaid abortion ban ques-
tion on the November,1988 ballot.
Attorney General representative
Jerry Gordon and Right-to-Life
Attorney Willliam Perrone argued
that the initiative should have taken
effect in July.
But pro-choice attorney John
Piritch argued the language of the
law did not mandate an immediate
ban because it was not adopted by a
simple majority, and not two-thirds
of each house.
The state Supreme Court often
takes several months to reach a
decision, according to Court Clerk
Corbin Davis, but the court can issue
a decision at any time if has a
majority.
"Everyone is expecting a
decision soon, but we don't really
know," Davis said. Since the issue
went to the Supreme Court quickly
after the Court of Appeals decision in
August, the top court will probably
quicken its pace.
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme
Court's Roe vs. Wade decision
legalized abortion for all women. The
Hyde Amendment, in 1976, cut
federal funding for abortion unlesst
the woman's life was in danger. The
amendment left the decision of,
Medicaid funding up to individual
states.
ADVERTISE
IN THE
MICHIGAN DAILY
Daily Photo by ROBIN LOZNAK
Tiger fans
Brothers Johnathan and Kevin Brzys, ages five and seven ride the lion in
front of the University's Museum of Natural Science.
Students favor increuse
in state speed limit
SENIOR
PORTRAITS
I Cornerstone
CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP
(Continued from Page 1)
Steve Johgart, an Ann Arbor
resident, is in favor of the increase in
speed limit. "I normally drive 65
miles and so I'll keep doing that. It
seems like a reasonable speed so I
don't think that it will cause a
problem."
First-year LSA student Craig
Schultz said, "It really won't effect
people because most drive around 65
miles per hour anyhow. There isn't a
big difference driving at 55 or 65
when you get into an accident."
Whether there are more risks
involved in driving at a quicker pace
or not is still unknown. "It is hard to
tell now whether or not there will be
an increase in the number of
accidents. In some states fatalities
have decreased and in others they
have increased; each state i s
different.", said Mervenne.
Students Dedicated to
Knowing and
Communicating
Jesus Christ!
Pastor Mike Caulk
Diag Evangelist
Tuesdays
7 p.m.
2231 Angell Hall
971-9150
. a ., "i".".. ~ t eh 1!* . . i.' *.* , ,1 +'
'- . Chemca 1. Bichemistry
% -.. 'ctic.Chmsty
-' - - - -"y .'Environmenta+ 1"1' C-omputer .";Stome
" -ti t~ :tf. -w, -- Vete , 'inary Me"",-
---- -LAW
' { aiTo JJearn i"m"re "bou \ "MERCK, ;vitisit with,
-"- - - come ,,,yo"ricampus or'
~ Vi' / \ *~~.u.:;OFFERING CAREER 01
j :: y'" 1 t i," ii " ' : Z=+StiENGINEERING SCIENCE
X1A)' Biochemical Biological Scien
)Y - .111 *J'3 , , - 4'^: ::::. t ; :r: -Biochemistry
\ : - J=:' ' . :2(:"tys;<? I-Electrical Che istr
0 Environmental Computer Scier
, A '\Qf.ri::9'_ 'Industrial Medicine
li .""' "-° =..;t -.,; Mechanical Pharmacology
iN /1 j~W.Pharmacy
*h %; V .* . .Veterinary Mec:
To learn more about MERCK, visit withc
*~. .~,.~ ~. .*.fcome to your campus or %i
PORTUNITIES IN:
BUSINESS
nces
nce
dicine
Accounting
Business
Finance
Human Resources
Industrial Relations
Marketing
Sales
LIBERAL ARTS
our representatives when they
write directly to: