Nit-itya adm Ninety-eight years of editorial freedom Vol. XCVIIl, No. 85 Ann Arbor, Michigan - Tuesday, February 2, 1988 Copyright 198'8; The Michigan Daily Meese: does not recall payofplan WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Edwin Meese said yesterday that he did not recall reading the portion of a memo on a $1 billion Iraqi pipeline pro- ject that referred to a payoff plan involving the Israeli Labor Party of former Prime Minister Shimon Peres. The memo to Meese from his longtime friend, at- torney E. Robert Wallach, is the focus of a criminal investigation of Meese's activities by independent counsel James McKay that began nearly nine months ago. After receiving Wallach's memo in 1985, Meese took no action in regard to the potential illegal activity mentioned in the document, sources familiar with McKay's investigation have said. Meese said that since Friday, when the memo's ex- istence was first disclosed in the Los Angeles Times, "there has been a cascade of misinformation, false headlines, half truths, innuendo, and misunderstanding of the law." Meese responded with a five-page statement which he read to reporters. He refused to answer any questions and walked out of the room as a reporter asked him whether he would remain as attorney general. see MEESE, page 2 Fliers call Blacks infer ior' Bus stop LSA senior Sheryl Jones waits for the commuter bus in front of the Union last night, preferring the bus to a walk in the icy rain. By JIM PONIEWOZIK and MICAH SCHMIT Campus security and University employees reported finding fliers reading "niggers get off campus," posted in University buildings, dor- mitories, and on kiosks yesterday morning. , The fliers were distributed by a group which called themselves "Students for White Supremacy." The text of the fliers termed Blacks genetically inferior to whites and said, "Darkies don't belong in classrooms, they belong hanging from trees." THEY also referred directly to LSA Dean Peter Steiner's September comments that the University should not become "another kind of institu- tion where minorities would natu- rally flock in much greater num- bers." The fliers contained a photograph of LSA Dean Peter Steiner with a halo drawn over his head and a cap- tion reading "Dean Steiner was right." Steiner came under fire last month from student and faculty groups who said that his remarks implied he believed increased minor- ity enrollment would lower the quality of the University. Steiner has said his remarks supported affirma- tive action and were taken out of context. STEINER said yesterday that he had not seen the fliers and had no comment on them. Vice President of the Black Law Students' Alliance (BLSA) Barron Wallace said he believes the fliers were intended to "test the waters" to see if the public would approve of the opinions stated in the flier. "If the University and community do not come out strongly against (the fliers).., it will send a message that they are tacitly approved of," said Wallace. Interim University President Robben Fleming and Vice President for Student Affairs James Duderstadt released statements yesterday deplor- ing the fliers and asking students to report information about the incident to the University. "I have no way of knowing whether this particular' flier was conceived as a sick joke or reflects the thinking of a morally corrupt mind," said Fleming in the state- ment. "fIN either event, the thinking reflected in 'the flier and the act of distributing the flier are utterly inconsistent with the values and aspirations of the University." Wallace urged the University to set up a special investigation into the extent of the white supremacist movement at the University. "Fleming can now make good on his racial harassment clause," said Wallace, referring to Fleming's pro- posal to punish racist acts commit- ted by members of the University community. Fleming said he agreed to conduct an investigation into the incident during a meeting with University Vice Provost for Minority Affairs See SECURITY, Page 2 Char ges against Prof. dropped By MELISSA RAMSDELL and VICKI BAUER University Prof. Thomas Rosenboom was dismissed from charges of sexually assaulting a University student by the Washtenaw County Circuit Court yesterday. Defense attorney Leslie Seeligson introduced a motion to the court to drop charges on the grounds of insufficient evidence to prove his client's guilt and the sexual intent of the assault. When Prosecuting Attorney Kirk Tabbey rejected the motion, Judge Ross Campbell ruled to dismiss the case without a jury trial. "Based on his evaluation of all the evidence he had heard to that point, the judge concluded that no rational person could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any sexual contact had occurred," Seeligson said. Rosenboom pleaded not-guilty when the student charged him with fourth degree criminal sexual conduct - any type of non-solicited touching or feeling that does not result in injury. Rosenboom in turn filed a counter suit for defamation of character against the student and University sexual assault counselor, Kata Issari. Director of the University's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center Julie Steiner had no comment about the case or the defamation suit. "It's tragic that she was even encouraged to bring it to court. I'm sure its been painful for her. I know it was painful for Thomas," Seeligson added. Tabbey, Rosenboom, and the plaintiff could not be reached for comment. The plaintiff testified for two hours before the judge dismissed the charges. "That a judge should take it into his own hands to second guess a survivor's experience of sexual assualt and self defense is ridiculous and unjust," said Cathy Cohen, a member of People Organized to Wipe Out Rape. See JUDGE, Page 2 Many students fail to take By GORDON T. SATOH Computers have become a fact of life at the University. All around us- in libraries, classrooms, and even our dorms- computers are swiftly entering our lives. Currently, there are about 360 University classes that are using computing facilities for instructive purposes, including classes in the philosophy and English departments. Despite 'an increase in computing stations and number of classes using computers, a surprising number . of students are unaware of the vast electronic world that resides within our University. WHILE a fee included in students' tuition helps pay for their use of computing centers across campus, there is a perk that only a small percentage o f students take advantage of - a -Michigan Terminal System (MTS) account.' The computing fee 'ranges from $108 to $164, depending on level and school. Engineering and out-of-state students paying the highest rates. But many students are unaware that their tuition pays for their use of University computin sophomore Sendhil S was never informed (computing resources) MTS is the nam network at the Univ make use of the pr printing, and commu this extremely fast and students must sign up Each student at entitled to a student re allows them to tap it for their classwork, advantage, ig resources. L S A entertainment. ubramanian said, "I MTS enables we were paying for electronic mail, c from our tuition." computations, a e of the mainframe conferences which versity. In order to the hill area dormst ogramming, laser Despite all of nication abilities of *done with this sysi [powerful computer, unknown to many s for an account. Of the approxim the University is at the Universi quest account which undergraduate, 1971 nto MTS and use it candidate students information, and request accounts. of MTS accounts Of the approximately 16,500 students students to send who have MTS accounts, 4,499 are LSA onduct sophisticated students, 3,155 are engineering students, nd participate in and 1,203 are from the School of Business range from events in Administration. to political issues. Assuming that the University has the things that can be about 35,000 students, only 48 percent of tem, MTS is virtually University students are taking advantage of tudents on campus. the computing resources they paid for. nately 35,000 students LSA senior John Neff, believes "MTS 'ty, only 15,222 accounts are a waste of time" and they precandidate, and 1,218 "only benefit (Electrical Engineering and have active student Computer Science) majors." See COMPUTER, Page 3 Court sets trial date Council considers for CIA protester By MELISSA RAMSDELL Marcuse could still be d Graduate student Harold Marcuse, time before the trial if accused of assaulting a police officer tion is discovered durin and a University public safety offi- gation of the incident. cial during a CIA demonstration last Through the Fr November, will go on trial March Information Act, Rose h 24th. information from the Defense Attorney Jonathan Rose about any contracts th and Prosecuting Assistant City At- have had with the Un torney Ronald Plunkett appeared be- Ann Arbor Police, or c fore Judge Pieter Thomassen yester- rity regarding the han day morning to set the date. - demonstration. Since Marcuse stood mute at his M A R C U S E sa Dec.10 arraignment, the court en- represent himself d tered a plea of not-guilty on his be- month's trial, but will half. final decision until clos MARCUSE said today he felt date. confident the jury would find him City attorney Bruc innocent. "I think we're going to still reviewing the incid ensnare them in their own lies." whether or not to pres Plunkett told the judge yesterday charge against Assistan he had agreed to the defense's request Public Safety Robert P for information - testimonies con- kicked Marcuse in the tained in police reports, documents, the protest. Patrick tes and photographs- from t h e police report his actions prosecution. defense. ropped at any new informa- g the investi- 'eedom o f has requested city attorney he city may iversity, the ampus secu- dling of the id he may during next not make a er to the trial e Laidlaw is ent to decide ss a criminal t Director of Patrick, who groin during stified in the were in self- newcriim By PETER MOONEY Last night the Ann Arbor City Council considered a resolution de- signed to make the Ann Arbor Po- lice Department more accountable to the public. The resolution is intended to help the council gain a better understand- ing of the city's crime problem by providing monthly reports of crime in Ann Arbor. The resolution was submitted by all seven Democratic councilmem- bers. It also requires police officers to present business cards when deal- ing with the public in relation to a crime, and wear larger identification cards. At press time, the council had not voted on the resolution. COUNCILMEMBER Dave DeVarti (D-Fourth Ward) said one incident that inspired the resolution occurred during last summer's Art Fair, when police officers were accused of beating people with e reports names," said Hirshorn. The police department had no objections to the proposed ID badges, but wanted the business cards to be discretionary, said Hirshorn. Councilmember Jerry Schleicher (R-Fourth Ward) indicated he would support the resolution, but said the amount of information required in the proposed monthly report should be decreased. See CITY, Page 3 -