Speaker notes role of judiciary The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 26, 1988 - Page 3 Reagan OKs sp ot for Vets. BY JONATHAN SOBEL One of the least visible but most enduring Presidential powers is the appointment of federal judges who will serve for life and rule on issues ranging from the death penalty to affirmative action. Yesterday, in an address at the lawyer's club, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Dennis Archer urged students to consider this power and vote. s President Reagan has appointed 325 federal judges, over half of the federal bench. Of these, six are Black and a roughly equal number His- panic, said Archer, the second Black Supreme Court Justice in Michi- gan' s history. ARCHER, who has served on the bench since 1985, is prohibited by law from endorsing candidates or parties. But on other issues - barriers to Blacks and women in the legal profession, low turnout for state judge elections, and the impor- tance of political participation - Archer made his feelings clear. "A lot of times, the lack of mi- nority presence in law is not out of ill will, it's out of a feeling of 'Let's do it the way we've always done it.' That's going to change," said Archer. As one example, he described progress with an American Bar As- sociation program he helped develop that encourages corporations and minority law firms to do business together. "It's going to be great to have equal opportunity - not set-asides, not affirmative action, but quality," he said. MICHIGAN VOTERS will be electing state circuit, appellate and Supreme Court justices Nov. 8. Archer pointed out that because judges run on a nonpartisan ballot physically separate from the rest of the ballot, 40 to 60 percent of those who vote for Presidential candidates don't vote for state judges. "Yet those of us who are mem- bers of the judiciary affect your daily lives," he said. Michigan courts handled over 3.3 million cases in 1987 alone, although many were merely traffic cases. Archer spoke to a group of about 30, most of whom were law stu- dents. To them he said, "Part of be- ing involved in the profession is giving something back. Someday in life, I assure you, you are going to ask someone for help, because you're going to need it. When you ask, just make sure you're not bankrupt in what you've done for others." SMILING at Reginald Turner, a recent Law School graduate sitting in the back of the room, Archer al- luded to other rewards in public ser- vice. "Part of the reason I'm on the Supreme Court is that some of you helped me. Reg helped me., Reg put up posters. Reg didn't even know me. Now Reg is my clerk." s in Cal WASHINGTON (AP) - Saying America's debt to military men and women does not end "the day the uniform comes off," President Rea- gan signed legislation yesterday giv- ing veterans a Cabinet-level voice for the first time, effective March 15. "I'm saying to all our veterans what I say to new Cabinet members: Welcome aboard!" said Reagan, the self-proclaimed enemy of an expand- ing federal government, who once suggested abolishing the departments of Education and Energy. Spokespersons for veterans orga- nizations applauded the elevation of veterans' issues in the councils of government, but noted that the legislation offers no increases in compensation or improvements in health care. Supporters of the legislation had )lnet argued that the Veterans Administra- tion already has the fifth-largest budget among federal agencies and merits being put on par with other Cabinet departments. There are some 27 million veter- ans and 49 million dependents or survivors, although only about 2.5 to 3 million of them rely on Veter- ans Administration services on a regular basis. The agency has a $30 billion budget, and it will disburse $14 billion in income maintenance and $626 million for education and rehabilitation assistance this year. The House and Senate, paying election-year homage to veterans, had both given overwhelming approval to the bill. Among other things, it will place a secretary and as many as a half-dozen assistant secretaries. Bullard, foes debate at EMU ALEXANDKA BEZ/DOiy M ichigan Supreme Court Justice Dennis Archer speaks before a Lawyers' Club audience on the impact the next president will have on the country through the appointment of judges to the federal bench. City drops shanty vandalism case BY JONATHAN SCOTT Charges were dismissed yesterday against an Ann Arbor man accussed of vandalizing a Diag shanty in August because the sole witness failed to appear at the trial. The witness, state security officer Steve Smarsh, called in sick for the past two days and could not be reached the day of the trial by Ann Arbor police detective Douglas Barbour. The charge against Ann Arbor resident Henry Humphrey had been a misdemeanor of malicious destruction of property. The police report does not specify which shanty Humphrey damaged, although Humphrey said, outside of the courthouse, that he attacked the Palestinian shanty. But the actual damage was done to the Free South African Coordinating Committee shanty, Barbour said. "What (Humphrey) says and what Sole witness absent for court hearing actually happened are two totally different things." "I was pulling a board off the Palestinian shanty," Humphrey said, "not the South African one. I don't have anything against (the South African shanties)." But Pam Nadesen, representing FSACC at the trial, refuted Humphrey's claim, maintaining that the official police report indicates the Palestinian shanty was unharmed. Nevertheless UCAR will not receive judicial reparations for the damages. "We have had problems with the prosecutor's office in the past." UCAR member Barbara Ransby said. "We're outraged that they haven't taken the attacks seriously. (Abusing a shanty) is an act of violence against one of the few anti- racist symbols on campus." "It seems hardly a basis to dismiss a case against someone who willfully attacked" personal property, Ransby said. In the police report, Humphrey said he "sprinted away" as soon as Smarsh saw him be- cause he didn't want to get blamed for damaging the other shanties. He added that the FSACC shanties had been "completely destroyed" before he began attacking the Palestinian shanty. According to the police report, Humphrey said after his arrest that he is a Christian and that he "lives with a rabbi," adding that he is tired of the oppression of Jews. BY DARCI MCCONNELL SPECIAL TO THE DAILY YPSILANTI - Education, toxic waste, and medicaid-funded abortions were the primary topics of concern last night in a local candidates forum held at Eastern Michigan University last night. Although the candidates all agreed in their opposition to a proposal to end tax-funded abortions, they ex- pressed somewhat different opinions on the rest of the issues. Incumbent State Rep. Perry Bullard (D-Ann Arbor) and his chal- lengers, Republican Richard Birkett and Workers Against Concessions Party candidate Scptt Jones re- sponded to questions posed by the audience, and by the Ann Arbor League of Women Voters, who co- sponsored the forum with WEMU radio. Bullard proposed an educational system for the United States similar to one in Scandinavia, where tuition is fully paid by the government and is free to students. "It would work here, if we could get a political commitment to do this," he said. Birkett said he has no plans to increase or decrease the education budget and Jones, whose primary message was that corporations - not the workers - should pay the bulk of governmental expenditures, stated that "if the money comes from people who can afford it, I would be for an increase in funding for educa- tion." On the issue of a tax increase, both Jones and Birkett expressed support for a change in the tax sys- tem but not an increase in taxes. Bullard expressed the need for addi- tional tax revenue to revive poorly funded health care and education pro- grams. Birkett favors a taxpayer "bill of rights" which would shift the burden from the taxpayer to the government. Toxic waste dumping and cleanup were key concerns of the audience. When Jones said "I think we should dump toxic waste in the backyards of the people that created it and let them deal with it," he elicited the only applause for any of the three candidates. . In his conclusion, Bullard stressed the need for more economic devel- opment in the United States and said Michael Dukakis is the person to do this. Candidates Republican Rep. Margaret O'Conner and challenger Mary Schroer who are vying for the 52nd District also addressed the is- sues, as well as Democrat candidate Kirk Profit , Republican candidate Richard Reed and Libertarian David Hunt for the 22nd District. -, THE LIST Anti-abortionist assails Governor What's happening in Ann Arbor today Speakers "Bloanalytical Chemistry: Us- ing Chemistry and Photochemistry to Increase Selectivity" - Prof. Stephen We- ber, University of Pittsburgh, 1200 Chem. Bldg., 4 pm. ."Asymmetric Synthesis via Carbanions" - Prof. Patrick G. McDougal, Georgia Institute of Tech- nology, 1300 Chem. Bldg., 4 pm. "Political Repression In the US: The Puerto Rico-Hartford 15 Case" - Elias Castro, Rackham, E. Conference, 7:30 pm. Puerto Rican Solidarity Association. "Variation in Vital Rates By . Age, Period, and Cohort" - John R. Wilmoth, U of M, Popula- tion Studies Center, 451 Mason Hall, 4 pm. Coffee served at 3:30 pm. "Recent Research and Advances of Type I Diabetes" - Dr. Neil White of the Diabetes Pediatric Clinic at U of M, O'Brien's of Brighton (8180 W. Grand River, Brighton), 7:30 pm. Free admission. "Restructuring and Openness in Soviet TV" - Yury Polsky, Ph.D. candidate, U of M, Dept. of Poli Sci., Center for Russian and East European Studies, Lane Hall Com- mons Rm., 12 noon. Meetings International Student Affairs Committee - International Center, 7:30 pm. Part of MSA. All are wel- come. U of M Asian Student Coali- tion (UMASC) - 2439 Mason Hall, 7 pm. Food Disorder Support Group - Michigan League, Conference Rm. 4, 6 pm. Confidential. Outing Club Meeting - 2413 Mason Hall, 6 pm. Planning cabin trip. U of M Taekwondo Club - 2275 CCRB, 6:30 pm. Tim Frye @ 662-8637 for more info. CFIv i A t Inc. - 2050 Frieze Bldg., 4:10 pm. Guest speaker, June Kirchgatter from Harris Advertising. B'nai B'rith Hillel Mitzvah Project - 219 Angell Hall, 6;30 pm. Biweekly meeting. Furthermore Discussion of the Fundamental Principles of Objectivism -. Crofoot Rm., Michigan Union, 7:30 pm. Sponsored by U of M Students of Objectivism. Free admission. Study Abroad Workshop - In- ternational Center, 4-5 pm. Pre-Interviews - Caterpillar In- dustrial, Inc., location to be an- nounced, 5:15-7:15 pm. Star Trax - Performing at Moun- tain Jacks, 8:30-12:30 pm. You can add your voice to the background of over 400 songs for free. University Lutheran Chapel - "Holden Village Vespers", 9 pm., 1511 Washtenaw Ave. Mako - Film/Discussion Series, Mason Hall, Rm. 447, 4-6 pm. Ex- cursion into Asian stereotypes as seen on TV and films. Breaking the Silence: Rape and People with Physical Disabilities - A short film and discussion, Michigan Rm., Michigan League, 12 noon. Open to the public. Concerned Faculty Brown Bag Lunch - Discuss political issues, Guild House, 12noon. Beans and Rice - Presented by AMISTAD. Food and discussion on Central American issues. $2 charge. Guild House, 6 pm. "The Course" - Planning and dis- cussion for Concerned Faculty and others interested in anti-racism course. Guild House, 8 pm. Career Planning and Placement Center - Dr. Margaret Steward, University of California, looking for junior faculty members in the sci- ences, agriculture, and engineering. October 25-27, call for more info. BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Gov. James Blanchard has turned members of his administration into political puppets on behalf of the effort to preserve state funding for poor women's abortions, anti-abor- tion leader Barbara Listing claimed yesterday. A spokesperson for the governor said Blanchardsand other officials were speaking out on a crucial public issue. "We know they want to take away freedom of choice in this state and it sounds like they want to deny free- dom of speech, too," said Tom Scott, Blanchard's press secretary. Listing's blast at Blanchard came in response to a news conference the governor held with two of his predecessors Monday at which they labeled the proposed abortion banas extreme because it doesn't make exceptions for women who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. Listing pointed to statements by C. Patrick Babcock, director of the Department of Social Services, and Treasurer Robert Bowman that eli- minating state-paid abortions for poor women would drive up welfare costs, perhaps as much as $200 million over the next five years. "Governor Blanchard and other members of his administration are speaking out an a public issue of great importance to our state," said Scott. "That's what leaders do. There's nothing inappropriate at all." In the Presidential race, aides to Dukakis were spreading the word that his recent Populist-style rhetoric and allegations of Republican campaign lies were scoring points with voters. One aide said the campaign's own polls showed the national gap nar- rowing, and spokesperson Dayton Duncan added, "Our polling shows by an overwhelming margin that people are blaming Bush for this negative campaign." Bush said Dukakis had been making "increasing appeals to class conflict," and said that in his view there was "no place in American life for philosophies that divide Ameri- cans one from another along class lines and that excite conflict among them." HEALTH &LFITNESS JUST A SHORT WALK FROM CENTRAL CAMPUS . i.# "' "' *0 Nautilus " Raquetball co Two Pools " Dance studios Gymnasium " Excercise bikes CONVENIENT MONTHI OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! rts " Free Weights " Fitness Testing " Qualified instructors LY MEMBERSHIPS- 71 350 S. Fifth Ave. 663-0536 Alk MSA postpones political debat( BY MICHAEL LUSTIG nizers hit a further pro The Michigan Student Assembly Bush planned visits to MV last night postponed a debate sched- day and tomorrow, me uled for tonight between representa- possible debaters would r tives of the two presidential candi- with the visit. blem when lichigan to- eaning that be occupied Lnn]-" when WHAT'S ( HAPPENING RECREATIONAL SPORTS IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS MAIN OFFICES: CCRB 763-3084 I