icrn xi
Ninety- nine years of editorialfreedom
Vol. IC, No. 58 Ann Arbor, Michigan - Wednesday, November 30, 1988 Copyright 1988, The Michigan Daily
State,
'U'
agreement challenged
BY STEVE KNOPPER
Although the University divested its re-
maining funds from South Africa-involved
companies last month, State Rep. Perry
Bullard (D-Ann Arbor) doesn't want the six-
year legal battle over the issue to die.
Yesterday morning, Bullard asked the
Michigan Supreme Court to overturn last
February's Court of Appeals decision, which
granted the University's Board of Regents
the right to manage the University's own
holdings in South Africa-operating busi-
nesses.
The regents sued the state Legislature in
1982, opposing a state law requiring Michi-
gan colleges to divest holdings in such
companies.
BUT AFTER the court granted the re-
gents the autonomy to manage their finan-
cial affairs - which the state later appealed
to the Supreme Court - the regents voted
to divest the final $500,000 of its holdings
Bullard mov
for Universi
last month.
Maintaining that the court case is now
meaningless, the state Attorney General and
the University agreed two weeks ago to dis-
miss the state's appeal.
But Bullard refuses to let that happen un-
der current circumstances. Brett McRae,
counsel to the House Judiciary Committee
that Bullard chairs, said Bullard would inter-
vene against the regents if the state attorney
general drops the case.
Speaking for Bullard, McRae said the
Court of Appeals decision was vague, and
therefore sets a poor precedent. The Univer-
sity, he said, could reinvest its stocks in
South Africa-involved companies if the
res
ty:
Supreme
dismiss th
"IT'S
than to h
with this
sion," Mc
decision o
Most r
not intend
"I don'
sion to re
student B
Free Sout
althoughs
Severa
that after
to strike court ruling
in divestment case
Court grants the joint motion to about the issue will drag on.
e case. "I REGRET that the legal situation is
BETTER to lose clean and even continuing," said Regent Nellie Varner (D-
ave a situation where we're left Detroit). "I think we have certainly met the
ridiculous Court of Appeals deci- intent of the law."
Rae said. "(Bullard) wants a clear But Roderick Daane, the University's at-
ne way or another." torney in the case, said, "It would seem to
egents have insisted that they do me a little unusual to grant (Bullard's) mo-
[to reinvest. tion since the original parties have moved to
t think anyone will tolerate a deci- dismiss the case."
einvest," said Rackham graduate "But it's the Supreme Court," Daane said.
arbara Ransby, a member of the "It'll do whatever it decides to do."
h Africa Coordinating Committee, Bullard filed the motion along with the
she said it was a "possibility." University's Black Student Union, the Na-
1 regents were concerned yesterday tional Lawyers' Guild and others who filed
Bullard's action, the legal battle friend-of-the-court briefs against the regents
in the initial case.
BSU President Christopher Jones, a
Business School senior, said he was unaware
of Bullard's action yesterday. But he agreed
with Bullard, saying, "In certain instances
the University can be told what it can or
cannot do - especially when it is obviously
not using its money in a morally just man-
ner."
AFTER THE STATE Legislature
passed the divestment law, introduced by
Bullard, the regents initially divested 99 per-
cent of the University's holdings - but kept
the rest invested in order to sue the state.
The state, the regents said, cannot legally
tell the University how to spend its money.
Though the state won the first case in 1985,
the Court of Appeals reversed the decision
for the regents in February.
University Investment Officer Norman
Herbert said the University will finish sell-
ing its holdings within two months.
U.N. moves
PLO debate
,to Geneva
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The General Assemb-
ly yesterday postponed its annual debate on the
Palestinian problem so PLO chief Yasser Arafat,
denied a U.S. visa, can address the body at a special
session in another country.
General Assembly President Dante Caputo said he
had received and granted a request from Arab nations to
postpone the debate, which had been scheduled fro
tomorrow, Friday, and Dec. 6.
Earlier, Caputo had said that once he received a
request from Arab nations, the assembly would move
swiftly to provide Arafat another forum.
Arab diplomats said they would seek to move the
debate to Geneva on or about Dec. 13-14.
On Saturday, the State Department denied Arafat a
visa, saying he had condoned acts of terrorism
committed by the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The decision sparked worldwide criticism, with only
Israel applauding the move.
In Washington, Secretary of State George Shultz
said the strong opposition to his decision to bar Arafat
shows that people are forgetting what a threat
international terrorism is.
Arab nations on Thursday drafted a resolution
expressing regret over the U.S. action and asking the
State Department to reconsider.
Pres.
picks
iI
Vest as new
SUprovost
BY STEVE KNOPPER engineering professor, said
University President James Duder- the two ran the College of
stadt announced yesterday that he ing, "Vest may have had e
chose Engineering Dean Charles Vest same opinions (as Dudersta
to occupy the University's number would-manage to present1
two position in January. way that is more political a
Few were surptised by Vest's se- not upset so many people,'
lection. In fact, many said it was too "They know how to work to
obvious, considering that Vest served AS PROVOST and V
as Duderstadt's assistant for five years dent for Academic Affairs,
when Duderstadt was Engineering oversee all 17 University sc
dean. colleges and educational prod
"All this has come about so sud- Vest will replace Assoc
denly," Vest said yesterday. "I have President for Academic Affa
not had time to think about Holbrook, who has served
specifics." provost since former Provo
VEST, HOWEVER, outlined swadt became President in Se
that when
Engineer-
xactly the
dt), but he
them in a
and would
she said.
gether."
ice Presi-
Vest will
:hools and
grams.
ciate Vice
irs Robert
as interim
st Duder-
ptember.
Tagar: S
*violated first
amendment
BY KRISTINE LALONDE
Legal counsel for Tagar said an action taken by the
Michigan Student Assembly last week was a violation of
the first amendment.
Last week the assembly voted to derecognize the pro-
Israeli student group for committing acts the assembly
considers racist unless the group meets certain require-
ments.
The Central Student Judiciary will hear Tagar's
appeal of the decision tonight at 7 p.m. "Were CSJ not to
strike down MSA's action we will definitely consider
taking it to a federal court," said third-year law student
David Carney, Tagar's co-counsel.
The complaint against Tagar centered around a bus
they constructed on the Diag Nov. 14 to commemorate
the Israeli victims of a terrorist attack. Although "Stop
Arab terrorism" initially appeared on the bus, Tagar
changed the wording that day to "Stop All Terrorism"
after repeated complaints from students.
Following demands from the Ad Hoc Committee
Against Anti-Arab Racism, the assembly resolved to
derecognize Tagar unless it meets the following require-
ments:
See MSA, Page 5
his general goals as Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs. He
said he plans to work aggressively in
recruiting minorities, improving fac-
ulty quality, and maintaining strong
research programs.
In the meantime, he said, he plans
to have "informal forums" with stu-
dents and faculty around campus.
Most agreed that Vest's more
thoughtful, reflective manner will
complement Duderstadt's full-speed-
ahead style.
Maria Comninou, a mechanical
Holbrook said he, like the rest of
the staff in the Provost's Office, will
continue working under Vest.
"I'm really looking forward to
working with Chuck," Holbrook said.
"You'd never know he's an engineer
- all the stereotypes just don't ap-
ply."
BUT MANY are concerned about
the University's direction under two
engineers. LSA junior Zach Kittrie,
chair of the Michigan Student As-
sembly's External Relations
See Provost, Page 5
Beast Of the Past ROBIN LOZNAK/Daily
The third grade class of Clinton Elementry School visited the Natural Science
Museum yesterday. They are listening to their teacher talk about the skeleton
behind them, a Wooly Mammoth.
RC
director search narrows
BY TARA GRUZEN
A new Residential College director shouldn't mean a
new Residential College, say students and faculty
involved in the ongoing RC director search. In fact,
what they are seeking in a director is someone who will
keep the RC essentially the same.
The 12-member search committee has narrowed their
choice down to six candidates, all of whom will have
been interviewed in open RC town meetings by Dec.
14.
Members of the RC community are concerned with
ensuring the person they select - in keeping with the
RC spirit - will be intricately involved in all aspects
of the college. To maintain contact with the students,
the three candidates interviewed this month have all
expressed their desire to teach one RC class in addition
to their other responsibilities.
Sylvie Carduner, RC French professor and member
of the search committee, said, "the students are satisfied
with what they have found at the RC and want the new
director to continue doing what the RC already does."
She said one of the biggest questions surrounding the
selection is how the new director will get more money
for the RC and how he or she will deal with the double
appointments between the RC and LSA.
"The RC needs more money to do everything that the
director candidates want to do," said Carduner.
But Jennifer Bilik, RC sophmore and president of the
East Quad Representative Assembly, is concerned that
the new director not make too many sacrifices to get
this money. Bilik fears if LSA gives the RC more
funds, it will want to control the college's programs.
"We are obligated to the sources we get money
from," Bilik said. "It all depends on what the new
director is willing to do with the RC in order to get the
money."
Integrating math and science courses into the college
has been another major issue surrounding the selection
of a new director. RC students' curricula traditionally
emphasize the humanities and social sciences.
At the open town meetings where the candidates have
addressd the RC community, students have expressed
their concern that the RC retain its present emphasis.
"If we had more math and science classes we would
basically have the same classes as LSA with more
interesting descriptions, " said Marty Richardson, an
RC biology and interior design major on the search
committee. "A lot of people don't want the RC to be a
little LSA college," she said.
However, students are primarily dedicated to choosing
a director who will listen to them. If the new director
listens to the students, the RC will continue to be what
students want it to be, they say.
The next candidate to visit the RC will be the
Interim RC Director, Prof. Herb Eagle. He will speak at
a town meeting this Thursday night.
Housing director
faces new appeal
BY NICOLE SHAW
Although University Housing In-
formation Director Leroy Williams
was dismissed of felony charges on
Nov. 4, he is now facing a new ap-
peal from the 36th District court
prosecutor m Detroit.
.... the dismissal will stand."
A University employee for 18
years, Williams is suspended with
pay and is "out of his office indefi-
nitely," his secretary said.
Williams met with his superiors to
discuss the case and his future on
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