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 ,,~. <;