The Michigan Dily-- Friday, January 13, 1989 -Poge3 yr, Profs. plan other w lessons on MLK day Students get alternatives to class on Diversity Day BY MARION DAVIS AND TARA GRUZEN Cancelling classes for Dr. Mar- tin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is a long-awaited victory for those who have participated in marches, protests and sit-ins in past years, but it's only a first step toward educating students and faculty members about his mes- sage. Students and faculty are free to decide how they want to spend their day off, which could include studying or sleeping in, or could include pro- grams and workshops on diversity. But those holding teach-ins and programs say people who stay in bed will miss the day's point. Architecture Prof. James Chaf- fers said cancelling his - five-hour class will not be a waste for his stu- dents, since he's holding a studio teach-in to discuss the basic princi- ples they deal with in class: how to design an environment that will meet the needs of all types of people. Chaffers said he is looking for- ward to hearing what his students think about achieving a quality life and ways to break down racial barri- ers. "I'm going to be listening as much as I'm going to be talking," he said. Anthropology Prof. Loring Brace agreed that cancelling his Monday class is useful. "It doesn't interfere with the students' education and they will benefit from it," he said. "Just being in another class is not going to help them, especially concerning this issue (racism and di- versity). " Brace will participate on a panel discussion titled "Racism, Sexism and Ethnocentrism" Monday, Jan. 16, on the second floor of LSA. A variety of special programs will be offered, ranging from lectures on anti-semitism to a presentation on hypertension among minority groups. LSA junior Gail Freeman said she had a positive experience at last year's programs, and she plans to at- tend more this year. "I felt a sense of unification with the other students on campus," Freeman said. But some students feel that King's birthday should be reserved as a day to commemorate his achieve- ments and not be changed into a day about diversity. Melanie Posey, a graduate student in political science, said she will only go to programs that commemorate King. "The whole thing about chang- ing the day into Diversity Day is just for outward appearances," Posey said. "I would avoid the (activities) that talk about diversity." The individual schools and col- leges will spend hundreds of dollars in room rentals, food costs, and speaker costs to draw students to their weekend and Monday programs. The College of Architecture, for example, will spend about $600 on a free pizza lunch for architecture stu- dents who attend the studio teach-ins and will rent a room in Chrysler Au- ditorium for a joint lecture program with the School of Art. Mary Anne Drew, secretary to School of Art Dean Robert Beckley, said that although the bill for the in- dividual college activities will be paid for by the college itself and not the University, the programs are well worth it. "It's up to each one of us to play our own part. Each one of us hd9sto do something constructive," she said. JOHN MUNSON/Doily Kenneth Brooks, Coordinator of Construction and- Renovation for Maintenance Services, leads the UM Gospel Choir at last night's candlelight vigil. Vigil Continued from Page 1 color as a minority. "Why should we call anyone a minority?" he asked. "We need every American to make America what it should be." This is why people can call King a world leader, said Felton. King was not just concerned with minority is- sues; he was concerned with other people, as well as equality for all, Felton said. "It's a perpetual struggle and it's far from over," Felton said. "However, to assure that the dream does not die we must keep the dream alive throughout the urban ghettos and the upper class surroundings," he said. Felton concluded by telling the crowd not to hold grudges against institutions and people who have contributed to the oppression of Black people. "There is more power in love than in hate, he said. Felton, a graduate of Western Michigan University, is presently pursuing his Master's degree at a Theological center in Toledo, Ohio. * Some B-School classes meet on Diversity Day BY DONNA IADIPAOLO Nine evening business school zlasses will meet Monday, despite a University-wide decision to cancel all ;lasses for Martin Luther King's t birthday. University President James Duderstadt said he granted an excep- tion because the classes serve mainly commuter students. "The evening MBA program is a different class of program from the normal students of this University," Duderstadt said. But he added that the final decision was left to the School Sf Business Administration. "We used our very best judg- ment," said Associate Business School Dean Joseph White, who said Business Dean Gilbert Whitaker made the decision to hold the classes. "We think what we're doing is best for the students." * Both White and Duderstadt said the classes, held once a week, will not be cancelled because many of the students commute and hold full-time jobs. Both said it would be difficult for these students to meet at another time. Business Prof. Edward Snyder, who teaches one of the Monday evening courses, said he initially scheduled an alternative meeting time. He decided to convene his class during its regular time after he learned of Whitaker's decision. But other faculty members have cancelled their once-a-week classes, such as School of Music Dean David Crawford. Crawford, also a music profes- sor, said his course "is probably go- ing to suffer more than any other course in the (music) school. But I wholeheartedly support the idea of Diversity Day. Sometimes if you believe in something you got to pay the price." Some student leaders also ex-. pressed concern over the business school's decision. "Regardless of their rationale, this day is a holiday they should work their schedule around," said LSA senior Chris Jones, president of the Black Student Union. "The Uni- versity has supposedly made a com- mitment to having no classes on Martin Luther King's Birthday. Therefore, there should be no classes at all." But student leaders said they would not take any action to protest the decision. "There's nothing we can really do," said senior Kimberly Smith, a United Coalition Against Racism member. "It's the University's re- sponsibility to cancel classes, not ours." White said he understood stu- dents' concerns, but added that the business school should not be judged on this decision alone. For example, he said the school's incoming MBA class is made up of 24 percent mi- norities, including 15 percent Blacks. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Diversity Day Weekend Events All events are free, unless noted, and open to the public. Friday, January 13 Film: "Fundi: The Story of Ella Baker" Discussion: "The Movement that Made King: Women in the Civil Rights Movement" 6-8 p.m. 100 Hutchins Hall, Law School Sponsor: Commemoration of a Dream Committee Saturday, January 14 Potluck Dinner. 7 p.m. Trotter House Sponsor: Black Dental Student Association/School of Dentistry Speech: "Tribute to Dr. King" Speaker: Joseph E. Madison, Special Advisor on Civil Rights, Service' Employees International Union; talk show host, WXYT radio, Detroit. 8 p.m. Rackham Auditorium Sponsor: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, CDC Sunday January 15 Religious service: Led by Bishop Will L. Herzfeld, the first African- American Bishop of a Lutheran Church Gospel Concert: Featuring the University Choir, soloist Rhund Williams, and several other groups 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Pendleton Room, Michigan Union Sponsor: CDC- MLK Symposium, Keynote Address Speech: "Empowerment and Equity: A Challenge of the King Legacy" Speaker: The Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr., Speaker, California State Assembly 4:30 p.m. Hill Auditorium, with reception afterward in the Michigan League Ball- room Sponsor: Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium Committee MLK Memorial Concert: "Scenes from the Life of a Martyr" by Undine Moore 8 p.m. Hill Auditorium Sponsors: Schools of Engineering, Music, Law School, Rackham, and Office of Minority Affairs See the Daily on Monday morning for a complete list of events, which begin at 8:30 a.m., or pick up a Program Guide at the Office of Minority Affairs. If you want an event listed that does not appear in that guide, please drop it off at the Daily before 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 15. Reach 40,000 readers after class, advertise in Lihe i jchian 1ail. M A G A Z I N E BY KRISTIN HOFFMAN Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a champion of civil rights for all U.S. citizens. And on Monday's Diversity Day, in King's honor, members of campus gay male and lesbian groups are promoting their own struggle for rights. "It makes sense to me that there be on this day, MLK day, events that focus on the Black experience," said Jim Toy, director of the Gay Males Program office. "But I would want there to be room for events concerning discrimination against other individuals and groups." Mark Chekal, president of the Lesbian and Gay Men Business School Association, said Diversity Day should focus on all minority groups' rights. "We all have the same fight," Chekal said. "I think we should fo- cus on MLK, but his issue was rights, not simply Black issues," he said. "All these (oppressed) groups are interconnected," Chekal said. "The Black minority includes women, gays, people with disabilities; the gay minority includes people of color." To address these issues, Chekal set up a Diversity Day forum on sexism, racism, and homophobia in the workplace and at the University, 1:30 p.m. Monday at the business school's Hale Auditorium. East Quad will also address gay male and lesbian issues through skits presented by the Talk To Us theatre group focusing on homophobia, sexism, and racism, 3 p.m. Monday in Room 126. Others also are concerned that the Diversity Day programs are not linking all human rights issues. Jim Bott, a Resident Fellow in East Quad, said, "To separate issues of racism from issues of sexism, ho- mophobia, and classism is ignoring the ways in which all -of these are connected, and doing a disservice to everyone." Lesbians, gay men honor MLK The inclusion of gay male' Ad lesbian issues and concerns' Has raised a bit of controversy of. its own, however. Marc Kaplan, the Residence Hall Coordinator of Alice Lloyd, believes that Monday's events should focus on racial issues. "There's the philo- sophical need to recognize that'it's MLK Day," Kaplan said. Kaplan asked that a film about gay issues be rescheduled to Tuesday night, upsetting some studenIl, Chekal said. The film "The Times of HarvQy Milk," a movie concerning the life of San Francisco gay city council member Harvey Milk, -will be screened in Alice's Restaurant at 5:15, which is on the same flooris the cafeteria. Kaplan said the entire week was being viewed as a time to focus on issues related to diversity, and he felt that Alice Lloyd already had a great deal of programming and teaching concerning issues of ethnicity acd diversity.x Gay raps, an event in which a gay man and a lesbian tell their "coming out" stories, answer questions, and have group interaction sessions de- signed to bring out peoples feeling on gay issues, will be held at the Baits 2 Coman at 3 p.m. Monday, and at Mary Markley Library at 7 p.m Monday. 4 ~ Workers Continued from Page 1 faculty as by a whit stration "i avoid the Thon Thiry disagreed, saying the admin- ganize af istration is encouraging employees to dents in o request "release" time. "The key ele- change n mert," he said, "is that the University Stanle and various organizations are recog- Business nizing the importance of Martin Lu- said he w ther King's work, and employees have but that t the opportunity to participate." workers Vice President and Chief Financial workergh Officer Farris Womack invited all "too tigh University workers to attend a con- away any vocation at Crisler Arena on Monday GrosselB ;from 3:30 to4p.m.,at which President ing the is James Duderstadt and Regent Nellie and that t Varner (D-Southfield) will speak. no positi Steve Thomas, building service workers b steward at West Quad, said he would limited." ,not attend the convocation, and did not Smith Iexpecta large turnout. Thomas said he were req thought the University administration ulty wou granted the day off to students and day off. "a token reform headed off e male" and that the admini- probably would have liked to issue altogether." as also said he hoped to or- protest by workers and stu- )rder to bring about a policy ext year. dy Smith,a custodian in the Administration Building, will attend the convocation, he day off was not given to because the University was t" and "didn't want to give thing that it didn't have to." egent Veronica Smith (R- e) defended the decision, say- sue was "a case of finances" he University was simply in on to grant the day off to because "its resources are too stressed that while workers uesting a paid holiday, fac- ild not receive pay for their 1 Real aMd Daieq C~t~i1,11 Leather Rrecast. From SZE-CHUAN WEST Specializing in Sze-Chuan, Hunan, and Mandarin Cuisine DINING * COCKTAILS * CARRY-OUT Dexter G USiA N Dexter's most versital boot at a special price.; Wear straight for knee-length, cuff to any height or wear slouched. Black, Brown, Taupe nrnr~l W Ut1r Whit£x_1 1 I . __. _ _ ._