The Michigan Daily - Wednesday November 29, 1989 - Page 3 Smaller parties also vie for MSA positions Abolitionists seek to completely overhaul assembly's structure by Christine Kloostra Daily Staff writer After failing to win a single seat in the Michigan Student Assembly's elections last March, the Abolition- ist party has returned with a slate of four candidates who are vying for positions on the assembly. Their platform, a radical departure from the views of other MSA parties or candidates, consists primarily of advocating a massive restructuring of MSA and preserving students' right to free speech. In addition, the party opposes deputization of campus security, University sponsorship of FBI and CIA recruiting, weapons research, and a mandatory class on racism. "MSA is strictly maintaining its reputation as a laughingstock," said party member Bryan Case, an LSA senior. "We want to abolish (the assembly) as much as possible and replace it with a grass-roots organi- zation." By creating a government of vol- unteers organized into committees and eliminating the elected assem- bly, the Abolitionists hope to estab- lish a "voluntaristic" organization, said party member Jesse Walker, an LSA sophomore. The Abolitionists realize that even if all four candidates win, a complete overhaul of the 48-member MSA would be extremely difficult. Therefore, the Abolitionists also have an agenda for working within the current system. One of their first goals within the system would be to abolish MSA's current recognition policy, which provides funding and office space in the Union to only those student groups recognized by MSA. "There is a difference between recognizing a group and funding a group," Walker said. "Any student group should be able to have an of- fice in the Union." If elected, the Abolitionists also hope to fight tuition hikes by in- creasing MSA's lobbying efforts and focusing on soliciting funding from private sources, such as corporations and foundations, rather than dealing solely with the state legislature. "To my knowledge, no one has ever done this before," Walker said. The party is also concerned with First Amendment freedoms it be- lieves are endangered at the Univer- sity. Party members strongly advo- cate students' rights to freedom of expression and speech, a stance which includes opposition to both the University's anti-harassment pol- icy and its protest policy. "We are in support of complete and absolute free speech," Case said. Walker said the University's cur- rent harassment policy "is based on the silly premise that if you tell someone not to say something, they won't think it." The Abolitionists oppose the protest policy because they allege it was formulated without sufficient student input in addition to believing that it infringes on students' freedom of expression. The parties:here heystd ABOLuiONIT Abolish current assembly structure and replace it with a grassroots structure. Do away with current MSA recognition policy and give all groups the right to utilize office space in the Union. Supports absolute free speech at the University. Fight tuition hikes by soliciting funds from private sources. CHOICE Stresses experience of leadership. Opposes putting Peace & Justice Commission to student vote. Will continue to work on minority, women's, and student rights issues. CONSERVATIECOAL1iON Favors keeping students' money on campus and opposes funding of observer delegations to foreign countries. Favors removal of the shanties from the Diag. Favors putting the Peace & Justice Commission to a student vote. Favors tight fiscal policy. Favors automatic group recognition by MSA. NEW. ,DIRECON Favors directing MSA's efforts towards getting information out to the students about the assembly. Redirect funds for Peace & Justice Commission towards campus issues. By Mark Katz Daily Staff Writer While the Conservative Coalition and the Choice parties will offer 18 and 15 candidates respectively for to- day's Michigan Student Assembly election, the smallest official party running, the New Directions Party, consists of only three students. The party - made up of LSA senior Mike Zitta, LSA junior Tarik Ajami and engineering junior Anto- nio Roque - aims to redirect the ef- forts of the current assembly. "We'd like to see MSA's efforts not being put into political games; it should be directed towards getting information out to students about what MSA can do for them," Zitta said. The party's entire platform can be summed up in one word - "information" - he said. Zitta wants to concentrate on getting the word out to students about what is going on with MSA, so more stu- dents will get involved. "It's a matter of utilizing the re- sources already on campus," Ajami said. "MSA has to work in coopera- tion with student organizations to get the information out." The party believes funds being groups that the rules are working for. Peace and Justice: One of the few MSA committees that actually does anything for students. General Comments: Use MSA money to help protect student rights and fight tuition increase. Help organize student groups and establish some kind of parliament so students could have voice in where money is being spent at Michigan. I. Matthew Miller, LSA junior Anti-Harassment Policy: A staunch "no-code" person. Added that a lib- eral arts education should try to al- low as many freedoms for students as possible, instead of restricting them. New Directions hopes to fight apathy, increase awareness used br the Peace and Justice Com- mission and foreign trips should be redir cced into campus issues, or programs that directly affect students in Ann Arbor. The party said it needs more stu- dent input before it will feel com- fortable taking a stance on the anti- harassment policy, Roque said. Party members attribute the small size of the party to late orga- nization. However, if its candidates are successful, New Directions plans on organizing a full slate for MSA's spring election. Roque said the small size of the party will help its chances in the election. "The idea is that we don't want to get involved in big party politics," he said. "In MSA, student voices can get lost in big parties," Roque said. "We have less people, so our party will be less impersonal." Ajami said the party will serve as a buffer between the two bigger par- ties. "We're not trying to sweep elections with a party," he said. Sn far, the candidates have cam- paigned by posting fliers and through word of mouth, talking to people around dorms who "would be otherwise apathetic," Ajami said. Peace and Justice: Money that has been spent to send students on trips abroad should be used instead to hire speakers to come to cam- pus. General Comments: Responsible management of student funds is a primary concern. Would like to participate on the External Rela- tions Committee if elected, be- cause of the influence the commit- tee could have setting the tuition, and in protecting students' rights. See PROFILES, Page 7 DECORATING BLUES? We're here to help. nadvice o Michigan Daily colurnr in 420 Maynard the Daily. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 THE LIST What's happening in Ann Arbor today Meetings AIESEC (International Stu- dents in Business and Eco- nomics)- ; 6 in Bus. Ad. Bldg. Rm. 1273 UM Hellenic Students' Orga- nization - 7 p.m. in Union 1209 Womyn's Rites and Rhythms - 6-6:30 p.m. in the SAB base- ment UM Asian Student Coalition - 7 p.m. in 2413 Mason Latin American Solidarity Committee - 8 in the Union Mitzvah Project - 6:30 in Hil- lel's upper lecture hall Women's Lacrosse - practice from 9-11 p.m. at Tartan Turf Women Worshipping in the Christian Tradition - 7 p.m. at 218 N. Division; sponsored by Canterbury House Episcopal Stu- dents MSA Academic Affairs Com- mission - 6 p.m. in Union Rm. 3909 UM Shorin-Ryu Karate-do Club - 8:30-9:30 p.m. in the CCRB Martial Arts Room; be- ginners welcome Science Fiction and Fantasy Club (Stilyagi Air Corps)- 8 p.m. in the League Speakers "Mechanistic Enzymology Synthesis of New Drugs" - Prof. James Coward speaks at 4 in Chem. 1640 "Two Models for Nucleation and Growth on a Line" - Prof. Malcolm Quine of Sydney U. and Florida State U. will speak at 4 p.m. in Mason 451; coffee at 3:30 p.m. in Mason 1443 "Mathematical Art: The Greek Secret Weapon" - Prof. John Onians of the U of East Anglia, Great Britain speaks at 4:30 in the Rackham Amphitheatre Furthermore Central American Beans & Rice Dinner - a chance to sup- port groups which do direct aid in Central America; 6 p.m. at the Guild House Northcoast-UM Jazz Ensemble - Rackham Lecture Hall at 8 n.m. Northwalk - North campus night-time walking service, Rm. 2333 Bursley; 8 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. or call 763-WALK ECB peer writing tutors - available at Angell-Haven and 611 Computing Centers from 7 to 11 p.m.; Sunday through Thursday "Why is the Bedroom So Crowded?" - the Residence Hall Repertory Theatre Troupe presents the performance at South Quad at 10 p.m. Proud to be a Zionist Day - all Israel-supporters are welcome to visit the Diag and the Fishbowl Free Tutoring - for all lower- level math, science and engineer- ing courses; UGLi Rm. 307 7-11 p.m.; South Quad Dining Hall 8- 10 p.m.; Bursley's East Lounge 8-10 p.m. La Mitad del Cielo - a part of the Spanish Film Festival; 7 p.m. in MLB Lecture Rm. #2 Jewish Identity: Israeli vs. Americap View - a discussion facilitated by Joseph Kohane; 7 p.m. at Hillel Jazz Night - Featuring Joe Ob- vious; sponsored by the Minority Affairs Commission; 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Trotter House English Peer Counseling - 7-9 p.m. in Union 4000 A Carillion Auditions - must have good piano background; 1:15-3 at the Burton Bell Tower Michigan Leadership Confer- ence Registration - at the Stu- dent Organization Development in the 2202 Union; fee is $12 Color National Artists' Book Project - features artists' books of more than 200 American Women of Color; in the Slusser Gallery; 10a.m.-5 p.m. Women of Courage: An Exhibi- tion of Photographs by Judith Sedwick - portraits of 55 Black American women; Grad. Library North Lobby; 8am-5pm Arpilleras from Peru and Chile - distinctive fabric wall-hangings by women from Latin America; Residential College; 1-5 p.m. Store Front Churches in De- troit - Center for Afro-American and African Studies; 200 W. Engine.; 8am-5pm Photo exhibit of racial violence Indepen The following candidates are running as independents for the Michigan Student Assembly. The Daily asked them to explain their views on the University's anti-ha- rassment policy and the MSA Peace and Justice Commission. Karl Anderson, LSA first-year student Anti-Harassment Policy: Doesn't know much about it. Peace and Justice: Should be there and should receive same funding, no more, no less. General Comments: Favors increased student participation in MSA; in- creased MSA visibility among students. Dale Carpenter, LSA junior Anti-Harassment Policy: Feels it is an infringement on students' First Amendment rights. Peace and Justice Commission: MSA shouldn't conduct foreign policy. Favors abolishing com- mission. General Comments: Wants to use money for University students and represent the majority of students. Ran independently because he feels both major parties are corrupt and MSA is not run well. Michelle Dallaire, LSA sophomore Anti-Harassment Policy: Not very knowledgeable on subject. Thinks policy should be based more on the real world than on the Univer- sity. Peace and Justice: No comment. General Comments: MSA should focus more on students. Ran as independent because she did not like any of the existing parties; thinks that there should be diver- sity within MSA, too. Jason Feingold, LSA senior Anti-Harassment Policy: Important that the University do whatever it can to protect students and faculty from discrimination. Likes pol- icy, but doesn't think it should be strengthened. Peace and Justice: Favors it. Thinks both the University and MSA : mim Sdents... have a definite responsibility to the community. General Comments: Would like to see a progressive assembly aggres- sively addressing issues like racism and the student governing of this campus. Would like a more aggressive, more outspoken MSA. Ran as independent because he thinks candidates must run on their own stand, and voters must vote for the individual candidate, not the political party. Dennis Feldman, LSA sophomore Anti-Harassment Policy: Good pol- icy for protecting individuals' rights, but it may appear to over- step constitutional boundaries. Favors making it less vague. Peace and Justice: Let students de- termine its legitimacy. Personally feels MSA funds could be put to better use. General Comments: Wants to curb the corruption on the assembly. Wouldn't rule out dissolving the MSA if excessive abuse of power was determined to have occurred. Ran as an independent because he didn't want to be tied to any orga- nization. Ed Frankfort, LSA sophomore Anti-Harassment Policy: Agrees with the administration on this is- sue, and therefore favors the pol- icy. Peace and Justice: Opposes the exis- tence of the committee because it is not a good way to spend stu- dents' money. The student body doesn't need to send other students abroad on MSA funds. General Comments: Improving MSA's tarnished image and the use of tuition money are central concerns. Matthew Iskra, Music School junior Anti-Harassment Policy: Should be formulated by people from UCAR, BSU, and LaGROC and People Organized for Women Equality and Rights (POWER) be- cause they are representing the Rackham Student E Government a URGES ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS TO VOTE E HAND ELECT THEIR DIVISION REPRESENTATIVES IN THE RSG COUNCIL RSG ELECTIONS ARE HELD CONCURRENTLY xC7 WITH THE MSA ELECTIONS El El ASK FOR THE RSG BALLOT WHEN VOTING FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 763-5271 Ql Have you considered a career which offers: * job opportunities in every part of the country " a career which helps others care for themselves " starting salaries ranging from $25-$30,000 * career flexibility and lifelong learning T1,P i lnivareitxi of XA;i-hicr in If xinr > u xr nt a r s rrr xh I i 1e univerity VI ivii'cniiian 1 11 yo.u vvaliit a c Xalcc 1 i.I j