OPINION --:_ :. i' .ii::::.::f4'4:: :ti4:'4:::'''f.4:i: : ":U+r;.:;. ...... : ..::. "r:::.v. v:. :.: h::. :.v: rv.: .. _ .. _. :.. :.. k .... ......:.n... n...:. .:; f. . nr.r ': 4i};:; .::, :v::: : 'i ri:}:.: ,; .... ... w. "":.._: vt ::. ri'J.<:4iiii'r'iii::Fii:4; , .. " Jiii::::: .".. :v: x::n .iv;':: x.,.,+J: :. :::. ... i f ryi:f yr f }f i '.........:. ...............................................................................................l.. 4 ARTS Dancing days are here again 7 SPORTS SMichigan hockey 'shafted' by tournament committee 9 Congratulations to 'M' basketball teams Ube Mdto u 3 BaIt! Ninety-nine years of editorial freedom Vol. C: No. 108 Ann Arbor, Michigan - Wednesday, March 14, 1990 The MhignDaiy Soviets, MOSCOW (AP) - The Congress of People's Deputies approved yesterday Mikhail S. Gorbachev's proposals for a mul- tiparty political system headed by a powerful president, to replace decades of absolute Communist Party domination. But opposition deputies charged that the Soviet leader seriously violated parliamen- tary rules in ramming the proposals through a procedural muddle, and demeaned that the issues be brought up for one more vote. Failing that, they said the Congress likely would balk later this week at naming give Gorbachev the new president instead to face voters in the c nationwide presidential election Yesterday's vote, if upheld, definitive movement of the1 from more than 70 years of pa toward a more representativ system closer to that of many tions. It came five years afte took over power in the Sovi tenure marked by growing econ ties and sometimes violent eth Gorbachev , forcing him also improved relations with the West. Gor country's first is esser . "I congratulate the Congress,' Gor- goes th bachev said simply after applause greeted the disputes will mark the vote of 1, 817-133 members of the nation's Hep Soviet Union highest parliamentary body for establishing ing the rty leadership the new post of president. Moments later, some o e government the 2,250-member Congress voted 1,711- powers Western na- 164 to approve wide-ranging bill striking the He er Gorbachev Communist Party's leading role from the overrid et Union- a Constitution, legalizing some forms of pri- a state o nomic difficul- vate property and setting the presidential official nic unrest, but powers. authori more bachev has said the strong presidency ntial to hold the country together as it rough economic troubles and ethnic s. picked up votes for his proposal dur- day by offering a compromise on f the most controversial presidential >. gave up the right to appeal a veto e and promised that any bid to impose of emergency would be preceded by an warning and prior approval of local ties. power Deputy Fyodor Burlatsky a top political commentator, said Gorbachev probably picked up 50 to 100 votes with the com- promise. Each piece of legislation required 1,501 votes- a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Congress, present or not. Gorbachev had been threatened by a boycott from some Baltic legislators who consider their republics independent, and opposition from radical reformers who considered the post of president too powerful and demanded a direct election. *SAPAC proposed rape law * passes by Mike Sobel Daily Crime Reporter Governor James Blanchard signed a law yesterday restricting defendants accused of rape from suing their ac- cusers for libel until after the crimi- nal trial has ended. The law, the first of its kind in the country, was proposed and drafted by Julie Steiner, director of the Uni- versity's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC), state Rep. William Van Regen- morter (R-Jennison), and a Univer- sity law student. The new law amends Michigan's Rape Shield law which prevents rape defendants from bringing up the sexual history of their alleged victims during criminal proceedings. Steiner, who came to the Univer- sity after working as a lobbyist in Washington for the American Civil Liberties Union, called the new law a "small technicality with a large impact." She said it will prevent rape defendants from using civil suits to intimidate their accusers. Steiner said a 1987 campus rape trial prompted her to propose the bill. During the proceedings against him, University student Griffith Neil sued the woman who accused him of See LEGISLATIOn, Page 2 v Bush offers Panama and Nicaragua aid WASHINGTON (AP) - President George Bush lifted trade sanctions against Nicaragua yesterday and asked Congress to swiftly approve a $300 million down payment for rebuilding the nation's ravaged economy and speeding a transition to democracy. Rushing to shore up the incoming government of President-elect Violeta Chamorro, Bush also pledged he will seek an additional $200 million in fiscal 1991 which begins Oct. 1. Bush coupled the request for Nicaragua with a chal- lenge to Congress to approve a stalled aid package of $500 million for Panama, where the United States in- stalled a new government after deposing Manuel Anto- nio Noriega last December. The president urged Congress to complete work by April 5 on money for both countries. All the funds would be diverted from the Pentagon's budget, perhaps the first real "peace dividend" from the receding Cold War. "These nations need our help to heal deep wounds in- flicted by years of strife and oppression, years of loss and deprivation;" Bush said. 'And we must act and act soon," Rep. David Bonior (D-Mich.), a member of the House leadership and among the foremost foes of past U.S. policy in Nicaragua, predicted Congress would ap- prove the aid before recessing next month for Easter. "For years we've been hearing speeches about what America could do if only Noriega and Ortega were gone," said Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.), referring to the former Panamanian ruler and to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega who lost the elec- tion to Mrs. Chamorro last month. "Well, Ortega and Noriega are history. It's time for Congress to deliver." Bush announced his requests in a 41-minute news conference, during which he also fielded questions on topics ranging from the budget and foreign policy to baseball's labor dispute that threatens to delay the sea- son's opener. Opening his news conference, Bush announced he had lifted the five-year-old economic embargo against Nicaragua, one of the tools used by the United States to undermine the government of Ortega. While acknowledgeing some concern about the reluc- tance of the U.S.-backed Contra rebels to demobilize in Nicaragua, Bush said, "I'm less concerned thatn I was about the peaceful transfer of power, including the mili- tary. ' community critiques Bush, aid proposal by Mark Katz Daily MinorityIssuesReporter President George Bush's proposal yesterday request- ing Congressional approval of aid packages to Nicaragua and Panama elicited mixed responses from campus leaders and community members. Reactions to the proposal varied from wholehearted support for Bush to adamant disapproval of the presi- dent's request. Bush said the $300 million for Nicaragua and the stalled $500 million for Panama would be the first "peace dividend" from the melting Cold War. In addition to the aid, which would be attained by diverting funds See REACTIONS, Page 2 Enjoying the scene Business school senior Ian Campbell takes advantage of the spring-like weather and relaxes on the diag. First female president in Haitian h PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot pledged at her inauguration yesterday "to clean the face of Haiti" with a provisional civilian government that will lead the country to its first free elections. Passscal-Trouillo, who took a leave of absence as Supreme Court justice, is the first female president in the 186-year history of this im- poverished Caribbean island nation. She was sworn in a day after mil- itary ruler Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril fled following a week of violent demonstrations against his 18-month istory takes office regime that left at least 24 dead in and Creole. the streets of Haiti. "Mrs. President of the Republic, "I have accepted this heavy task the armed forces of Haiti are at your in the name of Haitian women." she command," said Maj. Gen. HerarI told hundreds of political and civic Abraham, who led a caretaker gov- leaders, diplomats and army officers ernment for 72 hours after Avril re- at the Natiional Palace ceremony. signed Saturday. "The army is re- "My government will be what you turning and staying in the barracks." want it to be." The audience wildly cheered Abra- Pascal-Trouillot, will govern ham's words. along with an 19-member advisory After the ceremony, thousands of council until elections are held, pos- Haitians outside the domed, white- sibly in three to six months." stone palace filled vast Chamo de "In the short time I have, I will Mars Plaza and cheered when she work to clean the face of Haitil," she came outside, saluted by an army promised speaking in both French band on the palace lawn. Ready & Set 'M' women eager for first ever tournament date tonight by Theodore Cox Daily Basketball Writer It's time to stop celebrating and get down to business for the women's basketball team tonight. After obtaining its first ever NCAA tournament bid, Michigan (19-9 overall, 11-7 Big Ten) will take on Oklahoma State in the first round of the Midwest Regionals this evening in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The first item on the agenda for coach Bud VanDeWege this week was to find out just who the heck Oklahoma State is. "All I know is they are in the Big Eight," senior forward Tempie Brown said. Well that's a start. But to the players, it doesn't matter. Whoever they play, they feel they can win. "I don't know anything about Oklahoma State, but we don't care," Powell said. SeeNCAA, Page 10 Trouillot A strike and fear had left this cap- ital city of 1 million people deserted for days. Shamir fires Peres, coalition, dissolves JERUSALEM - Prime minister Yitzhak Shamir yesterday dissolved a political alliance with the Labor Party in a crisis brought to a head by President Bush's comments on the status of Jerusalem. Shamir fired Vice Premier Shi- mon Peres, the Labor leader, and the 10 other Labor ministers submitted their resignations after an impasse was reached on whether to accept U.S. nrnosals gfor talks in Ca~irn which has ruled Israel through two stalemated elections since 1984. Avi Pazner, Shamir's spokesper- son, said that "as long as there is life there is hope, but I really am not very optimistic about a compro- mise." Peres, who also held out little hope for patching up differences, raised the possibility of avoiding new elections by forming a Labor- It-A ,rn~rnman t with il trn-..C'rt hrinr Gorbachev rejects Lithuanian freedom MOSCOW (AP)- Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev rejected Lithuania's declaration of indepen- dence and ruled out talks with the rebellious republic yesterday, but lawmakers from the region said they NOMM