£ -kiitlai Vol. Cl, No. 23 Ain Arbor, Michigan -- Monday, October , 19C0 LSA faculty to vote today on. diver sity class req uirement by Melissa Peerless Daily Staff Reporter After almost three years of debate, the LSA General Assembly today will decide whether to include a course on racial and ethnic issues as a graduation requirement. The faculty will consider four proposals. The proposals, three drafted by the LSA Curriculum Committee, and a fourth by another group of faculty members, are similar to a plan defeated 99-50 last April and another defeated 140-120 in 1989. Proposals A and C would require students take a class dealing with racial and/or ethnic in- tolerance in American society. Proposal B would require students to take a course which examines the culture of a group which is discriminated against in any society. The faculty proposal stipulates that students take one of several classes that deal with the con- cept of ethnicity and racism throughout the world. Chemistry Prof. Thomas Dunn plans to vote against the proposal. He feels that "mature, inter- ested students will take these type of courses without compulsion." He said University stu- dents acknowledge the problems of racism and prejudice and "won't avoid things." Carl Cohen, professor of philosophy, also plans to vote against the proposal because he said proponents of the requirement are overestimating the degree to which the courses will influence the thoughts and actions of students. When asked to make a prediction about to- day's vote, Cohen said "I really don't know." The diversity courses could be used as a tool to advance a political agendas of instructors, he added.} Ruth Scodel, Greek and Latin professor, is See VOTE, page 2 *Students join7000 for Earth * meeting by Daniel Poux Special to the Daily More than 20 University students joined 7,000 students from around the world at the University of Illi- nois Champaign-Urbana campus this weekend to ignite environmental ac- tivism and establish a worldwide student environmental activist net- work. The conference called "CATALYST" featured prominent speakers, a march across campus, and workshops for student leaders to hone grass roots organizational skills. The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) sponsored the conference. Prominent actor and long-term environmental activist Robert.Red- ford kicked off the conference Friday evening with a speech in the Univer- sity's Assembly Hall. Redford blasted the Bush adminis- tration for failing to follow through on its promise to be the "environmental president." "I don't want to read someone's *lips when they aren't saying any- thing," Redford said. "It's your earth, and it's your move," he said, as he finished his speech. "For all of us, I really wish you luck." Dr. Helen Caldicott, founder of Physicians for Social Responsibil- ity, and the Women's' Action for Nuclear Disarmament, spoke against the excessive use of plastic in our society and urged students to "change America from a corporate dictator- ship to a true democracy of, for, and by the people." The day's speeches were capped off with an address by consumer ad- vocate Ralph Nader, who argued that the cause behind many environmen- tal problems is corporate and politi- cal corruption. See EARTH, Page 5 'Fear No stirs littli by Bethany Robertson Daily Staff Reporter An exhibition featuring the "controversial" work of local artists elicited little criticism from visitors this weekend despite a local Christian group's denunciation of the morality of the work. "Fear No Art," an exhibit organizers said was designed with the purpose of testing the limit of Ann Arbor's tolerance of artistic expression, opened last Thursday. Though protesters were expected to demonstrate Saturday as a result of advertisements announced on Christian radio stations for several weeks, only a small group from Canton Township appeared, Coordinator Linda Kendall said. Artistic Director Peter Knox said the protestors appeared to be "protesting the idea of what they would consider immoral art," and added that "most of them had not seen the exhibit." Knox said he was partially glad the protestors were there. "Our intention was to elicit the community's response. If this is their response, it is welcome," Knox said. Visitors to the exhibit were given a chance to comment on the exhibit by posting their ideas on boards placed around the art. Com- ments varied widely but mainly supported the artists. One picture by Roger Hayes labeled "Two- year-old sexually abused, killed with blows to the head," had the comment "The people who are appalled by this are ignoring the fact that it happens every day" posted beside it. i Art' e protest Another observer wrote about the same picture, "Is this really necessary? I've reached deep inside and still found no reason to be so graphic." Visitors had varied reasons for attending the exhibit. Rick and Mary Price said they attended the exhibit to show support for people willing to take risks in the name of artistic freedom. "It's a way of voting with our feet," Mary Price said. Joshua Banner said he came to the exhibit to see the kind of actions artists would take to shock people. Banner said he found the exhibit "unbalanced." "If you really want to shake up a left wing audience you have to put up right wing art," Banner said. "A whole half of politicized art was missing. I'm sure some racist or fascist or white power work would provoke real rage in this town." Banner added that he did not think any pieces in the exhibit should be censored. Kendall said the general response to the exhibit has been that none of the material included should be censored. "People are just totally mellow; they're not finding anything really offensive," she said. Included in the exhibit besides the work of local artists are advertisements, books, and music that are questionably offensive. Information about the controversy involving Robert Mapplethorpe's work is also presented. All of the exhibits' contents are open for public comment. See ART, page 5 Ouch! Linebacker Brian Townsend sacks Wisconsin quarterback Sean Wilson, the Badger's second-string passer. The Wolverines put the hit on Wisconsin this weekend, pummeling the Badgers, 41-3, in their Big Ten opener, and placing themselves in contention for a number one ranking 'U' looks nationwide for B-School dean by Shalini Patel Daily Staff Reporter Applications are being solicited from faculty and administrators across the country for the position of University Business School Dean. A seven member search commit- tee - appointed by University Provost and Vice President for Aca- demic Affairs Gilbert Whitaker - is soliciting help from national search firms, alumni, faculty, and students. The committee has advertised in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Black Issues in Higher Education. The position has been open since July when Whitaker, former dean of the Business School, was promoted to fill the vacancy left by the resig- nation of Provost Charles Vest. B. Joseph White has acted as interim dean since Whitaker's appointment. Business Law Prof. and Search Committee Chair George Siedel ex- plained the selection process will consist of three phases. The "search phase," which is the current stage, requires advertising and letter-writ- ing. The "screening phase" involves evaluating candidates based on a list of presently undetermined criteria. In the final "selection phase," the committee will recommend three to five people to the provost who will make the final decision after consult- ing University President James Dud- erstadt. In a "best-case scenario" Siedel estimates a new dean will be in place by February. Although the committee has not assembled a specific set of criteria, it will look for candidates who can "provide leadership in program plan- ning, development, and evaluation," Siedel said. The business school administra- tion has opened a two-way channel of communication with the 1,500 full-time and 950 part-time students enrolled to encourage suggestions in the selection process. Every student was mailed letters informing them of the search and asking for input and recommendations, said Amy Lauer, Business School Student Council president and search committee member "There is a voice always on the committee that represents the stu- dents," Lauer said. "The people here are very active - if they want to get on the com- mittee, they will. The administration is very good at getting students' feedback," said second-year MBA student, Brian Heller. The committee will hold its weekly meeting today to hear presen- tations from four professional search firms. One will be selected to help in the search, to check references, _nd to mike repnmmnkatinne . _i L-4LIr.LLLL)rwr- -"&I L" lluxft L, I& 44A"A4to%.A, -- 'U' grad makes it big in comedy * by Michelle Clayton new material." Engler mounts strong attack on Blanchard in first debate Peter Berman's comedy career began one day in 1986 while flipping through a copy of the Daily. He came upon an advertisement for Laugh Track, a local comedy show that features student comics and professional headliners weekly at the Union, which stated, "Be one of the few, proud, stand-up comics for Laugh Track." On Nov. 11, 1986 Berman, a 1989 University graduate, made his comedy debut in a 20-minute per- formance. Since that night, Berman has appeared on MTV, VH1, CBS Night Watch, and on September 30, he appeared on Star Search. He also placed second in the 1987-88 U.S. College Comedy Competition. He travels full-time and performs across the country. But Berman's success hasn't come easy. "During school I Berman participated in Laugh Track, was committee chair of the program for a year, and was the president of University Activities Center during his senior year. Berman gives the impression of a very down-to-"rth guy. Clad in a Michigan sweatshirt, faded jeans, tennis shoes, and sunglasses, he talks sentimentally about his days at Michigan, especially eschewing the image of a cocky, devil-may- care comic. Of his stage ability he says, "My strength is my stage persona... I think that is an inherent quality." Berman feels that due to this im- age he is often misunderstood. "I think I'm as sensitive and compas- sionate as anyone. I've even been termed moody." His thoughtfulness carries over into his comedy and he says experi- ences he has had at the University ACME, Mich (AP) - GOP gub- bernatorial challenger John Engler and Gov. James Blanchard both claimed victory in their first tele- vised debate, with Engler predicting his strong performance will show up soon in the polls. With 30 days left before the Nov. 6 general election, Blanchard had the suppoi t of 55.9 percent of poll respondents, The Detroit News said. Engler, the Senate majority leader from Mount Pleasant, had 30.3 percent. Four percent of those polled were undecided, 5.6 percent said they would vote for neither candidate and 4 percent declined to disclose their preference. The telephone survey of 800 registered Michigan voters, conducted Oct. 2-4, had an error margin of 3.5 percentage points. Engler's support has slipped by more than seven points since last month, when 38 percent of those polled by The News said they preferred him. Engler campaign side of the story out," a smiling En- gler said after the hour-long debate Saturday night. As he has throughout the cam- paign, the Mount Pleasant republi- can focused on Blanchard's economic development record, including a slap at the governor's favorite chant of "jobs, jobs, jobs." "Now eight years later, we learn that it was promises, promises, promises, mostly -prom- ises not kept," he said. He added while Blanchard plays up Michigan as the comeback state for overcoming economic problems of the early 1980s, most people he speaks with are "wondering where. this miracle is that they hear about." Engler hit hard on the fact that Michigan has the highest unem- ployment rate among the industrial- ized states - 7.2 percent, the same as Illinois - and has lost 250,000 manufacturing jobs. "Really, what's happening in Michigan is we've had our heart cut out with the loss of manufacturing dropped from a high of 17.3 percent in 1982. "As the incumbent, he'd say that that ignores reality. We have 49 other comeback stories (in .other states) to tell that are all better than Michigan's," Engler said later. For his part, Blanchard plugged how he guided Michigan through its toughest economic times since the Great Depression and brought state finances back to a sound footing while wiping out a 1.7 billion debt. Blanchard hit hard on his creation of the Michigan Youth Corps, his push to put a computer in eachof Michigan's classrooms, taking 15,000 dangerous criminals off the streets by building prisons, and boosting yearly school funding by $1.5 billion since 1982. "In the last eight years, we have made a real difference," Blanchard said. "We haven't won every battle, but we aren't done fighting yet." "I think what we saw here unfor- tuinate1v wasq my onnonnent talking Berman women's issues and children in his comedy. One of the strangest things ever to happen to Berman began in his sophomore year at Laugh Track when he said something that was taken personally by a member of the audience. One of his jokes evidently touched an audience member's nerve. Berman said of the first showdown, "I put him in his nlce. it w assrvival-of-the-