.rc re d a ti Vol. CI, No. 45 Ann Arbor, Michigan -Tuesday, November 61990a Michigan Da Candidates face apathy in '90 race by Henry Goldblatt Daily Politics Reporter Just another election year. This seems to be the general atti- tude surrounding Michigan's 1990} election season. Although much money and time have been invested in the campaign, public interest has not been sparked. Registration figures indicate that the total number of voters in Washt- enaw County are down from the last off-year election in 1986, said Washtenaw County Election Direc- tor Sandra Isaacson. However, local officials from both parties refused to be negative about the apparent decline in voting numbers this year. "We expect turnout up from four years ago, the governor race is much closer than it was four years ago... So much depends on the weather and how busy the polls are when people drive by," said Jim Blow, the Second Congressional District Republican chair. "I don't think that the level of at- tention has been greater or less - it is typical of an off-year election," said Steve Gould, the communica- tion director of the Michigan Demo- cratic Party. Both parties are expecting the gubernatorial race to be the most contested. College Republicans President Karen King predicted that John En- gler would beat incumbent Governor James Blanchard. She conceded, however, that the advantage of in- cumbency gives Democratic Senator Carl Levin, and the rest of the Congress a decisive electoral edge. islature. "There is a very great chance we will pick up two to three seats in the house and we are opti- mistic that we will regain control in for complete election Cerage I _- "We have been doing callings and drops all weekend," King said. "There is much higher student interest as the election approaches. People are much more willing to give time... there is a prevailing attitude that it is time for a change and new approach in everything from the economy to education," King said. The College Democrats are tak- ing a different approach. Last night, the group sent members around Ann Arbor to campaign, said Dana Miller, co-coordinator of the Blan- chard and Levin campaigns on cam- pus. "We are canvassing tonight for all candidates from county commis- sioner to Senator," Miller said. "We hope to cover all of Ann Arbor on foot on election day." Students showed varying amounts of concern for the election ranging from apathy to an in-depth interest. They expressed distaste with negative advertising and campaign- ing. "Negative advertising really does bother me. I see mostly Blanchard and Engler stuff which is very dis- turbing. It makes me want to vote everyone out of office," said LSA junior Julie Arrigo. "I notice (negative advertising)... all you see is a Blanchard ad ripping on Engler or an Engler ad ripping on Blanchard," said LSA senior Paul Kesman. "We think it is great for Engler but we're realistic about Schuette. We're still behind him 100 percent though," she added. State Democrats remained confi- dent of a Blanchard win, and hoped his coattails would extend to the leg- the (State) Senate. We fully expect Governor Blanchard and Senator Levin to win," said Gould. Around campus University Democratic and Republican groups are making final preparations for the election through voter mobilization. Schuette fights big Levin lead in Senate race Engler faces Blanchard for governorship by Henry Goldblatt Daily Politics Reporter The contest for Michigan's Sen- ate seat is not as close as political experts originally forecasted, but as voters cast their decision today, both camps refuse to take the polls for granted. Voters will choose between two- term Democratic incumbent Carl Levin and Republican Rep. Bill Schuette. Both campaigns see possible election victories. Despite Levin's formidable lead going into today's election, the Schuette camp remains optimistic, "I think our chances are real good. The electoral is really volatile. There's real disgust with the incum- bents," said Don Kraft, communica- tions and research director for the Schuette campaign. The latest poll figures from the Detroit News indicate Levin is sub- stantially ahead. He leads Schuette 64 percent to 31 percent. The poll has a margin of error of plus or mi- nus 3.5 percent. A Schuette spokesperson was sat- isfied with the campaign but said election day would be crucial. "We think that we've done well. It de- pends on voter turnout; the cam- paign has shown a remarkable level of disinterest of voters," said Hal Kwalwasser, research director for the Levin campaign. Crime, environment, abortion, and education are the main issues that have surfaced in the race. Candidates have bipolar views on abortion. Levin supports access to abortion with few restrictions, while Schuette opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or a threat to the mother's life. "The Senator (Levin) is strongly pro-choice. He has voted to protect federal funding for abortions for cases of rape, incest, and protection See SENATE, Page 2 Levin Blanchard Q by Henry Goldblatt Daily Politics Reporter Higher education, the environ- ment, and abortion top the list of priorities for the 1990 Michigan gubernatorial candidates. Voters will choose between the two-term incum- bent Democrat Jim Blanchard, and Republican challenger John Engler. The latest Detroit News poll shows Blanchard leading Engler by 14 points. Blanchard has 54.1 per- cent of the vote as compared to Engler's 40.3 percent. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percent. The abortion issue highlights the biggest split between the candidates,l with each one identifying with their respective party's platform. Blanchard has consistently op- posed government intervention in{ abortion legislation. "The Governor has vetoed anys legislation that would limit orc prohibit the right of a woman to make a personal decision to have an abortion... the decision should be left up to the woman and the government should not be involved," said Katie Wolf Deputy, campaign manager and campaign spokesperson for Blanchard. As State Senate Majority leader, Engler has been instrumental in sup- porting laws restricting abortions. "Engler is pro-life. He would support exceptions in the case of rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother," said John Truscott, Media Relations Director for the Engler campaign. Engler and Blanchard have pro- posed alternative ways of increasing state funding for higher education. "Governor Blanchard has worked hard to keep college tuition costs down. He set up a program to pro- vide incentives to the universities to open up bonding privileges for capital outlays, to put more money See ENGLER, Page 2 Schuette Engler Organizations denied rooms by B by Christine Kloostra Daily MSA Reporter The Michigan Student Assembly Budget Priorities Committee (BPC) did not fulfill room requests from 31 student groups - including The Michigan Review and Consider, or- ganizations which have occupied the same offices for more than seven years. BPC Chair Charles Dudley said MSA President Jennifer Van Valey requested that the Review - a con- servative campus issues journal - not recieve an office. Van Valey denies the charge. Dudley said he then decided it would only be fair to deny space to all other publications. "My decision was, 'All right, all *publications out,"' Dudley said, ex- Michigan Revie among groups to plaining that he would not have re- ceived any backing - from con- stituents or assembly members - had he denied space only to the Review because it would have been viewed as political bias. "I didn't tell Charles not to give them room," Van Valey said, adding that her dislike for the publication is not a secret and she "wouldn't be upset" if they did not receive an of- fice. w, Consider, other publications be denied offices in Union, League us that very visible student groups should be denied offices." "I cannot stress enough the in- convienence this causes," Miller said. Dudley contends that student publications should obtain space in the Student Publications Building, which houses The Michigan Daily, the Michiganensian, and the Gargoyle. However, these publica- tions fall under the auspices of the Univeristy's Board for Student Publications, while Consider and the allocations for several years. Engineering Rep. and former MSA President Aaron Williams agreed that there had been no diffi- culties last year. "Everyone who applied for office space last year got an office," he said. The room allocations will be brought before the assembly for ap- proval at their meeting tonight. Members can vote to amend Dudley's recommendations. Van Valey said she will present an alternative proposal which would provide space for all 83 groups re- questing an office. The proposal would require many groups to share C Chair an office. Engineering MSA Rep. Bill Cosnowski believes there may have been a violation of MSA's Compiled Code in the allocation procedure. Chapter 42, section 31 states, "MSA shall establish a committee to make recommendations for space al- location each year. The Chairperson of BPC shall preside. The committee shall be composed of MSA members and/or MSA employees." Initially, the committee consisted of Dudley and two MSA employees but was dissolved after members concluded they were not accomplishing anything. " We didn't actually have a com- mittee established," Dudley said. He added that there had not been a committee for several years. See ALLOCATION, Page2 I(Ar~oI'pIE tocation wafrd Michigan Union 1 1 NOW Bursley Hall 1 7 East Quad (2) 3 1 3 2 South Quad 4 1 on Beal Avenue, North Campus Coliseum (2) 4 3 Marly tI.4 2 Mary St. 4 2 John Miller, publisher of the Review, said he was displeased with the allocation procedure. Review do not. "All of a sudden we find our- MSA Administrative Assistant selves kicked out with no explana- Rebecca Gebes said there have not tion," he said. "It seems ludicrious to been problems in determining office Michigan Daily Four vie for two positions on 'U' Board of Regents by Daniel Poux Daily Administration Reporter Most of the hysteria surrounding the second Tuesday in November usually centers around the congres- sional seats and governorships up for grabs across the country. However, students who ignore the full slate will miss an opportu- nity to choose candidates for the most powerful positions at the University: two seats on the University's Board of Regents. The Reirental election is a narti- At stake are two seats, both held by Democrats. Democrat Phillip Power is seek- ing reelection to the seat he was ap- pointed to after his wife's death in 1987. This is Power's first cam- paign race for the eight-year regental seat. Southfield lawyer Don Tucker is running on the Democratic ticket with Power. Students may have seen Tucker last Tuesday on the Diag, honini that some of the enthniasm bent candidates are coming under much fire, only half of the dozen candidates are seeking reelection. Regent Thomas Roach is not run- ning again, and both parties have been working hard trying to pick up the free seat. Regent Roach, who has served on the board for two eight-year terms, said he is glad his term is over be- cause the regental responsibilities "take up almost 20 hours of (his) .- m mmmeI