The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition-Perspectives - Thursday, September 10, 1992 - Page 7

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The entire University seems to radiate out
from the brass block 'M' in the middle of the
__ Diag. I"w (J/i r y K ~taA$Y $ 'e a r
W The Diag is the center of campus, and most -'s
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students find themselves crossing it several rxy , °
times a day as they hurry wherever they are , yy7Y('R>fi x x °'aj x !/2 s S~ tk h*oSn ztx
going. But the Diag represents much more than
just a shortcut to classes. The Diag is thee, z°x; e4x t v
political center of the University as well. Ar "
myriad of studentl groups use the
heavily-peopled area to air their grievances
against the state of the University and the world.
While the Diag is a stage for political action "'' "Y ' ./
___almost every day, certain moments in recent ~~"~, ~,~~
~'history have left a lasting image. e<~~ -.~ ~,/.,~ ~ -
(Clockwise from top left) Col. Charles Tackett, Y y'4'n' r~ qY '~v.
staged a hunger strike on the Diag to protest a ,(,r;r~'a'g & tp
tight-lipped University administration. Tackett -, '"4 $
who fasted for only three hours - is shown ~. . .; .
leaning against a Diag shanty. Several shanties >. .. ,;-
used to dot the Diag, They protested everything "~'~~.< ~' ./
from Apartheid to the Israeli government's '7.
treatment of Palestinians. a, a
A University student speaks at a pro-choice f l7 l..n',',/.
Srally. The abortion issue is often hotly debated on /9' . fj~ .'
Two University graduate students lead the ''/; ~ ~ '~.
crowd at a Martin Luther King Day rally in a
A student argues with Preacher Mike, a Diag !lK /'~ !7~- .k7' c/ gSY FMxs
institution. On warm spring days, Mike stands on rK°I ''"';K
Diag benches and berates students for their ' .,,;. ./
"lives of sin." While most students are amused t y
by Mike's sermons, some become angry and
preach back. (xy
A "parade of the dead" marches through they" °°r n~
Diag to protest U.S. aid to the Nicaraguan
contras. mY; w °
FILE PHOTO/Daily
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