The code war is over, and the good guys lost. Students have a new Code of Conduct, like it or not. Our only recourse is to monitor its implementation carefully. Believe the hype. Spike Lee, after a string of promising but flawed films, finally proves he's for real with "Malcolm X." Read Aaron Hamburger's review. Michigan missed an extra point, played conservatively, and tied a team it should have beaten. Sound familiar? This wasn't Illinois revisited; it was Ohio State. Today Windy with a few showers; High 42, Low 32 Tomorrow Partly sunny; High 40, Low 30 Jr t tit z One hundred two years of editorial freedom Vl 11No40nAbr, Mchgan Moda, Nvmr2, 199 ©192 he chgan ilyI Regent dismisses assault charges by Geoffrey Earle Daily Staff Reporter Regent Neal Nielsen (R- Brighton) dismissed allegations that he physically assaulted his former wife during the early '80s when questioned Thursday after the U-M Board of Regents' monthly meeting. Nielsen accused the Daily of run- ning a "smear campaign" against him and refused to confirm or deny whether he struck his wife in 1981 or 1982, as she alleges. Additionally, he refused to comment on whether the Brighton police re- sponded to calls from his Fowlerville home during the same time period. "You've tried running a smear campaign on me, and I don't appre- ciate it. You made some misrepre- sentations and allegations concerning my wife. You owe her an apology and an explanation," he said. Nielsen called the Daily's story containing these allegations li- S belous, "because what you put in your story .... you made representa- tions to certain individuals," he said. But Dona Mueller, the regent's former wife, reaffirmed her earlier statement in an interview yesterday. "The quote that I gave you was true and factual. There were occa- sions in 1981 and '82 where the sheriff's dep-irtment was called to my See REGENT, Page 2 I MCC delegates plan lobbying goals for 1993 Coffee break LSA sophomore Roxy Font prepares cappuccino at Amer's Deli on South State Street Students, regents meet to improve U=M party policy by Hope Calati and Lauren Dermer Daily Government Reporters; Members of the Michigan Col- legiate Coalition (MCC) convened on North Campus this weekend to make plans to lobby the state gov- ernment in its next session - in- cluding amending the Michigan state Constitution to transform the gov- erning boards of all 15 state univer- sities into elected positions. The resolution to amend the state constitution includes a call for a stu- dent representative on the governing boards. MCC Legislative Director Alaina Campbell supports the resolution and said she would work to get the ball rolling. "I think students would have these people be more account- able, and when they are elected, they will be more accountable to the con- stituents and the students," Camp- bell said. MCC was formed five years ago to lobby the state legislature, the governor's office, and the U.S. Congress on behalf of students at Michigan's 15 public universities. Members convened on North Cam- pus to discuss legislation relevant to higher education and student con- cerns, learn organizing techinques from similar state student organiza- tions, and honor people who have aided MCC. "We are defining our own exis- tence and defining our own mis- sion," said U-M delegate Dante Stella. In other business, the Students of Color Caucus passed a motion to in- vestigate at each university specific intentions and strategies for recruit- ing and retaining students and fac- ulty of traditionally underrepre- sented groups. "Our goal at this time is to get information and build strength from knowing the policies and procedures of each university," said caucus chair and Michigan State University delegate Kellye Roberts. She said after the hard facts are obtained, MCC will provide sugges- tions to members for analyzing the information. The Educational Access Committee - despite the oppositions of some U-M delegates - passed an amendment to support across-the-board increases in state funding for Michigan's schools. Supporters of the amendment said the goal is to depoliticize the appropriations process. But LSA sophomore Tobias Zimmerman, an MCC delegate, said he doesn't think it is possible to de- politicize the appropriations process and that it is limiting to attempt to judge the "mission" of each school. See MCC, Page 2 by Ken Dancyer Daily Staff Reporter Recalling the horrific fatal crush that occurred at a City College of New York basketball game last December, members of the U-M Board of Regents asked frustrated student group representatives to work with the administration to find solutions to the over-capacity prob- lems at Michigan Union parties. However, the current policy that resulted from student and adminis- trative efforts has come under fire by students since its implementation. Associate Dean of Students Frank Cianciola told students Friday that the problems of overcrowded parties at the Union are ones that need "mutual solutions." He cited a talent show and party sponsored by Kappa Alpha Sigma Fraternity ear- tier this month as the most recent example of the problem. All the students who met with the regents agreed the sale of more than a capacity number of tickets to the talent show and party caused many students not to be admitted, even though they held tickets. "People with tickets were turned away," wrote a student in an See PARTIES, Page 2 MSU report on sexual orientation reflects national campus trend by David Carrel Daily Staff Reporter As campuses across the country seek to secure equality regarding sexual orientation, recommendations issued in a Michigan State University (MSU) report last week parallel those made in a similar U-M study last year. "The study went beyond the issue of policy to study every aspect of student life, faculty and staff needs and education programs," said pro- fessor of psychiatry and co-chair of the task force Terry Stein. The MSU task force recommen- dations emphasized equality for all regardless of sexual orientation; ed- ucation about lesbians, gay men, and bisexual issues; recognition of the contributions of openly lesbian, gay and bisexual persons to the commu- nity; and assurance of their safety and rights. Stein emphasized that the report examined many different spheres in need of equality regarding sexual orientation. "Many, many, many recommen- dations were made - each one con- sidered different aspects such as teaching, policy consultations, re- defining the family and new support services," Stein said. "It's a compre- hensive report where policy issue was only one small aspect." Dr. Jayne Thorson, chair of U- M's 1991 committee which studied the status of lesbians and gay men, saw parallels between the MSU and U-M reports. "I think their recommendations not surprisingly are very similar to ours. Problems of sexual orientation faced by lesbians and gay men affect the same issues at this university and require a comprehensive look," Thorson said. The recent trend of studying the issues faced by lesbian and gay males is due to the increased aware- ness of lesbian and gay men in the community, Thorson said. "Growing interest and awareness in lesbian and gay men on college campuses and across the nation is widely due to a genuine increase in visibility," she added. "Times have changed," said Billie Edwards, co-coordinator of the U-M Lesbian-Gay Male Programming Office (LGMPO). "(The) visibility issue is playing a very, very large part of more and more campuses doing reports. People recognize that lesbian and gay male students, faculty and staff have needs we need to be met." Since U-M published its report in June 1991, Jim Toy, the other co-co- ordinator of LGMPO, cited some See MSU, Page 2 Ann Arbor residents question dismissal of housing director Spmkeis callaommission hmd'sfhing politim, urge housing reform by Jonathan Berndt Daily City Reporter Ann Arbor residents questioned City Councilmembers on the dis- missal of Housing Commission Di- rector Conrad Benson Friday, decry- ing the move as politically moti- vated. Public housing residents spoke for more than an hour and a half at a special City Council meeting in an attempt to get Benson reinstated. The Housing Board of Com- missioners fired Benson Monday, al- leging that he inappropriately raised his own salary. Because the council did not have its six-person quorum, the four pre- sent members opened the meeting to public comments. Of the more than 50 people who came to the meeting, 15 spoke during the session, almost all praising Benson's tenure on the board. Mary-Ann Hinton, vice president of the Unity Tenants Organization, praised Benson for his positive relationship with Ann Arbor tenants. "Investigate the Ann Arbor Housing Commission," she asked. "Bring all the allegations out into the open!" Tony Taylor, a Housing Board employee, said he was concerned about a possible conflict of interest between Benson's role in promoting affordable housing and union jobs. If housing becomes tenant-owned, there will be no need for the city Housing Commission, he said. "I have worked toward resident management," he said. "There seems to be a fear of residents owning homes ... a fear of low-income peo- ple empowered ... to be a part of regular, normal life." Pete Collins, an Ann Arbor resi- dent, said public housing officials need to be more lenient toward low- income tenants. David Siebolt, a Housing Com- mission employee spoke against Benson, urging the councilmembers to evaluate employment decisions carefully. "Resident Management is some- chance," Siebolt said. Sheila Tyler, president of the Unity Tenants Organization, advo- cated the board's dismissal as a solu- tion to the city's recent public housing woes. "Clean house, start from the be- ginning," she said. "It stinks real bad in Ann Arbor, and I think the world should know." Ann Arbor resident Larry Fox lauded the council for examining Benson's dismissal. "I'm glad some of City Council is ready to take action to correct this injustice," he said. Tyler questioned Mayor Liz Brater's absence. "I am very disappointed in Mayor Brater," she said. "When she was trying to be mayor, she came begging for votes ... kissing babies and smiling. Now when we need her, she has turned a deaf ear. She should be ashamed." Brater had previously said she would not attend the meeting be- cause she felt nersonnel matters Brater places bets on U-M o~ '-: football f by Jonathan Berndt and Melissa Peerless Daily Staff Reporters The Michigan Wolverines may be the apple of Ann Arbor Mayor Y Liz Brater's eye this week. Brater and Columbus Mayor Gregory Lashutka bet a bushel of apples on the outcome of Saturday's game. I'm no expert on football," Brater said before the contest, "but I know that Michigan has the better team." But Michigan's second tie in a row "upset the apple cart" so to s ater said she hasn't spoken to Lashutka yet, so she doesn't know if she will receive the fruit. "Maybe we both owe each other a bushel of apples," she said. "I haven't talked to him yet. Mayors are hard to get a hold of on the