Students should watch for administrative
underhandedness when dealing with complaints
brought under the Statement of Student Rights
and Responsibilites.
Actor Frank Whaley may be young, but he can
hold his own with guys like Nicholson and
Brando. Read Darcy Lockman's interview with
the budding star.
Jalen Rose and Chris Webber led Michigan past
Illinois, 98-97, in overtime last night in Champaign.
Rose scored 23 points and Webber poured in 22
in the victory.
Today
Flurries;
High 32, Low 12 8
Tomorrow
Cold, High 28, Low 18
V
*td Y
tYi
One hundred two years of editorial freedom
Vol. Clll, No. 93 Ann Arbor, Michigan-Thursday, March 11, 1993 0 1993 The Michigan Daily
'U' moves
Hash Bash
lawsuit to
U.S. court
by David Rheingold
Daily Staff Reporter
The University has placed the fate of
Hash Bash into the hands of the U.S.
District Court in Detroit.
The University recently turned over
its dispute with the National Organiza-
tion for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
(NORML) to the federal court, which
will decide whether the marijuana le-
galization supporters can hold Hash
Bash on the Diag April 3.
Washtenaw Circuit Judge Donald
Shelton was initially scheduled to hear
arguments in the dispute yesterday, but
theUniversity turned to the federal court.
U.S.District Judge RobertDeMascio
will now decide whether to hear the
case or return it to Judge Shelton.
Robert Carbeck, the American Civil
Liberties Union attorney representing
NORML, said the University wants a
differentjudge because itis disappointed
with Judge Shelton's 1990 and 1992
rulings that Hash Bash could occur.
"Ithinkit'sjustthat they think they're
going to get a better deal out of a better
judge," Carbeck said. "They're equat-
ing the reason they lose time and time
again with the judge rather than the fact
that what they're trying to do is illegal."
Walter Harrison, executive director
ofUniversity relations, said simply, "It's
the University's long-standing policy
not to comment on matters under litiga-
tion."
This is the third time in four years
NORML has asked the court to order
See HASH BASH, Page 2
r Electrical cord
sparks fre at
'Uaowrpln
Blaze causes estimated
damages of $7,000; operation
continues uninterrupted
by Scot Woods
A fire causing about $7,000 in damages ignited
just after midnight Tuesday at the University Power
Plant.
The fire at 1120 E. Huron St., drew forces from
the University Department of Public Safety (DPS)
and the Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD).
Nobody was injured in the blaze.
Fire marshals reported the cause of the fire as a
short circuit in an electrical extension cord and have
closed the investigation. Authorities had originally
suspected arson.4
Damage to the building - mostly from water
and smoke - is estimated at $3,000. Damage to
materials in the building is estimated at $4,000.
Plant operation was not interrupted.
DPS received a call at 12:15 a.m. from a plant
worker and alerted the fire department.
"Upon entering, fire personnel saw fire on the
second floor, which is a large grated walkway. It
was cardboard boxes and insulation that was
aflame," said AAFD Battalion Chief John Schnur.
"(Firefighters) then brought in a secondary hose for
support, and there was a very quick knockdown."
Mike Pepper, a plant engineer, said no other
fuels or highly flammable materials were in the
vicinity of the blaze.
Jeff Craigie, a plant boiler operator, discovered
the blaze during normal rounds.
"I walked around the corner and I saw the
reflection of the flames off some reflective pipe
covering. I turned when I saw the flames and got
on the P.A. to warn these guys," Craigie said,
gesturing toward some of his co-workers.
"Then, I grabbed the CO2 bottle, and hit (the
fire) with the CO,. When I hit it, the flames got
worse. I thought, 'Well, enough of that,' (and)
went downstairs," he said.
Meanwhile Pete Ehrlich, a plant engineer,
called DPS to report the fire.
"Today was Pete's 50th birthday," Pepper
remarked. "That's a hell of a birthday cake."
Schnur said the material that burned was
insulation stored in cardboard cartons awaiting
installment at the plant.
AAF personnel responded with six fire
department vehicles and two fire inspection units.
At least four DPS cruisers were also on the scene.
Commenting on the scale of the response,
Schnur said, "That's a normal response to a high-
value piece of property."
Schnur also said there was asimilar fire at the,
plant about six months ago, when insulation on
one of the steam stacks ignited.
Don Haywood, an AAFD driver-operator
recalled another fire at the plant about 20 years
ago. "I think that was a coal fire. They were on
coal here then. There were coal hops, and I think
they were cutting them out (cleaning them)," he
said.
EVMN rcE
An Ann Arbor fire fighter takes a breather after fighting a factory fire last night at the
University's Power Plant.
Students lobby to reduce federal deficit
by David Shepardson
Daily Government Reporter
A student-led interest group has
gained widespread attention for its ef-
forts in advocating government reduc-
tion of the deficit, but some say its views
threaten toprovokea"generational war."
Lead...or Leave, a non-partisan
"voice for younger Americans" has re-
ceived heavy media coverage since its
creation seven months ago for its inno-
vative approach to pressuring political
leaders to cut the federal budget deficit.
The concept is simple, said James
Chadam, the national field co-ordinator
of Lead...or Leave.
"We asked candidates for both the
presidency and the Congress to take a
pledge. Agree to cut the deficit in halfby
1996, or voluntarily pledge not to seek
re-election."
More than one hundred congres-
sional candidates, candidate Clinton and
independentpresidential candidate Ross
Perot agreed to take the pledge, but
President George Bush refused.
Chadam said the massive surge in
popular support for the group among
students is surprising considering that
most see the deficit as a boring issue.
"We've been called the MTV-gen-
eration and the apathetic generation,"
he said. "This group is getting people
motivated to take charge of their fu-
ture."
In an assessment of the current po-
litical situation, Chadam said he be-
lieves placing political pressure on Con-
gress is the best way to achieve further
deficit reductions.
"Already Congress has asked Presi-
dentClinton tomake further (spending)
cuts. I believe, with further public pres-
sure on Clinton, he will be forced to
make further cuts," he said.
"But only if students andothers keep
the pressure on Congress and remind
them that it's our future on the line."
In a series of public appearances and
interviews, ranging from ABC news,
U.S. News and World Report and The
New York Times, the group has ex-
panded its message beyond reducing
the budget deficit.
Co-founder Rob Nelson has taken
to the airwaves to ask elderly Ameri-
cans to "pay their fair share."
During an interview, Nelson noted
that "22 percent of the children in this
country, while only 11 percent of the
elderly, are poor." Nelson has said So-
cial Security payments will have to be
reduced in order to achieve necessary
deficit cuts.
As a result, many interest groups
have spoken out against what they see
as a threatened "generational war."
Dawn Duncan, a spokesperson for
the American Association of Retired
People, said the proposal will destroy
the fragile support system senior citi-
zens enjoy.
"We were made a promise," she
said. "Lead...or Leave is claiming that
senior citizens are responsible for the
deficit. We are not. We are merely re-
ceiving what is due us."
Chadam disagreed, saying senior
citizens retrieve money, plus interest,
they put into the system when working
in about three-and-a-half years.
"Our generation is never going to
see any money from Social Security,"
he said.
"What we're saying is take the $75
billion in excess payments to senior
citizens and take the money and divide
it between the elderly poor, children in
poverty and deficit reduction."
See DEFICIT, Page 2
Lead.. .or Leave is a non-
partisan, political grassroots
student movement that is
giving young Americans a
voice in politics. Some of
Lead...or Leave's
accomplishments are:
Mobilizing thousands of
people in a campaign to cut the
deficit in half by 1996;
Launching a deficit-cutting
plan in August that was
endorsed by President Clinton
and Ross Perot;
Pressuring congressional
candidates to pledge to cut the
deficit in half by 1996 or
voluntarily not seek re-election;
and,,
Holding a town meeting for
America's youth with Rock The
Vote to promote issues
affecting young Americans.
New MSA x
parties add n'
Spice to S wI "
old debate
by Jennifer Tianen
Daily MSA Reporter
King claims poor
memory of beating
Kegs served as substitutes for
chairs. One of the candidates wore a
beanie. Another blew bubbles. And
periodically, candy root beer barrels
and Bazooka gum were tossed to audi-
ence members.
With this scene as a backdrop, can-
didates vying for Michigan Student
Assembly seats participated in the first
debate in this year's election.
Five parties were involved in the
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Rodney
King testified yesterday that he initially
denied police used racial slurs while
beating him because his mother told
him not to "make it a bigger issue than
it already is."
King underwent pounding cross-
examination on his allegation that offic-
ers taunted him with the word "nigger"
while they pummeled him with batons.
That testimony came Tuesday in
King's first detailed public description
of the March 3, 1991, videotaped beat-
ing. But under cross-examination late
Tuesday, King said he no longer was
sure whether the word police chanted at
him was "nigger" or "killer," and he
repeated that admission yesterday.
By the time Stone concluded, King
had invoked a poor memory and ex-
pressed uncertainty on some things he
said under government questioning
Tuesday.
"Sometimes I forget a lot of things
that happened on March 3. Other times
I remember things," said King. "Some-
times I remember. Sometimes I don't."
Stone pressed further, asking, "What
is your present recollection now? Did
they say, 'We're gonna kill you killer,
run!' or "We're going to kill you nigger,
run!"'
"I'm not sure which one it was,"
King answered.
At one point, as he sat silently seek-
ing to dredge up answers from his
HEATHER LOWMAN/Daily
From leftto right, Progessive presidential candidate Jason Hackner, Michigan Party presidential candidate
Craig Greenberg, and Michigan Party vice presidential candidate Brian Kight debate last night.