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.