The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 12, 1993 - Page 3
Council
.debates
park tax
increase
by Christine Young
Daily City Reporter
Discussion at last night's City
* Council working session became
heated as participants debated
whether or not to place a referendum
increasing taxes to improve Ann Ar-
bor's parks on the April 1993 City
Council ballot.
The referendum - proposed by
the Park Advisory Committee -
would ask for citizen input on a .5
mill tax for five years, which would
increase property taxes by $29.85
per year.
Park Advisory Committee mem-
bers said the money is desperately
needed to improve deteriorating
parks and recreation facilities
throughout the city.
"We have to take care of the
parks we have," said Bob Elton,
committee chair. "As a city, we have
a responsibility to make sure that our
parks are preserved and maintained."
In a presentation including visual
slides and survey information, the
committee illustrated that 45 percent
of about 270 people from many
neighborhoods supported the parks
and recreations tax increase.
The idea was sparked by the real-
ization that about half the current
park system does not receive routine
maintenance. The resolution pro-
poses that a management and main-
tenance program be implemented to
ensure that resources are protected.
"The idea is that the resolution
will be a building block to the fu-
ture," said Ron Olson, superinten-
dent of parks and recreation.
To maintain the facilities, there
would be an increase in park staff
and equipment to help prevent ero-
sion of the land and the destruction
of park trails.
The proposal also increases
funding for repairing cracks in
recreational tennis courts and pool
ceilings, and for widening restroom
doors to make them handicap-
accessible.
Councilmember Peter Nicolas
(D-4th Ward) introduced the idea of
instituting a .25 mill tax instead of a
.5 mill tax to save taxpayers money.
Elton stressed the importance of
spending the public's tax dollars in a
responsible fashion.
"I would like to think that we
have a certain rationale for asking
for the money," Elton said.
Councilmember Larry Hunter (D-
* 1st Ward) said he feels strongly
about supporting the maintenance
program.
"I have felt uncomfortable. There
has been a lot of deferred mainte-
nance. I don't think that is right....
Park maintenance should have funds
put aside," he said.
"It disturbs me to see that things
need to be done but that there is not
enough money," he added.
Councilmember Nelson Meade
(D-3rd Ward) said, "In terms of nat-
ural areas, it is important to make
these areas available to the people.
. . We need to have someone who
kpows what they're doing and over-
see appropriate areas for people to
use while protecting them."
Faculty seeks
to obtain page
in 'U' Record
by Kenneth Dancyger
Daily Faculty Reporter
Desperately seeking improvements in communication
between faculty and administrators, the Senate Advisory
Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) is attempting
to charter a newsletter to express opinions and ideas of
University faculty.
"(There is a need) to improve the amount of commu-
nication within the faculty and between faculty and ad-
ministrators," said Elaine Didier, director of Information
Resources and chair of a committee established to create'
the newsletter. "It will enable us to make better
decisions."
The proposal to create a faculty newsletter - made
by Human Genetics Prof. George Brewer - was pre-
sented to SACUA last semester and widely approved by
faculty members.
The committee and representatives from the
University administration decided last week that SACUA
will attempt to obtain a page in The University Record
rather than publish a separate newsletter.
Executive Director of University Relations Walter,
Harrison, speaking on behalf of the Record, said profes-
sors and faculty are already bombarded with papers and
newsletters, and another publication would be
impractical.
"(I) was a bit reserved about a separate newsletter,
he said. "I'm more comfortable with a page in the
Record. It already has a very wide circulation."
Didier agreed, adding that the Record has already es-
tablished a readership among faculty and staff.
The page in the Record would rely strictly on mem-
bers of the University faculty and staff to write articles
and opinion essays, Didier said.
"There would be no organized staff. We will encour-
age (faculty and staff) to write," she said.
In the past, University faculty and staff received sepa-
rate newsletters written by a staff of journalists.
However, due to budget constraints, the papers merged
about 12 years ago and formed the Record, said director
of News and Information Services, Joseph Owsley.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the
University of Wisconsin are the only major universities
e with a faculty newsletter - making the University's
proposal unusual.
The page in the Record would be treated as an expan-
sion of the "Perspectives" column, which features letters
J and articles from faculty members, Owsley said.
, He added that if the proposal is passed, the faculty
s page would appear once a month during a trial period.
Although decisions have not been made about cost
and distribution, Owsley said the cost of the extra page
- will probably be absorbed by the University-funded
Record during the trial period and reconsidered if it be-
comes permanent.
Harrison said the news staff at the Record is ready to
accommodate the faculty's request, pending a formal
proposal from SACUA.
r If approved, the faculty page in the Record is ex-
t pected to appear sometime before the end of the Winter
Term.
HEATHER LOWMAN/Daily
Frozen animals come to life
Kevin Edmonds of Ann Arbor carves an eye in an ice donkey in the courtyard of University Hospital as part of an annual ice-
sculpting event. This year's Mexican-themed event drew chefs from the University and the surrounding area.
MSA plans to increase publicity throughout
cam us get students involved with assembly
by Jennifer Tianen
Daily MSA Reporter
Suffering from an image problem and
general student apathy, the Michigan Stu-
dent Assembly is planning to bombard the
campus with a public relations blitz this
term.
The assembly plans to tap into the en-
thusiasm of new representatives and com-
mittee chairs to make itself known to stu-
dents on campus.
MSA also plans to implement a tougher
attendance policy for its meetings.
"In terms of students, a lot of people
don't know what's happening and don't
want to get involved," said LSA sopho-
more Amy Kurlansky, chair of the Com-
munications Committee.
The Communications Committee is
planning to set up information tables this
term at high-traffic areas like the Fishbowl
and the Diag to
answer student questions
and give out information about the
assembly.
"Currently, I don't think we're that ef-
fective," said Engineering senior Brian
Kight, vice chair of the Rules and Elections
Committee. "A lot of students don't know
a lot about what we do."
The assembly also plans to address stu-
dent concerns about the Statement of Stu-
dent Rights and Responsibilities, the Uni-
versity's non-academic conduct code.
"The code is still an issue because it
isn't as reasonable to students as it could
be," Kurlansky said.
Kight said, "The code was just put into
effect this term, and most students still
don't know what it says. There is inade-
quate protection of student rights in the
statement, and there are a lot of concerns."
MSA will also try to resolve issues such
as the debate about bicycle safety on cam-
pus, relations between the Ann Arbor Ten-
ants Union and landlords, and communica-
tion between students and th(
administration.
"We should raise some Cain this term
with the administration about the tuition
increases. After all, that's our job," said
Rackham representative Jon Van Camp
chair of the Rules and Election
Committee.
Despite MSA's efforts, however, many
students consider the assembly an ineffec-
tive body.
"I really don't even know what MSA
stands for, and I'm not even sure it has any
thing to do with me," said LSA junior Tim
Walsh.
LSA junior Matt Levine said, "I'd rather
take my $6.23 and get ten bean burritos a
Taco Bell."
Shots fired on
University golf
course
The University Department of
Public Safety (DPS) responded to a
report of shots and screams
Thursday at Radrick Farms Golf
Course. The caller was unable to
Police
discern whether the screams were
animal or human.
DPS officers found three rabbit
hunters who had accidentally wan-
dered onto the University-owned
golf course, but did not find the
source of the screaming.
Wallet stolen from
hospital room
A patient at the University
Hospital reported Friday that his
wallet was stolen from the closet in
his room.
Thehwallet contained $250 in
cash, the patient's credit cards,
driver's license and a payroll check
worth $1,200.
There are no suspects and inves-
tigations are continuing.
Narcotics suspect
apprehended
DPS officers apprehended a man
Saturday with an outstanding war-
rant from the Detroit Police
Department. Jeffrey Michael
Tallman was wanted by the Detroit
Police on a narcotics charge.
Officers found Tallman at the
School of Dentistry building.
Tallman was later released by DPS
after posting $100 bond.
Group harassed in
McDonald's
parking lot
The Ann Arbor Police
Department (AAPD) received a re-
port Sunday of an incident of "verbal
assault" at the Plymouth Rd.
McDonald's restaurant.
The victim told police that he and
his friends were approached and
verbally attacked by seven men in
the parking lot.
The victim reported that one of
the men carried what appeared to be
a toy or BB gun. Another man car-
ried a knife with a four-inch blade.
The man with the gun pointed it
at the head of the victim but he and
his group left the scene beforepolice
officers arrived.
No injuries were reported.
-by Will McCahill
Daily Crime Reporter
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Great Chinese Delivery Company
Student group s
Q Arab-American Students'
Association, officers meeting,
Michigan Union, Room 2203,8
p.m.
Q Brown Bag Lunch Series,
Dwight Perkins on The
Approach of China and Vietnam
to Reforming a Socialist System,
sponsored by the Center for
Chinese Studies, Rackham, 4th
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U The Christian Science
Organization, weekly meeting,
Michigan League, check front
desk for room, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
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MLB, Basement, 6:30 p.m.
Q Michigan Student Assembly,
meeting, Michigan Union,
Room 3909, 7:30 p.m.
Q Social Group for Bisexual
Women, call for location and
information, 763-4186,8 p.m.
Q TaeKwonDo Club, regular
workout, CCRB, Room 2275,
7:45-9:15 p.m.
Q U-M Asian American Student
Coalition, meeting, East Quad,
check room at front desk, 7 p.m.
Q U-M Shotokan Karate, practice,
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Q U-M Snowboarding Club,
Waxing Session, Michigan
Union, Anderson Room, 8 p.m.
Lounge, 7-8 p.m.
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Q Somalia: Restoring hope or
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SPARK discussion, MLB,
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Q Study in England, sponsored by
the College of Engineering, Dow
Building, Room 1013, 7-8:30
p.m.
Student services
Q Kaffeestunde, Department of
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