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 @I ,NOT! "0 riAaevvi ..Nmmmmp-- 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 Floor Amphitheatre, 12 p.m. U The Christian Science Organization, weekly meeting, Michigan League, check front desk for room, 6:30-7:30 p.m. L College Republicans, meeting, 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, CCRB, Small Gym, 8-10 p.m. Q U-M Snowboarding Club, Waxing Session, Michigan Union, Anderson Room, 8 p.m. Lounge, 7-8 p.m. Q Safewalk Mass Meeting, Michigan Union, Kuenzel Room, 7 p.m. Q Somalia: Restoring hope or restoring dictatorship, SPARK discussion, MLB, Room B122, 7-8 p.m. 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 Germanic Language and Literature, MLB, 3rd floor NO MSG ADDED Need $$$? Ho-Lee-Chow is hiring " Cooks, Drivers and r Special Customer Representatives. Call our stores or apply In 1 Serves 2-4 people person today. 1 $ 95. Includes: 1 entree 1 fried rice Ia a. i 9 a i