The Michigan Daily- Friday, April 2,1993 - Page 3
Local man battles airline
*over 'breach of contract'
Happy Children s Home sponsor asks for he from students
by Greg Hoey
Daily Staff Reporter
Ann Arbor resident Mike Kelly
--a former University School of Art
student - is seeking $2,338 from
.Delta Airlines as recompensation for
"gross negligence and breach of
cbntract." t
Students may recognize Kelly as
the man who runs an annual bucket
drive on the Diag to support the
Happy Children's Home in
Tamil-Nadu, South India.
to South India
But when he went to Indian
Airlines to pick up his baggage,
there was no record of him or his
lost baggage in the computer, Kelly
said. He added that after searching
the lost baggage claim he found his
two boxes - missing the gifts,
damaged and rewrapped after going
to the wrong airport.
Delta Airlines Administra'tive
Assistant Don Jacobs said, "Mr.
Kelly arrived in Bombay with two
r "The students here support the bags on Nov. 24 and filed his miss-
"We always want to try to be reasonable and
fair to customers. By the information we had,
we could not justify his claim four months
after the fact.' -Don Jacobs
Delta Airlines administrative assistant
Jacobs said Kelly was trying to
book a flight home months before
his return flight was scheduled be-
cause he ran out of money, which
was not Delta's responsibility.
Upon returning to the United
States in February 1992, Kelly said
he went directly to Delta with his
claim, and after numerous delays he
was told his claim was void because
the 21-day period had lapsed.
Jacobs said, "We always want to
try to be reasonable and fair to cus-
tomers. By the information we had,
we could not justify his claim four
months after the fact."
Kelly said Delta offered him
20,000 frequent flyer miles in credit,
but, he said, "It is worth nothing. It
is also forcing me to continue busi-
ness with them against my will in
order to be compensated."
Tina Norris, manager of a local
agency that books a large quantity of
student flights each year, said, "My
experience with Delta has been
positive."
Kelly is an artist and took some
independent study art courses at the
University. He created the water
sculpture which takes the shape of a
crescent in Nichols Arboretum.
Several University students have
expressed their feelings for Kelly
and his work.
Rachel Jrekowicz - a School of
Music senior who has had continual
contact with Kelly and his drive -
said, "He's a very nice person, and
very inspiring in setting and example
for us to give to those who are in
children with their donations and
lbive done so all these years," Kelly
said.
Kelly said his complaints are a
result of his dealings with Delta
during a 1991 round trip to India.
"Delta Airlines failed to put my
ticket into their computer, and they
were willing to leave me completely
stranded in India with no help and
no apology. I think it's fair for them
to give me a new ticket to compen-
sate me for the trip that their negli-
gence spoiled and their breach of
contract," he said.
Kelly called for student action in
regard to the issue.
"I'm asking anyone who has do-
nated their money to the Happy
Children's Home through the Diag
bucket drives to write a note to
(Delta Airlines) to encourage them
to compensate me for my loses," he
said.
Kelly said he founded the home,
*which supports more than 50 poor
village girls, in 1981. He added that
the money he collects in addition to
his own personal contributions is the
home's sole source of support.
Kelly claimed that upon arriving
in India in November 1991, Delta
misplaced his baggage - containing
$830 worth of gifts and urgent
Tuberculosis medicine for the
children.
He said the manager of Delta in
Bombay promised him he would
send his baggage by Indian Airlines
ing baggage claim. Our records
show that Bombay received one bag
Nov. 27 and the other Nov. 30. We
forwarded the bags on Air India free
of charge and at that point we
thought we were done.,,
He added that Kelly did not no-
tify the airlines of the problem until
four months later. Delta's standard
procedure stipulates that passengers
must report problems within 21
days.
Kelly said, "It spoiled the whole
trip with all the tension, stress and
the disorientation of being there and-
having all the clothes and gifts that I
had spent a year preparing stolen.
"All of my personal expenses are
Brian Kig ht expresses his joy over his new position as MSA vic e
president with a smile and a cup of java.
gt w use
MSA experience to
improve assembly
Activities
provide
service to
charities
by Sarah Kiino
Daily Staff Reporter
They range from a fashion con
test to an STD workshop, from high
school tutoring to working in a se-
nior citizens center. This week, these
seemingly diverse activities came
together as part of 1993 Serve Weeka
Serve Week provides direct ser-
vice to the community and offers
opportunities for students to get
involved in community service.
This year marks the fourth annual
Serve Week, which is an activity of
Project Serve - a student board that
organizes service projects o
campus.
Organizers said student response?
to the week so far has been
disappointing.
"(Turnout) has been kind of low.
We have been putting up posters
around campus and not a lot of peo-
ple have been calling," said Emily
Kornheiser, student co-chair of
Serve Week. "In past years, the re-
sponse has been a lot higher," she
added.
Although response from the gen
eral student population has not been
as high as Project Serve members
had hoped, many student orgaiza-
tions expressed interest in
participating.
"All of the Serve Weeks have
been different ... Each year, we've
expanded and added new projects,"
said Kornheiser, a SNRE
sophomore.
Although Serve Week is orga-
nized by Project Serve, the actual
events are sponsored by individual
University organizations.
This year, Serve Week began
with a sexism-in-advertising contest
Sunday sponsored by the University
Sexual Assault Prevention and
Awareness Center.
Other events associated with the
week included cleaning up a local
shelter, a toiletries drive, a fashion
show to benefit the homeless, an
STD workshop and information
table, a presentation on sexual as-
sault and people with disabilities, a
presentation on alternative educa-
tion, working at a Detroit high
school and working at a senior
center.
Saturday, Serve Week will con-
tinue with a clean-up at the An
Arbor Housing Commission, a
Huron River clean-up and a perfor-
mancerof "Class X" by Children's
Theater.
Serve Week will conclude
Sunday with Ticket America, when
students will place informational
tickets about the environmental
hazards of drivingronmcat
windshields.g
'I think it's fair for them to give me a new
ticket to compensate me for the trip that
their negligence spoiled and their breach of
contract.'
--Mike Kelly
out of my own pocket and I don't
use any of the donations for my
expenses.
"Delta Airlines is, in effect, de-
priving the children of what they
need by cheating me out of the
money from the stolen baggage,"
Kelly said.
Kelly said when he went to the
travel agency India to pick up his re-
turn ticket home, Delta had no
record of his return ticket and forced
him to purchase another one.
need. He really has a big heart for
the kids and for us as well."
University alumnus Glenn
Lieding, who worked the bucket
drive with Kelly in 1990, said, "He
lives like a monk with a very simple
lifestyle in a small simple apartment.
... He keeps his expenses down in
order to send the maximum money
to the orphanage. He is absolutely
committed to his work and all he
does. He is passionate, dedicated,
and frugal."
by Jennifer Tianen
Daily MSA Reporter
Like the Energizer bunny,
Brian Kight just keeps going and
going and going.
With five semesters of
Michigan Student Assembly ex-
perience under his belt, newly
elected Vice President Kight has
every intention of continuing his
association with MSA.
"I've seen a lot of the same
kinds of mistakes being madeand
heard a lot of the same types of
criticism about the assembly from
students," he added.
Kight, who hails from
Pennsylvania, feels his past work
on MSA gives him an edge.
"I have a unique perspective on
MSA's structure and a lot of the
administrative functions of MSA,"
he said.
Because of his long-term status
on the assembly, Kight said he is
well aware of the renovations
needed to make MSA more
effective.
"What's kept me interested is
that I know we can do better and I
know it's not a hopeless cause,"
Kight said.
Close friend and former LSA
representative Rob Van
Houweling said he feels Kight is
well-qualified for his new
position.
"I think Brian is very intelli-
gent and understands the direction
MSA needs to go in," Van
Houweling said.
New MSA President Craig
Greenberg said he believes Kight
is a determined person who will
contribute his expertise to the
assembly.
"He has always wanted to
make the assembly work to its
fullest potential," Greenberg said.
"That's why he's worked so hard
to keep the rules and structures up
to date and logical to keep the
assembly running smoothly."
Kight said he is pleased with
his accomplishments on MSA so
far.
"I've really learned a lot of
useful things about the way gov-
ernments run, about the way peo-
ple interact, how to manage an or-
ganization, and how to work with
other people," he said.
Van Houweling expressed his
confidence in Kight's abilities.
"I think to keep MSA running
efficiently there needs to be one
person who pays attention to the
details," he said.
C American Dream, Kim Moody,
labor journalist, speaker, Angell
Hall, Auditorium A, 8p.m.
Q ChanIsMissing,film,MLB,Lec-
ture Room 2,7 p.m.
U Chinese Christian Fellowship:
Coffee House, Dental School,
Kellogg Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
O Consultation for Student Lead-
ers and Student Organizations,
speak with peer and professional
consultants regarding leadership
and organizational development,
SODC, Michigan Union, Room
2202,8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Q Deutsches Theater, Furcht und
Elend des Dritten Reiches, East
Quad, Auditorium, 7:45 p.m.
Q Drum Circle, Guild House Cam-
pus Ministry, 802 Monroe St., 8-
10 p.m.
Q Faculty Harpsichord Recital,
School of Music, Blanche Ander-
son Moore Hall, 8p.m.
Q Hillel, Hillel Governing Board
Elections,9a.m.-5p.m.; Shabbat
Services, 6:45 p.m.
Q Korean Campus Crusade for
Christ, Christian Fellowship,
Campus Chapel, 8 p.m.
U Music at Leonardo's, Lunar Oc-
tet, 8-10 p.m.
U Peer Counseling, U-M Counsel-
ing Services,764-8433,7 p.m.-8
a.m.
U Naturalizing Mathematical
Methodology, lecture by
Penelope Maddy, Mason Hall,
Room 2440,4 p.m.
U Nitrate Kisses, Gay and Lesbian
Film Series, Angell Hall, Audito-
rium B,7 p.m.
U Northwalk Safety Walking Ser-
vice, Bursley Hall, 763-9255,8-
11:30 p.m.
Q Opera Workshop Presents
American, European Master-
pieces, School of Music, McIn-
11:30 p.m.
U Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Club,
beginners welcome, CCRB,Mar-
tial Arts Room, 6-7 p.m.
U Spring Jam '93: Grad Student
Black Greek Step Show, Michi-
gan Union, U-Club, 9 p.m.-1:30
a.m.
U Supramolecular Architecture of
Ordered Molecular Films from
Functionalized Liquid Crystal-
line Polymers, materials brown
bag lunch, Chemistry Building,
Room 1706, 12 p.m.
U Symphony Band and Concert
Band, Hill Auditorium,8 p.m.
Q TaeKwonDo Club, regular work-
out, CCRB, Room 2275, 7-8:30
p.m.
U Ten High, acoustic concert, PJ's
Used Records,617BPackard St.,
6-7 p.m.
U U-M Advertising Club, Don
Richards from Leo Burnett Ad-
vertising Agency,speaker,vMLB,
Auditonum 3, 3 p.m.
U U-M Bridge Club,duplicatebridge
game, Michigan Union, Tap
Room, 7:30 p.m.
U U-M Ninjitsu Club, practice,ILM.
Building, Wrestling Room, G21,
6:30-8 p.m.
Saturday
Q Centerfor hineseStudies,Close
to Eden, Chinese Film Series,
Lorch Hall, Auditorium, 8p.m.
U Collector, Teacher, Director,
Friend: A Celebration of
Charles Sawyer, ArtMuseum, 2
p.m.
U Deutsches Theater, Furcht und
Elend des Dritten Reiches, East
Quad, Auditorium, 7:45 p.m.
U Digital Music Ensemble, School
of Music, McIntosh Theatre, 4
p.m.
U Home Regatta, U-M Boat Crew,
Boathouse on Lakeshore Drive,
I IA-
ingServices,764-8433,7P.m.-8
a.m.
Q Safewalk Safety Walking Ser-
vice, UGLi,lobby,936-1000,8-
11:30 p.m.
Q U-M Japanese Music Study
Group, concert, final perfor-
mance, Rackhan, Auditorium, 8
p.m.
Q U-M Shotokan Karate, practice,
CCRB, small gym, 10 am.- 12
p.m. -
Sunday
Q Art Museum, Sunday Tour,"Ide-
als of Beauty," Art Museum, In-
formation Desk, 2 p.m.
U Ballroom Dance Club, CCRB,
Dance Room, 7-9 p.m.
U Christian Life Church, Sunday
church service, School of Educa-
tion, Schorling Auditorium, 11
a.m.
U Digital Music Ensemble, School
of Music, McIntosh Theatre, 4
p.m.
U Hillel,4th AnnualWomen's Seder,
6p.m.; Israeli Dancing,8-10p.m.
U Jazz Combos, Michigan League,
Buffet Room, 5:30 p.m.
U Matthaei Botanical Gardens,
Trail Tour, Matthaei Botanical
Gardens, 1800 Dixboro Rd., 2
p.m.
U Michigan Contemporary Play-
ers, concert, School of Music,
Recital Hall, 8 p.m.
U Northwalk Safety Walking Ser-
vice, Bursley Hall, 763-9255, 8
p.m.-1:30 a.m.
U Peer Counseling, U-M Counsel-
ing Services, 764-8433 .
Q Residential College Chamber
Music Concert,East Quad, Au-
ditorium, 4 p.m.
Q SafewalkSafety WalkingService,
UGLi, lobby, 936-1000,8 p.m.-
1:30 a.m.
U Safewalk Safety Walking Ser-
v~a A wnpl l NallA nQP11 Hal
J - -
PRESIDENT
Continued from page 1
among the meetings and those pre-
-sent at each meeting communicated
with those attending others.
The number of applicants was
whittled down in private from 250 to
one before the board selected
Duderstadt at a public meeting.
Daane said the meetings did not
violate the Open Meetings Act since
a majority was never present. He
said it would be unworkable if re-
gents could be held to violate the act
whenever less than a majority had
conversations.
"There should be no reason a
couple of regents should not be able
to discuss whatever is on their
minds without worrying they are
creating a constructive quorum," he
said.
The process was designed to
keep names of applicants
confidential by avoiding discussing
them in a public meeting with a
quorum present, but Daane said that
didn't break the law.
He also argued that state constitu-
tional guarantees of autonomy fori
the University i fiscal and educa
tion matters should exempt it froni
following the Open Meetings Act.
Rowe countered that the techt
niques used by the regents to appear
to comply with the Open Meetings
Act was "a scheme that could only
fool a lawyer."
He asked the high court "to send
a clear message that public bodies
must obey the Open Meetings Acts
all of them, even the Board of
Regents."
_..... Paid Political Advertisement
It's Time to
Make Sense
°I think council needs to be reminded about who
is servant and who is master in the relationship
between government and citizen.
Issues
* Decrease Taxes
The government spends too much and is inefficient.
Cutting back wasteful spending will save money and
reduce Ann Arbor's tax burden.
* Privatize City Services
As a general rule it costs municipalities twice as much
to provide a service as it does for private companies.
":
II