Does the University spend too much on legal fees? In the Daily's opinion, the exorbitant totals could have been saved - if the General Counsel's office was giving sound advice. Jody Frank previews the Ann Arbor Dance Works performance this weekend at the Power Center. The group will perform excerpts from "Mirage." The Michigan women's soccer team beat Windsor, 6-1, yesterday to raise its record to 7-1 on the season. Today Mixed clouds; High 72, Low 54 Tomorrow Partly sunny; High 70, Low 49 I V One hundred two years of editorial freedom *rnz Vol. Clli, No. 124 Ann Arbor, Michigan -Friday, September 17,, 1993 ©1993 The Michigan Dairy Clinton: health arem Costs wi increase WASHINGTON (AP) - Presi- dent Clinton said yesterday some people will have to pay more under his health care plan to ensure cover- age for all Americans. As Clinton spoke, he was sur- rounded by people brought to the White House to tell hard-luck stories of health coverage lost or in jeopardy. "I don't want to pretend that this is all going tobe easy, but it seems to me that it's a fair thing to say everyone in America should make some contri- bution to his or her own health insur- ance and all employers should make some contribution," Clinton said. Later, he visited a hardware store to make the same point, but was told by the owner that "small business cannotafford this plan."He answered back that it would have to for its own good. Clinton started his day listening to people buried in debt or fear because of problems with the nation's health care system. He saidhisplan will require work- ers and employers to share the burden to eliminate health care horrors: People going broke to stay healthy, losing jobs or insurance over illnesses and staying with bad jobs only be- cause they include health insurance. "Even the millions of Americans who enjoy health care coverage are afraid it won't be there for them next month or next year. They want us to take action to give them the security that all Americans deserve," Clinton said. See HEALTH CARE, Page 2 Ford offers M-Care in . President Clinton talks to, from left, Jerome Strong of Ypsilanti, Mich., Stacey Askew of Flushing, N.Y., and Mable Piley of lola, Kan., during a health care forum at the White House yesterday. Detroit automaker reaches labor contract; GM working on agreement UAW By WILL WADE FOR THE DAILY The University-owned health maintenence organization M-Care will be included in the recently nego- tiated contract between Ford Motor Company and theUnitedAuto Work- ers (UAW). If the contract is ratified by UAW employees, more than 45,000 work- ers will have the option of selecting M-Care as their health plan. After a marathon bargaining ses- sion, Ford and UAW representatives worked out the final details of the contract late Wednesday night. UAW members are expected to vote on the deal within two weeks, said Ford spokesperson Dave Caplan. "This is a major step forward for us," said M-Care President Peter Rob- erts. Besides bringing the program additional customers, Roberts says this could be the beginning of a long- term partnership between M-Care and the auto industry. Typically, alrBig Threeautocom- panies adopt similar contracts. Rob- erts said if the UAW approves this contract, M-Care will definitely sub- mit proposals to GM and Chrysler next year. Ford employees choose their health plan from several programs approved by the company and the union. If the current contract is rati- deal fled, M-Care will become an option forthemore than45,000hourly work- ers in southeast Michigan starting next year. M-Care has been available to Ford's salaried employees for three years. Roberts indicated that 12 per- cent of the auto company's white- collar workers in the region - al- most 3,5,00 employees and their dependants - have chosen the Uni- versity-owned organization as their health plan. "We've done pretty well to go from zero to 12 percent in three years," said Roberts. The 45,000 workers and their families may constitute many poten- tial M-Care customers. While Rob- erts could not predict the estimated increase in profits, he said it would definitely bring more money into the University. The M-Care network includes al- most 1,500 physicians in 21 hospitals and clinics throughout southeast Michigan. Roberts said he does not expect the potential addition of thou- sands of new members to tax the network's resources, as the organiza- tion will have ample time to plan for the increased membership. If UAW members ratify the con- tract, M-Care is scheduled to begin an initial enrollment period in Janu- ary 1994 and provide health cover- age to the auto workers in March. DETROIT (AP) - Now that Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Work- ers have three more years of labor peace, the focus turns to fitting the pattern agreement to larger and more troubled General Motors Corp. Details of the UAW-Ford agree- ment were still leaking out yesterday, but one highlight - a more generous pension for retiring workers - could help GM shed workers as it trims ex- cess factory space. Paying for the program is another matter. If GM sheds 40,000 U.S. hourly workers during the next three years, the pension benefit alone could cost more than $1 billion a year. That's based on the new annual per worker retirement cost of $25,200. With a current unfunded pension liability estimated to be as much as $19 billion, GM can scarcely afford to make more promises. But if GM can structure a side deal with the UAW that would lead to early retirements - as it did earlier this year - the financial burden could possibly be shifted to shareholders through a one-time charge against earnings. Some money is believed to be left over from earlier restructuring charges GM took in. 1990 and 1991. The last package, which enticed 16,500 hourly workers to retire early, was paid for by diverting $450 million from a training fund. But with just $150 million remaining, it would be difficult to tap the same source for a large early retirement program. So far, any talk of another early retirement plan at GM is premature. GM and UAW subcommittees have met daily while Ford and the union built the framework of the industry's pattern agreement. "With respect to the Ford-UAW ten- tative agreement, we are not going to publicly speculate on how the agree- ment may apply to GM," said Gerald See AUTO TALKS, Page 2 Students say Diag policy complicates program planning By TIMOTHY GREIMEL Nearly nine months ago the Univer- sity instated the hotly-contested Diag/ North Campus Commons policy. Yet, complications in the planning of North Campus events last spring and this La- bor Day have spurred renewed student irritation. The Policy for Scheduled Use of the University of Michigan Designated Outdoor Common Areas restricts the use of both the Diae and the North Campus Commons for gatherings, ral- lies, and festivals. "Logistically (Springfest) was a nightmare," said Jennifer Starrman, president of the University Engineering Council, which was instrumental in the organization of the annual North Cam- pus event. The event- involving bands, vol- leyball, and the sale of food-was not approved by the administration until April 19, the day before it was sched- uled. "It was really discouraging when it was the day before and we were still trying to get permission," Starrman said. The major conflict between Snringfest and the Diag/North Campus Commons policy involved the tradi- tional selling of bratwurst by the Me- chanical Engineering Honor Society. The policy forbids -the selling of con- cessions in commons areas. "I see the justification behind some of the regulations, but I also see flaws in it when it prevents student traditions or things students want to do from taking place," Starrman said. She also had to get permission from all of the North Campus deans for bands to perform. In the past, only the dean of the Engineering School had to grant his approval. More recently, Helen Welford, the arts and programs coordinator of the North Campus Commons, said she faced difficulties organizing a welcome-back picnic for Labor Day. Welford hesitated to comment on specific problems, however she said pointsofinitial contention includedhav- ing jazz bands from the School of Music perform at the event, showing an out- side movie, and allowing outside ven- dors to sell food. "We saw points of conflict with the policy. ... We just wanted to get the picnic off," she said. As a result, the movie was canceled andUniversityDining Serviceshandled the food delivery. The administration did make an ex- ception to thepolicy, permitting thejazz bands to play since classes had not yet started. Frank Cianciola, the associate dean of students and overseer of the Diag/ North Campus Commons policy, ac- knowledged there are problems with the policy. "I think there are concerns about the policy. (Last year) was kind of a shake out year," Cianciola said. "We've met with students and the North Campus Commons people and they are recom- mending changes. We have a meeting planned for next week." Starrman said she does not expect the Diag/North Campus Commons policy to be a problem in the future. "It's just that it's new. We had to try to figure out what was acceptable and what wasn't," she said. "They didn't foresee (some of the problems). It wasn't something you could anticipate from the beginning. Certain things can be written more clearly so that they're easier to interpret." Welford said she also sees aneed for a policy. See DIAG, Page 2 The Diag Policy The Policy for Scheduled Use of the University of Michigan Designated Outdoor Common Areas regulates use of the Diag and the North Campus Commons. Under the Policy: A permit must be obtained one week in advance, amplifica.tion can only be used from noon to 1 p.m., S no sales or concessions are permitted, events cannot take place on certain holidays, exam days, moving days, commencement days, or the week of the Ann Arbor Art Fair. - - I La Raza president kicks off programs for heritage month Perot, Riegle to speak against NAFTA at state Capitol rally By JULIE ROBINSON DAILY STAFF REPORTER A bright blue and white banner waves in front of the Union proclaim- ing Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month to all who pass. Kicking off the Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 celebration is Raul Yzaguirre, presi- dent of The National Council of La Raza, this country's largest constitu- ency-based Hispanic organization. "I believe he is the most prominent In the upcoming weeks, Hispanic Heritage month will be celebrated around the country. University orga- nizers decided to take the celebration one step furtherby extending it through the entire academic year. The programs will mostly consist of free educational eyents, dances for students to show off their hot meren- gue moves, and aLatin American Film Festival at the Michigan Theater. "Its primaryaim and purpose," said If you go: WHAT: Hispanic Heritage Celebration keynote speech by Raul Yzaguirre WHERE: Michigan League Ballroom WHEN: 7 p.m. DETAILS: event also includes dancers; reception to follow COST: free Hispanic Heritage Celebration continues into April 1994. Upcoming events include: B 9/19 - "Puerto Rican Bienvenida," 2 - 4 p.m. at LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A Ross Perot backer vowed yesterday that his followers will "remember in Novem- ber" and vote next year against law- makers who support the North Ameri- can Free Trade Agreement. Susan Esser, executive director of United We Stand America in Michigan, Michigan. "It's our responsibility to fix what went wrong" with the nation's economy, she said at a news conference. "Perhaps we can get the message to our Congress people." NAFFA was negotiated mainly by the Bush administration, and would wipe eighth what they are in the United States. Michigan's Democratic gubernato- rial candidates came out yesterday against NAFTA, reflecting the over- whelming Democratic opposition among Michigan lawmakers. "This flawed agreement should be rejected and a new pact that represents held the news con- ference to publicize a rally planned for' tomorrow at the State Capitol to op- pose NAFIA. The 1 p.m. rally was or- ganized by U.S. the best eco- nomicinterestsof 'It's special interests who stand to make a lot of our country money ... who want it easier to move plants to Mexico.' should be nego- - Susan Esser Crind s executive director of United We Stand America in Michigan D e m o c r a t i c Party chair. i ,