Today, the regents vote on whether to add sexual discrimination to the University's discrimination policy. This is a long-awaited and much-needed change. Aa This year's "Festival of Sick & Twisted Animation" is playing at the Michigan Theater. Chris Lepley reviews the immature production. Last season, the Houston Cougars came to Michigan Stadium and were trounced, 61-7. This year, the matchups don't seem to be any better for the Cougars. Today Cloudy; . High 65, Low 43 Tomorrow Warmer; High 72, Low 56 V One hundred two years of editorial freedom 74 1 tttz Vol.C111 N. 11 An Aror, ichgan- Frday Setembr 2, 193 U.S. News *gives 'U' 23rd rank By NATE HURLEY DAILY STAFF REPORTER The results are in. The University is up one notch - from 24th to 23rd - in "U.S. News and World Report" magazine's annual ranking of "America's Best Col- leges," but University officials aren't exactly jumping with joy. "These rankings mean absolutely nothing," said Walter Harrison, executive director of University relations. He said the categories the magazine uses to rank the colleges heavily favor private and small schools and explained how it is unlikely the University will make a significant change in the ranking. The rankings, which will appear in the Oct. 4 issue of "U.S. News and World Report" magazine, were based on the following categories: academic reputation, student selectivity, faculty resources, financial resources, graduation rate, and, alumni satisfaction. The University was ranked 7th in academic reputa- tion, 38th in student selectivity, 32nd in faculty re- sources, 38th in financial resources, 25th in graduation rate, and 58th in alumni satisfaction. Harrison said the University's student selectivity rank- ing is low because the University is committed to accept- ing a large percentage of Michigan residents. With a reduction in inflation-adjusted support from the state and a 2-percent budget reallocation in'many departments, Harrison optimistically said that "we do more with less." But both factors keep the University outside of the top 20 colleges. The University of California-Berkeley is the only public college in the top 20, although the University See NEWS, Page 2 Regents may expand bylaw to homosexuals SUSAN ISAAK/ Daily Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) listens to people respond to the proposed amendment to Regents' Bylaw 14.06 at a public comments session yesterday. 'U Bard ofeent holds closed session By NATE HURLEY DAILY STAFF REPORTER A chasm in the University com- munity between supporters of gay rights and those with religious objec- tions to homosexuality proved to be deep and wide during the public com- ments portion of yesterday's meeting of the University Board of Regents. Students and faculty gave last- minute input to the regents on an amendment to include sexual orienta- tion in the University's anti-discrimi- nation bylaw. Regents Lawrence Deitch (D- Bloomfield Hills) and Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) have said that today they intend to introduce an amendment to Bylaw 14.06, which prohibits discrimination against Uni- versity faculty, staff and students. A majority of the regents support including "sexual orientation" al- though they are unclear of the practi- cal ramification the change would have on campus organizations. Of the estimated 100 people that filled the Anderson Room of the Union, two-thirds were against the amendment. Most of those in opposi- tion were members of campus Chris- tian groups who were concerned that the religious beliefs of their organiza- tions would make their members be in violation of the amended bylaw. However, some segments of the faculty and student populations spoke out in support of the amend- ment, claiming it was long overdue and noting that almost all other uni- versities have such a bylaw. Only 11 people were allowed to speak for five minutes or less, the typical procedure for the public com- ments portion of the monthly, two- day regents' meetings. Of those who spoke, six were in favor of the amendment and five were opposed. James Huggins, a Ph.D. candi- date in computer science, said he opposed the amendment and warned the regents of its possible uninten- tional and undesirable effects. "If sexual orientation is given the same protections as religion in this bylaw, what will happen if a group of Christian students ex- cludes a practicing homosexual from a position of leadership in the organization because of their belief in the sinfulness of homo- sexual activity? "Will this be a violation of By- law 14.06 even though they are ex- ercising their freedom of religion?" he asked. i After the meeting, Regent McGowan said the questions raised by the religious groups should not See COMMENT, Page 2 By NATE HURLEY DAILY STAFF REPORTER Yesterday, the University Board of Regents closed its doors to hold a private meeting. Speculations exist that the meeting was closed to discuss a pay increase for University Presi- dent James Duderstadt, who did not attend the meeting. The Michigan Open Meetings Act allows public bodies to hold closed meetings for nego- tiation sessions to discuss personnel matters and pending litigation. Today's agenda includes approval of the budget, appointment of personnel to new posi- tions and a proposal to amend Bylaw 14.06. The regents vote on the entire budget today. Several new administrative positions will be filled, including the appointment of Joe Roberson to the position of athletic director. These formalities require regental approval. In addition, Regents Lawrence Deitch (D- Bloomfield Hills) and Rebecca McGowan (D- Ann Arbor) have said they will propose an amendment to Bylaw 14.06, an anti-discrimi- nation bylaw. These two regents will propose that sexual orientation be added to the list of categories for which discrimination is prohibited. Israeli parliament votes in favor of Palestinian self-rule JERUSALEM (AP)-PrimeMin- ister Yitzhak Rabin declared he won "freedom of action" to pursue Mid- east peace after parliament ratified the historic Israel-PLO accord on yester- day. Rabin said the 61-50 vote allowed the government to implement the agreement on Palestinian self-rule in the occupied lands and continue at- tempts to reach peace with Israel's Arab neighbors. The margin was less substantial than Rabin had hoped for, but it put a convincing end to calls for early elec- tions or a national referendum that would have slowed down the peace momentum. "Now we shall build a new Middle 'M' ready * to play weakened Cougars By ADAM MILLER DAILY FOOTBALL WRITER When we last left the Michigan football team (1-1 overall) two weeks ago, the boos were raining down in Michigan Stadium at the tail end of a 27-23 loss to Notre Dame. The loss dropped the Wolverines in the Associ- ated Press poll from No. 3 nationally to No. 8. And when we last left the Houston football team (0-2) two weeks ago, the East," Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said after the vote. PLO spokesperson Yasser Abed- Rabbo praised the result, telling Is- rael army radio from Tunis it was a "positive step" and that support for the treaty was larger in the street than in parliament. Rabin had staked the credibility of the peace initiative as well as the future of his government on winning the vote, saying it would constitute a formal vote of confidence. Eight legislators abstained from the vote, and one was absent in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. The result clearly embarrassed Likud, which failed to enforce party disci- pline. One of the three Likud members who abstained, Meir Shitreet, said his party's opposition to a peace deal backed by the majority of Israelis was "political suicide." He said on Israeli radio that seven Likud members backed the agreement privately. "There is no need for new elec- tions. The parliament very clearly ap- proved the agreement. The margin is very clear," Rabin's spokesperson Oded Ben-Ami told The Associated Press. Rabin said he will now focus on the taking task of establishing Palestinian autonomy in the occupied Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Jericho and on pursuing peace negotiations with Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. "This gives the government free- dom of action to implement what it brought to the Knesset," he said on Israel radio. Ben-Ami voiced hope for the re- sumption of Middle East peace talks in Washington next month and for detailed negotiations on what prom- ised to be "a long and bumpy road." Peres, speaking later on Israel tele- vision, said Israel and the PLO hoped to formalize their current unofficial contacts within two to three weeks, with the PLO naming several del- egates for face-to-face talks. As part of the accord, Israel will free 11,000 Palestinian detainees, said Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi. Confirming a report in the Jerusa- lem Report magazine, Ashrawi said the release could not come immedi- ately. Prison services spokesperson Dubi Ben-Ami denied the plan but acknowl- edged that the detainees' fate was still unclear. Another 2,000 maximum security detainees will be moved from the oc- cupied territories to Israel, the maga- zine said. Ashrawi also said Jan. 1 "could be a target date" for PLO chief Yasser Arafat's arrival in the areas of future autonomy. Gonen Segev of the right-wing Tsomet Party said the hard-liners will now start "an information campaign" to force changes in the agreement. "Our aim now is to guarantee no Palestinian state and guarantee that the settlements in Judea and Samaria will not be removed," Segev said, using the Biblical names for the West Bank. Segev said Rabin's majority was "miserable" because it relied on five Arab legislators who "define them- selves as Palestinians." The government was not required by law to get parliament approval for the accord signed Sept. 13 in Wash- ington. Rabin got a large margin of ap- proval after five members of the ultra- religious Shas Party decided to ab- stain. The group's sixth member was overseas. Clinton kicks off sales of health care WASHINGTON (AP) - President Clinton dis- patched Cabinet members coast to coast and opened the White House lawn to a thousand allies yesterday to get the sales campaign for his health care plan out of the starting blocks. "We have to do it right and we have to do it right now," Clinton declared. "As much as I wish this to be a celebration ... I remind you that our work is beginning," Clinton told the rally before heading to Florida for a nationally televised town hall meeting. ."It's going to be along, long tortuous road," Senate GOP leader Bob Dole said, praising Clinton for his pledge to compromise but criticizing the Democrat's plan as "a little overgenerous and underfunded." <,:. . , a. . ': . < > ,. .. _ ., :, ..,.,r° tix .,.' '4ti' .,. ,. at . . .ak a :. ti . .