The Michigan Daily - Monday, October 25, 1993 - 7 .AATU founder returns to campus to discuss low-income housing By PAUL DeFLORIO FOR THE DAILY As the Ann Arbor Tenants Union (AAT) recovers from its recent bud- get battle with the Michigan Student Assembly, one of its founders returned to campus Friday to advocate tenants' rights and organization. Steve Burghardt, who helped found the pro-tenant group amidst political unrest in 1968, commemo- rated AATU's 25th anniversary with a speech in the Michigan Union on low-income tenants and federal hous- ing policy. Burghardt praised the AATU's continuing success, noting that the original political problems that sparked a city-wide rent strike are no longer present, and called this fact a tribute to the effectiveness of the non- profit organization that is still alive 25 years later. "They have kept to the principles of community action without the re- sources that we had in the 1960s," Burghardt noted. Although some students have com- plained about the inefficiency of AATU, others thank the organization for helping them negotiate with land- lords they claim abused their power and attempted to take advantage of them. Marsha Ackermann, a University Ph.D. candidate in American Cul- ture, said she was new to the rental scene when her landlord recently tried to withhold $160 of her security de- posit for "cleaning expenses" in vio- lation of Michigan state law. Ackermann turned to the AATU for help, and was advised ofher rights under the law. "Thanks to (the AATU's) advice, I was able to write an effective letter that resulted in a refund of the full amount in ques- tion," she said. AATU almost did not make it to its 25th anniversary. Its future was at risk earlier this semester when MSA, which has provided up to 80 percent of its funding, threatened to cut its aid. MSA withdrew the threat, how- ever, and decided instead to set up a number of requirements the AATU has to meet in order to receive its full quota of $25,000, which accounts for more than half its budget. MSA has already given AATU $11,000. The rest will follow, pro- vided that the organization complies with MSA's request for financial in- formation. MSA President Craig Greenberg noted that the requests being made of the AATU are "very minimal." "I don't think it should receive so much money," said Greenberg, who made the original proposal to cut fund- ing. "I think it should be funded like any other student group." Pattrice Maurer, AATU's only paid staff member, responds to such criticism by pointing out that while students supply half of the AATU's financial needs, more than two-thirds of the organization's services are di- rected toward helping students cope with wayward landlords. "The AATU regularly targets spe- cific buildings or landlords for rental strikes. We provide a very important service to students, and that has been proved again, and again, and again," she said. Burghardt said in an interview af- ter the speech that he supports contin- ued funding of the AATU by MSA. He said student funding "is not only appropriate, but is vital, especially in the long-term interest of the students." But MSA Rep. Brent House, who has been appointed to compile an efficiency report on the AATU, is skeptical of the group's financial prac- tices. "They're kind of secretive about the money they spend and what they do with it. Right now, it is very poorly run, and they need a lot of help," he said, but added that he favors having a tenants' union. Burghardt's speech addressed a wide array of topics from social reform to tenant organization. He stated that the overall goal of low- income housing projects was to cre- ate homes, not housing. According to Burghardt, the golden rule of tenant organization is "to do unto others as you would have done to you. " Burghardt stressed that people should become more aware of the housing problem in our inner cities, saying that "respecting it and deal- ing with it is not the same as accept- ing it." Burghardtgraduated with a Ph.D. from the University, and now teaches at Hunter College. He is the author of a number of books on community organizing and the wel- fare system. FOURTH ANNUAL HOMELESS 'SLEEP OUT' Student founds women's handbook By MONA QURESHI DAILY STAFF REPORTER LSA senior Justine Olderman left high school a girl, but entered college a woman. The University seemed to give hera breath ofindependence, but with independence came the respon- sibility to confront issues from abor- tion to homosexuality in a reality she never knew before. In understanding that her experi- ences are shared by many first-year women, Olderman has begun a group to address these issues through the eyes of undergraduates in a Univer- sity ofMichigan Women's Handbook collective. "There's a sense of freedom, but at the same time it's really scary be- cause you don'tknow where you stand on these issues," Olderman said. The collective will address issues from reproductive health, sexuality and sexual assault to eating disorders, cultural identity, and a history of women at the University. Local re- sources will be listed for students to refer to when needed, Olderman said. Olderman, a comparative litera- ture major, met students who began the first college women's handbook collective at Duke University and was inspired to begin a similar project to meet the needs of University women. In ajoint effort at Barnard College and Columbia University, students followed Duke's initiative and suc- cessfully distributed 4,000 copies of the handbook to first-year women. The Barnard/Columbia handbook re- ceived the attention of the New York Times, and a national publisher based in New York will be publishing a national version of the handbook to be distributed inexpensively at col- lege book stores across the country. Olderman said the size of the Uni- versity can be impersonal and those students who have problems may have trouble knowing who to confide in when discussing personal concerns. "Even though I know Michigan has a lot of these services, I wouldn't know where to turn," she said. Members of the University com- munity have strongly endorsed the collective project. Law School Pro- fessor and renowned feminist Catharine MacKinnon said in a state- ment that the publication would not JONATHAN LURIE/Daily A homeless person sleeps at the entrance to Angell Hall as members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity take part in a "sleep out" on the Diag Saturday night to raise money for Ann Arbor's homeless. only be a resource for students but ' those at the University in adviser or counselor positions. "It would also help us to identify whatchanges might' be needed," she said. Olderman said she has a staff of about 20 undergraduate students atf the moment, and would like to see' more participate in the collective in. areas of photography, prose and es-K says, research writing, and art. She said she envisions the hand- book as being friendly and accessible to all women and would like to have more women of color join. The handbook - which will be funded completely by grants--should be ready for free distribution to the 1994 entering class, Olderman said. Various University offices and, departments are currently being lob- bied for financial support. Olderman emphasized that while- the handbook is about women, men should take note of the handbook also." "While these issues we are writ- ing about are labeled 'women's is- sues,' these are really issues which concern everyone," Olderman said. COPIES Report Binding U 1" or less Velo, Spiral or Glue 65# covers included $1 25 CANON f COLOR LASER Noediting, 8.5x11 DO PYBhill 611 C urc h S tre e t R~e 6~2OFast;9328OO, ,Activists protest newspaper's refusal to publish editorial By RONNIE GLASSBERG DAILY STAFF REPORTER A young child in a passing car read the sign with the word "cunnilin- gus" printed on it and gave a ques- tioning look to his mother. His mother shook her head at the protesters and looked away. The sign was part of a Friday rally y the AIDS Coalition to Unleash wer (ACT UP) protesting an edito- rial decision of The Ann Arbor News. The paper recently refused to pub- lish an opinion essay by ACT UP member David Rosenberg unless he would remove sexually-explicit word- ing. "Part of why AIDS has gone too far is because there hasn't been open #discussion around this issue," said ACT UP member Mary Bejian. Rosenberg's editorial piece stems from an ACT UP demonstration at the Ann Arbor Art Fair in July, when members presented what they referred to as "explicit information and safer sex simulation demonstration." In response to the demonstration, Gary Glanville, the minister at Cal- vary United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, wrote an "Other Voices" es- say for the Aug. 13 issue of the Ann Arbor News. Glanville wrote, "I am saying all of this because I wonder how wise it is for a group of 25 adults to demon- strate in the open air their personal sviews of safe sex." Glanville drew a parallel with movie ratings asking readers, "...Should we be given a similar cour- tesy with groups such as ACT UP whose demonstrations can be fairly graphic and to even some adult spec- tators repulsive?" Rosenberg then submitted his "Other Voices" essay to respond to Glanville's piece. But while editors claim the sec- tion is open to all citizens, The Ann Arbor News would not print Rosenberg's article without chang- ing the material they deem controversial. "It was (ACT UP's) decision not to print," said Ann Arbor News Edi- tor Ed Petykiewicz, adding that the newspaper was willing to publish the article with revisions. "We would change several words which were gratuitous, but not essen- tial to the essay," he said. The "controversial" part of Rosenberg's article reads, "The safer sex models used the end of a broom- stick, condoms, and their voices to simulate safer sex. The article continues, "The ACT UPers showed the correct way of put- ting a latex condom on a penis and converting a condom into a dental dam for use as a protective barrier in cunnilingus and analingus." Rosenberg described his reasons for writing the essay. "People have to know about safer sex," said Rosenberg. "If you can't use the language to describe safer sex, how are you going to describe safer sex? "The point is, we've got to get over the embarrassment and the shame of that," Rosenberg continued. "If we can get through that then we can get to the real important issue which is sav- ing lives." Petykiewicz, however, said he does not think the essay needs the explicit language in order to make the point. "Several phrases amounted to ex- plicit sexual descriptions," he said. "Readers would understand the con- tent of the letter without these im- ages." About 10 ACT UPmembers pro- tested outside of Ann Arbor News building and presented a copy of "The Ann Arbor Snews," wrapped in a symbolic red ribbon, to The News. "The Ann Arbor Snews," was created on the back page of the monthly newspaper Between the Lines. It mocked the decision by The Ann Arbor News. ACTUPpro- testors passed out copies of the pa- per and condoms to people passing by their protest. I Greek pledges, presidents discuss alcohol use, hazing By RONNIE GLASSBERG DAILY STAFF REPORTER In an effort to contradict the "Ani- amal House" image of the Greek sys- tem, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the Panhellenic Association (Panhel) addressed issues such as sexual assault, alcohol and hazing in a workshop yesterday for pledges and house presidents. The event began with the keynote speech by University Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hart- ford, who spoke about her college Sexperience in the Greek system. "You drink a lot, you drink to get drunk," said Hartford, noting that Greeks are twice as likely to be binge drinkers than other students on campus. "I urge you all to become part of the solution and not become part of the problem," she told the group. After Hartford spoke, members of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) showcased frightening statistics about rape and sexual harassment. IFC Adviser Joe Foster explained the hazing and alcohol policies of IFC and Panhel to the students. He said the policies against hazing were cre- ated to protect members. "We want you all to know that if it does happen you can say no." IFC Vice President of Program- ming Tim Schuster, who planned the event, described its goals. "I wanted them to understand that we do have an alcohol policy, to get a little educa- tion on hazing, to get information on sexual assault and what the Greek system has to offer," he said. Sara Fischer, an LSA sophomore in Chi Omega sorority, said, "The Greek system is blamed for a lot of things and this is a way that they can say they are trying to inform the people in the Greek system of the problems that come up." ,, : ____' : . .__.. : t' I SET YOUR SIGHTS ON... " THE AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY IT BEGINS WITH A GRADUATE DEGREE FROM THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. IN THIS COMPETITIVE MARKET, WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH; WHAT YOU MAY NEED IS A GRADUATE DEGREE FROM OUR NEW, INNOVATIVE MBA PROGRAM OR ANY OF AMERICAN'S OTHER 94 GRADUATE DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. and catch all the action this season! U s0