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One hundred three years of editorial freedom
Controversy sparks BSU boycott of MLK Day
BSU calls events more
'academic than activist'
By LaSHAWNDA CROWE
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
Umjima - collective work and
responsibility. Kujichiagulia-self-
determination. Harambee - let's
pull together. These ideas laid the
foundation for the Black Student
Union's (BSU) protest of Univr-
sity-sponsored MLK activities yes-
terday.
In response to events sponsored
by the Office of Academic and
Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) for
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, BSU
offered, "Educate to Liberate!" a
teach-in, an alternative way to re-
member and celebrate King.
BSU's protest began on Friday
when its officials made a formal
statement declaring a boycott of
OAMI sponsored events.
Within 48 hours of announcing
the boycott, BSU organized its first
Teach-In, which focused on "issues
relevant to the Black community
and Black students," BSU Speaker
Alethea Gordon said.
"We're boycotting the
misappointment of the holiday by
OAMI because (the forum) is not
grounded in activism or focusing on
nationalist issues of self-determi-
nation and empowerment relevant
to (recognized minority peoples),"
she said.
BSU Secretary Devon Archer
said BSU hoped the Teach-In dis-
seminated information significant
not only to the University student
community but African Americans
as a whole.
BSU officials claim that up until
this year all previous forums fo-
cused on issues important to recog-
nized oppressed minority groups -
African Americans, Asian Ameri-
cans, Hispanics/Latinos/nas and In-
digenous American Peoples.
Second-year SNRE graduate stu-
Students participate in the annual Unity March sponsored by BSU yesterday. The march stopped at the Cube to protest University-sponsored events.
300 marchers brave cold to protest U slate of activities
By PATRICIA MONTGOMERY
FOR THE DAILY
The excited group ofmarchers gath-
ered at South University and South
Forest avenues for the seventh annual
Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March
yesterday at noon.
"Oh my God! My feet are frozen,"
said Maxie Hollingsworth, an LSA se-
nior.
Students protested with signs ex-
pressing "This ain't no damn parade!",
"The struggle must continue," and
"They're playing us cheap but we don't
*sleep!"
The marchers protruded down South
University. Students chanted, "Black is-
'for the blood we shed, Black is for the
race, Green is for the land where the
Black man will take its rightful place"
and "The people united will never be
defeated."
While crossing State Street, the par-
ticipants began to chant "No Justice, No
Peace."
Students rallied in back of the
Fleming Building. About 200 or 300
participants took part in the event, said
a Department of Public Safety officer.
Various angry speakers criticized
Vice Provost for Academic and
Multicultural Affairs Lester Monts's
symposium agenda.
The crowd was emotional through-
out the rally. Many participants agreed
with members of the Black Students
Union, (BSU) who boycotted the day's
events.
Amens were heard after each state-
ment and after the claim against the
Office of Academic and Multicultural
Affairs (OAMI)'s views and actions.
"I am out here to support the stu-
dents andto honor Martin Luther King,"
said Angie Kendric, an LSA junior.
"The boycott is very necessary be-
cause Ibelieve that the University forced
us to do this. The events planned by the
OAMI were inadequate in meeting the
needs of African-American students on
campus," said Shelly Sangster, a mem-
berofthe BSU peace force and a CAAS
senior.
"I think the BSU has reclaimed
something very vital to the African
American community on this campus
which was endangered of being taken
away and diluted," said Jiba Anderson,
an Art School student.
" I think that the actions here today
are in no way counterproductive but
instead very necessary for the univer-
sity to see that they are not living up to
the demand of the dream of Dr. King."
dent Kofi Boone, a University stu-
dent since 1988, felt this year's sym-
posium was the weakest yet.
Boone said the events failed to
focus on issues relevant to recog-
nized minority groups such as In-
digenous American Peoples land
rights' and economic development
in the African American commu-
See BSU, Page 2
Monts calls
BSU claims
'completely
false'
By MPATANISHI TAYARI
FOR THE DAILY
Representatives of the Black
Student Union (BSU) stood out-
side Room 100 of the University
Law School and tried to dissuade
students from attending the Social
Justice panel and other events spon-
sored by the Office of Academic
and Multicultural Initiatives
(OAMI).
IThe BSU, which publicly urged
IUniversity students to boycott this
Iyear's Martin Luther King Jr. Sym-
posium, organized alternative MLK
day events for people to attend be-
cause as BSU Speaker Alethea Gor-
don said, "the 1994 Martin Luther
King symposium fails to honor the
history of activism out of which the
symposium was created."
One University administrator
called these allegations "com-
pletely false."
See MONTS, Page 2
City council
may forgive
parking debt'
In separate action,
council may vote to
tow cars after only
four parking tickets
By JAMES NASH
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
When Ann Arbor's elected leaders
decide tonight whether to issue a re-
prieve to drivers who have amassed a
heap of unpaid parking tickets, they
may have people like Jesse Efron in
mind.
The LSA junior estimated that he
owes the city $115 for more than 10
parking citations. He said expired park-
ing meters land him a ticket "just about
every time" and criticized the city for its
zeal in pursuing parking scofflaws while
neglecting street maintenance.
Would Efron jump at the chance to
clear his parking debt for about $60?
"Hell, yeah," replied the Sigma Nu
Fraternity member from the Chicago
area.
Students brace for
continuedn
By CRAIG SULLIVAN
FOR THE DAILY
Some students took the day off to
thaw out after the coldest weekend in
Ann Arbor in more than 50 years.
But, back on the way to class to-
day, it won't be any warmer.
University community members
say the weather has been colder, the
snow fall more consistent and the
weather-related problems more se-
vere than previous winters.
Michigan would be lucky if tem-
peratures climbed into double digits
today, National Weather Service fore-
caster Greg Smith said.
The American Automobile Asso-
ciation of Michigan expects to re-
ceive 35,000 calls for help this week,
spokesperson Nancy Cain said. The
club received 7,700 last weekend,
when the mass of frigid air first hit,
Cain said.
Has the cold weather affected
student's activities and even spirits?
"That's all we've been talking about!"
said LSA sophomore Reggie Kim,
smiling at his friends.
"It's been snowing constantly....
coin snap
caused problems in their apartments
such as frozen pipes.
Most students displayed concern
about the Ann Arbor roads, and al-
though many agree that the roads have
been worse than previous winters,
they conceded that salt trucks and
cleaners have had a lot to contend
with.
"I think they've been doing pretty
good," LSA first-year student Aaron
Saari said as he ate in the Union with
his coat still zipped up tightly.
"Generally, the roads are decent. I
think the biggest problem is people
panic," Aaron's older brother Mark
added.
No doubt with roads packed tightly
in snow and windshields obscured
with ice shards, many off-campus stu-
dents found themselves in situations
that cause alarm.
But these students seemed irri-
tated for the most part by the accumu-
lation of snow along the side roads. "I
have a Hyundai, and it's stuck. I
couldn't get out this morning," LSA
senior Adam Gollance said, grinning
slightly.
AP PHOTO
Ray Hudson reacts as a friend's home goes up in flames at the Oak Ridge trailer park in Sylmar, Calif. yesterday.
Deadly quaket hits S. Californm-ia
LOS ANGELES (AP)-An earth-
quake devastated the sleening suburbs
A handful of motorists were briefly
traoned in tons of concrete rubble as
Hills was destroyed by fire.
Officers patrolled streets in the early
The Ann Arbor City Council is set
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