Swimmers dive into conference season 7 I 'Little Me' only a little funny 'S-*5 ' "r ' WM LA il- Iti *art 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 I