The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, March 15, 1994 -3 .Presidential candidates propose structural changes in assembly By RONNIE GLASSBERG DAILY STAFF REPORTER University architects are not the only people with blueprints for campus construc- tion. Three candidates for Michigan Student Assembly president have plans to reconstruct the assembly. The theme of structural change began when the Michigan Party proposed a new draft of the All-Campus Constitution, which currently governs MSA. Students will vote on whether to approve the new constitution during MSA elections next week. "The constitutional reform is going to make MSA accountable, effective and organized," said LSA Rep. Julie Neenan, the Michigan Party's candidate for president. The changes in the Michigan Party's pro- posed constitution would place committee chairs in office for one year instead of one semester and would allow the president to dismiss the MSA treasurer and student gen- eral counsel-- positions that are appointed by the president. The proposal would also allow the assem- bly to create, modify or destroy its commis- sions by a two-thirds vote. Currently, the commissions are outlined in the constitution and cannot be changed by the assembly. Other changes in the proposed constitution include creating administrative boards to assist the executive officers, lifting the ban on MSA that prohibits the assembly from providing its officers with salaries and altering MSA's judi- cial branch, the Central Student Judiciary. But the Michigan Party is not the only party with ideas for change. The Outsider Party has also created a plan to change MSA, and it concentrates on alter- ing the committee and commission structure. The plan would eliminate the Campus Governance Committee, along with the Health Issues, International Student, and Peace and Justice Commissions. The Outsider Party restructure plan would create committees that will work with the Student Book Exchange, the City of Ann Arbor, the University Board of Regents, the Statement of Student Rights and Responsi- bilities and the diag policy. It would also add commissions to work with the Michigan Collegiate Coalition (MCC), the Ann Arbor Tenants' Union and undergraduate education. "We want to eliminate seven big, wasteful committees and create eight smaller, focused committees," said Trevor Moeller, Outsider Party presidential candidate. Independent presidential candidate and LSA sophomore Christian Payne, along with running mate Doug Kligman, an LSA sopho- more, said he supports an idea suggested by Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen A. Hartford, which would apportion MSA representatives by district. "People would be more likely to know who the candidates are," Kligman said. "People should know what is going on in MSA and people just don't." Despite all the plans, the Students' Party candidate for vice president, MCC Gov. Conan Smith, said the structure is not the problem for MSA. "There's always been a strong party that says, 'restructure MSA,' but I don't think anyone's made a concerted effort to run MSA under the current structure," Smith said. The Students' Party proposes using the current committee structure to work with in- dividual student groups registering with the assembly. Tonight there will be a public debate be- tween the presidential candidates from 6 to 7:30 in Room 429 of Mason Hall. Reporters from the Black Student Monthly, Michigan Daily, Michigan Independent and Michigan Review will question the candi- dates. All students are invited to attend. *Greeks open week, focus on ~fcharities Greek system seeks to improve Its image with philanthropic donations By MEGAN SCHIMPF DAILY STAFF REPORTER * The spirit of philanthropy brought representatives from the Greek sys- tem and charities together last night during the Greek Week 1994 opening ceremonies, which focused on the donations that will be made by its participants. "The purpose of the opening cer- emonies is to get people excited about the charities and to get in touch with the people we're helping with our money," said Greek Week Co-chair Katie Richards, an LSA senior. "While we have lots of fun jumping in Jell-O and running around Palmer Field, the real focus is charity." The students heard from each of the five charities that will receive the funds from Greek Week this year during brief presentations. One national and four local chari- O ties were chosen this year. The na- tional philanthropy is the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and the local charities are Youth Housing Coalition, Focus:HOPE, the Alzheimer's Association of South Central Michigan and Court Ap- pointed Special Advocates. "This is a vital piece of the University's mission -working with the community and supporting chari- ties," said Kathy MacKay, University director of co-curricular activities. "We think that should be part of your education." This is the second year the open- ing ceremonies have been held to kick off the week's activities. "We felt last year there was a lack of focus to the real focus of Greek Week," Richards said. "People didn't realize the real good we do with help- ing the charities and the good we do within the community." The representatives of the chari- ties gave a brief history of their orga- nizations and explained their activi- ties. Each also expressed their grati- Council doles out funds for YMCA By JAMES M. NASH DAILY STAFF REPORTER In a debate one observer likened to the choice between a $10 bill and two $5 bills, the Ann Arbor City Coun- cil last night approved another pay- ment to sustain the financially troubled YMCA's low-income housing project. The $12,500 appropriation was approved unanimously after an hour- long discussion lacking the partisan fireworks that have characterized pre- vious council debates on payments to the YMCA. The council voted for the payment despite earlier warnings from City Attorney Elizabeth R. Schwartz that continuing payments to the fal- tering YMCA may be illegal. Debate last night centered on what part of the city budget the funds should be drawn from. Republicans objected to a suggestion that the city's general fund - a "rainy day" account of accumulated revenue - pay for the YMCA bailout. They asked the coun- cil to take the money from a separate account designated for housing. Democrats said the general fund was the most appropriate source for the payment because more money is available there. While the three coun- cil Republicans first threatened to hold up the vote on approving the pay- ments for the YMCA over the issue, they later dropped their objection. Councilmember Thais A. Peterson (D-1st Ward) explained her rationale for taking the YMCA bailout money from the general fund. "I think it's appropriate that this come out of the rainy day fund because this is a rainy day," she said. Councilmember Peter Fink (R-2nd Ward) protested. "We have money in our budget that we can take from .. money that is not otherwise going to be spent." Forestalling a final decision on whether to cut the city's fiscal link to the YMCA, the council did not dis- cuss Schwartz's legal opinion that the original loan guarantee of November 1988 may be illegal. Instead, the coun- cil established an ad hoc committee to look into the issue and seek alternate means of funding the housing project. The council's decision last night to forward $12,500 to the YMCA under terms of the loan guarantee prevents the non-profit association from defaulting on the loan. SARAH WHITING/Daily The blood drive starts out the many Greek activities that are planned for this week. tude at being chosen by Greek Week participants. "Your help in helping us is vitally needed," said Mary Frenza, the repre- sentative from the Alzheimer's Asso- ciation. Truman Hudson, from Focus: HOPE, entertained the students with jokes and a relaxed style. "My challenge to you guys -- let's try and build those cultural rela- tions, because they're going to come in handy in the future. You never know who you're going to work with after you graduate," said Hudson. Focus:HOPE is a Detroit-based organization that works with civil and human rights issues. In addition to other activities, the organization dis- tributes food to more than 86,000 people each month and has estab- lished an institute to train engineers. "(Hudson) explained the cause and captured the audience with analogies that people could relate to," said En- gineering senior Tom Moe. "I wanted to know about not just one of the charities we're supporting, but a plethora of them," said SNRE junior Jeanne Taylor. Taylor said the presentation by the Youth Housing Coalition inter- ested her. "I'm really impressed be- cause I didn't know about it before. Homeless teens actually have some- place to go besides being on the streets," she said. Today: 0 Tomorrow: t Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: 0 Monday: Tuesday: Mr. Greek Week Jell-O Jump Wiffleball Twistermania Pie Eating Contest Greek Games Community Service Educational Awareness Speaker Dance Contest Power Center Diag Diag Diag Beta Theta Pi Palmer Field Beta Theta Pi Pendleton Room U-Club 7 p.m. noon noon 1 p.m. noon 10 a.m. 8 a.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 6 p.m. Assisted suicide debate continues across campus Wednesday: Educational Awareness Speaker Pendleton Room Sing and Variety Show Hill Auditorium 8 Thursday:. Men to shine in pageant By MICHELLE LEE THOMPSON DAILY STAFF REPORTER Miss America. Miss Universe. The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. These are all examples of women and their bodies on display. But how often are men put on parade? Tonight at 7:30, participants from 30 fraternities will compete in the Mr. Greek Week pageant at the Power Center . Contestants will be judged in four areas: formal wear, dress like your hero, a three-minute talent session and a toga-clad impromptu question- and-answer session. Each house nomi- nates one person for the event. This is the 14th year the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sorority has sponsored the event, which will raise money for its national philanthropy, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Founda- tion. Susan Carlson, the ZTA president and pageant co-chair, said, "Last year we raised $2,000 - this year we're hoping to raise $3,000." LSA junior Rich Wallach, a mem- ber of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) frater- nity, said his house bred the winners of the last two contests. "Everyone was pretty psyched last year," said Wallach, referring to the spirited au- dience. Prizes have been donated by ma- jor sponsors, including Dollar Bill Copying, President Tuxedo, Spirit Etc. and Cottage Inn Pizza. As with most Greek Week events, any student may attend, but only mem- bers of the Greek community will. participate. Tickets are available in advance at the ZTA house for $4 or $6 at the door. By TEDRA WHITE FOR THE DAILY The heated debate over assisted suicide is giving many University stu- dents a lot to think about. Many are asking: Is assisted suicide morally right and should it be legal? Some students feel assisted sui- cide should be legalized and are will- ing to defend the issue. As a result, there has been a recent upswing in the number of students joining the right- to-die movement on campus. A group called "Students For Dr. Kevorkian" is active in the cause as supporters for Jack Kevorkian, the infamous "Dr. Death," who has as- sisted in 20 suicides since 1990. Ac- cording to group president Dennis Denno, a second-year Rackham stu- dent, the organization has received overwhelming support on campus. Along with rallying to bring Kevorkian to campus as a commence- ment speaker, members have been collecting signatures to place an amendment on the November ballot to make assisted suicide legal. The organization will also sponsor a dis- cussion with Kevorkian's lawyer, Geoffrey Fieger, on March21 atHillel. "We are trying to educate students as to morality of assisted suicide," Denno said. "I believe its a funda- mental right of a human being over their bodies.... The government has no right to take that away from us." LSA senior Nicole Rendziperis is involved with publicity for Students For Dr. Kevorkian. She said she sup- ports assisted suicide if a person is mortally ill. "Because it is an act authorized by the patient, there's noth- ing wrong with it," she added. LSA first-year student LaTesia Collies also supports assisted suicide. "It should be legal because the First Amendment gives a person certain rights and I feel assisted suicide should be included," she said. Derek D'Angelo said it should be an individual's decision what to do with their own lives, but he fears legalizing it may create problems. "A person should have the right to decide if it's best for them. ... Unfortunately, if legalized, many people will begin to abuse this right," D'Angelo said. Other students on campus oppose these views on the subject. John Damoose, president of the College Republicans, expressed his strong op- position to the issue. "Assisted suicide is absolutely dis- gusting," Damoose said. "It shows a complete disrespect for life." Students on both sides of the fence will address assisted suicide in a de- bate sponsored by the Alice Lloyd Pilot Program today in the Alice Lloyd residence hall. LSA first-year student Andrew Wright, who helped to orga- nize the debate, said he does not have extreme views on the issue. "I'm neu- tral on the issues and willing to listen to both sides," Wright said. Correction The Power Macintosh 6100 can be purchased for about $1,600. This was incorrectly reported in yesterday's Daily. Group Meetings " American Movement for Is- rael, Hillel, 7 p.m. " Arab-American Students' As- sociation, Arabic conversation hour, Amer's on State, 8:30p.m. a Asian Pacific Lesbian-Gay-Bi- sexual Support Group, Michi- gan Union, Room 3116, 5:30 p.m. 0 College Republicans, MLB basement, 6:30 p.m. " English Association, Haven Hall, seventh floor lounge, 4 p.m. C3 Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Club, Michigan Union, Crofoot Room, 7 p.m. U Focus Group: Grad. Students talk about different psychol- ogy degrees, Michigan League, Room D, third floor, 7:30 p.m. L Folk Dance Club, North Cam- nus Cnmmnns 7-30 nm. Association, Trotter House, 7 p.m. " Southwest Detroit Student As- sembly, Michigan Union, Baits Room, 9 p.m. " Undergraduate Law Club, Michigan Union, Room 4121, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. " Women's Rugby Practice, Oosterbaan Building, 9:30-11 p.m. Events D Blood Drive, sponsored by the Greek system, Michigan Union, 1-6:30 p.m. " "CHINA: Sino-American Re- lations Under Stress," Inter- national Lunch Forum, Interna- tional Center, noon. " Conference on the Holocaust, Memorial of Names, all day on the Diag; Jewish Thought After the Holocaust. 3050 Frieze Quad, Ambatana Lounge, 7p.m. " "The Jesus Summit," sponsored by Canterbury House, 518 E. Washington St., 5 p.m. Q "To Value in Common," Ken- neth Leech, sponsored by the Institute for Public Theology at Canterbury House, 518 E. Washington, 4 p.m. Student services Q 76-GUIDE, peer counseling phone line, call 76-GUIDE, 7 p.m.-8 a.m. Q Campus Information Center, Michigan Union, 763-INFO; events info., 76-EVENT; film info., 763-FILM. 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