One hundred three years of editorial freedom
*ri
Former Miss America weighs state Senate bid
By ZACHARY M. RAIMI
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
994 THE MICHIGAN DAILY
She first dazzled the nation as Miss
America in 1988, and now Kaye Lani
Rae Rafko is weighing a bid to enter
another contest.
Rafko has been approached by
several prominent state Republicans
urging her to oppose incumbent state
Sen. Jim Berryman (D-Adrian) for
Michigan's 11th state Senate seat.
This district represents Monroe and
*nawee counties and parts of Saline
and northern Milan.
She is meeting with Gov. John
Provost
defends
Lis role in
grievance
By LISA DINES
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
Continuing to deny faculty allega-
ions yesterday, Provost Gilbert R.
Whitaker Jr. reiterated his stance that
he did not interfere with grievance
procedures in the Pharmacology de-
partment.
In aletter to Senate Advisory Com-
mittee on University Affairs
(SACUA) Chair Henry Griffin, the
provost responded to accusations from
4 ulty members that he had inappro-
ately interfered into charges made
against Pharmacology Prof. William
Pratt.
The letter was distributed at
yesterday's SACUA meeting. Nei-
ther Whitaker or Pratt could be reached
to comment on the charges of racism
against Pratt.
A SACUA subcommittee is cur-
rently investigating the provost's role
the matter and plans to have a
report about his participation ready
by the middle of this month.
Faculty members worry that
Whitaker has contaminated an other-
wise orderly grievance procedure with
his involvement.
The University released docu-
ments revealing the provost's role in
the matter in a Freedom of Informa-
n Act request yesterday.
Pratt's Jan. 11 letter to Whitaker
stated he does not "believe these as-
saults on my character would have
See PROVOST, Page 2
Engler and other state senators later
this week to discuss her possible can-
didacy.
A 30-year-old native of Petersberg,
Mich., Rafko is currently working to
earn her master's degree from the
University's School of Nursing.
In a telephone interview from her
home yesterday afternoon, Rafko said
Republicans have encouraged her to
run because of her views opposing
assisted suicide, and her public rec-
ognition. Even her would-be oppo-
nent Sen. Berryman admitted, "She
has great name recognition."
"On a scale of one to 10, (with one
being) no way, no how am I ever
going to do this, I'm leaning toward a
four because of lack of experience,"
Rafko said.
"My heart is telling me I'm not
ready for this - my soul is telling me
I'm not ready for this," she said.
"There are a lot of things I have no
idea about," she added, including
knowledge of the inter-workings of
state government. Rafko has never
- held public office.
Thus far, V. Lehr Roe, a Dundee
resident, is the only other Republican
to announce his candidacy for the
senate. The filing deadline is May 10
to run in the Aug. 2 primary.
The Democrats plan to capitalize
on Rafko's political inexperience. Jeff
Gourdji, chair of the University's
College Democrats, said, "Having to
defend John Engler's record (and) if
the Republicans nominate candidates
without qualifications, they will have
a hard time retaining control of the
(Senate majority)."
Currently, the Republicans hold a
21-16 advantage in the Senate, with
one vacancy to be filled in an April 26
special election.
Berryman, the first-term incum-
bent, praised Rafko, his friend and
possible opponent. "She has a tre-
mendously warm personality. She's
very bright and caring," he said.
Berryman said that the Republi-
cans have unintentionally honored
him by recruiting a candidate to run
against him. "(It is) a compliment to
our office and what we've been able
to do in four years," he said.
LSA senior Bill Lowry, who serves
as the state chair of the Michigan
College Republicans, said he would
like to see her run.
"I hope she does decide to run
because she'll make a very good sena-
See RAFKO, Page 2
Rafko
GET INTO THE SPIRIT
' researchers
question myth of
self-segregation
SARAH WHITING/Daily
participate in an Introduction to Woman Spirit class.
Aurora, Ann Richards and her daughter Liz Richards
Market dives to 6-month low
Research indicates
students of color
more likely to cross
racial boundaries
By SCOT WOODS
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
Claiming to reverse a misconcep-
tion held by the white majority, re-
search by two University professors
shows college students of color are
more likely to dine with, study with,
and date students from different ethnic
and racial backgrounds.
The study also found students of
color report feeling more pressure not
to socialize with students of other
backgrounds, and more often felt ex-
cluded from school activites because
of their color.
A draft of the paper states concerns
about self-segregation of minorities
"may simply be an expression of a
majority perspective," and while ac-
tions labeled as self-segregation may
be more visible among minorities, they
are more prevalent among white stu-
dents.
The study is being presented in
New Orleans today by School of Edu-
cation Profs. Sylvia Hurtado and Eric
Dey, and Jesus Trevino of Arizona
State University at the annual meet-
ing of the American Educational Re-
search Association.
The researchers found only 15 per-
cent of whites frequently studied with
students of other races or ethnicities,
much less often than Blacks (49 per-
cent), Asians (60 percent) or Chicanos
(72 percent). Figures were similar when
students were asked how often they
dined with people of other races or
ethnicities.
Figures were much lower in the
question of cross-racial dating, with
more Asian students reporting frequent
interracial relationships (42 percent)
than Chicanos (24 percent), Blacks (13
percent) or whites (4 percent).
Hurtado and her associates surveyed
6,107 students from 390 universities
for their study, asking about cross-
racial interaction and exposure to ra-
cial harrassment or exclusion.
A group of first-year students and
sophomores from Mosher-Jordan
Residence Hall said the study seemed
accurate in some parts, but questioned
the conclusion that self-segregation
was a myth.
LSA sophomore Rakesh Mashru,
an Indian American student, said,
"People tend to associate with people
of similar backgrounds; it's not that
people are racist."
LSA sophomore Dave Chen added,
"A study like that causes us to focus on
skin color. There are so many other
barriers you could use. You can say
that skaters and punks segregate them-
selves. That would be just as true."
Chen, who is Taiwanese, is the presi-
dent of the Asian American Associa-
tion.
See STUDY, Page 2
NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks
dropped to a six-month low in volatile
trading yesterday, shaken once again
byrisinginterestratesand by lastweek's
better-than-expected report on employ-
ment.
Share prices recovered from their
worst levels for the day.The Dow
Jones industrial average was down
almost 84 points at one point in the
session, while the Nasdaq composite
index lost about 20 points.
The Dow finished down 42.61
points to 3,593.35, the average's worst
level since Oct. 11.
The best-known barometer of the
market's health is now 9.7 percent
below its record high reached on Jan.
31.
Declining issues swamped ad-
vances by about 6 to 1 on the New York
Stock Exchange.
Share prices plunged at the open-
ing as stock investors had their first
chance to react to that economic
news, as well as to the bond market's
sharp drop.
Later, the decline in bond prices
gathered speed and stocks followed
suit. The selling was not based on any
one event, analysts said.
A so-called sidecar procedure
that gives small investors preferen-
tial treatment in selling stocks also
took effect.
Both measures were implemented
after the 1987 market crash in an
attempt to slow hectic trading.Bond
and stock prices were tumbling amid
speculation the Federal Reserve might
seize on Friday's strong employment
report to raise interest rates for the
third time this year.
Today's economic news was as-
expected and had little impact on the
stock or bond markets, analysts said.
A report from a national group of
factory purchasing managers showed
American manufacturing expanded
for the seventh straight month in
March.
Greenberg reflects as
term comes to close,
regrets budget dispute
By RONNIE GLASSBERG
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
For one year, the portrait of the
Michigan Student Assembly has been
,esident Craig Greenberg and Vice
esident Brian Kight.
After tonight's MSA meeting, this
picture of the assembly comes to an
end.
Last March, Greenberg and Kight
formed the Michigan Party, defeating
candidates from the Conservative
important accomplishments as presi-
dent include helping to raise student
funding by about $20,000, improving
MSA lobbying efforts and increasing
the respect for MSA in the Univer-
sity.
"I'd like to think the best thing
we've done is begun to improve
MSA's image and position in the
University community," Greenberg
said. "While there are still political
controversies, overall we've gained a
The following are some of
Craig Greenberg and Brian
Kight's accomplishments as
the leaders of MSA.
Reallocated an additional
$20,000 for use by stdent
groups.
Split MSA from Student
Legal Services, a
controversial move in the
assembly.
Renewed MSA's role in
campus appointments.
Extended MSA's services
to North Campus.
$6,000 reduction from the previous
year - but the funding debate still
DEIR EL BALAH, Occupied
Gaza Strip (AP) - Yesterday was
moving day for the Israeli army here
at their Gaza Strip headquarters.
Soldiers took farewell photo-
graphs and loaded cabinets, desks and
a still-cold refrigerator onto a trailer
in the courtyard.
After 27 years of occupation,
changes demanded by Palestinian
leaders are finally starting to take
shape, not only here but at other sites
in the Gaza Strip and West Bank town
"We don't want peace. There will
be stones every day," shouted the
youths.
Some soldiers appeared bewil-
dered about why the Palestinians were
throwing stones while they were pull-
ing up stakes. "They don't want us to
leave?" asked one.
Soldiers kept loading the trailer
during the melee. Women walked
through Israeli lines carrying bundles
of wash, and a Muslim fundamental-
ist dressed in white with a black beard
1%4,-u 0A ..nnnon tarlh,-tan the ncl-
Gaza Strip occupation thins
as Israeli forces depart area
know the sensitivity of conducting
patrols inside the camps," said Udi,
identified only by his first name ac-
cording to army regulations. "We are
in a period of transition, and we are
trying to avoid confrontation."
Israel and the PLO resumed accel-
erated talks in Cairo yesterday. Chief
PLO negotiator Nabil Shaath said he
expected agreement soon on the size
and timetable of the Palestinian po-
lice force to patrol the autonomous
areas.
© trnn rt.-A u.7t0,0An.,hu .P
I