The Michigan Daily - Thursday, December 8, 1994 - 3 *New Panhel, IFC officers inducted GOP lawmakers name new chairs; plan rule changes By KELLY FEENEY Daily Staff Reporter The new Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association execu- tive board members were jointly *sworn in last night at the Michigan Union before an audience of outgoing officers, friends, family and Univer- sity officials. Outgoing IFC PresidentKirk Wolfe and Panhel President Julie Stacey handed over duties to the new presi- dents, Jon Roberts and Laura Shoe- maker. Roberts, Shoemaker and the rest of the board took office immediately. Before handing the gavels to the new presidents and inducting the other nine members on each board, Wolfe and Stacey made their goodbyes and thank-yous to the outgoing board members and remarked on the prob- lems and issues that the two Greek governing bodies tackled this year. "IFC has had an interesting year, to say the least," Wolfe said. "We've *had a lot of hurdles to clear and things to get done," he continued, referring to a recent string of hazing problems. In late October, IFC enacted hazing legislation, which designates it as an unacceptable practice. Terry Landes, IFC coordinator, said after the ceremony that he thinks this incoming group will continue to move forward with the anti-hazing efforts of this past year's board, and will address alcohol as not only aGreekproblem but a campus problem. Roberts said he will continue haz- ing seminars, but will also focus on other issues. One of the first things he'd like to do after getting the new board organized is to bring local po- lice, neighborhood organizations and fraternities together to discuss how they all can work together on com- mon problems, he said. In addition to addressing ways to increase membership, Panhel has added amendments to its constitution to target hazing. Two weeks ago, Panhel added a clause that eliminated a national waiver that compromised the group's alcohol policy and made every chapter equal under the alcohol policy. Shoemaker laid out her plans for the future. "I hope this next year is a time when we can work together to combine ideals and values of each of our organizations with the wants and needs of students of the University, JOE WESTRATE/Daily Outgoing Panhellenic President Julie Stacey (far right) bids farewell to Panhel's 1994 executive board. The new board was sworn in yesterday. and to create a new and improved picture of what Greek life looks like here at the 'U,"' Shoemaker said. "The women in Panhel have been so incredibly dedicated. They had a vision and they accomplished it," said Mary Beth Seiler, Panhel adviser. Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen A. Hartford, who was present at the ceremony, said, "I think the Greek leadership took on challenging :issues which was not always easy to do," citing hazing and alcohol abuse. Awards were also given out to chapter representatives. IFC gave out 35 awards, while Panhel awarded 19, in addition to naming Maya Agarwal as representative of the term. Panel: Engler deserves a 4 percent raise The Washington Post WASHINGTON - Republican lawmakers yesterday laid more groundwork for what they promise will be a more open House, naming all but one committee chairman, re- leasing proposed rule changes and discussing closer House-Senate co- ordination with Senate Republican Leader Robert J. Dole. The House Republican Confer- ence ratified new chairmen for 19 committees, including Rep. Larry Combest (R-Tex.) at the House In- telligence Committee. The chairman- ship of the House Ethics Committee remains unfilled because a pending complaint about a college course taught by incoming House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) led him to delay making an appointment, a GOP leadership aide said. On the third day of their organiz- ing caucus, Republican lawmakers reviewed a package of House rule changes they will present for adop- tion Jan. 4, the first day of the 104th Congress. The most significant changes - imposing six-year term limits for committee chairmen and imposing labor and safety laws on Congress - were promised in the "Contract With America" that GOP House candidates signed in Septem- ber. The package also would revoke limited floor voting rights from the District of Columbia's delegate and those from three territories and Puerto Rico. Republicans modified a contract provision that called for a 60 percent "supermajority" to increase any taxes. The wording was narrowed to "an income tax rate increase" on individu- als or corporations so that the supermajority would not apply to any revenue increase, such as higher fees. Dole told House Republicans he would schedule early votes on sev- eral provisions of the House GOP contract: a constitutional amendment requiring balanced federal budgets, an expansion of presidential veto powers to include budgetary line items, protection of states from addi- tional federal mandates that are not funded and congressional compliance with labor and safety laws. In October the House adopted a resolution bringing it into compli- ance with employment laws that Con- gress has imposed on private compa- nies, after legislation to do the same thing passed overwhelmingly in the House but died in GOP-inspired, pre- election gridlock in the Senate. Dole offered cautious words on tax cuts that House Republicans prom- ised in their contract. "We do have to pay for it, obviously, and we've got to do enough so people know they've gotten a tax cut," he warned. The incoming standing commit- tee chairmen include the first woman since 1976, Rep. Jan Meyers (R-Kan.) of the Small Business Committee, and three who did not follow a straight line of seniority to the top. Reps. Bob Livingston (R-La.) of Appropriations, Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) of Judiciary and Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (R-Va.) of Commerce (now Energy and Com- merce) skipped overmore senior com- mittee members. Although lawmakers from the Sun Belt dominate the House Republican Conference, accrued seniority landed Pennsylvania lawmakers a total of four chairmanships. The Pennsylvanians are Reps. William F. Clinger Jr. of Government Reform and Oversight (now Govern- ment Operations), William F. Goodling of Economic and Educa- tional Opportunities (Education and Labor), Bud Shuster of Transportation and Infrastructure (Public Works and Transportation) and Robert S. Walker of Technology and Competitiveness (Science, Space and Technology). Livingston also named the 13 Appropriations subcommittee chair- men, the "cardinals" who hold con- siderable influence over spending bills. One, Rep. Barbara F. Vucanovich (R-Nev.) of the military construction panel, becomes the first chairwoman of an Appropriations subcommittee since Rep. Julia Butler Hansen (D-Wash.) chaired the Inte- rior spending subcommittee two de- cades ago. LANSING (AP) - Gov. John *Engler deserves a pay raise for boost- ing Michigan's economy, guiding the state's budget to a surplus, and to bring his salary in line with federal officials, a panel decided yesterday. The State Officers Compensation Commission voted to raise the governor's pay by 4 percent for each of the next two years. It also voted to raise the salaries for Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld, the 148 state lawmakers, and seven Michigan Supreme Court justices by 3 percent each of the next two years. Engler spokesman John Truscott said the governor hasn't accepted a pay raise since taking office in 1991 because the state's economy and bud- get were struggling. With unemployment hitting a 25- ear low this fall and the budget well in the black, the governor has said he'll accept a reasonable pay raise, Truscott said. "People are working, we've cut taxes 11 times. It's a much different state now than it was back in 1991 and 1992," he said. "I guess when you cut taxes a billion dollars, you deserve a 4 percent raise." The salary for governor now stands at $112,025, but Engler takes less than that. Truscott said Engler's tax returns show him taking about $101,000. In 1995, the pay would rise to $116,506, then go to $121,166 in 1996. Lawmakers would see their base pay go up from the current $47,723 to $49,155 next year, then to $50,629 in 1996. State officials got a 5 percent pay raise this year after four years of fro- zen salaries. The SOCC pay recommendations take effect automatically unless the Legislature rejects them by a two- thirds vote before Feb. 1. House Republican Leader Paul Hillegonds, of Holland, and Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus (R- Alto) sent SOCC a letter saying a cost-of-living raise would be appro- priate for the next two years. Hillegonds said the level recom- mended is reasonable and in line with what the majority of his caucus mem- bers believe is reasonable. House Democratic Floor Leader Pat Gagliardi of Drummond Island said he's ready to vote for the raise because it's reasonable and said that since it's within the rate of inflation "it probably has a shot" at passage. "If leadership decides the pay raise is reasonable, they can prevail," he added. The SOCC members initially dis- cussed an across-the-board 3 percent raise for both years for all of the state's top elected officials. Then William Hampton, of Farmington Hills, urged a 4 percent increase for the governor's office. As the state's chief executive, the pay for Engler and those who follow him should be in line with what U.S. representatives and senators are mak- ing, some $135,000 a year, Hampton said. Another commissioner, Henry Fuhs Jr., of Grand Rapids, said in setting pay levels the SOCC should judge the work done by Engler and lawmaker "just like you do with business." "I think it's important that we re- ward people. I think they've done a good job," he said. Fuhs and SOCC chairman Don Barden, of Detroit, noted the public mood is far different than it was two years ago. Then, the SOCC hearings were held in rooms filled with citi- zens angry about budget cuts and the state's weak economy. Only ahandful of citizens attended this year's meetings and SOCC staff- ers have had to field a relatively small number of telephone calls and letters, rather than some 1,200 two years ago, Barden said. Santa listens to kids' wishes, distributes cereal, toothbrushes By GAIL MONGKOLPRADIT For the Daily Straight from the North Pole - Santa Claus is now in Ann Arbor. Those who drive pass Arborland Mall on Washtenaw Avenue might see Santa's sleigh and his eight rein- deer parked on the roof. Inside, Santa Claus waits to greet children whose emotions range from sheer excitement to fear. "Have you been a good little boy or girl? What do you want for Christ- mas?" These are some of the ques- tions that Santa asks the kids as they sit comfortably on his plump lap. At Arborland Mall, Briarwood Mall and malls across the nation, stand-in Santas are fulfilling a time- honored tradition of listening to children's Christmas wishes while parents watch on intently. As always, parents can buy Polaroid snapshots of their kids with Santa. And kids will not leave empty han'ded after their visit with Santa. Each child, teeth or not, receives a trial pack of different cereals and a toothbrush. These holiday treats were donated by General Mills Foods Inc. and Community Dental Center of Ann Arbor. "Santa was nice," said 4-year-old Alyssia Baird of Ann Arbor after vis- iting with the jolly old man. She also told Santa what she wants for Christ- mas: "a doll-house, stickers and a truck for my 4-month-old brother Keith." The children who visit Santa at Arborland Mall are not the only ones caught up in the holiday spirit. Pho- tographer Nick Mosher of Ann Arbor said, "It's not because of the money that I am working here, I am doing it for the kids." And Kris Kringle himself said: "It is marvelous being Santa because children have an instant identity with me, instead of just passing me by when I am not Santa." Kris added, "I can share outlooks on life with the kids leaving them to appreciate their parent." He said his main goal is to "dis- cuss with the kids what Christmas is all about - it's more than just shop- ping and receiving gifts." Before Santa leaves for the North Pole, he will be at Arborland through Saturday, Dec. 24. The hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Fri- day; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. A group of parents with scared children that failed in their attempt to have their child's picture taken with Santa sighed, "We'll just try again next year..." JOE WESTRATE/Daily Michigan Telefund Children met Santa Claus in Arborland Mall on Washtenaw Avenue yesterday. Group Meetings " Bible Study and Fellowship, 763-1664, Baits II, Coman Lounge, 6-8 p.m. " Eye ofthe Spiral, informal meet- ing, 747-6930, Guild House Campus Ministry, 802 Monroe, 8 p.m. " Intervarsity Christian Fellow- ship, meeting, 764-5702, Dana Building, Room 1040, 7 p.m. U Muslim Students' Association, Halaqa, 913-6908, Michigan Israel, sponsored by Hillel, Hil- lelpBuilding, call 769-0500 for appointment times U "Birth Control Matters," fea- turing "Brady Bunch" star Maureen McCormick spon- sored by UAC Special Events, Michigan Union, Union Ball- room, 3:30-4:30 p.m. U "Late Woodland Archaeology in Piedmont Virginia," brown bag lecture, Debra Gold, spon- sored by U-M Museum of An- thropology, Museum of Natural sponsored by Hospice of Washtenaw, Great Lakes Plaza, Division St., 7 p.m. Student Services Q 76-GUIDE, peer counseling phone line, 7 p.m.-8 a.m. Q ECB Peer Tutorial, Angell Hall Computing Site, 747-4526,7-11 p.m., Mary Markley, 7-10 p.m. Q Campus Information Center, Michigan Union, 763-INFO; events info 76-EVENT or UM*Events on GOpherBLUE a division of the University of Michigan's Office of Development would like to thank the following local proprietors for their part in helping the University of Michigan raise $4.5 million dollars in unrestricted funds. We salute your community involvement and value your support! Amer's Mediterranean Deli 611 Church St. Blimpy Burger 551 S. Division The Bagel Factory 1306 S. University Campus Video 611 Church St. i