ittan
t
Vol CIV, No. 121
Anin Mb., Michigan
One hundred three years of editorial freedom
Monday, September 12,1994
0 1994 The Michigan Daily
'U' will not
reimburse
endowments
for costs
0 Soon to be approved
new rules will govern
communication funds
By RONNIE GLASSBERG
Daily Staff Reporter
In light of a June internal audit
that found the University's commu-
nication department had misspent
funds from three of its endowments,
the University will formally approve
new guidelines for use of the funds.
But the guidelines, which require
final approval by a University attor-
ney and will apply retroactively, may
not support the intent of the donors.
Many of the questionable ex-
penses charged to the endowments
will now be deemed appropriate un-
der the new guidelines.
The audit had been prompted from
concerns raised by Wesley Maurer
Sr., who helped establish the Harry
B. and Helen F. Weber Endowment
- one of the three misspent endow-
ments.
Maurer's son, Wesley Maurer Jr.,
said the new guidelines go against
the intent of the Webers, who were
close friends of the Maurer family.
"What they seem to do is legalize
the improprieties that the auditor
questioned in his report," said Wesley
Maurer Jr., who has not received a
copy of the description. "It seems to
absolve them from the improprieties.
They have now arbitrarily made it
appropriate."
Besides the Weber Endowment,
the audit also covered the Howard R.
Marsh Professorship and the Howard
R. Marsh Center for the Study of
Journalistic Performance. The depart-
ment also created new guidelines for
the use of these endowments.
At the June meeting of the Uni-
versity Board of Regents, President
James J. Duderstadt told the regents
that LSA would restore the funds
questioned in the audit to the endow-
ments.
LSA Associate Dean John Cross
said yesterday LSA will restore only
funds questioned that do not fit into
See FUND, Page 2
Want someone's' U' academic transcript? Just subpoena it
Ed. note: This is the first of two reports on the students'
right to privacy concerning their academic records. To-
morrow: How and why someone might get access to your
transcript and what you can do to prevent it.
By LARA TAYLOR
Daily Staff Reporter
Despite the University's pledge to keep your tran-
ripts private, you may not be able to hide that "D" you
received in chemistry from everyone.
Charles Griffith, a graduate student who is studying
public adminstration, has been notified by the University
that his transcripts will be released without his permission.
Griffith's transcript is being sought by a woman he is
suing for assault.
"I was in a city council meeting in Romulus in June,"
Griffith said. "The argument became heated, and after the
meeting a woman named Helena Agnes Lilly came up to
me and hit me. The police encouraged me to prosecute."
Griffith said that the Lilly's attorney subpoenaed his
transcripts and that the University is in the process of
making them available to them.
"I'm not sure what they're trying to prove," Griffith
said. "I have nothing to hide."
Stamped at the bottom of every transcript in big blue
letters is a description of the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which states that a
student's written permission is required for their tran-
script to be released.
But this protection does not include state or federal
subpoenas for transcripts, said University Assistant Gen-
eral Counsel Dan Sharphorn.
"There is a statement of students' rights regarding
their transcripts in every time schedule," Sharphorn said.
"The University is legally bound to release transcripts if
they are subpoenaed."
Sharphorn added that the University notifies students
in order to give them time to find a lawyer to block the
subpoena.
"The University writes you and gives about three days
to respond," Griffith said. "The University won't protect
you. A subpoena is an easy thing to give, but a very
difficult thing to stop."
Sharphorn said the University constantly receives
supoenas and routinely complies with them.
In Griffith's case, the subpoena was approved by a
magistrate instead of a judge.
"My name is even spelled wrong on it," Griffith said.
"I thought there was only one way to spell 'Charles,' but
I guess not."
Griffith added that he is trying to block access to other
personal records, such as his finances, now that he has
learned that his transcripts are not as private as he thought.
Sharphorn acknowledge that students may feel this
policy is unfair.
"I understand his frustrations, but the University must
comply with the law," he said.
But Griffith said the University's rationale rings hollow.
"Well, if this is the law, then this law definitely needs
to be changed," he said bitterly.
President to kick off national service
e :, _ z:
Fate of fraternity
By ANDREW TAYLOR
Daily Staff Reporter
President Clinton will fulfill a cam-
paign promise to college students to-
day by swearing in 12,000 volunteers.
At noon, Clinton will kick off
AmenCorps the backbone of his
national service program - with a
ceremony on the South Lawn of the
ite House.
The initiative is designed for young
Americans to serve their country
through community service programs
in exchange for $12,000 compensa-
tion per year.
Congress approved funding for the
initiative in August 1993 as part of the
in Los Angeles.
Following the opening day fes-
tivities, 8,000 students are still needed
bringing the total to 20,000 students,
who will eventually become part of
the program and will work for one of
250 selected nonprofit organizations
around the country.
Students will receive a $7,500 sti-
pend and a $4,725 grant to cover
college tuition or existing student
loans. Participants will be expected to
work 1,700 hours per year for one- or
two-year terms.
National Service Director Eli
Segal proclaimed the program "a call
to service unmatched in a generation"
'U' to receive $750,000
for local service plan
By ROBIN BARRY
Daily Staff Reporter
The University, in collaboration with the Michigan
Neighborhood Partnership (MNP), will receive a $750,000
grant as part of the AmeriCorps program, an initiative of
the Corporation for National and Community Service
inWashington.
Social Work Prof. Barry Checkoway, along with Busi-
ness Prof. Edwin Miller and MNP Executive Director
Charlene Johnson, is helping to direct the program.
"In its first year, the program will create 'community
ervice teams' conmrise of A0nmmunit and student
INSIDE
NEWS
Los Angeles prosecutors wi
not seek the death penalty
the O.J. Simpson double
murder case, in part
because of focus groups.
ARTS
Check out how the Rolling
Stones rocked and rolled
Friday night in East Lansing
SPORTSMonday
0in question after
hazing incident
sends 1 to hospital
By KATIE HUTCHINS
Daily Staff Reporter
The regional director of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity
arrives on campus today to help determine the "fate of
several members who may have been involved in a hazing
incident that landed one pledge in the emergency room
last Sunday afternoon
The incident involved one of the members, and a