The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 29, 1994 - 3 .Key Democratic state House leader, Jacobetti, dies at 74 LANSING (AP)-Rep. Dominic Jacobetti died yesterday, ending the 40-year career of an Upper Peninsula state lawmaker. The 74-year-old Negaunee Democrat chaired the House Appropriations Committee for 18 years until scandal forced him out of the post in 1993. But colleagues said they knew Jacobetti, who was overwhelmingly re-elected n November, would never voluntarily give up the job he loved. "Frankly, he died with his boots on," said Democratic Rep. Maxine Berman from Southfield. "He wanted to prove a point that he would be re-elected, that people in the U.P. still loved him. Clearly, they did." Jacobetti was pronounced dead at Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming. His wife, Marie, said she called for emergency help at 3:50 a.m. after Jacobetti got out of bed but didn't return earlier in the morning. The cause of his death was not immedi- ately known, his son, Dominic Jr. said. He said his father had been in ill health for some time. The hospital would not release infor- mation on the death. Jacobetti was the Legislature's longest- serving member and one of its most power- ful. He won re-election Nov. 8 over Republi- can Terry Talo with 70 percent of the vote in the 109th District, which hugs the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. Jacobetti would have begun his 21st two- year term in the Legislature in January. He was known for a devotion to constitu- ent service and a determination to bring state projects to the Upper Peninsula, earning him the nickname "Godfather." "He had a heart as big as the state trea- sury," said Rep. Don Gilmer from Augusta. "He truly believed when people needed help from state government, government should step to the plate and pass it out for a wide variety of reasons." He also had a quick temper and tough style. Gilmer recalled how after he opposed a pay raise for lawmakers one year, Jacobetti retaliated by removing Gilmer from all the subcommittees he served on. Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Gary Corbin said Jacobetti was a living legend when Corbin came to the Legislature in 1975. "When he got up to speak, it was like a 'Give 'em Hell, Harry Truman' speech," Corbin said, recalling watching Jacobetti talk to a group back home. Rep. Dick Young, from Dearborn Heights, said other lawmakers would yell, "Give 'em hell, Jake" when he rose to speak. "He would jam his glasses into the middle of his nose and then he'd take off. ... He'd try to shame the Republicans for having no feeling for the underdog and not caring about human suffer- ing and things like that," he said. Lately, age and illness caught up with him. His last two years in the House were marked by frequent absences and a quiet disposition on the floor. Jacobetti was criticized, but never charged, in the wake of the 1993 scandal over the misuse of $1.8 million at the fiscal agency, which the Appropriations Committee over- sees. Democratic Speaker Curtis Hertel, from Detroit, stripped him of his chairmanship. "I think Jacobetti served the last two years with a broken heart," Gilmer said. Jacobetti is survived by-his wife, Marie; sons Colin and Dominic; and daughter Judith Fuery. Jacobetti was born July 20, 1920 Funeral arrangements were incomplete. *Jews light menorahs, celebrate *Hanukkah By LISA DINES Daily Staff Reporter Candles will shine in many win- dows tonight and throughout the week as students follow an ancient tradi- tion and rekindle the lights of Hanuk- kah. Hanukkah - a Jewish holiday whose observers light candles each *tight to commemorate an ancient miracle - started Sunday night and ends Monday. The supply of oil for the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed during a battle in 165 B.C. According to tradi- tion, only enough pure oil remained to light the sacred lamp for one day. Yet, the oil burned for eight days until new flasks were ready. Jews light the menorah - a nine- branch candelabra - that contains a candle for each night and a helper candle that is lit every night. "We light the candles as symbolic that there is light to look forward to," said Esther Goldstein, assistant direc- tor of Chabad House. "It gives hope to those in darkness." Students in the residence halls are forbidden from kindling menorahs in Neir rooms due to a prohibition on open flames. Last year, a menorah touched off a small fire in Mary Markley residence hall. "We prohibit all open flames in the residence hall rooms for safety reasons," said Alan Levy, spokesman for the Housing Division. LSA first-year student Jake Gehl said he has violated the ban on light- Ong menorahs. "We have a little menorah that we light every day," he said. "I don't think there is any harm with a few candles as long as people are in the room." Many Jews and non-Jews alike associate Hanukkah with gift-giving, especially because of its proximity to Christmas. Jews do exchange pre- sents but traditionally they give money alled gelt, instead of toys, clothes or adgets. "I don't think it is anywhere near as commercialized as Christmas," said Michael Brooks, executive director of Hillel. "You don't have quite the same kind of buying frenzy." But many Jews do bestow store- bought gifts on friends and family instead of money. LSA junior Rachel Wolfson said *er family has always celebrated Ha- nukkah with gifts, pomp and circum- stance, noting that there were few Jews in her hometown of Naperville, Ill. "My parents really did it up when we were little so we wouldn't feel left out." WORKING OUT AND STEPPING UP Legislature back for lame-duck session on crime By JONATHAN BERNDT Daily Staff Reporter As the Michigan Legislature re- turns for its final session of the year, crime is the major issue on the agenda. Student groups, including MSA through its lobbying firm, will con- tinue pressuring the Senate to approve the Campus Sexual Assault Victims' Rights Act, which has already passed the House. The various bills are stuck in several Senate committees. "I think there's a real need so that women feel that the institution is be- hind them and will support them," said Rep. Mary Schroer (D-Ann Ar- bor), who sponsored part of the origi- nal package. The act requires universities to inform students of their rights and sets up a commission to deal with complaints. A separate proposal sponsored by Rep. Alan Cropsey (R-DeWitt) in the House would change the way permits are obtained for concealed weapons. "It's to make the gun boards uni- form," said Barb Ross, one of Cropsey's aides. "It puts the onus on the board to prove someone is not fit." State police would no longer have a representative on the county boards - composed of the county sheriff and prosecutor, and three people ap- pointed by the county commission. The bill also sets criteria for boards to use when considering requests. "Currently they can deny you a permit because they don't like the way you part your hair," said Tom Washington, president of the National Rifle Association. The requirements include complet- ing a gun safety course, state residency, a fingerprint check and not having any convictions or court orders prohibiting possession, including mental problems. The current age requirement is 18, which Ross said may be raised to 21. A $10 fee also is required. Ross said the bill would make it easier for people to protect themselves with a gun, like they can now protect their property. "The Second Amend- ment was not written to assure we have hunting rifles," she said. Law enforcement groups have said the proposal would make police con- sider everyone armed at crime scenes, making their job more difficult. Craig Roderick, Ann Arbor's deputy chief of police, said there are enough weapons now on the streets to make that a concern. "Right now there are a lot of illegal guns on the street," he said. "Most law enforcement people are looking to get fewer guns on the street, not more.' Mi : HA E LIZUGH/Daily Central Campus Recreation Building. Instead of running outside, students use the Stairmasters yesterday in thec MADD, police push awareness By AMY KLEIN Daily Staff Reporter Every year a shocking number of December holiday celebrations and New Year's Eve parties end tragi- cally in drunk driving accidents. On Nov. 21, the Ann Arbor Police Department teamed up with the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in their most ag- gressive public awareness campaign to date. Last year, 50 percent of Christmas traffic fatalities and 21.1 percent of New Year's Eve traffic deaths were alcohol related. The annual statewide campaign, which began in 1986, kicked off last week in Lansing and will run until Jan. 1, 1995. More than 150 officers and citizens attended the ceremonies and motorcade at the state Capitol. "Tie One On For Safety" promotes sober driving by displaying red rib- bons on patrol cars to remind motorists of the hazards of drinking and driving. Lisa Murlick, a youth issues coor- dinator at the MADD state office, attributes some of MADD's state- wide success to the involvement of law-enforcement officials. "The officers take part to show their support and to then bring that support back to their home towns," Murlick said. "It's wonderful because over half of the 150 people at the ceremonies were law enforcers." In Ann Arbor, the police are play- ing a more active role in the red rib- bon campaign. So far, more than 500 ribbons have been distributed to offi- cials and local businesses. In addition to tying the ribbons on patrol cars, a banner will be hung on the corner of South University Av- enue and Church Street, reading, "Take a stand - friends don't let friends drive drunk." Wilma Purcell, a traffic safety education officer with the Ann Arbor police, emphasizes that the campaign is working to promote safety, not to discourage drinking. "We're working on a positive message, one that's not preachy," Purcell said. "We're trying to come at this whole thing from a different angle, in a pro-active manner." The Ann Arbor chapter of MADD enthusiastically welcomes the added help from the police department, said Tom Geilock, a local MADD employee. "We're ecstatic that (the police) are involved this year. We really haven't had a strong liaison before this," Geilock said. Involvement has spread to the streets of Ann Arbor where local busi- nesses, including Comerica bank and Afternoon Delight, are distributing ribbons to employees and clients. "It's going really well. The more we get the community involved the more we get our message across," Geilock said. In addition to local efforts, the state MADD office annually deco- rates a Christmas tree with red rib- bons, each representing a life lost to drunk driving in Michigan over the past year. Last year, gold ribbons also were hung to symbolize the decrease in the number of deaths. This year, 575 red ribbons will adorn the tree, and, unlike last year, no gold ribbons will be seen. See HANUKKAH, Page 7 Group Meetings U Alianza Meeting, Trotter House, Mail lobby, 7 p.m., 764-2677 0 American Movement for Isreal Meeting, Hillel, 7 p.m., 668- 0746 Q LSA Student Government, LSA Building, Room 2002, 6 p.m. U Michigan Students for Peace Meeting, Modern Languages Building, Room BI118, 7 p.m., 764-5943 Q U-M Ski Club Mass Meeting, Michigan League, Conference Room 6, 8 p.m., 764-9886 Events Q Archery, Sports Coliseum, 7-9 p.m., 913-5896 Q Association for Worksite Health Promotion Meeting and Elec- tions, CCRB, Room 1250, 7:30- 9 p.m., 998-6274 Q Author Chuck Wachtel Read- ing His Work, Borders Books U Practical Training for Inter- national Students, Interna- tional Center, Room 9, 3 p.m., 764-9310 D 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. D Campus Information Center, Michigan Union, 763-INFO; events info 76-EVENT or UM*Events on GOpherBLUE O4 AlND 4OPENING 304 S. State Street o 4 doors South of Liberty *"998-3480 .!