12 * 4&g4br *rni One hundred four years of editorial freedom U' chief academic officer to vacate post at summer's end By RONNIE GLASSBERG Daily Staff Reporter The University's chief academic officer, Gilbert R. Whitaker Jr., will step down when his current five-year term ends in August. "A shorter period didn't seem to serve the needs of the University, so it was sort of five more or none," said Whitaker, who will not *seek a second terrm as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. "It was time. Nobody's served in this office very long in a long time. I was dean for 11 years and eight months and had six differ- ent provosts." Before becoming provost in 1990, Whitaker served as dean of the School of Business Administration for about 12 years. Whitaker said he did not want to serve a second term as provost. "We had been in discussion since last spring because the end of his five-year term would come close to the age of 65," said University President James J. Duderstadt. "He felt it would be best if he stepped down at the end of his term." Whitaker said he is not sure what he will do when his term ends. "I'm trying to figure that out over the next eight months. I've nevertakena W-- sabbatical soI'lltake some Whitaker time off and figure out if I really want to teach again," Whitaker said. Duderstadt said Whitaker provided ex- tremely strong service as provost. "He's done an outstanding job and I have confidence that he will do an outstanding job during his final year of service," he said. Business School Dean B. Joseph White served under Whitaker as both associate dean and dean of the school. "I thought he really did an excellent job at the University," White said. "I came back from industry in 1987 in part because I wanted to work with Gil Whitaker. "I think he did a very good job for the University. He is a tough-minded budget man- ager. I think coming up from dean, he under- stood the University from the perspective of the schools and colleges." Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor) said Whitaker has done an outstanding job as pro- vost. "It's a very difficult job - probably the most difficult in the University. He's the key academic leader in the University," Baker said. "He's got to set budgets. When you set budgets, See PROVOST, Page 2 The provost reflects on his career and the University. See Page 2. Rape suspect in custody The Congress GOP takes over, begins debate on remaking rules JOE WESTRATE/Daily Sheila Blakny, the court-appointed public defender, sits next to Ervin Dewain Mitchell Jr. during his preliminary hedring yesterday. Blood and hair samples were taken after a warrant was issued for his arrest - and they are being tested to see if they match the DNA of the Ann Arbor serial rapist. *Police link purse snatcher to series of A2 sexual assaults From Staff and Wire Reports WASHINGTON - Jubilant Re- publicans, claiming a sweeping public mandate to reduce the scope and reach of government, yesterday assumed the mantle of leadership in both the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years and embarked on a 100-day campaign to dismantle the legacy of decades of Democratic rule. "Let the great debate begin," said House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) as he turned over the speaker's gavel "with resignation but with resolve" to an exultant Newt Gingrich, the Georgia Republican who was a principal architect of the GOP's Nov. 8 electoral victory. Gingrich, wielding a new and big- ger gavel cut from an ancient Georgia walnut tree by a constituent, immedi- ately got down to business, plunging the 104th Congress into what he called "the hardest-working opening session in American history." Within hours of the noon call to order, House members began voting on a series ofrules changes that will, among other things, abolish 28 congressional panels, lay off more than 600 staff mem- bers and require a 60 percent majority vote to raise income tax rates. As midnight approached, the House was moving toward consid- eration of its first piece of legisla- tion, a measure that would make Congress abide by the same laws it imposes on everyone else - but only if the Senate goes along. While Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) stuck to a more tradi- tional first-day agenda of largely pro- cedural matters, Gingrich led an open- ing-day assault designed to demon- strate that Republicans are serious about seizing the reins of government and using their new power to change Con- gress and shrink the government. See CONGRESS, Page 7 'U' profs . offer insight on Congress By ZACHARY M. RAIMI Daily Staff Reporter With a bang of the gavel yester- day afternoon, Rep. Newt Gingrich, the newly installed speaker of the House, ended 40 years of Demo- cratic rule and opened the 104th Congress. University professors, who study American politics and history, have joined in the speculation. Assistant Political Science and Public Policy Prof. Ann Lin said the House Republicans should pursue tax and welfare reforms first. "(It is) definitely wiser for them to push welfare or tax reforms first because school prayerisoneofthose issues that would expose the cleav- ages in the Republican coalition," she said. Lin added: "There are a lot of different factions within the Repub- lican Party right now," including conservatives and moderates. Political Science Assistant Prof. Ken Kollman said the Republicans' success in the midterm elections was due in part to "the way districts are set up and the way Republicans were very skillful in going for open seats." The Republicans were also suc- cessful because of their attacks on what they deem the "liberal welfare state," turning middle-class voters See PROFS Page 7 See tomorrow's Daily for an in- depth look at state and national governmental changes. By FRANK C. LEE Daily Staff Reporter Ann Arbor police are holding Ervin Dewain Mitchell Jr. in custody on suspicion that he may be the serial rapist who has plagued the city since February 1992. Mitchell, 33, was arrested Christ- mas Day in connection with an un- armed robbery and assault on a local woman. Mitchell's preliminary hearing began yesterday in 6th Circuit Court. He remains in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $50,000 bond after being arraigned Dec. 27 by 14th District Court Magistrate A. Thomas Truesdell. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. Police connected Mitchell, an Ann Arbor resident, to the other attacks because of the resemblance of this assault to those of the serial rapist. Like the serial rapist, Mitchell al- legedly attacked a woman walking alone on the west side of town with a blow to the head. He fits the physical descrip- tion given to police of the serial rapist. "I think if you look at his back- ground - some of the things that have been already reported in the press - and compare that with what the profiler originally came up with, you'll see a lot of similarities," said Sgt. Phil Scheel, spokesman for the Ann Arbor Police Department. Mitchell was arrested for alleg- edly attacking a 34-year-old Ann Ar- bor woman, who walking alone on the sidewalk along Dexter Avenue about 1:20 a.m. Christmas Eve. She was on her way to her cousin's house when a man approached and struck her in the face. The man tried to snatch the woman's purse, but did not try to rape her. The serial rapist is not known to rob his victims, although in the last attack, the woman's wallet and check- book were found several blocks from the crime scene. In the Dec. 24 incident, reports say Mitchell was wearing a ski mask when he allegedly attacked the woman - which the serial rapist is not known to do. "There was at least one other at- tack where there was a ski mask worn," Scheel said. "That attack happened in the 800 block of Miller Road some time ago - November 2, 1993.". On Sept. 2, 1993, Mitchell was the prime suspect on attack on a 24-year- old jogger on the 1500 block of West Liberty Street. The woman was grabbed from behind by a man at- tempting to remove her shorts. She screamed, and he fled. He was taken into custody, ques- tioned and given a lie detector test. The jogger couldn't identify him and See RAPIST, Page 5 Bank to sponsor Entr6e Plus off-campus By JAMES M. NASH Daily Staff Reporter The University and a local bank will join forces in the coming months to promote a revamped Entree Plus, which will merge on- and off-campus purchas- ing power with bank-teller and telephone transac- tions. First of America-Ann Arbor and the University signed an agreement last month to add financial transaction services to the University's identification card, which doubles as plastic cash for on-campus purchases only. Under the expanded Entree Plus program, sched- uled to begin this fall, cardholders may link their EntriePlus to achecking account atFirstof America. When users purchase products and services either on or off campus, the funds are deducted from their account. Using the card to access a checking account will require a personal identification number for security. The card will allow users to make small purchases without a bank account, University officials said. First of America-Ann Arbor emerged from a six- month nationwide search for a financial institution to assume responsibility for Entree Plus off campus. The University now regulates the program, but can- not legally extend it off campus without bank spon- sorship. The new partnership stems from "the long-stand- ing relationship between the University and the bank," said First of America spokeswoman Diane Brown. "We are one major bank the University uses for major financial services." The bank has automatic teller machines in the Michigan Union and North Campus Commons and several locations near the campus. Its teller machine at the corner of South and East University avenues was among the first ATMs in the country, Brown said. The program will be tested on a limited basis this winter, they said. About 400 students will pilot the program,said University spokeswoman Lisa Baker. University and bank officials yesterday refused to disclose details of the agreement, such as the cost to businesses of joining the expanded program and the types of businesses that will be eligible. Officials from both parties said they have agreed not to release specific information on the debit-card program with- out first consulting each other. MSU vows to tie tuition to inflation By RONNIE GLASSBERG Daily Staff Reporter Michigan State University Presi- rlant MI DatA.. M ln iarc nn 3,00 nrnm, we are." In an article last month, The Asso- ciated Press reported that McPherson "I definitely feel that should be one of their top priorities," Stem said. "It would definitely give the adminis- F ... w: ... if-a. .:.