ACLU
files suit
on motor
*r voter law
GRAND RAPIDS(AP) - The
ACLU sued Gov. Join Engler and
other state officials yeterday, saying
Engler's refusal to cmply with the
federal motor voter lrogram is caus-
ing "irreparable danmge" to potential
voters.
The law, which tok effect Jan. 1,
allows registration at motor vehicle
bureaus, welfare ofices and other
agencies. Michigan is among five
states fighting it. Ths others are Cali-
fornia, Pennsylvaria, Illinois and
South Carolina.
"This is the law.(Engler) does not
have the right to thimb his nose at the
federal governmen," Howard Simon,
who heads the Mchigan American
Civil Liberties Unon, said Sunday in
a telephone intervew from New York.
Engler signrd a law bringing
Michigan into ompliance with the
federal requirenent, but ordered that
state officials tot spend additional
money to implanent it unless federal
government p vides funding.
Michigan h~s allowed registration
at motor vehice offices for more than
10 years but tot at other state agen-
cies.
The ACLU lawsuit was filed yes-
terday mornng in U.S. District Court
in Grand Wapids on behalf of two
community organizations, Westside
Mothers aid Cass Corridor Neigh-
borhood Dvelopment Corp.
Two )ther plaintiffs are
Catherine laPalm of Detroit, a mem-
ber of theWestside Mothers, and
Robert Hakett of Redford Town-
ship, a forner law student and ACLU
intern.
"We fel that too few low-income
people, first, register, and second,
vote," sai(Selma Goode, coordinator
at Westsile Mothers. The group as
sists abort 1,000 low-income resi-
dents in 1etroit.
"Andas we've seen from current
politics,:hey are the most vulnerable
sector o population."
Simon said the state government
shouldle "doing everythingpossible"
to encairage people to vote, espe-
cially xi time when voter turnout has
been faling.
Keley calls for
* resiqiation of
DNR deputy
LANSNG (AP) - A top Depart-
ment of 4atural Resources official
has violaed the public's trust with
secret tal's on changing the polluter
pay cleatup law and should resign,
AttorneyGeneral Frank Kelley said
yesterda..
The >fficial, Deputy Director
Russell larding, called the accusation
nonsensand said he will not step down.
Kelly said Harding, the DNR's
head of evironmental protection, has
met secetly with business and indus-
try offi ials in an effort to rewrite
Michigan's polluter pay laws to their
advantge.
Keley said Harding had not bro-
ken anlaw, but violated the spirit of
the contitution and the public's trust.
He als< said there is no law against
workin; with special interests.
"Dquty DNR Director Russell
Harding has been conducting secret
negotiations to the exclusion of the
publicand the representatives of my
officefor the purpose of selling out
our ervironmental laws to the special
* intersts," he said.
Hirding said he has met with nu-
mercus interests over proposed
charges but has done nothing wrong.
groposed changes to the law, be-
ing eviewed in a House subcommit-
tee, would lower cleanup standards'
for (nvironmentaI contamination sites
so hat land is safe enough for its
proposed reuse. Current law requires
lani to be cleaned so that it would bei
0saf,- for any use, even if a proposed
use would create new contamination.
Another key proposal would change
whc is responsible for pollution by writ-
ing a tighter legal definition of "pol-
luter. L and owners and operators no
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, March 28, 1995 - 5
Panel discusses racism, sexism
By Gall Mongkolpradit
Daily Staff Reporter
A panel discussion to explore the
connection between racism, sexism
and sexual assault - part of Rape
Prevention Month - focused mostly
on the real-life example of Ann
Arbor's serial rape case.
Ervin Dewain Mitchell Jr., who is
Black, has been charged in connec-
tion with some of the crimes. The
generalized description of the suspect
made some in the Black community
feel that all Black men were targets.
Steve Broyles, a peer educator for the
Sexual Assault Prevention and Aware-
ness Center and a member of the panel,
told the audience about his personal expe-
riences as a Black male during the search
for the Ann Arbor serial rapist.
"Several African American males
were stopped by the police to see if
they fit the description of the Ann
Arbor rapist. I was stopped by the
police after giving a workshop on
sexual assault prevention and aware-
ness," Broyles said.
Broyles also discussed his role as
an Black male dealing with sexual
assualt in today's society and how
Blacks are portrayed in the media.
"We need to work on the prob-
~Nothing can be
solved by one
particular racew"
- Steve Broyles
SAPAC peer educator
lems of racism, sexism and classism
collectively. Nothing can be solved
by one particular race and socioeco-
nomic group," he said.
Cormelita Mullins, president of
Black Social Workers of Huron Valley
and an active member of the Coalition
of Community Immunity group, told
the audience the coalition was formed
to combat some of these issues.
"The purpose of the coalition is to
mobilize the Black community and to
also include other racial and feminist
groups to draw one accord to educate
the community," Mullins said.
Mullins stressed how the profile of
the serial rapist released by the Ann
Arbor Police Department affected the
community greatly. She felt that the
description of the perpetrator created an
environmentwhere all Blackmales were
responsible for all sexual assaults.
Susan McGee, the executive director
of SafeHouse, focused on the issues of
classism and sexism in today's society.
"Oppression occurs, especially to
battered women, who have no value
in the criminaljustice system," McGee
exclaimed. "If you kill someone of
high status you will be held in prison
for a long time, but if you kill some-
one of low status your punishment is
not as harsh," she said.
McGee stressed to the audience
that most sexual assaults occur by
people you know because you are
with these people the most. "Most
people automatically assume that a
Black male is always the perpetrator
and a white female is always their
victim," McGee said.
LSA junior Jenna Levy agreed. "I
was here during the spring term and
everyone's main fear was walking out-
side and being the next Ann Arbor
serial rapist target," Levy said. "Stu-
dents overlooked the fact that theirodds
of being assaulted are greater by going
to parties because most sexual assaults
are caused by people you know."
A diverse group of.45 students
attended the forum, which was spon-
sored by SAPAC and led by SAPAC
staff member Janelle White.
1
MOLLY STEVENS/Daily
Spin doctor
LSA junior Brian Stein, a WCBN radio deejay, works on his freeform show
in the basement of the Student Activities Building yesterday.
SACUA prepares to
re- organze meetings
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By Jodi Cohen
Daily Staff Reporter
With four faculty members ready
to begin their terms on the Senate
Advisory Committee on University
Affairs next month, chair-elect George
Brewer outlined his plans yesterday
to make Senate Assembly meetings
more focused and interesting.
"I am trying to organize my think-
ing about what
is important.
This is some lam t_
food fo rganize
thought , Whtr
Brewer said. tikn
He distrib-tikn A
uted an outline w/ht iS iM
of the areas of'
most concern to -
faculty gover- SAC
nance and sug-
gested initiatives to improve Senate
Assembly meetings.
"One suggestion is to have dis-
cussion at every meeting on a dif-
ferent topic," Brewer said. Some
concerns include faculty rights on
tenure and grievance, and the devel-
opment of a new grievance system.
He would also like to pursue a new
tenure document.
Another area of concern is com-
munication among faculty, adminis-
trators, and regents.
Brewer also suggested new initia-
tives such as improving visibility and
prestige of faculty governance. An-
other mission is to improve Senate
Assembly meetings, especially
through debates and a speaker system
with time for discussion.
m
'
GE
Some issues for discussion include
evaluation of deans, diversity reten-
tion, the student code of conduct and
the denial of grievance by deans. The
proposed topic for May's meeting is a
panel discussion on the University's
appropriations.
Brewer said he wants to invite
elected officials like state Rep. Liz
Brater (D-Ann Arbor) and House
pp__Approri ati on s
Committee chair
n TO Donald Gilmer
ur (R-August a) to
Y speak at the meet-
Pout ing. "Having
speakers after
Tortant." Senate Assembly
meetings would
eorge Brewer give prestige to
A chair-elect faculty gover-
nance," he said.
Some SACUA members agreed.
"It should be part of the meeting it-
self," Art Prof. Alfredo Montalvo.
"We could do business and then enter
into an open forum. I think it is an
excellent idea and should be an ongo-
ing component."
Brewer said he would like more
efficient and interesting meetings. "I
hope we can compress reports into
written reports. I think Senate As-
sembly is where issues should be de-
bated. The meetings now are dead,"
he said.
Chemistry Prof. Thomas Dunn
said assembly members should have
adequate opportunities to express their
views. "You have to leave time for
faculty members to make contribu-
tions," he said.
MICHIGAN
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