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One hundred four years of editorial freedom
Wednesday
April st1995
JA union sets demands for November bargaining session
By Lisa Dines
Daily News Editor
Preparing for fall bargaining sessions, the
Graduate Employees Organization voted last
week for a comprehensive set of demands to
present to the administration, including
changes in the teaching assistant position and
a pay raise.
Besides the traditional request for a pay
increase, demands include the creation of a
liaison position for TAs of color, a name
change from "teaching assistant" to "gradu-
ate student instructor," written procedures for
TA allocation, class-size limits, improved
training and co-payments for health care on
fractional teaching appointments.
GEO Organizer Tamara Joseph said most
of the demands are really about respect, not-
ing that TAs do a large portion of teaching at
the University.
"If you respect people you pay them what
they deserve," she said. "Most graduate stu-
dent TAs don't earn enough money to live in
Ann Arbor."
For GEO to receive a pay raise in real
terms, the University would have to supple-
ment the usual annual 3 percent increase to
account for costs that rise faster than inflation,
such as rent, said GEO President Jon Curtiss.
Joseph said that while the union under-
stands that the University faces declining state
funding, TAs should not be forced to pay for
the cuts.
"We need to acknowledge the realities of
the political climate in the state of Michigan,"
she said. "The solution can't be to have gradu-
ate students pay for the shortfall."
Joseph said many of the demands center
around better definitions of hiring practices.
"In some departments the process seems
very mysterious and a little political and arbi-
trary," she said. "We are trying to make that
process explicit."
Joseph also said the union is pushing for a
liaison for TAs of color because only 12.2
percent of TAs are minorities, compared to
24.2 percent of the student body.
"Partly it has to do with the different way
that minority students are funded, such as
fellowships," she said. "But, there is increas-
ing concern that students of color are not
getting the teaching training that they need."
Curtiss said such demands are not new.
"They are similar to a lot of the demands
that we brought to the table before - a good
example would be class size," he said. "I'm
extremely optimistic. I think we are in the
middle of the most successful pre-contract
organizing drive since 1975."
There are about 1,600 TAs for winter term
and 1,800 for fall term. Joseph said GEO
membership is at an all-time high of 69 per-
cent, or 1,100 members.
Academic Human Resources Associate
Director Dan Gamble said the University will
consider the union's demands. "I think we
will listen to them very carefully, weigh them
out and talk about each proposal individu-
ally," he said.
The University hopes to have the new
terms settled before the current contract ex-
ing is set to begin in November.
Gamble said he cannot comment on the
University's bargaining position and he has
not seen GEO's specific demands.
Gamble said he is certain the University
and union will settle the contract without
incidents like the 1975 and 1987 strike votes.
"I have confidence that the University and
GEO will be able to work things out as al-
ways," he said.
LSA Student Government President Rick
Bernstein said that he thinks the demands are
reasonable overall, but he cautions against
rigid written procedures.
"The TA's performance should be the
underlying focal point," he said. "Account-
ability of performance is best measured by
both the students and the professors."
pires on Feb.
1, 1996, Gamble said. Bargain-
tCouncil1
names 2
as interim
iilficials
By Maureen Sirhal
Daily Staff Reporter
In a regular session Monday, the
Ann Arbor City Council voted 6-4 to
appoint two interim city administra-
tors, Ronald Olson and Winifred
Northcross.
t Both appointees are department
ads for the city. Northcross is the
current city clerk and Olson is the
superintendent of parks and recre-
ation.
Both have worked for the city for
several years. Northcross has been
clerk since 1981 and Olson has been
superintendent since 1985.
Northcross and Olson are replac-
ing former City Administrator Alfred
atta, whose resignation takes effect
April 23. The two will begin immedi-
ately and work in conjunction with
Gatta.
While addressing the council,
Northcross said she was afraid of be-
ing caught in political fights and prob-
lems.
"There is a lot of nastiness in city
hall," Northcross said. "I didn't want
* be in a bad position."
Debate over the resolution cen-
tered around two major issues - the
two-administrator approach and how
to fund it.
"The disagreements are not over
these individuals. It comes over the
team approach," said Councilmember
Elisabeth Daley (D-5th Ward), who
proposed the resolution.
Councilmember Christopher
*olb (D-5th Ward) voiced his sup-
port for the appointees, but said he
was dissatisfied with the two-mem-
ber approach.
See CITY, Page 2
MSA passes
resolution to
condemn rep.
Planes, trains.
Above: Ric Omans, the on-board
technician for Artrain, raises the
flags on the train yesterday as part
of the preparation for visitors.
Artrain, which is celebrating its
25th year, will be open to the
general public this weekend and all
next week. The cars are traveling
galleries housing art exhibitions.
After touring Michigan, Artrain will
visit eight states in the East.
Right: The University Flyers and
one of their Cessna planes are on
the Diag this week to attract new
members. The group will be offering
$25 discovering flights to provide
Interested students with a taste of
flying. The Flyers will have an open
house at the Ann Arbor Airport on
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Photos by DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily
By Amy Klein
Daily Staff Reporter
By a narrow margin, the Michigan
Student Assembly voted last night to
formally condemn the actions of LSA
Rep. Andrew Wright for violating the
trust and ethics of the assembly. The
resolution passed 14-12 with two ab-
stentions.
In the resolution, MSA strongly
encouraged Wright to resign his seat
on the assembly for his involvement
in the retrieval of a $796 anonymous
donation that was made on Jan. 20.
Wright was recalled from his po-
sition as chair of the external relations
committee in February.
Many representatives condemned
Wright for having an unethical con-
nection to the donation.
"We find this to be a deplorable
action," said LSA Rep. Devon Bodah.
"The fact of the matter is that Andrew
collected the money. If he was an
agent for someone else, then he is
liable for that person. I find it deplor-
able to be in the same room as this
person."
Wright said he does not plan to
resign from the assembly.
"I've taken the suggestion in the
resolution, and I disagree with it,"
Wright said. "I'm not resigning."
After her last meeting as MSA
president, Julie Neenan denounced
Wright's actions and said she hoped
he would be punished.
"I seriously hope the voters dis-
play their disgust by not re-electing
him next semester," Neenan said.
LSA Rep. Dante Stella said the
resolution was too weak, and he pro-
posed an amendment to prohibit
Wright from speaking during the next
four meetings.
"Just saying that someone should
resign is unethical. We have the means
to punish (his actions)," Stella said.
Stella's amendment was defeated,
however, by members who said it was
excessive.
"I think we're going too far by
telling an elected representative to
shut up for a few meetings," said
Rackham Rep. Remco von Eeuwijk.
"While we may have that power, I
think it would be unethical to use it."
Other representatives said they felt
the entire resolution was too harsh.
"I don't think there's a single per-
son here who hasn't screwed up,"
said LSA Rep. Joe Cox, who voted
against the resolution. "Andrew
screwed up, but he's also done a lot
more for this assembly than a lot of
people."
Paul Scublinsky, the student gen-
eral counsel, said the resolution would
not solve any of the assembly's prob-
lems.
"Andrew messed up - he did
things the wrong way," Scublinsky
said. "But this resolution is not going
to do anything for the assembly. I
think all the assembly should ask for
is an apology."
.............
House GOP gathers votes for tax-cut bill
*m Daily Wire Services
WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders
scrambled last night to find the last few votes they
need to win approval today of a $189 billion tax-cut
bill, the final plank of the "Contract With America."
A small group of holdout Republicans was
trying to delay action on the tax-cut plan for two
main reasons: Some are resisting a provision that
would pay for the tax cuts, in part, by requiring
federal workers to contribute more toward their
nsions. Others oppose giving tax breaks to up-
r-income families with children.
As of last night, GOP leaders said they were five
votes short. But they expressed confidence they
could secure the last few votes through persuasion
rather than by making any further concessions.
"Now comes the time to beg," House Speaker
Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said yesterday at a rally for
Republican House members. He urged their sup-
port for the tax measure, noting that it was "the last
,,rdle" before completion of the House Republi-
ns' contract.
Lawmakers from the Washington area and else-
where complained that the proposed pension
changes amounted to a tax increase on federal
government workers. The provision would increase
federal emolovees' contributions to their pensions.
Economists, business
support GOP tax cut
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON - Although Speaker Newt
Gingrich calls the tax cut before the House today
the "crown jewel" of the Republicans' effort to
energize the American economy, economists gen-
erally deride it and the business community runs
hot and cold on its most expensive provision.
"There's not a single part of this bill that I
consider an improvement over the current sys-
tem," said William A. Niskanen, an economist
with the conservative Cato In-
News stitute who worked in the
Reagan White House.
Niskanen's fear is that the tax
changes would encourage
more business investment in new equipment but
not stimulate additional saving to finance it - and
wind up increasing the already large amount of
money that the United States is forced to borrow
abroad.
"It's a tax bill defined by ideologists and politi-
cal tacticians, not by businesses or economists,"
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Former MSA President Julie Neenan passes the gavel to LSA junior Flint
Wainess, the new assembly president.
Wainess, Goodstein take helm
By Amy Klein
Daily Staff Reporter
With a handshake and a swing of
the gavel, LSA juniors Flint Wainess
and Sam Goodstein were sworn in as
the new president and vice president
of the Michigan Student Assembly.
Wainess and Goodstein took their
oaths following the adjournment of
the regular weekly MSA meeting. The
executive officers then led their first
meeting with the newly elected repre-
C ./t .:17
two weeks.
Although the assembly decided
not to vote on the resolution, Wainess
said he hopes the assembly will try to
decrease the amount of political bick-
ering.
"I think there's a lot we can get
done. I also think there's a lot of old
relationships based on animosity that
we can transcend," Wainess said.
LSA Rep. Fiona Rose, a vice presi-
dential candidate in the recent elec-
ti;nc Pahma WnlnCCc s aC;,.. -to
AP rPHO
House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) meets
yesterday with actor Chris Farley, who portrays
Gingrich on "Saturday Night Live." Gingrich
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