'Elan1 NW"W 4& Weather Tonight: Snow likely, low in the mid-30s. Tomorrow: Cloudy, high in the mid-30s. 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 1 1