21 It1ul Unt Weather Tonight: Cloudy, chance of rain. Mid to upper 30s. Tomorrow: Rain early, sunny later, 50° - 55'. One hundred four years of editorial freedom Friday April 7, 1995 VoC*'o'0 0 1"sTh mtk New group forms in protest of 'U' code ty Amy Klein Daily Staff Reporter With heated discussions and ideo- logical debates, close to 30 members of Students Against the Code con- vened in the Michigan Union last night to talk strategy. While SAC is composed of six different student groups with six dif- rent sets of agenda and ideas, the embers' common thread remains a united protest against the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibili- ties, the University's code of non- academic conduct. "'he one thing we can fully agree on is that we don't like the code. Beyond that, we all have our different agendas," said Remco van Eeuwijk, a Rackham representative from the ichigan Student Assembly. Because of a federal mandate re- quiring that universities have alcohol and sexual assault policies, SAC sup- ports a code that only includes these statements. SAC also wants to elimi- nate the University's judicial power. "We want to get rid of the punish- ment mechanisms," van Eeuwijk said. "We all agree that the judicial process 'esn't provide due process or pro- tion for the defendant." On April 20, the Board of Regents will review the first set of amend- ments to the two-year-old code, and with the meeting only two weeks away, the 80 SAC volunteers are or- ganizing a protest rally and march that will begin at noon on the Diag and travel to the Fleming Administra- tion Building. 0 MSA Students' Rights Commis- sion chair Vince Keenan has been actively fighting the code for more than two years and said he is excited to see the higher level of student inter- est. "This is a way of getting out stu- dent outreach to people. I think this semester has been fantastic - aware- ness has been rising. Right now, what e're seeing is an avalanche effect," Heenan said. SAC was created two weeks ago on the heels of the MSA elections, where the code had become a key issue. At last Tuesday's MSA meet- ing, the assembly gave SAC $930. About 10 MSA members are cur- rently involved in SAC and the group also attracted former MSA presiden- tial candidates. 0 In addition, other campus groups Tike the Students' Civil Liberties Watch, The Michigan Review and the National Women's Rights Orga- nizing Committee also have joined the movement. "It's such a fascinating coalition of groups," Keenan said. "It's so bi- See CODE, Page 2 Pretrial co held in sen By Frank C. Lee Daily Staff Reporter The prosecution and defense in the ca accused Ann Arbor serial rapist Er ewain Mitchell Jr. met yesterday at pretrial conference to set Mitchell's ti date for the three rapes and a rape-hon cide with which he is charged. Mitchell, 33, was ordered a week ago stand trial for one count of first-degr murder and four counts of first-degi criminal sexual conduct by 15th Disti Court Judge Ann Mattson. If found guil titchell, also known as Michael Dar nes, Alvin Jackson and Ervin Jackso could spend the remainder of his life prison. Mattson's decision concluded three f days of testimony including stateme from the rape victims and their famili Photos by KRISTEN A. SCHAEFER/C LSA sophmore Naomi Greenstone (left) and a friend take part in the SAPAC vigil's ending ceremony last night. APACd vgl Edelman will tout service at graduation By Ronnie Glassberg Ticket Information Daily Staff Reporter The founder and president of the N Tickets will be distributed 8 Children's Defense Fund, Marian a.m. - 5 p.m. April 24-26 in the Wright Edelman, will address gradu- Hill Auditorium box office. ates at commencement on April 29, Bachelors degree recipients the University announced yesterday. may obtain up The University returns this year to to eight the tradition of a combined spring com- tickets. mencement for all undergraduates in Masters and Michigan Stadium. Since 1989, each doctoral school and college has held its own degree commencement -except in 1991 for recipients are President Bush and 1993 for first lady eligible for up Hillary Rodham Clinton. to four tickets. CDF, a private, non-profit organi- icExtra zation founded by Edelman in 1973, available, will focuses on programs and policies that beadisbriuted affect children, paying particular at- be distributed tention to poor and minority youth, on a first-come, first serve basis Stella Ogata, spokeswoman for 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. April 27-28 at the CDF, said Edelman's speech at the Registrar's Office in the LSA University will focus on the notion Building. that "service is the rent you pay for ing to ensure the economic well-be- living." ing of others serves their own self- "She feels very strongly about interest." community service - giving back, in LSA senior Julie Neenan, former other words," Ogata said. "Getting president of the Michigan Student the best job, getting a high salary, all Assembly, said she was pleased with of that certainly is important, but you Edelman's selection. have to think about getting back to the "I think since there was a lot of basic value of concern for your fellow speculation of whether Clinton or human beings. It doesn't mean that Gore would be here, she could be you have to be a full-time advocate." anticlimactic, but I think she'll be Project Serve co-chair'Jon Nash, a very engaging," Neenan said. "I think graduating senior from SNRE, said the she'll be a really good speaker. I've University recently has become more heard some good things about her." supportive of community service. Rudolf Arnheim, professor emeri- "In terms of community service, tus of psychology of art at Harvard social justice and volunteerism, University; William G. Bowen, presi- Edelman is on the forefront," Nash dent of the Andrew W. Mellon Foun- said. "Within the last four or five dation; and Edelman will be recom- years, the University has understood mended to receive honorary degrees. the merits of students getting involved Bowen will be the main speaker at in the community." the University's Graduate Exercises Dean of Students Royster Harper in Hill Auditorium on April 28. said that given the University's own Twoyears ago, Mrs. Clinton, afriend community service thrust, it is fitting of Edelman's, spoke to University to have Edelman as this year's com- graduates. Mrs. Clinton began serving mencement speaker. as a CDF board member in 1978, and in "I respect her a lot and certainly 1986 she became its chair. She stepped admire the work she's done with the down in 1992 during the presidential Children's Defense Fund," said Harper, campaign. who keeps a copy of one of Edelman's Edelman, who is a graduate of books in her office. "I'm excited that Spelman College and Yale Law she's going to be here because she has School, will receive an honorary doc- a lot of integrity. What she says she's tor of laws degree at the University. about, she's done in her life." She began her career in the 1960s In Edelman's book, "Families in when, as the first Black woman admit- Peril: An Agenda for Social Change," ted to the Mississippi Bar, she directed she describes CDF's mission. the NAACP Legal Defense and Educa- "At the (CDF) ... we are most tional Fund office in Jackson, Miss. interested in helping those children in Edelman founded the Washington Re- American society who have the least," search Project, a public-interest law Edelman wrote in the book. "In order firm and the parent body of CDF. She to do this, we try to articulate their served as director of the Center for Law needs in such a way that those who and Education at Harvard University have more can be convinced that help- before starting CDF. By Sam T. Dudek Daily Staff Reporter Poems were read, stories were shared, songs were sung, and speeches were given as the fight against sexual assault continued yesterday at a Diag candlelight vigil. The Survivors of Sexual Assault Vigil, sponsored by the Sexual As- sault Prevention and Awareness Cen- ter, drew about 150 people, and nu- merous others stopped while passing through the Diag. In addition to the rally, SAPAC displayed artwork and poetry on two makeshift kiosks and handed out green ribbons to be worn as symbols of sup- port for the survivors of sexual assault. "More and more people are be- coming aware," said LSA sophomore Madhavi Dandu. "There is a central problem - power," she said, "spe- cifically the abuse of power." Dandu said the media have abused their power by enforcing sexist stereo- types. "Weliveinanenvironmentwhere sexist ads are prevalent," she said. SAPAC also announced the winner of its annual Sexism in Advertising contest last night, moving it up from the Take Back the Night rally, which is during final exams this year. The most sexist ad, chosen by a public election, was for Stren Fishing Line. The company's ad, which adver- tised fishing lines, shows nothing but a woman's torso dressed only in a skimpy bra, held up on one side by fishing line. "What are they fishing for?" was one of the many comments submitted by a participant in the election. A student peruses the art displayed on the Diag yesterday. LSA junior Sarah Gordon said such ads have detrimental effects on society's view of women. "The media uses women's bodies to sell products, reinforcing the belief that women are objects that can be used for profit," she said. SAPAC Director Deborah Cain was the keynote speaker of the 90- minute event, and she continued the discussion on the media's role in sexual oppression. "Every day women and children are victimized," she said. Cain accused the media of inaccurately portraying the victims of sexual assault, adding that the media underestimate the problem. "Half the women who are killed in the United States are killed by part- ners or ex-partners," Cain said. As the sun set behind Mason Hall, organizers attempted to light the candles for the vigil. Fighting a cold, brisk April wind, women and men at the rally struggled to preserve the flames. Following the speeches, SAPAC members and volunteers tookturns read- ing poems and stories focusing on rape and the victims of sexual assault. LSA senior Angela Head sang and played guitar to finish the performances. "When we speak of sexual assault, we have to do it in a way that is con- scious of the survivors around us," Cain said. "It's real live human beings that survived these violent episodes. "That's why I'm happy to see so many people here," she said. nference ial rape Case set by Mattson was a reasonable period of time to prepare his case. ase Lankford said he had only begun to vin specifically prepare his defense for the t a rapes and murder charges Mitchell faces rial when his client was arraigned March 2. mi- Shelton scoffed at Lankford's claim that the defense had not begun to prepare ato its case when Mitchell was arrested ree Christmas Day for an attempted purse- ree snatching. rict Lankford also argued that even less .ty, serious, criminal cases typically go to trial ryl within four to six weeks of the preliminary on, examination. Lankford said he needed to in interview the witnesses again, view the taped preliminary examination and con- full sult an independent DNA expert. nts The defense said its client's case, be- es, cause it involves complex DNA testimony, 2 city council is closer im search for, city administrator By Maureen Sirhal Daily Staff Reporter The Ann Arbor City Council is one step closer to filling the soon-to-be-vacant city administrator position. In an effort to step up plans to find a permanent replacement for the administrator role, the council unani- mously passed a resolution last night to hire a recruiting firm, the Mercer Group, based in Tampa, Fla. - A council-appointed committee reviewed 17 proposed recruiting firms and narrowed the choice to four and later to two before making the final choice. "We reviewed 17 proposals and limited (them) by looking at experience and scope of work," said the city's director of human resources, Thomas White. Councilmember Tobi Hanna-Davies (D-Ist Ward), echoing Democratic concerns over whether the search would encompass minority firms, questioned the quality of the group's hiring record. White responded that the Mercer Group has a solid KRISTIN A. SCHAEFER/Daily Ervin Dewain Mitchell Jr. confers with his attorney during his preliminary hearing last week. Mitchell was ordered by Dsitrict Court Judge Ann Mattson to stand trial on charges of rape and murder.