LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 31, 1996 - 3
Computer error
de-registers
Mnn,. students
Two-thirds of registered-University
of Minnesota students received e-mail
messages last week telling them they
were not registered for classes and their
e-mail accounts would be terminated if
they did not respond.
The e-mail error was sent out to al-
most 29,000 students because a date
was incorrectly typed into the computer
system.
"The computer did exactly what is
as supposedto do," said John Pearson,
University of Minnesota User Services
manager.
Pearson said students promptly re-
ceived an additional e-mail message
explaining what happened as soon as
the error was detected.
U of Iowa revises
*olicy, gives profs.
more leeway
Iowa's Board of Regents recently
approved a new policy that allows Uni-
versity of Iowa professors more leeway
in planning their courses.
The policy is a revised edition of
the 1993 policy, dubbed the "Sex Act"
by students, which required Iowa pro-
fessors to warn their students in ad-
*nce of any "unusual or unexpected
material ."
The "Sex Act" was passed by the
regents after a 1993 incident involving
a visiting artist showing a video of a
man'engaging in oral sex with another
man. Some students said they were of-
fended by the material.
The new policy states that professors
should attempt to make sure "students
are adequately prepared to deal with
*urse materials."
Map thief strikes next
at Northwestern
Northwestern University library of-
ficials discovered last week that four
maps had been cut out of a 1671 history
book worth thousands of dollars.
Northwestern's campus police said
e theft may have been the latest by a
man suspected by the FBI of stealing
antique maps from university libraries
across the country.
The man examined books at North-
western and the University of Chicago
last semesterusinga University of Florida
student ID registered as James Perry.
The man, Gilbert Bland Jr., was ar-
rested for map-stealing using the name
James Perry at Johns Hopkins Univer-
y and the University of Virginia in
December. He returned the maps, paid
several hundred dollars in retribution
and was allowed to leave.
Bland operates an antique map and
collectibles store in Florida.
The schools are trying to gather in-
formation in order to press charges.
Virginia Tech suspends
7for hazing cadet
The Virginia Tech administration
suspended seven cadets for the spring
and summer semesters after they ad-
mitted to hazing a fellow cadet.
zThe young man who was hazed was
~dropped off in a remote area of Mont-
godmery County. Va., in the dark and
told to find his way back to campus.
The victim eventually made his way
Ack to campus and informed the comr-
Mandant of the incident.
The case did not go through the
school's judicial system because the
seven offenders admitted their guilt.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Jennifer Harvey.
'U' group, students join Detroit stikers i protest
By Maggie Weyhing
For the Daily
About 15 protesters gathered outside
the Michigan Union Ballroom last night
to protest Detroit News' involvement at
the Minority Career Conference.
The protesters distributed fliers in
support of the ongoing strike against
The Detroit News and Free Press to
students entering the career conference.
"We don't think that students should
start off their newspaper careers as
scabs," said Roger Kerson, spokesper-
son for the Metropolitan Council Of
Newspaper Unions.
Along with many other companies
and organizations, the Detroit News
took applications for summer intern-
ships at the career conference.
Despite the strike, Fraun Gray of the
News' human resources department said
the number of students interested in-
ternships has not declined.
"I'm recruiting internsthat's it. We are
not creating any new available positions
for college students," Gray said. "Interns
do not take the jobs of union members."
However, Cecil Angel, a striking re-
porter from the Free Press, said that
interns pose a threat to the success of
the strike.
"Anyone that accepts a position with
the News or the Free Press is directly
prolonging the strike," Angel said.
"They are staffing their organization
with interns, and they are no more than
replacement workers because companies
traditionally hirepermanent workers from
their pool of interns," Angel said.
Tiffany, an LSA senior attending the
conference, stopped at the News' table
to inquire about internships. She said
she had mixed feelings about the strike.
"I have seen things on TV about the
strike, and I think that it is bad how the
papers, are replacing the strikers' posi-
tions. I might not work for the News, but
I would like to learn more about the
newspaper business," said Tiffany, who
refused to give her last name.
Paul Lefrak, a Rackham student who
protested the News' participation, said
the overall response to the protest among
those attending the conference was posi-
tive.
"Everyone was very friendly and
many people told me not to worry and
that they wouldn't approach the News,"
Lefrak said. "I think that most people
don't want to start their first job cross-
ing picket lines and doing the
management's dirty work."
Several University graduate students
joined in the protest, including mem-
bers of the Graduate Employees Orga-
nization, which is currently in contract
talks with the University. GEO mem-
bers said they supported the strike ef-
forts for various reasons.
"By sponsoring this event, the Uni-
versity is continuing its tradition of
opposing the workers' struggle," said
Mark, a Rackham student who refused
to give his last name.
"The University and the News and
Free Press claim that in making scab
jobs available to minorities, that they
are being supportive of affirmative ac-
tion in the media. They are being hypo-
critical," he said.
He asserted thatthe University showed
support for the Detroit newspapers by
giving an honorary degree to Free Press
Publisher Neal Shine at winter com-
mencement and hosting Free Press edi-
tor Joe Stroud, who spoke on a panel
during Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
"I am a member of the Graduate
Employees Organization and we are
currently talking about organizing a
strike," said Rackham student Mikael
Elsila. "I'm here to show my support of
labor solidarity."
ELIZABET H LII-PMAN/Da:iy
Melissa Koenig, of the Student Labor Coalition joined the protest outside the
Michigan Union Ballroom yesterday.
9
passes01 cet g
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1 n1an11T1us Ivote
Climbing the walls
John Duledda, a first-year Medical student, climbs a wall at the Ann Arbor Climbing Gym at 324 E. Ann St. yesterday.
He said the wall is a workout for stress release.
r
Bill would amend
Michigan penal code,
classify offenses
By Stephanie Jo Klein
Daily Staff Reporter
Michigan legislators moved closeryes-
terday toward making incest illegal, as,
the state House voted unanimously, 105-
0, in favor of the newly proposed bill.
Rep. Clyde LeTarte's bill would
amend the Michigan Penal Code, mak-
ing consensual incest illegal between
relatives older than 16, adding to exist-
ing statutes that criminalize incest with
younger relatives.
The bill classifies offenses involving
sexual penetration as third-degree crimi-
nal sexual contact., punishable by im-
prisonment for up to I5 years. If sexual
contact occurred without penetration, it
would be a fourth-degree offense, pun-
ishable by up to a two-year jail term, a
S500 fine or both.
The incest bill is scheduled to come
out of committee next Tuesday and
reach the Senate floor Wednesday.
LeTarte (R-Horton) said the bill did
not encounter any opposition on the
House floor.
"I was encouraged that people under-
stood the issue ... and that it passed
through the House so quickly," he said.
LeTarte said citizens from his district
had been concerned with the issue fol-
lowing two recent cases of incest in
Holly and Hillsdale County. He said
they were made aware of the proceed-
ings and are pleased with the progress.
"I think it was a sensible vote," said
Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor), adding
that the vote "put Michigan in conform-
ance with 48 other states that have simi-
lar laws."
"Many times incest may occur in
intimidating situations," she said. "It's
important to have the protection of the
law."
The bill now moves to the Senate,
where the issue is already being dis-
cussed by the Senate Judiciary andCivil
Rights Committee.
Sponsored by Sen. Joe Conroy (D-
Flint), the Senate bill would strengthen
the penalties and lengthen the prison
terms delineated in the House bill.
Conroy said incest evokes fear and
does not compel those involved to pub-
licly disclose theirrelationships. TheSen-
ate bill also allows for search warrants.
"You cannot prosecute these fathers
who engage in this activity without a
search warrant," he said.
Search warrants would permit the state
to perform genetic testing on children
born of suspected incestuous relations.
"It's a giant step forward ... having
scientific evidence that links the father
with the daughter's child," Conroy said.
MSA tables resolution to increase
student fee by $1 for group fuing
By Laurie Mayk
Daily Staff Reporter
With less than one-fourth ofitsmoney
left to fund student groups this semes-
ter, a Michigan Student Assembly com-
mittee asked the assembly last night to
consider requesting an increase in M SA
student tuition fees.
The proposal, tabled by the assembly
for clarification, would give students
the option of adding $1 to the MSA fee
to be earmarked for the Budget Priori-
ties Committee's funding of student
groups. The question would appear on
MSA's upcoming campus election bal-
lot in March.
An increase in fees would need the
approval of the University Board of
Regents.
"It guarantees that student groups are
a No. 1 priority," LSA Rep. Srinu
Vourganti said.
Members of the assembly expressed
concerns that the language of the pro-
posal could actually decrease the funds
allocated for funding student groups.
"The assembly could vote to give
BPC that one dollar - period," MSA
President Flint Wainess said, implying
that the assembly could vote not to
"Isee a serious
problem with the
state of affairs of
PC. "
- Sam Goodstein
MSA vice president
devote any other funds to student groups.
"The assembly could very well slash
student group funding."
However, BPC chair Matt Curin said
the $1 increase would provide more
money for student group funding, and
allow the assembly more freedom with
the $2.69 per student it receives annu-
ally.
"I don't envision BPC getting
$150,000," Curin said, referring to
the combination of this year's allow-
ance plus the revenue from the poten-
tial addition. "What I envision is
$1 10,000. That basically frees up
$40,000 for other committees and
commissions."
MSA allocated $83,150 to student
group funding through BPC this year.
While Wainess said the assembly
would "quite possibly" budget less
money for BPC if the proposal were to
pass. Curin said members would re-
main loyal to the student groups in their
actions.
"I don't think there's an assembly
member who would vote to decrease
student funding," Curin said.
Proponents of the proposal look to
the increase as a solution to this year's
B3PC funding crunch. In his presenta-
tion, Curin called the current BPC sta-
tus "a hindrance to the general commit-
tee work of the assembly."
"I see a serious problem with the state
of affairs of BPC," said MSA Vice Presi-
dent Sam Goodstein. "I'm really con-
cerned MSA is heading toward financial
crisis in funding student groups."
Goodstein said BPC will have trouble
getting through the committee's most
expensive month, March, with only
about $20,000 left of its $83,000 bud-
get for the year.
The budget status is due not only to the
number of groups supported by MSA
funds, but to the unexpectedly large num-
ber that actually collected the money.
"You allocate a certain amount of
money and groups never claim the
money," Curin said. "(This year) they're
actually using all the money.
"I don't see it as a crisis really," he
said.
Join the
graphics staff.
MSU student charged
with suffocating daughter
EAST LANSING (AP) -- A 33-
year-old Michigan State University
student has been charged in the suffo-
cation death of her 5-year-old daugh-
ter.
Salena Sherman was charged Mon-
day with open murder. Prosecutors said
the woman admitted putting a trash bag
over her daughter Jessica's head Sun-
day in what they described as a failed
murder-suicide attempt.
"She had basically decided to com-
mit suicide and did not want to leave her
daughterbehind," Ingham County Pros-
ecutor Donald Martin said. ,
Martin said Sherman told police she
smothered the girl then attempted to
kill herself by taking an unknown
amount of Tylenol with codeine. She
later called police after realizing she
was not going to die
The woman was arrested Monday.
Sherman told police that she didn't harm
the boy because the father could take
care of him but that she didn't want the
girl to be alone, Martin told the Lansing
State Journal.
Censor ethe ~t?
Those fools can try.
http:I/wwWalmiche#du/~al boko
urtrans@logrus o
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
GROUP MEETINGS
U Armenian Students' Cultural Asso-
ciation, meeting, 913-5465,
Michigan Union, Room 1209, 7-9
p.m.
U AIESEC Michigan, general member
meeting, 662-1690, Business
Administration Building, Room
1276, 6 p.m.
U American Baptist Student Fellow-
ship, free meal, meeting, 663-
9376, First Baptist Church, 512
E. Huron, 5:30-7 p.m.
.U HinduStudentsCouncil, Firing Line,
764-2671, Michigan Union, Pond
RAm . n m.
747-6889, CCRB, Room 2275, 7-
8:30 p.m.
U Undergraduate Law Club, Lawyers'
Panel, 213-0311, Michigan Union,
Kuenzel Room, 6-8 p.m.
EvENrs
Q "Karamzin and Radishchev: Two
Sentimental Views on the Poetics
of Traveling," Andreas Schdnle,
brown bag lecture series, spon-
sored by Center for Russian and
East European Studies, Lane Hall
Commons Room, 12 noon
U "Planning Computer Animation/
Graphics Show and CAMM Pro-
C, 7 p.m.
-U "Organic Seminar," Prof. Cindy
Barrows, sponsored by Depart-
ment of Chemistry, Chemistry
Building, Room 1640, 4 p.m.
STUDENT SERVICES
Q Campus Information Centers,
Michigan Union and North Cam-
pus Commons, 763-INFO,
info@umich.edu, UMeEvents on
GOpherBLUE, and http://
www.umich.edu/-info on the
World Wide Web
Q English Composition Board Peer
r
It