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 v 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