LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 11, 1996 -3A Regents give com iuttee guidelines for pres. search .U'adds new tele hone xc e During the next few months a new telephone exchange will replace the existing 747 exchange on campus, In- formation Technology Division spokes- person Bruce Spiher said. The changeover to the new exchange, 647, will start soon and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30. University phone numbers beginning with 747 will be automatically con- jrted to the 647 exchange. The change is occurring because the University, which is running out oftele- phone numbers, only owns half of the 747 exchanges and is trading them to Ameritech in return for all of the 647 exchange numbers. Local businesses and households currently use the other half of the 747 numbers. The University will only be able to Jtaintain five-digit dialing on campus for approximately three more years, Spiher said. faculty members to leceiVe award Two University faculty members will receive the Henry Russel Award to- morrow in Rackham Amphitheater. The annual award will be given to Dante Eric Amidei and Celeste Anne rusati for scholarly achievement and promise. The award is meant to recog- nize young faculty members. The presentation will be followed by the Henry Russel Lecture, given this year by Ludwig Koenen, the Herbert C. Youtie Distinguished University Pro- fessor of Papyrology. Prof. to perform nixed-media play, Michael Keck, a Martin Luther King Jr./Cesar Chavez/Rosa Parks Visiting Professor, is scheduled to give a perfor- mance of his play "Voices in the Rain" on March 15 at 8 p.m. "Voices in the Rain" aims to repre- -ent both the family and community backgrounds of young men ofcolor and their experience of incarceration. It is a single actor mixed-media theater piece, *xploring how early violence leads to more violence. Keck, an actor, composer and play- wright, said his play is a completed work that remains in progress. The play includes monologues, tra- ditional prison songs, original music, sound art and rear screen projections. Scholarship available for study in Israel - The Harry and Sarah Laker Israel Youth Scholarship Fund is accepting applications from college students for an academic year study program in Is- rael. The scholarship is celebrating its 20th "anniversary and is awarding $2,500 in cash to the winning student who can "Choose to study at Bar Ilan, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion or Hebrew Univer- To qualify, the applicant must be a resident of the metropolitan De- troit area who is currently attending 3 college or university in the United tates- Applications are now available by ca~lig (810) 352-8670. The applica- tion deadline is April 30. Exhibit examines art "roductivity in old age An exhibition focusing on Rembrandt's later works investigates he phenomenon of artistic productiv- ity in old age. The exhibit, "Bold Strokes: The In- ventiveness of Rembrandt's Late Prints," juxtaposes a late work with earlier prints on similar themes. The exhibit will be open through pril 28 at the University's Museum of rt- C Compiled from Daily staff reports By Jodi Cohen Daily Staff Reporter While many students left campus last Friday for spring break, the day marked the beginning ofa long and arduous task for 12 members of the University community. On March 1, the Board of Regents met with the recently appointed presidential JONATHAN LURIE/Daily President Clinton shakes hands with supporters during a stop dedicating the Taylor Public Works building in Taylor on March 4. Cli C ton cmpigs In S suhast Mih. targes laor u11nios search advisory committee to offi- cially send them off on their quest forthe next president. It is the only scheduled meeting between the two groups un- til the fall, when the committee will give the board their list "Ultimat the regent resp$nsibi - Regent S (R-E Clinton cites 'U' study in claim that auto industry is growing By Sam T. Dudek Daily Staff Reporter TAYLOR - While Republican presidential candidates battled each other for delegates across the coun- try, President Clinton spoke to a re- ceptive union-friendly crowd last Monday in Taylor. Clinton focused on economic growth, education, the American dream and the future in his 30-minute speech at the dedication of Taylor's new Department of Public Works building. "We should grow the economy by targeting a tax cut to the people who need it - theworking families of America," Clinton said. "The most important tax cut we can give is to give families a tax deduction for the cost of college tuition," he said. Clinton has proposed making college tuition tax-deductible up to $10,000. Law first-year student Jason Blankenship said he believes a tax break for families with college students was the most important issue Clinton raised. "I like the idea of tax credits for college tuition," Blankenship said. Clinton told the crowd of more than 6,000 that under his administration the Big Three automakers have created 75,000 new jobs. "Our auto industry is back," he told the crowd. "For the first time in 15 years our auto industry is leading the world in sales, in progress and prof- its." The president cited a recent Univer- sity study that predicted 130,000 new auto industry jobs in Michigan. Clinton told the crowd that since he took office, the Michigan unemployment rate has dropped to 5 percent and "new businesses have increased by 10 percent." John Truscott, a spokesperson for Gov. John Engler, said the president took undeserved credit for the economic growth in Michigan. "He's taking credit for the Michigan economy, even though the rebound started long before he took office,"Truscott said. "Our national economy was much stron- ger before he took office." Clinton's visit to Taylor, an indus- trial city of 70,000, fits in with the president's campaign strategies, said Fred Durhal, political organizing direc- tor for the Michigan Democratic Party. "Michigan is a targeted state," Durhal said. "In order to win Michigan you've got to win southeast Michigan." Upbeat throughout, Clinton was opti- mistic about the nation's future in his address. "I believe the young people of our country will have more chances to live out their dreams than any generation of Americans," he said. Armando Perez traveled from Adrian to see the president. "I like the fact he stressed education and jobs," he said. "He gave a good speech." John Owens missed a day of school to see Clinton's speech. Owens, a Tay- lor high school student, said he was not impressed with the president's words. "At least it was better than going to school," he said. Clinton was originally scheduled to speak in Taylor last November, but he postponed the visit to attend the funeral of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Clinton spoke briefly on the terrorist bombing that took place in Israel early last week. "Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims there. Our hearts are with those who fight for peace," Clinton said. Following the Taylor speech, Clinton spoke at a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser in Detroit and a private fund-raiser in Oakland County. - The Associated Press contributed to this report. of suggested candidates. The regents explained the committee's role in recruiting and conducting candidate interviews. The board also discussed its general expectations, along with character- istics it hopes to see in the next president. The advisory committee consists of seven faculty members, two students, two staff members and one alum. Law School Dean Jeffrey Lehman will serve as the committee's chair. "It is with a sense of humility, responsi- bility and gratitude that we are undertaking this role for you," Lehman told the regents. Regent Shirley McFee (R-Battle Creek), co-chair of the search, explained to the committee their role in the overall process. "It is a preparatory step to the ultimate selection of the president," she said. "We hope that you will conduct a vigorous search for candidates. We hope that you will bring us a list offive, unranked individuals to be considered." When the list is presented to the re- gents, candidate names will be made public. Based on the recommendations, the regents will choose finalists, inter- view the candidates and select the next president. "Ultimately, eI it'S it's the regents' responsibility," McFee said. After review- lt5"ingthe searchpro- hirley McFee cess, the regents discussed quali- Battle Creek) ties they want in the successor to President James Duderstadt, who will step down from his position June 30. Regent Nellie Varner (D-Detroit), co-chair of the search, said the presi- dent should have strong communica- tion skills. "We definitely want some- one who is skilled in acting with the public sector, especially the legisla- ture," she said. Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor) said he thinks "it is important that insti- tutions have leadership from outside. Leaders away from this university might bring new ideas, new energy." But Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) disagreed. "That per- son can be found both inside and out- side," she said. "I think we need to look at everybody." Regent Philip Power (D-Ann Ar- bor) restated the regents' description. "Much ofthis criteria in my mind subi- mates to the notion that we are trying and are going to pick just the right persont just the right time," he said, echoing the message the board has expressed sine the beginning of the search process. Lehman said he is impressed with the search so far, especially the public forums held across the state to gauge the opinion ofthe University's constituencies, includ- ing faculty, students and alums. "You have set a high standard fqr your advisory committee," Lehmap said. "We are thoroughly committed to meeting that standard." Provost J. Bernard Machen explained that the committee was formed to "com- port with the Open Meetings Act." Ag- cording to state law, all regular meetings of the Board of Regents must be con- ducted in public. Because the committee's task is designated as "purely advisory,' t is not required to meet publicly. Members of the. board have said the committee may help to ensure candidates some confidentiality, at least until te final stages. At last week's meeting, the board again stressed that the committe must keep strict confidentiality. "Leaks can occur through casual con- versation or interaction with a close friend, spouse," McFee said. The coin- mittee will meet in closed sessions 4t their office in the Perry Building. In the spirit of Nike, Regent Danel Horning (R-Grand Haven) summed up the charge to the advisory committee. "Just do it," he said. Rackham to offer e-mail votirng 'Al d 9FY Y'"MErii' qmw i "'Rr iii By Will Weissort Daily Staff Reporter In an effort to combat low voter turn- out, the Rackham Student Government is set to offer its students the chance to vote in Rackham elections electroni- cally using the World Wide Web. While Rackham prepares to break new ground in the electronic world, the Michigan Student Assembly is waiting and watching closely. "Graduate students as a whole don't pay attention to MSA and other elec- tions - some don't even know they could vote in those elections," said Sa- rah-Marie Bel Castro, Rackham Stu- dent Government president. "This way they will be able to click on a few web sites and get involved." To vote electronically in the March elections, Rackham students should visit Rackham's web site and click on the voting icon. Electronic voting will be availible on March 25, 26 and 27. The Rackham Student Government office will also provide paper ballots on March 27 so that students without access to a computer will also be able to vote. Rackham Student Government offi- cials hope to distribute fliers and put up posters advertising the web site's ad- dress. Rackham's home page can be reached at http://www.umich.edu/ -rstugov. "Traditional elections tend to be a jumble - they are noisy and there are a lot of people standing around," said Rackham Student Government Rep. Gibon Lenga. "We want to make the elections easier, so that more graduate students will want to get involved." As Rackham Student Government members continue to work on the elec- tronic voting system, they have been in contact with MSA election officials. MSA officials are considering expanding elec- tronic voting to all MSA elections, said MSA Rackham Rep. John Lopez. "We are all waiting to see how this works out this time, but expansion is a possibility. (An electronic voting sys- tem) is very definite," Lopez said.-, Lopez said Rackham officials were working with Information Technology Division communication services ro work out all of the voting system's potential kinks. ITD plans to review the system's results from the upcoming elections and work with the system further over the summer. "We hope Ao have a finalized plan by the Novembgr elections," Lopez said. "Hopefully MSA can get in on the ground floor on this," he said. . Bel Castro said this technologioal step was necessary and that she was optimistic about the results electronic voting will bring. "We feel like this should be done," she said. "It used to be we'd have abQpt 150 votes out of thousands of graduae students. This system should improve that - even if we only double our turn- out, we will still be successful." advno n emum Cofoamage! Juiy consultants may have helped Kevorkian DETROIT (AP) - Jury consultants hired by Dr. Jack Kevorkian's defense team may have made the difference in the retired pathologist's acquittals on assisted suicide charges, experts say. The consultants succeeded in seat- ing an Oakland Circuit Court jury that included United Methodist Bishop Donald Ott, who had pro-Kevorkian beliefs. Through homework and research, the defense team learned what prosecutors may have overlooked: Ott - the jury foreman - was a published proponent of the right to die. "(Donald) Ott was clearly an articu- late man. If you listen to his delivery, the way he spoke, it is clear that he is an excellent facilitator," said Ken Hylton Jr., a criminal lawyer in Detroit. "He had the ability to listen in the jury room and mediate between differ- ent points of view, to urge and cajole until finally they reached consensus." Friday's verdict of innocent on two counts of violating a now-expired ban on assisted suicide required persuad- ing four jurors to change their posi- tions. Lead prosecutor John Skrzynski said his team does not do background checks on jurors. Asked if the case was lost in jury selection, he told The Detroit News for a story yesterday, "we undoubtedly could have had a better panel." Jury consultants try to burrow into the psyche of each prospective juror. Information on income, race, religion and age allows psychologists to predict behavior. AREYOA LEADER? GROUP MEETINGS U Alliance for the Mentally liI of Washtenaw County, 994-6611, St. Clare's Episcopal Chruch, 2309 Packard, 7:30 p.m. U Burning Bush Campus Ministry, 930-0621, Michigan Union, EVENTS U "Labor Organizing in Mexico," sponsored by Student Labor Ac- tion Coalition, Graduate Em- ployees Union, LASC, Michi- gan Union, Kuenzel Room, 12 noon. STUDENT SERVICES U Campus Information Centers, Michi- gan Union and Pierpont Commons, 763-INFO, info@umich.edu, UMeEvents on GOpherBLUE, and http://www.umich.edu/~info on the World Wide Web LS&A Student Government will hold its Winter 1996 general elections March 27 and 28 in conjunction with the MSA elections. All nineteen representative positions, as well as the offices of President and Vice-President, will be up for grabs. Now is the time to declare I I :rnyr -nim l't4-qr xT Tn arp+ ctarfPri cfnn hxr mir I