athrn onight: Showers and hunderstorms, low 450 omorrow: Showers and hunderstorms, high 50'. WE,, it Un4 One hundredfve years of edtorialfreedom Friday April 12, 1996 Vol. CV Nil. 112 Utah, V 1900 It* milobigaft Daily I students harged m ursley ons y Sam T. Dudek ?aily Staff Reporter Two students were arrested yester- ay in connection with a string of ires set in Bursley Hall on March 30. LSA first-year students John acDonald and Justin Angelino were rrested and arraigned on four counts of rson - three against MacDonald and against Angelino. Arson of a dwelling house is a felony nd punishable by up to 20 years ir rison for each count. In a written statement, Department f Public Safety Capt. James Smiley aid an anonymous tip led DPS to the rrests. "Department of Public Safety of- icers responded to an anonymous tip nd were able to identify the alleged etrators of this crime," Smiley The suspects, both Bursley residents, ere arraigned before 15th District ourt Magistrate James Sexsmith yes- erday and released on personal recog- izance bonds. The students are scheduled to ap- ear for preliminary hearings April 4. Judicial Code Adviser Mary Lou ieau said arson is generally cov- d under Section E of the Student ode. Antieau said "tampering with fire or ther safety equipment or setting an nauthorized fire" is punishable under e Code. While unable to comment on the spe- ific case, Antieau said arson generally eads to the termination of a residence all lease. She said more severe punish- ent is also possible. *Of there is evidence of malicious ntent, punishment couldmove towards xpulsion," she said. Antieau said the current case would ave to be investigated before a deci- ion could be made. "Every case has its own set of facts," ntieau added. DPS reports indicate that the fire aused approximately $3,500 worth of age to the building, and a housing rity officer broke his foot while esponding to the fires. University Fire Marshal Robert atrick said he is pleased the suspects ave been apprehended. "The University takes arson very se- iously because the risk for injury or een death is so high, especially in a esidence hall where people sleep," he aid. "We absolutely cannot tolerate this of behavior on campus," Patrick DPS spokesperson Elizabeth Hall greed. "It's really important for people to alize how severe arson can be," she aid. Hall said the investigation is ongoing nd that anyone with information about he incident should contact DPS at 763- 1131. *all said students can call the Con- idential Assistance Network - the niversity's anonymous tip line - at 800) 863-1355. She also said the Michigan Arson revention Committee accepts anony- ous tips and offers up to $5,000 for nformation leading to the arrest and onviction of persons suspected of rson. The MAPC tip line may be eached at (800) 44-ARSON. GEO, U' hammer out tentative agreement By Anupama Reddy Daily Staff Reporter Bargaining teams for the Graduate Employees Organization and the ad- ministration reached a tentative con- tract agreement yesterday. Negotiations between the two sides began Oct. 31 and concluded at about 1:30 a.m. yes- terday with the assistance of a state- appointed mediator. Both parties said the 24 changes to the current contract are the most agree- ments ever signed into a contract be- tween the administration and GEO. "We've approved more proposals than ever before. We've set a record," Uni- versity chiefnegotiator Dan Gamble said. "That's the reason it took a lot of time." GEO spokesperson Pete Church agreed. "It is the highest number oftenta- tive agreements signed into a contract," he said. "The union identified a number ofissues at the very beginning we wanted to fight for, and we fought for them." The union's last three contracts have all been resolved by Charles Jamerson, a mediator for the state. Church said the tentative contract agreement must be ratified by a major- ity of the union's membership before it will be officially accepted. Ifapproved, the three-year contract will go into ef- fect Sept. 1, Church said. "The contract will be discussed in a membership meeting next week," Church said. "It is waiting for member- ship ratification." Gamble said the process should take about 10 days because members usually vote on agreements by mail. He has par- ticipated in bargaining with GEO since 1981, when GEO and the adminstration signed their second contract. Vice President for University Rela- tions Walter Harrison said the parties reached an agreement through compro- misc. "Like most negotiations, each side seems to have given a little and taken a little," Harrison said. "We're all very relieved to have bargaining behind us, and we look forward to our relationship with GEO." One compromise stems from the ten- tative agreement stems from two unfair labor practice suits that GEO filed last week and the administration's decision to withhold pay from participants in this week's two-day work stoppage. GEO agreed to drop the charges and the administration agreed not to discipline participating employees. The major terms include a minimum 2.5-percent wage increase and a $700 fellowship for international graduate student instructors during their three- week summer training. "This is a good contract, but it still doesn't guarantee a living wage for our members, and some of them will still have to take a second job to make ends meet," said John Curtiss, GEO bargain- ing team member. Gamble said the administration could not grant a higher percentage wage in- crease because it is hard to predict next year's budget. "The further you project in a three- year agreement, you get more conser- vative because you don't know about funding," Gamble said. "You do know faculty will get the best increases that we can give." GEO chief bargainer Karen Miller said the fellowship for international GSI training showed progress in the contract. "Seven hundred dollars for IGSIs will make a huge difference," Miller said. "Our previous contract has a 3-percent raise. This contract is likely to be an A New Contract The tentative agreement addresses many of the different concerns GEO members brought to the bargaining table. * Salaries will increase in each of the next three years by a minimum : of 2.5 percent. International GSIs will be provided with a $700 fellowship for support during the three-week summer training period. * Same-sex domestic partners of employees are eligible for group health and dental coverage. Three joint University and GEO committees will address affirmative action in international GSIs and graduate student teaching, improvement on that." The agreement also mandates writ- ten policies on hiring, notification of job availability and same-sex domestic partner health benefits. Three new com- mittees with both GEO and administra- tive representatives were created to address concerns about affirmative ac- tion, international GSIs and graduate student teaching. Both sides agreed that the formation of the three committees could impact the relationship between GEO and the administration. "The neat thing in having commit- tees is that the union will have a real voice in policy changes over the term of the contract and not just during negotia- tions," Church said. "It will provide more of an opportunity for the University and GEO to work to- gether on problems," Gamble said. "If we have a spirit of cooperation, maybe we'll get to know each other better." Sounds of spring Brian Garden plays the drums for the band "The Still," which is participating in the Earth Week celebrations this week. Earth Week began Monday and features events with themes of conservation and species preservation. A different band performs at noon each day on the Diag. Roberson designs department changes Govt scrambles to finish fiancial aid requests by 15th By Jeff Eldrddge Daily Staff Reporter, Amidst the Board of Regents' re- examination of the bylaws governing the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the national restructur- ing of the NCAA, the University's Ath- letic Department faces a more immedi- ate change. Michigan Ath- letic Directoroe Roberson an- nounced Wed- nesday night a re- organization of the Department of Athletics. The changes will al- ter the responsi- bilities of the lt'sai emphasis strategic Special assista also said the changes will allow Roberson to spend more time with the regents and members of the administration, as well as affording him the opportunity to be more active within the Big Ten Conference. Vice President for University Rela- tions Walter Harrison said the newly announced changes are not related to the regents' concerns about the Board in Control. Harrison said Imuwesome have drawn analo- on gies between the changes and planning". the regents' concerns about - Keith MoH n the depart- ant to Roberson ment's ac- countability. But Harrison, who is part of a com- mittee looking at rewriting the regents bylaws governing the Board in Control, said whatever similarities exist between the new changes and the regents' con- cerns are "coincidental." He said the administration was aware of the proposed changes. "We've had a series of discussions over the last four or five months." Harrison said. Harrison added that Roberson and President James Duderstadt met two weeks ago to discuss possible changes. Roberson said in a statement that the changes will allow him time to be a department's executive staff and con-. solidate its external relations depart- ment into one unit. "It's a focused emphasis on strategic planning," said Keith Molin, special assistant to Roberson. Molin said the changes will allow Roberson more time to examine the "major philosophical issues" facing col- lege sports. "It frees the director up to signifi- cantly look at maj or policy areas in day- to-day operations," Molin said. Molin said these issues include the "relationship of academics to athletics, and the restructuring of the NCAA." He Roberson better advocate for the department. "Michigan's voice is heard in delib- erations both within the Big Ten Con- ference and at the national level," Roberson said. "However, our other objectives must not be ignored and it is my belief that this reorganization will continue to move the department in the direction of realizing each of them." The following people will assume new responsibilities: Michael Stevenson, executive as- sociate director of athletics, will serve as chief operating officer and direct the daily operations of the department. Stevenson has worked extensively on panels in and out of the Athletic Depart- ment, including committees for the pro- vost and the Senate Advisory Commit- tee for University Affairs. Bob DeCarolis, senior associate director ofathletics, will be responsible for facilities and event management. He will oversee $60 million worth of departmental property. He will also be See ATHLETIC, Page 2 By Stephanie Jo Klein Daily Staff Reporter As April 15 approaches, members of the University community are waiting anxiously for financial news. Not only the IRS tax deadline, Monday is also the Federal Department of Education's self-imposed deadline to fin- ish processing the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid received before March 31. After a computer error and 21 days of lost work due to government shutdowns, the pressure is on to fix the backlog and to inform schools of aid disbursements for the coming academic year. Education Department spokesperson Jane Glickman said the processing is quickly nearing completion. "As of Tuesday we had 100 percent of (applications received during) Janu- ary done," Glickman said. In addition, she said, 99 percent of FAFSAs re- ceived before Feb. 15 and 94 percent of those received by Feb. 29 were done. "We're delayed," she said. "We're not going to deny that. We're hoping schools are going to be flexible in their admissions." Judith Harper, the University's in- terim director offinancial aid, said many incoming students are concerned that if they don't receive a financial aid pack- age, they won't properly be able to choose which college to attend in the fall by the May I national enrollment decision date. "We're still getting more phone calls from parents," Harper said. "We're making every effort to respond to the families affected by the delay in federal processing." "This is a time that we're watching on a daily basis what records are avail- able," she added. "We're very depen- dent on the federal processors." When the University's Office of Fi- nancial Aid receives completed records from the Education Department, Harper said, award notices will be sent out Waiting for info? Federal Department of Education figures show improvements in processing Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Of the 3.5 million applications received by March 31, approximately 800,000 still need to be processed. All forms received during January have been completed. be processed, which will enable schools to get the necessary information to stu- dents dependent on aid. In the event of further delays, the University is developing contingency plans, which Harper could not com- ment on. Theodore Spencer, director ofunder- graduate admissions, said the Univer- sity will be lenient during this year's admissions process. "We'll be a bit more liberal this year with the (May 1) deadline for those having difficulty getting their financial aid package completed," he said. "It's a nationwide problem," Spen- cer said. "Most colleges are saying we're not going to have an across-the-board change (of enrollment deadlines), but we will take each individual case into consideration." Enrollment numbers are on the rise, however, as Spencer said enrollment deposits are "slowly creeping up;" after the delay that kept students from mak- ing their college choices. Incoming first-year students affected by the delay should not have much difficulty attaining housing or signing up for Orientation, Spencer said. "We will have space for people who get deposits in around May 1," he added. "Generally, classes and residence halls are not a problem." Even if federal forms are fully pro- cessed by Monday, one unavoidable ,cl wl a . chr _.n _nnal U ~ B a e i yos Angeles Times BEIRUT, Lebanon - ck that heightened rch for peace in th sraeli warplanes and h hips yesterday struck errillas across Lebano or the first time in 14 At least five people ore than a dozen wou rockets pound was also hit, reportedly killing a Leba- - In a reprisal nese soldier. Israel said it fired on the fears about the regular troops after they had shot at the e Middle East, Israeli attackers. helicopter gun- Israel saidthe attacks were in response at Hezbollah to the increased Hezbollah rocketing of n,hitting Beirut its northern communities and farms. years. Tuesday, 36 people were wounded by a were killed and barrage of katyusha rockets fired by tided by rockets Hezbollah from southern Lebanon into - -. - -~ -} l 1 1,