I LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily -Monday, April 15, 1996-- 3A i ~ k U student wins restigious eater award usic sophomore Heather Dilly re- ly won one of 16 Irene Ryan Foun- dation scholarships, which are given to theater students from around the coun- ry Each student who was awarded a cholarship will now compete for two dditional $2,500 scholarships at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Sun- ay. The ceremony is in conjunction ith the annual National American ollege Theater Festival. even hundred universities and col- leges throughout the country com- peted in this year's program during anuary and February. The Irene Ryan wards are considered the "Super Bowl competition among theater col- lege students throughout the U.S.," ccording to a statement from the foundation. Irene Ryan, known as "Granny" on Stelevision series "The Beverly billies," died in 1973 and left her ntire estate to the scholarship pro- ram she established in 1972. In 25 ears, her foundation has awarded ore than 400 scholarships totaling ore than $1 million. New program offers ollege writers orldwide audience /riters in colleges across the coun- try can showcase their talents and con- nect their campuses to the rest of the orld via the World Wide Web with a ew program sponsored by The Travel hannel Online Network. Known as ".edu," the program is de- igned to convey the atmosphere and ctivities taking place in cities and towns hat house colleges and universities. To dle the reporting duties, The Travel nnel Online Network is searching for stringers from universities across he country to report each week about ampus life. College students interested in be- oming stringers should submit three riting samples via e-mail to eri@travelchannel.com with a sum- ary of writing background. Prefer- nee will be given to students who are urrently sophomores or juniors. gore information about the ".edu" rogram may be found at The Travel Channel Online Network's website at ttp://www. travelchannel. com. ontest rewards tudents for creativity in film, video Attention students: Enter The istophers' Ninth Annual Video Con- e t and exchange your creativity for ash. The contest asks college students o interpret on film or video the Chris- opher belief that one person can make 'difference. The presentations must e'five minutes or less, but can use a ariety of techniques. Previous win- ers have used animation, music ideo, news report, documentary, omedy and drama to capture the e. The Christophers was founded in 1945 to encourage individuals of every ge and faith to use their unique abili- ies to bring about constructive change. New York-based international non- rofit media organization, the group's otto is: "It's better to light one candle han to curse the darkness." Awards for winning entries are as ch as $3,000, with the top three ners and five honorable mentions arning cash prizes. In addition, the inning entrees will also be featured on he weekly syndicated television pro- ram, "Christopher Closeup." Official entry forms may be obtained y writing to The Christophers, Col- lege Contest, 12 East 48th Street, New .ork, N.Y. 10017 or by calling (212) 59-4050. The contest's deadline is une 7. * - Compiled from staff reports Forum debates legality of same-sex maniages , .. ,, , , By Rajal Pitroda Daily Staff Reporter Focusing on the benefits and drawbacks of same-sex marriages, leaders in the national debate spoke at the Law School on Friday before more than 100 students and faculty members. The forum, spon- sored by The Rainbow Law Students Alli- Merg e ance, Queer Unity Project and the Cental core Women Law Student Association, featured community. five panelists who de- bated the changing- definition of marriage La in today's society. "More than ever, we are faced with issues that test our limits of toler- ance," said Law Prof. Paula Ettelbrick, who mod- erated the panel. "This debate is about family, sexuality, values and marriage laws that discrimi- nate on the basis of sexual orientation." l Along with Ettelbrick, the panel included Law Prof. David Chambers, who is currently writing an article on the implications of same-sex marriage. "Marriage is the most central ceremony of com- munity," Chambers said. "Slaves were not al- lowed to marry. We must accept gay people as people - they should participate in every as- s SthemoSt pect of commurtity." Chambers sshowed imenu ofslides of the March on Washington in 1993, ff an event that promoted gay rights. H undreds of - David Chambers gay couples were w School professor joined in marriage at the end of the march, yet still lack the recog- nition of their home states. Currently, four states have banned same-sex marriages, and 20 other state legislaturess includ- ing Michigan, are working on measures that would deny government recognition of same-sex mar- riages. A "Defense of Marriage Act" that would ban same-sex marriage is also making its way through the U.S. Senate. The Hawaiian Supreme Court is currently debat- ing whether denying same-sex marriage is a viola- tion of the state's equal rights law. If same-sex marriages are allowed in Hawaii, thousands ofcouples are expected to fly there to marry. The U.S. Consti- tution requires that all 50 states give "full faith and credit" to laws of other states. According to this clause, these couples will expect their resident states to recognize their marital status. Many gay and lesbian couples seek marriage recognition because of the many economic and legal benefits that couples receive. Some of these benefits include the right to hold joint parental custody, file joint tax returns, and obtain family health insurance and benefits. Other panelists included Helen Gallagher, a Uni- versity Law School alum and former chair of the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission. Gallagherfocused on the Western definition of marriage as an institution for male dominance, and therefore an institution that would not be beneficial for the gay community. "Marriage is a word that is tainted with oppres- sion and suffering for women," Gallagher said. "As we try to assimilate, we sell out that unique vision that makes us different." Free-lance writer Russ Ballant spoke on the mo- tives of the "religious right" and their reasons fbr opposition to same-sex marriage. "What is important to look at here is the doctrine oflegal reconstruction," Ballant said. "Here, the Old Testament is law, aid gays and lesbians are executed." Following Ballant was Gabor Halmai, who spoke of developments in his native country of Hungary, where societal norms make it important to marry. "What is important are the equal rights of men and women," Halmai said. Ettelbrick, former director of a legal defense and education fund, said the debate concerned all citizens. "We are at a point in our lives, with many issues, where we can move forward and embrace our differences, or continue to lack our deeper under- standing of humanity," she said. Columnsts talk on legacy Of Ckihvez Panel honors and remembers the legacy of late union leader By Alice Robinson Daily Staff Reporter Standing before a framed black-and- white photograph of Cesar Chavez, Roberto Rodriguez shared a painful experience. "I was almost killed in 1979 by sher- iffs in Los Angeles," he said to about 30 people gathered in the Henderson Room of the Michigan League on Fri- day. "I cried twice," since the beating, Rodriguez said. "One of the times I did cry was at Chavez's funeral." Rodriguez, a San Francisco-based newspaper columnist, led the remem- brance ceremony in honor of the late farmworkers' advocate Cesar Chavez with Rodriguez's wife, columnist Patrisia Gonzalez. Gonzalez and Rodriguez focus their writing on issues that affect the Latino/ a community in their nationally syn- dicated "Latino Spectrum" column. ChAvez's experience working in fields and vineyards as a child led him to organize several successful boy- cotts against grape growers during the last 30 years. Chavez founded the United Farm Workers labor union in the 1960s. "Since Cesar died in April of '93 1 wanted to do amemorial-type piece for him," said Margarita Garcia of the Of- fice of Academic Multicultural Initia- tives, which sponsored the event. The forum began with short intro- ductions by Gonzalez and Rodriguez, followed by speeches by audience mem- bers, who shared their memories and impressions of Chavez. Throughout the discussion, partici- pants expressed the sentiment that Chavez was very modest and powerful at the same time. "Everybody kept repeating how humble he was," Garcia said. "Just about everybody said that." Ray Hernandez of the Office of Fi- nancial Aid had the opportunity to meet Chavez while he was still in grade school."... Little did I know that I was talking to such a great person," he said. "(He was a) very humble man. He didn't try to put his ego all over me." Gonzalez spoke of the great loss shared by members ofthe Latino/a com- munity shortly after ChAvez's death. "He had a moral force because of so many people that surrounded him," she said. "One of the legacies of Chavez while he was living was that hundreds of thousands of youth became part of the Chicano movement," she said. Teresa Brett, associate director of the Office of Academic Multicultural Ini- tiatives, said she attended the forum for several reasons. "We have the belief in the ability of students to be leaders," Brett said. "Some people say U-M is one of the most diverse universities in the coun- try, but we have a long way to go to make this a truly inclusive place." The speakers stayed after the pro- gram to talk with guests at a reception complete with snacks and a Mexican folk mariachi band. DNR to be led by diector LANSING - K.L. Cool has a goad news, bad news sort of job as new head of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The good news is that he has a highly prized, influential post which toucbes most Michigan people. The bad news is the DNR job weirs out directors, as they fall under 'tle burden of diverse jobs, intense intete~t groups and a glare of publicity. The good news is the toughest job, managing anti-pollution efforts, has been handed to the new Departmentof Environmental Quality. The bad news isthatby splitting upthe DNR, Cool is denied the environmental supremacy that has public attention.IHe's left with a department battered by yoars of controversy, shaky morale, wavering leadership and internal squabbling.- "A two-edged sword is a good way'o put it," said William Rustem of Public Sector Consultants, a Lansing constut- ing firm. He was environmental adviser to former Gov. William Milliken. , "It's about 10 times as easy" as be- fore the DNR split, he said. "The con- stituencies are different. The issue 'ill be fighting for attention in the budget- ary and legislative arena." Cool, a lean, lined man from the West - born in South Dakota, holding key wildlife and parks jobs in that state, North Dakota and Montana -isunper- turbed about the job ahead. "I think the No. I challenge I have before me ... is to stabilize department leadership," he said. "That's the No. 1 thing I need to do and I've already begun." Cool began by embarking on a three- week tour of Michigan, meeting DNR staff and "customers" of its parks and services. He formally replaced interim Director Mike Moore on April 1, after being selected Jan. 23 by the Natural Resources Commission, which over- sees the DNR, to succeed Roland Harmes as director. "I've been very impressed with the quality of the employees the depart- ment has, in terms of both their training and their enthusiasm," Cool said. "The parks that I've visited I've been very impressed with. Michigan's parks divi- sion is renowned throughout our pro- fession as one of the best in the nation." MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily Columnist Patrisia Gonzalez speaks at a forum honoring Cesar Chavez, the late leader of the United Farmworkers labor union. Gonzalez and Rodriguez' column, which is syndicated through Chronicle Features, can be seen in more than 30 newspapers. In Michigan, "Latino Spec- trumr" ran in the Detroit Free Press until about six months ago. In addition to their column, Gonzalez and Rodriguez contribute to program- ming on national radio networks Radio Bilingue and Pacifica News Network. Gonzalez is currently working on a book that addresses budding human rights activism in Mexico. Rodriguez has written a book on police brutality and plans to publish another one next year. Students, employees scramble to file federal and state income tax returns By Stephanie Jo Klein Daily Staff Reporter With the approach of tonight's mid- night deadline to file federal and state income tax returns, many students are still scrambling to file their 1040s, putting off studying and writing pa- pers for one more day. As of last week, the number of procrastinators who had not filed in- come tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service numbered in ex- cess of 30 million, The Associated Press reported. Hilary Haftel, a pediatrician at C.S. Mott Childrens' Hospital at the Uni- versity Medical Center, said she was planning to work late into the night to finish tallying up her accounts before this morning. "It just wasn't high on my priority list," Haftel said. Haftel also faced similar problems the first year she worked at the Univer- sity. "I waited until the last minute and had to come up with $1,200," she said. "I had to figure out, on a weekend, where to find that kind of money." Even with months to plan, people still wait until just before the deadline, clogging up traffic at the post office, which extends its closing time until midnight on "tax day." But what ac- counts for the delay? Business Prof. Joel Slemrod, who teaches business economy, said many people wait until the last minute to file. "I think it's probably not much dif- ferent than procrastinating just about anything else," he said. Slemrod said people's different time- ' tables for filling out the forms are "kind of a mystery." Some send their forms early, he said, when they could con- tinue to get interest on their money in the bank, while others who are waiting for refund money send their forms late. "I don't know how many millions of people are filing for extensions, but I'm going to be one of them," Slemrod said. Taxpayers may file for four-month extensions by sending in an estimated payment and filing Form 4868. There are some early birds in Ann Arbor - some students file their re- turns months in advance, faced with the tantalizing promise of money from tax refunds. LSA senior Brennan Grow said he has been waiting for a large refund since he filed his forms two weeks agoQ "I had no money and I need my money," Grow said, adding that he usu- ally files before the April deadline. Engineering first-year student Justim McCabe said he filed early so that hp information could be used for financial aid. Still othersjust file early to avoid the hassle. Elisa Pease, an LSA sophomore, said her parents took care of her taxes two months ago. "Otherwise, you're insanely stressed out knowing that you have that looming ahead of you," Pease said. "University President Robben Fleming and his wife Sally had to shiver under cold showers Saturday night, thanks to five students who switched off the hot water valve at the South University White House last weekend. Mark, who refused to give his last name ... claims that he and four friends were clambering around in the steam tunnels Saturday night when they noticed a sign under Fleming's house warning, 'Don't turn this off, it must be on to have hot water in the president's house.'" f you think you're pregnant. call us--we listen, we care, PROBLEM PREGNANCY HELP 7697283 Any time, any day, 24 hours. Fully cvnfidentiaii. Serving $tudents since 1970. Whal GROUP MEETINGS Alliance for the Mentally Il of Washtenaw County, 994-6611, St. Clare's Episcopal Church, 2309 Packard, 7:30 p.m. Archery Club, meeting, 930- 0189, Sports Coliseum, 8:30- 10:30 p.m. U Burning Bush Campus Ministry, :s happening in Ann Arbor today m m sI EVENTS Q "Bible Study," sponsored by Laymen's Evangelical Fellowship International, Angell Hall, Room G-144, 7 p.m. Q "Bringing it All Back Home," film screening, sponsored by Interna- tional Institute, Chemistry Build- ing, Room 1210, 7 p.m. South Quad, West Lounge - first floor, 9:30 p.m., for information call 213-7716 STUDENT SERVICES U Campus Information Centers, Michigan Union and Pierpont tee I I I ftY W11 ffflytM /MA14\'r'\t1TA'MC t1'M i I