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One hundred sx years f editorial freedom
Tuesday
December 3, 1996
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Panel e. vad.uates campus unity S5rarFm k , ,
r
By AlIe Robhison
Daily Staff Reporter
At one point in his life, Henry Davis thought
his hometown would make him an outsider at
the University.
"I said, 'I'm from Highland Park - we
't go to U-M, we go to Ferris," Davis told
k Action Movement members who were
encouraging him to apply to graduate school at
the University in the early '70s.
Davis, now a professor of history at Western
Michigan University, was one of the panelists
who spoke in West Quad's cafeteria last night on
the Black Action Movements, the origin of the
black lounges in residence halls, and whether or
not there is a climate of unity on campus among
black students and students of color.
ester Spence, a doctoral student in politi-
c science at the University, and Glen Eden,
African American coordinator at the Office of
Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, joined Davis on
the panel.
Thirty-five people gathered for the event,
sponsored by Housing Special Programs and
the Minority Peer Advisors of West Quad,
Barbour-Newberry, and East Quad.
The three Black Action Movements took
place between 1970 and 1987. Eden, who
came to the University shortly after the last
BAM in 1987, said the reprecussions of the
movement could still be felt upon his arrival.
"As a freshman I could feel what had happened
a year and a half before," he said.
Eden said he contributed to unity on campus
by participating in student-organized activities.
"My experience is really with the student orga-
nizations. I must have been involved in about
20 of them" he said.
Davis said the first BAM helped improve
conditions for young black students in the early
'70s. "There's no question that I would not be
here if it were not for BAM" he said.
Eden said BAM leaders taught him to be
proud of the strides they had already made. "I
think the student leaders after the BAM move-
ments taught me to look at the University as a
place where I'm black and that 'M' can be worn
on my shirt as a symbol of the struggle,"he said.
The issue of the "multicultural" lounges in
residence halls, which were first started because
of the BAM movements, was also a topic of dis-
cussion last night. Some students expressed con-
cern that the original intent of the lounges is
being lost because fewer minority students now
use them for events and discussions.
The panelists concluded by encouraging black
students to communicate with black adminstra-
tors when they have concerns and questions.
"The administration and faculty members who
are right-minded will be empowered (when you
ask them for help)," Davis said.
Students said the discussion gave them a
chance to learn about what went on before they
got here. "I'm a first-year student and I just
wanted to find out more about BAM and the
origins of it," said LSA student Catrice Bridges.
JOHN KRAFT/Daiy
Graduate student Lester Spence, history Prof. Henry Davis and Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs
Coordinator Glen Eden reflect last night on the effects of Black Action Movement.
Breaking e
bank for sprmg
By Jeffrey Kosseff
Daily Staff Reporter
Even before the first snowflake fell this winter, many stu-
dents already had planned retreats from the frigid winter
weather.
Although Thanksgiving break just ended and winter break
is yet to come, students are deciding where to spend their
s ring break.
They have been shopping since the beginning of
October;" said Helen Stamos, manager of Stamos Travel
Agency in Ann Arbor.
Cancun, Mexico, is one of the most popular vacation spots
for University students.
"I made reservations a few weeks ago," said Karen Fisher,
an LSA first-year student whose sorority is going to Cancun.
Students cited a variety of reasons for choosing to spend
the first week of March in Cancun.
"Cancun is hot," said Mona Mancy, manager of Lovejoy-
Tiffany travel agency. "It's a great party town, and it's pretty
ap when you consider the devaluation of the peso."
ancy said an average week in Cancun costs from $600-
$700. She also said it is becoming difficult for students to
obtain reservations for the popular destination.
Florida was a very popular vacation spot in the '80s.
However, some in the travel industry said students have not
tended to visit Florida as much in recent years.
"In previous years, Florida was the spring break capital,",
Stamos said. "But we don't see that all that much anymore."
Stamos said some students take advantage of off-season
rates and travel to Europe. However, Stamos pointed out,
y will not be able to enjoy the favorable change in climate
at students traveling to Mexico see.
Another location that students escape to is Myrtle Beach,
S.C., home of golf courses, beaches and many theme restau-
rants. Students are not as rushed to make reservations to
Myrtle Beach as they are when they want to travel to other
locations.
"In general, students begin making reservations in
February," said Hank Ernest, public relations manager at
Myrtle Beach Jet Express, a company offering discounted
rates starting at $199 for a week in Myrtle Beach.
Some students who are willing to pay $1,100 for one week
take a cruise for spring break. However, even with high
price tags attached, cruises are so popular that most are
already booked.
"Cruises are almost impossible to get onto now," Mancy
said.
Some airlines and hotels realize students' eagerness to go
away for spring break - and they are capitalizing on it.
See SPRING, Page 2
House group
tackles open
search act
By Jodi S. Cohen
Daily Staff Reporter
A state House committee will con-
sider today whether to modify the Open
Meetings Act to make university presi-
dential searches exempt from the law.
The higher education committee is
scheduled to hear testimony on two
Senate bills that were approved in 1995,
but were then left abandoned in the
House. A University regent is planning
to testify in support of amending the
Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), the state's 13
public universities would have more
leeway to conduct presidential searches
in private.
"A bill would settle a lot of this,
Harrison said. "Nobody knows what to
do. A bill would clearly give you guide-
lines of what you could or couldn't do'
Schwarz's bill would amend the 1976
Open Meetings Act to close early
stages of a search until three finalists
are named publicly. At that time, the
names would be public for 30 days until
current law.
With no defini-
tive answer on
OMA guidelines
in the Legislature
or in the courts,
there has been
"tMy testimony
will urge that the
_i 1L. _._.... _
"uncertainty UK
about how to do a
search" among think thE
the state's public
universities, said from ow
Walter Harrison, ,l
vice president for p
University rela- j
tions.M
While the -R
state's OMA
requires that
public bodies
hold open meetings, there have been
varying interpretations about how the
law applies to presidential searches.
In particular, some area newspapers
have taken universities to court, con-
tending that any closed meetings are
illegal.
Under the pending legislation, which
is sponsored by state Sen. John
F1WUU@UM i
a evidence
dtial search
oiling. f
egent Philip Power
(D-Ann Arbor)
the university's
governing
board voted on
a president.
The seven-
member House
higher educa-
tion committee
may vote today
whether to
move the bill to
the House floor
- with or
without
changes. if
approved by
the committee,
the bill would
then go to a
JULLY PARK/Daily
Helping hand
Mary Underwood, a member of the Spinner Flock, adds flavor to story time at the Ann Arbor
District Library with a hands-on demo of the art of spinning and weaving.
House vote. In addition, it would need
approval by the state Senate and Gov.
John Engler before becoming law.
"I am hoping the bill will be reported
out of committee and voted on by the
House," Schwarz said, noting that
Republicans will soon lose their major-
ity in the House.
See OMA, Page 7
UAC to bring
back mini-courses
By AJit K. Thavarajah
Daily Staff Reporter
After taking a semester to reorganize,
* University Activities Center will
once again offer mini-courses next
semester.
Along with bringing back favorites
such as bartending, UAC members said
students also should watch for new
courses.
The mini-course program was run
this past semester by the Michigan
Union Arts and Programs when UAC
inounced the group was undergoing
cturing until winter semester.
LSA sophomore John Antonini, a
UAC chair, said the semester off was
necessary because of personnel
changes and time conflicts.
"The mini-courses were put off this
current semester because of the
the students.
"In the past they have been incredibly
popular. It gives students as well as resi-
dents the opportunity to come together
and take a break from their stressful lives
of studies," Antonini said. "It's also
something to do during the cold months?'
However, it is unclear whether the
program will be as successful as in the
past. Currently, enrollment in the mini-
course programs is down.
Many students said they never heard
anything about the mini-courses this
semester run by MUA.
"I had heard about these courses in
the past, but I didn't know where they
were holding them this year," said LSA
junior Michael Simpson.
"A lot of my friends had told me how
great some of these courses were. I was
a little disappointed when I found out
Feds may
deputize
states to
seize drugs
Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON - U.S. drug offi-
cials, still struggling to deal with
California's newly approved medicinal
marijuana law, said yesterday they are
exploring ways to essentially deputize
state and local officers to act as federal
agents in seizing the drug and making
arrests.
"Can state or local officials seize
(marijuana) as contraband under feder-
al law and turn it over to federal law
enforcement? That's the one we are
looking most closely at," said Thomas
Constantine, administrator of the Drug
Enforcement Administration. "It
remains to be seen."
But White House drug czar Barry
I I I-w - ~ ;: