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One hundred six years of editorilfreedom
Tuesday
October 29, 1996
b
, andidates for
ayor speak at
SA forum
egan Exley
:Staff Reporter
Incumbent Republican mayoral candidate Ingrid Sheldon
and Democratic candidate Chris Kolb defended their politi-
cal positions last night in a debate arranged by the Michigan
Student Assembly, amid an irritated crowd of activists.
Though the audience of about 25 was larger than organiz-
erhad expected, the majority of the attendees were members
of the National Women's Rights
Organizing Coalition, who had come
to press the candidates about recent
community incidents - including
police brutality in local high schools
and the impending charges against
protestors arrested at last summer's
KKK rally.
"It's better to have angry students
than no students at all," said David
Burden, vice chair for MSA external
Sheldon relations. "Overall, we're pleased with
the turnout."
The candidates attempted to
ress questions mediated by MSA Vice President Probir
vta, despite the underlying agitation of the crowd.
Sheldon emphasized her goal of strengthening the lines of
communication between local government and the
University, adding that during her tenure, MSA has been wel-
comed to address city council meetings.
"The University students are very valuable to the Ann
Arbor community" Sheldon said. "Historically, the city has
grown around the University and the
students are the basis for the city's
economic success..
Kolb pointed out the benefits the
community reaps from the students'
presence.
S.. pr"They bring expertise and knowl-
edge to the community," Kolb said.
' "Their work in things like Project
Outreach and environmental educa-
tion in local schools not only help the
Kob University but are valued by the com-
munity."
Kolb and Sheldon held similar
stances when it came to concerns over the role of local gov-
i ent in the community.
"L-think that environmental issues, such as improving the
quality of the Huron River and the preservation of cultural
diversity in the area, are very big concerns to voters." Kolb
said. "I am very committed to seeing that the needs of every-
ole ,re recognized. I firmly believe that the city government
shoud be made accessible to everyone."
Kolb said he feels that public safety is also a very impor-
tant topic, especially to University voters, but Sheldon said
safety is her "No. 1 priority."
"In light of the recent robberies and assaults in the campus
See DEBATE, Page 7
Sr
C
F
':
J:-"-wi L .
BULL PULPIT KIND OF OB
Faulkner:
4'U,
needs
agenda
,
JOHN KRAF/Daity
University presidential candidate Larry Faulkner addresses members of the public during interviews yesterday in the Fleming
Administration Building. The regents plan to meet today to discuss the future of the search process.
Rsee in private to
set future of search process
N Presidential candidate is 'low-key,
calm' at interview yesterday
By Jodi S. Cohen
Daily Staff Reporter
With a calm, Midwestern directness, Larry Faulkner
described the University presidency yesterday as a "bully
pulpit kind of job" - a position he seeks only because of the
University's high status.
Faulkner, provost and vice chancellor at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said the president's role is to
"establish a healthy climate" and not to serve as an operating
officer. When addressing a society that's becoming more
skeptical of public universities, Faulkner said presidents of
large research institutions must serve as spokespeople and
listeners.
"I think what a president can do is to help the community
understand the challenges.' he said, adding that the president
should "keep a relatively confined agenda at any given time."
"This University will not fail to meet the future if it focus-
es on the challenges."
Faulkner explained that he is still unsure about serving as
University president because Illinois is currently undergoing
significant changes and it would be an "awkward" time for
him to leave.
"I've stayed out of presidential searches everywhere else,"
lie said. "I made an exception in this case. ... I felt that I
ought to talk about it."
Regent Philip Power (D-Ann Arbor) gave a thesaurus-like
definition of Faulkner.
"le was low-key, modest, within-himself, reserved
Midwestern, candid, organized," Power said after the public
interview with the board and town-hall style meeting with the
general community yesterday.
Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) said she
was impressed with Faulkner's "grounded. concise" answers
and his reverence for the University.
Faulkner repeatedly said that he Celt privileged to have
made it to the final stage of the search process.
"It's a great honor simply to be sitting at the end of this
table," he told the board.
Faulkner, the last of four finalists to be interviewed for the
position, first served as a chemistry professor and then as
See FAULKNER, Page 7
By Jodi S. Cohen
Daily Staff Reporter
After a week of open public inter-
views with finalists for the University
presidency, the Board of Regents will
once again close its doors to the public
today.
The board will meet privately with its
attorneys at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the
future of the search process. During the
last week, the board interviewed the
four candidates recommended by the
Presidential Search Advisory
Committee.
"If we are closing a meeting in
regards to the search, it will have to do
with procedure" said Regent Andrea
Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor). "it
will have nothing to do with the candi-
dates."
The regents must decide how and
when they will proceed in choosing the
next president, a process they hope to
complete by Thanksgiving. Any meet-
ings about the candidates or discussions
about the regents' preferences must be
held publicly:
Regent Laurence Deitch (D-
Bloomfield Hills) said that in the wake
of a recent circuit court decision, the
board will meet with its attorneys to
clarify what actions are legal.
The decision requires that almost all
public meetings of the board be open,
except when reviewing confidential
information about the candidates.
"We need to have a clear understand-
ing of what we can and cannot do."
Deitch said.
While the regents would not divulge
their preferred candidates.
Engineering student Mike Pniewski
said he hoped the board would choose
University of Pennsylvania Provost
See SEARCH, Page 7
Student
obbed on
} Forest
By Anupama Reddy
Daily Staff Reporter
. Ann Arbor police officers appre-
hended a 17-year-old male who
attempted to rob a male University stu-
dent in the 900 block of South Forest
Avenue at gunpoint late last night.
"The suspect was spotted on (South
Foest Avenue) and chased to South
R*iversity," said Ann Arbor Police
partment Lt. Donald Leach. "He
was apprehended at South University,
and he still had the gun with him."
The victim was removing property
from his car when he was approached
from behind by the suspect at 11:05 p.m.
yesterday. The assailant allegedly shoved
a gun into the victim's back and repeat-
edly demanded his wallet, Leach said.
"The victim told him he did not have
any money, and the suspect fled,"
Ach said.
AAPD officers responding to the 911
call were in the area and were able to
catch up with the suspect, Leach said.
The suspect was taken into custody
last night, and police cannot release his
name because he is a minor.
A similar armed robbery incident
also occurred on South Forest Avenue
on Friday night, and two other rob-
es occurred Sunday.
A suspect allegedly used a shotgun
and stole an unspecified amount of
money from an attendant in a parking
structure at 8:39 p.m. Friday, according
to AAPD reports.
Sunday, three men allegedly stole
mone an d house kevs from a victim in
Affirmative action
not 'hot-button'
issue in Michigan
JULLY PARK/Daily
Third-year Dental student Sun Yung Bak, who is living in Martha Cook residence hall for her third year, plays the $200,000
Steinway piano in Martha Cook's Gold Room yesterday. Many residents are unaware that the piano is one-of-a-kind.
StudentsenjoyrarepianoatC
Stuent enyrare piano at Cook
By Jennifer Harvey
Iaily Staff Reporter
Affirmative action is one of the
touchiest points' of contention this elec-
tion season - but it isn't as fiercely
debated in Michigan as it is in other
parts of the country.
"Affirmative action doesn't seem to
be as much of a hot-button issue in
Michigan as it is in places like
California" said Danny Hoffman, coor-
dinator of the University's Labor
Studies Center and an affirmative
action researcher.
California voters will decide the fate
of affirmative action there next week,
when they vote
on legislation that
proposes an end4
to the practice in
the state.
Even though
there is not a pro-
posal on the bal-
lot, candidates
still speak out to
Michigan voters No. 1
about the issue.N
Some say affirmative action has served
its purpose and should be put to rest.
Others say it must be maintained. Many
who believe affirmative action should
continue debate exactly what form it
should take.
The necessity of its implementation
is contested in matters from university
constitutional limits, said U.S. Rep.
Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor). "That
means no quotas."
She said it's too early to think about
abolishing affirmative action programs
because the policies' work is not done.
"We don't have a level playing-field
yet? Rivers said.
She said there needs to be greater
access to educational opportunities for
under-represented groups. "We need to
make sure everybody has a fair chance
to succeed," she said.
Olivia Maynard, a Democratic candi-
date for regent, said she supports affir-
mative action. She said she believes it is
appropriate to
review affirma-
tive action poli-
cies periodical-
ly to make sure
the policies are
going in the
right direc-
'19 6 tion.'
Republicans
in a 12-part series say they also
w a n t
Americans to have a fair chance.
Joe Fitzsimmons, a Republican chal-
lenging Rivers for her seat, said he is
against "preferences and set-asides?
but supports "equality and the fight for
equal rights.:
Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor),
who is running for re-election to the
By Bram Elias
Daily Staff Reporter
From the lobby of Martha Cook, the
sounds of Beethoven, Brahms and
Chopin waft through the air on a regu-
lar basis. But many residents are
unaware that their fingers are tickling
the ivory of an exceptional piano.
Unlike other residence halls, Martha
Cook has a piano that is worth about
$200,000 and is the only one of its kind
- in the world.
"We're very proud of it," said Gloria
Picasso, director of Martha Cook. "It's
a niece of art. more than iust a piano."
music and director of piano technology
at the School of Music. "Every single
piece of wood in there, every sliver, is a
separate piece of wood. The inlay on this
is utterly seamless and unbelievable."
Of course, the Cook Steinway is
more than just art.
"It has a very pretty sound," said
Kana Ohashi, an LSA first-year student
and Martha Cook resident. "I have been
playing piano for 12 years. I played
Yamaha and Kawai pianos in Japan,
some of the best in the world, but the
touch on this is much lighter. I like this
more than any other piano I've played."
When William Cook, who donated
Martha Cook Residence Hall to the
University, first commissioned the
piano in 1913, it cost $1,600. The actu-
al piano cost $1,300, and the inlay and
carving was another $300.
The Steinway Restoration Center
estimated that reproduction of the piano
and carving today would cost approxi-
mately $200,000.
"Steinways have never been inexpen-
sive," Grijavla said. "They are known to
be high class. There's no such thing as a
bargain."
Cook residents have been duly
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