Tt,,... Rd:... 4.:x..... n-:f.. LOCAL/STATE ne Michenigan aiy - wednesday, September 4, New MS reps. optimistic about uture 1996-3 University 'of Minnesota admits diploma-less Two women will begin classes at the niversity of Minnesota at Morris this week, even though they were denied their high school diplomas because they wore ethnic symbols to their com- mencement ceremony. One woman, Danaj Battese-Trudell wore a Native American eagle feather on her mortar board. The other woman, Garrica Johnson, wore a kente cloth. Muskogee High School withheld e women's diplomas, saying their apparel violated a new dress code that prohibits students~from wearing ethnic symbols or tennis shoes to graduation ceremonies. MSU launches anti-alcohol initiatives * Officials at Michigan State University recently announced a six- month plan to reduce student alcohol consumption. The plan was announced by MSU's Alcohol Initiative Task Force, a panel of health professionals, staff and students, which MSU President Peter McPherson and his wife created last year. MSU's plan calls for extensive dis- cussion of issues involving alcohol in '@immer orientation programs. It also calls for increased funding for nonalco- holic activities on campus, more trained advisers who can advise stu- dents about alcohol use and the exten- t sion of the hours of intramural sports facilities on campus. ABA urges facul- ty input on dean ippointments The American Bar Association has adopted a new policy urging law school administrators to consult their faculty members about the appointment of deans. The policy is similar to the ABA's previous position, serving as a middle ground between law school faculty and administrators. However, the new poli- .y states that if a majority of professors ave reasonable objections to an appointment, the candidate in question should be rejected. ABA officials also considered sever- al other policy options, including an option that would have allowed the organization to revoke the accreditation of any law school that ignored faculty input. acist fliers cover New Mexico campus Students at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque have recently been bombarded with racist fliers. Hundreds of white supremacist leaflets have been posted in class rooms and stuffed in campus mailboxes. 'The fliers call for "white pride" and *losing the (U.S.) border." The fliers also make statements about the job market such as, "awake: Blacks hired ... whites fired." The fliers advertise a Michigan tele- phone number for recordings of racist jokes and give a Michigan address for the alleged distributor, the European American Education Association. Similar incidents occurred on the buquerque campus in 1994. tudent sues Harvard A former Harvard University gradu- t student announced recently that she is suing the school for discrimination and breach of contract. The woman, Marilyn McLatchey, said the university unfairly denied her a ,doctorate degree in comparative litera- re because she did not "fit the mold of advocating the feminist doctrine," and her work was too traditional. McLatchey said she completed Harvard's doctoral requirements. She said the denial of the degree has caused her professional embarrassment, diminished earning capability and emotional distress. The suit asks the court to set any amount of damages to be awarded. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Jennifer Harvey. By Will Weissert Daily Staff Reporter Maybe it's the excitement that sometimes comes with starting a new job, but the new members of the Michigan Student Assembly voiced an over- whelming amount of optimism at last night's meet- ing. "I think this is going to be a good year and things are going to go much better for MSA than in the past," first-term LSA Rep. Yejide Peters said. "People are much more friendly and polite. I'm very excited." After a significant turnover during last March's elections, MSA's new faces are eager to get away from the partisanship and party in-fighting that marred last term's assembly. "I'm excited with all the dialogue about being a more productive assembly," said new LSA Rep. Elizabeth Hoffman. "I think from what I've seen, people are so fed up with what went on on assembly last year that they will work hard to make improvements," Hoffman said. New Rep. Ryan Friedrichs agreed. "I think this is going to be the strongest MSA this campus has ever seen - period," he said. "I think people real- ize the party bickering doesn't get them anywhere - it didn't last year." New members also cited the leadership of MSA President Fiona Rose and Vice President Probir Mehta POp as a big reason for their opti-_ mism. E c "1 think that Fiona and much11 Probir have tried to be friendly non-partisan from the I beginning and that's a good sign for everybody," Peters said. "Student issues are much more important than par- ties or what your friends think," she added. Drawing on the optimistic feelings that hovered over last night's first meeting of the term, faculty adviser Roger Fisher led MSA in a planning and motivational session at the beginning of last night's meeting. Fisher had the assembly break into small groups to make combined and individual lists of what rep- resentatives thought would make MSA a more friendly and productive place. le are re an polite. excite. " - Yejide Peters M SA LSA Rep. One of the goals that came out of the plan- ning session included increased cooperation across party lines in the future. Representatives also mentioned making MSA more friendly to other students on cam- pus and not taking their jobs so seriously. To complement its large number of new members, MSA is also sporting a accomplish goals" said Stephanie Souter, who will handle administrative coordinator duties. "With Fiona's leadership and my 'guidance the. assembly will run more smoothly tonight's meeting was the first step." Both Mehta and Rose echoed the optimism of MSA's newest members. "This is a historical opportunity to establish a new approach to MSA:' Mehta said. "Instead of imploding in we can reach out. "You look around the room and you see 50-per- cent turnover" the LSA junior continued. "These are young people looking to make a dif- ference. I have never seen so much activity over the summer and that activity will continue." Rose said the new members were right to be optimistic, but that MSA would not all get along perfectly overnight. "It will not be a sudden change -- we are deal- ing with strong-willed individuals," Rose said. "I am equally optimistic, but it will take some time." Rose went on to add, "I see it in the hallways and at the meetings - people are just a lot happier to: be a part of MSA." new office staff including a new administrative coordinator and new financial manager. The assembly is also in the process of hiring a new election director. "I think we are going to see the assembly become more non-partisan and work together to Dems, GOP form election strategies JONATHAN SUMMER/Special to the Daily Mais oui ISA first-year student Allison Epstein studies French 101 in her room in Mary Markley Hall after her first day of classes at the University. Epstein arrived last week from California. L1ipke hearing fo-r multiple felonies setl to bgn next week ® Both parties view 'middle America' as key campaign target By Jennifer Harvey and Laurie Mayk Daily Staff Reporters As election day '96 approaches, Republicans and Democrats are trying to put their best faces forward. The true tone of the campaign begins at the convention, delegates said. At their respective conventions, the parties put forth vastly different themes. The Republicans offered a message of restora- tion, the Democrats one of construction. "President Bill Clinton and I offer ourselves as a bridge to the future," said Vice President Al Gore in his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention last week. "This convention is not about stand- ing on our record, but building on our record," said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.). As the convention was coming to a close last week, Levin reflected on the message Clinton and Gore touted at the podium, calling it "a visionary mes- sage, a reaching out message." "He will unify Democrats, but he's got to do more than that as a president and I think this sort of reinforces the message to reach out to middle America," Levin said. At the DNC, Clinton said he was against negative campaigning. "I will not attack (GOP nominee Bob Dole) personally or allow others in this party to do it, if I can prevent it," he said. "Bill Clinton is using the high road to neutralize any negatives," said Bob Burns, the youngest Michigan delegate to the DNC and a senior at Eastern Michigan University. "He's used the campaign in quite a different way." "It's one of the first times in a long time they've tried to have an issue-ori- ented campaign," Burns said. Republicans in Chicago, including Michigan Gov. John Engler, spoke out against Clinton. "The rhetoric of the Clinton campaign is in no way supported by the actions of that campaign;" he said. "Will he be changing directions as he changes locations?" Engler asked at a "truth squad" press conference last week. "Bill Clinton promises one thing and he does another. He hopes we will for- get his broken promises," said Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.) in her keynote address at the Republican National Convention in San Diego last month. "Americans know that Bill Clinton promises have the life span of a Big Mac on Air Force One." Republican House candidate Joe Fitzsimmons, who is from Ann Arbor, said Republicans want to discuss issues,, not attack personalities. "(Republicans) didn't talk of Bill Clinton and Al Gore as enemies, but as opponents." he said. Fitzsimmons said he anticipates the Republican ticket to spend more time discussing plans for economic growth and educational opportunity than attacking Clinton or Gore personally. "How can we grow the economy so paychecks are bigger and tax bills are smaller - that's what it's all about," he said. Aside from talk about the issues and campaign themes, both parties tried to con- vey a particular image at their conventions. The Democrats offered themselves up as "young and hip." They danced La Macarena, grooved with Aretha Franklin and went down home with Billy Ray Cyrus. "The reason I'm here is because I'm young," Burns said. "I think (Democrats) are just trying to show a young face and maybe young people will see it's not too hard to get involved." The Republicans tried to put forth an image of stability, offering a retreat to themes that pervaded in the Reagan era. They didn't dance in the convention hall, but they did do a lot of networking, discussing the issues with each other. "Balancing the budget is a matter of Republican will. I have it and I will do it," Dole said at a rally last month. "One man, Ronald Reagan, really started it all. God bless Ronald Reagan." - Daily Staff Reporter Katie Wang contributed to this report. Co-defendant Lujan hangs self in June; investigation reveals no wrongdoing By Katie Wang Daily Staff Reporter LSA sophomore Crystal Lujan, who had been charged with mur- der and arson, was found dead in her prison cell early this summer, but the case against her co-defen- Lujan did not have assistance and that she did not give any indication that she was going to commit suicide that day. Lujan had been in custody for almost nine months, awaiting pretrial and trial assignments- for murder and arson charges. Both Lujan and Lipke were picked up on State Street, while Lipke was driving with a suspended license. Lujan was accused of plotting and taking part in last September's beating death of 47-year-old Daniel Rice and torching the Vera Baits residence hall room of Lujan's former lover, School of Music junior Erika Banks. Banks was not in her room at the fire and 1U .=. was not in- ni fg jure. his pretrial hearing. He has been charged with 16 felony counts including murder and arson for allegedly working with Lujan in sev- eral incidents. A hearing for the admissibility of Lipke's statements is scheduled to take place on Oct. 1. Joseph Burke, chief assistant pros- ecutor for Washtenaw County, said the complicated nature of the case would result in comprehensive trial planning. Burke said if Lipke is found guilty, the judge would "have to sentence (Lipke) to life without parole." - Daily Staff Reporter Laurie Mayk contributed to this report dant is sched- uled to begin next week. Dale Lipke, who faces multiple felony counts in connection with several crimes,"is scheduled to appear in dis- trict court in Ypsilanti for preliminary hearings next Monday. (Our ir vestigati found no f or wrongd any emnplo Should I be thinking about Grad school? los uN =yee." - Lt. R.J. Smith Attempts to reach Banks both in June and this week were unsuc- cessful. John Toomey, Lujan's attorney, said he was sur- A 1 Washtenaw County Police . A police investigation deter- mined that Lujan killed herself on June 15 in her private cell at, the Washtenaw County Jail. Lujan was found hanging in her cell, having used her bed sheets to commit suicide. Washtenaw County Lt. R.J. Smith said guards found Lujan dead while they were making indiscriminate rounds the night of June 15. "(Our investigation) found no fault in any type of procedural or wrongdoing of any employee," Smith said. Smith said it was determined that prised to hear of the 24-year-old's sui- cide. Lujan had been undergoing psychi- atric tests ordered by Washtenaw County Court judge Melinda Morris last January. Toomey said he could not release "privileged information" about Lujan's psychiatric state, but that the defendant was plan- ning to enter a plea on the multi- ple charges. "We had filed. Our defense was a claim of insanity,' Toomey said. 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