Weather ronight: Increasing cloudi- ness, low around 20*. Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow, high 350. WEb .ti One hundred six years of editoriaf reedorm Thursday January 23, 1997 'Y t *' ,. . : a, :i ' ,.. ': , J w ,m ?: a" .... . . o .,x ..'..s;2a ~ M1 ., *.A i :i < cv i Service 400 gather to ren By Katlo Plona DailyStaffReporter Nearly 400 people crowded the Michigan U *n Ballroom yesterday to share stories, h ter and tears for LSA senior Arati Sharangpani, who died in the crash of Comair Flight 3272 two weeks ago. Aqua-colored ribbons were given to every- one who attended the University's ceremony. The color was Sharangpani's favorite. Recent University graduate Harprit Bedi, who presided over the service, said those in attendance should not mourn Sharangpani's death, but instead celebrate her life. 4 feel like I should be sad, that I should be in bad mood, walking with my head down, but I'm excited," Bedi said. "I'm excited for you people to hear about my friend." Ionors sttdelt ,,. 3' nember, mourn plane-crash victim Even students who did not know Sharangpani came to show their respect. "The tragedy moved me because what I read about her reminded me of people I care about," said Social Work graduate student Julia Pryce. "I'd like to support her family, too." University students and faculty who knew Sharangpani were among the more than 15 people who spoke at the service. LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg said the University will grant Sharangpani the bachelor of arts degree she would have earned at the completion of this semester. "It is truly an honor to count her among the graduates of the College of Literature, Science and the Arts," Goldenberg said. Several representatives from Procter & Gamble attended the ceremony to show they will not forget Sharangpani. Sharangpani was returning on the Comair flight from her final interview with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, where she had been offered a job. "Arati was enthusiastic the moment the interview started," said Barbara Hartman, human resources manager for Procter & Gamble. "I will always remember the joy on her face when she left." Sharangpani's two sisters described their sister for the audience. Sharangpani's younger sister Ruta recited a poem she had written about her. "She's the kind of person you can't talk about without smiling," said Sharangpani's older sister, Aditi. "I think it was a celebration of her life" See MEMORIAL, Page 2A AJA DEKLEVA COHEN/ Aditi, Ruta, Dipti and Anand Sharangpani pose with a picture of Arati in the Michigan Union Ballroom yesterday. Sharangpani died in a Comair plane crash in Monroe County earlier this month. Liberal arts job prospects Statistics show salaries up for last *year's graduates By Chris Metinko Daily Staff Reporter Students who graduate with liberal arts degrees may find it easier to avoid the unemployment lines after gradua- tion, a study found. The National Association of Colleges and Employers recently released a com- parison of 1995 and 1996 starting sies that shows some liberal arts graduates from last year will receive an average of 10 percent more than 1995 graduates. "One of the things that makes liberal arts students so attractive is their com- munication skills. Employers look for that,' said Dawn Traub, director of employment information for NACE. Journalism and political science/gov- ernment majors show the greatest iIase. Journalism graduates can expect a 14.9-percent pay increase to a $22,897 starting salary while political science graduates will see a 9.2-percent increase to $26,924. Starting salaries for liberal arts gradu- ates in foreign languages, psychology, advertising and public relations also increased by more than 5 percent. LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg said it is hard to say what causes an increase in a p icular year but added "there is a At deal of evidence of the value of a liberal arts education" "What is special about a high-quality liberal arts education, such as that offered here at Michigan, is that students learn how to think critically, how to rea- son and solve problems, how to under- stand different perspectives' Goldenberg said. "These are all funda- mentals that provide a sound foundation firaining and employment." -ohn Jackson, chair of the University's political science depart- ment, said students shouldn't focus too much in one area of study and that liber- al arts gives students a chance to broad- en their studies. "I think what we've discovered about liberal arts degrees in general is they give students the skills of reading, writ- ing and communication," Jackson said. Jackson said political science gradu- 4 salaries increased because of the "increasing attention to events in the world have a political component to theme' Political' science Prof. Richard Hall said he agrees. "I don't like students specializing. The idea of LSA is to branch out, find what you're interested in, your talents, Hall said. ckson also said students can get d if they specialize in a technical area of study because technology gets replaced. Students seemed to agree that liberal arts degrees have benefits. "(LSA) tries to make us all well- ronnded" said Heather Kane an LSA Senator warns future of abortion rights uncertain By Jeffrey Kosseff Daily Staff Reporter On the 24th anniversary of the groundbreaking Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision, state Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp.) said the decision is not written in stone. The University chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union and Students for Choice held a forum yesterday The v featuring Smith. Smith spoke antimchoi about the future of a woman's a o right to choose. "This land- - Sen. Aim mark decision that established a woman's right to personal choice on abortion polarized "Women's rights can be slowly erod- ed by a legislature made up of 90-per- cent men," Smith said. "It's a power thing." Smith said pro-life supporters mask taking away the right to choose in fam- ily values. "It's couched in terms of family integrity, moral ethics and the right thing," Smith i rigor of the ice groups riding E.. said. A 1 thou g h Roe vs. Wade has been the legal standard for 24 years, Smith said the decision still may be over- ruled in the future. not a given any- Gore decries clinic attacks The Washington Post WASHINGTON - Amid extra-tight security following a nearby bomb scare, Vice President Gore yesterday forceful- ly denounced recent attacks on abortion clinics and vowed that "we will find the terrorists" responsible for them. The detonation of a minor explosive device a few hours before turned out to be unrelated to the luncheon meeting of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League on the 24th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion, according to law enforcement authorities. But.it left nerves jangled inside the Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington and provided a timely polit- ical backdrop for the Clinton adminis- tration's tough words on abortion-relat- ed violence. Gore employed the fire of a country preacher in condemning bomb- ings in Atlanta and Tulsa over the last week, while first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton used the occasion to promote the expansion of family planning pro- grams at home and abroad. See BOMBS, Page 9A a Wheeler Smith D-Salem Twp. "Roe vs. Wade is more," Smith said. the country," Smith said. "The vigor of the anti-choice groups is astounding, and their movement into political power is astounding" Smith said that although the Supreme Court has prohibited laws banning abortion, legislatures nation- wide are attempting to place strict reg- ulations on the procedure. Those leg- islative bodies are mostly comprised of males, she said. Ilona Cohen, president of the campus ACLU chapter, said she agrees that peo- ple who are pro-choice must continue to fight to uphold the right to choose. "Never forget the history of our bat- tle for reproductive freedom,' Cohen said. "The only way to secure our liber- ties is through activism." Female students at the University are See SMITH, Page 9A DULLY PARK/Daily After her speech on abortion rights, State Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith speaks with LSA senior Stephanie Golden, the campus president of Students for Choice. En guard The Michigan Fencing Club practices its craft at the Coliseum yester- day. The club will participate this weekend in a fencing competi- tion. JULLY PARK/Daily State Dems introduce crime bills 4 Main bills include life sentence for. three-time violent criminals, community police funding By Jeffrey Kosseff Daily Staff Reporter Democrats are taking advantage of their new control of the Michigan House by proposing a wide array of crime legisla- tion that failed in the previously Republican-dominated Legislature. The main bills being proposed would sentence three-time violent criminals to life in jail, fund community policing, reg- ulate the spread of gangs and attempt to shut down drug houses. Rep. Lingg Brewer (D-Holt) is co-sponsoring the bill that would sentence repeat offenders to life in jail without parole. "If they commit a violent crime three times, they ought not to be around anymore:' Brewer said.- Brewer said he is confident the bill will advance to the Senate. "I think it will pass through the House with bipartisan sup- port," Brewer said. However, some said his approach is too harsh -- including other Democrats. "I don't think the Legislature should sentence," said Rep. Mary Schroer (D-Ann Arbor). "That's why we have judges. The judge should be able to deviate from guidelines with good explanation." Unlike the "three-strikes-and-you're-out" law in California; which sentences people to life in prison for committing even three petty felonies, the proposed Michigan bill would be dif- ferent because the third offense must be a violent crime. Majority Floor Leader Rep. Pat Gagliardi (D-Drummond New regents to take seats at table By Heather Kamins Daily Staff Reporter As University interim President Homer Neal pounds the gavel for the last time, two regents will take their seats around the table for the first time at today's meeting of the University Board of Regents. Regents Olivia Maynard (D-Flint) and S. Martin Taylor (D-Grosse Ile), who were both elected to their positions in November, will participate today in their first meeting as University retents. "He's done one excellent job," Maynard said. "He's very bright, and he has a wonderful sense of humor that keeps everything in perspective." Neal has served as the University's interim president since July 1, after the resignation of James Duderstadt. "1n terms of the interim presidency, I hope that I will be remembered as a person who was able to step in at a difficult time in the University," Neal said. A request for approval of the University Housing Hill Area Commons is among issues combines the ideal of financial responsibility and efficiency, as well as all of the things that residents require in dining service. I think it is long overdue." Alan Levy, director of University Housing Public Affairs, said the commons area will both serve students and solve the continuing problem of labor shortage in the campus dining halls. "We see the primary benefits for students in terms of providing a very modern and state-of- the-art facility with the ability to deliver high- quality services with amenities such as air con- I. I .1