News: 76-DAILY Advertising: 764-0554 V2 IF*46F ,ri One hundred six years ofeditorzadfreedomr Thursday April 10, 199 .i ii lg i i .v m" Igo- .. m . I GSIs gradee-in protest By Greg Cox Daily Staff Reporter More than 20 graduate student instructors graded homework assign- ments outside LSA Associate Dean John Cross's office in the LSA *uilding yesterday. The grade-in was an attempt by the GSIs, who teach in the romance lan- guage and literature department, to demonstrate how much time and effort is spent on grading work turned in by undergraduate students in their classes. The GSIs said they intend to hold grade-ins on the fourth-floor hallway of the LSA Building until they ceive a reply from the dean's office garding internal and external reviews on reducing GSI workloads. "We are looking for a long-term solution to a historical problem at this institution," said GSI Maria Elena Cepeda, a third-year romance language graduate student. The grade-in is sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee on Teaching Load, a group of romance language * Sis who are supported by the GSI nion, the Graduate Employees' Organization. In addition to graduate student support, the grade-in's goals are endorsed by the romance lan- guages departments professors and administration, Cepeda said. "There is widespread support from the faculty," said romance languages associate Prof David Caron. Kristine Pettersen, a romance lan- uages graduate student, stressed that e current situation affects both the See GRADE-IN, Page 10A House works on budget plan Final funding vote next week By Jeffrey Kosseff Daily Staff Reporter LANSING - On an already delayed schedule, state legislators say they hope to present a plan for state university funding next week. In their final stages of meetings, the state house higher education appropriations, subcommittee began yesterday to finalize its budget recommen- dations for state universities for fiscal year 1998. The subcommittee reviewed Gov. John Engler's proposed changes to the structure of appropriations yesterday. Although the committee has been meeting weekly, it has not yet set a recommended increase. "It will be our intent to come to a concurrence on a bill next week,"said Rep. Lynne Martinez (D- Lansing), the subcommittee vice-chair. Members of the University's administration are hopeful that it will recommend a higher increase in the budget than Engler, who proposed a 2.5-per- cent increase. "There has been a general interest in increasing the percentage recommended by the governor," said Associate Vice President for University Relations Cynthia Wilbanks, the University's Lansing lobbyist. "Most of the committee mem- bers want to make a difference." Martinez said she cannot state an exact pro- posed percentage increase, but she thinks the sub- committee will recommend an increase between 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent, although she said it might be higher or lower. "2.5 percent is a pretty tight budget for univer- sities to go by," Martinez said. Maureen McNulty, press secretary for Engler's budget office, said the house appropriations com- mittee is not progressing as quickly as in past ses- sions because of the inexperience of many members. "The House is off to a slower budget start this session," McNulty said. "Ten of 12 of the appro- priations members are new." The Democrat-led subcommittee had some dis- agreements with Engler's budget changes. There was partisan disagreement among the members of the subcommittee regarding Engler's removal of a $2,300-maximum cap on tuition grants. "The cap could affect the neediest students;'said Rep. Donald Gilmer (R-Augusta), who supports Engler's decision to remove the maximum grant. Martinez said there are many advantages to hav- ing a tuition grant cap. "If we have no cap, there is incentive to distrib- ute more dollars to fewer students' Martinez said. The subcommittee agreed with Engler's deci- sion to remove a clause that allows people to pay in-state tuition if their parents were forced to move to Michigan because of a plant closing. "There are reciprocal conditions that cause peo- ple to move to other states" said Rep. Morris Hood (D-Detroit), the chair of the subcommittee. See FUNDSPage SA AJA DEKLEVA COHEN/Daily Graduate Student Instructor Melinda Waterhouse participates in the grade-In yesterday in the I.SA building with her romance language co-workers. Investigation int( handed over to By Heather Kamins ment from the University presider Daily Staff Reporter threaten direct and immediate injury The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's the public reputation or the essent Office has taken charge of the case functions of the University, the pre against the University's Chief of dent may direct that the affected facu Urology Joseph Oesterling. member be relieved of some or all Oesterling is currently being investi- his or her University duties, ... pendi gated for financial improprieties the final disposition of the case." U lying possible expense account Bollinger would not comment yest a uses and consulting fees that he day on the bylaw or Oesterling's su received from drug and medical compa- pension. nies, an anonymous source told the Late last week, the Department Detroit Free Press last month. He was Public Safety, which was conducti suspended indefinitely on March 19. the investigation, handed the case ov Regental Bylaw 5.09 states that "in to the prosecutor's office, said Ch exceptional cases, which in the judge- Associate Prosecutor Joseph Burke. kk Week event hosts kids living with AIDS By Greg Cox Some of the money raised during t Daily Staff Reporter year's Greek Week will go to "Journ A lone candle burned defiantly at the of Hope," a pediatric AIDS awaren conclusion of Greek Week's organization that sponsors Car Educational Forum last night as a Heartland. reminder of friends lost to the AIDS Karen Partee, a steering committ virus and as a symbol of the hope for a member for the educational foru better future. said the committee asked the group The single burning candle has speak last night because "AIDS ome a tradition at Camp such a prevalent disease in all a eartland, the nation's largest summer groups and is very relevant to st camp for children infected with the dents." AIDS virus. "We thought we could get a lot Neil Willenson, founder of the camp, . support in raising money for t along with some former campers, coun- group," Partee said. selors and family members, brought Willenson said last night that he g :.. .a to the u nn th id t, n the rmn while sil ) urology chief )rosecutor's office To THE POINTE nt, to ial si- lty of ng ter- us- of ng ver ief "We've been given the case by the Department of Public Safety," Burke said. "We will review the report and then decide if criminal charges will be brought up (against Oesterling)." Burke said he could not elaborate fur- ther on the case and cannot estimate how long it will take for him to review the case. Associate Vice President for University Relations Lisa Baker said University administrators are unable to comment on personnel issues, and she could not comment on the status of Oesterling's suspension. One of Oesterling's patients, Auburn Hills resident Gordon Dibler, said yes- terday that he heard Oesterling is still being allowed to teach classes at the School of Medicine but has been sus- pended from his surgical duties. But a colleague of Oesterling's in the urology department said yesterday he could not confirm that Oesterling had returned to work since he had not seen the urology chief in the office during the past month. Oesterling could not be reached for comment yesterday. Oesterling, who came to the University from the Mayo Clinic in 1994, to serve as chief of urology and See UROLOGY, Page 11A BRYAN LARK/Daily John Cusack's 'Grosse Point Blank', which he.co-produced, co-wrote, and acted in, opens in theaters Friday. Local suburb featured in film his ey ess mp ee im, to is ge ;tu- of he got 1a By Bryan Lark Daily film Editor When "Grosse Pointe Blank" opens in theaters Friday, nice-guy actor John Cusack will help instill the name of the affluent Detroit suburb into the collective consciousness of the national movie-going public - just don't expect him to know any- thing about Grosse Pointe. "I've driven through Grosse Pointe quickly once," Cusack confessed. Though he's never actually spent quality time there, Cusack's film takes place in Grosse Pointe, the city widely believed to be the Beverly Hills of the Midwest, and has cast Hollywood's spotlight of curiosity Evanston, ill. "(Evanston) is similar but less upscale. And we have poor people in Evanston,"Cusack said. Even when admitting ignorance about the setting of his film or pok- ing fun at its social status, John Cusack retains an air of niceness that has permeated every performance he's ever given. Cusack gave losers a nice name in "Sixteen Candles." Cusack scored a big victory for nice guys in "Say Anything." Cusack even put a nice face on con artistry in "The Grifters." Cusack is now hoping to bring his nice, Midas touch to the role of .. ' ' II