LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 5, 1997 - 5
JAWSUITS
ontinued from Page 1
inferred that Hopwood was the uni-
versity's chosen route to resegrega-
tion.
"Many people outside in the com-
munity thought we instigated it,'
Wilson said. "Because of the history
dating back to Sweat, it didn't res-
onate positively with the minority
community."
But Wilson said it is difficult to
ompare the Texas community's
Gesponse to the Ann Arbor communi-
ty's response because of regional dif-
-erences.
1I don't think there's a direct parallel,
iven their different histories," Wilson
aid. "You have a lot of that history in
-xas that you might not have in Ann
,rbor."
Wilson said the University of Texas
Iso was perceived by some people as
eing against affirmative action
because UT Law Prof. Lino Graglia
publicly denounced the university's
rge-based admissions. At the
University of Michigan, RC Prof.
earl Cohen has vocally opposed the
University's affirmative action poli-
cies and has collected information
thaat he said shows admissions differ-
ences between minority and non-
inority students.
"Many of the people in the public
don't make the distinction between an
autonomous professor ... and the
position of the university," Wilson
said.
But Baker said the University of
Michigan is making sure the public
understands its position on the law-
suits.
"We are reaching out to as many peo-
.e as possible .. those on campus and
f, to explain clearly and as fully as
possible why we believe that a diverse
student body is so important," Baker
said.
But two news programs may have
given the public a slanted view of the
Jawsuit filed against LSA admissions,
said visiting communication studies
Prof. Anthony Collings.
"Both ABC and NBC have done sto-
es about the lawsuit, and in both cases
5e overall impression seems to be crit-
ical of the affirmative action and there-
fore critical of the University," Collings
said.
Collings said Tuesday's ABC news
'piece used a "soundbite" from
University President Lee Bollinger that
give the impression that Bollinger con-
doned discrimination.
'That's probably not the impression
ihe wanted to convey; but it's the way it
me out,' Collings said.
While the NBC news piece was
more detailed. (iollingo, laid}, it start-
ed out with commets from plaintiff
Jennifer Grats, and didn't include
the perspectives of minority stu-
dents.
Collings said that in both cases, the
issue wasn't dealt with in sufficient
depth.
"The University's got a problem on
its hands - that's what the viewer's left
with," he said.
But such news coverage hasn't
affected employers' desires to recruit at
the University, said Kerin Borland,
senior associate director of Career
P'lanning and Placement.
"Since the lawsuit, we have seen
no sign of people being adverse to
the University for recruiting,"
Borland said, adding that the
University's diverse student body is
attractive to employers.
Nor has the lawsuit affected how
Michigan State University uses race in
the admissions process to achieve
diversity.
Institutions don't make policies and
practices in regard to what's happening
at other institutions," said Terry
Denbow, MSU's vice president for uni-
versity relations. "We look to our mis-
sion, not other institutions, to achieve
diversity."
School of Art and Design Dean
Allen Samuels said the additional
lawsuit has not made him worry that
a similar lawsuit will target his
school.
"What it has done is caused us to stop
and look for a minute at how we do our
admissions to make sure that we believe
in them and that they're positive and
fair," Samuels said.
"As disturbing and troublesome as
it has become, it is possible that the
lawsuit will invite ... debate about
what diversity means and what our
admissions processes are," Samuels
said. "The University of Michigan
will step up and provide leadership
nationally. That's always been it's
role."
Senate votes on asisted suicide
LANSING (AP) - With the bill s sponsor Linen, in
the growing toll of "Kevorkian's casualties" the iigan
Senate overwheltmingly approved a measure to
assisted suicide yesterday.
"It is a shame for this wonderful state that w e don '
a clear, unequivocal, unambiguous black-letter law\ to end
this," said Sen. William Van Regenmorter (R-
Hudsonville).
After a long, emotional debate, the Senate voted 28-7' in
favor of Van Regenmorter's bill to put a ban on assisted
suicide back into Michigan law.
"This is not death with dignity; this is murder" said
Sen. Glenn Steil (R-Grand Rapids).
The vote was expected in the Republican-un Senae,,
which rejected a bid to put the issue on the 1998 balot: the
measure now goes to a more uncertain :uture in the
Democrat-controlled state House.
"It will get a fair hearing," said Hlouse . Speake (iurtis
H ertel (D-Detroit),
..ut w ith the Legislature slated to adjourn for the year at
the end o'\ next w ?eek, any House action likely w\on't coic
ut i next year.
The bili would make it a felony for someone to help
another person die. Conviction would be punishable by up
to ive y ears in prison and a fine of up to S10,000.
It would be similar to a 1993 law against assisted sui-
cide. That law lapsed Dec. 1, 1994.
[he \Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that common
law, which is based on court precedents rather than actual
statutes, outlaws assisted suicide.
But backers of the latest bill argue a clear law is needed
to Criminahize the act.
The Senate bill would make it illegal to knowingly pro-
"ide the means of suicide, participate in an act by which
,omeone tries to commit suicide or help in planning a sui-
ci de.
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