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. Visit the I.ily Onil. fti/l I U UNIT ED AU T O AND FLEET REPAIR 2321 Jackson Ave. Ann Arbor 48103 (313) 665-7130 STUDENT SPECIALS .Oil Changes $17.95 *Winterizations $39.95 -General Maintenance Inspection $22.50 *Foreign and Domestics Serviced . Please Call for Appointment .o 0 l t 1 CS_.