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News: 76-DAILY
Advertising: 7640554
One hundred six years of editorialfreedom
Monday
September 8,1997
UA
Students'
react to
pending
lawsuit
By Jeff Kosseff
Daily Staff Reporter
A looming lawsuit challenging the
University's affirmative action policies
has sparked campuswide debate among
the student body.
The four state representatives orga-
zing a class-action lawsuit have been
contact with more than 400 people
who say they have been discriminated
against due to affirmative action initia-
tives at the University. State Rep. David
Jaye (R-Macomb), one of the lawsuit
organizers, said the lawmakers hope to
file suit this fall and plan to retain the
same lawyers who won the ground-
breaking Hopwood case last year.
Many students voiced their opinion
on affirmative action policies after The
ichigan Daily requested student input
ough an e-mail group.
Some students support the lawsuit's
intentions because they said that for
true equality, affirmative action must be
abolished.
"One's race, ethnicity and gender do
not necessarily correspond to a particu-
lar background or belief system;' said
LSA junior Gregory Hillson.
Other students, however, believe that
,erepresentatives planning the lawsuit
"These are the same people who are
pushing for tougher laws against crimi-
nals that commit horrendous crimes,"
said LSA student Andrea Zellner. "But
what about slavery, racism, misogyny
and all the other hatred that has existed
in our society for centuries? These are
crimes against humanity that were com-
mitted by upper, white, middle-class
idealism."
I*Zellner said affirmative action is a
remedy, not revenge.
"Affirmative action is a way to fight
against these crimes, not a punishment
for white people, but merely a way of
letting our fellow human beings have a
chance at opportunities they might not
otherwise have" she said.
The Institute for Community Rights,
the lawfirm that won Hopwood vs.
xas last year, is currently interviewing
any students who say they did not
receive financial aid or admissions to
the University because they do not have
minority status.
In the Hopwood case, a woman
sued the University of Texas law
school and succeeded in proving she
was not admitted because she was not
a minority. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court
of Appeals ruled that her denial of
admission violated the 14th
amendment.
Some students said affirmative action
is an unfair way to deal with current
problems.
"I think people need to look hard at
the unintended consequences of affir-
mative action at a selected enrollment
institution such as U of M," said
Rackham student Bob Thorson. "One
such consequence is the stratification
that results when different standards are
Osed for different groups."
See LAWSUIT, Page 2A
World rns another
loss
A mourner waits to
see the body of
Mother Teresa in
Calcutta, India,
yesterday. At left,
thousands of peo-
ple lined up to see
her body. Mother
Teresa died Friday
of a heart attack
at the age of 87.
Emma Campbell,
below, who recent-
ly relocated to Ann
Arbor from Britain,
woke up at 5 a.m.
to watch the
funeral of Diana,
Princess of Wales.
Campbell, who is
from Bath,
received a phone
call from her cry-
ing mother during
the televised
broadcast.
By Alice Robinson
Daily Staff Reporter
On Friday morning -just one week after the
world lost Princess Diana - a heart attack
claimed the life of Mother Teresa, sending anoth-
er wave of grief throughout the world.
The 87-year-old nun, who died in her mission in
Calcutta, leaves behind a legacy of selflessness that
touched the needy and destitute all over the world.
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje,
Macedonia, Mother Teresa became a nun at age
19 and dedicated her life to alleviating human
suffering. She once said that she would forsake
the gates of heaven to work in hells on Earth.
"To me personally, she kind of did a lot (for)
me because I met her twice," said LSA junior
Amit Vaidya, president of the Michigan Indian
Cultural Association. "I just told her that I was a
great admirer of her and she said 'Thank you.'
She said, 'Keep up the good work."'
Vaidya met Mother Teresa while attending an
international high school in New Delhi. Vaidya
was volunteering at one of Mother Teresa's
ashrams, or centers for the needy, during his
senior year of high school.
"She often gave motivational-type speeches,
talking about how we as individuals need to take
on responsibility. She smiled a lot and she
laughed a lot," Vaidya said. He noted that at the
time of their meeting she was dressed humbly in
her traditional inexpensive "khadi" sari.
Geoff Martineau, a staff member with Campus
Crusade for Christ, expressed surprise when told
of Mother Teresa's death on Friday. As he packed
up after Festifall, Martineau said he admired,
Teresa's life and work.
"I think it's really sad. I think she was a great
Christian and a great woman. She's done a lot for
the people of India," Martineau said. "She had so
much credibility with the non-Christian world."
Although her goal was not to receive public
acclaim, Teresa was thrust into the world's spotlight
in 1979 when she was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize for her tireless compassion for the poor.
Mother Teresa was known for combing the
streets of Calcutta and giving food, shelter and
medical care to those on the verge of death. She
opened clinics for the needy all over the world,
including facilities in Detroit.
School of Education senior Soha Shah, a mem-
ber of the Indian American Student's Association,,
said she heard about Mother Teresa's death "late
Friday night, early Saturday morning."
Shah said Mother Teresa set an example by help-
ing everyone, regardless of their race, age or creed.
"It's important to me that she took the time to
help everyone without making distinctions ...
Everyone was on an even playing field. It didn't
matter to her," she said.
In recent years, Mother Teresa's health became
poor. Last year the world held its breath when her
heart collapsed and she contracted malaria.
The Indian American Student's Association is
planning a tribute to her in their monthly newslet-
ter, "Young Indian America," said co-president
and LSA junior Rahul Shah.
-The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Inside: India mourns Mother Teresa. Page 5A
AP PHOTO
Britain still grieves for Diana
LONDON (AP) - Her funeral is over, her
body rests in the cool dirt of a quiet country
estate, and the feelings of those who mourned
Diana have evolved from personal disbelief to
public grief to near-mythic adulation for a
princess who died too young.
Now, an exhausted nation struggles for its
breath after an extraordinary week during which
outpourings of tears and heartache carried unan-
ticipated - and quite unsettling - questions
about what Diana's life, death and legacy mean
for the fabric of Britain.
It was a week that rendered suddenly passe the
phrase "stiff upper lip" A week that united com-
moners and aristocrats in royal London's crowded
streets. A -week when a big-hearted, insecure
woman with an eating disorder, a penchant for
controversy and two beautiful sons instantly was
elevated toward sainthood by a nation hungry for
a heroine who could never disappoint.
Finally, it was a week when the long-ruling
House of Windsor, painfully out of step, learned
just how much of a star its princess was - and
how fervently the public looked to her as the pro-
totype of a new, modern royal model.
Yesterday, the kingdom's elected leader
acknowledged all this.
"As a result of what happened," said Prime
Minister Tony Blair, "we have changed."
In so many ways, it seems he is right.
Anyone who said more than a week ago that a
one-car accident in a Paris tunnel could sucker-
punch all Britannia undoubtedly would have been
laughed at.
Yet here is this nation, dealt a staggering blow
by the death of a princess it had spent much of the
last two decades trying to decide whether to
adore, excoriate or just plain watch.
"We have all been trying in our different waysj
to cope," Queen Elizabeth II said Friday night in
an unprecedented live public address from
See DIANA, Page 5A
"SA "M "ILLMAN/Dail
Hundreds of students gather for Festifall
By Stephanie Hepbum
Daily Staff Reporter
Crowds of students browsed group tables,
chatted with student organizers and lingered on
the Diag and Ingalls Mall on Friday, enjoying
the sun-drenched and balloon-flying sights of
Festifall.
While thousands of students grabbed pamphlets
and talked to more than 250 University and com-
munity organizations, the Ring Of Steel sword
club used more unorthodox methods of attracting
new members.
Dressed from head to toe in full Renaissance
attire, members dueled and sword fought one
another by the Ingalls Mall fountain.
SNRE sophomore Sarah Deneweth, a member
of the environmental protection organization
EnAct, said Festifall was definitely a success this
year.
"People seem really interested and want to get
involved," Deneweth said. "Students are signing
up and asking what plans are on for the upcoming
year."
LSA senior Vivian Stambaugh said Festifall
gave first-year students a taste of campus activi-
ties.
"Festifall helps out incoming freshmen. It's a
good way to expose students to all the organiza-
tions on campus" Stambaugh said. "Most people
walking through don't know about all the organi-
zations they are being introduced to here today."
A new structuring at Festifall caused concern
among some organizations. Dave Caroline, chair
of the Hillel governing board, said Festifall's divi-
sion of groups into distinct categories did not ben-
efit all organizations.
"It is upsetting that Hillel was put in the reli-
gious group because, although Hillel does provide
religious resources to Jewish students on campus,
it is by no means the only contribution that Hillel
makes to campus as evidenced by such programs
as the Golden Apple Award, and Hill St. Forum,"
Caroline said. "People are intimidated by religious
things."
LSA first-year student Julie Mayfield said
Festifall offers the help that first-year students need.
"Festifall helps freshmen orient themselves with
the organizations on campus. The stereotype of
the lost-and-wandering freshman is pretty true,"
Mayfield said. "Festifall is the way a lot of fresh-
men are getting involved and gathering informa-
tion on the organizations and people they meet
here," Mayfield said.
Mike Waters, a member of Students Of Biology,
said Festifall booths can sometimes be intimidat-
See FESTIFALL, Page 3A
U' playmate holds signing
Singing the blues
M University student
models for October issue
f Playboy
By Susan T. Port
Daily Staff Reporter
Ann Arbor resident Kristy Kosta was
one of few women who showed up
Friday to meet a university students
who had posed for October's issue of
Playboy magazine.
Kosta - who said she was not
uncomfortable standing among the
esoundingly male crowd - got an
autograph for her brother and
boyfriend.
"No, I am not against (Playboy),"
Kosta said. "It's a surprise for my broth-
er and boyfriend. They didn't ask me to
do it."
On Friday hundreds of Ann Arbor
residents and University students gath-
student Erica Hiatt, two of Playboy
Magazine the women who were fea-
tured in Playboy's Big 10 issue.
Organizers said the women inscribed
about 2,000 autographs before the day
was out.
Chmiel
said she
w e n t
through a
difficult
ordeal
w h e n
deciding
if she
would
p o s e
naked for
Playboy.
wTe
w e e k
before I posed, I was going through
conflicting views from friends and fam-
it was in the stars.
"I did it because my horoscope told
me to do it," Chmiel said. "My horo-
scope told me I was going to be work-
ing on a Sunday."
Chmiel said that despite reservations,
she does not regret being featured in
Playboy.
"My boyfriend at the time really did
not want me to do it," Chmiel said.
"There are people that I hope do not see
it.'
Hiatt said she kept her audition for
Playboy under wraps.
"When I tried out, I did not tell a
single soul," Hiatt said. "My mom
was shocked at first, but she came
around.'
Chmiel said she felt some discomfort
while posing.
"It was really hard to pose," Chmiel
said. "I was kneeling on marble and I
hurt my knees."
_ .,