News: 76-DAILY dvertising: 764-0554 Ce' *ri One hundred seven years ofeditorz7ifreedom Monday October 20, 1997 I z T . r Thousands 1f parents flock to Ann Arbor U Pep rally and football ilgate parties highlight rents Weekend By Rachel Edelman Daily Staff Reporter Thousands of parents could be seen tak- ing in the sights and sounds of Ann Arbor this weekend and squeezing in time to visit their sons and daughters as part of the annu- al Parents Weekend. Highlights included a pep rally Friday nht, a pre- and post-game tailgate party rday, a number of reserved parents' seats at the Iowa football game and a Paula Poundstone performance at Hill Auditorium Saturday night. "It's given me the opportunity to look at the school through (my granddaughter's) eyes," said Phyllis Brown, grandmother of LSA first-year student Kristina Dunigan, who attended the LSA reception and the pep rally Friday. "So far, it's been really interest- s ." organizers reported that about 2,000 families participated in this year's Parents Weekend, making it the largest-ever. The Student Alumni Council sponsored the event. Many parents and students expressed a desire to spend some quality time together, and to become better acquainted with the University. "We're mostly going to hang out together, which we haven't really done in P years," said parent Rosemary Reilly. daughter, LSA first-year student Nora Broege, accompanied her on a Saturday tour of the University's Art Museum on State Street. Of the many events planned for Parents Weekend, favorites included Saturday's JOHN KRAFT/Daily Myrna Rouse and her daughter, LSA senior Ingrid Rouse, both of Rochester Hills, chow down during the Parents Weekend pre-game brunch in the indoor track building. football game, tailgate party and Paula Poundstone performance. Other activities included a parent/student "treasure hunt" romp through the streets of Ann Arbor and a 58 Greene a cappella concert Friday. "The tailgate was awesome. The march- ing band was really great," said LSA junior Nicole Nelson. "The programs that they set up were all really cool." Receptions and information sessions were held at individual schools as well, giv- ing parents an opportunity to ask questions and become more familiar with academics at the University. "I feel very welcome here. The LSA reception was informative," said Ellen Samuels. Samuels spent the weekend visiting her son, LSA first-year student Eric Samuels. The weekend ended with a breakfast buf- fet and brunch on Sunday morning. "It's been great. It's a good bonding expe- rience," said Engineering senior Ellen Schwab. Although the majority of parents par- ticipating were family members of first- year students, the weekend was a chance for other parents to visit their children as well. "This is our fourth Parents Weekend," said Gregg Sindici, father of LSA senior Michael Sindici. "We're going to the game, and to dinner tonight. It's sad that this is our last time." Some families decided not to take part in most of the weekend's planned activities, preferring to spend time together on their own. "I liked doing my own things with my parents," said LSA sophomore Caryn Burtt. Regents respond to suit By Heather Kamins Daily Staff Reporter Amidst a class action lawsuit that threatens the University's future use of affirmative action in admissions, University President Lee Bollinger announced the administration's plan to educate the campus about the complexity of diversity. Bollinger said the suit, which claims the University's use of race as a factor in undergraduate admissions is unconsti- tutional under the 14th Amendment, attacks a long-standing policy that is part of the University's tradition of encouraging diversity. "What we have with respect to the admission process is the same as every other institution in the country," Bollinger said. "We view this with the gravest possible concern, with the present success of this movement (in California and Texas) ... what has happened to diversity in those institutions is unfortunate, but nevertheless crys- tal-clear proof of what we will face if this suit is success- ful." Bollinger said it is important to view the suit as a discus- sion in which the University can take a serious look at itself. "This is an educational institution," Bollinger said. "We must come to terms with it educationally. This will be a difficult time for the University of Michigan. It will test the character of the institution. I do not mean that this discussion, or debate, is unacceptable. On the contrary, we are dealing with something that goes deep into our history." Provost Nancy Cantor said she and the president have begun to form plans to enrich campus discussion on the topic of diversity. Cantor said activities will include town meetings and a lecture series that will bring in scholars from around the nation to discuss issues ranging from American culture to the particulars of diversity. "I think we hope people will rise to the understanding that this is one community" Cantor said. "Our core mission is to be a place where all views can be aired.: Regent Philip Power (D-Ann Arbor) said the intricacy of the suit has the opportunity to bring the University commu- nity together. "This is plainly a very large matter. It is striking absolute- ly at our core as a public institution," Power said. "It is also a very complicated subject, and will require all parts of our community to think about who we are, what we have been and relate that to our existing community." Power said the suit will allow the University to evaluate its goals. "I think this debate comes from between the means and the end," Power said. "Mainly the end is for us to.have a diverse student body. At this point, affirmative action is the means." See REGENTS, Page 2A S t allingS m a y be Goss' next pick for coach By Dan Stillman Daily Sports Writer Illinois State's Kevin Stallings may be the next Michigan basketball coach - by default. University Athletic Director Tom Goss said he could announce his choice for the Wolverines' head man as Sta~llngs' stats early as Wednesday. 1 Illinois State Head Since beginning his Coach, 1993-present. search last Sunday, one day Record: 82-42 (.661) after firing nine-year bas- One NCAA Tournament ketball coach Steve Fisher, appearance, one NIT Goss has reportedly inter- Tournament appearance. viewed at least five candi- dates for the position, . Assistant coach at including Stallings. Purdue under Gene But Goss's list of candi- Keady, 1982=88. dates has become more and more limited with every Assistant coach at denial by an athletic director Kansas under Roy to speak the school's coach. Williams, 1988-93. While permission is not required, Goss has apparent- ly backed off when athletic directors have requested. Bradley's Jim Molinari, Southwest Missouri State's Sam Alford, and Providence's Pete Gillen all appear to be out of the running after their athletic directors have, or said they would, refuse Goss's request to speak with them. Of the known remaining candidates, the only one current- ly employed with Division I head-coaching experience is Stallings, and his resume may be enticing to Goss. In four seasons at Illinois State, Stalling's Redbirds have posted an 82-42 record, including one NCAA tournament and one National Invitational Tournament appearance. The Redbirds lost to Iowa State in the NCAA Midwest Regional last season. Prior to taking over at Illinois State, Stallings served as ai ..,...s. -.«.- D .,7 ... ,. - --f'_.. . ln~<- - - - -an rt n- A- Students 'ke Christine M. Paik in mainstr nd Katie Piona University," aily Staff Reporters ence is open Through an art exhibit, a poetry slam and people are p o panels, University graduate and under- ing the conf raduate students and students from other A series of schools nationwide questioned what it means and opening' o be "keepin' it real." welcome by f ganized by Rackham graduate students which docum Clene Allen and Niki Dickerson, pus who defi Keepin' It Real: Authority and Authenticity to them. in the Performance of African-Americanist "The phra cholarship" centered on the experience of ent things to, lack scholars and their questions about connected so identity. can relate to "The main goal of the conference is to community o ive an opportunity for people to come of how to de ogether and dialogue about the experi- Art first- nce of being black in mainstream space, Alexander, ofac e trial r 1991 rap Py Stephanie Hepburn Daily Staff Reporter A University alumnus who is accused of raping his step- sister on campus will face trial for the 1991 incident after a local judge ruled in an emotional hearing Friday that the case must go to court. Prior to the hearing, attorneys for University Engineering graduate Michael Dugan, county prosecutors and the trial u e agreed to try a rape charge against Dugan under a legal pk.nown as the Cobb's agreement, which can be applied to some rape cases. . According to the Cobb's agreement made before Friday's hearing, the defendant agreed to plead guilty to all charges in return for a three-month sentence. But after the victim, LSA graduate Cara Foley, made an emotional victim's impact statement before the court Friday, Washtenaw County Judge Wilder decided to nullify the pre- yep it real' with the arts eam institutions, like the Dickerson said. "The confer- n to everyone, not only black articipating or presenting dur- ference." f events began with a registration session Friday, which included a the co-planners and a video, nented students of color on cam- ned what "keepin' it real" means se 'keepin' it real' means differ- different people, but they're all imehow," Allen said. "Everyone issues of breaking ties with their of origin temporarily, and issues al with it" year graduate student Shawn who was one of four Art stu- "feel like African- Americans are changing" - Mischa Thompson Rackham first-year student dents to display his work, said his paint- ings "incorporate the histories, memories, heritage and spirituality of the African diaspora," although the viewer may not see it. . "From art you can see multiple realities," Alexander said. "The paper is real, the paint' is real, and the images are definitely real. It's just how you interpret it." Rackham first-year student Mischa Thompson registered for and, attended the conference "to see if the conference itself was 'keepin' it real."' "I feel like African Americans are chang- ing," Thompson said as she browsed through the gallery. "I wanted to see if the conference would address only things in an academic manner, or if it would really go out of acade- mia and touch on things outside the school community." Jemima Pierre, an Anthropology graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, who made a panel presentation, said she was very pleased with the way the conference was conducted. "I didn't really have any expectations com- ing in, so I kind of left myself open," Pierre See POETRY, Page 5A