itIgan *rn News: 76-DAILY Advertising: 764-0554 One /undred seven years of edztortalfreedoz Thursday February 12, 1998 CVR M 7wt6Ar r V SeihiganDaily GM, 'U' plan for research oratory By Sam Stavis Daily Staff Reporter The Detroit gas-guzzlers of yester- year may soon be replaced by a new generation of highly efficient cars, thanks in part to an agreement between the General Motors Corp. and the College of Engineering. The agreement, which is the first its kind between an American automaker and a national University, states that GM will fund a $5 million research lab at the University. Engineering Dean Stephen Director said the University will benefit a great deal from the agree- ment with GM. The lab will allow University faculty and graduate students to directly apply ir research directly to cutting-edge hnology emerging in the automotive industry, Director said. "It provides an opportunity for our faculty and students to work on state- of-the-art, meaningful research pro- jects along with top researchers from GM," Director said. This helps ensure that research done by University faculty and grad- uate students will have real-world plications. "When we do basic research, we see how it might be used in the private sec- tor," said Panos, Papalambros, University Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. GM also has much to gain from the project, Director said. "They have serious problems that have to be addressed, and we have experts that can help them," he said. "It vides them an opportunity to work h our faculty and staff on problems, as well as provide opportunities down the road for hiring." The lab's research will focus on three main areas of automotive engineering. The research topics include direct- injection engines that burn less fuel than conventional engines, lightweight aluminum body design and hybrid gas- electric vehicles. The challenge the lab faces is to Imbine these 'processes to produce fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly cars without sacrificing the perfor- mance, safety and affordability car buyers demand. "The ultimate goal is to be able to meet the mass market needs of effi- ciency, performance, safety and afford- ability," said Hazem Ezzat, department head for manufacturing and design sys- tems at the GM Global Research and *velopment Operations in Warren, See GM, Page 5A Clinton says attack Say occur in a week WASHINGTON (AP) - As the Clinton administration pressed Congress to support a possible attack on Iraq, the U.S. commander in the rsian Gulf said yesterday he'll be ady for an airstrike "within a week or so:' Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should be "nervous," Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni, the overall com- mander of U.S. forces in the oil-rich Gulf region, told reporters there. In Washington, lawmakers were also nervous -about whether the planned U.S. airstrikes, if launched, 11 succeed in pushing Iraq to com- y with international arms inspec- tors. President Clinton sent his senior for- eign policy team to Capitol Hill yester- day to seek a congressional show of support in a nonbinding resolution Engler to appropriate SARA STILLMAN/Ly ) LSA sophomore Shomari Terrelonge-Stone sits beside Michigan football safety Marcu Ray as he and LSA first-year student Sean O'Neill, the hosts of WOLV's Shomari Sean O'Neill Show, conduct an interview yesterday at Oasis Hot Tub Gardens. Show COmbats stereotes 0 Economic boom ^ssoci may lead to a healthy Wilbanks budget proposal that thea e r. By Mike Spahn "We've 1)aily Staff Reporter months th With the economy in good shape, than in tl members of the University community said. are hoping the University will receive Harriso healthy appropriations when Gov. John in a tough Engler proposes the state's budget in match infl Lansing today. "If the Although the governor has would be already cut taxes 24 times during his sions in th tenure, Engler will be able to contin- McNul ue tax-cuts due to the booming details ab economy, said Maureen McNulty, priations. spokesperson for the Department of "The h Management and will build Budget, the state have rec department that McNultyt develops Engler's Iarris proposed budget very thou plan. allocation "The econonmy The buc has been g'oing1 programs along really well," State of McNulty said. McNulty "Overall growth is increases just at inflation, yet Engle' subsidies we're still cutting need and, taxes." es. Last year's budget proposal But H included more than $300 million for anyone c the University, a 2.5-percent ulate as t increase from the previous year. will pro That amount increased by the time Today's, the budget was passed by the legis- beginning lature. process, h But Secretary and Vice President "This for University Relations Walter funding p Harrison said the University does not it very cl expect to receive an increase as high After as last years. will be "In this business, you learn not to Appropr believe everything you're told, but sideratio we're hearing there will be about a 1.5- its firstI percent increase (proposed)," Harrison 20 at I said. League. ate Vice President for ent Relations Cynthia said she also has heard appropriation will be small- been hearing for a couple of hat the increase will be less ie past few years." Wilbanks on said the University could be h position if funding does not lation. appropriation is small, we facing some difficult deci- he future -Harrison said. ty would not reveal specific bout higher education appro- igher education appropriation d on the high increases they eived the past two years," said. on said "the governor has been ghtful in his higher education is. fdget will include many of the sthe governor outlined in his the State address last month, said. This will include in day care funding, adoption , critical care for people in agricultural spending increas- arrison warned that all that ould do at this point was spec- to how much funding Engler opose for these programs. announcement is only the g of the lengthy appropriations he said. is only the first step in the process, and we'll be following osely," Harrison said. the budget is released, it e sent to the Senate iations committee for con- n. The committee will ,hold hearing on the budget Feb: 10 a.m. in the Michigan ' By Susan T. Port Daily Staff Reporter Few television shows have managed to break the stereotypes of different minority groups on campus and grab the attention of the University student body. But a show on WOLV, the stu- dent television station on campus, is trying to do just that. LSA sophomore Shomari Terrelonge-Stone and LSAfirst- year student Sean O'Neill began The Shomari Seadi O'Neill Show in mid-October. The show has featured guests ranging from Heisman trophy-winner Charles Woodson to Harvard Prof. Cornel West. The show also has music segments featur- ing jazz, poetry and rap. Terrelonge-Stone said he wants to focus on capturing a multi-cultural audience. "Our show focuses on hip-hop culture, politics and current happenings," Terrelonge-Stone said. "We are pioneers. I didn't see many shows of its kind." O'Neill said the show's concept is unique and new. O'Neill added that it has been well-received by students on campus. "We wanted to jump on it and get it down," O'Neill said. "There has been a lot of positive feedback." Terrelonge-Stone said the show's purpose it to educate stu- dents about people from all walks of life and to break the stereotypes of students of color. "Rap music is emanating from black people who have something to say," Terrelonge-Stone said. "In many ways what they have to say is important. Even if you don't agree with what is being said, it is important to listen and under- stand what is being said." Michigan football safety Marcus Ray, who will appear on the show tonight, said he has a lot of respect for the Shomari Sean O'Neill show. "My roommate, Charles Woodson, said very good things about the show," Ray said. "They are trying to do something positive on campus." Jeff Larson, the head editor of the show, said the issues dis- cussed on the air are thought-provoking. "It is one of the most quality shows WOLV has ever seen," said Larson, an LSA junior. Larson said the show presents issues that effect students. "They get On (a variety of the) topics important to See TV, Page SA 'U' lawsuits debated by religion experts By Rachel Edelman Daily Staff Reporter A panel discussion on religion and affirmative action began last night with a moment of silence and a story about the impact of diversity on a woman's life. As a girl growing up in Virginia, Julia Henshaw's family employed a black servant who could not read. As a young woman, Henshaw faced hardships in college because of her gen- der. She later left- the Episcopalian church after mar- rying a Jewish man. The panel, titled "Religious Perspectives on Affirmative Action and Diversity," focused on the per- spectives of Buddhists, Jews, Christians and Muslims on the issue of affirmative action. "If we are going to achieve a per- fect union, there is no way we are going to be able to do this unless we have the authentic voices of those who have lived through (different) experiences," said English Prof. Ralph Williams, who delivered the closing remarks at the event. Henshaw, a member of the Advisory Council at the Zen Buddhist Temple in Ann Arbor, joined panelists Diane Christopherson, a minister at the United Church of Christ and a director of Guild House; Rabbi Rich Kirschen, associate direc- tor of Hillel; and Sherman Jackson, associate professor of near-eastern manent. Buddhism recognizes that as the world changes, problems arise, and there are solutions to those problems," said Henshaw, who is the director of publications at the Detroit Institute of Arts. She added that the Buddhist per- spective acknowledges "the idea that affirmative action .is something we need now to create a more diverse workplace." Kirschen spoke about two funda- mental principles of Judaism that contradict each other when applied to the affirmative action issue - strict justice and compassion. "If you believe that affirmative action will benefit (under- privileged) communities, you have to throw a measure of compassion in," Kirschen said. "I believe that affirmative action should work, but I don't think that it is crystal clear to all. Bringing that measure of compassion is a just thing to do." The panel was organized by Guild House as part of the ongoing discus- sion of affirmative action resulting from the two lawsuits filed against the College or Literature, Science and the Arts and the Law School chal- lenging the use of race as a factor in both of the schools' admissions prac- tices. "I think that religious voices can give different perspectives to matters (con- cerning affirmative action) in conjunc- A2 ordinance altered future o By Jason Stoffer Daily Staff Reporter Real estate agents wouldn't sell minorities property in "white" neighborhoods. Gay couples often faced the threat of harassment or physical violence when they walked out of their homes. The NAACP filed dozens of complaints against the Ann Arbor Police Department claiming they were treated unfairly on account of their race. Despite its liberal reputation, Ann Arbor could not hide the fact that in the late 1960s, it was a city divided by racial and sexual preference discrimination. Spearheaded by two members of the Ann Arbor City Council from the leftist Human Rights Party, the Council took a drastic step in July of 1970 to confront discrimina- tion in the city. By a 6-5 vote, the Council passed Michigan's first municipal human rights ordinance. The Human Rights ordinance banned discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex and age. After further deliberation by the Council, sexual orienta- tion and affirmative action requirements for city contrac- tors were added to the ordinance in 1972. The penalties for violating the law included criminal charges and civil fines. Raymond Chauncey, director of Ann Arbor's Human Rights Department, said the ordinance has opened doors for minorities. "City contractors formed affirmative action programs to retain city contracts," Chauncey said. The ordinance "has also been a deterrent to discrimination in employment and housing. "Most important, it serves as a social statement that no dis- crimination will be tolerated in Ann Arbor," Chauncey said. But laws can't change attitudes, and discrimination has not disappeared. Patrick Pieh, associate director of the Office of Academic and Multicultural Affairs at the University, said that although discrimination is now less overt than it was in FILE PHOTO Alex Johnson leads a chant at Mary Markley Residence Hall in October of 1996, protesting a Housing investiga- tion of two black students who Housing alleged drew swastikas on a student's door. A time of turmoil As protests popped up on campuses nationwide during the late 1960s, college students became more vocal about advocating civil rights. But old prejudices didn't die overnight even in Ann Arbor, where gays and black citizens bore the brunt of these prejudices. State Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp.) said that during this time, minorities in Ann Arbor faced dis- crimination in the city's housing market. Children from predominantly minority neighborhoods had to attend largely segregated, and inferior, public schools, Smith said. "Ann Arbor had a discriminatory pattern of housing," Smith said. "There was an unwritten agreement among Realtors that they'd only show blacks housing in certain areas. "The banks were especially restrictive in giving out ln-arnc to' iaitlc tnvinp into, white neighorhoods." she . C I