LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, March 31, 1998 - 3
CRIME
Man struck with
ax handle
A man called the Department of Public
Safety on Sunday to report that two
unknown men struck him with an ax
handle outside East Quad Residence Hall
on Willard Street, DPS reports state.
The caller said he was expecting his
girlfriend to pick him up in a vehicle.
She arrived in front of the residence
hall with the two unknown men accom-
panying her in the vehicle.
When the caller told the men to get
out of the vehicle, one suspect exited
the vehicle and began to swing an ax
handle at the caller, striking him on the
forearm. After the assault, the suspects
fled to another vehicle.
The girlfriend told DPS that the men
were trying to get her to buy drugs. The
incident is under investigation and DPS
has no further information at this time.
Man attempts
scam at Yost
A man stole a re-entry stamp from
Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night and
stood at the exit stamping people and
collecting money, DPS reports state.
DPS officers, after discovering the
fraudulent stamper, pursued the man on
foot and took him into custody in front
of Cliff Keen Arena.
DPS officials called the Ann Arbor
Police Department and AAPD trans-
ported him to Washtenaw County Jail.
le was placed under arrest for larceny
in a building, resisting and obstructing
and home invasion.
Cars struck with
flying cones
DPS received a call Saturday report-
ing that individuals were throwing ice
cream cones out of a fifth or sixth floor
Mary Markley Residence Hall window,
DPS reports state.
The suspects were allegedly aiming the
ice cream cones at oncoming vehicles.
Residence hall officials had a meeting
with residence hall staff about the inci-
dent. The report doesn't state whether
any suspects have been apprehended.
Man attacked
outside Rick's
A man called DPS on Saturday to
report he and a friend were "jumped"
outside Rick's American Cafe, DPS
reports state.
He said there were several assailants,
but could not give a description of any
of the subjects. The man had a lacera-
tion above his lip and a bloodied nose.
He was treated at University Hospitals
emergency room.
Reports do no state whether the man's
friend was injured. DPS has not appre-
S hended any suspects in the assault.
Supervisor yells at
Dental employee
A Dental School employee called
DPS on Saturday to report that his
supervisor yelled at him. The caller said
he felt threatened by the verbal abuse,
DPS reports state.
The caller, an instrument processor,
said the problem occurred after he
asked his boss if he could leave for the
day due to psychological stress.
DPS did not file a formal report, and
reports do not state* whether officers
° contacted the supervisor.
lEx-boyfriend
assaults friend
A woman informed University
Hospitals security officials that her ex-
boyfriend broke into her house, beat up
her friend and obtained her work
address this past Friday, according to
DPS reports.
She said her ex-boyfriend is in the
custody of the Jackson County Sheriffs
Dept., but was concerned her former
boyfriend might search for her at work
or at home when he is released.
A security officer told the woman to
contact police and file a restraining
order against the man. He also advised
-her to call 911 if the man showed up at
her home or workplace.
- Compiled by Daily Staff reporter
Jason Stoffer
Union workers picket outside contracting
By Katie Piona
Daily Staff Reporter
Nearly 100 local union members circled the
Fleming Administration Building yesterday to qui-
etly demonstrate their opposition to the
University's use of out-of-state workers.
A total of about 500 workers picketed three
campus sites - Fleming, Wolverine Tower and the
plant operations area near Crisler Arena - from
early yesterday morning until about noon.
"We're trying to get the University to come back
to where they usually do business," said Jim
Johnson, assistant to the business agent for the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Local 252. "We're hoping that this sits us down at
the table with the University."
Local 252 Business Manager Greg Stephens
said the local workers were demonstrating to make
it known that electricians from the Little Rock,
Ark.-based Retro-task Electric, rather than local
workers, were contracted to do a $750,000 job for
the t Jniversity.
Stephens, who met with the Director for Human
Resources Jackie Mclain yesterday, said he is con-
fident that University and union officials will
reach an agreement, but no meeting date has been
set.
"I think some people just lost touch of what it
means to have local people," Stephens said.
Lisa Baker, associate vice president for
University relations, said the two sides will contin-
ue to work together to resolve the issue.
"Representatives of the University have been
and will continue to meet with union leaders to
discuss this and other concerns to them and their
membership," Baker said.
The Local 252 members who picketed yesterday,
were joined by numerous carpenters, plumbers and
other craftspeople who belong to local unions.
Stephens said the workers will limit their pick-
eting to the Kraus Natural Science Building later
this week, where Retro-task electricians are com-
pleting their final phase of work.
"We wanted no people that work directly for the
University on the picket lines," Stephens said.
John Iafolla, general foreman in the University's
A/C Shop, said University employees pledged not
to strike under their contract that expires in June.
"It was more of an educational picket line,"
lafolla said. "This is where all their brothers, fel-
low electricians, are."
Both Johnson and Stephens said local workers
have done nearly all of the trade work for the
University.
"I can't remember the last time we've had any-
body from out-of-state come here to work,"
Johnson said. "The issue we're out here for is local
people, local jobs."
The workers and University officials also will
examine the prevailing wage --- the standard wage
rate and fringe benefit package the University
requires its contractors to pay sub-contractor's to
do state-funded projects.
"The University and its contractors are required
by law to pay its workers the wage rate and fringe
benefits prevailing in the locality where the con-
struction is to occur' Baker said. "The University
does this and requires that its general contractors
and sub-contractors do as well"
But local union workers claim the Retro-task
electricians are not being paid the current prevail-
ing wage.
Woman warrior
Beetle invasion hits nation
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) - Would-be New
Beetle buyers are finding it's dog-eat-dog or bug-eat-bug
when it comes to nabbing their prize.
Waiting lists are 60-people deep at some dealerships, even
though each of the nation's 599 Volkswagen dealers was
expected to have at least one bug on hand by today.
Several dealers said it could be months before demand is
satisfied.
"It's crazy," said Robert Klein, VW manager for Gunther
Volkswagen in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. About 100 people put
down $1,000 deposits for cars, but only 40 people have
received their bugs so far.
"If they'd get us another 400, we'd take them," Klein said.
Bob Lewis Volkswagen in San Jose, Calif., the largest VW
dealer in the nation in terms of sales, has sold 30 New Beetles
but still had about 30 people on a waiting list as of yesterday.
"You can't get enough of them," salesperson Mo Swelam
said of the cars.
In all, about 4,000 New Beetles have been shipped to deal-
ers, and at least half of those have reached consumers, said
Tony Fouladpour, a VW spokesperson. Final sales figures for
the month will come out later this week.
By year's end, the German automaker expects to sell
50,000 New Beetles in the United States.
Most dealers are keeping at least one bug for display. At
Peterson Volkswagen in Boise, Idaho, the bug's presence has
sharply increased floor traffic, said Sharon Payne, the dealer-
ship marketing manager.
"We'll sell everything we get," she said, adding the dealer-
ship has a waiting list of 15.
At Metro Volkswagen in Philadelphia, only two Beetles
were in stock yesterday. The dealership is telling would-be
buyers to be patient. "They're willing to wait," said salesper-
son Mike DeMarco.
Equal opportunity, meritocracy
stressed at panel discussion
MALLORY S.E. FLOYD/Daily
Joyce Kornbluh Is commended at Women Warriors: An Integration Panel
yesterday at the Michigan Union Ballroom for the role she has played in
the women's labor movement.
Image Awards
honorsautsadn
blckstudents
By Sarah Welsh
Daily Staff Reporter
RC senior Angela Campos punctuat-
ed a long panel discussion about equal
opportunity in the United States with a
poignant plea for understanding last
night in Rackham Auditorium.
"It seems like we're at an impasse,"
Campos said, criticizing an educa-
tional system that does not create
enough opportunity for inner-city
students. "I wanted you to hear the
voices of these students because
they're not here."
Last night's discussion was the first
event planned by Dialogues on
Diversity - a new initiative formed to
bring University faculty, students and
staff together to discuss diversity on
campus.
The keynote speaker was Nicholas
Lemann, a national correspondent for
The Atlantic Monthly, who provided a
background on the current debate sur-
rounding affirmative action.
According to Lemann, "it was
never debated in the first place,"
which is why we are faced with the
issue many years after its institu-
tionalization.
Lemann detailed the history of the
increased weight of standardized test-
ing for college admissions, which
began in 1933 when Harvard
University's then-president wanted to
change his college from a "play-
ground for rich boys" that he thought
might create a "hereditary aristocra-
cy."
He began a program to find academ-
ically talented students from middle
America and gave them scholarships -
using the Scholastic Aptitude Test to
judge their merit.
"The SAT is the glass slipper in the
Cinderella story," Lemann said.
Today, the dream of creating a "class-
less society with equal opportunity for
all" is still part of the rhetoric debated,
but the usefulness of the SAT has come
under fire.
"Standardized tests tend to take a
picture of the educational system in
the country," Lemann said. "If you
live in a segregated society, you are
not going to get equal test scores"
according to race.
Lemann said standardized tests
are only "short-term predictors of
what kind of GPA you're going to
get" and are not adequate for choos-
ing leaders.
"Merit consists of many things,"
Lemann said. "We use schools as a kind
of filter to fill a variety of roles."
Lemann concluded by saying that fill-
ing all these roles on the basis of a sole
criterion is not consistent with the goal
of a meritocracy.
i Bq":r
!It!
S A . cAeopve
By Killy Scheer
For the Daily
The University Chapter of the
NAACP upheld its motto, "A Mission
to Lead, A Commitment to Succeed,"
on Saturday night with the first annual
Image Awards.
"We have been preparing since the
beginning of the school year,"said LSA
sophomore Shmel Graham, chair of the
event.
With the
ceremony, the"
N A A C P AricanA
the ceremony with a speech encourag-
ing activism and participation in the
community as well.
"Activism carries into academic and
spiritual life," Perry said.
Perry was later awarded with an
appreciation award for being the speak-
er of honor.
Awards were given to individuals
as well as groups including fraterni-
ties, the
National
Association
erican for Black
Disaster preparedness
sirens to be tested
F1
strives toM
encourage stu- organizations and
dent participa- leaders are often
tion in organi-
zations across yo e
c aomvpeuosk, V.
Graham said. - Shme
"The pur- Image Awa
pose of the
Image Awards is to honor outstanding Engineers.
African American student leaders, Images of
organizations and professors" for of nine stud
their efforts to uplift the black com- ceremony.
munity, said LSA senior Danielle The grou
Baker, president of the campus arise in c
NAACP chapter. Identities h
Various student leaders, organiza- campus for
tions and faculty members were rec- With ab
ognized with awards for their efforts dance, Gra;
in community service, academics, "start off w
outreach programs and political let it grow.'
action. "We're v
"African American organizations and put this eve
leaders are often overlooked," said are looking
Graham. "By recognizing students annual even
who are active, we hope to encourage There are
others." of the NAA
Keynote speaker Velener Perry, Total memb
Assistant Dean of Pharmacy opened exceeds 500
Accountants,
Black Vibes
and the
N a t i o n a l
Organization
of Black
C h e m i st s
a n d
Chemical
By Jennifer Yachnin
Daily Staff Reporter
Tomorrow at 10 a.m., the Ann Arbor
Office of Disaster Preparedness will be
testing its system of 41 sirens through-
out the city.
"They're testing the sirens;' said
Department of Public Safety
spokesperson Beth Hall. "If people hear
a siren at 10, it's just a test?'
Kathy Rich, disaster preparedness
coordinator, said the sirens are test
sounded once a year.
"We test them once a year to see
which ones are working and which ones
aren't," Rich said.
The sirens are tested monthly,
although they are not sounded, Rich
added.
In addition to being used a tornado
drills, the sirens can also be used as a
public address system and to warn the
public in case of nuclear attack, Rich
said.
el Graham
ards chair
Identities, an acting troupe
ents, performed during the
p portrays conflicts that
ampus life. Images of
has beer, performing on
more than four years.
out 50 people in atten-
ham said they planned to
ith something small and
ery happy to be able to
ent on," Baker said. "We
forward to it being an
nt."
more than 2,200 branches
CP across the United States.
bership in the organization
,000 people.
r 1218 South University Avenue1
/ Ann Arbor
(734) 998-0200
.f(below Tower Records)
77
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1 LLLNlN Al
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
GROUP MEETINGS
D Allanza, 662-2465, Michigan Union,
Pond Room, 7:30 p.m..
1i Cleptomaniacs and Shoplifters
Anonymous, 9136990, First
U "The Ann Arbor Women Painters,"
Sponsored by Pierpont Commons
Arts and Programs, Pierpont
Commons, The Gallery Wall.
Q "The Musical Female in Chinese
Music History," Sponsored by
Center Chinese Studies, School of
World Wide Web
D HIV/AIDS Testing, 572-9355, HARC
offices, 3075 Clark Rd., Suite
203, Ypsilanti, 6-9 p.m.
D Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley
Lobby, 8 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.
0 Psychology Peer Advising Office,
:
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