IC l g ll ti News: 76-DAILY Disay Ads: 764-0554 Classified Ads: 7640557 One hundred eight years ofeditorzrdfreedom Wednesday December 9, 1998 fit. 6 No. 5th , 01998 The mieb4PM Y Clinton team tries to sway Congress Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON - The White House launched yesterday what it called "a powerful case against the impeachment of this presi- dent," arguing from morning to night before an at-times abrasive and exhausted House Judiciary Committee that President Clinton 4 uld not be removed from office. To bolster its case, the White House also issued a 184-page report that sought to rebut allegations in the investigation by independent counsel Kenneth Starr and again offered con- trition for the president's admitted personal failings in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. "There are no grounds for impeachment," said Gregory Craig, special counsel to the president, testifying before the frostily divid- ed, GOP-led committee that appears destined later this week to call for a Senate trial into Clinton's misconduct. "As surely as we all know that what he did is sinful, we also know it is not impeachable," Craig said. Despite the high rhetoric on the first of two days of live testimony by the White House as the panel winds down its impeachment inquiry, committee Republicans seemed little persuaded and - in fact - all the more deter- mined to make him pay for his misdeeds by forfeiting the presidency. "It added nothing to the facts," said com- mittee Chair Henry Hyde (R-1ll.) as he left the session with several hours to go and headed for the parking garage. He characterized the hearing as more "a seminar on impeachment law" than a defense of Clinton's conduct. One moderate Republican House member, however, indicated that he would vote against impeachment. Yesterday's hearing was consumed by a series of White House panels of constitutional experts, veteran lawyers and Watergate-era lawmakers, who also seemed to fall short of swaying the GOP committee members against having the full House vote next week on one or more articles of impeachment. It is this larger group - the full House, where the president's fate wafts too close to call - that the Clinton legal team was staking in its defense, hoping to send the 435-member body a sharp message that Clinton's conduct does not cry out for impeachment. The one-part apologetic, one-part combat- ive defense was clearly aimed at those few undecided lawmakers, mostly moderate Republicans, who might be able to see beyond the polarization in the committee. But Craig countered: "We believe the presi- dent should be given a presumption of inno- See CUNTON, Page 5 "It added nothing to the facts. - Henry Hyde House Judiciary Committee chair in reference to Clinton's defense Service tnes to catch cheats You're so money Few students turn out at 'U' drinking forum By Nick Falzone Daily Staff Reporter ,I Plagiarism has been a problem in universities for decades, if not cen- turies. But with the recent appearance term paper mills on the Internet, es that sell pre-written papers, it is now easier than ever for students to cheat and much more difficult for pro- fessors to catch them. There is, however, a proposed solu- tion to this problem. A Website, Integriguard, has appeared recently, claiming there is a way to combat the problem effectively and electronically. Professors who assign students writ- ing assignments can subscribe to the egriguard database and pay a month- ly service fee, the Website states. The service then asks that the students in that professor's class submit their writ- ten papers to Integriguard, which allegedly checks the papers against all others in the database for plagiarism. According to the Website, the essays are also compared to many of the papers that are available in typical term ,per mills. After the check, Integriguard decides whether or not the paper has "passed" or "failed" and e-mails the professor with its decision, the Website states. Though this system seems efficient to some, many University professors have expressed their disapproval. "It assumes guilt on the part of the students," English Prof. John Whittier- Ferguson said. "Any time we have this kind of security blanket check, we so giically violate the premises of cor- nity that student-teacher relation- ships are designed to foster." Shannon Ivie, an LSA first-year stu- dent, agreed that the student-teacher bond would be violated with the imple- mentation of a system such as Integriguard. "There would always be a level of sus- picion with both the student and the pro- fessor" Ivie said. "You need to trust the fessor as much as they trust you." English Prof. Eric Rabkin said he believes the problem of plagiarism can be avoided completely if professors assign their paper topics specifically. "We must construct topics that impel the student to write original work, Rabkin said. Visiting English Prof. Nancy Warren agreed, saying she believes professors should avoid plagiarism pro-actively by requiring students to submit outlines, ews of sources and paper proposals. ese steps would make it more difficult for students to purchase a term paper electronically, Warren said. Others believe Integriguard is inef- fective because it does not compare the papers to anything but the contents of the Website. "In most cases, students plagiarize published materials," English assistant Prof. Sally Robinson said. "This Oebsite would not help prevent this." Kinesiology junior Meghan Broderick also said she felt this true. "I think most people copy the words of authors, not other students," Broderick said. -History Prof. John Carson said he believes there is a better way of By NIck Bunldey Daly Staff Reporter Questions regarding responsible use of alcohol have recently surfaced on cam- puses nationwide, and a University pro- gram is seeking to provide some answers. Counselors from DrinkWise, a coun- seling service at the University Medical Center's M-Fit Health Promotion Division, held a discussion titled "Should I Drink or Not? If So, How Much?" at the Michigan Dmi League yesterday afternoon. & The discussion attracted just 10 people, a low num- ber that DrinkWise coordi- nator Kathy Klykylo attrib- uted to the final week of classes for students. LSA sophomore Gabriel Sandler, a DrinkWise volun- teer, said students missed a valuable opportunity to learn. "It's an important time for students to come learn about this topic," Sandler said. "I'm disappointed that more people didn't come. "It's tough to get students to come and to tell them why they shouldn't drink," Sandler added. "They don't want to come and raise doubtful questions." DrinkWise counselor Donna Dotson said DrinkWise teaches people to use good judgment when they drink alcohol. "Alcohol abuse is a learned habit," Dotson said. "We want to ... condition people so that every drink is a thoughtful drink." Dotson added that DrinkWise does not attempt to control drinking habits, but II SI instead to "set up a system where people can make responsible choices about drinking." The program "teaches people to stand outside themselves and monitor their drinking," Dotson said. Dotson said that while DrinkWise does not call for people to refrain from all drinking, it does not condone the use of alcohol and supports abstention as a good option. KING Dotson said, "33 to 38 ;1 percent of people in the U.S. don't drink. Choosing not to drink at all is a fairly normal stance" DrinkWise encourages low-risk drinking, which MI' involves making intelligent I S decisions regarding alco- hol, said counselor Teresa Herzog-Mourad, adding that the pro- gram acknowledges that any use of alco- hol can never be entirely §afe. "There's no such thing as no-risk drinking," Herzog-Mourad said. Dotson said some people realize that alcohol carries risks with it, but continue to drink because they feel immune to its dangers. "People don't believe they will be harmed," Dotson said. "If you gave them a test they would answer the ques- tion correctly, but if you monitor their behavior you'd say they don't understand it at all." Dotson said DrinkWise condemns the underage use of alcohol, and coun- selors who meet with young drinkers See DRINKING, Page 2 KELLY MCKINNELL/Daily LSA Junior Susannah Sperry grabs at cash yesterday In the Michigan Union. The money cage, filled with $500, was part of 'The Blizzard of Bucks Crazy Game Show,' a University Activities Center study break event. MSA votes to support GEO negotiations By Jennifer Yachnin Daily StaffReporter Michigan Student Assembly members passed a resolution last night supporting the Graduate Employees' Organization in contract negotiations with the University for the period of 1999 to 2002. The resolution "is saying, generally, we have an idea of what they're fighting for and we support them," MSA Rackham Rep. Jessica Curtin said. The resolution supports the increase in compensation for teaching and other benefits including improved dental care, and also pro- visions providing all GSIs with equal oppor- tunities to teach. The resolution also requires the assembly to submit a copy to each member of the University bargaining team and to send an assembly representative to future GEO ral- lies. "I think the demands of the GEG are very fair and just,' Curtin said. "This has a lot to do with the quality of education we receive as undergradu- ates." GEO Bargaining Commission Chair Andrea Westlund said the requested 37 percent total increase, for pay andbenefits, is equivalent to about $5 million per year. MSA Dental Rep. Jimmy Boynton raised concerns about the effect of the increased class size and the number of GSIs hired by the University. "Even if they did increase class size, they'd have to increase the fraction ofGSI teaching"Westlund said. Several assembly members objected to a provi- sion calling for all GSIs to be offered "at least two terms of employment in their first three terms" as a graduate student. The provision is intended to provide equal opportunity employment to graduate students. "We've found certain groups of graduate stu- dents are having problems teaching," Westlund said. Student General Counsel Dave Burden, who opposed the provision, said GSIs with poor teach- ing skills should not be allowed the opportunity to instruct students for two semesters. "The isn't a place where we'd like to have fair- ness ... this is our education," Burden said. Academic Affairs Chair Vikram Sarma, who supports CEO's contract demands, said the University "picks the best people for Graduate Student Instructors ... when they get it they deserve the best options." The resolution passed, with 35 votes of approval, no votes against and one abstention. Assembly members also voted to sustain a resolution until the next meeting in January against Ann Arbor Police Department raids on student parties involving underage drinking. "I think everybody is generally in favor of it in concept but I think they have some objections to the way it was worded," MSA Communications Chair Joe Bernstein said. "It's worded as if MSA is really mad and upset on behalf of the student body." Bernstein said the resolution may be rewritten to promote "positive progress" in the University community, rather than attacking the administra- tion and AAPD officials. MSA passed a third resolution supporting the MSA Students' Rights Commission review of the Student Code of Conduct, which will be submitted to the University Board of Regents next week. Pressure builds as students try to cope with finals stress By Robln Immerman For the Daily The countdown has begun. "Only 13 days, 4 hours, 10 minutes, and 30 seconds left until my last final," LSA junior Allison Emmett said yester- day. But, who's counting anyway? Undergraduate and graduate students alike are feeling the stressful burdens of this time of the year. Some students use this week as a time to outline a plan for their studying, while others leave the studying prepara- tions until the last minute. "I just freak out for the next week studying a ton, and then I crash;' LSA junior Meaghan Atkinson said. Cramming works for some students, but others say they need to take a break to revive themselves during their final exam preparations. But exercising isn't for everyone. Other activities, such as eating more than usual throughout the day, prove to be stress-reducing. "I eat at least five meals a day during finals, because then I have something to look forward to while I study," LSA junior Natalie Orenstein said. "It's like a reward for all my study- ing, and it keeps me going." To successfully survive finals, it's important to maintain a positive c.'F"3"5: I