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One hundred eght years ofeditoreldfreedom
Wednesday
October 21, 1998
lo 004
I
Nadi'on
By Nikita Easley
and Jennifer Yachnin
Daily Staff Reporters
An investigation by officials at Phi Delta Theta frater-
nity's national headquarters led to the suspension of the
University chapter yesterday after findings showed the
fnity had violated an alcohol-free housing policy.
"The General Council - the governing body of Phi
Delta Theta Fraternity - Tuesday voted unanimously to
suspend the charter of the chapter at the University of
Michigan," Robert Biggs, executive vice president for
Phi Delta Theta national headquarters, said in a written
statement. "Last week the chapter members broke their
commitment to keep their house alcohol-free. In failing
to keep that commitment, they also separated them-
selves from the core values of this fraternity."
e suspension places the chapter members on alum-
nmtus and also requires those members of the frater-
nity living at the Washtenaw Avenue residence to find
Through an unconventional campaign, Democratic gu
Geoffrey Fleger works to unseat incumbent Michigan
A ROOKI
Fi Feer le
colorfu C a
By Jason Stoffer elected, Fie
Daily StaffReporter first 90 da
There isn't much middle ground with conservativ
Geoffrey Fieger. Most people either love mented dui
or despise the flamboyant Democratic "I'd atte
candidate for state governor. mental faci
During his trek down the campaign laws and re
trail, Fieger has made a habit of lam- Natural Re
basting the establishment and a recent in
denouncing current Gov. John Engler Daily. "I'd
a man "who has never had a job in vents publi
s entire life." bargaining.
Fieger, a University alumnus, uses Fieger u
the rallying cry "Fieger time" to pro- lawyer for
Claim his campaign's mission: to com- Jack Kevo
mence a new era of popular govern- the Dem
ment "of, for and by the people." If
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Phi De04
new housing, said Marc Mores, director of liability and
risk management for the national Phi Delta Theta frater-
nity. The campus Phi Delta Theta chapter became alco-
hol free in the spring of 1995.
Chapter members "will not remain in the chapter
house during the time there is no charter," Mores said.
lie added that the time limits imposed on members
asked to move out of the house will be "fair for all par-
ties involved," but no time frame has been discussed yet.
The invcstigation was spurred by the death of LSA
first-year student Courtney Cantor, who died Friday
after falling from her window on the sixth-floor of Mary
Markley Residence Hall.
Cantor was seen drinking at a party at the Phi Delta
Theta house Thursday night after she attended carry-
in ceremonies at the Chi Omega sorority, where she
was pledging.
Autopsy reports released by the Washtenaw County
Medical Examiner's office indicate Cantor died from
head and spinal injuries resulting from the fall.
Bader Cassin, Washtenaw County's chief medical
examiner, said Cantor's blood alcohol level was 0.059.
Although this number is below the legal alcohol limit.
Cassin said the "alcohol could have had a significant
effect," on her behavior, depending on Cantor's body
size, experience drinking alcohol and alcohol tolerance.
A blood alcohol level of 0.08 is considered impaired
for Michigan drivers. An individual with a level of 0.10
is considered drunk.
Cassin added that Michigan's blood alcohol levels
'should not be used to determine whether Cantor was
intoxicated because the numbers were derived from a
group of individuals who were larger in size, older and
had more experience drinking. The only way one
could determine if alcohol effected the 4-foot-10-inch,
114 pound Cantor is if they talked with individuals
who were with her while she was drinking.
See SUSPENSION, Page 2
Members
of the Phi
Delta
Theta fra-
ternity,
whose
char er
was
revoked
yesterday,
alumn a
be forced
to move
out of their
house
LOUIS UROWN
Da
I
abstains
alco Chol
a areness week
tSI A JUHT\NJUN/Ua y AP PHOTO
Ubematorial candidate Gov. John Engler hopes a vibrant economy and low unemployment will lead to a
nGov. John Engler. third term in the state's top position.
FC AND AVEERAiN
idS
___.
Incumbent governor
Seager for third term
By Erin Holmes
Daily 5tif Reporter
While colleges across the nation
are celebrating National Collegiate
Alcohol Awiareness Week, the
University isn't participating,
despite a recent student death in
which alcohol may have played a
part.
Administrators attributed the
Uniersity's abstinence to the high
cost of awareness activities, adding
that many students already recog-
nize the dangers of alcohol abuse.
1 1he eistion becomes, do we do
things that makes us feel good or do
we do things tht do good?" asked
Maureen Hartford, vice president
for student affairs. "We do things all
year long, but some campuses do
things for one week and ignore the
other 51 weeks of the year."'
Awareness week began three days
afiter LSA first-year student
Courtneuy Cantor dlied after falling
from her sixth-floor Markley
Residence Hall window Friday
morni g.
Cantor, who attended a party at
the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, had a
blood alcohol level of 0.059 -
below Michigan's legal driving limit
of 0.08 but enough to significantly
affect an underage or inexperienced
drinker.
"Alcohol awareness week is defi-
nitely important, given the circum-
stances of this past weekend,"
Panhellenic Association President.
Mary Gray said.
Alcohol and Other Drug
Education Coordinator Marsha Benz
said Cantor's death, although not
necessarily directly related to alco-
hol, reflects the idea that even one-
time illegal alcohol consumption
can have serious effects.
Students "need to understand that
you don't have to be an alcoholic to
have a 'one-night alcohol problem,"'
Benz said. "One night is sometimes
all it takes for something terrible to
happen."
University administrators said
Cantor's death was not a factor in
their decision not to observe aware-
ness week;
Cantor's death came less than a
month after Hartford formed a task
force aimed at reducing binge drink-
ing - defined as four or more
drinks in a night - among underage
students in residence halls.
Benz said the death and the task
force - which outlined a plan to
reduce underage drinking at its first
meeting last week - serve as a con-
tinuing reminder that alcohol con-
sumption is dangerous.
"I think Cantor's death reminds us
of why the task force is meeting and
why (alcohol) is such an important
issue," Benz said. "This tragedy may
turn out to be more an illustration
about why we need to continue what
we've been doing and keep trying
new things to make an impact."
Benz said the University's obser-
vation of the week in past years has
not made a significant difference in
the behavior of students and failed
to change student opinions on alco-
hol. Regardless, she said, it still is
necessary for the University to take
alcohol consumption seriously.
"The money normally going for
(awareness week) is being spent this
year on a study on reducing binge
drinking through a social norms
media campaign in the residence
halls," Benz said, adding that this
See ALCOHOL, Page 2
ger said, he would spend his
ys as governor reversing the
ve policies Engler has imple-
ring his two terms in office.
mpt the reopen the closed
lities, reinstitute polluter pay
constitute the Department of
sources," Fieger said during
terview with The Michigan
repeal Act 112, which pre-'
c employees from collective
sed his high-profile stint as
assisted suicide advocate
rkian as his springboard to
ocratic nomination. He
See FIEGER, Page 7
By Mike Spahn
Daily Staff Reporter
In the late 1960s, a young man
named John Engler cruised the
Michigan State University campus
looking for a future. While his agri-
cultural sciences degree was impor-
tant, Engler had bigger plans.
The Beal City, Mich., native decid-
ed to run for the state House. Not
knowing exactly where to turn for
help, he enlisted an old college buddy,
Dick Posthumus, to aid his campaign.
Engler won that election, the first in
a series of nine straight victories,
which eventually led to the Senate
majority leader's post and finally to a
residence in the governor's mansion.
Thirty years after his political
career began, Engler now is exactly
where he wants to be - the eight-year
governor of Michigan. And while he
will not completely rule out a political
job beyond Lansing, the governor
insists he has the job he always want-
ed.
"Being governor of Michigan, I
think, is a tremendous challenge, and
I don't have any interest in anything
else," Engler said during a recent
interview with The Michigan Daily.
And now, the two-term governor
has come full circle - running for a
See ENGLER, Page 7
uition ike excludes
students tax de
Mike Spahn fiable.
wily Staff Reporter "I don't want to see us skimp on what makes the
The University is not on the list of state colleges University great," Maynard said. "Quality is the
nd universities that qualified for Michigan's $375 biggest issue."
uition tax credit program, the Michigan The Michigan College Tuition Tax Credit
I ment of Treasury announced Monday. became law in 1995, giving families a $250 credit
year, only eight of the state's 15 public uni- per state college or university student. Parents with
,ersities qualified, compared with 10 last year. a combined adjusted gross income below
To qualify for the credit, schools had to keep $200,00 qualify for the credit, which must be
his year's tuition increase belw the 1997 inflation claimed on a special form when a family's taxes
ate of 2.3 percent, Treasury Department are returned.
-pokesperson Penny GrifTin said. The University Last year, Rep. A.T. Frank (D-Saginaw Twp.)
Board of Regents in June passed a 3.9 percent sponsored legislation that raised the credit to $375
uition increase, denying students the opportunity per student. Franks said he has received only pos-
o receive the credit. itive comments about its aid to families.
e en Provost Nancy Cantor submited her bud- "I'm hoping as many people as possible take
port to the board this past summer, she su- adv antage of it," Frank said. "This is the Cadillac
ested spending on programs that mandated a of tax provisions.
uition increase well above tie rate of3 inflaion. But Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), chair
" The University is very mindful of the pressures of the Senate Appropriations Higher Education
n families to meet the costs of higher education. Subcommittee, is not so supportive of the mea-
nd we attempt to keep our tuition as low as we sure. Rather than a Cadillac, the senator likens the
sponsibly can while still offering the world-class tax credit to fool's gold.
Reaching for the bars
Student gets
probation for
sexual assault
By Jason Stoffer
Daily Staff Reporter
LSA sophomore Steven Nadel sat solemnly at his sentenc-
ing hearing yesterday as his father prayed from a Bible and
his mother stared straight ahead, tears welling up in her eyes.
Judge Donald Shelton gave Nadel a stem lecture and three
years of probation but, despite pleas from the victim, it is
likely he will escape time behind bars despite admitting to
being guilty of sexual assault.
Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Anthony
Kendrick said the University also has disciplined Nadel. The
University suspended Nadel temporarily, Kendrick said, and
was scheduled to further clarify his status at a hearing late
last night.
The charges against Nadel stem from an incident that took
place last February in South Quad Residence Hall.
The victim said Nadel, an acquaintance, entered her room
at approximately 4 a.ni. Feb. 13 and claimed he was waiting
for his roommate to get off the phone. The victim, a
University student, said she told Nadel she was going to sleep
and instructed him to wait in her room for no more than 30
..
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