It0 'cla i Today: Partly cloudy. High 37. Low 18. Tomorrow: Rain. High 43. One hundred ei/ght years fedtofl-reedom Friday February 5, 1999 : C rt t 'EL y~j >\ 4i !y Z.v s 4Q" 'y+, CEO to work without contract By Nick Faizone Daily Staff Reporter Today, for the first time in three years, members of the Graduate Employees Organization will be working without a cr act. The organization's three-year agreement with the versity expired yesterday at midnight. GEO spokesperson Chip Smith said while he and other Graduate Student Instructors will be working without a con- tract, he does not predict a strike or walkout in the near future. "We're working without a contract; we want one that's fair, not one on the (University's) terms," Smith said. "It will be at least two weeks before anything happens" he added. Smith said GEO will send out strike authorization ballots to its entire membership, almost 1,600 graduate students, this v4end. If the majority of the membership votes to autho- rize a strike, Smith said the GEO steering committee will then have the power to determine whether a walk-out or a strike is necessary. According to GEO documents, if members decide to walk- out, GSIs could cease teaching duties for one to three days. If they decide to strike, GSIs could stop their teaching duties until they agree to a new contract with the University. Smith said that even if the GSIs go on strike, GEO will still work toward achieving an agreement with the University. At last night's negotiations, the University bargaining team amended its wage proposal recalculating the appointments GSIs receive for hours worked. An appointment is equivalent to the percentage of hours a GSI works compared to a full-time faculty member. For example, a GSI with a .5 appointment would work approxi- mately 50 percent of the hours of a University faculty mem- ber. The previous proposal removed GSI appointments between .3 and .4, giving most GSIs a .25 or .5 appointment. Chief University Negotiator Dan Gamble said his team added the .3 and .35 appointments back into the wage proposal last night to appease GEO members. Smith said GEO members were concerned that all GSIs with a current .3 or .35 appointment would go down to .25, receiving less money for the same amount of work. But Gamble said GSIs with .3 and .35 appointments would have been moved up to .5, since it is costly for the University to give .25 appointments. "The .25 is very expensive for the University," Gamble said. "Point two-five GSIs basically teach one section yet they receive a full tuition waiver and benefits." Gamble said since GSIs with .5 appointments teach more sections, this covers their tuition and benefits more effective- ly. But Smith said that many GSIs with a .4 appointment can- not work more than 40 percent of the hours of a full-time fac- ulty member. He said problems might occur if GSIs are required to do more than this. "Everyone (with a .5 appointment) will have to work six more hours a week," Smith said. "Since there's a 10-term GSI See GEO, Page 7 The road to a strike? Oct. 21, 1998: GEO and the University begin contract bargaining. a Feb. 1, 1999: GEO extends contract with University three days. ® Feb. 2, 1999: 268 GEO members favor passing out strike authorization ballots to entire membership of almost 1,600 GSIs. e Feb. 4, 1999: GEO contract expires. Wage proposal remains unresolved. a Feb. 5, 1999: GEO begins working without contract. Feb. 8, 1999: Contract negotiations are scheduled to continue with the University. o In the Future: If a majority of the GEO membership votes for a strike authorization vote, the GEO steering committee will have the power to call a strike or walk-out. Regents speak out on ticket orice increase I B pson Stoffer DW Staff Reporter The Athletic Department's decision last week to raise alumni football sea- son ticket prices from $27 to $35 per game has generated a slew of differing reactions from members of the University Board of Regents. Regent Daniel Horning (R-Grand Haven) said he opposes such a sharp increase, adding that he did not expect football ticket prices to change until n* the time when the Athletic Department presents its budget to the regents this spring. "I'm not mad at (Athletic Director) Tom Goss, but I don't want to see a 30-percent ticket price increase unless it can be proven to me it is absolutely necessary," Horning said. "I want the common citizen to be able to afford intercol- le ite athletics." Wss was not available for comment yesterday. Steve Papadopoulos, chair of the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics' finance committee said the increase will generate more than $3 million in revenue each season. He told the athletic board last week that the Athletic Department needs to replenish its reserves because they were used to purchase new scoreboards for Michigan Stadium and Crisler Arena last year. Papadopoulos added that the Athletic Department also needs to increase prices to cover rising costs of recruiting student athletes, maintaining athletic facilities and paying for teams to travel to events. "We have to remain competitive on a national basis in several sports and stay on par with our peers in the con- ference and nationally," Papadopoulos said. Student ticket prices will remain the same at $13.50 per game, he-said. - Regent David Brandon (R-Ann Arbor) said Goss has the authority to pass a price increase without consulting the regents. "It's the athletic director's decision as to what ticket prices should be," Brandon said. "My job as a regent is to review, ana- lyze and evaluate the budget they sub- mit" he said. See TICKETS, Page 7 NAT HAN HUti-LX/UaIIy Kinesiology junior Karma Ruth Stuart performs an African dance in the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant presented by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity In the Michigan Union last night. Stude,,nt wins pageant Dance Marathon to kick off tomorrow Proceeds will benefit William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak By Kelly O'Connor Daily Staff Reporter Music will be in the air this week- end when more than 230 students plan to cut the rug in this year's Dance Marathon. The event,. titled "Making Kids Smile Maize and Blue Style," is in its second year and will raise money for the physical therapy department and special children's programs at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Dance Marathon Public Relations Chair Jennifer Riesenberger said this charity event differs from others on campus, combining the efforts of many groups and more than 1,500 vol- unteers in total. "I think the best aspect is the fact that it pulls together so many diverse campus organizations," said Riesenberger, an LSA senior. Beginning Saturday at 10 a.m., par- ticipants will dance until Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Indoor Track Building. Dancers cannot sit down at any time during the event. They are allowed to take short breaks from the floor, but they do not have to dance at all times, Riesenberger said. All money raised will be channeled through the Children's Miracle Network and given to the hospital. Dancers are required to come up with a minimum pledge contribution of $200. The funds could be raised through a variety of ways, such as donating the cost of a residence hall meal to the cause or selling raffle tick- ets at Michigan football games. Associate Planning Director Whitney Roberts, an LSA junior, said meeting the families who benefit from the money raised during the event can be emotional for participants. "It's an inspirational experience, Roberts said. "You can volunteer in so many ways, but very rarely can you see the difference you're making." In addition to the dancers, volun- teers called moralers work in shifts of 2 to 4 hours, providing fresh faces and energy during the long stretch of hours, said LSA sophomore Megan Sights, a participant. "They just work to encourage the dancers," Sights said. All money raised by moralers will go toward the pledge fund of their assigned dancer. Many campus groups will combine efforts to entertain participants in the marathon. The sketch and improv comedy group Comedy Company will perform, as well as an a cappella vocal group 58 Greene and others. Local businesses also will be on hand to feed hungry dancers and orga- nizers. Sponsors include Subway Sandwich Shop, Zingerman's Delicatessen, The Bagel Factory and Domino's Pizza. The central planning team began nlannin2 Dance Marathon in early Senate rejects five testimony The Washington Post WASHINGTON - Bridging parti- san divisions, the Senate yesterday charted a course to wrap up President Clinton's impeachment trial next N without Monica Lewinsky testi- fy'g and likely without any "find- ings of fact" that would cite presiden- tial misconduct while leaving him in office. In a series of votes defying the party lines that have governed the trial in recent days, the Senate refused to sub- poena Lewinsky to appear in person but authorized excerpts of her videotaped deposition and those of two White House advisers to be shown on the floor tomorrow. The decisions eliminated the prospect of any live testimony, finally ending the campaign by House Republican prosecutors to conduct a more complete trial. Off the floor, Senate Republicans conceded they had all but given up hope of passing bipartisan "findings of fact" that would detail wrongdoing by the president without convicting him. See IMPEACH, Page 2 By Sarah Lewis Daily Staff Reporter More than 120 people saw the Michigan Union Ballroom trans- formed into a runway that showcased both talent and fashion in last night's "1999 Miss Black & Gold Scholarship Pageant" The fifth annual event was co- sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Mary Markley Residence Hall Multicultural Awareness Council and the South Quad Residence Hall Ambatana Council. "The purpose of this event is to support African-American women financially on this campus, to achieve their goal of getting a degree at the University of Michigan and to show off their talents," said APA President Carlos Evans, an LSA senior. Evans explained that APA chap- ters across the nation hold the pageants in order to encourage and try to help black women stay on campus. "African Americans, in general, are the ones that need financial help to achieve their goal of attaining a degree," he said. The top three pageant winners took home scholarships of $300, $200 and $100, respectively. University and APA alumnus Idris Stallworth, who served as a judge at last night's event, said it is a program that APA chapters participate in across the nation. "The winner will go on to state, regional and national competitions," Stallworth said. The five contestants modeled fashions including evening gowns and business wear, participated in a question-and-answer session and dis- played their talents in a competition that included singing and traditional African dancing. Kinesiology junior Karma Ruth Stuart, who was crowned this year's pageant winner, said she is excited to participate in the regional competition, especially since she enjoys performing and dancing. "I'm ready to represent the University of Michigan," Stuart said. "I can do it" First runner-up Rossalyn Quaye, an Engineering junior, said she entered the pageant for fun and for the scholarship oppor- tunity. See PAGEANT, Page 2 RHA members discuss future of Oxford Housing By Gerard Cohen-Vrgnaud Daily Staff'Reporter With the fate of Oxford Housing still in the balance, members of the Residence Hall Association approved a resolution, yesterday, urging University Housing to inform residents if it will sell the non-traditional residence hall and demanding that Oxford undergo renova- tions. Since its inception in the '60s as a woman's co- operative living facility, Oxford has failed to attract enough residents to break even financially. Director of University Housing William Zeller +tA DUNA mamharc last niht thnt Ovfnrd hac Inct ns made to Oxford would be risky. ,rything we've tried to do in terms of mar- ig it has failed." Iller admitted that Housing has let condi- ; in Oxford Housing deteriorate as the ersity considers the sale of the multiple [ing complex. :ler estimated the cost of renovations d reach millions of dollars. he quality of living at Oxford is below the lard," Zeller said. "Even if we put all this ey into it, it's still questionable whether ould make it an attractive housing option ,tudents " frr ' ,: