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Today: Mostly cloudy. High 33. Low 19.
Tomorrow: Cloudy. High 31. Low 12.
One hundred ei'ht years o f editorzilfreedom
Wednesday
March 10, 1999
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G
I
to
walk
out,
picket
today
Protest begins, talks continue
By Nick Faizone
Daily Staff Reporter
Os many professors and graduate student instructors have
canceled their lectures and discussion sections to support of
the -Graduate Employees Organization, one question res-
onates in the minds of many University members: How will
undergraduates react to GEO's walkout?
Yesterday, less than 12 hours before GEO was sched-
uled to begin its walkout to demonstrate dissatisfaction
with its current contract with the University, members of
the organization met with undergraduates to discuss this
and other concerns students had about their roles in the
action.
EO Chief Negotiator Eric Odier-Fink said he hopes
today's walkout - which is scheduled to run from 7:30 a.m.
to 6 p.m. - will be powerful enough to make the University
move from its current position in contract negotiations and
prevent a more severe job action.
"If (today's walkout) looks good, we won't have to go on
strike," Odier-Fink said, adding that that is the optimum solu-
tion for the organization.
GEO members encouraged undergraduates not to
cross the picket lines by entering University buildings or
going to classes at a forum last night in Angell Hall. But
ie GEO advocates went further, asking students to
j them in the protest for a better contract.
"All undergraduates need to be out on the picket lines,"
GEO undergraduate outreach organizer Tiffany Bloom said.
"Supporting GEO will get you the education that you carne
to the University of Michigan for."
GEO steering committee member Rob Penney said he rec-
ognized that many students become stressed when faced with
a walkout.
"In terms of undergraduates, it does suck for you that
you're going to have to face this burden," Penney said, adding
that students should not feel they are powerless to make a
change in GEO's current contract negotiations.
"You can do things to make (these unfair actions) stop by
making noise to the University and having your parents make
noise, telling them this is an unacceptable situation," Penney
said.
Odier-Fink recommended that students e-mail their profes-
sors who are holding classes today and tomorrow and tell
them how they feel about GEO's current situation.
"You should tell them, 'I'm not coming in and you should-
n't either,"' Odier-Fink said. "This might motivate your pro-
fessor to cancel class" consequently supporting GEO.
LSA sophomore Julie Fry said she e-mailed her professor,
asking him not to cross the picket lines. Fry said the next time
her professor held lecture, he allowed the class to vote on
whether to cancel class for the walkout.
See WALKOUT, Page 7
Protest similar
to 9 action
By Asma Rafeeq
Daily Staff Reporter
Cold, snowy weather will greet picketers outside many
University buildings today just as it did three years ago - the
last time members of the Graduate Employees Organization
walked off their jobs to oppose what the organization describes
as the University's inability to accept its contract proposals.
The picket lines may be a familiar sight for some
University students, faculty and staff who remember the
April 1996 protest, when more than 600 GEO members and
their supporters staged a two-day walkout.
Then, as now, disagreement over graduate student instruc-
tor contract negotiations led to the public display of protest.
And in both walkouts, a wage increase for GSIs was one of
several core issues.
"The day kind of moved on," said GEO President and
Rackham student Eric Dirnbach of the 1996 walkout.
Dirnbach, a biophysics graduate student research assistant,
remembered chanting, singing and keeping warm with coffee
during the 1996 walkout. Picketers weren't yelling or force-
fully blocking doors, he said.
"The whole atmosphere on campus was different - it was
See HISTORY, Page 7
GEO Chief Negotiator Eric Odier-Fink answers questions
about the GEO salary bargainings at Angell Hall last night.
Bollinger
to address
education
committee
By Nick Bunkley
Daily Staff Reporter
University President Lee Bollinger
plans to make a presentation today at
the state capitol in an effort to ensure
that the University gets its fair share of
fiing from the state this year.
day's hearing will conclude a series
of presentations by the presidents of
Michigan's 15 public universities to the
House Appropriations Higher Educationr
Subcommittee, as the process of ham-
moring out the higher education portion
of the fiscal year 2000 budget prepares
to enter its next stage.
Bollinger will be one of six presen-
ters in a group that includes the presi-
s of Eastern Michigan University,
igan State University and three
others.
Rep. A.T. Frank (D-Saginaw Twp.),
one of seven members on the commit-
tee, said Gov. John
Engler's budget rec- g"
ommendation uses
what some consider
a "faulty funding
mechanism" to dis-
tribute state funds Budget proposal
among Michigans
I ublic universities. Engler's propos-
al involves grouping universities into
four tiers to determine the amount of
per-student funding given to each.
Frank said the proposal has been a
source of much discussion and confu-
sion among legislators and university
administrators alike.
"The university officials are trying to
understand the new method of fund-
ii' Frank said.
By hearing from the university pres-
idents first-hand, members of the com-
mittee, headed by Rep. Sandy Caul (R-
Mt. Pleasant), can decide for them-
selves how funds can best be put to use,
said Matt Sweeney, Caul's legislative
aide.
"It's very important that when they
pass the budget they do so with the
approval of the universities," Sweeney
said.
*'eeney said the nine university
presidents who already have made pre-
sentations have shown varying degrees
of support for Engler's proposed
method of funding.
"It's been a mixed response,"
Sweeney said. But "for the most part,
the universities as a whole that we've
heard testify so far believe it's time for
a change."
ank said the proposed funding
MW od would not benefit the
University of Michigan as much as
other state schools, adding that he wel-
comes the opportunity to thoroughly
discuss aspects of the budget with uni-
versity presidents.
"The University of Michigan is not
Double vision
I
PASSING THE
JUG
,9
Local
eatery to
have new
owners
By Nika Schulte
Daily Staff Reporter
For Music senior Heather
Thompson, the dim lighting and dec-
orative memorabilia of The Brown
Jug remind her of some of her best
days on campus. Thompson said she
recalls sitting at the restaurant- for-
hours at a time simply because she
loved the atmosphere.
"It was relaxed," Thompson said.
"Everybody talked to each other."
Soon the quaint eatery and campus
hangout will be passing on its 60
years of tradition to new owners and
with that, a few changes will be made.
But the restaurant's buyers maintain
that the Brown Jug will not lose the
appeal that has made it a campus sta-
ple for years.
Part of the South University Avenue
restaurant's appeal stems from its
roots.
It was named for the prized brown
jug that has become a Michigan foot-
ball tradition, awarded each year to
the winner of the Michigan vs.
University of Minnesota gridiron
game.
"A big part of choosing successors
is choosing somebody that knows
about the tradition and who will carry
it on," said Jim Paron, who, with his
family, has owned the restaurant for
40 years.
Paron said handing over the restau-
rant to local restaurant owner Perry
Porikos and his partners, including
ABOVE: LSA
sophomore Julie
Cohen, LSA junior
Jeff Bershad and
LSA senior Cagla
Ozden enjoy a slice
of pizza at the
Brown Jug
yesterday.
LEFT:The Brown Jug
on South University
Avenue has been
owned by the Paron
family for 40 years.
DANA LINNANE/Datly
friend Demos Panos, is like keeping
the business in the family because
they "think a lot alike.
"Perry has worked at the Brown
Jug," Paron said. "He appreciates the
tradition and the comfortable atmos-
phere."
While Porikos contends that the tra-
dition will continue, he said there will
be a few changes made to the restau-
rant during the summer.
This May, following the comple-
tion of the winter term, Porikos plans
to close the restaurant for minor ren-
ovations. He said he hopes the
changes will be completed in time to
reopen for the Ann Arbor Art Fair in
July.
Although Porikos said he wants to
surprise students and faculty with ren-
ovation details, he said he plans to
"clean the place up a bit" by adding
new seats, a new bar and new equip-
ment.
Porikos said he plans to spruce up
the menu as well.
"We're going to keep the special-
ties," Porikos said, explaining that the
spinach pie, kabobs, chopped sirloin
See JUG, Page 2
The Image of Jerry Pace and Lance Brown clearing off the steps is reflected
in a window at the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Ubrary yesterday. Ann Arbor
received nearly three inches of snow in yesterday's storm.
Friends gather to remember LSA senior
Students try to cope with
loss and attempt to understand
what may have led to murder
By Marta Brill
Daily Staff Reporter
Struggling to make sense of the tragic murder
suicide and remembering their friend's energetic
spirit, students and faculty members who knew
LSA senior Natasha Qureshi gathered in a circle
last night in room 232D of West Hall.
"It's a chance to support one another," women's
studies Prof. Beth Hackett said. "People are sad-
dened, confused and shocked."
Hackett added that the gathering, sponsored by
the women's studies department, was an opportu-
nity for people who knew Qureshi to "make
Groesbeck, a recent University
,raduate, were found dead
Friday afternoon at
Groesbeck's East Kingsley
Street apartment. According to
Ann Arbor Police Department
>fficials, Qureshi sliced her .
wrists before shooting
3roesbeck three times. She
then pointed the gun at her
head and shot herself. Qureshi
Those at the gathering
questioned if Qureshi may
iave given some sign or indication they should
have recognized.
Many students recounted how well Qureshi hid
ier emotional turmoil underneath a meticulous
ppearance. They said this was consistent with the
staff at SAFEHouse where she volunteered said
they experienced great shock when they heard
about Qureshi's death.
"The initial reaction was that she does not
seem the type. But that brings up the question of
who is the type," said LSA first-year student
Nonye Ukawuba, one of Qureshi's classmates.
"She had a lot going for her. She was smart and
pretty."
LSA first-year student Danielle Wroblewski
said she could not imagine the Qureshi she knew
in the horrific scenario that resulted in her death.
Wroblewski said the image Qureshi possessed
of a bright, petite and well-dressed student "does-
n't match up" with the image of a desperate
woman involved in Friday's alleged murder sui-
cide.
Qureshi was described repeatedly as lively,
"She seemed so together, so bubbly, energetic,"
Wroblewski said. "Once I walked into class and
overheard her telling a story. I remember the ani-
mation in her voice. She had an aura of with-it and
together."
People at the gathering also reflected on dis-
cussions they had with Qureshi regarding her rela-
tionship with Groesbeck prior to her death. They
remembered those conversations, wondering if
they should have detected the seriousness of the
situation in Qureshi's spoken words.
Ukawuba and other members of Qureshi's
Spanish class said they disregarded her comments
as typical feelings of sadness when she mentioned
the break-up before class one day.
A counselor at the gathering last night said a
person cannot always assume something tragic and
catastrophic will occur, explaining that assump-
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