LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, March 30, 1999 - 9
Stab enow set
t run in2000
en ae ce S
LANSING (AP) -- What is expect-
ed to become one of the fiercest polit-
ical fights in Michigan next year took
shape yesterday as U.S. Rep. Debbie
Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced she
will challenge U.S. Sen. Spencer
Abraham (R-Mich.).
The tussle figures to be one of the
top national struggles of the election
season. Democrats consider Abraham,
a first-term Republican from Auburn
Hills, vulnerable to an upset by the
right opponent.
Stabenow, a Democrat from
Lansing, says she's ready to take him
on now that former Gov. James
Blanchard has taken himself out of the
race.
Stabenow formally announced her
bid yesterday in news conferences in
Southfield and Lansing. Abraham, a
former state GOP chair, welcomed her
to the race with a full-page newspaper
advertisement questioning her posi-
tion on key issues.
Stabenow, 48, is known for her out-
going personality and energetic cam-
paign style.
In declaring for the Senate, she
positioned herself in the middle of
the political spectrum - in favor of
saving Social Security and
Medicare, education improvements,
a bill of rights for medical patients, a
balanced budget and tax relief.
"I'm on the side of Michigan's
families," she said at her stop in
Lansing. "For me, it's a continuation
of the fight I have begun. This elec-
tion is about how I can fight for
Michigan."
Stabenow's candidacy came as no
surprise. After Blanchard bowed out
of contention, Democrats were left
without a heavy favorite for the nomi-
nation. State Sen. Dianne Byrum had
expressed interest, but the Onondaga
Democrat bowed out when Stabenow
said she might run. Now Byrum is
considering a run for Stabenow's con-
gressional seat.
The Abraham camp lost no time in
attacking Stabenow as a "second-tier"
candidate whom Democrats are back-
ing because Blanchard won't run.
"Her slogan should be: 'Stabenow
for Senate: Somebody had to run,"'
said Abraham spokesperson Dan
Senor. "Senator Abraham hopes this is
not a campaign of photo ops but a
campaign of issues."
Abraham took out full-page adver-
tisements in major newspapers detail-
ing his support for a tax cut, drug test-
ing for welfare recipients and welfare
reform, among other issues. He invit-
ed Stabenow to "tell us where you
stand on the issues."
KELLY MCKINNELL/kiy
Debbie Stabenow speaks about social work at the Medical School on March 3.
Stabenow's decision to run for the
Senate opens up another hot race in
Michigan - the fight over her 8th
District congressional seat. A swing
seat that could be won by either
party, the contest has drawn the
interest of both parties as
Republicans strive to maintain their
thin majority in Congress and
Democrats try to regain the control
they lost in 1994.
So far, Byrum and Sen. Mike
Rogers (R-Brighton) are consider-
ing the race. Both said they expect
to announce their plans in a few
days.
A wild card in the Senate race could
be Detroit lawyer Geoffrey Fieger -
the Democratic candidate for governor
last year - and whether he will run as
an independent instead of in the
Democratic primary.
Stabenow said she had asked Fieger
for his support. "Geoff's got to make
up his mind on what he wants to do,
she said.
Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside
Michigan Politics, said Stabenow is
personable while Abraham has strong
party and fund-raising experience.
"It ought to be a heck of a race" he
said.
Abraham has said he will raise a
large amount of money - $9 million
- for his re-election. He raised $4.5
million when he was elected in 1994.
LAWSUIT
Continued from Page 1
Susan Rasmussen, co-director of the
Office of Equity and Diversity Services
and interim director of its Sexual
Harassment Policy Office.
"This particular case was investigated
at the school and college level,"
Rasmussen said, adding that this fol-
lowed procedure and was not uncom-.
mon. "I don't have any record of them
coming directly to the office."
But the School of Music staff dealing
with the issue did consult with the Office
of Equity and Diversity for proper proce-
dural methods, Rasmussen said.
Johnson claimed that in private,
Calabria would make insinuating com-
ments to her at her place of work at the
Ensembles Library and often would
come and stare at her. She also held that
he would humiliate her in public. The
more Johnson rejected his advances the
more he would demean her during
ensemble practice, Massie said.
Calabria said the issue had already
been dealt with and declined further
comment.
After hearing Johnson's complaints,
oboe Prof. Harry Sargous, who served as
an ombudsman for students, urged her to
seek the "necessary channels" to deal
with the problem.
Johnson said she followed Sargous'
advice and went to complain to School
of Music Dean Paul Boylan. Boylan
later referred Johnson to School of
Music associate Dean Willis Patterson,
who told her to write out a formal com-
plaint, saying he would forward it to the
Affirmative Action Office, presently
known as the Office of Equity and
Diversity Services, Massie said.
Sargous said he did follow up on the
case "to make sure proper action was
undertaken" and - until he left the
University for health reasons - the
issue was being dealt with.
"We take charges of sexual harassment
when two Serbian police with AK-
47s walked toward them on a foot
patrol.
With international monitors out of
Kosovo and NATO keeping a safe dis-
tance overhead, ethnic Albanians have
little protection.
"If ground troops don't come here,
there will be a big catastrophe,
believe me," said a Kosovar Albanian
woman, who spoke on condition she
very seriously," said University
spokesperson Julie Peterson, adding that
"the process recognizes the rights of all
parties."
Massie said that after submitting a
formal complaint, Boylan told Johnson
he was unable to immediately terminate
Calabria's contract, which was already
scheduled to end at the conclusion of
the term and he would not be returning.
Johnson said she withdrew from class
for the remainder of the fall semester.
But when Johnson returned for class-
es winter term, she discovered Calabria
was still teaching at the University.
Following more dealings with adminis-
tration, Johnson said, she withdrew per-
manently from the University.
Massie claims Boylan lied to Johnson
regarding the departure of Calabria from
the University. When Johnson confront-
ed Boylan regarding the issue, he became
"nasty" Massie said. Boylan said he
could not comment on the matter.
When the administration discovered
Johnson had hired a lawyer, they became
responsive, bought out Calabria's con-
tract and offered Johnson a scholarship to
return to the University, Massie said,
adding that the amount of the scholarship
was insufficient for University tuition.
Johnson is currently attending the
University of Southern Illinois.
Calabria is no longer teaching in the
School of Music, but University officials
would not confirm that he left because of
matters of sexual harassment.
Johnson was not the only student to
make complaints about Calabria.
Sargous said that during his. time as
ombudsman, several other students also
complained to him about Calabria.
If the accused is found guilty, the
appropriate actions and sanctions will
follow, Peterson said, but the University
"wouldn't publicize those sanctions."
Johnson's lawyers plan publicly
announce the suit tomorrow at a press
conference on the steps of the Michigan
Union at noon.
not be identified.
But there are only about 10,000
NATO troops on standby in neighbor-
ing Macedonia.
Western politicians continue to focus
on their bombing campaign rather than
introducing ground troops and Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic's- own
forces have massed along the
Macedonian border, wiring bridges and
mountain tunnels with explosives.
i
MSU rioters may face
'school suspension
~McPherson to look at off campus code
BALKANS
Continued from Page 1
In Pristina's ethnic Albanian neigh-
borhoods, where streets were surpris-
ingly busy during the first few days of
air attacks, hardly anyone dared go out-
side after yesterday morning's blitz.
People standing in a bread line on
an otherwise empty street turned
and scattered down back alleys
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By Melissa Burden
and Pat Muir
The State News
EAST LANSING (U-WIRE)- Students who burned cars
' and broke windows during the weekend riot face suspension,
Michigan State University President Peter McPherson
announced Sunday.
McPherson also said he will re-evaluate a proposed off-
campus code of conduct that would let MSU administrators
suspend or expel students who commit crimes off campus.
East Lansing officials support the policy.
The policy would let MSU's campus judicial system
punish students involved in one of four criminal areas:
violent behavior, arson or attempted arson, possession of
firearms or dangerous explosives and criminal sexual con-
duct.
"All those found to have endangered the health and
safety of our community will be punished to the fullest
extent of the rules and the law," he said, adding he can
already suspend students who threaten life and proper-
ty.
"MSU students.who were found to have burned a car will
be kicked out of school."
McPherson said students involved in serious offenses
should know, "You're not welcome here."
East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said he has long sup-
ported an off-campus crime policy.
't"It has clearly been time for this for a long time," he
said. "It was pretty clear that (the riot) was a premedi-
tated act. Why someone would do this is just incompre-
hensible."
The weekend's riot had a different size and tone than
May's Munn field riot and the September 1997 Gunson
Street incident, Meadows said.
"The thing that set this apart was the mean-spiritedness
that purveyed the crowd," he said. "This same crowd tried to
turn over an ambulance as it tried to transport an injured per-
son. This same crowd froze beer cans so they would be hard-
er when they threw them.
"This same crowd grabbed a reporter and smashed her
camera. I think this is a significantly different circum-
stance."
ELECTIONS
Continued from Page 1
the Blue Party said they agreed that a
partial revote is the best option in this
situation.
Some candidates said they under-
stand the delicate and complex prob-
lem the elections board must solve,
but said there may be flaws in the sys-
tem.
"Now if you still want a serious
chance of winning, you have to get We are looki
your name out there again," said inde- eople to he
pendent MSA candidate Jim Secreto. p
Secreto said extra campaigning might 2000 Michig
be necessary for candidates running
for LSA seats because he expects that Available pos
race to be a close one.
Serowik said all normal campaign f omio IEdii
rules apply during the revote, but he po
" U~ -a ~xr inrltinn i r mnnirnin _ [
"All those found to have
endangered the health and
safety of our community
will be punished to the
fullest extent of the law."
- M. Peter McPherson
MSU President
Even without the off-campus conduct code, MSU
regulations let officials suspend a student if they
"believe there is a reasonable cause that a student's con-
tinued presence at Michigan State University consti-
tutes a clear and present danger to the health or safety
of persons or property," according to the Academic
Freedom Report.
With sufficient evidence, such as a videotape, administra-
tors can suspend a student before the student is convicted in
a criminal court, McPherson said.
"You need a careful process that gives students an oppor-
tunity to present their side because it's the right thing to do,
and because essentially that's your defense if anybody sues
you, he said.
Despite the support from MSU administrators and East
Lansing officials, by comparing a student's suspension to a
judge jailing someone before trial.
"The risk of letting this person out is greater than any right
he might have to bail," he said. "This is sort of a similar phi-
losophy."
East Lansing City Council member Douglas Jester said he
opposed an off-campus crime policy in the past but changed
his mind because of this weekend's riot.
"Frankly, after last night, it's time for the university to start
expelling students who engage in such clearly anti-social
behavior," he said. "I have not been an advocate of that step,
but it's time."
NJB I've noticed you for the past four years. If 1
onlyhadthecragetotel how I feel. I think
love you! I'll miss you. -NJG
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