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 KNOW OF NEWS? LET US KNOW! CALL 763-2459 OR STOP BY 420 MAYNARD ST. 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 Stop by Q, 4 etdjwn or call 764.055 to have your SENIOR WISH published April 15th deadline March 31 rENS14N~ ng for dedicated and innovative lp create and promote the anensian yearbook. sitions include; torc G rS