LOCAL/STATE
0-HIGHER MSA ushers i new
EDUCATION
Boston U'signs offc r m eih
oderfor apparel at m eeting
manufasBy Jewel Gopwani Rackharn Rep. Suzanne Owen accepted the
Daily StaffReorter -
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 7, 1999 - 3
A five-member committee composed
* of Boston University students, faculty
and administrators is scheduled to form
this week to continue its alterations to the
Fair Labor Association agreement un-
versity officials signed last Friday.
The university's decision to join the
Fair Labor Association comes only one
week after the campus group, Students
Against Sweatshops, submitted a letter
to Boston University administrators
requesting that the administration
respond to demands for more stringent
anti-sweatshop regulations for licensed
apparel.
Previously, the University had
endorsed the College Licensing
company's code of conduct for apparel
nanufacturers.
Boston University attorneys decided
to adopt the FLA agreement because it
has a lot of the basic principles of the
CLC code but provides the money and
0corporate backing to make sure its reg-
ulations are implemented.
Stanford student
station regrets
airing pornography
After an incident last month when
the programming of Stanford's studnt-
run television station SCBN switched
from it's normal fare to pornography,
Station officials have said agsimilar
'occurrence will not happen again.
The station, which runs shows based
on viewer request, complied with view-
er inquiry for pornography.
A pornographic movie ran at 2 a.m. on
Friday morning, when station officials
said viewership is lower than at other
hours. Since the airing, the University
has received many complaints.
t* Station officials said they realize that
their decision to run the movie without
prior warning was not appropriate.
The SCBN board is now exploring the
imiplementation of guidelines to deter-
mine appropriate screening material.
Offensive mailing
sent at Dartmouth'
Coinciding with the observance of
WPassover, two pamphlets depicting
offensive messages directed toward
Jews were mailed to Dartmouth Jewish
campus leaders by an unknown person.
Messages in the pamphlets also made
derogatory comments about homosex-
uals and.were mailed to officers of the
campus' Rainbow Alliance.
One of the pamphlets depicts Jesus
confronting a rabbi for not believing he
W -the Messiah.
'The other pamphlet portrays homo-
sexuals encouraging children to
'ecome homosexuals. It also threatens
to taint the nation's blood supply with
HIV-infected blood.
The pamphlets' return address shows
that they were sent from another
-Dartmouth campus group, Crusade for
Christ, but the organization's director
denies the group's involvement.
.Virginia police
investigate theft
:yOf newspapers
~University of Virginia Police officers
,Irrently are investigating the theft of
5,000 copies of the student-produced
Cavalier Daily from distribution loca-
tions across the campus.
Beta Theta Pi President Mike Axel
*admitted fraternity members pilfered
more than 400 copies of the paper.
A front-page story reported that five
Seta Theta Pi pledges had been con-
"-victed of a misdemeanor for cutting
down a 35-foot tree outside a church
last December.
The stolen papers account for half of
the newspaper's circulation. Although
'the first copy of the newspaper is free,
additional copies cost 25 cents.
Axel said the fraternity would be
happy to write a check for the cost of
the stolen papers.
Virginia assistant Dean of Students
Aaron Lushway said the fraternity and
its members could face punishment
through the Interfraternity Council
Judiciary Committee to the university's
Judiciary Committee.
-Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Nika Schulte.
"ly OLInpur
The long and drawn-out elections process
reached its finale at last night's Michigan Student
Assembly meeting, when last year's members
passed their seats on to those elected just two
weeks ago.
But before MSA welcomed its newly-elected
representatives and officers, former President
Trent Thompson reminded members about the
tasks the assembly has accomplished this year.
When he concluded his speech - which men-
tioned the Students' Rights Cards, the MSA Gripe
Line and the Student Coursepack Service -
Thompson broke into a musical interlude. Asking
the assembly to sit tight and listen closely,
Thompson pulled out a stereo and played Louis
Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."
After the new assembly members took their
seats, President-elect Bram Elias and Vice
President-elect Andy Coulouris took center
stage.
Elias and Coulouris said their oaths and were
officially inaugurated into their positions.
Recognizing the intense campaigning that
occurred within parties during elections, Elias
announced, "Parties are dead," explaining that
the assembly should be considered as one party.
As their first order of business, Elias and
Coulouris announced who they appointed to fill
the offices of Treasurer and Student General
Counsel.
position of Ireasurer and current SG Jiosu
Trapani who was appointed earlier this year
accepted the appointment for a consecutive year.
Before last night's meeting, a randomly-selected
Blue Party candidate was scheduled to be the
recipient of an elections demerit.
But after deciding on a case filed by the
Student's Party late Sunday night that appealed
some decisions made by the assembly's Elections
Board last month, the Central Student Judiciary
reversed one count of six brought before them and
the member was not assigned a demerit by the
CSJ.
The original motion asked CSJ to assign
election demerits to every Blue Party candidate
that was involved in a "Seeing Blue" event in
March.
Under the impression that the elections board
assigned one demerit to a randomly-chosen Blue
Party member, CSJ moved to assign an additional
demerit to a Blue Party member.
But after realizing that the elections board
had given the Blue Party a total of two demerits
- one for using the MSA logo in a survey
handed out at "Seeing Blue" and one for failing
to indicate who paid for fliers advertising the
event - CSJ repealed its decision to assign an
additional demerit and upheld the elections
board's ruling.
As MSA moved into its next generation, so did
LSA-Student Government. After concluding its
DARBY FRIEDLIS/Daily
Former Michigan Student Assembly Rep. Sandeep Parikh and current Rep. Kym Stewart attack outgoing
President Trent Thompson with Silly String at last night's assembly meeting.
revote Monday night, election results were offi-
cially released last night.
Defeating the Students' Party by about 400
votes, Blue Party members Seema Pai and John
Naheedy took their seats as president and vice
president of LSA-SG.
The election "was bittersweet," said Pai, refer-
ring to the 71 fraudulent votes cast during the sec-
ond official day of elections.
"I'm excited about getting the year started, but it
bothers me that the election was tainted the way it
was."
With a platform based on building the proposed
minor program and greater student outreach, Pai
said she foresees LSA-SG working toward a minor
program even during the summer.
Jeff Harris, a Students' Party candidate who was
defeated in the LSA-SG presidential election said,
"We went down playing fairly -- that's a consola-
tion if any."
LSA-SG Executive Office
election results:
Blue Party -1,579 votes
Seema Pai
John Naheedy
Students' Party - 1,170 votes
Jeff Harris
Mehul Madia
Winning digits:12-17-22-3344, 25
MAGB honors 4 students,
faculty with annual award
By Nika Schulte
Daily Staff Reporter
Although many University commu-
nity members consider their dedication
and commitment to be all in a day's
work, the Michigan Association of
Governing Boards recognized the lead-
ership and excellence of two professors
and two students at a ceremony last
night in East Lansing.
The MAGB, composed of board
members from each of the state's 15 pub-
lic universities, honors faculty and stu-
dents from those institutions annually.
The MAGB received their recom-
mendation for University student recip-
ients from the Office of the Vice
President for Student Affairs.
"We have historically identified
students in leadership positions," said
Director of Michigan Leadership
Initiatives Deb Moriarty, adding that
the award is given based on scholarship,
leadership and service.
LSA senior Tonya Myers is one of
this year's recipients. During her
University career, Myers has won many
awards - including scholarships and
essay contests. But Myers said none of
her previous awards compare to this
one, because she was selected from a
large pool of potential recipients.
"I was pleased. I was surprised, but
I was happy," Myers said.
The MAGB is honoring Myers for
her work in the Undergraduate
Research Opportunities Program in
which she was able to develop a com-
munity nutrition program. Myers' pro-
ject created a farmer's market and youth
garden, and there are also plans to
develop an aquaculture facility.
"It's important to do something that
goes beyond yourself" she said. "So
many people have helped me, it's my
responsibly to do it for someone else."
The MAGB also recognized
Engineering senior Jed Christiansen for
his achievements in and out of the
classroom. Christiansen achieved Class
Honors and was named to the Dean's
list in addition to serving as supply offi-
cer for the University's Navy ROTC.
Christiansen has also been involved
with the Michigan Solar Car team. The
last two years he has been the team
leader - which, he said, has required so
many hours that he tries "not to count."
Christiansen said he feels particu-
larly lucky to have been involved with
ROTC, because it reduced his financial
concerns.
"I didn't have to worry. I could throw
myself into involvement," he said.
Biology Prof. Richard Hume, who
has been at the University since 1983,
was also recommended by the
University for the award. During his
time on campus, he has served as asso-
ciate chair for curriculum for the biolo-
gy department. In January, Hume
became director of the Graduate
Neuroscience Program.
Hume said he believes he may have
been a nominee this year because of his
work with the Biology Curriculum, in
which he implemented format changes
to introductory courses.
Hume said he was very honored to
be a recipient of the award, although it
wasn't something he had sought.
"Anytime colleagues give recogni-
tion for hard work it is definitely some-
thing to feel good about,"Hume said.
Prof. Janet Weiss, the fourth
University award recipient, said she was
excited that the award was given by col-
leagues, but noted that this award is
unique because it is also being given by
a state-wide organization.
"It is really wonderful that elected
officials are recognizing our hard
work," said Weiss, who also started her
University career in 1983.
In addition to Weiss' hard work as a
professor for both the Business School
and the School of Public Policy, she has
created a non-profit public manage-
ment center. The center was created
with the collaboration of the Business
School, School of Public Policy and
School of Social Work.
DARBY FRIEDLIS/Daily
LSA sophomore Mary Wiskin heads the line of students waiting to buy last-
minute lottery tickets for last night's Big Game at Diag Party Store.
Hash Bash solicitor
Plans suit agrainst 'U'
By Nick Bunkley
Daily Staff Reporter
When Rich Birkett solicited money
during Saturday's Hash Bash on the
Diag to cover the event's costs, he got
more than he asked for - he was tick-
eted and arrested by Department of
Public Safety officers.
Now Birkett plans to sue the
University, claiming DPS violated his
rights by enforcing a University Board
of Regents ordinance that prohibits
solicitation on campus without a permit.
"I was cited and physically detained
for exercising my First Amendment
rights on the Diag," said Birkett, who
for the past 10 years has been involved
in organizing and collecting money to
support Hash Bash.
Birkett estimated that he had raised
about $30 when DPS officers seized his
collection bucket. He plans to fight the
ticket in court later this month and then
file suit against the University claiming
the ordinance is unconstitutional.
DPS Lt. Wesley Skowron said
Birkett was soliciting on the Diag with-
out a permit, which is barred by Article
IX, Section 2 of the Regents' Code.
"We do not allow open soliciting out
there without a permit" Skowron said.
"We're keeping his bucket as evidence
until he pays his fine." The code estab-
lishes a maximum $50 fine for violat-
ing the anti-solicitation ordinance.
James Millard, owner of the Pure
Productions hemp paraphernalia store,
said Hash Bash organizers did not
request a solicitation permit because
they do not agree with its requirements.
Last year, Hash Bash organizers went
through the campus marijuana advoca-
cy group HEMP A2 to get a permit.
The Office of Student Activities and
Leadership only allows student groups to
obtain solicitation permits for the Diag.
But permits require all money col-
lected to be deposited into the group's
account and can only be withdrawn for
certain purposes, which Milliard
describes as a "ridiculous" policy.
"Doing a bucket drive is a First
Amendment right," he said. "They've
never in the past asked us for permits."
Wayne State University law Prof.
Robert Sedler said the ordinance does
not appear to violate the Constitution.
"The University does not act unrea-
sonably in restricting solicitation to stu-
dents," Sedler said. "That's what a court
likely would uphold."
Skowron would not comment on the
constitutional implications of the issue
and said Birkett can challenge the ordi-
nance if he wants to get it overturned.
"If he feels that ordinance is in viola-
tion, then certainly he'll have to deal
with that;' Skowron said.
Birkett said after speaking to his
lawyer yesterday that he is "fairly con-
fident that I do have a case."
But if his fight against the DPS ticket
is unsuccessful, Birkett said his chances
of winning a lawsuit would be decreased.
"Obviously if I lose my ticket case,
then it affects the civil action," he said.
Skowron said it's possible that many
of the groups that solicit donations on
the Diag are doing so without the
proper permit, but DPS officers will
ticket them if they are aware of the
offense.
ILIL CLkLLLiL2Ik
What's happening in Ann Arbor this weekend
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