One hundred nine years ofeditorialfreedom 4p al y ?S: +: s't NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 7640557 www michigandall y. com Wednesday February 9, 2000 I E.r1 LI E ( d*N 8 I Tower protestors meet with administrators By Jeremy W. Peters Daily Staff Reporter Until Sunday many people at the Universi ty had no idea what Michigamua was - the was before the Students of Color Coalitio tupied the secret society's meeting spac the seventh floor of the Michigan Union' tower and made public the organization' inner workings, which have been largel unknown since 1902. Students, faculty and Ann Arbor residen were lined up until late last night to view why SCC members claim is an atmosphere thati degrading to Native American culture. MSAX votes to support protesters By Lisa Koivu 8 Daily Staff Reportera "We're making this open to students :.. (Michigamua) has never been infiltrated like this before," said Diego Bernal, a Social Work graduate student who is occupying the seventh floor of the Union with SCC. Protes- tors do not have access to rooms on the fifth and sixth floors. Those who took the tour led by SCC mem- bers yesterday saw many items on display in Michigamua's meeting space, including a miniature totem pole, a bust of an Indian chief and a small figure of a Native American. But Michigamua spokesman Nick Delgado said these items, and the majority of others on display to the public, were in storage in the Union attic prior to the SCC occupation. "The first time I'd ever seen (the figure) was this morning when I picked up the paper," Delgado said at last night's Michigan Student Assembly meeting. He was referring to a photo in yesterday's Michigan Daily of the Native American fig- ure lying on top of a book titled "Pride of 2000." The book and figure are not related and Delgado said that while the book was part of Michigamua's practices, the figure must have been in the attic prior to the occu- pation. "The question needs to be posed - were these in the room when the SCC took over?" he asked. SCC members said they will be vigilant and will not vacate the tower until the Uni- versity severs all ties with Michigamua. *They are also demanding the space currently occupied by the Tower Societies be convert- ed into a cultural study lounge. SNRE senior Joe Reilly, who serves as co-chair of the Native American Student Association, said University President Lee Bollinger, Provost Nancy Cantor, and inter- im Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper met with members of the SCC on the seventh floor of the Union yes- terday. "Where we are now, is trying to begin a broader discussion about the use of the space in the future," Harper said. "At this point in time these students are not willing to have thatdiscussion," she added. Bollinger said he will address this issue today. Michigamua receives no funding from the University and currently pays no rent for the lease of its space in the Union tower, Delga- do said. Bernal said that one of the most offensive ways in which Michigamua members denigrate See OCCUPATION, Page 2 eal8 quick, ossf is out AD's 29-month term will end next month By Jeannie Baumann and David Den Herder Daily Staff Reporters The Michigan Student Assembly voted at their weekly meeting last night in the Michigan Union to sup- port the Students of Color Coalition in their occupation of the seventh or of the Union as a protest against the secret society Michiga- mua. At the beginning of the meeting assembly President Brain Elias admitted to MSA members he was a member of Michigamua and said although he would be running the meeting, he could be overrued at any time. Peace and Justice co-Chairwoman sica Curtin started the heated date by saying that MSA should support the SCC. Curtin said MSA should support the SCC's goals of turning the Michigamua meeting place into a cultural study lounge. "The fact that the room still looks like a fake wigwam is very racist rand demeaning' Curtin said. External Relations Committee co- 'airman Matt Nolan disagreed with Curtin, saying MSA shouldn't support a resolution endorsing the actions of a group that invaded another group's property. "The SCC occupied Michiga- mua's room, kept the members out and publicized the items that had been special to the group for many generations. Michigamua's right to privacy was violated. We shouldn't endorse this group," Nolan said. *iafa Hage, Budget Priorities Committee vice chairman, asked what the room looked like before the SCC found all of the old artifacts in the closet and attic. Nick Delgado, a spokesperson for Michigamua said there were very few Native American artifacts in the room. "We had a 'Scalper' Yost plaque the wall, which hasn't been oved for structural reasons. We also had a broken tomahawk replica which was donated to us in memory of former members that have passed on' Delgado said. Diego Bernal, a spokesman for the SCC and also one of the occu- piers, said whatever artifacts were in the room, were too many. Jasmine Abdel-Khalik asked where the name Michigamua came m, and why it hasn't been c nged since it was first discussed that the name was offensive. "We understand the name is offensive and we need to talk about it. The name was created in 1902 by our founders, but we're kind of groggy about the actual origins. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with though," Delgado said. A big point of contention *oughout the evening was whether the use of the Union as a meeting place for a secret society is fair to other students of the Univer- sity community. Citing an agenda.from a 1930s Board of Regents meeting, Delgado i University President Lee Bollinger officially accepted the resignation of Athletic Director Tom Goss yester- day, after appointing him in Septem- ber 1997. "Every decision that I have made in the past 29 months was made from the heart and in the best interest of the University of Michigan and its stu- dent-athletes," said Goss, who is scheduled to leave office at the end of the winter athletic season in March. "Not everything has been accom- plished, but a pathway has been char- tered for the next athletic director," Goss said. Bollinger said the resignation came after much deliberation. "This is a decision Tom and I have arrived at that goes back over many months and over many discussions," Bollinger said. "It is far too complex for any kind of simple statement. This is the right decision for the Uni- versity." Bollinger refused to give the specifics behind the athletic director's departure. But as Goss addressed his future options, he mentioned the abruptness of this development. "I really haven't had the time to really consider (my options)," Goss said. "This just happened real quick." Bollinger then said the months of discussion pertained to the future of the athletic department and not specifically to Goss' tenure at the University. He refuted claims that this development is an attempt by University administrators to exert more executive control over athletics. "I've said from the beginning that one of the things I would not do is run the Athletic Department," See GOSS, Page 7 Coaches, Board confused by departure By Jen Fish and Stephanie Offen Daily Staff Reporters On Saturday, the reports of the impending resignation of Athletic Director Tom Goss sent shockwaves through the University community. Ironically, the people most sur- prised with the news were members of the athletic community --the coaching staff and the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Ath- letics. In an interview after yesterday's press conference to announce Goss' resigna- tion, Michigan hockey coach Red Beren- son said no one in the Athletic Department knew the resignation was was so much written about this if it were just between the two of them," Berenson said. "Everyone says there was two sources. Someone obviously leaked this out to every- one." Berenson, who said he spoke to Goss on Monday, called the resignation not only shocking, but a disappointment "for Michigan, the Athletic Department and for the future of the Athletic Depart- ment." Most of the speculation behind Goss' departure has centered around the recent problems with the men's basketball program - most specifically with freshman guard Jamal Crawford's six-game suspension for an NCAA violation. "The timing of all this is very coincidental with the written problems of basketball," Berenson said. "Are any of these significant enough for an athletic director like Tom Goss, who everyone thinks the world of, to be forced out ?" he asked. At the press conference, Goss and Bollinger both insisted the resignation was a mutual decision. Bollinger denied that he ordered Goss to resign. Goss and Bollinger also denied that the events sur- rounding Crawford were the only reasons behind the resignation. But the timing of Goss' resignation has brought much speculation. "If someone's looking for an excuse to do something, they found an excuse (in the Crawford situation) - that's the other side of it," Berenson said. "Whether he's a scapegoat or whether this was the straw that broke the See REACTION, Page 7 Photos by SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Oa2iy TOP: University President Lee Bollinger speaks at a press conference yesterday in the Michigan Union where Tom Goss (right) resigns from his post as athletic director. ABOVE: Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson and football coach Lloyd Carr speak before the conference. coming. "I was surprised and confused that there 1 A2) 'U, remain recln g leaders SAM HOLLENSHEAD! Datly Graduate student David Lee looks at paintings at the Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners at the Rackham School of Graduate Studies last night. The exhibit continues through February and features art by 118 prisoners. Exh ib.-11it featurespat By Krista Gullo Daily Staff Reporter The city of Ann Arbor and the Uni- versity continue to be among the nation's recycling leaders despite .reported lagging recycling rates in the state and across the nation. "Recycling is alive and well and strong in Ann Arbor," said Ramsey Zimmerman, project manager for Recy- cle Ann Arbor, a private non-profit col- lector of the city's recyclables. The Fall 1999 semester marked the 10th anniversary of the University's recycling program. Today there are more than 3,000 collection containers for recyclable goods in University build- ings and residence halls for students, faculty and staff. The program has expanded from the collection of white office paper, newspaper and corrugated faculty and staff. The recycling pro- gram, which was initiated due to stu- dent support, has been most successful in recycling paper. Comparing 1996-97 and 1997-98. the amount of paper recycled at the Univer- sity rose from 2,000 tons to 2,167 tons and the amount of containers recycled rose from 124 tons to 127 tons. "This whole community is so pro- recycling" said Sarah Archer, the Uni- versity's recycling coordinator. While recycling has increased on campus so has the amount of trash. The University's trash rose from 7700 tons in'1996-97 to almost 8000 in 1997-98. "We aren't seeing as much waste diversion," Archer said, referring to other ways to dispose of garbage, other than in landfills. Archer attributes the increase in By Marta Brill Daily Staff Reporter Artist and former prisoner Thomas Baxter is seeing the Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners for the first time, after being a contributor for the past four years. Besides seeing a wonderful art show, event organizer and English Prof. Buzz Alexander said he hopes visitors walk away with a different perspective on the people currently incarcerated in Michigan. "The community and University is full of stereotypes. We hope to overcome some of these stereotypes," Alexander