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February 16, 2000
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A a. a
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Marathon meeting leads to MSA resolution
By Robert Gold
and Lisa Koivu
Daily Staff Reporters
In a meeting that lasted nearly five and a
half hours and packed more than 50 stu-
nts - in addition to about 55 Michigan
udent Assembly members - into MSA
chambers last night, the assembly voted to
pass a resolution in favor of delegating con-
trol of the Union tower to the University's
Office Space Allocations Committee.
Erika Dowdell, Minority Affairs Com-
mission co-chairwoman, surprised MSA,
her co-chairwoman Erin Gilbert and the rest
of MAC by announcing her intention to
pursue legal action against Michigamua for
t following through on the promise it
made in 1989 to MAC to rid the seventh
floor of the Union of all Native American
artifacts.
MSA President Bram Elias said that
whether the suit needs full MSA or MAC
approval is unclear.
Miranda Massie, an attorney for Scheff
and Washington in Detroit, said the firm
will be filing a contract enforcement action
later this week.
"Our main point is to support the students
who are making a stand against racism and
elitism," Massie said, adding that she was
contacted by Dowdell on Monday.
"What they're standing for among other
things, is legally supported," Massie said.
Gilbert said it is inaccurate to say the suit
was brought forth by MAC because she said
the committee were unaware of the lawsuit
before today.
"It hasn't been a decision that has been
assessed," Gilbert said.
Budget Priorities Committee Vice Chair-
man Siafa Hage said the issue of the SCC's
takeover of the Union tower had to be dis-
cussed immediately, and couldn't wait a
week as other assembly members suggested.
"This is getting bigger and more complex
everyday, therefore the issue can not wait
any longer" Hage said.
Hage also expressed his feelings that in
order to make the hearing as equitable as
possible, Elias - a member of Michigamua
-should not chair the meeting.
MSA Vice President Andy Coulouris,
who is next in line to chair the meeting, said
he had complete confidence in Elias' ability
fo be fair.
"I am the one sponsoring the bill, and I
know he will not be swayed as chair. He has
every bit of my confidence," Coulouris said.
The assembly voted to allow Elias to
chair the meeting.
During constituents' time SNRE senior
and SCC spokesman Joe Reilly, spoke to
the group, contending that Michigamua had
violated every cultural and spiritual right he
has as a Native American.
"The artifacts Michigamua possesses
misrepresents us in a way I'm not comfort-
able with. The question here is what condi-
tions allow this to happen at a public
university," Reilly said.
"What makes one organization more pri-
vate than another, that they can facilitate
private use of a public building," Reilly
asked.
See MICHIGAMUA, Page 3
Members of the Michigan Student Assembly and Students of
Color Coalition listen during last night's MSA meeting.
JAMA honors 'U' Med. 15
School with feature issue
By Shabnam Daneshvar ,C_ a
Daily Staff Reporter usii
Bush calls for
finance reform
By Yael Kohen
D~aily Staff Reporter
The Journal of the American Medical
Association, the largest circulating English
medical journal and one of the most
respected in the world, is devoting this
week's issue to the University's Medical
School.
In honor of the school's 150th anniver-
sary, the issue, which is available today, will
highlight past and present research as well
as patient care.
Throughout the Journal's 116-year his-
tory, JAMA has recognized only seven
other universities in the nation for their
medical education, research and contribu-
tions to the field of medicine and patient
care.
Being the eighth school to be recognized
by the Journal has caused a rush of excite-
ment within the medical and University
communities.
"This is not just an honor of the year kind
of thing. The reason is that the University is
one of the four most important medical
schools in the nation including Penn, Har-
vard and Johns Hopkins," Executive Vice
President for Medical Affairs Gilbert
Omenn said.
Helene Cole, contributing editor for
JAMA's University Medical School edi-
tion, said the Journal received more than
30 submissions from the University for
the issue.
The editors chose those which they
thought were the "best papers submitted in
terms of readers interest and interest in the
medical communities," she said.
Allen Lichter, dean of the University
SAM'HOLLENM"HEA /aily
University Hospital resident nurse Marsha Bembenech attends to her 5-month-old patient
Alaysha Victorian. Victorian is connected to a machine that allows her heart and lungs to
function normally.
Medical School and an University alum for Blue pride, he said.
both undergraduate and medical studies, "It's thrilling to be recognized like this
said that the recognition is "just extra spe- in the country and world."
cial" for him. Howard Markel, Director of the Medical
"Obviously, other faculty members who School's Historical Center who also served
have joined us from other schools are proud as and an editor for one of the JAMA jour
of us, but there is nothing like the Maize n' See JAMA, Page 2
Current issue highlights
rcen tfaculty discoveries
As Arizona Sen. John McCain gains more voter support
in his efforts to reform the campaign finance system, Texas
Gov. George W Bush has been persuaded to announce his
own campaign finance reform proposal as the Republican
rivals prepare to face off in three critical tests during the
next week.
Despite Bush's announcement yesterday, the governor has
been discussing the need for campaign finance reform since
last summer, Bush campaign spokesman Scott McClellan
said.
The proposal includes a stipulation to prevent the use of
funds from a previous campaign. The effort to eliminate
this "loophole" is directed at McCain, who has redirected
funds left over from his 1998 Arizona Senate campaign
toward his run for the presidency.
"Americans, when they contribute to a campaign, they're
contributing to that campaign for that office," McClellan
said.
But McCain campaign officials have defended the sena-
tor's use of his previous election funds.
"We don't see a problem with Sen. McCain's actions,"
McCain campaign spokeswoman Nancy Ives said.
Bush's proposal has provisions to prohibit lobbyists from
contributing to federal legislators while Congress is in ses-
sion and ban unions and corporations from contributing soft
money to political parties. Other stipulations prevent the use
of union funds to support candidates that an individual pay-
ing dues does not support, allow individuals and groups to
run issue ads and require candidates to fully disclose cam-
paign contributions on the Internet.
Bush was the first candidate to disclose all of his
fundraising information on the Internet, McClellan said.
The proposal "is the standard Republican position on
campaign finance reform," University political science Prof.
Chris Achen said. "This is not a serious proposal:'
Bush's provision preventing unions from contributing
funds attacks the Democratic Party's fundraising tactics,
Achen said. Similar efforts have been made by Republicans,
but "it was so contentious it was dropped," he said.
Officials from the McCain campaign are skeptical of
Bush's announcement, which comes within a week of the
South Carolina, Michigan and Arizona primaries.
The Texas governor's plan does not include a ban on all
See BUSH, Page 7
U. Pen Througi
abandons.
FLA
By Jon Fish
Daily Staff Reporter,
By Lindsey Alpert
Daily Staff Reporter
While today's edition of the Jour-
nal of the American Medical Associ-
ation contains a historical look at the
research conducted at the Universi-
ty's Medical School throughout its
150 years of work, the issue also
includes breakthroughs recently dis-
covered at the University.
A new study, authored by Sandeep
Vijan, an assistant professor of inter-
nal medicine, indicates that it is not
necessary for people with adult onset
diabetes to undergo an annual eye
screening.
Diabetes is the number one cause
of blindness in the United States
according to the report and the annu-
al eye screening was used to check
for eye diseases.
The study found that screenings
See RESEARCH, Page 2
h the looking glass
SM HOlLLEINEAD/D ly
Third-year medical student Jeremy Kaplan shows an X-ray
Image to attending physician Rajesh Mangrulkar and
resident physician Jeff Smith.
Study: Prejudice fuels opinions
' Jeannie Baumann
Daily Staff Reporter
A study released yesterday by the Universi-
ty finds racial prejudice to be the primary rea-
son why whites reported opposing affirmative
action.
"The findings are important because of
the growing evidence that the gap in eco-
nomic status between blacks and whites is
lll wide and shows few signs of narrow-
ing," said psychology Prof. James Jackson
in a written statement.
The study, which Jackson conducted with
sociology Prof. David R. Williams at the Uni-
versity's Institute for Social Research, com-
pared the relationship between a respondent's
dom felt any sympathyc
black people were also mo
the practice of affirmative
also found that whites we
oppose affirmative action p
agreed with blatantly
racial statements, such as
blacks have gotten more
than they deserve and
blame whites too much
for their problems.
Researchers defined
this type of prejudice as
the "subtle, contemporary k
But the study found wh
claimed prejudice views, it
that their own race in inher
or admiration for "They are also inconsistent with the claim
re likely to oppose that a commitment to core American values of
action. The study individualism is what underlies white opposi-
ere more likely to tion to improve the status of blacks," he said in
ractices when they a written statement. 1He said he hopes to con-
duct more research to find
out why this is the case.
more than1,100 Williams and Jackson
interviewed more than
troi-area adults 1,100 adults in the Detroit
areafsurveyedTfor the study.
were yThe racial attitudes of
Detroit-area whites are
kind." generally similar to that of whites in other
ites with self-pro- large areas. But Detroit-area whites show
ncluding the belief much higher support for affirmative action
ently superior, sup- than whites do nationally," Williams said.
As student anti-sweatshop activists
at the University of Pennsylvania are
celebrating their successful sit-in
demonstration in their president's
office, students at the University of
Michigan continue to push the admin-
istration for a firm commitment to the
Worker Rights Consortium.
After a nine day occupation of Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania President
Judith Rodin's office, members of
Penn Students Against Sweatshops
ended their protest yesterday after
Rodin promised to withdraw from the
Fair Labor Association.
The FLA is a White House-spon-
sored coalition of corporations and
human rights group aimed at curbing
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