I One hundred nine years of editorial freedom t4&WO i NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 www.michigandaity.com Monday March 13, 2000 4 . r 1 I Occupation to end after 37 days SCC to leave once artifacts are removed By Tiffany Maggard and Robert Gold Daily Staff Reporters Students of Color Coalition spokesman Joe Reilly announced last night that SCC is in the process of ending its occupation of the Michigamua office space on the seventh floor of the Michigan Union tower. "The time is now to leave," Reilly said, adding that the group has done everything it could within the tower. Reilly said SCC will leave the space after all 4ative American artifacts are returned members of the Native American community or placed in the Bently Historical Library. He added that the group has packed all personal items of Michigamua and plan on handing it over to Michigamua members. "It's time for us to leave. We can't leave without the stuff," Reilly said. After waiting for more than a month for Michigamua and the administration to remove Michigamua's Native American artifacts from its tower office, SCC last nig ht said they decided the job needed to be done a nd took it upon them- selves to see that the materi: als were removed. During the removal proce is last night Michiga- mua members met with Dean of Student Affairs Frank Cianci- ola in the third floor of the Union to dis- cuss the reallocation process. Also present were math Prof. Bob Megginson and Shan- non Miller, coordina- tor of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs. "The concern we had was we were not contacted about the process," Michigamua spokesman Nick Del- = 1""" nI thj: tol arkJ frd re~ bW~ wet of fi hat's next? CC members said will leave the er once all of the facts are removed t the meeting e. N C members expect items to be oved, and leave the r sometime today. CC members taking' as out of the Union estopped by DPS aers. proper places but that the group wants to be involved in the decision. "The SCC did not want us to be part of that process'" Delgado said. SCC member Colette Routel said the items are being reallocated to an undisclosed location on Uni- versity property. "Its time for them to be in their proper place - we're just taking the initiative to do that. "It's not like this is impromptu. Our attorney has let the administration know that we would not toler- ate this stuff up here for long. Michigamua agreed that the things would be removed. We're just taking the initiative," Routel said. Delgado said Michigamua members agreed to remove the artifacts themselves. An inventory of the cultural materials taken by University faculty and staff members, including anthropology Prof. Richard Ford, was the first step in that process, he said. Vice President of Student Affairs E. Royster Harper said, "the University hasn't made any agree- ment with the SCC about removing the articles." She See MICHIGAMUA, Page 2A gado said. He added that Mich igamua agrees that the Native American artifacts sho uld be removed to the LOUIS BROWN/Daily Items here are in boxes ready to be given back to members of Mlchigamua. Others are packed to be given to the Native community. *Lawsuit extension request 'denied By Anna Clark Daily Staff Reporter A federal judge last week denied a motion to give attorneys represent- ing student interveners in a lawsuit against the University's Law School more time to prepare their case. By remaining on the schedule *ecided upon last August, the trial will begin Aug. 28, with the final pretrial scheduled for Aug. 24 and the deadline for lawsuit motions on April 26. The lawsuit was filed in 1997 by i Showing in Democratic C1CU e W "This is the wrong ecision." - Miranda Massie Barbara Grut- ter, who was denied admis- sion to the Law School. Grutter claims the school's affir- mative action attorney admissions pol- icy gives under- represented minority applicants an illegal and unfair advantage. Interveners proposed postponing the trial until January 2001 two months ago. According to the opinion written by .S. District Judge Bernard Friedman in response to the motion, "members of the public have called and written to the court expressing their concern for a prompt resolution. There are no extraordinary circumstances prevent- ing any of the parties from fully preparing for trial within the seven- month discovery period." Miranda Massie, the lead attorney 'presenting a group of minority stu- dent interveners in the lawsuit, said she plans to file a motion for recon- sideration. "This is the wrong decision," she said. "The social science of this case is very thorough and sophisticated which, in order to be fully devel- oped, requires time." Massie also said her preparations for the case will maintain a rapid pace. "Students will bring the truth Ebout educational equality into the courtroom, whether it's next August or later," she said. University Deputy General Coun- sel Elizabeth Barry said the Univer- sity will be prepared for the upcoming trials. "We're looking forward to the oppor- tunity to prove at trial what we've been saying all along," Barry said in a written atement. "Diversity is a must to train excellent lawyers and our process is legal, effective and fair." Terry Pell, senior legal counsel from the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Individual Rights, the group representing Grutter in the DAVID KATZVL/Ud U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Southfield) and foi -ner Michigan Gov. James Blanchard converse at a Democratic gathering at the Ramada Inn In Southfield on Saturday. Mich.i Dems vce lebrat victr By Yael Kohen Daily Staff Reporter Democrats turned out to vote - although in low numbers - in Satur- day's Michigan Democratic caucus despite Vice President Al Gore's ensured presidential nomination. Despite a weak showing at the Michigan Union caucus site, Michael Koen, a site manager, said he thought "it was a good turnout because I've seen a lot worse: Supporters for Bill Bradley were present at caucuses statewide to show support for the former New Jersey senator, who dropped out of the race last week after large defeats in last week's Super Tuesday primaries. Bradley failed to win any states in his bid for the presidency. Despite the fight that Bradley'lost out to Gore, Democrats said he played an important role. Although Bradley has withdrawn from the race he has not relin- quished his delegates, which was one reason for Bradley supporters to show up at the caucuses Saturday morning. The half-hour meeting which was held at the Union's University Club attracted.43 voters, resulting in 27, votes for Gore and 16 for Bradley. Although the caucus was a Washte- naw County site - not just for the University - students were active in running the caucus proceedings. The representatives for both cam- paigns who argued the candidates' positions were University students - Students for Gore chairman Michael Masters and Students for Bradley co-Chairwoman Amanda Beaumont. "I want to ask respectively that we unite as Democrats," Masters said. "We are all here to recognize that we are Democrats, and I'm sure that we all want to unite against G.W. Bush in November," said Beaumont, an LSA senior. But Bradley supporters were at the caucus to vote for Bradley because "we want your voices to be heard at the convention in August," she said. The more votes Bradley acquires from Michigan "the more delegates he gets to try to influence the conven- tion," said Bradley supporter Eric Feldman, an LSA sophomore. "We'll get our chance to vote for Al Gore in November," Feldman said. "Today I get to vote for the candidate I really believe in." "The Bradley and Gore cam- paigns on campus have both been active and have shown mainstream interest," said David Nacht, an Ann Arbor attorney who attended the caucus. But several voters agreed that the caucus was an opportunity to put aside differences between Bradley and Gore supporters. "My main thing today is getting the, party unified so we can beat Bush in November," said Gore supporter Steven Snead, an Education sopho- more. * 0 strategize campaign moves By Yael Kohen Daily Staff Reporter SOUTHFIELD - Michigan Democratic big-wigs did more this weekend than celebrate Vice President Al Gore's victory in the state as well as the all the natio hal primaries. Democrats up for election took advantage o t the event to discuss their upcoming campaigns.j Gathering unified support among Demoalcrats was the main focus of Saturday's victory party at the Ramada Inn. "The function of this is to get Democrats i ogether," said U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn), adding that there are many available public positions at the state and local level as well. Democrats said they believe their party will regain con- trol of the U.S. House of Representatives although they are unsure about the future of the U.S. Senate. "It's going to be a good year for Democrats" said U.S. Rep. David Bonior (D-Mt. Clemens). Bonior is up for reelection for Michigan's 10th Congressional District. If Democrats take back the House in November after See DEMS, Page 7A 'Nights' celebrate African cultures By Tiffany Maggard Daily Staff Reporter Eight-year-old Rose Bamfo and her 6- year-old sister Dorothea braved a crowd of more than 500 college students Satur- day night to attend the fourth annual African Nights fashion and cultural show in the Michigan Union ballroom. The local elementary school students were among a few audience members to come to the event fully dressed in tradi- tional African attire. Bamfo said the African Students Association's annual show was a good opportunity to cele- brate the African culture which is far removed from everyday life in America. "It's good because you don't see als an(I ceremonies native to Africa. The ornate ballroom was transformed into a conteniiporary high-fashion runway. The contra t was all too fitting for this year's African Nights theme, "SANKOFA: Reme mbering Our Ancestors at the Dawn of the New Millennium." AS.A hired Canadian and New York clothing designers to craft tra- ditionr;l clothing. "It ,was just something dramatic to repreent the different countries of Africa "and their diversity," said ASA executijive board member Andrea Bedi- ako, anLSA senior. The crowd was roused by humorous renditiions of the traditional rituals, includi. og the "yaba market" - a town emnn. mo nrn 14..h1d..n] in'itivP .A fAnan Holocaust survivor speaks at U' By Jon Zemke Daily Staff Reporter When Rebbetzin Esther Jurgreis spoke at Rackham Audi- torium last night, she did so with an energy and enthusiasm that most wouldn't expect from a Holocaust survivor. The author, lecturer, television show host and founder of the Jewish faith renewal movement Hinen kept the audience of almost 200 people spellbound with her humor, quick think- ing and powerful public speaking. Jurgreis was 7 years-old when she was a prisoner in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Poland with her fami- Iv~ at the end ofWoirlWar 11.VDespite all the hardships that