One hundred nine years of'editoriilfreedom
*il
NEWS: 76-DAILY
CLASSIFIED: 7640557
wwwmichigandaily. corn
Wednesday
March 29, 2000
Students air grievances at panel meeting
By Tiffany Maggard
Daily Staff Reporter
A three-member panel charged with
resolving problems surrounding space allo-
*ion and University ties to student organi-
zations heard little about space and a lot
about pain for three hours last night.
More than 40 University students and
community members expressed their opin-
ions of how the panel should deal with the
senior society Michigamua "New Traditions
for the New Millennium" and how they per-
sonally have been affected by the organiza-
tion to the panel designated by interim Vice
sident for Student Affairs E. Royster
Students of Color Coalition spokes-
woman Colette Routel said Michigamua
should not get free space at the University
simply because it is a community service-
oriented group. She argued that other
groups do not "earn" privileged space and
neither should Michigamua.
Several students said they came to the
University because of the level of diversity
it aims to perpetuate. Instead, participants
said they feel Michigamua is an example of
"institutionalized racism" - a condition
they said, violates the University's integrity.
"I came here believing that this Universi-
ty believes in things that I could believe in.
But I have been deceived. As long as
Michigamua exists (the University) says
Michigamua is more important than other
students .. I feel anger that the students
could be in the tower for 37 days and have
the president look the other way," said
Rackham student Irfan Nooruddin.
Other students and community members
expressed similar emotions, including an 11-
year old boy who read a letter he wrote to
University President Lee Bollinger about his
reaction to visiting the Michigamua meeting
space in the Michigan Union Tower.
Michigamua members chose not to speak
at the hearing. Michigamua spokesman
Nick Delgado said the group benefited from
hearing the concerns of participants and
will work toward a potential meeting with
the Native American community in a more
"safe environment."
"We listened. It was important for us to.
hear the students and community again.
After listening to them we thought there is
increased value in a discussion with the
Native community," he said.
The question of privileged space was
brought to the table by the SC C and their
examination of Michigamua, which they
assert has occupied a "privileged" meeting
space on the seventh floor of the Union for
nearly 70 years.
But in addition to the issue of Michiga-
mua having privileged meeting space, the
SCC also commented on the "wigwam"
design of the room.
Delgado said the group began legal work
for the demolition of the current design of the
Michigamua meeting room yesterday.
Several Ann Arbor residents said they are
angered that their tax money goes to the
institution that allows Michigamua to exist.
"I do not accept the fact that my tax
money goes to the University that fosters
racism," said Marsha Iraxler.
The recommendations to be delivered to
Bollinger by April 14 are to be specifically
aimed at determining "under what condi-
tions, if any, a student group should be enti-
tled to space which is not subject to a
periodic assignment process, review and
potential reallocation."
SA.M r1ULLLEMH./LDaily
SCC spokeswoman Colette Routel shows pictures of alleged
Mchigamua hazing rituals at a panel discussion in East Hall
last night.
All lit up inside
ITD official
kills self in
'U,
By David Enders
Daily Staff Reporter
office
An employee of the 'University's
Information and Technology Divi-
sion was found dead yesterday
morning of a self-inflicted gunshot
wound.
Kurt Zimmer, 41, was found in an
ITD office by a security guard at
Arbor Lakes Office Complex. There
was no readily apparent motivation for
suicide and results of an autopsy are
expected today. The Department of
Public Safety is investigating the mat-
ter.
Zimmer was a University gradu-
ate and had been an accountant for
ITD since 1998. He was an Ann
Arbor City Council Member until
1994.
"He was dedicated to his political
beliefs and his family," Councilman
Joe Upton (R-Ward V) said. Zim-
mer left city council around the
time his first child was born, Upton
said.
ITD Director and University
Chief Information Officer Jose-
Marie Griffiths and University
Provost Nancy Cantor stood outside
the office building this morning to
make ITD staff aware of the situa-
tion.
Employees with offices near Zim-
"He was dedicated
to his political
beliefs and his
family. "
-Joe Upton
Ann Arbor City Councilman
mer's were sent home as a result of
the investigation.
"We are shocked and saddened by
Kurt's death," Griffiths said in a
written statement. He was very well
liked by his colleagues in the Infor-
mation Technology Division and by
others in the University communi-
ty."
Wanda Monroe, spokeswoman for
the CIO, said Zimmer entered the
building at 1:17 a.m. on Monday,
but it was unclear when the shot
was fired.
Monroe said ITD was quick to pro-
vide employees with any necessary
help in dealing with the loss of a co-
worker.
"We've been in contact with faculty
and staff and counselors have been
provided," she said.
Zimmer is survived by his wife,
Carol, and their two children.
SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily
Lights of many colors shine on the Rackham Graduate School last night to promote Border Crossings, a dance and art performance scheduled to take place in
the Rackham Auditorium tonight. Inside: Event started with a sculpture made of beeswax. Page 5.
BRAVI
W 1
take LSA-SG
presidency
By Josie Gingrich
Daily Staff Reporter
In spite of the recent scandals that have shaken their party,
Wolverine candidates B.J. Orandi and Erin Reese persevered.
The pair were sworn in as president and vice-president of LSA
Student Government last night.
But election results for LSA-SG representatives are not being
released until next Tuesday because of the ongoing investigation
into the fraudulent activities of Wolverine freshman campaigner,
Chip Englander, a representative on LSA-SG.
Despite the scandal, emotions ran high at last night's LSA-SG
meeting. Members spoke of the friendships they made, as well as
their respect for the outgoing executive members, President Seema
Pai and Vice President John Naheedy.
"It's been an amazing time and we've had really amazing lead-
ership," outgoing LSA Counsel Marisa Shetlar said.
"The most important thing I got out of this was the people
involved," Naheedy said. "I feel like I left my mark on the Uni-
versity."
Orandi and Reese said they were proud to continue the work
started this year. "We have got some mighty big shoes to fill," Oran-
di said. "There are a lot of things I foresee this government doing."
Orandi emphasized the end of partisan divisions now that elec-
tions are over. "These elections are the most competitive I've ever
n but nowu; nam rtv line are gone" Orandi said "Party affiliations
NEW MSA
Students' abuse of
prescrptions grows
SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily
Michigan Student Assembly President Hideki Tsutsuml accepts the gavel from outgoing
president Bram Elias during the MSA meeting in the Michigan Union last night.
MS Achangesitgur
By Caitlin Nish
Daily Staff Reporter
Marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine. When
students are asked to name popular
drugs on college campuses, these are
the standard answers. But in a trend
growing among college students,
Ritalin, Vicadin and other prescrip-
tion drugs are becoming common
responses.
Throughout the past few years,
student misuse of prescription drugs
has become an increasing problem,
prompting several universities to
investigate illicit prescription drug
use on their campuses.
The death of a Josh Doroff, a
senior at Trinity College in Con-
necticut, last week after he and his
roommates apparently mixed alco-
hol, prescription anti-anxiety drugs,
sleeping pills and a migraine med-
ication has served to highlight the
issue.
They may have also been using
heroin.
Dexedrine. No one had a good idea
about it and we decided we had to
find out about it," said Eric Heili-
genstein, clinical director of psy-
chiatry at the University Health
Service at Madison.
"We basically started hearing
rumors from students that other stu-
dents were asking for their medica-
tions. There were reports of other
students having used the medication as
a study aid or intranasally, crushing it
and snorting it," he said.
Heiligenstein found that more than
20 percent of the students surveyed
had taken a prescription drug for non-
medical purposes at one time in their
lives.
While Heiligenstein said he thinks
Madison is representative of most col-
lege campuses, the University's
Department of Public Safety stated
that they have no reports that indicate
a pattern of abuse of prescription
drugs.
Many medical professionals said
they believe the use of prescription
drugs in an illicit manner is the result
By Lisa Koivu
Daily Staff Reporter
The Michigan Student Assembly meet-
ing last night in the Michigan Union was
filled with tears as some members of the
assembly relinquished their seats in the
for the new officers began.
Disqualified members of the Wolverine
Party attended the meeting, asking the
assembly to postpone the induction of the
new members for one week so they could
have more students sign a petition stating
that "those candidates who were selected
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