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 1 I I