One hundred nine years ofeditorialfreedom *rni NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 www mlchigandaily com Wednesday September 6, 2000 Y e-. Gaines kicked off team after arrest From the staff of The Michigan Daily, welcome back to Ann Arbor: Whether this isyourfirst return since orientation or " your finalfirst day o W isses, we hope to hel you enjoy the University of Michigan to its fullest. For nearly 110 years we've strived to provide the University community with all the news it needs and wants, and we look forward to the challenge of continuing that task each day this school year Good luck, and we'll see you tomorrow morning. The Editors By Geoff Gagnon Daily Sports Editor Two months before the already-troubled Michi- gan basketball team opens its season, coach Brian Ellerbe yesterday announced the dismissal of sophomore guard Kevin Gaines following his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. Gaines was arrested Monday morning in the Detroit suburb of Taylor, where he was accom- panied by incoming freshmen team members Avery Queen and Bernard Robinson in the bor- rowed car of freshman Josh Moore. All three were arrested in the early morning hours for suspicion of disorderly intoxication after the players were spotted wrestling on the shoulder of Telegraph Road outside their parked car. Gaines, 19, was reported to have a 0.17 per- cent blood-alcohol level at the time of the arrest. A blood-alcohol level of more than 0.10 is con- sidered legally drunk under Michigan law. Ellerbe said he was notified of the incident by phone from the three players themselves, who then met with the coach later on Monday. "They were frightened to say the least," Ellerbe said. "It was very difficult for them, especially for the two young guys." Gaines' removal from the team came in response to "continual breaking of team rules," Ellerbe said. The decision to dismiss Gaines left the start- ing point guard upset, but certainly not sur- prised, Ellerbe said. "I think its fairly well-documented that this is not a first time situation for Kevin," the coach said. "I feel worried about Kevin Gaines. Kevin knows how I feel about him. This decision was very well thought-out and all of the proper indi- viduals backed me on it one hundred percent." Gaines was at the center of several off-court incidents including the alleged theft of a stu- dent's palm pilot last winter. "There's been a number of situations, I don't want to single out any one, but there has been repetitive behavior," Ellerbe said. Monday's incident is also not the first involv- ing Queen, who arrived in Ann Arbor this See GAINES, Page 7A 6: r . .;i-C.f i .e '.,.:. - . b f ! 1 - t 1 .3 COPftakes aim at, gay life course CODE BLUE For years, students have rallied against the injustices of the Code of Student Conduct. Read up - it might affect your life more than you think. Section B. 0UNIERSITY LIVE TO SERVE At a campus the size of the University's, there are many ways to do your civic duty and *oontribute to the community. Check out some of them. Section C. RAVE ON Despite its troubled past, electronic music seems to be on the rebound. The Detroit Electronic Music Festival was a celebration of techno's culture. Section D. SPORTS BIG TRAIN ROLLING With a talented offense anchored by senior running back Anthony "A-Train" Thomas, *Michigan looks to another successful football campaigns Section E. Republican regent candidates oppose 'How to Be Gay' English class By Jeremy W. Peters Daily Staff Reporter Republicans seeking to regain a majority on the University Board of Regents have targeted Prof. David Halperin's English 317 class titled "How to Be Gay: Male Homosexuality and Initiation;' asserting taxpayers are wrongly funding a course that teaches immoral behavior. - In recent months the class has come under scrutiny by conservatives, adding an intriguing spin to an election that despite its statewide scope usually draws little or no attention, Halperin insists that he never intend- ed to incite any controversy by teaching the English class. "I do not seek controversy and I cer- tainly had no intention of attracting crit- ical attention to the University," he said. Although unsuccessful in his bid, Auburn Hills Mayor Tom McMillin said the class inspired him to run for one of two Republican nominations for regent. "That was the straw that broke the camel's back," McMillin said, insisting there were other reasons for his candidacy, including the elimina- tion of benefits for same sex partners of University eniployees. Instead of McMillin, veteran Michi- gan Republicans Wendy Anderson and Suzy Avery - who both also oppose Halperin's class - will be on their party's ticket in November. "I just can't understand the context of someone who graduates with an Eng- lish degree after having taken the class 'How to Be Gay' is better off than someone who has not taken it," Ander- son, a longtime party activist, said shortly after accepting the nomination. Suzy Avery, the state's tourism direc- tor and a former Michigan Republican See REPUBLICANS, Page 2A MARJORIE MARSHAL/Daily Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel receives an honorary degree from University President Lee Bollinger yesterday during a ceremony at Hill Auditorium. Czech president receives,01v honoarylawdegree New friends at the Union By Kelly O'Connor Daily Staff Reporter In a celebration of free speech, First Amendment scholar and University President Lee Bollinger pre- sented an honorary doctor of laws degree to Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel yesterday, a man who has devoted his life to promoting democratic ideals. The University chose to honor Havel for his devo- tion to human rights activism and active opposition to communism, as well as his critically acclaimed plays that have garnered many literary awards. At the Hill Auditorium ceremony, Bollinger announced a new graduate fellowship to honor a man whose life exemplifies the triumph of "human- ist and humanity." The Havel Fellows program will offer assistance to graduate students of Czech studies, students from the Czech Republic who choose to study at the Uni- versity and students who decide to research Czech issues for their dissertations, Bollinger said. Thanking the University for recognizing his work, Havel discussed the difficulties of staying commit- ted to finding the truth, in both political and person- al life. "We now live in the age of an information revolu- tion when hundreds of thousands or even millions of. pieces of information criss-cross the globe every second at a frantic speed, spanning our planet with an all-embracing coat of communication," Havel said. "However, it seems to me that it is of paramount importance to understand the fine difference between information and truth." After his speech, Havel led a panel discussion called "Globalization's Intellectual Challenge" with Bollinger, theater and drama Prof. Glenda Dicker- son and Business School Prof. Jan Svejnar. Havel's comments focused on the dangers global- ization poses to national identity, while Bollinger talked about the role of a university in encouraging independent, critical thought with a "moral ground- ing." Svejnar added that universities in other countries must See HAVEL, Page 2A NORMAN NG/Daily Bill Baroudi, area manager for the new Magic Wok restaurant in the, Michigan Union, serves Engineering Junior Anton Diego yesterday. Inside: New eateries open in the Union and Pierpont Commons. Page 54: Registration gets mixed re1view Midwest key to campaigns, OUT lN THE STREET ,t's a little bit off the beaten path, but Main Street is still a popular student hangout. Fine r^ in inc chsnnin a enA By Yael Kohen Daily Staff Reporter The Midwest has become the most coveted region in the country for presi- dential hopefuls, as Al Gore and CAMPAIGN ended, the candidates have spent sig- nificant time campaigning in the Mid- west and are expected to visit the region many more times before the Nov. 7 election. Voters in swing states like Michigan By Anna Clark Daily Staff Reporter The CRISP lady is officially dead. The revamped Internet-based Wolverine Access has permanently replaced the aged telephone registra- tion system that often frustrated stu- dents with its monotone requests to "please hold on." But while the new system has allevi- cess.umich.edu, a site that also offers students access to personal records. "The phone system worked fine, but it was archaic," said Linda Hancock Green, communications coordinator for Michigan Administration Informa- tion Services, formally known as M- Pathways, which is supervising the project. The phone system worked off an old database that is no longer used, Green