The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 7 iii~ ~~ ' -X.~ Our CEO ywants to see you. Just imagine. On Tuesday, October 3rd, Harvey Golub Chairman/CEO, of American Express will be speaking at the Hale Auditorium from 4:30pm-6:Opm. Put yourself in the driver's seat with the driving force in financial services. Join us for our presentation. And find out why we made FORTUNE® magazine's list of Top Companies for MBAs. Former School of information Dean and Prof. Robert Warner, Robert Frost at the University's Detroit Observatory. former dean historical stu By Scott Undrup for the Daily Although famed American poet Robert Frost spent only &.few years in Ann Arbor, Frost held special affection for the city and campus. "-i like Michigan people and I like Michigan," Frost wrote to a friend after leaving the University in 1925. "1 have made more and closer friends than I ever did before." Frost's time in Ann Arbor is the subject of a book, "Frost-Bite, Frost-Bark," written by former School of Infor- mation dean and professor Robert Warner. He spoke yester- day at the Detroit Observatory about how Frost came to the University. "I'm not a Frost scholar and I make no preten- sion of being one. This is a historical study," Warner said. Frost's relationship with the University began in 1921 -with the founding of a fellowship in creative arts spear- eaded by then University president, Marion Burton. Bur- ton was instrumental in bringing Frost to Ann Arbor. "He liked people and people liked him," Warner said of Burton, whose main difficulty in attracting Frost to Ann Ann Arbor was financial. Although Burton died after serving only five years, he greatly expanded the University during his short term, with one of his main goals being the revival of intellectual values at the University. This goal peaked the interest of Chase Osborn, former regent and Michigan governor in 1910. "Burton made quite a fuss over him and fed the ego *'operly," Warner said of Burton's successful negotiation of $5,000 from the former governor to fund the fellowship. Frost was excited about the idea of being paid to write PETER CORNUE/Daily author of "Frost-Bite, Frost-Bark," speaks yesterday on poet presents dy on Frost, poetry. "In the old days, support for the arts was the prefer- ence of kings. I was afraid we would have to resort to women's clubs these days to continue," Frost wrote to a friend regarding the Michigan offer. Frost came to campus in June 1921 and immediately made an impression. He was accused of stealing a cheap vase from a house he was staying at and provided many students with the harrowing experience of reading their poetry to him. Frost formed strong ties to the students and faculty, espe- cially with the Whimsies, a student literary magazine at the time. One of the students, Stella Brunt, said she liked Frost and said the students became so comfortable with him that they took to calling him Robert or Frost. She went on to say that she didn't foresee Frost becoming a great poet. Brunt eventually donated her letters pertaining to Frost to the University Bentley Historical Society. Warner used those letters and other materials donated by Frost's family in his book. Frost left the University after a tenuous few years in 1925 due to sickness and a longing for his farm in New Hampshire. Back east, he accepted positions at many eastern universities, most notably Amherst'College. Frost did not completely sever his ties to Michigan after returning to New England. He returned to lecture occasion- ally and was awarded an Honorary Degree in Letters in 1962."Although the University had been known for athlet- ics, the publicity Frost generated put Michigan on the cul- tural map," he said. Warner said he came upon Frost's Michigan connection while doing his graduate work in history on Osborn and it became a hobby. "I thought it would be pretty easy and quick but it became hard work. I had a lot of fun doing it." www.americanexpress.com Can't make it? E-mail your resume to: amex.campus.recruitment@aexp.com. An Equal Opportunity Employer. i GAP Continued from Page 1 Reactions to the display were emo- tional - on both sides. "I think this is a ridiculous display Sinst the pro-choice movement,' said -A freshman Leslie Ward, who partic- ipated in the sit-in and later marched around the display with other protesters. "I think it's ridiculous that they force people to look at this," she said. LSA senior Korbi Ghosh was noticeably affected as she walked by the display. "I understand why people don't want to look at it," she said. "I look atit and I want to cry." Ghosh said she was not affiliated with the group, but sympathized with their cause. "People look at abortion as a political issue, and it's really an issue of humanity," she said. "It's real. The pictures are real. I feel like everyone has a right to know what the truth is." Ghosh's response is the type GAP is looking for, Kusher said. "Sometimes it takes a little shock value to get peo- ple to think about what abortion really is and really does,"he said. Not everyone was interested in the chance to debate the issue. "I want them to go away so I can sit in the Diag and study in peace," LSA sopho- more Michelle Goldstein said. She and others also complained about the amount of space devoted to the display. The barriers to protect GAP kept students from their normal traverse of the Diag. "While it was a large area, the perimeter of the Diag was maintained," Cianciola said. "I don't think the Diag was blocked off. It was done in conjunc- tion with trying to plan for the display." Eastern Michigan University offi- cials may face similar concerns today and tomorrow when GAP visits their campus. BENEFITS *ntinued from Page 1 President Arend Lubbers said in a written statement. As news of the proposal spread, Lubbers said, "It has become apparent to me that this issue is one that deeply divides, even more than I had anticipated. I have spoken individually to the members of our Board of Control, and giyen the atmosphere, the Board and I believe that now is not the time for me to take action." Grand Valley's Human Resource Department had been consulting with Kate Van Valkenburgh, the University of fichigan's manager of health and welfare plans, for ideas on how to structure its same-sex benefits policy. "I have pro- vided Grand Valley with a lot of information regarding our policy," Van Valkenburgh said. "They looked at the report of the task force that was charged with the task of coming up with our bylaw" Lubbers furthered his argument by saying Grand Valley State is not ready for this kind of bylaw. "It's also clear that west Michigan is different from other parts of the state. I do not know of any Grand Rapids-based employers that offer domestic partner benefits," Lubbers said. James Toy, consultant for the University's Office of Equity d Diversity Services, said he is proud of the University of Michigan's advancements in accepting same-sex partnerships in the workplace. "Employment benefits need to be provided to U-M employees without regard to sexual orientation," Toy said. "It is my moral conviction that same-sex partners - committed partners of university employees - deserve cov- erage comparable to the coverage accorded other-sex spouses of University employees." Since the induction of same-sex benefits at the University in 1993, several other universities across the state have adopt- ed similar bylaws allowing benefits for same-sex partners, provided they publicly register their union with the city coun- cil and have lived together for more than six months. Keith Grody, assistant vice president for Michigan State University's benefits program, said Michigan State adopted its policy to recognize same-sex partnerships for work bene- fits in 1997 after examining the policies in place at the Uni- versity of Michigan, Wayne State University and several Michigan automotive companies. "MSU has a long history of having in its non-discrimination policy a code for sexual ori- entation. It's been around since the '60s," Grody said. Van Valkenburgh said there were several reasons for adopt- ing such a plan. "Initially we adopted this policy for promot- ng equality and for anti-discrimination purposes," Van Valkenburgh said, The plan is beneficial in recruiting faculty from other universities that don't offer similar benefit plans. Currently 61 men and 69 women have registered their same-sex partners for work benefits through the University. Under the regents' bylaws, the University is committed to granting equal opportunity to all students, faculty and staff, regardless of sexual orientation. The regents used the bylaws as a basis for opening their benefits programs to same-sex partners and to their children, as long as they live in the same household. As one of the world's most respect- ed consulting firms, McKinsey & Company is an exceptional place to start your career. You'll work in a team alongside some of the best minds in a broad range of business specialties, giving you the perfect way to decide where your interests and talents lie. At McKinsey & Company, our specialists actu- ally change the way that business is done, in industries as diverse as e-commerce, banking, insurance and operations. Your work at McKinsey & Company will give you the experi- ence to hel you realize vour most PhD's, MD's, and Post Docs, please join us for our corporate presentation on: Thursday, September 28, 2000 at 6:30 PM in the Michigan League- Henderson Room. For further information, please contact: Mindy MacGriff Laura Nicholson Phone: 888-202-5006 y _ ____ CARING. BREAK 2001! Cancun_ .?