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NEWS: 76-DAILY
CLASSIFIED: 7640557
wwwmichigandallycom
Tuesday
October 3, 2000
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By Anna Clark
Daily Staff Reporter
Michigamua has found a new home, with
University's help.
The University spent an estimated $5,800 for
carpeting, wiring and structural alterations to
refurbish meeting space at 109 E. Madison St.
for Michigamua and two other honor societies,
according to documents obtained by The
Michigan Daily through the Michigan Freedom
of Information Act.
Dean of Students Frank Cianciola confirmed
the estimates, adding that the exact cost "has'
of come through yet."
W"1 have written estimates for a little over
$5,800. In addition, I think there will be some
costs for keys and some moving expense,"
Cianciola said in a written statement.
Part of the third floor of the University-
owned building at the corner of East Madison
and South Fourth Avenue is also the new home
of the Vulcan and Phoenix societies. The
groups moved there last month and can remain
there for two years, which is the normal lease
cycle for student groups.
The building is also housing the University
Musical Society and Building Services.
The move follows the Students of Color
Coalition's fervent campaign earlier this year to
oust Michigamua from its meeting space in the
Michigan Union tower.
Although Michigamua - a group whose
practices have been deemed offensive by the
SCC and Native American groups - modified
their name to "Michigamua: New Traditions
for a New Millennium" to signify change,
questions linger on the group's relationship
with University administration. This relation-
ship was one of the SCC's major complaints
during their 37-day occupation of the tower.
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs E.
Royster Harper, who, along with Cianciola,
coordinated Michigamua's move, said the soci-
eties received nothing the University wouldn't
offer any other group in their situation.
Harper said money for renovations came
from a non-general fund account, which
includes revenue from rented campus space for
businesses, such as restaurants in the Union
basement. She added that the renovations were
to improve "unhealthy conditions" at the East
Madison building.
Harper and Cianciola both said it was coin-
cidental that the first three offices available
were in the same building.
"We told the three groups they had to leave
the tower space, and we said we'd help them
find new space," Harper said. "This is typically
what we do for any student organization."
Harper cited only one other case - the Inter
cooperative Council - in which the University
aided an organization in finding office space.
The societies didn't go through the same
move
process to petition for space as other organiza-
tions on campus, Harper said. Although other
groups applied at the end of last year for space
this academic year, Harper said the Tower
Societies lost their offices this summer and the
University made an exception in the usual
process to be fair.
"If we didn't offer them this space we
would've been saying, 'You can't go back to
your offices and you can't apply for new space
either,"' she said.
But SCC member Colette Routel said
Michigamua had enough opportunity and
warning to apply for space by the deadline.
She said it was unfair because Michigamua
See MICHIGAMUA, Page 7
10 SOLE
members
arrested
at protest
By Jon Fish
Daily Staff Reporter
A demonstration protesting the over-
seas manufacturing practices of Kohl's
* department store resulted in the arrest
of 10 members of Students Organizing
for Labor and Economic Equality.
Chanting anti-sweatshop messages,
the students were charged with tres-
passing after they refused to leave the
Lohr Road store after warnings from
the Pittsfield Township Police and the
Kohl's personnel.
The controversy centers around the
Chentex factory, one of Kohl's manu-
facturers located in Managua,
Nicaragua. Protesters claim that the
company is guilty of exploiting work-
ers with low wages, poor conditions
and union busting.
Yesterday's action at the Ann Arbor
store is part of a nationwide drive by
the National Labor Committee for
Worker and Human Rights to secure
a living wage and fair treatment
See ARRESTS, Page 7
Lieutenant Stephen Heller (front left) prepares to book members of SOLE yesterday evening during a protest at Kohl's. The protesters'
leave the store and were each charged with trespassing.
Students angered by Israeli actions
Candidates
prepare for
debates
By Hanna LoPatin
Daily Staff Reporter
In this corner, Republican presidential candidate Texas
Gov. George W. Bush, a charismatic charmer, and in the
other corner Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore,
known for his cut-throat, gun-slinging debating style. Both
will contend for the American public's attention in tonight's
first of three presidential debates.
"Everybody considers that Al Gore's a world class
debater and Bush is not too bright,".said Inside Michigan
Politics Editor Bill Ballenger.
"Not that much is being expected of Bush and so he has a
lot to gain and a little to lose. Gore has a little to gain and a
lot to lose," he said.
Tonight's debate, which will air at 9 p.m. on most net-
works except for Fox and NBC, which is leaving the deci-
sion up to its local affiliates, may have a great influence on
undecided voters.
LSA sophomore Justin Schmandt said what he sees
tonight may sway his vote.
"I don't really know much about what I'm looking for, I
just want to see," he said.
Schmandt has never voted and said that the "Rock
the Vote" effort on campus has encouraged him to get
involved.
"I'm still trying to find out what issues are important to
me," he said.
But some undecided voters are looking elsewhere for
information, saying that debates tend to be overridden with
politics, not issues.
"I read the papers every day," said LSA freshman Brian
Vereb, who will not be watching tonight.
"I don't like when they just go off topic and they look
like they're lying to you," he said.
Ballenger said that both candidates come with costly bag-
gage that they need to avoid behind the podium.
Along with his tendency to exaggerate, Gore has to "avoid
reinforcing the negative stereotype as someone who tends to
go over the edge in his combativeness" Ballenger said.
See DEBATES, Page 7
Book acc ,uses
'U rof. of
infecting tribe
By Usa Kovu
Daily Staff Reporter
A book scheduled to be released in November calls into
question the reputation of a former University professor,
accusing him of conducting genocidal testing on the
Yanomami tribe in Venezuela.
Investigative journalist Patrick Tierney's book, "Darkness
in El Dorado: How Scientists and Journalists Devastated the
Amazon," contends that Neel - a genetics professor at the
University who died in February - and his associates
administered a measles vaccine to the tribe with the knowl-
edge the vaccine could be fatal.
The vaccine spurred measles-like symptoms, which
could kill the natives because of their lack of immunity to
the disease. The book alleges that James Neel continued to
distribute the vaccine, consequently killing hundreds of
members of the Yanomami tribe.
An excerpt from the book, obtained by The Guardian
newspaper in London, said that Neel was directing the
expedition.
One excerpt said the team "refused to provide any med-
ical assistance to the sick and dying Yanomami, on explicit
ordepr from nNeel. Reisistedlto h hisleagues that thv
By Rachel Green
Daily Staff Reporter
Demonstrators protesting the most recent wave
of violence in the Middle East rallied yesterday
against what they said was excessive Israeli sol-
dier brutality toward Palestinian civilians.
About 150 students and Ann Arbor residents
gathered at noon for a demonstration that began
on the steps of the Michigan Union, marched
past Angel Hall and culminated in the Diag.
Amer Zahr, a graduate student in Middle East-
ern studies, said the rally was prompted by Thurs-
day's visit of Israeli right-wing leader, Ariel
Sharon, to the Dome of the Rock, the site of the
first Arab Mosque and the third holiest site to
Palestinians in Israel. "He visited Thursday with a
band of soldiers to keep an underlying claim over
Jerusalem's old city" said Zahr, a Palestine Com-
mittee member.
The rally had been scheduled since Thursday,
although Saturday's killing of a Palestinian boy in
the streets of Netzarim made the rally more urgent.
Rami Jamal Al-Durra, a 12-year-old Palestinian
civilian, was pinned by gunfire against a cement
wall, as his father vainly attempted to shield him.
Zaim Bengali, vice president of the Muslim Stu-
dents Association, told the protesters of the most
recent civilian victim in the fighting. Two-year-old
Sara Abdelhaq was hit by a barrage of at least 10
bullets while riding in with her family in the car
Sunday night, he said. "There is no excuse for this.
None," Bengali, an LSA senior, said, implicating
Israeli gunfire as the cause of Abdelhaq's death.
Norah Rabiah, a School of Natural Recourses
junior and member of the ADC, said poor Amer-
ican media coverage is to blame for the lack of
U.S. government support in the events of Net-
zarim during the last few days. "I want people
here to look past what they're seeing on CNN
and on the front page of whatever newspapers
See RALLY, Page 2
PETER CORNUE/Daily
Ann Arbor residents Nezar Khatib and Brice Auten protest the recent violence that
erupted in the Middle East, on East Uberty Street yesterday.
Clinics help prepare
campus for meningitis
By Undsey Alpert
Daily Staff Reporter
Urging students to become inoculated against
bacterial meningococcal meningitis, the University
is conducting vaccination clinics for the disease.
Meningococcal meningitis is a potentially fatal
infection that afflicts the brain and spinal cord
*erings. The disease has not surfaced at the
University in the past several years, but cases at
other colleges - like one at Michigan State Uni-
versity last year - have put campuses on guard.
Michigan Visiting Nurses, part of the Universi-
ty Health System, is running five clinics in con-
junction with University Health Services.
in residence halls to make themselves informed
about this option" said Robert Winfield, Univer-
sity Health Service interim director. "The disease
itself is very uncommon but very serious."
Meningoccal meningitis, which can be either
bacterial or viral, is spread by saliva droplets
from person to person.
The vaccine does not protect against the viral
form of the disease, which is less serious.
"There are certain situations, living in a dorm,
heavy kissing, bar patronage and smoking that
increase the risk," said Carly Wojcik, Michigan
Visiting Nurses special program manager.
The health services sent out an e-mail to all
undergraduate students, letters to the parents of
- - .