IV r One hundred ten years ofeditorialfreedom Batl NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 7640557 wwwmichigandallycom Tuesday October 3, 2000 Id r :~~~~~@ 1 . .. 1 'l illmj 'l "U aids Tower Solieties in 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 - - .