One hundred ten years ofedtonalfreedom
tti
NEWS: 76-DAILY
CLASSIFIED: 764-0557
wwwmichigandaily.com
Thursday
January 18,2001
*' -.-
I
Statistic
expert
jestifies
for CIR
University will open its
case with President Lee
' linger taking the
tand today
By Jon Fish
Daily Staff Reporter
DETROIT - In day two of admis-
sions lawsuits, lawyers from the Univer-
sity and the Center for Individual Rights
clashed over whether the extent to which
the University uses race as a factor in
Law School admissions can be quanti-
d into a
number.
K inley
Larntz, a ON RIAI
retired Uni- -
versity of ~
Minnesota
statistics
professor, was the sole witness yester-
day. Larntz, who was entered as CIR's
tistical expert, spent about six hours
the stand, including more than three
hours of heavy cross-examination by
University lawyers who criticized both
the methodology and results of his
analysis.
Using applicant data from the Law
School's database for the years 1995
through 2000, Larntz constructed sta-
tistical models using this data to study
how much of a role race plays in
admissions decisions.
*Larntzconcluded that not only is race
a factor but that "an incredibly large
allowance" has been granted to certain
minorities in Law School admissions.
"Given the same credentials, there is
a tremendous advantage given to
Native Americans, African Americans,
Mexican Americans and Puerto
Ricans compared to Caucasian Ameri-
cans, Asian/Pacific Americans, other
;spanie Americans and foreign appli-
nts," he said.
Specifically, Larntz sought to quanti-
fy the role that race plays in the admis-
sions process by comparing applicants
with similar undergraduate grade point
averages and Law School Admissions
Test scores. It was agreed that these two
measures are among the most impor-
tant criteria in evaluating applicants.
Dividing the applicants into three
grade "zones" of high scores, mid-
*nge and low scores, Lartz said the
e of race does not vary for the high
and middle ranges. The University has
said race is most likely to be a factor
See TRIAL, Page 2A
Student
dies;
cause
unknown
Autopsy postponed,
may lead to clues
SAM HOLLENSHEAD/ Daily
Erika Hrabec, secretary to University President Lee Bollinger, walks past SOLE members who briefly took over
Bollinger's office yesterday in protest of the University's seven-year athletic apparel contract with Nike.
Laor activitrally
against Nike deal
By Jacquelyn Nixon
Daily Staff Reporter
An autopsy was postponed yesterday
for a School of Art and Design sopho-
more who died Tuesday afternoon after
being found unresponsive in her Mosh-
er-Jordan Residence Hall room.
A fellow student notified police after
finding Candy Wei, 20, in her room,
Department of Public Safety spokes-
woman Diane Brown said. Wei was
rushed to the University Hospitals'
emergency room, where she was pro-
nounced dead at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday.
"It appears not to be natural causes,"
Brown said. "Preliminary investigation
indicates an absence of foul play."
An autopsy, which could help deter-
mine the exact cause of Wei's death, was
delayed yesterday for unknown reasons
and may be rescheduled for today.
Wei's mother arrived yesterday from
Durham, N.C., and was met at the air-
port by University Vice President for
Student Affairs E. Royster Harper.
Fellow Mosher-Jordan residents were
informed of Wei's death at a hall meet-
ing Tuesday evening.
"There have been grief counselors at
Mosher-Jordan since shortly after this
happened," Brown said.
LSA senior Matthew Schultz filled
with emotion as he recalled Wei's pas-
sion for art. "She is one of the few
examples of a true artist. Everything she
produced was meaningful and touch-
ing," Schultz said. "She is someone who
was engaged in the world."
Richard Kunst, owner of Humanities
Computing Laboratory, a computer-
assisted learning program based in
North Carolina, hired Wei to work for
him while she was in high school.
"She was a wonderful artist," Kunst
said. "She was someone who was in
touch with a lot of parts of her person-
ality."
Wei drew sketches for numerous lit-
erary and art publications. "She pub-
lished a literary magazine in high school
called 'yteicos,' which is society spelled
backwards,' Kunst said. "She also did
sketches for it."
Schultz, who worked with Wei on the
literary and art online publication "Eat
the Monster," said she was a gifted artist
in many different ways. Wei also wrote
short stories and worked on the website
for the Michigan Independent, an opin-
ion magazine.
While working with Wei, Schultz
found she was ambitious academically
and artistically.
Schultz described Wei as a hard
worker who put a lot of pressure on her-
self.
"She tried to involve herself in many
things," Schultz said.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
By Anna Clark
Daily Staff Reporter
Armed with a bullhorn and brightly markered posters,
about 20 bundled-up University students marched yester-
day into University President Lee Bollinger's office in
the Fleming Administrdtion Building.
Crowded close together, the group rallied in opposi-
tion to what they called Nike's breach of the seven-year
equipment contract it signed last week with the Universi-
ty. The University announced the deal Tuesday.
Although Bollinger was not in the office, the protest-
ers, who were members of Students Organizing for
Labor and Economic Equality, the Graduate Employees
Organization and the Black Student Union, rallied for
half an hour.
SOLE member Jackie Bray, an LSA freshman, said
the protest aimed to remind Bollinger that the contract
stipulates the University may terminate the deal with
Nike if the corporation doesn't resolve its labor issues
within 30 days.
Protesters said labor incidents occurring at a Nike fac-
tory in Puebla; Mexico, violate the labor standards of the
See SOLE, Page 2A
Vice chair to head SACUA
N Brief illness claims life of
49-year-old faculty affairs
committee chairwoman
By Whitney Elliott
Daily StaffReporter
Jacqueline Lawson, chair of the Senate
Advisory Committee on University
Affairs and an associate English professor
at the University's Dearborn campus, died
last week following a brief illness. She
was 49.
SACUA Vice Chair Moji Navvab, an asso-
ciate Architecture and Urban Planning pro-
fessor, will take over for Lawson until April,
when her term was set to expire.
John Riebesell, an associate biology pro-
fessorat Dearborn who worked closely
with Lawson on the Dearborn Faculty Sen-
ate, plans to speak about Lawson next
Monday at the monthly meeting of the Uni-
versity's Senate Assembly. Lawson died
Jan. 8.
"When I was working with Jackie on Fac-
ulty Senate, I was happy to have her to turn
to," Riebesell said.
At the Dearborn campus, Lawson taught
courses in 18th Century British and 20th Cen-
tury American literature, media law and
ethics and the history of journalism.
Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little said in
an e-mail to students and faculty on campus
that Lawson "made a powerful mark on the
institution during her years at UM-Dearborn,
and profoundly affected all with whom she
interacted, including students, faculty, and
staff."
"She will be remembered for her clear
strong voice. ... It is a real loss for this com-
See LAWSON, Page 7A
Crowded field looks
to gubernatorial race
Here's looking at you
By Louie Meizlish
Daily Staff Reporter
Former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard, who
lost his 1990 bid for re-election to current Gov.
John Engler, filed paperwork yesterday to set up
a campaign committee, paving the way for a bid
to replace Engler next year.
*Engler, a Republican, will be forced out of office
in 2001 due to term limits, and Blanchard, a demo-
advertising my old programs like the education
savings plan and computers in the'classroom."
U.S. Rep. David Bonior of Mt. Clemens
reportedly also is considering a run. His decision
will likely hinge on whether the GOP-controlled
state Legislature reapportions congressional dis-
trict lines in such a way that would force the
Democratic whip out of office.
It is also appears Democrats are waiting on state
Attorney General Jennifer Granholm's decision on
DAVID KATZ/Daily
Accutane, a medication prescribed for severe cases of acne,
has caused controversy with consumer complaints that the
drug is linked to suicide and suicidal tendencies.
FDA reports
link Accutane
to depression
By Susan Luth
Daily Staff Reporter
After Congressman Bart Stupak's son BJ committed sui-
cide last May, he and his wife Laurie couldn't figure out
why. But the Stupaks are convinced the acne medication BJ
was using - Accutane - ultimately led to their son's
death.
Accutane is prescribed as a last resort for severe cases of
acne. In researching, Laurie Stupak said she was stunned to
find that the Federal Food and Drug Administration had
published reports indicating that Accutane may trigger psy-
chosis and suicidal tendencies. A 1998 FDA report linked
the drug with 31 reports of suicide, suicide attempts or hav-
ing thoughts of suicide. Despite these reports, no warning
label accompanied the drug.
More recent FDA reports links 147 cases of suicide and
hospitalization for depression to Accutane between 1982
and May 2000.
"BJ had not shown signs of depression, and if we had
known that this drug could cause depression, suicide
crat, is the latest in a crowd of.
prominent Michiganians con-
sidering a run for the open seat.
On the Democratic side,
there are at least six potential
candidates. One Democrat,
Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith of
Salem Township, has said she
11 definitely enter the race
and has already filed to form a
campaign committee. But
Smith is by most accounts less
prominent than other Democ-
rats considering a run.
"I am looking to
putting together an
agenda that fires
people up and fires
me up"
- James Blanchard
Former Michigan governor
the race for governor. Bill Bal-
lenger, editor of Inside Michi-
gan Politics, said Granholm is.
being watched closely as a
potential candidate not only
because she is the only Demo-
crat in a statewide office but
also because she is "a very
charismatic person and very
popular. She does not have any
baggage that is negative."
Dennis Denno, spokesman
for the Michigan Democratic
Party, said a contested prima-
Blanchard, who served from 1983 until his
defeat in 1990 by then-Senate Majority Leader
ry could hurt the party's chances in the general
election. "The problem with primaries at times is
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