f One hundred ten years oyf editor l freedom ' Alk NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 www.michigandaily com Tuesday March 27, 2001 s Immmi ... BATTLE OF THE SEXES aion appeal may By Hanna LoPatin Daily Staff Reporter afl,- The U.S. Supreme Court will be looking at affirmative action sooner than many people thought - but the case has nothing to do with higher education. Yesterday, the high court agreed to hear a case challenging a federal program that gives help to minority-owned businesses. Although the court has ruled on several race- based districting cases within the past few years, this case is the first time in which the court will seriously consider affirmative action since 1996 when they denied to hear The University of Texas v. Hopwood, said University of California at Berkeley Law Prof. Jesse Choper. The current case is one of two brought by Adarand Constructors Inc. against the U.S. Transportation Department for a 1990 program that gave bonuses to highway contractors if at least 10 percent of their subcontracts went to "disadvantaged business enterprises." The stipu- lation included all businesses owned by racial minorities. Oral arguments for the case will likely take place sometime this fall. Choper, who specializes in constitutional law, ectU said determining whether a decision in the Adarand case will affect the pending affirmative action cases at the University of Michigan is "like reading tea leaves." But, Choper said, "If I were representing the University of Michigan, I would not want this case to be picked up." In 1995, the court ruled in favor of Adarand, finding that as a program used to remedy past discrimination, it was not narrowly tailored. Since then, the Department of Transportation revised the program so minority-owned business- es as well as businesses owned by women are classified as "disadvantaged." Companies claiming to be "disadvantaged" must prove economic and social need and prove that the owner's personal net worth is less than $750,000. Those state and local highway construction programs which receive federal funds must set their own goals and the create their own plans to incorporate disadvantaged businesses. Also, financial incentives were dropped. Adarand, a Colorado firm owned by a white See COURT, Page 7 ------------------------ - -- - ---------- Inside: The court also agrees to consider wlther mentally retarded people can be executed. Page 2. JOYCE LEE/Daily Contributing editor to Playboy magazine Asa Barber (left) debates gender issues with National Organization for Women President Patricia Ireland (right) at Rackham Auditorium last night with University alum David Barringer moderating. boyeditora y Nleade spar over By Elizabeth Kassab Daily Staff Reporter Students hoping for bitter confrontation or freec magazine did not receive either at last night's "Unco Truth," a debate at Rackham Auditorium between resident of the National Organization for Women, contributing editor for Playboy Magazine. Baber alluded in his opening remarks that there w on stage. "You won't find me saying 'Patricia, you i said, admitting her response would be along the line ignorant." Before an audience of hundreds, both Ireland an 'The Naked Truth' humor to delve into more serious issues including traditional gender roles, abortion and the feminist movement. Early on, the debate focused on the perceptions and receptions of copies of Playboy the feminist movement. vering the Naked Baber addressed misconceptions of the male reaction to feminism, Patricia Ireland, making clear that not all men are violent people who cheat women and Asa Baber, a out of equal wages. "These little slurs are very troubling," he said. Baber also expressed disapproval of the one-sided presentation of ould be no brawls gender relations. gnorant slut,"' he "I think there have been excesses in feminism. I don't want to get s of "Asa, I'm not rid of feminism," Baber said, adding he advocates a more "balanced curriculum" on campuses that would include courses such as "Men d Baber used dry See DEBATE, Page 7 Conference on gende confronts womn sss By Elizabeth Kassab Daily Staff Reporter common misconception, researchers say, is that the enormous gains women have made in education and the workplace have come at the expense of their male counterparts. Approximately 200 participants took this and other women's issues up yesterday at a conference titled "Bridging Gender Divides:, Educational Access, Leadership & Technolo- gy. Although women now make up more than If of the total number of university under- duates, statistics presented at the confer- ence showed their majority fades in post-graduate work. Women constitute 60 percent of students who attain associate degrees and maintain a significant majority as candidates for bachelors and masters degrees, but men earn more professional and doctoral degrees than women. "Educational attainment is not a zero sum game. The success of women does not have to come at the expense of men," said Jacqueline King, director of federal policy analysis for the American Council on Education. "The last thing we need ... is to alter our admissions policies to favor men," King said, calling attention to the conservative backlash against affirmative action. "A major reason why women stay in school longer seems to be continuing economic inequality," King said. Men are able to earn a decent amount of money, at least initially, without higher education, she said. Women, on the other hand, find a college degree essen- tial for good wages. Student panelists addressed the issue from their standpoints, asserting that significant progress has been made, but women are still underrepresented in certain fields. "Our work is equally important," said Lisa Jackson, a biopsychology doctoral candidate who studies estrogen and the human brain. "I know my work has implications for over half the population," Jackson said but added her work may be considered marginally important by some of her colleagues. As students, Jackson said she and others are "committed to supporting each other ... and we're committed to not losing the gains that women before us have already gained." Statistics noted the lack of women in sci- ence, math and engineering careers, but the conference emphasized the realm of informa- tion technology as one area where females are severely underrepresented. University President Lee Bollinger, along with eight other research university chiefs, officially recognized the presence of gender inequalities in science and engineering earlier this year and pledged to take steps to remedy the situation. "The vast majority of girls and women hate IT," said Jose-Marie Griffiths, the University's chief information officer. "It's very clear something is wrong." See GENDER, Page 7 ELLIE Y'fI I / uadiI Matt Nolan and Jessica Cash will assume control of the Michigan Student Assembly when current President Hicleki Tsutsumi hands over his gavel tonight. SA leadeShip to b 1 tOWA L 1to day By Carrie Thorson Daily StaffReporter As newly elected president and vice president of the Michigan Student Assembly, Matt Nolan and Jessica Cash are eager to start reforming the assembly. "We really know how to do the things we've talked about doing," Nolan said. "We can't wait to get started" Many assembly members said Nolan and Cash will be a welcomed change from the previous president, Hideki Tsutsumi. "We are going to have a much easier time working with this executive than either of the two executives we've worked with before," said Rackham Rep. Jessica Curtin, referring to past MSA presidents Tsutsumi and Bram Elias. "They are two very qualified candidates and I look forward to working with them," Student Rights Commission chair Michael Simon said. Simon, who ran as presidential candidate with the University Democratic Party, plans to contin- See MSA, Page 7 U' sixth in Peace Corps volunteers Students, faculty honored at annual leadership awards By Ted Borden Daily Staff Reporter dVhen the Peace Corps released its annual list of the colleges and univer- sities with the largest number of vol- unteers last week, the University ranked sixth, with 65 volunteers presently active. Campus recruiter Denise Mortimer said the University's program has been viewed. Our goal is generally 55, and we still have several weeks left in the school year" she said. Mortimer noted that campus Peace Corps participation ranked first in the University's district, which includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mis- souri and Kentucky. The University of Wisconsin at Madison ranked first with 93 volun- teers. By Ted Borden D)aily Nws Reporter At its annual ceremony yesterday, the Michigan Leadership Awards honored outstanding University students, faculty and organizations for their accomplish- ments. ient, as well as the ability of each to communicate the meaning of his or her experience. "We are here to honor the leaders among the leaders and the best," said Steve Grafton,- executive director of the Alumni Association, in his welcome speech. "They make the campus, com- L 1 .. ,.a .,, ..r. . .et..