LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 3
Med school contract negotiations persist
Georgetown U.
S vice president
denies LGBT support
WASHINGTON - Vice President
for Student Affairs Juan Gonzalez for-
mally released his decision Friday to
deny the creation of a lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender resource cen-
ter at Georgetown University. Gonzalez
cited Catholicism's emphasis on tradi-
tional marriage as his reason in a two-
page letter presented to the committee
of students supporting the creation of
the resource center.
"We cannot create or support a cen-
ter whose mission would unavoidably
lead to advocacy of sexual behavior
outside the context of traditional mar-
riage," Gonzalez said in the document.
"I believe that the proposed LGBT
center cannot avoid this risk.:
Gonzalez said the resource center
staff inevitably would find themselves
promoting untraditional sexual prac-
tices, which would challenge the
church's teaching and therefore univer-
sity policy.
But Gonzalez was careful to distin-
guish between promotion of nontradi-
tional practices - which is unacceptable
according to The Bible - and accept-
ance of untraditional practices, which is
integral to Catholic beliefs.
"Because of our religious belief,
because this is a Jesuit institution, we
very much will be attentive to support-
ing students," he said. "(The Bible)
makes it very clear that the church is
respectful, accepting, embracing and
loving of individuals, not wanting in
any way to discourage them or dis-
criminate against them."
U. Arizona staff
could be affected
by proposed cuts
TUCSON, Ariz. - Betrayal, lies and
demoralization were among the words
University of Arizona workers used to
describe their feelings about Gov. Jane
Dee Hull's proposal to nix the 5 percent
raise to all state workers the Legislature
promised less than two months earlier.
Of 20 staff members interviewed
about Hull's announcement that she
wanted to eliminate the raises, all of
them agreed they felt betrayed, dis-
couraged and worried about their
financial future and the general welfare
of the university itself.
Many staff members asked to have
their names withheld, fearing the possi-
bility a slew of layoffs is just around
the corner.
Norma Ayon, a media arts academic
adviser, said the raise would not have
meant more pocket money but a
chance to catch up from the recent
increase in the cost of insurance for
university workers.
"With everything getting so expen-
sive, you're just trying to keep your
head above water," she said.
Ayon and another worker who asked
to have her name withheld, said other
prices, including university parking and
the general cost of living in the state,
have continued to increase while their
paychecks have remained the same.
Hazing statute
could come under
fire from fraternity
HARRISONBURG, Va. - The two
James Madison University students in
Sigma Alpha Epsilon who are charged
with six counts of hazing may make
history today by alleging Virginia's
statute is unconstitutional.
The attorneys representing the
accused said they might question the
constitutionality of the statute for being
too vague.
State of Virginia Code 18.2-56
states, "It shall be unlawful to haze, or
otherwise mistreat so as to cause bodi-
ly injury, any student at any school,
college or university."
On Nov. 27 juniors Daniel Manner
and Ted Price were arrested by the Har-
risonburg Police Department and
charged with six counts of hazing each,
following an incident at the SAE house.
According to Harrisonburg Sgt.
Kevin Lanoue, six victims were found
who received bodily injury. When
found by police, the victims were cov-
ered with some foul material and had
duct-taped rags over their eyes, accord-
ing to Lanoue.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Maria Sprow
By Shannon Pettypiece
Daily Staff Reporter
After Medical School residents picketed in
front of the University Medical Center last
Wednesday demanding an increase in their $10
an hour wage, hospital officials have agreed to sit
back down at the negotiation table for another
round of talks
The House Officers Association, which repre-
sents hospital interns and medical residents, has
spent two months negotiating its contract in order
to receive a 3 percent pay increase and more ben-
efits.
Because of financial issues, the HOA and hos-
pital administrators have been unable to reach an
agreement, but negotiations are expected to
resume within the next week - or at least within
the next month.
"We have not formally met with the adminis-
tration yet at the bargaining table, but we plan to
meet next week," said HOA President Vikas
Parekh, a third-year medical resident.
After the demonstration last week, representa-
tives from the HOA met with interim University
President B. Joseph White to discuss the talks.
"While he was not able to make any promises,
I felt the discussion was positive," Parekh said.
White said the students requested to set up a
meeting with him, and although he will not be
intervening in the contract negotiations, he felt it
was important to hear their concerns.
"I did want to meet with them for two rea-
sons. One, to let them know how much I respect
them and value the work they do as members of
our community, and second to listen to their
concerns," White said. "What always helps me
in negotiation discussions is to know what peo-
ple are thinking, so I wanted to hear firsthand
from them what they think of the situation."
White said he believes the two groups will
reach a compromise.
"My hope and beliefs are that the negotiations
will resume shortly and that we will come to an
agreement. I think it is very much in the reach of
everybody, so I am hopeful," White said.
Parekh said the residents are still committed to
finding a settlement to their conflict and are hop-
ing a new round of negotiations will produce bet-
ter results.
"We remain willing and committed to work-
ing with the administration to implement cost
savings and quality improvement measures. We
have attempted to discuss this with them in the
past and have not had a positive reception,"
Parekh said.
' prof. honored by
National Academies
By Annie Gleason
Daily Staff Reporter
After donating years of service to the National
Academies, one of the most prestigious scientific
organizations in the United States, University
pathology Prof. Peter Ward was honored last week
when he was named a National Associate of the
organization.
Ward has been a member of the Institute of
Medicine, a subgroup of the National Acade-
mies, since 1990. He has donated much of his
time working as chair for the Council for the
Institute of Laboratory Animal Research and
contributing to a quarterly journal released by
the institute dedicated to the proper care and use
of laboratory animals.
"Some of the publications have become quite
authoritative in setting the standards of practice,"
Ward said.
Ward said right now the institute is developing an
authoritative publication describing appropriate lab-
oratory procedures to ensure that animals are prop-
erly cared for and to protect humans from becom-
ing infected.
"(The publication) is used as a guideline for how
sub-human primates should be cared for and used
in the lab setting,"Ward said.
Ward is particularly concerned with the proper
treatment of lab animals because he uses them in
his own research.
"I felt that it was part of my public duty to
become involved,'' he said.
According to fellow University Prof. Steven
Kunkel, Ward has done more than his share to
become involved with animal research.
"He's one of the main people dedicated to the
humane use of research animals," said Kunkel.
"He's served on councils to make sure animals are
protected."
Kunkel also made note of Ward's dedication to
research and science.
"He's an extremely well-known person, he's been
an incredible mentor and has always been in the
DAVID KATZ/Daily
Peter Ward, pathology prof. and chair of the Council for the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research, was
one of 325 people to be named a National Associate by the National Academies.
know ... he's always on the cutting-edge of sci-
ence," Kunkel said.
Thousands of individuals volunteer their time to
the National Academies organization, but only 325
are recognized as National Associates for their
superior service. Individuals work outside the gov-
ernment to provide advice on science, technology,
and health matters. Ward was selected due to his
outstanding dedication to the organization.
"It's a nice recognition of the fact that one puts a
lot of time in these activities ... and that what one is
doing is important," Ward said.
Wilbanks' appointment to be reviewed
By Kara Wenzel
Daily Staff Reporter
The University Board of Regents will review
the appointment of Cynthia Wilbanks as interim
vice president for development at tomorrow's
regular meeting. Regent David Brandon (R-Ann
Arbor) is also expected to propose restructuring
the board at the meeting.
At last month's meeting, Brandon said he
would research implementing a committee struc-
ture with a rotating chair position to the board.
Brandon said he would present his findings to
the regents at tomorrow's meeting.
The Board of Regents currently does not oper-
ate with committees, and each regent has equal
weight. The proposed chair and vice chair would,
confer with the president on the agenda and
other business of the board and organize the
committees. Currently, the president sets the
agenda for regents meetings and each individual
regent can propose items to him or her.
Wilbanks, who currently serves as vice presi-
dent for government affairs, was asked to take
over as interim vice president for development
last month when Susan Feagin left to take a simi-
lar position at Columbia University. Feagin
worked as director of development for Harvard
University before former President Bollinger
recruited her to the University of Michigan in
1998.
"I am pleased to be able to serve the University in
this way," Wilbanks said. "I think this transition has
already begun and there is important work that needs to
be done."
The vice president for development is in charge of
generating and increasing endowments and other mon-
etary gifts to the University. The economic downturn
has been responsible for a decrease in such gifts recent-
ly. Last September, Feagin announced that the Univer-
sity did not see as many monetary gifts in the
2000-2001 fiscal year as in the previous year. Wilbanks
said the University is currently not having any trouble
generating money.
"It is important to take it a day at a time and keep in
mind that the goals of the University are for the long
term," she said.
Five professors will be recommended to the regents
for approval as Arthur F. Thurnau professors. The Thur-
nau professorships are given to recognize faculty for
exemplary teaching. They were named after a former
student who attended the University from 1902 to
1904. The three year grants are meant to help support
professors in their teaching aspirations.
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MSA election code
changes method for
pursuing complaints
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Candidates upset with
election will go before
MSA election board
By Tomislav Ladika
Daily Staff Reporter
Students running in next month's
Michigan Student Assembly elections
will have to prosecute complaints
against their opponents in front of the
election board due to reforms made
to the MSA election code at last
night's MSA meeting.
LSA representative John Simpson
said in previous elections, the elec-
tion board would look into com-
plaints made by student candidates,
prosecute the defendant and pass a
verdict on the case. Simpson felt it
was necessary to make significant
changes to the election process and
made the proposal at yesterday's
meeting.
Past trials were inherently biased,
Simpson said, because after spending
hours researching the plaintiff's com-
plaint, the election board usually
would not listen to defendants argu-
ing against their case.
Simpson said the discrepancy in the
judicial process led candidates to point
out violations of election rules to slow
down their opponents' campaign.
Nolan said candidates "continued
campaigning while the accused had
to spend critical hours defending
themselves."
Simpson said the reforms provide
an incentive against such campaign
strategies because plaintiffs have to
use their free time to develop evi-
dence to prosecute students.
Additionally, a student rights advo-
cate position was created to handle
complaints filed by students not
involved in the election whose rights
were violated. The advocate will look
into the complaint and serve as the
prosecutor in front of the election
board.
Also last night, a resolution was
passed urging the University Board of
Regents to study the feasibility of
building a child care center in the
Center of Life Sciences Complex,
which is currently under construc-
tion.
Rackham rep. Suzanne Perkins-
Hart, a mother of two children, said
the University's current child care
facilities support approximately 10
infants under the age of 18 months.
Two other resolutions were passed,
including the installation of a rope
barrier around a pond on North Cam-
pus to prevent geese from excreting
on sidewalks.
Three University students were
also selected to serve on the Campus
Governance Committee.
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THE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS
Camp and Summer Job
Fair; Sponsored by
Career Planning and
PIaenmenf. 7:45 a m -
Hospitals
"Creative Community
Design Partnership";
Sponsored by the School
of Art and Design, 7:00
p.m., Ann Arbor Public
for Russian and East
European Studies, noon,
1636 International Insti-
tute, School of Social
Work Building
0 "Wn-ma n..idarl
SERVICES
Campus Information
Centers, 764-INFO,
info@umich.edu, or
www. umich.edu/~info
S.A.F.E. Walk, 763-WALK,
Pal 7d hr.. rl av
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