it IUn One hundred eleven years ofeditorialfreedom 1Ai NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 wwwmichigandally.com Tuesday, March 5, 2002, e Na United Way ends funding of Boy Scouts By Kara Wenzel ~'Daily Staff Reporter a.Peepin torn E - causes doubt over securi The Washtenaw United Way Board of Directors voted last Wednesday to discontinue giving community funds to the Boy Scouts of America because several of their supporters expressed concern about the Boy Scouts policy against admitting homosexuals into the organization. Every fall, the United Way has a fundraising campaign and the Univer- sity is a major supporter. Last fall the University brought in over $1 million of the $8.8 million raised. In the futune, the Boy Scouts may still receive funding from United Way if donors specify their money go directly to the Boy Scouts, but no additional undesignated funds will be given to the Boy Scouts., Bob Poole, executive director of the Great Sauk Trail Council, said "our relationship with United Way has always been a good one and I think they were basically pressured into this situation by U of M. The real victims here are kids." Poole said the Boy Scouts received about $94,000 in commu- nity funds from United Way last year. Starting in July 2003, no more money from this fund will be given to the Boy Scouts. The Scouts receive about $33,000 in designated donations, Poole said, only about a third of what the com- munity fund provides. "As you know, we had several public sector employers express concern about the Boy Scouts poli- cies," Charlotte Luttrell, Washtenaw United Way marketing director, said. "Also, we are in the process of planning our 2002 campaign." * The Washtenaw United Way building was set on fire two weeks ago, in an incident that authorities ruled as arson. Luttrell said the fire did not influence the board's deci- sion to cut funding for the Boy Scouts in any way. The University community was not the only group to voice concern to United Way about Boy Scouts' policies. "I think the United Way was lis- tening to a number of constituents when they made this decision," Uni- versity spokeswoman Julie Peterson said. "Members of the University community were among those with concerns, and so the University passed those concerns on to United Way." The Michigan Student Assembly and some faculty groups have spo- ken out against the University's connection with United Way because they think the Boy Scouts' policy against homosexuals seemed inconsistent with the University's See UNITED WAY, Page 7 KELLY LIN/Daily Students and residents of the Ann Arbor community rallied yesterday on behalf of Palestinian rights In Israel. The rally started on the steps of the Michigan Union and ended on the Diag. Palestinian protesters call fior end to fighting By Jeremy Berkowitz and Rob Goodspeed Daily Staff Reporters Students were welcomed back to classes yesterday with freezing temper- atures and the increasing crime wave plaguing campus this year. Another peeping tom incident, the 12th since October 2001, happened in South Quad Residence Hall yesterday morning. An LSA freshman was showering when she heard someone come in the bathroom and saw her towel move. "There was a shadow in the stall next to me," she said. "I looked down and there was someone's face" Although she was not wearing her glasses, the victim described the victim as a young black male. Last month, University Housing in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety introduced new safety precautions in the residence halls after noticing a growing pattern of peeping tom incidents and home invasions. The precautions included locking all entrances 24-hours-a-day and increas- ing the presence of DPS officers. Still, there have been three incidents in the three weeks since the precautions were introduced. Engineering freshman Dana Badeen said she does not believe locked doors will prevent crime activ- ity from occurring. "If anybody wants to get in, the door locks aren't going to stop them. ... I wouldn't mind showing my ID at the door if it would keep someone from looking at me in the shower," she said. LSA freshman Erica Irland said the recent crimes have made her more cautious. "In the beginning of the year, I wasn't as careful;' Irland said. "When I sham- poo, I'm afraid to shut my eyes. A lot of the other girls I talk to know what I'm talking about." DPS spokeswoman Diane Brown defended the department's efforts say- ing crime prevention is a collective responsibility which involves the offi- cers, faculty and students. "There is only so much that a public safety department or university can do;" she said. "They can only go so far par- ticularly in a place that values commu- nity responsibility." Brown said that, while there has been a rise in incidents, people are giving more accurate descriptions of suspects and suspicious people. "Thieves are willing to be seen," she said. Brown also said that, despite the rise, most of the incidents have fortunately See CRIME, Page 7 By Karen Schwartz Daily Staff Reporter More than 100 activists carried Pales- tinian flags and signs calling for justice and an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in a protest yesterday throughout campus. The event, which traveled from the steps of the Michigan Union to the Diag, began with a memorial and reading of the names of the people killed in the Middle East conflict since last Thursday. Event organizer Fadi Kiblawi, a member of Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, cited the loss of life on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides that took place over the University's Spring Break and said the protest was intended to send the message that "enough is enough." "It's very easy to repeat the calls for a halt to the cycle of violence, but if the past 17 months have taught us any- thing, it has taught us that words won't do it," he said. "The root of the cycle needs to be pulled, and that would be the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and the continued denial of basic human rights of the Palestinian people." See PROTEST, Page 7 U ranks second in number _- _ k Vt a. 'V of Peace Corps volunteers By Shannon Pettypiece Daily Staff Reporter Forty-two years since the Peace Corps was first proposed by presidential candi- date John F. Kennedy on the steps of the Michigan Union, the University continues to lead the country in civil service, rank- ing second for the number of graduates currently serving in the Peace Corps. Currently 76 University alums are serv- ing in the Peace Corps in 135 countries. The University of Wisconsin at Madison is the only school that outranks the Uni- versity of Michigan, with 96 former stu- dents in the Peace Corps. This year's second place ranking is an improvement for the University. It ranked sixth last year with 69 alumni serving. "The Peace Corps has enjoyed a strong relationship with these great schools over the years, and we are grateful for the ongoing recruitment support provided to the Peace Corps by the faculty and staff," Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez said in a written statement. "To support President Bush's goal to double the number of Peace Corps volun- teers over the next five years and build upon the valuable humanitarian work of Peace Corps at home and abroad, we will be creating more opportunities for Ameri- cans to serve around the world and to bring those experiences back home," he added. Marry Beth Damm, associate director of the Edward Ginsburg Center for Commu- nity Service and Learning, said she believes a combination of the poor econo- my and the events of Sept. 11 have had an equal effect on students' interest in 'the Peace Corps and other service programs. "I think the economy has a large effect, personally. I come to find when the econ- omy is difficult the number of student interested in the Peace Corps goes up," Damm said. But University Peace Corps representa- tive Lisa Bobrowski said she believes many of the students counted in the rank- ing made the decision to volunteer before Sept. 11 or the economic recession. The increase in students interested in volunteer work can not be isolated to the Peace Corps, Damm added. "I have noticed a number of applica- tions for Teach for America going up and when that that happens Peace Corp's usu- See PEACE CORPS, Page 7 FOR A FAIR CONTRACT N{W Vi, 'I I Ann Arbor ranked third * sa est U.S. city for women KELLY UN/Dali University alum and GEO staff member Rodolfo Palma-L.ullon collects ballots yesterday on the Diag for a possible strike. Profs. plan for possible GSI strike By Jordan Schrader' Daily Staff Reporter By Rahwa Ghebre-Ab . Daily Staff Reporter Safest Cit Ann Arbor rank The more than 19,000 female stu- small cities for w dents at the University should be pleased to know that Ann'Arbor has 0 Madison, Wis. been named the third safest small city in Alexandria, Va. r the country for women in a study con- ducted by Ladies' Home Journal. The survey exE Cities were ranked on various factors, the number of w including the city's economy. The econ- 'ment and healthc omy was examined by the size of the wage gap between males and females, Healthy habits the percentage of women-owned busi- ined, including t nesses and the overall job growth. attendance. The lifestyles of the city inhabitants were also considered, including the availability of ladies' restrooms and whether women will have good hair days based on prevailing weather conditions. "I've never had any problems here," Tanya Hosking, an amr n- atChnM nnn nnWi urm- trot-ta."Everv- y rankings ked third among romen's safety, ranked first, and anked second. armined lifestyles, omen in the govern- care availability. swere also exam- he frequency of gym halls. for women and whether or not women are more or less likely to practice healthy habits, like going to the gym or getting mammograms also topped the lists. University employee Judi Stonik said, "Ann Arbor is a place with great schools and a lot of good comes from that." Among the other cities in the top ten are Madison, Wis., and Alexandria, Va., taking the first and second spots respec- tively. Some students did not find the study surprising despite the recent string of peeping toms and thefts in the residence With the possibility of a graduate stu- dent instructor walk-out on Monday and an extended strike afterward, University professors face the loss of an integral part of their classes. Some faculty mem- bers expressed 'tentative support for the GSIs' right to strike but agreed classes will go on without them. "My sense is the faculty in general $, ~ supports GSIs," English Prof. Laurence Goldstein said. Engineering Prof. Bruce Karnopp O k said he has reservations about whetheraPg3 strike is appropriate, explaining that GSIs have a duty to their work. He conceded it may be one of the few ways they can pressure the University to address their "I've never really felt threatened on this campus. It's pretty safe," Pharmacy junior Sejal Parikh said., Other students do not believe Ann Arbor is particularly saf or danerous LSA freshman Shelly Kitain (left) and LSA sophomore Jennifer Alban stand at the city limits on Washtenaw Road. A report released yesterday ranked Ann Arbor the third safest small city In the U.S. Ladies' Home Journal surveyed cities across the country : : r