it Igan
One hundred eleven years ofeditorialfreedom
IUIt
NEWS: 76-DAILY
CLASSIFIED: 764-0557
wwwmichigandally~com
Monday
March 18,2002
Val. yi>,96 ! 02002 tho M diPl tAi y
GEO tentatively
approves contract
By Jordan Schrader
and Marta Sprow
Daily Staff Reporters
After months of bargaining, a contract is
ready to be signed between the Graduate
Employees Organization and the Universi-
ty, averting the threat of a prolonged strike.
The tentative agreement on the 2002-
2005 contract, completed during Saturday's
negotiations, awaits the final approval by
mail-in ballot of GEO's membership. The
ballots will take about two weeks to be
completed and returned, union members
said. Rackham student and GEO Chief
Negotiator Alyssa Picard said it is "near
'U' football
ticket costs
to increase
this season
By Charles Paradis
Daily Sports Reporter
certain" members will approve the con-
tract, which would go into effect as soon as
it is signed.
Union officials said the new agreement
will give them more power for future nego-
tiations.
"This is the best contract we have ever
signed. It sets precedent for GEO to bar-
gain on issues of principle, like childcare,"
Rackham student Irfan Nooruddin, a GEO
bargaining team member, said.
Nooruddin said the contract will set an
example for other schools to follow.
"We have started a revolution that I think
is going to sweep this nation," he said.
The issue of childcare was resolved with
the University's agreement to add three
GEO members to a committee charged
with investigating childcare possibilities
and to commit $450,000 to its recommen-
dations. The change makes it a "student-
controlled committee," Picard said. The
University will also increase subsidies
given to graduate student instructors who
are parents.
Under the new contract, low fraction
GSIs, who work less than 9.5 hours a
week, will be allowed to buy health care
and dental care and will receive money
toward their purchase.
GEO agreed to a wage increase deal that
is dependent on raises in the average LSA
faculty salary. The opportunity to receive a
better wage agreement was sacrificed for
the sake of childcare and low fraction pay-
ments, Nooruddin said.
University spokeswoman Julie Peterson
said despite the potential budget problems
the new contract could cause, the adminis-
tration is relieved the two parties have
reached a consensus.
"We're very pleased that we have
reached an agreement. We are happy to be
getting back to our regular business,"
Peterson said, adding that the University's
budget is not finalized and it is still
unknown how much financial stress the
See GEO, Page 7A
Res. hall
Students will not only see a drasti-
cally different approach to the prob-
lem of students scalping tickets, but
also an increase in Football season
ticket prices next year.
The Athletic Department
announced Friday that student ticket
prices have increased $1 per game
and will now cost students $129.50
for the entire season. The deadline
for returning students purchasing
tickets is April 10. Tickets are avail-
able through the ticket office.
In an effort to prevent scalping,
the athletic department has
announced that those presenting stu-
dent tickets at the gate will also need
to show their MCards. Next season
students will only need to flash their
IDs at the gate, but the department
hopes to add card scanners at the
gates in the future.
"Right now, we will rely on a visu-
al check," Athletic Ticket Manager
Marty Bodnar said. "Maybe in the
future we will be using scanners, but
right now just a visual check."
Due in part to the possible delay
caused by students having to show
their IDs to gain entry, the Athletic
Department is stressing that fans will
have to arrive early to the games to
ensure prompt entry.
"We always encourage everybody,
students and non-students, to get into
the stadium as soon as possible,"
Bodnar said. "We certainly encour-
age students to arrive early."
Despite the changes in policy,
Bodnar said students will still be
See TICKETS, Page 7A
Dance Marathon participants performed a line dance yesterday afternoon to conclude the fundraiser. Beginning Saturday morning, participants were
taught segments of the dance each hour.
Dance Marathonraises more
than $150,000 over weekend
By Kylene Kiang
Daily Staff Reporter
At the age of three, Allison Lawrence's
heart stopped beating as the result of a near-
fatal toxic infection. After 41 minutes of CPR,
her heart miraculously started to beat again.
Since then, with the aid of the Children's Mir-
acle Network, she has endured intensive phys-
ical therapy and surgery and beaten
"remarkable odds" to be where she is today,
Allison's mother and Clarkston resident Beth
Lawrence said.
Allison is one of the many reasons why the
spirit of Dance Marathon is still going strong.
More than 6,000 participants filled the
Indoor Track Building with hope and enthusi-
asm for "making kids smile Maize and Blue
style" at the fifth annual Dance Marathon,
held Saturday and Sunday.
Fundraising efforts directly benefit 35
Children's Miracle Network Miracle Chil-
dren from the William Beaumont and C.S.
Mott's Children's Hospitals. This year's
event raised $166,856.94, about $35,000
more than last year's. Since its inception,
Dance Marathon has raised more than
$540,500.
"It's such a moving cause to come out and
help the life of a child," LSA junior and
Dance Marathon spokeswoman Nicole
Gopoian said.
The philanthropic and social event
requires participants to remain standing for
30 hours.
"No clocks or watches are allowed on the
dance floor," Gopoian said. "It seems to go by
faster for the dancers when they aren't check-
ing their watches all the time."
Inspirational stories from the children and
their families offered encouragement to the
See MARATHON, Page 7A
securityto
increase
DPS, Housing officials will evaluate
residence halls access, increase
security measures
By Jeremy Berkowitz
Daily Staff Reporter
Following the seventh home invasion in six weeks, ques-
tions were raised this weekend about how students are
informed and notified about campus crime.
A Betsey Barbour resident's laptop was taken from her
unlocked room Thursday afternoon. The suspect is
described as an 18-20 year old black male with braided
hair, about six feet tall, 180 pounds and wearing a tan can-
vas coat.
The nature of the crime and the suspect's description is
similar to an incident in West Quad at the beginning of
March.
A crime alert was sent to all residence halls Friday
morning for resident advisors to post in their respective
halls. But, in South Quad Residence Hall, no crime alert
from Thursday's incident was posted anywhere as of 3 p.m.
yesterday.
Some students were outraged when they heard of the lat-
est home invasion.
"It's ridiculous the leadership doesn't inform us what's
going on ... with any things that will conflict comfortable
livelihood of people Who live here," LSA freshman David
Warrow said.
Other South Quad residents complained about resident
advisors and their failure to inform residents of what is
going on.
"My RA doesn't really ever post anything," LSA sopho-
more Nidhy Sighal said. "We didn't find out about the new
bathroom keys until it happened."
But LSA senior and South Quad Resident Alvisor Jason
Story said resident advisors are notified when they have
flyers to post, which happens so often it has become
"mindless."
"We are constantly having mail put in our RA boxes and
we are obligated to check that on a regular basis," he said.
Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Diane
Brown said DPS and University Housing will be meeting
soon to discuss what could be the biggest security increase
in residence halls in a few years.
Brown said such precautions as surveillance cameras,
door monitors and increased daytime patrols will be dis-
cussed.
"Both DPS and housing will be working collaboratively
to review several security enhancements. They'll be look-
ing to see which ones can be implemented in which halls if
any and making a report to the (University Board of
Regents) in May," Brown said.
Brown also said DPS and housing are committed to
gaining student input on any changes in security.
"There has to be a collaborative effort because the
housing division is very dedicated to obtaining input
from the communities that would be affected," Brown
said.
DPS has achieved some success in the cases of the 37
stolen LCD projectors between Dec. 2000 and Feb. 2002.
Ronald Richardson, who was arrested last month, has
plead no contest to one count of larceny and has reportedly
stolen 10 of the projectors. He is scheduled to be sentenced
April 2.
In addition, a man was arrested Thursday on charges of
breaking and entering into the Institute for Social Research
Jan 1. Brown also said she believes many of the recent
crimes are collaborative.
Homing apologizes in retraction letter
By Shunuon Pettyplece The Michigan Daily, Horning expresses anti-affirmative ting less qualified minority students.
Daily StaffReporter
Supporters of the two lawsuits challenging the use of race in
admissions said they were shocked and disappointed by
Regent Dan Horning's remarks in a letter to a fellow regent,
but said they believe his statement will not affect the outcome
of the cases.
In a letter written by Horning (R-Grand Haven) to Regent
Kathy White (D-Ann Arbor), which was anonymously sent to
action sentiments and attacks Regent Kathy White for her
alleged views on the racial composition of the board.
"I have openly defended the importance of a diverse student
body, yet privately I have held to my chest that I don't think
our admissions policies will withstand this legal challenge and
I certainly don't feel they are based on merit," Horning said in
the letter.
Horning went on to say that he believes the University's
admissions policies keep qualified students out, while admit-
Miranda Massie, an attorney representing the interveners in
the admissions lawsuits, said she believes Horning should
either be in support of the University's policies, or be open
with opposing his position.
"I think this guy is clearly a coward and a fraud. The truth
supports affirmative action. Anybody who claims to be against
affirmative action has to confront the basic fact that he is
standing up for the re-segregation of higher ed," Massie said.
See HORNING, Page 7A
LeSuur arrested in sting
for soliciting prostitute
By Rob Goodspeed
Daily Staff Reporter
A University football player was arrested
Thursday in a prostitution .
sting operation in Ypsilanti
Township. Jeremy LeSueur, a
21-year old Kinesiology jun-
ior, was arrested Thursday
evening for accosting and
soliciting a prostitute, a mis-
demeanor crime in Michigan.
The offense is punishable by
up to 90 days in jail and a
Carr would not comment why, The Associated
Press reported.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department
arrested LeSueur and three other men in the oper-
ation and confiscated their vehicles. The owners
of the confiscated vehicles must pay $750 to get
their cars back. LeSueur was driving his mother's
Cadillac, the Ann Arbor News reported. If a per-
son is given permission by a relative or friend to
drive the vehicle, the driver is responsible to pay
the fine. But, the vehicle would not be released to
the owner until the fine was paid.
The Wolverines lost to Michigan State 26-24 in
November when the Spartans completed a first
A..m fn a 4Z ic r . -me-lpirnna r. n-,-i r l
AM I
Dakham stuadents AilAAn ShillAr. Damian Dennis. Jennifer Graf. Corv Wilcox
I
iA~.s. ~i~i~inain p