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