LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 3
THIS WEEK
Hopwoods honor student creative writing
Jan. 20, 1998
I
By Victoria Edwards
Daily Staff Reporter
I
African American studies scholar
and Harvard University Prof. Cor-
nel West was the keynote speaker at
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Symposium.
West discussed the importance of
keeping King's vision alive and the
need to defend the University's
admissions policies, which consider
race as a factor.
The 63rd annual Hopwood Awards honored 12
undergraduates' creative writing pieces in different
genres yesterday in Rackham Auditorium.
"The submissions were judged by national
writers around the country. The categories were
novel, essay, screenplay and drama," said English
Prof. Nicholas Delbanco, who chairs the Hop-
wood Committee.
Hopwood Essay Contest winner and LSA
freshman Kristin Cooke said her initial reaction
was that of excitement because the award was so
completely unexpected.
"The essay I won with was about the transition
from childhood to adulthood," Cooke said. "My
favorite part of the essay was about my dad. It
was this random memory about how I used to
swing on the swings in my backward when I was
younger, while my dad would mow the lawn.
Every now and then he would stop his mowing
and look up at me ... it would make my night."
Hopwood Essay Contest winner and LSA
freshman Melissa Heller said she was also sur-
prised to find she had won $500.
"It felt really cool to win," Heller said. "I submit-
ted it because my professor told my class about the
Hopwood award and told us to submit essays to the
contest. I did and I guess I just lucked out."
Cooke said she was highly inspired by Therese
Stanton, a former English teacher, whom she
described as her mentor and inspiration.
"She was the best English teacher I've had in
my life," Cooke said.
Cooke added that the award also encouraged
people to write from their hearts and acted as a way
to honor people who have a passion for writing.
The judges based the awards on the quality of the
writing submissions, said Hopwood Award Com-
mittee member Laurence Goldstein, an English
professor, judges determined the highest quality of
work in that genre, he added.
Checks were awarded to winners of the Hop-
wood award at the ceremony, along with a read-
ing by published writer Rick Moody.
But this award is only one segment of the Hop-
wood Contest, Goldstein said.
"There are two levels to the contest. The first
one in January is the one where undergraduates
get the awards; then there is another one in April
that includes graduate students," Goldstein said.
The Hopwood Award began in 1930 after the
death of American dramatist Avery Hopwood, who
left money in his will to the University for a cre-
ative writing award.
Jan. 22, 1985
Thirty students staged a sit-in in
the office of Vice President for Stu-
dent Services Henry Johnson. The
students were upset over remarks
Johnson had made in the Metropoli-
tan Detroit Magazine a month
before.
a In the article, Johnson said the
University downplayed reports of
rape for fear of hurting freshman
enrollment.
Jan. 20, 1976
The Daily reported that the C.I.A.
was in the middle of running a
recruitment drive on campus for
students to join the agency.
Jan. 19, 1969
U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-
S.C.) spoke to a small audience at
Hill Auditorium, expressing his
support for winning the conflict in
Vietnam and warning students
against the growing threat of inter-
national communism.
Jan. 22, 1927
The Student Committee for Uni-
versity Affairs passed a resolution
creating a restricted zone around
campus for new fraternity and
sorority houses.
The area would encompass vari-
ous University streets with a radius
of five-eighths of a mile from the
center of campus.
The goal of this resolution would
allow fraternity members to be clos-
er to campus and be more involved
in campus life.
Jan. 26, 1941
A state inspector declared Mason
HAlk,4nd.Viyersity I411 fi,, taz-
ards due to their old rooms and nar-
row stairways.
At the time, Mason Hall was 100
years old.
Jan. 19, 1967
One hundred students staged a
sit-in in the Ann A*rbor Police
Department lobby after AAPD Lt.
Eugene Staudenmeier confiscated
the controversial film "Flaming
Creatures" scheduled to play at the
Cinema Guild that week.
Staudenmeier said he was enforcing a
state law condemning obscenity.
Jan. 24, 1980
Several professors stated their
objections against renaming the
Modern Language Building as the
Robben W. Fleming Building.
Some language professors said it
would be ironic to name the building
after Fleming, university president from
1968 to 1978, due to his alleged opposi-
tion to the humanities.
Jan. 20, 1987
In an address to the Faculty Sen-
ate Assembly, Athletic Director Don
Canham urged the University to
recruit students with poor academic
records.
He said many students came from
school environments where they did
not have the proper education and
that it was the job of the University
to give them a better chance to suc-
ceed.
Jan. 22, 1997
A fire broke out in Mason Hall
early in the morning, causing exten-
sive damage to classroom and
office space. The fire was suspected
as arson.
Jan. 21, 1971
Twenty-five hundred University
employees and members of the
American Federation of State,
County and Municipal employees
walked off their jobs showing soli-
darity and discontent with the Uni-
versity.
These employees, many of whom
worked in the University Hospital
and residence halls, were protesting
wages.
Jan. 26, 1924
Winter walk
Firefighters burning up
over cuts in' overtime pay
By Emily Kraack
Daily Staff Reporter
Hieftj
no statio
Hieftje s
Firefighters at last night's Ann Arbor tion 2 ha
City Council meeting exchanged ladder tr
strong words for what they called vehicle h,
budget cuts in their department. But Box sa
Mayor John Hieftje maintained that the diminish
city is merely making changes to its tection o
overtime policies. state cut
Hieftje, a Democrat, said the city protectio
decreased the number of overtime Some<
hours it allows firefighters to work worried;
because of Ann Arbor's changing fire- picketer
fighting needs. yesterday
He said the number of fires in struc- People
tures nationwide has fallen by 40 per- expresse
cent and by even more in Ann Arbor reducing
due to increased building safetyand lives ine
fire prevention. Hieftje added that the of decre
firefighting cuts were not in response response1
to city budget shortfalls and said the Ann A
city may run a small surplus this year. the Cow
Andrew Box, vice president of because'
Local Firefighter's Union 69, said its budge
these cuts will lead to occasional clo- $700,000
sures of Station 2, which provides councilh
emergency services to University on life bi
sports complexes as well as student against li
and Greek housing along Hill Street. Box s
MSA begins
e refuted the claim, saying that
ns will be closed by the cuts.
aid the major impact on Sta-
s been the occasional loss of a
uck, but a smaller emergency
has been available.
aid the cuts are partially due to
ed state funding for fire pro-
of the University campus. The
$480,000 from the year's fire
n budget.
community members are also
about the cuts; Hieftje said
s gathered outside city hall
y protesting the budget issue.
at the council meeting
d concern that cuts aimed at
g overtime hours could risk
emergency situations because
ased manpower and slowed
time.
rbor resident Bob Barrett told
ancil he felt the cuts came
"the fire department missed
et for Fire Fighter overtime by
0." He added that he feels the
has placed a monetary value
by balancing budget priorities
ife-saving emergency services.
aid these fears are justified.
effort t
"We have documented response time
increases up to six minutes and 41 sec-
onds additional from an average
response time of three to four minutes,
depending on truck availability," he
said, adding that the response time has
doubled in some situations.
He said current overtime hours are
necessary because 11 of the 117 fire-
fighting positions "on the floor" - or
on active duty responding to emergen-
cies - are unfilled and will remain
unfilled under council budgeting.
The city requires a minimum of
three firefighters on every truck, but
the standard recommended minimum
is four to five per truck, Box said.
Some community members said
they support the city's move to tighten
the budget. "I think that times are
tough," Ann Arbor resident Tim Colen-
back said. "We don't have the money
we had in the '90s. I don't think we
can afford $1.2 million for overtime."
Ann Arbor resident Douglas Scott
had similar feelings. "I blinked when I
saw six-figure pensions for some fire-
fighters," Scott said. He questioned
whether tax dollars are going to pen-
sions or safety.
o educate
SARAH PAUP/Daily
A reflection in a window shows a student walking through the
Business School yesterday afternoon.
Senate approves 1st
Granhoi-mnominees
students on affirmative action
LANSING (AP) - The first two
appointments of Gov. Jennifer
Granholm were approved yesterday by
the state Senate, whose leader said the
chamber "has regained its proper role"
in reviewing such nominations..
By votes of 38-0, the Senate
approved Lansing Mayor David Hol-
lister as director of the Department of
Consumer and Industry Services and
former Deputy State Treasurer Jay
Rising as the new state treasurer.
A spokeswoman for Granholm
praised the votes.
"The governor is very pleased the
Senate agreed with her that Dave Hol-
lister and Jay Rising are two excellent
appointees," Mary Dettloff said.
Although Granholm is a Democrat
and the Senate is controlled by Repub-
licans, the appointments received little
criticism. Senate Majority Leader Ken
Sikkema (R-Wyoming) has vowed the
Senate will not be partisan in examin-
ing the appointments.
"It's been an open and productive
process," Sikkema said yesterday.
"The Senate has regained its proper
role."
The appointments took effect auto-
matically unless the Senate voted
them down. House approval is not
required.
Sikkema has said the Senate will
be more active in reviewing guberna-
torial appointments in the new 2003-
2004 legislative session than in the
past. He had praise for both men
approved yesterday.
"I believe the mayor will do an
excellent job," he said of Hollister.
"If we are going to keep Michigan
competitive, we will have to bring all
sides of the table together."
The assembly Will also vote next
week on a resolution opposing the
government's student-tracking database
By Andrew Kaplan.
Daily Staff Reporter
In a move consistent with past decisions, the Michigan Stu-
dent Assembly agreed last night to vote on a resolution that
would mandate educating students about affinative action.
Peace and Justice Commission Chair Jackie Bray said
she feels a responsibility to disseminate information
about affirmative action because the issue is central to
University students.
"We're about to go through a huge national process," she
said. "I have faith that this (resolution) will pass."
The proposal adheres to MSA's history of supporting affir-
mative action, and delegates the responsibility of raising
awareness to several committees.
Taking a similar position, Education Rep. Agnes Aleobua
described efforts to organize an April affirmative action rally
in Washington.
"It's all just doggedly building for the march on April 1,"
the day the case will be argued, she said. "All of our resources
now will be geared toward making that march having a million
people," she added, noting that several civil rights groups and
labor unions have pledged their support.
MSA will also vote next week on a resolution to oppose the
federal government's Students and Exchange Visitor Informa-
tion System - a computer database that tracks students study-
ing in the United States under visas. According to the pro
posed resolutions, current immigration lawsprohibit interna-
tional students from enrolling in classes about "sensitive
topics" like nuclear engineering, lest the government terminate
their visas. These Atudens ,also face extradition if they fail toa
pay the government an annual fee of $54, the resolution said.
"Students dre punished, and punishment can go to depor-
tation:' Social Work Rep. Pierce Beckham said. "People are
being turned away from the University to study in these
fields."
If MSA passes the resolution, it will coordinate with
student groups across campus and plan activities aimed
at educating students about SEVIS policies. It will also
deliver their message to Congress.
In addition to focusing on civil rights issues, MSA
agreed to vote on a proposal that would orient the
assembly against state cuts in University funding.
"We're expecting an executive order to cut funding,"
External Relations Committee Chair Liz.Higgins said.
"We're lobbying the state, but we're not lobbying the
University at this point."
Higgins added that she talked with University Provost
Paul Courant about possible tuition hikes, but she said
the administration has not decided on any course of
action. "We wanted to hear more about the legislative
process at this point," she said.
Finally, following up on a proposal to improve student
housing made during last week's meeting, MSA created
a Student Housing Taskforce to work with Student Legal
Services and the Ann Arbor Tenants Union.
REGISTRAR'S BULLETIN BOARD
WINTER 2003 DATES TO REMEMBER
Fri., Jan.2 LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM WINTER TERM-with only an
assessment of a $50 disenrollment fee and an $80 registration fee.
Fri., Jan. 24 LAST DAY TO DROP CLASSES-with a reduction in tuition.
Mon., Jan. 27 Authorization required to drop, add, or modify.
Web registration no longer available for WINTER TERM.
BEGIN fifty percent reduction of tuition for complete withdrawals from
winter term. The $80 registration fee will not be cancelled. This fee
adjustment applies only to complete withdrawals from the term and not to
a reduction ofcredit hours.
Fri., Feb. 14 LAST DAY for fifty percent reduction of tuition for complete withdrawals
from winter term. The $80 registration fee will not be cancelled.
Mon., Feb. 17 WITHDRAWING FROM WINTER TERM results in no reduction in
tuition or fees.
NOTE: Some units (Law, Medicine, Dentistry and Social Work) begin
classes on a different academic calendar and these dates will vary for those
units.
End of Term Schedule:
Half-off computers to all
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Employees and Students
Computers Across America is offering a limited supply of
top-of-the-line, brand new computers with the latest Intel tech-
nology to all University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Employees and
Students. All computers are in their original boxes with full man-
ufacturers warranty and have the latest Windows Technology, They
are equipped with a 1.3 GHZ Intel processor upgradeable to 1.8,
128 MB SD RAM a 20 GB Hard Drive, 1.44 Inch Floppy disk
drive, 32 bit sound card and video card, CD Burner, network and
Internet canabilit, cneakers. kehoard and mouc. Rvers have