LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 24, 2003 - 3A
Campustruth.org ads spark controversy
Subjects trespass,
expose themselves
in Tisch Hall
By Carmen Johnson
Daily Staff Reporter
Department of Public Safety reports
state an incident of indecent exposure
that occurred at Tisch Hall early yes-
terday morning. Two individuals were
found trespassing in Tisch Hall after
one had exposed himself. DPS arrest-
ed the subject and charged him with
minor in possession of alcohol and
indecent exposure. The case is under
additional investigation.
Gold sparkle paint
mars Stockwell
courtyard
DPS reports state malicious
destruction of property occurred
outside Stockwell Residence Hall
Thursday afternoon. A caller report-
ed that an unknown subject had
painted the Stockwell courtyard
with gold sparkle paint. DPS has no
suspects at this time.
Subject threatens
students, asks for
money
According to DPS reports, a subject
was harassing students and communi-
ty members on the Diag Thursday
afternoon. The subject was asking
some passerbys for money and verbal-
ly threatening others. The subject was
removed from the Diag and cited for
trespassing.
Laptop case, wallet
stolen from sleep
laboratory
According to DPS reports, a larce-
ny occurred at University Hospital
Friday morning. A caller reported to
DPS that a laptop case and wallet
were stolen from a sleep lab. DPS has
no suspects in the theft.
Graffiti spreads
the word of 'faith
diminished'
DPS logs state a report of graffiti at
Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library Fri-
day afternoon. A caller notified DPS
,tkgre was black permnanent marer
written on the side of the building.
The words "Faith has diminished for
some peace" were written. A report
was filedi and.Building1Services were
notified. DPS has no suspects.
Subject found in
men's restroom
asleep
A trespasser was reported at West
Hall Saturday night. A caller report-
ed to DPS that a subject not affiliat-
ed with the University was sleeping
in the men's restroom on the first
floor of West Hall. DPS reports
state that the subject was appre-
hended, cited for trespassing and
escorted from the building.
Fire extinguisher
no longer useful,
as currently stolen
DPS was notified of larceny at
Mosher-Jordan Residence Hall on
Friday night. DPS noted a fire
extinguisher was stolen from the
third floor of the residence hall. A
report was filed, but DPS has no
suspects at this time.
Broken car door,
mirror results in
car accident
Malicious destruction of a vehicle
occurred at the Thompson Street
Carport on Friday night. According
to DPS, a caller reported an
unknown subject had tried to break
into his car while he was away. The
car door was damaged and the side-
view mirror was broken. DPS filed
a report but has no suspects.
Bus driver unsure
if he caused crash
DPS reports state a possible traffic
accident occurred on Hoover Avenue
Wednesday afternoon. A University
bus driver reported that a vehicle
might have struck the bus he was driv-
ing. The bus driver was unsure if he
had struck the vehicle. No damage
was observed on the bus.
LCD projectors
stolen from Mason
According to DPS reports, a larce-
nv nccrred at Mason Hall Wednesdav
A second wave of controversial advertisements
appearing in college newspapers across the country
- which some students say depict Palestinians as
terrorists --has stirred debate about whether news-
papers should continue to run the paid ads.
Funded by campustruth.org, an advertisement
printed last Thursday in The Michigan Daily
showed a picture of an Olympic athlete in front of
the Israeli flag, accompanied by the words "Israeli
school children's hero," while an adjacent picture
showed a man and a machine gun next to the words
"Palestinian school children's hero." Below the pic-
tures are the words "There are two sides to every
story, but only one truth."
LSA senior Bashar Al-Madani said the ads are
offensive to the Arab and Muslim communities on
campus. "The complexity of the world cannot be
divided into right or wrong. The website is even
more offensive and serves in their
(campustruth.org) cause to convince everyone that
Palestinians are evil people,"Al-Madani said.
Business Manager Jeff Valuck, said the Michi-
gan Daily business staff decided last night to tem-
porarily suspend running the advertisements.
Valuck said that last fall, the business staff re-evalu-
ated its decision to run the campustruth.org ads
because of the large amount of and wide range of
negative feedback received from students. "We
must reconsider running the ads if the Universi-
ty community does not want them," Valuck said.
Yulia Dernovsky, who co-chairs the American
Movement for Israel, said that the ads are neither
effective nor positive to the movement's cause,
which seeks to educate about the Middle East con-
flict. "I personally felt the ads. were offensive and
evoked certain feelings that are not necessarily fair
to the Palestinians," Dernovsky said.
The campustruth.org advertisements have been
running in college newspapers since last fall. Edi-
tors of The Daily Illini - the student newspaper of
the University of Illinois - issued a statement
We must reconsider running the ads if the University
community does not want them:'
- Jeff Valuck
Business manager, The Michigan Daily
deciding to continue running the ads, although
there were student protests on campus in Decem-
ber. The Daily Targum, the student newspaper of
Rutgers University, adopted a disclaimer policy to
place on potentially controversial or advertisements
of an offensive nature, according to a statement in
November. The University of Chicago's student
newspaper, The Chicago Maroon, decided to stop
running the ads in November.
But Michigan Zionists President Rick Dorfinan
said the ads should not be censored. "Calling for the
censorship of advertisements is a flagrant violation
of the freedoms of our great nation, and is further
indication of the vile hatred of America that exists
within the Palestinian community," Dorfman said.
In October, the Michigan Daily ran 10 campus-
truth.org advertisements.
Omar Khalil, vice president of the Muslim Stu-
dents Association, said he was upset by the adver-
tisements but was pleased that the advertisements
were temporarily suspended in The Michigan Daily.
"It's a great first step that The Daily has respond-
ed to the concern of the students." Khalil said.
Marcella Rosen, of the One Truth Foundation,
which sponsors the campustruth.org advertisements
and website, said in a December statement that dis-
cussed the reaction to the ads. "Our goal was to
make sure that other opinions were heard. Our
opponents have chosen not to debate the facts pre-
sented by the ads, but have responded with intellec-
tual intimidation and obfuscation and equating any
pro-Israel fact or opinion with "racism," Rosen said.
Patriotic pipes
Students First claims 13 seats
By Andrew Kaplan
Daily Staff Reporter
After nearly 8,500 students voted in last week's Michigan
Student Assembly elections - exceeding last year's turnout by
more than 1,500 voters - Students First Party candidates
Angela Galardi and Monique Perry emerged with the top
executive officer positions on MSA.
According to official MSA election results, Galardi beat out
University Party presidential candidate Jon Clifton and Defend
Affirmative Action Party presidential candidate Kate Stenvig
for control over the assembly's executive arm. Galardi and vice
presidential running mate Monique Perry garnered 403 more
votes than Clifton's ticket, and 2,709 more votes than Stenvig's
ticket.
Students First candidates also claimed 13 of 25 open repre-
sentative seats on MSA, with U Party candidates taking anoth-
er nine and DAAP candidates walking away with two seats
total from Rackham and the Law School.
Alluding to her diverse coalition of supporters and represen-
tatives, Galardi said her platform, which combined ongoing
projects with upcoming campus improvements, was key to the
election victory. "The thing on our agenda that's different from
the other agendas was that it really had something on it for
every student, whether you were in the Greek system, an ath-
lete, whether you live by the rock or you live by North Cam-
pus" she said. "It wasn't just geared at one community."
Students First candidates also saw wins on the LSA Student
Government, with LSA junior David Matz picking up the gov-
ernment's presidency by 429 votes. "We all campaigned really
hard, and we all made sure we campaigned for the team;' Matz
said. "Student First really picks students who represent their
communities."
Although the U Party failed to attain executive control over
MSA and LSA-SG, members said they are confident next
fall's elections will yield more victories.
"(We'll return) with more vigor and excitement,and I'm
excited for next fall;' said MSA Rep Andrew Roskamp, who
won one of three seats available for the College of Engineer-
ing. "Unfortunately, there was a little bit of the negative influ-
ence that we had to endure through, so I think some of that
will be gone in the next election." U Party candidates claimed
all three Engineering seats.
"I think a lot of the e-mail rumors went to their advantage,
and a lot of the untrue rumors went to their advantage," MSA
presidential runner-up Jon Clifton said, referring to allegations
of racism against the U Party over remarks made by candidate
Adam Haba. "I think we need to step it up in the next elec-
tion," Clifton added.
Looking ahead to the next term, Galardi and Matz said the
coexistence of three political parties will not impinge on their
ability to unite representatives.
"Everyone's been getting along well and its not going to be
a problem;' Galardi said. "What's most important is that the
reps on the assembly follow us in that attempt to make sure
everyone's working together."
"LSA-SG has historically been less bipartisan on party lines
than MSA;" Matz said. "I've met and spoken to a lot of U
Party candidates, and I'm sure we'll all get along together and
have a good time."
When voters logged onto the elections website last week,
they viewed an MSA ballot surveying student opinion on the
University's admissions policies. The ballot question followed
a trail of concern over an MSA resolution supporting Universi-
ty admissions policies in February.
Out of 6,431 respondents, 2,675 students said they did not
support the "use of race-conscious Affirmative Action in (the
University's) admissions policy." But 2,622 students said they
supported the policies, while another 1,134 respondents said
they required more information to make a decision.
Although students voted against University admissions poli-
cies by an 18-vote margin, Galardi said MSA's stance on the
issue will be determined by student opinion and assembly dis-
cretion.
"It's going to be a combination of both," she said. "Obvious-
ly we'll have to see how the assembly feels too. We have a
whole new assembly sta ting. on Tuesday so it's going to
depend on how they feel too."
SETH LOWER/Daily
Herm Steinman plays the bagpipe at Saturday's "Support Our
Troops Rally". The American flag is unfolded in the background.
Survey shows opinions
difer on cases' policies
By Jeremy Berkowitz
Daily Staff Reporter
Two mgnth ago, more than 300
organizations filed 60 amicus briefs sup-
porting the University's race-conscious
admissions policies, which will be
.defended.in.font of the U.S. Supreme
Court in less than a week. But a survey
compiled during Michigan Student
Assembly elections last week shows stu-
dents might not be presenting a unified
home front when it comes supporting
the policies.
According to a survey of 6,432 stu-
dents, approximately 41.5 percent
said they opposed the University's
admissions policies, while 40.8 per-
cent expressed support. The remain-
ing 17.7 percent said they felt they
needed more information before
making a decision.
MSA President-elect Angela Galar-
di, who supported an MSA resolution
passed last month favoring the poli-
cies, said she was concerned with the
large number of uninformed voters.
She said she plans on sponsoring
more forums and events to educate
interested students.
"Twenty percent that voted don't feel
they have enough information and that's
a problem," Galardi said. "We're going
to have more student outreach."
But Galardi said MSA must also con-
sider the fact that only 20 percent of the
student body voted in elections.
Earlier this month, MSA voted 32-1
to allocate $12,000 for buses to transport
students to Washington for the Supreme
Court hearings, coordinated with Stu-
dents Supporting Affirmative Action.
Galardi said she still supports the move
because anybody - regardless of their
viewpoint - is allowed on the buses.
"(SSAA) offered to help and we
needed4hat help. It's not because the stu-
dents are being to limited to one group
or another,"Galardi said.
LSA freshman Laura Davis, who
opposes the University's admissions
policies, said she feels more non-
University-sponsored events need to
be held. She also said opponents of
the University's admissions policies
- especially groups like Young
Americans for Freedom - need to
speak out more.
"I think they're starting to do that.
Obviously BAMN and DAAP have a
long history with the University and
are very vocal," Davis said, referring
to The Coalition to Defend Affirma-
tive Action and Fight for Integration
in Equality By Any Means Necessary
and The Defend Affirmative Action
Party, respectively.
But University Regent Rebecca
McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) said she is
very skeptical about the results of the
survey. She added that she believes in
the value of using race in the admissions
policies and has talked with numerous
students and faculty over the years that
have reinforced her views.
"My job is to determine what is in the
better interests of the people who are
being educated here," McGowan said.
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