SPECIAL GRADUATION SECTION clIjbe iIC11uurIgt MI Tuesday April 15, 2003 LOOKING BACK Him"lliall millommimallml A2 citizens clash over stances on war i.inIraq By Emily Kraack and Ryan Vicco March 21,2003 More than 2,000 people took to the streets of Ann Arbor yesterday to voice concern and support for the war in Iraq. The rallies began in the Diag and grew as they moved to the Ann Arbor Federal Building on the corner of Fifth and Lib- erty streets. Students on the Diag divided them- selves into two distinct groups - those who were opposed to war gathered near the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Gradu- ate Library, while those who supported using military force in Iraq gathered toward the back of the Diag. A dozen student groups sponsored the rally in opposition to the war. The rally included speakers from the Black Student Union, Muslim Students Asso- ciation and the Michigan Student Assembly as well as a drumming rally. "We're just protesting the war," LSA junior Lena Masri, a rally organizer and member of the Muslim Students Asso- ciation, Anti-War Action! and Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, said. "Iraq is only one part (of this war). Bush explicitly said this war is going to go on to other places." Students supporting military action in Iraq held American flags and expressed support for U.S. troops in Iraq. "We're going to sit here solemnly and somberly to show solidarity for our troops," rally organizer and Michigan Review Manag- ing Editor Ruben Duran said. Although no violent incidents were reported, the rallies displayed increasing tensions between those in support and those opposed to the current war. LSA sophomore and Anti-War Action! member Megan Williamson stepped in to ease tensions between a group of arguing protesters. She said she was not surprised that conflict broke out during the past week. "We anticipated that there might be some interferences from the counter- protesters, but actually we were expecting them to be more respect- ful," she said. Seniors fondly recall past years at the 'U' By Soojung Chang Daily Staff Reporter LSA senior Chris Molina said one of the things he most remembers from his past four years in col- lege is an incident from his freshman year, when he lived at 2nd Wenley in West Quad Residence Hall. "There was a stray cat running around West Quad, so we brought it into our hall and we had a cat named Wenley for two days," Molina said. "It start- - ed going to the bathroom everywhere so we had to take it out," he added. In addition to the little moments, this year's sen- iors have witnessed monumental events including ' the war in Iraq, the Sept. 11 attacks, the dawning of a new millenium and the ongoing legal wrangling regarding the University's admissions policies. But many, like Molina, said what they remember most about college is the little things. "One thing I'll miss is just being around friends all the time," LSA senior Paul Gabrail said. "It's just the nice thing of knowing that you come home and there's all your four or five best friends right there," he added. LSA senior Derek Richardson said he remembers swimming in lakes around Ann Arbor late at night with his friends and "mostly just the really bizarre things we did." Richardson also recalled a staple of campus life - going to football games. "I remem- ber just walking every Saturday morning past huge crowds of people and having this huge mass of peo- ple walkingtowards the stadium with you," he said. LSA senior Hetal Desai said she remembers going to Kilwin's to eat ice cream. Many seniors had DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily fond memories of eating out on campus. Student Jonathan Arenz, shows his MCard for Admission to the football game against the Washington "I've been to Charley's and Brown Jug far more Huskies on Saturday, August 31, 2002 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 31-29. times than I'd like to share," Gabrail said. 15,000 ad iil o in memory of toekle "I remember the diversity of people and activities, and just the energy of (the University:' - Najia Sheikh LSA Senior "I was the queen of late night take-out;' LSA senior Najia Sheikh said. But Sheikh also recalled more serious events such as the admis- sions lawsuits and said what impressed her most throughout was the impact that students had on these events and the University community. "I feel like at (the University) we really do make a difference," she said, noting the numerous humanitarian, community service, and cultural activities students can participate in on campus. "There's just so much going on," Sheikh said. "I remember the diversity of people and activities, and just the energy of (the University)." Sheikh added. LSA senior Chrissy Brown also said she will remember the diversity on campus. "I come from a pretty small town and it's pretty homogenous. I think I'll miss all the cultural diversity, just all of the different people" she said. Many students expressed appreciation for the benefits of campus life, such as the opportunity to see prominent speakers who came to campus. LSA senior Andrea Novelly said she remem- bers meeting John McCain as a freshman. "I shook his hand and I thought that was pretty cool," she said. "I just remember thinking that I was very lucky to have the opportunity to come to the University," she added. From staff reports Sept. 12,2001 Candlelight filled the area stretching from the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library to the Diag flagpole and from Angell Hall to West Hall last night as an estimated 15,000 mem- bers of the University community came together to promote peace and unity at an impromptu vigil honoring the victims of yes- terday's attack. "It was the best behaved 15,000 I've ever seen," Department of Public Safety spokes- woman Diane Brown said. "By far this was the largest turnout (the University has) ever had." Together, students expressed their mixed feelings of shock, anger and grief. "I'm still a little bit shocked. I'm pretty upset. I think it's unbelievable that something would happen like this and that it happened to this country," said Engineering freshman Paul Gibson, a Washington resident who attended the vigil. "It's going to take a long time for people to heal. Until now, people thought of this as a safe haven where nothing could hap- pen, and that's changed." For Gibson, the attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center was personal. "My dad works at the Pentagon," he said. "I just went back to my room and tried to contact him. I just sat by my phone and wait- ed." Gibson said his attempts were eventual- ly successful. Students console each other at the prayer vigil held on the diag after the Sept. 11 attacks. Regents announce Coleman as first female president By Karen Schwartz and Maria Sprow May30, 2002 Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Iowa, was welcomed to the University by the Regents and community members yesterday morning as she was elected to be the University's 13th president in a motion carried unanimously by the Board of Regents. Coleman, who has been president of Iowa since 1995, will begin her term at the University Aug. 1 under a five-year con- tract set to be finalized at the June regents meeting. "She will be a strong, creative, experienced, thoughtful and successful president of the University of Michigan," Regent Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) said. "And let it be said again and again, girls can do math and science." Regents also praised interim University President B. Joseph White, expressing gratitude and appreciation for his dedications and involvement in keeping the University running smoothly. "The only thing more challenging than being president of this University would be being interim president," Regent Coleman David Brandon (R-Ann Arbor) said. Added Regent Kathy White (D-Ann Arbor) to White and his wife, Mary: "I'm very impressed at (your) deep commitment ... I am basically speechless," she said. Though she was officially appointed, Coleman will remain at Iowa for the next two months. A close call Thefinal arguments Hoping to sway court, students convene in D.C. by the busload By Andrew Kaplan and Emily Kraack April 02, 2003 WASHINGTON - There is a juncture on Interstate 495 where roads from New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Virginia converge, funneling motorists into the heart of Washington. By the time dawn broke over the Maryland foothills yesterday morning, this highway was alive with caravans of buses leading student activists from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and New York to rally in front of the Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court justices picked apart the University's admissions sys- tem, University students joined with several thousand activists in support of the race-conscious policies. Many protesters said they thought their actions will con- vince the justices to rule in favor of the policies this summer. "They'll be watching this, their children will watch this;' said Education senior Agnes Aleobua, a member of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action and Integration and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary. "They're human. They'll be affected by it." Law School student Tracy Thomas rode to Washington on one of six buses carrying University members of Students Supporting Affirmative Action. She said the demonstrations build public support for diversity. "Just the march and people showing how they feel about affirmative action - it has an impact on public opinion, showing how you feel," Thomas said. "I want people to have the opportunity (for higher education), and it's important that we are a racially diverse student body." In addition to the buses sponsored by SSAA and BAMN, the Michigan Stu- dent Assembly sponsored and chaperoned six buses for the overnight trip to A student waves a University flag at the march in Washington to support race- conscious admissions policies. Washington. Unlike the SSAA buses, MSA called its vehicles nonpartisan -- meaning that both students supporting and opposing University admissions policies were welcome to board them. "MSA gave money so that all students, regardless of political affiliation, could participate;" Pete Woiwode, SSAA organizer, said. Nearly 700 students raced to claim seats on the MSA and SSAA buses, he added. "The list took basically no time at all to fill," Woiwode said. "Hours after the sign-ups opened, they were already filled." But Woiwode said although he invited all MSA affiliates to the rally, mainly advocates of the race-conscious admissions rode the buses to Washington. As the rally gained strength in the gray April morn- ing, students protesting race-conscious admissions were conspicuously absent. "Saying you're against affirmative action when the predominant ethos is against you takes a lot of balls," said Michigan Review Editor in Chief James Justin Wil- son, who camped outside the courthouse for two nights in order to hear the argu- ments firsthand. "The very nature of conservatism is to keep your mouth shut." Supreme Court fires tough questions at lawyers By Jeremy Berkowitz and Tomislav Ladika April 02,2003 WASHINGTON - The most important affirma- tive action case in a generation went before the Supreme Court yesterday, giving lawyers on both sides their last chance to sway undecided justices. Thousands of vocal supporters surrounded the court's perimeter, holding signs, beating drums cases. They asked fast-paced questions challeng- ing the importance of diversity in society and education, the University's goal of enrolling a critical mass of minorities through race-con- scious admissions policies and the validity of race-blind alternative programs. Attorneys from the Center for Individual Rights - the law firm representing the plaintiffs - argued that minorities meeting certain minimal qualifications are automatically accepted into the whether schools should be permitted to use race as an admissions factor to achieve diversity. He asked Kolbo whether states should be con- cerned if law schools only enroll 2 to 3 percent minorities, and if the majority of future lawyers are white. "It's a broad social and political concern that there are not adequate members of the profession which is designed to protect our rights and to pro- mote progress. I should think that's a very legiti- Y i ia., "+' n - d:D > inu ".. x_.~' - i s