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Thursday
October 31, 2002
02002 The Michigan Daily
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vol. CXIII, No. 40
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One-hundred-twelve years of editorial freedom
Rain showers
in the afternoon
could turn into
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Tomorrow.,
wwwmichigandaily. comn
Sharon vows to
lead country
despite turmoil
-- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - --r -
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JERUSALEM (AP) - Prime Min-
ister Ariel Sharon's broad-based coali-
tion collapsed yesterday when Cabinet
ministers from the moderate Labor
Party resigned in a dispute over fund-
mg for Jewish settlements, threatening
to push Israel into a bitter election.
The crisis ended an uneasy 20-
month "unity government" formed
as a common front against the
Palestinian uprising, and could sab-
otage U.S. efforts to win support for
a peace plan.
Sharon told parliament he would
continue to lead the country, suggest-
ing he would try to govern with a nar-
row coalition of far-right and religious
parties rather than call early elections.
The crisis was precipitated by
Sharon's rejection of Labor Party
leader Binyamin Ben-Eliezer's
demands to cut $145 million in funds
for Jewish settlements in the $57 bil-
lion 2003 state budget. Compromise
proposals failed and Ben-Eliezer
resigned from his post as defense min-
ister, followed by the rest of Labor's
Cabinet ministers.
Under Israeli law, the six resigna-
tions only take effect within 48 hours,
leaving room for last-ditch maneuvers
- but politicians from both sides pre-
dicted Sharon's broad-based coalition
was at an end.
"We must fight terror, but this is
the day when we have to present a
diplomatic horizon," Ben-Eliezer
said, referring to peace talks with
the Palestinians. "The prime minis-
ter is unable to present a diplomatic
horizon."
Critics accused Ben-Eliezer of par-
tisan politics, noting that in polls
ahead of Labor's Nov. 19 leadership
primary he trails two more dovish
challengers, and leaving the govern-
ment over a settlement dispute could
boost his standing.
"It's the height of irresponsibility,"
said Education Minister Limor Livnat
of Sharon's Likud Party.
The budget was put to parliament
after the Labor ministers resigned,
and it passed with the support of par-
ties outside the coalition - as expect-
ed - by a 67-45 vote; it must pass
two more readings in coming weeks
before it is final.
JASON COOPER/Da
High school students were bused in from across the state yesterday to participate in the march and rally on the Diag in support of affirmative action, sponsored
by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action and Integration and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary.
Students ready
for last-minute
election stumps
BAMN 1e
By Soojung Chang
and Jennifer Misthal
Daily Staff Reporters
"We demand equality and integration in educa-
tion, affirmative action is the way. ... Separate
but equal is a lie, affirmative action will not die,"
chanted a crowd of more than 900 people yester-
day on the Diag, mainly comprised of area high
school students.
Supporters of the Coalition to Defend Affirma-
ads rallyf
tive Action and Integration and Fight for Equality
By Any Means Necessary rallied in the cold for a
National Day of Action to maintain and raise fur- j
ther support as the country waits for new devel-i
opments in the lawsuits challenging the
University's use of race in admissions.
Education senior Agnes Aleobua encouraged the
crowd to focus on working together to establish a I
new civil rights campaign.i
"I pledge to spread this movement and to right
racism, sexism and anti-gay bigotry," Aleobua said.
r equality
"Erase our oppression in this society."
She said supporters could help by gathering sig-
natures in support of affirmative action, participat-
ing in a future march in Washington and
organizing their schools, churches, family, friends,
communities and society.
The rally's organizers passed out chants and led
the crowd in songs and cheers of support for equal-
ity on all levels.
Kim Gandy, president of the National Organiza-
See BAMN, Page 3A
By Dan Trudeau
Daily Staff Reporter
University alum Ari Melber is one
of many college-aged political activists
taking a unique approach to campaign-
ing for Tuesday's election.
Melber, a 2002 University graduate,
left his home in Washington two weeks
ago and took a bus to Greensboro,
N.C. for a weekend
of intense cam-
paign work for
Democratic senato-
rial candidate Ersk-
ine Bowles. Once
in North Carolina,
Melber talked to MICHIGAN
voters over the
phone, helped host ELECTIONS
a debate watching
party and visited 262
churches one Sun-
day morning to distribute campaign lit-
erature. In between, he took the time to
visit a single-room building that at one
time housed a segregated grammar
school for black children.
"I think that the ideals and goals that
people have for public policies are the
same in different places, but it's inter-
esting to go to a place and see how
people with different backgrounds and
different experiences react to issues,"
Melber said.
Students from colleges across the
country are getting involved in similar
grassroots campaigns that are taking
them far from their home voting dis-
trict in order to get a fresh perspective
on the election process.
"The interesting thing about Greens-
boro is it was the beginning of the sit-
ins and the beginning of the civil rights
movement. A policy has a different
meaning and connotation there based
on people's backgrounds," Melber said.
American University sophomore
Holly Teresi had an experience like
Melber's, traveling to Portsmouth,
N.H., where she canvassed door to
door in support of Gov. Jeanne Sha-
heen, the Democratic senatorial candi-
date.
"I had been to New Hampshire
before, and I wanted to go back
because the people there are so politi-
cally aware. It's a great environment
for politics," Teresi said.
Students at the University of Michi-
gan are among those involved, as both
Democrat and Republican student
groups are taking part in campaigns out-
side of Ann Arbor. University graduate
Reza Breakstone, of 21st Century
Democrats, recently organized a trip to
Minnesota for the University Democ-
rats. The group campaigned on behalf of
the now deceased Sen. Paul Wellstone.
"The University's College Democrats,
being so fired up and committed to Sen-
ator Wellstone, were eager to go out for
his cause. It seemed to serve to be a
monumental experience and not just a
memorable one," Breakstone said.
See STUMP, Page 3A
M SAoffers new
airBus to airport
Service provides
cheap transportation to
and from Metro Airport
By Carmen Johnson
Daily Staff Reporter
For students who have paid up to
$40 for a taxi ride to the Detroit Met-
ropolitan Airport in the past, a new
cheaper way to travel has arrived just
in time for Thanksgiving break. The
student-run airBus offers a seat for $14
round trip or $9 one-way to the airport.
AirBus, sponsored by the Michigan
Student Assembly, is in the experimen-
tal stage, but plans are to run the serv-
ice for the Winter and Spring breaks.
Service Planning and Project Coor-
dination Neil Greenberg has been
pushing for cheaper airport transporta-
tion for two years.
"I live and breathe transportation,"
Greenberg said. "I knew MSA had the
drive to do this so now we can really
join our forces and really provide an
effective transportation."
"This is the first step in advocating
for a free bus service for students trav-
eling to the airport," said Sarah Boot,
MSA president and organizer of air-
Bus. "Hopefully if the airBus proves
successful and administration sees that
there is a demand, administration will
take it over and eventually offer free
transport."
During the two days before Thanks-
giving break, six scheduled bus trips
from North Campus, the Hill and Cen-
tral Campus will be leaving for Detroit
Metro. On Dec. 1, the last day of the
break, five Ann Arbor-bound trips will
be available from L.C. Smith and
McNamara terminals.
To make reservations and payments,
tables will be set up in Angell Hall,
Bursley Residence Hall and other resi-
dence halls on Central Campus and the
Hill area for the next two weeks.
Greenberg ran his own bus service
to the airport two years ago but said
the reason it failed was because it was
See AIRBUS, Page 3A
Librarian Sherry Roberts, otherwise known as Witch Boo-lah, tells scary stories to
children in the Boo-mobile at the Westside Ann Arbor Library yesterday afternoon.
(U)
prepares for
Halloween,MS
game day festivities
Columnist discusses effect
of ethics in everyday life
By Maria Sprow
Daily Staff Reporter
Problem: A woman is doing business with
another person, who happens to be Orthodox Jew.
The woman finds this person to be completely
competent and courteous, until she goes to shake
his hand. He refuses because his religion pro-
hibits him from touching women. She's offended
and feels discriminated against, but torn because
she supports religious freedom and expression.
Question: What should she do - continue doing
business with the man, or find someone else?
According to Randy Cohen, the self-pro-
claimed "accidental ethicist" from The New York
Times Magazine, the woman should find some-
n 1PPle
Cohen, a former writer for Late Night with
David Letterman and The Rosie O'Donnell Show,
now spends his days providing answers to ethical
questions and moral dilemmas for a living. He
visited the University yesterday to give students
and professors his thoughts on everyday ethics, as
well as to dispense some free advice.
But the beginning of his lecture, sponsored by
the Career Center, started with a disclaimer.
"I have no credentials of any kind," he said,
adding that he believes ethics is a subject best prac-
ticed by the ordinary person. "The reader must not
consider my credentials, but my argument."
Cohen said his job, though interesting, comes
with some drawbacks.
"I'm definitely not a better person and make no
rlcnimn to heh etter than anvnneels e " heaid-
By Adhiraj Dutt
For the Daily
The sidewalks of Ann Arbor will
be crowded with students mas-
querading as ghosts, goblins, and a
few unconventional costumes as Uni-
versity students gear up for Hal-
loween and Saturday's battle against
Michigan State.
"Instead of working on Tuesday
night, I went out to buy stuff for my
costume. I am going to wear sandals, a
poncho, a rope for a belt, and am going
to carry around a sack of oranges. I
also have a sombrero that I am plan-
ning on wearing. The entire costume
cost me $3.99," LSA freshman Chris
Hartemayer said. "I have no classes
until noon on Friday so I am going to
party all night on Halloween."
Many students planned their cos-
tumes by making trips to costume
stores.
"Mullets are really popular this year.
A lot Af students are after the '80s
up as gangsters. Many are even renting
big furry animal costumes such as
dogs and cows because it will probably
be cold on Halloween. Women tend to
be dressing up very saucy like in sexy
nurse outfits."
Other students planned where they
were going to spend their Halloween
but they didn't plan costumes to wear.
"I am definitely going to go out on
Halloween," LSA senior Ken
Kobayashi said. "My frat, Sigma Nu,
usually has a big costume party and I
have gone there the last few years but I
might just end up going to a bar with
some of my housemates. Of course, I
am going to dress up in something
funny and insane but I don't know
what yet."
Even with the football game on Sat-
urday, some students are going out of
town for Halloween and for the rest of
the weekend.
"Michigan will definitely be a fun
place to be," LSA senior Laura Frank
said. "Pepnnle are Ain to narty al
Ah 1