LOCAL/STATE

The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 5, 2003 - 5

Democratlirivals target Dean, ctifcize
Bush foreig, economicplansfor stabity

DEBATE
Continued from Page 1
hat Democratic and Republican presidents
have put together over 70 years."
The gathering at the University of New
Mexico was broadcast live on public tele-
vision with a Spanish translation available
and will be aired Saturday on Univision,
the nation's largest Spanish-language net-
work, in a nod to the rising influence of
Hispanic voters.
New Mexico has a large Hispanic pop-
ulation - about 42 percent - and a His-
panic governor, Democrat Bill
Richardson.
In his opening remarks, Richardson
challenged "Hispanics across the country
to mobilize and energize our communities
for next year's election."
Among the issues put to the con-
tenders were proposals to overhaul
immigration laws, particularly to allow
the estimated 3 million undocumented
immigrants from Mexico to remain in
the United States. Relaxing current law

drew broad support from the Democrat-
ic rivals.
"This country is a melting pot, a fab-
ric," Gephardt said.
"Immigration for me is not just
another issue. It's me, it's my family,"
said Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman,
noting that his ancestors, like those of
most Americans, had come from over-
seas.
"He (Bush) has used 9-11 as an excuse
for not doing what he promised to do in
reforming immigration laws," Lieberman
added.
Hispanics, who number 38.8 million
according to the latest census, represent
about 7 percent of the voting population
nationwide.
In 2000, about 7.5 million Hispanics
were registered to vote.
The candidates did air some differences
on trade and on tax policies.
Gephardt, who counts organized labor
as a crucial constituency, continued his
attack on his rivals for supporting free-
trade pacts.

"This country is a
melting pot, a fabric.
Immigration for me is
not just another issue.
It's me, it's my family."
- Sen. Joe Lieberman
(D-Conn.)
The candidates sparred briefly over
whether their respective positions on
trade agreements would protect workers
rights and environmental standards.
Several of the Democratic contenders
advocate rolling back Bush tax cuts, but
Lieberman said he disagreed "with Gov-
ernor Dean and others" who advocate
undoing the full Bush tax plan to pay for
other priorities, including universal health
care coverage.
Gephardt has also called for such a
repeal.

A'P PHOTO
Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, right, looks on as Florida Sen. Bob Graham of Florida speaks at the Democratic
presidential debate in Albuquerque, N.M., last night.

MENTOR
Continued from Page 1.
the difficulties in getting adjusted to the
University," McConnell added.
Faculty members in the program deal,
more with academic life at the University.
"We have all sorts of (faculty) mentors that
teach a variety of different fields," Mentor-
ship Program Assistant Leah Beasley said.
"In the program, we match student aca-
demic interests with a faculty member who
teaches those interests," she added.
"From that mentor, they can learn more
about certain careers and goals related to
their interests and help guide them."
The program, which lasts until the end of
the Fall semester, also involves both aca-
demic and social events, Beasley added.

"From that mentor, they
can learn more about
certain careers and goals
related to their interests
and help guide them."
- Leah Beasley
University Mentorship program assistant
"We have a trip planned for Cedar Point
where students can bond together. We also
have academic seminars about school issues
such as alcohol usage and safety."
LSA freshman Cassie Fox applied to the
program to meet new people.

"I thought it would be a great program to
get me introduced into the school and into
volunteer opportunities," she said.
Like Fox, President Coleman also wishes
to meet new people Beasley said.
"This is her first time working as a mentor
in the Mentorship Program, and she also
wants to have a connection with the entering
students," Beasley added.
In yesterday's kick-off event students met
with their mentors for the first time. The
students were put into groups of four where
they each have a faculty mentor and a peer
mentor.
The Mentorship Program began at the
University in 1991.
Prospective faculty mentors and peer men-
tors and mentees should contact UMmen-
tor@umich.edu.

LGBT
Continued from Page 1
-lier this year, to provide a listing of
where and how many unisex or gender
inclusive restrooms are available, and the
establishment of a Gender Identity Work
Group this past academic year to learn
about what might be missing in current
programs and how to better serve trans-
gender students.
Frederic MacDonald-Dennis, director
of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender Affairs said he thinks the
task force is both a necessary idea and a
great one.
"I think it's an important time for us to
do another test of our climate so that we
can find ways of making it more inclusive
and more welcoming for all students," he
said, adding that he feels there have been
many positive changes over the years,
including domestic partnership benefits

and adding sexual orientation to the Uni-
versity's non-discrimination policy.
As far as people who might not be
entirely comfortable with the University's
potential plans or even oppose them, Mac-
Donald-Dennis said it's a matter of infor-
mation and learning.
"I believe really strongly that as people
become educated about the population
that really people won't be strongly
opposed to it," he said.
"I think that all of our University mem-
bers want everyone to feel comfortable
and safe on campus and I believe as peo-
ple become more educated about the
whole population, that they'll be in favor
of these ideas because it's a just a way of
being supportive and inclusive."
Meetings with the task force will be
held on Oct 9. in the Michigan Union,
with various times and locations within
the Union to talk about the climates with
regard to specific groups of individuals.

--..i

VOICEMAIL
Continued from Page 1.
digit dialing that directly connected to the voice
mailbox of the room.
"I liked using the old system better. The new
one was a little confusing to set-up," LSA sopho-
more Menna Cunningham said.
While the Message Center provides each stu-
dent with a personal voicemail account, the basic
763/764 telephone number that is assigned to each
dormitory will still be in operation.
"Since it is a new system, feedback will be
ongoing," Harris said. "Students will be surveyed
and we will be talking to University Housing

throughout the year."
She added that the students' personal numbers
are expected to be published on the University
directory within a couple of weeks.
"I think it is good so you don't have to filter
through your roommate's mail and your mail.
Having to tell people your personal number really
isn't an inconvenience," LSA freshman Sarah
Johnson said.
Future updates to the U-M Message Center will
be considered later in the year. A possible addition
to the system is for students to keep their personal
number throughout their stay at the University, not
just while living in University Housing.
But for this year, the students will simply retain

the same telephone number if they move between
residence halls, Harris said.
The new Message Center service was automati-
cally figured into incoming students room and
board fees for the year, which increased by 5.3
percent. Susan Harris, IT Com communications
manager said that the new system did not make a
noteworthy contribution to the increase in housing
fees. "We have been working with University
Housing to provide this system to students for
over a year," said Barbara Knight, project manager
and product leader for the U-M Message Center.
"Although they are looking into similar servic-
es, to my knowledge, no other colleges or univer-
sities are using this specific system."

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