Wednesday October 1, 2003 02003 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 22 One-hundred-thirteen years of editoriadfreedom Tomorrow: 53/39 www.michigandailycom Affirmative action opponents build support By Jeremy Berkowitz Daily Staff Reporter Michigan voters can expect to see more door-to-door soliciting in the first half of next year, especially from people attempting to cur- tail the University's tac- tics for promoting racial diversity. The organizers of a campaign to put a propo- sition on the November 2004 ballot acknowl- edged they have a chal- Connerly lenge on their hands, but said they are confident Michigan voters share their values. Three months after the U.S. Supreme Court set guidelines for the University to continue its race-conscious admissions, the American Civil Rights Coalition is setting up a framework for its drive for a state con- stitutional amendment to ban the use of race in admissions at the state's public uni- versities and in government hiring and con- tracts. Ward Connerly, a longtime University of California regent and founder of the ACRC, leads the statewide effort and oversees its steering committee of state legislators, chaired by Rep. Jack Brandenburg (R-Har- rison Twp.) and Leon Drolet (R-Clinton Twp.). Brandenburg and Drolet have both been opponents of racial preferences, call- ing them illegal and immoral. Connerly has led similar efforts in Cali- fornia and Washington state, succeeding in prohibiting race from playing a role in col- lege admissions. A statewide poll of 600 voters showed that 52 percent support such a constitution- al ban, with 39 percent opposed and 9 per- cent undecided, The Associated Press reported. But Brandenburg said he listens to Michigan voters, instead of relying on polls. "I've only had one person in my whole district e-mail me and tell me that they were opposed to what I was doing," he said. Brandenburg's district is located in Macomb County. Brandenburg said there are certain Michigan cities - including Detroit and Ann Arbor - where lobbying efforts won't be made because he doesn't expect much support in those areas. While some supporters already are acting like the initiative will be on the ballot, Dro- let said he sees a big job ahead in the next nine months. ACRC plans to begin the sig- nature drive Jan. 2 and will have six months to complete it. While 317,000 names are necessary, a goal of 400,000 has been set to add more legitimacy to the proposition. "Trying to get people to vote is secondary to getting it on the ballot," Drolet said. "Four hun- dred thousand signatures in a state of nine mil- lion people is a big challenge." The effort will require a lot of volunteer- ing as well as outside funds from the ACRC. But Justin Jones, director of policy and planning for the ACRC, said he sees moti- vating people to vote - not getting signa- tures - is the real battle. "The opposition, knowing the strength of (our) position, will really come out in force in Michigan," Jones said. "We will have to counter them in time." - State Republican Party leaders refused to support the initiative over the summer, but Brandenburg and Drolet both said they feel state leaders are too worried about political fallout. "They're not out there rapping on doors - I am, I've walked a lot this summer," Brandenburg said. Drolet said he hoped once the initiative gets on the ballot next summer more politi- cians would come out in sipport of it, See BAN, Page 3 FBI probes White House for illega leaks Bush administration investigated for disclosing identity of CIA officer WASHINGTON (AP) - The FBI began a full-scale criminal investiga- tion yesterday into whether White House officials illegally leaked the identity of an undercover CIA officer, and President Bush ordered his staff to cooperate with the first major probe of his administration. Democrats demanded the appoint- ment of a special outside counsel but Bush resisted. "I'm absolutely confi- dent that the Justice Department can do a good job," he said on a re-elec- tion fund-raising stop in Chicago. "If somebody did leak classified information, lid like to know it and we'll take the appropriate action," Bush said. "And this investigation is a good thing." Democratic leaders said Attorney General John Ashcroft is too close to the White House to conduct an impar- tial investigation. "We don't have confi- dence in John Ashcroft ... and we know without a doubt that somebody broke the federal law," Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle said. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said, "If there ever was a case for the appointment of a special coun- sel, this is it." With pressure building, the Justice Department alerted the White House late Monday of the decision to move from a preliminary inquiry into a full investigation, a step rarely taken with complaints involving leaks of classi- fied information. The investigation is aimed at find- ing who leaked the name of the CIA operative, possibly in an attempt to punish the officer's husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who had accused the administration of manipu- lating intelligence to exaggerate the threat from Iraq. Most White House employees dis- covered the probe was under way when they turned on their computers and found an e-mail timed at 8:46 a.m. that said: "PLEASE READ: Important Mes- sage From Counsel's Office." It alerted the staff to keep all documents that could be related to the investigation. "I want to know the truth," Bush said. Anyone with information, inside or outside the administration, should step forward, he said. Although Bush said he welcomed the investigation, it was an embarrass- ing development for a president who promised to bring integrity and lead- ership to the White House after years of Republican criticism of the Clinton administration. While the administration appeared cool toward naming a special counsel, Ashcroft has not ruled out that possi- bility, a senior law enforcement offi- cial said. That decision will depend on a num- ber of factors, such as whether a sus- pect is identified who presents a potential conflict for the Justice Depart- ment. For now, the investigation is being done by FBI agents in the coun- 'U , looks to slice travel expenses By Andrew Kaplan Daily Staff Reporter As the University copes with $37 million in budget cuts and tuition increases of about 6.5 percent, finan- cial officials have begun developing a travel management system that they say could save the University millions of dollars each year. To capitalize on cost-reducing measures, the University will begin tracking the transportation choices faculty members and administrators make for business trips. The data will be arrayed on a website, which University officials say personnel can use to seek discounts on their airfare and lodging. Currently, faculty members often seek travel rebates independently through their respective depart- merits, Internet services such as Travelocity or University-contracted agencies. But the new electronic database' - which the University said it will launch by year's end - will facili- tate the search for savings by giving the University the information it needs to negotiate rebates on behalf of its faculty. Once up and running, the system could slash the University's travel budget by as much as $4 million, said Phil Abruzzi, director of pur- chasing for the University. "What's different about this plan is by capturing the travel data at a central website, we're going to be able to know exactly where the trav- eling is occurring'and between what cities," Abruzzi said. "When you know the number of flights per month, with that information you See TRAVEL, Page 2 JOEL FRIEDMAN/D~aily Visitors to the A. Alfred Taubman Health Care Center yesterday enjoy the pictures and sculptures in a Gifts of Art display. Ar exhibiatsplays to lIves of patients By Koustubh Patwardhan For the Daily For more than a decade, the Gifts of Art Program has helped fulfill the needs of University hospital patients when modern medicine could not, and has been comple- menting patient treatment with the positive energy that the arts can provide, the program's supporters say. The Gifts of Art, which started in 1987, consists of art exhibits, week- ly and special concerts, bedside musicians and carts filled with posters. The program features nine art exhibits that are changed every twn mnnthc Tlvhihitc inc~lde rigi- and are popular among patients, program director Elaine Sims said. Many patients request their nurses to take them to view these exhibits, she added. Gifts of Art hosts concerts every Thursday in the main lobby of the University Hospital and from time to time undertakes special pro- grams. This year, Gifts of Art will host more than 50 shows, including drama performances and dance shows. Another favorite feature among patients is the, art cart - a cart filled with framed posters that is taken to each room so the patient can choose which poster they would like tn na nn their ronm wall. "an#.kr k' '' k.'i '..