Wednesday January 7,2004 @2004 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 71 TsOA One-hundred-thirteen years of editorialfreedom Partly cloudy into the after- toon, with wind from the south at 17 miles per hour HI: 21 LOW: 12 Tomorrow 2st1 o wwwmichigandailywcom I I I I I Website woes result in firstday scheduling gaffes, missed classes Auk. y, al rlM Y + Iii'.; y r c By Michael Kan Daily Staff Reporter Many students faced scheduling headaches and ended up skipping the first day of classes yesterday when technical problems with Wolverine Access made viewing course information impossible. Administrative Information Services reported that Wolverine Access - the University scheduling website - was experiencing a web traffic problem. University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said the problem was due to the website's inability to open new Internet con- nections for students. Peterson explained that when students usually log in to Wolverine Access, their computer connects to the database where all their information is stored. Usually, once students log out of the website, the connection is terminated. Since there is only a fixed number of connections the site can make, Wolverine Access must first end the connections before allowing new users to access the database. Peterson said MAIS noticed the problem on Monday at around 11:30 p.m. But MAIS has not encountered this prob- lem before, so the solution is not immediately clear, Peter- son added. "(MAIS) are going to be working all through the night, but there are no guarantees Wolverine Access will be up soon," she said. As of last night, the website appeared to work again. But class scheduling has already been affected. With stu- dents unable to connect to Wolverine Access, many could not make changes to their class schedules. Peterson said that as of yesterday afternoon, only 800 students had dropped classes, compared with around 6,000 on the first day of classes in previous semesters. Peterson said contingency plans are available to the Uni- versity if the problem is not resolved soon, although she does not know when students can expect them to be imple- mented if the problem continues. Peterson also said students can still connect to Wolverine Access, but the connections are very limited. "(Wolverine Access) is just not cycling people through normally. It's not that the system is down," Peterson said. For now, students who want to make changes to their stu- dent accounts will have to visit the Registrar's Office, which has direct access to the student database. Students can also gain direct access to their accounts through their college or school office, Peterson added. See WEBSITE, Page 7 DAVID TUMAN/Daily LSA sophomore Huey Fang Lim checks her Wolverine Access account shortly after It was made available to students again last night. TWO WEEKS 'TILL IOWA White House hopefuls scramble for last-rn imute endorsements By Michael Gurovitsch Daily Staff Reporter With the Democratic primaries set to begin in less than two weeks, candidates continue to vie for the endorse- ments of notable political figures in a final push to bolster their appeal to voters. Although endorsements are seen as vital to a candi- date's health, their actual significance is limited, said Prof. Vincent Hutchings of the Center for Political Studies. "(Endorsements) provide some information ... that could influence voting choice. ... (But) it usually doesn't make a big difference," Hutchings said. "(The) difference is at the margins, but that's where elections are won and lost" he added. "Voters want information shortcuts which will provide them a way to (evaluate) candidates without combing through policy statements or back issues of the Washing- ton Post," Hutchings said, adding that voters will some- times associate the qualities of well-known politicians with the candidates they endorse. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean who had a com- manding double-digit lead in a CNN poll released this week, continues to distinguish himself from the other can- didates with the endorsement of former Sen. Bill Bradley yesterday. Bradley campaigned unsuccessfully for the 2000 Democratic nomination against then-Vice President Al Gore, who also recently endorsed Dean. Other leading candidates have also attained support from prominent Democratic politicians. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts received the backing of Sens. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Diane Feinstein of Califor- nia, as well as former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Steelworkers of America endorsed the historically See ENDORSEMENTS, Page 7 MSA discusses alleged Greek system changes By C'anna Freeman Daily Staff Reporter Edwards hoes optiim, not criticism, will win votes Michigan Student Assembly members returned to chambers to discuss their plans for the semester last night, but spent the majority of the meeting talking about potential changes to the Greek system. Allegations by MSA members stated that Vice President for Stu- dent Affairs E. Royster Harper pro- posed an informal plan to the University Board of Regents' that could potentially hinder Greek sys- tem operations. These allegations involve changes such as elimination of fall rush for freshmen, requiring houses to have live-in advisors, and forcing frater- nities to enact alcohol-free policies. "It is complicated because of the state of housing in Ann Arbor - to delay housing decisions until sec- ond semester could potentially cre- ate a housing problem," said Jason Mironov, MSA General Counsel and former vice-president of Alpha Sigma Phi. Representatives' main complaint about these possible policies was the lack of student involvement in the creation of these modifications. "From my knowledge of the situ- ation, no students have been con- tacted," Rep. Robert Counihan said. "It is not that the plan is bad, but that there is no student input." Several assembly members pre- sented a Greek Life taskforce that would act as stepping-stone for stu- dent involvement. The taskforce would analyze how Greek and non- Greek students feel about these reg- ulations. But Mironov stressed that at this point, the allegations are hearsay. Tonight the Interfraternity Coun- cil convenes to discuss the possibil- ity of the University's tightened control over the Greek system. Whether the IFC has any knowl- edge of the possible restrictions that was discussed in the chambers is not clear. Also at the meeting, MSA passed a resolution to improve the safety of streets both around campus and in the Plymouth Road area by lobby- ing both the University and the City of Ann Arbor. Safety concerns stemmed from the November deaths of two Uni- versity students, Norhananim Zain- ol and Teh Nanni Roshema. The See MSA, Page 7 By Jameel Naqvi Daily Staff Reporter The race for the Democratic nomination is heating up, and John Edwards isn't flinch- ing. Despite single-digit showings at the national and local levels, the senator from North Carolina remains optimistic that vot- ers will listen to a candidate who focuses on the possibilities for the future rather than simply criticizing the status quo. While former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's angry attacks on the Bush adminis- tration and its handling of the Iraq war struck a chord with alienated partisans and propelled him from a relative unknown to the national front-runner, Edwards bases his campaign on his own brand of populism. "It's not about who can be the most pes- simistic about America," said Edwards support- er Ashley Bell, president of the College Democrats' national organization. "You're not going to win by depressing voters the most." Instead, Bell said Edwards consistently presents an optimistic message. "He's stay- ing away from partisan rhetoric," Bell said. "It is true that you can get Democratic activists on their feet cheering much more quickly bashing George Bush than any other way," Edwards said in a Washington Post interview. "But remember, we're going through a process here and people are looking for a president. They're not looking for somebody who can just beat up George Bush. They're looking for someone who can inspire them and lead them." While other candidates are focusing on the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, Edwards needs a win in South Carolina to stay afloat. Bell, a native Georgian, said Southerners are more likely to support local candidates. He said Edwards has invested more Get on the bus resources in South Carolina than the other See EDWARDS, Page 7 Despite delay, Connerly ballot initiative gathers steam, enlists campus groups By Aymar Jean Daily Staff Reporter Despite the University's victo- ry at the U.S. Supreme Court last June, 2004 promises to be a decisive year for its race-con- scious admissions policies. Ward Connerly - a Univer- sity of California regent and outspoken opponent of affirma- tive action - is spearheading a petition drive for an initiative on November's ballot. The referen- dum regards whether state insti- Connerly tutions can give "preferential treatment" based on The start date for the initiative, originally set for yesterday, was postponed until Jan. 12 to abide by Michigan election laws. The initiative's supporters must obtain 317,517 signatures by July 6 to place the issue on the ballot. "It's going to in effect put into the Michigan Con- stitution what everybody thinks the Equal Protection Clause (of the 14th Amendment) already says," said Tim O'Brien, operations director for the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. The initiative is a subsidiary of the American Civil Rights Coalition, the group Connerly chairs. State Rep. Leon Drolet (R-Clinton Twp.), who also co-chairs MCRI's steering committee, said his office already received more than 300 volunteer commit- ments, even though the movement has received little Freedom) plans on participating in the collection of signatures and all that goes along with that," Laura Davis, co-chair of the University chapter of YAF, said. In addition to these recruiting efforts, MCRI has received staunch support from the Michigan Liber- tarian Party. O'Brien said that the Democratic and Republican parties have not provided any formal support, although 22 Republican state lawmakers expressed their individual support last fall. The initiative's proposal is further strengthened by a recent poll, conducted by the Lansing polling firm EPIC/MRA, reporting that 63 percent of Michigan residents would support an amendment denying pref- erential treatment based on race. Twenty-five percent would oppose it, according to the poll. "Wep've gort the ep~sv ic_ Oce ir~it's on lthe ballot- 1 I' I