r w' .r, s .. _ I w 12B --The Michigan Daily - Weekend Ilie - Thursday, April 8, 2004 ., Students often use the spacious area of the Diag to host large rallies for upcoming events or past remembrances, Including football games, anti-war protests and candle- light vigils. RALLY 'ROUND THE DIAG By Ruby Robinson Daily Arts Writer MSA candidates, a capella singers and preachers inhabit the :Diag daily. Unless you belong to a political student group, a cul- tural organization or Random Acts of Kindness, you have probably never been part of a rally or protest on the Diag. Well, today's the day to affirm your rights as a student and take back the Diag to publicize your own ideas. Planning a protest or rally actually requires a sizable amount of effort. Of course you don't need to have the lofty goals of legaliz- ing marijuana, increasing health insurance among graduate student instructors or ending the war in Iraq to receive a permit. The Diag serves as the perfect venue to share messages with students and the greater Ann Arbor community. For years, this spot has served as the stage for many political demonstrations. "The diag is a perfect forum to communicate my message with hundreds of students," said Jonathon Goldberg, co-president of American Movement for Israel. Goldberg adds that, students who don't stop by his table are still exposed to his messages, which is another important aspect of tabling on the Diag. You just need to follow a few basic steps to reserve either the area in front of the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, a spot for a table or pretty much anything else in this well-trodden space. To begin, you should plan the time and date of your event accordingly. "As far in advance as possible, depending on the elaborateness of your request," said Ray Wixson, Office of Student Activities and Leadership office manager. SAL oversees Diag space allocation and usage. If your group does not require an elaborate set-up, "one week's notice should be enough," Wixson said. Sound-amplified events usually occur between noon and 1 p.m. only. Now that you have the time and date resolved, it's time to visit the SAL office, located on the second floor of the Michigan Union, to hand in your Diag usage proposal. The proposal does not neces- sarily have to include the message and purpose of your event. Rather, it should consist of the means by which you intend to pro- mote and share your message. For example, you might decide to have a table with free hot chocolate and fliers. Make sure that the proposal goes into detail describing the means by which you intend to share your group's message. If you plan on sledge-hammering a vehicle, make sure you include a descriptive account for the safety of the group mem- bers and those passing by. SAL approval for Diag usage follows the guidelines of "content- neutral evaluation," Wixson said. By this type of evaluation, the University cannot stop a group from publicizing any message, unless the manner by which it is done poses a physical threat to the participants or the diag itself. SAL generally approves more than 95 percent of all Diag usage requests, he said. Sometimes it might be helpful to include the content of the mes- sage inside your proposal if you believe that it is controversial. If this is the case, SAL will notify DPS to monitor the safety of both par- ticipants and pedestrians. Saturday's Hash Bash rally in the Diag, with its intense police presence, demonstrates DPS's role in keeping an eye on the physical safety of more than 1,500 Hash-Bashers. Demonstrators, whose presence jeopardizes the safety of themselves and those partaking in the rally, will be removed by DPS if police feel their presence and message is getting out of hand. Remember to keep in mind a few University rules before, dur- ing and after your event. One, "publicizing your event must only occur following SAL approval," Wixson said. Secondly, it is against University policy to sell anything in the Diag itself. This includes anything from T-shirts and pins to cookies. Even charita- ble organizations must not use "coercive" means (i.e. stickers or pins) to motivate donations. Using the Diag is one of the most effective means to disseminate your message with the student body and Ann Arbor community. If you are interested in reserving space for a table or the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, don't feel intimidated. The process is relatively simple and pain-free. For more information, visit SAL's office or their website www umiche.edu/~salead. The Hiss lack innovation in 'Panic Movement' q, W By Matt Kivel Daily Arts Writer In early 2003, the easily excited British music press found reason to champion The Hiss as the heirs to the British rock throne. With a debut album yet to be recorded, The Hiss served as a source of hope for fans of *the mid-'90s Brit-pop scene. The excitement grew as former Oasis and Verve producer, Owen Morris, signed on to record their debut album, Panic Movement. The fate of the U.K. rock sound now rests on the shoulders of four young men from Atlanta. "Clever Kicks" opens the album with a swell of ______________ fierce guitars and The Hiss pounding drums that sets the tone Panic for the rest of the Movement album. "Back on Sanctuary The Radio" is the most blatant Oasis imitation on the entire album. Its origins can be traced back to Oasis's "Bring it on Down," boasting an identical chord progression and a solo worthy of Noel Gallagher. The song may have been a successful imitation if it were not for the lackluster vocals of Adrian Barrera. The passion and swagger that Liam Gallagher project- ed in 1994 is nowhere to be found inside of Barrera, making the song sound like a cover rather than an original. "Not for Hire" chronicles the band's feelings of distrust as labels flocked to sign them in 2003. Barrera sings, "We know what you've been eating in your fancy restaurants / and we don't like it." Barrera may have been taking a jab at record executives or filet mignon - it's difficult to tell. "Triumph" is the album's best song with its hard- edged guitar work and bluesy vocals that create an ominous soundscape to compliment its menacing lyrics. Morris's production is stellar on this track, as he finally seems to realize that the band he is working with is not actually Oasis. "Ghost's Gold" is the moment when The Hiss finally hit their stride. A choir chants the haunting melody while the guitar duels with a harmon- ica, reminiscent of Gorillaz' "Clint Eastwood." The album is a huge disappointment considering the massive hype that sur- rounded the band. At this point, The Hiss are a sum of their influences; they need to stop emulating their heroes and find their own sound.