Friday, April 9, 2004 Opinion 4 Louie Meizlish's last words for the Daily Arts 5 Billy Bob Thornton talks about "The Alamo" Remembering Kurt Cobain ... Friday Focus, Page 10 Weather HI 52 LOW/ 29 TOMAdfOROW: 4a/ 32 Sports 9 The women's basket- ball team continues to shrink. One-hundred-thirteen years ofeditorialfreedom www.michigandaiy.com Ann Arbor, Michigan . Vol. CXIII, No. 131 ©2004 The Michigan Daily a S S C asses LABOR NEGOTIATIONS ,w..........Cam pus reacts to LEO strike By Victoria Edwards Daily Staff Reporter Yelling slogans, holding signs and beating drums, support- ers of the Lecturers' Employee Organization guarded the doors of University buildings yesterday, trying to divert stu- dents and faculty from attending their classes. "I've been out here (picketing) since 11 a.m.," LSA soph- omore Stephanie Fitzwater said. "Many students don't seem to understand that it affects them. I've seen a lot of people cross (the picket line)." The main picket lines formed around the entrances to Angell, Haven and Mason halls, Dennison Hall, the Chem- istry Building and the School of Social Work. The one-day walkout began less than two fours after negotiations between LEO and the University administra- tion broke off early yesterday morning shortly after 4 a.m. Since its formation in August, LEO has fought to create its first contract with the University, with guarantees of higher salaries, job security and health benefits. After two rounds of negotiations on Wednesday failed to lead to an agreement, LEO decided to go through with the planned walkout to keep pressure on the University. Students' feelings about the walkout ranged from apa- thy to intense feelings for both sides. LSA senior Nat Danren, who joined the picket and attended an informational meeting about LEO's history, said he sympathized with most lecturers working in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. "I support the foreign language department. If you get fired and hired every year there is no job security. If you're foreign, it is hard to get a visa because you don't appear to have stable work because of the hiring policies" Danren said. LSA senior Conal Roche said he also supports LEO. He said he can relate to their plight because it could be directly connected with his future career. "Knowing that I'm getting- an English degree and I could be a lecturer in the future, it's in my direct interest to support the rights of lecturers," Roche said. Music sophomore Patrize Seibel said that although she attended class, she did not have to cross the picket line to do so. "We met at Bruegger's Bagels instead. It was more chill; we got out early. (Our teacher) wanted to teach, but she did- n't want to cross the picket line," Seibel said. Because of the strike, the hallways of the normally crowded Angell Hall complex were desolate, with an occasional student passing through there. Even the oth- erwise packed Angell Hall Computing Site was only about two-thirds full with students who chose to cross the picket line. "(I crossed the picket line) because I felt that going to class is important to me. I didn't have any classes can- celled. I don't entirely support the lecturers - I feel that See WALKOUT, Page 3 Strike perspectives Knowing that I'm getting an English degree and I could be a lecturer in the future, it's in my direct interest to support the rights of lecturers.,, - LSA senior Conal Roche "I don't entirely support the lecturers - I feel that they didn't go about this right.?" - LSA sophomore Dan Tietz From top left, clockwise: JEFF LEHNERT, SHUBRA OHRI, ALI OLSEN, Al OLSEN/Daily TOP LEFT: Lecturers' Employee Organization supporter Giselle Gerolami, far left, walks with Serena and Jeremy Karavich at the LEO rally outside the Fleming Administration Building yesterday. TOP RIGHT: Picketers cheer at the LEO rally In front of the Cube. BOTTOM LEFT: A student explains to Graduate Employees' Organization member Pete Soppelsa why she has to cross the LEO picket line outside of Mason Hall. BOTTOM RIGHT: LSA senior Jenny Lee calls a picketing chant to fellow LEO strikers and their supporters outside the Modern Languages Building. Contract talks will resume today By Aymar Jean Daily Staff Reporter After Wednesday's negotiations failed to halt yesterday's walkout, members of the Lec- turers' Employee Organization and the Uni- versity administration said they will tenaciously pursue a contract settlement as the semester draws to a close. The first of several meetings will occur today at 9 a.m. Both LEO members and University administrators said they are optimistic that they will be able to negotiate their first con- tract by the end of the semester. Next week, the union members will meet to discuss whether further action is needed to receive their contract demands.Currently, there are no formal plans to walk out again this semester. Faced with the walkout, both sides held two rounds of talks Wednesday in an attempt to reach some tentative agreements. But the negotiations - which lasted until shortly after 4 a.m. yesterday - focused primarily on job security and salary, only two of LEO'S crucial economic issues. For a large part of the meeting, each side crafted proposals to present to the other, a method that facilitated some fruitful dia- logue, University spokeswoman Julie Peter- son said. "It was a really good discussion," she said. "One of their most productive ses- sions to date" LEO President Bonnie Halloran also said negotiations went better on Wednesday than they had in the past, but poor timing pre- cluded any definitive settlements. "I think the problem was that they were trying to do this at the last minute of the (11th) hour. The University knew that this one-day strike was coming, and they wait- ed until the day before," Halloran said. "The evidence would say that there was a See NEGOTIATIONS, Page 3 Coleman to respond to wage proposal Monday By Chloe Foster Affairs E. Royster Harper and 11 other For the Daily members. They will make the final Smoke out Analyzing Granhoim's cigarette tax proposal The governor's proposed budg- et would include a 75 cents per pack tax increase on cigarettes. Officials estimate the tax would raise $295 million, helping State lawmakers prepare tovote( By Michael Gurovitsch Daily Staff Reporter )flcigarette motion releasing the bill from com- said. "The soon mittee and bringing it to the House rette) tax, the so floor for a vote after Easter recess. izing the reven tax Monday will mark a victory for Stu- dents Organizing for Labor and Eco- decision on whether to concur with the committee's request to release wage information for factory workers who ner we enact the (ciga- ooner we can start real- nue. While it may not i