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January 15, 2004
©2004 The Michigan Daily
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vol. CXIII, No. 77
One-hundred-thirteen years ofeditoriafreedom
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11 III'l- Hiligillipillill I Imil
Playing in the snow
Drugs, student
violence top
conflict report
By Alison Go
DailyStaff Reporter
LSA seniors Zoe Stein and Deborah Brunswick don't let the snowfall affect their fun as they make snow angels on
the diag yesterday.
The Office of Student Conflict Resolution
published a report this week that outlines the
number and types of violations the office
handled during the last six months and the
outcomes of those cases. The report was the
first of its kind.
OSCR is a unit within the Division of Stu-
dent Affairs that
administers the State-
ment of Student Rights 4t-Dfl0
and Responsibilities
the University's non- Verigteleoses 14
academic conduct poli- 'eport on Student CA
cy known as "the
code." Thy Office of Stuf
The report lists dif- Olution found at lea:
ferent types of viola- federal and state dri
tions and the number violations since July
of incidents of each
For example, some of 0 23 cases of "haz
the most common harassment
charges are "violatin
drug and alcohol viola-
tions, with OSCR han-
dling at least 30 cases of each since July 1,
2003. By contrast, most categories of viola-
tions received less than 10 citations. Also
outlined and listed in the report are the reso-
lutions of these cases. Students could poten-
tially be held responsible or not responsible,
have their case dropped or go through an
"alternative dispute resolution," such as
mediation.
OSCR Director Keith Elkin said the report
is part of the office's effort to become more
available and recognizable.
"The Statement is actually a process for
resolving complaints," Elkin said. "It's the
student's chance to resolve their own case....
(OSCR suffers) from a lack of recognition,
but we want students to be educated about the
Statement of Student Rights and Responsibil-
ities."
The report is a response to requests for
more information on enforcement of the
statement, such as dis-
ciplinary action and
K11 conflict mediation.
The Statement and
St semi-annual the OSCR are
f7ict resoluton designed to be educa-
tional and help stu-
mnt Conflict Res- dents learn from their
30 eases of behavior to prevent
, and alcohol future conflicts, Elkin
20031 said.
"Our goal is to edu-
ig, stalking (or) cate the University
community on how we
work," he said.
wgThe community has
been asking what the
issues and sanctions
are and this helps us make sure we're keeping
an educational focus," said E. Royster Harper,
vice president for student affairs. "It's an
attempt to be responsive and transparent."
Among the 148 incidents of misconduct,
OSC.R also reported 23 cases of "hazing,
stalking (or) harassment" and 30 cases of
"making, possessing (or) using falsified Uni-
versity documents."
See REPORT, Page 7A
No end 1n
sight for
state fiscal
SECOND TIME AROUND
Former champion o the Iowa
caucuses prepares for rematch
I
dilemma
Latest figures slightly
smaller than previous
budget deficit estimates
By Jameel Naqvl
Daily Staff Reporter
Mother's rape prompts
author's abortion views
A projected state deficit of $900 mil-
lion in the 2004-2005 fiscal year will
translate into more University budget
cuts this fall. The dollar estimate was
announced yesterday at a revenue-esti-
mating conference in Lansing.
This modest prediction may rise if
Michigan fails to maintain its current
level of spending, said Jay Wortley, an
economist at the nonpartisan Senate
Fiscal Agency.
University Provost Paul Courant said
this estimate is smaller than expected.
"Earlier this week, they were talking
about a $1 billion to $1.4 billion
deficit," he
said. "It's still
very large and
a very serious
problem. It
certainly is
not good
news for the
University.
The long-run consequences are severe
for the state and the University."
The University responded to Michi-
gan's $900 million budget shortfall in
the current fiscal year by canceling
classes, eliminating vacant faculty
positions and delaying infrastructure
upgrades this semester. No mid-year
tuition hikes were necessary. Courant
said students can expect more of the
same in the fall term: larger classes,
shorter library hours and slower
progress on academic projects.
Tie hew revenue projections are
based on a $300 million rise in Medicare
costs and a $160 million increase in
compensation for state employees, Wort-
ley said. The exact figures will not be
known until Gov. Jennifer Granholm
releases her budget this spring.
Wortley attributed the shortfall to
sluggish economic growth and lost tax
revenue resulting from changes in state
and federal tax policy. A state income
tax set to be reduced 4 percent will, for
the next 6 months, only get cut 3.9 per-
cent. The estate tax, levied on some
estates after their owners die, is being
phased out at the state and national lev-
els. And cigarette tax revenue is replen-
ishing the "rainy day" Budget
Stabilization Fund instead of the Gen-
eral Fund, for which budget estimates
are calculated.
According to the Governor's execu-
tive order last month, the University
will face no higher than a 2 percent cut
in fundino nevt fall if increnes in
By Lindsey Paterson
Daily Staff Reporter
By David Branso
Daily Staff Reporter
U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt hopes his 26 years of
experience in the House of Representatives will
give him an edge over other Democratic presi-
dential frontrunners. His plans for teacher protec-
tion, universal health care and world trade
adjustments stand on the shoulders of issues he
has fought for during his congressional tenure.
A graduate of Northwestern University and the
University of Michigan Law School, Gephardt
(D - Mo.) was first elected to Congress in 1976.
In an interview yesterday with The Michigan
Daily, Gephardt said, "I was very fortunate to
attend the University of Michigan Law School. I
really enjoyed being there, it was a wonderful
school and has created wonderful opportunities
for me."
Gephardt's congressional resume includes
adding environmental and labor considerations to
U.S. trade agreements, tax reduction for working
families, education initiatives and a presidential
campaign in 1988 in which he won the Iowa Cau-
cuses.
"I think I'll win in Iowa. We have a good group
there already and I think I'm seen as the best can-
didate," Gephardt said regarding his second
round in Iowa this coming Monday. "I think vot-
ers are beginning to increasingly understand that I
can beat Bush."
Gephardt is continuing to focus on foreign pol-
icy in the primary season, as are the other Demo-
See GEPHARDT, Page 7A
Rebecca Kiessling is grateful for her life - the
life she almost did not have.
Kiessling's conception did not result from lov-
ing parents - it was consequence of a vicious
rape. "He brutally raped (my mother) every way
possible. And that was how I was conceived,"
Kiessling said during a talk in the Michigan
Union last night.
Her birth mother considered abortion and
searched for sanitary abortion clinics. She turned
away from two "back-alley clinics," and then
decided to undergo the procedure in a third clinic.
The performers of-the abortion planned to pick
her up at the Detroit Institute of Arts, blindfold
her, abort the baby and drop her off again at the
DIA. But the day of the planned abortion was the
day of the biggest snowstorm of the century, and
Kiessling's mother was caught in it.
After the snowstorm, the second trimester
approached and Kiessling's mother opted to carry
the pregnancy to full term and give her baby up
for adoption.
Kiessling considers this a tremendous blessing
and a lesson for everyone. She does not agree
with the notion that rape and incest are reasons
for abortions, and credits her own life to both her
biological parents - even though her father was
a serial rapist.
"My life matters. Your life matters. Don't let
anyone tell you differently," Kiessling said.
She stressed that there is a lack of value placed
on life and said she feels this is why there is a
growing number of abortions. "I hope that both
men and women will understand that their value
is not based on the things that society places
value on: how smart they are, how much money
they make, what they look like. Everybody has an
inherent value," she said.
Kiessling said that college campuses should
occupy a more important role in teaching anti-
abortion values. She said that these responsibili-
ties could come in the form of more services for
pregnant women such as educating women on
abortion, making childcare and housing available
for mothers on campuses, encouraging rape pre-
vention programs and allowing maternity leave
for student mothers.
"When an unplanned pregnancy happens, there
See KIESSLING, Page 3A
U'
celebrates a century of Union
By Ashley Dinges
and Genna Lampinen
Daily Staff Reporters
In 1904, University student Edward Parker
had an idea: establish a place on campus to
unite students. One hundred years later, the
Michigan Union is celebrating its life at the
University and the people who helped create it
- the Michigan Union Opera, which raised the
funds to build and complete the center for stu-
dent life by 1919.
Students, faculty and alums gathered in the
Union's Anderson Room yesterday to com-
memorate the centennial and the opening of an
exhibit in a first-floor room renovated to honor
the Opera.
The exhibit features programs and ticket
stubs from many of the Opera's productions.
"They were affectionately named the Union
Mimes - they did everything from write the
music to design costumes and perform," said
Union Director Audrey Schwimmer.
The troupe performed from 1908 to 1926
and also toured nationally in locations such as
Chicago, New York and Boston.
In total, they raised $125,000 for the Union
- the equivalent of $1.4 million today.
The commemorative room also offers several
"I think that the Michigan Union has a rich history
not known to many students. It's not just a building,
it's an experience.'
- Rob Chesnick
Former member, Michigan Union Board of Representatives
them. We have a lot of alums that come back
for football Saturdays. This way, they can come
in, type in someone's name and find out if they
were in an opera," said Karla Zinnecker, pro-
gram coordinator for the Union.
In addition to the database, the room also
offers wireless Internet access to visitors. Zin-
necker added that the entire Union will be wire-
less soon.
"They've been working on it for the past
year," Zinnecker said.
LSA junior Ben Moerman, chairman of the
Michigan Union Board of Representatives, said
he hopes that the new exhibit will build an
awareness of the history behind the Union and
the board's activities throughout the year.
"The Opera was a large unifying force
behind funding of the Union. I hope (students)
gain an appreciation of the hard work that came
before them" Moerman said.
the Union.
"It's one of the little-known groups that
makes a huge impact on campus," said Rob
Chesnick a former board member and 2003
graduate of the University, who was present at
the ceremony.
"I think that the Michigan Union has a rich
history not known to many students. It's not just
a building, it's an experience."
A handful of students turned out for the
event, including LSA sophomore Eileen
O'Brien who saw the display for the celebration
in the Union.
"I think it's nice that they set up something
for all the faculty and students to participate in,"
O'Brien said.
Schwimmer, who spoke at the event, empha-
sized not only the history of the Union, but the
future that lies ahead.
The organization hopes to attract students by
i 1
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LAURA SHLECTER/Daily
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