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TOMORROW:
One-hundredfourteen years ofeditorialfreedom
www.mzihigandaiiy.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vol. CXV, No. 96
2005 The Michigan Daily
.W .
Coleman criticizes MCRI 'rhetoric'
r University president
compares ballot initiative to
Prop 2, claiming both are
deceptive in intended results
By Jameel Naqvl
Daily Staff Reporter
DEARBORN - Speaking at the Michi-
gan Women's Summit on Friday, Univer-
sity President Mary Sue Coleman had sharp
words for supporters of the Michigan Civil
Rights Initiative, predicting a detriment in
female employment and benefits if the pro-
posal is to pass in the state.
The ballot measure seeks to eliminate the
use of affirmative action by state institutions.
Coleman asked, "What was the rhetoric,
what is the reality?" characterizing MCRI's
backers as deceptive and suggesting they
have not been completely honest about the
potential impact of MCRI on women.
The summit, held at the campuses of
three state universities - the University of
Michigan at Dearborn, Michigan State Uni-
versity and Western Michigan University
- was organized by Michigan United, a
group formed to inform Michigan residents
about the potential effect of anti-affirmative
action campaigns in the state. Speakers at
the Dearborn campus included Gov. Jennifer
Granholm and wife of U.S. Rep. John Dingell
(D-Dearborn), Debbie Dingell.
Coleman said any gender-specific program
administered by the state could be targeted if
MCRI succeeds.
She compared MCRI to Proposal 2, which
prohibited the state from recognizing same-
sex marriage.
Supporters of Proposal 2, which was
approved by voters in November, said before
the election that the ballot measure was not
targeting benefits same-sex partners receive.
But now, the same law firm that was instru-
mental in crafting the language of Proposal
2 - the Thomas More Law Center in Ann
Arbor - is challenging same-sex benefits
offered by Ann Arbor Public Schools and
may set its sights next on the University's
benefits policy.
MCRI spokesman Chetly Zarko disputed
Coleman's characterization of the initiative.
"The basic problem is ... we've never
attempted to deceive anybody and say this
isn't about gender preferences," he said.
The summit was held one day after a Uni-
versity researcher Sue Kaufman, also present
at the event, released research that compared
the effects of MCRI to those of Proposition
209 in California - an act that bans the use
of affirmative action in the state and as a
result has hurt female employment, accord-
ing to Kaufman.
"One thing we found was that after pas-
sage there was a rapid drop in the hiring of
women faculty in the University of Califor-
nia systems, and it's taken them 10 years to
See WOMEN, Page 7A
'U': Graduates should
dispirit union strikes
Other proposals
furthered in negotiations
include changes to salary
increases, health care
By Ekjyot Saini
Daily Staff Reporter
If the Graduate Employees' Organiza-
tion fails to discourage strikes and other
forms of labor agitation by members,
the University may withhold union dues
or take some other measure to penalize
GEO, according to developments in the
most recent bargaining session between
the two parties.
Along with this proposal, the Uni-
versity has set forth a number of other
points for negotiating regarding many
of the concerns held by GEO.
Even with no contract, GEO has
been in negotiations with the University
but did not reach an agreement during
Friday's bargaining session, despite this
new set of proposals put forth by the
University.
GEO members did not respond favor-
ably to the new package that the Univer-
sity offered.
"The administration's chief negotia-
tor prefaced his proposal by asking us
not to 'take it personally,' but it's hard
to imagine how else we would take it,"
said GEO President Dave Dobbie.
Dobbie added that he thought the
University's proposals were unrespon-
sive to GEO's concerns and felt that
it was more of an insult. "It looks like
they've just been wasting our time at the
table if this is their idea of an acceptable
offer," Dobbie said.
The proposals that the University
presented attempted to address some
of GEO's key demands, such as health
care and improved salaries for graduate
employees.
Striking back
Proposals made to GEO
Graduates will not pay a
health care premium
Money given for child care
will increase as the cost of
child care centers increases
If GEO agrees to a four-year
contract, they will be provided
with a minimum of a 2 percent
salury increase over the first
two years and a 2.5 percent
increase over the next two.
"Our team presented a comprehensive
package of items which, if accepted by
GEO, would have helped us to come to
See GEO, Page 3A
Mideast expert hopeful
about regional peace
LSA senior Alicia George and LSA sophomore Julia Ris high-five each other at the LGBT Kiss-In Rally on
Friday. Members of the LGBT community met on the Diag for the last in a series of events which have
included speakers and the screening of a movie that analyzed the impacts of Proposal 2.
LGBT community shares
hugs and isses uring raly
U Pride Week events wrapped up
with Kiss-In rally on the Diag, where
speakers promoted civil equality
By Paul Blumer
Daily Staff Reporter
The Diag was filled with students Friday, proudly sporting
rainbow-colored ribbons and holding signs that proclaimed
"Gay, Straight, Black, White, Same Struggle, Same Fight,"
"Gender Queer and Here to Stay," "Bi the way," "Love 1
Another" and other such messages to support unity.
The crowd gathered in the Diag for the Kiss-In Rally,
the last in a week of events promoting equality for the
LGBT community. Many gay and lesbian couples who
are often afraid to show affection in public gathered to
publicly commit an act that often raises eyebrows and
remove the taboo that exists against such public displays
of affection.
. Participants radiated energy and eagerness as they held
cups of hot chocolate provided by the New Life Church,
while cheering on speakers.
Among those present were members of the LGBT com-
munity, Allies of the LGBT community and interested
listeners.
Several speakers stood up before the crowd and spoke
of publicity, told stories and jokes and some sang songs.
One speaker mentioned that "any visibility is good vis-
ibility, even if it's negative." The general topic was that
the LGBT community is no longer content to sit in the
shadows and that people should make their voices heard.
The rally was organized by students of the LGBT
commission. "The (LGBT) office is so proud of all the
students who organized the event. They do a lot of hard
work," said Jennifer Almquist, Interim Coordinator of
Student Development and Programming for the LGBT
office. Almquist coordinated the students who actually
planned the event, and said that she likes to see students
getting involved with the organization and planning so
that people can see that it is not just the office or faculty
arranging such events.
According to Andy Betka, Co-Chair of the LGBT com-
See KISS-IN, Page 7A
Israel conf features
former ambassador
Ross among other, more
controversial speakers
By Amber Colvin
Daily Staff Reporter
Dennis Ross, former ambassa-
dor and senior Middle East mediator
throughout the first Bush and Clinton
administrations, said yesterday that
everywhere he goes he is asked the
same question: "Are you optimistic
about Middle East peace?"
Ross was the key player for the Unit-
ed States in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis
for 12 years, including the 1995 Interim
Agreement and the Hebron Accord in
1997, in which Ross monitored talks
leading to the redeployment of Israeli
troops from the city of Hebron. He
recently wrote a book on his experienc-
es inside the negotiation efforts, titled
"The Missing Peace: The Inside Story
of the Fight for Middle East Peace."
During his visit to the Michigan
League yesterday as the keynote speak-
er for the fourth annual Israel Academic
Conference, Ross answered that ques-
tion, saying that he is in fact optimistic.
Ross said he believes that there is
currently a potential for peace in the
Middle East, but it is imperative that the
potential is seized in time. At the top of
AMY DRUFF/Daily
Former ambassador and Middle East expert to presidents Bush and
Clinton spoke at the Michigan League yesterday, expressing optimism
about the peace process.
Ross's list of reasons to be optimistic is
the death of Palestinian president Yasser
Arafat.
"Corruption was how he ruled," Ross
said about Arafat. "He never did any-
thing that was constructive."
Ross also acknowledged the current
See ISRAEL, Page 7A
Greeks implement sexual assault training, Junior IFC
1 Changes seek to improve Greek
community as a whole through
selection of freshmen for junior council
Relations Jon Krasnov.
Krasnov said the Junior IFC acts as a mechanism for fur-
ther educating young leaders about the University's Greek
community and about the issues that the IFC says it beleives
are on the forefront, including hazing, the new social policy,
eficial, but it is meant to be a forum for them to discuss the
issues among themselves openly and honestly and decide how
they as the next generation of Greek leaders believe the issue
should be dealt with," Bach said.
Bach said that in addition to biweekly meetings, the JIFC
as well as help JIFC members develop their public speaking
skills.
In addition to developments such as the Junior IFC, the
Greek community is sponsoring an anti-hazing presenta-
tion, "Confronting the Idiot in Your Chapter," featuring
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