Monday, March 14, 2005 ~ 9, ~ 1 ja~. ~ ax v" Weather Opinion 4A Suhael Momin: the lost meritocracy Arts 8A Metal takes over the Motor City with three shows £ it aia,:3rlii 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 I