Friday, February 24, 2006 News 3 State employees blamed for release of suspected killer Opinion 4 Daily and Michigan Review face off WOLVERINES DROP 15TH STRAIGHT4... SPORTS, PAGE 8 One-hundred-ftfteen years ofedtorinldfreedom Arts 8 . Coldplay rocks out at the Palace ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------- ----------- 1111111M wzvw. mzkigandaily. com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXV, No. 83 V2006 The Michigan Daily GEO seeks more help for foreign GSIs Spanish GSI was stuck in Spain for most of January because of visa struggles, almost lost job By.Molly Bowen Daily Staff Reporter For many international students, visa complications are irritating at best. At worst, they can alter the course of someone's life. During winter break, Marta Cruz-Sojo, graduate student and instructor in the Department of Romance Languages, went home to Spain to visit family. When she went to the U.S. Embassy in Madrid to change her visa status, she was surprised to learn that her name matched an entry in a database of foreigners considered to be a security threat to the United States. The embassy refused to grant her a student visa, and instead, revoked her passport and visa, under which she was able to attend and teach at the University. Cruz-Sojo was not able to return to the University until late Janu- ary, and that was only after jump- ing over numerous bureaucratic hurdles. According to the Graduate Employees' Organization, the Uni- versity told Cruz-Sojo that it would only secure her position as a gradu- ate student instructor until Jan. 23 - a deadline that was later extend- ed to Jan. 27. This jeopardized her primary source of income and abil- ity to pay for her education. Uni- versity policy says the individual is responsible for maintaining valid migration status. In order to offset the consequenc- es of crises like Cruz-Sojo's, GEO is forming a group called the Inter- national Workers' Caucus to offer support and advocacy for interna- tional students. The group held its first meet- ing Tuesday and plans to urge the University to adopt policies that guarantee job security and student status in cases of visa delays. "A request for intervention made by GEO to University President Mary Sue Coleman on Ms. Cruz- Sojo's behalf was answered unsat- isfactorily," GEO said in a written statement. GEO President Megan Biddinger said Coleman's response was "noncommittal" and that it implied that Cruz-Sojo's crisis was an individual responsibility. "It sort of suggested that there were (University) offices that worked together, but no one figured out exactly who gets those offices to work together," Biddinger said. "It was the sort of feeling that there were 20 different people (at the University) to call about this, but no one feeling that it was their spe- cific duty." Cruz-Sojo returned after the Jan. 27 deadline, but the University See VISAS, page 7 JEREMY CHO/Daily English Prof. Eric Rabkin finds out that he is the winner of the Golden Apple Award in an Angell Hall classroom yesterday. The award Is given annually to honor outstanding teachers who "teach every lecture as If It were their last." English prof takes bite of Golden Apple Students shower veteran lecturer with congratulations, balloons By Kelly Fraser Daily Staff Reporter For the second year in a row, one of the University's top English pro- fessors took home the prestigious Golden Apple teaching award. Even after 30 years of teaching at the University and receiving other various awards, Prof. Eric Rabkin was shocked to learn that he was selected to win the 16th annual Golden Apple award, which desig- nates professors who "teach every lecture as if it were their last." Rabkin had tears in his eyes dur- ing his course on science fiction yesterday as he accepted a large bundle of balloons from LSA soph- omore Lauren Schiff, a committee member of Students Honoring Out- standing University Teaching, the group that selects the recipient. On his way back to his office after the lecture, Rabkin took every precaution not to pop the balloons that accompanied the award. He said the balloons would serve as evidence for his wife. "I have to get these balloons home in one piece so I can prove to Betty that it really happened," he said. Rabkin now joins a distinguished list of student-nominated Univer- sity professors selected for their passionate lecture styles, including two fellow English professors - Ralph Williams in 1992 and John See APPLE, page 7 Past recipients 2005: John Rubadeau (Eng- lish Department) 2004: Matt Lassiter (Department of History) 2003: Thomas Gest (Medi- cal School) 2002: Elliot Soloway (Elec- trical Engineering & Computer Science; School of Informa- tion, School of Education) 2001: Burton V. Barnes (School of Natural Resources & Environment) 2000: Kathleen Nolta (Department of Chemistry) 1999: Brenda Gunderson (Statistics Department) 1998: Jim Adams (Depart- ment of Economics) 1997: Eric Mann (Depart- ment of Biology) 1996: Carol Boyd (School of Nursing, Women's Studies) LSA students debut Israel journal. 'U'to sponsor cheap LA prep course New course will save studiers almost $1,200, but will cover less material than more costly courses offered by Kaplan or Princeton Review By Dave Mekelburg Daily Staff Reporter One Kaplan LSAT preparation course: $1,249. One new LSAT familiar- ization course offered by the University: $50. Saving $1,199 studying for the LSAT? Priceless. At least that's what the LSA Student Government hopes. This spring, LSA-SG and the University Career Center are sponsoring a new course as an affordable alternative to LSAT prep services like Kaplan and the Princeton Review. The course, which runs from March 8 to April 12, will briefly acquaint stu- dents with the format and content of the exam. While this course will not be as extensive as LSAT courses offered by test- prep agencies, the new course will try to "take the fear out of this big beast," See LSAT, page 7 Editors hope to foster discussion; some Palestinian students say they won't write for it By C.C. Song Daily Staff Reporter campus about Israel. His dream came true last week when the Michigan Israel Observer, a journal founded last semes- ter, published its maiden issue. Adelsky said the journal, which has drawn fire from some Palestinian stu- dents, aims to provide a public forum for discussion on the Jewish state. "There is always an avoidance of the discussion of Israel," Adelsky said. She said the lack of dialogue has pre- viously prevented students from devel- oping meaningful discourse about the Jewish state. He said the journal aims to fix this problem by publishing longer and more in-depth articles on issues such as Israeli politics, culture, music and art. "The journal emphasizes research and substance, rather than rhetoric. Long articles give people the opportu- nities for deeper analysis," he said. Although the journal's focus is Isra- el, Adelsley said he does not does not want the campus to think the journal will focus solely on the Arab-Israeli conflict. "'Multi-dimensional' is a good way to characterize the journal; it involves issues more than the conflict. We have articles about the history, the culture, women's issues," Adelsky said. The first issue, published last Thurs- day, included an article about LGBT issues in Israel by Stephanie Persin, an LSA senior. Persin said that although it does not directly relate to the political conflict, See JOURNAL, page 7 Since his freshman year, LSA senior Sol Adelsky has wanted to start a jour- nal to evoke intellectual discussions on Rap song ignites controversy Athletic department investigating song allegedly recorded by football players By Scott Bell Daily Sports Editor THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER iI The athletic department is investigating a derogatory rap song about a female University stu- depnt ,ai11ivjd11 recrdedj-pq by three Michiean foot- :---------t '