The Michigan Daily-Friday, June 2,1989-Page 3
~UACLU'
Nurses ,A L : U
enlist policy iits
mediator
free speech
in talks
BY PATRICK STAIGER
Y WENDY WORTHEN
WN DYotiatin W teN 'o te The University's anti-discrimination policy violates a person's constit-
Negotiating teams from the + tional right to free speech, the American Civil Liberties Union said last
and the nurses' union will meet with Thursday in a lawsuit filed against the University.
state-appointed administrator ta The suit was filed on behalf of a University graduate student conducting
snaatate to a stto a research in biological psychology. The student wished to remain anony-
contract' The student who filed the suit, according to the ACLU brief, has studied
The 1,700 member nurses' union the bio-psychological differences between races and men and women, and
contract expired on Tuesday as union "has reason to believe and in fact does believe that if he expressed such ideas
representatives and administrators ti in his psychology classes, he would or could be charged with a violation of
continued negotiations, though a the (anti-discrimination) Policy."
ek-to-week contract has been According to a statement released by the Washtenaw County Branch of
stablished pending the assignment the ACLU, the University Board of Regents and administration intentionally
of a state-appointed mediator. The created a policy which is "substantially overbroad and vague" and creates a
weekly contract states that each side "chilling effect" on free speech at the University.
has the right to cancel the agreement "The policy needs to be rewritten for sanctions against acts of harass-
within seven days notice. ment, not offensive remarks," said ACLU Michigan Director, Howard
In April, the nurses' union voted Simon last Friday.
to authorize a strike, if necessary, to - But United Coalition Against Racism member Tracye Matthews said an
achieve a satisfactory agreement. SUZI SILSAr/Day anti-discrimination policy, which includes speech, is needed at the
Toni Shears of the University Members of the nurses union picketed the University hospital on University.
Hospitals public relations depart- Tuesday morning to display support for the nurses' bargaining "The idea that this is a free speech issue is off the mark. The issue is
*ent said yesterday that "both sides committee. whether the University is going to create an atmosphere free of racial ha-
are hoping to avoid that." rassment," Matthews said.
This is not the first time nego- effect. In 1981, the nurses went on nurses' union, said that the picket The University policy, enacted last spring, prohibits "verbal behavior
tiations at contract-expiration time strike for 23 days. line was meant to display support that stigmatizes an individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex,
have been at a stalemate. In 1987, it for the nurses' bargaining commit- sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age marital status, handicap or
took the nurses' union and adminis- Currently no strike has been tee. Vietnam veteran status" which "creates an intimidating, hostile or demean-
trators nine months of negotiations called, though about 20 nurses pick- Both sides refused to comment on ing environment for educational pursuits."
and the help of a state-appointed me- eted the hospital Tuesday morning. issues that will be debated during It is the only University policy which includes sexual orientation as a
diator to settle the contract now in Margo Barron, president of the negotiations. category of discrimination. The University's equal employment policy does
not.
*WXilson to leave '1i for 'The idea that this is a free speech issue is off the
mark. The issue is whether the University is going to
p ocreate an atmosphere free of racial harassment,'
pres*d e nCy of Radfe. - Tracye Matthews, UCAR member
The regents approved the policy during a time of increasing racist, sexist,
BY CHERYL WISTROM and homophobic incidents and anti-racist student activism at the University.
UCAR and the Black Students Union agreed at the time that the University
Linda Wilson, vice president for President Wilson has been a very Wilson has published numerous needed a racial harassment policy, but criticized the policy for not including
jsearch at the University, was visible figure in national education." research articles in science policy, a clear definition of racism, giving too much power to administrators in the
fmed president of Radcliffe College Wilson, who has been at the higher education, and in her spe- procedure and appeals process, and applying only to students and not to fac-
Wednesday. University since 1985, will assume cialty, inorganic chemistry. She has ulty, staff, or administrators.
Wilson will replace Matina the position as the seventh president held posts at the national level in a Other student activists at the time reacted differently to the policy. They
Horner, who has served as president of Radcliffe University on July1. number of major scientific organiza- referred to it as a mini-code and saw it as a ploy by then University
of Radcliffe for the past seventeen When asked about a replacement tions, including the American President, Robbin Fleming, to implement the first stages of a code of non-
years. for Wilson, Vest said " it's too early Association for the Advancement of academic conduct for students.
"We're very happy for her but to really discuss that. We will Science, the National Science "A racial harassment policy does and should not infringe upon the rights
we'll certainly feel her loss," said appoint an interim or acting vice Foundation, and the National of political expression, which we all ostensibly have," said a UCAR state-
Dr. Cinda-Sue Davis, director of the president when she goes." Institutes of Health. ment after the policy was approved by the regents.
Women in Science Program at the Duderstadt said he hoped that a While she served as research di- "But no student, faculty, staff, or administrator has the 'right' to insult,
niversity. "Linda has been very temporary replacement would be rector at the University, the money intimidate, harass, exclude or threaten other members of the community."
Upportive of gender issues and she named within a week. brought in from research grants rose -Najib Hourani contributed to this report.
participated in many of our pro- Radcliffe has become known from $159.3 to $234.6 million dol-
grams. I have to admit I feel that she primarily as a research center which lars per year.
is a real advocate for women in emphasizes women's issues.
science that we never had before." In a New York Times interview UM News in O ATTENTION:
Wilson's departure from the (6/1/89) Wilson said that she's "not The Daili M -Care HM O
University was not entirely unex- typecast as a women's advocate,"
pected by members of the adminis- though after receiving the Radcliffe 764-0552 pa icipants.
tration here. Shirley Clarkson, assis- appointment she said she "will
tant to President Duderstadt, said that champion and support the University Lutheran Chapel We ore your
president "understood that there development of women, not only 1511 Washtenaw Ave. yneghborhood phonocy!
ere interviews going on." our undergraduates, but also women Ed Krauss, Pastor 663-5560 .0
University Provost and Vice in the larger scholarly community, summer Schedule: ," . Sn i 35
President for academic affairs Charles our alumnae and friends in the larger Sunday Worship at 9:00 am "*,, Dotly 9-6, closed $undoy
Vest said, "I think that Vice society." Wednesday Supper at 6:00 pm