Prof. Mazrui offered chair
The Michigan Daily-Friday, May 5,1989--Page 3
position
BY DIMA ZALATIMO
Africanist and University Politi-
cal Science Professor Ali Mazrui
said yesterday he has not yet decided
to accept the $500,000 job offer
from the State University of New
York (SUNY)-Binghamton.
The job offer included an increase
in salary and a substantial amount of
funding for research projects. Kenyan
born Mazrui was also offered the
position as the Albert Schweitzer
Chair in the Humanities.
Although the Board of Regents at
SUNY-Binghamton appointed
Mazrui to fill the Chair, he said he
has not yet accepted the appoint-
ment.
"The wording of the appointment
makes it sound like I have accepted
the position. The fact is that I have
not and a contract has not been
signed," said Mazrui.
in New Y
Mazrui said he received a phone
call at his home on Tuesday from
New York Governor Mario Cuomo
who gave him an overview of New
York State's plans to "enrich and
democratize education at all levels."
The Schweitzer Chair is a
statewide position established in
1964 to attract distinguished scholars
to New York State's higher educa-
tion system.
SUNY-Binghamton recently in-
creased the original offer from
$250,000 to over $500,000 by
preparing to fund the appointment of
three additional professors to work
with the Chair. Mazrui said the
Chair would become the nucleus of a
scholarly program of studies relevant
to the Third World.
SUNY-Binghamton showed its
increased interest in Mazrui last
week by sending a delegation to Ann
ork
Arbor to discuss the offer. Mazrui
said the delegation included SUNY-
Binghamton's president and vice
president.
Mazrui said Binghamton has
agreed to encourage his work as an
Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large
at Cornell University. He said he
accepted the six year appointment at
Cornell in 1986 which entails non-
residential scholarly work.
Mazrui, author of 22 books and
the internationally acclaimed televi-
sion series "The Africans: A Triple
Heritage", said a "crisis of confi-
dence" with the University caused
him to consider the offer from New
York. "I had a feeling there was not
enough commitment to people in
my area of study here," he said.
After discussions with University
President James Duderstadt last
week, Mazrui said Duderstadt had
SUZI SILBAR/Daily
Prof. Ali Mazrui has to choose between jobs.
extended plans for international faculty and students who also believe
studies at the University due to the in globalization."
"internal globalization" of American Mazrui, who has lived in Ann
society. Mazrui said although he felt Arbor for 15 years, said he was sen-
Duderstadt was concerned about timentally attached to the Univer-
globalizing the University, it would sity. He is expected to make his de-
take "a lot more converts among cision on Monday.
BY VERA SO
Graduatio
failures, and
sunny day of
But last S
which may h
graduating s
the formal g
the estimates
in cloud-cov
Popping
dents turned
tion. Other
ceremony s
gathering.
"I look a
family ...;
speech, buti
not meant f
Zazik. "I th
stadium; it1
more organi2
Dudersta
Pres. speaks to grads
jeers and cheers, said University tradition dictates
ONGWE that a new president deliver the address after serv-
n day had arrived. Years of stggle, ing one school year.
triumphs were supposed to end in a "Actually I would have preferred someone
celebration, else. Even more than you," said Duderstadt.
aturday wasn't exactly sun-blessed, "Perhaps a Nobel Laurate, or the President of the
iave attributed to the low turnout by United States, or even a famous personality such
eniors. About 30,000 people attended as Bill Cosby or Kermit the Frog. But, alas, tra-
graduation but only about 3,000 of dition wins out."
d 6,000 graduates attended the event "If my experience is any guide, your future
ered, chilly Michigan Stadium. will be a time of greater change and transforma-
champagne and singing, many stu- tion than any experienced before in our nation's
the ceremony into a fesitive celebra- history," Duderstadt said.
students believed a commencement Although Duderstadt's 25-minute speech was
hould be different from a big fun considerably shorter than last year's speaker,
Columbia University Prof. Marshall Shulman,
graduation as a time to thank my the students repeated last year's trick of clapping
and listen to the commencement before the speech has ended - which forced
it was like a big party. Graduation is Duderstadt to drop several pages of his prepared
or that," said LSA graduate Wendy talk.
link it is ridiculous to have it in a "That's okay, I had had enough of that multi-
would be better if it was a smaller, culturalism in the 21st century business any-
zed xrouo." way," said one graduating senior.
dr vhn a aPtd bhV mixtre of
J, wnO was gfCCLU uy a xIIAUM VI
City council to vote on open
alcohol possession ordinance
BY REBEKKA S. GERHART
The Ann Arbor City Council gave unani-
mous first approval Monday to a vote on a la.
which would ban possession of open contain-
ers of alcohol in public areas.
Councilmembers agreed the law grew out
of an attempt to prevent further alcohol-related
events such as the post-National Collegiate
Athletic Association championship riot on
South University.
"I enjoy a good party myself, but in light of
the South University problem we had, it might
be a good tool for the police to use in heading
off such events," said councilmember Tom
Richardson (R-5th Ward).
Under the current law, drinkers of legal age
can freely carry open containers of alcohol in
public areas but can be cited by police only if
caught drinking. The new law, proposed by
councilmember Jerry Schleicher (R-4th Ward)
could cost offenders up to $100 and a possible
30 days in jail.
But councilmember Larry Hunter (D-1st
Ward) said that the law would encourage
"selective enforcement" by the police and that
certain groups of the population would be sin-
gled out for punishment.
"The law is going to be a very difficult
thing for us," said Hunter, expressing concern
that arbitrary arrests may be more likely to oc-
cur under this law.
Councilmember Liz Brater (D-3rd Ward)
agreed with Hunter, "We need to be really
careful of what kinds of civil liberties issues
we are raising."
When asked whether the current proposal
was the direct result of events on South Uni-
versity, both Hunter and Richardson agreed that
the riot played a major role. However, accord-
See Council, Page 13
Finally!
Four University graduates celebrate the occasion.