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.