One hundredfve years
ofeditoNafreedom
Wednesday
June 12, 1996
Student pleads guilty to
felony arson for Bursicy fire
* MacDonald could face four
years in prison and $2,000 in
fines for setting March fires
By Sam T Dudek
Daily Staff Reporter
A University student pleaded guilty June 4 to a
*harge of arson in connection with an April fire at
Bursley Hall.
John MacDonald, who will be an LSA sopho-
more in the fall, pleaded guilty to a charge of arson
of property valued at more than $50. Prosecutors
agreed to drop three major felony charges for the
reduced plea.
The maximum sentence for the remaining
charge is four years in prison and a $2,000 fine.
Had he been convicted on all charges, MacDonald
0ould have faced up to 20 years in prison for each
aunt against him.
MacDonald is scheduled to appear for sentenc-
ing July 25 in Ann Arbor district court.
MacDonald was arrested April 11 for setting a
string of fires that forced the evacuation of Burslev
Hall on March 31.
University Judicial Code Adviser Mary Lou
Antieau said being charged with a felony is not
necessarily grounds for disciplinary action by the
University.
Anticau said a University member must file
a complaint before her office determies
whether a Code of Student Conduct hearing is
necessary.
"We don't just read the paper, see a felony
charge and assess a punishment." she said. "An
arbitrator determines whether a student has
violated community standards as stated in the
Code."
Antieau refused to comment about MacDonald
or whether he will be brought up under the Code.
University Fire Marshal Robert Patrick told The
Michigan Daily in April that the University views
arson as a serious offense.
"The University takes arson very seriously
because the risk for injury or even death is so high,
especially in a residence hall where people sleep,"
he said.
"We absolutely cannot tolerate this type of
behavior on campus," Patrick said.
MacDonald and his attorney could not be
reached for comment yesterday.
The residence hall fires caused about $3,500 in
damage and forced a two-hour, late-night evacua-
tion of the building. A housing security officer was
also injured during the evacuation.
Ani Arbor Fire Department officials said
wastebaskets and bulletin boards were the com-
mon targets of the arsonist.
*Women announce candidacy for
seats on 'U' Board of Regents
By Jennifer Harvey
Managing News Editor
As Democrats and Republicans begin to pound
the national campaign trail in earnest, other politi-
ians are looking to be elected closer to Ann
Wrbor. Two women have already announced their
candidacy for the two open seats on the University
Board of Regents.
Olivia Maynard, of Flint, is running for a
regent's seat as a Democrat.
"I feel at this time in my life
I have the ability to give what
I feel the office deserves,"
she said.
Maynard, 59, received a
B.A. in political science from
George Washington
Winiversity in 1959 and a mas-
ters degree in Social Work
from the University of'
Michigan in 1971. She
recently served as an adjunct Maynard
professor for two years in the
School of Social Work and as co-chair of the devel-
opment committee for the School of Social Work.
"I have an appreciation of what higher educa-
tiotn is supposed to be about' Maynard said.
Maynard formerly served as the chairperson of
the Michigan Democratic Party and in the State
Office on Aging. She was the first woman to run
for lieutenant governor of Michigan in 1978. She
ran for the office again in 1990. She was unsuc-
cessful in both attempts.
Currently, Maynard serves as the director of a
nonprofit group she helped start, Michigan
Prospect. The organization examines issues of
public policy.
Maynard said she has several goals in mind,
pending her election. "I want to continue to widen
the accessibility to students from all parts of the
state, continue to strengthen the University's eco-
nomic development, and build ties between the
University and the community that builds eco-
nomic strength for the state."
Maynard is the mother of three children and two
stepchildren. Maynard said she was not involved
in student groups during her years at the
University because she was too busy raising her
family. "I had to time to come to campus, study,
get to the library, get to work and get home. That
was it,' she said.
See CANDIDATES, Page 2
Walking for charity
Tracey Rossbach, Chris Gentner and Bob Johnson (left to right) gather with accompanying whippet dogs
before the fourth annual Ann Arbor Aid for Aids Walkathon on Saturday.
MSA passes resolutions to condenm
'hate crimes' at Markley, support GEO
Duane Adams
tire the IDaily
The Michigan Student Assembly met yesterday
and discussed, among other things, a resolution to
increase awareness about hate crimes at the
University.
The resolution came in response to recent 'hate
crimes' at Mary Markley residence hall. Cory
Fryling, a self-proclaimed gay activist and a
Markley resident, said that for the past few weeks
he has been harassed because his stance on gay
rights.
According to Fryling, a trash can filled with
water was placed on top of his door. He also said
there were two attempts at forced entry to his dorm
room, constant pounding on his door, a theft of his
door peephole, and a derogatory sign posted on his
door. The sign expressed discontent with, "homo-
sexuals pushing their views in the face of normal
people." See MSA, Page 2
%N THIS WEEK'S
Dailg
3NSIDE NEWS 9 RTS
GEO, University clash over 'The Phantom' makes big-
contract terms. screen debut.
10 SPORTS
Dolan, Griffin named
Athletes of the Year.