__. Summer ce ly One iidred nin e years of editorifreedom www.michigandaily.com 'U' to divest tobacco stock Monday, June r19, 200( By Laura Deneau Daily Staff Reporter The University Board of Regents decided to divest the University's holdings of tobacco stocks on Friday. Recently, an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, established by University President Lee Bollinger last September, recom- mended that the Regents sell all of the University's stock in tobacco companies. Other advocates for the sale of the tobacco stock spoke at the Regents' meeting on.Thursday. The debate to divest from tobacco companies has been going on for three years due to hesitancy to get into what Bollinger called "a situation where you are debating constantly what are good companies, what are bad companies, what are good things, what are bad things" Robert Kasdin, University executive vice president and chief financial advisor, said the decision will not have "any meaning- fisl impact on the financial health of the University." Bollinger said "the effect on the portfolio would be infinites- imal, minimal to say the least." The ethical and moral obligations of the University took precedence over financial issues n arguments made during the public comments session, illustrating how the holding of tobacco stocks is antithetical to the core missions of the University. The argument that divesting in tobacco stocks sets a strong example of non-support throughout the community toward companies with harmful products was clear. "It is one of the University's jobs to decide when an issue is morally and ethically against a community's interest." Eugene Feingold, professor at the School of Public Health and past president of the American Health Association said. "When a major institution like U of M publicly announces it will not invest in an industry it is attacking the legitimacy of that industry...the University helps to educate the public," he added. A strong emphasis at the meeting was also placed on the need to present a concurrent stand concerning the University's values. "If a university urges students to serve the public interest it surely needs to do so as an institution," said alum Douglas Kelly, a former employee at the University's Flint campus. Similarly, alum Audrey Jackson pointed out that much of the University's reputation relies upon its health center and See TOBACCO, Page 3 Possession conviction to result in By Sava Gunitskiy Daily Staff Reporter Protesters from the AFSCME march around Regents' Plaza near the Fleming Building on Thursday. They oppose the University Hospital's hiring of Aramarck. Hospital cafeteria staff protests new company By Sara Fedewa 9305yhittf Reporer Mctmhers and supporters of the \tcrtcan Federation of State. Cout sod Municipal Emploees unio sathered hind the Fletsspg Adt ini_ trition Building I h ir T' , afternoos to shosw their outrage at lie Unis ersity IHospital's decison to contract Aramark, a food ser ice omnpanx to take oser certain por- tions of the hospital's cafeteria work. The contract with Aramark will result in a job loss or shift for 39 hospital cafeteria employees and is pending the approval of the University Board of Regents. Associate Administrator for Operations at the hospital, Tom Peterson said that the decision to contract work out to Aramark ssas made in an effort to tighten the fidget at the hospital, Peterson said the hospital has a commitment to patient care and research and that this decision,to outsource will provide more funds for areas specific to the hospital's main goals. Following the informational picket, members of the union attended the Regent's meeting to attempt to persuade them to reject the toss contract with Aramark. The sion's major grievances are tht thte Hspit tis breaking a contract with its employees and that Aramark has a history of food poisoning asso- ciated with their food service. Peterson said that he has no knowledge of any incidents of food poisoning associated s ith Aramark. Warren Jenkins, bargaining chair for the local AFSCME, said that the hospital's own cafeteria and catering sers ices have never had one incident of food poisoning and that Aramark is pitting patients and employees in danger. to the union, an issue of even greater importance is that union employees may be losing their jobs. "We're not looking for our staff to be adsersely affected" Peterson said. Peterson said that there are other positions s ithin the hospital for, See UNION, Page 3 interim Athletic Director Bll Martin speaks to the University's Board of Regents at their meeting on Thursday about ways to increase Athletic Department funds. t rt f t0% raise a e C iu UllS By Arun Gopal Dily Sports Editor With the University's athletic depart- ment saddled svith a S3 million budget deficit, Interim Athletic Director Bill Martin has been busy searching for ways to get the department back in the black. Martin made a ntmber of proposals to the Uiversity's Board of Regents Friday to cut costs and augment res- enues. The list of ideas included an increase in football ticket prices, budget cuts for virtually all of Michigan's var- sity sports - except football and the two golf teams - and preferential seat- ing programs. Martin also suggested the Unisersity could cover the playing field at Michigan Stadium and rent the tenue for summer concerts. Martin has entered into a less-than- See MARTIN, Page 2 Double play Quarterback Drew H time between footbal SPORTS. Pape 1' A new law coming into effect on July I will require the federal government to delay or deny all financial assistance to students with any sort of drug conviction. A measure that could possibly affect thousands of students, the law has been around for two years in a different form. Whereas students were previous- ly allowed to leave blank question 28 of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form - which deals with prior drug convictions - a new amendment will make it mandatory to answer. Leaving the question blank, as many have done before, will now result in heavy fines and possible imprisonment. "There were a significant number of applications left blank on the FAFSA form," said Lisa Cain of the U.S. See DRUGS, Page 7 enson splits his 1 and baseball. 3 I Over the Hill Who's the man? University Board of Regents approved a $30 mil- A bad motha ... or just plain bad? renovation to the ailing Htll Auditorium. Daily Arts reviews 'Shaft.' N . S,Page 3 ART, Page 10