Opinion 4 Regents should protect transgender community Arts 9 Batman returns with a "Pow!" SJb he 1Mi 4juu 1aiI Monday,June 20, 2005 Summer Weekly One-hundred-fourteen years ofedftonad freedom -, W W WAIII 111 clilUilll .l tJlll Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXV, No. 130 ©2005 The Michigan Daily 'U' adjusts Coca-Cola contracts Coke must achieve specific goals set by the Dispute Review Board over the next year to maintain its contracts. By Jeremy Davidson Daily News Editor The University's Dispute Review Board has officially rec- ommended that the University suspend its contracts with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, replacing them with shorter conditional contracts while the company has time to respond to the allegations of human rights violations that the board has found credible. The DRB recommended that Coke agree in writing, no later than September 30, to a third-party audit that will review the complaints against the company. An indepen- dent auditor, satisfactory to all parties, must be selected by December 31. The audit must be completed by March 31, 2006, and findings must be received by April 30, 2006. Coke must enact a corrective action plan by May 31, 2006. If any of these demands are not met by Coke, the company faces the serious possibility of having its contract with the Uni- versity cut. The decision did not come as a surprise, but some were still disappointed by the University's seemingly relaxed response. "Unfortunately in our society, the richer and more power- ful the criminal, the less swift our sanctions and justice," said Ray Rogers, director of both Corporate Campaign Incorporated and the Campaign to stop Killer Coke. Last year the University approved a Vendor Code of Con- duct, which says that all vendors that do business with the University must adhere to specific standards. The DRB was created last year in order to investigate complaints brought forth against vendors for violations of the code and to make recommendations to University Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Timothy Slottow. The DRB began research for their formal report after a recommendation following an informal investigation from University Purchasing Services. Since the start of its formal investigation, the DRB has found evidence in support of allegations of pesticides in India and corrupt labor practices in Colombia. The DRB said there is not enough information to make a decision about the other two allegations. Frank Stafford, chair of the DRB, said that while the board considered cutting the contract, ultimately they believed the spirit of the review process for the Code of Conduct is that the vendor should have time to work with the University, in order to provide additional information about its practices to clear its name, or reform its practices in accordance with the University's standards. "The interpretation of the committee was that the code itself was not designed to sanction vendors, (but) to get them to go in a direction that we'd like," Stafford said. "If they don't step-up and participate in corrective actions and pro- viding more information in a big way, it would be cause to terminate the contract." In a letter to the DRB, Slottow wrote that he agreed with the DRB's interpretation of the code. "As originally conceived, one of the most important See COKE, page 3 p p City Council candidate LSA Senior Eugene Kang decided to run at the end of the winter term. One of Kang's platforms involves address- ing concerns with student housing. Kang is running as a Democrat in the 2nd ward, to replace Michael Reid (R) when he steps down. Student launches campaign By Laura Van Hyfte city and its resources. affordable housing at all levels and for all dif- Daily News Editor "We do a lot for the city and residents ferent incomes. don't usually see that," Kang said. "(We Kang said the city's housing problems are A University undergraduate continued his want) to try to show them that we're not due in part to cutting corners in infrastructure campaign for Ann Arbor City Council Sunday, trying to destroy the city. (The students) costs and now the city has to pay the price for discussing his reasons for running and what he are not like little Satans running around it every year. plans to do if elected. Ann Arbor." Kang added that the problem is only going Eugene Kang, a 21-year-old LSA senior Kang said that permanent city residents to get worse with time, unless action is taken. is a Democrat running for the city's 2nd often think college students are only stay- "The only people who can live Ann Arbor Ward seat against former Republican, ing in Ann Arbor for a short time and think are the extremely wealthy. Those in the middle Stephen Rapundalo. their concerns are not significant. who don't make $150,000 per year won't be Kang decided to run at the end of the winter "They don't realize that students inter- able to live here," he said. term, but he had considered running since last ests aren't going to change every four Kang said that current residential areas in fall. The chance to give back to the community years - student faces may, but what they Ann Arbor that people enjoy would not exist if he grew up in compelled Kang to run, he said. want won't," he said. introduced to the city today. Kang said that he recognized that his inexpe- Kang said he has two other major concerns "A lot of the cooler places built down rience may concern some, but he stressed that for the city: the five-year running budget defi- Main Street could not be built now his energy and dedication to the city were more cit and affordable housing. Kang said that the because of city zoning," Kang said. important than his age. budget problems could be fixed potentially Kang said he is also concerned about Kang said that he hopes his campaign either cutting city services or implementing student participation in city politics. will motivate University students to get more an income tax. Alex Donn, one of Kang's campaign involved in Ann Arbor politics. He also said "We have these high taxes, but we have a advisers and a third-year Law School stu- that he wants to show permanent residents that yearly budget deficit," Kang said. dent, said students are not just four-year burdens on the Kang said he wants to find ways to provide See CITY COUNCIL, page 8