1991-04-19; Central Michigan Life

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Evening under the stars
Outdoor concerts set stage for summer fun
Page 8
Central
Michigan
mmmm
Face off
Football team ends spring with intersquad game
Page 10
FRIDAY
April 19, 1991
[VOLUME 73, NUMBER 80 |§||
1991 CM LIFE
VM^^&M MOUNT PLEASANT/MICHIGAN 48859
(51?) 774-3493
14MGES
ROTC exempt,
but policy stil
protects gays
by CORRIE PERNiK
I it F   Cops   KMoi
Pile University Affirmative Action officer says
the outcome of Tuesday's Academic Senate vote to
keep ROTC on campus will make her joh more
difficult.
"It brings inconsistency to our moral standing
and policies." said Angela Haddad. Affirmative
Action officer.
She disagrees, however, with those who say the
senates decision renders ('Mi's
non-discrimination policy meaningless.
"It's not open season on gay and leshian
students." she said.
Although she was "very disappointed" with the
vote, she said the University policy against
discrimination and harassment based on sexual
orientation still exists.
She cannot enforce the policy against discrimination in the military science department, though,
she said.
"In a technical sense they gutted (the
non-discrimination policy', but it is still in place."
said Cindy Clauser. a member of the ad hoc
military science committee that issued the report
with the ROTC recommendation.
See REACT Paqe 2
Mayfest '91 in
licensing jam
by DAN HOWELLS
i 33   Si ,ff  Vvi.tet
Despite a bevy of zoning and political problems.
Mayfest organizers expect the event to go on as
planned.
The Morton Township Hoard is scheduled to
meet 7 p.m. today to rule on issuing a license for
the Mayfest event, said David Laverd iore. Morton
Township supervisor.
Morton Township Zoning Hoard of Appeals met
Wednesday to discuss Winslow Fields' C-l   zoning
—• ihe most  restrictive kind of zoning intended for
businesses only. Laverdiere said.
Thi* zoning is for "certain uses — and concerts
are not  one of them."    Laverdiere said.
"Thi* appeals board's decision does not effect
Mayfest. and it will go on as planned," said Peter
Kehoe.  Mayfest  committee member.
The Morton Township Hoard has not yet issued
tbe Mayfest committee a license for the day-long
event planned for April 27. Instead, the board gave
thi* committe seven conditions to meet before
issuing a license. Kehoe said.
Six of the seven conditions have been met. and
the seventh will be met on Monday. At that time.
Mayfest board members will go to the township
and  request  thi* license,  he said.
"We have to wait and see what the board's
reaction is before wo decide what to do next."
Kehoe said.
Legal action is a possibility if the license is
denied, although Kehoe said it  is unlikely.
"It appears lit igat ion is on our side, so there is a
very slim possibility" legal action will be- needed,
he said.
Laverdiere disagrees with the assessment that
Mayfest   is free and clear.
"The appeal board's ruling is mandatory (that
I be zoning be upheld >. so I don't see how the board
can'  approve a  license, said.
See MAYFEST Paye 13
Precarious perch
'Offensive' words
must go, RA says
by CRYSTAL HARMON
I It r   St.iff Wi:'.-r
Satan says: Cenobitic
M il liferous Uremia.
Two women in Troutman Hall
had to remove that message and
a drawing of a man with horns
from their door last week. They
say the order to remove it
violates their freedom of
expression.
"What doi's it mean? Nothing!"
said Kristen Anthony. Walled
Lake freshman.
Shortly after hanging the
drawing up on thi* door of her
fifth floor suite, she said she was
approached    by    Resident    Assis-
Voters say
CMU should
hold on to
nickname
by STEVEN PONIATOWSKI
!   ■ ■    ' • ,•• Wi :••!
The st uilents have spoken, and
according to Student Uovern-
meiit Association ballot survev
■ -suits, they want to keep the
(   bippi'wa nickname.
Students provided input about
the mascot issue during SUA
j    elections Tuesday and
Wednesday.
"A majority said thev wanted
t o keep the Chi ppewa
nickname," said SUA Elections
Director Arab Morton.
.Although fliers distributed at
ballot tables stated the
"Chippewa name or any other
Indian name was not a viable
choice,"    the    majoritv   of   votei-.
tant Tina Weatherwax, who
asked her to remove the
drawing.
"She said it was offensive,"
Ant bony sa id.
Anthony and her roommate.
Troy freshman Christina Burns,
were inspired to write the
message when Burns was
writing a paper on the influence
of the devil in the Middle Ages.
Anthony said she and
neighbor Dan Axford.
W
ood haven
reshman.     were
looking through the books Burns
was using for the paper and
started doodling. They ended up
See SATAN Page 14
MISSY McNEIL
BARRY KLUCZYK
DAVID ROSE
TRACIE NICHOLS
CHARLES WILLIAMS
MARIE HAGGIT
JOLIE SHAY*
BOZEERIP*
RAY DeBRULER*
District /:
KIM DAY
CHRIS BAILEY
JOHN McGRAlL
District 2       STACY GRUTZA
Si
SGA Pay*
v Election results as of
9p.m. Thursday. "4$
h**denotes wrUe-in
cahdidates^M
Property tax dispute
sparks tribal lawsuit
Joe Stevens,  a   mason  from  Ithaca,  carefully climbs a   ladder
balanced  against the wali  of the  new Dow Science Building Monday
afternoon.
Officials make request for more state money
by JILLIAN BOGATER
tilt-   Stall   Wr.Ii T
Central officials asked state
representatives in Lansing
Wednesday for an 8 to 9 percent
funding increase for 1991  - '92.
Un i versity represent at i ves
presented budget requests to the
the state House of Representatives Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired
by Rep. Morris Hood Jr.,
D-Detroit.
Phi* requested increase would
help maintain current programs,
provide increased support of the
library and go toward opening
costs for Science II.
"This will be a serious problem
if not addressed." President
Edward Ti. Jakubauskas said of
opening costs for the Dow
Science Complex. "We anticipate
costs of $2.(i million to bring this
badly  needed  facility on-line."
Rep. Thomas O. Mathieu.
D-Urand Rapids, said he is
surprised Central has not
received financial support for the
Other schools also appeal for funds
by JILLIAN BOGATER
LIFE Staff Writer :
CMU   was   not   the   only   school   asking  for
money in Lansing Wednesday. "
^University   presidents   and   administrators
from around the state met with the Michigan
House   of Representatives * Higher i Education W** *& Grand Valley has increased enrollment by 84 JE
Appropriations ' Subcommittee   to | talk \-about W.jA^^^A^sks^.^^^^^as^sm'-^     -        r-- -• -    -.-,«- ^
state ftmding. wmmmak%dmm*h
by JEFFREY JOHNSTON
1 if h   rvtmao an h'ii'.nr
A question of tax status has touched off a lawsuit against Union
Township.  Isabella County and the state of Michigan.
The suit, filed April S in U.S. District Court, states land owned by
the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe since- 19!S7 in Union Township is
exempt  from  property tax assessment.
Tbe tribe paid taxes on the property in 19.S7. according to the suit
and township records, but has withheld payment, for the past three
years.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which filed suit on behalf of the
tribe, states in the suit the land in question was allotted to a tribal
member as part of the original Isabella Indian Reservation, and is
therefore exempt from taxation.
The suit asserts the state, county and township "have no
jurisdiction to tax the real or personal property of a federally
recognized Indian tribe."
Union Township Assessor Duane Sherwood said reservation land
held in trust by the federal government is not taxable, but. land held in
fee — meaning land titled to the tribe, not the government — can be
taxed.
"We're just going by the tax law," he said.
Thi» tribe holds title to the land in question. Sherwood said.
Tribal Attorney Derril Jordan said the land was originally allotted
building opening from Uo\. John     to a tribal member and retains its exempt status.
Lngler. "The   reservation   wa.s  established   by   treaty."  he  said.   "It   retains
"f'"i    a    little    chagrined    that     reservation status regardless of who owns the land."
Sherwood, on the other hand, said ownership makes a difference.
Tbe township is abiding by Michigan law when it assesses taxes on
the    property,    he    said,    citing   section    1.    article    S)   of   Michigan's
const it ut ion. Hi* said the const it ut ion grants the state the right to tax
all  lands not specillcally exempted.
"This land is not specifically exempted." he said.
The treaty that created the reservation — and hence its tax-exempt
status — "specifically states 'all unsold lands.' " he said. The land in
question does not fit thi* bill, he said.
"It's been sold  19 times since then," Sherwood said.
The tribe has cited out-of-state cases as precedents for its position,
hi* said, adding "T have to follow Michigan law."
Thi* case has been filed in federal court, though, making the
outcome less clear to Sherwood.
See MONEY Paae 2
Although most officials said they know of the
state's budget crisis, they also said tuition will
have to increase in order tc institutional needs.*
Grand  Valley  State  University  pleaded its"
case, asking for a 6 to 7 percent state funding
%• increase.        . -   ^l^\-<. -,5& #.~>J&&&&.
-3        w« _   „,.
- See FUNDING Page 2 f*
See SUIT Page 6
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