1990-11-14; Central Michigan Life

              WEATHER
NEWS
WPREZ
jakubauskas hits the airwaves on Crosstalk
See Page 3
SPORTS
BIG BOWL BUCKS
Football team's California trip costly
See Page 10
UPPER
40
UPPER
30
HIGH
S   TODAY
-.   LOW
S   TONIGHT
Central
Michigan
WEDNESDAY
November 14, 1990
17 suspended from band
after Indian masquerade
Face paint, war dance has officials upset
by JILLIAN BOGATER
i'- *••   St,iff  VA '---r
Seventeen CML* students were
suspended from the marching
band for wearing American
Indian war paint, head dresses
and participating in a "war
dance" at Saturday's football
game.
The students were involved to
varying degrees — some wore
paint and feathers, others
danced in Ohio University's vnd
zone, and some did both.
Kdward Kvet. music department chair, said he suspended
the 17 band members from
further activities, including the
possible trip to the Raisin Howl
in Fresno. Calif. The group has
not \et decided if it can finan-
cialh   afford to attend.
"Tins is something that
happens all the time, and it just
can't be tolerated." he said.
"Fvervone understands the
i na pprnpriat eness      of      their
Mediator called
after AFSCME
bargaining
hits impasse
by KAREN EMERSON
L;i i-   "-^ciA ^.:>,e..:^ ■-'Mo:
Negotiations between CMU
and liu- University's second
largest union are on hold
pending arrival of a mediator
request ed Friday.
Mciiihcis of tin- negotiating
team lor the local chapter ol the
American Fede: :•.! ion of Slate.
County and M u n ic i pa !
Employees requested a mediator
after negotiation^ failed to yield
a contract. AFSCMK President
-J i m   i )raper said
The previous three-year
contract expired ( >ci . ■'.) and will
continue on a *day-to-da\ basis.
subject to a five-day written
notice of termination seived hv
either party," said Draper,
building maintenance worker in
the Northwest Residence flail
Com pi ex.
lhe union includes about .''all
maintenance and dining services
employees and has existed on
campus since the early   19b(.!s
Draper declined to comment
on what issues the administrative and AFSCMK bar gaming
team members could not agree
upon.
The last time the two teams
negotiated was Friday, said
Dave Hershey. administrative
bargaining team chair.
"'Die union requested mediation." said Hershey. assistant
director of   Employee Relations.
Mediation is one route
negotiating parties can take if
they reach an impasse during
contract talks, he said. He added
he does not consider it a
"negative" step, hut a way to t ry
to resolve differences.
AFSCMFs team requested the
mediator, who will come from
Lansing, and state offices w enclosed Monday in observance of
Veteran's Day. Hershey said. It
may be a few days before the
mediator arrives.
"I reallv don't know when
thev'll arrive." he added
actions ami everyone regrets it.
-Jack Saunders. Marching
Chips director, said he is not
sure if the band will go to
('alitor nia and v. iil not know
until the students involved meet
today with -James Hill, vice
president   for Student   Affair's
Hill sa id t he incident will not
affect tin- Matching Chips'.-*
chances of traveling to the
Raisin  Howl.
At hand members" request.
Hill said he is meeting with the
1 7 si udents at s a m. today in the
music department office.
The students" actions were
investigated after Hill witnessed
them at the game in Athens.
Ohio. Although Hili would riot
identify individual students, he-
did  sa\   they ate band  members.
During the game, lllll was
sitting across lhe field from the
students when he heard their
chant s.
He     did     not     a pp roach     the
students during the game
because of where he was sitting,
he said, adding he did not feel it
was the appropriate time to
approach them.
After CMU won the football
game, some band member's
participated in what Hill called
an American Indian war dance
in t lie end /.one.
""At the end ofthe game. I was
as close as 10 feet from the
students as they went through
with what appeared to me as a
war ritual." Hill said. "It left the
impression their actions were
more related to the old custom of
war dances"
Hill said he did not approach
the students at this time because
he did not want to interrupt the
celebration ofthe band, the fans
and t he team.
Marching band members
contacted     Hill    and    said    they
See BAND -'aue 1 7
American Indian Student Organization Comment
1 was shocked
It's obvious
to see those
that there is a
students on the
problem on
front page. It
campus.
was a slap in the
especially in
face for ali Native
sports, band and
Americans.
cheerleading.
Julie Allen
Yvonne Moore
Incident follows nearly 2 years
of trying to end negative images
by STEVEN PONIATOWSKI
L ir-F s- --' V.-yy-r
CMU marching hand member's' actions at Central's football game
Saturday against Ohio University brought strong reactions from some
people at CMU.
Some say the incident was unfortunate, while others cite it as proof
that only by doing away with the Chippewa logo will CMU stop
inappropriate Uses ofthe American  Indian image
"1 was shocked to see those students on the front page < of
CM LIFF A" said Mount Pleasant senior*.Julie Allen. American Indian
Student Organization president. ""It was a slap in the face for all
Native Americans.""
The University  has been Irving to prevent inappropriate portrayals
See SIDEBAR Page 15
Canine Caregiving
LIFE Photo-Tim Fitzgerald
Erin Spencer, Mount Pleasant sophomore, walks Outlaw, a dog in   the care of Central Animal Hospital, 2008 S. Mission. The pair
were exercising Tuesday afternoon at the top of a hill along East Campus Drive.
$90 'user fee7
billing process
could change
by KAREN EMERSON
U?A- Special Piojects Ki.toi
Off-campus students may not
find a $90 fee for the Student
Activity Center on their billing
statements in the future.
Some CMU officials have
discussed altering the way
students are assessed the fee,
which was implemented this
fall after* several weeks of
protest last spring, said James
Hill, vice president for Student
Affairs.
"Because of certain changes
in Lansing we are looking into
that situation." Hill said.
When off-campus students
are billed for a semester, they
receive a statement that lists
the Student-Activity Center fee
separately, said Tom Jones,
director of Campus Recreational Services.
If the change is implemented,
students might see a tuition
increase that reflects an
increase equal to the $90 fee.
Jones said.
Hill declined to comment on
wb-.t ,:!".'• nges he was referring
to or* when it was discussed.
Hill did say he plans to talk
about the $90 fee with his
Student Advisory Group in the
next few days.
Jones said he heard some
University officials are considering changing the
fee-charging policy.
State officials may he
concerned ahout that policy and
want all the money a student
has to pay included in tuition.
Jones added.
"It is my philosophy that
that's a better wav to do it," he
said.
When individual programs
are itemized it tends to make
people critical of that program,
which is what happened when
the $9<) fee was announced, he
said.
"I'm kind of glad there's talk
of this nature," Jones .said.
Students voiced their disapproval of the $90 fee in rallies
and sit-ins last spring.
Students usually do not react
as visibly over tuition
increases, he added.
Hill declined comment on
this.
"The word is out," Jones said.
"And I heard that it's in print
someplace. It's just hearsay (to
me i and we'll have to wait and
see what happens."
Jones said the money from
the fee goes toward the $1.3
million in costs to operate the
rec center* for one year.
He first heard ahout it a few
days before the Nov. 6 gubernatorial election.
Racist act draws message from president
by RANDY PETERSON
1 <i f- L:X- Writer
After* racist messages continually appeared on her
door in Larzelere Hall in October, a black freshman had
to move to another residence hall.
And University administrators say they have no
suspects in the "sick" incident.
A Nov. 5 letter President Edward B. Jakubauskas
addressed to the University community addresses the
incident and urges students and employees to continue
to support equity and diversity.
The matter* is still under investigation, said James
Hill, vice president for  Student Affairs.
"I am appalled that we still have people with that
mentality." Hill said. He refused further comment about
the incident because it is still under investigation.
The incident was reported to the Affirmative Action
Office in early October by a faculty member close to the
woman, said Angela Haddad, interim Affimative Action
officer.
This is the first serious racist incident reported on
campus this year, she said.
"It wasn't subtle*, it wasn't sophisticated." Haddad
said. "It was the kind of racism like people haven't seen
since pre-civil rights time."
"It makes me feel sick that something like this could
happen." said Glenn Starrier, director of the Office of
Student Life. "There is no place for this in a university."
Haddad said the incident is in direct conflict with
University policy prohibiting discrimination.
"The Affirmative Action Office pledges to uphold this
policy, even if that includes disciplinary action against
the student." she added.
A Larzelere resident assistant said he does not know if
the person who wrote the racist comments was a
Larzelere resident. He added Kim Fpperly. Larzelere
Hall Director, and Grant Skomski. North Campus
Housing    Manager,    are    handling    the    investigation.
Neither was available for comment Tuesday.
The woman's former roommate, who asked not to be
named, said she was angry and shocked when the
incidents occurred.
"It was really weird. It was happening in this day and
age on this campus," she said. "It was happening in the
honors dorm. I was angry because she felt she had to
leave."
President Jakubauskas said he was disappointed by
the incident.
"Any hostile act based on race, gender, nationality, or
handicap will not be tolerated," Jakubauskas said. "This
is an educational institution . . . we have the responsibility to respect other people's dignity, civility and
equality."
Starner said if a suspect is caught and is a student, he
or she will be subject to disciplinary action under the
University's Code of Conduct.
Starner added he "would like to find out who did it."
CM LIFE is printed entirely on recycled paper