1977-05-09; Central Michigan Life

              CMU charged with
\reverse discrimination
byPETEENGARDIO
CM LIFE Reporter
An investigation by the
Michigan Civil Rights Com-
jnission (MCRC) on a reverse
descrimination charge against
CMU has been prompted by an
unsuccessful candidate for the
position of Affirmative Action
Officer.
According to University
Attorney J. David Kerr, an
investigator from the MCRC
was on campus April 29 and
interviewed several members of
the Affirmative Action
screening committee. The
representative also investigated
files of the screening and
analysis sheets used by the
committee.
Kerr would not release the
name of the individual who
lodged the complaint, but did
say he is a white male who attended the University of
Michgan   Law   School.
« Anneliese Bowlby, co-
chairperson of the Affirmative
Action Committee, said James.
furner was chosen for the job.
burner, a black, begins work in
July.
| "The individual believes  he
jjneets the qualifications of the.
fob   and    was    discriminated
igainst on the grounds of sex or
race," Kerr said. Kerr said he
was disqualified because he did
not meet at least two criteria for-
the position.
"The person we hired has
actual experience at the
University of Maryland in
designing and administering
affirmative action programs,"
Kerr said. "He understands the
human relations aspects of the
position and was the unanimous
choice of the search committee."
Affirmative Action is an
attempt by the federal government to make up for past
discrimination toward women
and minorities in employment
practices. CMU has had an
affirmative action program since
1974.
According to Kerr, the affirmative action officer is a new
full time position which is
necessary to review and implement affirmative action plan
programs in the areas of internal analysis and training. The
officer will have immediate
access to the President, Kerr
said.
A total of 144 persons applied
for    the    position    after    the
opening    was    advertised    in
newspapers from September to.
October 1976. Applications were .
screened by subcommittees of
roup revises
rop,add period
by KATHY JENNINGS
LIFE Copy Editor
To avoid disruptions caused by Drop and Add period during the
first week of school and to solve other schedule adjustment
problems, Drop and Add for Fall Semester 1977 will begin Aug. 27,
the Saturday before classes begin, instead of the first week of
classes as has been done in the past.
Graduate students, seniors and juniors may go through Drop and
Add Aug. 27; sophomores and freshmen may participate Aug. 28.
Drop and Add will be conducted on an open basis Aug. 29 and 30 for
(hose who did not participate earlier.
J William Dunham, associate registrar ,jsaidJ.h,e.new,DrQP.afl4Add.
Iperiod would be" evaluated after a year to see how well it worked
id how students reacted to it.
Provost John Cantelon approved the recommendation to change
the Drop and Add period May 2. The recommendation came from
the Registration Planning Committee after deliberations which
began in 1975.
I The Academic Senate requested the committee study the
disruption Drop and Add causes during the first week of classes.
'; After studying the situation, the committee identified four
problems. Many students hold onto classes until the last day of the
prop and Add period. This prevents other students from picking up
piose classes because they have missed two or three class meetings.
•This is especially important to science students who may miss
laboratory assignments.
A second problem is students who registered in advance could not
I'change their schedules before the beginning of the semester unless
i they came back a week early to participate in schedule adjustment.
[This presented a difficulty for students returning to campus from
out of state or for those who worked'until the beginning of the
semester.
I The committee said the former Drop and Add period did not allow
freshmen to pick up classes until after they had missed at least one
or two class periods, because Drop and Add is scheduled so those
[with the most hours earned participate first.
;': The group also determined the University Center Ballroom was
too small to accommodate Drop and Add activities. This problem
was solved by moving Drop and Add to Finch Fieldhouse.
The committee also met with student leaders to determine
student concerns. Students recommended the new system operate
during the first two days of classes so students could determine if
they were in the right class, had the proper prerequisites and could
jnake needed adjustments. '
'. Students also said faculty members, should be encouraged to
begin classes on Monday and inform students at this time of the
Class format, text used and grading methods to allow students to
^determine if they agree with the class structure and make changes
if necessary.
lt also was recommended Delayed Registration and the Drop and
Add period be conducted at the same time. Dunham said the
University does not have the computers necessary to do this now
(See Drop, add—page 6)
two persons, Kerr said. "Each_
subcommittee was assigned a
portion of the applications to
review against a criteria
checklist of qualifications," Kerr
said.
Among the criteria was a
master's degree, familiarity
with a university environment
and experience with laws and
regulations pertinent to equal
opportunity,
"The subcommittees ex-
chahged lists and another
subcommittee reviewed the
list," Kerr said. By this process,
nearly half of the candidates
were eliminated on Oct. 28 and
another 51 were disqualified
Nov. 17, Kerr said. The com-
plaintant was in the second cut,
Kerr said the complaint first
was filed with MCRC Feb. 10
and he first was notified about
the complaint Feb. 17.
If MCRC finds merit in the
case, it will be referred to the
Conciliation Division of MCRC,
Kerr said. If the matter is not
settled by that division, the ease
could be referred to the At*
torney General's Office.
Kerr said he has no idea how
long the investigation will take,
but hopes the matter- will be
resolved "relatively soon."
"I hope that before Turiier
comes to campus to take the job,
this issue will be resolved," Kerr
said. "I'm confident that through
the investigation they will find,
there has been no
discrimination," Kerr said.
The individual will "suffer no
detriment" by requesting the
investigation and the MCRC is
obligated by law to investigate,
Kerr said. "Thousands of
University and state dollars are
being wasted on this investigation. It is an abuse of the
rights given to the people."
Volume 58 No. 87
Pleasant, Mich. 48859
Monday, May 9,1977
A Rally for Marijuana Decriminalization Sunday provided students and others a chance to protest
Michigan's current marijuana laws. Charles Kile, of Taylor, displays his disagreement with the laws by
agreeing with Barbara Weinberg, a member of the Michigan NORMAL policy board, who spoke at the
rally conducted between Moore and Brooks Halls (LIFE photo by Cathie Clayton).
Decriminalization urged
rally attracts 300
byJACKTELFER
CM LIFE Reporter
Gusting winds, schedule
changes, and speaker and
contest cancellations were not
enough to stop members of the
Mt. Pleasant National
Organiztaion for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws (NORML) from
conducting a Rally for
Marijuana Decriminalization
Sunday.
Steve Wright, NORML
member, said everything ran
"smoothly, very smoothly,"
adding "I'm very happy with the
results."
A constant crowd of approximately 300 people attended the rally conducted
between Moore and Brooks
Halls, Wright, Farmington
sophomore, said.
Wright said he believed the
wind may have lowered the
turnout at the rally. "Without
the wind the crowd would have
been double the size," he said.
Cool temperatures also marred
an otherwise bright and sunny
day.
Two speakers, Barbara
Weinberg, member of the
Michigan NORML policy board,
and    Tom'    Loeb,    Michigan
NORML state coordinator,
discussed various ways people
can help to decriminalize
marijuana use.
"You can help by writing your
legislator, John Engler (R-Mt.
Pleasant)," Weinberg said.
"There have been eight states
that have decriminalized
marijuana   already,"' she   said
adding,   "we   want   to   make
Michigan the ninth state.
He said students at Michigan
State University and in the
Detroit area are planning rallies
in the near future, and he hopes
CMU will have another one next
fall.
"We have to try to keep the
momentum   going,"   he   said,
m-
get
adding, "The bill's been
troduced, now we have to
some support."
A bill (HB4603) was introduced into the Michigan
House of Representatives April
25. If passed, the bill would
reduce current penalties for
possession or use of 100. grams
or less of marijuana in private
residence.
Students continue
tenure denial protest
Approximately 10 "celebrity Greeks"—fraternity presidents and other noteables—participated as
targets in the "Hit a Greek With a Pie for a Quarter" event $6 part of Geniie Friday festivities. Phi
■ Sigma Epsilon's Dave Bass, Battle Creek senior, sourly accepts a whipped cream crown from Marc
I Cross, Livonia junior.
Angry students still are
protesting the denial of tenure
to two special education assitant
professors, but no one knows if
it has had a positive affect.
Virginia Pearson and Larry
Schaftenaar have filed
grievances and they presently
are in the initiation stage.
"It's too soon to say
anything," Colette Zobro, Grand
Rapids senior, said. "The whole
process takes so
long... We probably won't even
know until next fall."
Some students majoring in
special education were shocked
when the two assistant
professors were denied tenure a
few weeks ago, and have been
supporting Pearson and
Schaftenaar by picketing , in
front of Sloan Hall, writing
letters to campus officials and
turning in a petition of protest. ■.:
LIFE ends
regular
publication
Today's CM LIFE marks the
last issue for Winter Semester.
The LIFE staff wishes students
good luck on their exams and
also wishes the entire
tfniversity community a safe
and enjoyable summer.
LIFE will resume publication
for the summer May 25 on a
weekly basis.
Zobro said a few students
attended a Student Association
meeting last week to acquaint
them with the problem. She
added the students received the
Association's support.
Leslie Cochran, acting vice
provost for administration, said
meetings are scheduled with
Pearson and Schaftenaar this
week to "try to clarify and
determine the facts and issues
involved."
"There really isn't any way
you can speed it (the grievances)
up," Cochran said. "I think it is
indicated there is a high degree
of interest on behalf of the
students. Obviously I'm going to
look as hard as I can to see if
people were treated fairly. I can
receive one or 100 letters and
my goal is still the same."
Other faculty members involved cannot comment because
the 1976-77 faculty handbook
prohibits them from making
public statements during a
grievance.
However, Pearson said she
appreciated the student support.
"It's gratifying to know how
they feel," she said.
insidm
—Senate continues
discussion
UP
—Summer    fees    due
Wednesday—page 5
-YSA    case    "still   in
limbo"—page 6
—Women take top class
honors—page 7
—Special Olymies needs
contributions—page 12
—Professor stresses UN
awareness—page 13
The women's half of the 37th
annual Chip Relays took place
Friday and Saturday at
Alumni Field (see story page
17).
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