1994-04-04; Central Michigan Life

              H: mid 408
L: around 30
mostly cloudy
Buckle up
Program hopes to save lives
Page 3
Diamond dave
Old-school rocker sows his oats
Page 8
Double play
Baseball and softball page debuts
Page 11
TUESDAY
H: mkJ 40s
L: around 30
mostly cloudy,
rain likely
Central
Michigan
^NUMBS**®1L
 . ,   „ ;,r,£M,r~
PLEASANT, MICHIGAN 48859
tummam       - ~    .  .  .    ■   .... -...:■■ ■..,..-. .i,!^.'.:....^,^.
© 1994' CM LITE '-:   • ■  ." -"'
- H   Ml  ■ I  ■< I        I    *      III
Morris faces sexual harassment lawsuit
Four say Central acted
with 'gross negligence'
By Karen Joseph
l IFF Editor
An attorney representing four
present or former CMU employees who claim that ex-legislative
counsel Greg Morris sexually
harassed them said a civil suit
will he filed in three courts today,
detailing alleged harassment and
the university's "gross negligence** in handling the women's
complaints.
The plaintiffs — Natalie Alane,
former student assistant for governmental relations; Maureen
Daugherty, former administrative assistant to Morris; Sandy
Kauffman, former administrative secretary for Morris and current administrative secretary for
the music department; and
Noelle Schiffer, consultant to
CMU — will have their case filed
in the Court of Claims in Ingham
County and the circuit courts of
Isabella and Ingham counties,
according to Randie Black, an
Okemos attorney for the plaintiffs.
Morris issued a statement
denying the charges, but would
not comment further.
University Attorney Eileen
Jennings said many of the al legations were unsupported. She said
though some of the allegations
indicate inappropriate behaviors, their nature does not constitute sexual harassment or sexual battery.
The complaint outlines five
counts against Morris and the
university. Count one contends a
violation of the plaintiffs' civil
rights guaranteed by the Elliot
Larsen Civil Rights Act This
count is based in part on the allegation that Alane was forced to
engage in unwelcome sexual conduct and/ or sexual intercourse
with Morris on at least four different occasions.
The first alleged sexual incident Alane describes in a complaint filed with the Affirmative
Action Office, occurred on Oct.
29. 1991, her birthday. After
lunch at Cascarelli's West, Morris allegedly drove her to a baseball field west of Mount Pleasant.
She claims she was intoxicated,
having drank "at least** four glasses of wine. Morris allegedly
began fondling her legs while he
drove and when he stopped the
car "went up my skirt with his
hands    and    fondled    me.    He
touched my breasts and genitals
profusely and kissed my mouth
and breasts.
"He unzipped his pants and
offered his penis for my fondling.
I was on my period at this particular time and after it was over,
he used his handkerchief to wipe
his hands and threw it out the
window."
After the 20-30 minute incident, the two returned to CMU,
Alane wrote.
The second alleged incident
occurred in Warriner Hall on a
Sunday afternoon in November
1991. Alane was using the computer when Morris allegedly came
to the office. She wrote that he
"made sexual comments to me
and acted in a seductive way.
"He was sitting in a chair and
as we were talking he pulled me
on top of him. He unzipped his
pants and withdrew his penis. He
unhooked my bra and touched my
breasts    with    his    hands    and
LIFE Photo Scott Eagle
Gone fishin'
Guy Quails, Mount Pleasant sophomore, tries his luck fishing at the dams on Easter Sunday.
COLORBLIND
Student one of few whites
who join black fraternities
By Jill Behnke
LIFE Staff Writer
A fraternity being traditionally African American does not mean
exclusively African American, as one CMU student is proving.
Tin known as the white guy in the black fraternity," said Chad
Bosnia, the sole white member of CMU's chapter of Phi Beta Sigma
fraternity.
He is known as "Ghost," the nickname he chose when he joined Phi
Beta Sigma.
Bosma, Grand Rapids senior, has been a member of Phi Beta Sigma
since December 1992, after he transferred from Grand Valley State
University. When Bosma joined, there were 10 Sigmas in the chapter,
now there are 12.
Phi Beta Sigma is one of CMU's six different chapters of the eight
national predominantly African-American fraternities and sororities.
Bosma is one of two white Sigmas in Michigan and with Kathy
Wasko, Zeta Phi Beta sorority member and Mount Pleasant junior, one
of two white students on campus who are members of these organizations.
Bosma and Wasko are not the first, however. Eric Shumate, member
Chad Bosma, Grand Rapids senior, with Phi Beta Sigma members.
of Phi Beta Sigma, said one of the first Sigmas on campus was a white
student.
Zeta Phi Beta President Donielle Phillips, Detroit junior, said a white
sorority member recently graduated. Wasko only joined last semester,
but Phillips said she has already added to the organization.
Bosma said many people don't understand why he would want to join
an African-American fraternity. "I wouldn't understand either, if I saw
a black guy in a white fraternity,* he said.
But the choice has been the right one for him, he said. "I can't see
myself in a white fraternity.*'
See GHOST Page 2
GREQ MORRIS" STATEMENT
I am aware of the possibility of legal
action against the university and me
involving claims of employment discrimination based on gander. These
claims ate untrue and are one of the
unfortunate consequences of being an
employer or supervisor in today's
workplace. I have never discriminated
against anyone on the basis of gender.
Should a suit be filed, I am confident
the legal process will demonstrate the
falsity of these charges.
As this matter may result in a suit
being filed, I am advised by my attorney to refrain from further comment.
I ask only that your readers suspend
judgment regarding the university,
the potential plaintiffs, and me until
the facts are in, I would do the same
for them.
mouth," she wrote.
"He told me how wonderful I
would be as a lover and that he
thinks about making love to me
constantly.  He told me that he
GREG MORRIS
wanted to stimulate me to the
point of orgasm and hold me
there and watch me."
See MORRIS Page 7
Students elect
Shumate next
SGA president
By Emily Gerkin
LIFE Staff Writer
CMU faces changes next year with the new Student Government
Association presidential and vice presidential team of Eric Shumate
and Anne Jamieson, the passage of the new constitution and the
possible implementation of the student fee proposal.
Shumate, Detroit sophomore, and Jamieson, Bloomfield senior, won
the election by a 146-vote margin, receiving 520 votes. Joe Fivas,
Bellaire senior, and his running mate John Pakledinaz, Mount Pleasant graduate student, finished second with 374 votes. The team of Ami
Brown, Rochester junior; Jake Heiney, Lambertville freshman; and
their choice for treasurer Chris Weed, Clyde senior, finished in third
place with 164 votes. Seven write-ins for president also were cast.
Hoping to create "the next revolution in student government,** Shumate said he felt excited about the win, and he and Jamieson are "ready
to roll up their sleeves and get to work."
Jamieson said she is excited and challenged to start a new year off in
student government.
The new vice president said one of the first things she and Shumate
would like to do after they take office is to "hopefully put something in
See ELECTION Page 13
Proposed AFSCME
contract rejected,
mediator to return
By Marjory Raymer
LIFE Assistant News Editor	
Although previous negotiations were expected to bring forth
a contract for food service and
maintenance employees, sides
will head back to the table for
further bargaining.
The union has not voted on the
proposed language because it did
not agree with the interpretation
of the mutually approved preliminary draft, which was in a
worksheet format.
In a Feb. 4 joint press release,
the American Federation of State
County and Municipal Employees Local 1568 and the administration announced that a
mediator's recommendation for a
tentative contract soon would be
sent to union mebership for a
vote. But mediator Karl Kujaws-
ki's services will be reinstated.
The status of bargaining is
"uncertain until we actually get
on the same wavelength," said
Gerald Mester, union president
and AFSCME bargaining chairman. "We're not really any
further along than we were six
months ago."
Kim Ellertson, vice president
for Business and Finance, said
the administration wants to get
the contract settled. "I suspect
both sides will need to compromise on parts."
Collective bargaining began in
September for the AFSCME contract that expired Oct. 31.
LIFE
ON THE INSIDE
MORE NEWS
3
VOICES
4
POLICE
6
ETCETERA
8
SPORTS
10
CLASSIFIEDS
12
CALENDAR
14
VOLUNTEER NEWS
14
-? **>|^SjrjpijW^^
^S^Mte ******