Legal counsel continue meetings

By Robert Gold

and Tiffany Maggard

Daily Staff Reporters

Legal counsel for the Students of Color Coalition, the senior honor society Michigamua and the University administration met yesterday for the second day in a row.

Michigamua spokesman Nick Delgado said the lawyers have spent the first two days introducing each parties' proposals.

Ann Arbor attorney Bruce Elliot, who is representing Michigamua, said he would not comment on the details of today's meeting.

"As a rule, I really don't discuss cases or legal situations," said Elliot, a 1972 University graduate and Michigamua alum, adding that the lawyers are expected to meet again today.

The University released a proposal to the SCC yesterday through Deputy General Counsel Liz Barry that is a modified version of a plan outlined by interim Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper last week.

The proposal calls for a panel to be established to "determine under what conditions, if any, should a student organization be entitled to office space which is not subject to a periodic assignment process, review and potential reallocation in the Michigan Unions," which include the Michigan Union, Pierpont Commons and the Michigan League.

Under the modified plan, the panel would be made up of "three high-level administrators," who would hold public hearings to obtain feedback. The original plan called for 13 members, including faculty picked by the groups involved as well as representatives from these groups.

SCC spokesman Joe Reilly said he is frustrated with the administration's latest effort. "They have regurgitated the same proposal in the last two weeks," Reilly said. "It displays their failure to understand the root of the problem. That root is a long, deep history of institution-supported racism."

Delgado said Michigamua agrees with the idea of a panel but has other problems with the proposal.

The proposal calls for the panel to make a decision no more than 60 days after it first meets and for the space not to be reassigned for at least 60 days after the ruling.

"The timing is not fair. The content is fair," Delgado said. By putting 60 days, it's not fair, it's not equitable, it's not very thoughtful."

If Michigamua is looking for office space, the Michigan Student Assembly already has an effective procedure, Reilly said. "They're not looking for office space, they're looking for a private and secret space within a public institution," he said.

Delgado said Michigamua will not apply for office space through the Office Space Allocation Committee if it loses the tower room and instead would find a private location to hold meetings.

He added that Michigamua would not heed opponents' call to publicize their activities more often.

"That only makes our quiet ways even more quiet," Delgado said. "We'll still be making the same contributions to the University." Reilly said the SCC opposes the plan for a panel. "Our condition is it would be best to keep it open for everybody at all times," Reilly said, referring to the group's position that the space be turned into a cultural lounge.

"They've misconstrued our reason for being here," Reilly said. "They've turned it into a question of office space when it is a question of equal treatment."

Delgado said tomorrow is the last day Michigamua will sign an agreement "until at the very least the middle of next week."

Members of the senior honor society Phoenix, which has meeting space on the sixth floor of the Union, delivered a proposal to all parties involved in the Union takeover yesterday. The proposal calls for SCC to vacate the tower immediately and for Phoenix to regain access to its meeting room while a dialogue takes place to "create an appropriate contract and evaluation system to examine allocated space to all student organizations."

Phoenix members said they are open to whatever decision the University makes regarding space allocation but feel only the administration should exercise jurisdiction over the issue.

"The key is that it's the administration's decision - no one else should make a decision but them," said Phoenix member Jon Malkovich, an Engineering senior.

Phoenix members said they believe SCC's petition, delivered to University officials Feb. 4, is a representation of the importance of student concerns, even if it may threaten their privileges.

"It's important to examine issues that are important to students on campus," said Tracey Parker, a Phoenix member. "But like we said before, we're leaving no stone unturned."