Iowa City Press-Citizen from Iowa City, Iowa • Page 1

Iowa City -4. TtDr Device heBpc avoid surges Heart patient at Mercy Hospital receives latest technology Story1 iilMMHBWr Eye on Johnson County 1-80 speed limit goes to 65 near city Staff and wire reports Drivers cruising past Coralville and no dkiM Coleman Grohe By Jeff Ewoldt The Press-Citizen The nation's media are focusing attention on the Iowa City School District this week, after the schools sent parents a letter that advised them to be sensitive of racial groups when choosing Halloween costumes for their children. In the latest media event, an Iowa City school official and a local doctor concerned about the costume guidelines appeared on NBC-TV's "Today" show this morning. Columnist Mike Royko published a column on the topic in today's Chicago Tribune, and a program called "Politically Incorrect," which airs on the Comedy Central cable channel, may feature the letter in a comedy routine. Rush Limbaugh also talked about the letter on his nationally broadcast television program.

This morning on "Today," Coleman's appearance was broadcast from television studio in UI's Seashore Hall. Ricciardelli was at a Des Moines television studio. The segment aired about 8:15 a.m. The two engaged in a short debate, which allowed Coleman to clarify the intentions of the school district. The letter, which was sent out by the Iowa City School District EquityAffirmative Action Advisory Committee, asked parents to avoid Halloween costumes of gypsies, hobos, devils and witches, and offered as substitutes animals, famous people or.

"friendly" monsters. See LETTER2A Marian Coleman, school district equity director, and Dr. Edward Ricciardelli, a plastic surgeon at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, were interviewed live via satellite by co-host Katie Couric in New York. Reporters for other national media have been swarming to Iowa City, including The New York Times and other newspapers. On Monday, CBS correspondent Charles Osgood gave a scathing commentary of the schools' letter on CBS-TV's "CBS This Morning." Iowa City on Interstate 80 soon won't be obliged to slow down to 55 mph.

"Most people were driving over that speed limit anyway," Pete Dallman said today. He is the maintenance operations assistant at the state Department of Transportation's Gilbert Street building in Iowa City. The difference in speed limits on interstate highways is designed to get driver's to slow down in urban areas. But in the CoralvilleIowa City area, Dallman said, "There's no noticeable change between rural and urban:" Sgt. Robert Thomas of the Iowa State Patrol said the change will not present a problem for law enforcement officers.

The area is not a hot spot for accidents, he said, even though many drivers don't observe the speed limit. Agreement on tuition Fire destroys building at North Liberty site 1 c'C le, possibJ 15 BfP rp-17 t. si. Fire North Liberty Fire Chief Robert Dolezal said investigators expected to be on the scene of the fire at 405 Zeller St. most of this morning.

About eight firefighters were on hand this morning, keeping an eye on smoldering areas of the storage jj By Scott Hauser The Press-Citizen A faulty extension cord to a camper is the suspected cause of a fire that resulted in more than $200,000 in damage and destroyed a North Liberty storage company's building early this morning. Robert Dolezal, North Liberty fire chief, said investigators believe the electrical wire running from a wall outlet at Transfer Station, 405 Zeller to the camper's refrigerator started the blaze. The fire was reported about 12:24 a.m. today. No serious injuries were reported, "All the indications are that that area was the origin of the fire," Dolezal said.

About 20 firefighters from North Liberty were assisted by 12 firefighters from the Coralville Fire Department in battling the blaze. Dolezal said the fire was under control within about 30 minutes but firefighters would remain on the scene most of today. One Coralville firefighter was treated at the scene for a minor hand injury. Jim Geyer of Des Moines, a former owner of was watching firefighters sift through the remains of the steel-sided, wooden building today. The building has been owned by for about 19 years.

regent says By Scott Hauser The Press-Citizen The president of the state Board of Regents is willing to split the difference with University of Iowa students when it comes to tuition. Regent President Marvin Beren-stein said Monday that he plans to support a 4.4 percent increase for students at UI, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. That's about 0.7 percent less than what was proposed in September for most undergraduates. "I would like to find a middle ground that all sides would be comfortable with," Berenstein said. Tuition is scheduled to be one of the main topics at the regents meeting Wednesday in Cedar Falls when the board will vote to set rates for the 1994-95 academic See REGENTS2A .5: IK J.

Press-CmzenScott Norrls Josiane Peltier, a University of Iowa student working toward a Ph.D in Comparative Literature, was one of about 25 students tp attend a demonstration Monday afternoon to oppose a plan to increase tuition. Tuition fight hopeless, student leader says Eye on Hawkeyes Fan plans rally to lift spirits in preparation for Michigan Schedule The rally will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Pen-tacrest. Head Coach Hayden Fry and some of his players will speak. By Scott Hauser The Press-Citizen Student leaders at the University of Iowa are reiterating their opposition to 5.3 percent and 7.5 percent tuition increases and urging students to join them.

But student president John Gardner, vice president Micah Hobart, and representatives from the lobbying group United Students of Iowa spoke to a largely empty Pentacrest Monday as they made their case against the proposals. Fewer than 25 students turned out for a rally Monday to oppose tuition increases. Gardner said the turnout reflects the "hopelessness" students feel when tuition is voted on by the computer fee. The computer fee would increase by $4. Law and pharmacy students would see increases ranging up to 26.5 percent to pay for programs in those colleges.

The tuition proposal would raise about $11.3 million, including $3 million to help pay for building repairs. But Gardner said the money for deferred maintenance should come from other sources. He cited reports from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and the Office of the Auditor of the State that the regents have up to $7 million in salary funds that have been appropriated for 2,000 vacant positions. That money could be used for deferred maintenance, he said. Robert Barak, deputy executive director and director of academic affairs for the board, said the suggestion that the regents have 2,000 empty positions is inaccurate.

An April report by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau miscounted the number of employees paid with state appropriations, he said. Matt Ashford, campus director of United Students of Iowa, said the regents should hold increases to 3.4 percent, the amount the Higher Education Price Index is expected to increase next year. "We want HEPI, we don't want anything higher," he said. "We don't deserve anything higher." state Board of Regents. "Whether it happens this year or not, there's a message to the students that the regents know better how to spend our money than we do," he said after the rally.

The regents are to vote Wednesday on tuition policy for the 1994-95 academic year. The board office has recommended increases of 5.3 percent for resident undergraduates and 7.5 percent for out-of-state undergraduates. That would raise tuition to $2,308 a year for Iowa undergraduates, a $116 increase, and to $7,580 for non-residents, a $569 increase. Each student also would pay an $80 health fee and an $84 The Press-Citizen "Now's the time to wear black and gold." That's the word from Hawkeye fan Ken Grabinski who, with a group of local fans, has organized a pep rally to lift the spirits of the University of Iowa football team as they prepare to meet Michigan State Saturday. "It's pretty easy to be an Iowa fan when 10-1-1," said Grabinski, a UI basketball letterman who graduated in 1972.

A show of support will boost the team, Grabinski said. Grabinski saw his first game as a kid in 1960, and witnessed many losing seasons over the years. "I remember when we used to cheer for first downs," he said. But he doesn't think all is lost this year. Far from it.

"I don't think the team's going to lay down and die," he said. "It's time for the team to push it up a notch, and it's time for fans to push it up notch." Congress, Clinton clash over troop deployment Weather Tonight: chance of showers. Low mid 40s. Wednesday, morning showers. High mid-50s 2C Index: Business 4D Classified 4C Comics 4B Dear Abby 3B Deaths 2C Local 1C Lottery 2C Movies 3B 1 'j jr.

5A 1B 6C 2C 1D 4C 4B By Donna Cassata Associated Press WASHINGTON Congress is challenging President Clinton's foreign policy with an eye toward restricting his authority to send U.S. troops to Haiti and other world trouble spots. "I think Congress has a right to be heard," Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, said. He wants Congress to give the OK before U.S. troops could be sent into Haiti.

Clinton was resisting the Byrd, who sought but failed to move forward Clinton's March 31 date for withdrawing U.S. troops from the long-running U.N. mission in Somalia. At midnight, a potentially devastating oil embargo was reim-posed on Haiti as its army commander, Lt. Gen.

Raoul Cedras, ignored demands that he respect a plan for the return from exile of the country's elected president. Clinton sent administration officials to Capitol Hill late Monday to negotiate with Dole's staff on an amendment the enator pre pared to offer to the fiscal 1994 defense spending bill a signal Dole had the votes. Dole's amendment would restrict spending for American forces in Haiti unless Congress approves. The only exceptions would be if U.S. citizens had to be evacuated, a threat to national security existed or if the president certified the cost, duration and goals of the operation.

Additional Capitol Hill meetings involving Senate Democrats and Republicans were likely today. U.N. blockade begins3 A Clinton Dole A Gannett Newspaper "The president must make the ultimate decision," he said Monday Last week it was Sen. Robert I.