SThe Ann Arbor, Michigan Daily Vol. LXXXIX, Na. 32-S Friday, June 15, 1979_ Sixteen Pages I Michinon Ten Cents Argon gas kills-man at nuke plant site in Midland MIDLAND (UPI) - Argon gas pum- ped into a work area at a nuclear power plant construction site felled a dozen workers yesterday, killing one man and injuring the others, one seriously. Some of the injured, including plant safety officials, were overcome by the odorless, colorless gas as they tried to rescue other stricken employees. The accident occurred in an in- strumentation tank within the still- unfinished core of the second unit at Consumers Power Co.'s twin-reactor Midland plant. No radioactive material was involved, the utility said. SEVEN OF THE workers were em- ployed by Bechtel Power Corp., the firm building the $1.67 million plant. The others worked for Babcock & Wilcox, the company that designed the reactors, Consumers said. Two of the injured were admitted to the Midland Hospital Center suffering from argon gas inhalation and other in- juries. The nine others were treated at the hospital for inhalation of the gas and released. The argon was pumped into the tank to "purge" or clean the area as part of a welding operation but apparently "the levels were greater than what is nor- mal," said Consumers spokeswoman Linda Lein. "ARGON GAS is used in a special welding process like that in the local area where the weld is being made," Lein said. "They do that to prevent corrosion of the weld." See ARGON, Page 2 Carter lands in Vienna AP Photo President Jimmy Carter, escorted by Austrian President Rudolph Kirchschlaeger, met members of the American diplomatic corps yesterday after his arrival in Vienna for the signing of the SALT II pact with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Carter and Brezhnev will meet for the first time tonight when the two paya ceremonial visit to Kirchschlaeger. Bill may orce ('to release salaries By SARA ANSPACH made available to the public. According to Senate Appropriations Clerk Amy Schnet- Legislation introduced in the state Senate yesterday zler, the 11 schools who have disclosed such information to would require the state's public colleges to disclose their em- Hart's office, "did so with the understanding that none will be ployees' salaries to the public. released unless all have been released." Under the bill, sponsored by Sen. William Faust (D- MTU currently is involved in a lawsuit regarding the Westland), the University and 12 other state schools would be disclosure of name-linked salary information and legally forced to reveal staff salary information by name. cannot release the information to the appropriations commit- "IF THE PUBLIC pays the bill they have the right to tee, said Schnetzler. The suit is expected to be settled soon, know where it is going," an aide to Faust said yesterday. He she added, and the committee plans to wait until then to force said it was "sort of peculiar" that the information is not now the University to reveal name-linked data. public. UNIVERSITY INTERIM President Allan Smith has said Currently the state Senate Appropriations Committee has the University chose not to reveal salaries to the committee received salary information by name from 10 state colleges, because such disclosure would be an invasion of privacy. He in response to last month's request from committee Chair- said he has not heard from Hart since the June 1 deadline for man Sen. Jerome Hart (D-Saginaw). Michigan submittingname-linked information. Technological University (MTU) and the University have not Smith said he was not aware of the legislation introduced yet complied with Hart's request. yesterday and declined to comment, except to say such If all 13 state colleges reveal name-linked salary infor- legislation might pose a constitutional question. mation to the appropriations committee, the data will be Regents hear faculty pleas on tenure review By JULIE ENGEBRECHT Board members did not clearly in- BOTH THE SENATE Advisory Regent David Laro (R-Flint) a dicate what action they would take. Committee on University Affairs Hughes whether Marwil's difficu Continuing an unusual appeal which They have said they are concerned (SACUA) and the Senate Advisory were caused by personality probl began last month, the University Board about intervening in a department's in- Review Committee (SARC) Hughes acknowledged Marwil had of Regents heard more comments on a dependent decision unanimously voted to request that pressed opinions different than tho special request to grant a tenure review Marwil's case be reviewed, the department at staff meet to a University professor. Last month The issue was not whether to grant although Marwil most often sided, the Board did not intervene in the case. tenure to Marwil, but to have his tenure the majority. While last month's public discussion status reviewed, attorney Jerold Lax, HISTORY PROF. David Bien centered around an anonymous pointed out. the issues involved were not poli professor in the Department of College of Engineering rules ap- like those "that divided liberals Humanities in the College of parently allow for discretion in whether conservatives." Engineering, the professor was iden- a tenure review is to be granted, but the He explained the issue has "se tified yesterday as Jonathan Marwil. professor must be given a year's notice consequences" for departments in THE REGENTS heard requests from of contract renewal or termination. ters of recruitment of new fa Marwil's attorney and colleagues, who HUMANITIES PROF. David Hughes members and promotion, becau asked the Board to call for a tenure said although tenure review is not competition with other major un review for the professor. requred under all circumstances, it is sities pnd the insecurity experience History Prof. Shaw Livermore told customary to grant a review in the faculty members in their positions. the Regents there would be costs in professor's sixth year of teaching. Decisions such as those made i either event-whether the Regents He said in his judgment Marwil is an Marwil case also might result in a decided to take action, or whether by excellent teacher, and his scholarship of morale within departments, Bie not acting they let stand the College of is "outstanding-in the department plained. He defined it as a "kin Engineering decision not to grant Mar- there are very few people who even crisis." wila tenure. Lirprmnre touch it." See REGENTS Page 2 sked ulties ems. d ex- se of ings, with said. itical from rious mat- culty se of iver- ed by n the loss n ex- nd of v r. ,-F V M r4a 1Y. ,