The Michigan Daily-Saturday, April 16, 1983-Page 3
New fossil proves whale
was once land mammal
Parting words
Students from the School of Natural Resources display a banner yesterday expressing their fear that they might return
in September to find that SNR's budget has been cut by up to 33 percent.
By CARL WEISER
A mysterious fossil uncovered five
years ago in the foothills of Pakistan has
turned out to be definitive evidence that
whales were once land-dwelling
creatures.
"The bones are those of the missing
link between a wolf-life carnivore and
the modern whale," said expedition
leader Phil Gingerich, a University
paleontologist. Gingerich led an inter-
national team to the Himalayas in 1978
to search for fossils.
THE EXPEDITION consisted of
Gingerich, who is the curator of fossil
vertebrates at the University Museum
of Paleontology, Neil Wells, a geology
graduate student, S. M. Ibrahim Shah
of the Geological Survey of Pakistan,
and Donald Russell, of the French
Museum of Natural History.
The annual expedition is sponsored
by the National Science Foundation and
the Smithsonian Institution.
In an article to be published in the
April 22 edition of Science magazine,
Gingerich details the quest for iden-
tifying the animal whose fossils were
found. "We weren't sure what we had,"
said Wells.
THE BONES found in 1978 included
the back part of a skull and several
teeth. Other parts of the complete fossil
remain uncovered in Pakistan, said
Wells. "We find bits and pieces every
other year,"he said.
The missing link, named the
Pakicetus, lived during the Eocene age,
approximately million to 50 million
years ago, said Gingerich. During that
era, the area in which the fossil was
found was covered by the now defunct
Tethys Sea.
iarged in
"We speculate that ancestral whales
initially were land mammals who,
feeding on both meat and fish, colonized
the seashore. Enticed by the abundance
of fish, they then moved off shore and
gradually made their home in the sea,"
said Gingerich.
According to Gingerich, the big clue
in determining that the fossils were ac-
tually those of a missing link was the
inner ear. Pakicetus had an ear that
was clearly in transition from a land-
dwelling ear to an aquatic ear, he said.
"The early Eocene whale still had the
ear structure of a land mammal and
not a marine animal."
OTHER EVIDENCE that Pakicetus is
the missing link is the fact that the
fossil was unearthed from land-like
Pope asks media tol
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope John The pope has spoken out before on the
Paul II has declared that journalists need for responsible reporting, but thi
should be workers for peace and called was his first proposal on a subject thai
for a new "order of communication" to has previously produced considerabl
guarantee unbiased reporting." controversy.
HAPPENINGS-
Highlight
The Michigan Men's Glee Club will warble their stuff tonight at 8 p.m. in
Hill Auditorium. The group will revive a number of old college songs -
"Elixer Juventatis," "Vive L'Amour," and "Blue Book Blues" among them
- and premiere a new song of introducton written especially for the group.
Since its founding in 1859, the club has presented 122 of these spring concerts
and has toured around the globe..
Films
Cinema II - Chariots of Fire, 7 & 9:15 p.m., Aud. A, Angell.
Ann Arbor Film Coop - Fame, 7 & 9:30 p.m., MLB 3.
Cinema Guild --Pygmalion, 7 & 9 p.m., Lorch.
Mediatrics Film Coop-Final Exams, 7 p.m., Swamp Thing, 8:30 p.m,
* MLB 4.
Alternative Action - Burn!, 7 p.m., Viva Zapata!, 9 p.m., Nat. Sci. Aud.
Performances
Eclipse - concert, James Newton Quartet, 8 p.m., University Club,
Union;. Newton wil llso lead a free workshop at Trotter House, 4 p.m., 1443
Washtenaw.
Music - Saxophone students recital, 4 p.m., Rehearsal Hall; cello recital,
Eliana Mendoza, 6:30 p.m., Art & Arch.; cello recital, Arnold Friedman,
8:30 p.m., Art & Arch.
Performance Network - About Time/Ann Arbor, a selection of audio &
video productions mixed with performance art, 2 p.m., 408 W. Washington;
Special Children's Performance: Legends & Stories of the Great Lakes In-
dians by Basil Johnston, Ojibwe, 1 p.m., Aud. A, Angell.
Dance - "Dances By Five Women," group works by master of fine arts
students, 8 p.m., Studio A Theatre, Dance Building.
Theatre & Drama - "Beggar on Horseback," 2 p.m., Power Center.
Ark - Children's Concert with Michael Cooney, 2 p.m., 1421 Hill St.
Saline Area Players - "Annie, Get Your Gun," 8 p.m., Saline High School
Aud.
University Mime Troupe - "It's Mime, All Mime!" 8 p.m., Schorling
Aud., School of Education.
Canterbury Loft - "The Bombs," musical comedy about the nuclear ar-
ms race, 8 p.m., 332 So. State St.
Gilbert & Sullivan Society - "The Mikado," 2 & 8 p.m., Lydia Men-
delssohn Theater.
Speakers
Philosophy - Stephen Stich, "Against Interpretation," 10 a.m., E. Conf.
Rm., Rackham.
CEW - Antoinette Schiesler, "Writing the Proposal: A Workshop for
Minority Women at the University," 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., second floor of
Comerica Bank, corner of N. Univ. & S. Thayer.
Conference on Exploring Gay Issues - Dr. Charles Silverstein, keynote
address, 9 a.m., Michigan Law Club Lounge; also will be a panel discussion
with Dr. Marshall Shearer, Rev. Dr. Ann Garrison, and Richard "T.J." An-
thony.
Center for Afroamerican and African Studies - Jonathan Ngate, "A Ten-
tative Workable Definition of Third World Literature," noon, 246 Lorch.
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee - Paul McCloskey, "The
Role of Arab-Americans in U.S. Foreign Policy," 6:30 p.m., Southfield
Manor, Southfield.
Meetings
Tae Kwon Do Club - practice meeting, 9 a.m., Martial Arts Rm., CCRB.
Ann Arbor Go-Club -2.p.m., 1433 Mason Hall.
Grad Christian Fellowship -6 p.m., 1710 Saxon.
Miscellaneous
Lowbrow Astronomers - Celebration of Astronomy Day with solar obser-
vation, museum exhibit, observatory open house, telescope on Diag, 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Exhibit Museum; Peach Mountain Observatory in Stinchfield
Woods off N. Territorial Rd. will have open house from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Can-
celled if cloudy at sunset.
St. James Missionary Baptist Church - First Annual Scholarship
Banquet, 7:30 p.m., Fountain Ballroom, Masonic Temple, Detroit.
Ann Arbor Coalition Against Rape - Workshop for men only, "Men
Against Violence Against Women," 7:30 p.m., Blue Carpet Lounge, Alice
Lloyd.
Eclipse/EMU - Bike to Prevent Burns, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rynearson
Stadium.
Rowing Club - race against Ohio State University and MSU, mid-morning
V
e
s
it
e
sediment. "The fossil whales were
unearthed from red sediments con-
taining chemical characteristics of a*
continental rather than marine en-
vironment."
In addition, "all of the other fossils-
found with Pakicetus are land mam-.
mals," Gingerich said.
The discovery is significant,.
Gingerich said, because "up until now
there has been no evidence of tran-
sition. Whales suddenly appeared." t
The problem has been one of the most
troublesome in evolutionary science.
The whale had been one of the
Creationist school's prime evidence,
Wells said. "The discovery is quite a
stroke against creationism," he said.
"Its an exciting discovery," he ad-
ded.
ush peace
"CLEVERLY placed emphasis, slan-
ted interpretation, even loaded silen-
ces, are devices which can profoundly
alter the significance of what is being
communicated," the pope said.
The pope, in the written message for
the Roman Catholic Church's 17th
World Communications Day May 15,
gave his views on how the news media
can fulfill what he sees as its task to
promote peace and its duty to work for
"the common good of society."
Student ci
b be
D
O
N4
e e
e
e o 0
J0
I
DON'T GET
CAUGHT IN TE RA!
University Towers is now renting for fall and winter
1983-84 with the best location on campus!
Law Quad assault
By HALLE CZECHOWSKI
Following a March law quad fire and
recent assault on a first-year law
student. University law school officials
arestepping up efforts to alleviate
student fears.
In a letter sent to law school students
on April 5, Dean Terrance Sandalow
described the events as isolated in-
cidents and said they were no reason
for concern.
BUT TENSION among students has
reached a high level.
I 'irst.year. law-. student.David:crist,
was arraigned Wednesday night in 15th
District Court on charges of assault and
battery. The charges stemmed from
Crist's alleged attack on his former
roommate several weeks ago.
According to Phil Quagliariello, a fir-
st-year law student who roomed with
Crist last fall, Crist walked into his
room and began to beat him. He said he
did not know what motivated Crist to
attack him.
AS A RESULT of the injuries
Quagliariello received in the beating,
he spent three hours in the hospital, he
said.
Quagliariello said he was hesitant to
press charges against Crist because he
was afraid of the effect a long court
case would have on his grades.
But after speaking with law school of-
ficials who assured him he would not be
penalized, Quagliariello decided to go
ahead with the case.
QUAGLIARIELLO SAID that while
Crist is still enrolled, he believes the
law school is conducting its own in-
vestigation. Assistant Dean Susan
Eklund, however, declined to comment
on the situation.
Ann Arbor police are also in-
vestigating a series of obscene phone
calls which have been plaguing female
law students. More than 30 such phone
calls have been reported, police said.
APARTMENT 8 MO. LEASE 12 MO. LEASE
3 person/2 bedroom/mo. '$485.00 $405.00
2 person/2 bedroom/mo. $490.00 $420.00
4 person/2 bedroom/mo. $515.00 $430.00
3 person/3 bedroom/mo. $555.00 $480.00
UNIVERSITY TOWERS
Newly remodeled & refurnished apartments
Visit our models conveniently located at:
536 S. Forest (corner of S. Forest & S. University)
Phone: 761-2680
L Kwh e
You, too, have a fair chance
at medical school
with the help of
I
Medical School Admissions
A Strategy for Success
by HENRY WECHSLER and
AD S. SBARBARA GALE
This invaluable book shatters myths
about who gets into medical school
and shows how to - target schools
most likely to accept you " recognize
the "geographical factors" that affect
admissions * write an effective
application," find out about
financial aid and affirmative action
programs "Just the book to inform
and undiscourage you . . . crucial
facts and figures along with less
formal wisdom."
Boston Globe $12.95
Take a little bit of Michigan
home to the folks.
114 t
,-- .
'l"\ J -
Urich's: Michigan souvenirs for
the whole family.
D e
eW eYYou, too, can keep up with the
fast-moving computer world
with the help of -
The Personal Computer Buyers Guide
Edited by DENNIS J. GRIMES
and BRIAN W. KELLY
' Whether you are contemplating
- -buying a computer or already own
one, this storehouse of the latest
information will tell you all you
need to know to use one most
effectively. Information includes
* feature articles on selection and
use " product reference guides to
manufacturers software, accessories,
and supplies," systems comparison
guide to more than 50 models
" directory of suppliers'" glossary of
terminology," index to software
applications $16.95
a = e eY You, too, can find the computer
that's right for your needs with
the help of
D (
How to Buy a Personal Computer
(Without Anxiety)
NWTUEYA
by JONATHAN D. LIEFF, M.D.
The most important thing to know
about choosing a computer is what
questions to ask and what answers
to believe. Dr. Lieff knows first hand
what pitfalls to avoid. He
demystifies a computer's hidden
operations and gives you
ammunition to protect yourself from
i
I