FREE ISSUE cl bic Litn IEIIIQ FREE ISSUE Vol. XCV, No. 82 Copyright 1985, The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan - Thursday, January 10, 1985 FREE ISSUE Ten Pages Union bookstore Textbook prices U-Cellar Ulrich's Union Textbook (Author) feels the heat; reduces prices City voters to decide on weatheiation By THOMAS HRACH The first day of class is normally the busiest day of book rush at cam- pus bookstores, but yesterday saw a renewed battle for the student text- book dollar. The new kid in town, the Michigan Union Bookstore, has step- ped up the competition by cutting the price of some of its new textbooks for larger University courses. The Michigan Union Bookstore, operated by the Barnes and Noble Company of New York, opened its doors for the first time this past weekend. Gerry Maloney, manager of the store, said they needed to cut the price of some texts by 4 to 7 percent yesterday to "stay competitive." BOTH ULRICH'S and the Univer- sity Cellar discount many of their new textbooks 5 percent. The new store has kept its promise of no lines, hassles or run-around with its virtual army of part-time em- ployees. According to Maloney the store has hired close to 200 student employees to work during bookrush, with most of the employees roaming the aisles helping confused shoppers. Maloney said sales at the new store were as good as could be expected. We're still trying to break into the market, and old buying habits are hard to break," Maloney said. "Student identification will be a problem with us for a while." AT THE U-CELLAR, long lines and crowded aisles were the order of the day. The U-Cellar has fewer em- ployees who walk around and offer customer assistance. U-Cellar manager Bruce Weinberg said the first few days of book rush have showed no loss of business for his store. He said that this could be the best winter book rush for the U-Cellar. See BATTLE, Page 2 Organic Chemistry (Ege) .................................$37.00 $37.00 $36.95 Organic Chemistry (Kemp & Vellaccio) . ........................$35.10 $35.10 36.25 Calculus and Analytical Geometry (Gillette, new edition)....................... $36.05 $36.05 $35.75 Comparative Politics Today (Almond & Powell) ................................ $23.70 $23.95 $24.95 Deutsche Heute (Moeller & Leidloff) ...............................$24.65 $24.65 $27.95 Fundamentals of Physics (Halliday & Resnick)..............................$35.15 $35.15 $34.95 College Physics (Sears, Zamansky & Young) .................$34.15 $34.10 $33.95 Gardner's Art Through the Ages (del la Croix & Tansey) ............... ........$18.95 $18.95 $19.95 Economics (Fusfeld)..........................................$26.89 $26.85 $26.50 Above is the cost of new textbooks reported by each of the three stores yesterday. Used book prices vary widely depending on the condition of the book. Computer classes draw crowds By VIBEKE LAROI A local group has collected enough signatures to place a proposal for weatherization of rental properties on the April Ann Arbor ballot. Weatherization as Responsible Main- tenance (WARM) collected over 6,000 signatures - many from students - during the last two months. The petitions were certified by the City Clerk Tuesday making the plan Proposal A on the ballot. THE PROPOSAL calls for man- datory minimum standards for ceiling insulation, caulking, and weatherstrip- ping of doors and window frames for all Ann Arbor rental housing units in which tenants must pay the heating costs. Jeff Ditz of the Ann Arbor Tenants Union said the proposal is understan- dable and simple. "I think it will win. People are fed up and I think it's effec- tive," he said. This proposal has a better chance of passing than the weatherization plan defeated by area voters two years ago, said Dan Keller, a member of WARM. UNDER THE new proposal, the materials needed to weatherize rental units would be about $250-$500 - sub- stantially less than what was required by the defeated proposal, Kaller said. "This is a much more modified ver- sion," said Robert Widrow of Student Legal Services. "I would see no reason for anyone to vote against it," he added. "The only way it won't pas's is if people don't vote. Landlords are not a majority." Still, many area landlords say they'll fight to defeat the proposal. FRED GRUBER, a member of the Ann Arbor ApartmentsAssociation, was adamant about forming an op- position group to try to defeat the proposal, although he has not yet organized one. "People don't know what they're doing," he said. "You can't go across the board and say everyone will have this type of energy conservanon. At Alpine Realty, an employee who wished to remain anonymous said, "I don't want someone in a bureaucracy telling me what to do. I think people who care about properties will take care of them." "I don't worry about it too much because I've done most of it already," he said. ANOTHER realtor agreed that there is already too much government inter- vention and suggested that if there is going to be a proposal at all it ought to apply to every house in Ann Af bor. An independent landlord who asked nosto beidntifiednraithe proposal ought to be governed by the market- place." Kaller disagreed. he said the vacancy rate is now around 1 percent but at the time of the last weatherization proposal is'was close to 13 percent. THE LOW vacancy rate means that there is no market incentive for lan- dl d toweatherize,hsaigsd. Student p are sometimes forced to rent poorly inflated units and thus pay higher heating bills, he added. The only current weatherization law, costr siscdosurswhich makes it ilgal to sign a lease wiithout showing a budget plan projection :making tenants aware of heating costs before renting. There is a4 ' an Energy Voluntary Im- p ement Program, Gruber said, wh- is requires. landlords to post the energy efficiency of their rental unit on the actual unit. Another objection landlords have is tha echunt is differetand should be teted differntly.ena Kaller said the recent proposal is See WEA THERIZA TION, Page 2 By SEAN JACKSON Some sat in chairs strewn haphazardly against the back wall of the auditorium. Others stood along the side walls, and the rest were sandwiched into every available seat. For yesterday's first meeting of Computer Science 283, an elementary programming course for students not planning to major in computers, it was, at best, cramped. THE HIGH demand for introductory computer classes has forced the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to expand the siz.e of classes and seek new professors and teaching assistants. Elementary programming is one of several courses this term with extremely long waiting lists. For yesterday morning's lecture, 192 students were enrolled and another 115 were on the waiting list. Although courses for prospective computer majors are not overcrowded, the courses for non-majors are becoming increasingly popular as students realize that computers will be used in whatever field they en- ter. THE HIGH enrollment in elementary program- ming reflects a large number of students who "try to find out what it's like" but drop the class because it is not what they expected," according to Prof. Gideon Frieder, chairman of the Computer Science and Engineering Division. Frieder said the department expects the over- crowding to subside because in previous years about 50 students have dropped the class in the first weeks. But even if 50 students withdraw, the classes will still be crowded. "IT SEEMS the biggest problem is TA's - not having enough to teach the sections," said Lauren Griffith, an LSA junior enrolled in the class. One sec- ,tionhad to be cancelled because only five teaching assistants were available and each can teach only two sections. All of the students who remain in the class will be accommodated, Frieder said, which means tnere will be 25 to 27 students in each section. "It is not ideal," Frieder said, "but it starts to be reasonable. . The ideal would be 20 students." "(That is) more bodies through the mill," said teaching assistant Jim Morris, "but that's not the best pedagogy.'' MOST OF the students in these classes are looking for a general introduction to computers, Frieder said, adding that they are mostly "students who would like to use computers as a tool in their career." Frieder said his department is developing a new course specifically designed to give liberal arts students information about computers and programming. The new class will be offered begin- ning next year. He also said the department is actively seeking new professors. THE STUDENTS who plan to major in computer science or computer engineering, overcrowding is not a problem. Spaces are still available in introduc- tory and upper-level classes for majors. According to the College Press Service, a federal study predicts that the increase in the number of computer majors may make it harder for graduates to find jobs in the near future. But Frieder and local computer firms say Univer- sity students need not worry. After four years of studying computer science, a graduate not going to graduate school, usually works at the systems analyst level. Those who study computer engineering often design computers after graduation. FOR BOTH types of student, the prospects appear good. "They are so well trained they find good, high paying jobs," Frieder said. See COMPUTERS, Page 3 .......................... .......... .~~........~ ... ........-. . . . . . Rock ymore sentenced for theft From AP and UPI Reagan appears optimistic for arms negoiations WASHINGTON - President Reagan said last night the United States will be "flexible, patient and determined" when arms negotiations with the Soviet Union resume. He said the United States set "no preconditions" for the talks and added that "one side alone" cannot make an agreement. "I believe a more stable peace is achievable through these negotiations," the president said. REAGAN faced reporters at a nationally broadcast news conference from the White House at 8 p.m. - his first formal, prime-time session with the press in six months. Asked about a possible summit meeting with Soviet President Konstan- tin Chernenko, the president said he was "perfectly willing" to have such a meeting if it "could be helpful" in superpower relations. But he said, "I don't think it would make very much sense to say ...let's have a meeting just to get acquainted. Other presidents have done that and found out the letdown was pretty terrible" when little resulted to advan- ce the cause of peace. EARLIER, REAGAN CONFERRED with Secretary of State George Shultz on his success in reopening the door to nuclear arms negotiations with the Soviets. A tired Shultz, just back from two days of arduous talks with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and See REAGAN, Page 3 By NANCY GOTTESMAN Leslie Rockymore, a senior gua'rd for the Michigan basketball team, was caught and sentenced last month for shoplifting at a campus store. According to a State Discount em- ployee who asked not to be identified, Rockymore set off an alarm at the door as he tried to leave on Dec. 5 with a $3.95 bottle of Curl Gel which he put in his pocket. State Discount filed a com- plaint on Dec. 19. ROCKYMORE was arraigned on Dec. 28 in 15th District Court and charged with larcency of less than $100, which is a misdemeanor. Rockymore pleaded no contest to the charge. According to Stanley Pollack, an at- torney for Student Legal Services, pleading no contest is not an admission of guilt. The no contest plea is frequen- tly used by defendants who wish to avoid a guilty plea or the publicity a trial could bring. Judge S. J. Elden placed Rockymore on a deferred sentence program for six months during which he will be required to perform 126 hours of com- munity service. He was also charged $30 for court costs. If Rockvmore adheres to the guidelines, the charges will be dropped after six months. Wolverine basketball coach Bill Frieder said no disciplinary action would be taken against Rockymore but would not comment further. Rockymore refused to comment. Daily Associate Sports Editor Jeff Bergida filed a report for this story. ..... 'stk '#>y..} ....... . '' <5 ?sr >' < > ''k'= 2 '' ' Ss> >22r<.' : Rockymore ... pleads no contest TODAY Snake bite HUNGRY RAT turned the tables on Jake the Snake, a 41/2-foot boa constrictor left alone with his intended dinner over the holidays. The rat had been placed in Jake's cage at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Ore., where the snake had been donated to the biology laboratory. Jake was expected to swallow the rat whole, as reptiles do, and digest it over the Christmas vacation. Before hunger pangs struck, however, Jake went into hibernation because the heat in the building had been turned down while students were out of school. Unfor- tunately for Jake, the rat did get hungry. When biology teacher Lyle Brown returned to school, he found the rat had chewed more than a foot of the snake. School nurse Jerry Wentland and two health career students performed surgery on Jake under the guidance of a reptilarian and the The next day, however, Jake was dead. "It was a most un- The next day, however, Jake was dead. "It was a most un- fortunate situation," said Wentland. French bread WHEN A BAKER who delivers bread to the elderly in three villages was jailed for failing to pay alimony, 500 of his customers rose to the occasion. In a petition sub- mitted Tuesday, residents of Vendoeuvre, Sainte-Gemme, Migne, and Mezieres-en-Bremme in central France asked that Marc Fricaud, 44, be freed "to assure the daily supply of bread to the population." The villagers said they did not intend to halt the wheels of justice or interfere in personal affairs, but said they "refuse to walk many kilometers in the snow because the baker is in prison for a family problem." Fricaud went to jail for failing to pay 700 francs, about $7, monthly to his former wife to support their two children. Vendeouvre's second baker has not been able to keep up with the extra work. Fricaud's friends said he stopped paying alimony when his children came to live with him, but he failed to report their change of residence and Kitchen Courtroom THE VOTERS made Howard Cook a Georgia State Court Judge, then the Gwinnett County Commission put Cook in the kitchen. "I'm just glad to have a place to sit," said Cook, whose kitchen courtroom in the crowded court annex in Lawrenceville, GA., doubles as a break room for workers. There is no room in the main State Court building. Cook wasn't surprised when he took office Tuesday. He said he knew about the space problems when he was elected in November. The county commission has agreed to refur- bish a building and put the court there, but it won't be ready for months. Then Cook will go to his new courthouse-a renovated grocery store. Outlaw Fire Fighters F IRE OFFICIALS in Kansas City, Mo. admit they have not been following the law they campaigned to have hour work shifts in May, which leaves more than 700 firefighters sleeping at some time during their rotating shifts, no smoke detectors have been installed in the city's 31 fire stations. A 3-year-old smoke detector ordinance requires that smoke detectors be installed where people sleep. Fire Chief Edward Wilson said Tuesday the failure to install the devices was an oversight but that 150 to 200 detectors have been ordered and should be in place in 60 to 90 days. On the inside. .. The Opinion Page explores Barbie doll philosophy.. . Arts looks for their extraterrestrial siblings.. . and Sports goes on the road with the basketball team. A.1 I tI I I