CIVS: Deli platters or defense dollars?
By JODY BECKER
First in a two-part series
Perched on the corner of Ann and Observatory streets
sits a tiny domed building, seemingly on the edge of ob-
solescence. A plaque on the wall identifies it as one of
Ann Arbor's historical landmarks. But the building is
hardly obsolete. In fact, the old observatory has made a
graceful transition from acting as the guardian of an
ancient brass telescope into the high tech reality of the
1980s as the Collegiate Institute for Values in Science.
Now the_ place where University professors once
studied the stars is used to study Star Wars. Sort of.
Sometimes. Depending on who you ask.
Literature published by the Collegiate Institute for
Values and Science (CIVS) describes the Institute as "an
informal discussion group" which evolved into an "ex-
perimental institute" with the interdisciplinary support
of many of the University's schools and colleges. "CIVS
'Has CIVS had an impact on University policy? Well, I suspect
not.'
- Prof. Nicholas Steneck
Director of CIVS
mandate or charter, it is difficult to assess its accom-
plishments or impact on University policy or the
munity at large.
"I believe that we can do things to elevate and advan-
ce the level of discussion and get the University to make
more intelligent decisions," says CIVS director and
History Prof. Nicholas Steneck. "But has CIVS had an
impact on the University? Well, I suspect not."
This year the "endeavors" of the institute
"in the neighborhood of $15,000 to $20,000," according to
Steneck. The funds are the combined contributions of a
variety of University schools, colleges and ad-
ministrative offices.
The organization's membership rolls currently list
close to 100 University professors who have been
nominated to participate as either "fellows" or
"associates" of the Institute. Approximately 30 mem-
See INSTITUTE, Page 5
endeavors to serve as a resource for and promoter of,
discussions that encompasses both values and science,"
according to the group's brochure.
But so far CIVS has only skirted and sanitized the
major issues of values and science, critics say. "My
reading is that CIVS is a fig leaf for the institution," says
CIVS member David Singer, a political science
professor.
" CIVS would be a marvelous vehicle for identifying
the big problems of education, research, and public
policy and encouraging research. CIVS could be a hard-
nosed body." Instead, Singer says, "It's an idle chatter
bull session, or rap session might be better."
Singer and several other members of the University
community feel that CIVS has fallen short of its poten-
tial. Because the organization has no formal objective,
it iqau Ia11!
Ninety-six years of editorialfreedom
Vol. XCVI - No. 138 Copyright 1986, The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan - Tuesday, April 22, 1986 Ten Pages
'U,
researchers
seek more funds
from Pentagon
By ROB EARLE
University researchers have proposed citing the danger of too much Pentagon in-
about $50 million in projects to three agencies fluence on campus.
of the defense department. Interim engineering dean Charles Vest said
Ten proposals, all from the College of the University Research Initiative represents
Engineering, have been filed with the Defense ' an attempt by Congress to revitalize basic
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DAR- research at the-nation's universities.
PA), the Air Force Office of Scientific Vest said the agencies solicited researchers
Research, and the Office of Naval Reseach as to do "generic research," and not just to work
part of the University Research Initiative on certain "problem areas" of concern to the
which was enacted by Congress this year. military.
Another $90 million in proposals were submit- He also said the Navy, Air Force and DAR-
ted to the Army Research Office earlier this PA projects were budgeted for only about $5
term. million each but the actual budget proposals
Unlike the Army proposals, the DARPA, varied widely.
Navy, and Air Force proposals were not Vest added there is little likelihood that
published in the most recent edition of the ,University researchers will actually get all
University's announcement of research the funds requested.
proposals and projects. Student concerns have prompted Vice
ASSOCIATE engineering dean Dan Atkins President for Research Linda Wilson tocall
said the deadline for Army proposals was- a meeting with students to respond to*
about six weeks earlier than that for the other questions and explain the University's policy.
three agencies, so these projects have not yet The meeting is at 4 p.m. at Wilson's office in
been published. He added that all University the Fleming Administration Building.
Research Initiative deadlines have passed, She will also speak at tonight's Michigan
and that no other projects will be proposed Student Assembly meeting.
unless Congress renews the initiative next Before the recent influx of proposals,
year. University researchers had proposed about
Students have expressed concern over the $20 million in defense-related projects this
influx of defense dollars to the University, year.
May flowers Daily Photo by PETE ROSS'
Roger Keller, head gardner for the tropical temperatures houses of1
working inside.
the Mathei Botanical Gardens, avoids yesterday's rain by
ant
By STEVE HER
Members of the Free South
dinating Committee said y
second complete destruction
on the Diag shows that Centr
not safe.
The shanty, which was buil
to educate people about the
in South Africa
as apartheid, was
damage lned t
Z and destroyed early Sunday morning.
Africa Coor- Committee member Roderick Linzie, a
esterday the graduate student in sociology, estimated
of the shanty that the most recent destruction on the
al Campus is shanty took at least an hour to inflict, so
campus security officers could have
t amont ago prevented the attack.
t a month ago ASSISTANT Safety Director Robert
racist system Pifer said the security department does
known not have the manpower to watch the shan-
k burned ty continually. "We have over 200
D
poor safety
buildings to cover and only three to five
public safety officers," he said. "We don't
have the manpower to put somebody on it
(the shanty) 24 hours a day."
Pifer said security guards did find the
shanty damaged at one routine check
during the night. "We checked on it one
hour and it had been pushed over, and
when we checked on it again it was torn
See GROUP, Page 2
fTenants sue landlord
for housing problems
By EVE BECKER
Four University students have filed
complaint to bring their landlord to
court in the first case to be tried under
the four-month-old weatherization
law that requires proper insulation in
homes.
Kathy Dotson, Karen Wight, Janet
Braisted, and Janet Houser filed a
complaint against Spears Woltersom
Company for breach of contract and
violation of the weatherization or-
dinance.
The suit claims their house at 120 N.
tate St. is not completely weather-
tight, or properly insulated.
The ordinance was the first city
policy to be enacted on weatherization
and insulation.
ACCORDING to Eric Lipson, an at-
torney for Student Legal Services who
is ihandling the case, weatherization
problems "arise with other general
maintenance problems." But he ad-
ded, "It's a new problem because we
haven't seen it until this winter and
there's no clear standard as to what
the damage charges are to the plain-
tiff."
If tenants are paying the heat, the
landlord has the responsibility to heat
the attic, to caulk all windows and
openings, and weatherstrip all doors,
according to the ordinance.
The four students say they began
noticing the problems when they
signed their lease last February. They
said they have given repeated notice
of their complaints, but have found
Spears and Woltersom "very
unresponsive."
"WE HAVE been writing them let-
ters since we first came in," said Dot-
son. The letters met with no reply.
The students then attempted to
mediate their disputes through the
University Housing Division. When
this failed to work, they approached
Student Legal Services, which advises
students on rental rights and landlord
responsibilities.
See STUDENTS, Page 2
ct 'U' student
returns after
semester in
Nicaragua
By WENDY SHARP
LSA sophomore Julie Abbate
says President Reagan's condem-
nations of Nicaragua's Sandinista
S .government are "incredible lies."
Unlike Reagan, Abbate feels the
best way to help the Nicaraguan
people is to stop funding the rebel
Contras and help the Sandinistas.
Abbate recently returned to Ann
-Profile
Arbor after spending most of this
xsemester in Central America. She
spent most of the time living in
Managua, Nicaragua's capital, but
she also traveled to Honduras,
Daily Photo by ANDI SCHREIBER Guatemala, and Costa Rica, avoiding
After visiting Nicaragua, LSA sophomore Julie Abbate says that Reagan wrongly condemns the Sandinista
government. See ABBATE, Page 2
TODAY
Honorary degrees
tributor to the mathematical discipline topology and a
member of Princeton University's Institute for Advan-
ced Study, will receive an honorary doctor of science
degree.
a mistake. There's the Nez Perce Indian Tribe, the Nez
Perce County, and the NEz Perce Historical Park, she
noted. The shift in spelling has become apparent in
recent months. Forest news releases that still bear the
one-word version on their letterhead use the two words
in copy. The name, however it's spelled, is derived
from an explorer's observation that tribal members
had their noss nierced The name- in Frnnsahnr
-INSIDE
INDECISIVENESS: Opinion criticizes the CIVS
inability to take a stand. See Page 4.
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