U' takes control
of phone system
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 8, 1987 - Page 3
Asbestos
Bursley Hall residents
demand explanation
By GARY MULL
1 Officials say the University had
to pay more for assuming control
for maintaining, repairing, and
handling service orders for the
University's new phone system,
but they hasten to add that the
change was worthwhile.
The $31.7 million contract with
Centel Business Systems allows
the University to take control of the
system at any time, but does not
expire until Feb. 28. The
University began phasing out
Centel's services in September, and
'If we're getting the flack
it is important for us to get
control of the stem.'
-Samuel Plice
University Director of
Telecommunications and
Adminstrative Systems
on Oct. 15, it assumed complete
control of the system, according to
Roxana Block, director of
telecommunication systems at the
University.
University officials chose to take
Lover four months early because of
Centel employees' poor
maintenance and repair service,
Block said. "We felt that we could
maintain it better," she said.
Many people were complaining
to the University about poor
service, said Samuel Plice, director
of telecommunications and
administrative systems at the
University. "If we're getting the
flack, it is important for us to get
control of the system."
Mayo said most of the
complaints come from people who
still don't know how to use the
system. "In six more months this
will be totally forgotten."
Another reason for the early
takeover was that the University
"wanted to build our rapport with
the customers," said Mayo.
Block said the University was
able to assume control early
because it hired the necessary staff
sooner than anticipated.
Although Block said the
University lost some money
because it hired extra help early,
improved phone service "far
outweighs the cost of wrapping up
early" with Centel.
Although the University relieved
Centel of maintaining and repairing
the system and handling service
orders, Centel will receive close to
the $31.7 million it was contracted
for, Plice said.
Centel is currently building
phone systems for the University's
Flint and Dearborn campuses.
Despite the company's problems
maintaining and repairing the phone
system, Plice said Centel has
"high-quality installation."
By KELLY McNEIL
A group of more than 100
Bursley residents gathered in the
Bursley lobby last night to demand
a response to their concerns about
potentially hazardous asbestos in
the building.
When students returned to the
dormitory .this week from winter.
break, many found bright yellow
stickers in their rooms and around
the dorm that warned, "DANGER:
Contains asbestos fibers. Avoid
creating dust. Cancer and lung
disease hazard."
Gary Monroe, the manager of
Environmental Safety and
Occupational Health, told students
frightened by the warning stickers
that the stickers exaggerated the
danger that the asbestos poses.
He emphasized that the presence
of asbestos in the building does not
necessarily indicate any real danger.
What it does mean is that
students ought to take precautions
when they are near asbestos-
infested areas, such as pipes that are
insulated with material containing
asbestos.
Students who have these pipes
in their dorm rooms should not
hang their clothes on them, nor
should they upset the pipes so that
the insulation flakes and falls off.
Experts say that asbestos, which
has been shown to be carcinogenic,
is hazardous only when it becomes
powdered and airborne. There is
asbestos in about three-fourths of
the University's buildings.
Students were advised to call
FIX-IT immediately if they suspect
there is hazardous asbestos in their
room.
Many students wanted to know
why they had not been informed of
the problem earlier, whether or not
the problem would be corrected, and
when it would be corrected.
Monroe explained that the tests
were not run until winter break, and
that fliers were supposed to be in
students' mailboxes when they
returned to school. They were never
distributed.
Monroe said the students'
concern was understandable.
"Asbestos has been pumped up. It's
really in the limelight. But students
must realize that asbestos is only
harmful if it is in the air."
During winter vacation, the
University checked the dorm for
asbestos, and today, the University
will test to determine if there is
asbestos in the air.
Back to school Associated Press
Thousands of children returned to school yesterday in black townships
throughout South Africa. Turnout appeared to be higher among the
younger students and in Soweto. Large numbers of small children
gathered on the grounds of junior schools for registration and morning
prayers. Senior schools appeared to be quiet with many teenagers wan-
dering the streets nearby.
- M~d1titl'r rsE.
French jets strike Libyan posts,
Gadhafi retaliates hours later
}-
("1
LIBYA
u
NIGER -
OUAOI -DOUM
Faja Largeau
. ... CHAD
RED LINE
Arada SUDAN
NIGERIA Ndamena
4O0 MLES
CAMEROON CENTRAL
(AFRICAN REPUBLIC
French jet fighters yeaterday at-
tacked strategic radar in-
stallations held by Libyans at
Quadi-Doum, Chad in retaliation
for a weekend bombing raid in the
southern part of that African
nation.
PARIS (AP) - French warplanes attacked Libyan
air defense and radar installations in northern Chad
yesterday. Soviet-made MiG fighter-bombers of Col.
Moammar Gadhafi's air force struck back hours later
with a raid on Chadian government forces.
The French Defense Ministry said the French raid
was in retaliation for a weekend Libyan air attack on
the government-held southern half of the divided
African nation, a former French colony-
A ministry statement gave no details of the midday
French raid on the important desert base at Ouadi-
Doum, saying only that it had "neutralized" the
Libyan radar installations.
Chad's ambassador in Paris, Ahmed Allam-Mi,
said Libyan MiGs attacked a government post in
southern Chad hours after the French operation. He
provided no information on damage to the post.
Allam-Mi criticized the French raid as "too timid"
and asserted that the Libyans could replace the de
stroyed radar equipment "within a few hours."
French Defense minister Andre Giraud said in a
television interview that the Libyans struck the Chad
government post four hours after the French raid, but
he said the Libyan strike "was probably prepared prior
to the French action."
Allam-Mi confirmed the Libyan attack on the
government outpost at Kouba Oulanga, 40 miles
south of a line held by French forces.
Giraud said the French attack was designed to show
Libya the "accuracy and effectiveness" of the French
supersonic Jaguar fighter-bombers without escalating
the conflict into an all-out war between France and
Libya.
There have been suggestions in the French press
that Libya's weekend raid on southern Chad was
meant to test France's willingness to directly engage
its forces in the fighting between forces loyal to the
Chadian government of President Hissene Habre on
one side and Libyan troops and their Chadian rebel
allies on the other.
French Premier Jacques Chirac said Tuesday the
weekend Libyan air raid "could not remain without a
response from France." lie said, however, that France
"does not intend to develop a campaign in northern
Chad."
FILMS: S
at the Michigan Theater
WELCOME BACK
Come see a great film in the Newly
restored Miphigan Theater.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7
Have a rockin' evening!
7:15 ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
9:00 JAIL HOUSE ROCK
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9
All-time classic
7:00, 9:15 & 11:30 CASABLANCA
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 & 11
Big screen spectacular.
GONE WITH THE WIND
Call for times.
ALSO film shorts featuring Betty Boop and American
film funny man Robert Benchely shown with each fea-
ture and a theater organ prelude. Camp fun on campus!
For program information call 668-8480.
See all these great films projected on the large screen in the historic
Michigan Theater. call 668-8397 for more information. Admission to
films is $3.50 for a double bill or a single bill. Students and senior
citizens $2.75. Tickets go on sale one-half hour before showtime.
Veteran petitions for 20 million signatures
(Continued from Page 1).
Bill Bradley.
Tackett also proposes erecting a
series of monuments in Michigan,
Virginia, West Virginia, and
Kentucky to honor Vietnam
Veterans.
Tackett has been working to
increase awareness of the plight of
Vietnam veterans for many years.
In 1984 he earned the nickname
"Walking Tall" for his protest
walks from Pikesville, Ky. to
Detroit and from Detroit to
Washington, D.C.
He said the walks were meant to
attract attention to Vietnam
veterans who "have been
categorically denied disability
benefits and suffered loss of dignity
in a war that has been
euphemistically called a conflict."
Tackett enlisted in the Army in
1968 at age 17 and served in the
I
THE L
I
Performances
Dawn Kalls - Arts at Midday,
12:15, Pendleton Room, Mich.
Union.
Enjoy the sounds of Bach and
others on harpsichord, as Dawn Kalis
performs.
James Wilson - 8 p.m., Sch. of
Music Recital Hall.
Cello Recital.
Meetings
On-Campus
Program -
Auditorium 4.
424th Ranger Battalion of the 82nd
Airborn division. His tour ended in
1969 after he was wounded. During
his tour, Tackett claims that he was
exposed to the defoliant Agent
Orange which has given him a
nervous condition, a crippling bone
disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
While in Ann Arbor Tackett
lives in the Ann Arbor Shelter. He
lives off of his social security
disability check and contributions
from people.
University history Prof. Gerald
Linderman said, "People have come
to respect the contribution of
Vietnam veterans," and will be
I
CAN'T'
SLEEP'
Count Copies at Kinko's.
We're open 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
kinko's
Open 24 hours.
540 E. Liberty
761-4539
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receptive to the idea of a national
holiday.
Tackett plans to continue his
effort to increase the awareness of
the plight of the Vietnam veteran.
Recruitment
4:10 p.m., MLB-
Furthermore
Awareness of Stress Workshop
- 7 - 8 p.m., Ann Arbor "Y", 350 S.
Fifth Ave. (663-0536).
CORRECTIONS
It is The Daily's policy to acknowledge factual errors in this space.
Readers who spot errors are encouraged to contact the editors at 764-
0552.
If you are nature, reliable, and able to talk
persuasively about the University and its needs,
University of Michigan Telefund Office is willing
to pay $4.00 - $6.00/hr. plus bonuses for your time
just a few evenings each week.
INTERESTED?
Come to:
Michigan
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MCAT PREPARATION NEED NOT BE
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