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 U '", Finally, A College Job That Will Help Get You A Real Job .. 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 MEDICAL SCHOOL IS VERY EXPENSIVE MCAT PREPARATION NEED NOT BE Ann Arbor's Highest Quality MCAT Review is also the Best Value. A L.. -J _-1 - - - - - - - ......I A......Ja.. }..-...I .. to c . . A a r ,,9irc If