Weekend Magazine: Special issue: The Ann Arbor Music John Logie 9 Interview: Roy Brooks Scene 9 The List Ninety-seven years of editorial freedom rVOLUME XCVII - NO. 96 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1987 COPYRIGHT 1987 THE MICHIGAN DAILY F Asbestos: Hazard in 'U' housing By ELIZABETH ATKINS Editor's note: Today's article is the first of a two part series. On Monday the Daily will examine student reaction to the administration's asbestos removal policy. Asbestos in University residence halls. has sparked student anxiety and administrative action. The substance is a fire-proof insulator used in buildings until the early 1970s when legislators tightened laws and concern about its hazards heightened. Inhaling asbestos' airborne, micr- osopic fibers can cause lung lesions and cancer and the white, fibrous insulator is found in an estimated three- quarters of University buildings. University officials have made asbestos removal from residence halls the top priority, because students spend most of their time in their rooms. Gary Monroe, manager of University Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, said removal and sealing of the asbestos in other University buildings will occur during the next two or three years, after residence halls are completed next year. "We're going full steam ahead" in the removal program, said George San Facon, Director of Housing Physical Properties, though he does not believe the asbestos problem poses an immediate health hazard to residents, compared to the threat of fires, for example. Asbestos fibers must be airborne in order to be dangerous, according to Lise Anderson, a toxics education specialist at the Ann Arbor Ecology Center. Anderson said asbestos is a health hazard only when in its "friable" state, when it's crumbled and the dust becomes airborne. Friction causes asbestos to crumble and become. airborne. In residence halls, asbestos can become airborne when students put hangers on pipes covered with asbestos and insulation chips and crumbles. Also, when maintenance workers work on pipes insulated with asbestos, the substance inevitably deteriorates and becomes airborne. T O COMBAT the asbestos problem, the University has hired an asbestos survey firm and an asbestos removal firm for residence halls, according to Monroe. Asbestos removal workers use special equipment, face masks, gloves, and protective clothing when removing the substance. Depending on the specific case, workers cover the asbestos with a bonding material which prevents fiber release into the air. Workers also enclose asbestos by constructing a barrier between the asbestos and the environment. Monroe said room-by-room surveys inspect asbestos insulation in rooms and assess its condition. He said each room must be checked because sometimes insulation appears to be asbestos when it is fiberglass, which does not pose a health risk. About 80 percent of the inspections for asbestos in students' rooms has been completed, and should be finished by the end of March, Monroe said. Surveys are currently being done in Mary Markley and surveys of See 'U', Page 2 may provide increased child care By WENDY SHARP Employers must provide child care to retain their employees, according to a recent study from Harvard University. And while University administrators feel ade - quate facilities exist on campus, employees and students disagree. "The University is behind the times," said Martha Adler, field service specialist for the Center for Sex Equity. "There's no doubt in my mind that the need is there." Former coordinator for Child Care "'rvices Kathy Modigliani said, "I'm pessimistic about there ever being substantial support for child care on this campus." Child Care Services is a group under Family Housing Community Ser - vices on North Campus. "The University doesn't feel responsible in this area at all," she added. "Most Big Ten Universities have more campus child care than here, and more Michigan colleges 1and universities have more sup - port. The University partly subsidizes two University programs: the Children's Center and the Child - ren's Center for Working Families, both located at 400 North Ingalls. The enrollment in both programs is 170, with a long waiting list, according to Steven Sternberg, the programs' director. STERN BERG said the University should play a larger role in providing child care benefits, even if the aid is indirect such as "making use of IRS provisions and tax breaks." The study agrees with this assessment, saying millions of families are in need of child care and the employer should aid their sit - uation. Study authors David Bloom of Harvard University and Martin See CHILD, Page 2 Students protest racism By WENDY LEWIS and EUGENE PAK Members of a newly formed co- aliton to fight campus racism declared intentions yesterday to file a civil rights law suit against the University. The suit, announced at a civil rights rally, is in response to the distribution of a racist flyer in Couzens Residence Hall. The coalition does not yet have a name, but consists of members of The Free South Africa Coordinating Committee, the University chapter of the NAACP, and several other student groups. Speaking to an audience of about 75 marchers, FSACC member Dave Fletcher announced the exist- ence of the coalition. The North Campus Unity March and Rally was organized by FSACC, The Black Baits Council, The Baits Intercooperative Council, and resi- dence hall staff members from Bursley and the Baits complexes. Coalition members say their strategy is to fight campus racism on three fronts. The group intends Daily Photo by DARRIAN SMITH' Imprisoned A mannequin in a cage on the Diag yesterday symbolizes the plight of Jews denied exit visas from the Soviet Union. The mannequin was imprisoned by the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry as part of International Solidarity Day. Medical school officials modify caldendar Changc occurred on January 27 at Couzens Residence Hall, when a flyer read- ing "Open Season on Blacks" was distributed, and -demand that the administration provide an equal and safe environ- ment for all students. John Simms, executive board member of the University chapter of the NAACP, cited an incident last year when watermelons were thrown against an ethnic mural at Mary Markley Residence Hall. "We are going to document and distribute these incidents," said Fletcher. "We are here today because we are tired," said Simms, an LSA junior. "It's about time that we persecute those who are persecuting us." Michael Nelson, president of the University chapter of the NAACP said, "There is nothing definitive we can do to change a pro's opinion, but our examples should be so overwhelming that they will send a message that will deter those racist policies, forms and postures." After the rally, many marchers attended a special teach-in called Confronting Racism on Campus, sponsored by the Pilot Program and See RACISM, Page 5 By EVE BECKER After students appealed a change to the Medical School's academic calendar which would have shortened their vacation by a week and cut their exam period by three days, the school's executive committee voted yesterday to ammend its decision. The executive committee will modify its decision to change the medical school academic calendar, still shortening winter vacation by one week and starting classes later in August, but cutting two days off the class schedule in order not to shorten the exam period. The change is contingent upon faculty approval to cut the class time by two days. Administrators, students, and faculty say the faculty will approve the change. The changes were made in an effort to bring the medical school calendar more in concordance with the undergraduate calendar. Currently, classes for the medical school start two weeks earlier than LSA classes. This poses problems for inteflex students and pharmac- ology students who take classes in the medical school and in LSA. Dr. Henry Swain, assistant dean for faculty affairs, said the executive committee decided to change its decision after hearing student appeals against cutting examination time. The committee voted to take two days off the class schedule, which would give students a nine day exam period. The students requested a cut of three days from the class schedule and al0 day exam period. The change is only effective for the coming year, however, because future curriculum might make an extended exam period unnecessary. The emphasis on studying for See MEDICAL, Page 3 to: 'document racial incidents on the University campus; -file a lawsuit against the Uni- versity for the racist incident which Turkish group launches seminars Triskaidekaphobics: beware of bad luck 4-' 5,, / 4 4 I' 4 91 ; V (7 J,. h ,,. 8 I By DAVID WEBSTER It's possible that all Hell could break loose today, or maybe it won't. For superstitious people, today is a good day to stay in bed and lock all the doors and windows. Avoid ladders, black cats, and cracks in the sidewalk at all costs. If you find a penny be sure to pick up because today you are going to need all the good luck you can possibly muster. Today is Friday the 13th and tonight's sky will play host to a magnificent full moon. The superstition associated with Friday the 13th ones hack to the early days of "Combine Fridays and 13s and you just have a double whammy for some people," he said. A sampling of University students showed that most are not concerned about the negative conotations associated with today. But there are those students who will be looking over their shoulder as they walk to class today. "I'll be extra careful not to walk under ladders," said Debby Weisman, an LSA junior. Weisman is also concerned about the exam she has to take today in her Zionism class, although her professor told i By STEVEN TUCH The University Turkish Student Association launched its series of seminars on Turkey last night, just one of the events the more than 20- year-old club plans this semester. The association boasts a membership of 90 people which includes students, alumni, and area residents of both Turkish and non- Turkish descent. The lecture series will be led by a variety of speakers which include archeologists, doctors, and pro- fessors and will be held every Thursday through the rest of the the winter term.- "These lectures are to acquaint people with Turkey's culture, economy, politics, and history," said Betul Dundar, the organizer of the lecture series and an LSA junior. Last night, Doctorate candidate ra.ntnlinn hac.P nnltP n tht Candidates Ann Marie Coleman and Jerry Schleicher are endorsed in the First and Fifth Ward primaries. OPINION, PAGE 4 The National Theater of the Deaf will perform The Heart is a Lonely Hunter this Sunday. ARTS, PAGE 9 The Nanooks traverse the con- ments were built illegally on state land," said Chesley during her lecture to an audience of about 50. Other lecture topics that will be covered in the series include: the Turkish economy, the Ottoman Empire, and the role of Turkish women throughout history. See TURKISH, Page 5 INSIDE, I ." 6 i t i i