Ninety-seven years of editorialfreedom


VOLUME XCVII - NO. 138

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1987

COPYRIGHT 1987, THE MICHIGAN DAILY

I

Transition
team begins
work on 'U'
dental school
By EVE BECKER
A transition team appointed to govern the
University's School of Dentistry yesterday announced
the establishment of task forces to oversee changes in
the school.
Committee members met for the first time yesterday
with the school's executive committee, administrators,
and departmental chairs to present them with the
committee's specific goals.
The transition committee was appointed to a two-year
interim term by Provost and Vice President James
Duderstadt after current Dean Richard Christiansen said
he would not serve a second term as dean of the school,
effectively resigning.
The committee is made up of six faculty members
from the dental, medical, and nursing schools and is
chaired by interim Dean Dr. William Kotowicz.
The faculty in the school, which has until now been
uncertain about what changes the transition committee
will make, is reacting favorably, said Kotowicz.
THE COMMITTEE established six task forces
which will begin functioning immediately and two
others are scheduled to start soon. The task forces will be
small in order to foster efficiency.
Kotowicz declined to elaborate on the nature or
mandate of the task forces or on the committee's con -
cerns, saying he would not discuss specifics until he had
a chance to meet with the faculty after graduation. Other
transition committee members also refused to comment
on the proceedings of the committee.
Some of the task forces will discuss such issues as
budget and curriculum concerns while other will
concentrate more toward general data gathering.
The committee will continue to address areas like
curriculum, marked for change by Christiansen, as well
as targeting new areas for change.
See TASK, Page 5

City Council
fills Fourth
Ward position1
By PETER MOONEY DeVarti said he wants to work closely
The Ann Arbor City Council last night with students. "I will be responsive to the
appointed Democrat Dave Devarti to fill a concerns of students and I will help them
vacant seat in the Fourth Ward and address and articulate those concerns."
approved a Holocaust memorial week. DeVarti added that he would begin going
DeVarti's nomination was opposed by door-to-door every week to keep in touch
three Fourth Ward residents who spoke with the concerns of his constituents.
during constituent time and by the Re-
publicans on city council. At the beginning of the meeting, the
Jerry Schleicher was among those council listened to a presentation by mem-
opposing DeVarti's candidacy. Schleicher bers of the Ann Arbor Jewish community
supported the appointment of former about the Holocaust.
Republican councilmember Larry Hahn to
fill the seat vacated by Republican Mayor Three survivors of the Holocaust and
Gerald Jernigan. three young people each lit a candle. The
"I was supporting a candidate who was six candles represented the six million Jews
supported by a majority of the Fourth Ward killed during the holocaust.
voters. I resent the accusation that if we Sandor and Laslzo Slomovits played
(the Republicans) were in that position we "Aani Maani." The words were written by
would have done the same thing," twelfth century Jewish scholar and philo-
Schleicher said. sopher Maimonides and it was set to music
The Democrats disagreed, however. "I
know that if the tables were turned you by an anonymous victim of the holocaust
knowd thai the abes wherg, turnd youh who lived in the Warsaw Ghetto. The
Edgren (D-Fifth Ward), Nazis imprisoned Warsaw's Jewish com-
Ed nDFith Ward). Trrn munity within the ghetto while deporting
Fourth Ward resident Terry Beaubien itreinstodahcm.FomAil1
opposed DeVarti's nomination because its residents to death camps. From April 19
DeVarti had failed twice to win election as to May 16, the ghetto attempted an
a candidate for city council. unsucessful revolt which resulted in the
"I think I demonstrated my support in destruction of the ghetto.
the Fourth Ward last year when I polled The city council unanimously dedicated
only 40 votes fewer than the man who was the week of April 26 to May 2 as a
elected dramatically to position of mayor memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.
this year," said DeVarti.

iR em enmbrance Daily Photo by SCOTT LITUCHY
A "body" lies on the Diag yesterday in memory of those who died in the
Chernobyl nuclear accident one year ago. See story, Page 3.

Computers
raise quality of
English papers

By MARTIN FRANK
Imagine having a class in a
computer laboratory. If you're an
engineer or a math or science
major, it's not difficult. But an
English class in a computer labor-
atory? It may sound ridiculous, but
a University study shows it may be
a very good idea.
The project, conducted by Emily
Jessup of the English Composition
Board and English Prof. Delores
Schriner, studied the effects of
computers on writing composi-
tions.
THE STUDY, which was
funded by a $15,000 grant from the
University's Information Techno-
logy Division (ITD), found that
students who write papers on a
computer write more effectively
than students who do not.
Jessup and Schriner also found
that more than 50 percent of LSA
students who enter the University
have already had some kind of
experience with computers.
Schriner and Jessup began the
survey to determine the effect of
computers on students' writing two
years ago. They studied seven
sections of English 125 and 225
and matched four of those sections
taught in computer labs with four

other sections that did not use
computers. The instructors surveyed
taught one class with computers
and one class without them, using
the same assignments, tests, and
books.
The study found that the students
in the computer sections wrote
"significantly better" papers than
the students who did not use the
computers.
"We should have classes in
computer labs where we could do
effective in class papers, where
students can exchange discs so they
can quickly read other papers and
learn more. It gives you a new
feeling of community in the class-
room," said Schriner.
Student papers written on com-
puters were better because students
could revise and format papers more
easily on a computer than on a
typewriter.
THE PAPERS were also
more presentable because students
could include tables of contents,
graphs, charts, and various type
styles. In fact, Jessup said, students
would revise their papers four or
five times on a computer before
handing it in. She said this type of
revision would be virtually
See, LSA, Page 2
INSIDE
The Pepper and Salt Shakers' car
wash promotes interaction be-
tween the Black and white Greek
systems.
OPINION, PAGE 4
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic bring
their keyboard-oriented, experi-
mental but thrashy music to the
Blind Pig tonight.
ARTS, PAGE 7

The Miller family visits A2
Ernie Miller, left, is a prospective graduate student in business, and he and his family came in to see the campus and the city. Pam Miller
is holding four-month-old Sarah. Nathan, two years old, is closely examining a tree while four-year-old Elizabeth writes in her father's
appointment book. They are from Mansfield, Ohio.

Business school

evaluates ethics

By STEVEN TUCH
The University's School of Business
Administration has always included ethics
as part of its curriculum, but the topic has
drawn more attention lately in light of
several Wall Street scandals.
One sign of an increased focus on ethics
is a non-credit course, called "The Ethics of
Management" develoned by Cornnrate

New course added to study ethical dilemmas

Hosmer said.
Many business students say ethics have
become more prominent in their classes.
Most students, especially those entering
the investment banking field, have noticed
an increase in the mention of proper ethical
behavior.

"I think the insider trading has increased
the push for ethics courses," said Jim
Dolot, a second-year MBA student. "I hate
to see that be the reason, but if that's what
it takes, great."
The business school faculty, on the
nther hand feels ethics have been an

University for several years," added
Assistant Professor Randolph Cooper, who
recalls teaching ethics in his computer
information systems class for at least the
past three years.
"It is not the role (of the school) to
teach values, but to raise the issue. By this