Report of bank pact sparks dollar's jump The Michigan Daily-Thursday, January 7, 1988- Page 3 Geology de tm ge e} ensures future fmini-courses NEW YORK (AP) - Money traders scoured for dollars and drove the currency's value sharply higher for the third straight day yesterday following Japanese reports of a secret pact among central banks to stabilize the dollar against the yen. Monetary officials did not com- ment on the report by the Japan Broadcasting Corp., NHK, which said the central banks of Japan, the United States and West Germany had established a $5 billion pool to intervene in currency markets and keep the dollar between the high 120- yen level and 140 yen. Some dealers interpreted the no- comment reaction as a signal that the report was true and bought dollars aggressively in hectic early trading. Others were skeptical but felt compelled to buy dollars as they saw the currency jump. "That report was the entire reason for the dollar's rise," said James Ho- hurst, managing director of foreign exchange at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. in New York. "Traders were clutching at anything this morning." In late New York trading, the dol- lar gained nearly 1.5 West German pfennigs to equal 1.64 marks, and gained 1.45 yen to equal 129 yen. On New Year's Eve, the dollar was worth 1.57 marks and 121.10 yen. The rise in the dollar again helped the stock market, though not as much as in the previous two ses- sions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, up 92.67 points Monday and Tuesday, added 6.30 to close at 2, 037.80. Broader market indexes also rose slightly, but the volume of trading was relatively light. In contrast, the dollar's rise yes- terday did not help the bond market, where prices fell sharply after two days of gains. Bond traders were ap- parently more concerned with rising commodity prices and consequently higher.inflation, which erodes the value of fixed-income investments. Some analysts said that even without the NHK report, the dollar would have moved higher in the aftermath of concerted central-bank action to buy dollars Monday and Tuesday. By some estimates, the banks spent $5 billion worth of foreign currency to buy dollars on Tuesday alone. By EVE BECKER Geological Sciences mini-courses are not easy credits, department officials have found, and the future is safe for courses such as Dinosaurs and Other Failures, Coral Reefs, and Waves and Beaches. The department's curriculum committee began a review of the courses last March, and has debunked the myth that the courses are "easy A's." The review was prompted by an 'inquiry from the LSA curriculum committee and Geological Sciences faculty. The review committee submitted a preliminary report to the department's faculty in November and will submit a complete report next month. Department head Rob Van der Voo said the "cutesy" names of the courses - like "Dinosaurs and Other Failures" or "Volcanoes and Earthquakes" which is nicknamed "Shake and Bake" - perpetuated the myth that mini-courses are easy courses. "These cutesy titles are not necessarily bad, but they lead again to a myth or reputation," Van der Voo said. "It's not the serious image of academia." Students are not guaranteed easy A's and less work if they takq geology mini-courses. In fact, the median grade is a C-plus/B-minus; slightly lower than medians for other classes, said Van der Voo. The department called the classes - which meet twice a week for halt a term - a success because its too, professors teach them, and they fit flexibly into students' schedules."P Van der Voo, who has taught the mini-course "Continents Adrift said faculty members enjoy teaching the classes because they are able tp present specialized material in tlrei own field. Introductory surve~' courses, on the other hand, often include some material with which they are less familiar. He added that although soP students take several mini-courses just to fulfill natural scienee distribution credit, the average student taking geology mini-course enrolls in only one or two. Roughly 3,000 students each year take the mini-courses, which have been offered since the mid 70s. This semester eight courses are being offered, with about 200 spaces in most classes. Daily Photo by DAVID LUBLINER Candy man Bill Hunter, a representative of Market Square who runs promotions for Barnes & Noble, disperses free candy bars in front of the bookstore yesterday. Nine vie for city council seats By PETER MOONEY Nine candidates, including a University student, have filed petitions to run for Ann Arbor City Council setting the stage for two primaries on Feb. 19. In the third ward, which includes East Quad and the heavily student populated area between East University and Washtenaw avenues, the Republican primary pits banker Isaac Campbell against Daniel Rosenberg, an LSA junior. Campbell, who is making his second run for city council after losing last year to Jeff Epton (D-Third Ward), said his experience qualifies him for the council seat. Campbell has lived in Ann Arbor for eight years, serving on city commis- sions dealing with the sister city program and the police department. He considers himself "a moderate-to-liberal" candidate and believes the city council should "maintain a local focus." Campbell said the campus area does not have enough housing, but he does not hold the University responsible for alleviating that problem. "I think that the housing problem is something the city should be concerned about," he said. "I do not think, however, we can just say that the University should build a dorm." As an alternative, Campbell suggested students may have to live further from campus. Rosenberg, who also considers himself moderate-to-liberal, said he would like students to have a greater voice in the running of the city. "The main reason I'm running is that students are completely taken for granted in Ann Arbor politics, which is why we have serious problems with parking and housing," Rosenberg said. He said the University bears primary responsibility for the housing crunch and should provide more on-campus housing. The recent increases in University enrollment, in conjunction with the removal of some University housing, has forced rents to increase substantially, Rosenberg said. If the University cannot build a new dorm, Rosenberg said it should consider decreasing the number of students. He also supports efforts at the city level to provide shelter for Ann Arbor's homeless. "Even though I'm a Republican, I have a strong concern for the homeless," Rosenberg said. Despite his inexperience in city politics, Rosenberg hopes a strong student turnout will help his campaign in the primary. Fifth ward voters must decide, which Democratic contender will face Republican attorney Thomas Richardson in the traditionally Democratic ward. Edward Surovell, a realtor, and Ethel Potts, a local potter, are vying for the spot. Potts said she is concerned about the housing situation in Ann Arbor. "The city should work a lot harder to convince the University to build more housing," she added. "I think the problem has almost reached crisis proportions." While Potts said she will consider supporting the rent stabilization ordinance which tenant advocates are attempting to place on a city referendum, Surovell opposes the measure. "If the goal is to limit rent increases, I don't think the ordinance will do a very good job," said Surovell. He said rent increases allowed under the ordinance exceed those landlords have been charging. Surovell said he considers himself more moderate than Potts and believes City Council should limit itself to local issues. In Ann Arbor's other three wards, the primaries are uncontested. Incumbent Democrat Larry Hunter faces no opposition in the First Ward. In the Second Ward, incumbent Democrat Seth Hirshorn faces Republican Ingrid Sheldon, who twice ran for Ann Arbor School Board in the early 80's. In the Fourth Ward, Democratic incumbent Dave DeVarti faces Republican Mark Ouimet. Bush-, Pole bicker;' Former Soviet leader disgraced MOSCOW (AP) - Soviet authorities stripped the name o f Leonid Brezhnev from a city, town squares and a Moscow neighborhood yesterday, showing their low esteem for the late leader now blamed for bureaucracy and stagnation. Wiping Brezhnev's name off the map was the latest example of Soviet Communist General Secretary Mik- hail Gorbachev's reform campaigns. Brezhnev, who was Communist Par- ty chief from 1964 to 1982, and his era have come under increasing crit- icism for fostering complacency and cronyism. After Brezhnev died of a heart attack on Nov. 10, 1982, Naber- ezhnye Chelny, a city of 460,000 people in the Tatar region 500 miles east of Moscow, was renamed in his honor. Also named for Brezhnev were an atomic icebreaker, a naval vessel, a passenger liner, an army tank div- ision, a metallurgical institute, a military academy, a nuclear reactor plant, a dam and public squares and streets. At the time, the Tass news agency said the name changes were made to perpetuate Brezhnev's memory and eulogize him as "a true continuer" of the cause of Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet state. Hart ignoj By The Associated Press George Bush and Bob Dole kept up their attack across New Hampshire yesterday as Dole suggested his chief Republican rival was cracking under pressure and Bush said he was only defending himself because "I just get a little tired of getting shot at ." In Washington, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said President Reagan "still believes in the 11th Commandment" - Don't speak ill of a fellow Republican - but probably wouldn't call a meeting of GOP candidates to urge them to tone down their criticism. "The pres- ident remains neutral," Fitzwater said. In the Democratic race, Richard Gephardt tried to boost his flagging campaign by attacking the press and political establishment, while Gary Hart dismissed as "superficial baro- meters" the polls that show him far ahead of the pack in Iowa. "It doesn't mean a thing," Hart said of the newest poll indicating he has twice the support of any other Dem- ocrat in the state where party cau- cuses on February 8 will provide an early indication of strength. Democrats as well as Republicans 'were attacking each other. Former Arizona Gov. Bruce Bab- bitt, campaigning in Iowa, dismissed as "laughable" Sen. Paul Simon's proposal of a day earlier to levy a surtax on the wealthiest Americans if needed to bring down the federal deficit. "I'm sorry. Soaking the rich and telling 99 out of 100 Americans they can get something for nothing is not a hard choice. It's the same old politics," said Babbitt, who has pro- posed a national sales tax to reduce the federal deficit. Simon defended his proposal while campaigning in Fairfield, Va.; but said he hoped it wouldn't be needed and didn't think it would be. "I am committed to stop borrowing from our children and grandchildren," Simon said. "We're going to have a balanced budget. I will ask for a tax r es increase, but that's a last resort, nqt a first resort." Meanwhile, Jesse Jackson accused all the other contenders of "failed leadership" and said Simon, Gephirdt and Sen. Albert Gore Jr. haveM"a record of abandoning the needy." Campaigning in sub-zero weather in Iowa, Jackson said budget cuts backed by those three in Congress mean 50,000 homes won't 'be weatherized this winter. "Those who surrendered to Reaganomics, those who did not resist must now bear the hardship imposed on the most vul- nerable," Jackson said. Vice President Bush kept up :the heat on Senate Republican Leader Dole as the two men campaigned separately in cold New Hampshire. "Sometimes you've got to defend yourself," Bush said. Most of the 13 presidential can- didates were campaigning in the cru- cial early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, which were gripped like much of the country in frigid terp- peratures. SELF-SERVICE COPIES With This Ad. Try Kinko's. For great copies. And great deals. KINKO'S OPEN 24 HOURS 540 East Liberty 1220 South University UM News in The Daily 764-0552 polls Doily Photo by DAVID LUBLINER Scarf it Students wrap themselves up in cold weather gear while leaving the fishbowl yesterday, the first day of classes for winter term. THE DAILY CLASSIFIEDS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET FAST RESULTS CALL 764-0557 THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HOSPITALS VOLUNTEERS eA Recreational Sports rrrI tTearr 'IM/1 T Venture into High Tech and add to the Human Touch Help Patients with the Healing Process ENJOY SPORTS? TRY OFFICIATING! " IM BASKETBALL OFFICIALS NEEDED "