The Michigan Daily-Thursday, February 4, 1988- Page 3

Radon gas found in 20 campus buildings

By KEVIN KROLICKI
Trace amounts of radon, a natu-
rally occurring radioactive gas, have
been found in campus buildings,
and University officials are prepar-
ing a campus-wide study to deter-
mine the extent of the problem.
"We're looking at radon, and
we're in the process of developing a
program right now," said Ken
Schatzle, director of the Univer-
sity's Department of Occupational
Safety and Environmental Health.
RADON IS a colorless, odor-
 less gas produced by the decay of
uranium in the soil. High con-
centrations of radon tend to occur in
super-insulated buildings and build-
ings with poor ventilation.
Schatzle said low concentrations
of radon were detected in a random
test of 20 university buildings per-

formed for the University's Radia-
tion Policy Committee. The results
of the tests ranged from one to four
picocuries - a measurement ex-
pressed in the amount of the gas in
a liter of air.
The U.S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency recommends that
action be taken to reduce the con-
centration of radon in buildings at
levels higher than four picocuries.
In extreme cases, radon concentra-
tions in homes have been found to
exceed 150 picocuries per liter of
air.
"I was surprised to find them at
that high a level," said John Jones,
director of radiation control at the
University. "I think it surprised a
lot of us."
But Jones said these initial tests
cannot be taken as conclusive.

Radon levels in buildings are
known to fluctuate seasonally,
growing higher in the winter when
buildings tend to be more tightly
sealed up. In addition, he said, the
charcoal cannisters used to test-for

contamination than the rest of the
University, Jones said. "We pur-
posely looked at buildings that were
known to have ventilation prob-
lems," he said. "We were looking
for the highest levels based on what

'The emphasis in the past has always been on pre-
venting people from being exposed to radiation created'
by man, and little or no emphasis was given to natural,
hazards.'
- John Jones, director of radiation control

suits of those tests were, but they
said that only one building - a
storage area - tested near four pic-
ocuries per liter.
"All the buildings where people
occupy space were below the rec-
ommended limits," Jones said.
The state Department of Public
Health is currently testing homes
for radon, but final results are not
expected for another year.
Radon - a newcomer to the list
of recognized environmental hazards
- causes between 5,000 and
20,000 lung cancer deaths a year in
the U.S., according to an EPA es-
timate. Only recently did public
health specialists realize the gas
could become highly concentrated
indoors.
"OUR ENERGY problem
has brought about the problem,"

said Professor A.'P. Jacobson, a
radiological health specialist and
member of the Radiation Policy
Committee. Jacobson said the trend
to make homes and commercikl
buildings more energy efficient hhs
also increased the level of radon in
those buildings by cutting off the
flow of outside air.
Jacobson said that in many
cases radon levels can be reduced by
a simple method: opening a win-
dow. In more extreme cases, he
said, a contractor may need to be
called in for more extensive work.'
"The emphasis in the past has
always been on preventing people
from being exposed to radiation
created by man, and little or no
emphasis was given to natural haz-
ards," said Jones. "I don't know
where it will lead."

the gas are not as accurate as other,
more time-consuming methods.
The buildings tested also may,
have been at greater risk for radon

we know."
Jones and Schatzle declined to
specify which University buildings
were tested and what the exact re-

I

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F
4
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t

Housing
program,
attracts
students
By TED POPELY
More than 600 students looked
for alternatives to dorm life in the
form of houses, apartments, and
co-ops at yesterday's Off-Campus
Housing Information Day in the
Michigan Union, the first such
program in three years.
The forum, sponsored by the
Housing Information Office, en-
couraged students to discuss
housing options with 34 local
landlords, rental agencies, major
utility companies, and consumer
advisory groups, as well as repre-
sentatives from co-ops and resi-
dence halls.
In addition, Student Legal Ser-
vices and other housing advisory
groups were available. According
to Christine Hunsinger, an LSA
senior and program coordinator for
the information day, groups with
any interest in tenants were in-
vited.
Most realtors and landlords at
the program painted a bleak pic-
ture of the housing situation -
most of the larger houses 'near
central campus have been taken,,
they said. "It seems whatever
they're looking for we don't
have;" said Sue Balk, of Baker

MSA open house
aims for students

.

By ROSE MARY WUMMEL
Members of the Michigan Stu-
dent Assembly, struggling to earn
respect, greater student participa-
tion,'and more feedback, will host
their first open house tonight.
The assembly will open its
chamber doors at 7 p.m. tonight to
all students, inviting them to share
their concerns with MSA members
and encouraging them to get in-
volved in some of the assembly's
committees.
"There is not enough student
feedback," said Wendy Sharp, LSA
senior, and MSA vice-president.
She added that the open house was
an "opportunity for students to talk
about issues that they feel we
should be working on, to express
their feelings about MSA."
"I don't think administrators and
people actually listen to (MSA);
students are not really informed,"
said Melanie Gill, LSA junior.
The assembly has been plagued
by low voter turnout rates at elec-
tions and limited responses to their
survey designed to learn students'
opinions.
"It makes it tough to represent
the student body," said Sarah Rior-
dan, LSA sophomore and MSA
representative, "I'm lucky if 20

percent of my constituents even
voted."
Last spring, the assembly
launched a campaign to improve
student representation by mailing
10,000 surveys to all students liv-
ing in residence halls. The survey
solicited student opinions on the
role of MSA, the Daily, and cam-
pus issues such as the code of non-
academic conduct and classified re-
search. Only 1,000 students re-,
turned the questionnaire.
"Students are hard to reach and'
apathetic," Riordan said, "We've
been working hard to find out what
students want."
Riordan led the assembly's
communication committee in plan-
ning the open house. The commit-
tee advertised by hanging posters'
and inviting student groups,:
including the Residence Hall Asso-
ciation, LSA Student Government,
the United Coalition Against.
Racism, Engineering Council,;
sororities, fraternities, and other or--
ganizations.
Each of the twelve committee'
chairs plans to outline the work of
their committee, and students cano
address their concerns to MSA
President Ken Weine, Sharp, and
other representatives.

Dolly Photo by JOHN MUNSON,
LSA sophomores Lela Weems, left, and Debbie Payne look over some apartment listings at a housing forum.
The women have lived in West Quad for the past two years.

Management
But apartments still abound in
most owners' rental listings.
Jo Rumsey, assistant director
of Housing Information, felt the
meeting was most beneficial to
first-year students who have not
had experience finding off-campus
housing.
"I'm really alarmed about how
our (first-year students) are jump-
ing into something without
knowing how much is really out
there," she said. Rumsey said the
program was prompted by a

growing number of students re-
questing housing information on a
walk-in basis.
While many students searched
for a place to live next year, oth-
ers used the meeting to find in-
formation about leases. Judy Cox,
a housing officer who answered
students' questions at the Housing
Information table, found that stu-
dents were most confused by their
subletting obligations.
"I wish some of these guys
would offer eight-month leases so
we wouldn't lose so much money

subletting in the summer," said
Joe Tank, an LSA sophomore.
David Copi, an area landlord
who has rented out all of his
available houses, said this year's
information day was more suc-
cessful than the one three years
ago.
The Housing Information Of-
fice plans to hold a similar hous-
ing fair in upcoming years to help
students with housing problems
because this year's day "has been a
smashing success," Hunsinger
said.

1

THE LIST
What's happening in Ann Arbor today

Jewish, Black groups

Speakers
Bryan Shiloff - "Rotational
Energy. Surfaces: Shapes and
Significance," 4:00 p.m., Rm.
1200 Chemistry Bldg.
Jody Brown - "If it's Thursday,
this must be Kenya: The Acheulean
of the High Plains of Kenya,"
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Room 2009
Museum Bldg.
Lore Segal - Reading from, her
work, University Visiting Writers
Series, 5 p.m., Rackham East
Conference Room.
Dr. Kathleen Pistono and Dr.
James Grant - "Will You Survive
Your Handicapped Child," Sheraton
Inn.
Kan Chen - "Intercultural Values
and Ethical Issues," Noon, North
Campus Commons Valley Room.
Meetings
Catherine McAuley Heath Center
- Information meeting for
prospective adult and teen
voltunteers, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.,
Classroom 8, St. Joseph Mercy
Hospital Education Center.
Michigan Student Assembly (MSA)
Mass Meeting -7 p.m., 3909
Union
United Coalition Against Racism
(UCAR) General Meeting -
Union, 7 p.m.
Furthermore
UniversityLutheran Chapel -
Bible Study on the Book o f
Revelation, 9:15 a.m., Worship
Service, 10:30 a.m., Sunday
Supper, 6:00 p.m., 1511
Washtenaw.
Career Planning and Placement

PersonalCEssay," 4:10 p.m.-5:00
p.m., Career Planning and
Placement Center.
Career Planning and Placement
Programs - "Interview Lecture,"
4:10 p.m.-5:30 p.m., 1040 Dana.
Computing Center Course -
"Lotus 1-2-3, Part 2," 8:30 a.m.-
12:30 p.m., Rm. 3001 School of
Education Bldg. (763-7630)
registration required.
Computing Center Course -
"Introduction to Computing," 9:00
a.m.-11:00 p.m., Rm. 3001
School of EducationuBldg. (763-
7 630) registration required.
Computing CenterCourse -
"dBASE III Plus, Part I," 1:00
p.m.-5:00 p.m., Rm. 3001 School
of Education Bldg. (763-7630)
registration required.
Computing Center Course -
"Introduction to TEXTEDIT, Part
2," 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Rm.
2065A Frieze Bldg. (763-7630)
registration required.
Computing Center Course - "MTS
File Editor, Part 2," 7:00 p.m.-
9:00 p.m., Rm. 4003 School of
Education Bldg. (763-7630)
registration required.
"Shoowa Textiles," - Art Breaks,
10 a.m.-4 p.m., University Art
Museum.
Newman Night - focus on Lent -
7:00 p.m:-9:00 p.m., Lower
Chapel of St. Mary's Church.
Giant Tape Sale - East Quad
Music Co-op, Fishbowl.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority - "All
Night Jam Session Party," 10:00
p.m.-1:30 a.m., Michigan Union.
Jazz Combo Concert - 8:00 p.m.,
Rackham Auditorium.
RFD Boys - Bluegrass Music,
7:30 p.m., The Ark.
Winter Storytime Program - 7:30
n.m.-8:15 p.m.. New Conference

blast supremacist
Leaders of several campus and William Holr
Ann Arbor Jewish organizations and Black Student Sc
the president of Black Student Social decried the fliers a
Workers released statements yester- is evidence thatl
day condemning the white supre- President Robbe
macist fliers found posted through- posal to punish
out campus Monday morning. University comm
In a joint release, six leaders of should be implem
the local Jewish community said "The only pec
they were "outraged by the threaten- be opposed to
ing racist posters distributed at the those who would
University of Michigan and pained Holmes, a third y'
that Black students were confronted in the School of
by such hatred." Holmes adde
The* statement was signed by considering starti
leaders of the Jewish Cultural Soci- the Washtenaw
ety, the Beth Israel Congregation, Court to launch
Temple Beth Emeth, the Jewish vestigation into tl
Community Association, New Jew-
ish Agenda, and the Hillel Founda- - By Michel
tion. Poniewozik

flyers
mes, president of
ocial Workers, also
and said the incident
Interim University
en Fleming's pro-
members of the
unity for racist acts
vented.
ople I think would
such a policy are
be violators," said
ear graduate student
Social Work.
d that the group is
ng a petition to ask
County Circuit
a grand jury in-
he incident.

Arbor Forest
721 S. Forest
Ann Arbor. Michiean 48104
~-
Very Spacious 2 Bedroom Apartments
For further information or questions Also apartments available at:
Please phone (313) 769-6542 or 1001 S. Forest
313)p761-1523)9 rAlbert Terrace - 1700 Geddes
848 Tappan
1320 S. University
415 E. Hoover
1014 Church
520 Packard
and others...
Please call (313) 761-1523 Today!

le Nellett and Jim


7

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
The Michigan Daily will be interviewing candi-
dates for the position of Business Manager.
This person holds the highest and most
responsible position in the Michigan
Daily business department and
monitors the entire operation.
In addition to being the Chairman of the Senior
Business Staff and a non-voting member of
the Board for Student Publications, the
Business Manager's duties include:
- Control and monitoring of $500,000 fiscal budget.
- Management of approximately 50 employees
in three departments.
" Preparation of special cost analysis and
profitability reports and projections.
Resolution of client problems.

THURSDAY ES
FEBRUARY 4 CLUB
1oPM
r63-1107 $3.00
$3.00
JOHN E.
LAWRENCE
},
? (DT




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