The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 27, 1989 - Page 5 Animal rights * group forms BY DIANE COOK Students Concerned About Ani- mal Rights (SCAAR) is determined "rotect the rights of animals that are used for research purposes. Recently recognized by the Mich- igan Student Assembly, the group feld its second meeting yesterday. "Our primary goal is education... to raise awareness about leather, fur, and farming practices," said Laura O'Connor, an LSA junior, who is a founding member. "We plan to form committees for each of these areas." 0 Although SCAAR is not against necessary use of animals in the laboratory situation, the group vishes to abolish repeated, unnec- assary cruelty. By working with the University's Unit for Laboratory Animal Med- icine, SCAAR will monitor animal treatment in the labs on campus. If necessary, the group intends to take legal action against animal abusers through contact with national and state legislators. I SCAAR plans to work as an out- let for students to get information about inhumane animal treatment, forming a base group of students which wills help inform the other committees. More than 40 members attended fast night's organizational meeting, in which they divided into com- nittees to discuss individual con- cerns. Independently, members have al- ready started a campaign for animal rights. In East Quad, they have pro- tested the serving of veal because of the poor conditions in which the calves are raised. Expert dislikes infant donor proposal EAST LANSING - A Michi- gan group's proposal to increase the number of organs transplanted from babies born without brains could hurt transplant efforts while helping only a few infants, an expert in biomedical ethics said yesterday. Tom Murray, director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics at Case Western Reserve University, said that as few as 11 infants a year might benefit from transplants of organs from babies born without brains. Estimates are only 11 successful transplants would result each year from using the organs of brainless infants and although those numbers might increase in the next decade, they still would not exceed 40 or so. Murry noted that by creating: a special category that allowed doctors to take organs from anencephalic in- fants while they were considered alive, according to current definitions of death, might undermine public support for organ donation. A large portion of the public al- ready fears that doctors won't do ev- erything possible to keep them alive in order to take their organs for transplant, Murry said, adding that taking organs from anencephalic in- fants may heighten that fear. Murray said an acceptable option is to wait until the infant is at the point of death, place the infant on a respirator, wait until the child is brain dead under current legal defrni- tions and then recover the organs. Associaed Press Protester restrained Police restrain an anti-abortion protester yesterday after he and about 200 others tried to block the entrance of a family planning clinic at the University of Iowa. SCAAR plans to publicize a list of companies which mistreat ani- mals for research purposes. Also, a list of alternative, humane corpora- tions will be generated. To raise awareness in a large "group of students, SCAAR will 1ecure a time to show Tools for -esearch, a 30-minute video docu- fnenting cases of animal misuse for fesearch purposes. The film is ex- Jilicit, but won't turn viewers' stomachs, according to O'Connor "We share a common concern about the fur industry and factory farming. It's a matter of coalating an effort that already exists," said RC sophomore Joann Porvin, also a founding member. FZ Homeless charge police brutality BY DANIEL KOHNS AND JONATHAN SCOTT Nearly $60 worth of returnable beverage cans were confiscated from two homeless men by two Ann Ar- bor police officers Wednesday, after the police said they received a stolen property report. According to the homeless men and witnesses at the scene, the offi- cers on patrol apprehended the sus- pects as they sat outside the Stop 'N' Go convenience store on East University. "The cops screeched to a halt, jumped out of their car as if they were chasing a murderer, and insult- ingly addressed the men," said wit- ness Matt Bless, a first-year residen- tial college student. The officers, Richard Blake and Phil Levine, then confiscated two plastic bags containing the return- ables, and put them in the trunk of the patrol car. Both officers declined comment on the matter. Ann Arbor Police Sergeant Norm Melby said the returnables were confiscated because of a stolen prop- erty report filed by a fraternity. The homeless men, Anthony Raycraft and John Shenberger, claimed at the scene that the return- ables in question had been donated by a fraternity. Blake then escorted Shenberger to the fraternity that had earlier reported stolen returnables to the police de- partment. The cans were then handed over to the Chi Phi fraternity. "The frat stole our cans. The place the cops left the cans wasn't even where we got them from," Shenberger said. He said the cans were donated by another fraternity - not Chi Phi - but he couldn't recall which one. Chi Phi Vice President Gordon Cross confirmed claiming posses- sion of the cans, saying the pink color of the bags was evidence they were Chi Phi's property, as all of its returnables are stored in pink bags. But upon confiscation from the homeless men, the bags in question were clear plastic, a witness said, suggesting the returnables collected by them originated from a location other than Chi Phi. Shenberger was released after the fraternity declined to press charges. He claimed that upon release, of- ficer Levine threatened him with physical violence. "He told me that he would stake out the frat, and if he saw me there, he would blow my head off." Renuka Uthappa, a member of the Homeless Action Committee, said, "This isn't an isolated incident. Homeless people have reported con- stant police harassment on the streets of Ann Arbor." According to sources, who wished to remain anonymous, both officers have in the past been allegedly tem- porarily relieved of their duties for disciplinary reasons. Blake is currently the subject of a police investigation arising from a physical confrontation with student protesters at the inauguration of University President James Duder- stadt last October. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS FOR: . i1.0. 3100 MICHIGAN UNION (313) 764-8312 Spring-Summer 1989 Counseling Services will be offering the following groups and workshops for currently enrolled students. These groups are presently in the process of being filled. Enrollment is linited. Many groups require screening meetings with Counseling services staff to assure best placement. For more information, inquire at Counseling Services, 764-8312. Cooing as an African American Student on The U of M Campus Times to be arranged as soon as members are found. Call LaReese Collins at 764-8312. Black Graduate Women's Support Group losed at present. Hispanic Student Supoort Group Brown Bag, Wednesdays 12-1 p.m., beginning February 8-March 15, jCall Counseling Services 764-8312 to sign up. Asian Women's Support Group "Wednesdays, 6-7:30 p.m., starting February 15. Call Pamela Motoike before February 10. Study Abroad Programs are as follows: .0 oe 1 " a* : PARIS, SPRING Monday January 30, 4:00 P.M. MLB 4th Floor Commons ... ... A Personal Growth Group for Jewish Women ,Mondays, 12 noon-1 p.m., beginning January 30. Screening interview required. UE) FLORENCE, SUMMER A Workshop.-How to Code With Your Difficult Family-Summer Survival Skills Monday, April 10, 1989 7-10 p.m. Call 764-8312 to reserve a place. Global Friendships and Relationships Brown Bag Series Wednesdays, 12-1 at the International Center, Light-hearted discussions about relationships and dating. $pirituality for the Non-Religious Three Thursday evenings, March 16, 23, and 30 from 6-8 p.m. A workshop exploration' series for those seeking a more personally satisfying spiritual life. No Screening. Call 764-8312 to sign up. General Therapy-Self-Esteem Issues Thursday, 3:30-5 p.m. Coed Group. Accepting males only; screening required. To begin February 2, 1989. General Therapv Group Mondays, 5-6:30 p.m. Screening reuired. Adult Children of Alcoholic/Dysfunctional Families Tuesdays,3-4:45 p.m., limited openings available; screening required. To begin February 14, 1989. Adult Children of Alcohol/Dysfunctional Families-Drop-In Groun I V ='i . .. " Tuesday January 31, 4:00 P.M. MLB 4th Floor Commons SEVILLE, SUMMER I Tuesday January 31, 4:00 P.M. MLB Room B-116 Wednesdays, 12 noon-1 p.m. No Screening. i _ _ _