Cutting of underground *cables leads to dark Diag by Gil Renberg Daily Staff Writer For the last two weeks, most of the street lights in the area of Angell Hall and the Diag were dark, causing concern among students that they might meet with ac- cidents, be mugged or even attacked. But last night nmost of the lights finally came back on. "You're always concerned at night... [Having the. lights out] just makes it worse," said a female University senior who wished to remain anonymous. "It's definitely bad that they don't have the lights," said a University junior who also wished to remain anonymous. She added that darkness would not stop her from walking around the campus. The failing lights can be traced to the construction *on campus, including the work on the new Chemistry Building. The problem is the fault of the contractors who have been working at different construction sites on campus, said Jim Almashy, the General Foreman of the University's "Electric Shop." The shop is the de- partment which takes care of the installation and main- tenance of all electrical equipment on campus. Almashy said workers cut underground electric ca- bles while digging. Contractors are supposed to notify Detroit Edison, the local power company, whenever *this happens, said Almashy, but sometimes they are unaware they have cut through a cable. The cables were not protected by conduits. "It's very easy to do damage," Almashy said. For the past few days, Detroit Edison crews have been working to repair the damage. Their progress was slowed, however, since they had to dig deep to find the cables, many of which are under sidewalks or other ob- stacles. The contractors responsible for tle damage are expected to pay the repair costs. Julie Steiner, director of the Sexual Assault. ; evention and Awareness Center, was concerned that having no lights in some areas may be dangerous to pedestrians. Although Steiner expressed concern about night- time attacks in the affected areas, she said most sexual assaults which occur on campus are "acquaintance rapes." Patrols in the affected areas were increased while the power failure lasted, said Sgt. Vern Baisden of the Department of Public Safety's Crime Prevention and OCommunity Relations Unit Both Steiner and Baisden said they were unaware of an increase in crimes due to the darkened street lights. However, they both urged students to report extin- guished street lamps to the Department of Public Safety. -Wednesday, September 13, 1989- The Michigan Daily - Page 3 'U' officials ta encourage JULIE HOLLMAN/Daily Eight ball Tom Cruise look-alike Jerry Linville lines up a shot in the Michigan Union Pool Room. Minority Engineers by Noah Finkel Daily Staff Writer Two University administrators gave a pep talk td about 125 minority engineering students last night at the Society of Minority Egineering Students kickoff meeting. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Charles Vest and Vice Provost for Minority Affair' Charles Moody talked to the students about opportuni ties at the University and in engineering. SMES, in existence since 1974, is a support group for minority engineering students and provides service's such as assistance in job searching, tutoring, social ac-. tivities, and recruitment (n inority high school stu- dents for the College of Engineering. Vest, a former dean of the College of Engineering, called SMES members "the most gung-ho, best moti- vated students I've had the chance to interact with." Vest tried to boost the Engineering students' morale by stressing their importance to society. He' said engineers have an important role to play in allevi- ating world-wide problems such as the energy crisis. and global warming, and a leading role to play in the verification of arms control treaties. He also stressed the role the students will play in the U.S. economy as engineers. "We have to have people out there producing things and creating new things in addition to those shuffling papers," he said. Moody urged the students to get involved in SMES, which he said can fill a void in areas such as, academics, extracurricular activities, and in job place- ment. He said there is a need for SMES because "thee University isn't doing everything." He told the students to take pride in SMES. "Never. apologize for having this organization or for being a. member of it," Moody said. "It's a poor dog whd won't wag his own tail." WHAT HAPPEN ED?, You don't know...? the DAILY de'eut Read the Daily and find out Ads Coupens Cartoons etc. New students ready to experienc by Steven Feldman Daily Contributor Michigan. Notre Dame. The Big Game. Had enough yet? For many first-year students, the pomp and cir- cumstance of a football Saturday in Ann Arbor will be a new experience. Many simply can't wait. Others can. "It's going to be great, because it's such a huge game," said Jeff Handler, a first-year student from New Jersey. "I've heard that the games are really jam-packed with fans and are really exciting," Handler said he knows what to expect because he has seen the New York Giants play football before. But Giants Stadium holds about e M' 75,000 fans, as opposed to Michigan Stadium's 101,000-plus. "I think that we'll be much more enthusiastic (than pro football fans)," Handler said. "This is our school that we're rooting for." Joy Kirchgatter, a first-year stu- dent from Canton, Mich., hates Notre Dame with a passion. "We're really out for blood," she said. "They cost us the champi- onship last year, along with Miami and the tie with Iowa." When asked if she would sell her ticket to a high bidder, Kirchgatter said, "Notre Dame? No way! Football is such a big part of the campus, I don't see how anyone couldn't get into this." )Otb all Although there will be many grid-iron fanatics on hand Saturday, some first-year students see the game as more of a social happening than a battle for a #1 ranking. Kevin Schnall, from Freemont, Mich., said, "There's nowhere else where you can have a party with a crowd of 106,000." Matt Walsh, a first-year student from Troy, said, "Even if people don't like football, a lot of them are going to be there." Some, however, will not be at- tending the party. Some couldn't get tickets, some have prior engage- ments, and some just don't care See FOOTBALL, Page 5 House considers flag-burning statute WASHINGTON (AP) - The House moved yesterday toward approval of legislation to restore criminal penalties for flag burning, seeking to overcome an unpopular Supreme Court decision. House action in the form of a statute appeared likely after Speaker Thomas S. Foley promised a vote later on a constitutional amendment, the remedy demanded by President *$ush and many congressional Republicans to undo the court's ruling that flag burning could be a protected form of free speech. MSA Continued from Page 1 yestigation would proceed and could set no timetable on how soon the inquiry would be completed. "Our goal is to proceed as soon as possible and to be as thorough as possible," he said. Williams said he wanted the inves- tigation handled responsibly and will Leave it to the committee to get to the bottom of the accusations. He added that previous administrations bypassed the assembly by conduc- "I remain opposed... and I think the leadership is opposed to a constitutional amendment," said Foley, D-Wash., calling such action unnecessary. However, he said he had assured those seeking an amendment they would get their vote, and he denied that that marked a political setback. He suggested he would work to keep the amendment from getting the two-thirds vote needed for passage. Some seeking an amendment softened their opposition to the statute, once assured that the tion investigations before telling representatives. "We're starting this from square one," he said. Williams said only after the com- mittee had presented its findings would MSA consider possible courses of action. Sanctions could include taking the student to court or to the Central Student Judiciary. Committee members who were chosen by lot included Rackham Rep. Corey Dolgan, Pharmacy Rep. Lynn Meyer, and LSA Reps. Jeff Leach and Cathy Stone. Democratic leadership would not use it to block their alternative. Rep. Sonny Montgomery, D- Miss., chairman of the House Veterans Committee and co-sponsor of Bush's amendment, stood up in the House and announced he would vote for the statute. "I still have doubts that we can do the job by statute, but this is a step in the right direction," he said. At the White House, spokesperson Marlin Fitzwater said, "We believe that this bill is insufficient to provide the protections that we seek, and therefore continue to press for a constitutional amendment." But he stopped short of any veto threat, thus helping the; House Democrats garner support for the statute. Conservative Republicans, however, continued to accuse the Democrats of trying to sidetrak the constitutional amendment while pushing a statute the GOP lawmakers contend may still be unconstitutional. Become a Daily Photographer.! Correction In yesterday's photo story concerning the protest at the Ann Arbor Federal $uilding, the Daily inaccurately stated that the protestors wanted the monkeys kept in the Delta Regional Primate Research Center in New Orleans. The animal rights demonstrators wanted the animals removed from the New Orleans Center. ............": n::::::: " " r .v r.i.i":"ii:'.....................-}:":"$::?{: ..;.. Health & Fitness The Right Bike. The Right Price. The Right Place ...... . ........ STUDENT DISCOUNTS BIKES $99 & UP GREA1 .AKES CYCLING & FNESS" For a great deal, and a great deal more! We guarantee satisfaction and the best prices. 560 S. MAIN at Madison * Ann Arbor + 668-6484 THE LIST What's happening in Ann Arbor today Show us your photos. B&W darkroom experience necessary. Come to the Student Publications Building, 420 Maynard at 7 p.mwon Sunday, September 17. Call David at 764-0552 or 764-0553 for more information. Speakers State Sen. Lana Pollack, College Democrats meeting, Union Anderson Room D, 7 P.M. Meetings Gay and Lesbian ACOA. St. Phi Alpha Delta, pre-law frater- nity, Union Kuenzel Room, 9 p.m. Students of Objectivism, Dominick's Restaurant, 812 Monroe St., 7:30 p.m.+ Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Club, CCRB Martial Arts Room, 8:30 r POWERHOUSE GYM etigko. ANN ARBOR - rnpn '7 rnv, maalr