Task force report addresses
'U'
The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 19, 1990 - Page
environment
r w
by Jesse Snyder
Daily Staff Reporter
The University's buildings are
too "air-tight" and overall air circula-
*tion could be improved, concludes a
report on the University's environ-
ment released last September and
now under review by administrators.
The Environmental Task Force
Report, produced by a nine-member
committee of faculty, staff, and one
student, lists 10 areas where the
University can improve its living
and working conditions.
Among the recommendations are
rsuggestions for eliminating indoor
air pollution, reducing waste, and
conserving energy.
The task force cited "Sick
Building Syndrome" as a cause of
poor air quality. During the 1970s
energy crisis, buildings were tightly
sealed to use less fuel, trapping air
pollutants inside those buildings.
The task force recommended
monitoring and ventilating all build-
ings on campus to correct. the situa-
tion.
To reduce dependence on landfills,
the task force recommended develop-
ing a solid-waste reduction program
that would exceed Washtenaw
County's goal of 30 percent waste
recycling by 1993.
The University produces approx-
imately 12,000 tons of solid waste
per year, according to the report. Of
that waste, approximately 8.1 per-
cent is recycled, the report says.
Another top priority is energy
conservation, the task force found.
"Energy conservation should be an
on-going effort. Constant attention
to this issue will yield significant
future economic savings and im-
provements to the University com-
munity," the report concluded.
Task force members interviewed
key figures in the University and dis-
tributed a questionnaire to Senate
Assembly members to gather their
information.
The 24-page report also addresses
the issues of hazardous and medical
waste disposal, pest and vegetation
management, planning for green and
open spaces on campus, community
right-to-know laws, low-level nu-
clear waste management, water con-
servation, and stormwater runoff.
Task Force Chair Harrison
Morton said the status of the
University environment is relatively
good but more information is
ncedccL
"There's nothing obvious out of
sync, but that doesn't mean there is
something we don't know," he said.
"Air quality is one of the ones we
thought we needed more information
on. It's the number one priority, but
it's not like number one is way
above two, three, or four," Morton
added
Task force member and engineer-
ing Prof. Walter Debler said the
University has shown the proper
concern for the environment.
"It looked during the discussions
that the 'U' was squeaky clean. I was
afraid of the one-sided story so I
talked to the county environmental
people. They agreed. It reassured
me," Debler said.
Debler said that one danger of the
report is that if the University looks
clean, people will become compla-
cent.
"We have to look at future con-
cerns. Use of student recycling
groups has been instructive.
Activism has to be maintained," he
added.
IFC president
aims 'to reform
Greek system
Debaters rank
among nation's
foremost teams
by Lynne Cohn
Daily Staff Reporter
by Avram Mack
If there' has ever been a part of
college life that has been hard to.
change, it is the Greek system.
But senior Jeff Stacey was deter-
mined to take the challenge when he
became Interfraternity Council (IFC)
President. As IFC president, he has
worked, not only to change the sys-
tem, but its attitudes as well.
"I like the challenge of imple-
mentiug new programs that give a
sense of vision..." Stacey said of a
task many have seen as impossible.
"I've always had a desire to get in-
volved, a desire to make a difference
in an area that affects lots of peo-
ple," he added. k
In pushing for system reform,
Stacey has focused on one of its
biggest problems: alcohol.
Last January, Stacey and the IFC
implemented a dry-rush policy for all
of the University's 44 fraternities.
The majority of the Greek com-
munity was vehemently opposed to
the idea, but Stacey and the IFC
eventually prevailed.
"It was the right thing to do..."
he explained. "In terms of reducing
liability and increasing safety, dry
rush was the answer... When you
have many freshmen with very little
prior experience with alcohol, you
have a dangerous situation."
Another reason dry rush was in-
stituted at the University was be-
cause of pressure from each fraterni-
ties' national organizations.
In the face of fraternities' threats
of barring rush infraction officers
from entering or of. seceding from
the IFC, Stacey and the IFC would,
not give up. "We knew that it was
just a matter of time before it was
accepted," he said.
Stacey said of his persistence: "If
I believe in something, I will be re-
lentless. I try to take a good ap-
proach in alienating as few people as
possible."
Stacey said implementation of
dry rush has been successful. "We
don't need drinking. It's an im-
provement," he said.
The dry rush movement epito-
mizes Jeff Stacey. He is persistent,
and is a firm leader. Stacey said he
never saw the resistance to dry rush
as a hindrance, but as a learning ex-
perience in handling opposition and
implementing change.
He was active in his own house,
Tau Gamma Nu (TGN), in his
sophomore year, and then became
IFC rush chair the next year.
While working on the executive
board, Stacey saw at close range the
problems as well as the potential
dangers that existed when alcohol
and rush were combined. This led
him to want to become IFC presi-
dent.
"I saw the IFC as a means to
impart on an area that needed im-
provement," Stacey said.
One of his longstanding goals is
to promote awareness in the Greek
system regarding "risk manage-
ment." He wants to have "safety in
social situations."
'If I believe in
something, I will be
relentless. I try to
take a good approach
in alienating as few
people as possible'
- Jeff Stacey
IFC President
In addition to rules which en-
hance safety, Stacey has also pro-
duced a Greek-wide education pro-
gram aimed at both pledges and
members. The program discusses
sexism, sexual assault, and alcohol.
Stacey has also made changes in
the relationship between the Univer-
Interfraternity Council President Jeff Stacey works in his office at the
Union.
sity's administration and the Greek
system.
Unlike most schools, the Univer-
sity administration has no direct
power over fraternities. To Stacey, it
is a "unique situation. Most Greeks
in other schools are puppets of the
administration, but here the IFC is
basically free to do what it pleases."
This freedom may have led to the
system's disorganization in the mid-
1980s, but in what the University
administration sees as Stacey's top
accomplishment, he has formed a
self-governance of the fraternities,
and basically restructured the IFC it-
self.
Ken Kelly, a professional frater-
nal organizer employed by the
Alumni IFC to work with the IFC,
noted that Stacey has been "very in-
volved in solidifying IFC as an or-
ganization, and he has been very
successful in that regard."
Officials in the University admin-
istration said they are happy with
Stacey's reorganization of the sys-
tem. Shirley Clarkson, assistant to
University President James Duder-
stadt, said "the president is very
pleased that self-governance in the
fraternities has progressed as it has
with Jeff."
Stacey's involvement is not lim-
ited to the Greek system.
He is an honors student graduat-
ing with a degree in Political
Science. Next year he will work in
London in the English Parliament.
He has been active in community
service, spending time working in
area hospitals and campaigning
yearly for local, state, and national
political candidates.
"I've just tried to take advantage
of so many opportunities 'to expand
my education," he said. "There is a
whole other education that one re-
ceives outside of the classroom here
at U-M... These help prepare you for
life."
Stacey has spent the last four
summers at the National Leadership
Center in Colorado, an experience
which taught him about leadership.
"I learned that leadership isn't con-
trol or running the show, or being in
the spotlight, but rather the desire to
serve, and to make a difference in a
group," he said.
There is no debate that there just
may be a top team at the University.
Debaters Colin Kahl and Matt
Shores placed within the top 20
teams in the nation as a first-year
students'hteam last year. This year,
they are hoping for the top five.
"We feel confident," Kahl said.
"It's interesting because we are such
a young team; we didn't expect to do
as well. We have far surpassed our
expectations."
The team took first place this
season at the Henry Clay tournament
at the University of Kentucky, third
place at both the KentuckyrRound
Robin and the University of
Northern Iowa, and ninth at Harvard
University.
"We have done better already after
four tournaments than we ever hoped
to do," Shores said. "Our biggest ac-
complishment was beating last
year's national number one team
from Harvard."
Kahl and Shores placed ninth as
first-year studentssat the National
Championship last year but failed to
rank within the top sixteen national
teams.
"At the national tournament at
the end of the year, 20 coaches vote
for the top 16 teams," Coach Steve
Mancuso said. "Colin and Matt just
missed it last year. If they keep up
the way they've been going, they
should finish at number five this
year."
"We are confident that we can
beat any team in the country,"' Kahl
said. "There's no doubt that we're
much better and more consistent as
sophomores than we were as fresh-
men."
College debaters work on one
topic from September until April
each year. This year, the topic is:
"Resolved: The United States should
substantially change its trade policy
toward Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea,
or Hong Kong."
Team members spend approxi-
mately twenty hours each week.re=
searching and practicing for tourO4-
ments.
"The teams will have four debates
on .the affirmative and four on the
negative," Mancuso said.
The University's debate team i'a
young team, with no seniors. The
16 members form eight individual
teams that have gained experience
and speaking ability through high
school and college debate.
'We are confident that
we can beat any team
in the country'
- Colin Kahl
University debater
Intercollegiate debating has been
at the University since 1890, with
the exception of a five year lapse
from 1980-85. It was reborn when.
Mancuso began coaching, and the
team placed first overall nationally
in the 1987 and 1988 academic
years.
"Colin and Matt have the poten-
tial and commitment to be the best
team Michigan has had since I've
been here," Mancuso said.
Kahl and Shores have a tough
season ahead of them, as they will
compete against seniors with more
collegiate debate experience.
The University has two female
and 14 male debaters.
"That is not unusual compared to
other universities," Mancuso said.
"We have been known to have a lot
of women debaters at Michigan."
"I recruit high school debaters by
travelling during the year to large
tournaments where I can see who is
the best in a region," Mancuso said.
"That is how I recruited Coln and
Matt."
Aussies excited as solar cars traverse Outback
by David Rheingola
Daily Staff Reporter
They'll tell you to have a
"g'day." They'll address you as mate.
But to most Australians, the re-
cent World Solar Challenge 1990 is
not an ordinary conversational item.
Many who travelled from their
nearby homes to watch the 1,900
mile race were nearly speechless
with amazement.
"I think it's very special," said
Judy Jepson, a nurse from Alice
Springs. Jepson brought her 12-
month-old daughter to see the solar-
powered cars pull in at a local media
stop.
"I think it's the wave of the fu-
ture... it's an outlet for energies -
scientific energies - to go to. I'm
really impressed," Jepson said.
Mark Cole, a chauffeur also from
Alice Springs, saw "new solar tech-
nology which the (Northern) Terri-
tory could use to its advantage"
John Etteridge, a bus driver from
Adelaide, was mildly disappointed
with the intervals between the time
each car crossed the finish line.
"It would be nice if they came in
side-by-side, becuase this will last
for a few days. I realize that can't
happen in a race like this," he said.
Etteridge also felt the World So-
lar Challenge shoudl be held annu-
ally, instead of every three years.
"I like competitions like this, but
I think they should happen more of-
ten. In the next few years, technol-
ogy will be moving in leaps and
bounds," Ettridge said.
Paul Tourney, a photographer
from Salisbury, didn't expect such
rapid progress, but nevertheless felt
the race was a worthwhile event.
"They're a few years ahead of the
practical stuff, but it's still very
worthwhile," Tourney said.
Not everybody was satisfied with
the race, though. "I think they're
getting there. Next year, we'll start
to see something really serious.
Honda's almost there. Their car flew
in; it didn't just mosey on in," said
Ian McFarland, a designer from
Adelaide.
"Up till now, it's been experi-
mental," McFarland continued.
"Next year it's serious. This year,
fun and games, but the last year of
fun and games. Next year, it's on no
uncertain terms."
Jerry Scoble and Maxine Visea,
who live in the rustic town of Kul-
gera, sat by the side of the highway
and watched the race, while baby-sit-
ting a two-year-old friend, Stacey.
"The leaps and bounds for tech-
nology are wonderful. It's history
going past. Sitting here on a fence
watching it go past is exciting,"
Scoble said.
"I've never seen it before. It's re-
ally exciting, really new for the out-
back," Visca agreed.
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