The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, December 5, 1990 - Page 5


Learning disabilities fail
to hinder 'U' students

Helpful pointers
Robert Wagner, an astronomy T.A., helps LSA first-year student Nick Mann with an astronomy observation lab
problem.

by Lynne Cohn
Daily Staff Reporter
When a student studies endlessly
but earns poor results, something
may be wrong. The problem may be
a learning disability.
Learning disabilities (LD) range
from reading and comprehending
problems to dyslexia, a condition
limiting reading ability.
LSA senior Ethan Leonard had
his LD diagnosed last summer. For
years, Leonard experienced increa-
sing difficulties with reading, con-
centrating, and organization. As time
passed, professors assigned him
more reading than he could do and
he fell deeper into a hole.
"It was a relief to find out that I
had an LD," Leonard said. "I was
scared because I couldn't figure out
what was going on. I began to feel
unintelligent."
The Learning Disability Society
is trying to improve the University's
programs for LD students.
"There are universities that spe-
cialize in LD programs," LD Society
President Emily Singer said, "but I
think LD students should be able to
feel comfortable and succeed at
Michigan. As large as it is, the Uni-
versity is lacking in LD support."
The Reading and Learning Skills
Center provides academic support to
students who have trouble studying
and diagnoses students with learning
disabilities.
"I counsel handsome, healthy and
achieving students who have learn-
ing disabilities," senior Research
Associate Geraldine Markel said.
"They are no different from anyone
else; they just need some extra
help."
"It is nice to have someone to
talk to at the Reading and Learning
Skills Center," first-year Inteflex
student Todd Handel said. "I've
been diagnosed since first grade, so I
do not have many problems at this
point."
The word handicapped may
f frighten students away from getting

help until it's too late.
"There is a stigma associated
with learning disabilities because of-
ten people assume that it is a dis-
ability based on lack of intelli-
gence," Leonard said.
Leonard's confidence has in-
creased since his diagnosis, he said.
He maintains a 3.93 GPA.
"I think my LD would have been
caught earlier ifI had a 2.6," he said.
Many students with LDs cannot
obtain a high grade point. Yolanda
Lozano, an LSA junior, raised her
GPA from a 2.0 to a 3.0 after diag-
nosing her LD.
"I have a problem with visual
processing speed where I cannot re-
member what I read," Lozano said.
"It got to the point where I had so
much trouble comprehending, that I
just didn't read. I did not even buy
books for my classes."

'It was a relief that whatever was causing me
so much emotional strain and frustration had a
name... It was not a reflection of my
intelligence'
-Jeannine Merrill
Learning disability sufferer

"It's hard enough to relate to
people at such an elitist university,"
Lozano said. "I don't want to stand
out. I still feel embarrassed asking
someone to read aloud to me, and I
hate to use my LD as an excuse. No
one really has to know."
Jeannine Merrill, a Business
School junior, said she was relieved
to find the problems she had did not
result from low intelligence.
"It was a relief that whatever was
causing me so much emotional strain
and frustration had a name," Merrill
said. "It was not a reflection of my
intelligence. It's something I have to
work with and overcome."
Merrill scored in the 20th per-
centile on the PSAT. After being di-
agnosed with mild dyslexia, Merrill
took the SAT and ACT untimed. She
scored in the 98th percentile.
"I did not put my LD on college

*Property stolen
from 'U' Hospital
An employee discovered property
was missing from a University Hos-
'Pital Building on E. Huron in late
November. The employee told police
Monday that a printer, three com-
'paiters, a fax machine, dictaphone,
color monitor, and a gym bag were
stolen from four rooms.
Nursing computer
software missing
A professor at the School of
Nursing reported to Ann Arbor po-
,ice Monday that an unidentified per-
on stole computer software from a
fourth floor room in late November.
Hill St. house
robbed of TV
A resident on the 100 block of
Hill told police the unlocked dwel-
ling was illegally entered Nov. 27,
tesulting in the theft of a television
set. Police have no suspects.
Hillel discovers
cabinets opened-
The B'nai B'rith Hillel Foun-
'dation on Hill' St. reported to police
14hat an unknown subject entered an


office and forced open two file
cabinets during the weekend. An em-
ployee said the suspect also attemp-
ted to enter a storage room, but did
not gain access. Nothing was repor-
ted missing, and police have no
suspects.

Y Oin - *
Man found drunk
in bathroom stall
Ann Arbor police found a man
seated in a first floor men's bath-
room stall of Mason Hall at 3 a.m.
Monday morning. Police observed
the man was fully clothed and was
"obviously intoxicated." The officers
escorted him out of the building and
made no arrest.
Half of Ulrich's
cash stash taken
An employee of Ulrich's book-
store advised Ann Arbor police
Monday morning that approximately
half a cash fund used to make change
for the store was missing. The em-
ployee said the store collected cash

in a locked box Nov. 29 and it was
put into a safe later that day but was
not counted at that time. Police have
no suspects and are investigating.
Shoplifter makes
narrow escape
Richardson's drugstore on State
St. reported to police Monday that a
shoplifter fled the store without be-
ing caught. The store's alarm sound-
ed as the suspect exited, and an em-
ployee chased the suspect into
Nickels Arcade without catching the
person. Police are investigating.
Auto larcenies
near campus
The owner of a 1982 Toyota
Corolla parked on the 900 block of
Oakland reported to police Dec. 2
that an unknown suspect threw a
large rock through the rear window
of the car and smashed the passenger
door window. Nothing was taken,
but police estimate damage at $300.
A garment bag and clothing
were reportedly stolen from a car
parked on the 500 block of Packard
Nov. 26.
- by Josephine Ballenger
Daily Crime Reporte

Lozano joined the Learning Dis-
ability Society, where she receives
moral and academic support.
"It is uplifting that to be a Uni-
versity of Michigan student, you
must be very intelligent," Lozano
said. "A learning disability does not
reflect your intelligence."
The University offers a lighter
class load for LD students and pro-
vides many textbooks on cassette.
Some professors help by giving oral
exams.
"Professor Gray in Physics has
been extremely helpful to me,"
Leonard said. "He gives me time and
a half when I need it for an exam."
Some students feel reluctant to
admit that they might have a prob-
lem or need help.

applications," Merrill said. "I am a
normal student with good grades."
Merrill can read at the ninth
grade level.
"If a company will not hire me
because I don't have a 4.0, I don't
want that kind of job," Merrill said.
"I can work well with people. My
LD is an asset rather than a handicap
because it motivates me to continue
working hard and not drop out of
school."
"I have students who apply to
law school and medical school in
spite of their LD," Markel said.
"They are obviously bright if they
are at the University of Michigan.
It's better to get help before the bot-
tom falls out."


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T GAC-AA :y r
Business schools face a critical shortage of minority professors. According to current estimates.
by the year 2000, 28 percent of the college-age population will be Black, Hispanic and Native
American, while less than 3 percent of business professors will be from those groups. The Graduate
Management Admission Council-American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business Minority
Summer institute, to be held June 9-July 19, 1991, at the University of Michigan, is intended
to increase the number of minority students pursuing the Ph.D. and careers as business school
faculty.
The institute will bring together 30 talented Black, Hispanic and Native American rising college
seniors in order to introduce them to the challenges and rewards of the career of a business
professor. Applicants will be considered from a variety of academic disciplines, including
economics and other social sciences, humanities, education, engineering, and business. Previous
study in business is not required. The program provides the following financial assistance to
all participants:

World trade talks stall on subsidies

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -
An ambitious effort to overhaul the
world trading system appeared on the
verge of collapse yesterday as pres-
sure built on European countries to
Compromise in their fight against
:major farm subsidy cuts.
Some European officials indicated
they were willing to offer more agri-
culture subsidy cuts, although it was
,uncertain whether any new offer
would be enough to satisfy U.S. ne-
gotiators.
The 12-nation European Com-
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munity has staunchly resisted a
U.S.-backed proposal to slash export
subsidies by 90 percent and reduce
internal support payments and mar-
ket barriers by 75 percent over the
next decade.
The talks, known as the Uruguay
Round since they began in 1986 in
the South American nation, seek to
dismantle barriers to trade in agricul-
tural products, manufactured goods
and the fast-growing area of services,
such as banking and insurance.
"We have a very large stalemate

in agriculture and that is unfortu-
nate," said a disappointed U.S. Trade
Representative Carla Hills.
Rufus Yerxa, one of Hills' top
aides, said "negotiations are very
close to collapse."
A U.S. official, speaking on con-
dition of anonymity, said even if the
farm issue is resolved, it was un-
likely a final trade agreement could
be completed on schedule this week.

* Travel to and from Ann Arbor
* Tuition and fees
* Planned extra-curricular activities

" Housing/Meals
* Books and supplies
" $2,500 stipend

In addition, participants who successfully complete the program will receive college credit from
the University of Michigan.
For details and application materials, contact: GMAC-AACSB Minority Summer Institute, c/o
GMAC, 11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 760, Los Angeles, CA 90025, or call 213-478-1433 collect.
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 1991


It took Galileo 16 years to master the universe.
You have one night.

qtr..

It seems unfair. The genius had all that time. While you have a few


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