The Michigan Daily -Monday, September 23,1991 - Page 3

Speaker:
students
'need
bilingual
education
by Rob Patton
Daily Staff Reporter
While many Americans see
bilingual education as a threat to the
status of English as the primary
language spoken in the United
States, Concepcion Valadez believes
the opposite is true.
Valadez, a professor at the Uni-
versity of California at Los Ange-
les, spoke to an audience of about 50
people on "Bilingual Education
Laws and their Effect on Learning."
The lecture was part of the Hispanic
Heritage Celebration.
Far from being a threat to En-
glish, bilingual education is the key
to giving many immigrants to the
U.S. a place in the English-speaking
world, Valadez said.
Valadez began with a history of
bilingualism in America. She noted
that from colonial times through
;,the early nineteenth century, other
languages, especially German, were
spoken and taught along with 'En-
glish in many parts of America.
Now it is Spanish speakers who
make up the largest non-English
speaking segment of the American
population, she said, but added that
recently many states have passed
"English Only" laws, impeding ef-
*forts at bilingual education.
Valadez said that while it is nec-
essary to teach English to Spanish
speaking children in this country,
they must be taught in Spanish until
they learn English, or they will fall
behind.
"If we have students waiting un-
til they know English to be edu-
cated, it's too slow ... they're losing
ground," she said, adding that
*knowledge learned in one language
can easily be accessed in another.
Valadez also pointed to research
that suggests that a bilingual educa-
tion not only doesn't impair the
learning process, it gives a student
certain advantages.
She said a study of students in
Ireland who were educated in both
English and Gaelic showed that the
bilingual pupils demonstrated more
creativity and were more successful
in solving math problems than stu-
dents who spoke only English.
"They did the math problems in
English, then went back and proof-
read them in Gaelic ... and caught a
lot of mistakes," she said.
Valadez recalled watching her
three older sisters drop out of
0 schools which insisted on teaching
them in English, though they spoke
only Spanish. She said she fears this
could happen to young non-English
speakers who do not get a bilingual
education.
"The status of English is at risk
only if we don't keep these kids in
school. If we keep them in school,

they will be educated and they will
learn English and they will be good
citizens. If not, they will be
dropouts," she said.

'U' to transfer
MTS accounts
to one system

by Kelly Moore
Soon, the University's electronic
mail network will no longer be
singing the blues.
The University's purchase of a
new IBM mainframe has brought
with it the elimination of UB, or
"University Blue," the MTS elec-
tronic mail system.
When students return in January'
UB-MTS will no longer exist.
Instead, all student accounts will be
transferred to the UM, or
"University Maize," MTS system.
But the change should not cause
students any problems, since
Information Technological Division
(ITD) is taking steps to insure that
the transition is smooth.
Not only has ITD been publiciz-
ing the change in U-M Computing
News, but according to Steve
Burling, manager of the MTS group,
"As time draws near messages will
be on the computers when students
go to log in."
The main reason for the change is
the new mainframe's inability to
divide the UB and UM systems
easily.
Burling also said the UM system
will be more convenient for MTS
users.
"UB's existence is largely
historical," he said.

Burling also said that passwords
will remain the same. The only dif-
ference students will recognize
with the change is that when they
are asked which system to select
while signing on, they will enter
UM instead of UB.
Students are not worried about
the shift.
When asked about the change, an
Angell Hall monitor said, "It'll be
a breeze ... it's just a minor change."
Rackham student Larry Adams is
not concerned with the shift, "I
don't think the change will effect
me."
"It doesn't bother me that it's
going to switch," LSA junior
Aletha Edwards said.
"I think this will be great for
boosting school spirit. Otherwise, I
don't see why it should make any
difference at all," said an LSA ju-
nior.
Students should be aware that
the UB-MTS mail addresses will
expire after a year and a half. This
allows students plenty of time to
inform friends of their new MTS
addresses.

Say cheese
Photographer Sandy McPherson tries to amuse a sullen senior posing for her yearbook picture Friday.
Classical stu dies department goes
Greek with new language course
by Carrie Stevens

A two-year series in Modern
Greek language has been added to
LSA's classical studies department.
Faculty and students agree that
the new courses are a success.
"It is my dream!" said Ludwig
Koenen, chair of the Classical
Studies Department, of the newly-
established Modern Greek language
program.
Several students said they took
the course to explore their family
heritage or to assist them in
archaeological field work in the
Greek islands.
"The class is interesting, not the
routine," LSA junior Elena Pantel
said. "I hope they keep the course
here."
LSA senior Niko Dounchis said,
"The cultural aspects and the his-
tory make it a lot of fun."
Dounchis added that his parents
came from Greece and that he is
interested in learning about his
heritage.
The course counts as credit to-
wards the language requirement.
Members of the Hellenic
Students Association (HSA) pro-
posed creating the course in April
1990. The students approached the
Classical Studies Department and
the Dean of LSA with their idea,
said Elaine Spilson, LSA junior and
then treasurer of the HSA.
Koenen said he was enthusiastic
about the idea. "Since I came here in

1975, I have been known to say that
the college should offer modern
Greek," Koenen said.
LSA funded the first Greek
classes last year on an experimental
basis. One class was offered each
semester, with about 25 students
enrolled each term.
'Since I came here in
1975, I have been
known to say that the
college should offer
modern Greek'
- Ludwig Koenen
Classical Studies
Department Chair
Due to the popularity of the
course, it was expanded to a four-
year trial program this fall. The
program has been expanded to offer
four sections - two beginning
Greek and two third semester
classes. The total enrollment in the
program is about 60.
The department approached
Traianos Gagos, an associate
archivist in charge of the
University's collection of ancient
texts, with the idea of teaching the
new courses. Gagos, a Greek native
who came to the United States in

1988, accepted.
Gagos said he is excited about the
program. "It is closing a gap in the
needs of the University," he said.
The teaching staff has also been
expanded to include Constantine
Kyriazis, a native Greek and gradu-
ate student in the Business School.
"The students are top priority...
their needs and their interests,"
Gagos said. For this reason they try
to make the classes interesting by
using videos, films, topical discus-
sion and by issuing weekly course
plans which respond to what the
students need rather than establish-
ing a term-long syllabus, Gagos
said.
Fund raising events have also
been a part of this project since it
began. Last year a concert of Greek
folk songs and classical pieces raised
some money for the continuation of
the program. However, Koenen said
the department has not yet spent any
of the money because LSA has
completely funded the program so
far.
Gagos would like to see the pro-
gram expand to offer classes in
modern Greek history, culture, and
literature. Koenen agreed, saying he
would be dissatisfied if Greek were
only offered as a language.
"You don't learn a language just
to talk, but to access literature and
culture is one of the major goals,"
Koenen said.

IRS investigates possible
tax scamming by former
Detroit mayoral candidate

DETROIT (AP) - A federal
grand jury and the Internal Revenue
Service are looking into possible in-
come-tax evasion by former Detroit
mayoral candidate Thomas Barrow,
his attorney said.
The investigations are to deter-
mine whether Barrow reported in-
come he received from New Center
Hospital in Detroit, where he was
board chair from 1986 to 1990.
"He's cooperated with IRS and
made all records available to them,"
said his attorney, Clyde Pritchard.
"All the documents show he's paid
all taxes, and there's no unreported
income. I don't think there's any-
thing to it."
IRS spokesperson Sarah Wreford
and U.S. Attorney Stephen
Markman declined comment.
Pritchard said Barrow became
involved in the investigations be-
cause of his ties to the hospital, it-
self a probe target.
"The investigation is on New
Center Hospital, and Tom Barrow,
along with other board members,
may be questioned about it,"

Pritchard said. "He happens to be a
former chairman. He's not aware of
any wrongdoing as far as New
Center Hospital."
'The investigation is
on New Center
Hospital, and Tom
Barrow, along with
other board members,
may be questioned
about it. He happens
to be a former
chairman. He's not
aware of any
wrongdoing as far as
New Center Hospital'
- Clyde Pritchard,
Barrow's attorney
Barrow and his accounting com-
pany received more than $500,000 in
fees from the hospital from 1987 to
1989. The funds originally came
from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban development.


Michigan legislator proposes
year-round school for children

The ICHIANDILY
need you" 74-055

LANSING (AP) - Young
children need year-round school
during their most impressionable
years, while older students should
work half a day to ease into the
work force, one lawmaker says.
Rep. Joseph Young (D-Detroit)
said he plans to introduce
legislation tomorrow that would
offer those ideas to improve
Michigan's schools.

Correction
Alpha Phi Omega, the co-ed service fraternity, requires 20 hours of
volunteer work per term. This information was incorrect in last Friday's
Daily.
THE LIST
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
Meetings"Technology, Work and Conscious-
M eetingSness: a Post-Utilitarian Perspective,"
Enact, weekly mtg. SNR, 1040 Dana, 7 Tom Fitzgerald. 1014 Dow Bldg, 3:30-5.
*p.m.
Undergraduate Philosophy Club, F urtherm ore
mass mtg. 2220 Angell, 7 p.m.
Undergraduate Psychological Society, Ultimate Frisbee Club, practice. Be-
mass mtg 1412 Mason, 7:30. . ginners welcome. Mitchell Field, 7-9.
Comedy Company, writers mtg. All Call 668-2886 for info.
comedic writers welcome. UAC offices, Guild House Writers Series, Wolf
second floor of the Union, 7:30. . Knight and Michael Meyers. Guild
Indian American Student Associa- House, 802 Monroe, 8:30-10.
tion, weekly board mtg. All members Blues Party and Open Mike Night,,
welcome. League, meeting rm D, 8 p.m. every Monday, $1.50 cover. Blind Pig,
Graduate Employees Organization, 8:30.
special meeting. Rackham Amphithe- U-M Ninjitsu Club, Monday practice.
. t* 7.znTM fldg. wrvetlinrm. n7:30-9.

"The legislation would radi-
cally but responsibly encourage in-
novative education policies," Young
said.
"I believe you make the most
impact on a child between kinder-
garten and third grade, so that is
' when they should be going year-
round. What I'm talking about is
getting at youngsters when they're
most like a sponge and willing to
learn."
Young said many first-graders
spend most of the year repeating
what they learned in kindergarten
but forgot over the summer break.
Educators are split over the issue
of year-round schools. But the con-
cept got a boost earlier this month
when Gov. John Engler said in his
special education address that he
would push for it.
Hugh Jarvis, president of the
Michigan Federation of Teachers,
also has endorsed the concept
though he wants to achieve it with-
out adding any class days.
Young said high school juniors
and seniors should attend classes
from 8 a.m. to noon, and then be re-
quired to work in some fashion
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
He said that work experience
could range from community ser-
vice and volunteer jobs to a paid in-
ternship in the private sector or ad-
vanced education such as community
college courses.
"I want to bridge this transition
from school to work," Young said.

Youn are corduiaffy invited to attend the
1991 'University '14a (enb erg Lecture by
jlan Jarskj
Professor Emeritus of Government
Qeorge town 'University
W4ednesday, September 25,1991
8:00 p.m.
LectureHf- -Main, foor
?Rgckhfam Buifding
.. ,ti ,1 -Y
V -*
-
- 9n