The Michigan Daily- Thursday, March 5,1992 - Page 3 I I Honors Program gives students opportunities Ozone 4 by Sarah McCarthy Students may criticize the University's Honors Program for being too constrictive, inflating students' grades, and creating an elitist structure within LSA, but Director Ruth Scodel says the program serves an im- portant function. Scodel, appointed in September 1991, de- scribed her long-term agenda for the pro- , gram. She said she hopes to build a network of alumni that would provide opportunities for internships, make the program more ac- cessible, and establish it as the center of aca- demic life for honors students. "Students come into the Honors Program because they are bright and want to work," Scodel said. "There is an element of expecta- tion and self-selection that makes our stu- dents successful." Out of the 463 students enrolled in the program in September 1990, 100 students have exited the program or have been de- clared inactive. "I've had students leave for very diverse and cogent reasons," said Honors Academic Counselor Elleanor Crown. "Either it isn't what their program required or they aren't interested in continuing in the Honors Program and writing a thesis." But students currently enrolled in the Honors Program and those who have left it said they were not always clear about the benefits the program provided. Within the first two years, students must elect eight honors courses spread out over four semesters, in addition to participating in a seminar or research project. The program offers specially-designed introductory courses for first- and sdcond-year students and small-group seminars for sophomores. Among a number of problems, students * said they often found the program's structure too restrictive. "A lot of people don't like the Honors Program because it restricts class selection," said LSA sophomore Matt Levine. But other students said they did not find the program to be excessively limiting. "I understand why students would be un- happy," said LSA senior Jennie Rochon. "But you just have to make the extra effort to make classes fit. "In light of the quality of classes offered and the instructors, the benefits far outweigh the problems." Although the program tries to enhance the quality of undergraduate education by stressing the skills associated with critical thinking, students have also accused the program of inflating students' grades. "The big issue here is that we do not want honors students to be penalized. It should work that honors students receive the same grade as they would in LSA," said Nancy Kushigan, associate director of the program. Scodel noted that differences in grades between honors students and other LSA stu- dents could be attributed to the fact that the program has a high concentration of the "best students" at Michigan. "We want students who will take full ad- vantage of the program," Kushigan said. "We look for ability, motivation and past performance. Although the program provides a sense of intimacy within a large university, the pro- gram has also been criticized as being elitist. "The fact that we have an honors pro- gram denotes a certain degree of elitism," Crown said. "But we don't have pep rallies." RC sophomore Andrea Grager said, "There is a benefit to having a smaller coun- seling office. It made me feel like less of a number." "It is a kind of structured program that provides the lack of coherence many LSA students complain about," Bazel Allen, a professor of English and Comprehensive Studies, said. "Other things must be taken into account before judging the quality of the program." But LSA junior Yurij Slyz said, "I don't think it provided much of an advantage. It was just a bunch of pretentious people." 'Students come into the Honors Program because they are bright and want to work.' AIDS prevention hits the streets Anthony Davison and Pattrice Maurer, members of ACT UP enjoy yesterday's weather as they offer free condoms and information at Liberty Plaza. They have been distributing the items as part of ACT UP's "street based AIDS prevention program" three times a week since December. hole may open over Europer BERLIN (AP) - With a sky-is- falling urgency, European nations are rushing to ban ozone-eating chemicals after a study said a vast hole may open over their continent this winter. In recent weeks, startling new data have prompted governments to shave years off their timetables for banning chemicals that weaken the earth's natural sunscreen. "It's time to understand that sen- sible people don't utter dire warn- ings unless they are really very scared," said British scientist Joe Farman who in 1985 discovered the only known ozone hole, over the Antarctic. On March 23, the 12-member European Community (EC) is ex- pected to ban production and con- sumption of ozone-eating chemicals by 1995 and reduce their use by 85 percent by the end of next year. The EC's environment ministers endorsed the proposals during a meeting in Portugal on Feb. 22. The community said it will seek to get the rest of the world to follow suit. The action followed President Bush's Feb. 11 order for a U.S. ban on chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, by 1995. The bans are a full five years ahead of the international Montreal Protocol signed by the United States in 1987, and two years earlier than the EC's previous ban. But some European nations are moving even more quickly. Germany and the Netherlands are considering comprehensive bans by 1993. CFCs are commonly used in re- frigerators, air conditioning and aerosol sprays. The ozone layer is a form of oxy- gen in the Earth's upper atmosphere It provides a shield from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can increase risks of skin cancer, cataracts and reduced immunity to disease. The EC's environment chief, Carlo Ripa di Meana, said yesterday that the additional radiation caused by the unexpectedly high ozone de- pletion will lead to an estimated 1.6 million new cases of cataracts. "If this continues it will have major effects on the Earth's sea and food chain and could have an impact on human health," he said. The issue gained urgency last month after NASA said a new hole in the ozone layer could develop above Europe and North America this winter. A European study begun in October, involving 300 scientists from 17 nations, also showed ozone depletion much greater than earlier believed. I Authorities try to prevent violence between Serbs, Muslims SARAJEVO, Yugoslavia (AP) - In an effort to prevent more ethnic violence, police teamed up with the Serb-led army yesterday to patrol streets that separate Serb and Muslim neighborhoods in Sarajevo. U.N. envoy Cyrus Vance, arriving in the Serbian} and federal capital Belgrade, said the scattered violence in Bosnia-Hercegovina would not affect the scheduled deployment of thousands of U.N. peacekeepers this month. And Bosnia's Muslim president, Alija Izetbegovic, expressed confi- dence a tense peace among Muslims, Serbs and Croats could hold. "We are midway between war and peace, in a sort of cold war which will last for some time," Izetbegovic was quoted as telling the * French daily Le Figaro. 'There is a balance of fear, and I believe that for the moment, fear is conducive to peace." animosities ensure any conflict At least eight people have been killed since a weekend referendum in which Muslims and Croats, who together make up a majority of the population, voted for independence. would be much bloodier than the civil war in Croatia that has claimed up to 10,000 lives. Of the six Yugoslav republics, only Serbia and Montenegro want to remain part of 'We are midway between war and peace, in a sort of cold war which will last for some time. There is a balance of fear, and I believe that for the moment, fear is conducive to peace.' - Alija Izetbegovic Bosnia president Tuesday night because of reports that Serbs were marching from the countryside to protest an attack on a nearby village. Six people were injured in overnight fighting in Bosanski Brod, a town of 33,000 on Bosnia's northern border with Croatia. Dr. Mohamed Mutajic said it was a "miracle" that there were no reports of deaths. AP reporter Slobodan Lekic, in Bosanski Brod, said grenades had damaged a department store and other buildings. Dozens of refugees crossed into Croatia over a heavily mined bridge open only for Sarajevo, where two army reservists were hurt in an ambush. In Sarajevo, the city where World War I began with the assassination in 1914 of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, police and army units pa- trolled seven potential trouble spots where factions were, likely to clash. The joint patrols brought the Serb-dominated army, which fought alongside Serb irregulars in the Croatian civil war, more directly into the conflict in Bosnia. Meanwhile, 200 people attended the funeral of Nikola Gardovic, a 64-year-old Serb allegedly shot by Muslim gunmen Sunday. "He was killed only because he was Orthodox and Serb," Orthodox Bishop Vasilije Kacavenda told mourners. "The shot at Nikola is a warning to all ... three ethnic, groups." Serbs, who make up a third of Bosnia's 4.4 million people, oppose independence and boycotted the vote. the federation. Barricades manned by heavily armed militants went up around Sarajevo after the weekend referen- dum. The barricades came down late Monday but were re-established pedestrians. Trouble also was reported near Visoko, a town northeast of Sarajevo, where Serbs reportedly hijacked a police truck carrying ex- plosives, and near Foca, south of All armed, sides and in Bosnia are well say their traditional THE LIST What's happening in Ann Arbor today Meetings Amnesty International letter writng to Somalia. East Quad, Greene Longe, 7-8 p.m. ACT-UP Ann Arbor, meeting, 2203 Michigan Union, 7:30 p.m. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 1311 EECS, weekly luncheon meeting, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, weekly group mtg, 1040 Dana Bldg, 7 p.m. Islamic Circle, weekly mtg, 3rd floor Michigan League 5:15. Pro-choice Action, weekly mtg, Fishbowl, 7:30 p.m. Pre -Med Club Meeting, Pendleton rm, 6:30 p.m. Homeless Project Meeting, Trained Volunteer' Corps, Dominick's .5:00 p.m. Students for Harkin, Steering Committee mtg, Dominick's, 6 p.m. Speakers "New Strctures in Alkali Metal- Chalcogen Systems at the Border Between Ionics and Intermetallics," Dr. Irmgard Schewe-Miller, 1706 Chem Bldg, 12:00 p..m "New Themes in vocal learning: A tale of two species," East Lec ture Room, Rackham Bldg., 4:00 p.m. "Diaster Area Archaeology Excavations at Ceren Site, El Salavador," 2009 Nat Sci Musuem, 12:00afm -1:onm. "When political power struggles cause human suffering: the case of Somalia," Abdi Kusow Greene Lounge, East Quad, 7 p.m. "Eroticism and Patriotism: The Deconstruction of the State," Ileana Roddrguez .414 Mason Hall Furthermore Safewalk, night-time safety walking service. Sun-Thurs 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Fri-Sat, 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Stop by 102 UGLi or call 936-1000. Also, extended hours: Sun-Thurs 1-3 a.m. Stop by Angell Hall Computing Center or call 763-4246. Northwalk, North Campus nighttime team walking service. Sun-Thur 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Stop by 2333 Bursley or call 763-WALK. ECB Peer Writing Tutors, Angell/Mason Hall Computing Center, 7-11 p.m. "Gay Jewish Socail Hour," Cafe Fino, Galleria on Sourt U "A Memorial of Names," 12:30 p.m.- 12:30 p.m. Diag Scooby Dooby Doo, canine figure in Cartoons, snacks, amd Shaggy's life. 14th annual festival, Windsor,' Ontario, 12:00 p.m. Stress and Time Management, Consultations with peer counselors available, 3100 Michigan Union, 1-3 p.m. Undergraduate Psychology Department, Undergraduate ,v cav. sin- ak-in or Join our Staff Write for the Michigan Daily Sports, Opinion, News, Arts & Photo Call 764-0552 for more info I n It's Back! 1 Lng Island Iced Tea ThursdaysI THE MICHIGAN DAILY 764-0552 JI, ' A Pint full of everything except Iced Tea! It is like the Hamptons in summer. only $.7 Every Thursday 9:00 pm - close 21 and over Foster's Lager Now on Tap 338 South State (at William) Ann Arbor " 996-9191 MARCH 5 6,7 Mendelssohn Theatre 8pml .y 4 4d 4 uo ry AdfHrMs Gnar Performance I .1J Dimensions in Light Festival . . Q s _ o Saturday, March 7 11am-ad7pm Mini-Readings 215 S. State St. Ann Arbor nans- nC r Reiki Crystals S - It. 'n ._ -I ._a. Free Lectures Pries Rrv Work /' ^ t i (' rafts Health Prncl t jr..t.q i