The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 24, 1993 - 3 *Assembly r etains funding for AATU xg DEMETRIOS EFSTRATIOU OR THE DAILY Although only one more than half iits members was present, the Michi- #n Student Assembly met last night fr its final session before the Thanks- .iving holiday. Even President Craig Greenberg aished the assembly a "Happy *W11ianksgiving" through his weekly :Nesident's Report instead of in per- ,sons because the executive officer had ready headed home to Louisville, Like the rest of the student popu- 1ation, ready to take a respite from theirAnn Arbor work, assembly mem- Zbers clearly approached the upcom- ing break with anticipation. MSA Vice .President Brian Kight, filling in for his absent counterpart, was forced to repeatedly pound the gavel in an ef- fort to calm the representatives' pre- holiday excitement. After the representatives settled down, the assembly began to discuss the main item on themeeting's agenda: a resolution to suspend MSA's fund- ing of the Ann Arbor Tenafnts' Union (AATU), a local organization which isdesigned to act as a pro-tenant ad- vocacy group. The resolution, which was pro- pqsed by LSA Rep. Jacob Stern, would have halted payment of the $24,320 MSA alloted for AATU funding in its 1994 budget. According to the resolution, the tenants' union allegedly broke its agreement with the assembly by re- fusing to recognize three of the four .students MSA appointed to the AATU board, which is supposed to play an advisory role in ensuring AATU's smooth operation. Stern, one of the students not rec- ognized by tenants' union, personnel, urged the representatives to support the resolution. "How much more will it take be- -fore we finally (stop AATU's fund- ing)?" he asked. LSA Rep. Mike Christie chimed in his support for the resolution. "Right now is the perfect time to do it to the AATU," he said. The proposal met considerable opposition as several assembly mem- 'bers encouraged their colleagues to defeat the stoppage of funding. Business Rep. Devon Bodoh pointed to the upcoming semester change as a key time when students 'seek the AATU's advice. During the beginning of Winter semester, many students begin their search for off- campus housing, often relying on in- formation provided by such housing sources as the AATU. "We are basically screwing the students by doing this," Bodoh said. At the end of the debate, the repre- sentatives voted to suspend funding, 9-6. However, the resolution will have no impact on the 1994 budget be- cause it fell short of the two-thirds majority required.to ratify an amend- uent to MSA's budget. In the wake ofthis decision, AATU : ill continue to receive its funding fr the rest of this year. Just over 90 minutes after the meeting began, Kight pounded the gavel once more, and the student gov- ernment representatives left to enjoy Turkey Day. Fans have 'fab' time as Albom signs By MEGAN SCHIMPF Ann Arbor resident Wendy Weitzel, DAILY STAFF REPORTERWed who said she enjoys Albom's insights Mitch Albom's unique ability to into sports and other topics. "slam-dunk with words" drew close "The book is the product of two to 400 people at Borders Bookstore years of work," Albom said. "It started last night as the Detroit Free Press when these guys showed up at Michi- columnist signed copies of his new gan. We didn't know it was going to book about the Fab Five. turn into such a big story." "He makes me laugh my head off Albom rented an apartment in Ann or cry my heart out," said RC first- Arbor over the summer to write the year student Mary Fyke. "I have all of book his books and when I found he was "I wanted to write a book about going to be here I about freaked." what it was like to be famous young," The first person in line arrived two he said. hours early, said Dallas Moore, the Albom signed the books with per- community relations coordinator for sonal messages and often signed mul- Borders. She said the high turnout tiple copies for people to give as pre- was unexpected and is unusual for sents most book signings. "I laughed and cried all the way During the wait in line, which through," said Peggy Zitek, a Canton lasted three hours for some, many resident. "I couldn't put it down. I felt people began reading the book, like I was there, like a fly on the wall. "I stopped in to get the Metro I liked reliving all the games I Times and bought the book," said watched." books 9 Albom drew his own fans as well as basketball fans. "I read his column and listen to his radio program," said LSA senior Pat Gilhool. "It was cool to actually get to talk to him. He seemed like a down to earth, good guy." -Most of the students have watched the Fab Five during their careers at Michigan. "I arrived on campus when they did," said LSA junior Angie Hills, who lived in South, Quad. "They'd walk around the dorm the day after a game and you'd say 'Good game.' They played pick-up games the first fall we were here on the court on the side of South Quad, and we'd all jgst stand and watch. The book is just making it all personal.' Albom keeps book signings from becoming a routine by personally talk- ing to everyone who comes through the book line. Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom signs books at Borders last night. v u 'U' sees{ By RACHEL SCHARFMAN DAILY STAFF REPORTER With the number of medica practice suits once again reachi sis proportions, arecent study b versity of Michigan and Prin University researchers indicat an informal patient complaint s may be a cost-effective alterna the astronomical costs of mi malpractice litigation. The study, conducted by Ui sity economics Prof. Michelle" and Princeton University Prof.I Farber, tracked 504 medical ma tice claims filed between 197 1987. "Our study suggests that the complaint system as plaint process may be a useful proce- cess, plaintiffs could not I dure for saving on dispute resolution care quality without filing al mal- costs by eliminating some litigation Farber said, emphasizing t ng cri- in cases where care has been good," the system. y Uni- Farber said. The judgment of the nceton The complaint process would es- care received is done byc ed that tablish, before a lawsuit is filed, the hospital and the resul ystem whether or not the patient was, in fact, discoverable by plaintiffs tive to a victim of malpractice. If the quality suit.,Instead, the judgme edical of care is deemed not negligible, both viewed by an analyst andp the patient and the hospital can avoid the patient who then makeE Jniver- the unnecessary legal fees. of whether or not to proc White For a hospital, legal fees of an lawsuit. Henry average malpractice case amount to The study indicates flprac- $7,000 forlawsuits thatpatientseven- where patients took into a 76 and tually drop, and $14,500 for cases quality of care before sui that get settled. in increased settlements. S e com- "Without such a complaint pro- involving confirmed neg malpractice alternative learn about a lawsuit," the merit of quality of doctors for ts are non- in the law- nts are re- ?resented to s adecision Geed with a that cases account the ng resulted Settlements ligent care were four times higher than those where malpractice was not performed. These results, however, may not sway the litigation-prone American public. Even though the American Medical Association indicates that, nationally, 50 percent of all medical malpractice claims are determined frivolous, when encouraged by the staggering settlements awarded by juries, many are enticed to sue. "Average medical malpractice awards resulting from jury verdicts increased from about $350,000, dur- ing the years from 1976 to 1980, to about $875,000 during the years from 1981 to 1985," reports the Health Care Management Review. These amounts only pertain to the cases that are carried through. In Farber and White's study, these only amounted to 4 percent of those filed. Including these 4 percent, less than half of the lawsuits and complaints received cash settlements. Farber stressed that the study is not meant to defer patients who feel they have been wronged from taking action and indicated that "litigation where care turns out to be good are not nuisance suits," but rather that these cases "simply represent poorly- informed patients who know they have been injured but do not have any way of judging whether there has been negligence." Logjam on gun bil stalls adjournment WASHINGTON (AP) - Dead- 'They played this gambit before. The Republicans lock over the Brady handgun-control last time outsmarted themselves. They bill held up Congress' adjournment yesterday,and theSenate Democratic filibustered ... then they panicked when they leader said lawmakers probably would won.' be called back after Thanksgiving. Sen Joe Biden (DDe) Earlier in the day, President ____ ____ _Bide__ _ ____ ____ Clinton held out hope for compro- mise on what was to be the last day of the 1993 session, saying, "I believe in the bill from an up-or-down vote lierif theattorney general, using speci- miracles." twice, fied standards, deemed a national in- After fruitless debate, Majority Ultimately, a version of the bill stant background check system suffi- Leader George Mitchell said, "Ix-y passed the Senate late Saturday, 63- ciently operational. pect as of now the Senate will return" 36. That bill said the waiting period Ironically, that came from a Na- next week to renew efforts to pass the would phase out after four years, un- tional Rifle Association-backed bill, which calls for a five-business- less the attorney general extended it amendment to the House bill that also day waiting period and background to five years. The House passed a ended the waiting period after five g od want touyd five-year "sunset" provision. years. Originally, neither chamber's. check on people Then came the fractious House- legislation had a "sunset" provision. "We will try again on next Tues- Senate conference that chose the five- Earlier, Clinton met with Dole and -year House version.Mitchell at the White House and said, day, and i all likelihood again on Mitchell called the five-year ver- "We're working on something today" next Wednesday," he said, reflecting "ebe " " the difficulty that Brady bill support sus four-plus-one year sunset provi- "I believe in miracles," he said. "I ers have had in putting together the 60 sion is "~a distinction without a differ- believe we may still get this worked votes needed to cut off debate. ence in practical terms." out." The Republicans were chafing Dole said he would try to amend As long as one senator objects, the anew from headlines blaming them the bill, something that would require bill cannot pass without the full Sen- for blocking the bill Monday, but the full House to return and vote, ate returning to Washington to vote. Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole If the' "people on the other side Mitchell squarely placed the blame said at a news conference, "I don't really want the Brady bill, it can be for the holdup on the Republicans, know of any political fallout." gotten very quickly," Dole said. "We saying, "Whether or not a filibuster It was the negative headlines, fol- were quite flexible on Saturday, and continues is up to the Republicans." lowed by phone calls and letters from for being flexible, we got shafted." "They played this gambit before," constituents that helped push a num- The Senate version also lost a pro- Biden said. The GOP last time out- ber of Republicans last week to seek vision that would have allowed the smarted themselves. They filibustered a compromise after they had blocked waiting period to phase out even ear- ...then they panicked when they won." 103d Congress endsi first session; Clinton touts major victories WASHINGTON (AP)-- A Con- gress charged by voters with ending gridlock is heading home with Demo- crats claiming triumphs including deficit reduction and family-leave guarantees. But Republicans say their rivals have little to crow about. "Gridlock is what you have when the traffic isn't moving," said Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) "The traffic is now moving, baby, and we're mov- ing some pretty big trucks." "Is it comparable to Lyndon Johnson? That's a joke," said House GOP Whip Newt Gingrich of Geor- gia, referring to the late Democratic president who pushed an array of so- cial programs through Congress. "Today, we pledge an end to the era ofdeadlock and drift," President Clinton said last January. "A new season of American renewal has begun." Ten months of bruising battles later, the Democrats who command majorities in Congress are boasting of big wins in 1993. Without a single Republican vote, Democratic lawmakers approved Clinton's bill claiming nearly half-a- trillion dollars in deficit reduction. It boosted taxes a lot on the rich and a bit on everyone else in the form of a 4.3- cent boost in the gasoline tax. Approved just last week was thle North American Free Trade Agree- ment, another Clinton priority that drops tariffs between the United States, Canada and Mexico. This time, it took mainly Republican votes to pass the measure. Democrats also scored with bills requiring family leave for many work- ers, setting up a national service pro- gram and easing voter registration rules. They gave Clinton 70 percent of the billions he wanted to shift from low-priority items to"investments" such as road building and education. Also passed were extra benefits for long-term jobless Americans, the final $18 billion for the savings and loan bailout and $2.5 billion for Rus- sia and other former Soviet states. And though Clinton missed his original deadline of pushing areshap- ing of the nation's health-care system through Congress this year, it looms as lawmakers' top project in 1994.: "He's had it pretty much his way," conceded House Minority Leader Robert Michel, R-Ill., on Tuesday, viewing a Congress and White House controlled by the same party for the first time since 1980. But other Republicans scoffed at what had been accomplished. Student groups Q Law Club, office hours, Michi- gan Union, Room 4124, 12-2 p.m., 4-5 p.m. Q Lutheran Campus Ministry, Jesus Through the Centuries study/discussion, 6 p.m.; Evening Prayer, 7 p.m.; 801 South Forest Ave. Q Marxist Study on Current Events, MLB, Room B129, 7 p.m. " Ninjutsu Club, IM Building, Wrestling Room, 7:30 p.m. .-h WZL.1.......- dN.& nty A"- 331 Thompson St. U Self-Defense, classes, CCRB, Room 1200, call 996-1454 for details, 9-10 p.m. U Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Club, everyone welcome, CCRB, Room 2275, 8:30-9:30 p.m. U Students Of Objectivism, meet- ing, MLB, B120,7 p.m. U Tae Kwon Do Club, regular workout, CCRB, Room 2275, 7-8:30 p.m. U Trotskyist League Study - Puerto Rico, Michigan Union, 6651 for details, Mason Hall, Room 2440,7:30 p.m. Q Deciding Your Career, spon- sored by Career Planning and Placement, 3200 Student Ac- U tivities Building, 5:10-7 p.m. Q Whither the Soviet Welfare State?, sponsored by the Cen- ter for Russian and East Euro- pean Studies, Lane Hall, noon. Student services U Dean of Students Office, open office hours, 3000 Michigan Help Shape the Present and the Future of the Michigan Leaguel The Michigan League Board of Governors is seeking new student memIers. The Leaaue Board offers vou: 11