The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 16, 1994 -- 3 .Greek aid helps out year round By RACHEL SCHARFMAN DAILY STAFF REPORTER * Many philanthropic efforts made by fraternities and sororities on cam- pus are brought to the forefront dur- ing Greek Week, yet remain unrecog- nized during the rest of the year. Greek Week - the fund-raising drive now in progress - will repre- sent only a fraction of the work done by individual houses this year. Generally, each house has its own *philanthropy, including the Ameri- can Heart Association (AHA), the Com- prehensive Cancer Center, Kellogg Eye Center and others. Some houses, however, have cre- ated their own philanthropies in ef- forts to directly serve the projects they deem most important. Among them is Pi Kappa Phi fra- ternity, which took the initiative at a national level to create its own non- *profit service project, People Under- standing the Severely Handicapped - Project PUSH. This fraternity also was the first to raise more than $1 million for a single charitable organization. Delta Delta Delta sorority has also done this, creating the 50th Anniver- sary Fund. The fund provides schol- arships to outstanding female students on various campuses nationwide. Es- tablished in 1942, to date more than $1 million has been awarded to more than 5,000 women. Certain houses work in conjunc- tion with established associations in addition to developing their own chari- ties. Alpha Phi sorority has divided its donations under the heading of the Alpha Phi Foundation. "Our sorority's philanthropic or- *ganization gives direct support to our sorority for leadership and educational programming for collegians and alumni," said Jenna Levinson, the sorority's philanthropy chair. Additionally, the sorority created the Forget-Me-Not fund, which do- nates money to Alpha Phi alumni in need, such as those who were caught in the floods last summer. The women *have also donated more than$5million to the AHA. The money donated by the Greek system is raised through various means that aim to combine philan- thropic workwith fun. Certain houses sponsor parties, such as Alpha Epsi- lon Pi (AEPi) and Sigma Delta Tau's Superdance, which was held Sunday night to benefit the University's Com- prehensive Cancer Center. With regard to this type of fund- raiser, Mike Schwartz, AEPi's phi- lanthropy chair, said, "people tend to be more concerned not with the actual event, but about who the money goes to." Monetary benefits aside, Chi Psi philanthropy chair Jon Nash said the philanthropies provide an environ- ment in which "you have an active *group of fortunate people who can help others who may be less fortu- nate." 'U' to begin gradual transition to new computing environment By REBECCA DETKEN DAILY STAFF REPORTER Rumors flying around campus have it that the Michigan Terminal System (MTS), the computer operat- ing system that carries such services as e-mail, conferencing and statis- tics, will be no more in a few months. But Kitty Bridges, director of the Future Computing Environment (FCE) Project, stressed the fact that, "MTS is not going away this fall." Over the next one to two years, the University will be working to move away from the single mainframe oper- ating system of MTS to a distributed computing environment. The new environment will con- tinue to bring the same services of MTS - the only differences being that the technology providing these services will be improved and new additional services will be available as well. The FCE's documented plan for the change, "Moving from an MTS- Centered Computing Environment to a Distributed Computing Envi- ronment: Plans and Requests for Comments," describes distributed computing as "an environment in which computing tasks are divided among specialized computers in- stead of being concentrated on a mainframe." The FCE's plan notes several of these benefits: ® The ability to use resources re- gardless of their physical location that will bring information closer to all of us and make it more usable; * the ability to work with various types of data and information that will change how we use data and how we communicate with each other; and, Knew software tools that will alter how we work together and collaborate between departments or across the world. Maria Duarte, an Engineering jun- ior and ResComp consultant at East Quad, said she feels the new system will be a lot easier. "There is more file space and defi- nitely more opportunities with it than with MTS," she said. The only problem Duarte said she thinks might occur is when juniors and seniors have to switch over to the new system, because "they've been using MTS for a while." But students don't have to worry about making the transition just yet. Bridges said new students this com- ing fall will receive e-mail accounts on the new services, but returning students will still be able to use their MTS accounts and make use of what- ever new services are ready this fall. MTS will be available until June 30, 1995, if not longer. U To learn more about the changes the FCE is making, check out the details available online via GOpherBL UE under the Computing and CampusFuture ComputingEnvi- ronmentoption, onMTS(WIIX: 94plan. rtj) or fromIFS (~doc/plan.rtf.). JNAT"AN L"IE/Dl Delta Tau Delta contestant Brian O'hare looks devilishly at a cucumber as he plays Lorena Bobbit in the Mr. Greek Week contest last night. Mr. Greek Week title goes t Ei-aglainl By MICHELLE LEE THOMPSON Melissa Spitz of Alpha Epsilon DAILY STAFF REPORTER Phi sorority said, "He went completely Double the pleasure, double the against the Greek system; he insulted fun. every house and I'm very insulted." These words summed up the SarahCarlson,ZetaTauAlphapresi- evening at the Mr. Greek Week pag- dent and event co-chair, said, "We were eant last night, as identical twins Ja- looking for someone from (WHYI) son and Randy Sklar from Alpha Ep- 96.3, (but Frank) contacted us." silon Pi (AEPi) fraternity took the Frank's monologue was ad-libbed crowns. In one category, they dressed during one of the longer breaks in the up as the renowned Doublemint program, before the "Dress Like Your Twins, and rode a tandem bicycle. Hero" section. "We haven't received this much Contestants flaunted theircreativ- praise since our bar mitzvah," the ity during the formal wear competi- Sklar brothers said. The AEPi twins tion, Sigma Phi Epsilon member Eric carried on the fraternity's tradition of Feldman did a backflip on the stage winning, becoming the third consecu- while dressed in a tuxedo. All sorts of tive winners from that house. styles were expressed, including dance Lessthan half of the audience from moves and runway strutting, all to the the beginning of the evening stuck tune of "I'm Too Sexy." around for the coronation. Many Theta Xi member Dave Park, who people left early due to circumstances dressed up as ice skater Nancy that some said marred the evening. Kerrigan for the hero portion, came "I think it was a good event, but on stage with a Tonya-esque partner there were a lot of lulls in the pro- with club in hand. Others fraternity gram," said Jerrod Kowalewski, Delta members dressed as Barney, Condom- Tau Delta fraternity member. Man, Jethro from "The Beverly Hill- There were several minutes be- billies" and Lorena Bobbitt. tween most portions of last night's During the talent competition the pageant, mostly when points were top 10 men in the contest sang, played beingtabulated. Many audience mem- musical instruments, talked and bers said they became bored and left. painted their way through the round. Still others left before the final For those who did not make the round in reaction to comments made finals, the night was not a total loss. by master of ceremonies Jason Frank, Paul Manutes said, "It always feels a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. good to hear the hoorah and your Many people in the audience, most of friends that's all that matters." whom belong to the Greek system, Carlson estimated the event raised were outraged at Frank's sarcastic, more than $3,000 for the Susan G. stereotypical remarks relating to spe- Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, cific sororities and fraternities. the sponsoring sorority's charity. ANASTASIA BANICKI/Daily Amy LeDuc, co-chair of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, helps LSA first-year student Mike Louie, left, and LSA sophomore Dave Cole, right, work out their income tax forms. Students volunteer[ to tacklehi~itolit toug inome ax ormtangles Volunteer Income Tax Assistance comes to the rescue of frazzled student taxpayers By JULIANA BECKET FOR THE DAILY As spring break fades into memory, students recovering from the shock of midterms will soon be faced with the loomingApril 15 tax deadline. While scrambling to recall past jobs and findtheir W-9s, students approach this task with mixed reactions. Jenni- fer Morrison, a School of Education junior, said, "I'm mad. I made too much money waitressing so I'm being penalized. I have to pay the state." Others, however, do not share her problem. "I don't have a job. I don't have any money, I did my taxes yes- terday," said LSA sophomore Steve Ehrenberg. Regardless of the outcome, VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a group consisting of students from vari- ous backgrounds, provides free tax help. Located in room 3909 of the Student Union, VITA offers aide in many ways. "Students come in to get forms or ask specific advice. Some students don't know anything about taxes, and they don't want to know anything. They just give us their taxes and we dothem,"said VITA Shift Coordinator and Business junior Devon Bodoh. "Now is the best time," said one volunteer, as Bodoh recalled a 4-hour wait last year on the tax deadline, April 14th. As for those brave souls willing to do it themselves, never fear. "Taxes aren't hard," said student volunteer and LSA junior Jenny Bregger, who of- fered some valuable tax tips. "Student grants, scholarships and loans that in- clude room and board are taxable, but those for tuition, books and supplies aren't." UIfyou did not work lastyear, you probably do not have to file a tax re- turn. Tax forms are available at Uni- versity libraries. Ifyou have any ques- tions, contact the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040. . Correction Dr. William Pratt was a member of the promotion committee that denied Peggie Hollingsworth a promotion. This was incorrectly reported in yesterday's Daily. I U R.$UML $HMEfSUMt. Group Meetings " ACLU, 116 Hutchins Hall, 7:30 p.m. " AIESEC,1276BusinessAdmin- istration Building, 6 p.m. U Amnesty International, human rights write-a-thon, Fishbowl, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. U Archery Club, Coliseum, 5:30 p.m. U East Quad support group for lesbians, gay men, & bisexual people, call 764-3678 for info. U Focus Group - Research in Organizational Biopsychology and Social Psy- chology, Psychology Peer Ad- vising, West Quad, Ostafin Room, 7-9 p.m. U Lutheran Campus Ministry, human spirituality study, 6p.m.; compline for Lent, 7 p.m.; 801 S. Forest. U JugglingClubMichigan Union, Andersnn Roanm D 7 n m. Q Students of Objectivism, B118 MLB, 7 p.m. Q Trotstayist League, Michigan Union, Baits Room, 7 p.m. Q Undergraduate Law Club, of- fice hours, 4121 Michigan Union, 12-4 p.m. Q Undergraduate Philosophy Club, 2220 Angell Hall, 6:30 p.m. Events U Blood Drive, sponsored by the Greek system, Michigan Union, 1-6:30 p.m. U Conference on the Holocaust, Afternoon Discussion Series, Rackham East Conference Room, noon; The Generation After, Hillel, 8 p.m. U "Long Relationships: The Key to Building a Nation," spon- sored by the Black Student Union, Stockwell, Blue Carpet Tnne. 7 nrm. Q "The Structure of Japanese Management: A Critical View from the Inside," Toru Inoue, sponsored by the Center for Japanese Studies, Lane Hall Commons, 5:30 p.m. Student services Q Alternative Career Center, ca- reers in the nonprofit sector, 2213 Michigan Union, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Q 76-GUIDE, peer counseling phone line,, 7 p.m.-8 a.m. Q Campus Information Center, Michigan Union, 763-INFO; events info., 76-EVENT; film info., 763-FILM. Q North Campus Information Center, North Campus Com- mons, 763-NCIC, 7:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Q Psychology Academic PeerAd- vising, West Quad, Room K103. walk-inswelcnme or call / can't handle all this PRESSURE! I'l r Vo A fi. i-+ n k[, Relax Man! Just go to Kinko's. They'll make you look like a pro! At least on paper. 1 11 (, IcivcrI Lc.Lia JLv: / I ,qqmKnr,".mv "An EL