The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 15, 1994 - 5 'U' seeks to preserve environment with recycling programs By APRIL WOOD DAILY STAFF REPORTER It is everything you see, every breath you take: oceans, mountains, glaciers and the Diag. The environ- ment is everywhere and the human impact on it is beyond measure. Current environmental problems touch the entire world, University stu- dents included. A multitude of cam- pus environmental issues command attention, such as waste disposal, en- ergy conservation and chemical use, among others. One of the most frequent ecologi- S'Headless' mystic tells stories of his rebirth By MICHELLE JOYCE DAILY STAFF REPORTER "The best day of my life - my rebirthday so to speak - was when I found that I had no head. This is not a literary gambit, a witticism designed to arouse interest at any cost. I mean it in all seriousness: I have no head." So begins the book, "On Having No Head," by author and religious mystic Douglas Harding. This was also the primary message Harding stressed yesterday in his lecture to Prof. Sandy Huntington's Asian Re- ligions class. Although this assertion may sound strange to most people, Harding main- tains that his view of "headlessness" is "really quite obvious." His discovery came to him in In- *dia more than 50 years ago while serving as a major in the British Army. Walking through the Himalayas, Harding said he began observing his physical self. He could view his feet, his legs, his arms and his chest, yet cal actions students participate in is recycling. The University recycled approximately 20 percent of the more than 8,000 tons of trash it produced from July 1992 to June 1993. Erica Spiegel, special projects coordinator for the Grounds and Waste Management Department, said office paper is the recycling element stu- dents most often see. Reduction of waste production is a priority on campus as such a large amount of trash is produced each year. Spiegel said more than 100 campus buildings have access to paper recy- cling, and residence halls also con- tribute to material recovery. "Since (the Housing Division) pays for the trash they throw away, it makes sense for them to reduce their waste," Spiegel said. Other issues that concern the Uni- versity include promoting energy con- servation by turning off computers and lights when not in use. Simple actions such as these will diminish electrical energy use and require no more than the flip of a switch. More complex issues demand at- tention, such as radioactive emissions from the North Campus incinerator and the low-level radioactive waste produced in science experiments. LSA sophomore Mark Reeves, an Environmental Action at U-M officer, said these problems interconnect when examining the environment as a whole. "I think it's important to keep the larger picture in mind when you're dealing with these issues. I don't like to get sick. I prefer a clean, healthy living environment and I recognize that other people and animals have these same concerns. I think that it would be difficult to find someone who did not agree with these state- ments," he said. Spiegel said the city of Ann Arbor is constructing a new materials re- covery facility that should be in op- eration by this time next year. The University will be a major customer of that facility, she added. The Grounds and Waste Man- agement Department will also be con- ducting a collection of food, clothing and household items during residence hall move-out, April 20-30. Last year, more than 1 ton of food, 423 bags of clothing and 81 bags of return- able cans and bottles were collected and donated to vari- ous charities, in- cluding the Prospect Place Family Shelter, Purple Heart ER WEEK 1994 Service Foun- AprI 1115 dation and the Ann Arbor Shelter Association. Students discover 'Best Buddies' in volunteer program CHRIS WOLF/Daily Mystic Douglas Harding speaks to Prof. Sandy Huntington's Asian Religions class yesterday. when it came to the place where his head was supposed to be, all he saw was space. And in this space was room for everything that was in front of him, he said. "Instead of the meatball, I had the wide world," Harding said. He refers to the physical head that other people see in a reflection as a "meatball." Harding was born in 1909 to par- ents who belonged to an ultra-funda- mentalist sect called the Exclusive Plymouth Brethren. At age 21, he said he left the group hoping to find an alternative mode of living. "The fanatical fundamental group seemed quite ridiculous, and I sought another way," Harding said in a phone conversation. In addition to serving in the Brit- ish Army, Harding also led a success- ful career in architecture. But after his discovery of "having no head," he began teaching comparative religion at Cambridge University. Over the years, he wrote three more books, published several jour- nal articles and traveled around the world giving lectures on headless- ness. In relation to these beliefs, Harding also stressed that people are not who they are perceived to be. In fact, a person's true identity is "not just dif- ferent from their social identity but justifiably the opposite," he said. Huntington said it looked like most students responded positively to the lecture." They really seemed to like it," he said. "A lot (of students) came up afterwards and asked what else (Harding) was doing this weekend." "He's really a charming fellow," Huntington added, who has been friends with Harding for several years. LSA senior Michelle Hargrave said, "(Harding's speech) opened me up to a new way of thinking. I'm not sure I agree with everything he says, but it's something to think about." Cyclists ride across "U.S. to raise money Regents Roundup Duderstadt closes meeting after 30 minutes, 6 regents By TEDRA WHITE FOR THE DAILY Friendship may be one of the most important gifts human beings share with one another. This is why the Best Buddies pro- gram was created: to help mentally- retarded people and their college bud- dies get to know those who are differ- ent from themselves. Best Buddies of America is a col- lege-based volunteer program that pairs college students with young adults who are mentally retarded. The organization, which originated at Georgetown University in Washing- ton, D.C., has spread to 140 college campuses across the country, includ- ing the University. "It provides college students and mentally disabled young adults with the opportunity to make new and dif- ferent friends," said SNRE senior Kirsten Silverman, president of the University's chapter of Best Buddies. As children, people with mental retardation develop at below-average rates and experience difficulty in learning, social adjustment and, in some cases, economic productivity. Silverman encourages students to get involved with the organization because it is not only rewarding to those with mental retardation, but to college students as well, she said. "It's so hard to explain the feeling you get from it," said Silverman. with the beginning of AIDS," said Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen A. Hartford. "I heard rumors about it for sometime, but I guess the article con- firms it." Regent Baker, who first brought the issue to light 10 years ago, said, "I have been thinking about doing something about it for a long time. It's up to the administration." U.. Regent James Waters (D- Muskegon) was sighted lighting up a cigarette outside the doors of the Fleming Building before the meetings. Waters may soon have to give up this luxury as Hartford promotes a cam- paign to restrict smoking 50 feet from the entrances of University buildings. Hartford said she would ultimately like to ban smoking entirely from the Uni- versity campus. Silverman recruited many students including LSA senior Mark Gimbel. Gimbel said his involvement in the program was not easy at first, but has taught him that people with mental retardation are just like anyone else. "It was difficult in the beginning because no one I've ever been around has been mentally disabled," Gimbel said. "It's been very rewarding be- cause I have become friends with someone I wouldn't have met on the everyday basis." Best Buddies has also been a learn- ing experience for LSA senior Jenni- fer Spiegelman. She said she has found through spending time with her Best Buddy, Robyn McDonald, that the abilities of mentally retarded people are underestimated. "Part of the program is educating people about the capacity of those who are mentally retarded," Spiegelman said. "(The program has) brought a newfound respect for them. They're not as unable as people think they are." The University chapter sponsors a number of both one-on-one and group activities, which have made it suc- cessful in forming special friendships. Best Buddies is a year-long com- mitment that Silverman said can bring a lot to the lives of those who are mentally disabled as well as be a wonderful experience for everyone involved. " Serbs detailn U.N. soldiers SARAJEVO,Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Bosnian Serb troops con- fronted peacekeepers at a weapons depot and detained more soldiers yesterday, escalating tensions over air raids on Serb forces near Gorazde. U.N. Secretary-General Boutros- Ghali warned of more air strikes if U.N. personnel were threatened, and President Clinton voiced concern. Serbs detained 24 peacekeepers yesterday, raising fears they might be trying to avert further air raids by holding U.N. people as virtual hos- tages. Serbs now are restricting the movements of 161 U.N. personnel. for AIDS By SAM T. DUDEK DAILY STAFF REPORTER Get on your bikes and ride! About 80 cyclists plan to do just *that this summer to raise money for AIDS awareness and education. They will take part in this year's Bike-Aid, a fundraising event spon- sored by the Overseas Development Network, a student-based organiza- tion in San Francisco, Calif. Robin Pugh, an event coordinator, said the ride is aimed at educating Americans about AIDS." The money raised will help fund development projects and AIDS edu- cation projects," she said. Pugh said the money will go to- .ward small community groups on AIDS awareness. This will be the ninth ride, the second to raise money for AIDS edu- cation. In previous years, "world hun- ger and indigenous people" have been some of the event's fundraising re- cipients, Pugh said. education Cyclists will begin from either Se- attle, Wash., Portland, Ore., San Fran- cisco, Calif., Brownsville, Tex. or Montreal, Canada. They will ride to Washington, D.C. for a grand finale Aug. 19-22, with speakers from the White House and AIDS and bicycling organizations. Cari Noga, who rode in the 1990 Bike-Aid, said she enjoyed her expe- rience in the event. "I was in college then, and my roommate went home for the sum- mer. She couldn't fit her bike in her car so I decided to ride it," the Dearborn native said. "There was a greater purpose than just riding bikes," Noga added. She said she rode to help Bike-Aid and to "try some different things." LSA senior Keira Barr, who will ride this summer, said she hopes the trip will inform people about AIDS. Barrsaidshe isparticipatingbecause it is a "real good cause." "Biking is an added bonus," she said. By JAMES R. CHO DAILY STAFF REPORTER Yesterday's closed-door University Board of Regents meeting was on the verge of being canceled because of wayward regents. Six of the eight members on the board are required to be present for the regents to legally hold a closed meet- ing. Underthe Open Meetings and Free- dom of Information acts, the regents are permitted to hold closed meetings to discuss the purchase of property, to review applications for employment for which the candidates have requested confidentiality, and to discuss current litigation. The meeting was scheduled to be- gin at 2 p.m. One half hour later, when the sixth regent arrived, University President James J. Duderstadt legally closed the meeting. Duderstadt gave asigh of reliefwhen Regents Laurence Deitch (D- Bloomfield Hills) and Shirley McFee (R-Battle Creek) walked through the doors of the Regents room at 2:30. Duderstadt smiled as former MSA President Craig Greenberg praised the work the assembly accomplished last year, during the public comments sec- tion of the meeting. "We have increased funding to stu- dent organizations, become more acitive in every part of the University commu- nity ...and improved our communica- tion with you," he said. Duderstadt also praised Greenberg saying, "You have been a forceful voice for students." Following Greenberg, new MSA President Julie Neenan introduced her- self to the regents. Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor) said, "She appears to be a very competent and attractive woman." University executive administrators and regents responded to the article printed in Monday's Daily about illegal activity in the Mason Hall men's restroom. "I thought that kindof activity died I EASY .AS PI. Friday Q 76-GUIDE, peer counseling phone line, call 76-GUIDE, 7 p.m.-8 a.m. U Campus Information Center, Michigan Union, 763-INFO; events info., 76-EVENT; film info., 763-FILM. D Chamber Choir, Hill Audito- rium, 8 p.m. U Coffee Hour -Indian Classi- cal Dancing, North Campus Commons, 6-8 p.m. " ENACT, Markley, Angela Davis Lounge, 7 p.m. " Europe on the Cheap, Interna- tional Center, 3-4:30 p.m. Q Free Tax Assistance, 3909 Michigan Union, 12-4 p.m. " Grads and young profession- als veggie shabbat potluck: Jewish Mysticism, Lawyer's 747-3711 for appointment. Q Rally Against Misspent Taxes, sponsored by POWRPEZ, Diag, noon. Q Safewalk, 936-1000, UGLi lobby, 8-11:30 p.m. Q Saint Mary Student Parish, Catholic campus prayer group, 7 p.m., 331 Thompson. Q Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Club, 2275 CCRB, 6-7 p.m. Q Support Workshop, safe, sup- portive, confidential space to dialogue about the aftereffects of E-mail hate messages, spon- sored by Counseling Services, Michigan Union, Pond Room, 3-5 p.m. Q "Vivat Comenius," sponsored by the Center for Russian and East European Studies, Rackham, East Conference - - 0 - - info., 763-FILM. Q Israeli Independence Day Party, at Hillel, 8:30 p.m. Q Safewalk, 936-1000, UGLi lobby, 8-11:30 p.m. Q "Senior Day at the Ball Park," Comedy Company, Mendel- ssohn Theatre, 8 p.m. Sunday 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 Grad Bash, Ingalls Mall, 12-4 p.m. Q Israeli Dancing, at Hillel, 8-10 p.m. U Lutheran Campus Ministry, 3OY Hey, She was out 'til 5he's gonna wreck 3:00 a.m. last nightl Cool 1' bet She the grading curve How'd she dQ all this? Colors! Spent a fortunel for the rest of us! it III