The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 5, 1994 - 3
.Organization strives to personalize large lecture classes
By SAM T. DUDEK
Daily Staff Reporter
The professor stands rigid behind
her podium, drearily articulating the
tiner points of quantum physics. The
guy behind you has been snoring for
lhe past 20 minutes. The two people
in front of you continue their discus-
ion on this weekend's big game.
This is the world of lecture halls.
One organization on campus, how-
ever, is trying to change this.
The Center for Research on Learn-
ing and Teaching (CRLT) is sponsor-
ing a series of workshops for profes-
sors and staff to attempt to improve
the educational value of large classes.
Bringing together faculty from
various schools on campus, the
"CRLT Series on Teaching Large
Classes" is an open discussion on
improving large class settings.
Connie Cook, the director of
CRLT, said her organization supports
"the advancement of learning and
teaching" at the University.
Cook, who is also a professor of
higher education, said the workshop
series is an important step toward
improving learning because "large
'We have been impressed with the interest and
enthusiasm faculty members have shown in the
topic and see this as a part of our mission of
improving undergraduate education.'
- Barbara Hofer
workshop organizer
About 70 faculty members attended
CRLT' s workshop Friday presented
by Maryellen Weimer, an instructor
from Penn State Liniversity.
Weimer presented here"seven areas
of challenge"in teaching large lectures.
She called for more student involve-
ment, in order to stimulate more think-
ing.
"Notes of the professors become
the notes of the students, without ever
passing through the minds of either,,,
she said.
Fielding questions and comments
from University professors, Weimer
lectures affect so many undergradu-
ate students."
Barbara Hofer, who helped orga-
nize the workshops, expressed plea-
sure with the interest in the program.
"We have been impressed with the
interest and enthusiasm faculty mem-
bers have shown in the topic and see
this as a part of our mission of improv-
ing undergraduate education,"'she said.
Panelists praise
efforts to make
campus accessible
By TRACEY ROGERS
___ For the Daily
Members ofapanel discussion yes-
terday praised "Investing in Ability"
week and said the University had made
strides to make the campus aware of
the problems of people with disabili-
ties.
About a dozen people attended the
small, informal meeting to hear from a
panel of five men with disabilities from
the local community in the Pond Room
f the Michigan Union.
Don Anderson, who led the discus-
sion, is the director of the Ann Arbor
Center for Independent Living, which
provides emotional support and en-
courages members to come out and
socialize through setting certain goals.
He began by defining what a dis-
ability is. "A socio-political phenom-
enon of how society perceives a person,
>t how a person perceives himself."
Panel members discussed the ef-
fects of public opinion on them, and
expressed their opinions of the public.
When asked about the areas ofhandi-
capped accessibility on the University
campus that are lacking, the overwhelm-
ing response was parking and the side-
walk conditions.
Glenn Ashlock, an employee in the
University Hospital, said the Univer-
*ty has made strides to improve acces-
sibility at the hospital. "In my opinion,
it would be called manageable, yet there
is still room for improvement."
Many said they supported the call
for a "Universal Design" of all build-
ings worldwide to facilitate the needs
of people with disabilities. Disabilities
include everything from utilizing a
wheelchair to being deaf or blind. They
also argued that all people, not just
those with handicaps would benefit
from this design.
At the University, much has been
done to assist the disabled community.
In the Angell Hall auditoriums, a spe-
cial hearing device is available for those
with hearing loss. More recently, the
addition of stenographers to type lec-
tures for those who do not know sign
language has begun.
In 1990, the Americans with Dis-
abilities Act (ADA),was enacted mak-
ing it illegal to discriminate in employ-
ment against aqualified individual with
a disability. Anderson said the disabled
community sees this as their declara-
tion of equal rights in society.
Each year since, Brian Clapham,
the ADA coordinator for the Univer-
sity, has organized events to raise pub-
lic awareness. He, along with volun-
teers from the community offer their
time to speak to the public. "If I expect
people to understand where I am com-
ing from, it is up to me to educate
them," Ashlock said.
An employee helps load a student's computer from the Computer Kick-off sale into a taxi yesterday.
Computers amrve o campus,
ready for student pick-up
talked on how to personalize lectures.
accommodate different students
needs, managing disruptive behavior
and how to simply enjoy lectures.
"I can't stay awake in lectures"
said LSA sophomore Hope Mier. She
said that note-taking is difficult as
well. "You don't hear a thing (the
lecturer) is saying because you're too
busy taking notes." She said she en-
joys discussions "because they are
more personalized."
Chemistry lecturer Brian Coppola
will conduct the next CRLT work-
shop Oct. 13.
Clinton
urges
vote on,
GATT,
Newsday
WASHINGTON - After a day of
uncertainty, the Clinton administra-
tion and congressional leaders yester-
day decided to roll the dice and call
for a vote on a sweeping trade agree-
ment today.
The decision came after many
House members of both parties began
to raise doubts about the trade accord
and whether debate on the measure
should be delayed until after the No-
vember elections. Already, a proce-
dural maneuver by a key lawmaker
last week forced the Senate to delay
its vote until Dec. 1.
The trade deal, an expansion of
the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade that has governed world trade
since World War II, would reduce
tariffs around the globe and create a
World Trade Organization to mediate
trade disputes.
GATT is a top legislative priority
of the Clinton administration, and
several weeks ago it appeared to be
sailing smoothly toward easy pas
sage. But opponents of the agreement
- including supporters of one-time
presidential candidate Ross Perot -
have seized upon the delay in the
Senate to sow doubt among House
members.
"We're going ahead," House Ma
jority Leader Richard Gephardt (D
Mo.) told reporters yesterday after
meeting with Republican Leader Rob-
ert Michel (R-Ill.) "It will be a close
vote. We think it's possible and we're
going to do it."
A glum-looking Michel agreed it
would be a close vote and said he hak
no idea how many Republicans would
support the procedural rule allowing
debate on the GATT legislation.
As with the crime bill earlier this
year, the vote on the procedural rule is
the main hurdle for GATT. House
members can vote against the rule
thus not allowing the bill to proceed
- and still maintain they would sup-
port the legislation. If the rule passes;
both sides say, GATT will then pass
easily.
The Clinton administration is
counting on Republican support to
pass GATT, because many Demo-
crats oppose lifting trade restrictions
that might result in job losses. But
sources said discussion was quite
lively at a meeting of Republican
House members yesterday.
Woman spotted near
empty car, polCe say
By SAM T. DUDEK
Daily Staff Reporter
The Sports Coliseum held one of its
biggest events of the year yesterday,
but the bleachers were completely
empty, no athletes were competing and
the scoreboard lights were off.
The Coliseum floor served as the
computer pick-up area for this year's
Computer Kick-off Sale.
With aisles of boxes and checkout
lines, the sports arena better re-
sembled a grocery store than an ath-
letic arena.
Phil Harding, manager of the
University's computer sales program,
said this year's sale went quite well.
He said the top-selling computer
was the Macintosh Performa 636 with
CD-ROM. "We sold about 650 of
those," Harding said.
PowerMacs were also a big seller,
attracting about 600 buyers. Overall,
the kickoff sold about 1.800
Macintosh computers, near the 1993
total, and 250 IBM/Zenith comput-
ers, down from last year.
Harding said the Kick-off experi-
enced the greatest drop in the number
of printers sold. He blamed the slow
sale of printers - about 700 less than
last year - on superstores that now
have comparable prices.
"It is really important that Univer-
sity students use computers as an edu-
cational tool," Harding said.
He said the University sells these
computers because it lets the school
gauge what type of machines students
are using. "One way we can help
(students) is if we know what they're
buying."
One aspect of this year's computer
sale that Harding was especially pleased
with was the absence of viruses. Last
year, many of the disks sold at the sale
were plagued with a virus that created
a number of problems.
"This year we do not have (a vi-
rus,)" he said, "So in that respect we've
done a lot better."
The computer pick-up ends today at
7 p.m. Students with questions about
their orders can call 74-SALES.
DETROIT (AP) - The
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Depart-
ment has received four reports of pos-
sible sightings of the Ortonville
woman missing since her car was
found alongside a highway.
"It hasn't been confirmed, but the
indications are that these people have
said it's a strong possibility this is the
erson we're looking for," Washtenaw
ounty Sheriff Lt. R.J. Smith said.
A deputy found 28-year-old
Dawn Marie McGowan's car Satur-
day morning along Michigan 14 in
Ann Arbor Township. Its engine
was running, the doors were un-
locked and McGowan's purse was
on the front seat. Her parents said
they last saw her about 9 a.m. Fri-
day.
Sunday's sightings occurred be-
tween 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. within three
miles of where McGowan's car was
found, Smith said.
There had been no further sightings
as of last night, "so we're concerned
that if it is her, she's still out there and
has not made contact with anybody"
Smith said.
Twice on Sunday the woman had
contact with people.
"A couple living in the area was
approached by a woman matching her
description asking for water," Smith
said. The couple said the woman ap-
peared distraught and didn't want any
further contact.
Two motorists traveling on U.S.
23 reported seeing a woman match-
ing McGowan's description and,
later, a worker at a retirement com-
plex saw her, Smith said.
Assisted suicide law sparks legal debate
LANSING (AP) - Assisted sui-
cide took center stage at the Michigan
Supreme Court yesterday with lengthy
arguments focused on whether the
terminally ill have a right to a doctor's
help in ending their lives.
The four combined cases - three
of them involving criminal charges
against Dr. Jack Kevorkian - were
the first to come before the high court,
as it opened its 1994-95 term.
The court allotted two hours to
hear arguments, but went past that by
45 minutes as the justices peppered
attorneys with questions.
Many of the questions focused on
the claim by Kevorkian's attorney,
Geoffrey Fieger, that "the right not to
suffer" already exists in the U.S.
Constitution's privacy guarantees.
"It's really already been decided,"
Fieger said. He added that the issue
was only surfacing now because of
scientific and medical advances that
prolong life, but at the cost of dignity
and quality of life.
"The only reason we're here today
is because of the machinations of sci-
ence," he said.
He said assisted suicide should be
seen as the logical follower to the
U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v.
Wade decision that legalized abor-
tion. The high court found a privacy
right to allow women and their doc-
tors to make decisions on abortion
and that involves a third party, a fetus.
"Here we only deal with mentally
competent dying adults," he said.
He urged the court to recognize
that right and in doing so wiping out
the state's 1993 ban on assisted sui-
cide and two murder charges against
Kevorkian. The murder charges were
dismissed by a lower court, but rein-
stated by a May 10 Michigan Court of
Appeals ruling.
P 9
Group Meetings
U Christian Service Commission,
Saint Mary Student Parish, 331
Thompson St., 7 p.m.
" Golden Key National Honor
Society, general membership
meeting, 995-9297, Michigan
Union, Parker Room, 7 p.m.
" Hellenic Students Association,
998-3451, Michigan Union,
Kuenzel Room, 8 p.m.
" Hindu Student Council, 764-
0604, Michigan Union, Pond
Room, 8 p.m.
Jewish Lesbian, Bisexual and
Gay Collective, social group,
Hillel, 7:30 p.m.
0 Michigan Student Assembly
Mass Meeting, 763-3242,
Michigan Union, MSA Cham-
bers, 6:30 o.m.
p.m.
[ U-M Students of Objectivism,
913-5530, Modern Languages
Building, Room B 122,7:30 p.m.
U U-M Taekwondo Club, 747-
6889, beginners welcome,
CCRB, Room 2275, 7-8 p.m.
Events
Q "Bosnia: Before, During, and
After the War", photographic
exhibit, North Campus Com-
mons, 7 a.m.- 11 p.m.
[ "Careers in Dentistry", Career
Planning & Placement, 5:10-6
p.m.
U "Council for Disability Con-
cerns Annual Meeting/James
Neubacher Award", Fleming
Administration Building, Re-
House", Business School,
Patton Room 2011, 10-11 a.m.
Q "Lord of Light Eversong",
Lutheran Campus Ministry,
801 S. Forest, 7 p.m.
Q "Organic Seminar", Karin A.
Stein, Chemistry Building,
Room 1640, 4 p.m.
Q "Peace: God's Gift, Our Call-
ing" discussion group, Luth-
eran Campus Ministry, 801 S.
Forest, 6 p.m.
Q "Ukraine: East and West,
Compromise or Confronta-
tion?", OksanaMalanchuk and
James Clem, Lane Hall, Com-
mons Room, noon
Student services
Q 76-GUIDE, peer counseling
o r .0p..'
For all you love-sick puppies-
SWEETEST DLAY IS APPROACHING!
'ROW w
But this year, forget the flowers, the candy, the
card, the expensive & crowded restaurant.
BE SPONTANEOUS & ORIGINAL
U -.