it r an :4rn~ Weather Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 10°. Tomorrow: Partly cloudy, high around 30% Thursday March 2, 1995 One hundred four years of editorial freedom .'U' researcher: Fruit pectin may stop prostate cancer By visa Ponis For the Daily Two researchers, including one from the University, have discovered that citrus pectin has the potential to arrest the spread of pros- tate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American men. 9 Their study was published yesterday in the ournal of the National Cancer Institute. University researcher Dr. Kenneth J. Pienta and Avraham Raz of the Michigan Cancer Foundation found that a modified form of citrus pectin prevented the spread of prostate cancer, when administered to rats that had been inoculated with infected cells. Results showed a 50-percent reduction in the occur- rence of the spread of lung cancer, as com- pared to a control group. Citrus pectin is a natural substance com- monly used in preserves and jams. It is de- rived from the plant fibers of citrus fruits. Pienta, an oncologist at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and scientific director of the Michigan Prostate Center, said a fragmented form of the pectin "basically coats the cancer cells and blocks their ability to bind in other areas of the body." Secondary cancerous growths form when the cancerous cells are able to latch onto other cells. Bruce Schweers, spokesman for the Michi- gan Cancer Foundation, further explained the effect of the treatment. "The citrus pectin binds to the cancer cells and acts as an anti- adhesive." Pienta also said that if cancer cells can be confined to the primary tumor, the patient's chances of recovery are greatly increased. Once prostate cancer has spread it is generally considered incurable. The primary tumor can later be removed through surgery or radia- tion. "We're very hopeful because it's a non- toxic, abundant substance with no known side effects," Schweers said. However, Schweers emphasized that this research will not necessarily result in a cure for prostrate cancer, but will work toward a way to prevent its spread. Citrus pectin has no effect on the primary tumor. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American men and the second-leading cause of male cancer death. Lung cancer is the No. i cause of cancer deaths in men. "We really hope that we can stop cancer from spreading so that we can cure them," Pienta said. Raz is the director of the tumor progres- sion and metastasis program at the Michigan Cancer Foundation. The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, the CaPCURE Foundation and the Paul Zuckerman Support Foundation for Cancer Research. SNRE dean to vacate post this summer Through the looking glass Maya Agarwal, an Engineering senior, makes herself at home in the Graduate library stacks. Midterm exams have confined many students to University libraries for long hours of hitting the books. STEPHANIE GRACE UM/Daily GOP hunts for balanced-budget vote WASHINGTON (AP)- Delay- ,ng a showdown once again, Republi- ans labored yesterday to find the single, elusive vote needed to rescue the balanced-budget amendment. Majority Leader Bob Dole said he might revive the issue at the height of the 1996 election season if it fails this time around. "This is no time for retreat," Dole (R- Kan.) said as the GOP bargained pri- vately with a small group of wavering )emocrats who were demanding pro- tection for Social Security trust funds. Sen. Mark Hatfield of Oregon re- mained the sole GOP holdout despite calls from close relatives, Oregon leg- islative leaders and party activists as well as a visit from Haley Barbour, his party's national chairman. "He said a balanced budget amend- ment is a must piece of legislation for Jhe Republican Party," said Hatfield, ho chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, the panel that would have to make the budget cuts if the amend- ment becomes part of the Constitution. The amendment is the core of the Republican drive to rein in govern- ment. The House approved a similar amendment, 300-132, late in January, the first victory of the GOP's conserva- tive"ContractWith America."The mea- *ure will require a balanced budget by 2002, and demand a three-fifths vote of both houses to permit deficit spending. Republicans say it will impose the discipline necessary to stop the run-up in the federal debt, now approaching $5 trillion. Some Democrats say it will lead to devastating cuts in social programs, while others, more sympathetic to the proposal, want a change that would keep Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) gestures during a Capitol Hill news conference yesterday. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) looks on. Social Security at heart of budget fight WASHINGTON (AP) - Social Security is never far from the storm center. Republicans who want to keep So- cial Security in the balanced-budget mix understand that removing its huge trust fund surpluses from the debate would make the task of eliminating the federal deficit immensely harder. They are keenly aware that if they agree to remove the fund from the defi- cit-reduction wars, then the balanced- budget amendment would likely be approved. But then how would they stanch the flow of federal red ink? Lawmakers would have to find an extra $558 billion worth of reduc- tions over the next seven years, be- yond the astronomical $1.2 trillion already said to be required. That is the dilemma that Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kansas) and other amendment supporters face as they desperately search for the deci- sive 67th vote to pass the proposal. There are two reasons that Social Security, with its overflowing trust fund, is often yanked into the budget battle: Its mammoth annual surpluses help make the federal shortfall look smaller than it really is, and politi- cians love to warn that their oppo- nents are plotting to use the popular program for deficit reduction. See SECURITY, Page 2 By Ronnie Glassberg Daily Staf Reporter The dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment will re- sign from his post at the end of August - nearly two years before the end of his appointment. Garry D. Brewer, who came to the school in 1991 from Yale University, plans to stay at the University as a faculty member. He said he will work on the Corporate Environmental Man- agement Program, which connects education in his school and the School of Business Administration. "Basically. when I came here four Y ears ago, I wrote a list of what were feasible goals. It occurred to me this year that I had done my job and I pointed that out to the provost," Brewer said. "I've done everything that I said I would do and I exceeded everything." Brewer gave a letter to the school's faculty members yesterday telling them of his decision. Provost and Executive Vice Presi- dent for Academic Affairs Gilbert R. Whitaker Jr. said Brewer hadtold him a few months ago that he was thinking of stepping down. "I urged him not to because I think he is doing a really good job," Whitaker said. "I'm sorry he's doing it, but I'm glad he's staying at the University." Brewer's decision makes his post the fifth open dean seat at the Univer- sity. Rackham, Public Health, Phar- macy and Engineering have open dean seats, and Whitaker, the University's chief academic officer, will step down in August. Brewer said that when he leaves the dean's office, he will focus on CEMP, the program he started in March 1992, in which students take classes in both SNRE and the Business School. "Here's something I care a lot about personally and it's in a very fragile stage in its development," Brewer said. "You can't do some- thing like that and be dean. I'm not leaving Michigan and I'm not mad about anything." Business Dean B. Joseph White, who was active in recruiting Brewer, said Brewer has done a good job as dean. "He has been a major contributor of CEMP in the post and I'm pleased that he will be able to do even more for us in the future," White said. "The premise of CEMP is that partnership is going to be more valuablein resolv- ing environmental problems than adversarial relationships." Brewer said he will apply to be chair of the program, a new position that he found funding for, although a national search will be conducted. "If I'm lucky enough to get it, I'll take it," he said. Regent Rebecca McGowan (D- Ann Arbor) said she is not surprised Brewer is leaving to work on CEMP. "It is a particularly difficult time in that relationship given the politics of today," she said. "It's a real trying time in that area. Things were moving forward and all of a sudden we had an election." During Brewer's first year as dean, the school received a three-year $4.8 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to create the Envi- ronmental Education and Training Program, which disseminates train- ing materials on the environment for See DEAN, Page 2 Brewer Inside The battle for ratification at the state level may be an even tougher fight. See story, Page 2. the Social Security trust funds from be- ing used to reduce the deficit. The amendment also is a symbol of the struggle between the two parties. Republicans are positioned as advocates of less spending while Democrats are depicted as defenders of Social Security. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said yesterday, "We're prepared to guar- antee Social Security's not going to be touched, period." But the offers being made to waver- ing Senate Democrats would, instead, gradually protect Social Security from budget cuts over the next several years to a decade, lawmakers said.' "Republicans are indeed counting on the use of Social Security trust fund dollars to buy down the debt over 10 years," Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota told a news conference. Two wavering Democrats being courted by the Republicans - North Dakotans Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan - objected to such a plan. "It is just fundamentally wrong to take Social Security trust fund mon- ies to balance the budget," said Conrad. Added Dorgan: "This is about whether we will be honest and true to our word about creating a trust fund for future generations." 'al date set for April in Jake Baker case By Josh White them," Chadwell Mullkoff said the court is "pre- side of the detention appeal, Chadwell Daly Staff Reporter si astiming Mr. lBaker Qulrv nbeore a iied a nci ast week in wmen nle Im . kmaumsum ..