r 'r T'n The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 29, 1995 - 3 Medical Center receives $30 million grant The University's Medical Center ceived a five-year, $30 million grant to continue the work of its General Clinical Research Center. The grant from the National Cen- ter for Research Resources, a pro- gram of the National Institutes of Health, will allow the GCRC to con- tinue and expand its work in gene therapy research for AIDS, cancer and cystic fibrosis. " "The GCRC program is designed to quickly transfer research from the laboratory to the patient and make it a standard part of medical care," Judith L. Vaitukaitis, NCRR director, said in a statement. She added that many health main- tenance organizations do not allow patients to enroll in experimental re- search studies. S"That's why federal grants such as is one are vital to maintaining the medical research being done at U-M and the other 70 general clinical research centers nationwide," Vaitukatis said. The GCRC is the only inpatient research facility at the Medical Cen- ter and the only center of its kind in the state. Physicists produce Est evidence of 'avalanches' in superconductors A phenomenon that occurs in piles of sand, water droplets, electronic cir- cuits and earthquakes has shown up in superconducting materials, Uni- versity physicists report. *Physics prof. StuartField and gradu- ate student Jeff Witt presented their re- sults in San Jose, Calif., showing the first directevidence thatmagnetic field lines, called vortices, passing through a super- conductor form avalanches like grains of sand in a collapsing sandpile. Field and Witt immersed a hollow tube of a niobium and titanium super- conducting alloy in liquid helium. They then introduced an external nagnetic field, slowly increasing the strength of the field. The magnetic flux, in the form of vortices, passes through the tube and becomes trapped in defects in the su- perconducting material. The vortices come through the interior wall of the tube in surges, or avalanches, and are detected electronically. 4OU profs. awarded Sloan fellowships The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced the recipients of its re- search fellowships this week. Three University professors were among the 100 recipients. ,Assistant Profs. Gary Glick, Alexander Barvinok and Ruth Lawrence will receive $30,000 each eer two years. The fellowships are aimed at young scientists and economists, with an average age of 32. The awards will be used by researchers to pursue per- sonal research or further current work. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Matthew Smart 'New Yorker' editor speaks about Middle-East conflict By Patience Atkin Daily Staff Reporter An editor of one of the nation's most promi- nent magazines says there is real danger of bloodshed in the Middle East, but there is also room for hope. Milton Viorst, Middle East editor for "The New Yorker magazine," spoke last night at the Michigan League as part of the Middle-East Committee of the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice's "Teach-In for Peace and Justice." Viorst focused mainly on historical analyses of the Arab-Israeli conflict, tracing events from 1992 to the present. Viorst began with jokes about the "Michi- gan springtime," but his tone quickly sombered as he recalled interviews he conducted with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in prepa- ration for his 1987 book, "Sands of Sorrow." "What Rabin made clear in our talks is that he saw no virtue in peace," Viorst said. "Indif- ference would more aptly describe his attitude." During his lecture, Viorst offered his own insight into the conflict. "It's impossible to stay in the Middle East business without holding on to some hope," Viorst said. "Although right now, I am feeling extremely gloomy." "Mr. Viorst was chosen because of his expe- rience with Middle East affairs," said LSA senior Shira Robinson, a member of the coordi- nating committee for the Interfaith Council. "He is also a well-respected member of the Jewish community, yet he takes a critical ap- proach to analyzing issues." "Being Jewish myself, I can understand how Jews can feel about security issues," Viorst said, explaining the backbone of the Arab-Israeli con- flict. "But security can take many forms.' Viorst offered minimal hope for the resolu- tion of the conflict. Emphasizing the impor- tance of Israel's failure to meet the terms of the Oslo agreement, Viorst said, "Until now, every- thing has been foreplay." Should the Palestinians threaten Israel with civil war, Viorst said, Israel could supress the Palestinians. but a bigger issue is at stake. "The big Israeli fear is that Jewish bood will be shed." Viorst said. "Yitzhak Rabin doesn't want to go down in history as the one respon- sibl for causing Jews to shed each other's blood." Some students at the lecture felt Viorst's lecture was informative. "I didn't know much about (the conflict), so I learned something," said Ingrid Lai, a first-year Art student. "I think he brought a very fresh, neutral perspective on a problem that I view to be extremely complex," said Alberto Rodriguez, a graduate student and teaching assistant who required his students to attend Viorst's lecture. ..r.: City to test early- waringtornado system today '" -~ ~~,7( 41-f By Lisa Poris Daily Staff Reporter Watching Dorothy and Toto get carried away to the land of Oz is the only experience many people have had with tornadoes. However, Michigan is no stranger to the destructive power of the fun- nel-shaped clouds. An average of 16 tornadoes touch down in the state each year, and last year one struck within Washtenaw County. The last time a twister struck Ann Arbor was the late 1980s. There are 42 outdoor warning si- rens spread throughout the city, and at about 10 a.m. today the Office of Disaster Preparedness will be con- ducting an audible outdoor test of the sirens. The sirens - which can be heard in almost all areas of the city - are primarily for people who are out- side and need to get inside immedi- ately.. The sirens are set off "whenever we think there is a funnel cloud that may touch down," said Kathy Rich, the assistant coordinator for the po- lice department's Office of Disaster Preparedness. The Michigan tornado season lasts from March to October. The majority of the tornadoes occur in the late afternoon and early evening, though it is possible for them to occur at any time of day. When a threat of a tornado touch- down exists, there are a few precau- tions people should take. A person's priority should be to get indoors. If entering a building is not an option, people should find a ditch away from any object that may be picked up by the swirling winds. If in a ditch,they should lie down and shield your head with their arms. Once indoors, the safest place to be is in a basement or other interior part of the building. Being on the lowest possible level is best. Getting under a piece of furniture or another sturdy object is advised. Make sure to avoid all windows, doors and outside walls. A common misconception that many people have is that opening windows will help relieve the pres- sure differences, and will conse- quently limit the damage caused by the tornado. Rich said this is not true and that windows should remain closed. "If a tornado hits, its going to do the damage no matter what," she said. JONATHAN LURIE/Daily A demonstrator, N. Renuka Uthappa, holds a "corporate welfare" soup kitchen at the Detroit Edison Building yesterday. The Homeless Action Committee and Citizen's Resistance to Fermi 2 were protesting welfare cuts. Homeless Action Committee pro tcr By Andrew Taylor Daily News Editor While the federal school lunch program has come under Republican fire in Washington, the "Private Sec- tor Free Lunches" program drew criti- cism yesterday from local activists. Fewer than 20 protesters gathered at noon in front of the Detroit Edison Building at the corner of Main and Liberty streets to protest "corporate welfare" - government subsidies and tax incentives given to businesses. The Homeless Action Committee and Citizens' Resistance Against Fermi 2 teamed up to raise public awareness about welfare reform, said spokeswoman Vivian Louie, an Ann Arbor resident. "There's a huge lack of informa- tion in the public," Louie said. She said the two groups are upset that Congress is working to reform welfare while still giving government money to businesses. The protest specifically defended Aid to Families with Dependent Chil- dren, an entitlement for needy fami- lies. The program costs $14.1 billion annually -just under 1 percent of the federal budget, according to the Of- fice of Management and Budget. Louie asserted that "corporate welfare" takes up 4.3 percent of the federal budget. "It's taking a lot of money which would benefit AFDC," she said. U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) said in a telephone interview that the welfare reform debate has been framed the wrong way by Re- publicans. She said the GOP is look- ing for spending cuts for budgetary reasons, rather than looking out for the public. "How are we going to change (wel- fare) to meet all of (the public's) ex- ceptions?" Rivers asked. She said the issue is not cutting welfare, but how it is handled. For example, she said, without providing minimum-wage earners with health care coverage, "they're better off be- ing on welfare." Although protesters echoed many congressional Democrats' complaints that Republicans are redirecting wel- fare from needy families to corpora- tions, Louie attacked both parties for their stances on welfare reform. "Democratic reform cuts may not be as drastic as the Republicans', but they are just as dangerous," Louie said. - Daily Staff Reporter Zachary M. Raimi contributed to this report. MSU No. 6 in research money LANSING (AP) - A discovery used to fight cancer landed Michigan State University among the top 10 colleges that made money from re- search in 1993. "For a lot of people who have can- cer and get chemotherapy, it's cisplatin or form of it that is used to control the cancer. It's a major treatment material that comes from platinum," said Fred Erbisch, director of Michigan State's Office of Intellectual Property. In 1993, $13.5 million of the $14.2 million that Michigan State got in royalties from inventions and patents came from cisplatin, Erbisch said. He added the invention has brought the school $80 million so far. That royalty amount put Michi- gan State at No. 6, according to fig- ures compiled by the Association of University Technology Managers. The Universities of California came in first with $45.4 million State Senate tackles budget issues LANSING (AP) - Detroit's bid for state money to support cultural at- tractions consumed much of the early debate yesterday as the Senate began work on nine budget bills it wants to send to the House before spring break. The 38-member chamber spent much of the morning on the issue and was scheduled to resume that debate after a lunch break. The Senate plans to continue the budget work today and tomorrow with hopes of wrapping up preliminary ac- tion on the complex budget bills before its two-week spring break starts Friday. Discussion on the budget for the departments of labor and commerce hit a snag yesterday over a new way to 4 Y 4k' l F F FF F Yfl : i fil lrffhf6l f ° , .;::"::: ff Y tills. What's bapp ens in Ann Arbor today GiROUP MEETINGS U AIESEC Michigan, general member meeting, 662-1690, Business Ad- ministration Building, Room 1276, 6 p m. m" Coming Out Group for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People, 763-4186, Michigan Union, LGBPO Lounge, 7- 9 p.m. 0 Discussion Group for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People, 763-4186, Michigan Union, LGBPO Lounge, 5:15-7 p.m. U Hindu Students Council, weekly meeting, 764-0604, Michigan Union, Kuenzel Room, 8 p.m. I La Voz Mexicana, weekly meeting, 995-1699, Michigan League, Room C, 8 p.m. Q Overeaters Anonymous, 769-4958, Michigan Union, Room 3200,12:10-1 p.m. U Rainforest Action Movement, Dana Building, Room 1040, 7:30 p.m. U Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Club, men and women, beginners welcome, 994- sponsored by Lutheran Campus Ministry,801 South ForestAvenue, 6 p.m. Q "Cheap U.S. Travel for International Students," sponsored by Interna- tional Center, International Cen- ter, Room 9, 4 p.m. Q "Friendly Days Panel Discussion," sponsored by Friendly Days, Michi- gan Union, Kuenzel Room, 4-5:30 p.m. Q "Fulbright Perspectives on Educa- tion in the U.S. and Abroad," spon- sored by Fulbright Association, Clements Library, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Q "Hillel Governing Board Elections," sponsored by Hillel, Hillel Building, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Q "Letterperfect: Developing a Refer- ence Letter File," sponsored by Career Planning and Placement, Student Activities Building, Room 3200, 4:10-5 p.m. Q "Love and Sex," sponsored by Stu- dents of Objectivism, Michigan I poiisrnfarcnr' P Rnnmc '3 and Q "Protest/March Against the Con- tract 'On' America," sponsored by Coalition Againstthe Contract "On" America, Diag, 12 noon Q "Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships Informational Meeting," Michigan Union, Pendleton Room, 7 p.m. STUDENT SERVICES Q 76-GUIDE, 764-8433, peer coun- seling phone line, 7 p.m.-8 a.m. Q Campus Information Center, Michigan Union, 763-INFO; events info 76-EVENT or UM*Events on GOpherBLUE Q North Campus Information Center, North Campus Commons, 763- NCIC, 7:30 a.m.-5:50 p.m. Q~ Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley Lobby, 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Q Political Science Undergrad Peer Advising, 764-6386, sponsored by UPSA, Haven Hall, Room 5620, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. give out arts and equity grants. The new approach is designed to spread state money more fairly throughout the state. That is a change that would cost Detroit some $6.4 million. This year, Detroit's share of the equity package is $20.6 million, or 74 percent, of the total amount. Under the budget now in the Senate, that would drop to $14.2 million, or some 53 percent, of the grants. The grants would be allocated statewide on a per capita basis instead of the current system of four tiers, based on population categories. Counties could also apply for ad- ditional grants and receive up to $1.23 per resident. The new state fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Grants to the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Zoo wouldn't change under the new budget. Sen. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) led the fight against the changes. He said that because Detroit has to shoulder more than its share of south- eastern Michigan's regional transit system, it needs help to support muse- ums and other cultural attractions that attract residents outside Detroit. "We're asking for a helping hand, not the back side of your hand," Smith said. But Sen. Glenn Steil pointed out that Detroit still would get 53 percent of the equity package. r=®===m mmmmmmum * AlL19 5pring0o 0 0 That time ofogear when the sun shines, theyfowers bloomandthe heartsof ~oungpeopieerwerP I turn to thoughts of iI S> DELICIOUS NON-FAT FROZEN YOGURT! < r ® Treat yourself (or a friend) to some today! ® M -on1Thurs8:30-7 'IWe ship anywhere in the I ICOOKIES Fri 8:30-5:30 Satl10-5:30 761 -CHNIP hmminmminmmm gmmmmmmmmmmi h - >. .;:__ ___.w