LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 28, 1996 -3 Nons p Syracuse first U to close for S lnhic holiday Syracuse University became the nation's first university to close its doors in honor ofan Islamic holiday last week. The university canceled classes in honor of Eid-al-Fitr. Students began to push for recognition of Eid-al-Fitr in 1992 when a new five-year calendar was being planned out at Syracuse. The university's administration re- don campus input to decide which ys to recognize in the calendar. Eid- al-Fitr is included in the Syracuse cal- endar until 1999. The university also introduced a new kitchen on campus that provides Halal food for Muslims. Dole visits University of Arizona fraternity AKansas Republican and presidential 1opeful Bob Dole visited the Univer- sity of Arizona's chapter of Kappa Sigma last weekend. Dole pledged the fraternity at the University of Kansas and was active in the'UA chapter for 18 months after his return from World War II. Dole attended a barbecue and recep- tion at the Kappa Sigma house and posed for a photo with its active mem- bers. About 80 other students and fac- Oy members attended the picnic held in the fraternity's yard. After dinner, fraternity members es- corted Dole to the Wildcats' men's bas- ketball game against Oregon State. Purdue students get new chemistry tools Blind students at Purdue University *w have new opportunities to study chemistry, since Purdue researchers re- cently constructed a computer program that translates chemical equations into Braille. The program uses WordPerfect to c.onvert equations into Braille code. Purdue chemistry Prof. Fred Lytle and David Schleppenbach, a graduate stu- dent in physical chemistry, created the translation program. The two are now working to modify tie program to allow the program to speak the symbols in an equation rather than print them out. Penn State adopts -new smoking policy Penn State University recently adopted a new smoking policy that will ' into effect this summer. WThe policy bans smoking in dorm rooms and sorority suites. It provides that smokers use only designated lounges to light up. The university is trying to add smoking lounges to every dorm, but some dorms will not have lounges when the policy takes effect. Students caughtsmoking willbepun- ished as if they had been caught with alcohol. The students need not be seen with a cigarette to "be caught." A resi- nce hall official "smelling" smoke ming from the room, or a roommate reporting smoking, can lead to disci- p linary actions under the policy. Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Jennifer Harvey. What GROUP MEETINGS J AIESEC Michigan, general member meeting, 662-1690, Business Administration Building, Room 1276, 6 p.m. 0 American Baptist Student Fellow- ship, free meal, meeting, 663- 9376, First Baptist Church, 512 E. Huron, 5:30-7 p.m. 0 Bread for the World, meeting, 487- 9058, Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice Office, MemorialChris- tian Church, corner of Hill and Tappan Streets, 7:30 p.m. 0 Connections Support Group, for women returning to school for undergraduate degrees, 998-7210, CEW Center, 330 E. Liberty, daytime connec- tions: 12:15-2:30 p.m.; evening connections: 7-8:30 p.m. U Hindu Students Council, movie "Logic of Spirituality," 764-2671, Michigan Union, Pond Room, 8 p.m. U La Voz Mexicana, meeting, 994- 9139, Michigan League, Room D, 7 p.m. ~ Michigan Union Program Board Meeting. 332-3867, Michigan Freeman keeps job as MSA chair Vote falls shy of two- thirds majority needed to recall him as commission chair By Laurie Mayk Daily Staff Reporter For the second time in one week, the Michigan Student Assembly consid- ered the recall of a chair vying for one of the two highest positions on the as- sembly. MSA voted down the self-initiated recall of International Students Com- mission chair Jonathan Freeman by a vote of 20-14 last night. A recall re- quires a two-thirds vote of the assem- bly. Freeman, the Students' Party candi- date for MSA president, put himself up for recall following criticism by a com- mission member at last week's meet- ing. At least one assembly member ap- proached Afshin Jadidnouri, an inter- national student, in support of his sug- gestion that Freeman be replaced, Free- man said. "(The action was) specifically for the purpose of trying to find out if those people whom I respected thought I was politically manipulat- ing (the position)," Freeman said. "I felt that I was doing the ethical and responsible thing." Jadidnouri said Freeman had not made a significant effort to aid interna- tional students and accused him of us- ing the position to obtain a position on the MSA steering committee to further his political campaign. "I have no personal vendetta against Jonathan Freeman - I question his intentions," Jadidnouri said. Freeman said he felt compelled to hold himself to the same standards he had required of Budget Priorities Com- mittee chair Matt Curin last week. As- sembly members accused Curin of irre- sponsibility but defeated a recall last week. Freeman said fellow Students' Party members discouraged him from pro- posing the recall. Freeman denied accusations by as- sembly members that the recall was motivated by a desire for media atten- tion as the election nears. Rackham Rep. Ray Robb said Freeman's reasons for proposing the action were valid. "This is more than a political stunt," Robb said. LSA Rep. Andy Schor, the Wolver- ine Party's candidate for MSA presi- dent, said that while Freeman has per- formed well on the commission, it would better benefit the commission, and stu- dents, ifan international student chaired the commission. "I think that an International student should chair the International Student Affairs Commission," Schor said. "Mi- norities should chair the Minority Af- fairs Commission and a woman should chair the Women's Issues Commis- sion." LSA Rep. Dan Serota suggested Free- man resign due to the assembly's re- sponse to the proposal. "A majority of the assembly showed they do not have any faith in Jonathan Freeman," he said. "I think he should resign." IhkELIZABETH LIPPMAN/Daily Getting their kicki Parag Mody, a University Hospitals employee, instructs others in a Karate-do class yesterday at the Asian Martial Arts Studio on Fourth Street. The studio offers classes to students of all ages and ability levels. panelinvestigate SAP Attacks spur WSU to boost secunty By Jennifer Harvey Daily Staff Reporter The Wayne State University Depart- ment of Public Safety is adding extra nighttime patrols after three students were sexually assaulted or robbed in the past month. "We've added the extra marked pa- trols and also have unmarked patrols in the area," said Steve Fush, captain of Wayne State's public safety force. The first incident occurred Jan. 22, when a 20-year-old male student was abducted outside the university's ath- letic center. The attacker forced him into the trunk of a car. The student was taken away from campus and sexually assaulted. The assailant drove the vic- tim back to the athletic center and re- leased him. Last Thursday, two other attacks took place. The first occurred at I a.m., when a 25-year-old male student was beaten with a gun and forced to give the at- tacker the keys to his car. The car was later recovered a block away. The last attack occurred at 2 a..n Thursday, when a 20-year-old female student and her boyfriend were forced off the street at gunpoint. The assailant tied up the boyfriend and sexually as- saulted the woman. Fush said there are "no suspects at all," although all the victims reported their assailant as a man more than sig feet tall and weighing more than 2O pounds. Fush said the cases are not being investigated as the work f a serial attacker. "Students are pretty startled by the attacks on males," said a WSU maie senior who wished to remain anon- mous. "It eliminates the rule of 'walk your girlfriend home."' "It's like any urban school, you're al- ways gonna have one flake that throws a wrench in the works," the student said. Wayne State is located in Detroit. Fush said the incidents all occurred Off direct campus grounds. He said the cam- pus has excellent lighting and security. He said public lights are out in the areaof the campus, but he did not know if any were out in the areas of the attacks. "People always need to be carefu" Fush said. Fush said the university isworkingo spread safety knowledge among stu- dents. He said the university put a full- page precaution bulletin in the school's paper and mailed bulletins to students. Fush said the extra patrols will con- tinue indefinitely. By Laurie Mayk Daily Staff Reporter Responding to recent allegations of internal problems at the University's Sexual Assault and Prevention Aware- ness Center, the Michigan Student Assembly last night vowed to become part of the organization's healing pro- cess. The assembly referred a proposed resolution on the issue to the Campus Safety Commission for further action and involvement. "We're reinforcing our support for SAPAC," said LSA Rep. Paul Scublinsky as he proposed the resolu- tion. "We are saying we are concerned about these allegations." Scublinsky said the proposal stemmed from concerns about the organization's accessibility to minority communities and the balance of power and responsibility between student vol- unteers and paid staff members. "There was a different focus between the leaders of SAPAC and the volun- teers ofSAPAC," Scublinskysaid. "The focus should be with the students." The commission is expected to "in- vestigate and review the facts and then come back with a recommendation." LSA Rep. Dan Serota said. The report may include the commission's analysis of the allega- tions' validity, possible MSA actions and viable solutions to the questions of trust and organization. "I'll definitely do my best to get (SAPAC) back on their feet," said CSC chair Elizabeth McHenry. MclHenry said the commission's in- volvement may include advertising ba- sic SAPAC services and creating fo- rums for students to express concerns about the services and the organization. "We can support them and help train them," said McHenry, an LSA senior. There are resources available beyond the UniversityMcHenry said. The com- mission can help SAPAC to use the knowledge and models of other cam- puses, she said. In light of the range of issues in- volved, other representatives and fac- tions within the organization may be utilized, Serota said. He suggested the commission solicit the aid of the Les- bian/Gay/Bisexual taskforce and the Minority Affairs Commission. 0 years ago in the Daily Zoology Prof. Charles Walker called a Soviet government report "poorly written" and said it had "not a shred of evidence." The report said Soviet geologists had discovered 2 prehistoric tritons (salamanders) in Siberian ice that came back to life when warmed. City Council, 'U' question relations By Will Weissert Daily Staff Writer Because the University makes up such a large part of Ann Arbor's property area, economic base and population, the City Council must carefully weigh the University's concerns against the needs of the rest of the city.+ Councilmembers and University offi- cials disagree about how successful the council has been in balancing the scales.I "Overall I characterize the relation-j ship as on the road to improvement," said James Kosteva, the University's director of communications. City leaders were not so positive about+ current University-city relations. Jean Carlberg (D-3rd Ward) said having the University in Ann Arbor has created many problems, especially with insufficient parking and housing for students. "There is a strain placed on council-University + r E AR t' happening in Ann Arbor today relations because the University acts ar- bitrarily in some instances," she said. Despite occasional strains, Mayor Ingrid Sheldon said that the city and University need one another. "You have to describe that relation- ship as symbiotic - we depend on each other," Sheldon said. But Sheldon said the City Council does feel pressure from the University to sup- port University needs, because it com- prises so much ofthe Ann Arbor commu- nity. "That expectation is there," she said. Sheldon said halfofthe property in Ann Arbor is tax-exempt, and "a great portion ofthat property belongs to the University." The city's limited tax base has strained the relationship between the City Council and the University, she said. Both Sheldon and Kosteva said the widening of Main Street is an example of a successful collaboration. The Uni- versity agreed to give up 4,000 square feet of its property around Main Street so the city could widen the road. Sheldon also said the University has been very helpful with several road improvement projects, including roads around North Campus. Kosteva men- tioned University involvement in the city's establishment of a serial-rapist task force last year as another example of past collaboration. The City Council and the University will soon have a chance to test that relationship, when the council consid- ers a resolution to tighten restrictions on street vendors and peddlers who sell goods on University property. University officials want council members to update the current ordinance, so it would prohibit street vendors and peddlers from selling goods on Univer- sity property three hours before and after any major University event. The current ordinance, drafted in 1981, restricts peddling around Michi- gan Stadium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on football Saturdays with no restrictions on other University events Kosteva said the University needed the City Council's support on this issue and expected to receive it. "Our objec- tives are very, very similar and I think we will be able to work toward success- fully completing them," he said. Councilmembers were not so quick great scores . Law School usiness School Denta School Graduate Schoo Medical School great teachers... Kaplan helps you focus yos.ur test p rep study where you need most. ur teachers wil rshow you the proven skills and test-taking techniques to help you get a higher score. g a a get a higher score KAPLAN 1 -80-KAP-TEST women, beginners welcome, 994- 3620, CCRB, Room 2275, 8:30- 9:30 p.m. Q Taekwondo Club, beginners and other new members welcome, 747-6889, CCRB, Room 2275, 7- 8:30 p.m. EVENTS Q "Career Opportunities With a Lib- eral Arts Degree," sponsored by Career Planning and Placement, 3200 Student Activities Building, 5:10-6:30 p.m. Q "Coca Cola Researcher in Resi- dence Lecture," Dr. Alexa Canaday, sponsored by Under- graduate Research Opportunity Program, Rackham Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. Q "Denver Publishing Institute/Gale Research Co. Information Ses- sion," sponsored by Career Plan- ning and Placement, Michgian Union, Anderson Rooms A and B, 7-8 p.m. J "Egalitarianism and Inflation," sponsroed by Students of Objec- tivism, Michigan League, Room C, 7 p.m. Q "Epiphany Evening Prayer," spon- ers World Party, Ann Arbor Com- munity Center, 625 Main Street, 7 p.m. J "Practical Training for Interna- tional Students," sponsored by international Center, Interna- tional Center, Room 9, 11 a.m. J "Putting Your Language Skills to Work," sponsored by Career Plan- ning and Placement, Lane Hall Commons Room, 7:10-8:30 p.m. J "The Permanence of Transition?" Jacek Kurczewski, brown bag lecture series, spon- sored by Center for Russian and East European Studies, Lane Hall Commons Room, 12 noon STUDENT SERVICES J Campus Information Centers, Michigan Union and Pierpont Commons, 763-INFO, info@umich.edu, UM*Events on GOpherBLUE, and http:// www.umich.edu/~info on the World Wide Web Q English Composition Board Peer Tutoring, 741-8958, Mason Hall, Room 444C, 7-11 p.m. J Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley, 8 ThPVE & 5T PD IAiD m