LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily --Thursday, March 21, 1996-,3A
P'rivate cinics
may cost the
dame as ER
Hospital emergency rooms should
be directing non-urgent patients to pri-
vate doctors to save funds, say some
Health Maintenance Organizations and
Medicaid programs.
But a new study claims this protocol
may not actually save hospitals money.
A University School of Public Health
study, published in the March 7 issue of
the New England Journal of Medicine,
pundthatavisittoaprivate clinic costs
out the same as a trip to the emer-
gency room.
The marginal cost, or cost to the
hospital of caring for one more patient
while the hospital is already open, is
$24, researchers found.
This is more reasonable than going to
a private clinic at night, where most
often the cost is above $25, said Dr.
Rolert Williams, lecturer and research
*low at the School of Public Health.
Weekends and holidays also increase
the price of care, he said.
Researchers foundthat the average cost
of'anon-urgent visit is $62, while patients
are usually charged around $124.
The reason for the overcharging is
that many patients never end up paying
their bills, the study found.
Study examines ethics
ef gene technology
The long-reaching ethical effects of
new genome technology is the topic of a
new joint project launched by the Uni-
versity and Michigan State University.
Thethree-yearstudywill develop policy
recommendations from a wide range of
focus groups. The members of the groups
discuss values and personal ethics in ge-
netic and reproductive dilemmas.
1 This fall, the study will hold commu-
ty dialogues in six locations across
the state. Later, a national survey will
be conducted on attitudes relating to
gene technology.
The Genome Technology and Repro-
duction: Values and Public Policy project
isbeingfunded bya$1 million grant from
the National Institutes of Health.
Papyrus becomes
*Iectronic paper
From ancient Egypt to the World Wide
Web - University researchers have col-
laborated with six other schools to de-
velop the Advanced Papyrological Infor-
mation System (APIS), a project that
turns centuries-old documents into easily
accessible paragraphs on the Internet.
The University's papyrus collection
has 10,000 pieces. It has led to interest
4 transferring papyrus collections at
her universitites.
Papyrus comes from a plant and was
usedin ancient Egypt as writing material.
Each papyrus will be meticulously
classified through digital imaging.
Physicists design new
conductor simulator
University physicists have developed
a new computer simulation program that
mouldgivenew insight intohow magnetic
ield lines and electrical currents flow
through superconducting materials.
:Associate physics Prof. Franco Nori
discussed the concept at a meeting ofthe
American Physical Society this week: A
number of University physicists are cur-
rently using the simulation process to
learn more about how the magnetic field
lines, called vortices, move.
Laboratory measurements based on
*agnetic fields passing through super-
conducting materials were used to de-
velop the simulations.
Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Alice Robinson.
SLS considers moving under'U' jurisdiction
By Laurie Mayk
Daily Staff Reporter
Student Legal Services is contem-
plating a move from the Michigan Stu-
dent Assembly's nest to a place under
the wing of the more financially sound
University administration.
A fact-finding team of two SLS em-
ployees, two Student Services repre-
sentatives and two MSA representa-
tives will look into the benefits and
drawbacks of being directly associated
with the administration, MSA Vice
President Sam Goodstein said.
"This is a discussion that's been go-
ing on for years," said Doug Lewis,
SLS director. "Now I just want to bring
closure."
SLS provides legal services to about
2,000 University students each year,
Lewis said.
Goodstein, who sits on the SLS board,
addressed the assembly about the possi-
bility of "MSA divesting itself of SLS."
"If we sent SLS to the administration,
we'll have a more stable SLS ... on the
flip side, there's always that threatthat the
administration would do something to
SLS," Goodstein said.
Lewis said the discussions were more
intense last year when the organization
was under the MSA fee cap and was
"running out of money." The MSA bal-
lot proposal accepted by the student
body in last year's fall elections and by
the University Board of Regents raised
SLS funding. Even with this, the argu-
ments for joining the University are
purely economic, Lewis said.
"It is clearly cheaper for us, particu-
larly in the areas of insuring ourselves, to
be part of a larger group," he said.
Currently, four attorneys, one parale-
gal and one secretary are paid from a
budget provided by the student fee. SLS
pays higher insurance rates for the staff
than would apply if it were under the
University. SLS does not currently pro-
vide retirement benefits to its employees.
If SLS relinquished its financial prob-
lems to the University, it may sacrifice
some independence as well, Lewis said.
"The negative side to it really goes to
SLS maintaining autonomy, or at least
the perception ofautonomy," Lewis said.
University Vice President for Student
Affairs Maureen Hartford said she didnot
anticipate any problems between SLS
and the administration.
"That's definitely not something that
we would intervene in in any way,"
Hartford said.
Goodstein said the assembly would
comply with the wishes of the SLS
board in deciding to ask the regents to
take on the organization.
"Once SLS goes to the administration;
it's nevergoing back,"lhe said. "Once the
administration pays them, (the adminis-
tration) can do anything they want."
Hartford compared the current rela-
tionship between the University and Uni-
versity Health Services to the relation-
ship the administration would have with
SLS. Hartford said she would never at-
tempt to tell UHS which cases to acceptor
how t6 handle them.
"I would assume we would have the
same kind of relationship with Student
Legal Services," she said.
Goodstein said the SLS board would
coordinate with MSA to set guidelines
for the administration's involvement.
Although the current administration
wouldn't be a problem, future adminis-
trators may not respect the guidelines,
he said.
"There isn't a threat of the current
administration doing anything to SLS
... my concern is'10 to 20 years from
now," Goodstein said.
Hartford said the issue should be intro-
duced to the regents as an informational
item. The regents would only need to
approve a change in the student fee.
Jeans Day aims to
rase awareness Of
ga, bisexual fgt
The inn at the Michigan League will be unveiled today at an open house.
Renovations to Union, League
designed to attract students
By Melanie Cohen
Daily Staff Reporter
Students in jeans walkedall overcam-
pus yesterday in support of Lesbian, Gay
and Bisexual (LGB) rights - many un-
aware their clothing was symbolic.
Jeans Day is a national day of aware-
ness of the LGB fight for equal rights,
said Erika Banks, a planning team mem-
ber of the Queer Unity Project.
"The whole point was to see who
wasn't wearing jeans today," said Art
senior Ryan LaLonde, the head ofQUP.
"It was interesting to see those who
blatantly didn't wear jeans went com-
pletely out of their way to wear no
denim whatso-
ever.
"This day was
created so we
would look like Th w
the normal every- to s
day college stu- was
dents and basi-
cally forced those wasnt W
who don't support eans
gay rights to be
out and blatant," -
LaLonde said. Queer Unity F
"They'll stick out
instead of us."
Awareness and discussion of LGB
rights - or the lack thereof - were
goals Banks outlined for Jeans Day.
"My hope is that people talked about
what this day meant to them, and hope-
fully this will be the start of a continu-
ing dialogue that will increase the aware-
ness of LGB issues all over the coun-
try," said Banks, a Music sophomore.
Denim clad or not, many students were
ignorant it was Jeans Day yesterday.
"I wear jeans every day, but I don't
have any problem supporting gay
rights," said LSA sophomore Mike
Kuznetz. "I didn't know it was today,
but I knew it going on sometime soon."
"I don't even know what Jeans Day
is," said LSA sophomore Steven
'I
Pri
Rosenblatt. "It doesn't matter (that I'm
wearing jeans), I guess."
"I plead ignorance," said LSA senior
Steve Yir. "Now that I found out, I'm
glad I wore jeans. However, I think it's
silly because jeans are a staple in every
college kid's wardrobe."
Not everyone voiced support for Jeans
Day or LGB rights.
"I'm upset I worejeans,"LSA sopho-
more Erik Syverson said. "I would not
have worn jeans ifI had known because
it conflicts with my religion. Also, I
think it's stupid to have Jeans Day-be-
cause it gives a false impression. Ev-
eryone wears jeans."
Bankssaidpub-
licity was a prob-
lem for an event
like Jeans Day.
ole POint "I think it-went
who well,"Banksusaid.
"I-hope the oga-
laringnization of-the
event is better next
year. The mass
' mailing on e-mail
Ryan LaLonde will not occur
oject member again."
"Unfortunately,
the problem with publicity of an event
like this is that the people we would like
to start talking to about these issues
aren't getting the message. We'll haveto
use fliers next year," Banks said.
A e-mail group caled
fags @umich.edu sent a messagc to
many University organizations saying
students should wear shoes in protest of
lesbian, gay and bisexual rights.
"A member of QUP sent out mass e-
mail to inform the campus it was Jeans
Day," LaLonde said. "The rebuttal was
over450 messages saying, 'Donot send
me anymore of this faggot e-mail,'
which hurt me as much as the anti-gay
group that has formed and begun Shoes
Day. This hurts because it's blatant
discrimination and hatred."
By Marisa Ma
Daily Staff Reporter
Amidst the dust and noise of con-
struction all around campus, visitors to
the Michigan League hotel can now
see a finished product.
The hotel, renamed the Inn at the
Michigan League, caters to campus visi-
tors, including University alums and
parents. It will be unveiled today with
an open house.
All three University Unions -
Michigan League, Michigan Union and
Pierpont Commons - are currently
undergoing or are planned for major
renovations to update mechanical and
electrical systems, modernize their ap-
pearances, and improve the use ofspace
for student activity.
"The goal of the renovations is to
improve the quality of the services and
facilities of those buildings," said Sa-
rah Tigay, spokesperson for the Uni-
versity Unions renovation project.
The Inn at the Michigan League will
boast a new service desk, furniture and
carpets, as well as a new corridor.
All areas of the building, including
restrooms, conference rooms and ban-
quet rooms, will be given a facelift by
next year. The passenger elevator will
also acquire a new look and new sys-
tems to abide by the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
"There was a general tackiness in the
building," said Bob Yecke, the building
director of the Michigan League.
Yecke said another goal of the reno-
vation project is "to bring student life
back to the League," by making over
the League Underground to resemble
the MUG at the Union.
"We think what we're trying to do
downstairs will meet some need for
students on campus," Yecke said.
"We're going to have some food ven-
dors and some seating for students to eat,
meet and study," he said. "We will also
have a stage for student programming."
The League Underground is sched-
uled to reopen this fall.
Student accessibility is also a factor
in the renovation plan for the fourth
floor of the Union. Changes were
planned to create more efficient space
for student use.
Construction on the fourth floor be-
gan in January and will "try to make a
better student focus for the space,"
which houses student group offices,
said Audrey Schwimmer, building di-
rector for the Union.
"(The builders) are using the space
more economically (while maintaining)
the number ofoffi ces of student organiza-
tions," she said. Common space will be
increased and new spaces like a resource
centerandconferenceroom will beadded.
Motivated by student input, the
changes were planned so "there can be
interaction amongst the (student)
groups," Schwimmer said.
In addition, "a lot of the spaces were
shabby-looking. They were definitely
showing their age," she said, noting
that many fourth-floor offices used to
be converted hotel rooms.
The Union was built in 1916, the
third-oldest college union in the coun-
try. The construction at the Union is
scheduled to be completed in two years.
Another major renovation project at
the Union isthe University Club, which is
in the process of revamping its look with
new china, chairs, table tops and menu.
The polished image is crowned by a mu-
ral on the walls, which is being painted by
students from the School of Art.
The University Club, located on the
second floor of the Union, is a full-
service restaurant.
"The major thrust of the renovations
at the Union is to attract the student
population during lunch and through-
out the day with new menus and a new
look," Schwimmer said.
In addition to cosmetic changes, struc-
tural changes are being made including
asbestos removal and upgrades on plumb-
ing, cooling and heating systems.
"The five (building) codes and (the
Americans with Disabilities Act) com-
pliances are newer ... we have to meet
the codes," Tigay said.
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What's happening in Ann Arbor today
GRouP MEETINGS
U AIESEC Michigan, International
Student Happy Hour, 662-
1690, Arbor Brewing Company,
9 p.m.
U Campus Crusade for Christ, Real
Life, 930-9269, Dental Building,
Kellogg Auditorium, 7-8:15 p.m.
U entity, discussion of campaign for
a multimedia major, http://
www.umich.edu/-ego/entity on
the World Wide Web, Rendezvous
Cafe, 9 p.m.
U Homeless Action Committee,
weekly meeting, 663-4568, 802
Guild House, 5:30-7 p.m.
Reform Chavurah, weekly meeting,
Hillel, 1429 Hill St., 7 p.m.
Q- Third Wa Writrs' Grmmn Thirri
Language Building, Room B-
112, 7:30 p.m.
Q "Dinner at the Aut Bar," spon-
sored by Hillel, Aut Bar, 315
Braun Court, 7 p.m.
Q "Excavation at the Early
Cycladic Settlement of Skarkos
on los," Mariza Marthari, spon-
sored by Kelsey Museum, Ann
Arbor Chapter of the Archaeo-
logical Institute of America and
Interdepartmental Program in
Classical Art and Archaeology,
Tappan Hall, Room 180, 4 p.m.
Q "Letterperfect," workshop,
sponsored by Career Planning
and Placement, 3200 Student
Activities Building, 4:10 p.m.
Q "Sharon Oard Warner," prose
r - t - n-----r e. Nn-a
series, sponsored by Center for
Japanese Studies, Lane Hall
Commons Room, 12 noon
STUDENT SERVICES
Q Campus Information Centers, Michi-
gan 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, Mason Hall, Room 444C,
7-11 p.m.
Q Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley, 8
p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Q Peer Counieling for Undergrad