LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily --Friday, April 19, 1996 -3 ,.$20K computer equipment stolen The University's Department of In- ternal Medicine reported to DPS on Tuesday that more than $20,000 worth ofcomputer equipment was stolen from their offices on Clark Road. DPS reported the following stolen items: M three 586-speed computers with a -ombined value of $12,900; a desk-top copy machine valued at $5,000; M a Hewlett Packard laser printer &orth $2,500, and Pa 286-speed computer worth $300. According to DPS reports, there were no signs of forced entry at the facility and no serial numbers were obtained from the stolen equipment. DPS has no suspects in the thefts. Numerous thefts 4Iague 'U' hospital ,According to Wednesday's DPS records, several thefts have been re- ported at Mott Children's Hospital. Staff members and employees at the hospital called DPS multiple times to report missing supplies and goods. DPS reported that between April 5 and April 17 items were taken from a laboratory in the hospital. Among the goods stolen were $110 in cash, approxiamtely 50 postage *tamps, a heavy-duty dishpan and five yellow markers DPS is investigating the string of thefts. East Hall employee receives death threat DPS received a call from a Univer- sity employee Monday concerning threatening calls from a former staff Wember. The caller works at East Hall, for- merly known as East Engineering. He advised that an ex-employee called him and threatened to shoot him after the caller leaves work for the day. D.-PS investigated the matter and dis- covered a long-standing feud between the men. Officers advised both individuals to void contact with one another. Computer memory chips stolen A very selective computer thief has frequented the School of Education at least 13 times in the past year. DPS reported this week that 13 com- puters at the School of Education were each stripped of 8 megabytes of RAM. Nothing else was taken from the ma- chines. The memory chips were reportedly stolen over the past year, DPS re- ported. Bicycles stolen, Syadalized With nice weather finally returning to Ann Arbor, the number of bibycle riders has increased. So has the number [bike thefts. l .Two bikes have been reported stolen since Monday, and six others were re- portedly vandalized. A $600 men's mountain bike was taken from the bike racks behind Mosher- Jordan residence hall and a children's bike was stolen at Northwood V. Six other bikes were damaged at a bike rack next to South Quad when taint was dropped from an open win- dow above, DPS reported. Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Sam T Dudek. Cuban rafter talks to ne grOUp By Katie Wang Daily Staff Reporter The University's newly formed Cu- ban American Student Association hosted its first event at the William Monroe Trotter House lastnight. Carlos Solis, vice presidentofCasa Del Balsero and Helping Brother - organizations that assist Cuban political refugees - spoke about the importance of helping refugees adjust to the United States. "The people on the Cuban island count on you," Solis said. "We have faith that Cuba is going to change.,.. Cubans in Cuba will help the change and you guys here will help them." Solis was detained for 10 years in a Cuban prison for his philosophical be- liefs. After he was released in 1979, he immigrated to the United States and began to help Cubans who fled the country escape the "political oppres- sion" of Fidel Castro's regime. "In Cuba, you only say you want freedom and they shoot you the next morning," he said. "Any Cuban caught collecting arms to overthrow Castro will be put in jail." Solis said that afterCastro's reign ends, he has faith Cuba will be "free and happy." Although thousands of Cubans flee Cuba for the United States every year, only one out of four survive the journey. Casa Del Balsero was formed after the destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It is a temporary 45-day home for people lacking family support. Balseros, Cubans who arrive in the United States in rafts, were initially provided with food, furniture and medicine. Although the organization's headquarters is stationed in Miami, there is an influx of Balseros arriving through Texas, Louisiana and West Palm Beach, Fla., as well. Students, faculty arrested at newspaper rally From Staff and Wire reports DETROIT - About four dozen pro- testers, including Michigan Federation of Teachers President Rollie Hopgood and other educators, were arrested yes- terday at a newspaper strike protest that blocked side entrances to The Detroit News building. It was the sixth protest organized by the community group Readers United in which arrests were planned to draw attention to the nine-month strike. About 300 people were present at the protest and 47 were arrested, Detroit police said. About two dozen protesters blocked the building's side entrances for about 90 minutes. Frank Thomp- son, a lecturer in the ResidentialI College, said the b protest was held to show that the edu- to show cation community supported the cumorf I striking workers. "The Detroit Newspaper Ra Agency has con- sistently refused to negotiate in good faith," Thompson said. Rackham second-year student Mikael Elsila said he was one of six University students arrested at the protest. He said he was in a group that was sitting in front of a garage door at The Detroit News building. "The bus the scab workers ride to the parking lot comes out of the garage we blocked," Elsila said. Some of the protesters, most of whom were educators, held up a "report card" for the News and the Detroit Free Press showing F's in reading, writing, math- ematics, civics and classroom behavior. Among those arrested on disorderly conduct charges were Bertha Poe, secre- tary-treasurerofthe Michigan State AFL- CIO, Steve Babson, program coordinator at the Wayne State University Labor Stud- ies Center, Irv Bluestone, a professor at the center, Geraldine Hill, a program co- ordinator at the center and Elise Bryant, a program coordinator at the University of Michigan Labor Studies Center. Readers United said those arrested included professors from Wayne State and the University of Michigan and representatives of the American Asso- ciation of University Professors and the Michigan Education Association. Elsila said that even though he was arrested, he would protest again. "It was a symbolic gesture to show our support," he said. "I would be will- ing to be arrested again." gesture our - Mikael Elsila 3ckham student Rackham sec- ond-year student Eric Fink agreed. "Itwastheright thing to do," Fink said. "Twenty-six hundred people are out on strike with families to feed. We wanted to show that we STEPHANIE GRACE LIM/Daily Carlos Solis, vice president of the Helping Brother Foundation, speaks to the Cuban American Student Association last night. LSA junior Roberto Pando spent his spring break working with Casa Del Balsero through Project Serve's Alter- native Spring Break program. "Some of (the Balseros) are scared - it's not easy for them to come here," Pando said. "But they feel relieved ... they have the idea that they get to the U.S. and they are free." Pando worked in a warehouse that dis- tributes food and clothing to the Balseros. RC senior Dana McAllister said last night's lecture was important forevery- one, not only Cuban Americans. "When the U.S. restricts the number of immigrants, people are still going to come by any means," McAllister said. "As Americans we can be more con- scious of how policies that Congress and the Senate make affect American people." CASA President Jessica Hernandez, an Art junior, said she started the orga- nization to educate the University about Cuban culture. -There are a lot of things people don't know (about Cubans) that's mis- represented by the media," she said. supported them. Fink said that being arrested did not worry him. "The charges are very small," he said. The charge is a misdemeanor, which carries a $50 fine or 90 days in jail, said Detroit Police Officer Allene Ray. Those arrested were ticketed and re- leased. Hopgood said his daughter is a striking worker. He said he felt it was importaotto be present, as a teacher, to educate people about the strike and the need for a peace- ful resolution leading to a contract. Tim Kelleher, senior vice president for labor relations for Detroit Newspa- pers Inc., called yesterday's protest worse than others because educators were involved. -Daily Staff Reporter Sam T. Dudek contributed to this report. Engineers design perfect poefry in contest geared for creativity By Erena Baybik Daily Staff Reporter The Roger M. Jones Poetry Contest for Engineering students shows that en- gineering and liberal arts can intertwine. The contest provides a creative out- let for engineering students. Roger Jones, who died in 1977, was a University humanities professor in the College of Engineering. "He was so devoted to his work that if he lacked enough students to fill his classes, he would hold them anyway," said Cathy Mellet, director of communications for the College of thin, Engineering. Melletsaid30out are o e of 6,000 students usually participate ready to in the contest each year. This year's the ster winners include En- gineering senior Brandon Driscoll, Poetr University alums Sara Middleton and Christine Setl, and Engineering sophomore Chanda Spence. The annual poetry contest, sponsored by the Roger M. Jones Fund, attempts to eliminate the misconception that Engineering students have no appre- ciation for the fine arts. "I think people are often too ready to accept the stereo- types - this poetry contest shows that there are Engineering students who can write creatively," Spence said. One of the contest's goals is to pro- vide Engineering students with a way to express themselves in writing, because many of the other writing contests on campus are centered around the English department. "I wanted to enter the Hopwood, but you have to be taking a writing course to enter," Driscoll said. 'In general, there are a lot of require- ments on the Hopwood, so it ends up keeping a lot of students from entering." The Hopwood Award is a creative writing contest for undergraduates af- filiated with the English department. This contest allows Engineering stu- dents to branch out into other fields. i think Engineering should put a couple of liberal arts classes in as Engineering re- quirements - it would help balance out the Engineering program," Spence said. LSA sophomore and English concen- trator Mary Jane Wagg said she believes the Jones contest will awaken engineers to the fine arts. I know the school of Engineering to be very career-oriented and I think anything that will encourage well-roundedness in the students at any college in the University is a good thing - every student seems to think that his/ her major is the best and that can lead to closed-mindedness." " Up to $20,000 summer income potential " Limited number of dealerships available " Excellent Resume experience; great for 2-man partnerships " Business startup includes all equipment, materials, on-site training, video and business manual * No more summer job worries; Own your own business * Only $3,995 complete Students said one 'k people !ntoo accept °eotypes." - Chanda Spence y contest winner can't hack anything problem with the Jones contest is its advertising--of- ten prospective entrants learn about it late ornot at all. "I didn't know it existed but I think it's a good idea, be- cause most people think en- gineers are all math and they with words," said Engineering sophomore Sam Morris. Driscoll said a lot of Engineering stu- dents he knows do not like to write. "This is a good way to get Engineering students more interested in the arts," he said. Lisa Richardson, a coordinator for this year's contest, said it is rare to find some- one who can excel in both disciplines. Morris also believes many students choose engineering because it is one of their interests, not because it is their only interest. YELLOW CAB 2050 Commerce U Ann Afxor, Ml 48103 663-3355 Largest and newest fleet * 4 can share the fare * Service to metro airport * Night Ride service " 663-3888 24 Hour Taxi Service THE CAN D I RU is a tiny parasitic fish that swims into one's urinary tract and extends its spines into the walls of the urethra, causing excruciating pain. Once there, - it is impossible to dislodge. We tell you this so that if you don't get into medical school, you will know that there are others suffering more than you. FREE Seminar University of Michigan Monday, April 22 7:00 - 9:00PM Far Intinnalh ah&%WMedical Scheulanddue MCAT, cal 1 -8®0-KAP-TEST What's happening in Ann -Arbor this weekend FRIDAY Europeand Russia," sponsored sored by Kiwanis Club of Ann Sb AmnestyyInternational,omeeting, Gbyopuz, Post-Soviet Studies Arbor, Kiwanis Activity Center, all Ametyomnernat4-onal,Meing,- Group of the American Anthro- corner of Washington and First all welcome, 764-7027, Michi pological Association, and Streets, 9 a.m.-12 noon gan Union, Crofoot Room, 7:30 CREES Cultural Studies Group, J "Sorority Flag Football Tourna- pm. Rackham Assembly Hall, ses- ment to aid SAFEhouse," spon- Q Archery Club, meeting, 930- sions all day, call 764-0351 for sored by Kappa Sigma frater- 0819, Sports Coliseum, 5:30-7 details nity and Alpha Chi Omega so- p.m. J Taekwondo Club, beginners and rority, Fuller Field, 9 a.m.-4 Center for Russian and East Eu- other new members welcome, p.m. ropean Studies, end-of-year 747-6889, CCRB, Room 2275, party, Rackham, 4th Floor As- 7-8:30 p.m. sembly Hall, 6-8 p.m. , "The Griswolds," blues perfor- SUNDAY A "Coffeeshops of Amsterdam," mance, sponsored by Pierpont U "Annual Potawatomi Trail Hike," Ton Beekman, sponsored by Commons Arts and Programs, sponsored by Sierra Club Hu- etherlan dsAmerica niversity Pierpont Commons, Leonardo's, ron Valley Group, carpool LeagueIntrnatonapevening hours leaves City Hall Parking Lot, Room 9, 7:30 p.m. biglnh ~ * "Creating Television Comedy bring lunch, 8 a.m. h"Cre g Tlmevlsaion" oondy J "Dell Dinner in the Dorms," free Through Improvisation." span- CATIrnonAv ,ZA-- .--,-- ._, r Intere{ tca eh ed in Advertising or Business? ins avik ble pgs420 Maynard St. Eriday, Apr Ui by 4 p.m. on udst "., all 764-05578. at 1e fiy It; 't be flOthex f'' N ' ' . .Q"' X1"'1 3- f 1 ' -,t-'P fi% owt I