Economics affectAs health of hinese girls The survival rate for baby girls in China is now higher than for boys in locations where health care is easily accessed and provided at low cost. "Members of ethnic groups that have a strong or very strong preference for sons, such as the Han or Korean Chinese, will do whatever possible to assure survival of their sons," reported University researchers Barbara iderson, professor of sociology and scientist in the Population Studies Center, and John Ramani, professor emeritus in the School of Public Health. Anderson and Ramani discovered that in regions of low economic devel- opment, small improvements in health care could increase survival rates for infant sons, but to realize the same sur- vival rates for infant daughters, large 'nprovements in health care, provided a low cost, were necessary. Mammogram program targets elderly women Although death rates from breast cancer are nearly three times higher among women aged 65 and older than among women aged 35-64, few efforts ve been made to urge older women to ceive more mammograms. University researchers are trying to remedy this by developing a program called "Take Care of Yourself" that advocates mammogram testing for women over the age of 65. The program entails,a personal letter from a physician to remind the women to be tested and a follow-up call from a peer in the community. ariety of factors determine stars' visibility Several different factors determine how many stars will be visible in the night sky for stargazers such as the observer's location, the season, weather conditions and the acuity of the observ- r's vision, according to University tronomer Richard Teske. "If everything is favorable, you may be able to see 1,500 stars; if conditions are bad, fewer than 100 stars may greet you," Teske said. "You can estimate how many stars you will see by deter. mining the brightness of the dimmest stars available." Astronomers gauge the brightness of stars in terms of "magnitudes," ir hich the brightest stars have a magni- de of 1 and the faintest visible stars have a magnitude of 6. "This is the limit you can see from a dark location with a transparent atmos- phere overhead, after spending at leas1 15 minutes in the dark getting your eyes adapted to dim light," Teske said. "Bu1 if you are a smoker, the adaptation time should be increased to 30 minutes." LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, December 5, 1996 - 3A Exhibit gives forum for new technology t i r r a i i r i 1 r i t r 1 s a .t r r a e e e r Y Y S 4t e >t n a )t S It e By Chris Motinko Daily Staff Reporter The University, never an institution to shun modern technology, put some of its newest information projects on display yesterday at the School of Information's semiannual Student Projects Showcase. More than 30 projects developed by students at the school were displayed for the six-hour show at West Hall. "Outside the school, it's the 0 most visible 6 thing," said Peopl School of Information stu-W dent Paul have to McClay, refer- ring to the show-_ case's signifi- School of Info cance. The showcase, sponsored by the Information and Library Studies Student Association, spotlighted projects of information design, retrieval and organization. The projects ranged from "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" to "Quicktime Virtual Reality: Object Movie." Most were cre- ated this semester. "The projects are created that term, but can be held until the next show- case," said James Ringold, co-chair of the showcase committee. Some of these projects are already in use. Bob Summers, Information student l # a School of and a presenter yesterday, has had his "Presidents of Vh rm W Ithe United States" directo- Wt W6 ry up since fer. September. He has had more Bob Summers than 40,000 hits nation student on the home- page since then. Summers said he thinks this showcase can help get people to notice students' projects. "It is one of the ways to get the word out," he said. "There is a wide variety of skills and applications here for informing AJA DEKIEVA COHEN7Day explains her program "Displaying Motion on the Web" at the Student Projects Mary Timmons, an Education sophomore, Showcase in West Hail yesterday. people," he said. "People don't realize what we have to offer. This is a display of what we can do." John Jackson, associate editor at the School of Information, gave another reason for the showcase. "We get a lot of alumni to come back," Jackson said. "They get to see what students are doing now, to see how they'll fit in (to the information field)." The returning alums shouldn't have too many reservations about the stu- dents at their alma mater. The University's School of Information was ranked second by U.S. News and World Report, finishing only one-tenth of a point out of first place. "We don't fear technology. We real- ize students are the bridge between the users and information," Jackson said of the ranking. Students echoed those sentiments about the school. Sara Brodkin, a School of Information first-year student, said, "I think it's the best. I think the way the program is evolving is to how to use the latest technology - other schools use. traditional methods." Summers said, "It's cutting-edge, and getting even more cutting-edge. ... It's more technological, the skills can be used anywhere, these are skills people need." Dolan takes charge of State Christmas Seal camnairn w -k .w . w %O'6WwA wV' wN i. By Jenni Yachnin Daily Staff Reporter Ho. ho, ho - former Michigan swimmer Tom Dolan has gone from winning an Olympic medal to being named the American Lung Association of Michigan's 1996 Christmas Seal chair. "We didn't have any other candi- dates," said Beverly De Censo, ALA communications coordinator. "We knew right away we wanted Tom. He's so perfect - we just kept our fingers crossed" Before leaving the swim team this year, Dolan was an LSA sophomore and led Michigan to a 1995 NCAA championship. The Christmas Seals are sent every year to raise money for the ALA caus- es - combating breathing disorders and lung diseases. This year they fea- ture children's drawings. "It's great because his name is still so big from the Olympics. He's definitely a unique case," said Toby Booker, men's swim team member and an LSA senior. "It brings to light the fact that people besides smokers have lung problems." While at the Olympics, Dolan proved that even with asthma, he could suc- ceed in athletics. As Christmas Seal chair, Dolan will do several public-service announce- ments on asthma. In the past the posi- tion has been held by Shari Lewis and Lambchop. "The positive ramifications of hav- ing Tom as a role model is amazing. He just needs to promote asthma as some- thing positive," De Censo said. "He just needs to promote it as something that doesn't keep you down and he does that very well." The ALA's goal this year is to raise $1.5 million, 90 percent of which will stay in Michigan. Dolan's past work with the ALA includes speaking during a lecture series on exercise and asthma. "He kicked off r. our Family Hall asthma series Oct. 16 (an educational program for par- ents of children with asthma)," said Rachel Slone. ALA regional manager. The series was Dolan part of the open- ing of University Hospitals' Pediatric Asthma Clinic. "He was able to send a powerful message to the audience," Slone said. "People don't take (asthma) as serious- ly as they could." About 300,000 children in Michigan have asthma. Slone said she felt that Dolan's speech had a good effect on coaches who attended the lecture, influ- encing them to learn more about asthma. "It's always good to have U-M repre- sented," said Michigan swimmrn Thomas Almeida, an LSA senior."We have a lot of asthmatics on the team. and they're getting acknowledged. I don't know why they swim - there's always a lot of them in swimming." Dolan was also last year's national Christmas Seal chair for ALA. "He has been a big advocate," Slone said. "When you see someone who is an Olympic gold medalist who can d what he has done it really shows what someone can overcome. Dolan could not be reached for com- ment. However, Michigan men's swim ming coach Jon Urbanchek said "4 think they couldn't find a better persot. ... He is an excellent spokesman for the cause." Urbanchek added that he felt Dolan was a good spokesperson because he has done so well in his sport. "I think it's great. He's a good role model," said Alex Braunfeld, assistant men's swimming coach. "He's over, come a great adversity." Some swimmers felt the additional press Dolan will receive from beitg chair will help their sport. "It's a great thing for our sport because his name is mentioned asj, swimmer all the time," said Michig swimmer Chris Lakowski, an LSA junior. "It's good for U-M too becae his name is connected with it. Wit" low-profile sport like swimming, ary time we get press it helps.' CPSC warns of lothing danger As children bundle up in coats and jackets with the declining autumn tem- peratures, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is advising parents to clip or remove the drawstrings from the hoods and waists, The Washington Post reported. According to CPSC, during the past 11 years, 17 children have been killed *d 42 injured when drawstrings got caught on objects, such as playground equipment and bus doors. Ann Brown, CPSC commissioner, said clothing manufacturers have fol- lowed recent guidelines by using snaps, hooks and eyes, elastic and other sub- stitutes to keep coats on tight. "We urge people to check their chil- dren's outerwear, such as hooded jack- ets," Brown said. "Just take the strings t. Kids will not freeze. They untie em anyway once you turn your back." - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Brian Campbell. AP PHOTO Backstage Carol Cutter, a dancer in the "Nutcracker," watches as a another dancer awaits her cue Tuesday at the Detroit Opera House. The performance will also feature the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Schmitz gets 25 years State pnvatizes liquor industry; workers receive layoff notices PONTIAC (AP) - A man who killed a gay admirer after a talk show taping was sentenced yesterday to 25 to 50 years in prison after giving a ram- bling apology to the court. Jonathan Schmitz faced up to a life sentence for the murder of Scott Amedure in a case that focused attention on "ambush tele- vision" and the tactics TV producers use to bring guests onto daytime talk shows. "I'd like to say the word sorry," Schmitz told Judge Francis O'Brien before his sentence. "The word 'sorry' is a very powerful word. It has a lot of meaning, and it is meant" Schmitz will be eligible for parole in 20 years, attorneys for both sides said. Assistant Prosecutor Roman Kalytiak had sought life-in-prison, which could have had an earlier parole date, but Kalytiak said Schmitz would have wound up serving about 20 years in either case. "I think it's a good sentence for a sec- ond-degree charge," he said. Schmitz, of Orion Township, was convicted of second-degree murder for shooting Scott Amedure three days after the two men appeared on a taping of the "Jenny Jones Show.".Amedure, who was gay, revealed a crush on Schmitz, who is heterosexual, during the show. Schmitz also received a two-year sen- tence for using a firearm during a felony. LAN SING (AP) - As the date for turning liquor distribution over to pri- vate companies gets closer, the state officially notified two unions yesterday it plans to lay off liquor workers in about a month. The notices to the Michigan State Employees Association and Local 6000 of the United Auto Workers could mean about 350 people will lose their jobs, although exact figures were unavailable from the Liquor Control Commission. UAW Local 6000 representative Sandra Masarik told Commission Chair Phil Arthurhultz that the timing of the layoff notices shortly before Christmas, and at the commission's peak sales time, was callous toward employees. "All you care about is getting the liquor to the licensees so you can reap the profit from the holiday season's boom on liquor sales," she said at a commission hearing. "And after (C they've worked their fingers to the bone to ensure another successful and profitable holi- day season - out the door they go." Arthurhultz ""This is be tough them.5" - P Con anybody off," he said. Arthurhultz said he is trying to pe- suade private companies taking oer wholesale dis tribution to }dire g ing to workers whoae being put outvf for work. Some ,of those losing their jobs were hil Arthurhultz hired as tempp- nmission chair rary workers originally, he said. "I don't have any sympathy for them. The others, my heart goes out for them. This is going to be tough for them"'he said. said the timing could not be helped because of requirements that at least 30 days' notice be given. "There's never a good time for laying "w' Cy L~ LEi WL Az1k What's happning in Ann Arbor today GROUP MEETINGS 0 Luthrerab Campus Ministry Issues of Faith Group, 668-7622, Lord of Light Lutheran Church, 801 South Forest, 7 p.m. 0 Residence Halls Association, gen- Students of Color," sponsored by University Housing, South Quad, Ambatamba Lounge, 6-7:30 p.m. J "Mars Attacks," sponsored by M- Flicks, Natural Science Building, Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Q "On Suing One's Siblings in www.umich.edu/-info on the World Wide Web Q English Composition Board Peer Tutoring, need help with a paper?, Angell Hall, Room 4440, 7-11 p.m. Q Northwaik, 763-WALK, Bursley Hall, 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Wt .