LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 19, 1996 - 3A Kids able to Regent candidate urges student activism, pride measure earthquakes Teachers and students can now mon- itor the location and intensity of earth- quakes with the same real-time seismo- logical data used by scientists. ' Teachers from elementary, middle and high schools can either purchase a ssmall seismometer for use in the class- room, or access data from the -University Seismological Laboratory using a Macintosh computer. A software program developed by niversity geology professor Larry Roff can be distributed to teachers for free. The program monitors the seis- mometer 24 hours a day, recording the signature signals of earthquakes - those with magnitude 6.0 or higher - occurring anywhere in the world. Three Michigan high schools currently par- ticipate in the program. students can tour virtual plant To help engineering students visual- ize the interaction between molecules during chemical reactions, University chemical engineering instructor John Bell and Prof. H. Scott Fogler offer stu- dents a journey inside a virtual chemi- cal plant. Using the virtual reality education *ware VICHER and a head-mounted display, chemical engineering students can browse a modern chemical plant, seeing color photographs of equipment, 'and observing or controlling chemical and physical reactions as they occur. Bell's virtual reality modules are tested by University Engineering juniors and seniors enrolled in reactor and chemical plant design courses. Bell es the students' comments and sug- 'astions to improve the modules and learn more about the benefits and limi- tations of virtual reality as an educa- tional tool. When improved further, the modules will be distributed to engineering schools nationwide by the CACHE Corp. Bell said his goal is to create a computer simulation so realistic as to be indistinguishable from the real world. beb site offers astronomical info Combining K-12 students' natural curiosity about planets and stars with historical and artistic parallels between science and humanities, sci- entists in the University Space Physics Research Laboratory are developing a web site called "Windows to the nierse." With funding by NASA, the scien- tists will merge text about astrophysics, astronomy, mythology, art, music, liter- ature and philosophy with a series of user-friendly graphics, movies and ani- mation. "Windows to the Universe" gives users access to more than 2,000 images taiken by NASA satellites. The proto- type version of the program went 'online last March and is currently Oing evaluated by the Ann Arbor ' ands-On Museum. A new version will be available in October. The address for the World .Wide Web site is http://www win- :Jows.umich.edul. students tutor youngsters Last year the University Math- *ence Learning Coalition found tutors for 91 K-12 students in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Funded by the National Science Foundation and the University Center or Ultrafast Optical Science, the Math- Science Learning Coalition brings together University, business, commu- nity and government resources in pro- moting science literacy for children. Eighty percent of last year's tutors re University undergraduate and graduate students. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Brian Campbell. By Jeff Eldridge Daily Staff Reporter Mike Bishop promises to effectively represent undergraduates if elected to the University Board of Regents. The Bloomfield Hills attorney and regent candidate delivered this mes- sage to more than 140 listeners at a mass meeting of the University's chap- ter of the College Republicans last night. He encouraged students to be active in politics. "I know your frustration at being students and wanting to make a differ- ence in the system," Bishop said. "I encourage you as students to get out there and be a part of the election." While Bishop mostly spoke to the group about activism and pride at the University, he said afterwards that he is well prepared to deal with the policies that dominate discussion at the regents' table. Bishop said if he is elected regent, he will work to ensure the quality of the University Hospitals. "1 think the hospital is a facility that has world-class quality," Bishop said. "We have to be up to date.... That hos- pital represents 38 buildings. It has over 1 million patients go through it a year." He also elaborated on the traits he hopes to see in the next University president. "I want someone who believes in character, integrity, good traditional values and is not afraid to convey that," Bishop said. Bishop said the educational quality of the institution is directly tied to the acquisition of high quality faculty. He said the University should "seed (its) faculty with world-class professors and teachers." Nicholas Kirk, president of the local College Republican chapter, said he expects the group to work actively to elect Bishop and re-elect Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor). "The regents' race is probably on par with the Senate race and the presi- dential race with importance to stu- dents at the University," Kirk said. Members of the board of regents Bishop frequently put aside partisan dif- ferences when discussing University affairs. Bishop said he is not prepared to compromise his beliefs. "I'm here on principle and will con- tinue to be on principle," he said. But Bishop also said his obligation to the University would come before partisan behavior. "I will not breach my obligation to this school in order to advance my per- sonal agenda," Bishop said. After speaking, Bishop talked with a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. Engineering senior Jim Yurko said he walked away impressed by Bishop's positions. "I thought he was great and quite a dynamic speaker," Yurko said. Yurko said a conservative with Bishop's philosophy might change some of the "liberal policies" at the University. JOE WESTRATE/DqIy Republican congressional candidate Joe Fitzsimmons speaks to College Republicans at their first mass meeting last night in the Chemistry Building. e' a College Re, p6ublicanfs -draw' By Laurie Mayk Daily Staff Reporter After several years of dwindling membership, the University's chapter of the College Republicans pulled in more than 140 students to its first mass meeting last night in the Chemistry Building. On what is considered a liberal campus, the record turnout easily matched the attendance at the College Democrats meeting Monday. In addi- tion to recruiting members, the group hosted Joe Fitzsimmons, GOP chal- lenger to U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D- Ann Arbor), Republican regent candi- date Mike Bishop and Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon at the meeting. "I haven't seen this many Republicans together on (this) cam- pus in 30 years," said Fitzsimmons, a local business executive and adjunct lecturer in the School of Information and Library Studies. College Republicans President Bush raises funds for Ro-mney Nicholas Kirk said since the last pres- idential election the group has "only had one good year and that was not last year." Kirk said the group has suf- fered from leadership problems. College Republicans member Amy Paulsen said the tendency for college campuses to vote Democratic has not discouraged the group. "We don't really see it as a disad- vantage," said Paulsen, an L SA sophomore. "We see it as a rallying point - it just strengthens our con- victions." Officers presented the group as the "eyes and ears of the campus," and stressed a need to express conserva- tive views at the University. "We combat basically the sentiment of liberalism that's on campus," said Vice President Elias Xenos., Audience members ranged from the unsure to the impressed and enthusiastic. "I thought they were more impres- sive than I thought they would be,!a little more emotional," said Mary Lee, an Engineering sophomore. Todd Stockard, an LSA sophomore, said Bob Dole's tax plan will revitlf- ize the economy and create-jobs. r "Basically I think (Bob Dole ii) going to bring back the Reagan years if he's elected - but I don't think he'll be elected," Stockard said. I: House candidate Fitzsimmloi$ quoted his latest polling statistics and predicted a GOP victory in his race this fall. Voters aren't familiar wi6h Rivers and won't support her, he SaidL "She's about as close to being;a socialist as I can think o' Fitzsimmons said. Fitzsimmons promised Republicar programs would help relieve the-bd- den of deficit payments young, i4- payers will bear in the coming years. "We'll run a surplus," Fitzsinmons said. "We'll do in Washingtonwhat we've done in Michigan." DEARBORN (AP) - Former President George Bush paid off a polit- ical debt to an old friend yesterday, helping Republican Ronna Romney raise about $90,000 for her U.S. Senate race. About 90 people paid $1,000 each for a breakfast buffet of cold cereal, fresh fruit, sweet rolls and tidbits from Bush about why Romney should beat Democratic incumbent Carl Levin. "Ronna may be behind ... but I'll guarantee you it's going to close and close fast;" Bush said. "We saw today why - (Ronna is) aggressive, bright, able. Those are character traits that I think people of Michigan identify (with)." Michigan voters crave the values Romney represents, including better schools, less crime and family-friendly policies, he said. "And I believe that she can attract the interest of the business community because she knows that a job is far bet- ter than some failed government pro- gram;' he said. Bush called Romney's race one of his top political priorities after only the careers of his sons George and Jeb and the presidential campaign of Bob Dole. JOIN THE MOST PROMISING PROFESSION OF THE 21 ST CENTURY UiCGli.E .A TE.ACJTJEt2 Prospective Teacher Education Meeting Wednesday, October 2, 1996 6:00 p.m. Whitney Auditorium Room 1309 School of Education Building Call 764-7563 for more information. FOR YOUR EYE EXAMS & EYEGLASSES hj~ardfson 's. ctical 320 S. State St. JOE WESTRATE/Daity Practice makes perfect 1EWSRT/al Maria Sampen, a Music senior, practices her violin in front of a mirror at the School of Music yesterday afternoon. Giorgio A mani STUDENT DISCOUNTS (locatedin thelower level of Decker Drugs) Hours: M, T, TH, F 9 am-6 pm Wed & Sat 9 am-1 pm _U College Ubertarians, "Changing Perspectives: Liberty before and after the American Civil War," Mark St. John, (313) 747-8129, Dominick's Restaurant, 812 Monroe St., 7:30 p.m. Q n trars hrdtan F kihin. large U "American Cookery: The Bicentennial, 1796-1996," Jan Longone, spon- sored by LSA and Rackham, Clements Library, 4 p.m. C1 "Buddhists and the Berserk:War and Morality In Medieval Japan," William I aFlr snnoired b rCenter for Middle Eastern Studies, Michigan League, Vandenberg Room, 7:30 p.m. SERVICES U Campus Information Centers, Michigan Union and Pierpont Commons, 763-INFO, info@ umich.edu, UMoEvents on GOoherB~LUF. and http:// * I fill I i I -