LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 25, 1996 - 3
Accident occurs
after Texas
A&M bonfire
n accident involving Texas A&M
students returning from a campus bon-
fire killed one and injured nine Sunday
night.
Michael Landaur, editor of Texas
A&M's student newspaper, The
Battalion, reported that the driver
of a truck carrying 10 students
flipped and rolled off the highway
after the driver fell asleep at the
wheel.
andaur said the students were
returning from an all-campus event
known as "The Bonfire" which
takes place each year before Texas
A&M plays the University of Texas
in football.
"Basically, it's the largest bonfire
built in the United States every year,"
Landaur said. "It's built entirely by
students and it burns before we play
kas every year. Students stay up all
t and drink, then go work in the
woods all day and have to drive
home."
Landaur said "The Bonfire" was a
40-minute drive this year.
One student is listed in critical con-
dition, four are listed in serious condi-
tion, and four other students are in sta-
ble condition.
Iowa State to
Oceive anony-
mous donation
Iowa State University President
Martin Jischke announced Friday that
the university will receive one of the
largest single donations to a public uni-
versity in history.
The $34 million will be given to
ISU's College of Agriculture and
oil help to launch the largest
fundraising effort in ISU history:
"Campaign Destiny: To Become the
Best."
"Both the campaign and this gift
are historical moments for Iowa
State, its college of agriculture and
higher education in Iowa," Jischke
said.
John Anderson, interim director
of university relations at ISU, said
a $34 million anonymous gift is
largest gift received by any
state college or university in Iowa's
history.
"The donor wishes to remain
anonymous and we will respect that
- as much as we would like to rec-
ognize them publicly," Anderson
said.
Kansas State
search powers
cars with crops
Kansas State University researchers
have found a way to turn one of the
state's bountiful grain crops into a tank
of alternative fuel.
Through a grant from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's energy
program, KSU began to investigate
alternatives to diesel fuel in the 1980's
Wn the government feared an energy
crisis would arise.
"We are developing technology for
the future," said Stanley Clark, head of
biological and agricultural engineering
at k$U.
Clark said the university is research-
ing different agricultural applications
for use in a fuel shortage, which could
cripple U.S. agriculture.
e soy-based diesel runs current
tsel engines without modification
and can be substituted with regular
diesel fuel.
Clark said a plentiful crop of U.S.
soybeans makes the bean crop an
eco'nomical one to use.
Environmentally, soybean fuel is
less harmful than common petrole-
um-based diesel.
Compiledfrom U- Wire reports by
Daily Staff Reporter Janet Adamy
Task force to
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
LSA senior Kristin Lehman registers LSA first-year student Andrea Gomez for sorority Rush last night. More than 900 students
attended the Panhellenic Association's mass meeting in the Michigan Union Ballroom. Sorority Rush begins Friday.
'Timeless Taton' of Rush
kicks off thi~s week for Panhel
study 'U'
U Group reinstated to
study campus security
issues, environment
By Anupama Reddy
Daily Staff Reporter
University administrators recently
formed a new Task Force on Campus
Safety and Security to seek updated
information on campus safety. The 14-
member committee plans to issue its
first report next year.
Task Force Chair Paul Boylan said
he expects to release a report in April
to Provost J. Bernard Machen and
Chief Financial Officer Farris
Womack.
The task
force is now
organized to A num
examine most
campus security faculty h
issues, Boylan
said yesterday that we 1
after meeting
with several col- (,DPS-)"
leagues about
the group. - J. Be
"Wc're going UnC
to be looking at
DPS, how hospital security and North
Campus security is organized and how
dorm security is organized," said
Boylan, who is dean of the School of
Music and vice provost for the arts.
Machen said Monday the committee
will focus on many campus concerns.
The task force was originally created in
1989 under Boylan's supervision.
Ironically, it was at the recommenda-
tion of the original task force that the
Department of Public Safety was
formed.
"A number of faculty have asked that
we look at (the Department of Public
Safety); we decided to look at the
whole safety issue," Machen said. "It's
from all the events that occurred during
the past year."
The committee was reinstated last
July, after charges of resisting arrest
and assaulting a police officer against
John Matlock, director of the Office of
Academic Multicultural Initiatives,
were dropped.
Boylan said he does not know if the
Matlock incident and the reinstatement
of the task force are related. He said the
members of the task force, which
include students, staff and faculty, will
m
IV
securi
begin gathering facts and figures for its
next meeting, which is scheduled for
the end of October.
"It's breaking us all up into groups
and coming together at the end of
October to sort it all out," Boylan
said.
Boylan said he participated in the
1989 study on campus security and
found that harassment was a common
complaint.
"In our original study, there seemed
to be a high incident of harassment for
minorities, gays and lesbians, and
women," Boylan said. "People did not
feel safe on this campus."
The new task force is subdivided
into five groups responsible for spe-
cific issues about
crime at the
er of University. The
groups are gath-
,ve asked ering informa.
tion, but~ have
Ok at narrowed their-
focus down to
five topics.
The first group
nard Machen will examine
ersity provost indexed crime in
Ann Arbor since
1990 and compare their findings to
statistics at other comparable universi-
ty campuses. This group is headed by
James Snyder, professor of architec-
ture and urban planning.
The second group, which is chaired
by Jagdish Janveja, director of Facilities
Planning and Design, will survey the
environmental safety of the campus,
since 1990, including, lighting, emer-
gency telephones and campus trans-
portation.
Mitchell Rycus, professor of urban
planning, chairs the third group, which
will seek comments from the
University community about campus,
safety and security.
The fourth group, headed by inter-
nal medicine Prof. Carol Kauffman,
will focus on issues of harassment
and conflict resolution and will work
with organizations such as the
Sexual Assault Prevention and
Awareness Center and the Office of
Conflict Resolution.
The fifth group, headed by Boylan;
will review DPS policies.
- aily Staff Reporters Katie Wang
and Jodi S. Cohen contributed to this
report:
By Chiara Fudge
and Ericka M. Smith
For the Daily
A new chapter in a "Timeless Tradition" at the University
began yesterday with the mass meeting for the Panhellenic
Association Sorority Rush.
During the informational meeting last night in the
Michigan Union Ballroom, prospective rushees were given
insight into sorority life and tradition at the University. Panhel
board members explained the process and meaning of rush-
ing to more than 900 women.
RC sophomores Karina and Karma Knighten, who are
twins, said they are rushing for connections, sisterhood and
diversity. "Being that I am mixed, I'd like to meet girls of all
different backgrounds," Karina said.
This meeting is just the beginning of the Rush process.
According to Panhel, each sorority will begin hosting a
series of parties, known as "mixers,"starting Friday. The mix-
ers allow rushees to meet members of each house and to
determine which sorority is best for them.
Panhel External Rush Chair Jennifer Kruer said mixers
give students "a chance to meet everyone from athletes and
artists ... to couch potatoes." Each set of parties becomes
progressively dressier than the last.
LSA first-year student Julie Garfinkle said a student's
clothing should not matter during Rush.
"I think appearance should not be a deciding factor for a
sorority," she said.
Other rushees felt differently about the dress code.
"I think it'll be fun," said LSA sophomore Virginia Hiltz.
"We're judging them on the same thing"
As Rush progresses, sororities will issue invitations and
rushees will decide where they wish to visit again. At the end
of the mutual selection process, sororities extend invitations
to pledge on Oct. 12.
"There are five things to keep in mind when rushing," said
Panhel Adviser Mary Beth Seiler at last night's meeting.
"Don't believe stereotypes, don't get your heart set on just
one or two sororities, try not to be influenced by things that
don't matter, don't make up your mind too soon, and pick the
house you feel the most comfortable in."
Although the journey to being a sister in a sorority may
seem like quite a tremendous task, "we try to do most of it on
the weekends so it won't conflict with classes," Seiler said.
"There is not something every night"
One of the Rho Chis - sorority members who advise the
rushees - said she feel; that Rush is not a hassle. It is more
"like a process. It's a time for meeting people."
Rho Chis' names and houses remain anonymous during the
Rush process, so that rushees feel they are getting an unbi-
ased opinion.
Since the University plays host to nearly 40,000 students,
Kruer said she feels that "sororities provide a small group for
women to be a part of on a large campus. More importantly
we are a safe haven for women."
While most women who rush make the choice to pledge
their first year, there are many who decide to wait until their
second year to embrace sisterhood.
LSA sophomore Emma Cartwright said,"I didn't rush last
year because it was really early (in the year) and I'm glad I
didn't because I made a lot of friends in the dorms."
The Greek system may be one big bed of roses for many,
but not for all.
A senior who wished to remain anonymous said, "I de-acti-
vated myself (from the Greek system). I was in a house ... but
it wasn't for me. I loved the girls and the people in general but
the Greek system was not something I wanted to be in."
LSA sophomore Mandy Satcher said she had a similar
feeling about the system.
"I went to the meeting (my first year) and realized it was-
n't for me," she said. "I mean the atmosphere is for some peo-
ple but not for me."
But Kruer said the best advice she has about Rush is to
"keep an open mind."
Rachel Goldrich, Panhel's internal Rush chair agreed.
"Rush is an invitation into opportunity," she said.
Bill categorizes
illegal 'date rape pill'
Detroit leaders, 'U' join forces on
inner-city youth research project
By Brian Campbell
Daily Staff Reporter
Leaders of the Detroit Urban League
met with University administrators and
faculty members yesterday to announce
their joint plan to help solve social, eco-
nomic and spiritual problems within the
African American community.
The University plans to conduct
social science research directed toward
inner-city youth and will then present
the research in a report to the Detroit
Urban League, which will distribute the
information throughout the Detroit area.
Amos Aduroja, director of the Bureau
of Substance Abuse at the Department
of Health in Detroit, emphasized the
need to make scholarship meaningful to
communities.
"The uniqueness of this collaboration
is that the research isn't done just for its
own sake - it will be put to use in the
community," he said.
To make University studies useful for
communities, John Wallace, assistant
professor of the School of Social Work.
along with other researchers, will publish
their findings in the "Dulum Report."
The inaugural issue of the Dulum
Report, passed out at the meeting, is a
booklet filled with statistics regarding
inner-city youth problems and includes
advice for parents and community lead-
ers. The booklet's stated aim is to pre-
sent information in simple, direct terms
for accessibility to a wide audience -
unlike many scientific journals where
similar studies are published.
In a study conducted with the Detroit
Urban League, Wallace found that 75
percent of 300 Wayne County conve-
nience stores, supermarkets, gas sta-
tions and pharmacies sold cigarettes to
minors. Of the retailers, 93 percent did-
n't even ask to see identification,
according to the study.
Aduroja said tobacco industry adver-
tising is the primary reason cigarette
smoking is still prevalent with youth
and minorities.
"The tobacco companies spend more
than $6 billion a year on advertising
mostly targeted to young people and
minority groups," he said.
In a speech yesterday, University
Interim President Homer Neal reflected
on the historic ties between the
University and Detroit - where the
University was founded in 1817 - and
looked forward to a beneficial collabora-
tion with the Detroit Urban League.
Neal, who was the University's vice
president for research from 1993 to
1996, emphasized the prestige of
University research programs, citing a
1994 National Science Foundation study
showing the University second only to
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in research spending.
LANSING (AP) - House lawmak-
ers acted yesterday on legislation that
attempts to curtail the abuse of an
already illegal substance known as the
"date rape pill."
Legislation was approved 102-1 that
would place the potent sedative
Rohypnol in the same category as hero-
in, cocaine and LSD. The bill now
heads to the Senate.
The Drug Enforcement Agency has
recommended the federal government
also change its classification of
Rohypnol to declare it a Schedule 1
drug. Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota and
Florida already have done so, while
Texas, New York and California are in
the process of doing it.
Ten times more powerful than
Valium, Rohypnol has been used to
incapacitate unsuspecting people, leav-
ing them with no memory of a rape,
assault or robbery. It has been connect-
ed to more than 2,400 criminal investi-
gations nationwide.
The drug - small, white tablets also
called "roofies" that have no taste, color
or odor when dissolved in a drink - sells
illegally for $1 to $5 per pill on the street.
It has been banned in the United
States since March but is used legally in
64 countries prior to surgery and to
treat insomnia.
If the Michigan bill passes and,
Rohypnol is declared a Schedule 1 drug,
the highest level of control, abusers"
would get a 10- to 15-year prison term
for manufacturing or distributing the
drug and three to five-year sentences for
possession. If the drug is put in an
unsuspecting person's drink, the prison
term could be as long as 20 years.
"Once again Michigan is one step-
ahead of the federal government," said
the bill's sponsor, Rep. Eric Bush, (R- t
Battle Creek). "The use of Rohypnol
in connection with rape cases has
already reached epidemic proportions
in Florida and Texas. We cannot put:
Michigan residents at such risk."
The requirements for a Schedule I
drug include potential for abuse,
ease with which a person can
become addicted, and whether the
drug is accepted for a legitimate
medical use.
Now, the sedative is classified as a
Schedule 4 drug, along with Valium.
Under this classification, penalties for
possessing Rohypnol are two years min
prison, while a manufacturing convic-
tion gets a four-year term.
Correction
Junior Marc Schaubr's name was spelled incorrectly in Monday's Daily.
ILIEI LALLEM AL
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
ROUIP MEETINGS EVENTS Wide Web
E English Composition Board Peer
UBest Buddies, organizational meet- D"Careers & Internships in U.S. Tutoring, need help with a
ing, 764-2986, Stockwell, Government Foreign Affairs," paper?, Angell Hall, Room
Conference Lounges 1-5, 7 p.m. sponsored by Career Planning and 444C, 7-11 p.m.
J College Republicans, meeting, Placement, Angell Hall, Northwalk, 763-5865, Bursley
Modern Languages Building, Auditorium B, 7-8:3 p.m. Lobby, 8-11:30 p.m.
Ptnnm 8129 AX n m. ~ "ComnIAx Problems. UPsychology Peer Academic
rf