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