LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 31, 1996 - 3A 'U' students propose new ideas for empty lot VU awarded for its efforts to conserve energy * At a ceremony in Washington, D.C., the University was recognized Friday for its excellence in conserving energy. MThe U.S. Department of Energy award- ed the University - and six other insti- tutions - the National Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Award. In 1987 the University began the Revolving Energy Conservation Project Account, which funds energy- ving projects and improvements in mpus buildings that pay for them- selves from the savings they generate. Bill Verge, University manager of utility systems, said the account has supported 79 projects since its incep- tion and that savings through June 1996 amounted to more than $8 million. "Reducing energy consumption is an important national priority' said Paul Spradlin, University interim associate *ce president for business operations. The energy conservation efforts at the University are good for the environ- ment and good for business.' Research may help prevent lupus A University researcher has identi- fied chemical compounds that may lp develop more effective treatments r systemic lupus erythematosus. Gary Glick, University assistant pro- fessor of chemistry, tested 1,680 varia- tions of compounds to find one that ,was effective in preventing antibodies from destroying DNA, which occurs in some lupus patients. Glick said that binding between lupus antibodies and DNA is the initial step of several reactions that can lead to tldney damage and sometimes death in 'upus patients. "While these initial compounds may not be drugs themselves, they are valu- able leads that may help researchers find more effective anti-DNA inhibitors,' Glick said. The research was funded by the National Institute of Health'and will be published in the Oct. 30 journal of the American Chemical Society. Gabies to sleep on their backs The American Academy of Pediatrics changed its policy Tuesday by recommending that babies be put to bed on their backs to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The group previously recommended that babies should sleep on their backs Won their sides, but babies who sleep their sides are more likely to roll onto their stomachs, which increases their risk of SIDS. The group said a baby should lay on its back until it is a year old, or until it can roll onto its back without help. Protein common in Alzheimer's People who suffer from Alzheimer's sease seem to have unusually high f evels of a particular protein in their blood that a simple blood test may be able to detect before the symptoms of the disease appear. William Jefferies, associate profes- r.sor in "the biotechnology laboratory at I the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, said a blood test would allow patients of families more time to plan for the future and may give drug 4&searchers insights into more effective ireatments. Jefferies said more research will be necessary to determine the usefulness of such a blood test. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Brian Campbell. By Stephanie Powell Daily Staff Reporter It has been almost a year since the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house on the corner of Hill and State streets burned down. The house's remnants were removed in early summer and all that remains today is a vacant, dirt-covered lot. The University's Board of Regents does have a plan for the land, however. The board recently voted to put a temporary parking lot in the area, but long-term plans involve the construction of a Law School building. A group of three students has come up with a slightly different idea about what should be done with the empty lot. Matthew Pierle, an RC junior, is interested in making the lot into a park. "There seems to be a lot of positive, growing energy about looking into this option," Pierle said. "It can benefit every single person in the University community." LSA junior Michelle Ferrarese, who agrees with Pierle on his proposal for how to use the lot, said that it would be great to have a park there instead of a parking lot becausea (The U park would benefit the whole community. use for a "Something needs to be done with the empty is futile." lot. It is an awesome place for green rather than cement,' Ferrarese said. According to the University Planning Office, the regents decided to construct a new build- ing because of limited space for expansion at the University. A Law School building is the "most logical" possibility for the use of the land because of the school's growth and needs, said University Planner Fred Mayer. "The number of major building sites on Central rniversity's) parking lot - Jack Porretta LSA senior Campus can be counted on the fingers of one hand," Mayer said. Pierle and Ferrarese both disagreed with the board's decision because they believe the parking lot will benefit only those who have cars. Ferrarese said a park would allow everyone to participate in its beauty. futile," Porretta said. "There is already so much construction and there needs to be an open pro- ductive space for students to interact Pierle suggested people look at the issue from a biological and environment al standpoint. "It is disheartening from an ecological and human perspective that people dont f el Ior~n- nection to the land," Pierle said. He also said a park's "tnatural beutyI would slow down the pace of the busy intersection on which the lot is located. "Expect to see a petition and other opposition opportunities for students to ct involved in; Porretta said, adding that he phins to circulate information about the future use of the lot. Pierle said he hopes the eflbrt to put a park in the area will be backed by a coalition ot different students, rather than a club. Ferrarese, Pierle and Porretta said their efforts are not linked to any existing campus group. "A park is where everybody is welcome "Perle said. "We need places like that:' LSA senior Jack Porretta also agrees that the land should be used for a park. "(The University's) use for a parking lot is Cold weather keeps arsonists at ome fl, on Devils Night DETROIT (AP) - Bad weather last unteers he said were vital in the gua4. night was keeping Detroit emergency ing of abandoned building:s aga t personnel busy but appeared to be arson. keeping Devil's Night arsonists at bay "We're trying to bring peace to Or as authorities were reporting relative city," Archer told about a hundred mei quiet. who participated in last year's Milli "We've been getting quite a few calls Man March and planned to patrol th - most of them are related to the streets from midnight to 2 a.m. weather, rather than Devil's Night;" said "I think people are higher and nmov Al Acker, spokesperson for the city's uplifted even than last year," Arclgr emergency operations center. said. "We're out because we want. p People were calling in to report protect our investments and continue to downed trees and power lines, he said. motivate people to invest in our city' "I think bad weather is always help- Archer, who also spent part of ful to the good guys," Acker said. "We Tuesday night visiting some of the had a lot of rain last night and that obvi- 32,000 volunteers, credited a thunde ously helps." storm with keeping the city quiet. fi There was no rain last night, but by said some 22,000 residents were witn' 11 p.m. the temperature had dropped to out power last night and 3,000 stre t 39 degrees with wind gusts of 21 mph lights were out from the previou, and a wind-chill factor of 26 degrees, night's storm. the National Weather Service reported. The flashing yellow lights atop \'hi City officials said they had no esti- cles were hard to miss -- in a 15-bilok mates on the number of fires reported. area there was at least one patrol veli Police Chief Isaiah McKinncn said cle on each block. he was impressed by the number of vol- Robert Massey, 41, who lives }t unteers he saw out. north of downtown, was among t 5 "It says we have a great number of patrolling the streets in his car. people who are concerned and dedicat- "I wanted to just try," he said. "in nv ed to the betterment of the city, and a younger days, I used to be doing all Uis great number of people are tired of the crazy stuff. It's time for a change"' stigma that has been associated with the The mayor planned to visit voli tellr city of Detroit,' he said. command centers throughout the'ity Mayor Dennis Archer spent part of until 2 a.m. to thank volunteers and the night thanking the thousands of vol- lend support. strike could case light truck ptoduction AJA DEKLEVA COHEN/Daily Engineering senior Holle Bert took time yesterday to admire the traditions exhibit at Pierpont Commons. The exhibit is sched- uled to be displayed for the entire month at various locations on campus. Native American hertage Mont celebrate traditions, culture By Ann Stewart Daily Staff Reporter A weaving of Native American cul- tures and traditions is cause for celebra- tion in November. "Woven by Traditions" is the theme of Native American Heritage Month sponsored by the Native American Programs Task Force on campus. "It represents so much as far as each of us coming from different cultures and tribal backgrounds," said Shannon Martin, Native American coordinator for Multi-ethnic Student Affairs. "We are all different yet we are all the same and when we get together it's like' a beautiful weaving." MESA and the Native American Student Association will kick off the celebration with a social Mini Pow Wow on Nov. 3, which will consist of traditional drum groups and dancing. A feast for participants will follow at Trotter House. The month features the Traditions Exhibit of artwork by Native American University students, faculty, staff and alumni. A reception "Honoring the Artists" will be held in the Art Lounge of the Michigan Union on Nov. 22. Also planned for the celebration is a range of performances, including three presentations of song, dance and story- telling by the Rabbit River Singers and Dancers on Friday. For students' entertainment next week, NASA plans to present a film "Pow Wow Highway," and Native American comedian Charlie Hill is scheduled to perform at Trotter House. Continuing a storytelling tradition, the Dejope storytelling theater group from Wisconsin will perform plays to traditional stories from Native nations in East Quad on Nov. 9. Also, a story- telling by a Native American faculty member is planned Nov. 17 and Leslie Marmon Silko, author of literary works such as "Ceremony" and "Storyteller," is scheduled to read in Rackham Auditorium on Nov 21. "We needed to show our culture rather than talk about it," said Ryan LaLonde, Native American programs assistant at the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives. The celebration will also host a num- ber of speakers including Mary Al Balber, an assistant attorney general who will speak Monday on the treat- ment of Native American issues in the judicial system. Also next week, Lucy Harrison, executive director of American Indian Health and Family Services of Southeastern Michigan, will talk Wednesday about better health through respecting Native traditions. The following week, speakers will include Karen Kay, executive director of Michigan Indian Employment and Training Services and Deborah Tucker, Coming Events The Traditions Exhibit - Oct. 28-Nov. 3. Pierpont Commons, Nov. 4-10: Trotter House, Nov. 1147: Michigan League Nov. 18-Dec. 1: Art Lounge, Michigan Union. Mini Pow Wow - Sunday, Nov. 3, noon-5 p.m. Michigan Union Ballroom. Pow Wow Highway - Nov. 5, 7 p.m., Trotter House. a leading researcher in black and Native American interactions. The final week, Ada Deer, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior-Indian Affairs will speak on strengthening community through edu- cation and Paul Johnson, board presi- dent for the Lansing Indian Center, will talk about personal growth. "One role (of the speakers) is to let people know that Native Americans are still here and they are doing things out in the world," said NASA co-chair Pam Bowser. The celebration will end Nov.23 with the Annual Fall Feast, which historical- ly signified the end of the hunting and harvesting season. Bowser said the potluck dinner is a chance for all partic- ipants in the celebration to get together one last time before winter. DETROIT (AP) - Production of General Motors' lucrative pickups and sport utility vehicles could come to a halt by the weekend if strikes at two crucial plants continue, industry ana- lysts said yesterday. As negotiations between the United Auto Workers and GM continued in Detroit, workers remained off the job at a truck assembly plant in Janesville, Wis., and a metal stamping plant in Indianapolis. Janesville is the only U.S. plant that makes the popular Chevrolet and GMC Suburban and the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon - big, highly profitable sport utilities. Indianapolis makes hoods, roofs and other sheet metal for eight other GM light-truck assembly plants. The strike at the Indianapolis plant idled a truck assembly plant in Fort Wayne just after 9 p.m. yesterday. About 2,250 of the plant's 2.600 workers - almost all production work- ers - were idled by the shutdown, Employees were given notices as they left the plant yesterday telling them not to report for work until further notice. "Employees were sent home as result of a work stoppage in Indianapolis," GM spokesperson Jeff Kuhlman said, A truck-assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio, may be idled by tomorrow if thi strike at the Indianapolis plant is nrt settled, said George Dunaway, vice president of the International Union of Electronic Workers Local 801. The Moraine plant employs 4,400 hourly workers and makes thc Chevrolet Blazer and the GMC Jimmy sport utility vehicle. GM spokesperson Jim Hagedon declined to say when the strike might affect the Moraine plant. School Know of any news? 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