XEvIUU *ri News: 76-DAILY Advertising: 764-0554 One hundred six years of ediztor;7/freedom Wednesday February 19, 1997 Biology lecturer to receive Golden Apple award By Janet Adamy Daily Staff Reporter Students say Eric Mann could be a stand-up comedian, but the biology lecturer's sense of humor is just one of the attributes that makes him an excellent teacher. ann has been chosen as the seventh Golden Ale Award recipient from hundreds of nomi- nations given to the Students Honoring Outstanding University Teaching committee - the group that chooses the winning teacher. "It's an incredible honor to have been nomi- nated by students'" Mann said yesterday. "It's really neat to be awarded for doing something that's so much fun." SHOUT co-chair and LSA senior Ilona Cohen said students nominated Mann because he spends a considerable amount of time listening to stu- dents. "A lot of students praised his commitment to students and to teaching at a time when research takes a priority over teaching," Cohen said, adding that nominations also cited his sense of humor. Each year SHOUT, a student committee associ- ated with Hillel, distributes ballots to students and encourages them to nominate a lecturer or profes- sor who has exhibited excellence in teaching. As part of the award, Mann is expected to give what Cohen called "an ideal last lecture" "The universal experience of college students suggests that the best lecture in almost any course is the last one because by that time, the professor realizes that it is impossible to cover all the material and decides to explain what it all really means," Cohen said. Cohen said Mann was sur- prised and excited when the committee presented him with the award after his lecture yesterday. "We kept assuring him that it was his own stu- dents who took the time to recognize his excel- lent teaching," Cohen said. LSA senior Mark Pohlman, who h as been a student in two of Mann's classes, said the lectur- er is one of the funniest teachers he has ever had. "The funny thing about him is that he comes up with these far-out analogies, which is really unusual in a science class," Pohlman said. "It makes a boring subject really interesting." LSA senior Michael Yusaf said Mann is unique because he takes the time to attend all the lab sec- tions in his courses and hands out notes for all of the lectures at the beginning of the semester. "The way he presents the information is just so clear ... you get the idea right away"'Yusaf said. "He really takes time out for students," Yusaf said. "Unlike other professors, he really likes to help students - that's his main goal." Mann taught at the University of California at Davis before coming to the University, where he now teaches classes in immunology and cellular and molecular biology. Mann is scheduled to give his "last" lecture April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Rackham Auditorium. Last year's recipient was Nursing Prof. Carol Boyd. Other recipients include History Prof Sidney Fine, English Prof. Ralph Williams and former History lecturer Thomas Collier. Winter rolls on by 'U' attorney steps down, paves road for new team Cole's resignation begins construction of new administration By Katie Wang Daily Staff Reporter The University will bid farewell to its top attorney this May. University General Counsel Elsa Cole announced yesterday that she is stepping down at the request of President Lee Bollinger, who is in the process of selecting his own executive management team. "I think she's done an excellent job over the past years that she's been in the position," Bollinger said. "There's been a number of highly difficult legal questions and her service has been remarkable." Cole's resignation marks the first step in Bollinger's quest to construct his own administrative core team since taking office two weeks ago. "I don't think there will be many changes, but there will be some," Bollinger said. "It's inevitable as we go from one decade to another under a new president." Cole said she planned to resign when Bollinger arrived so he could design a new team. "This was a decision I made after the president came into office to allow him to choose his attorney counsel," Cole said. "I fully expected that the president would want to put together the team he would like. "I truly have enjoyed working with the people at Michigan and want to support President Bollinger in every possible way in the transition to the new general counsel? she said, adding that she is uncertain about her future plans. Cole, who was appointed eight years ago by former President James Duderstadt, will officially step down May 16. "She's done a very good job and she's led our legal team through some very tough times," Duderstadt said. "She is very highly regarded among university attorneys in the higher ed community." As the University's top attorney, Cole had to contend with a variety of legal cases, including a lawsuit against the University during its yearlong pres- idential search. Three local newspa- pers sued the University last year, accusing the regents of violating the state's Open Meetings Act. Deputy General Counsel John Ketelhut said working alongside Cole was a pleasure. "I know she has cared about the University and its people and has always tried to do her best for them in performing legal work," Ketelhut said. A search team will be formed in the next two to four weeks to find a suc- cessor. Bollinger said he is looking for someone who is "an outstanding attorney and who can also work com- fortably and well in the academic set- ting." "I think this is a position that is extremely desirable to attorneys and we could have someone identified within one to six months," he said. Regent Daniel Horning (R-Grand Haven) said he would not be surprised to see more shifts in the administra- tive team as Bollinger settles into office. "I wouldn't be surprised because you have a new chief executive who is in the process of formulating a new management team," Horning said. "As a regent, I'm going to be supportive of that right of Lee's. "Some changes will occur now, some will occur later," he added. Before joining the University in 1989, Cole was an assistant attorney for the state of Washington, assigned to represent the University of Washington. During her time in Ann See COLE, Page 7 LSA sophomores Tom Jayasvasti and Scott Domer rollerblade through the Diag, enjoying yesterday's unseasonably mild weather. Mebta m ayvr MApreiv dency By Katie Plona Daily Staff Reporter The Michigan Party, which has won every Michigan Student Assembly pres- idential election since its formation five years ago, has chosen Probir Mehta to opete for the assembly's top spot. ehta, who currently serves as MSA vice president, has not yet confirmed he will vie for the presidency under the Michigan Party name. However, some assembly members not only said that Mehta's presidential candidacy is a lock, but also that he has chosen LSA Rep. ' Dan Serota as his running mate. Mehta said he will officially accept the nomina- tion when the entire Michigan Party Mehta declares its candi- dacy. "The nomination was offered - I accepted," Mehta said, adding that the Michigan Party's official slate has not been assembled. "Accepting the ination means I will probably defi- nitely be running for president. However, nothing else is definite." Mehta denied that the Michigan Party's top two spots were forgone con- clusions. "I am happy that others on the assem- bly are eager to hear the Michigan Party's ideas and vision for the future; however, we have made no official ouncement of our slate and platform yet,' Mehta said. "Nothing is set in stone." Serota, who was the top vote-getter in the fall MSA election, said he was not prepared to confirm his vice presidency. "There is a good possibility that may "(Mehta) said that he humbly accept- ed," Nagrant said. Although many members said they have heard Serota is Mehta's vice presi- dential pick, none will confirm the spec- ulation. LSA Rep. Andy Schor said he has heard that Serota, who was rumored to be running under a different slate, was having trouble finding a vice president to run with him. "(Serota) figured he had a better chance of winning as vice president on the Michigan Party slate then as presi- dent on his own under a different party name' Schor said. Nagrant contended that inserting Serota as the party's vice presidential candidate would increase the Michigan Party's popularity. "I think Probir purely chose Dan on the basis of electoral strength," Nagrant said. "(Serota) did very well in the last election." Mehta said if he runs for president with the Michigan Party, Serota is one of his vice presidential options. "I've discussed it with (Serota)," Mehta said. "There's been other choices too." MSA President Fiona Rose applauded her party's nomination. "I think that (the Michigan Party) made the right decision," Rose said, adding that Mehta has not told her directly whether he has accepted the nomination. "It's up to Probir to decide." Other members said they were not surprised by the Michigan Party's nomi- nation. "I think that was certainly the out- come everybody expected," said LSA Rep. Erin Carey, who ran with the Wolverine Party last winter. "In a lot of people's minds, (the Michigan Party's WARREN ZINN/Daily University General Counsel Elsa Cole sits in her office yesterday after announcing her resignation, which will take effect May 16. READY FOR RESEARCH Stab enow tours 'U' research By Jeffrey Kosseff Daily Staff Reporter After two months of adjusting to life as a U.S. rep- resentative, Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), toured the University campus in preparation for her new appoint- ment to the House Science and Technology Committee. Stabenow met with interim Vice President for Research Frederick Neidhardt and members of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program on Monday to observe the effects of federal funding on research programs. "This university is an international leader in research," Stabenow said. A mother of a University alumnus, Stabenow said she is familiar with the Ann Arbor campus, but Monday was her first opportunity to see results of the University's research programs. "It's the first time I've had a chance to spend a day in depth talking about research," Stabenow said. Stabenow said she was impressed with UROP, which College GOP pres. accused of fraud By Jeffrey Kosseff Daily Staff Reporter Nick Kirk, president of the University chapter of the College Republicans, allegedly gained access to the state Republican convention about three weeks ago by pretending to be a reporter for The Michigan Review. "It's just an accusation," Kirk said. "They have no tangible evidence." But Sage Eastman, press secretary for the Michigan Republican Party, con- firmed last night that Kirk said he was a Review staff writer. "I find it odd that someone in charge of the College Republicans would pre- tend to be a member of the press,' Eastman said. "It's disappointing." Some College Republicans said that given Kirk's status as the leader of the 9-routn. he would not have needed to Dre- Debbie Stabenow visits Angell Hall during Monday's meeting at the 'U' to discuss research funding with administrators. "She has a good sense of what's going on in research" Neidha~rdt sai- "Sheareed with u n our nirlew that the I 1 I