LOCALISTATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 20, 1997 - 3A
College GOP
pres. impeached
Epilepsy gene.
found in mice
Researchers at the University
Medical Center have identified a gene
lab mice that may cause petit mal
seizures, a rare symptom of epilepsy.
The findings released in the journal
Cell could make it easier to locate sim-
ilar genes in human DNA. The study is
part of a decade-long search for the
genetic causes of epilepsy.
The research team has located the
-first of several epilepsy-causing genes
JI mice, human genetics Prof. Miriam
'Meisler said in a written statement.
eisler has spent the past five years
rking on neurological disease genes.
By developing chromosome maps,
Meisler has been able to compare
mouse chromosomes to those of
human beings.
"This finding will help us to go on to
evaluate the gene in humans, to deter-
mine whether it also plays a role in
human epilepsy, and whether drugs that
work through calcium channels may
avide effective treatment for some
rms of epilepsy," Meisler said.
U' researchers
to study Lake
Superior storms
University researchers will help the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers investi-
gate the causes of Lake Superior's furi-
ous storms. Using this information,
*earchers hope to form solutions for
future damage caused by storms.
In October 1996, Engineering Prof.
Stephen Wright, who spegializes in civil
environmental engineering, devised four
solutions designed to reduce future wave
damage in the harbor.
According to Wright, Ontonagon
.larbor has the misfortune of being
almost perfectly aligned with the con-
btions that create brutal waves. The
'ves' alignment places it on the worst
possible trajectory for receiving the
waves' fullest force.
In the last few years, waves have
caused severe damage to the harbor's
structures in addition to causing soil
erosion around a state highway bridge.
. Wright attributed the property damage
to a combination of high waves and
increased water levels. To study the phe-
nomenon, Wright and his students built a
ale model of Ontagon Harbor.
Most of the harbor's details were
replicated in the College of
Engineering's hydraulics modeling lab-
oratory using videotape of the harbor.
'U' to receive
RAIR E award
The University will receive one of 10
cognition Awards for the Integration
of Research and Education from the
National Science Foundation.
The University will receive $500,000
for its commitment to integrating
research and undergraduate education.
The award ceremony will be held
tomorrow at NSF headquarters in
Arlington, Va.
UROP is the largest undergraduate
research program at the University.
4SA launched the program in 1989,
ith 14 minority students. More than
,2,500 students have participated in the
program since its inception..
'Proposals wanted
,for algal problems
' Students interested in modeling and
laboratory studies on harmful algal
blooms, which periodically have col-
*psed coastal eco-systems and caused
deaths, are invited to submit field
research proposals to the University.
Research topics include mechanisms
underlying initiation, distribution and
accumulation of individual bloom-
.forming species.
Contact Paul Cunningham at 936-
1289 or via e-mail atpaulc@umich.edu
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Marc Lightdale.
By Jeffrey Kosseff
Daily Staff Reporter
Accusations flew and divided a
group at last night's meeting of the
University chapter of the College
Republicans, which culminated in the
impeachment of Nick Kirk as the orga-
nization's president.
The impeachment came after the
accusation that Kirk forged press iden-
tification to gain entrance to the
Michigan Republican Convention on
Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
Kirk said he will return next
Wednesday as a member of the group.
"I am glad I have worked with you all
this year," Kirk said. "I've had a fantas-
tic run with you people."
The executive board of the group
voted to impeach Kirk. He will be
replaced by vice president Elias Xenos
until next Wednesday, when a new pres-
ident will be elected. Before the meet-
ing, Xenos asked Kirk to resign.
"I have no personal vendetta against
Mr. Kirk;' Xenos said. "We can't deny
it to ourselves any longer - our reputa-
tion has been severely tarnished."
The executive board also said they
impeached Kirk because he was usurp-
ing power from other officers -
including the treasurer, Jen Skomer,
who said she never received informa-
tion about the group's bank account.
"Money was taken out of the account
without my knowledge" Skomer-said.
"I don't receive any information about
this account."
Kirk denied those charges and said
Skomer is only trying to turn the group
against him.
"She was just trying to whip up the
group against me," Kirk said. "The
charges by Jen Skomer are false."
Angie Jerkatis, the group's former
president, said that although she dis-
agrees with Kirk on certain issues,
impeachment was not the best option.
"Nick and I have had problems over
the years, but I don't think impeaching
him now will help the group at all,"
Jerkatis said. "But hopefully, the group
will unite."
Before the impeachment, Kirk
accused members of rigging the upcom-
ing executive board election. The group
requires a $10-membership fee before a
member can vote in officer elections.
AJPA ULEV CUMP/Daily
LSA junior Nick Kirk speaks during a meeting of the University's chapter of the College Republicans last night. Kirk was
impeached from his post as president of the organization last night.
He said the lump sum of $400 that
was paid to add 40 new members before
the March 19 officer election aided cer-
tain candidates.
Kirk said Rich Kovacik, who was
planning to run for vice president, paid
the treasurer the money to admit the
members.
Kovacik said he had informed both
Kirk and Xenos of the transaction, and
Xenos, who serves as the group's par-
liamentarian, approved it.
"Up until tonight's meeting, I thought
what I was doing was 100 percent
legal," Kovacik said.
Xenos said he told Kovacik that
admitting the new members was legal
under the group's constitution.
"I saw nothing wrong with it. I told
him to go ahead with it," Xenos said.
Xenos said the group plans to work
together with Mark Potts, who is running
unopposed for president. Xenos planned
to run for president until tonight, when
he withdrew his candidacy.
"The number-one issue we need to
See IMPEACH, Page 7A
Rivers
holds
town
meeting
By Jeffrey Kosseff
Daily Staff Reporter
After victory in what some pundits
dubbed as one of the hottest elections
in the country, Lynn Rivers took time
to meet with her constituents in an
informal town meeting yesterday.
Campaign finance reform, research
and higher education funding were
among the topics Rivers discussed
with the audience of about 20 people.
Rivers said the 105th Congress has not
yet been able to accomplish a great
deal.
"We're off to a very slow start,"
Rivers said.
When Rivers was asked about her
view on women's issues, she said she
focuses on "people's issues" instead.
Rivers said that being a female in
Congress does not make her any dif-
ferent from her male counterparts -
they all need the same skills to be
elected to Congress.
Rivers said President Clinton's
budget proposals that include aid to
college students has "promise." But
she pointed out two questions people
have had about the HOPE scholar-
ship, which requires students to
maintain a B average and remain
drug-free.
John Lopez, a Rackham representa-
tive on the
MSA questions
Rose's purchase
By Katie Plona
Daily Staff Reporter
As the student body president, Fiona
Rose has a lot to remember.
To stay organized, the Michigan
Student Assembly president purchased
a $127.94 Franklin planner in August
and was reimbursed for the expenditure
from MSA's operations account.
Although Rose says the purchase
was legitimate, some assembly mem-
bers question whether she needed to
spend nearly $130 on a planner.
"It's a perfectly legitimate office
expense,' Rose said, adding that she did
not wish to make any further com-
ments.
LSA Rep. Andy Schor said the pur-
chase is "completely legal, but highly
questionable."
"There were definitely less expen-
sive planners that she could have got-
ten," Schor said. "While I'm not
opposed to it, and I think that it's kind
of an egregious expenditure of the stu-
dents' money ... there was nothing ille-
gal about it."
Roger Fisher, the assistant director
for campus activities and programs and
University liaison to MSA, said all
assembly procedures, including Rose's.
purchase, have been found "sufficient"
by external auditors.
"I think that there are a few people on
the assembly who would like to embar-
rass the executive officers or discredit
them for their own partisan reasons,"
Fisher said. "It's very, very disappoint-
ing to see attention focused on such
trivial issues."
MSA Treasurer Jonathan Winick said
the assembly's president leads a very
hectic life, so a planner is necessary to
organize Rose's commitments.
"MSA is Fiona's life" Winick said. "I
think (the planner) is a net benefit for
MSA."
Schor said Rose should leave the
planner for her successor.
Jon Cioffi, manager of the Franklin
Quest store, said the planner Rose pur-
chased is one of the company's staidard
planners and does not include excessive
features.
"If you wanted a binder with a zip-
per, that's as inexpensive as you can
get," Cioffi said, adding that the cost of
binders can range from $12.95 to
$250.00.
The binder Rose selected cost
$55.00.
Cioffi also said Rose purchased the
standard filler kit for $54.00, compared
to the deluxe, which costs $84.00.
Fisher said the purchase of the plan-
ner was in line with assembly policies.
"It's not an expense that is out of line
for one of the executive officers.; to
spend in the conduct of business,"
Fisher said, adding that he was
informed about Rose's purchase before
she was reimbursed.
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
Congresswoman Lynn Rivers (D - Ann Arbor) speaks informally with her U of M
constituents in the Michigan Union yesterday.
Rivers said one issue that will be
on the forefront of many legisla-
tors' agendas is campaign finance
r e fo r m. S h e
Michigan
Student
Assembly,
said he
admires
Rivers'
efforts to
reach out to
her con-
stituents.
"I think
it personal-
izes things
and allows
regular people
itI really don't think
the balanced budget
amendment is going
to pass"
- Rep. Lynn Rivers
(D - Ann Arbor)
saia there will
be much
debate and
h o p e f u l1 y
compromise.
"Probably,
what we'll see
is an
m e n
mere-
tal
just awarding people for moving
paper."
Rivers also discussed the possibility
of a balanced budget amendment.
"I really don't think the balanced
budget amendment is going to pass,"
Rivers said.
Rivers, who is a member of the
House Science and Technology
Committee, said the Republican plan
for research funding is still unknown,
but she has been supportive of such
appropriations.
"Research has terrifically far-rang-
ing effects,"she said.
Rivers said she predicts "there will
be a lot of debate around environmen-
tal issues this year."
Rivers said she also is concerned
about the country's uncertain future
in the area of health care policy..
"I'm at the end of the baby-
boomers, and I look at social securi-
ty and medicare and say, 'I don't
know if it's going to be there,"'
Rivers said.
c h an ge
Rivers said.
Another
hot topic
about which
to bring up issues of
importance with their congressper-
son" Lopez said. "I'd like to see that
in my district."
"Is a B at Brown the same as a B at
MIT?" Rivers asked. "Also, does it
mean we're going to drug test stu-
dents?"
Rivers was questioned is capital
gains tax credit's, about which she
has mixed feelings.
"You must make a distinction
between the kind of investments that
get favored tax treatment," Rivers
said. "I would like us to make a dis-
tinction between true investment and
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