LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 13, 1997 - 3A * * ~~I1f Smith recieves foundation fellowship Mathematics assistant Prof. Karen mith has been selected as an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow. As part of The fellowship, she will receive a $35,000 grant to use toward graduate study. "I hope that your selection from among this remarkable group of nomi- nees will ... convey a clear indication of the high esteem in which your past work and future potentials are held by ur fellow scientists," Ralph Gomory, esident of the New York-based foun- dation, wrote in a release announcing Smith's selection. 'U' underwater robot helps police The University's underwater robot, M-Rover, recently traveled to the Mackinac Bridge in northern Michigan assist authorities in the recovery of a hicle. The vehicle had swerved over the side of the bridge, killing its only pas- senger last week. The Ford Bronco broke through the ice 190 feet below the bridge and con- tinued its plunge another 190 feet. It took M-Rover less than 15 minutes to locate the vehicle, which the Coast Guard and police officers were then able to recover. applications for fellowship now available The third annual Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition has been announced by the University's center for organogenesis. The award provides two years of *pport to graduate students who wish to conduct a research project in the field of organogenesis, which is the study of the development of biological organs. The project should be inter-discipli- nary and must fit with the goals of the center. For application materials, send e-mail to MshukaitCdunic/h.edu or call 936-2499. tarrett awarded ergman Prize Mathematics Prof. David Barrett is one of two recipients of the 1997 Stefan Bergman Prize. The prize is named for the late Stefan Bergman, who was known for his research in the field of "several complex variables." The selection committee members id Barrett's work "is characterized by highly original and deep insight," and they called his contributions to the sev- eral complex variables as "unexpected developments which settled crucial nat- ural problems and initiated new direc- tions of research," according to a writ- ten statement. Committee seeks cure for disease The Comprehensive Cancer Center's Prostrate SPORE Committee requests applications from faculty for the investigation of a cure for prostate cancer. The committee is placing an empha- sis on research proposals that seek to understand the mechanisms involved in prostate cancer development. It is espe- cially seeking out translational earch. Submission deadline is May 15. For application forms, call 763-3455 or send e-mail to bardella uumich.edit. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Mac Lightdale. Cadaver shortages face medical students By Joelle Renstrom Daily Staff Reporter The doctors of tomorrow may be missing experience they need, due to a shortage of cadavers around the nation. William Burkel, director of the University's anatomical donations, said this shortage is a nationwide problem that affects the education of medical students. "We've had enough donations, but there are always more requests for indi- viduals, like teaching surgeons, profes- sionals, physical therapists or graduate students. That's when there aren't enough," Burkel said. Barbara Rosso, at Wayne State University's anatomical study program, said the donated cadavers are vital to medical students. "There has always been a shortage," Rosso said. "We realize donating is not for everyone, but the medical commu- nity really suffers. "It's getting harder for students to get what they need," she added. "There is just no alternative to research." Rosso said Wayne State receives about 185 adult cadavers each year but needs more than 230 to adequately suit students. "The demand is always greater than the supply," Rosso said. "We try to team up. A number of students use the same materials." School of Nursing sophomore Kyle Rinehart said the shortage of donations affects students in the nursing school. "Because there aren't enough, we have to sign up to watch autopsies" Rinehart said. "It's rare to see an autop- sy because you never know when one will be performed. "Although I keep signing up, I haven't been able to see one autopsy yet," Rinehart said. "The cadaver short- age has really hurt nursing students. We can't even get what's second best." Burkel agreed that nothing compares to the real experience. "Technology is a long way from being able to compensate," Burkel said. "Virtual reality is visual, but it can't replace the 3-D. hands-on kinesthetic sensations." Burkel also emphasized how grateful students are for donations. "We respect that each was an individ- ual, and we look at them that way, not as objects," he said. "We respect the fact that they laughed, cried and had friends just like us." Criteria must be met before a dona- tiont can be used for study, Rosso said. The body cannot have undergone surgery in the past six months, she said. "The embalming fluid we use is real- ly strong. We keep bodies for up to two years at room temperature," Rosso said. Another problem is obesity. Schools prefer that donations be of relatively pro- portionate height and weight. Bodies that have been badly burned or decom- posed also cannot be used, she said. Rosso said there is a danger in using a cadaver that had a contagious disease. "The risk of transmission is too great, especially at Wayne State, which has the largest number of entering freshmen in the country' she said. There are alternatives for people who are uncomfortable with whole-body donation. The Organ Procurement Society is for people who want to des- ignate certain organs for study. "People will themselves to science for the good of mankind," Rosso said. "We appreciate any donations." The Organ Procurement Society can be reached at (313) 464-7988. The University's anatomical study depart- ment can be reached at 764-4359. 'U, students recycle trees to make new buildings By Greg Cox Daily Staff Reporter Growing a thriving forest can be a messy process. But two University students are tak- ing small trees that usually go to waste and are using them to construct new buildings. Architecture graduate students Paul Warner and Craig Synnestvedt designed and partially built a structure using timber that was cleared from forests. The U. S. Forest Service clears small timbers, making room for larger trees to prosper. The project's aim is to provide a unique solution to the dilemma that arises when forests are thinned to pro- mote the growth of large trees. "We tried to find something interest- ing to do with, small poles instead of simply grinding them up," Synnestvedt said. Their project is on display in the Art and Architecture Building on North Campus, and was one of several student projects recognized with an Alumni Choice Award at an annual exhibit of student work. "Removing stems mechanically is expensive, as selective cutting and har- vesting must be done in a manner that will minimize damage to the higher- quality timber," said Ronald Wolfe, a research engineer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Wolfe said that when the smaller trees are cleared from the forest, they are usually wasted or not fully utilized. Oftentimes, the common solutions don't make economic sense. "In most instances, products such as paper or composite panels do not gen- erate enough revenue by themselves to cover the cost of harvesting thinnings," Wolfe said. For these reasons, researchers at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wis., have been looking for an alterna- tive solution for a number of years. Warner and Synnestvedt visited the lab and have been working closely with the Forest Service on a solution since the beginning of the year. The structure they created uses bent small timbers as trusses. It is intended to replace the visitor's center at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge. The center is a place where people visiting the area can pick up maps and other information regarding their vaca- tion. The current center was established by the Department of Transportation as a temporary installation. However, it is not certain whether the award-winning design will be con- structed. "Being only one structure, building the new visitor center wouldn't solve all of the problems," Warner said, adding that it may provide a model for later use. "It is an example of what could be done and might give others ideas." "The idea of the new design is'to bring a new look to. the facility and give visitors a message of our efforts to utilize resources to their fullest," said Daryl Dean, a U. S. Forest Service official. Having backgrounds in civil engi- neering as well as architecture, Warner and Synnestvedt said they were able to have a better understanding of what could work in designing their struc- ture. "The engineering background gives us an intuition of where the structural forces should be," Warner said. "We were thinking about how the building would be put together while building our project." Warner and Synnestvedt have now entered the waiting stage of the project. Further testing must be done before the Forest Service can approve the con- struction. Once the testing is complete, Warner and Synnestvedt said they are opti- mistic that USDA will go through with the project. "We hope that the Madison Lab will do the structural testing," Synnestvedt said. "If all goes well, then we might build a piece of it for the (Ann Arbor) Art Fair." Building parts of the structure is not, simple. Warner and Synnestvedt had to bend the poles using a pickup truck in the Media Union parking lot. The process involved a great deal of trial and error. The small trees often snapped under the stress of being bent, and urgency was added to the problem, as the tim- bers became more dry and less flexible with each hour. "Getting blisters and splinters was a big part of the learning process," Warner said. Warner and Synnestvedt said they can't wait indefinitely for their propos- al to be approved for construction, as other work opportunities arise during USDA testing. "We hope it will be built," Synnestvedt said. "The great delays do present problems, however." JOSH BIGG: Architecture graduate students Paul Warner and Craig Synnestvedt stand under the structure they created with timber cleared from forests. ISSUE Continued from Page 1A Liberty Party vice presidential candi- date Liz Keslacy said the problem with minority enrollment doesn't lie at the University level,{so MSA cannot have a direct effect on the issue. pus," Curtin said, adding that the stu- dent population is becoming richer, whiter and more male. "We want to increase minority enrollment. We think that it is going to take building a student movement to do that." . Jim Riske, the Victors Party's presiden- tial candidate, said MSA can't do much "It's not the University's fault - black kids didn't We I apply here" Keslacy said thisis "'(Sending the let- ters) seems a little campus extreme to me." Liberty Party presidential candi- Indep date Martin Howrylak said this is an extremely complex issue that probably begins at the community level, Jessica Curtin, an independent presi- dential candidate, claimed minority enrollment is low because of high tuition and not enough financial aid. "We don't think this a diverse cam- uon't think a diverse - Jessica Curtin except work with high schools to pro- duce quality students that diversify the campus. "That in it of itself will the world is getting smaller smell better. per ndent candidate help improve the number of minority stu- dents coming here," Riske said. "MSA can't play a direct role, but it can make a difference." Riske said the University is a diverse campus, but not as diverse as it could be, and that the University should not look solely at applicant percentages to measure the campus climate. Correction Business senior Adwowa Afenyi-Annan was misidentified in yesterday's Daily. What GROUP MEETINGS U Campus Crusade for Christ, Fellowship meetin$, Dental School, Kellog Auditorium, 7 p.m. U Lutheran Campus Ministry Issues of Faith Group, 668-7622, Lord of Light Lutheran Church, 801 South Forest, 7 p.m. 0 UJA Half Shekel, Campaign meeting 998-1964, Hillel, 1429 Hill St., 6 p.m. U Undergraduate Mathematics SocietX, 213-2018, East Hall, Q ALL.N LI 's happening in Ann Arbor today Presentation, sponsored by The International Center, Michigan Union, International Center, 3- 4:30 p.m. U "Kinesiology Day," sponsored by The Division of Kinesiology, Michigan League Ballroom, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. U "Laurence Lieberman," Book read- ing, sponsored by The English Department, Rack ham Amphitheater, 5 p.m. U "PersonalWellnesshWorkshop,' sponsored by The Michigan Union Welness Workshop, SERVICES U Campus Information Centers, Michigan Union and Pierpont Commons, 763-INFO, irifo@umich.edu, UM*Events on GOpherBLUE, and http:// www.umich.edu/-info on the World Wide Web 0 English Composition Board Peer Tutoring, need help with a paper?, Angell Hall, Room 444C, 7-11 p.m. U Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley Hall, Pcv l Dnp a, hdaes micsA ini- m111