I LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, March 19, 1997- 3 Task force seeks solution for local homeless Officer accused of illegal search at Montana 9A University of Montana security officer accidentally confused calcium 'p'osits, which were being used to feed a pet lizard, for cocaine during an ille- 'gal search of a first-year student's resi- cjence hall room, The Kaimin student iewspaper reported. The student, Tropher Kolkman, and 'tvo of his friends left the room when their RA knocked on the door. They had been smoking marijuana, the news- per reported. Tropher was confronted by the RA outside the residence hall moments later and, while he was answering questions, an officer unlocked Tripher's door and illegally searched Vi room. - Rooms can be searched without a warrant in Montana only if a suspect- ed felony is being committed. Mrijuana possession. is a misde- anor offense. The security department did not comment on the incident and Tropher swid he plans to appeal the ticket for marijuana possession. Protesters storm regents meeting More than 60 Alliance for mocracy and community members stormed a University of Wisconsin relents meeting in protest of the uni- versity's investment in Texaco, a xompany with locations in Myanmar, ;The Badger student newspaper eriported. The protesters claimed the university was violating state law by investing in a 2business that condones discrimination. e university holds $250,000 of xaco stock. The regents said they were form- ing a committee to look into the social responsibility of their invest- mtnts. Brown rape suspect arraigned During an arraignment hearing last 'week, Christopher Barnes, 18, pleaded 'not guilty" to charges that he alleged- ly raped a Brown University student in October, the Brown Daily Herald reported. The rape allegedly occurred in the first floor bathroom of a fraternity dur- ing a party that Barnes, a Raynham Community College student, had ttended. Barnes' bail is set at $50,000 and, if convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. .-Meningitis hits IColorado State A student at Colorado State University has a confirmed case of eningococcemia, a form of meningi- ithe Rocky Mountain Collegian reported this week. When Meningococcemia is diag- sed, the bacteria that causes meningi- $ has been found in the patient's bbod, but has not reached the spinal od. -'PDoctors at CSU think university stu- dents are safe from contracting the dis- ease since most students are currently spring break. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Chris Metinko from the University Wire. By Meg Exley Daily Staff Reporter Ann Arbor may be on its way to solving the ongoing local homelessness problem. The countywide Task Force on Homelessness convened yesterday in a packed public meeting at the Washtenaw County Library to present the find- ings of its subcommittees' investigative reports. The task force committees, created by the city councils of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, have been working since last year toward finding realistic solutions to the local homeless problem. Yesterday was the first time all seven subcom- mittees had gathered to discuss the various reports' results and proposals. Along with presenting assessments of the immediate needs of homeless adults and review- ing current programs and shelters, representatives from the committees also offered recommenda- tions they felt should be implemented to improve the overall shelter association. "While all of the (subcommittees') recommen- dations are positive, they really just scratch the surface," said Olaf Lidums, director of the Washtenaw County Shelter Association. "We're still just addressing the immediate needs of indi- viduals." Lidums, who also heads the "needs" subcom- mittee, stressed the overwhelming need for more shelter space, more appropriate staff/guest ratios at shelter facilities, and on-site support services, including meal distribution and health care. The "facilities"'subcommittee, which is responsi- ble for evaluating the capacity and adequacy of existing shelter facilities, presented its recommenda- tions and estimated costs for possible new shelter models. Two University School of Architecture and Urban Planning students were among the members of the "facilities" committee that focused on options for the physical development of potential facilities. "I became involved due to a class project requirement for Housing Systems 537" Architecture senior Amy Wagner said. Working with local architect Lorri Sipes, of Architects Four, Inc., Wagner and fellow Architecture senior, Jose Benitez, researched shelter models that have been successful in other parts of the country in order to create workable strategies for Washtenaw County. Wagner and Benitez interviewed shelter employees to determine the problems that were most pressing in the three existing shelters and then developed plans based on these problems. "We looked not just at creating a square footage plan that simply sheltered people overnight. but in creating one that also incorporates other services like meal distribution, health services and rehabil- itation programs, under one roof." Wagner said. Not everyone present at the task force meeting V s pleased with the subcommittees' reports and recom- mendations. One remaining concern included thQ uncertainty about how the programs will be Ifnded. Audrey Jackson. a member of the "fundin-- committee, said the task force needs to brild stronger relationships with the businesses in he community. "In reality, the things we are asking for are going to require money" Jackson said. "We need to buiid bridges with the people who have the money. like private companies and businesses" Thrit shop sells donated barains By Regena Anderson Daily Staff Reporter Students who are looking for a vari- ety of cheap trinkets and want to sup- port a good cause can pay a visit to the Ann Arbor Parent Teacher Organization's Thrift Shop. The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop, located within the Bargain Books building at 1621 South State St., donates profits from the sale of jewel- ry, household items and used clothing to Ann Arbor public schools. "We're a non-profit organization that provides an innovative way of fundrais- ing for schools,"said Ann Holz, president of the Thrift Shop's board of directors. "We offer quality items at low prices and we're doing a service for the schools" During her term as president of the Tappan Middle School PTO, Holz said she worked to create a new fund-raiser for schools that would be different from the traditional fund-raisers of selling candy or hosting a bake sale. "We used to utilize private compa- nies to sell their merchandise as a fund- raiser, but most of the profits went back to the company," Holz said. After visiting her sister-in-law in Chapel Hill, N.C. and learning that the PTO there received all of its funding from donations from local thrift shops, Holz decided it was time for a change. Holz and a committee planned a rummage sale at Tappan Middle School and the sale's success led to additional sales that are now held at the State Street location. The store is open from I1 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Although there are three full-time employees, the store relies heavily on help from volunteers, Holz said. "I enjoy working here," said LSA senior and store employee Adrian Drunken drivers may lose vehicdes". DETROIT - Beginning next month, convicted drunken drivers could lose not only their licenses but also their vehicles. A law taking effect April 1 allows judges to order the seizure of drunken drivers' vehicles, including those of first- time offenders, the Detroit Free Press reported in yesterday's editions. Those convicted of a second or subsequent dri- ving while impaired charge, a lesser offense, also may lose their vehicles. State Sen. Michael Bouchard, who helped write the law, said it would give judges another tool in getting repeat offenders off the road. "One of the gaping holes in our sys- tem is the inability to deter and remove bad drivers from our roads," the Birmingham Republican said. Supporters and opponents agreed that the new law is stringent. "Something drastic needs to be done, and this is about as drastic as you can get," said Carole Ravicchio, president of the Oakland County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Robert Larin, an Oakland County attorney who specializes in drunken driving cases, said he was concerned that judges would order vehicles seized just to "make a name for themselves." "Evety time these temperance people want some tightening of the law, they've got those -panderers in the Legislature who come up with this kind of nonsense' Larin said. "It is, ole more step toward a police state. Of the approximately 60,000 people arrested every year in Michigan for drunken driving, all but about 5,000 are convicted of drunken driving or a drinking-related offense. State officias estimate 500,000 Michigan drivrs have at least one drinking offense'.n their records, putting them in jeopardy of losing their vehicles if theyre stopped again while impaired. Under the new law: Drivers convicted of drunken dri- ving, impaired driving within seven years of a prior conviction, or hayiig three drinking-related convictions Nvith- in 10 years could lose their vehicles, Drivers who hurt or kill someone after drinking also could lose their cars, even if they aren't convicted of drunken driving. Judges who hear the driver's c ase will decide whether a car will be taken as part of a sentence. The law allows seized vehicles tq be sold, with the proceeds shared by the law enforcement agencies participating in the arrest. The money would be divided with a person injured by: a drunken driver or with the family of someone killed by a drunken driver. Andrea Perry from Clinton helps her son David pick out toys at the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop as her son John looks on. Kellar. "It's a great way for customers to help out the schools and buy some- thing nice for themselves." Kellar said store customers come in looking for an array of different items. "Every now and then we have a cus- tomer who looks for something unusu- al," said Kellar, who said a male recent- ly wanted to buy a dress to wear as a costume for an upcoming play. Besides zany and hard-to-find items, the store also offers items such as games and jewelry, which are available for 50 cents. Customers also can leave the store with a complete outfit for $5 and a pair of shoes and blue jeans can cost as little as $2. "I'm a regular customer. I buy U of M paraphernalia and stuff for my grandkids all the time," said Bill Wade, a loyal customer. Besides being a regular patron, Wade was also the deputy superinten- dent for Ann Arbor public schools four years ago and was instrumental in help- ing the shop get started. "The store is a success because it has the winning three combination that keeps the shop going - workers, buy- ers and donators," Wade said. Local businesses such as Moe Sport Shops and Treasure Mart donate University paraphernalia and collector items, Holz said. The thrift shop celebrates its one- year anniversary next week. GRANT Continued from Page 1 In his address to the Michigan legis- lature, Clinton said proper installation of technology would break financial class barriers in education. "If we can hook up every classroom and every library to the Internet by the year 2000, for the first time in the his- tory of the country ever - ever - children in the poorest district, the rich- est districts and the middle class dis- tricts, all of them will have access to the same learning in the same way in the same time,' Clinton said. Levin said he cannot say whether poorer or richer areas in general should receive more technology funding, but that the funding should be given to dis- tricts that have not yet incorporated new technology into the curriculum. "The challenge is to integrate tech- nology where it is not yet integrated," Levin said. In a display of bipartisan effort to fund technology education, Michigan Gov. John Engler showed supportfor the ideas Clinton presented in"his speech earlier this month. "In general, we agreed with every- thing in his speech about educatiok" said Engler spokesperson John Truscott. "But it still remains to be seen what strings are attached to the funding." Dalman said she is confident the state will allocate the money properly. "The federal government carefully tracks where the money will .go," Dalman said. Levin, who provides a website to keep his constituents up-to-date, said many of his colleagues on Capitol Hill are also using the information superhighway. "We're taking full advantage of the Internet," Levin said. SAFETY Continued from Page 1 "Upon initial review it appears that people feel safer than they did when the original survey was done in 1989. The report also shows we have room for improvement," Heatley said. "DPS is looking forward to working in partner- ship with the University community to make our campus safer." Michigan Student Assembly member Jennifer Genovese, who chairs the cam- pus safety commission, said assembly members are in the process of conduct- ing their own campus safety survey. "Right now we're waiting for more of the surveys to come in but the ones that have come in show that people definite- ly feel more at ease on campus," Genovese said. "We believe this is due to the increase in participation in Safewalk, Nightowl and other programs." Paul Boylan, dean of the School of Music and vice provost for the arts, chairs the 14-member safety task force that requested this year's survey results. He said he soon hopes to present his committee's work to students. "The group has been taking a thor- ough and thoughtful look at security issues on campus including a broader view of the 'human climate',' Boylan said. The survey also suggested that an overwhelming number of participants had similar ideas about how to improve safety. Some of the most popular possi- ble measures included increasing police visibility, implementing tougher alco- hol policies, and providing mini-police stations at various campus locations. LSA first-year student Joseph Hunter said a visible police force is important. "I know a lot of people who don't want to go to certain places on campus because there aren't any police to enforce any rules," Hunter said. VOTE for MSA President, Vice President, and Representatives... TODAY! IA7L L' MELNDAIL What's happening in Ann Aibr today GROUP MEETINGS U Alzheimer's Association Caregiver's Support Group, Monthly meeting, 741-8200, 715 North University, above Mrs. Peabody's cookies, second floor, 12-1:30 p.m. Q Black Biology Association, General meeting, 764-1066, Michigan Union, Conference Room 2202, 5- 6 p.m. - Graduate Christian Fellowship, 669- 6145, Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church, 1717 Broadway, 7 p.m. -Korean Students Association, Michigan League, Henderson Room, 7 p.m. J~ Reform Chavurah, Weekly meeting, 669-0388, Hillel, 1429 Hill St., 7:30 p.m. .0 Student Group for Relatives of Persons with MAntal Illnes Q.94- .; .. EVENTS SERVICES Q "Darkness into Light: The Re-emer- gence of Jewish Culture in Germany" sponsored by Hillel, Michigan Union, Art Lounge J "Israeli Information Day," sponsored by Hillel, 1429 Hill Street, call 769-0500 to make an appoint- ment J "Moscow: A Scene of Modern Russian Politics," sponsored by The Center for Russian and East European Studies, Lane Hall, Commons Room, noon J "Israeli Information Day," sponsored by Hillel, 1429 Hill Street, call 769-0500 to make an appoint- ment J "Interventions in Adolescent Girls' Sexuality," sponsored by The Michigan Institute for Women's Health, Rackham, 4th Floor J Campus Information Centers, Michigan Union and Pierpont Commons, 763-INFO, info@umich.edu, UMeEvents on GOpherBLUE, and http:// www.umich.edu/-info on the World Wide Web J English Composition Board Peer Tutoring, need help with a paper?, Angell Hall, Room 444C, 7-11 p.m. J Tutoring for 100-200 Level Courses in Chemistry, Physics, and Math, 764-6250, Markley and Bursley Hall Libraries, 7-9 p.m. and Shapiro Library, Room 2166 8-10 p.m. J Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley Hall, 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. J Psychology Peer Academic Advising, 647-3711, sponsored T'O VTE On-Line Voting is EASY... Click our vote icon at any ITD Computing Site or Access: www.umich.edu/~vote AM MMM -aaaaaaaa ra r wA r A A 1 SAlsa ; r