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One hundred six years ofeditoralfreedom
Friday
March 21, 1997
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rology
Sources say Oesterling le
for ac emic reasons
Katie Wa
aily Staff Reporter
*lleagues close to Dr. Joseph Oester
re University's chief urologist, confir
esterday that he has been suspended in
itely.
"He has been suspended for academic
ns," said a receptionist in Oesterli
epartment, who wished to remain ar
ous. "But we don't have details on it."
But University officials refused to cor
.sets
olicy for
xam time
nilicts
Greg Cox
aily Staff Reporter
Students will have until March 31 to
rrange any "religious accommoda-
ons" to settle conflicts between reli-
ious holidays and final exam dates.
An e-mail sent yesterday to all
Jniversity students defines a strict pol-
4r students to inform their instruc-
rs of potential conflicts, said
niversity Registrar Tom McElvain.
McElvain said the policy will give
tudents time to make accommodations
nd set up alternate exam times.
"The policy makes the University's
iew of obligation clearer as to what
e accommodations are," McElvain
aid. "Many campus groups were
volved in getting a clearly stated and
-able policy."
lel also is making efforts to
nform the student body of the new pol-
cy. There is special interest in the
ewish community in the approaching
eadline because Passover overlaps
ith final exams this year.
"Hillel will be passing out flyers and
ending e-mail reminding students of
he changes," said Rabbi Rich
irschen. "There are quite a few days
h, ear which are problematic (with
asover)."
The previous University policy on'
eligious conflicts, which appeared in
ime schedules this year, was never
idely published. McElvain said many
roblems persisted in settling the
cheduling difficulties caused by the
inals schedule.
"There was no way to resolve them
religious conflicts) when they
ccurred, other than through individual
f ts, said McElvain.
LSA senior Anthony Scaglione, a
ember of the Hillel governing board,
;aid he encouraged the University to
tate the policy more clearly.
"I spent the summer in Ann Arbor and
ad the opportunity to work with the
dministration, especially the Provost's
ffice, to get a clear policy for conflicts
ith holidays," Scaglione said.
See RELIGION, Page 2
chief reportedly suspended from
'U'
or deny reports yesterday that Oesterling, who
teaches at the University's School of
Medicine, was su'spended.
"We don't comiment on personnel," said
Associate Vice President for University
Relations Lisa Baker.
An article in yesterday's Detroit Free Press
reported that Oesterling was suddenly sus-
pended Wednesday, a decision that was made
so abruptly that his scheduled surgery
appointments were canceled.
University Hospitals spokesperson Mike
Harrison also refused to comment on the
alleged suspension.
"When it's a personnel matter, the hospital
and University can't confirm or get involved
at all," Harrison said.
The receptionist said Dr. James Montie,
another urologist, has filled Oesterling's post
as acting chief of urology.
A second source confirmed that Oesterling
was suspended for academic reasons, adding
that the department requested all staffers to
refrain from public comments on the issue.
Oesterling, who was unavailable for com-
ment last night, told the Detroit Free Press he
was "completely surprised" by the suspen-
sion. He also told the newspaper that the
School of Medicine wishes to conduct an
investigation.
Efforts to reach Lorris Betz, interim dean of
the School of Medicine, and Lloyd Jacobs,
associate dean, for comment were unsuccess-
ful. Staff members in both offices referred
calls regarding the alleged suspension to
Baker.
Oesterling joined the University School of
Medicine as a professor of surgery and its
chief urologist in 1994.
He received his M.D. from Columbia
University College of Physicians and
Surgeons in 1982, and has received interna-
U.S.
tional acclaim as one of the world's leading
authorities on prostate cancer.
In 1991 and 1992, he won the American
Urological Association Prostate Health
Council Award. Immediately before joining
the University in 1994, Oesterling was a fac-
ulty member at the renowned Mayo Medical
School in Rochester, Minn.
Oesterling, the director of the Michigan
Prostate Institute, spearheaded research for a
new test to help detect prostate cancer. Under
Oesterling's leadership, the prostate-specific
antigen blood test, known as PSA, was made
more sensitive to early signs of the disease.
Russia
SITES OF SPRING
talks seek
agreements
Clinton, Yeltsin
express hopes to
resolve NATO issues
HELSINKI, Finland (AP) - Both
on the mend, President Clinton and
Boris Yeltsin opened talks yesterday
struggling to calm tensions in the
thorniest East-West dispute since the
Cold War. Changing his tone from
tough rhetoric, Yeltsin hoped for "com-
promises" while Clinton offered arms
concessions.
Clinton said he was encouraged by
the Russian president's conciliatory
remarks - after Yeltsin's remark last
Friday that this would be his "most dif-
ficult" summit ever with an American
president. "I think we'll work some-
thing out;" Clinton said. "I hope we
will."
The two leaders were deadlocked
over the U.S.-led move to expand
NATO eastward toward Russia's bor-
ders. "We're going to disagree on
NATO enlargement," said Sandy
Berger, Clinton's national security
adviser.
The question of NATO expansion
has been a sticking point between
Washington and Moscow since 1994
but tensions have grown as the date
nears for NATO's July announcement
of new members. The United States
says NATO will invite states whether or
not Moscow likes it. But Clinton and
other leaders are trying to make the
medicine easier for Yeltsin to swallow.
Six days after knee surgery, Clinton
arrived in snowy Helsinki in a wheel-
chair, lowered from Air Force One in an
accordion-lift food catering van. He
smiled but looked uncomfortable.
Two hours later, Yeltsin stepped off
his plane, walking stiffly but looking
fit. Fifty pounds slimmer, Yeltsin is
rebounding from quintuple bypass
surgery followed by double pneumonia.
He gave hearty handshakes to VIPs and
stood unflinching in the cold for the
Russian national anthem.
"We have difficult and serious talks
ahead of us," Yeltsin said. "I think that
Bill Clinton and his team are in the
same mood of looking for constructive
approaches and compromises to all
controversial questions, so that we can
depart again as friends."
In a mostly social evening, the two
presidents met over dinner at the
Presidential Palace on the waterfront by
an open air market. Known for its opu-
lent Hall of Mirrors, the palace is deco-
rated with French crystal chandeliers
dating from 1868. Presidents George
Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev held a
See SUMMIT, Page 7
JOSH BIGGS/ Daily
Tim O'Boyle plays guitar in the Arb yesterday. Many students took advantage of the first day of spring to enjoy outside
activities.
Arb naturally appeals tostuent
By Sarah Volaric
For the Daily
The spring season is beginning to
show its colors at Nichols Arboretum.
Susan Letts, the education and volun-
teer coordinator for the arboretum, said
there are many woody plants and wild-
flowers blooming and about to bloom in
the Arb.
This month there have been hints of
the arrival of silver maple, fetterbush,
snowdrops and the skunk cabbage, just
to name a few.
Many University students and Ann
Arbor residents frequently visit the Arb
to enjoy the scenery.t
University alum Guerin Wilkinson,
who edits Treeline, a newsletter to
Friends of the Nichols Arboretum, said
he likes the Arb because of the "peace-
fulness and the mature landscaping."
Wilkinson said one of his favorite
things about the Arb are the Cornelian
cherry trees at the entrance. "These are
some of the first things to bloom," he
said.
The Arb is a good place to go to get
away from studying for awhile, said
some University students who frequent
the natural setting.
LSA sophomore Oriana Vigliotti said
the Arb "is a really great place to go
relax and unwind. It is very peaceful
and quiet"
Some students said they like to do
homework and read in the Arb, but oth-
ers enjoy visiting and taking in the
weather.
SNRE junior Josh Voice said he likes
to go to the Arb because it is a peaceful
place and the trees are beautiful. "This is
a unique place to go in Ann Arbor
to each participant.
* April 19 kicks off Arbor Week. An
Arbor Week tour will highlight the
international collection of trees and
woody plants.
a I
School spirit
because there are not very many parks
and forest areas on campus," Voice said.
Mike Spencer, an LSA sophomore
and jogger, said a trip through the Arb
helps his state of mind.
"I like to go to the Arb and jog
because it helps settle my mind,"
Spencer said.
See SPRING, Page 2
SA sees
oost in
rnout
y Katie Plona
aily Staff Reporter
Although official results will not be
osted until late this afternoon, election
fficials for the Michigan Student
Assembly said at 8 p.m. last night that
his year's voter turnout had already
xceeded last year's total turnout.
Preliminary results of the MSA pres-
idial election traditionally have been
nnounced early Friday morning. But
his year's addition of online voting has
pushed back the deadline of the
announcement.
MSA Election Director Angie Blake
said paper ballots would not be counted
MSA Voter turnout
Firm has strong
track record
Results as of 8 p.m. yesterday
estimated more than 10%.
TRACEY HARRIS/Daily
overall, adding that the turnout at
polling sites was significantly lower
this year.
That means more people chose to use
the online voting option, which is good
news, Blake said.
"I'm estimating that we're going to be
done by (5 p.m. on Friday)," Blake said.
Stixdents' Party presidential candi-
date Mike Nagrant said waiting until
today for the final results is just "part of
the fun'"
By Heather Kamins
and Ajit K. Thavarajah
Daily Staff Reporters
A Kansas-based law firm now has
the task of separating fact from fiction
in the recent allegations against the
University's basketball program.
University President Lee Bollinger
announced Monday that the firm Bond,
Schoeneck & King, based in Overland
Park, Kan., will handle all further
investigations into the allegations. The
firm specializes in NCAA compliance
and infractions.
"We decided it was critical to bring
in an outside party to maintain our
credibility," Bollinger said.
The firm, which employs about 150
tions from the time of the first allega-
tions through a final proceeding with
the NCAA," the law firm's brochure
boasts. "Our attorneys have achieved
unequal results by their ability to com-
bine working with conference and
NCAA representatives with aggressive-
ly asserting the institutions', coaches'
and student athletes' rights."
Don Canhan, University athletic
director from 1968 to 1980, said the
program cannot be tried solely on alle-
gations.
"Just because the program is being
investigated doesn't mean they're
guilty," Canhan said. "I am a strong
supporter of (Michigan basketball
coach) Steve Fisher. Hopefully the alle-
I
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