LOCAL/STATE

The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 27, 1997 - 3

Victim
threatened after
raffic incident
victim involved in a traffic alterca-
n on the 1700 block of Plymouth
Road was physically threatened by
another motorist, according to the Ann
Arbor Police Department.
The victim told officers he acciden-
tIlly cut off the suspect's car. The sus-
:pect proceeded to exit his car with a
iong steel pipe and shouted, "You better
know who you're cutting off next time,
you stupid bitch." The suspect is
scribed as a male in his early 30s.
PD is currently investigating the
incident.
Robbery at
Buddy's Store
Two suspects approached a cashier at
Buddy's Store on 300 S. Packard St.
shortly before closing Wednesday,
APD reports state. When the victim
ne toward them, one of the suspects
pulled a gun and demanded everything
valuable in the store. The victim gave
the suspects $50-$60, the cash drawer,
six books of lottery tickets and a lottery
fcket dispenser. The suspects were
described as two males wearing green
h6oded sweatshirts. AAPD is currently
"investigating two possible leads.
Mlaynard Street
resident stalked
A man who was living on the 400
block of Maynard Street reported he
was being stalked early this week, an
AAPD report states.
The man told officers his former
girlfriend had been calling him all day
and sitting in front of his home ringing
, e doorbell. The suspect had threat-
Wed the caller and his friends, the man
reported. The suspect is described as
female in her early 20s. AAPD is cur-
rehtly investigating the incident.
Backpack, wallet
stolen from CCRB
Two cases of theft at the Central
mpus Recreation Building recently
occurred, DPS reports state.
In the first incident, a woman's back-
pack was stolen from her open locker
Monday night. The woman said her bag
contained more than $30, several cred-
it cards and a walkman radio.
In the second case, a man's wallet
was stolen from the second floor of the
'building's main track Tuesday night.
The caller said his leather wallet con-
Wed more than $50, several credit
cards and his driver's license. DPS is
,currently investigating both cases.
Furniture thrown
on Elbel Field
A suspect was seen driving on Elbel
'Field Wednesday while throwing furni-
e out of the vehicle, according to
S reports.
A caller reported seeing the vehicle
d.ive onto Elbel Field near the railroad
tracks. The suspect then threw broken
furniture from the car. When DPS
fficials contacted the suspect after
, ie incident, the suspect stated he had

=ten filming a documentary and
>,uld remove the furniture when fin-
ised.
-Compiled by Daily StaffReporter
Ajit K. Thavarajah.

Study explores
relationships in
public assistance

By Alice Robinson
Daily Staff Reporter
A new University study explores the
relationship between first- and second-
generation Latino/a children and how
frequently their families receive public
assistance.
University sociology Prof. Sandra
Hofferth examined the number of first-
and second-generation Latino/a immi-
grants who received federal assistance
from 1990 to 1995, and found that the
children were no more likely to receive
aid than non-Latino/a children.
Hofferth is also a research scientist with
the University's Institute for Social
Research.
Education Prof
Terrence Tice said We h
the public is often
led to believe that percepti
a disproportionate
number ofminori- jtimm ga
ties receive public

the findings. She said many Americans
have the perception that Latino/a immi-
grants make up the majority of public
assistance recipients.
"Everybody has the perception that
immigrant families with children are
heavy users of public assistance," she
said yesterday from the Grand Hyatt
Hotel in Washington, D.C. "We just
have the perception that immigrants
are heavy users, but it's a false
impression."
Researching her findings involved
selecting two families at a time, one
Latino/a family and one white family,
and analyzing the factors that con-
tributed to their
need for public


i
11

assistance.
"There
widespread
m i s t a k
assumptions

heavy us

are
and
en
that


it's black children that receive welfare,"
he said. "Actually, there are more white
children in the country whose families
receive welfare.'
Tice said he hopes Hofferth's study
will help dispel myths about welfare
and race.
"I think generally, the public is not
well-informed and is subject to scare
tactics from ideologies,'he said, noting
that the false messages often conveyed
by politicians and public commentators
are "hurting children who need to be
cared for on welfare."
Hofferth presented the findings of
her study yesterday at the annual meet-
ing of the Population Association of
America in Washington, D.C.
University sociology Prof. Reynolds
Farley, who recently conducted a study
showing an increase in interracial mar-
riages in the country, also presented his
findings at the meeting.
Hofferth said she was surprised by

ave the aid.
Hofferth said
ion thatshe tried to
"make (the fam-
nts are ilies) as similar
as possible, and
e rs,,,E then say, 'is
immigration the
Sandra Hofferth reason?"'
:iology professor The data for
the study was
obtained from the Panel Study of
Income Dynamics, an in-depth report
of income trends in the United States
released by the University's Survey
Research Center.
Hofferth's curiosity also led her to
research the ethnic backgrounds of
all children who received public aid
from 1990 to 1995. She found that
black and Puerto Rican children
received assistance more frequently
than white children. She examined
every type of public assistance,
including food stamps and Aid to
Families with Dependent Children
for her study.
In a written statement, Hofferth
attributed the racial gap in public assis-
tance to the "disadvantaged socioeco-
nomic status" of black and Puerto
Rican children.
The study is the first to solely exam-
ine families with children in terms of
the distribution of public aid.

FAMILIES
Continued from Page 1
"There are rec centers, girl scouts
and malls available for my daughters."
Associate Vice President for
University Relations Lisa Baker said
that in the long run, the Ann Arbor's
high ranking for family life will be ben-
eficial for the University.
"I would say we at the University are
always happy to be ranked so highly,"
Baker said. "It's very helpful in recruit-

JOHN KRAFT/paby
GaIll O'Neill, her daughters Kacey O'Neill and Kelley O'Neill, and their friend Jordan stand on the corner of State Street and
North University Avenue yesterday enjoying the spring weather.
uv A2 a good place for amilies

ment of faculty, staff and students.'
City Administrator Neal Berlin said
he was not surprised by Ann Arbor's
standing.
"I think this is further evidence of
how people feel about the resources
available," Berlin said.
Cordil said many residents in big
cities may be surprised about Ann
Arbor's high rating.
"I think it opened the eyes of many,
and they saw that towns that are not so
big have many of their own opportuni-

ties" Cordil said. "1Iforesee many visit-
ing towns like Ann Arbor to see what
they have to offer."
Ken Houseer, an Ann Arbor residext,
said he was happy about the opport t -
ties and environment Ann Arbor offels
for families..'
"Look around you and see all :1&-
things that surround you," Houser
said. "The culture, the enlightenmint
and a good attitude surrounds the city"
he said. "(These qualities) make Ann
Arbor such a good community."

Court rejects suit against Engler

Lawmaker attempted
to make Engler face
problems with roads
LANSING (AP) - A circuit judge
yesterday denied a state lawmaker's
attempt to force Gov. John Engler to
name panels to deal with Michigan's
crumbling roads.
Ingham County Circuit Judge James
Giddings ruled he had no authority to
order Engler to appoint members of two
committees set up in a 1987 law to
study transportation needs in Michigan.
"I do not believe the court has the
authority to do that," Giddings said. "It
would be an infringement on the sepa-

ration of powers."
Giddings rejected a motion by state
Sen. Jim Berryman (D-Adrian) to force
Engler to appoint members to a "needs
study committee" and a citizens adviso-
ry committee established to give advice
on road needs.
Berryman, who is seeking the
Democratic nomination for governor in
1998, said no appointments have been
made - either by former Gov. James
Blanchard, a Democrat, or by Engler.
But he said he wouldn't appeal
Giddings' ruling.
"What it says is that John Engler is
above the law," he said. "That's an
unfortunate outcome. We're not taking
it farther than this. I just wanted him to

appoint the committees"
A spokesperson for Engler lauded
the ruling.
"We're pleased," said John Truscott,
Engler's spokesperson. "The irony here
was his (Berryman's) goal could have
been met if he'd just picked up a phone
or written a letter."
He said the administration is consid-
ering an executive order shifting the
duties of the committees to the
Department of Transportation. "That's
what they do," he said of such studies.
Berryman has pressed for months for
a gasoline tax increase to provide more
money for Michigan roads and hoped
his lawsuit would force Engler to
address the road funding issue.

Bombing trial renews
anxiety in the Thumb

DECKER, Mich. (AP) -As the sec-
ond anniversary of the Oklahoma City
bombing approaches, along with the
trial of suspect Timothy McVeigh, peo-
ple here are bracing for another round
of attention most would rather do with-
out.
Hordes of reporters followed FBI
agents to James Nichols' farm near
Decker shortly after the April 19, 1995
bombing that killed 168 people and
injured 500 others.
McVeigh had given Nichols' farm as
his address. And Nichols' younger
brother, Terry - McVeigh's Army
buddy and the other suspect in the
bombing - also lived for years in the
quiet, rural section of Michigan called
the Thumb until moving to Kansas
about a year before the bombing.
McVeigh's trial is to begin next week
in Denver. Terry Nichols will be tried
later. And most Thumb residents hope
the spotlight won't turn toward them
again.
"You always want your area to be
known for something, but you want it to
be something positive," Judy
Ziemianski, said from behind the

counter at a drug store in Sandusky, the
Sanilac County seat, about 15 miles
from Decker.
"It was such a horrendous event, and
people believe it all started here," she
told the Detroit Free Press in a report
published yesterday. "I don't think we'll
ever get rid of it.'
Reporters interviewed countless
Thumb residents, some more than
once.
"It kind of flipped everything upside-
down up here, so it wasn't so quiet for a
while," said Sandusky barber Mark
Heberling. "It was a unique experience
for us. But I think once was enough"
James Nichols was interviewed as
well - not only by reporters but also
by federal agents, who arrested him
after the bombing and held him for 30
days on unrelated charges that eventual-
ly were dropped.
"Whoopee. I'm famous,' Nichols
told the Free Press. "... It's done nothing
but cost me money and cause me grief.
They stripped me down, searched my
house and stole my privacy.
"I have no secrets. Everyone's read
every piece of paper I've ever signed?'

.,_..

FRIDAY
U "Community Diner," sponsored by The
Muslim Students Association,
Yspsilanti High School, 6:30 p.m.
U "Conversations with Courtney Clixby,"
sponsored by Unions Network
Television, channel 24, 3 p.m. and 8
p.m.
Q "Good Friday Liturgy," sponsored by
The Lutheran Campus Ministry,
Lord of Light Church, 801 S.
Forest Ave.7 p.m.
U "Hong Kong Festival," sponsored by
The Michigan Student Assembly,
Chemistry Building, Atrium, 9
a.m.-6 p.m.
U "Lynn Rivers Hosts a DJ Spin Off
Dance Competition," sponsored
by The Indian American
Association, Michigan Union
Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.
U "Todd Weinstein," Photographer,
sponsored by Hillel, Michigan

Pierpont Commons, Gallery Wall SUNDAY

SATURDAY
Q "Catastrophe-Eucatastrophe: The
Paradox of Life," sponsored by
The Graduate Christian
Fellowship, Christian Reformed
Church, 1717 Broadway Ave.,
7:15 p.m.
Q "Darkness Into Light: The Reemer-
gence of Jewish Culture in
ermany," Photography exhibit,
sponsored by Hillel, Michigan
Union, Art Lounge
Q "Great Vigil of Easter," sponsored by
The Lutheran Campus Ministry,
Lord of Light Church, 801 S.
Forest Ave., 7 p.m.
Q "Hong Kong Festival," sponsored by
The Michigan Student Assembly,
Chemistry Building, Atrium,
10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
fl"rho WW n the V&V." Photogrsnhv

Q "Darkness Into ight: The Re-emer-
gence of Jewish Culture in
Germany," Photography exhibit,
sponsored by Hillel, Michigan
Union, Art Lounge
U "Ecological Wisdom, Grassroots
Democracy, Social Justice
Nonviolence," Weekly meeting,
sponsored by Student Greens,
Michigan League, Conference
Room 2, 7-9 p.m.
Q "Festival Eucharist for the Resurrection
of Our Lord," sponsored byThe
Lutheran Cam pus Ministry, 81S.
Forest Ave., 10 am.
U "Let's Go Michugana," sponsored by
The Greek Jewish Connection,
Rick's, 9 p.m.
Q "Rescuer and Rescued: The
Portuguese Schindler," sponsored
by Hillel, 1428 Hill St., 7 p.m.
Q "Sunday Service," Bible study, spon-

r