LOCALISTATE The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 5, 1997 5 LAWSUIT Continued from Page 1 ships and were forced to drop out because they are not minorities,' Jaye said. Whyman, another of the lawsuit's organizers, said the University's affirmative action policies are "plain and simple discrimination." When told about the potential lawsuit, SNRE Prof. Bunyan Bryant said the University "is being dealt a serious blow." "I feel that given the makeup of society, in the future we need to make sure there are opportunities for all people to get an education," Bryant said. Bryant said the University's affirmative action pro- grams not only consider racial backgrounds, but they also give priority to children of alumni, women and athletes. "There are other kinds of affirmative action that take place," Bryant said. "The majority of people who benefit from affirmative action are white women, but the focus has been on African Americans, as if we are taking over everything. "The race issue clouds the other affirmative action programs." But Greve said the University of Michigan has characteristics that make it a prime target for a Hopwood-style lawsuit. "The more competitive the institution, the more egregious the preferences are bound to be. The larger the institution, the larger number of potential victims," Greve said. "Those two factors combined explain why Michigan is more likely to be sued than any other institution." Other local figures also argue that the University's admissions policies illegally and unfairly discriminate by race. Philosophy Prof. Carl Cohen has done exten- sive research into the University's admissions policies. He requested admissions figures from the University in 1995, and said he ultimately needed to use Michigan's Freedom of Information Act to obtain the OMENN "Wehat place that t Continued from Page 1 now is pren reduce $200 million from the hospitals' are issues tf budget in three years. Omenn faces the all three fro final task of cutting $70 million. al and clini "It is true that academic institu- mission. He tions' costs are higher than their com- before he m petitors. Costs have to be reduced," Omenn e Omenn said. "Substantial reductions University Chen found that minority applicants were given priority during admissions. data. "Some people at the University are ashamed of the admissions policies," Cohen said. In a report Cohen wrote based on the admissions statistics, he found that minorities were given special preference in admission to various University schools. Cohen's study compared minority and non-minori- ty applicants with a grade point average between 2.8 and 2.99 and an SAT score between 1100 and 1190 applying to LSA in 1994. All minority applicants with those grades and scores were admitted, while 11 per- cent of non-minorities in that category were admitted, he said. "Admission practices at the University of Michigan show very marked preferences by race and ethnic cat- egory," Cohen wrote in the report. Cohen stressed that the University administrators who establish the admissions policies are not trying to intentionally cause any harm. "The people do so with honorable ends in view," Cohen said. LSA sophomore Maija Cirulis said that to create diversity, there are alternatives to setting separate expectations. "Affirmative action is designed to create diversity, but the solution should be heavier recruiting, not dif- ferent standards," Cirulis said. Other students, however, said they disagree with the lawsuit. "I definitely do not agree with (the lawsuit)," said Michigan Student Assembly President Mike Nagrant. "The lawsuit is politically motivated." MSA Vice President Olga Savic said affirmative action is important in a University setting because it helps foster racial understanding. "I think the University needs to keep in mind peo- ple's backgrounds when admitting students," Savic said. "Diverse backgrounds are important to maintain an open dialogue on campus." The University's current affirmative action policies, Jaye said, are "unfair, evil and un- American." "The U of M bureaucrats are bullies," Jaye said. "Because some students are not minorities, they don't get schqarships." Ann Arbor-based state legislators said the lawsuit is nothing more than an effort for the involved state rep- resentatives to promote themselves. "David will be able to milk this issue for eight years," said state Rep. Mary Schroer (D-Ann Arbor), who noted that Jaye is a potential candi- date for the state Senate seat vacated after the death of Doug Carl. "We all have to suffer because of David's stupid causes." State Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) said affirina- tive action fulfills an important role at the University, and she added that the legislators are attempting to micromanage the University. She said the state consti- tution specifically states that public universities are autonomous bodies and should not be regulated by the legislature. "Every affirmative action program is attempting to address inequities," Brater said. "These representa- tives are grandstanding by filing this lawsuit." But whether the lawsuit goes ahead this fall or some other time in the future, Greve said the University of Michigan is a "sitting duck" for a lawsuit. "Sooner or later, it will happen," Greve said. "It is only a matter of time." If you would like more information about the class action lawsuit, call Rep. David Jaye at (517) 373-6843. ~'Engineering researchers Johann Boren, cane that will be another navigation de JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily stein and Iwan Ulrich have developed a evice for the blind. w a, (. , TechoOgy guies hebind By Heather Wiggin will take at least three years until the Daily Staff Reporter cane is available to the blind commu- For visually impaired people, tech- nity, although he is concerned about nology may soon make the world an continued funding for his research. easier place to navigate. Borenstein's grant from Whitaker, Thanks to two University scien- a private organization, expires in a mists, the blind will soon be led by a year. He hopes a company will take battery-powered navigation tool, sponsorship of the GuideCane, so the instead of the traditional white cane invention can be further researched or the popular seeing eye dog. and marketed in the future. The brainchild of Engineering Ulrich said he and Borenstein were researchers Johann Borenstein and "really lucky" they could translate their Iwan Ulrich, GuideCane uses both sen- research into a tool for the blind. sors and a built-in computer to direct The cane will help visually the user's path around obstacles, impaired people like Carrol Jackson Weighing in at only eight pounds, the of Detroit, the executive director of GuideCane is light and easy to push. Upshaw Institute for the Blind. Unlike other guide devices, this one Jackson, who tried one of the prelim- Idoesn't have fleas, requires no training inary versions of the cane, said he and costs less than the alternatives. was pleased with the overall results. Borenstein said the GuideCane has "It's a very significant advance in an upright handle with direction con- adding to the mobility option for trols on the top and two wheels at the those of us who are blind and visual- base. At the bottom of the cane, the ly impaired," Jackson said. eight ultra-sonic sensors are arranged Jackson said there are two major dif- in a semi-circle and relay information ficulties that impact the blind - loss of to a built-in computer. communication and loss of mobility. "(The sensors) look into different And for the elderly, which make up directions and see whether there is an the majority of the blind population, Iobstacle or not," Borenstein said. "The the GuideCane will be easier to care computer finds a pathway around for than a seeing eye dog, Jackson said. obstacles and steers the steering "This new electronics technology wheels such as to follow the path." holds all kinds of possibilities," Borenstein and Ulrich oredicted it Jackson said. ve so many issues in this oask him to prioritize them mature," Trester said. "There hat need to be dealt with on nts - academic, education- cal. All are important to the needs to learn much more akes an agenda." arned his M.D. at Harvard and a Ph.D. in genetics from the us University 0 f have already b e e n achieved, and more will occur in this fiscal year. "The chal- lenge in politi- cal and gov- ernment cir- cles is, 'How do you get quality and maintain quali- "I'm keen to see play a national leadership role in I Washington. He joined the medical staff at the U niversity Telephone Interviewers Earn $6.25-$9.O/ hr Public Health Research Firm needs telephone interviewers ASAP for major health research projects. Starting pay rates bases on experi- ence and/or education. Mostly evenings and weekends. 20-40 hours per week available. Flexible scheduling. these kind of developments." - Gilbert Omenn VP for Medical Affairs O f Washington in 1969 as a fellow in medical genetics, and ty while cutting costs?"' he said. "This is a very different question than how do you get the lowest possible costs." He emphasized the importance of examining options of alliance and networking with businesses and other institutions, as well as furthering the efficiency of the University's Managed Health Organization - M- Care. "I'm keen to see us play a national leadership role in these kind of devel- opments; "Omenn said. Kenneth Trester, director of Planning and Marketing for the Medical Center, said it may take time for Omenn to develop his game plan because he is new. signed on with the faculty in 1971. He has received awards from the National Institute of Health Research Career Development and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Please stop by ITS @ 209 E. Washington, 2nd Floor or call: (313)994-0003 ... .,,..,, .,.......w _ .. .. t