NATION/WORLD
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, December 10, 1997 - 3
Tuition costs
may earn students
IRS tax credit
eginning in January, tuition costs
related expenses may earn income
tax credit for students or their parents
under a new Internal Revenue Service
provision, the Guardian reported.
Taxpayers who pay post-secondary
education tuition bills may be eligible
to claim non-refundable Hope
Scholarship Credit when reporting
taxes for 1998.
The Hope Scholarship Credit, a pro-
pWIsl made by President Clinton and
eed after his hometown, does not
apply to expenses paid before Jan. 1,
1998, nor can it be claimed for tuition
paid in 1997 to cover academic periods
in 1998.
Under the provision, up to 100 per-
cent of the first $1,000 and 50 percent
of the next $1,000 of tuition can be
claimed for tax credit by whoever pays
students' tuition.
o claim credit, the student must be
led at least part-time in one of the
rat two years of post-secondary educa-
tion and in a program leading to a
degree or certification. Expenses for
graduate-level courses are not eligible.
Internet university
to launch degree
pilot program
estern Governors University, a
edgling school whose campus is in
cyberspace, plans to launch a pilot pro-
gram next month to offer its first
degree, the Daily Evergreen reported.
WGU is a consortium between state
universities, including Washington
State University, and technology com-
panies that plan to offer college degrees
through the Internet.
The consortium's board of trustees
modes the governors of Colorado,
Utah, Nebraska and Wyoming, plus 10
other members from public universities
and companies such as Microsoft and
IBM.
WGU spokesperson Jeff Edwards
said the pilot program would offer a
two-year associate of arts degree and
vocational degree in electronics manu-
facturing. Seventeen universities
around the country will take part in the
i al program by offering classes
ine.
The consortium is working on getting
more programs accredited, Edwards
said. Eventually WGU hopes to offer a
variety of associate degrees online.
U. of Wisconsin
students protest
Weatshops
niversity of Wisconsin students
and community members held a
demonstration against child labor and
sweatshop labor abusers outside the
University Book Store last weekend,
the Badger Herald reported.
The protest comes during the
"Holiday Season of Conscience," a
nationwide campaign against sweat-
shop labor practices, said members of
t UW-Greens, a campus group.
'he "Santa's Sweatshop" protest
Saturday featured volunteers undergo-
ing sweat-shop-style labor for penny
wages with special guest "Mickey
p$sner" overseeing the labor.
. A video supported by the National
Ladbor Committee, entitled "Mickey
mpuse goes to Haiti," was shown,
where Haitian Disney workers spoke
about their working conditions.
testers pointed out that Disney CEO
hael Eisner makes $102,000 per
hour, compared to seven cents made
per hour by children in Disney's
Haitian sweatshops.
The National Labor Committee is
"attempting to solicit one million sig-
"natures on a petition that will be pre-
sented to President Clinton in an
effort to end child labor and sweat-
shop abuses.
"This petition is circulating all over
''country to raise people's awareness
about the brand-names who use chil-
dren in sweatshops," said Kim Banz, a
UW-Greens member.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Megan Exley from the University Wire.
MSA creates online student database
By Susan T. Port
Daily Staff Reporter
Last night's meeting marked a new era for the
Michigan Student Assembly - again. The meeting
consisted of tearful goodbyes from outgoing mem-
bers and a fresh start for new representatives.
The assembly passed a resolution to create a stu-
dent database to allow student groups to register
online when they sign up for Festifall.
Ryan Friedrichs, who chairs the assembly's
Communications Committee, said registering
online will avoid a lot of red tape for MSA.
Friedrichs said the database will be an information
center for students to access all year-round.
"Students will be able to access anywhere on
campus," Friedrichs said. "This is an old idea to
finally create a central student database."
MSA Vice President Olga Savic said the student
database will provide useful information about
how to contact and get involved with student
groups. Savic said the new project will foster stu-
dent groups and allow them to grow. Savic said the
system "makes the bureaucracy easier."
MSA also passed a resolution creating a com-
mittee to work with the M-Card office.
Engineering Rep. Mark Dub said he wants
MSA to work with the M-Card office since they
plan to make substantial changes to the services
the card provides to students.
"The M-Card office is looking into making sig-
nificant improvements in the services to students
provided by the M-Card," Dub said.
Dub resigned last night after completing nearly
two semesters on the assembly because he plans to
work in a co-op program with NASA. Dub said he
was leaving the assembly with mixed emotions.
"I want to be the first MSA member on the
moon," Dub said. "I am sad to leave but I'm glad I
had the chance to work in a student government. I
hope I made a difference."
Savic said the new members are full of enthusi-
asm and ideas and want to be a part of "a student
organization that makes a difference.
"It's sad to see the old representatives leave,"
Savic said. "A lot of new people are going to serve
the students very well."
MSA President Mike Nagrant advised the new
assembly that Tuesday nights are not the only time
to work on projects. Nagrant encouraged the new
representatives to work hard for the student body
and to revamp student attitudes about the assembly.
"The most significant importance is the other
six days in the week," Nagrant said. "Keep show-
ing the student body that we are doing something."
Outgoing member and Campus Safety commis-
sion Chair Jennifer Genovese said she has enjoyed
her time on the assembly and has faith the new
assembly will continue to meet success in the future.
"I am happy. I feel I did enough in my year on
the assembly. I have no regrets of leaving,"
"I feel I did enough in
my year on the
assembly.
-- Jennifer Genovese
Former MSA member
Genovese said.
Outgoing Rep. Doug Yatter, who chairs the
Academic Affairs Committee, said MSA proved to
be a great learning experience.
"I was a lot of fun," Yatter said. "I'm glad I had
the opportunity to serve. I wish luck to the new
assembly."
Incoming LSA Rep. Bill Briggs said he was
impressed with the issues discussed at the meeting.
"It Nsas a good start," Briggs said. "I am eager to
get started."
Rich holiday food leads to
overeatng and weight gain
The average American
puts on five to 11 pounds
during the holidays
By William Nash
Daily Staff Reporter
As winter break approaches, stu-
dents have visions of home-cooked
meals and holiday feasts dancing in
their heads.
But they may want to think twice
before making their dreams a reality.
The average American puts on an extra
five to II pounds between.
Thanksgiving and New Year's,'accord-
ing to the American Institute for Cancer
Research.
To help battle a possible holiday
bulge, the institute offers tips that
include eating before a cocktail party or
family feast. By eating small portions
beforehand, it is less likely for a person
to overeat the season's often-fattening
foods.
"Don't skip meals before going to
dinner," said University Hospitals
dietitian Judy Tomer. "If you go really
ravenous, you're setting yourself up to
overeat."
Though the holidays provide the
perfect excuse to indulge, Americans
often find reasons to overeat, Tomer
said.
Most students say they're not wor-
ried about gaining weight during the
holidays.
"I'm not concerned because I'm a
strapping young lad," said LSA senior
Alex Demots. "I think I'll have more
time to exercise and not to just be sit-
ting around eating." Demots asserted
that "absolutely everyone" should
indulge over the holidays, even "radi-
cally obese people."
Others did express some anxiety, but
most thought that eating over the holi-
days is inevitable.
"I am concerned," said LSA sopho-
more Erica Gwyinn, between spoonfuls
of a Wendy's Frosty. "You can get
caught up in activities and not think
about exercising."
To keep weight down, students do a
variety of activities.
"I plan to go hiking, play basketball
and go skiing over break," said LSA
senior Ben Caid.
The richness of holiday food is a
frequent problem: Typical festive
foods, which range from appetizers
to dessert sauces, are loaded with
fat.
"Much of the holiday food is very
fattening," Tomer said. "If food were
money, it would be a $100 or $500 bill."
But there are many low-fat alterna-
tives to calorie-heavy foods: Tomer
suggested baked nacho chips and salsa
rather than chips and dip. She also rec-
"I'm not
concerned
because I'm a-
strapping young
lad3"
--Ales Demnots-
LSA senior
ommended Cabot, a cheese with 75-
percent reduced fat.
She does not, however, recommend a
crash .diet for the new year,
"Dieting afterwards is totally cao-
terproductive," Tomer said. "Take five
to 10 minutes and walk or run up sand
down the dorm's stairwells. Just do'
ditch your exercise."
Some students said they have eat-
ing habits that keep their waists
slim.
"I'm a vegetarian, and for Christmas
we'll probably cat rice, beans, and
maybe fish," said LSA sophomore
Derik Marrero.
But most reaction was pro-indul-r
gence. Many students said that take-
ing advantage of home-cooked
meals is not only a right, but a.
responsibility.
JOHN KRAFT/Daily
Engineering senior Eric Mason examines the wire twisting machine that he and
his fellow Mechanical Engineering students Tim Flynn and Jon Bixler made.
'U Egineering
su et1w vorld expenence
By Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud
Daily Staff Reporter
Seniors enrolled in Mechanical
Engineering 450 spent this semester
earning credit and getting practical
working experience. A term spent
solving real-world problems culmi-
nated yesterday in the Mechanical
Design Expo, which showcased the
work of those students.
"The idea here is that the students
all had the theoretical courses," said
Engineering Associate Prof. Sridhar
Kota. "This class bridges the gap
between theory and practice"
For $3,900 plus expenses, a compa-
ny can sponsor a team of students to
solve one of their problems.
Companies like Ford Motor Co. and
General Motors benefit from innova-
tive ideas generated by young engi-
neers, and get a chance to meet poten-
tial recruits from the University's
graduating Engineering class.
"The key thing here is to work on
real-world problems, not end-of-the-
chapter problems," Kota said.
For students, the class offers the
opportunity to apply what they have
learned through their classes. The
engineer hopefuls also get to work
with equipment and laboratory mate-
rials not available at the University.
"It was extremely intense and
involved a lot of hard work," said
Engineering senior Sarah Weber. "But
it paid off, because we produced a
product that could work in the outside
world:'
Weber and four other students
worked to create a new X-ray mam-
mography technique that could diag-
nose breast cancer more effectively
The project, sponsored by the
University Radiology Department,
resulted in a revolutionary process
that could soon find its way to hospi-
tals and clinics everywhere.
"We're very satisfied," Weber said.
"We're excited that this technique
could make an impact on reducing
breast cancer in the future. Hopefully,
it will be implemented within the next
five years as a final product."
Course coordinators pick the
design teams based on the project
choices of the students. No compen-
sation is given to the students or
teachers for the products they invent.
"I think this class prepared me very
well for the outside world," Weber
said. "It gives you a lot of experience
with suppliers, troubleshooting and
dealing with last-minute changes."
Yesterday's exposition showcased
18 different student projects, which
ranged from the "Right-Temperature
Steering Wheel" to a "Design for a
Variable Camber Airfoil," a prototype
for the optimal wing shape.
"I really enjoyed this course," said
Engineering senior Aaron Rinn. "It's
been my favorite class at U of M. It
felt really good to spend so much time
on something. Sometimes, we would-
n't even see the light of day."
Rinn and his team members
designed a wing shape for airplanes
that would avoid the turbulence
encountered at takeoff and allow an
aircraft to take off and land at lower
speeds. Several companies were look-
ing at using the team's design for
future airplanes, Rinn said.
presents:
eIipse
Friday Dec. 12, 1997 (after 9pm)
Live at theJAVA HOUSE HOLiDAY BI OWOUT
POIGNANT PLECOSTOMUS
"If-you don't know then you re late already!"
-Stuart Bogey, "Transmission"
With special funk-groove guests:
AIXELSID
Tix. only $5 at the door
ki-ROUP MEETINGS
Q ENACT, 647-9189, Dana Building,
Room 1040, 7 p.m.
U Reform Chavurah, 769-0500, Hillel,
1429 Hill St., 7:30 p.m.
EVENTS
"Ann Arbor Art Center's 19th Annual
Holiday Gifts Show," Sponsored
by the Ann Arbor Art Center, 117
East Libert St., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
o "Annual Chrstmas tree sales,"
Sponsored by The Ann Arbor
Jaycees, Fox Tent and Awning park-
ing tot, 6517 S. Ashley St.
U "Crossing Over: images of
Transgender Performance Across
Cultures, Photo exhibition,
Sponsored by the Institute for
Research on Women and Gender,
Michigan Union, Art Lounge.
i "NAACP presents: Angel Gift-Giving
Tree," Sponsored by The
Salvation Army, Michigan Union,
First floor across from CIC dask.
SERVICES
U Campus information Centers, 763-
INFO, info@umich.edu, and
www.umich.edu/-info on the
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