8 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, December 10, 1997
IJust lion around

Sigma Xi selects 'U'
scientist as president

,

By Angela Delk
Daily Staff Reporter
Sigma ki, one of the largest organi-
zations of scientists and engineers in
the world, recently elected its first black
woman president - University
research scientist Peggie
Hollingsworth.
Hollingsworth, a pharmacology and
environmental-industrial health assis-
tant research scientist, will officially
take the organization's reigns July 1,
1999, but will begin serving in a presi-
dent-elect role on July 1, 1998.
"We are delighted to have a woman
and an African-American serve as our
president," said Robert Frosch, current
Sigma Xi president and a senior
research fellow at the Center for
Science and International Affairs at the
John F. Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard University.
Only three women have proceed-
ed Hollingsworth as president of the
scientific research society, and no
other black person has served in that
capacity.
"It is truly an honor because I have
been given the vote of confidence,"

Hollingsworth said.
Since Sigma Xi is primarily com-
posed of white men, "to have a person
of color serve as president indicates the
wisdom of our membership,"
Hollingsworth said.
The honor society has an international
membership of nearly 90,000 people.
There are about 500 chapters at universi-
ties, industrial research centers and gov-
ernment laboratories around the world.
More than 170 Sigma Xi members
have won the Nobel Prize, and each
year, the Society initiates an estimated
5,000 members.
During her reign, Hollingsworth said
she plans to improve communication
within the organization, provide scholar-
ships, enhance mentorship, establish a
system to honor outstanding individuals
and make the Society more visible.
Hollingsworth said Sigma Xi cur-
rently strives to encourage support of
original work in science and technolo-
gy, promote both appreciation of the
role research has played in human
progress and interaction among sci-
ence, technology and society.
"We're excited and honored to have

Peggie serve as our prcsidcnt," said
Engineering Prof. St1cey Bike.
Hollingsworth is an Itise member
of numerous organizations both within
and outside the U nipersity.
She is the chair of the i nmversito
Committee on Diversity and member
of the National Board of Directors of
Sigma Xi. She also serves on the
Alumni Association Board of Trustees
of Bowling Green State.
She is also the president of the
University's Academic Freedom
Lecture Fund and is a founding mem-
ber and treasurer of the Coalition for
the Advancement of Blacks in the
Biomedical Sciences. "I ncvcr 0
bored ... my life is being enriched
every day," explained 1 lollingsworth.
She is also the recipient of several pres-
tigious academic awards and has received
a bachelor's degree in biology and chem-
istry, a master's degree in molecular biol-
ogy, and a Ph.D. in toxicology.
"I work towards being a good cit-
izen and try to strengthen the soci-
ety in which I live," Hollingswo
said. "A healthy environment ma
a person psychologically happier."

AP PHOTO
Three African lion cubs rescued in the metro Detroit area were shown at the Detroit Zoo yesterday. The cubs will be
flown today to the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in Sacramento, Calif.
Teach for America cors
Cofers clssoom eXerience

By Rachel Edelman
Daily Staff Reporter
Students interested in a non-tradi-
tional career route can find a rewarding
alternative in the Teach for America
national teaching corps.
In 1997, the University had more
applicants to the Teach for America
program than any other school, sur-
passing Georgetown University and
the University of California at
Berkeley. Fifty-four percent of
University applicants were accepted
to Teach for America last semester,
compared to the national average of
27 percent.
Teach for Americh is the national
teacher corps organization. Recent col-.
lege graduates spend two years teach-
ing in under-resourced schools in urban
and rural areas. Once accepted into the
program, participants are assigned to
one of 13 different sites.
"It's a challenge. It's not always
enjoyable. You're put in different
challenges, and you really find out
what you're made of," said U of M
alumnus Rob Drummond, a Teach for
America corps member. Drummond
has been teaching at an inner-city
high school in New Orleans for the
past year and a half.
The University is one of Teach for
America's primary schools of recruit-

ment. Last year, the University had 60
applicants to the program.
"Michigan is our No. 1 school with
regard to applicants. We have a won-
derful relationship with the
University," said Teach for America
campaign director Mary Kelly.
Teach for America offers applicants
a unique opportunity to gain experience
inside the classroom, and to make a dif-
ference in students' lives.
"It reaches populations that need
access to good teachers," said LSA
sophomore Zoe Castro, who plans to
apply to Teach for America in a year
and a half.
Corps members experience first-
hand the difficulties and frustrations of
teaching, while under the guidance of
more experienced teachers.
"You see how many problems there
are in education and in inner-city
schools," said Drummond. Less than 50
percent of teachers at the high school
that Drummond currently teaches at are
not certified.
Students apply to the program dur-
ing their senior year. The first deadline
for applications, January 12, is quickly
approaching. Select applicants are
required to participate in a daylong
interview.
Teach for America focuses its
recruitment on non-education majors.

Applicants include those planning a
career in education, and those who may
not be.
LSA senior Kenisha Purifoy, who
is currently applying to the program,
plans to attend medical school after
her two-year commitment. "I wanted
to take a detour. I think that it will
help me because I believe in broaden-
ing my aspects in different fields," she
said.
One of the appealing aspects of
Teach for America is that it allows stu-
dents who may not have been interest-
ed in education gain experience with-
out needing a teaching certificate.
"I had an interest in education, but
not necessarily as a career," Drummond
said. After his teaching commitment,
Drummond said he wants to "continue
to be involved in education in some
way."
Teach for America allows partici-
pants the opportunity to work towards
a master's degree or teaching certificate
while teaching.
Corps members are required to par-
ticipate in an intense, five-week train-
ing session, sometimes known as
"teacher boot camp," prior to beginning
their teaching assignment.
Additional training, including six
credits of graduate coursework, is also
required every year.

CDD debates $3.5M budget

By Peter Meyers
Daily Staff Reporter
The Ann Arbor Community Development Department is
preparing to choose which essential services it will provide
in the coming year.
The department is anticipating a budget of about $3.5 mil-
lion for fiscal year 1997-98. Monday night, the CDD and
Ann Arbor City Council met to discuss how spending prior-
ities will be chosen.
The CDD will be giving its actual proposal to City Council
in January. The budget will likely be approved in early Spring.
On Monday, the CDD submitted a list of "urgent needs"
in a number of areas, including aid to senior citizens, tempo-
rary housing for the homeless, and efforts to decrease truan-
cy among students.
"There's a whole array of needs that have been identified,"
Crockett said. She stressed that the term "urgent needs" means
the city wants to take a proactive approach to these problems.
She said all budgetary needs are "critical" and "basic."
CDD Director Eileen Ryan said the budget is insufficient to
cover the city's needs in many areas, especially in helping the
homeless.
"The indication we have now is a very large, unmet need,"
Ryan said.
The issues involved are broad. Crockett said the goal of
homeless prevention alone ties in with mental health and sub-
stance abuse programs.
"What really struck me was how inter-related these issues
are," said Councilmember Chris Kolb (D-5th Ward). As
applied directly to homelessness, he said, "Not only is hous-

ing an integral part, but also the support services" of med-
ical, legal and mental health services.
Housing Policy Board member Larry French said many
goals, such as those intended to reduce homelessness, can be
attacked in one action.
"If you have more affordable permanent housing, it trickles
down to help the homeless," French said. A supply of subsi-
dized housing allows room for the homeless population to move
up while keeping housing costs in Ann Arbor down, he said.
Much of the funding will be redistributed to local non-profit
groups. The CDD works with about 50 such groups, Ryan said.
About $2 million of the budget comes in community-
development block grants from the federal government. Ann
Arbor gets two such grants, a HOME grant that must be spent
on permanent low-income housing, and a Community
Development Block Grant to be spent on other services
low income and homeless people.
Last year, $50,000 of the $3.5 million budget came direct-
ly from the city. The rest came from the state government,
Washtenaw County and private donations.
Another issue is the reduction of direct benefits due to the
Welfare Reform Act. "We're just beginning as a community
to feel the effects of this," Crockett said.
Councilmember Tobi Hannah-Davies (D-I1st Ward) said she
thought the local impact may be seen on families with children.
"It requires you to work to get the money, and it requires you
to have the skills to get the jobs," she said.
Childcare expenses often drive families over the brink, she s
"I believe there are many homeless families," Hannah-
Davies said.

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