LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 29, 1997 - 3
MSU student,
alleged attacker
critically hurt
A Michigan State student remains in
critical condition after she was stabbed
*ultiple times Monday morning dur-
ing a possible domestic dispute at her
family housing apartment. The alleged
attacker is also in critical condition
after stabbing himself in the throat, The
State News reported.
The 23-year-old woman, whose name
is being withheld by police, sustained
wounds to her throat, hands and feet,
MSU police Capt. Tony Kleibecker said.
The man's relationship with the
oman is still under investigation.
olice said they are unsure of the
motive for the attack, but they had
responded to a domestic dispute at the
apartment within the past month.
The man will likely be charged with
assault with intent to murder, police said.
Students protest
Jndiana fraternity
About 400 Indiana University stu-
dents and professors protested last week
in front of the Zeta Beta Tau house in a
response to a fraternity scavenger hunt
that has been described as homophobic,
n racist and sexist.
The protesters called for the expulsion
of the fraternity chapter because of a list
of 39 items pledges were required to col-
lect, the Indiana Daily Student reported.
The written instructions told pledges
,of the predominantly white fraternity,
r "You are all Black Men," who are to
seek out such items as the "biggest bra
you can find," "pictures of chicks mak-
mng out," and a picture of "any funny-
lookin' Mexican." The list became pub-
lic after nine students were arrested for
stealing a street sign in the hunt.
The Zeta Beta Tau pledges also stole
,.,the letters from the Kappa Alpha Psi
ouse, a predominantly minority frater-
ity, causing the Indiana community to
cite racism as a possible motive.
The university temporarily suspend-
Vd the chapter, pending an investigation
=by the Indiana dean of students, who
has gone on record calling the hunt a
"hazing" incident.
Jason Nierman, the chapter's presi-
dent, apologized for the scavenger
hunt, calling it a misunderstanding.
Carnegie names
top professors
The Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching honored
four academics last week as the 1997-
98 "Professors of the Year."
David Berque, a computer science
professor at DePauw University;
Christina Maslach, a psychology profes-
or at the University of California at
rkeley; Albert Maisto, a psychology
professor at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte; and Harold
Cohen, a biology professor at College of
DuPage were the individuals recognized.
The professors, who each will
receive $5,000, were selected from
more than 600 nominated by colleges
nationwide, The Chronicle of Higher
Education reported. The winners were
chosen for their dedication to students
:*nd their innovative teaching methods.
Illinois officials,
police deny claims
Representatives from the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and
local police officials denied accusa-
tions that minority parties are broken
up more often than non-minority par-
ties, despite a differing opinion from
*e majority of students at a campus
forum held last week.
The African American Cultural
Programming Committee decided to
hold the forum with members of both
campus and city police, student groups
nand the university administration to
respond to several students' concerns
-that the police are biased against par-
ties for minority students, The Daily
Illini reported.
Questions from the committee and
the audience concerned rules about
holding parties, police intervention and
'consequences for broken rules.
University of Illinois police Capt.
Rick Kallmayer said that facts and statis-
4ics do not back the claim that police
intervene at parties with minority stu-
-dents more than other parties.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Megan Exley from The Chronicle of
Higher Education and the University
Wire.
Schools team up to better
classroom technology
By Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud
Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan and
Northwestern University are teaming
up with Detroit and Chicago public
schools to optimize the use of technol-
ogy in the classroom.
The Center for Learning
Technologies in Urban Schools aims to
develop a curriculum that takes full
advantage of available modern technol-
ogy. The project, which is funded by a
$6-million grant from the National
Science Foundation, is focused primar-
ily on scientific teaching.
"We are trying to develop activities
that are long term and that use new tech-
nologies which we have designed to
make their inquiries more effective," said
Ron Marx, education professor and co-
director of the Center for Learning
Technologies in Urban Schools, who
chairs of the Education Studies Program.
The program will affect three
Detroit public schools - Lessinger
Middle School, Amelia Earhart
Middle School and Dewey Center for
Urban Education - and three to five
schools in Chicago. Center represen-
tatives hope the scope of the project
will be much larger and that public
school systems for both cities will
follow the example set by the pioneer
schools.
"Our goal is to develop technology-
infused curriculum for all schools in the
district," Marx said.
Some of the technologies that will be
used in teaching include scientific mod-
eling and specialized Web browsers.
"The challenge of the center is to
build a curriculum supported by differ-
ent technologies, so that kids can take
part in intellectually stimulating pro-
jects," said Joseph Krajcik, associate
professor of science education.
The partnership between the
University and Detroit public schools
will involve about 20 professors,
graduate students and other staff.
Those participating in the project
emphasized the personal rewards that
come from working in urban schools.
"There are a lot of children in need,"
Krajcik said. "For me, to walk in the
classroom and see kids who we know
are not off to a great start, and yet are
very excited about learning, is very
rewarding."
The development of the curriculum,
however, remains the major concern of
those involved in the project.
"We want to be curriculum-driven,
not computer-driven," said Dewey
"We want this
technology to
enhance the
curriculum, not
replace it.7
- Frances Parker
Dewey Center for Urban
Education Principal
Center for Urban Education Principal
Frances Parker. "We want this technol-
ogy to enhance the curriculum, not
replace it."
The center is also trying to standard-
ize the science curriculum and hopes to
serve as a national resource to demon-
strate how to infuse technology into
teaching practices.s
"The curriculum we are developing
is based on national standards," Marx
said. "We are trying to develop com-
mon approaches to the delivery of edu-
cational materials:'
The project is in the beginning stages
of development. University participants
are attending meetings and holding pro- , eso a e eo m n eso s
fesoa eeomn esos
JONN KRAFT/Daily
LSA senior Matt Frank reflects on his years here at Michigan. He attributes
most of his changes to factors other than the University.
Sen1or survey to
track effects o
U)U
on students
By Mike Spahn
Daily Staff Reporter
Ten universities across the nation,
including the University of Michigan,
are participating in a unique survey of
college seniors in an attempt to under-
stand how four years of college affects
the lives of the students.
A new senior survey, administered
by the Higher Education Research
Institute at the University of
California at Los Angeles, is a fol-
low-up to a questionnaire given to
incoming students each summer.
"The freshman survey has a 31-
year history, and it's given to over 500
institutions nationwide," said
Christine Cress, research assistant at
UCLA.
The senior survey, sponsored by
the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was
sent last week to 3,800 University
seniors. However, some students said
they don't plan on completing the
survey.
LSA senior Laura Wooster said
she may not respond to the survey.
"The letter (accompanying the sur-
vey) didn't give me any reason to do
it, and it didn't seem like the results
would lead to actual changes,"
Wooster said.
Cherry Danielson, research assis-
tant at the University's Research
Office of Student Affairs, said the
survey will help administrators to
better understand the student popula-
tion.
"Student Affairs is really con-
cerned with what is contributing to
students' development, not just
meeting their needs," Danielson
said.
The original first-year survey will
serve as a base to examine students'
interests, activities, goals and values.
The new senior-oriented survey will
hopefully outline how these traits
changed during students' time at the
University.
"It's really good for students to just
give answers off the top of their
head," Danielson said.
Cress said she hopes researchers
can link information from new-stu-
dent surveys to factors like retention
and graduation rate.
Danielson said "because we have
such a good idea of (students) we can
hopefully attribute many of the dif-
ferences to the institution."
LSA senior Matt Frank, who said
he would probably fill out the sur-
vey, did not agree with this assump-
tion.
"I might be a different person now,
but I don't know if it was because of
the University," Frank said.
Anita Wilhelm, an LSA senior,
agreed with Frank.
"The whole experience of going to
college has changed me, not just the
University itself," Wilhelm said. "I
threw (the survey) away."
Data from completed surveys will
be sent to UCLA, where the informa-
tion will be processed and analyzed.
"Hopefully we will have prelimi-
nary results by late February or early
March, and a final report won't be
completed until May or June, Cress
said.
MSA budget committee gives
$70K to student o rganizations
Student assembly also debates affir-
mative action programs
By Susan T. Port
Daily Staff Reporter
The Michigan Student Assembly spent more than three
hours allocating about $70,000 to student groups last night.
The debates and constituent testimonies about the funding
preempted scheduled discussion of the University's affirma-
tive action policies.
The assembly postponed debates and voting on several
affirmative action resolutions until next Tuesday's meeting.
More than 100 student group leaders spoke about the
Budget Priorities Committee allocation recommendations.
Many students were unhappy with the funding their organi-
zations received.
But MSA Vice President Olga Savic said the assembly pro-
vided as much money as possible to the students who request-
ed funding.
"For every student group who says this process is a sham
and asks for more money, then I would like to ask: from
where?" Savic asked.
Campus Governance Committee Chair Dan Serota said the
assembly tried to tackle too much in the agenda at the meeting.
"I think this meeting was a disservice to the student body,"
said Serota, an LSA senior. "We gave the impression to stu-
dents that we don't care."
MSA President Mike Nagrant said there were not enough
constituents at the meeting to debate the affirmative action res-
olutions.
"Postponing it a week will allow us to treat it more effec-
tively,' Nagrant said.
Medicine Rep. Karen Fauman said after spending more
than three hours discussing the allocation of funds, it would
be impossible for the assembly to take a responsible stand on
one of the most controversial issues on campus - affirma-
tive action.
"I don't think anyone has the energy or patience to deal with
an issue that important," said Fauman, a Inteflex sophomore.
One of the affirmative action resolutions proposed a-ballot
question asking University students if they believe race
should be a factor in the admissions process. The question
would appear on the Spring election ballots.
Law first-year student Meera Deo said a question on the
ballot would spark debate on the issue, but may not reflect the
real feelings on campus. MSA should keep in mind that the
percentage of students who vote in MSA elections is not large
enough to accurately represent the University population, she
said.
"(The results) should not be taken as this is what thestu-
dents feel," Deo said. "I would encourage MSA to spend their
funding on educating the students. Help the students gain a
better understanding on affirmative action."
LSA Rep. Rachel Schlenker said postponing voting will
give University students more time to understand both sides
to affirmative action.
"I think the problem right now at the University is there is
so much confusion about University policy, said Schlenker,
an LSA sophomore.
Next week, the assembly also will discuss resolutions oaT the
University's admissions policy at the University and the use of
affirmative action in the Athletic Department.
Bill would mandate seat belts
i _..
Detroit. to end Devi's
Night destruction
LANSING (AP) - Amid charges of
police harassment and insurance indus-
try greed, House lawmakers passed a
seat belt bill yesterday that would allow
police to stop and ticket motorists who
are not buckled up.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank
Fitzgerald (R-Grand Ledge) had
failed in May on a 47-56 vote. Some
members had worried that police
might use the law to harass
motorists.
But Fitzgerald was beaming after the
bill passed on a 63-44 vote. The bill now
goes to the Senate with a push from Gov.
John Engler. He sent letters to House
members last week saying he would sign
the bill if they sent it to his desk.
The bill's earlier failure came as
some members worried that police
might use the law to harass motorists.
Those concerns were voiced again yes-
terday as House members debated the
measure for two hours.
Fears of sobriety checkpoints,
harassment of people who drive luxury
cars and feeding higher profits to the
insurance companies were voiced by
about a dozen lawmakers from opposite
ends of the political spectrum.
DETROIT (AP) - You won't even
hear city officials call it that other
name, the night of the year when fires
used to turn the sky above the Motor
City into a sea of orange and red.
Devil's Night, the annual pre-
Halloween arson fest, is on its way to
being stomped out, city officials say. In
its place, Detroit has a new annual cel-
ebration with a new official name:
Angels' Night, in honor of the thou-
sands of volunteers who turn out to
make sure their neighborhoods aren't
torched.
Ever since the fires peaked at 297 on
Oct. 30, 1984, the city has seen an over-
all decline in the number of fires each
year.
Total fires for the three-day period
leading to Halloween fell from 810 in
1984 to just 142 last year, which is actu-
ally less than the typical amount of
fires.
Gone with the fires is the negative
publicity that labeled Detroit as a
lawless city and drew media atten-
tion each year. Instead, discussion of
Devil's Night recently has been
about the civic pride of anti-arson
volunteers.
"We've turned it into a celebration
vs. a time to fear," said John George,
founder of the non-profit Motor City
Blight Busters, whose group organizes
volunteers to patrol city neighborhoods.
George said his organization had
campaigned for years to get Archer and
his predecessor Coleman Young to offi-
cially call Oct. 30 "Angels' Night." But
it wasn't until this year that Detroit
Mayor Dennis Archer announced the
name change.
"We've taken the 'devil' out of
Devil's Night and given Halloween
back to children," Archer said at a news
conference kicking off the Angels'
Night campaign last month.
That turnaround didn't come easy.
Archer was wary for fear of having
happen to him what occurred in 1994,
the year that the number of fires rose as
an exception to the general trend of a
declining number of fires.
That was Archer's first year as
mayor, and the number of fires spiked
to 354. Archer redoubled his efforts
after that to enact curfews for juveniles
and recruit neighborhood volunteers to
watch houses and patrol the streets in
an effort to stop arsonists.
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