LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 30,.1997 -3A
Anthropologists
discuss racial
atters in book
their new book "Race and Human
Evolution," University anthropology
Profs. Milford Wolpoff and Rachel
Caspari discuss the preoccupation with
race classification.
Wolproff and Caspari will give a lec-
ture about their book and its findings
Monday. The audience also will be able
-to ask questions about some of the
authors' controversial points.
le researchers espouse the multi-
rc ional hypothesis, which states that
modern humans evolved simultaneous-
ly worldwide. An alternative to this
hypothesis is the "Out of Africa"
hypothesis, which states that modern
'humans originated in Africa and then
spread to other continents.
The lecture will occur Monday at
Rackham Auditorium at 7 p.m.
4netic testing
safe, expert says
Michigan residents want to know
more about genetic testing, but are hav-
ing trouble finding information, said
Diane Baker, the director of the
University Medical School's Genetic
Counseling Program.
Genetic testing identifies normal or
mutant genes in an individual.
In a survey of nine Michigan commu-
i s, Baker learned that while people
are "very ambivalent" about the use of
genetic screening methods, they want
the freedom to choose the procedure for
' themselves or for their children.
The procedure is relatively painless
and provides crucial information about
an individual's likelihood to develop
disease, Baker said. Information pro-
vided by the testing is also useful to
w uld-be parents who want to know if
tW possess harmful genes that may
cause problems for their children.
In seeking such information, patients
choose to rely on the advice their pri-
iary-care doctors, Baker said.
However, Baker also learned that most
primary-care doctors are ignorant of
the technical and ethical aspects of
genetic testing.
Baker and other University
researchers will be presenting their work
*0he American Society for Human
Genetics in Baltimore this weekend.
Expert: safety
belts needed in
more car seats
More than 90 percent of Michigan's
children are either unfastened in their
car seats or are improperly secured,
*I David Eby of the University
Transportation Research Institute.
Despite tragedies on Michigan
roads, 25 percent of the state's young
:children are not buckled at all, due to
the negligence of their parents, accord-
ing to TRI statistics.
The Michigan state legislature is dis-
eussing a bill to impose harsh fines for
Improper belt usage.
Midwest to feel
fects of El Nino
Ann Arbor residents, who are used to
eold winters with snow, might not need
fo bundle up so much this year.
'-The aberrant weather pattern known
as El Nineo is powerful enough to wreak
°elimactic change across the Midwest,
said two University researchers.
Guy and Lorelle Meadows, of the
artment of Naval Architecture and
rine Engineering, studied weather
data from the past several decades to
reach their conclusion.
According to their data, warmer
weather patterns over the Pacific
eause increased weather disturbances
to develop across the Midwest. While
it's unclear whether data points to
warmer weather, it certainly means
stormier weather with more precipi-
tion.
Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
David Bricker
Students
celebrate
Diwali
festival
U More than 300 Indian
American students pray
in hall lounge
By Susan T. Port
Daily Staff Reporter
Shoes lay next to fallen jackets while
University students dressed in tradition-
al Indian costumes quietly sat before a
small altar in Stockwell's Blue Lounge
last night.
The Hindu Students Council spon-
sored a traditional Diwali puja, or
prayer service, to commemorate the
new year for Indian American students.
More than 300 University students and
community members celebrated the
holiday referred to as "the festival of
lights."
LSA sophomore Vishal Shah, who
helped coordinate the puja, said he was
pleased with the turnout, especially
since the celebration falls during a hec-
tic time for students.
"I hope students will take with them
a knowledge of Diwali, our new year,
and take back a sense of pride in their
culture,' Shah said. "(It) shows the
unity among the Indian community."
Students sat quietly in the residence
hall lounge while a Hindu priest chant-
ed ancient Sanskrit scriptures and
English translations. The chantings
referred to two important Hindu deities,
Ganesh and Mahalakshima.
After the priest's chantings, the stu-
dents sang bhajans, or religious songs,
and offered light to the Hindu god and
goddess.
Medical and Public Health student
Anand Parekh said he was excited to be
able to celebrate a religious event with
his peers.
"I have been looking forward to this
event," Parekh said. "Diwali is one of
the most auspicious holidays for
Hindus all over the world."
Shah said every group was welcome
to help join the celebration - not just
Hindu students. He added that it would
be beneficial for students to see how the
holiday is celebrated.
"It's open to everybody," Shah said.
Engineering senior Tom Rennell said
he learned about the Hindu new year
A2 Ci tyCouncil
wards split up
students' votes
LOUIS BROWN/Daly
Hema Joshi leads more than 300 University students in singing and praying at the
Diwali celebration in Stockwell's Blue Lounge.
E0 Other college towns
have districts geared
toward students
By Peter Meyer
Dily Staff Reporter
Students voting in Ann Arbor are
divided - literally.
The wards of Ann Arbor are distrib-
uted in a pie shape with points that con-
nect at the center of town. The student-
dominated areas of the city - the cam-
pus and the area directly surrounding it
- do not fall all in one ward.
South Quad is in the 4th Ward, but
West Quad,
directly
across the s
street, is in
the I st Ward, voice Ther
while East!
Quad is in policy shift
the 3rd Ward.
Couzens is
in the 2nd
Ward, but the
other area
Hill residence halls - Stockwell,
Mosher-Jordan and Alice Lloyd - are
all in the 1st Ward. Bursley is also in the
1st Ward,
Douglas Scott, chair of the Ann
Arbor Democratic Party, said the
shape of the wards in Ann Arbor was
a deliberate attempt to limit the
effect of student voters in city elec-
tions.
"Years and years ago, the
Republicans wanted to reduce the
student vote," said Scott, adding that
it was the Republicans who had the
idea to cut the city into the pie shape,
with students spread around several
wards.
Some students think that if ward
boundaries were redrawn to have one
bloc of student votes instead of piece-
meal wards, changes would appear in
how the city is run.
"If students had their voice, there'd
be huge policy shifts," said LSA senior
Nancy Phaphan. "It'd be a lot more lib-
eral."
On Nov. 4, elections will be held in
Ann Arbor's five wards for positions on
the Ann Arbor City Council.
In other university towns, the situa-
,s had their
e'd be huge
- Nancy Phaphan
LSA senior
'I he number
of students
elected to the
Ann Arbor
City Cuncil
in past elec-
tions has been
more sporadic.
University stu-
dent Carol
Jones was
elected in 1973
lion is different. Mary I ou Emans, the
director of the Wood County Board of
Elections, said that in Bowling Green.
Ohio, where Bowling Green State
University is located, some wards are
dominated by students.
BGSU students tend to elect students
as their city representatives.
"There is a student on city council
now, and there has been a student on
city council or running ever since
1987," Emans said.
Students have been elected to
Bowling Green City Council's 1st Ward
position in 1991, 1993 and 1995,
Emans said.
from his Indian American friend.
Rennell said he participated in the
puja to learn more about his friend's
culture. He said he was impressed by
the colors and bright clothing that some
Indian American students wore.
"I wanted to learn about the holiday
and to learn more about my friend,"
Rennell said.
Jwalant Lakhia, Midwest coordinator
of the Hindu Students Council, said the
event gave students a chance to pray
together while they're away from home.
"This is an important time for
Hindu American youth," Lakhia said.
"The goal is to get students together
and make them feel like they are at
home."
Public Health first-year student
Vidya Kumar helped coordinate the
cultural event and said many students
came to learn more about their back-
grounds.
"(People came) to celebrate our
Hindu culture," Kumar said. "Diwali is
a special occasion. It's nice to see there
is a lot of people."
LSA sophomore Vik Vaishya said he
came to appreciate his background.
Vaishya said he wasn't surprised many
students came, even though they had
midterms to take.
"I'm here to celebrate a very rich and
traditional festival," Vaishya said.
"People can see the rich and wonderful
heritage that we have."
Diwali, a 14-day celebration that
began Oct. 20 and lasts through Nov. 2,
marks the new year for Hindus and
celebrates the triumph of good over
evil.
According to Hindu legend, two sto-
ries surround the holiday's origins. In
one story, the festival celebrates the
return of the Hindu god named Ram to
the special city of Ayodhya after being
exiled from his kingdom. Many Indians
lit lamps upon his return.
The second legend states that the
goddess Mahalakshmi, the goddess of
wealth, visits every Hindu home. Thus,
most Hindus keep their residences lit
with candles and lamps to welcome her
and invite her blessings.
and Lowell Peterson, another
University student, was elected in 1982.
This year, two University students
are running for Ann Arbor :Oity
Council. LSA sophomore 'Michael
Enright is running as a Libertarian in
the 4th Ward. Engineering senior B6yd
Stitt, also a Libertarian, is runniig in
the 3rd Ward.
A major geographical difference
between BGSU and the University is
that BGSU is physically located on the
extreme eastern edge of Bowling
Green, but the University of Michigan
is stationed near the city center.
Also, Bowling Green's Ist Ward,
which includes all the campus 'resi-
dence halls, fraternity and sorority
houses and some apartment complexes,
is almost completely inhabited by stu-
dents, Emans said.
BGSU students also have a strong
presence in the 2nd ward, which is "pri-
marily apartment buildings where the
older students usually live," Emans
said.
Ann Arbor's ward boundaries were
last drawn after the 1990 national cen-
sus. These wards were approved by city
council in November 1991.
Charges dropped
in EMU shooting
I, ~.1
Assailant cleared in
shooting, apparently
acted in self defense
By Stephanie Hepburn
Daily Staff Reporter
The charges against Maurice Blanks,
who was accused of shooting an
Eastern Michigan University student,
were dismissed at a court hearing
Tuesday.
Blanks allegedly shot Aaron
Patterson twice in the chest on the
afternoon of Oct. 10, outside Margaret
Wise residence hall.
Patterson was treated and released
from St. Joseph Mercy hospital two
days after the shooting.
EMU's Department of Public Safety
is unsure exactly how the argument
began.
Both men were carrying guns at the
time of the shooting.
EMU spokesperson Pamela Young
said assistant prosecutor Donald
Ray asked that the charges be
dropped.
"Donald Ray made a motion for
the case to be dismissed," Young
said. "He made this motion after the
victim, Aaron Patterson, failed to
appear in court October 28th at the
Washtenaw County 14th District
Court."
District Court Judge Richard
Conlin dismissed the case without
prejudice.
This decision leaves the case open
with the possibility that it could be tried
again.
Blanks, who could have faced a life
sentence, was released.
Ray said it appears Patterson was the
aggressor in the confrontation.
"It appears that Mr. Blanks was act-
ing in self defense, Ray told the Ann
Arbor News.
Blanks, a Flint resident, turned him-
self in 10 days after the shooting
occurred.
Young said police did not believe the
incident was a random shooting.
"During the investigation, police
believed that the victim may have been
acquainted with the the assailant,
Young said.
Patterson was living in Hill residence
hall and was not registered for EMU's
fall classes. He took classes in the sum-
mer and remained on campus.
Patterson disenrolled from the
University on the day of his release
from the hospital.
"We are unaware of the reasons
behind that decision," Young said,
. S
ARE
HERE!
LS&A STUIDENT
G"OVERNMENT
Candidate Packets are in!
Deadline is October 3,19
There will be a mandatory
meeting for all candidates at
5 pm on October31 atthe
r Cl A A N £..
Correction:
4 Graduate Student Instructor Andrew Mertha said the U.S.'s previous foreign policy with China, before "constructive engage-
'ient," was unsustainable. This was misreported in yesterday's Daily.
Lbt'i
CAENDAIIL
shappening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS Graduate School, Angell Hall,
Auditorium D, 7 .m.
U "Charles Wright," Poetry reading, v "Village on the Mall," Sponsored by
Sponsored by The University The Student Alumni Council,
En lish Department, Rackham Ingalls Mall.
Building, Amphitheatre, 5 p.m.
I"iving Dolwns~tream: Women. SERVICES
GROUP MEETINGS
U Circle K, 763-1755, Michigan Union,
Kuenzel Room, 7 p.m.
U Intervarsity Christian Fellowship,
647-6857, Chemistry Building,
DRnnm .IMO l~ 7 rnm
' r
I 1 i1
I
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