LOCAL/S TATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 12, 1998 - 3
RESEARCH S
Future role of
phannacists may
be more active
Due to recent trends in the health
are industry, future pharmacists are
likely to play a more active role in the
treatment of patients, seeing patients at
doctors' offices and making house calls
rather than working at a drug store.
In response to these trends, the
University's College of Pharmacy and
other schools around the nation are
changing their courses and require-
ments to prepare future pharmacists for
their new roles.
A new approach to health care -
harmaceutical care - will enable
pharmacists to work more closely with
patients and doctors by discussing pre-
scriptions and prescription changes
with them, instead of just filling out a
form.
This role change is attributed in part
to the explosion of the pharmaceutical
industry in recent years, which has left
both physicians and patients relying
more on pharmacists' knowledge of
these new products.
Changes in the health-care system
have also contributed to the change of
the pharmacist's role. As organizations
become more concerned with profit
maximization, pharmacists have become
responsible for providing patients with
more cost-effective products.
New technology
peeds diagnosis
of heart disease
University electrical engineering and
computer science Prof. Matthew
O'Donnell has developed new technol-
ogy that could make diagnosing heart
disease faster, cheaper and more accu-
rate.
O'Donnell's technology combines
64 ultrasound nodes into one array,
which is inserted into a patient's coro-
nary arteries to make a real-time video
of blood flow.
While ultrasound catheterization
technology has been around for several
years, O'Donnell's multi-sensor device
is more effective than previous ultra-
sound sensors.
The new array can measure several
heart functions, including tissue elas-
ticity, and vastly improves physicians'
bility to assess the effectiveness of
various heart treatments.
Taste, smell
disorders curable
People who have taste and related
smell disorders don't necessarily have
to simply put up with their condition,
said Jonathan Ship, an associate profes-
sor at the School of Dentistry and
'director of hospital dentistry.
Dentists within the University
Jlealth Systems, as well as a handful of
other specialty clinics around the coun-
try, have experience treating patients
with such disorders, and are often able
;to help them regain these senses.
Many taste and smell disorders can
be diagnosed and treated. In many
'cases, this can restore the patient's abil-
ity to taste or smell.
*U' prof. studies
make-up of jails
+ Two-thirds of the juvenile justice
;system in Michigan is made up of
iinority teen-age males according to
a study by Rosemary Sarri, a social
work professor emeritus.
"The disproportionate processing of
minority persons by both the juvenile
#nd the adult criminal justice systems
is a matter of increasing national con-
cern," Sarri said. "But little concrete
action has been taken to reverse this
pattern of minority overrepresentaion
in the justice system."
The study looked at 1,734 teen boys
committed to state public facilities in
1991-1994.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Sam Stavis.
Students relieve stress with mini-courses
By Amelia Levin
For the Daily
Amidst the monotony of classes and school-
work, non-credit mini-courses provide students
with a stress-relieving and enlightening alternative
to their usual studies.
Although the courses have been offered for the
past several years, the University Activities Center
is offering "fresher" selections this year, said LSA
junior Jill Kleiman, UAC's coordinator of the
mini-course program.
"I replaced some of the older, less popular
courses such as palm and tarot card reading with
new ones like nutrition and yoga," Kleiman said.
In addition to these new courses, students have
signed up for courses in massage, ballroom danc-
ing, CPR, yoga, meditation, sign language, bil-
liards and bartending.
"I've worked at the Michigan Union Ticket
Office for three years now, and bartending has
always been everyone's favorite mini-course," said
LSA junior Meighan Denomme.
Registration for the mini-courses concluded
yesterday with overflowing sign-up sheets.
"I changed the way the program was designed
for years, and since all the courses are pretty much
sold out, it seems as if we're doing something
right," Kleiman said.
Aside from bartending, massage and ballroom
dancing were the most popular selections among
students this year.
"I took ballroom dancing last year and I loved
it," said UAC Programming Coordinator Kelly
Karpinski. "Everyone was really enthusiastic
about the course. Plus, it was fun watching others
make fools of themselves."
Despite praises by former mini-course partici-
pants, some students said they are concerned that
the courses will conflict with their busy schedules.
"Before I started the ballroom dancing class, I
worried about how it would fit into my schedule,"
said Karpinski, an LSA junior. "But I soon found
out that it didn't interfere at all because it barely
required a commitment, and no one is going to
punish you if you miss a class.'
The cost of the courses ranges from $30-60, and
all proceeds fund UAC programming and instruc-
tor recruitment. This semester, many veteran mini-
course instructors returned to teach.
UAC also recruited new instructors from com-
munity organizations such as the American Red
Cross in Ypsilanti amd the campu Scr cs4M
Students with Disabilities.
"People seem to enjoy the instrn d
Engineering senior Lyel 1-aynes. ceC~iccaru
UAC. "We try to find comnitm y members it a
skilled in their area and who will aso proide dd
tional educational enrichment tr the tuden
Enrolled students said they eagerx aw iit h
beginning of classes Feb. 16.
"I'm looking forward to the bartendmg cla
said L SA first-year studen Andr \ Pccrles. I
think it will take some of the stress I ha c otVl t his
semester, and the skills I'll learn will he good u
have later on."
Haynes said that despite the mnonsitenc o
course offerings from semester to semestcr. \C
provides many benefits to the University community
The leaning tower
Website helps students
find rides, new apartments
By Joshua Rosenblatt
Daily Staff Reporter
Two people who wanted to make life
a little easier for college students did
what any young entrepreneurs would do
in the '90s - they made their own
Website.
"Our goal is to be a one-stop shop for
college students," said Jeff
Tannenbaum, co-creator of College
Friends and Impact Technologies, Ltd.,
the site's sponsoring company.
"Anything that can be handled through
the Internet will eventually be available
(on the Website)."
The company's Website, which can
be used by college students whno
apply for access privileges, provides
four free services to students.
Students can access RideNE"T, a list-
ing of students offering rides to cam-
puses across the country; Realty
Bytes, a national listing of students
looking to sublet their apartments or
houses; Baer Cares, an advice ser-
vice; and As The World Sterns, an
online editorial site featuring com-
mentaries on issues affecting college
students.
"I think it'll be good for students,"
said LSA sophomore Ozell Xiante.
"Students have to pay for books,
classes, and so many other things ...
anything that will save money is
good."
"Our goal is to be a one-stop shop for,,
college students." efTnebLl11
- Jef-f Tannensbaum
Co-creator of College Friends and Impact Technologies LtL
While nearly 2,000 students at
Pennsylvania State University use the
site, its founders said they hope to
attract students from the University of
Michigan as well as from other cam-
puses to the site.
"I think that the Internet ride board is
a great idea," said Penn State student
and Campus Friends user Mike Stern.
"It does work ... I don't see any reason
that this service would not be useful at
other schools."
"The basic gist is that it is a college
student-only service," Tannenbaum
said.
Tannenbaum said the site offers stu-
dents the peace of mind and built-in
security of having a service closed to
anyone other than college students.
"Just recently around here, there
was a rapist who was pretending to be
interested in subletting (apart-
ments)," Stern said. "College Friends
seems like it would be a lot safer to
advertise in."
To become a College Friends user,
students must have an e-mail address
ending in .edu, which proves their
affiliation with a college or tmiversj
ty.
"We knew it was an excellent idea,
said Brett Cohen, co-creator of the site.
"You figure ifthere's a way you can link
students together by using the Intern I,
it's a great idea."
The company has members fiom
more than 60 colleges and uni\ersities
nationwide, and it is aiming high for the
future.
"We want to be a name that is knowt6
on every campus across the couwntry,
Tannenbaum said.
The company has hired several
interns to market the online servico at
PSU and they are looking to do so at
campuses nationwide.
Tannenbaum said he hopes the
expansion of the site wvilli attract
advertisers who are looking to targct
the college market. Because access to
the site is free, the company solely
relies on advertisers for funding.
"I want to release more and ni*
free services," Tannenbaum sai.
"Unless other kids post notices, this
won't work."
EMILY NATHAN/Daily
A student looks at a student architecture model yesterday displayed in the
Art and Architecture Building's Slusser Gallery.
'U' health study
ranks 11th In nation
Labor group to lobby g1i:
Study recognized by
the American Heart
Association
By William Nash
Daily Staff Reporter
A University researcher's study link-
ing hopelessness and the progression of
atherosclerosis recently received recog-
nition by the American Heart
Association as one of the top 11
research advances of 1997.
"I was really pleased to see these
results," said Susan Everson, an assis-
tant research scientist in the department
of epidemiology. "It's important and
nice to see this type of research getting
attention."
Everson, who discovered that her
study had received national recogni-
tion while she was browsing the
AHA Website, said the in-depth
study is especially important because
it is one of the first reports on the
connection between atherosclerosis,
a condition characterized by fibrosis
of the inner layer of the arteries, and
psychological factors.
The four-year study found that 942
Finnish men with a high level of hope-
lessness - a feeling of despair, failure
or having an uncertain future - had a
20-percent increase of atherosclerosis
in their carotid arteries.
"This is the same magnitude of
increase that we see between pack-a-
day and non-smokers," Everson
said.
George Kaplan, the study's co-
author, said biological and social fac-
tors of the men studied may have affect-
ed the results of the study.
"We were surprised by the strength
of the relationship," said Kaplan said.
"But we don't know the exact implica-
tions."
Psychiatry Prof. Randy Neese said it
is difficult to know what factors impact
atherosclerosis.
"There is no sure mechanism," Neese
said. "It could well be health factors
and not necessarily the mood itself, or
possibly some third factor."
Nesse said that although the
experiment raises interesting ques-
tions, more research and experi-
ments must be conducted to find out
why there is a correlation between
hopelessness and the progression of
atherosclerosis.
"The implications are that we could
treat mood disorders to slow the pro-
gression," Nesse said.
Everson said she wants to look more
deeply into the study's findings, includ-
ing studying a group of 800 women.
The original study only featured
Caucasian males.
Studying women could prove the link
applies to more than men, and it would
also allow Everson to compare the two
findings, she said.
"We will be able to look for associa-
tions to see if the finding are similar
and if they hold true for women,"
Everson said.
Also among the top advances was a
study on depression that focused on the
likelihood of depressed patients to fol-
low a doctor's advice. A complete list-
ing of the top 11 advances is available
on AHA's Website at
http://wwwamhrt.org.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -A coalition of labor and advo-
cacy groups will try to persuade Gov. John Engler to make
changes to a new job service setup that relies on the Internet
and private companies.
The Coalition for Effective Michigan Employment
Services, announced yesterday, contends the new system
keeps many job seekers from finding work.
And the speaker of the Michigan House said yesterday that
Engler's plan could cost the state hundreds of millions of dol-
lars, and lead to a tax increase for businesses.
State officials said the coalition was not well-informed
about the changes, and that federal funding was not in danger
because the state would prevail in a court case against the
U.S. Department of Labor.
The Michigan Jobs Commission reworked its services
for job seekers last week, relying on computers, the
Internet and private contractors to help people who are
looking for work.
People looking for work now go to offices staffed by pri-
vate companies, where they type their resumes into an
Internet database. Employers must also put job listings there,
and can search through resumes for workers.
In the past, job seekers were screened by state workers,
who then matched them with employers.
The coalition against the changes includes the Michigan
State AFL,-CIO. the Michigan League of Human Services
and several other groups. Gary Gershon, a spokesperson for
the Michigan Migrant Legal Assistance Project, said the old
system had not been too effective.
"But I don't believe the answer is to destroy the system
that's as tried and true as any and replace it with one that's
speculative," he said.
Louis Renya, an unemployed Sagina resident, said the new
system had kept him from finding work. Renya said bein a i
veteran had helped him with employers before, but th jev
system offered no such advantage He also said relying h
computers limits the number of employers who will post jgh,
on the system.
"What about the small business that doesn't have lntez4t
access?" he said. "What about the mom-and-pop busit e4
that doesn't have computers? Not everybody have corn -
ers."
Renya said he had not gone to one of the new centerBut
had looked on the database for work and not found anythi.
Jim Tobin, a spokesperson for the Michigan
Commission, said the outcome might have been different
Renya visited the office.
He also said people in the offices would help any wkor
veteran, migrant or one who didn't speak English, get their
resume on the system.
"If we had someone come in who spoke Vietnamesc,
would find someone who speaks Vietnamese and we w,(l
get their resume in the system:' Tobin said.
Officials for the state and the U.S. Department of Labr
had argued for months over the changes, which took effdt
last week after Gov. John Engler issued an exccutive orLr
making some of the changes state law.
After the state decided to go ahead without the depaf-
ment's approval, Labor officials announced they would wit
hold $15.7 million in funds.
The state sued, saying the dispute centers around wheth
can use non-union, private employees to deliver job servic
TLE QALLND NR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
GROUP MEETINGS
U Circle K, 763-1755, Michigan Union,
Anderson Room, 7 p.m.
U Graduate and Professional Mishneh
Torah Chug, 769-0500, Hillel,
1429 Hill St., 9-10:30 a.m.
U Hellenic Student Association Mass
Meeting, Michigan Union, Pond
Room, 8 p.m.
U Intervarsity Christian Fellowship,
647-6857, East Hall, Room 1360,
7 p.m.
Natural Science Building,
Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Q "Genocide in Iraq," Sponsored by
Solidarity and American-Arab
Discrimination Committee,
Michigan Union, Michigan Union,
7 p.m.
U "Myths, Stias and Racist Beliefs
about African American Athletes,"
Sponsored by Office of the
Associate Provost for Academic
and Multicultural Affairs,
Kinesiolo y Building/CCRB,
Room 375, 4-6 p.m.
Qi "Our' Tste of Coffee: Prospects and
U "Teach In on Iraq," Sponsored by
American Arab Anti-
Discrimination Committee,
Michigan League, Michigan
Room, 7 p.m.
U "Volunteers in Action Hillel Dinner
for the Homeless," Sponsored by
Hillel, First United Methodist
Church, State St.across from
Frieze Building, 3-7 p.m.
SERVICES
Q Campus Information Centers, 763-
I
or t .. 1 I mow arm o. T