LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 26, 1998 - 3A ESEARCH0 Airbags not so harmful for shorter drivers A recent University study may dispel he myth that airbags cause more seri- ous injuries to shorter drivers than to taller drivers. Donald Huelke, a researcher at the University Transportation Research Institute, conducted a study of 636 automobile crashes involving drivers of various heights in which an airbag was deployed. Huelke found that 74 percent of dri- vers more than 5'5" taller received min- imal injuries and 70 percent of shorter 1drivers escaped with minor injuries, such as sprains and loss of consciousness. Twenty percent of shorter drivers and 15 percent of taller drivers experienced moderate injuries in the crashes, most- ly limited to forearm injuries and tem- porary loss of consciousness. Only half of these moderate injuries were caused by the impact of the airbag. Serious injuries caused by the crashes affected 7 percent of the shorter drivers and 9 percent of the taller drivers. Airbags were responsible for 1 percent of the injuries among shorter drivers, and 3 per- cent of the injuries among taller drivers. The study concluded that smaller drivers suffered moderate injuries more frequently than taller drivers, but at about the same rate for minor and seri- ous injuries. In all cases, factors other than airbags caused the majority of injuries that resulted from crashes. Gene therapy may help to fight against cancer Cancer researchers at the University and around the country are working on a new method to fight cancer -- gene therapy. Until recently, gene therapy has been experimental, but at a recent American Medical Association media briefing in New York City, the latest techniques were revealed, sparking further interest. in the subject. Gene therapy use employs DNA to fight cancer in a number of ways that do not involve drugs. One method of gene therapy involves altering human immune cells to produce cancer-fighting genes. *These cells would be far better equipped to battle cancer than regular human immune cells. Another method involves removing cancer cells from the body, altering their DNA to produce a strong immune response against cancer and placing them ,back in the body to work as a vaccine. The University was chosen by the National Institutes of Health as a loca- tion of one of three National Gene ector Laboratories in 1995, and is continuing its gene therapy research. New drugs to aid in treating cancer A new class of drugs has the poten- tial to make future cancer treatments more effective and less toxic. The drugs - classified as angiogen- esis inhibitors - affect the functioning of the blood vessels required by a umor to grow and spread, effectively halting its development. In the past, researchers worried that drugs that act as angiogenesis inhibitors would have dangerous side effects, conflicting with the normal blood vessel development involved in -the healing of wounds. But recent research has produced drugs that specifically target tumors - 0eaving other body functions alone. The advantage of these drugs over standard chemotherapy and radiation treatments is that they kill only dis- eased tissues instead of the destruction of both healthy and diseased cells that can lead to harmful side effects. Several different drugs contained in this class target specific tumors and cancerous tissues, including brain tumors, breast tumors and many others. FDA approval for this class of drugs is *)still years away, as extensive clinical tri- als must be performed before the drugs are accessible to the general public. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Samuel Stavis. Senator Stallings resigns, avoids expulsion LANSING (AP) - State Sen. Henry Stallings reluctantly resigned yesterday rather than face expulsion after admitting he used public money to employ a state worker in his Detroit art gallery. The move spared senators from having to expel a senator for the first time in history and relieved the Senate of a major embarrassment. Stallings' resignation will take effect March 31. The Detroit Democrat agreed not to attend session or vote between now and then. But he didn't go willingly. "This whole process has been a travesty'" he said. "Had we known at the time the Senate would use the plea as a reason for expulsion, we would have gone to trial." Stallings told the Senate he was resigning with deep regret, then vowed to return. Later he said it remains to be seen whether he will run again. At a news conference held in the Senate office he soon will have to leave, Stallings insisted that he had done nothing wrong, despite pleading guilty to taking money under false pretenses. At one point, he said his own statements in court admitting to the fraud had not been true. He told reporters weeks ago that a Senate aide worked 12 weeks in his Detroit business and was paid nearly $5,000, although he later said the exact amount was unclear. "My regret is I didn't hire people I could trust and who were loyal to me," Stallings said. He condemned the "scurrilous allegations" against him and labeled his problems as "purely political" and a "setup" "I didn't want to be the first senator to be expelled for something I didn't do. Rather than be expelled, it's better to resign," he said. Asked about the guilty plea, Kenneth Hylton, Stallings' attorney, said only: "If you check the records, you will note statements were made that were given freely and voluntarily and upon advice of counsel." Stallings' resignation came a day after a spe- cial bipartisan Senate committee unanimously recommended he be expelled. Senate leaders predicted an expulsion vote by the full Senate would be bipartisan and nearly unanimous. Stallings avoided the vote by resigning. "We think it was an honorable approach to maintaining the integrity of this institution," said Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus (R-Alto). Resignation of the first-year lawmaker gives Republicans a 22-15 margin in the chamber. It will be up to Gov. John Engler whether or when to call a special election to fill the vacancy. The district is heavily Democratic. Stallings met behind closed doors with Senate attorneys before the Senate session. Officials said he had notified them by late Tuesday of his intent to resign. The controversy, which had been growing for weeks, dissolved quickly when Stallings' resigna- tion was announced. The Senate proceeded with routine business once the announcement was made. On Tuesday, Hylton had told the special com- mittee that he was not satisfied that the Senate had the constitutional authority to expel Stallings. That issue became moot when Stallings resigned. Hylton said the resignation means there's no reason for the senator to try to withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial. Under Stallings' agreement with prosecutors, Wayne County Circuit Judge Sean Cox is holding his guilty plea under advise- ment for one year. If Stallings has no further legal problems, Cox is to reduce the crime from a felony to a misdemeanor of taking money less than $100 under false pretenses. Stallings faces 90 days in jail under the lesser charge. If the more serious charge stands, lie faces up to 10 years in prison. The only lawmaker ever expelled is Rep. Monte Geralds (D-Madison Heights). He was expelled in 1978 after being convicted of embezzling money from a law client before joining the Legislature. Mu sic profs symphony to be performed in D.C. I Pre-concert reception to be hosted in capital by President Bollinger By Jennifer Yachnin Daily Staff Reporter The National Symphony Orchestra University will perform University Music Prof. Bill Bolcom's 6th sympho- ny tonight at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. "He's a major figure in international music composition," said University President Lee Bollinger, who is sched- uled to speak before the concert at a reception of about 40 friends and alum- ni of the University. "A lot of our alumni activities are organized around sports," Bollinger said."I'm trying to expand that to cul- tural activities." Bolcom, a Ross Lee Finney Distinguished Professor of Music, has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his Songs of Innocence. His works have been per- formed by every major orchestra in the United States, said School of Music Dean Paul Boylan. "I'm amazed and delighted and hon- ored that so many people are coming down," said Bolcom, whose symphony is comprised of four movements, including a jazz waltz. The symphony will be directed by National Symphony Orchestra conduc- tor Leonard Slackton, with whom Bolcom has worked since 1964. "I'm delighted because I'm working with certain people I've worked with before," Bolcom said. Bolcom said the scheduled University reception is a pleasant idea. "It isn't every day that the president of your University comes down and makes a whole affair of it," Bolcom said. "It's nice to have the whole University supporting (faculty) in the way he is doing. It is showing a very interesting direction in the future of out University." University Chief of Staff Chacona Johnson said the reception is an effort to promote interaction between University affiliates and faculty. "We wanted to invite some friends and alumni in the area," Johnson said: "We have always had activities around the country with deans and executive officers. We are trying to take advan- tage of ... faculty interaction with alumni." The reception will bring together leg- islators and Washington, D.C. area alumni who will have dinner and listen to Bollinger, Boylan and Bolcom speak; Johnson said. "It's bringing the best of Michigan to them," Johnson said. "It is an honor for professor Bolcom, and we are pleased, president Bollinger is pleased, to celebrate this honor with him." DANA LINNANE/Daily University students celebrated a Christian tradition by attending Ash Wednesday mass yesterday at Saint Mary Student Parish. Ashes marksar o f Lenlbteu"n season By Nika Schulte Daily Staff'Reporter Despite the pressure of midterms and the anticipation of spring break, many University students attended church services yesterday in honor of Ash Wednesday, a Christian obser- vance marking the beginning of Lent. "This is one of the strongest days of attendance we have," said Father Thomas Firestone, a priest at St. Mary Student Parish. "The church holds 600 people and we are expect- ing more than that." He credits the high attendance to Ash Wednesday marking the start of Lent - a season for people to improve themselves and repent for sins. "We all have guilt," Firestone said. "The Church says this is a season to work put that guilt and be at peace with God" The placing of ashes upon the fore- head helps people gain a sense of peace because "it reminds people of penitence and Iimitations," Firestone said. Edward Krauss, pastor at the University Lutheran Chapel, said that at his service, students have the opportunity to write down a failure, an addiction or a bad habit they want to change and then burn the paper with a candle. The ritual is to help people understand the process of forgiveness, he said. "It offers people a visual acknowl- edgment of forgiveness of sins," Krauss said. Most University students said they attended services because they had always gone as children. LSA senior Jennifer Naimolski said it is a tradition she and her fam- ily have participated in every year for as long as she can remember. Part of that tradition for Naimolski and many others includes making sacrifices for Lent. Some of the most common include eating only one large meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as well as not eating meat on Fridays during the 40-day Lent season. In addition to those, many people make personal sacrifices. "You are supposed to give up some- thing you indulge in," Naimolski said. "Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and this is a way to show you are grateful and appreciative." In the past. Naimolski has given up chocolate and junk food. "This year I am going to try to give up smoking," Naimloski said. Krauss said he hopes students will take this opportunity not just to give something up but to add something positive to their lives. "I encourage students to take on something as well, Krauss said. "Recognize where flaws are and try to make them positive." For LSA first-year student Ha Nguyen, this Lenten season will be a chance to attend church more often. "I haven't gone to church all year," Nguyen said. "This is a good time to have a fresh start." Achievement Award Program Each year The Summit Group, a rapidly growing systems and computer consulting firm, grants several $1000.00 scholarships to junior college students across the country. Our scholarships reward students for their achievements in school thus far and helps to expose them to the field of systems integration and business systems consulting. Requirements * Graduate in December, 1998 or in spring or summer, 1999 * GPA 3.2 or above * Working towards a bachelor's degree in computer science, manage- ment information system, computer information systems, systems analysis, decision science/ systems or engineering discipline. * Strong communication skills. Problem solving ability. A positive attitude. Well rounded interests. A drive to excel. A desire to work in the systems integration/ consulting field. Achievement Award Process Each applicant is required to submit a personal resume, most recent transcript, and an essay of interest, "Why I am interested in a career in systems integration." THE SUMMIT GROUP INC What's happening in Ann Arbor today GROUP MEETINGS Q Circle K, 763-1755, Michigan Union, Anderson Room, 7 p.m. U Graduate and Professional Mishneh J "Jean White-Ginder to speak on HI V/AIDS," Sponsored by Speaker Initiative, Rackham Building, Auditorium, 7 p.m. j "Lecture on 'Color and Opportunity'," Sponsored -by www.umich.edu/info on the World Wide Web' Q "HIV/AIDS Testing," Community Family Health Center, 1230 N. Maple Rd., 6-9 p.m. J Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley I I