LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 9, 1998 - 3A RESEARCH Mammography laws in Michigan prove effective In 1989, the state of Michigan enact- ed some of the nation's toughest mam- mography regulations, which were tightened again in 1994. A recent study led by University Medical rescaicher Lou Fintor con- firmed that these standards helped to improve the image quality of mammo- grams and did not limit access to can- cer screening. These findings indicate that the fed- eral mammography standards adopted in October, which are based on the Michigan model, will prove to be suc- cessful. Before the federal standards were enacted, the quality of mammograms varied from state to state. Each year, more than 20,000 women nationwide have mammogram exams. 'These tests have been shown to effec- tively control breast cancer mortality 5rates. Community and educators discuss resources use City officials, community and business leaders and educators from across Michigan spent a day at the University to meet with researchers and faculty, with the goal of deter- mining how to better utilize the University's resources and perform research tor the community. The event was organized and host- =ed by the University Office of State Outreach. A municipal group from Bay City that is concerned with development of their riverfront and environmental cleanup met with researchers from the University's Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences. Other local groups worked in the vir- tual reality lab of the Media Union and worked with many other departments at the University. Exhibit shows human effect on environment A new exhibit being developed at the Exhibit Museum's Michigan Wildlife Gallery will help explain the human ' race's effect on the local Michigan environment, as well as further-reach- ing global effects of humans. The exhibit will show how in a worst- case scenario, a thriving native species is driven to extinction by human influ- ences, including habitat loss and over- harvesting. The classic example of this phenomenon is the passenger pigeon, which numbered more than three billion in the early 1800s, and is now extinct. Another scenario of human influence is the introduction of harmful foreign species into an ecosystem. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the sea lam- prey was introduced via shipping into the Great Lakes. This species, which has no natural predators, has had devastating results on local wildlife. The exhibit will also show how some plant and animal species, such as rac- coons that pilfer food from garbage '.cans, benefit from human influences. Surgery prof.'s book helps to treat women A new resource compiled by University surgery Prof. Mark Pearlman may prove to be invaluable for treating women, b The resource is aimed at first-care providers who are at the frontline of medical care and are faced with urgent medical situations that need to be taken care of quickly and acdurately. Organized by age group, signs and symptoms, the book also has extensive sections on treating pregnant and post- partum patients. Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Sam Stavis. ' prof. speaks on ASlan economic crisis By Susan t Port Daily Staff Reporter As part of Taiwan Week, Business Prof. Linda Lim spoke about the Asian economic crisis before an intimate gathering of students and :community members in the Dennison Building last night. Lim said that before the crisis, the Asian economy was the fastest-growing economy in the world. She said the Thai economy plunged between 30 and 70 percent during the early '90s. "It was a bit of a surprise that the currenci'es fell," Lim said. "Most of the currencies are fixed to the U.S. dollar - it lowers the risk." Lim said that an increase in foreign exchange debt first occurred in Thailand. She said spectators launched a currency attack in Singapore that gained success this past July. A domino effect occurred and the economies of other Asian coun- tries began to suffer. "All these countries' economies' currencies went down," Lim said. Engineering junior Polly Yen said Taiwan is among the countries that have best survived the crisis. "Taiwan is very powerful,"Yen said. "Politically. it's just entered the world." Yen added that Taiwan is a democratic country that will play an important role in the world's econ- omy. "Taiwan's democracy follows the American spirit," Yen said. "It will be a model in Southeast Asia for economic development." Asian currencies are undervalued, and Lim said investors will not hesitate to sell a currency short to attain profits. Lim said factors including competitive devaluation and protectionism could cause the Asian economic crisis to become a global problem. "I don't see these things happening right now" Lim said. "China promised its neighbors it would not devalue its currency." LSA junior Alice Lin said she was able to follow the lecture, even without an economic background. "I found the speech to be very informative." [in said. "It was a little above my head." Lim said the Taiwanese government is pushing entrepreneurs to invest in Southeast Asia. "This year, Taiwan will be one of the fastest growing countries in Asia," Lim said. "Relatively, it's in good shape." Lim said most people have faith that the Asian economy will recover. "Most people think Asia will recover and con- tinne to grow in the future,' Lim said. "Reason in part can be attributed to something of the Asian spirit." Lim said the Asian way of business, which is to deal with family and friends, has lead to bad investments. "People were just lending recklessly," Lim said. Lim said she asked one of her Business classes about the future of Asia and students answered: "The future of Asia will be bought out by American companies." "Asia will end up being subsidies of Western and American companies," Lim said. Lim said that in Thailand, democracy is believed to have caused the crisis. "The government (was) much less powerful and businessmen were much more powerful," Lim said. "They opened their markets to investment traders too fast." Last night's speech was presented by the Michigan Taiwanese Student Association and thc Ann Arbor Taiwanese Association. Detroit City Council to vote today on casinos DETROIT (AP) _-- A SI.8 billion plan to bring casino gamblingi to Detroit and revitalize its economy has come under fire from those who say the black mayor is giving away the store to out- side white interests. The City Council is expected to vote today on Mayor Dennis Archer's plan for a 57-acre casino district near the Detroit River next to downtown. Archer has given the council a dead- line of tomorrow to pass the plan or risk torpedoing the project, with its promise of 1 1,000 full-time jobs and tens of mil- lions of dollars in tax revenues for the struggling city of 1 million people. "Detroit cannot continue to be a boom or bust economv." Archer told the council Tuesday. "There is no other eco- nomic development initiative ... that provides that kind of opportunity." lie said the timetable to present a plan to the Michigan Gaming Control Board is "extrcmcly titght" and a failure to act this week would endanger the financing and embolden casino oppo- nents statewide. While some opponents fear casinos will cause crime and feed gambling addiction and others object to a site so close to the precious waterfront, race has emerged as the most contentiOLIS issue. The issue has pitted Detroit's second black mayor against those who say he is ignoring the needs of the city's black majority. They fault Archer for passing over "Making one African American richer does not constitute black empowerment." black applicants in awarding the three available casino franchises to the MGM Grand, Atwater/Circus Circus and Greektown/Chippewa Indians groups. "Imagine a city that's 80-percent white ... and a white mayor and 80- percent white council chose three African American casinos for their city," former U.S. Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins said at a council hearing "Can you imagine that in these United States?" Business executive Don Barden, a ftoriler cable TV magnate whose casino application was one of those that Archer rejected, was blunter in remarks at the Shrine of the Black Madonna Church on Friday, the Detroit Free Press reported. Barden called Archer "a mis-educat- ed Negro," adding, "We've got to get that sucker out of office." "Making one African American rich- er does not constitute black empower- ment:' Archer countered. le said blacks and Indians together hold a majority stake in the Greektown casino group. and blacks are guaranteed a big piece of the action when it comes to - Dennis Archer Mayor of Detroit contracts and hiring. Archer's black credentials have faced a challenge before. A former state Supreme Court jus- tice, Archer won election with promises of building bridges to the city's pre- dominantly white suburbs, in contrast to the confrontational style of his pre- decessor, the late Coleman Young. The black empowerment is creatirtg sharp divisions among Detroit leaders and serious grudges that will take a long time to heal, said political analyst Mario Morrow. "I hope that they can get along aftor this," Morrow said. If the casinos are eventually approved, Detroit would be the largest city in the United States with gambling. Should the project clear all the poltt- ical hurdles, it will be a major boon for the city and casino operators, analysts say. "There is a real opportunity just given the sheer number of people thbt live in the Detroit metropolitan area and within a three-hour drive" said analys David Anders of Credit Suisse First Boston. DANA LINNANE/Daily Greek mythology Graduate Student Instructor Karen Wang tries to get her class excited about taking a quiz yesterday. U' GSIs feeling appre ciate d By William Nash Dail Staf f Reporter h1ave you hugged your GSI today? Chances are that most University students have not. But the National Association of Graduate Students is urging universities nationwide to think more about their graduate instructors during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week. Appreciation week ends tomor- row, but it never really began at the University. "As far as I know, there have been no official activities," said Graduate Employee Organization Media Relations Coordinator Markus Kemnelmeier. "But some students have been told about it and can partic- i late " With GSls feeling more appreci- atied than they have felt in the past, there may not be as much of a need fo'r the week as there was in the past twxo years. The need for an appreciation week at the University may have been greater in the past than it is todar, with GSIs saying they feel generally satisfied with their working conditions at the University. "I think that the GSIs definitely feel appreciated." chemistry GSI Daniel Fobin said. "I feel like the department values me and the salary I receive is more tihan (in) many other disci- plines." University GSIs' staged a two-day walkout in April of 1996 after failing to agree on wages and international GSI training in their contract with the University. But most GSIs have since resolved their contract issues with LUniversity adni strators. "I'd give the University a four out of five," said romance languages GSI Alexandre Dauge-Roth, who teaches French. "But the department has its own interests and during negotiations their usual good will does not appear." GSIs biggest complaint is their salaries, which amount to about $800 per month after taxes. said romance languages GSI Steve Bishop. "If you're a GSI who only teach- es one or two classes a year then it would be impossible to live in Ann Arbor on that money alone," Bishop said. "To make up for it, (a GSI) would have to work at Taco Bell or as a waiter and miss out on some of the teaching and learning process." Although some GSIs feel appreci- ated, some students said they are not thankful for their GSIs' services. "In general, I'm not too satisfied." LSA first-year student Joanna Paine said of her three GSIs' performances. "I think there is a lack of effort overall and, in some cases, just laziness." Seventeen universities nationwide are participating in GPSA week, including Michigan State University, Florida State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Events include work- shops and awards ceremonies. rr p, Q EE. li @j @ LW ' , ca NOW HIRING xperienced Wait Staff X E I ez Line Cooks " Pizza Makers " Bussers " Hosts All Shifts Available for our NEW 250-seat campus pizzeria, bar & grill Full service liquor license Servers work in a well-supported atmosphere CALL 973-9957 or fax resume 971-9362 Or apply at Pizza House, 624 Church, next to East Quad C P: ['j G TC.JJC.E'GGCIGCn GC 3"IL1GJGCTICj~jlIIF p~r l- E , What's happer-ng in Ann Arbor today GROUP MEETINGS U African American Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group, 482- 7050, Ypsilanti Association of Women's Clubs, 319 S. Washington St., 6-8 p.m. Sponsored by Hellenic Student Association, Michigan Union, Pond Room, 8 p.m. S"Is Male Power A Myth?' Talk by Dr. Warren Farrell," Sponsored by Federalist Society. Hutchins Hall, Room 218, 12:10-1:30 p.m. J "Red Cross Blood Drive - In Service www.umich.edu/-info on the World Wide Web J LSA Academic Advising Center, Angell Hall, Room 1255, Open until 6 p.m. J Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley Lobby, 8 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. J Psychology Peer Advising Office, F VA.M ;^ 0 1 lof RA ®