-- LOCALISTATE
MSU students
blamed for calls
A woman called the Department of
MPublic Safety on Sunday evening to
report a co-worker left obscene mes-
sages on her telephone answering
machine. The caller left his number
on the message.
When DPS called the man, he stat-
ed the calls were made by friends of
his that were visiting from Michigan
State University. The suspect added
they were most likely playing a joke
and apologized for their behavior.
Firecrackers set
off in Markley
A resident of Mary Markley
Residence hlall called DPS on
Saturday to report that two suspects
threw firecrackers into an open room
of the Butler hall.
The unknown suspects were
nowhere to be found when DPS
*responded to the call. A report was
filed.
Thief assaults
local store owner
Ann Arbor Police Department offi-
cers responded to an assault report at
Buster's Market on the corner of
Packard and Platt roads on Tuesday.
The store owner called to report that
a man tried to steal a bottle of
whiskey.
The owner caught the man and
attempted to call 911. The suspect
then swung the liquor bottle at the
caller and missed, but later hit the
man with his crutch. The suspect was
arrested and was taken to the
Washtenaw County Jail.
Comic book fan
*breaks into local
Barnes & Noble
AAPD officers responded to a
report of a security alarm Wednesday
f at Barnes & Noble bookstore on
Washtenaw Avenue.
The officers discovered a smashed
window above the door. Officers
speculate the suspect reached through
*the broken window and opened the
Wdoor. The officers later apprehended
a man who was carrying an axe and a
comic book from the store, reports
state.
Stereo, computer
stolen in theft
A man called DPS this week to
report his apartment on Oakland
Street had been entered during the
past three weeks while he was out of
town.
The caller reported his stereo receiver
and computer were taken. DPS officers
reported the door was pried open above
the dead bolt and the door was kicked in.
A report was filed.
Loud noises
prompt complaint
DPS received a complaint Monday
night about loud noises in a
Northwood apartment. The caller
reported hearing loud screams, bang-
ng noises and a baby crying in her
neighbor's residence.
Officers responding to the call
found an irritated husband who ini-
tially refused to answer the door, DPS
reports indicate. Officers who
checked the wife, husband and baby
*found no signs of physical injury.
DPS gets false
reports of fire
DPS received multiple reports of a
smoky smell throughout campus late
yesterday morning, said DPS
spokesperson Beth Hall.
Ann Arbor Fire Department offi-
cials said that although several warn-
ing systems were triggered. there was
no fire on campus. The smell orici-
nated from an individual legally
burning Christmas trees near
Whitmore Lake Road.
Compiled bv Daily Staff Reporter
Reill, Brennan.
The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 16, 1998 - 3
MSU survey says
job market trving
PAUL TALANIAN/Daily
Tech. Manager Jim Kane points to UM's electric car at the auto lab. Also present: Power Train Leader Larry Mercier at
the Lay Autolab yesterday.
Enlgineers designFtueCar
By Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud
Dally Stafl'Reporter
Heceere's Johnie.
Johnie 5, that is.
Engineering students, working with
Big Three automakers, have designed a
car they call Johnie 5, which they hope
will meet the driving demands of the
next generation.
"This program was created to
allow the Big Three to share technol-
ogy" said team leader Alex Sammut,
an Engineering senior. "Our objec-
tives were to triple fuel efficiency.
maintain drivability. minimize the
increase in cost, and meet ULEV
emission standards."
Usin(i the frame of a Ford Taurus,
the team redesigned the car so that it
gets approximately 60 miles per gal-
lon. The "hybrid electric vehicle" com-
bines an electric powertrain with a
diesel motor. and allows the car to be
virtually noiseless at low speeds while
getting high fuel efficiency. It also has
a heat pack that provides instantaneous
warmth in cold weather.
"This program addresses a lot of
the issues facing the transportation
industry, such as pollution and fuel
economy.' said Engineering junior
Dan Herrera.
The car will participate in the third
annual Future Car Competition xx th
cars from 13 other North American
universities. The students involved
with Johnie 5 are confident about
their model's performance.
"We're happy we've got a running
car, and that's the thingthat's been stop-
ping us the past two years?" Sammut
said. "We're very optimistic about this
year's competition. The winning model
last year came from L;(-Iav is. The guy
there is the foremost expert on hybrid
v chicles. If we could show him a few
tricks, that would be great"
lohnie 5 is very similar to automo-
biles currently being shown at the
North American Auto Show in Detroit.
Each of the Big Three has un eiled its
own hybrid model. vet for students to
produce a car on par with major com-
panies is quite an achievement.
"I've been very impressed with
what U of M Future Car did with
their vehicle," said Autotech
Technology Development Inc.
Program manager Jim Nader, whose
company provided technology and
technical support to participants.
c'They have a very good and cohesive
team mentalitv"
Big Three companies use the com-
petition as a way to encouragle innov-
ative concepts about car design.
"The competition was created to
allow college students to bring new
ideas into the program." Samm ut
said. They gave us a Taurus and said,
'GO to it."
I takes abou, a year to complete the
building of the car and many students
are inVolved in the project. At times,
hey almost ie and eat with the car.
":ast semester, we would some-
times spend 6) hours a week trying to
meet the deadline," said Engineering
sophomore Mayur Valanju.
The experience gives engineering
hopefuls a hands-on application of
their classroom educations.
"Basically, it's very rewarding
because you learn a lot about the tech-
nological aspects of car making
instead of the theoretical stuff we learn
in class' Valanju said.
0 Salaries are soaring as
graduates face the best
economy in recent years
By Christine M. Paik
Daily) Sta Reporter
A thriving economy has many col-
lege graduates declaring, "Show me the
money!"
According to a recent survey con-
ducted by Career Services and
Placement at Michigan State
University, students graduating in 1998
should easily find a job and receive a
healthy salary as well.
Patrick Scheetz, author of the 27th
recruiting trends survey and director of
the Collegiate Employment Research
Institute at Michigan State, said the job
market of 1998 is "excellent" for stu-
dents looking for jobs and hoping to
earn a decent salary.
"For this year's graduates it looks like
a very attractive job market," Scheetz
said. "(It's) by far the best one we've
reported in many years."
Data from 477 companies showed
that a 27.5-percent increase in job
prospects is expected this year, the
highest prediction in recorded history.
"That's a significant increase over
the last four years," Scheetz said.
"During these last four to five years, the
market has recovered from quite a spi-
ral that occurred in the previous four to
five years. The market has improved
and is now at the point of recovery at
this stage."
Scheetz attributes this growth to a
stron economy, as well as the 1.2-per-
cent decline in the number of bachelor's
degrees granted this year.
"The number of new graduates is
down slightly this year?" Scheetz said,
"It just happens to be a demographic
blip. But that's helping prospects for
those who are graduating because there
will be a shortage of people needed to
fill positions."
According to the survey, starting
salaries are also expected to increase.
Averae- salaries for this vear arc at their
liihest, with engineers and computer
scientists topping the list at an average
of $44,557 and $38,741, respectively
"Anything computer related is very
high in demand;' Scheetz said. "Whether
you're in engineering or business or
health professions, everything is going
high tech, and the high tech graduates are
the one's pulling off high salaries."
John Davis, assistant director of
recruitment services at Career Planning
and Placement at the University of
Michigan, said University graduates fit
in with the study's results.
"We've had a large number of stu-
dents who have accepted job offers.
much more so than last year at this
time.? Davis said.
Engineering senior Dean Brod\y said
his experience with the job search was
smooth and simple.
"I don't know how it was in the past,
but for me, the job search was really
successful," Brody said. "I've got a
couple of offers already."
Brody said his salary offers riflect
the value the job market places on ,tu-
dents graduating with a technical
degree.
"I'd have to say there are great oppor-
tunities out there, especially for engi-
neering majors," Brody said. Brady
said he expected average salaries o be
much lower.
Brody said the internships he com-
pleted oxer the past three years were
deciding factors for companies to
which he applied.
"They're looking for people with
experience?' Brodv said.
LSA senior Joanna Kornfeld said
that without her previous internship, it
would have been tough to get a job. She
said she felt lucky compared to friends
who were struggling. She said the job
market has not improved, but rather
gotten worse.
"I think (the job market is) very com-
petitive and it's not as promising with
just a college degree:' said. "it's
almost frightening."
Driver's licenses to
get high-tech boost
Prepare for Your MCAT with U of M's most
effective review course and save $200
By Mike Spahn
Dally Staff Reporter
For years people under 21 have used
all means necessary to alter driver's
licenses to squeak by bouncers and
clerks to purchase alcohol.
But in an attempt to stop tampering
and improve customer service Michigan
is changing the form of its license for the
'irst time in 30 years.
Deputy Press Secretary for the
Secretary of States office l]izabethi
Bond said the new license, which w ill
debut in the spring, is a great advance-
ment in technology.
"We are moving from technology that
is more 190s to technology of the next
century:'Boyd said.
Included on the license are two new
security features. Colored ultraviolet ink
called PolaPrime will be placed on the
license. Michigan is the first licensing
agency in the world to use such ink.
Along with the UV ink, the new licetis-
es will be laminated with PolaSecure lam-
inate, which adds to the security.
"We think having two security fea-
tures, the PolaPrime and the PolaSecure.
will make this virtually tamper-proof."
Boyd said.
Boyd also said she realizes that "there
are people that will make it their goal to
fake the ID? but this technology is the
top of the line.
Julie Clark, deputy director of the
Bureau of Driver's Services in
Wisconsin, said the implementation of a
similar license in Wisconsin has helped
counter tampering.
"It's not 100 percent fool proof, but it
has some much better features than the
old ones," Clark said,
Brian Boike, a bartender at
Scorekeeper's Bar & Grill, said lie sees
fake IDs on occasion and the new'
license will probably help keep underage
people out of the bar.
"The Michigan ID as it is is pretty
hard to duplicate" Boike said. "But any
kind of feature the state puts on the card
helps Lus."
First-year Engineering student Matt
Colin agreed that the license changewill
have an afTect on underage drinking, but
he also said this alone will not stop it.
"T'he I Ds here are pretty hard to dupl i-
cate, but it's good that they're making it
exen harder' he said. "But nine out of I (
times its not the ID that gets the alcohol.
itS that people are w illing to let it slide"
Boyd said the improxement of cus-
tomer service was the most important
factor in the decision to change the
license. Many drix ers complain that the
waiting period for a license is too long.
"In the past it has taken t'our to six
weeks to get a license:'Boyd said -The
new license will be in the mail in no
nore than a week.
The new licenses will be availabie at
some offices April 1. though not all
offices will offer the licenses until June.
Early next fall, at least six branch offices
will also offer on site hicensing, Boyd
said.
The new license resembles a credit
card, with the basic inforniation. such as
name, height and weight. on the face of
the card and a magnetic strip on the back.
lie stip xill include the license num'ibe;
expiration date, and the holder's birth date
I he strip may be used in the future as
a type of Al N card. Customers may,
some day, be able to complete transac-
tions like renewig license plates at
machines throughout the state
"We see the day that doing transactions
at a kiosk will be possible." Boyd said.
\Many states already use the new type
oflicense. Clark said the introduction of
the new license has been very successful
in Wisconsin.
"We had some problems in the field
with printers at first, but now ii's going
quite well," Clark said.
The majority of drivers should have
the new license within the next tour
Years, Boyd said.
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Correction
U Jeff Wilson and Karen Bellbrege were misidentified in a photo at the Main Street Comedy Showcase in yesterday's Daily.
What's happening in Ann Arbor this weekend_
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