LoCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 16, 1998 - 9 Expert denounces human Joning GRAND RAPIDS (AP) - It would be appallingly irresponsible" to dis- cuss cloning human beings, the Scottish scientist who produced the sLep Dolly through cloning said yes- tddy. "I cannot believe that people thought ut using this technology" on humans, Ian Wilmut said in a speech at Grand Rapids' Calvin College. He said chi-ng may have benefits for livestock prOduction and human health, but said the science is still in its infancy with human implications poorly understood. "So far, you have been irresponsible because you don't have the legislation in place to regulate" the science of cloning, he told a crowded audience in eech on the ethics of cloning. Wilmut's speech came three days after 19 European nations signed a reaty that said cloning people violated human dignity and was a misuse of sci- nce That signing followed an nnouncement last week by Chicago physicist Richard Seed that he will clone a child within two years. Two Michigan state lawmakers are Sushing bills that would make it illegal Michigan to clone human beings. t U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Grand apids), previously a scientist himself, id the issue really should be dealt ith at the federal level. He has introduced two bills that he hopes to have passed by April. The first bans all human cloning in the United States, while the other forbids research on' human cloning and bans federal money from being spent on it. oily, unveiled in February, was e first known clone of an adult mamnmal. In March, President Cliinton issued an executive order binning the use of federal money for any such project, and he has urged (ongress to put the ban in place qsickly to stop Seed from going ahead with his plan to clone humans. But Wilmut cautioned that humans may not get what they bargained for, n if they did clone a person. He said ,ing produces an infant, and a per- son's personality is molded as much by upbringing and environment as by genes and inheritance. "A copy of Mother Teresa might not want to be a nun," he warned. "I under- stand the wish, but I don't think it's the proper way to go about it. He said the technology will get bet- ter and more efficient, and predicted it 1 be made to work on other species. lUt he said the cloning of human beings, such as producing new chil- dren, poses myriad unanticipated diffi- culties and complications. "We can't predict the benefits," Wilmut said. Student threatens Clinton i Yiemail MIDLAND, (AP) - President ton received a death threat via e- mail from a Midland High School computer, and it took just five hours for Secret Service agents to track it down. Now a 17-year-old girl faces charges that can put her behind bars for a year, The Saginaw News reported yesterday. "Through a number of searches and investigative techniques, we were able to pinpoint the student involved in ding the messages," said Jack nson Jr., supervisor of the Secret Service office in Saginaw. Heidi Sullivan is accused of making three death threats last week, the first from a computer at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, the other two from a computer at the high school, Johnson said. Sullivan was arraigned Wednesday in Midland County District Court on two ints of using a telephone line to make a malicious threat. Each misdemeanor count carries a penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine. She was released on $5,000 personal recognizance. Officials decided not to charge her with more seri- ous felonies. Another dusting Survey gives nation's high schools average grades By William Nash Daily Staff Reporter Instead of giving out grades, high schools across the country are receiving them. A survey recently conducted by Education Weekly gave the nation's high schools an average grade of a C. The survey states that high schools aren't properly preparing students for the job market, or for college life. "We were not so much surprised as saddened by the results, especially of urban schools," said survey director Craig Jerald. The survey predicts that without improvement, "our democratic system and our economic strength, both of which depend on an educated citizenry, will steadily erode; or alternative forms of education will emerge to replace pub- lic schools as we have known them." The survey, which graded schools on four different criteria, took a year to complete. The first area was standards and assessments, in which the state of Michigan earned its highest score - an A-. The High School Proficiency Test got Michigan the grade, despite com- plaints from many students. "The tests were stupid," said Engineering first-year student Nick Thomsen. "I know students who definite- ly should've been proficient and weren't." The next category was teaching qual- ity, in which Michigan obtained the national average - a C. Michigan fared better than average in the resource section of the survey, with a B-. The last portion, climate, gave Michigan its lowest score. The climate portion ranks the student-teacher ratio, safeness of schools and class curricu- lum. Michigan received a D - a grade state educators will not exactly put on the fridge. Despite these low scores, area high schools said they do a good job educat- ing students. "The students I deal with are prepared, and many actually do bet- ter in college," Ann Arbor Pioneer prin- cipal Bob Galardi said. Few University students can claim higher grades in college than in high school: statistics show that most GPAs drop, some by substantial amounts. "The average grade point for Fall 1996 students was a 3.0, and we know that about 94 percent of them had at least a 3.0 in high school," said Ruth Kallio, a staffer in the University's academic planning office. "This means a substantial number had a grade point of somewhat less." "It seemed to me that I didn't get the firgf Jr MLK Continued from Page 1 same feedback as in high school,' Thomsen said, after dropping nearly an entire grade point his first semester. "I thought I was doing better." Galardi said the reasons college stud dents' grades may drop are the pres- sures of new freedoms and responsibil- ities that come with college life. a Music first-year student Cara Heitman blamed her high school for inadequately preparing her for the University. "1 don't think my high school did-a very good job, and that's partly why I did poorly," Heitman said. "I have to keep trying to catch up." The quality of the education a high school student receives often depends on the school's funding, the survey said. With a greater allocation of funds, a school can recruit strong faculty, have updated technology resources and offer more courses. When money is tight, as it is ZaI Brighton Public High School, officiaIs are forced to make difficult allocatui decisions. Brighton administrators m t each year and look at academic depag ments to decide which areas need improvement. "We're gradually moving forward but technology is expensive and money is a problem," said Brighton Princifa Richard Bologna. AP PHOTO A fresh coat of snow graced the shoulders of the statue depicting former Gov. Austin Blair yesterday in front of the State Capitol in Lansing. DANCE Continued from Page 1 will be required to stay standing, and preferably dancing, for 30 consecu- tive hours. But thoughts of a long, fatiguing night are not scaring off potential par- ticipants, Singh said. "People are doing can drives and going out with buckets to raise money," Singh said. "Often when you do com- munity service, you don't directly see the effects. Here there are four families with wonderful stories who the money will be helping. It's amazing to see these families." Ryan Pastor, who attended last night's kick-off event, was helped by the Children's Miracle Network. Two and a half years ago, Pastor devel- oped a brain tumor the size of an egg between his cerebrum and brain stem. "He came into the hospital a healthy seven-year-old and came out of the hos- pital a child who couldn't talk, couldn't move his legs, couldn't move his arms, couldn't do anything,"said John Pastor, Ryan's father. Ryan Pastor is now almost fully recovered, and his father credits the Children's Miracle Network for his son's health. "I'l do anything for CMN," John Pastor said."Ryan's definitely someone to be proud of and look up to. There is such a thing as a miracle, and it's him." Students are not the only ones who have embraced the Dance Marathon. Members of the corporate communi- ty, including 7-UP and Kaplan Educational Centers, have lent financial and logistical support, Singh said. Adam Acey, promotion director and mid-day air personality at Ann Arbor's WIQB 103 FM, said WIQB is excited to be the primary media sponsor of the event. "We'll use the power of having a voice over the airwaves to help chil- dren out," Acey said. "For an event in its infancy to have 50,000 watts behind the effort is a lot of help. We're giving the marathon tons of publicity on the air and broadcasting live from the event." Other symposium highlights include a day-long community ser- vice project, "Acting on the Dream," and a unity march sponsored by the Black Student Union, both on Monday. Events began Saturday with a photo exhibit at the University's Museum of Art, titled "Dust-Shaped Hearts: Portraits of African- American Men." "We want to honor and continue Dr. King's work, and maintain the dialogue that he would if he were still alive," said symposium coordinator Tara Young, an Office of Multicultural Initiatives pro- gram coordinator. The theme of this year's symposium, "Why We Can't Wait," is taken from a passage from King's "Letter from Birmingham City Jail." "Martin Luther King, Jr. was a proponent of affirmative action in higher education," Monts said. "He believed that access to edu- cation was a key component in the struggle toward racial equality. The many events held in observance will remind us that work still th needs to be done, and that challenges to our admissions policies are simply another version of George Wallace standing in the school house door.: The majority of symposium events take place Monday, a University holiday and King's observed birthday. Events continue rO throughout the month. Many student groups and academic departments, including'Uie Black Student Union Alianza and La Voz Mexicana, helped plan the symposium. "It's a day off of classes, but it has a great educational aspect. A lot of people don't know what Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for" said LSA senior Dedra Miles, a minority peer adviser at Mary } Markley residence hall and an organizer of an affirmative action panel Monday, titled "Affirmative Action, Why Now?" More information on the symposium and listings of all events can be found at http://vww.umich.edu/~oapama/mlk98. REG ENTS Continued from Page 1 of satisfaction in the position?' Provost Nancy Cantor said Neidhardt's willingness to remain in his position for another year will allow a search committee to evaluate candi- dates and finally recommend an indi- vidual to fill Neidhardt's position. "We are just absolutely delighted, that is, the president and I, to cajole Fred into a few more months of dedi- cated service," Cantor said. Within about one month, a search committee to replace Neidhardt will have a "serious" start, Neidhardt said. Final recommendations will be made next fall. The Board yesterday also solidified the appointment of Prof. Douglas Kelbaugh, formerly of the University of Washington, as the new dean of Architecture and Urban Planning. Kelbaugh's appointment will take effect July 1. He will replace interim dean Jim Snyder, who has served since last July. Cantor said the University is excited about Kelbaugh's potential at the University. "He's very interested in urban design and what we can do in the college around urban design," Cantor said. "He's a very creative architect and leader in the field and will lead the col- lege strongly into the future." Cantor said a search committee con- ducted a lengthy international search, which culminated in the recommenda- tion of Kelbaugh. "They were looking for an outstand- ing scholar and outstanding leader and I think we've found it,' Cantor said. There are plans for Kelbaugh to make several trips to Ann Arbor during this semester to be involved in the bud- getary process, Cantor said. - Dailv Staff Reporter Katie Plona contributed to this report. Familial Psoriasis Volunteers Needed Does psoriasis run in your family? The University of Michigan Department of Dermatology is seeking volunteers to par- ticipate in a research study designed to identify genes that increase the risk of pso- riasis. Participation involves only a one-time skin exami- nation by a dermatologist and the drawing of approxi- mately one ounce of blood. No treatment is involved. Home visits by our staff can be arranged for families liv- in g within an hour of Ann Arwor. To be eligible for this study, at least two siblings I'° I The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM I WHAT'S HAPPENING- . I !r BADMINTON SINGLES & DOUBLES ENTRIES DUE: Thurs 1/29, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $5 per individual TOURNAMENT DATES: Sat & Sun 1/31 & 2/1 NCRB rLe SWIMMING & DIVING MEET ENTRIES DUE: Weds 2/4,4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $25 per team $5 per individual MANAGER'S MEETING MANDATORY Weds 2/4,6:00 PM, IMSB MEET DATE: Thurs 2/5, Canham Nat POWERBAR -_________________________________________I FREE THROW CONTEST Don' etr' carried away - - .LS POWERBAR ENTRIES DUE: Fri 2/6,4:30 PM, IMSB Office Fri 2/6,6:00 PM, IMSB Gym ENTRY FEE: $5 per individual $1 per each addtional try CONTEST DATE: Fri 2/6 IMSB 3-POINT SHOOTOUT ENTRIES DUE: Fri 2/6,4:30 PM, IMSB Office Fri 2/6,6:00 PM, IMSB Gym ENTRY FEE: $5 per individual $1 per each additonal try SHOOTOUT DATE: Fri 2/6 IMSB jPW IA E I