I~
LOCAL/S TATE
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 25, 1998 - 3
*HIGHER
DUCATION,
Columbia class
of 2003
-i ppicat1ions up
A record number of students submit-
d applications to Columbia
n. iversity this year hoping to become
imember of the undergraduate class of
, the Columbia Daily Spectator
reported.
This year's increase in the applicant
pool amounts to a 5.8 percent change
over last year's 1,095 applications.
Applications for early decision to the
College of Engineering increased by
more than 152 applications.
01-Admission officials said the rise in
applications can be attributed to an
increase in the university's popularity.
UCLA helps grad
student stress
University of California at Los
',ngeles graduate students are all feel-
ng the effects of stress, university is
holding sessions throughout the week
to help graduate students cope with the
pressures of their studies, the Daily
.Pruin reported.
The amount of stress associated with
earning a masters or doctoral degree
differs between each individual and
department, reports state.
Support group facilitators said grad-
upte students need support groups
ecause they may feel overwhelmed
itb the arduous task of writing a the-
sis or dissertation because of the
importance they tend to place on these
projects.
Former 'U'
president studies
testing ethics
The National Bioethics Advisory
Commission met last week to address
th',ethical concerns arising from scien-
tific testing on humans, the Daily
Princetonian reported.
Princeton President Harold Shapiro,
who chairs the commission, said the
committee aims to ensure that people
,are not exploited by science.
ha a letter sent to Shapiro, who
served as University of Michigan pres-
-ident from 1980-88, President Clinton
asked the commission to examine cur-
rent biological research and consider
both the medical and physical implica-
tions of testing on humans. The com-
inittee also addressed the general ethics
involved in biological research.
BYU staff discuss
*'amily at world
,conference
Brigham Young University and the
Second World Congress on Families
held a reception Saturday to discuss the
dynamics of the family unit, The Daily
Universe reported.
The reception mirrors others around
-he world focusing on this topic. The
.ongress is an international organiza-
ion that aims to promote the cause of
families throughout the world.
CUniversity officials said the universi-
ty is attempting to emphasize the
importance of the family unit despite
itsever-changing form.
-, GO Family Voice is one of three
sponsors of the reception. The Family
ooice unites with the efforts of the
dS&c nd World Congress on Families.
*GWU explores
Korean studies
George Washington University may
..establish a Korean studies program if it
receives an endowment from the Korean
'Foundation, The Hatchet reported. The
Korean Foundation delegates are search-
ing for funding sources for the program,
but negotiations with the foundation are
-sttll in the early stages.
The Hatchet reported that competing
universities have yet to submit formal
proposals to receive the endowment.
- Compiled from University Wire
reports by Daily Staff Reporter Susan
T Port.
Authorities to obtain Kevorkian tape
The tape, which aired Sunday
on '60 Minutes,' shows
Kevorkian injecting a man with
a lethal dose of drugs
DETROIT (AP) - CBS will release the unedit-
ed version of Dr. Jack Kevorkian's videotape of
Thomas Youk's death to prosecutors, a spokesper-
son for "60 Minutes" said.
CBS decided yesterday to comply with prosecu-
tors' subpoena for the tapes, Kevin Tedesco said.
Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca's
office said in a statement a charging decision
would be made after "a full review of the tapes and
completion of the investigation by the Waterford
Township Police." The office expects to receive the
tape today.
"The circumstances surrounding the death of
Mr. Youk deserves appropriate attention in order to
avoid the issuance of hastily made charges," the
statement said.
The statement said the office would have no fur-
ther comment until a charging decision has been
made.
Kevorkian brought the tapes to CBS, which
used edited portions on Sunday's "60 Minutes." An
estimated 15.6 million households were tuned into
the newsmagazine, which showed a figure -
Kevorkian's face was never shown in that sequence
- injecting Youk with a lethal dose of drugs.
Kevorkian said Youk died Sept. 17, less than
three weeks after the enactment of a Michigan law
making assisted suicide a felony punishable by up
to five years in prison.
In the program, Kevorkian challenged prosecu-
tors to charge him.
Tedesco would not discuss the reasoning behind
CBS' decision to comply with the subpoena
beyond saying, "It was our understanding he want-
ed it made public."
Kevorkian initially planned to release the tape to
prosecutors himself, but his lawyer David Gorosh
said he persuaded him not to. Gorosh said he did-
n't think Gorcyca would need to see the unedited
tape to decide whether to file charges.
"There's nothing new on that unedited tape," he
said. "What more does David Gorcyca need to
take a look at?"
Gorosh said Kevorkian told him the unedited
tape contains more of Youk telling Kevorkian
about his pain. Youk, of Waterford Township, suf-
fered from Lou Gehrig's disease. Kevorkian said in
"60 Minutes" Youk feared choking on his saliva.
Gorosh said he thought Gorcyca should not file
any charges because of the mitigating circum-
stances in Youk's death.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Fieger, Kevorkian's for-
mer attorney, said yesterday that he was troubled
and saddened by the path - the taunting of
prosecutors, the choice to represent himself amd
the initial offering of the videotapes
Kevorkian chose after the tape's release. H e said
it was consistent with Kevorkian's propensity to
undermine success.
"The tape itself and his actions are very com-
passionate," Fieger said. "He raises the issue
and he does it well, but then for some unknown
reason he changes the focus from the issue to
himself."
Fieger said he had to distance himself from
Kevorkian because of his decision to represent
himself.
"If he wants me to be his lawyer, I'm the
lawyer," Fieger said. "He wants to represent him-
self - he will end up destroying himself. I won't
assist my client in committing suicide.
"He wants to be martyr. There's part of Jack that
wants to be a martyr. I would be interested in mak-
ing him a hero, not a martyr."
Playing along
Economists predict slight
slowdown for next year
By Jaimie Winkler
Daily Staff Reporter
In the annual two-year forecast pro-
duced by the University, economists
predicted a slowdown of the economy
over the next two years.
"A year ago, most analysts were say-
ing, 'It doesn't get any better than this,'
but it did," economics Prof. Saul
Hymans said in a written document
summarizing the study, which was
released last week.
Overall, the study concluded the
economy will continue to expand, but at
a slower rate.
It assessed inputs, or economic fac-
tors, that strengthened the economy in
recent years and compared them to
recent economic data to forecast the
slowdown.
According to the study, the recent
growth percentages in consumer spend-
ing, residential building and business
investment are slowing down.
Also, due to the weakening Asian
markets, exports and consumer senti-
ment are down.
Consumer sentiment, which is a mea-
sure of purchasing confidence, is drop-
ping from record-high levels in part
because of recent job cuts, slowing job
gains and stock market instability.
The University's Institute for Social
Research measures consumer sentiment
and factors it in to the federal govern-
ment's Consumer Price Index, which is
the standard measure of inflation.
"We expect consumer spending to
continue to increase, but at a slower
level," said Senior Research Associate
"We expect consumer spending to
continue to increase.
- Economist Janet Wolfe
Researcher for a University inflation study
Janet Wolfe, one of the study's
researchers.
The study predicts inflation will
increase from the current 0.8 percent to
1.5 percent in 1999 and 1.9 percent in
2000.
It also forecasts an increase in unem-
ployment from its current rate of 4.5
percent to 4.9 percent in 1999 and 5.4
percent in 2000.
While this increase does not parallel
the high unemployment of the 1980s, it
could mean students would have to do a
little extra job searching.
But Wolfe said: "With the growth
we've had in the past few years, the job
market for graduates has been very
strong."
She added that the higher unemploy-
ment levels would return the job market
to more normal levels.
LSA senior Charles Sutton said a
University degree does not automatical-
ly ensure a job offer.
"There are no guarantees. Even
though I would be graduating with a U
of M degree, I know people who have
graduated from here with a degree and
aren't working," Sutton said.
One important factor in the findings
is the Federal Reserve Board's recent
interest rate cuts.
After holding rates steady for 18
months, the Fed then lowered rates by a
25 basis point drop in late September
and lowered it again by a 25 basis point
drop in mid-October.
The Fed made these changes to
encourage more normal lending prac-
tices, Wolfe said.
Therefore, qualified loan applicants
would not be turned down, Wolfe said.
"It is this pattern of developments
which we believe justifies the expecta-
tion that the Federal Reserve Board will
continue on an expansionary track -at
least through the early months of the
coming year," Hymans said in the
report.
Wolfe said the policy expansion
would cause interest rates to decrease.
This likely would not affect student
loans because they are already at a
reduced interest rate, Wolfe said.
But for young adults exploring the
housing market, the lower rate would
lower mortgage rates, making hous
more affordable.
If the forecast is accurate, foreign
products could become more expen-
sive.
The report forecasts relatively higher
prices on imports due to the expected
decrease in value of the U.S. dollar.
JESSICA JOHNSON/Daily
Biology rearcher Tom Goss plays the song 'Somewhere Over the Ralnbw' on his
harmonica yesterday by the flagpole on Central Campus.
rater, Hansen
discuss next term
By Kelly O'Connor
Daily Staff Reporter
With Jan. 1 fast approaching, Rep. Liz
Brater (D-Ann Arbor) and Rep.-elect
John Hansen (D-Ann Arbor) are prepar-
ing for the new congressional term.
Because the state House is under
Republican control and many members
being forced out by new term limit legis-
lation, the pair face a challenging upcom-
ing season.
But both members, Brater in her third
term and Hansen just beginning his first,
seem unswayed by the obstacles before
them.
Brater said she will concentrate on the
main issues she stressed during the cam-
paign.
"I'm going to continue to work on
issues such as the environment, mental
health and education" she said.
Brater expressed concern that the
Republican majority in the House might
do away with important committees she
would like to work on, such as a con-
sumer protection committee.
"The Republicans will probably abol-
ish the consumer protection committee,"
she said.
Hansen said his main focus will be on
education, a field in which he has years
of experience but he does not want to
begin his first day in the House pretend-
ing he has nothing to learn.
"My whole life has been spent in K-12
public education;" Hansen said. "1 don't
have a list of bills to introduce. It's not my
inclination to say I'm going because I
have all the answers ... I see myself as
more of a team person."
Another step yet to be taken in prepa-
ration for the new term is the formation
and placement of House members on
committees. This will be decided by the
minority and majority leaders of the
respective parties. These people must
make the best decisions they can regard-
ing committees, Hansen said.
"It is up to the Speaker (of the House)
and the party leader to work with the
strengths of the people there" he said.
Brater said she is concerned with envi-
ronmental issues and hopes to work on
specific bills to improve the area's aware-
ness of the issue.
Some of these bills would focus on
changing the levels of toxic chemicals
legally allowed in the environment to bet-
ter protect women and children and
establishing an environmental report card
for the state of Michigan.
Because new term limit legislation
has kept many long-standing members of
Congress from returning for the upcom-
ing term, Brater has gained a position of
seniority in the House. This puts her in a
position to assist the beginners, she said.
"I think there are only about 25-30
returning members in the Democratic
Caucus," she said. "I will try to help the
new members by sharing information I
have on the issues"
Correction: U The increase in research expenditures at the University reached the figure of $491.5 million last year.
This was incorrectly reported in yesterday's Daily
What's happening in Am r today
-WEDNESDAY Michigan Union, Wolverine Room, Lhobby, 8 p.m.- 1:0 a.m.
12 p.m.- 12 a.m. U 4 Psychology Academic Peer Advising,
647-3711, _East Hall, Room 1346,