LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 10, 1998 - 3A RESEARCH 'U' conference to unite music, technology Composers, engineers and consul- tants will try to bridge the gap between creativity and technology at the University's International Computer Music Conference Oct. 1-6. Music Prof. Mary Simoni is orgmniz- ing the event, which is being hosted by the School of Music. Through workshops, seminars and demonstrations engineers will apply the latest technology to music and com- osers will show how they incorporate 'chnology into their performing ensembles. Conference highlights will include an Oct. 5 symphony band performance, leaturing the world premiere of a David Jaffe electronic violin concerto. Study: Maternal preferences *ffect offspring's childbearing age Young men and women whose moth- ers urged them to marry and have a large family tend to have children soon- er than their peers, according to a new University study. Jennifer Barber, a sociologist at the University's Institute for Social Research, compiled a data set on 835 mother-child pairs who were studied *r 31 years. She found that daughters whose mothers preferred they marry by age 21 had their first child seven years faster than mothers who preferred their children marry at age 30. Initiative to give road map to new technologies 'hirty years ago, most Americans had never touched a computer. But now many need help learning and other technologies that are becoming a part of daily life. The University announced an initia- tive Sept. 2 which is designed to give teachers, students and workers a road map to understand new information technologies. *The project, called the Ameritech Learning Initiative, will be lunded over the next five years with a S5 million grant from Ameritech. Katherine Willis, director of pro- gram development for the School of Information, said the project is aimned at "real people who have real work they want to achieve." est measures effectiveness of chemotherapy A new study released this summer by the University Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests a prostate- specific antigen test can determine how well chemotherapy has worked in patients with advanced prostate cancer. PSA screening tests are used to *tect prostate cancer by measuring the level of a prostate-specific antigen in the blood. The validity of previous efforts to use the test to gauge patient response to therapy was questionable. University researchers studied 62 men with prostate cancer and found those whose PSA level declined 50 per- cent or niore after eight weeks of hemotherapy had a significantly high- survival rate. Study: Blacks concerned with the environment Blacks are equally or more con- cerned as whites about water and air pollution, and other environmental issues, according to a University study. "The conventional wisdom is that, e to greater concerns about jobs, crime education and other 'survival' issues, black Americans are uncon- cerned about the environment," said SNRE associate Prof. Paul Mohai. "This study provides clear evidence that conventional wisdom is wrong." For the study, 793 people were sur- veyed to identify their views on a wide range of environmental issues. * Conpilel by Daily Staff Reporter Jason Stoffer: 'U' prof. proves ancient Kepler theory By Erin Holmes Baits StallReporter in 1611, Johannes Kepler proposed a theory of the most efficient way to stack three-dimen- sional spherical objects. Ten years ago, mathematics Prof. Thomas lales set out to become the first person in 400 years to prove Kepler's theory. Iast month -lales announced a solution - 280 pages of mathematical proof -- to the ancient problem. But when asked if he knew what he was getting into, he gave a nervous chuckle. "I couldn't imagine it would be so difficult," Hales said. "I realized pretty quick that it was harder than it seemed." Ilales defined the problem as "proving the densest packing of spheres in space." The solu- tion, called face-centered cubic packing by Kepler, was obvious for hundreds of years, he said. "The best arrangement is familiar, IHales said. "It's the cannonball arrangement that shows up in war menorials or trust stands when people stack oranges." But the proof of the solution was ttses' goat - work that he said initially sioves a lot sf uncertainty. "The problem starts out with so itsuite number of variables," 'iaLes said. "Oi si ttie hardest things to do was bring it sosu to finite number'" Iventually, Hales said, he wis aheti condense the problem to an equtson sit 155 risles "You need to make a list sit escry sphers. packing that can potentially be hetter t s the one you want t o show is best," ttales said "There are about 5,000 possibilities out there " Although it didn't originate as s sist pro- ject, Ilales received help fron sis graduate assistant Samuel Fergusun. Fergusun "wrote his Ph.D. undei my dsres.- lion,"H ales said. "tis thesis project actuily solved part of the problem On August 9, lIales presented hss fisistied proof to mathematiciansis, whi wilt liut it through a 'refereeing process" to ensure that thlere are nsi errors. "IVe tried to be very careful," Bales said. "It will actualty be a relief when somebody else can say they've checked it and everything lIle ssid the University's mathematics teparsmessi v-s supportive during his search for , sslutirn - although he never reveasled to theim how close he was to the answer. "tihey knew I was working on the problem:" II stes said. "I jest didn't tell them how close I Mattiemaltics department Chair Al faylor salid he knew as early as 1992 that Hales was working on the problem. "In the math department, everyone is work- ing on a problem," Taylor said. "It's the typical thing that happens all the time here.. But (Itales) really did it." Taylsir added that the department is pleaised wiIb llaIes' proof and the internationat fame lie receied because of the situation's rarity. "Iiere aren't many 41)1-year-old problems that get solved," Taylor said. "This is an unusual occurrence. 'Taylor said Bales' success isn't the first in the Unisersity's mathemities department. In the 1970s, mathlematics Prof. Robert Griess solved a problem stemming from a 19th ('entury theory. But Griess said a lot has changed since his success more than 20 years ago. "I got calls nd letters from all over the world,' Griess said. "But currently mathemati- cal (media) coverage is at a higher level than it was then. there hasn't been a lot of coverage of math advancements in the past." With his proof now out sif his hands, hales said he isn't certain what his next undertaking will be. "I like big prejects;' hales said. But he said there is one challenge he can't handle. "Right after I finished the problem, I went to Germany a nd signed sip for super-intensive German" Ilales sid. "I reilly struggled." Social 3 Y-. Work , addition complete By Lauren Gibbs The bulldozers and cranes that have been a permanent fixture on the southwest corner of East and South University since August 1995 have finally gone away leaving the shiny new School of Social Work Building in their place. In the summer of 1988, Social Work Prof. Jesse (iordon wrote a proposal to the University empha- sizing the need to build a new social work building. Ten years later, the building is completed and University commu- nity members can take part in a dedication day and celebration cer- emonies on Sept. 25. Until this semester, the school was based mainly in the Frieze Building, where space was growing scare for the expanding school, and the facul- ty was scattered across Central Campus. the University approved Giordon's proposal in July of 1988, and ground- breaking to begin construction took place in August. The new building, A which was "One o1 finished last semeste r, x ex iting tl houses the top ranked social the no wbi work gradu-- a ate program, e ctac i according to U.S. News & W o r l d Report. David Crampton, a Social Work graduate student, said the new building "helps everyone (in the school) feel more professional and legitimate. Social Work Dean Paula Allen- Meares said the most impressive feature of the new building is the access to technology resources. "I think that one of the most excit- ing things about the new building is Circle K wins international recogniion University chapter raised more than $5, 000 The School of Social Work Building was recently completed. A dedic ceremony will be held Sept. 25 for University community members. F I the spectacular library and cutting edge technology thst it slers" Allen-Meares said. Along with a full library, which Allen-Meares has dubbed "the hub o intellectual activity," the Comprehensive Resource Center contains a fuly integrated computing site tir students to retrieve informa- tion at the push of a button. lvry 'the most a s (NO $NO~tr o o m . cont ains ings about e iheruc phrt for ilding is theo 11 i n e r library de s k to p Paula Allen-Meares comput- e rs and Social Work Dean d e o projec- tors. From each podium, the instructor can control the, lights, projector and VCR. The touch- screen information station in the lobby allows visitors access to a full directory and schedule of classes and events. Also, the Distance Learning Facility allows students and faculty to commu- nicate in a video conference to almost any locasion around the world. Thle f'.cuity oftices were desipsued .rsuissd sctagonal open sts i.wsys, i order to promote fsee-ti-sce csInommuication beiwees, the s:lf, whsile sthe class- sroms isis) resesrch offices have been built is' te heills between the stairw.ays. GOordon said. ('rimpton said thc new facilities t hs ise students and faculty in the school) to interact rsore than before and create more of a com- munity within the school" In addition to the technological and educational adsantages the new building offers, it is also quite a work of art, Allen-Meares said. The brick and limestone exterior remains consistent to the dominant genre of the buildings on Central C'ampus. The school's interior con- tains 40 museum-quality works, including a commissioned sculp- ture by nationally renowned sculp- tor Sam Gilliam. The facilities of this new building correspond to a revised curriculum that was established in 1997, which Dean Allen-Meares said "provides a rich environment to support and add to the research, instruction and service agenda of the school" By William Nash Daily Staff Reporter Eighteen members of Circle K, an on-campus community service group, returned from a trip to Jamaica last month with nice tans and and the first-place Gold Achievement Award. The award was presented on August 10 to the club with the highest overall achievement in the areas of communi- ty service and fundraising. The chapter received the brass cup for raising more than $5,000 for charities and doing more than 2,500 "(The a hours t sicom- munity ser- literallyti vice. "To win the Champiow International Gold Cup of organizati Achievement is beyond all words," said former p Rishi Mougil, former president of the University's Circle K chapter. "It is literally the national championship of our orga- nization." The organization, which is spon- sored by the Kiwanis Club, stresses leadership, fellowship and service, Members also have done activities for area children such as visiting the Motts Children Hospital, helping with the Ozone House's open house and being active in K-grams, a pro- gram that pen-pals college and ele- mentary students. Chapter members said they had no idea how the voting would turn out in Jamaica. "I thought we were in the running," said Katie Foley, chapter vice presi- dent. "I knew we'd done great things." One of those great things was to increase student participatio in Circle K. The group more than tripled its membership for a total of 105 mem- bers, earning it the Growth Enhances Membership Award. e I/ The organization's campaign of posting signs with an encircled 'K' on billboards peaked interest on campus, said Beth Morrison, chap- ter secretary. "We grabbed people's attention, and once they came to our programs and events, it was the energy and heart that retained them," Mougil said. The chapter also started Website where students can join the organi- zation (www.umich.edu/-circlek) and obtained an on-campus office. It meets every Thursday and has a mass meet- ing sched- ward) is uled for Sept. 17 in National gt h e Michigan ship of our U n i o n 's Kuenzel on. Room. In addi- - Rishi Mougil tion to the resident of Circle K GEM and G o 1 d Achievement Awards, a few individuals awards hound their way into some Circle Member's hands. Honore Brodene, former chapter district governor, and Jennifer Bucholz, former chapter secretary, received distinguished status for their services. Moudgil wpn a $1,000 scholar- ship for his leadership and academic achievements. "The scholarship I won was a nice one for tuition purposes, and it was very nice that the Michigan District had nominated me," Mougil said. Circle K had more student involve- ment this year than any other in its 30- year existence at the University. Hard work, talented officials and a recent restructuring are reasons for this years triumph, Foley said. Although last year's officers have moved on, this year's leaders hope to maintain the precedent set by the group. "We're going to do our best to keep it up and, most importantly, have fun," Foley said. Judge dismisses Temptations suit. DETROIT (AP) - A federal judge yesterday dismissed an injunction request by the family of former Temptations lead singer David Ruffin seeking to stop the filming and airing of a miniseries about the group. U S. District Court Judge John Feikens said he could not stop the fihn- ing of the program, scheduled to air on NBC Nov. 1-2. Gregory Reed argued the series, labeled as a docudrama, should be stopped because it would confuse its viewers. "Any docudrama is not covered by the First Amendment," Reed said. "It creates a state of confusion. The viewer doesn't know what is fact and what is fiction." Attorney Melanie LaFave, represent- ing the series producer Suzanne de about Ruffin's grandchildren. Passe, argued that claim had no Attorney Herschel Fink, representing grounds. Motown, cited cases such as the "Fiction, fact, a blend - its protect- Pentagon Papers and argued that "we ed," she said. simply can't consider a prior restraint. Reed also argued that the four-hour Ihe law, the Constitution, prohibits it" series would damage the Ruffin family. Members of the Ruffin family said Excerpts from the script show that they were disappointed by the judge's Ruffin's mother, Earlene Ruffin, is decision. Ruffin died in 1991. depicted as an unchaste woman and that Ruffin's ex-wife, Sandra Ruffin, said she gave the young David to a pimp. she was upset that the series could not Reed said these images are false. be stopped. Feikens said such complaints could "Everybody will suffer because it's be sorted out as defamation lawsuits not true," she said. "They didn't come after the series has been made and to anybody in the family for the truth." broadcast. Reed disagreed. "'Ihere's no accurate remedy when you have children who have to carry this burden of shame," he said, talking I University of Wisconsin- Platteville "If e" hare built cast. s is he ir, yosur vwrs r. ,)not be bts. i_ Ihatis akere they shosld be. A Now put 'he foundations under them. -Herry Davidtihoreau Learn Your Way Around The World * Stuily abroad :n England, Mexico, Japan, or Spain * Courses in liberal arts and international business * Fluency in a foreign language not required * Home-stays or dorms with meals * Field trips * Financial aid applies (except for summer session) Program Costs: * For tuition, room, board and field trips per semester (for Wisconsin residents/non-residents) * In London, England: $4675/$4975 * In Puebla, Mexico: $52751$5575 * In Nagasaki, Japan: $4075/$4375 * In Seville, Spain: $5975/$6275 Application deadlines: " April 1 for summer session " April 30 for fall semester * October 15 for spring semester For further information contact: Toll free: 1-800-342-1725 E-mail: StudyAbroad@uwplatt.edu Weo: http://www.uwplatt.edu/programs/study abroad/ EVENTS SERVICES cuby,8 p.m. -z du.m. J "Rudolf Steiner's Contributions to J Campus Information Centers, 763- Your ever cOu t sbe 'ere , the Visual Arts," Exhibition, INFO, info@umich.edu, and Sponsored by Anthroposophical www.umich.edu/-info on the The Calendar is r sn everydav and is Society, Exhibition Hall, Rackham World Wide Web a greaf wy to publicie Upcemmg1 Graduate School, 8 a m.-11 p.m. J "HIV/AIDS Testing," Community eavnts, furnp me I ,ng,or otsis- .1 "Dinner for the Homeless," Sosored Family Health Center, 1230 N. tent Stu nt serves. Stop by Tho b Hillel, First United Methodst Maple Rd., 6-9 p.m. Dai yat 420 M nard, and ask to Church, 120 S. State St..3-7 p.m. J Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley theoNews e to et r your Lobby, 8 p.m.- 1:30 am. group'$0ventsor ma Ii s. - 1 Safewalk, 9361000, Shapiro Library CALENDAR POLICY: The calendar's purpose is to provide a place for organizations to announce free events open to the University community. However, we can only print announcements the day of the event. Announcements for events that charge admission will not be run. All items for THE CALENDAR must be mailed or delivered to the Daily at least three days before publication. Events on riday, Saturday or Sunday must be submitted by 5 p.m. Wednesday prior to the event. We can not accept requests over the telephone, and we can not guarantee that an announcement turned in within three days of the event will be run.