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LOCAL/STATE

The Michigan Daily - September 8, 1998 - 11A

I

Bollinger creates:
life science group

By Erin Holmes ,
Daily StaffRepsrter
University President Lee Bollinger
announced the creation of the Life
Sciences Commission this past sum-
mer, which will assess the status of life
science programs at the University and
the potential for new achievements in
these studies.
"From the start, I've been saying that
building, enhancing and reinforcing the
life sciences is a significant goal,"
Bollinger said. "There has been so
much fresh
discovery in
this area by aT ere are
so many tal- l
eepo-substantial
The 19 in all these
faculty
members -Chemistr
appointed to
the commis-
sion repre-
sent several life science departments
at the University, including biology,
physics, chemistry and pharmacolo-
gy.
"My principle goal was to invest the
very best faculty," Bollinger said. "You
want the most talented - some of the
most talented - people."
Provost Nancy Cantor described the
commission as an independent group
that will work on its own and "touch
base" with other offices at the
University as plans develop.
Bollinger said the appointment of the
commission is just the beginning of
many years of"creative brainstorming"
He said this may lead to the construc-
tion of new campus buildings.
Chemistry Prof. William Roush; one
of the commission's co-chairs, said the
broad-based commission will consider
the themes that already exist in the life

ry

sciences and attempt to build upon them.
The group will define the University's
goals for its life science programs in the
"not-so-distant future,' he said.
"The timing of this is right," Roush
said. "There are already substantial
strengths in all these areas ... We're
positioned on the verge of tremendous
programs in life science. Michigan
wants to capitalize on this opportunity."
Bollinger said the commission's
goals will include progress in under-
graduate research, graduate studies
opportunities,
students
31 +d recruitment,
relreadyg
government
strengths funding and
1l possible med-
ar easicaltreatment
G ilibert
Prof. William Roush Omenn, execu-
Commission Co-chair tive vice presi-
dent for med-
ical affairs,
said the commission will look to
advance understanding of the life-sci-
ences.
"I think (the University) is alres-dy
considered one of the leading institu-
tions for the life sciences" Omennsaid.
"But we copld be seen as even Mare
outstanding." -
Omenn said the group will help the
University climb in national rankings
by encouraging unity in the life sci-
ences.
The commission ultimately v.ill
include more broad objectivesand
eventually develop a master plan for all
academic units of the Ann Arbor cam-
pus, Bollinger said.
"We're trying to do as much as we
can across the University," Bollinger
said. "Just because we don't have a
humanities force doesn't mean we're
not doing anything." in those areas.

According to a University legend, the pumas that guard the entrance to the Museum of Natural History will roar when Michigan beats Ohio State.
Legens popular around U campus

By Ern Holmes
Baily Staff Reporier
Years after they leave orientation, University stu-
dents still scurry abound the 'M' in the center of the
Diag.
"I still haven't walked on it," said LSA junior
Katrina Blank.
The scare of treading on the brass plaque is one
E-derived from the mythical tales handed down by
-.orientation leaders and University alumni, said
-Ann Hower, director of the Office of New Student
'Programs.
"If you walk on it before you take your first blue-
book exam, you'll fail it, according to legend," Hower
said. "Of course, there is also the anecdote - you can
reverse the curse if you run from the Pumas in front of
the Museum (of Natural History) to the back of the
Bell Tower, beginning at the stroke of midnight and

then run back before the clock finishes chiming."
Hower said this myth, one of the many that give the
University character, may be the most widely prac-
ticed.
Blank said: "I kind of laughed at the myth orig-
inally ... I didn't think people took it seriously. But
of course, you see people dodging the 'M' all the
time."
Blank said the myth, along with the others told to
incoming students "make campus seem more real"
"It's like little inside jokes," Blank said. "You need
to be a part of the University community in order to
understand them."
She said she still remembers taking off her shoes
and running through the fountain - a first-year stu-
dent tradition.
"It was such a memorable experience," Blank said,
recalling the run that signified the beginning of her

college career. "I thought my orientation leaders were
joking, but then people started taking off their shoes"
Hower said there are several significant myths.
"The pumas will roar when Michigan beats Ohio
state," Hower said. "And we always tell new stu-
dents that if you kiss someone under the Arch
before you're 21, you'll marry them."
Hower said the myths are something students can
share.
But some students say the myths are not significant
to their college experience.
"It puts fun into college, and it's cute ... but it's
not very important to me," said LSA fifth-year
senior Tracey Lewis. "Personally, when I walked
on the 'M' I got better grades on my bluebooks."
Janelle Starr, a fall orientation leader, said she
thinks most students believe the myths once in a
while.

Historic Clements Library celebrates 75 years
Independent library houses rare books ements

By Adam Zuwelnk
Daily Staff Repoter
Looking for rare and original pho-
tographs, letters, and books from
American history to finish a
r earch project?
earch no farther than the
Clements Library, located on South
University Avenue between
University President Lee Bollinger's
house and the Shapiro
Undergraduate Library.
- Celebrating its 75th anniversary
this year, the Clements Library
houses one of the largest collections
of 16th to 20th Century American
history in the world.
:.Founded in 1923 by former
iversity regent and engineering
alumnus William Clements, the
library was not designed as a typical
research library. Specific to
Clements' wishes, the library is
independent from the University's
library system, and was initially
started with Clements' collection of
20,000 rare books.
Under the direction of John Dann
Ie 1977, the library has grown
expanded while continuing to
specialize in original documents and
sources of early American history.
The library has developed an
international following in its 75
years. Its received numerous dona-
tions from people around the world
who know their collections will be
well taken care at the library.
,"Many of our (donors) have a
U7niversity connection, but they know
collection) will be treated well and
NORTHWEST
Continued from Page 1A
Denver to Houston to Detroit. A flight
that would have taken two hours direct
lasted six hours.
'Unortunately, all the flights back
pm Detroit were booked," Shen said.
parents had to take a taxi to Toledo,
o to go back" home.
Shen's parents went from Toledo to
Athnta, with several stops in between,
and.then on to Denver.
.Though most students were able to
book flights through other airlines, they
were faced with sky-high prices. The air-
hues that picked up the flight load of
Northwest were faced with such high
emand that they could demand full fare.
"I had to switch from Northwest to
(Trans World Airline)," said Evan
4s, an LSA first-year student from
few York. "It was like an additional
800° bucks. We couldn't drive, so we
had to fly."
As Northwest continues to cancel
flights, travel agents are picking up the
"We've gotten much busier because
--ple are booking with other airlines,"
aid Christa Weddle, a travel consultant at
*rsma Travel in the Michigan Union.
- The Associated Press contributed to
this report.

used and built on." Dann said.
University alumnus Keith Hook
recently donated his collection of
letters and memorabilia acquired
during his tour as an Army lieu-
tenant in the Pacific Theater during
World War II. Included in his collec-
tion are orders, reports, personal let-
ters and newspapers, making it the
largest non-military collection of
material from World War II.
A collection of more than 45,000
photographs donated by Frederick
Currier and Amy McComb records
American studio photography dur-
ing the last decades of the 19th
Century.
Focusing on the private lives of
Americans during this time period,
the collection was so large and com-
prehensive the library renamed its
photography division in honor of the
generous donors.
Recently, the library received a
large collection of personal letters
from World War II Army general
George Patton. Donated by a direct
descendant, the letters were written
by Patton to his parents during his
time as an undergraduate at the
Virginia Military Institute.
"These letters show how Patton's
intellect developed during his early
military career." said Robert Cox,
Clements Library manuscript and pho-
tography curator.
"He is talking about the emotional
distancing that must take place in the
military, and how the military is the
most respectable institution in the
country."

Although the library is renowned
for its rare collections, it is still
young in terms of many rare book
libraries, and in seeking additional
collections.
One of those developments is the
Clements Library Website. While
only 10 percent of the library's
works are indexed in MIRLYN, Cox
said he has created a comprehensive
site indexing most of the library's
holdings.
The building itself was designed
in 1922 by Detroit architect Albert
Kahn, and is based on the Italian
Renaissance style.
The library's front doors open
onto a grand exhibition hall with a
two-story ceiling and glass cases
filled with rare books. The main
room serves mainly as an exhibition
hall and lecture area.
This fall, an exhibition represent-
ing the exchange of cultures and
ideas between North and South
America and Europe in the 18th
Century will be available for view-
ing in the main hall.
Beyond the main room and down a
flight of stairs lies the rare book
rooms. Because it is accessible only
with assistance from a secretary
located in the main exhibition hall
and another sign-in and interview
procedure downstairs.
The library can appear exclusive.
But this is not the case, Dann and
Cox said.
Due to the rarity and fragileness
of many of the library's holdings,
security checks must be provided in

oroer to ensure tne sate care ann
handling of the materials.
"When I first came to the library,
it was not used by undergraduates,
only grad students. Now it is very
widely used by. undergraduates,"
Dann said.
Many students find resources .in
Clements that are not available in
other libraries or through electronic
research.
"Any student with a legitimate
research interest is welcome to use
the library," Cox said.
Students said they consider the
library to be academically stimulat-
ing.
"I found the library to be pretty
good for research," said LSA junior
Steve Carter. "It was not that intimi-
dating."

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