LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 1,.1998 -3A 4ESEARCH U' among often- c..ited research "universities In the current issue of Science Watch, niversity researchers received high qrades for works they published between 1993 and 1997. In nine out of 21 fields of study, academic papers by University faculty ranked in the top 10 list of the works cited most often. Overall, the University placed fifth in the nation, and first among public institutions - ahead of both MIT and UC Berkeley. The top four schools were Harvard University, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology and Yale University, respectively. University research was the most cited in the education field, fifth most cited in ecology/environment and psychology/psychiatry and seventh in immunology and computer science. 'U' doctors rank among best in the nation University Health Systems is home to almost 200 of the nation's best physi- cians. That's according to a book pub- lished every two years by Woodward/White Inc. "The Best Doctors in America: 1999 Edition" lists ...university doctors from 34 different spe- -cialties, ranging from allergy to derma- tology. The results printed in the book are based on physician peer surveys. The publishers of the book asked more 1an 30,000 physicians across the country to evaluate fellow doctors within their specialty. The complete list of University doctors is available on the University's Medical Center's Website. Research vessel holds open house " The University will hosts tours of its research vessel, the Laurentian, for school children Oct. 6-9. Public open houses are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 6. The ship is scheduled to be docked at Upton Park in St. Joseph, Mich. The program is sponsored by the Frederich S. Upton Foundation of St. Joseph. About 475 students from Benton Harbor and St. Joseph will get to tour the jip. The Laurentian is an 80-foot ship th an "M" painted on its stack. The ~ students will get an opportunity to view the ship's research facilities and laborato- ries. The purpose of the tours is to pre- pare students to take the Great Lakes ,.objectives section on the Michigan Education Assessment Program exam. The tours will cover areas of interest such as ecosystems, food *ebs and migration into the Great Lakes. The students will collect water samples and look at them under microscopes. Lifestyles don't affect some mortality rates A University study suggests that unhealthy lifestyles are not the pri- *ary cause of excess mortality among low-income and less educated Americans. Public Health Prof. Paula Lantz's ,". study is titled "Socioeconomic Factors, ~Health Behaviors and Mortality: Results from a Nationally-Representative -Prospective Study of U.S. Adults" and appeared in the June 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical ssociation. WThe study showed that contrary to conventional wisdom, low-income Americans do not have higher mortality rates because they smoke, drink, do not exercise or are overweight. The study " found that the risky behaviors in low- income and less educated Americans could not explain fully the higher mor- tality rates. Rather, Lantz conjectured that other factors such as the stresses of daily life, wer social supports and a decreased se of control were more important in t dictating the high mortality rates. Occupational and environmental health hazards unique to disadvantaged .Americans were another factor, Lantz suggested. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud. Med Prof retires after 35 By Swrah Lewis Daily Staff Reporter Hematology Prof. Roland Hiss, a Medical School faculty member since 1966, has announced his retirement, after teaching a hematology course for 35 years. Hiss plans to remain in his other positions: chair of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Professions Education, and organizer of continuing medical education courses. Having received both his undergrad- uate and medical degrees at the University, Hiss has a long history with the department of internal medicine and the campus in general. Hiss joined the faculty after complet- ing his residency and fellowship at University Hospitals and has been at the University since, spending only four years of his life since his first year of college away from Ann Arbor. Hiss said the atmosphere of the town and University have kept him in the area. "I like Ann Arbor. The University has been a very challenging place. It's a combination of good things: a good school and a good community," Hiss said. "I've always felt that what I was doing here was exactly what I wanted to do." Dedication certainly describes Hiss, said Medical School Dean Lorris Betz. "Dr. Hiss has shown extraordinary talent and enthusiasm for teaching LOUIS BROWN/Dairy Hematology Prof. Roland Hiss sits In his office at the Towsley Building on the Medical campus. Hiss has announced his retirement after 35 years of teaching at the Medical School. hematology to 35 classes of Medical students. More than 6,000 practicing physicians are fortunate to have benefit- ed from his superb instruction," said Betz, who presented Hiss with a clock Monday during his final class in appre- ciation of the services he has provided throughout his tenure at the University. Hiss' medical fraternity initiated the "Phi-Chi" note system, a type of scribe service in which one student types up the notes for all participants in the class. Students continue to use this system today in lecture classes. His experience has taught him to deal with people on their own level and understand the situations of his stu- dents, he said. Hiss said he feels it is important to "stimulate real situations, because it is a more powerful way to teach students. I've never forgotten what it's like not to know something" He said he has even used his own blood in lab exercises. Medical second-year student Ann Little said Hiss is "very interesting." "After teaching a course for 35 years, it might become stale. But with him, it's done to perfection. His lecturing is incredible, perfectly timed," Little said. Ample positive reaction to his teach- ing may explain why he has received student-selected awards multiple times. The Galens Medical Society, a vol- untary and honorary medical organiza- tion, awarded Hiss its Galens Shovel Award. He also has received the Teacher of the Year Award more than once, in addi- tion to winning the University's Distinguished Service Award. Hiss said the years he spent teaching have allowed him to take his experi- ences, "turn them around,'and make it a better learning experience for the stu- dents." He said he takes pride in his role in educating aspiring doctors. Pi Psi sponsors black panel By Karn Chopra For the Daily Pi Psi Fraternity, Inc. brought togeth- er a panel of influential black males last night to discuss their personal life experiences and accomplishments. LSA junior Jeffrey McKinnon, a member of Pi Psi, said the event, titled "Upward Mobility: Stabilization of the Race," was an attempt to educate stu- dents about the difficulties involved with becoming successful in society. "Specifically the panel is focused of the upliftment of black males, where members of society can come and tell us about their experiences and help us in our future," McKinnon said. LSA senior Felecia Brooks said she came to the panel to discuss the stu- dent-related issue and to support her friends in Pi Psi, a black fraternity founded at the University in 1996. "The topic is universal and people of all colors, white or black, should be here tonight to hear what the speakers have to say," Brooks said. About 75 people attended the meet- ing, during which each person on the four-member panel gave a 10-minute speech, followed by a question-and- answer period. Isaiah McKinnon, the former chief of police for the City of Detroit, spoke about his early life experiences, includ- ing a brutal beating he sustained at the age of 14 from four police officers. He attributed his career choice to this event. "I was going to become a police offi- cer, so that I would never let that occur... around me' he said. History assistant Prof. Matthew Countryman discussed the resentment blacks with high levels of education face from members of their own and other races. * "We stand in a time of incredible contradiction," Countryman said. "There is suspicion on all sides, and those are the challenges we must deal with every day." David Mitchell, a Detroit sports writer, had a somewhat contradicting viewpoint. "This is a good time to be an African American male;' Mitchell said. "You all have an incredible ability to over- come adversity. You should all walk with great pride." Larry Lee, vice president for football operations for the Detroit Lions, tack- led the topic of religion. Lee began his speech by emphasizing God's perva- sive influence on people's lives and the importance of having an optimistic atti- tude. Lee also mentioned the extra respon- sibility he has as a black man in an administrative position for a profes- sional sports team. "I am one of eight African American vice presidents in the NFL, and I am only one of three with major responsibilities," Lee said. "I think that I can't fail" Although many of the students at the event responded positively to the themes conveyed by the speakers, oth- ers said they felt the speakers' personal experiences could not be generalized to the population. "I disagree with the idea thatit isa good timeto be a black man' one audi- ence member said. U' welcomes new Kinesiology director By Erin Holmes Daily Staff Reporter Psychology Prof. John Hagen, who headed up the search for a director of the Division of Kinesiology, says he couldn't be happier with the fruits of his labor. His committee's decision to recommend Beverly Ulrich for the position was the first step toward invit- ing an internationally-recognized professor to head up the University's Kinesiology faculty. Ulrich's appointment was approved by Provost Nancy Cantor and the University Board of Regents at its September meeting, bringing the eight-month search officially to a close. "It is a major accomplishment for the University to bring Dr. Ulrich in," Hagen said, adding that the "strong tradition of research centers" at the University will provide a different atmosphere than the one she will leave behind in Indiana. "She's leaving Indiana, a school whose medical school is in Indianapolis and not on campus," Hagen said. "She brings an interesting research background that is not heavily represented now in Kinesiology." Ulrich said the University is a perfect place to fos- ter her love for research. "Michigan seems to put heavier emphasis on ... support for research, from providing funds for under- graduate students to faculty grants for collaborations among units," Ulrich said. "These are some of the elements that drew me to the University." Ulrich added that she hopes to use the close prox- imity of campus units and research centers to form collaborations between Kinesiology and other pro- grams on campus. "Today, most people recognize that the issues they deal with are complex, and solutions must be identi- fied by studying the problem from multiple perspec- tives;' Ulrich said. "By collaborating we can come up with better, more holistic solutions to problems in research." Hagen said Ulrich, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education in 1973, is known around the world for her work with children with Down's Syndrome, combining biologi- cal and psychological perspectives. "Indiana will be sorry to lose her," Hagen said. "She will bring a new tradition of research to our division." Ulrich said she is excited for her move - which will bring her to Ann Arbor this winter to begin her term Jan. 1. "U of M is a wonderful university" Ulrich said. "I was excited about the opportunity to work with a very fine group of faculty as well as with the University leaders" Ulrich is president of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity and was also elected to the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Hagen said the search committee chose Ulrich because of her many achievements. "We were looking for someone who could be a full professor with a distinguished research record and also someone interested in the administrative posi- tion," Hagen said. The Kinesiology head is "more than a department chair and less than a dean," Hagen said, adding that the Kinesiology division is home to more than 700 undergraduates and about 35 graduate students. Kinesiology associate Prof. Bruce Watkins, who served as interim director of the Division of Kinesiology since Sept. 1, said evolution will be the focus of Ulrich's term at the University. "Over the past dozen or so years, we've built an excellent and dedicated faculty committed to teach- ing and scholarship,"Watkins said. "The challenge ... is to be on the cutting edge of research in our disci- pline, provide a solid foundation and training for our graduate students and give our undergraduates a wide range of classes" Watkins said he is certain Ulrich is up to the chal- lenge. Ulrich "is very enthusiastic about the opportu- nities here;' Watkins said. "She is an internationally- recognized scholar in her area, whose work cuts across several disciplines." Ulrich said during her time at the University, she hopes to build upon Kinesiology's existing strengths. "I would like to extend the opportunities for facul- ty and students;' Ulrich said. "We have some out- standing faculty, many of whom have excellent research programs. They have a lot to offer the next generation of scientists, but we need to provide opportunities for students by increasing the availabil- ity of graduate assistantships." Ulrich's appointment at the University marks her first time serving as a department director. Ulrich said she and her husband, who will be joining her as an associate professor of Kinesiology, are "excited to become a part of the U of M family." Antique Michigan laws still in effect Visrr THE MICHIGAN DAILY ONLINE AT http:/lwww.michigandaily.com PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) - Seducing a single woman could land a man in prison for five years. If, that is, an old felony statute still on Michigan books were ever enforced. Antiquated laws technically in effect include a statute making adul- tery a felony, and making blasphemy or swearing in front of women and children a misdemeanor. In Maryville, a 17-year-old boy was arrested last month on charges of violating an old city ordinance when he raised his middle finger at a coach. Although the ordinance remains on city books, the charge was dismissed because another court had found that restricting such a gesture, offensive or not, is protected by the First Amendment right to free speech. Some of the old laws are clearly unconstitutional and unenforceable, but there's no push to erase them. "Because people aren't running into the enforcement of those laws, probably it's not something that peo- ple have studied and feel they need to speak out about," said state Rep. Karen Willard (D-Clay) Township. "There are so many battles that are waged regarding laws that do impact issues in people's lives that I can see probably why those haven't been taken out," she said. Even groups like the American Civil Liberties Union don't revisit such old legislation. "There are thousands of bills intro- duced in each session that we have our hands full trying to ... stop bad legislation," said Wendy Wagenheim, legislative affairs director for the ACLU in Michigan. "If we had someone who brought to our attention that one of these anti- quated laws was being enforced ... we might try to do something." 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