LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 29, 1998 - 3A *RESEARCH Unemployment linked to welfare A new University study found that an overwhelming majority of single mothers receiving welfare face hurdles getting employment. 1 The 14 factors considered employ- ment barriers included no high school education, little work experience, few job skills, little knowledge of workplace norms, perceived discrimination, lack of transportation, abuse from partners, a child with health problem and a host of mental illnesses and addictions. The research was conducted by Social Work Prof. Sheldon Danziger and col- leagues at the University's School of Social Work's Poverty Research and Training Center. The study found that 85 percent of the mothers had at least one of the employ- ment barriers, approximately two thirds had two or more, nearly half had three and more than 25 percent had four. Almost a thirdof the women had not completed high school compared with the national average of 18 percent. In addition, more than 25 percent suffered from major depression within the last year as opposed to only 13 percent of women nationally. Ice Age felt El Nino weather too University researchers reported evi- dence that weather with similar charac- teristics to El Niio occurred 12,000 years ago near the end of the last Ice Age. Geological sciences Professors David Rea and Ted Moore presented evidence from their study of sediment layers in Lake Huron on Tuesday, in Toronto, Canada at a meeting of the Geological Society of America. The warm weather, which took place for 10 to 20 years, heated glaciers and caused water run to off to the Atlantic Ocean. The study is funded, by the National Science Foundation and the Geological Survey of Canada. Study examines e-mail effects A new University study funded by Intel Corp. will seek to evaluate the effects that e-mail communication between patients and doctors will have on patient satisfaction and care. The grant was announced past Tuesday in San Francisco by Intel. Medical Prof. David Stern will direct the study. Stem and his colleagues will attempt to assess the effect of e-mail on patient and physician satisfaction, vol- ume of telephone calls and patient vis- its and the type of communication car- ried out by e-mail. Internal medicine physicians will par- ticipate in the study. The doctors will be divided into two groups, each of which will have their e-mail interactions ana- lyzed. Some physicians will continue to use their present modes of e-mail commu- nication at home and work. Other doctors will have their e-mail rerouted to a central e-mail collection center, where prescription requests and other medical transactions will be han- dled by nurses. Geology research finds new fault University geologists reported having found a way to date near-surface fault activity and fault strength. At a meeting of the Geological Society of America last Monday in - Toronto, geological sciences Prof. Ben ' Van der Pluijm presented his analysis of w gouge - the chalk-like material between fault block - in the Canadian t Rockies. Van der Pluijm announced he could pinpoint the last occurrence of fault activity in the region at 51 million years ago, much more precise than the 60 to 70 million age previously estimated. Van der Pluijm and his colleagues used X-ray analysis to determine the properties of the gouge and hence of the fault itself. The researchers plan to examine San Andreas' fault in California in the sum- mer of 1999 by looking at its gouge. The research is funded by the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Geard Cohen-Vrignaud. Campuses debate semester system switch By Susan T, Pot Daily Staff Reporter Imagine trying to cram 15 credit hours worth of work into 10 weeks four times in one school year. Students at institutions on the quarterly system often have to face this situation, but many universi- ties opt for the semester system instead. Martha Garland, Ohio State University's vice provost for undergraduate studies, said debate is increasing on campus about changing to a semester school year. The quarterly system divides the school year into four 10-week periods, and most courses meet every day. "We've had this system forever' Garland said. "We don't know any other way" Many faculty members, Garland said, complain that 10 weeks does not allow students to gain a thor- ough knowledge on the class material. "If I could snap my fingers and be on a semester system, I would," Garland said. The current system "does not give students time to think." "You can't ask a student to read a book in a day," she said. But Garland said quarters allow students the abil- ity to help pay for their own education or take a quarter off to work without many consequences. "Students paying their own way can drop in and out of school without disrupting their schedules," Garland said. "It's a much more flexible system, more responsive to their needs" Michigan State University switched from quar- ters to semesters six years ago. MSU's Director of the Semester Transition Team Bruce Miller said the university spent more than one-million dollars to fund the change. Miller added that the total does not take into account the number of hours and effort spent on changing the curriculum. "Undergraduates were against it because they didn't want it to change while they were here," Miller said. "They thought it would screw up their graduation plans." A report first outlined the idea for the transition in 1987. Michigan State University made the change from a quarterly system to semesters in 1992, Miller said. "Seems to me, most of the people seem to be rel- atively happy since I don't hear many complaints," Miller said. Miller said the transition to a semester calendar entailed rewriting courses, changing the credit hour system, converting the grading system and altering graduation requirements. University of Michigan Registrar Ton McElvain said the number of schools on a quarterly system has been declining nationally. "In general most of the faculty find it most effec- tive for delivery of instruction," McElvain said. Semester systems vary, McElvain said. The University follows an early semester system in which the fall term begins at the end of August or beginning of September and ends before winter break. The winter term begins near the beginning of January and ends in the beginning of May. Spring/summer term makes up another full semes- ter. He said 62 percent of colleges and universities in the country follow the early semester model. Because other universities do not have a full semester during the summer, the University follows the same pattern as 2-percent of schools natiomide because there is a full semester in the summer months. University students, McElvain said, have more time to hold a summer job or internship. McElvain said another option, the traditional semester system, begins classes in early September and ends in late January after winter break. The winter semester begins in February and ends in the middle of June. "Only 32 universities are still on the traditional calendar," McElvain said. McElvain said 18 percent of institutions are on a quarterly model. "You can tell from the numbers that the faculty favor semesters," McElvain said. Stanford University is one of the schools in the group following a quarterly system. "Some students seem to prefer accelerated terms," said Gloria Williams, Stanford's associate registrar. I CR's plan election push By Jason Stoffer Daily Staff Reporter The College Republicans met last night to energize and plan their final campaign push before Tuesday's election. David Brandon, a Republican candidate for the University Board of Regents, told the 25-person crowd that although Gov. John Engler is expected to win by a large margin, there are other important people and issues on the ballot. "I need your help," Brandon said. "The biggest problem Republicans have here is complacency. "If Republicans stay at home because they think its a done deal, (Attorney General candidate John) Smietanka will be in danger and our state House and Senate races candidates will be in danger," he said. To combat complacency, Republicans are organizing Turnout '98, a statewide get out the vote effort aimed at Republican neighborhoods. "We expect 1,500 people statewide," said LSA sophomore Matt Fogarty, campus chair of Turnout '98. "A whole bunch of students are going to get on buses and go all over the state tq tar- get neighborhoods." In a year marked by political uncertainty, members of the campus GOP group said they believe their party can capture several elected offices in traditionally Democratic Ann Arbor. College Republicans Chair Adam Silver said no race is out o reach if Republicans can successfully energize their voting base. "We are going to do a lot of phone banking this weekend, Silver said. Garret Carlson, who is running against Rep. Liz Brater$(D- Ann Arbor), told College Republicans members that he has can- vassed thousands of homes during recent weeks. He asked for members' help passing out fliers and literature and said he; has a legitimate chance to unseat his incumbent opponent. "I want to reduce taxes, reduce crime and improve schools," Carlson said. "Brater was voted by (the newsletter) Inside Michigan Politics as one of the most liberal Michigan represen- tatives.: Forum highlghts women ANDI MAIO/Daily State Senator Alma Wheeler Smith (D.Salem Twp.) speaks at an environmental rally yesterday on the Diag. Environment rally tnies to gainvotes By Nick Bunkley For the Daily Supporters of a healthy environ- ment competed with the uncoopera- tive surroundings of rain and carillon music for the attention of voters on campus yesterday afternoon. A rally titled "Women and the Environment;" sponsored by campus environmental and political groups along with several voters' organiza- tions across the state, aimed to attract voters to the Diag. "We're out here targeting people to vote for the environment," said Josh Pashman, an SNRE junior. "Vote green," he added, referring to the rally's slogan. A small crowd gathered around the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library at noon, but by the rally's end the number had grown to an audience of more than 50. "The turnout was good, but we could have used a little help from Mother Nature," SNRE senior Kris Genovese said. Several elected officials made appearances at the half-hour rally, urg- ing listeners to take advantage of their influence in Tuesday's election. State Senator Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp.), who spoke at the rally, used the event to promote the issues, rather than to campaign for herself. "It doesn't matter if you send me back (to Congress), as long as you send back someone sensitive to the environment," Smith said. The repeated message was the importance of each person's vote. "I think it reminded people that they need to vote and that they have an influence," LSA sophomore Karen Watson said. Although the rally primarily target- ed female voters, the crowd was split evenly among men and women. Pashman, of the campus environ- mental group EnAct, said the rally met the organizers' expectations. He also noted that word-of-mouth advertisement and public exposure is important to their goal. "I thought (the turnout)- was great," Pashman said. "Each one that listened will tell their friends. Everyone clearly understood who represents them." State Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor), another speaker at the rally, echoed Pashman's sentiments. She also noted that the event was a chance for voters on campus to see their elected representatives. "It is very important for us to be accessible," Brater said. "The impor- tant thing is that the message gets out, and they're going to tell their friends" Genovese, who is Michigan Student Assembly's Environmental Issues Committee chair, noted that the intent of the rally was to inform voters of the environmental issues in the upcoming election. "It's important for people to know that it's not an extremist event. It's to inform about the issues. People can show their environmentalism by vot- ing," Genovese said. Genovese said she also believed the weather had an impact on the size of the crowd. Dark skies cast a drea- ry mood on the Diag, and rain began to fall near the end of the rally. "I was sorry to see that the crowd turnout was a little small" LSA junior Molly Harris said. "The message got across - the importance of (Washtenaw County's) Proposal 1 and ... of not wasting your vote" U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor), who was scheduled to be the featured speaker at the rally, did not attend. A message delivered to the crowd said she had been unable to find a parking place in time. By Jewel Gopwani Daily Staff Reporter Hosting a panel of female profession- als in the Michigan Union, three campus groups yesterday drew more than 50 young women who are seeking careers related to women's issues. Titled "Careers That Matter to Women," the program, in its third year, is a part of Career Planning & Placement's "Real Issues, Real Jobs" series. "Our objective is to demonstrate that there are careers out there with the pri- mary focus of promoting women," said Kerin Borland, associate director of CP&P. Yesterday's forum focused on careers that give women the potential to strength- en the role of females in society. The sponsors, CP&P, the women's studies program and the Undergraduate Women's Studies Association, invited women who work in social services, law, unions, business and politics to speak about their commitment to women's issues. University alumna Kellie Childs start- ed the forum by describing her work at centers in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti that help women in threatening situations. "When I first started at SAFEhouse, Ann Arbor was a constant reminder of violence against women," Childs said. "But I learned to leave my work there." Panel members also discussed their work for the common goal of achieving social justice for women in society. "I really did have a concept of social change" said Deborah Labelle, an attor- ney. "Now I work with women in prisons and with international human rights issues" AFL-CIO Internship Coordinator Cindy Estrada, a graduate of the University's Dearborn campus, fights for equal representation, particularly for female workers. "There's a lot of women who are working to make ends meet," Estrada said. "They just want a voice." University alumna Lyndell Kelly, co- owner of Common Language, a book- store geared toward women's issues and lesbian and gay people, said even stu- dents without extensive training in a pro- fession can be successful in working toward a cause. A linguistics concentrator, Kelly said she did not have the business training to open a bookstore, but she still worked to create an informational place for women. "There is a way you can make a differ- ence in the lives of women," Kelly said. When State Senator Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp.) took the podium, she encouraged the group of young women to vote in next week's election. "Until we get minority members back into the electoral process, you don't have a voice to be heard," Smith said. Students and faculty who attended the forum said they appreciated the chance to hear the experiences of women in the professional world. "It's a wonderful opportunity to hear people who deal with women's issues. It's pertinent to me," said Emn Rogers, an LSA senior. In addition to discussing the empow- erment of women in society, the panel also addressed how women make a dif- ference in work environments. "Looking at legislation, women do not usually involve their ego;' Smith said. "They are willing to compromise, which can come from being a mother. U Ann Arbor Can't Wait.. It's time to put a Democrat in the Mayor's office-someone who will builC on Ann Arbor's reputation, not live off it. ANN ARBOR MAYOR PRO-TEM " 5TH WARD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER " 40-YEAR ANN ARBOR RESIDENT Chris Kolb s community involvement includes: " Volunteer at the HIV/Akis Resource Center * St. Andrew's Breakfast Program * Christmas in April " Old West Side Homes Tour " Advisory Board Member of the Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project; U-M Office of LGBT Affairs; and Community Impact Elect Democrat CHRIS KOLB on Tuesday, November 3: Because Ann Arbor can't wait for leadership.' Paid for by Kolb for Mayor - 803 Edgewood Place -Ann Arbor, Mt 48103 - 734/827-2605 TU~ L L LLL2 I. GRouP MEETINGS QClrcle K, Michigan Union,I Room, 763-0811, 7 p.m. What's happening in Ann Arbor today SERVICES Psycho- Kuenzel 0 Campus Information Centers, 763- 11 a. INFO, info@umich.edu, and Q Safewa log Academic Peer Advising, -3711, East Hall, Room 1346, .m.-4 p.m. ik, 936-1000, Shapiro Library vR n m2:30 a.m. Y t AVM fV