LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 28, 1999 - 3A ESEARCH Coursepack store wraps up Oral hygiene important for more than mouth *entistry Prof Walter Loesche dis- cussed the link between oral health and heart disease and Dentistry assistant Prof. George Taylor presented evidence of the link between oral health and dia- betes at a recent conference. While researchers have speculated about a connection between oral hejth and heart disease for the past five years, Loesche recently present- ed several possibilities for the mech- anisms by which periodontal disease rht lead to cardiovascular disease. Because periodontal disease is both preventable and treatable, researchers hope a clearer under- standing of the link could someday help to prevent and treat stroke and hert attack. In his own patients, Loesche found that those with coronary artery disease have high levels of certain periodontal b eria. He suggested periodontal leria or their products travel through the bloodstream and damage blood vessels. Elevated levels of a substance called the von Willebrand factor - found in people with peri- odontal disease - could also be a sign of. lipopolysacharides damaging blqod vessels. Loesche also discussed evidence that oral bacteria themselves are found in blood vessel linings. researchers aid isolated scientists In a collaborative project with scien- tists in North America, Europe and Asia, interim Dean of the School of Information Gary Olson and other University researchers developed com- puter tools that will allow isolated sci- entists to keep current with the rest of tiesearch world. Olson spoke about the projects at a symposium "Science and the Internet: Globalization, Cooperation and Development" during an annual meet- ing of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Faculty and students at small univer- sities around the world will gain access to expensive instruments and will be able to interact with a variety of scien- ti, hopefully leading them to make tl own advances in their fields, Olsan said. Researchers hope the collaboratory approach of the project will also attract scientists from even more remote parts of the world. A University of Florida professor's research is yielding rejuvenating results, the Independent Florida Alligator reported. could slow aging Christian Leeuwenburgh, a professor in the College of Health and Human Performance, recently co-authored a study on anti-oxidants, showing their effectiveness in slowing the aging process. The study claims anti-oxidants break radicals, harmful substances in the that degenerate cell strength and fition. The researcher found the more aZti-oxidants were present in the bldy, the fewer radicals were circu- laing. Oommon virus finds new foe Researchers at Stanford University 4it may be possible to use protease inhibitors, the main drugs used in HIV tbcapy in the United States, to treat the t common form of the virus in the world, known as strain C, The Stanford Daily reported. Subtype C is most common in India and Africa and is responsible for 90 percent of all new infections in the world. Most research until now had focused on the use of protease inhibitors for type B, which is popular ie United States and Europe. The researchers analyzed the impact cf the drugs on African patients with subtype C and found the drugs highly effective. Compiled by Daily Staff Reporters Gerard Cohen- Vrignaud and Asma Rafeeq. By Yael Kohen Daily Staff Reporter The Michigan Student Assembly's Student Coursepack Service sold its last coursepack for the term yesterday after its premiere in early January. The assembly began the service as an experi- ment to decrease students' expenses by making coursepacks more affordable. The SCS is an educational service, rather than a store or business, MSA Treasurer Bram Elias said. "We don't sell coursepacks. We provide them at cost to students," said Elias, an LSA junior. He added that "our only mission is to make sure stu- dents get cheap coursepacks." The store operated from MSA offices in the Michigan Union. Coursepacks for five class were available and about 150 students purchased coursepacks from SCS, Elias said. Students who used SCS said they were happy with the results. "They gave a nice binder, the copies were nice, it was cheap," LSA sophomore Libby Reece said. Engineering sophomore Laura Carter agreed with Reece. "I think it was a great idea," she said. A "coursep- ack at five bucks instead of 20 is really a great help." History Prof. Regina Morantz-Sanchez decided to use the SCS instead of a private copy store com- pany. Sanchez said she uses coursepacks in all of her classes and they can be very expensive. "Students are paying to have access to reading that they should have access to," Morantz-Sanchez said. Last year a similar coursepack from a private company cost about $60 to $70. "For a compara- ble coursepack," Sanchez said, MSA "was close to cutting (the price) in half." Assembly members worked along with University Law professors to determine could provide coursepacks to students v lating copyright laws. The assembly will supplement roya revenue from the sale of coursepacks i cient, during the first semesters of oper a non-profit service to keep it running. The store "exceeded everyone's exI Elias said, adding that he hopes the store will return next term. "I would have been really in trouble" unsuccessful, Sanchez said. "I believed willing to take the risk." Although SCS is closed for the rei winter term, many patrons said they ar will return in the fall. MSA opened the store with the h General Counsel's Office and the Of Vice President for Student Affairs.1 1st semester how MSA officials and assembly members plan to work vithout vio- during the summer to reopen SCS and possibly expand the store, Elias said. lty costs, if "It would be a benefit to everyone if more pro- s not suffi- fessors got their coursepacks there," Reece said. ation at the Morantz-Sanchez said she informed her stu- dents about SCS so they knew the reasons Sanchez pectations," chose to use the service and also so they could coursepack pressure other professors to use SCS. Several student said SCS was an effective pro- if SCS was ject for MSA and expressed satisfaction that the in it. I was assembly is actually accomplishing its goals. On "two occasions people mentioned that this mainder of was the first time they saw their assembly do e hopeful it something for them," said Andy Coulouris, an LSA junior and SCS volunteer. elp of the Coulouris, a former member of MSA, said that fice of the "delivering solid, tangible programs," should be a University new direction for the assembly. Students call for better code supporting labor Group marches to Weidenbach to speak to University Athletic Department officials By Adam Brian Cohen Daily Staff Reporter Not one Nike shoe could be seen on the feet of 70 participants in an anti- sweatshop rally; which moved from the Diag then south on State Street to Weidenbach Hall yesterday. The Collegiate Licensing Corporation, which includes the University and 159 other schools, recently drafted a new code of conduct to improve international conditions of factory workers, said LSA junior Joe Sexauer, a member of Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality. The code is scheduled to be finalized Feb. 1, Sexauer said. The new code lacks certain attribut- es that SOLE and similar organiza- tions would like to see added, Sexauer said. "We want to show the (University) administration that they have our sup- port to put a living wage and public dis- closure in the CLC's manufactured code of conduct, which will be a good first step in ending sweatshops," Sexauer said. The Michigan Student Assembly unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night to endorse SOLE's revised code. At 3 p.m. on the Diag yesterday, members of SOLE began speaking about their goal of ending what they called sweatshop labor and encouraged others to aid in their efforts. "Students and faculty, if you're appalled that your clothing is being made in sweatshops, please come and join us in the rally." said Andy Cornell. an LSA junior and SOLE member using a' megaphone to address the crowd. SOLE is the campus branceh of the national organization, United Students Against Sweatshops. "We're trying to help and support the University's effort to curb sweatshop labor," Sexauer said. "It's an industry- wide problem" By 3:15 p.m., members of the rally began to march toward Athletic Department offices at Weidenbach located on Hoover Avenue and State Street. During the walk, rallyers shouted their messages on megaphones while drivers honked their cars horns and passers-by voiced their opinions. Several SOLE members shouted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, sweatshop labor's gotta go!" An Arbor Street resident yelled to the protestors from the couch on his porch, "Nobody cares, nobody cares, nobody cares!" Upon their arrival at Weidenbach, rallyers shouted for University Athletic PETR KER~ I./Special to Keith Molin, a member of the University's task force examining the new Collegiate Licensing Corporation code, speaks yesterday to members of Students Organizing for Labor Economic Equality outside of Weldenbach Hall. Director Tom Goss and Keith Molin, a member of the University's task force examining the new CLC code. "Goss, Molin; their lives are in your hands," rally members chanted. Shortly after the chanting began, Molin emerged from the building and was presented with the SOLE and MSA-approved revised code by rally participants. "The ultimate objective is not to write a code, but to eliminate sweat- shops," Molin said. "I am reasonably confident that the final code will lead to disclosure of the sweatshops." After speaking with Molin, philoso- phy Prof. Eric Lormand said "the reso- lution is dead on arrival in Keith Molin's hands. "He said he won't even ask for a liv- ing wage," Lormand said. "And Michigan won't ask for its own code." Molin also commended the students for their concern. "This kind of passion took us from no code three years ago to where we are today" Molin said. In recognition of a National Day of Action yesterday, groups at 29 other universities across the nation also con- fronted their administration depart- ments, Sexauer said. "This has been an issue at Harvard, too," Harvard sophomore Mary Rude said. "I know that the Harvard adminis- tration has been pretty responsive." Several individuals, including Molin, members of SOLE, and Nike spokesperson Vada Manager said the issue does not only pertain to one com- pany or one type of apparel. Last year, Nike President Phil Knight laid out several steps for satisfactory worker conditions across the globe, Manager said. "Our position is one of action," Manager said. "You won't find other competitors doing what we're doing." I Man unharmed in attempted armed robbery of vehicle By Marta Brill Daily Staff Reporter An unidentified suspect attempted to steal a vehicle while holding its owner at gunpoint yesterday afternoon, according to Department of Public Safety reports. The incident occurred on the second level of the M-22 Carport, which is located near the University Hospitals. "We're encouraging anyone with information to call the Department of Public Safety," said Beth Hall, DPS spokesperson. The victim was walking toward his car when he was approached from behind by the suspect. He informed DPS officials a silver gun was pushed into his back during the attempted hijack. The suspect tried to force the victim into the vehicle, but the victim resisted and struggled with the suspect before succeeding in shoving him away from the car, according to the report. After fleeing from the scene, the sus- pect was neither found nor identified. The suspect is described as in his 20s, standing between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall. The victim estimated the suspect weighs more than DPS5 officials ask anyone with information about the suspect to contact them by calling 763-1131.N 200 pounds and did not have facial hair or glasses. At the time of the assault, he was wearing a maroon stocking cap, baggy pants and a dark colored nylon jacket. DPS officials advise students to take certain safety precautions to avoid assault and theft. They stress the impor- tance of remembering to lock car doors when the vehicle is parked or driving on the road, have the car keys ready before reaching the car, and avoid remote or isolated places. Students should also try to appear assertive and attempt not to walk alone if possible, DPS officials said. t * lLCiLD~ GaOUP MEETINGS D C~ircle K Meeting.Michigan L What's happening in Ann Arbor today Contemporary Mexican Art)," www Sponsored by Latino Student Worl League, Psychological Association and La a Northw v.umich.edu/-info on the d Wide Web alk, 763-WALK, Bursley