LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 18,1999 - 3A
'U'k
ESACH0nit 1
'economists
see slowdown
1for coming years
'University economists say the next
wo years will see continued growth in
the national economy, though at a slow-
er pace than in the past, barring a large
and prolonged stock market crash.
Economics Prof. Saul Hymans and
colleagues say they expect inflation
and unemployment to rise slightly in
their annual forecast update of the U.S.
economy.
Hymans contends the current pace of
4.3 percent growth will decrease to 2.3
rcent in the second quarter of this
ear. The forecast predicts the growth
rate will remain at 1.5 percent from
mid-1999 to mid-2000.
The researchers also predict that
'unemployment will rise from about 4.4
'percent now to 5 percent later this year.
Similarly, they expect inflation to
increase from .8 percent last year to 2.2
percent in 2000.
They also predict:
Consumer spending will increase
3.8 percent in 1999 and 2.8 percent
next year.
Private housing starts will fall
from 1.62 million units in 1998 to 1.49
million units in 2000.
Light vehicle sales will decrease
'from 15.6 million units in 1998 to 15.2
million in 2000.
Medical care
qoor for women
Women, particularly black women,
receive poorer quality medical care for
'heir hearts, according to a study com-
;pleted by Debra Judelson, a cardiolo-
gist and women's health expert.
The doctor will present her findings
in a speech next week at the School of
Public Health.
Judelson, who served as president of
'e American Medical Women's
Association, will give the lecture titled
"Coronary Heart Disease in Women:
How Gender Differences Impact
Quality of Care," at 4 p.m. in auditori-
um one. It is free and open to the pub-
lic.
The lecture is part of the "Quality
Assessment in Women's Health Care"
lecture series sponsored by the School
f Public Health.
ew electric
station opens
A new station opened in Berkeley,
Calif. on Tuesday and gas was not
being served. That's because the station
will charge environmentally-friendly
electric cars, the first station ever locat-
ed in a city office, reported the Daily
alifornian.
The inductive charging station locat-
ed in a parking lot in downtown
Berkeley will let motorists recharge
while at the office. The station will
increase the distance workers at the
Union of Concerned Scientists can
travel from home.
' The General Motors EV 1 can trav-
eI up to 80 miles without being
recharged. Improvements to the car's
battery will soon extend the range to
0 miles.
students create
exercise machine
It may not be as trendy as the Tae Bo
ibraze, but students at Colorado State
niversity have created a workout that
can compare with the best.
Colorado students designed an
exercise machine made to withstand
icro-gravity conditions for NASA,
reported the Rocky Mountain
Collegian. Nicknamed Leonardo,
the machine uses constant force
springs and complete concentric and
R eccentric exercises for all major
human muscles.
NASA concentrates on exercise tech-
nology because human muscles atrophy
in zero-gravity conditions, which
restricts astronauts' time in space.
"There is a space-race for exercise
uipment," said Tara Ruttley, a
k lorado student who worked on the
machine told the Rocky Mountain
Collegian. "And our (machine)
seems to be winning."
Astronauts will also exercise on a
stationary bike and a cardiovascular
machine on the space station.
Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Gerard Cohen Vrignaud.
Ma0
Marijuana found to effectively treat pain
By Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud
Daily Staff Reporter
Another shot was fired in the war over marijua-
na legalization yesterday, as the Institute of
Medicine released a government-funded report
asserting that the drug is effective in treating pain,
while also cautioning against marijuana smoking.
"Marijuana's future as medicine does not involve
smoking," said co-principle investigator Stanley
Watson, co-director of the Mental Health Research
Institute at the University, during a press conference
in Washington D.C. "It involves exploiting the
potential in cannabinoids such as THC, the key psy-
choactive ingredient of marijuana."
The report, a product of 18 months of delibera-
tions involving dozens of experts from around the
world, found that marijuana was useful in treating
nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and
weight loss from AIDS.
The report's authors recommended smoking
marijuana only in the case of terminally ill patients
who would not be affected by the adverse effects
of the inhalation of smoke, which include an
increase in the chance of cancer and lung damage.
"For people who are terminally ill, marijuana
offers very little risk," said Steven Childers, a pro-
fessor of pharmacology at Wake Forest University
who served on the advisory panel for the report.
Childers said "the report is not intended to
examine issues such as legalization" but that he
hopes it will encourage further research into har-
nessing the ingredients in marijuana that produce
its medicinal benefits.
A drug containing THC currently exists on the
market and is used to treat nausea and vomiting,
but some say it is not as effective as marijuana.
Some marijuana reformers greeted yesterday's
report, which was funded by the Office of the
National Drug Control Policy, with little enthusi-
asm, saying it does not go far enough in encourag-
ing marijuana smoking for patients in part because
it is sponsored by the government.
"They are standing by the hard and fast rule that
no smoking medicine is useful," said Allen St.
Pierre, executive director of the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
"An adult should not face criminal charges for
responsibly using marijuana in the home"
Childers disagreed with the charge that IOM, a
private branch of the National Academy of
Sciences, is treading politically thin ice, saying
"the Institute of Medicine is about as nonpolitical
as you can image."
Among the report's other contentions was that
there is no evidence that marijuana acts as a "gate-
way" drug, so-called because some argue it leads
to the abuse of harder substances. The report also
rejected the idea that allowing medical use of mar-
ijuana would increase smoking in the general pop-
ulation.
Other observers responded with skepticism to
the report's assertion on the benefits of smoking
marijuana. Bob Maginnis, a spokesperson for the
Washington-based Family Research Council, said
marijuana is virtually never needed.
"I don't buy into the myth that they have to have
marijuana," Maginnis said. "We have good medi-
cines out there that can treat what marijuana sup-
posedly helps."
Michigan state Sen. David Jaye (R-Macomb)
concurred, scoffing at the efforts of the marijuana
legalization movement.
"I've got to admit the aging hippies are getting
creative in their older years," Jaye said. "But I
don't buy it. They now want to make a profit on
drugs they used in the '60s."
The report comes at a time when marijuana
legalization is gaining increasing support across
the country. In addition to California, which legal-
ized medicinal marijuana in 1996, six states
approved referenda on the issue last year.
Despite the debate over the report's meaning,
Childers said the findings will have a positive
impact on marijuana research.
"In the short term, a report like this will clearly
stimulate research in the field and will help answer
a crucial question: Is marijuana the best medicine
to treat certain painful illnesses?"
n*
il pposed in eXas
CHRIS CAMPERNEL/Daily
Producer Jason Gira, director of Photography Kevin Krupitzer, director Jeff
Bilsborrow and sound recordist Steve Nledzielski sit on the set of their film.
Fil-m students adapt
Vonnfegut storyu
By Kelly O'Connor
Daily Staff Reporter
The call to end affirmative action got
one voice stronger last week as Texas
State Rep. Robert Talton (R-Pasadena)
proposed a bill that would outlaw the
use of race in admissions or hiring prac-
tices in Texas.
The bill's objective is similar to
that of California's anti-affirmative
action Proposition 209, which out-
lawed the use of racial preferences
in the state in 1996, but the two are
not identical.
A proposition appears on the state-
wide ballot during an election, but a bill
may only be voted on by elected legis-
lators.
Wendi Ayles, legislative aid for
Talton, said he has an interest in the
issue of affirmative action.
"1 know he's worked with people in
the district on it," Ayles said. "I know
it's a concern to him."
Ward Connerly, a former University
of California system regent and a major
proponent of the California initiative,
met with Talton when he announced the
bill last week and said he supports
Talton's efforts.
"I like the legislation,"Connerly said.
"It parallels the propositions in
California and Washington state."
Connerly said that while the bill does
not have a strong chance of passing,
Talton and his supporters should not
give up.
"The bill ... frankly is not going
to go anywhere. There's probably a
5 percent chance it will pass," he
said. "But you don't back off of a
principle you believe in just because
its prospects are not altogether
good."
Ayles said Talton and his supporters
are keeping their fingers crossed about
the passage of his bill.
"We've been getting a lot of press
about it," she said. "We're just going to
see what happens and hope for the
best."
University of California system
Regent Bill Bagley said the effects of
Proposition 209 combined with a
regent-sponsored resolution banning
the use of preferences in the California
school system has changed the make-
up of the schools.
"There's no question it's been a nega-
tive thing," Bagley said, adding that
both the number of minority applica-
tions and number of admissions of
minority students have declined signifi-
cantly.
Bagley said it is next to impossible to
form a diverse student body without the
use recruiting techniques geared toward
minorities.
"If you want to reach out, do you
go to Beverly Hills, or do you go to
urban Detroit?" he asked.
"Diversity is an integral part of edu-
cation."
After Proposition 209 passed,
Connerly expressed his interest in
seeing similar actions in other
states, including Michigan. Last
month Connerly spoke with state
Sen. David Jaye (R-Macomb) about
efforts to get an initiative outlawing
the use of preferences on the 2000
ballot in Michigan.
Jaye has long been an opponent of
hiring and admissions practices he
says steal "opportunities from more
eligible Asian and white students."
He said the end of affirmative actioin
is inevitable. 1
"It is only a question of time before
we outlaw racist and unfair actions,"
Jaye said. Jobs and admissions to publie
universities are "stolen by unqualified
and less qualified minorities. It's ai
outrage."
But state Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann
Arbor) said she would not support a bill
similar to the Texas legislation.
"I would be opposed to that type of
legislation," Brater said. "It's very
important that we have affirmative
action in order to give everyone a
opportunity to have access to educatio4
and employment."
Jaye said his current work on the
issue takes place on four fronts:
Attempts to reduce the amount
of state money allotted to the transt
portation department if it continue
to use minority preferences in hirL
ing.
Encouraging universities to choosy
visiting professors based on research of
academic experience and not on thg
basis of race.
0 Continuing his involvement with
the class action lawsuit against tho
University for its use of race in the
College of Literature, Science and the
Arts' and Law School's admissions
practices.
Garnering support for his petitio4
to put the issue of outlawing affirmativj
action on the ballot in 2000.
"Diversity is an integral ,dart of
education."
.- Bill Bagley
University of California system regent
By Robert Gold
Daily Staff Reporter
Imagine working thirty hour weeks.
Spending hundreds of dollars of per-
sonal money. For one class! For five
University film students, this is not a
nightmare to avoid but an opportunity
of a life time.
As members of Production II, an
advanced 400 level film/video class,
LSA seniors Jason Gira, Kevin
Krupitzer, Jefferson Bilsborrow,
Jordon Solomon and Steven
Niedzielski are seeing their film mak-
ing passions fulfilled.
In this class, students work in groups
and produce their own film. Through a
combination of hard work , communi-
ty support and some stellar luck, this
group has been able to work on a film
of greater magnitude than the usual
college production.
Producing a film adaptation of Kurt
Vonnegut's short story "Next Door,"
the students started their own produc-
tion company, UNREEL Productions
and recruited professional actors to star
in the 24-minute short.
The students'journey began in class
when Kevin Krupitzer, director of
photography, developed the idea of
adapting the Vonnegut story into a
movie. Krupitzer said selecting the
work of a respected author would
eliminate worries about the writing.
"I love Vonnegut and I wanted to
concentrate on the film making
aspects," Krupitzer said.
The team has spent the last two
months gathering resources, finding
actors and other crew members, and
working on the script. Producer Jason
Gira has called the process "hectic and
insane," but worth it. "It really has been
a profound experience," Gira said.
The group has been able to receive
a lot of help from outside the
University. "It has been a snow ball
effect, everyone has been really
impressed and wanted to join the pro-
ject," Gira said.
No matter how hard the students
have worked, they attributed much of
their success to the support of the
community, such as the antique shop
Sarah's Attic.
The film is set in the 1950s and
shop owner Melanie Diana con-
tributed a truck load of chairs, desks,
tablecloths, and other material.
Good old-fashioned luck can
also help. Gira said the team was
driving around Ann Arbor, looking
for a place to shoot the film, when
they spotted an abandoned house.
The three story structure turned out
to be a turn of the century, histori-
cal site and the owner decided to
allow them to use it .
Gira said this gave them an oppor-
tunity not usually available to college
film students. "If we would have done
this outside of Ann Arbor, it would
have been $2,000 worth of rent," he
said. "To have a studio to work in has
been amazing."
The group has also been given the
opportunity to work with professional
level equipment. Film Prof. Robert
Rayher, said because of a relationship
with Panavisi and the University, his
students have access to a camera simi-
lar in quality to those Stephen
Spielberg uses.
"The camera gives students the
sense of not being in school but an
actual real world situation," Rayher
said.
For group members, their motiva-
tions extend beyond the class room. "I
am loving it because this is what I want
to do with my life," Krupitzer said,
director of the film.
UNREEL Productions are work-
ing on having the film shown at the
Michigan Theater later this spring
and hope to enter it in other film fes-
tivals. Also, all films produced in the
advanced class will tentatively be
shown to the public April 30, in East
Hall at 7 p.m.
I LIL
(3 kL 1=[
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
'I EVENTS
Differences, Gender Roles and
Social Power," Sponsored by Psi
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