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RESEARCH "
*Study disproves
traditional
evolution theory
A newly released study by
University researchers in the anthro-
pology department published in the
January edition of the journal
Molecular Biology and Evolution
suggests a theory of human evolu-
tion that disproves other research.
The study, which is similar to the
prominent "Out of Africa" theory,
explains that two million years ago,
a small number of australop-
ithecines in Africa - the ancestors
of Homo sapiens - separated from
the group, leading to a series of evo-
lutional changes.
The "Out of Africa" theory, which
claims that human life began in
Africa and spread throughout the
world, is further expanded in this
study by explaining that the changes
in body size, brain size, skeletal
proportions and behavioral differ-
ence produced the first Homo sapi-
en members.
* By examining anatomical, arche-
ological and genetic information,
the researchers were able to con-
clude that the changes were sudden,
contrary to previous studies that
=siuggest the changes were gradual.
The difference can be seen in
examining fossils of early Homo
sapiens and australopithecines. The
3 million year-old australopithecine
skeleton of a woman stands only 3.5
feet tall, while the 1.6-million-year-
old Homo sapien woman stands 5
feet, 9 inches.
The study could shed light on the
evolution of humans as well as dis-
prove other theories that are inaccu-
* rate.
Ul' receives NSF
grant to study
digital monitoring
A University project titled
"Identifying Where Technology
Logging and Monitoring for Increased
Security Ends and Where Violations of
Personal Privacy and Student Records
Begins" has been awarded a $37,000
grant from the National Science
Foundation's Digital Government
Section.
The project is designed to study
and develop a plan for colleges and
universities to deal with the issues
of electronic logging and monitor-
irng activities and privacy issues
regarding student records.
The results will highlight these
issues and suggest the best practices
regarding privacy that could be provid-
Odmto colleges and universities.
""The project, led by Virginia
Rezmierski, University Office of
Policy Development and Education
Director, is being supported in con-
*unction with other organizations
including the U.S. Department of
Education's Family Policy
Compliance Office, the American
Association of Collegiate Registrars
and Admissions Officers, the U.S.
Policy Committee for the
Association for Computing
Machinery.
'U' researchers
gexplain functions
of iron protein
University chemistry Prof. James
-7iner-Hahn and colleagues have
determined that the key to the func-
toning iron protein is the distance
between atoms.
The professor revealed the results
of his study in a recent issue of the
ournal Science.
Using analytical techniques to
examine the molecular structure of
peroxide intermediates in di-iron
proteins, the researchers have dis-
,covered how the same intermediate
can act as a catalyst with oxygen-
activating enzymes, as well as act as
a substrate with ferritin proteins.
The reason for this, the
researchers explained, is due to the
ery short distance of 2.53
ngstroms between iron atoms in
he peroxide-bridged ferritin inter-
mediate, as opposed to the 3.03-
4.03 angstroms distance between
iron atoms in other peroxide-
bridged intermediates.
The peroxide-bridged intermedi-
ate can sometimes aid other
enzymes in the synthesis of DNA or
in converting methane into
methanal.
* Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Lindsey Alpert.
Conference to unite Arab -Americans
By Tiffany Maggard
Daily Staff Reporter
In an effort to join together University communi-
ty members, the Arab-American Anti-
Discrimination Committee will sponsor the National
Arab-American Student Conference.
The event will coincide with the celebration of
Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Organizers expect about
200 Arab-American students from across the coun-
try to attend the event, "Marching into the
Millennium."
A small group of ADC members, who are also
university students, initiated the conference last year.
The idea was presented to ADC's executive board
where members worked with other Arab-American
committees in Detroit and supporters in Washington,
D.C.
The ADC members said they hope to make the
conference a traveling event hosted by a different
university each year. Members plan to celebrate
issues and concerns shared by black students and
other ethnic groups during the weekend.
"The issues are seen within both groups alike. It is
"'Education and activism go hand in hand. This
conference accomplishes both things."I
- Norah Rabiah
National Arab-American Student Conference organizer
a benefit to see the activities of other minority
groups because they can learn from one another; we
can try similar activities to fight our similar issues,"
LSA senior Robert Zaid said.
"We have similar issues that we're facing,
and so they can be addressed in similar ways,"
he said.
The conference is scheduled to begin tomor-
row at 8 p.m. in the Michigan Union Pendleton
Room with "Arabesque," a cultural show fea-
turing Arab-American music, dancing and
poetry.
Participants of the conference will tackle issues
including the media's portrayal of Arab-
Americans, politics and its potential use in Arab-
American activism and impacting foreign policy
in the Middle East.
This year, ADC has a recruited young speakers
in an effort to impact the students attending the
conference.
"One of my main goals for this year was to get
younger people to speak. Usually older people are
used and they try to (transcend) their ideas on
younger people. But graduate and PhD. students
will have the opportunity to speak this year and
connect with the younger crowd," said SNRE
sophomore Norah Rabiah, who organized the con-
ference.
Students also will have the opportunity to convene
in small groups to discuss the issues presented by
Ice castles
House
2bills
Porno'
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -T
that would restrict adult entert
were approved yesterday by
House committee.
The vote followed a hear
focused on the detrimental ef
strip clubs, porn shops, adu
stores and massage parlors.
Those who work in the
decried the hearing as unfair a
were not given a chance t
against the bills. A lawyer f
businesses called it "a disapp
staged event."
One of the bills would requ
clubs and massage parlors to
health inspections to prevent th
of disease. It also. would
employees of adult businesse
licensed by the state.
The other bill would allow
citizens to collect attorney f
court costs when they win ar
complaint against the adult bus
The measures are part of a co
sial 13-bill package being co
speakers.
"Students are smart too. I think that having the
discussion groups will help students get their ideas
out in the public too," Rabiah said.
The conference will continue through Jan.
16 with additional activities, including a ban-
quet followed by a speech from keynote speak-
er Jim Zogby.
Rabiah said she is enthusiastic about the educa-
tional aspects of the conference.
"I think that the main benefit of the meeting
is that students can find out what they can do
on their own campuses (to fight discrimina-
tion) by learning about what students on other
campuses do.
"Education and activism go hand in hand. This
conference accomplishes both of these things,"
she said.
Zaid added that MLK Day celebrations at the
University will offer the Arab-American popula-
tion even greater opportunities to learn about dis-
crimination relative to black and Arab-American
students.
I approves
to restrict
graphy
two bills by the House Constitutional Law abd
ainment Ethics Committee.
a state Hundreds of people filled tae
House's largest committee room yestfr-
ing that day and were directed to an overfldw
fects of room to watch the debate on a vido
lt book monitor during the two-hour hearing
In contrast to earlier hearings, whoe
industry adult entertainment owners and wotk-
fter they ers opposed to the bills got as muph
o speak time to testify as supporters, the 14
or adult people who testified yesterday sup-
ointing, ported the bills and condemned ie
industry.
ire strip Several local and county officils
undergo said they need state help to keep
e spread pornography out of their communities.
require "We do not have the resources ,to
s to be deal with these profitable busineses
and the crime they bring to our streets"
private said Lansing Township Treasurer Kathy
ees and Rodgers.
nuisance Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester),
inesses. chair of the committee, said the cozl-
ntrover- mittee was overwhelmed with support
nsidered for the bills.
AP PHOTO
The completed Spicer Ice Castle stands along the shores of Saulsbury Beach, in Spencer, Minn., yesterday. The castle
is part of the city's "Ice Fest."
Abraham could
receive blended
murder sentence
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DETROIT (AP) - Convicted of
gunning down a man when he was only
11 years old, Nathaniel Abraham faces
sentencing today under a Michigan law
that allows juveniles to receive adult
prison sentences.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther
King III and other protesters say the law
is barbaric and the case sets a dangerous
precedent. Prosecutors defend the law
and its use against Nathaniel. now 13.
On Nov. 16.a juy convicted him of
second-degree murder in the Oct. 29,
1997 rifle slaying of Ronnie Greene Jr.,
18, outside of a Pontiac convenience
store.
The Oakland County Prosecutor's
Office has asked that Nathaniel receive a
blended sentence, which puts him injuve-
nile custody now and defers a decision on
adult imprisonment until he is older.
"It's never been our position that we
were going to lock Nate up and throw
away the key," Oakland County
Assistant Prosecutor Lisa Halushka
said yesterday. "Really, Nate's fate is in
Nate's hands."
Nathaniel was prosecuted under a
law that went into effect in 1997 that
allows adult prosecutions of children of
any age in serious felony cases.
If a child is tried and convicted, the
judge can choose among an adult sen-
tence, juvenile sentence or a blended
sentence that defers the issue of adult
punishment until lateed
Nathaniel cannot get an immediate
adult sentence because the prosecution
has not - and will not - present the
case for it to Probate Judge Eugene
Arthur Moore, Halushka said.
Instead, she is asking Moore to sen-
tence Nathaniel to juvenile custody,
where he can get rehabilitation treatment.
"All of the experts believe that is
exactly what he needs," Halushka said. If
Nathaniel is .rehabilitated, then he could
be released at age 21 or earlier, she said.
"I'll be frank with you. I hope he is."
Halushka defended the law, saying
some child criminals may merit imme-
diate adult sentences, even if Nathaniel
does not.
But Nathaniel's defenders say even
the possibility of a child his age facing
an adult sentence is a great injustice.
The case showsthe "very barbarous
face of jurisprudence that is being
introduced into this country," Sharpton
said at a news conference Tuesday.
He, King and others called for a mass
protest outside the courthouse before
today's sentencing.
A society that considers children too
mentally immature to vote or drive
increasingly is subjecting them to adult
criminal treatment, Sharpton said.
"It is sick, and it feeds into the grow-
ing prison-industrial complex in
America," he said.
If Moore imposes a juvenile sen-
tence, he could order Nathaniel held
until age 21.
If he imposes a blended sentence, the
judge could order him held as a juvenile
for now and later consider whether to
impose an adult sentence. Second-
degree murder carries a penalty of up to
life in prison.
Defense attorney Michael Schwartz
said last week that he expected to file
motions this week to have Nathaniel's
conviction set aside and to grant him a
new trial. The appeal had not been filed
as of yesterday afternoon.
The same jury that found Nathaniel
guilty of fatally shooting Greene in the
head acquitted the boy of using a
firearm in the commission of a felony.
The inconsistency of those verdicts will
form part of the argument for a new
trial, Schwartz said.
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