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One hundred nie yeas of editorialfreedom

Wednesday
November 24, 1999

N. r
AM A~ , ' r 4

.sbestos

Harmonizing harmonicist

ot seen as
roblematic
University officials are getting
stimates for asbestos removal but
here are no definite plans for removal
David Enders
aly Staff Reporter
, hen applying for University housing, many students
est non-smoking rooms. Nevertheless, many students are
laced into residence halls with a different class-A carcino-
en hanging above their heads.
Asbestos, an insulation material that became largely dis-
sed in the 1970s because its fibers can destroy lung tissue
nd cause cancer, can be found on pipes in nearly three-quar-
rs of residence halls and other buildings across campus,
ccording to University Housing.
"There's asbestos in West Quad, East Quad, South Quad,
tockwell, Couzens, Lloyd, Bursely and pretty much
very building built before 1970," said George San Facon,
tor of housing and residence facilities at the
Jniversity.
Although the University is in the process of getting an esti-
rate for the removal of asbestos from Mosher Jordan
tesidence Hall, there are no plans at this time for a whole-
ale removal'of the pipes because of the cost.
But San Facon said that there is no cause for alarm.
"The (asbestos) pipes have two protective coatings, canvas
nd paint sealant," he said, adding that damaging the coating
ould take "significant abuse."
"You're not going to just bump up against the pipe and
the coating,' he said. "You don't have anything to
vorry from asbestos."
Phil King, the regional asbestos coordinator for the
nvironmental Protection Agency, also said that the insula-
on poses no damage if undisturbed.
"If it's intact, it's not a problem." he said. "In fact, asbestos
an still be lawfully purchased for use in buildings and
omes."
San Facon said the biggest problem arose a few years ago,
hen students would hang clothes from the pipes. The hang-
rs would sometimes puncture the protective coating.
9tty Watt, director of the University's Occupational
atety and Health Department, echoed San Facon's senti-
ients.
"Asbestos is only a risk when it gets airborne," she said.
Watt also said that the University is constantly evaluating
ie situation. She points to the fact that there were a number
f asbestos removal and containment projects occured in
)ctober and throughout the year.
Despite the assurances that rooms and buildings are safe,
ome University students are still uneasy.
''t doesn't make you feel very good," said Krystal
sic, an LSA first-year student living in Helen Newberry
tesidence Hall.
"Living here for nine months, if you're breathing that, it's
ot gocd," she said.
San Facon added that the University has an independent
ompany inspect every three to five years. He added that
eadings of asbestos levels that are taken on a yearly basis.
Asbestos pipes are marked with a yellow warning sticker
hat reads "CAUTION: ASBESTOS." Anyone who thinks the
sbestos is damaged should call FIXIT immediately at 763-
948.

E leader to
address
winter grads

SAM HOLLENSHEAD Daily
University employee Tom Goss serenades students with his tuneful harmonica yesterday on the
Diag.
Congressional act to
alter student loan index

By Michael Orass
Daily Staff Reporter
European Commission President
Romano Prodi, former Italian prime
minister, has been selected as winter
commencement speaker. The event,
to be held in Crisler Arena, is sched-
uled for Dec. 19.
Economics Prof. Jim Adams, an
acquaintance of Prodi, said he is sup-
portive of the selection of Prodi.
"I'm absolutely delighted that
we've selected Romano Prodi as our
commencenent speaker," Adams
said..
Prodi, who became president of
the European Commission - the
executive branch of the European
Union - in September, taught
industrial policy at the University of
Bologna in Italy, and has a broad-
based knowledge of many issues
adding to his "academic brilliance,"
Adams said.
After forming his own political
coalition in 1995, Prodi became
prime minister and served the sec-
ond-longest term of any post-World
War II Italian leader.
University President Lee Bollinger
said Prodi brought stability to the
Italian government through integrity
and defending his principles.
The regents will bestow an hon-
orary doctor of laws degree on Prodi.
At last week's meeting of the
University Board of Regents, the
board approved administrative rec-
ommendations for honorary degree
recipients, including Prodi and two
others.
Neeme Jarvi, music director of the
Detroit - Symphony Orchestra, will
receive an honorary doctor of music
degree.
Ken Fischer, director of the
University Musical Society, said
Jarvi has played an integral role in
the cultural development of Detroit
since he became conductor in
1990.
"As Detroit is experiencing a real
Renaissance, the orchestra is a real
part of the Renaissance," Fischer
said.
Born in Estonia, he began conduct-
ing at age 18, and later became musi-
cal director of the Estonian Radio &
Television Orchestra and conductor
of the Estonia Opera House in
Tallinn.

"m absolutely
delighted that
we 've selected
Romano Prodi."
- Jim Adam
Economics professor
"He's brought a real sense of
dynamism back to the orchestra,"
Fischer said partly because he per-
forms works that are "underper-
formed or underappreciated."
Jarvi has made eight appearances at.
Hill Auditorium with the DSQ this
decade.
Fischer said UMS will further
honor Jarvi by bringing the
Gothenberg Symphony, which Jarvi
also conducts, from Sweden to Hill
Auditorium on Feb. 5.
"I have great respect for what he
has done and I'm proud that the
University has identified ... a great
man of the arts," Fischer said.
An essayist, poet and novelist,
Grace Paley, who is best known for
her short stories, will be given an
honorary doctor of humane letters
degree at commencement.
"She is a charming and very high-
ly intelligent person," Bollinger
said.
In 1989, former New York Gov.
Mario Cuomo named Paley the first
official New York state writer.
Her first collection of short sto-
ries, titled "The Little
Disturbances of Man," was pub-
lished in 1959.
Paley was an anti-war activist for
many years and has taught at
Columbia University, Syracuse
University and Sarah Lawrence
College.
LSA senior Peter Katona, a film
and video studies and philosophy
major, was selected to be the student
speaker at commencement.
Originally from Springfield, Va.,
Katona spent his high school years
at an international school in
Budapest.
Katona, a resident adviser in East
Quad Residence Hall said he is
"awfully excited and honored to
speak."

By Yael Kohen
Daily Staff Reporter
The Work Incentives Act, which contains a pro-
vision for the student loans financing, passed
through both the U.S. House of Representatives
and the Senate last week and is awaiting President
Clinton's signature.
If passed by the president the new interest rate
index will take effect immediately Jan. 1.
The provision included on the bill changes the
index on which student loans are financed from
treasury bills, which are government backed inter-
est rates to commercial paper, which are corpo-
rate-based interest rates.
Although the president has not yet signed the
bill, Associate Vice President for Government
Relations Tom Butts said he does not think it will
be vetoed.
"Students lost this one," Butts said.
But Molly Sullivan, spokesperson for Sallie Mae,

one of the largest student loan agencies in the coun-
try, said that "it has no effect on the students."
Those who oppose the transition said that
although there will be no immediate impact on the
students the long-term effects are uncertain.
"Basically we just need to watch the various
indexes on the financial market and track out what
the change has been," said Ivan Frishberg, director
for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Higher
Education Associate division.
Sullivan said the purpose of the change to com-
mercial paper is that "it will stabilize and make our
returns more predictable."
One problem with the old system was that while
the government continued to pay subsidies based
on treasury bills the lenders based their liabilities
on commercial paper, Sullivan said, adding that
because of this "during turbulent times its very
difficult to finance student loans," Sullivan said.
See LOANS, Page 7

AIDS week brings Dr. Ruth to

'U'

By Jon Zemke
Daily Staff Reporter
Caller, Dr. Ruth has come to answer
your questions.
Ruth Westheimer, the famous "Dr.
Ruth" from the television show "Lets
Talk About Sex," is scheduled to speak
Wednesday, Dec. I at 8 p.m. at the
Michigan Theater highlighting the
activities of AIDS Awareness Week at
the University.
"She talks about sex and answers

questions about sex in a humorous and
serious way," said AIDS Awareness
Week Coordinator Carrie Wolocko.
Ruth's performance will include a
45-minute lecture on AIDS, sex tips,
lessons, anecdotes in the way that made
her famous. An audience question and
answer period will follow Ruth's lec-
ture.
"She was very receptive to the idea,'
LSA sophomore Shari Katz said. "She
has been coined as the No. I college

lecturer of the year"
Tickets for the event will be on sale
for $5 for students and S10 for non-stu-
dents at the Michigan Union Ticket
Office and Ticket Master. No one under
18 will be admitted to the performance.
University alums Al and Jane
Nakatani will also lecture as part of the
week's events. The pair will speak on
AIDS awareness, homophobia, dis-
crimination and caring for the terminal-
See AIDS, Page 2

SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daiy
LSA first-year student Emily Ross serves dinner last night at the First Baptist
Church in Ann Arbor.
Students volunteer
~~n hlday vvacation

Anti-Klan
protester gets
probation
By David Enders
Daily Staff Reporter
Ku Klux Klan protester Thomas Doxey was
sentenced to three years of probation yesterday
for assaulting a police officer at a anti-KKK
protest held May 18, 1998.
Doxey, an East Lansing resident, was the only
suspect of 13 indictments who was convicted for
throwing rocks at Ann Arbor Police officers dur-
ing the protest, which took place in front of the

By Anna Clark
Daily Staff Reporter
Unlike the majority of University
students, who will spend Thanksgiving

and his family plan to spend Thursday
night helping to serve about 5,000 hun-
gry people a good meal, through a char-
itable organization called Equinox.

SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily
Tom Saffold waits outside a Washtenaw County Courthouse courtroom during the sentencing of Ku Klux Klan
protester Thomas Doxey yesterday. Viewers packed the courtroom and many stood outside to hear the verdict.




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