LOCAL/STATE
The Michign Dal
RESEARCH
Depression in
elderl linked to
new seases
1 According to a University study, older
Americans who suffer from depression
arejust as likely as smokers to develop a
new disease.
The study of more than 6,000
Americans age 70 and up was conduct-
ed by internal medicine assistant Prof.
Caroline Blaum. Blaum analyzed how
age, race, body mass index, smoking,
physical limitations and depression
symptoms were related to the develop-
ent of a new disease during the two-
rear period. The types of diseases that
developed included stroke, arthritis,
diabetes and cardiac disease.
In the study, Blaum noted that physi-
cal limitations in the ability to lift a 10-
pound object, walk several blocks or
climb stairs indicated a person would
develop a new disease.
Blaum found that individuals who
smoked or had symptoms of depression
were 34 percent more likely to develop
a new disease than those who did not
have depression or smoked.
State sees more
older children
being adopted
Due to national efforts to increase
the rate of permanent placements of
older children in adoptive homes, the
edoption rate in Michigan increased 2
percent last year.
Social Work assistant Prof. Leslie
Hollingsworth said federal laws passed
in 1996 and 1997 helped to promote
cross-cultural adoptions and placement
of children with special needs.
Adoption of children from foreign
countries into Michigan families also
increased in 1998, accounting for about
ne-fourth of adoptions processed
hrough the state's private adoption agen-
cies. Of the 704 children adopted from
foreign countries, more than 60-percent
were of children over the age of one.
While cross-cultural and special
needs groups increased last year, adop-
tions of infants decreased, according to
Blaum's report. The study also found
that 56 percent of adoptive families
were white and 40 percent were black.
It also noted that 356 sibling groups
*onsisting of two to five siblings were
adopted together.
Researchers grow
new vessels to
combat leg pain
University researchers are studying a
new growth protein that may help mil-
ions of Americans who suffer from
eripheral Arterial Disease.
The disease, which is a chronic con-
dition where arteries that supply blood
to the legs becomes blocked by a build-
up of plaque. The blockage causes a
painful, sometimes life-threatening
condition called claudication.
PAD, which affects more than six
million Americans, is responsible for
30 percent of all deaths in the western
hemisphere. According to researchers,
he new growth protein promises to
timulate the body to grow new blood,
vessels, a process called angiogenesis.
The University is one of two sites
conducting the trial, which is part of a
study that will be conducted at 20 med-
ical centers in the United States.
U'I economists
predict stagnation
University economists predict that
uture economic growth will lag behind
the rate of growth of the past decade.
Despite the prediction that 100,000
new jobs will be created in Michigan
during the next two years, the econom-
ic growth will be at a slower pace.
University economist Joan Crary said
the employment growth will be con-
strained by a tight labor market, which is
illustrated by low unemployment rates
and high labor force participation rates.
*n their forecast, the economists state
that manufacturing employment will
drop by .3 percent this year.
But in non-manufacturing jobs, the
economists predict employment
growth to rise from 1.8 to 2.2 percent
next year. They believe the rate of per-
sonal income will increase from four
percent to 5.2 percent next year.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Risa Berrin.
AIDS Fa'r offers infrmation, tes
By Mahvish Khan
For the Daily
Kenneth Mendez, a case worker at the
HIV/AIDS Resource Center in Ypsilanti, has
been living with AIDS since 1991. Yesterday,
during the inaugural World AIDS Day Fair on
campus, he addressed the necessity of getting
tested despite new cocktail medications that
have become available.
"There is still not a cure. There is still not a
vaccine," he said to a group from a stage in the
Michigan Union Ballroom. "AIDS is more
serious today than ever before. Many students
believe it is a white-gay-male disease. It's far
from that."
In commemoration of World AIDS Day,
University Health Service and the Washtenaw
AIDS Interfaith Alliance co-sponsored the
event.
The event included speeches from individu-
als afflicted with AIDS, representatives from a
variety of organizations promoting greater
AIDS awareness and support for those affect-
ed by the virus.
Anonymous HIV testing and condom distri-
bution also were available.
Fifteen to 24-year-olds comprise 50 percent
of last year's HIV infections in the nation and
"university students are at a prime age for
acquiring this disease," WAIA coordinator
Barb Pott said.
"We are trying to increase awareness and
encourage testing among this age group. There
are so many people who are HIV positive and
don't know it," she said.
As LSA first-year student Chris Sutter wait-
ed for the free HIV testing, he walked around
the ballroom, talking to different representa-
tives.
"There's a lot of information from various
organizations that I didn't expect here" he
said. "I'm glad this event was organized. I got
a lot of current statistics; it's impressive."
LSA sophomore Leah Harris also was
"AIDS is more serious today t han eve4eFo
Ca
pleased with the resources available to stu-
dents at the event.
"I'm happy to see so many groups here.
They were very informative. This is a serious
issue - anyone can get AIDS," she said. "It's
not who you are, but what you do."
From support groups and counseling to
medical advice, the event educated students on
the abundance of resources available to them
about HIV and AIDS.
"I learned a lot of information about this
disease ... and picked up condoms," said LSA
senior Marc Stanaj. *
During a candid speech by AIDS victim
Thom Rathbum and his mother Donna
Rathbum, students wiped away tears as the two
ase worker at heHV/DSCntr'p P
recalled the de~atiia~ i
broug ht to t herlieitlke 0i
death setence. h
utah despair. hopelsns i i
Thom Rath bum letsuet
o f hope. and he encoiae po
"I am one o u
\ cll to t he co kta ineitir Rh
said.
"I had spent six months getting r'eady o di
I tied up loose e..nds atnd Isaid r.y good-by
and then the cocktails gave mem flt if' bak
went from a T[-cell count ot It) to I ,M00
'"Wit hout a strong su ppot grciup and a co
circle of friends, I don't know whr ci woi
have been"
Students honor live
lost to deadl is
By Jon Fish are saving lives, aid pe
Daily Staff Reporter son to worry. The qui n
Students last night fought to keep their candles lit these drugs are not 1,a aitnt irn to I he attitcs l t
against a biting wind as they marched through cam- is st ill that t his disease only affcsds trni~
pus to honor the memories of loved ones lost to groups, such as IV drug user An
AIDS and to show support for those living with HIV and other m inorities," she s
The AIDS Interfaith Alliance and the Washtenaw This low awareness is ani
HIV/AIDS Resource Center sponsored the candle- many of the participants a n
light vigil and procession to acknowledge World "There definitely needs i n
AIDS Day. More than 20 students participated in the especially in a commun
vigil, with several more joining the procession as it Jennifer Abhernath, a So W t
made its way from the Michigan Union to the attended the iigil to commemorgteithe li "s of.11o-1
Rackham Graduate School Building. ple she knows who are li ing xu at I l n orie
Organizers said they were pleased with the awareness amonig the niversity comn;n\.
turnout, saying they had not expected a large "If people just turn in their cai tolokthn
crowd. They attributed the lack of participation to that's something Abernah
the growing apathy toward AIDS education and a The vigil and procession were not withot
lack of AIDS awareness among all Americans. moments of humor and happiness. For soie, the
According to statistics provided by the AIDS vigil was a symbol of celebration rathc! than
Interfaith Alliance, Ann Arbor has the second highest solemnity. "You have to celebrate perseverance
HIV infection rate in Michigan, behind only Detroit. too," said LSA senior Lese y W:,ch, an I IV tesa
The attitude that HIV happens to other people, or counselor at IARC.
just specific groups such as intravenous drug users As the procession came to an end in on the steps
or homosexuals, continues to be a prevailing belief, of the Rackham Graduate School Buildng,
HARC members said. Chris Tabczka, HARC client marchers joined hands one last tie to honor th
services coordinator, added that the advances in memories of friends and family lost to AIDS.
drug therapies for people infected with HIV have led "I made a promise to fiends that died
to a false sense of security among the public. promised I wouldn't forget them and I haven
"The media makes people optimistic. The meds Social Work student Sheila Nelson said.
IT TO WRITE FOR T E 'TY
76-DAILY FOR MORE INF
DANNY KLIK "\ uaiy
Vigil participants Dan Leonard and Stephen Eddins close their eyes during a prayer for AIDS victims at a
candlelight ceremony on the front steps of the Michigan Union last night.
Internet course
notes spark debate
WAN
CALL
By Jeremy W. Peters
Daily Staff Reporter
After Provost Nancy Cantor's
announcement last month that she will
form a group to study commercial note-
taking services, officials at Versity.com,
one of the nation's largest notetaking
companies on the Internet, said they are
encouraged that the University is dis-
cussing its company's place on campus.
"We think it's great," said Janet
Cardinell, Campus Relations director for
Versity.com. "I've seen Nancy's memo
and I think her decision offers a good
opportunity to answer some important
questions."
In her memo to faculty members,
Cantor said the University neither
endorses Versity.com nor encourages
"commercial notetaking in any form."
Although Versity.com offers notes for
34 different University classes, not all
professors are in favor of allowing the
publication of their class materials.
"I am opposed to it very much," said
history Prof. Sidney Fine, adding that he
feels he owns the rights to the content of
his lectures.
"I feel we have a copyright on our
material. I am not teaching for the gener-
al public, and what goes on in my class is
between me and my students" Fine said.
Cardinell said she does not agree with
Fine's argument.
"We've investigated copyright laws,
and they are designed to protect creative
work. It does not extend to historical or
scientific fact," she said. Cardinell did
say that as part of its pilot program,
Versity.com will offer professors copy-
rights on their class notes.
As of now, the University has no offi-
cial policy regarding notetaking for com-
mercial purposes, so notetakers are per-
mitted to take notes at the professor's dis-
cretion.
Cardinell said Versity.com recently
contacted 115 University professors
about participating in a pilot program
designed to improve both the quality of
the notes and the relationship between
Versity.com and University professors.
"I have been on campus all week, and
we were hearing concerns from profes-
sors about accuracy. Through the pilot
program, we want to develop relation-
ships with professors to help make the
notes as accurate as possible and provide
control 'to professors so they can have
input the notes," Cardinell said.
Jennie Kessler, an LSA senior and
notetaker for Grade A Notes, a for-profit
Ann Arbor-based notetaking company,
said she understands why some profes-
sors oppose student notetakers in their
classes.
"I can see those professors' views
because students may not worry about
going to class," she said.
Cardinell insists that Versity.com's:
notes are not meant to substitute for class
attendance.
"The lecture notes are a supplement.
We are not a term paper company or an
exam taking company and we feel our
notes promote education and learning,"
she said.
Cardinell added that although she did
not feel offering notes on the Internet
encouraged students to miss class, she
did admit that some students might abuse
them.
"There will always be a small percent-
age of students who misuse the service
... but we design it for students who want
to learn " she said.
Fine said he did not know first-hand
what effects published notes had on
attendance because he has never permit-
ted them for his classes. But he did spec-
ulate as to what free notes could do to his
class size.
"I think that students ... would find it
as an excuse to not come,' he said.
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