2 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 10, 1999 NATION/WORLD Emergency response team prepares Y2K continued from Page 1 through Jan. 4, ends. Thiele said command center employ- es will be compensated for their over- ime. Thiele said the decision to deacti- vate the command center functions Belongs to Bess and Chief Information Officer Jose-Marie Griffiths. Earlier this week more than 100 University staff and faculty met to run a able-top scenario of worst case situa- ions, which were created by Architecture and Urban Planning Prof. Jim Snyder, Education graduate student \Aoira Zellner and Architecture and Urban Planning student Charlie Kaylor. Kaylor said the teams were presented with challenges such as inclement weather conditions, which could 'U for Y2K rollover prompt building evacuations and severe auto accidents which would challenge the University Hospitals. Kaylor said the teams responded with "utmost competence" in handling the situations. But the test drills also identified areas that need refinement. "It wasn't perfect," Griffiths said, adding that she appreciated finding a few areas that needed tweaking. "If it were perfect it vould make us complacent," she said. Thiele said one area that needed minor improvement was the communi- cation flow from the center's executive board to the University's operators who will be commanding the 1-877- UMY2KOK hotline. Thiele said a smaller meeting is planned for Thursday to test out some of the communication equipment. Bess said the test-run was very encouraging because it was evident that staff members were "communicating, cooperating and collaborating." In addition to the command center, the University also plans to eliminate the Medical and Central campus' reliance on Detroit Edison for power by disconnect- ing from the company on Dec. 30 and running on its own generators. The University's connection with Detroit Edison will be re-established when offi- cials have determined that it is safe to receive power from an outside source. Thiele recommends students visit the University's Y2K Website wwwyeatr2000.umich.edu for a checklist of precautions including having their M- Card on them at all times and deleting as many e-mail messages as possible. SEMESTER Continued from Page 1 part in the program. Watson said he strongly disagrees with the school's approach, adding that "some schools think study abroad should be based in one country, but they are simply misinformed." Many smaller schools also may dis- courage students from joining the pro- gram, Watson said, because it could create a loss in tuition. "Its a shame," said Johns Hopkins senior Fred Seguritan, who took part in the fall '98 trip. "They don't think it's academic enough. They think it's just a tour. "Really, it was the best learning experience of my life," Seguritan said. "I felt I understood enough of the cul- ture of each country in five days." LSA senior Jennifer McGivern also spent the fall '98 semester aboard the S.S. Universe Explorer. "A lot of kids did screw off and party all the time," McGivern said. "I definitely don't think the classes are as rigorous as here, but it depends on what you made of it, said McGivern. "It just makes sense to study Hindu Art when you're traveling to India." But, Engineering senior Derek Sloane stressed the trip's cultural - not academic - impact. "It was one of the best things I've ever done in my life," said Sloane, who attended the program along with McGivern. "All the countries we went to, all the things we saw, really opened my eyes," Sloane said. ACROSS THE NATION Number of genes alter definition of'life' WASHINGTON - A team of geneticists has come close to determining the min- imum number of genes required for life to arise, an advance that could ultimately allow scientists to design and create living organisms completely from scratch. Tired of waiting for philosophers to answer the question "What is life?" the researchers took a scientific approach and concluded that about 300 genes needed for a candidate life form to pass for "alive" - a state generally defined an ability to reproduce and respond to the environment. The discovery of what appears to be the simplest recipe for making a living thing, described in yesterday's issue of the journal Science, could shed new light on the origins of life and the myriad ways that biology has cooked itself up since evolution first stirred the primordial soup. But of greater interest to ethicists, who have been tracking the so-called Minimal Genome Project since its inception two years ago, the new research may enable researchers to engineer life in the laboratory for the first time from essential chemi- cal ingredients - not by altering existing organisms, as genetic engineers do today That ability could be liberating or could sow seeds of destruction, said J. Craig Venter of Celera Genomics in Rockville, Md., the senior scientist on the new report, Novel cells could be designed to clean up toxic wastes with unprecedented efficienc he said. Or they could be programmed to serve as horrendous biological weapons. terms. removal. Although as part of the settlement Herron said he felt it was important "ontinued from Page 1 the University admits no wrongdo- not to lose sight of this aspect of the set- 'The settlement also mandates a pro- ing, LSA Dean Shirley Neuman sent tlement. :edure by which Cloyd can request a a letter to Cloyd in which she apol- "Litigation is generally regarded as a eaching assistant and allows Cloyd to ogized on behalf of the University chase for money ... but here, this is not teach any courses during the winter for the conditions of Cloyd's clearly not the case;" he said. Ceremoy hnors 6 slain firefghters 0, Mess. - With six shiny yellow fire helmets placed at the stage of a packed concert arena, six firefighters who died in a warehouse blaze were honored as fallen heroes yesterday by thousands of their brethren from around the world. "Most cities have one hero. The city of Worcester was blessed with six" said Frank Raffa, president of the local firefighters union, quoting a handwrit- ten sign along the procession route. To the mournful sounds of drum taps and bagpipes, a three-mile stream of 30,000 firefighters marched solemnly through the city, past flag-waving crowds and the stations where the six men were assigned, en route to the two- hour memorial service. Many mourn- ers couldn't get past the doors of the 15,000-seat Worcester Centrum, Schools, municipal offices and most businesses in this blue-collar city of 170,000 were closed for one of the biggest firefighter memorials the country has ever seen. President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore were among the guests at the ceremony, 30 miles west of Boston. On tables right in front of the stage, the fire helmets were placed next to pho- tographs of the firefighters - Joseph McGuirk, 38; James Lyons 111, 34; L* Thomas Spencer, 42; Timothy. Jackson 51; Paul Brotherton, 41; and Jeremiah Lucey, 38. Scientists grow corneas in laboratory WASHINGTON - Scientists for the first time have grown human corneas in a laboratory, a major step that could help replace controversia chemical testing on animals' eyes an perhaps one day even develop a supply of artificial corneas for patients who need eye surgery. "They show the same function as a real human cornea" in laboratory tests, said lead researcher May Griffith of the University of Ottawa, who reports her discovery in today's edition of the journal Science. AROUND THE WORLD Yeltsin signs mity pact with Belarus MOSCOW - Further distancing himself from the West as pivotal elec- tions approach, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a pact Wednesday with Belarus that calls for heightened military cooperation and eventually a merger of the two countries. An unsteady Yeltsin, who at one point lost his way in his speech and needed help from an aide to find his place, reached the agreement with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused of holding onto power illegitimately after his term as president of the former Soviet repub- lie expired last summer. While the Russia-Belarus treaty is largely a symbolic bid to win support from people in both countries who long for a restoration of the Soviet Union, a secondary accord signed by the leaders has a more immediate effect: It permits Russia to post troops in Belarus on the border with Poland, a new member of NATO. President Clinton and European lead- ers whom Yeltsin once counted as friends have been increasingly critical of Russia's devastating war in the sept ratist republic of Chechnya, in which an untold number of civilians have died. Barak, peace deal to bring security KFAR SABA, Israel - Trying to. chip away opposition to a withdrawal from the Golan Heights, Prime Ministo Ehud Barak promised yesterday that Israel would enjoy unprecedented peace:- and security once he signs peace deals- with Syria and Lebanon, both possible within a few months. Barak launched a campaign to sell- skeptical Israelis on the price for peace after the surprise announcement that. long-suspended negotiations with Syria will resume next week. - Compiled from Daily wire report GET EQUIPPED FOR WINTER! ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF SIB WBOARD .e '1 4 SUPERSTORE* M EDIA CENTER*ON LI N E COMMUNITY Free email, message boards, chat rooms, weather forecasts, mountain/surf cameras The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $100. Winter term (January through April) is $105, yearlong (September through April) is $180. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and the Associated Collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. PHONE NUMBERS (All area code 734): News 76-DAILY; Arts 763-0379; Sports 647-3336; Opinion 7640552; Circulation 764.0558; Classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554; Billing 764-0550. E-mail letters to the editor to daily.letters@umich.edu. World Wide Web: http://www.michigangaily.com. IEDT PA ! L! - . 1t I 1 I E GVI I Vnlml6 %71Mrr _ ' "IWOUNci na/enua! Gugaasl 91 vn c m NEWS Jennifer Yachnin, Managing Editor EDITORS: Nikita Easley. Katie Plona, Mike Spann, Jaimie Winkler. STAFF: Lindsey Alpert, Jeannie Baumann, Risa Berrin, Marta Briil, Nick Bunkley. Charles Chen, Anna Clark, Adam Brian Cohen, Shabnam Daneshvar, Sana Danish. Dave Enders, Jen Fish, Anand Girdharadas. Robert Gold, Jewel Gopwani, Michael Grass. Krista Gullo, David Jenkins. Elizabeth Kassab, Jodie Kaufman, Jody Simone Kay. Yael Kohen, Usa Koivu, Karolyn Kokko, Dan Krauth. Hanna LoPatin. Tiffany Maggard, Kevin Magnuson, Caitlin Nish, Kelly O'Connor, Jeremy W. Peters, Asma Rafeeq. Nika Schulte, Jennifer Sterling. Sho"an Terrelonge-Stone. Nicole Tuttle, Jon Zemke. CALENDAR: Adam Zuwerink. EDITORIAL Jeffrey Kosseff, David WaNlace, Edi ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Emily Achenbaum, Nick Woomer. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Ryan QePietro. STAFF: Ryan Blay, Chip Cullen, Peter Cunniffe, Seth Fisher, Lea Frost, Jenna Greditor, Scott Hunter. Kyle Goodridge, Molly Kennedy, Cortney Koener, Thomas Kuliurgis, Mike Lopez, Brandoen Sant Killy Scheer, Jack Schillaci, Jim Secreto; Job Singer, Jennifer Strausz. Katie TIbaldi, Josh Wickerham, Paul Wong. SPORTS Rick Freeman, Managing Editor EDITORS: TJ. Berks. Chris Duprey, Josh Kleinbaum. Andy Latack, STAFF: Emily Achenbaum. Matthew Batas, Ront Shave.David Den Herder. Sam Duwe. Dan Dingerson, Jason Emeott, Sarah Ensor, Mark Francescutti, Geoff Gagnon, Brian Galvin, Raphael Goodstein, Arun Gopal. Chris Grandstaff David Horn, Michael Kern. Dena Krscher, Ryan C. Moloney, David Mosse, Stephanie Often, Jeff Phillips, Kevin Rosenfield, David Roth. Tracy Sandler, Jon Schwartz, Benjamin Singer, Nita Srivastava, Uma Subramanian, Jacob Wheeler, Dan Williams, Jon Zemke. ARTS Christopher Cousino, Aaron Rich, Editors WEEKEND, ETC. EDITORS: Toyin Akinmusuru, Jeff Druchnisk, Nicole Pearl SUB-EDITORS: Gabe Fajui (MuS), Jenni Glenn (Fine/Performing Atls), Catlin Hall (TV/New Media). Gina Hamadey (Books), Ed Sholinsky (Film) STAFF: Gautam Baksi, Matthew Barrett, Nick Broughten, Jason Birchmeie. Alisa Claeys. Lloyd Dober. Cortney Dueweke, Nick Falzbne, Laura Flyer, Sen Goldstein, Jewel Gopwani, Anika Kohon, Chns Kula, Joshua Pederson, Erin Podolsky. David Reamer. Aaron Rich, Adlin Rosd, Neshe Sarkoty, Chris Tkactyk, Ted Watts, John Uhl, Curtis Zimmermann. PHOTO Louis Brown, Dana Unnane, Editors ASSOCIATE EDITOR: David Roc#ind ARTS EDITOR: Jessica Johnson STAFF: Allison Canter, Sam Hollenshead, Chani Jones, Danny Kalick, David Katz. Emily Linn, Marorie Marshall, Jeremy Menctik. Joanna Paine. Sara Shenk, Michelle Swelir, Alex Wolk, Kimasu Yogachi. ONLUNE Satadru Pramnanik, Managing Editor EDITORS: Toyin Akinmusuru, Rachel Berger, Paul Wong STAFF: Amy Ament, Angela Cummings, Dana Golberg, James Schiff, Peter Zhou. DESIGNER: Seth Benson t- U t it ! =_ ne m m m m .. 71 -- K l X, m 40! %-- = 41"A 'Si.l I - U, 'w' 1---Ww 5..U . t1 " n 4L 10 ] c U c J r is nn;- a -s 41-so