LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 16, 1999 - 3A
'ESEARCH
Study shows 1 in
3 Michigan kids
don't buckle up
Roughly one in three Michigan chil-
en do not use safety belts, despite
creased public awareness of the ben-
efits of buckling up, according to
University researchers.
In a new study of safety belt use by
children age 15 and under, researchers
David Eby, Lidia Kostyniuk and
Jonathan Vivoda of the University
Transportation Research Institute
found that seat belt use is about 66 per-
cent for this age group throughout the
state.
Although nearly 93 percent of kids
der age 4 use either safety belt or
child safety seat, only about 58 percent
of children ages 4 to 15 wear seat belts,
they say.
Michigan law requires that all
front-seat passengers wear a safety
belt as well as all children under the
age of 18.
esearchers find
ene that may
control cancer
Researchers at the University of
Michigan Comprehensive Cancer
Center have identified two genes that
may control the development of
inflammatory breast cancer - an
aggressive, often lethal, form of the
disease.
he discovery, published in the Sept.
1999 issue of Clinical Cancer
Research, is the first report of genetic
markers associated with inflammatory
breast cancer.
Unlike other types of cancer,
inflammatory breast cancer is ran-
dom and non-hereditary, so discov-
ery of these genes will not help pre-
dict who is more likely to develop
disease.
The most immediate benefit will be
to physicians who must determine the
most effective form of cancer treatment
in new patients.
Professors given
award to assess
state's uninsured
*Two University School of Public
Health professors have been awarded a
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Foundation grant to assess the charac-
teristics of and the number of unin-
sured and underinsured residents in
Michigan.
Rashid Bahshur, professor of
health management and policy and
director of telemedicine at the UHS,
dJackWheeler, professor of
th management and policy and
director of UHS, will analyze statis-
tics taken from a national survey
conducted in 1997.
The study has the potential to be the
basis for developing programs to help
provide health insurance for uninsured
Michigan residents and children eligi-
ble for state programs such as MIChild
and Healthy kids.
,rime-time TV
viewing linked to
sexual attitudes
Young women who watch more than
22 hours of prime-time TV sitcoms and
dramas a month are more likely than
those who watch less to endorse a
recreational view of sex, according to a
dversity study.
I he study was conducted by psy-
chology Prof. L. Monique Ward and
funded by the National Science
Foundation.
The researchers showed subjects
four clips from prime time network sit-
coms that dealt with jealousy, insecuri-
ty, lust and fidelity.
The study states that how much
time young people spend watching
television isn't as important an influ-
Wce on their sexual attitudes, expec-
tations and behavior as how involved
they are in what they're viewing -
-how much they identify . with the
characters, and how realistic they
believe a show is.
- Compiled by Daily StaffReporter
Risa Berrin.
New developments to replace vacant sites
By Jodie Kaufman
Daily Staff Reporter
Students may soon have a new housing option.
The Stegman Group, a private developing compa-
ny, has proposed a 15 story apartment, condomini-
um and townhouse complex on the corner of East
William Street and North Thompson Street, at the
former National Bank of Detroit location.
Developer Jack Stegman of the Stegman Group
said the complex would also include three floors of
underground parking - a rarity in Ann Arbor.
The city of Ann Arbor is advocating a public-pri-
vate parking plan, recognizing the need for more
parking. The Downtown Development Authority
encouraged a private company to pursue building a
lot by ensuring that a portion of the taxes would be
earmarked for parking projects.
Stegman called this a "win-win situation to build
housing" for his developing company and claimed
that if it were not for his developing group, the city
would be responsible for building more parking.
The deal guarantees 60 percent of the $500,000 in
new taxes generated by the building will go directly
toward bonds to pay for parking.
"No one in their right mind would pay the taxes on
a new building with the parking amenity without this
deal." Stegman said. The project is being privately
funded by undisclosed sources, he added.
Despite the DDA's enthusiasm, plans have not
been officially submitted to the city.
City Planner Donna Johnson said yesterday that
"there has not been any formal plan submitted yet,"
noting that in order for construction to begin, plans
have to be approved.
Although the new housing project could generate
more customers for local businesses in the area,
many business have mixed reviews of the proposal.
Sang Jin, an employee at the Clothesline Cleaning
Service located on Thompson and Maynard streets
said "I don't think it will help, we don't advertise
anyway."
But Dawn Nelson, a hairdresser at the Campus
Barber, said "I think it will bring more people here
because of the convenience, people who live
around here do not have to worry about parking,
and a lot of clients already come from the two pre-
sent apartment buildings."
Manager of Cottage Inn Pizza Bill Res said the
new development "will increase business tremen-
dously, just as the Tower Plaza across the street did."
But Student Bike Shop owner Bill Loy said that
the additional building "is not a good idea."
"The wind from buildings will make it so that you
can't stand. It already blows trash all around and
knocks the bikes over," he said.
Stegman said housing will be targeted at lower
income level renters, including faculty and students.
Students said this new building could be an asset
to the community. LSA junior Scott McDaniels said
"it is a good idea, parking is so limited and apart-
ments are hard to find. It will give students another
option in living space."
Engineering student Darius Harrison said, "It is a
pretty good location, close to everything, closer to
downtown. Plus parking, which is the key."
Doug Kelbaugh, dean of the School of
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JEREMY MENCiK/Daily
ABOVE: The former National Bank of
Detroit building will be demolished.
LEFT: A drawing of the new building.
Architecture and Urban Planning, said "from the
drawings, it appears to be a very handsome building
which will be a fine addition to the downtown area,
and we need as many units downtown as possible."
Kelbaugh also said though, that he "would prefer
a 10- to 12-story building which would still include
many units and be well proportioned, yet it would
not block as much sun or funnel as much wind."
Another 10-story building, also with parking and
living spaces, is in the works on South State Street
and East Washington Avenue at the former Olga's
restaurant site, but the Stegman Group is waiting to
see how the initial plan of the other development
passes through the city, Stegman said.
Committee works to make
S*lidents get on one of University Transportation Services' 30 buses yester-
day. The number of bus routes has been increased during peak hours.
C !e
'U'adds, buses t
shorten wait tme
A2
By Robert Gok
Daily Staff Report
Universitys
plained aboutr
Arbor. But th
with this probl
For years, c
have expresse
affordable hou
more and mor
left Ann Arbor
Yesterday, t
Housing Comn
crete plan to so
says peopler
when they do n
cent of their in
The membe
mittee, formed
Mayor Ingrid1
the Ann Arbo
architects, rea
bers, religious
housing more o
d profit organization workers.
er The committee was largely formed as
students have long com- a result of growing community concern.
rising costs of rent in Ann "We know for the first time, it was a huge
ey are not the only ones issue," said committee co-chair Chris
em. Kolb, a city council member.
citizens and city officials "Before, it was someone else's prob-
d concern over the lack of lem. It became personalized,"he said.
using within the city, as City Housing Services Manager Larry
e residents have reluctantly Friedman said local businesses have been
because of too-high costs. key in pushing for affordable housing.
he Ann Arbor Affordable Friedman said the Ann 'Arbor
mittee met to create a con- Chamber of Commerce explained to city
olve this problem. The city council members that businesses were
have affordable housing losing employees who were unable to
iot spend more than 30 per- afford the city's rising housing costs.
come on housing costs. As of now, most of the committee's
iffordable
eral obstacles, including the lack of
vacant land and monetary resources, the
high demand to live in the city and high
property taxes.
Several solutions mentioned include
raising funds through a millage, continu-
injg to fund non-profit organizations tht
buy up land and cooperating with the
University to use some of its property to
house low-income employees.
Committee member Nile Harper, head
of Interfaith Council for Peace and
Justice, said he thinks the local religious
community can help. "Our goal is to
bring the clergy together, to prod their
conscience about the issues of affordable
housing."
To this vain, the Interfaith Council has
created a network of 50 religious congre-
gations to educate their members about
efforts to increase affordable housing and
to raise money for housing, such as
Habitat for Humanity.
.rs of the 20-person com-
d in May by Ann Arbor
Sheldon and approved by
r City Council, represent
ltors, city council mem-
leaders and local non-
work has been trying to understand and
address specific obstacles and possible
solutions to existing problems.
This has been accomplished in four
public meetings since August.
Committee members have identified sev-
By Jeff Kung
For the Daily
University Transportation
Services has added more bus routes
to its schedule to reduce the number
of times students are late to classes
and exams because of tardy buses.
Between the peak hours from 10
a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through
Friday, students can expect to wait no
longer than 10 minutes for a bus.
"Every year we add more buses
during peak hours. There are no new
buses, just more at peak time," LSA
senior and student bus driver Dan
Mueller said.
Providing more than 20,000 rides a
day, Transportation Services has more
than 30 buses to accommodate stu-
dents 22 hours each weekday during
the fall and winter semesters.
From Monday to Friday, most
buses run from 6:40 a.m. to 7:30
p.m. with a 10 minute wait, and the
Nite Owl bus service picks up at 7
p.m. and runs every 30 minutes until
2:15 a.m. On Saturday and Sunday,
most buses make their routes every
20 minutes between 7:20 a.m. to
12:40 a.m.
The added buses are a welcomed
improvement to students and profes-
sors who are thinking ahead to hectic
midterm and final exam times.
In 1997, Transportation Services
came under fire by students and pro-
fessors who complained that exam
schedules were set back because stu-
dents were more than 15 minutes late
waiting for buses.
Engineering junior Patrick Franklin
remembers when delayed buses
caused problems two years ago.
"I think there is an easy solution to
this problem. Each department can
gather together a list of their larger
classes exam times and give this to the
transportation department," he said.
"With the schedule of exam times,
the person in charge of scheduling
the bus runs could simply add more
buses," he said.
Transportation Services
Supervisor Bitsy Lamb said the
department has listened to sugges-
tions like Franklin's and has asked
professors to alert them when extra
bus service is needed. But students
have not always taken advantage of
increases in bus services, she added.
"Astronomy and physics classes
informed us about exams and more
buses were sent," Lamb said. "But the
students didn't use it. It was startling to
see the students not utilize the bus
even though there was a sign posted in
front of the bus for the specific class"
Some students who experienced
bus delays two years ago said they
have noticed a difference in bus effi-
ciency.
"Most of the times I wait 10 min-
utes, sometimes sooner," LSA senior
Colleen Peek said.
"I think it's a great service. I have
friends who attend (Michigan State
University) and they don't have any-
thing like the bus system" here,
Franklin said.
The University busing system
started in the late 1940s and has
grown ever since. The number of bus
drivers is approaching 100 - 40 per-
cent are full-time drivers and 60 per-
cent are part-time student drivers. To
meet the increase in bus routes,
Transportation Services is seeking
more student drivers.
Students must fulfill the same
qualification as full-time drivers. A
state-issued bus driver's license is
required. All applicants must under-
go random drug tests and an initial
physical screening.
They also must attend 30 to 40
hours of training sessions and pass
the driving exam before sitting
behind the wheel of a 40-foot bus.
Students can get updated sched-
ule information by calling 764-3427
or accessing the Transportation
Services Website at www plan-
tops.umich. edu/transport/bus-
_routes/.
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What's happening in Ann Arbor today
GRouP MEETINGS
Clrcle K Mass Meeting, Michigan
Union, Anderson Room, 7 p.m.
Mass Meeting, Michigan
League, Room D, f p.m.
EVENTS
www.umich.edu/-info on the
World Wide Web
U Northwalk, 763-WALK, Bursley
Lobby, 8 p.m.- 1:30 a.m.
U Safewalk, 936-1000, Shapiro Library