ne miencgan uany -- rnaay, aeptemoer zz, zuu - r Ford and Firestone appear before House committees WASHINGTON (AIP) - The public finger pointing between cen- tury-long business partners Ford otor Co. and Bridgestone/Fire- stone Inc. resumed yesterday with the tire maker charging that Ford's lower tire pressure recommendation for the popular Explorer model makes the vehicle less safe. Officials from both companies went before two House subcommittees investigating the recall of Firestone tires that have been linked to 101 U.S. traffic deaths. The tires are standard equipment on the Explorer, the world's *st-selling sport utility vehicle. Bridgestone/Firestone Executive Forever young -i I Vice President John Lampe said the tire maker sent a letter to Ford on Wednesday requesting that it raise the recommended pressure for the tires from 26 pounds per square inch to 30 pounds - the level already suggested by Bridgestone/Firestone. "We now know that at 26 psi there is a low safety margin for the Explorer as compared to some other SUVs," Lampe said. "Running an Explorer on low tire pressures, overloaded, in hot climates appears to be a part of the problem that we're now facing." Helen Petrauskas, Ford Vice Presi- dent for environment and safety engi- neering, countered that "for the better part of 10 years Firestone agreed and repeatedly supported and certified to the recommended tire pressure of 26 psi." "All the requisite testing which needs to be done at the recommended customer tire pressure was done," she said. Bridgestone/Firestone last month recalled 6.5 million ATX, ATX 11 and Wilderness AT tires, most of which were original equipment on Explorers. Thousands of people, most of them Explorer owners in warm-weather states, have reported tread separations, blowouts and other problems with the tires. FUNDRAISER Continued from Page 1 Calling the University "the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me," Rogel described the need for more funds for scholarships, especial- ly for those paying out-of-state tuition. After his presentation, Rogel said he believes Bollinger and the administra- tion will develop a successful cam- paign. If (the University) were a public stock, I'd buy it," Rogel said. Feagin avoided questions about the final goal for the fundraiser, simply saying "it really is too early to talk about that" Regent Dan Horning (R-Grand Haven) immediately responded, "but we're still going to ask." "We're going to try to raise more money than before," Feagin said. Feagin, Bollinger and Rogel all stressed that statirg a goal prema- turely could possibly hurt the cam- paign because in setting any campaign goal, Bollinger said, "you must not fail." Feagin added that there is not only a danger of setting a goal that is too high, but also setting a goal that is too low. If earlier campaigns, including Campaign for Michigan are any indication, the University should not have any problem meeting that goal. From 1998-1999, the University ranked sixth in the nation for private donations with gifts totaling S76.9 million. Today's healthy economy, said Fea- gin, makes this an ideal time to start another campaign. The current record is held by Har- vard University, who in 1999 raised S2.1 billion. Feagin worked on that campaign before coming to Michigan. Regents Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) and S. Martin Taylor (D-Grosse Pointe Farms) both said they were excited about the new cam- paign and would be happy to lend their support. "We'll do whatever we possibly can," Newman said. "I don't like to speak for all the regents, but I think it was pretty obvi- ous that the regents support the cam- paign," she said. Steelcase, Inc. is a successful compary that promotes a healthy balance between career and personal life. As the preeminent designer and manufacturer of over 540 different lines of products used to create high-performance working environments, it Is by no coincidence that we know what it takes to accommodate our own employees. We are now making it more convenient than ever to learn more about us by coming to visit you! Take the first step towards a rewarding new career by stopping by to see us at the U of M Engineering Career Fair Tuesday, September 26 We are currently considering new graduates for positions in: Engineering and Information Systems At Steelcase, we won't try to mold you into something you're not. Instead we'll nurture and develop the talents you already have. We hope that you will stop by our booth and learn more about the advantages and benefits that Steelcase has to offer. If unable to attend the Career Fair, we are still willing to accommodate you. Just visit our Web site at www.steelcase.com or send your resume to: Steelcase, Inc., CR2001, P.O. Box 1967, CS-3E, Grand Rapids, MI 49508; Fax: (616) 246-4603; E-mail: staffing@steelcase.com Steelcase strongly supports a diverse workplace and welcomes all appliccnts. w CARRIE MCGEE/Daily Gene Wilson, an Ann Arbor resident since 1972, sits in his house on Hamilton Street. Wilson said he and his wife enjoy living near students. that the Michigan ment Corporation Continued from Page 1 with the tobacco governor decided to distribute such a Wondergem, vice large amount of funding for research munications at the because of the nigh quality of research Wayne State Res already being done in Michigan. Michael Anderso University President Lee Bollinger will also give sma WdMichigar State President M. Peter ing in cooperation ScPherson fushed for more funding the funding neced this summer lruscott said the opening projects. of the Van Andel Institute in April also "It will provide influenced Frngler's decision. opportunity) to e "They have Nobel laureates from developments," An around the world," Truscott said. Truscott said lam "There's a lot of brainpower over tions like pharma there," he said, referring to the four may benefit as we participating institutions. "We really the universities and laan on building on that." the funding. He added that the governor's goal is Jennifer Kopp, s to make the corridor one of the leading MEDC said once research areas in the country. on which of the 60 Truscott said the 20 year effort hopes als will receive fur to model itself after the "Research TI- details will be avail angle" in North Carolina, which "We want to dev includes facilities at Duke University, ical corridor, clu University of North Carolina and North and universities Carolina State University. where students can "We hope to collaborate with all in the life science three universities, and we are delighted Ann Arbor or Mich &recn Party ticke REGENT Continued from Page 1 Republicans Suzy Avery, state tourism director, and Wendy Anderson, long-time GOP activist, are also vying for a seat on the board, along with several other third party candidates. Trudeau, who is funding his campaign on his own, said believes he has a chance of getting onto the board. "I don't think it's completely impossible, but the odds aren't in my favor. But I would love to sit on the Board of Regents:' Trudeau said. For many years, the Michigan Student Assembly has fought to be able to have a student representative on the board, but to no avail. Michigan Student Assembly Vice President, Jim Secreto said a student sitting on the board of regents would give stu- dents direct say in what goes oii at the University. "Right now students have an indirect say in what happens the University. But if we get a regent, we ca push a bit," creto said. Secreto said the assembly is not currently working on getting a student representative appointed to the board. Economic Develop- decided to do this money," said Casey president for com- Van Andel Institute. search Grant Officer II said the money 11 btusiiiesses, work- with the university, ed for life science organizations (the Xplore a lot of new dhersoni said. rge private corpora- ceutical companies ,1 if they work with I supply a portion of pokesperson for the the MFDC decides 0 submitted propos- iding, more specific able. elop an actual phys- sters of businesses working together intern or get a job es without leaving higan," Kopp said. Transforming the ways people work tfeatures student Regent Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich) said she doesn't like the idea of just putting a student on the board. "It's OK if he runs, but just having a student doesn't nec- essarily change much." Maynard said. Maynard said there may be !egal issues that Trudeau will face if he makes it on the board. "After I made it, I had to resign from being a professor because I couldn't be both a faculty member and a regent," Mayird said. "It would b: a conflict of interest. Some of the things regents do impact students, like fees and tuition." "A governing body must be objective. If students are on the board, some votes may impact them personally," she said. Secreto said he doesn't think Trudeau has much of a chance of winning the election. "As a third party candidate, he has no chance. It's admirable and his heart is in the right place, but very rarely does a third party candidate win," Secreto said. Maynard also said she thought Trudeau's biggest weak- ness would be that he is running with a third party. "If Ralph Nader and the Green Party carried the state of Michigan in the presidential elections, he would win,: May- nard said. "But he's running on a party that won't get a lot of votes." 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