LOCAL/S TATE The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 6, 2000 - 3 Fire in hospital incinerator kept ciner COntrol A small, contained fire broke out yesterday morning in an inoperable 1.nversity hospital incinerator. Offi- cials said the fire started shortly after 8 a mn during work to dismantle the incinerator. "During the process of the work, ~something happened to ignite some residual material and created smoke," I nmversity Health System Spokes- ' oman Kara Gavin said. "It was con- ned to the incinerator area. There was no smoke or fire in the hospital." No patients were evacuated from the hospital, and the fire did not interfere with patient care. No one was injured. Teach-in addresses clashes in By Natalie Plosky IDaily Staff Reporter Last night, a full capacity crowd gathered in room 1400 of the Chemistry Building to hear speakers address the most recent outbreak of vio- lence between Israelis and Palestinians in the Mid- dle East. Called a "teach-in," the event was one of several events on campus in support of Palestinians since this week's violent escalation of conflict between the two sides. Betsey Barlow, a member of the Palestine Com- mittee and former staff member at the University, spoke at the teach-in. "The U.S. continues to exhibit a total lack of understanding of Palestinian grievances," Barlow said. "We use Israel to test our weapons or to get votes for elections at home and to do dirty work forbidden by Congress." She also said she opposed the U.S. giving more than $100 billion to Israel since 1967. LSA senior Naomi Baum, who is Jewish and a member of the student organization AHAVA - which means "love" in Hebrew - explained that there is not a consensus on the situation by the Jew- ish community. "There is a definite diversity within the Universi- ty community and not all Jews support what is hap- pening," Baum said. "I am deeply sympathetic with the Palestinian situation right now." More than a question of which side is right and which is wrong, the conflict has raised important health concerns. Sawsan Abdulrahim, a Public Health student and member of the Palestine Committee, detailed the conditions of the hospitals in charge of tireating the wounded. "Hospitals are under tremendous strain," Abdulrahim said. "They are short on blood and medical supplies and resources." The School of Public Health is holding a fundraiser Tuesday fiom 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Money from the event will be wired to hospitals in the Middle East by Wednesday. Imam Achmet Sallie, visiting from a mosque in Troy, also spoke last night about the Palestinian conditions. , "It's a very tense situation," Sallie s aid. "Palestinians are being dehumanized and mar- ginalized." He also criticized the U.S. media, saying it gives too much coverage to such issues like the Elian Gonzalez saga but little attention to violence in the Middle East. Images of dead and wounded Palestinians were displayed at the teach-in. Following the speakers, several members of the student organizations spoke about ways to support the Palestinians. The teach-in was organized by the Muslim Student Association, the Arab-American Anti- Discrimination Committee and the Palestine Committee. Vest Bank Zain Bengali, vice president of the Muslim Student Association and moderator of last night's teach-in, highlighted what he believes the com- munity should know about the conflict. "We want people to know that this isn't some- thing that just started. It's been going on for some time," Bengali said. SSarah Chopp, a member of the Hillel govern- ing board and former resident of Israel, also com- mented on the media's role in portraying the violence. "I think the violence taking place in Israel is inexcusable on both sides, Chopp said. "But, I think the media has ignored who has thrown the first stone, The media has seemed to be biased against Israel ." Chopp explained that Hillel is organizing a forum for discussion of violence in the Middle East. "There has been a lot of concern in the Jewish community," she said. Car kicked during Wisconsin game A man reported Monday afternoon &t during Saturday's football game kaiknshi Wisconsin, several men I he car, which was parked at the time of the incident, sustained damage to the right fender. Items disturbed inside apartment A resident of North wood III reported eairly Tuesday morning that items inside *iapartment had been disturbed, DPS reports state. She believed that some- one, possibly her ex-boyfriend, had bro- ken into the apartment but that he had already left the scene. Commuter bus involved in Crash A University bus driver collided with aother vehicle Tuesday afternoon at the tersection of South State Street and South University Avenue, DPS reports state No one was injured in the crash. - Student reports being harassed A female student reported Tuesday afternoon that she was being harassed, D/PS reports state. The student reported that she has Seived numerous letters, c-mails and phone calls of a harassing nature. She claims she has told the man to cease his communication, but he has continued. The student declined to file a report, citing that she wanted to try and handle the situation on her own. Garbage results in ~S oficers issue dacittin forlit- tering Tuesday evening at the Fletcher Reidence Hall on South Campus, DPS reports state. Officers originally gave the subject a warning but when officers ' returned to the scene later, the items of garbage were still there. BAMN members solicit in Bursiey *Members of the student organiza- tin Defend Affirmative Action By Ainx Means Necessaiy were reported sohb.ting in Bursley Residence H all late Vuesday night,.DPS reports state. -DPS did not report whether members ~of the group were issued a citation. Peeping tom seen near Northwood IV mni tih a skT mask partially coy- ermng his face was reported looking into u mdows of Northwood IV apartments 1ate J uesday night, DPS reports state. The man was described as black with a black ski mask and black clothing, DPS did not report having any sus- pects in the incident.,, Commuter driver ~ted as reckless AUniversity bus driver was report- ed Monday night for reckless driving of the southbound commuter bus, DPS reports state. The driver alleged- lsped, took turns at a high rate of spaed and missed scheduled bus stops DPS reports state a disposition ipending. Ciompdeld bv Dailv~ .StafIeporter Caitlin Nish. : Panel examines chldood violenCe By Samantha Gane I-rte al Grace Lee Boggs said she thinks she knows why J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is so popular - it illustrates imagination. "Children are looking for something vision- ary;' Boggs said. Teachers, parents and activists need to "let kids know they can make a differ- ence;' she added. Boggs, an 83-year-old writer, speaker and advocate for peace and justice, joined three other panelists yesterday at the Henderson Room in the Michigan League to discuss youth violence. Boggs said she is discouraged that Detroit schools don't include personal and social devel- opment as part of their curriculum. "Children need to see themselves as solutions," she said. In 1992, the creation of Detroit Summers allowed Boggs and other adults to work with teenagers to plant community gardens as well as to brainstorm ways to clean up the "waste- lands" in Detroit. These students see "more empty parking lots than houses" on their way to school, Boggs said. "Children need to nurture relations between themselves and the earth," she said. Elaine Eason-Steele, co-founder of the Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development, said society and adult role models are partially responsible for overwhelming youth violence. "Children are looking for something visionay9, - Grace Lee Boggs Author "Adults don't have patience today," Eason- Steele said. They "should provide an arena where youth can come together." Eason-Steele said that "purchasing gives credence" to the violence she said is dis- played on video games and in lyrics, giving the examples of Sony Play Station and rap- per Sean "Puffy" Combs. Upon entering the panel discussion, audi- ence members were asked to sign a peace pledge promising: "I will value my own life. I will value all life. I will inspire hope in otheirs." The event was a part of Victory Over Violence Festival, which ends Saturday with a cultural celebration at the Power Center. T he Victory of Violence Festival aims to promote human rights by creating an aware- ness of the causes and effects of violence. Alicia Renee Farris, director of the Michigan Institute for Non-violence Education, closed with a reminder that "non-violence is an antidote for violence' not the opposite of violence. Alicia Renee Farris, executive director of the Michigan Institute for Nonviolence Education, speaks yesterday at the Michigan League during a discussion that focused on youth violence in Detroit. to open by art fair By Jane Krull D~aily Staff Reporter The Forest Avenue parking structure is proceeding on schedule to open in July 2001 - just in time to help out with the parking crunch of the Ann Arbor Art Fair. The new seven-story structure on the corner of Forest and Willard Street is unique to the Ann Arbor community in that it is the first joint parking effort between the University and the city. "I think it is terrific anytime the com- munity and the University can work together to address challenges;' Down- town Development Authority Director Susan Pol lay said. Thirty-two percent of the structure's 867 spaces will be blue permit parking for University faculty and staff. The remaining 68 percent of spaces will be public spaces, with a minority of those spaces being long-term parking. The total cost of the structure is shared between the University and city in accordance with the percentage of spaces each was allotted. The University paid S6 million, the city picking up the remaining $13 million cost. The city-owned structure that previ- ously occupied the space was demol- ished in January. The cost $f renovating the old structure was estimated to be more than the cost of building a new structure. There are many safety fea- tures designed into the structure, such as glass-walled stairwells. The glass "pro- vides good visibility from the outside in , and good visibility for the pedestrian to see around the stairwell," University Plant Operations Planning Director Susan Kirkpatrick said. Elevators in the structure are also glass-sided to alleviate safety concerns. Because of the construct ion, Forest Avenue is closed to southbound traffic between South University Avenue and Hill Street, and Willard Street is closed east of Church Street. While construction of the garage has been an inconvenience for many who normally drive and walk through the area, at least one student suffered injuries in the work zone. Engineering junior Daniel Wyns was riding his bike on the sidewalk on Willard Street at about 9:30 p.m. Sept. 18. When Wyns reached Forest Avenue, his bike suddenly dropped from under him, he said, throwing him over his han- dle bars, face first into the ground. Two large, metal plates that were cov- ering a 6-inch deep ditch were apart just enough to allow the front wheel of Wyns' bike, according to a Ann Arbor Police Department report. Wyns had to be taken to the Universi- ty Hospitals' emergency room with his four front teeth severely chipped and multiple bruises. "I have got to go home and get root canals next week," Wyns said. There was also an estimated $50 damage to Wyns' bike. IoT According to the police report, ofi- cers were able to push the metal plates together, eliminating the gap. The officers observed other plates in the area with gaps between them and said they were going to notify the city's Street Maintenance Department. The structure's project manager could not be reached for comment. I V I Why is TLAA-CREF the #1 choice nationwide? The TIAA-CREF Advantage. 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