4 LoCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday. November 2, 2000-- 3A RESEARCH Researchers look to potatoes for hepatitis vaccine Researchers have completed pre- iminary research on the development of a potato that would serve as a vac- , cine for Hepatitis B. The team, led by Hugh Mason at Cornell University's Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, developed a genetically modified potato with spe- cific proteins that stimulates the pro- luction of antibodies in the blood. The initial tests performed on mice helped show the feasibility of produc- ing a potent hepatitis B vaccine in food, but the scientists are now focusing on strengthening the immune response triggered by the potato vaccine. Hepatitis B affects more than 2 bil- lion people worldwide and is trans- ferred sexually. The disease can cause complications of the liver that may ,lead to liver failure and death. A vaccine for the disease is current- ly available in an injection, but the cost is too expensive for developing countries. The cost of the potatoes are expected to be significantly cheaper. The study was published in the November issue of the journal Nature Biotechnology. Older surgeons have higher patient mortality rate A new study published in the journal Neurology found that older surgeons, who have been performing a common roperation to prevent strokes for more than 20 years, had a higher patient mor- tality than younger, less-experienced surgeons. About one out of 100 patients died who received the operation, known as a carotid endarterectomy, by an older physician. But, the research team, led by Liam O'Neill of Cornell University, found .that experience should not be discount- ed. Surgeons who did the operation -once a year or less were three times more likely to have their patients die. Once the surgeon had done the oper- ation at least three times in two years, they did not have a larger-than-average risk of the patient dying. The researchers studied information on nearly 13,000 operations performed by 532 surgeons during a two-year peri- od in Pennsylvania. The team speculates that the rea- son the older doctors carry a higher 'mortality rate is due to not keeping up with the latest techniques and improvements. Study asserts snakes have body side preferences Researchers at Oregon State Univer- sity have found that male snakes use the right-side of their body more often than the left-side and have concluded that the snakes are right-handed. Although snakes have no hands, they have hemipenes that can function as limbs. Robert Mason and Mike LeMaster of OSU studied more than 400 garter snakes that they found dead from suf- focation in Manitoba, Canada. The scientists weighed the snakes and measured their internal and exter- nal organs. They found that garter snakes tended to have larger hemipenes, kidneys and testes on the right side. OSU researchers used the unex- pected size differences in the data they found to form the hypothesis that garter snakes use the right hemipenis more than the left, and that the male is more likely to use his right-side than his left in certain circumstances. The scientists are yet to find any practical applications for their research but think that it might help in future research of human hand-prefer- cnces. - Compiled byi Daily Staff Reportr i Lindsey Alpertf-oln wire reports. Students push for extended all breaks By Robert Gold Daily Staff Reporter After cramming for midterms, some University students would like to have an extended Fall break to relax or prepare for final exams. Students at University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign will get that chance this year - with a total of nine days off during the Thanksgiving holi- day. This change in the academic calendar will not impact the length of the semester, University of Illinois Senate Clerk Bob Damrau said. University of Michigan students will have a four day weekend later this month, their first break of the semester. Student and faculty representatives of the Illinois Senate voted last year to extend the Fall break after several years of students voicing their desire for it. Damrau said some faculty initially resisted the idea Passing the book(let) because they felt it was too late in the semester. would likely occuri The vacation this year will run from Nov. 18 McElvaine saidt through Nov.'26. under a tri-semest "They finally convinced faculty that (they are) squeeze in extra va adults and they won't forget anything they've a tri-semester syste learned in a week," Damrau said. mer terms combin The Senate ruling stands for the next three years. and Winter terms While students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana-Champaign have campaigned for an tem, which means extended fall break, the students at the University and their is more t of Michigan have not, University Registrar Tom averages between 7 McElvaine said. McElvine said th Students and faculty voiced their feelings about ages between 67 a the academic schedulc in the late 1980's. A survey way the University found more students favored starting the semester Fall break would 1 later than receiving a longer Fall break, McElvaine Labor Day, McElva said. MSA memberS "No students ham: raised the question since ernment has not ra then," he said, adding that examining the issue her year in office.E 7IStudents if students raised concern. because the University operates er system there is little time to acation days. The University has m because the Spring and Sum- ed are equal in length to the Fall . The University of Illinois at n operates under a semester sys- the summer terms are shorter ime between terms. Illinois has 72 and 74 days per term. he University of Michigan aver- td 69 academic days. The only of Michigan could extend any be starting the semester before aine said. Sara Pray said the student gov- aised the issue of Fall breaks in But at a Big Ten student govern- ment conference in Indiana last week, Pray said she spoke with other school representatives who voiced their desire for a longer break. Pray said she thinks the issue will likely be addressed to MSA sometime this year. The registrar's office develops a rough draft of the academic calendar and then distributes it to all uni- versity colleges and departments for suggestions. Engineering senior Vaughn Washington said he would rather have a longer Fall break than starting the semester later. "It's kind of like a second wind; Washington said, adding that it gives time for students to refo- cus on school. But LSA junior Dave Werny said the benefits of starting the term later outweigh a break. "It gives you ahother week to earn some cash," Werny said. "I think Thanksgiving is enough of a break." travel to protest genetically altered cereals ABBY ROSUNBAUM/Uaily Former University student and Ann Arbor resident Sarah Rassoul passes out booklets in the West Hall Arch yesterday afternoon. Sidest ca duing forumon lawsuit By Kristen Beaumont Daily Staff Reporter SNRE senior Elizabeth Hamilton X said she worries because no one can f guarantee that certain food supplies c have not been genetically engineered. "Obviously the food industry is notT regulated enough to make sure that ourc food remains safe," said Hamilton, a 1 member of Basic Food Group which s fights harmful practices in agriculture. Genetic engineering allows the t manipulation and transfer of genetic t material from one organism to another. Soybeans and corn are common geneti- cally engineered, or genetically modi- fied foods. Potential health risks whenf using genetically engineered foods c include a trait development that reducesc the effectiveness of antibiotics to treatc human disease.t Hamilton and other University stu-t dents traveled Tuesday to Battle Creek to protest use of genetically modified corn and other grains in Kellogg Co.'s cereals, sold in the United States.c THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN GET FOR FREE IN ANN ARBOR. AREN'T YOU GLAD THERE'S THE DAILY? ATTIENTION ALL FREISHIMEN, SOP IIOMOR1E S AND JUNIORS If you are interested in advertising or sales experience, don't wait until this summer for an internship! The Michigan Daily has Display Account Executive positions open starting this Winter term Pick up an application today: Student Publications Building 420 Maynard Street 2nd Floor or call 764-0662 for more information Deadline is Monday, November 6th so don't hesitate The group, Michigan Resistance Against Genetic Engineering, orga- nized the protest to express disap- proval of using genetically modified food in the United States. Kellogg dis- continued their use in Europe. The students involved in the protest handed out literature and organically-grown cereal packets to people passing by Festival Park, the site of the protest. Hamilton said the protesters wanted to create awareness to show Kellogg that consumers are concerned. The protest follows the mid-October shutdown of a Kellogg manufacturing plant in Memphis, Tenn. Parts of the plant closed due to the possible pres- ence in its shipment of the modified corn called StarLink, which is not fed- erally approved for human consump- tion. Starlink is used as animal feed but may cause allergies in humans. Production resumed at the plant last week after they didn't find StarLink. Joseph Stewart, senior vice presi- dent. of corporate affairs and chief ethics officer for Kellogg, said there has been intense scientific research into modified crops, and no evidence indicates that they ar.e unsafo for human consumption. During the protest, Joe Groenk the Michigan Resistance Against Getic Engineeing spokesman and a Uniesi- ty alum, delivered a letter intende for Kellogg CEO Carlos Gutierrez ad ss- ing the group's feelings about KelP 's use of genetically engineered food "They have made us doubt a he promises you have made to us ast il- dren and adults about the qualitygnd nutrition of your cereals. In fact- ur failure to remove them from our: od supply has made us stop buying *em entirely," the letter said. Hamilton said the group haso- posed a resolution to the Ann Xor City Council calling for stricter env n- mental testing and accurate labeig. The council plans to vote on this - lution Nov. 9. - The Associated Press contribu to this r t. By Lisa Koivu Wily StafftReponer During a discussion that could have been filled with anger and tension but remained relatively peaceful, vocal representatives from both sides of the affirmative action issue spoke to the University community last night in a forum focusing on the University's admission policies. While few of the Vice President for Student Affairs' round table discussion group members were in attendance at the forum in Michigan Student Assembly chambers, members of the the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary were present as Shanta Driver, an intervenor in the lawsuit and philosophy Prof. Carl Cohen gathered to air their opposing views on affirmative action. "The affirmative action programs were created in 1965. They were creat- ed with the recognition there was vast social inequality in the country," Dri- ver said. "To address these inequali- ties, this society developed the affirmative action programs." While Cohen said he agreed that affirmative action has taken positive steps to eliminate discrimination, the key issue is whether any person should be discriminated against on the basis of race. "The University uses a system that is racially preferential, there is no doubt about that," Cohen said. Cohen said no matter the outcome, with any of the trials, the suits will be appealed by whichever side loses. Cohen said while there is a very good chance the case could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, there is a slim chance the court will accept the case. LSA-Student Government President B.J. Orandi asked Driver whether it would be effective to use socio-eco- nomic affirmative action, instead of race based. Driver said progress hws been made using the current system, and also that income is independent of tace. "There is overlap, certainly, but thbre is also the individual factor of racisn" she said. The group watched a egment about the University that aired on the televi- sion program "60 Minutes" earlier this week. LSA sophomore Erika Dowdell then questioned Cohen about his say- ing that white students aplying to the University's Law School had a low admittance rate, while African Ameri- can students had a higlher rate of acceptance. "Doesn't it seem like you're punishihg people for being a minority'?" Dowdell asked. Cohen said lie was using an exam- ple to call attention to the disparities that exist between peoie of different races applying for the same positions. "It's hard to get into our Law School. If you're a very good student, not great, but good, then your chances of getting in are about one in 50," Cohen said. "But if you're a black stu- dent, your chances of being accepted are 10 in 10. If that's not racial dis- crimination, I don't know what is." LSA senior Erin Gibert, who orga- nized the forum, said she wanted to bring different perspectives together to discuss the issue. "Affirmative Action is important for the University of Michigan at this point. Part of the pur- pose of this forum is to bring together all of the different perspectives sur- rounding the issue and to discuss the importance it will have on the larger student population," Albert said. Interim Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper said the roundtable discussion would allow for clarification. "Our goal is to ask ques- tions to understand the issue so we can then do the problem solving set of work," Hat-per said. THE CALENDAR What's happening in Ann Arbor today EVENTS The U-Club Poetry Slam, featuring Josie Kearns, 8:30 p.m., Michi- an Union University Club, 763- 202 0 Circle K Meeting, Sponsored by and Programs, Organized by Dance Marathon and Phi Beta Sigma, 7:00 p.m., Michigan Union Pendleton Room, 615- 1525 Thomas Lynch Poetry Reading, Spon- sored by the Department of Eng- ii-s rani the Officen of the Prnvnst Sponsored by the Jewish Women's Foruim and Ahava, 8:00 p.m., Hillel, 769-0500 Summers, Delaney and Sharp, in- store jazz performance, 7:00 p.m., Liberty Bo'rders . en