LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thuarda} January 25, 2001- 3A
RESEARCH
New invention
may help deaf,
Blind people
A new study done by researchers
at the University Health System
suggests that deaf-blind people
can, contrary to prior belief, regain
a significant amount of speech
tecognition.
According to the study, led by
Prof. Hussam El-Kashan, a
cochlear implant surgeon, eight
deaf-blind patients had vast
imiprovement in speech after
receiving a cochlear implant, a
device used to translate sound into
electrical impulsesrwhich are then
sent to the inner car.
This device has been used exten-
sively in the past for deaf patients,
but the use of the device on deaf-
blind patients is not as great, due
to the number of deaf patients who
use visual clues, along with the
implant, to understand speech.
But the UM HS study showed
that the deaf-blind group actually
had better speech perception than
the group of deaf patients, accord-
iiig to the patients' case histories
documented in the January issue of
the journal Otology and Neurotol-
ogy.
- The study focused on patients of
UMH S who lost most or all of
their hearing prior to losing their
vision.
The patients received the
implants, along with rehabilitation
at UMHS, and they took speech
perception test both before and
after the procedures.
Many of these patients lost their
senses due to disease in their
genes, the womb or during child-
hood.
Of the patients used in the study,
six people received their implants as
adults, while two had their implants
inserted at three and a half years
old.
Prior to the implantation, adults
scored zero to extremely low on
the speech tests, and showed much
improvement after the implants-
three scored excellent, one showed
imiprovement of selected sounds
and the last has not been totally
Sevaluated.
The children also showed improved
seores.
$500,000 grant to
help hospital study
jaw, mouth defects
After receiving a $447,364 grant
from the Carls Foundation, the
C.S. Mott Children's Hospital will
be'able to advance the understand-
;ng of pediatric madibular defi-
ciency, a condition that limits and
individual's use of the jaw and
mouth.
Chief pediatric plastic surgeon
Steven Buchman will direct the
team, which will conduct a three
year study focusing on the debili-
tating limitations and extreme dis-
figurement that occurs because of
congenital growth disturbances in
the bones.
bCurrent procedures to treat these
:ilildren force children to wait
until adolescence to receive the
:.surgery, long after many other
- :Tevelopmental problems have
occurred.
The surgery involves stimulating
a new jawbone by separating the
bone on two sides, and then using
the patient's bone to reconstruct
the areas of the face that are not
' fully developed.
The study hopes to analyze the
behavioral, social and communica-1
tive impacts of the surgery in chil-1
dren.
The Carls Foundation was
founded by the late William and
Marie Carts 40 years ago to sup-
*port youth activities, pediatric 1
Whealth care facilities and to pre-
serve natural areas and historic
buildings in Michigan.
Compiled i' Daily Staff Reporter
Lisa Hoffman.
Student jobs not covering everyday costs
By Maria Sprow
Daily Staff Reporter
In addition to attending classes, LSA junior
Joyce Lee works 10 hours a week at the Social
Work Library, earning only about a third of the
money that she spends in a week.
"I spend about S150 a week, including rent" said
Lee, who earns about S50 a week at the library.
"My parents help me a lot ... the money I make
from my job is mostly for Christmas and stuff"
For students like Lee, finding a job isn't a prob-
lem around campus. There's no shortage of jobs in
Ann Arbor, and students are given many different
opportunities to have a job within the University.
But still, a part-time job is rarely enough to
pay the bills each month.
Stephanie David, a Social Work graduate stu-
dent, said the University offers the "best graduate
student employment in the nation"
David earns 51,100 a month plus tuition as a
graduate student instructor for Religion Studies
310. "As a grad student, I'm still in debt," David
said.
The University offers work-study employment
opportunities through a variety of areas, includ-
ing the Undergraduate Research Opportunity
Program, the University libraries and the comput-
ing centers around campus. Students also are
hired to give tours to students interested in
attending the University.
"I'm a Comprehensive Studies program assis-
tant. ... Whatever needs to be done, I do it,"
Engineering sophomore Daniel Hardaway said.
Hardaway works 12 hours a week and said he
spends about S50 to S60 a week on food and
entertainment.
Popular lobs among underclassmen are found
in the residence halls. Ann Roberts, executive
secretary for University Housing, said cafeterias
are one of the largest employers on campus, pro-
viding jobs to about 600 students.
Cafeteria wages start at S8 an hour. "We're try-
ing to be competitive with other companies like
Burger King that offer the same wage," East Quad
Cafeteria Student Manager Chris Painter said.
"We're filling up really well. ... I find this year
to be a better year for student employment than
other years, especially this semester. People want
to pay off their holiday bills," Painter said.
Many jobs also are offered outside of campus,
in nearby book stores or retail stores such as
Bivouac on State Street. But not all jobs are
equally responsive to students' needs.
"It's hard to keep students here. We're not real-
ly flexible' Bivouac manager Bryce Nelson said.
Bivouac does offer some competitive" wages,
Nelson said, anywhere from minimum wage to
SI2 an hour, denendig mon experience.
About two-thirds of Bivouac's employees are stu-
dents who work approximately 15 hours per week.
According to the Department of Financial Aid,
the average student employee makes S6 an hour.
The University recommends that students do not
work more than 12 to 15 hours in a week.
"Some students get themselves in trouble
because they want to take on too many shifts. Don't
take on more than vou can handle," Painter said.
"Right noW, I m paying more attention to schooi
than anything else. Ilaving a job hasn't ready
affected my grades because I can study while I'm
at work,* Lee said. "Its in the gwidelies that you
Taking a look
Amtrak getting back
on track in Midwest
DETROIT (AP) - Full service from Detroit
to Chicago will resume tomorrow, Amtrak Inter-
city President Edward Walker said yesterday.
By Feb. 1, full service also will resume from
Chicago to Pontiac and the next day from Pontiac
to Chicago.
Amtrak is offering a free companion fare only
to Michigan residents. When consumers pur-
chase a train ticket at full price, a companion can
ride for free on the same schedule. The incentive
is being offered from Feb. I through March 10.
The publicly subsidized railroad announced six
weeks ago that it would cut back on service in
the Midwest, blaming harsh winter conditions.
"I think it's important to note that we are not
immune to effects of weather, particularly extra-
ordinary and sustained events" of November and
December, Walker said. "The actions that we
took last month were necessary to be able to
serve all the guest by increasing the reliability of
our service.
In December, two of three daily rounds trips
between Chicago, Detroit and Pontiac as well
as the daily round trip between Chicago and
Janesville, Wis. - were temporarily suspended,
affecting about 1,000 passengers.
Last week, the Michigan State Transportation
Commission approved a S6 million subsidy for
Amtrak this year. The state money will keep
daily trains running between Chicago and Grand
Rapids, with a stop in Holland, and between
Chicago and Port Huron, with stops in East Lans-
ing, Durand, Flint and Lapeer
Travel was suspended due to frozen plumbing
systems and damage to electrical systems
installed underneath the cars, Walker said.
SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily
Seth Jabolin and Nancy Philbin, both Ann Arbor residents, look at the collection of Asian artwork
on the second floor of the University Art Museum yesterday.
Legislators expected to vote
on proposed pay increases
i
By Louie MeIzlish
Daily Staff Reporter
The Michigan House of Representatives is expected to
vote today on proposed pay increases for the state's top
politicians and judges. The pay raises would allow a 38 per-
cent pay increase for the governor, lieutenant governor,
Supreme Court justices and members of the Senate and
Ilouse of Representatives.
The State Officers Compensation Commission voted to
approve the increase during its Dec. 7 meeting.
Under the SOCC's recommendations, the annual salary
of senators and representatives would increase from
$57.000 last year to S79,000 in 2002. Gov. John Engler's
salary would increase from S141,000 to 5177,000. Justices
of the Supreme Court would receive a boost from S 141,000
to S 165.000.
Under the Michigan Constitution, these changes will take
effect unless both the House and Senate reject the recom-
mendations by a two-thirds majority.
Majority Floor Leader Bruce Patterson (R-Canton) said
he plans to vote against the pay raises.
"I didn't come to Lansing to make more money.... When
I go back to my law practice, that's when I'll make more
money," Patterson said. "It is possible to attract good people
without becoming the third-highest paid state legislature in
the country."
Patterson's Democratic counterpart, Rep. Gilda Jacobs of
Huntington Woods, concurred with Patterson.
"Our raises should be tied to the cost of living adjust-
ments;" Jacobs said.
Rep. Doug Bovin (D-Gladstone) also said he plans to
vote against the raise because of a process in which o reisla-
Report: Toopers
minorities equall3
tors vote for pay raises just after elections. making those
who cannot run for re-election because of term limits less
accountable to voters.
"The whole system should be moved up a year," he said.
Patterson, Jacobs and Bovin all said they believe the resolu-
tion to reject the raises will get the required two-thirds vote.
A 35 percent pay increase is justified. Rep. Jack Minore
(D-Flint) said. "Regular cost of living incremental increases
over the past 30 years would bring the salary to an amount
only slightly lower than that proposed," said Minore, adding
that he believes the I louse will vote in favor of the raise.
But a vote in the Senate is also necessary to reject the
raises, and so Car Majority Leader Dan DeGrow (R-Port
I huron) has not scheduled a vote.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) is actively trying
to have DeGrow bring the resolution to a vote, even if it is
rejected.
"There's enough votes to confirm the pay raises but we'll
never know if there's not a vote." said Andy Schor, Peters'
lecislative aide.
The Government Operation Committee chair. Sen. Thad-
deus McCotter (R-Livonia), said he would not bring a reso-
lution to a vote in committee unless he believed it would
pass the full Senate because some may vote against a raise
to impress their constituents.
"I'm not going to be part of a charade or an empty ges-
ture." he said.
For her part. Sen. Joanne Emmons (R-Big Rapids) said
she would vote to confirm the pay raises and reject Peters'
resolution in the event that it came up to a vote. "Does the
Legislature deserve a pay raise? I think I can justify that,"
she said. "I think I should get the same amount as middle
managers make."
stop
DETROIT (AP) - A Michigan
State Police report - surveying more
than 400,000 traffic stops over nine
months - shows little evidence that
troopers are pulling over more minori-
ty motorists than white ones.
But critics say the report, not yet
complete, takes a statistically superficial
look at whether minorities are being
stopped by police at a higher rate, a con-
troversial practice called racial profiling.
Critics say traffic stops at some outlying
State Police posts hint that racial profil-
ing does occur.
The data compiled for the first nine
months of 2000 by the state's 1,200
troopers show that black drivers were
issued 11.8 percent of 202,903 total
tickets. The Census estimates blacks
make up 13.8 percent of Michigan's
population.
About one in every 20 traffic stops
by the state police results in a search.
Later this month, the department will
release the full results of the yearlong
probe, the first it has done to track the
race of drivers stopped and ticketed.
The department also has decided to
extend what was initially to be a one-
year pilot program and to hire an out-
side consultant to review collected
data.
Crab Rangoon
A delicious creamy blend of crab & herbs in a crunchy shell
99~
On1g
(3 pieces)
THE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS Our Way, 12:10 p.m., University gan Union, MSA Chambers,
Hospital Lobby, 936-ARTS 615-5MSA
"MG2: Japanese Flute," Spon- O "Ona Mi (My Road)," Spon- U MSA Academic Affairs Commis-
sored by Michigan League Pro- sored by . the Center for sion Meeting, 6:30 p.m., 3909
sredg , 8:30 p.m., Michigan Afroamerican and African Stud- Michigan Union, MSA Cham-
ammlnd, d763-462 es, Olabayo Olaniyi will per- bers, 615-5MSA
f -7.0(der r und. 763-46 2n