LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 13, 2001- 3A
RESEARCH
Wave propagation
* in inner core of
Earth investigated
The elastic properties of iron differ
greatly at high temperatures than low
temperatures, according to University
researchers studying the origin and
dynamics of the iron-rich core and
magnetic field of the Earth.
Interpretations of seismic images
provides the basis for the research find-
ings by mapping the behavior of ener-
gy waves that shake the ground during
earthquakes.
The inner core of the Earth, which
is mainly composed of iron, is a solid
sphere that has grown to 1,200 km,
and has waves that travel faster in par-
allel directions than other directions.
This variation in speed is what
researchers are trying to understand
through simulating temperature and
. wave conditions at the core of the
Earth and by predicting the properties
of iron in the center based on funda-
mental physics properties.
Research results support the idea
that the alignment of iron crystals in
the core directly affects wave propaga-
tion.
Dental extract
may improve
* spinal cord injury
Patients with spinal cord injuries
may find relief in dental pulp cells,
according to researchers at the School
of Dentistry and the Karolinska Insti-
tute in Stockholm, Sweden.
The pulp cells contain nerves that
grow and develop to form proper
connections in the teeth, which send
messages to the brain about possible
" damages to organs, like pulling a
hand away from fire or heat.
Researchers are linking the process
of dental pulp cell growth with spinal
cord cell regeneration because both
have similar mechanisms and mole-
cules involved in reformation of cells.
Ultimately, the team says it is con-
ceivable to one day extract a tooth,
grow pulp cells and implant them
into people with neuro-degenerative
disorders, like Parkinson's disease.
* Interracial family
acceptance up
Acceptance of interracial marriage is
on the rise, according to recent census
data, which shows that one in 25 fami-
lies is interracial, leading Dartmouth
College researchers to examine how
interracial families choose where to live.
Choices, including where to raise a
family and how families identify
themselves, are key questions in the
research, led by geography Prof.
Richard Wright.
Preliminary work suggests the fac-
tors, including income, class and par-
ent's racial identity play key roles in
these decisions.
Researchers are also examining
class and socio-economic status,
which have already shown that
wealthy black/white couples are more
likely to live in a white area than poor
black/white couples.
Surgeries found to
affect sleep apnea
Researchers at Mayo clinic report
that patients recovering from knee
and hip replacement surgery, who
also have obstructive sleep apnea
syndrome, experience greater med-
ical complications after surgery.
Of the 101 studied patients with sleep
apnea syndrome, 24 percent suffered
from adverse outcomes following
surgery compared to nine percent with-
out the syndrome. The condition, which
is more common in men than women, is
estimated to effect 5 percent to 9 per-
cent of the general population, mainly in
obese, middle-aged men.
Sleep apnea occurs when muscles
in the back of the throat relax and
narrow the breathing airway,
momentarily cutting of breathing.
The person is awakened because of
lower levels of oxygen in the blood,
prohibiting restful sleep for the per-
son affected.
This lack of sleep and severity of
airway obstructions are the most like-
ly reasons for the increase in recovery
time in joint replacement patients,
researchers said.
- Compiled from staff reports.
Counseling increases throughout campus
By Maria Sprow
Daily Staff Reporter
University officials said they are
making every effort possible to
reach out to students who are feel-
ing any number of psychological
side effects of Tuesday's terrorist
attacks.
Counseling and Psychological
Services temporarily expanded its
services to assure that help is avail-
able to all students, anywhere on
campus.
CAPS Clinical Director Jim
Etzkorn said it is very important
for counseling to be available for
students feeling loneliness, loss,
anxiety or anger.
"I would say when something of
this magnitude happens it can over-
whelm our ability to think clearly
about it ourselves," Etzkorn said.
"I think if someone has experi-
enced a loss, or even if they are
feeling bad but have not experi-
enced a personal loss, that counsel-
ing would be helpful because it
helps people feel connected, less
fearful, less alone."
The Tappan Room at the Michigan
Union, Conference Room 1 at the
'For most people, I wouldn't be surprised if they have certain
delayed effects. ... When people go to airports and they see
the increased security measures, they are going to have an
increased sense of anxiety.
- Irving Leon
Medical School Assistant Professor
Media Union on North Campus and
Conference Room 6 in the Michigan
League have volunteer counselors
waiting and available for students from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The services offered are free of
charge and counselors do accept walk-
ins.
Etzkorn said that so far, many
students - both those with person-
al connections to Washington and
New York City and those without
close ties - have taken advantage
of the additional help.
CAPS Director Todd Sevig said
students must realize that their feel-
ings are shared by others and that
they are not alone.
"I've been talking with students
and there's one thing that I'm really
hearing from students and that is a
sense of loss.. a loss of the notion
that this can't happen in our coun-
try," Sevig said.
Etzkorn said another emotion
running high on campus yesterday
was one of uncertainty, as many
students from the attacked cities
still had not heard back from their
families and friends.
"I think some have been con-
cerned because they haven't heard
from family and so they're wonder-
ing what's happening to family and
they are feeling anxious, under-
standably," he said.
"Or they know some family
member hasn't been found and they
are expecting that they have been
killed."
Molly Spooner, an LSA sophomore
from New York, said she knows what
it is like to have to wait.
Spooner waited all day Tuesday
and into the early morning hours
yesterday before she learned
whether her best friend, who
attends school in New York City,
was safe.
"She called me at 4:00 a.m this
morning. She's fine. She just said it'
took her forever to get an outside
line," Spooner said. "She said she
watched the whole thing from her
dorm window."
Sevig said that while the infor-
mation available to students about
the well-being and whereabouts of
those in the World Trade Center
and Pentagon is coming slowly, so
far, he has not heard from a student
who has experienced a close loss.
Irving Leon, an assistant profes-
sor at the Medical School and clini-
cal psychologist, said that for those
closer to the attacks, there could be
some long-term side effects.
"[or most people I wouldn't be sur-
prised if they have certain delayed
effects," Leon said.
"When people go to airports and
they see the increased security mea-
sures, they are going to have an
increased sense of anxiety. ... it will
remind them of the fact that flying on
airplanes is probably never going to
feel as completely safe as it has for
most people"
For the estimated 1,700 students
from the state of New York and 115
from Washington D.C., Leon said
returning home might be a new
experience.
"I would imagine that there is
something about this that would be
so powerful that there could be a
sense of not feeling as connected to
them because they didn't feel it in
such an immediate way," he said,
adding that another common feel-
ing might be a sense of guilt: "I got
off easy."
MSA votes to support
state tax credit repeal
End of program could result
in lower tuition rates at public
universities in Michigan
By Kara Wenzel
Daily Staff Reporter
In its first meeting of the semester, the
Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolu-
tion supporting the repeal of the tuition tax
credit in less than five minutes.
If the state Legislature votes to repeal the
6-year-old tax credit, universities will likely
reduce their tuition for the current academic
year.
"I'd like to see money back in the students'
pockets," said LSA Rep. Reza Breakstone.
"This is a project we need to succeed, not just
to be worked on."
MSA President Matt Nolan said assembly
members will be sending out letters to every
state representative and senator today urging
them to repeal the tax credit.
An e-mail explaining how to contact and
put pressure on state representatives will be
sent to every student, Nolan said.
"Next Tuesday, we plan to send students to
Lansing to lobby the repeal," Nolan said.
He said the increase in the University's
allocation from the state had been around 5
percent in recent years and last year the
increase was only 1.5 percent.
"That's why we want to release some more
money into higher education," Nolan said.
Earlier in the meeting, MSA passed a reso-
lution to support National Take Back Affir-
mative Action Day next month.
The United States Student Association has
declared October 30, 2001, National Take
Back Affirmative Action Day. On this day,
college campuses across the country will
rally in support of affirmative action.
"A variety of campuses across the country
are having other trials around this time; this
will be a good day to show we are in support
DAVID ROCHKIND/Oaily
Members of the Michigan Student Assembly meet last night in their first meeting of the semester to
discuss a resolution supporting a repeal of the tuition tax credit.
of affirmative action," said Monique Luse,
chair of MSA's Minority Affairs Commis-
sion.
The rally is not going to take place during
the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing for
the University of Michigan admissions law-
suits because "people will want to be in
Cincinnati on that day," Luse said.
"This affects students of color, and we
want to make affirmative action a student
issue, so this event really makes sense," Luse
Muslim students
on campus receive
threatening letters
U I
Don't Miss the Action...this
. weekend in Michigan Athletics
Presented by:
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By Elizabeth Kassab
Daily Staff Reporter
Arab and Muslim students at the
University continue to receive e-
mailed threats in the wake of the
terrorist attacks that destroyed the
World Trade Center, damaged the
Pentagon and shook the nation's
sense of security.
Department of Public Safety
spokeswoman Diane Brown said
students have received threats via
e-mail but have not reported any
other form of discrimination or vio-
lence. "We haven't had reports of
any physical or verbal threats," she
added.
Brown said DPS is conducting an
investigation into the threats and
that any additional threats should
be reported.
LSA junior Brenda Abdelall,
external relations chair of the Arab
Student Association said the Ann
Arbor Police Department has also
been notified of the harassing mes-
sages.
Psychology Prof. Jennifer Crock-
er said the e-mails reflect feelings
of confusion and anger.
"All of us, when we feel attacked
and threatened, tend to react with
feelings of anger and hostility and
blame," Crocker said. Although
Osama bin Laden remains a prime
suspect in the terrorist attacks,
Crocker said that part of the prob-
lem is that there is no one person to
blame for the attacks and people
may lash out at an entire group who
they perceive to be responsible for
the attacks.
Crocker said the threats could
make students who received them
feel very vulnerable.
"They feel visible :.. and they
probably feel like they don't have a
lot of support," Crocker said. Even-
tually, these feelings may develop
into feelings of anger, sadness and
isolation, she added, stressing that
friends can provide a very impor-
tant support.
Abdelall spoke last night at the
Michigan Student Assembly meet-
ing, asking the assembly for sup-
port and encouragement. She also
passed some of the e-mails around
so assembly members could further
understand what Arab American
students are going through.
Abdelall said the threatening e-
mails weren't the only messages in
her inbox.
"We've been getting a lot of very
sweet e-mails," Abdelall said. She
said there have been messages from
other students expressing support
for Arab Americans.
Football
Saturday, Sept. 15
Michigan vs. W. Michigan
1I2:10O p.m.
Michigan Football Experience
Presented by Audi
- interactive games
- live radio remotes
- free 2001 Football schedule
cards & magnets
- other fun giveaways
Opens 3 hours prior
to kick-off.
Admission is FREE!
The Michigan Experience is
located in the South Blue Lot off of
Stadium Blvd.
For more info. on
Athletics visit MGoBlue.com.
E X P E R I E N CE
SPAIN
KNOW OF NEWS? E-MAIL daily.news@umich.edu
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THE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
--
EVENTS
Celtic music; Rpmble, a
local group, will play tra-
ditional and contempo-
and post-docs, 3:00 p.m.,
Taubman Library court-
yard
65th Annual Saline Com-
munity Fair; 12:00 -
11:00 p.m., Washtenaw
Ruben's photography
exhibit, 6:30 p.m., Uni-
versity of Michigan Muse-
um of Art
SOS orientation and inter-
SERVICES
Campus Information
Centers, 764-INFO,
info@umich.edu, or
www.umich.edu/-info
Northwalk. 763-WALK.
SPRING SEMESTER 2002
Application Deadline is October 1, 2001
COURSEWORK IN SPANISH
Language, Culture and Literature
INTERNSHIPS