LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 1, 2001- 3A
RESEARCH'
City council hopefuls campaign for seat
Behavior affected
! by iron deficiency
Iron deficiency, a known cause of
anemia, also affects the brain and.
behavior, creating a concern among
University researchers.
WIth funding from the National
Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, researchers will begin a
multi-project program to examines the
brain and behavior of a person experi-
encing early iron deficiency.
Six other universities, including
Pennsylvania State University, Universi-
ty of Wisconsin, University of Minneso-
ta, University of California-Davis and
Wayne State University, have joined
together to examine the effects of iron
deficiency anemia in about a quarter of
infected infants worldwide. The study
will also include poor and minority chil-
dren in the United States.
Iron is required to build myelin in
the brain, which covers nerves and
helps them send signals. It also is
needed for many chemicals of the
brain to function correctly.
Deficiency of iron is now to affect
the hippocampus, an area of the brain
that play an important role in memory.
Studies show that infants and chil-
dren suffering from test lower in men-
tal and motor development. They also
show behavioral differences than
those young people with adequate
r iron levels.
X-ray switch may
allow further use
An ultrafast switch for X-ray
machines will expand the use of the
machine, which is a requirement in
hospitals, space observations and labs,
according to University researchers.
The switch will allow researchers to
' learn about the dynamics of molecular
motion by following the movement of
atoms, and was developed by Universi-
ty physics researchers from the Center
for the study of Frontiers in Optical
Coherent and Ultrafast Science.
Researchers used an ultrafast laser,
which hammered the surface of a crys-
tal to generate a short pulse. The pulse
modified diffraction patterns through
the crystal and was used to change
energy from one beam to another.
The switch between beams allowed
researchers to capture the motion
within atoms, much like a camera
uses light to take a photo.
Meditation helps
patients of AIDS
For patients suffering from the
AIDS virus, meditation and massage
provide comfort near the end of life,
. according to researchers at the Yale-
Griffin Prevention Research Center, a
part of the Yale School of Medicine.
The study, which is the first of its
kind, will examine the effectiveness of
relaxation techniques in improving the
perceived quality of life of patients
thanks to a $200,000 grant from the
National Institutes of Health.
Researchers hope that the study
will significantly contribute to AIDS
management, according to a recent
press release.
Trauma risk rises
after every fall
Though athletes get up after injur-
ing their head, even a mild head injury
puts them at risk for further traumatic
brain injuries, according to
researchers at the University of Penn-
sylvania School of Medicine.
Following a concussion, the brain
experiences an increase in vulnerabili-
ty to severe and permanent injuries
head injuries for at least 24 hours after
the incident, according to the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania study.
Victims of accidents and abuse are
also prone to later injuries because the
effects of repetitive head injuries may
not be felt for months following a con-
cussion, according to a recent press
release.
Researchers studied the effects of
brain trauma in mice. They found a
second injury greatened the effects of
the first one if delivered within 24
hours, but permanent damage was not
immediate. The rats did, however,
show measurable breakdown in motor
skills 56 days after the second injury.
Researchers are now looking at the
correlation between this breakdown
and Alzheimer's disease.
1 - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Lisa Hoffman.
By C. Price Jones
and Louie Meizlish
Daily Staff Reporters
With only five days remaining before elections,
the eight candidates for five seats on the Ann
Arbor City Council are putting the finishing
touches on their campaigns.
Two of the races are uncontested. Running
unopposed are 3rd Ward incumbent Heidi Cow-
ing Herrell and 5th Ward incumbent Wendy Ann-
Woods, both Democrats.
In the 1st Ward, Democrat Robert Johnson is
facing his first election after being appointed to,
the council in December 2000.
Johnson said that if re-elected he plans to tack-
le the traffic problem, parking ordinances and the
housing problem.
"We need to do something about the housing
problem," he said. There are housing arrangements
for those with lower incomes and higher incomes,
but those who make $40,000 to $50,000 per year
have a hard time buying homes. "I want to try and
deal with the growth in a way that will not destroy
what makes Ann Arbor beautiful."
Facing off against Johnson is Republican chal-
lenger Scott Wojack, a secretary in the University's
Office of Financial Aid and an unsuccessful candi-
date last year for the state House of Representatives.
"I want to make more changes and do more
things to make the city grow," he said.
Wojack said he would focus on increasing the
city's tax base if elected this year. He said the city
should increase its tax base by offering tax abate-
ments to companies in order to encourage them
to relocate to the city.
He also supports having the city offer tax
rebates to residents willing to utilize renewable
energy sources.
In the 2nd Ward, Republican Michael Reid
faces incumbent Democrat Joan Lowenstein,
appointed last year. Reid, a portfolio manager
with Ann Arbor-based Exchange Capital Man-
agement, wants to focus on improving the city's
financial state.
"We may well see some departments experi-
encing cuts in staffing and services they're pro-
viding," he added.
Lowenstein, an intellectual property attorney
who was appointed to the council in August
2000, wants to monitor the results of a trans-
portation study for northeastern Ann Arbor and
to continue working to beautify the city.
"I used to teach at the University so I feel I
have a link to the community," she said.
The race for the 4th Ward seat includes Repub-
lican incumbent Marcia Higgins and Green Party
member Michael Nowak. Higgins, an executive
assistant at the venture capital firm Ardesta, plans
to continue to focus on the budget and traffic
congestion.
"We started a budget and finance committee
a year ago," she said. "We're looking at how
it's running, getting rid of duplication of ser-
vices."
Nowak, whose wife Christie unsuccessfully
ran for the other council seat in 4th Ward last
year, is hoping the Greens will have a good
chance of taking the seat that because there is no
Democrat running.
"We thought it would be a good opportunity to
run a Green against a Republican without the
issue of being a spoiler," he said.
Nowak, for his part, wants to work to increase
bike use in the city and also supports creating a
civilian review board to watch over the Ann
Arbor Police Department.
Democrats currently have an 9-2 majority over
Republicans on the council, including control of
the mayor's office, which is occupied by first-ter-
mer John Hieftje.
Nominations for Golden
Apple award to st,
By Daniel Kim
Daily Staff Reporter "Tni hn nrafr
Starting today, a professor who has
made an exceptional difference in the
lives of the University students may be
nominated for a Golden Apple Award.
Students Honoring Outstanding
University Teaching awards the Gold-
en Apple to the nominee who consis-
tently teaches "each lecture as if it
were their last" and inspires and
engages students in their pursuit for
knowledge.
"The Golden Apple Award was the
most meaningful," said economics
Prof. Jim Adams, the recipient of the
1998 award, "because this is one award
conferred directly by students."
"To be honored for teaching is the
most wonderful thing ever," added
chemistry Prof. Kathleen Nolta, the
recipient of the award in 2000.
The award was inspired by Rabbi
Eliezer ben Hurkanos, who taught
1,900 years ago and challenged his
students to live everyday as if it were
their last.
The professor who wins the award
this year will deliver his or her "ideal
last lecture" at the award ceremony,
teaching is the
most wonderful
thing ever."
- Kathleen Nolta
Chemistry prof.
which will be held on Jan. 22, 2002 in
the Michigan League Mendelssohn
Theatre. The lecture is open to all Uni-
versity students.
The Golden Apple Award's unique
feature of requiring the recipient to
give his or hers "last ideal speech"
- or "the drop dead lecture" as
Adams calls it - is not only an
opportunity for students to hear a
personal speech from the recipients,
but a chance for the recipients to
think back about their own teachers
who had influences on them, Adams
said.
"It should not be called 'the last lec-
ture,"' said Nolta. "It makes it very
scary."
Once all the nominations have been
:arttoday
reviewed and the winner for this year's
award decided, SHOUT "will surprise
the faculty by coming to the class and
informing that he or she is the winner,"
said Shani Lasin, assistant director of
Hillel, the sponsoring organization of
SHOUT. The winner will be
announced in early December.
Last year, about 550 students par-
ticipated in the nomination process,
said Brian Netter, an Engineering
junior and chairman of SHOUT.
"We're hoping this year that we can
get over a thousand students to nom-
inate deserving faculty members,"
added Netter.
"To be indifferent is one thing that
is unforgivable and unacceptable. If
students expect to have any control
over the teaching they receive, they
can't afford to be indifferent about an
opportunity like the Golden Apple
Award," Nolta said.
To submit nominations , students
can go online at www.umich.edu/
-umshout, simply write the name and
the department of the professor whom
they are nominating, and briefly
explain why the professor is worthy of
the award. The deadline for the nomi-
nations is Nov. 22.
ESA junior Sarah Ashcroft enjoys the weather and smokes a cigarette yesterday
afternoon in the Diag.
'U' helps cigarette
addicts break habit
By Lisa Hoffman
Daily Staff Reporter
, Four years after taking her first puff
of a cigarette, LSA sophomore Amanda
Bart says' it's too hard for her to quit.
Bart is not alone, according to a Stu-
dent Life survey taken in 1999, which
said 28 percent of University students
smoked cigarettes within 30 days of
answering their questions.
"I started because of a friend (for)
stupid reasons," Bart said.
She added that smoking is a relief
from stress.
"Now I can't stop. All of my friends
smoke. My roommate smokes. It's hard
to quit," she said. ..
Despite a general downward trend in
the number of smokers in the United
States since the 1960s, the number of
adolescent and young adult smokers has
continued to rise since the 1990s,
according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
"Most students at the University
think smoking is pretty harmful for their
health," said researcher and Nursing
Prof. Carol Boyd. "But, despite that,
students said they still smoke."
Boyd and fellow researcher Sean
McKay conduct the Student Life survey,
of which the 2001 version will be
released in March.
"We expect that 2001 results will
reflect the national trend of college stu-
dents," Boyd said. "Typically, people
age 20, 21 and 22 have a higher smok-
ing rate."
She added that this year's data will
likely vary by class, based on historical
trends.
Recent surveys show a general
decline in the number of adolescents
and young adults who smoke, according
to the National Institute of Drug Abuse
website.
To promote this decline, educators at
the University Health System continue
to look at new ways to facilitate students
trying to quit smoking and ways of
encouraging students to not start.
"We try to focus on two different
areas, prevention and cessation," said
Marsha Benz, a health educator. "Most
students aren't heavily addicted, but they
are in a spot where they decided
whether or not to go into hard core
addiction. It's easier to quit now then
when they're smoking two packs a day."
"Health benefits come very quickly,'
added Benz's coworker Carol Tucker,
also a health educator. Benefits include
fresher breath, whiter teeth and more
money to spend on other things, Tuckerj
said.
For students trying to quit, UHS
offers special kits called "Quit Kits,"
which include a variety of items to help
students kick the habit. The clinic also
provides nicotine replacement products.
Health educators are also implanting
a new Internet-based service that pro-
vides tailored messages for individuals
trying to quit smoking. Locally-based
HealthMedia developed the system.
"People make a plan that can be used
while trying to quit and after," Tucker
said. "It's a tailored way because of the
personal information provided through
very specific questions."
Inquiries include details about a per-
son's smoking habit and barriers stand-
ing in the way of them quitting.
Ongoing promotions to discourage stu-
dents from smoking and encourage
quitting are organized by the Social
Norms Media Campaign, a group
developed at UHS, which uses print
material, bus signs and flyers featuring
its icon, a troll, to get their message
across.
"It is a fun way to get people to look
at the message," Benz said. "This year's
theme is 'How doyou really feel about
smoking,' so we're taking photographs
of students with yucky faces about
smoking."
The upcoming Great American
Smoke Out on, Nov. 15 also provides
education and encouragement to people
trying to quit.
ome to the 2nd Annual Housi
hundreds of U-M students will
for housing options, both on- ant
November 5, 21
In the
Michigan League I
There will be refreshments and give-away
We look forward to seeing you at the larg
Ann Arbor's housing marke
U-M Housing and Off-Campus Housing
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THE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS
National Depression
Screening Day; Spon-
sored by the University
Business-State Rela-
tions in the Southern
Cone;" Sponsored by
the University Letin and
Caribbean Studies Cen-
6800
"Challenging Community:
Women Activists and
Detroit;" Panel discussion
sponsored by the
SERVICES
Campus Information
Centers, 764-INFO,
info@umich.edu, or
www. umich.edu/ -info