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Tuesday
February 5; 2002
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State agrees
not to sla
By Louie MeIziish
Daily Staff Reporter
The University agreed not to raise tuition
more than 8.5 percent next year after a
compromise was reached late last week
between the heads of the state's 15 public
universities, Gov. John Engler and legisla-
tive leaders. In exchange for keeping
tuition increases relatively low, the col-
leges, including the University of Michi-
gan, will not see any cut in-state funding
for the coming fiscal year.
Spokeswoman Julie Peterson said the
University was pleased with the agreement
and recognized the "need for restraint."
With state revenue projections showing
the state in a relatively steep fiscal hole,
many lawmakers began predicting late last
year that many programs would face cuts in
the coming fiscal year.
But Central Michigan University's
announcement late last year threatening a
28 percent tuition increase seemed to be a
warning signal, indicating that many state
universities might be on the verge of rais-
ing tuition at record increases.
Following that announcement, lawmakers
rushed to prevent such events from occur-
ring.
But funding is not officially contingent
on universities' keeping tuition low.
Instead, it is more of an informal agree-
ment.
"We're hopeful that the Presidents Coun-
cil (of the State Universities of Michigan)
which was part of this agreement, will
stand by it," said Engler spokesman Matt
Resch.
But Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem
Twp.), ranking Democrat on the Senate
Appropriations Committee and a member
sh'U'f
of the committee's subcommittee on higher
education, cautioned, "if we have consecu-
tive years of no increases and tuition held
at a minimum, the institutions will be
faced with the responsibility of cutting
academic programs or cutting faculty and
staff."
Nevertheless, Smith said, "My under-
standing is that the budget will be
advanced as quickly as possible so nobody
can change their minds."
Rep. Chris Kolb (D-Ann Arbor), a mem-
ber of the House Appropriations subcom-
mittee on higher education, said the
unding
agreement had a "better than average"
chance of sailing through the House of
Representatives, which takes up the appro-
priations bill after its approval by the Sen-
ate.
Assuming the bill is approved as quickly
as Kolb and Smith predict, it will be in
stark contrast to last year's process, which
took about five months to complete follow-
ing the state budget director's presentation
to the Legislature last February.
The appropriations bill was signed by
Engler after several months of disagree-
See FUNDING, Page 7
Appeals
decision
expected
any day
By Shannon Pettypiee
Daily Staff Reporter
Reports suggest that the decision
from the 6th Circuit Court of
Appeals regarding the University's
use of race as a factor in admis-
sions may come down sooner than
expected.
University
spokes -
woman Julie AL
Peterson said AL
she believes
decisions in
the appeals
of Gratz v.
Bollinger
and Grutter v. Bollinger, filed by
the Center for Individual Rights, a
Washington, D.C.-based law firm,
could be announced within the next
four to six weeks.
The suits challenge the College
of Literature, Science and the Arts
and the Law School's admissions
policies. In both cases, the plain-
tiffs argued they were denied
admission to the University because
of their race.
Oral arguments for the appeals
ended on Dec. 6. Now, a panel of
nine judges are reviewing material
and discussing a verdict.
"Litigation takes a long time and
it's on a time table that is sort of
foreign to our current day pace, and
we are just in the period now of
waiting for the court to rule," said
Liz Barry deputy general council
for the University.
After a decision is passed down,
the next step for the University is
uncertain because there are a num-
ber of factors affecting both sides'
decision to appeal to the Supreme
Court.
"The only thing that is definite is
that the University is absolutely
committed to a diverse student
body. What we do in response to a
decision is going to depend on how
the 6th Circuit rules," Barry said. "I
have no doubt that the University
will pursue its litigation to maintain
its policy ... we are absolutely
committed to winning this fight."
See APPEAL, Page 7
Alcohol, Red
Bull mix may
lead to death
Photo illustration by EMMA FOSDICK/Daily
People who drink the energy drink Red Bull may be able to stay up all night, but when mixed with vodka the drink may
lead to heart failure.
Energy drink helps to
mke all-nighers cen..-aer
By Kylene Kiang
Daily Staff Reporter
Fortified with high levels of caf-
feine and nutritional supplements,
Red Bull energy drink has created a
stir not only in college study circles,
but in 20-something party scenes as
well. With a reputation for mixing
well with vodka, the drink that
claims to "give you wings" may also
be a contributing factor in several
alcohol-related deaths.
Three deaths in Sweden last sum-
mer are believed to have been
caused by the consumption of Red
Bull. In one case, a woman con-
sumed the drink with vodka shortly
before dying from dehydration. Like
alcohol, caffeine is a diuretic that
promotes fluid loss.
Another man died after reportedly
drinking three cans of Red Bull
after a strenuous workout.
Sweden's National Food Adminis-
tration immediately began advising
people not to consume Red Bull
with alcohol, or as a thirst-quencher.
Red Bull manufacturers in Aus-
tria said in a written statement that
no proof of death can be linked to
Red Bull and they blame the deaths
on the alcoholic part of the mixed
drink.
Chris Szarek, an LSA senior and
bartender at the Brown Jug, has
been serving Red Bull to customers
for about two years.
"They have a decent taste,"
Szarek said. "It's something differ-
ent and new and gives people the
impression that they won't tire out
as quickly when they are drinking."
Partygoers say that it helps keep
their stamina up longer into the
night.
"There's a little more work
involved when you know people are
drinking this. It takes an assertive
bartender to know when to quit
serving them," Szarek said, adding
that the average person will have
two to three mixed Red Bull drinks.
"It's important to keep them in
check so that no one has a liability
on their hands," he added.
Dr. Anita Sandretto, interim
director of the School of Public
Health's Human Nutrition Program,
said that this "wide awake and
drunk" effect may carry fatal conse-
quences.
"A high level of caffeine is a
tremendous 'upper' or stimulant to
the central nervous system, while
alcohol is a 'downer' or depressant.
When high levels of these two are
ingested together, the body doesn't
know what to do - the two do not
See RED BULL, Page 7
By Kylene Kiang
Daily Staff Reporter
Engineering sophomore Milind Chinoy is one of
many college students who rely on Red Bull energy
drink for that extra kick to pull through all-night
study sessions.
"I'll usually drink it late at night when I'm getting
some work done. It basically works like a cup of cof-
fee," Chinoy said.
According to Red Bull product information, the
amount of caffeine in one can of Red Bull equates to
the amount in one cup of black, unfiltered coffee,
which is about 80 milligrams per 8.3-ounce can of
Red Bull. *
Despite Red Bull's seemingly harmless functional purpose
to keep students awake, Dr. Anita Sandretto, interim director
See STUDYING, Page 7
Black history month festivities underway
By Shabina S. Khatrl
Daily Staff Reporter
Founded as a week dedicated to exploring
the contributions of blacks in America, black
history month now represents an opportunity
to celebrate all aspects of the culture. But
this year, many black student groups have
decided to let the University handle this
month's program of events.
LSA junior Jarvis Williams, treasurer of the
Black Student Union, said a widespread effort to
educate people about African history is impera-
tive.
"The history of Africans has been hidden,
and frankly, a lot of it has been taught incor-
rectly. So to have a month dedicated to sharing
just a slice of our history is so important and
so special," he said.
University-affiliated groups like Multi-Ethnic
Student Affairs and the Office of Academic Mul-
ticultural Initiatives have already organized a
series of lectures and films commemorating the
month.
But the BSU is not going to participate in all
campus-wide events honoring Black History
Month, said RC junior Monique Luse, vice-
speaker of the Black Student Union.
"To me, black history month means different
things at different times. While I'm happy to
have my culture, identity, and politics addressed
for one month out of the year, BSU promotes
black culture all year 'round," Luse said.
Williams agreed, saying the organization cele-
brates black history every month.
See HISTORY, Page 7
Study buddies
Housing office attempts to solve
food waste problem in dining halls
By Daniel Kim
Daily Staff Reporter
More than 18,000 pounds of food are thrown
away each week by University students in the
residence hall cafeterias, according to a study by
the University Housing office.
In hopes of reducing the amount of post-con-
sumer food waste, the University Housing
Office started a semester-long campaign last
month titled "Eat What You Take ... For Earth's
Sake," following last year's "Don't Feed The
Elephant" campaign.
"Sometimes students are tempted, when they
see all the food that's out there, to take as much
as they can to make sure they will get full," said
LSA junior Gisele Roberts, a West Quad Resi-
dence Hall dining hall coordinator.
"I see a lot of students taking much more food
enough care" to conserve, said LSA freshman
Chris Shang.
According to a study conducted by the Hous-
ing office last year, students pay about $1.40 per
pound for food. That translates into $26,544
thrown out each week.
"The idea is to help us help students to man-
age the food dollar wisely," said the Residence
Hall Dining Services Director William Durell
regarding the new campaign to reduce waste.
the environment, Durell said.
"We want more and more students and staff to
become aware, number one, that there is waste,
and number two that the waste has an impact on
the environment," Durell said, adding that the
University has a direct affect on the environment
of Ann Arbor, including the Huron River.
Durrell said the Housing Office is paying
careful attention to food handling and prepara-
tion while reducing pre-consumer waste, which
includes fruit and vegetable peels that get
thrown out before they are cooked.
"When students come into the dining hall,
they should take small portions in the beginning
and come back for more if they are still hungry,"
said Roberts.
"We want to raise everyone's level of awareness
that we all contribute" to food waste, said Durell.
"We are all co-stewafds of the environment
JUI'ili I RfJI' IED I,
LSA Sohomore Brett Kifferstein and Shira Klein study for their upcoming
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