One hundred eleven year ofedtoriafreed NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 www.michigandally.com Monday March 4, 2002 vol ext N.6. ,**An 4rbr c;s 000 4$ a i Crime spree continued over vacation By Jeremy Berkowitz Daily Staff Reporter While most students flocked to vacation spots and warmer climates during spring break, criminal activity was still present in Ann Arbor last week. A home invasion occurred in East Quad Residence Hall on Feb. 24. An RC sopho- more woke up at around 9:30 a.m. to dis- cover a man standing in her room holding her laptop. The man immediately fled the area, and the victim called the Department of Public Safety. The victim described the subject as a white male, five-foot-nine, weighing 135 pounds with brown hair in a ponytail. The victim said DPS helped her search the building and found her keys and a case of CD's in the bathroom on her hall. "They were searching the building for an hour and a half," she said. The victim also said that DPS had her look at a picture lineup to try and identify the perpetrator. When asked about the security presence around East Quad, the victim commended DPS's efforts, but also said that initiatives have to be taken more seriously by resi- dents. "They're doing what they can ... but DPS can't do everything," she said. "People need common sense." This was the fourth home invasion in University Residence Halls during the month of February. In a Feb. 2 incident, an East Quad resident was assaulted by two suspects. Four days later, a West Quad resi- dent came back to her unlocked room to find a man inside. On Feb. 18, larcenies were committed from three East Quad rooms by a suspect who stole keys from a women's shower. In addition, an LCD projector was report- ed missing from the University Hospital on "They're doing what they can ... but DPS can't do everything." - Victim of home invasion and East Quad Resident the morning of Feb. 27. The last time it was seen had been five days earlier. This is the 39th LCD projector that has been stolen from University property since December 2000. A $1,000 reward was offered after eight were stolen last Decem- ber. DPS arrested a suspect two weeks ago, but DPS spokeswoman Diane Brown said she does not believe all 39 were stolen by one person. "We believe other people are involved," she said. Students seek sun for break By Shabina S. Khatri Daily Staff Reporter Frosty Michigan weather motivated many University students to take advantage of last week's spring break in a variety of ways by heading for warmer climates. To some students, spring break offered much-needed time to relax and get away from the stress of academia. LSA sophomore Sarah Tasman, who traveled with friends to San Diego, Calif., spent her week at the beach. "We really enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine, and tried not to worry about homework," she said. Favorable weather conditions also ranked among the highlights of LSA senior Janet Herrera's spring break, which she spent in Mexico with 12 other University stu- dents. "It was great. We went to the beaches during the day and out to the bars at night, doing the typical spring break thing. I just wanted to be outside all the time," Herrera said. Students who chose to fly to their spring break desti- nations were forced to navigate Detroit Metro Airport's new Midfield Terminal, which opened last week, "It was really nice and pretty, but it definitely had a few kinks to work out," Tasman said. "There were some problems with getting our luggage because the convey- or belt suddenly stopped for no reason. A lot of people were making jokes about how new and improved it was." LSA junior Jordan Batmanghelidi also spent his week of freedom outdoors, but chose community service over relaxation. Batmanghelidi, an Alternative Spring Break site leader, said the volunteer work was time well spent. "My group and I drove to Stanton River Park in Vir- ginia and spent the week picking up bottles, clearing trails and beautifying lake shores. When you live with nine total strangers you learn a lot about yourself," he said. Batmanghelidi said the most challenging aspect of being a site leader was matching the group's conflicting personalities into one cohesive unit. "It's very difficult to make everyone feel included, but everyone was wonderful, and I had a great time," he said. Many Muslim students spent their spring break at home in order to visit with friends and family for the Islamic holiday Eid Ul-Adha. "Eid was a great way to kick off spring break," LSA sophomore Aliya Chowdhri said. "We could catch up with everyone we don't normally see without having to worry about doingany schoolwork." Prof. gives lecture on7 impact of AIDS By Kylene Klang Daily Staff Reporter Airborne . ".. Swiss join U.N. with marginal approval GENEVA (AP) - Swiss voters approved joining the United Nations yesterday, finding the prospect of a greater role in today's interlinked world more compelling than fears that it would threaten the nation's centuries- old tradition of neutrality. The country will become the United Nations' 190th member after sitting on the sidelines for more than five decades. Only the Vatican remains out- side the world body. During the Cold War, Switzerland feared U.N. membership would sweep it into the battles between East and West. More recently, opponents have feared having to submit to the political dictates of the Security Council. The Swiss have practiced forms of neutrality on and off since the 13th cen- tury, but the principle was laid down formally in the 1815 Treaty of Paris that ended the Napoleonic Wars. In that pact, European powers guaranteed the "perpetual neutrality" of Switzerland. The Swiss themselves made it part of their 1848 constitution. Treating both sides in a war evenhandedly has remained a guiding principle since, although recent historical reviews have said Switzerland went too far in help- ing the Germans in World War II. The popular vote gave the bid for U.N. membership a comfortable 55-45 percent approval, but the crucial sec- ond hurdle - approval by at least half the country's cantons, or states - received a much narrower 12-11 result. The referendum had the highest turnout in a decade, with 58 percent of qualified voters participating. Switzer- land's three or four annual referendums often draw only 40-50 percent of voters. Small mountain cantons - most of them German-speaking - voted heavily against the United Nations. But the French-speaking cantons of the west and key German-speaking cantons of central Switzerland prevailed with their yes vote. It was a sharp reversal of a similar Swiss vote in 1986, when 75 percent rejected U.N. membership, backing opponents who said East-West polariza- tion would compromise Swiss neutrality. Alta, Utah local Creighton Lowe launches a backfilp in Devil's Castle last Tuesday. j our of Sout reveals res versionY of Civil Rights story By Tyler Boersn Daily Staff Reporter Spring break for one group of students was a deeply emotional experience in which they explored the ideas and sites of the American Civil Rights Movement and discovered its legacy and the ongoing struggle for human equality. Sponsored by the Lloyd Hall Scholars Pro- gram, a 14-student class and two teachers went on a 2,500-mile tour through the South to meet with many of the movement's organ- izers and leaders, and to witness firsthand how the movement really worked. "It is so much fun to see students connect with a subject on so many different levels," class organizer Joe Gonzalez said. "To watch students get so inspired - that is just beauti- ful." In Cincinnati, the class met with the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a prominent leader in the 1963 Birmingham, Ala., Civil Rights march- ies. The class also met with organizers of the 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi, who See CIVIL RIGHTS, Page 7A Consumer confidence dips after four months of gains By Tepdorden Daily Staff ReporterII Consumer sentiment levels since $ept. 11 Kathleen Collins, assistant profes- sor of internal medicine, emphasized the global impact of AIDS yesterday as part of a lecture titled, "HIV and AIDS: The Current Crisis." One of the five leading causes of death in the world, AIDS has devas- tated the lives of more than 36 mil- lion people and carries a death toll of more than 20 million people world- wide. Most consumers no longer expect a rapid economic recov- ery or feel positive about future job prospects, but they believe the national recession is over, according to University surveys. As a result, consumer spending attitudes are weaker, the University's Index of Consumer Sentiment announced Fri- day. "Many consumers think the recession is over ... but that the recovery is going to be weaker than expected," Richard Curtin, director of the University's Surveys of Consumers, said, noting an index reading above 90 is high enough to sup- port a recovery. The survey has received increased attention in recent months as economists and market analysts look for signs that the economy is moving out of recession. Consumer sentiment is widely considered to be a harbinger of consumer spending, which has remained high throughout the 12-month recession, despite lowered investment spending by businesses. Con- umermnding aount for aout two-thirdk of all economic JOHN PRATT/Daily Assistant professor of Internal medicine Kathleen Collins addressed students last night regarding the state of AIDS in the world. three adults in the region being a car- tend their homes," Collins said. rier of the disease. In addition to lack of proper edu "Subsistence families are especial- cation about the disease, Collins also I~ U- __A I,;t ;~-+U-.-on "-m na tathe i rt. ,. i en -z M - to .n ment fell for the first time in four months from January's level of 93.0 to 90.7. The number is still markedly higher than last September's reading of 81.8. These findings support last week's statements by Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan to the House Committee on Financial Services. Greenspan emphasized that while a I L