LOCAL/STATE
As final exams loom, students
combine sunning with studying
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 5
By Ted Borden
Daily Staff Reporter
With blue skies and temperatures reaching the
mid-80s, most students are having a hard time
concentrating on their, studies. Despite the fact
that finals begin in two days, libraries remain
empty during daytime hours as most students
have moved to the Diag to sunbathe, socialize
and take in the good weather.
"It's very hard to study when you see everyone
on the Diag tanning and lying around," LSA jun-
ior Matt Ross said. "You have to wonder,
'Should those people be studying instead of
throwing the frisbee?"'
LSA sophomore Christina Rukstele said finals
week "doesn't seem as stressful because of the
weather. It's just been more enjoyable because
I've been studying outside."
"The people watching is the best," LSA sopho-
more Oanh Nguyen said.
Some students have chosen to work outdoors
to escape the heat and humidity of dormitories
and classrooms.
LSA sophomore Justin Ricci, reading a book
outside of the Shapiro Undergraduate Library
yesterday afternoon, said it's easier to study out-
side and "it's better than sitting in my room,
ber of other buildings on North Campus were
left without air conditioning this week.
Ross said yesterday the worst part is having to
do a paper or anything else on a computer
"because the Fishbowl is a sauna today."
Still, students have not forgotten the impend-
ing term papers and exams.
"I'm cramming a whole semester of work into
two weeks," LSA freshman Lauren Savage said,
adding she was not looking forward to her eco-
nomics exam.
LSA junior John Nargy said finals this year
are "annoying because a lot of my grades are
borderline, but honestly, part of me just doesn't
even care at this point."
He added because he usually does not begin
his studies until late at night, the weather "has
not been too much of a distraction."
LSA sophomore Cortney Debruin said for her,
it seems as though one class always gets more
priority than others.
Most students are simply looking forward to finish-
ing school for the semester and leaving campus.
"I just want a change of scenery," Rukstele
said. "I feel bad for the people who have to stay
in Michigan."
Nargy said he is looking forward to going
home to well-cooked meals, sleeping in and driv-
ing his car.
"I am literally counting the hours until I leave
"It's very hard to study
when you see everyone on
the Diag tanning an lying
around.. . You have to
wonder, 'Should these
people be studying instead
of throwing the frisbee?"
- Matt Ross
LSA junior
Ann Arbor," he said.
LSA sophomore Caroline Jenkins, who studied
outside in front of East Hall yesterday, said she
is simply looking forward to a break.
"After eight months of slaving away at the
library, I could use a vacation," she said.
As for finals, "they suck, basically," LSA
freshman Cara Labarbera said.
But they are inevitable, leaving students this
year to make the ultimate decision - stay out in
the sunlight or retreat to the depths of the Harlan
Hatcher Graduate Library.
where it's like 500 degrees."
The Art and Architecture Building
MSA
Continued from Page 1
"We would hope to have the bus
totally full," Wells-Reid said. "The suc-
cess or failure of (the project) is going
to depend on getting the word out."
MSA also passed a resolution sup-
porting and promoting Ride to
Remember 9/11, an organization dedi-
cated to building memorials that com-
memorate the attacks on the World
Trade Center on college campuses
nationwide. LSA senior Trevor King
and Western Michigan University sen-
ior Jeff Suffolk, the founders of the
group, are cycling to each of the plane
crash sites - Shanksville, Penn.,
Washington D.C. and New York - on
an 1,800 mile trip.
"These two gentlemen are doing
such an amazing thing that it would be
a miss for the assembly to not credit
them," LSA rep. Jason Mironov said.
The resolution will help the fledg-
ling organization with its goal of unit-
ing academic communities across the
nation, King said.
"MSA support is key to bringing the
academic community together," LSA
senior Jason Foster, a supporter of Ride
to Remember, said.
But several representatives voiced
concern that the resolution, which
requires the assembly to promote the
cycling excursion to the administration
and Ann Arbor media, is giving prefer-
ential treatment to Ride to Remember.
"I don't feel that this is the assem-
bly's role. We shouldn't be doing their
work," LSA rep. Zach Slates said.
Engineering rep. Ruben Duran coun-
tered the argument by saying he
believes the resolution is not controver-
sial and will win the support of all Uni-
versity students.
In addition to the two resolutions,
many MSA committees provided
detailed reports about their goals for
the next term. Boot said these reports
show the assembly is "going to accom-
plish an unprecedented amount of
things this years"
Two other resolutions were passed
unanimously at the meeting. One was
the approval of the Community Service
Commission's funding allocations to
University community service groups.
The other provided fnding for Serve It
Up, a volunteer-oriented Diag event sim-
ilar to Festifall, scheduled for Sept. 9.
MSA also approved LSA senior Ed
McDonald and LSA senior Fadi
Kiblawi as the Minority affairs com-
mission co-chairs, and Rishab Jhun-
jhunwala and LSA freshman Pragav
eas co-chairs for the International
studentaffairs commission.
At the meeting, Business rep. Aaron
Ruhlig also announced Maize Rage's
decision to appoint LSA junior Brian
Groesser as next year's "Superfan."
MIDEAST
Continued from Page 1.
short of the formal cease-fire he left
Washington in search of 10 days ago.
I n Washington, Bush signed a rou-
tine document yesterday that gave
Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organi-
zation permission to have an official
presence in the capital.
This time, however, permission
was tied to conditions including a
cease-fire in the Middle East,
resumption of security cooperation
with Israel against terror and an
immediate order to crack down on
terrorist networks. The conditions
were to be met immediately.
If held, a peace conference would
implement Powell's declared search
for an accelerated political process
that the Palestinians want.
EMMA FOSDICK/Daiy
Art and Design senior Ben Fife writes a story yesterday while relaxing in a tree on
the Ding.
and a num-
RALLY
Continued from Page 1.
from Israel.
"A growing number of students have moral concerns
with our investments that maintain this occupation,"
LSA junior Fadi Kiblawi said.
The protest was held in the wake of Israel's Indepen-
dence Day today, which students on campus are com-
memorating by wearing a royal blue T-shirt that says,
"Wherever we stand, we stand with Israel." The proces-
sion began at Fleming and made its way to the Diag. In
addition to the stretchers, supporters carried Palestinian
flags, signs and two large banners saying "Stop the
Killing: End the Occupation" and "U of M: Divest from
Israeli Occupation."
Kiblawi, one of the event organizers, said the Univer-
sity invests in many corporations situated in the occu-
pied territories - some of which supply military
weapons to Israel. Hel said the University Board of
Rggents should conduct research on their investments so
they don't spend tuition money on issues some students
don't support.
"It's not that we're trying to get the University to
divest from Israel per se, just the companies in the
occupied territories," Public Health student Sara Alrawi
said.
Many involved were members of Students Allied for
Freedom and Equality.
"SAFE is an organization that is here to fight for
human rights, international law, and freedom for
oppressed people," Zahr said.
LSA junior Samantha Rollinger said the American
Movement for Israel is sponsoring a bucket drive to
raise money for the Red Cross to distribute to Israeli
victims of suicide bombings.
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