Weather Wednesday January 15, 2003 @2003 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 74 One-hundred-twelve years ofeditorialfreedom TODAY: Snow flurries will beg in to fall early in the morning and continu- ing into the late after- noon. a P Tomorrow 24/ www.mkchigandaily.com 'U' ID cards mistakenly bear private info By Jeremy Berkowitz and Tomislav Ladika Daily Staff Reporters University employees may have jeopardized the security of faculty and staff members on all three University campuses by issuing them pre- scription cards listing their social security num- bers. The University Benefits Office ordered the cards from AdvancePCS, a provider of health improvement services, and sent them out to all faculty and staff members during Winter Break. Each card lists its owner's social security number as the primary form of identification, although University policy stipulates that an alternative form of identification - usually University ID numbers - be used. The cards identify faculty as recipients of Uni- versity medical benefit plans, which are adminis- tered by the Benefits Office, but several faculty members expressed concern in light of a nation- wide increase in identity theft. Paul Killey, deputy director of the Computer Aided Engineer- ing Network, said he is worried about "using the social security numbers on the card at a prescrip- tion counter." Killey called the release of the social security numbers "unfortunate" because there are other, more appropriate, methods of identification on campus. Other faculty said although they are not angry about their numbers being listed, they believe the University is setting a bad example. "For me personally, I'm not that upset," School of Information Prof. Margaret Hedstrom said, "But in terms of what I do and what I teach and what I am, I'm quite upset because we are trying to teach our students what good privacy protec- tions are." Administrators are discussing what to do in response, Marty Eichstadt, director of the bene- fits office said. "We are aware of the concerns of our faculty and staff members. We're giving this every con- sideration and we will have more information after Friday," he said. The University has already agreed to replace the cards of any faculty or staff member who wants a new card without their social security numbers.The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs is looking into the matter after receiving several complaints, SACUA member Rudi Lindner said. "A certain number of professors have written or spoken with the SACUA office about this and SACUA is engaged in serious discussions with the administration to resolve this problem," he said. "It is very much at the front of SACUA's attention right now" Despite efforts to resolve the issue, some fac- ulty are not concerned about having their social security numbers listed on the cards. School of Information Prof. Daniel Atkins said that before being contacted by the Michigan Daily, he did not notice that the card listed his number. He added that he is not concerned because social security numbers are often used for identification. Lindner said many people have yet to realize the dangers of having accessible social security numbers. "For some people, keeping their social security numbers private is crucial - for others, they don't seem to give a damn," he said. NATION READIES FOR WAR Cadets not Faculty attempt to prevent, treat AIDS around the world rushed through, traibg By Dan lrudeau Daily Staff Reporter By Rahwa Ghebre-Ab Daily Staff Reporter While a lack of military leadership and resources are generating discus- sions about reinstating the draft and instituting obligatory service for all young Americans, University ROTC and military education programs are continuing with business as usual. Officials from the ROTC, a nation- al program designed to train college students for careers as officers in the armed services, insist that the current political climate has little direct impact on the experience and training of students. "It would take something of a glob- al nature to change the way we do things on campus, but that hasn't hap- pened since the 1940's," said Capt. Dennis Hopkins, chair of the Univer- sity's Navy ROTC. "The need for offi- cers isn't changing such that we have to commission them faster or more often." Officers from the Army ROTC said the program is maintaining its course on a national level, and that the educa- tional experience of the students involved remains the top priority. Upon graduation from the program, cadets are obligated to begin a term of service in the military. "Our mission is to commission the future leadership of the Army. It's always been like that and it will con- tinue to be like that," Joe Bartley, AROTC public affairs officer, said. "Our mission will stay the same. The cadets are students first." Students within the ROTC agreed that the nature of the program has changed little in recent months, but added that the attitudes of the cadets are affected by current events. "Our battalion is making sure that we're prepared this year, perhaps more so than in the past. Everything feels more real," said Susan Nagel, an Army ROTC cadet and Engineering sophomore. "The really gung-ho peo- ple are excited because they'll get a chance to serve their country." Enrollment in the ROTC and other military training programs has See ROTC, Page 7 Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Thailand and Vietnam are just a few of the Third World regions where a number of University fac- ulty continue to work with AIDS patients and perform research. Despite worldwide exposure, many students are unaware of the international ties the Universi- ty maintains with a number of Third World nations for the purpose of furthering AIDS research. "I had absolutely no idea ... but I'm not sur- prised that I didn't know," said LSA sophomore Gloria White. "AIDS is an ongoing issue and a pressing mat- ter of concern without an immediate solution. Even though it's a definite problem, it tends to get pushed aside," White added. Despite many students' lack of awareness, sev- eral members of the University community have invested time and effort into the international AIDS crisis, said Social Work Prof. Larry Gant, who works with Geographic Information Sys- tems, a computer mapping program that can be used to track incidents and prevalence in areas where HIV/AIDS is considered an epidemic. "We have various people affiliated with the University currently working abroad trying to collaborate with the various ministries of health in different countries," Gant said. In some of these countries, it's too late to be proactive, but countries are just now working on asserting them- selves." "Basically, I try to target where the epidemics are raging and what is going on demographically in the hopes that treatment resources may soon become available in those areas," Gant said. "Students just aren't aware because AIDS is off the map in the U.S. - therefore, it is foreign to them. As soon as faculty do presentations, give informationals and do things of that nature, it is then that people start to get shocked and sur- prised," Gant said. "People are just starting to get numb towards it in a sense because they have been hearing about See AIDS, Page 7 Neighborhood art FRANK PAYNE/Daily A naval midshipman reviews his military papers Monday afternoon while sitting in a North Hall lounge. UN tbnie le still key to future -attack on Iraq WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush expressed impatience with Saddam Hussein yesterday and said "time is running out for him" to disarm. U.N. weapons inspectors planned for months more of searches for hid- den chemical and biological arms in Iraq. The extended hunt for evidence that the Iraqi president was defying the United Nations could complicate the timing of Bush's decision on whether to go to war. While Bush has said from the outset he would not be held hostage by the U.N. Securi- ty Council, he is looking for the widest possi- ble consensus and the broadest coalition if he decides to attack. The inspectors' timetable stretches well beyond Jan. 27 when they are due to report on 60 days of searching for weapons of mass destruction and a missile program. Bush told reporters at the White House that he had not seen any evidence the Iraqi presi- dent was disarming under more than a decade of U.N. Security Council resolutions. "He must disarm," Bush said. "I'm sick and tired of games and deceptions. And that's my See IRAQ, Page 7 Law student Amy Purcell finds herself surrounded by graffiti as she heads no her apartment near the railroad tracks yesterday afternoon. ew COmmission wisee solution to suburban sprawl Prof: Terror tech. a Cold War legacy By Stephanie Harwood and Chdstopher Johnson Daily Staff Reporters Nuclear weapons, biological agents, cyber-attacks and chemical warfare are among the many possibilities Lewis Branscomb sees as potential means for terrorists to harm the United States. Branscomb, a professor of public policy and corporate management at Harvard University co-chaired the National Academy of Sciences study, "Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism," presented many scenarios of terrorists attacks in a lecture last night at the Michigan League. Branscomb offered several possible methods to deter these actions, empha- sizing that scientific innovations can play a key role in protecting the nation. He maintained that many of the weapons terrorists use were created during the technological competition of the Cold War, making scientists respon- sible for preventing their use. "It's a world we scientists created, and we have a moral obligation to do something about it," Branscomb said. He presented several means to com- bat terrorism, including the develop- ment of sensor networks to inspect See TERROR, Page 7 By Dan Trudeau Daily Staff Reporter Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to take a dramatic step toward containing suburban sprawl in Michigan this week, creating a Smart Growth Commission to propose policies to regulate land use and curb environmental contamination. For- mer Gov. William Milliken and former state Attorney General Frank Kelley will likely lead the commission. Suburban sprawl and uncontrolled develop- ment were issues in Michigan politics during November's elections, and the establishment of the commission was a major promise of Granholm's campaign. "The governor wants to strike a balance between development and environmental protec- tion. She doesn't think that one should come before the other, but that they should work togeth- er to make Michigan a better place to live and work," Granholm spokeswoman Mary Dettloff said. Environmental agencies have criticized past administrations for failing to address a growing environmental crisis resulting from sprawl. "Until the election of Granholm, the state gov- ernment has maintained that sprawl was not a sig- nificant problem, that it was confined to local government and that the state was not in a posi- tion to do anything about it," said Keith Schneider, pro- gram director for the Michi- gan Land Use Institute. Ann Arbor legislators are stressing the importance of the commission in improving Michigan's economy and maintaining its natural resources. "The protection of farm Granholm land should be a priority for the people of Michigan," state Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) said. "We need ways to make use of existing urban areas, which would revitalize our cities as well as pro- tect our farmland. (The commission) will be influential in raising the profile of the issue." State Rep. Chris Kolb (D-Ann Arbor) said he See SPRAWL, Page 7 SARAHPAUP/Daily Harvard University Prof. Lewis Branscomb speaks at the Michigan Union yesterday afternoon about terrorists' access to weapons.