LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 8, 2003 - 3 THIS MEEN I I 1114 -- -- - - -110-1- a n n1 I Mold, ragweed allergies annoy sneezing students Geek Week Five years agos... The University's Delta Zeta sorority chapter closed its doors permanently after more than 50 members deactivat- ed their memberships, in addition to a lack of new pledges. Trying to counter the problem, the Panhellenic Council had granted Delta Zeta the right to hold a special kind of rush, in which the house would get an extra week to hold less structured open-houses. Ten years ago ... About 400 of the 2,200 Macintosh computers sold during the "Computer KickOff Sale" were infected with a virus from a software disk that was included with the computers. The virus did not destroy files, but rather caused the computers to beep inadvertently. Oct. 4, 1960 University astronomers became the first in the world to receive radio trans- missions from Saturn. The team had been working on the project for more than three years. It officially received the first signal from the planet on Aug. 25. Astronomy researchers said their next goal was to get a transmission from Mercury, which is far more diffi- cult to detect than Saturn because of its small size and closeness to the sun. Oct. 6, 1965 The University announced that with- in the next five years Central Campus would gain nearly 500,000 square feet with the construction of the Modern Languages Building, the Psychology Building and the Math and Computer Center. Oct. 11, 1968 The Board of Governors of Resi- dence Halls recommended that the University Board of Regents get rid of the requirement that sophomore women must live in residence halls. Even though the resolution eventu- ally passed, women still needed their parent's permission to live off- campus. Oct. 5, 1971 University faculty members over- whelmingly endorsed a proposal that would ban all classified research- from the University. The only exception would be for research that "is likely to contribute so significantly to the advancement of knowledge as to justify infringe- ment of the freedom to publish openly." After a drafting committee finalized the language of the pro- posal, it would be brought back for a final vote. Oct. 9, 1976 An informal Michigan Daily poll of 160 students in the Diag about their alcoholic preferences revealed that the most popular drink for students was a simple cold glass of beer. The favorite hard-liquor choice for men was scotch on the rocks and for women was gin and tonic. Oct. 15, 1980 University Athletic Director Don Canham took disciplinary action against several hockey team members who hazed a freshman player, leaving him drunk and naked in freezing cold weather outside of Mary Markley Resi- dence Hall. Oct. 4, 1983 A male student in Alice Lloyd Resi- dence Hall was held up at gunpoint by two men asking for drugs and money. Authorities said the two men searched at least one other room before finding the victim, indicating he was singled out on purpose. Fearing the victim was attracting threatening persons into Alice Lloyd Residence Hall, the stu- dent was asked to move out and com- plied. Oct. 8, 1985 Vice President George Bush was disrupted by protesters while speaking on the steps of the Michigan Union to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the presidential candidate John F. Kennedy's 1960 announcement of the Peace Corps. Bush responded to the hecklers by saying, "That's one of the great things about freedom. I'd like to see them go down to old Lenin Square and see what happens there." Students were protest- ing U.S. foreign policy in Central America. By Dan Trudeau Daily Staff Reporter As the days grow shorter, University physicians say autumnal allergies are running rampant, causing grief for afflicted students. With high concentrations of ragweed and mold in the brisk fall air, itchy eyes and runny noses abound on campus. LSA junior Marissa Zavala is allergic to mold and said rain aggravates her ' condition to intolerable lev- els. She said that while the cooler weather has helped ease her symptoms this year, she will likely suffer from sneezing and coughing through the end of October. "When it rains I just always want to crawl back into bed," Zavala said. "I carry a box of Kleenex to my classes this time of year." Andrew Singer, an allergist and clinical instructor at the University Medical School, said fall allergies, frequently known as hay fever, are on the rise worldwide and are grow- ing worse in developed countries, adding that, for students, the symptoms can have a serious impact on daily life. "Some patients say that this interferes with school and with work," Singer said. "Especially when cou- pled with sinus infections, allergies can make it dif- ficult to concentrate. It's a large contributor to absenteeism." He added that the likelihood of contracting sinus infections increases for patients with allergies. The unique and sometimes demanding schedules of stu- dents make treatment difficult, Singer said. "There's probably not a whole lot you can do to prevent allergies," he said. "Especially for students, getting on medications that won't make them sleepy is the best thing to do." Zavala expressed frustration about the drowsy side effects of medication and said her allergies have a negative impact on her ability to study and succeed in class. "A lot of allergy medications put you to sleep. If you're trying to read a really boring textbook and you're already drowsy, it's over," she added. Doctors say fall allergies can often resemble a common cold when it comes to symptoms, but can be more serious. Singer said while colds typically last between a week and 10 days, allergies often affect patients for months. University Health Service offers treatment and immunizations for students suffering from allergies, and the University of Michigan Health System gives immunizations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- days at the Taubman Center. DMVID , UMANIN Civil engineering senior Jimmy Horton blocks a spike at a game between a civil engineering student team and an industrial and operational engineering student team during Geek Week. Dem. White House hopefuls invited to visit A2 Nine candidates plan on debating in Detroit, may make stop in Ann Arbor first LANSING (AP) - With all nine Democra- tic presidential candidates planning to be in Detroit for an Oct. 26 televised debate, state party officials couldn't pass up the chance to invite the candidates to stay a little longer. Michigan Democratic Party executive chairman Mark Brewer has asked the candi- dates to participate in two town hall forums Saturday, Oct. 25, the day before the debate. The morning forum would take place in Ann Arbor and be sponsored by the Washte- naw County Democratic Party. The afternoon forum would be held at the union hall for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876 in Madison Heights and be sponsored by the Oakland County Democratic Party. The forums would be set up so each candi- date would address the audience and take questions individually, without other candi- dates in the room. "No confrontation. No debate," Brewer said of the format. He said the forums "will be attrac- tive to Democratic Party activists and useful to the candidates ... (who) could get out and touch a lot more folks" than just by attending the debate. He expects several hundred people would attend each event. Brewer sent out the invitations for the town hall forums several weeks ago, but hasn't got- ten a commitment from any of the candidates to attend. Representatives for several candidates said they were considering the invitation, but haven't made plans that far into October. Those planning to attend the 8 p.m. Sunday debate at the Fox Theatre are U.S. Sens. John Edwards, John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman, U.S. Reps. Dick Gephardt and Dennis Kucinich, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, former Gen. Wesley Clark and activist Al Sharpton. U.S. Sen. Bob Graham dropped out of the race Monday night. Brewer said several of the candidates are setting up events to raise money while they're in Michigan, and he thinks at least some will see the wisdom of campaigning in Michigan on Saturday. "We understand the demand on these can- didates' time. But I'm encouraged by their interest" in the forums, he said.