LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 3 THIS WEEK 1100 mMpWL'uanre1u Panel discusses weapons of mass destruction I ' 11 \ 11111L1 L liV 1 tJl .l' I Five Years ago ... University administrators submitted a counterproposal to the the Graduate Employees Organization which refused to meet the 37 percent pay increase GEO's bargaining team asked for last week. The University offered GEO a 2.5- percent increase, the annual minimum raise to account for inflation, in the latest step in ongoing contract negotiations. Both sides described the proposal as "no change" from the current contract language. "It wasn't even close to GEO's request," said Associate Academic Human Resources Director Dan Gam- ble, the University's chief negotiator. GEO Chief Negotiator Eric Odier- Fink said he "expected some sort of movement, and my heart really sunk, but this is early in the game." Ten Years Ago ... Several University students alleged that Michigan Student Assembly elec- tion workers were drinking while tally- ing ballot results. More than 150 votes were allegedly miscounted, lost or thrown away. In response to the allegations, MSA members spent much of the day recounting ballots to officially confirm the results released earlier in the week. "I guess somebody misplaced some of the ballots," said MSA Vice Presi- dent Brian Kight. "We've (recounted) before when it's been close and we find ballots that haven't been counted ... a couple of ballots can be significant with a ranked ballot system." Nov. 17, 1953 The Michiganensian staff announced that the 1954 version of the yearbook would include a long-play record would will bring many of the high- lights directly to the ears of readers. "Addition of the visual commentary to the visual and editorial story of the year is another step taken by the 'Ensian as a leader among college yearbooks," said 'Ensian Managing Editor Bob Schrayer. The 8-inch record will include a speech by University President Har- lan Hatcher, recordings of pep rallies and excerpts from Arts Theater per- formances. "The record will be offered to stu- dents wishing to buy it at an additional cost of 75 cents," said 'Ensian Busi- ness Manager Bob Wells. Nov. 20, 1987 In light of new condom vending machines being installed on campus, members of the Michigan Student Assembly said they would neither sup- port or oppose the machines at their next meeting. "Although some of us do have strong feelings against the machines, I think it's more important to give MSA some issues and information to think about. This is a very sensitive topic, and not one for this committee to decide alone," said Health Issues Committee Chair Dennis Lopez. The committee members were specifically concerned about the high price of vending machine condoms. The machines sell condoms for 75 cents apiece, while students could receive a dozen for $3.50 from Univer- sity Health Services. Nov. 20, 1992 The University Board of Regents voted 6-2 to implement the Code of Stu- dent Conduct, which governs students non-academic conduct in Ann Arbor. "There have been extensive interac- tions with students," said University President James Duderstadt. The MSA ballot asked students for their opinion on the code, and about 81 percent of voters responded that they opposed it. Ninety-three percent of the voters said the statement should not be implemented without a student vote. Nov. 15, 1942 Despite a shortage of meat due to the ongoing World War II, residence halls and the Michigan League guaranteed that they would not run out of meat because they contracted their supplies. But Purchasing Agent F.C. Kuenzel discovered that meat cuts ordered by the Michigan Union could not be sent. "In some instances the meat has been loaded ready for shipment, the government cosigns it for the Army and all we received was the billing," he said. "Our bacon order has been cut fom last year's 96 pounds per week to 24. We never know from week to week which particular cut will not be available." Nov. 18, 1970 By Sara Eber Daily Staff Reporter "The War on Terrorism," anthrax, al Qaida, Iraq, the search for weapons of mass destruction - these are among the buzzwords that have echoed throughout the country since Sept. 11, 2001. But many Americans may wonder, in the sea of flashy headlines and breaking news updates, what kind of threat really exists? Students and adults filled the Michigan League's Hussey Room past capacity, soaking in the oppor- tunity to learn and reflect on these domestic threats last night at the Forum on Weapons of Mass Destruction. Three panelists focused on different aspects of the dilemma surrounding WMDs - the actual science and effect of their use, why they are being used and what the United States is doing to combat the threats. "WMDs have such a mass effect -- it's not just their use, but fear of their use, that overwhelms our collective imaginations," said Michael Kennedy, director of the University's International Institute. Kennedy, a sociology professor, noted that WMDs are not a new concept in American society, though their role has shifted greatly since the Cold War. During that time, nations used the deterrence theory of mutually assured destruction to prevent the use of WMDs. Now that the threat may come from a terrorist group rather than a state, Kennedy said, this theory does not apply. "The world is threatened in a new way, but not necessarily at a greater risk overall;' Kennedy said. "It was really important to bring this to campus," said LSA junior Allison Goldberg, co-coordinator of the event. "There's so much rhetoric and propa- ganda going around that the facts are not being absorbed." In identifying the groups that pose a threat in regards to WMD, Raymond Tanter, professor emer- itus of political science at the University, said Islamic fundamentalists lie at the center of the problem. "Islamists are the radical ones doing the hating," he said. Tanter, now a visiting researcher at Georgetown University, said the hatred stems from political Zionism and imperialist actions during World War I, and cited several British promises to Arabs that were not kept. He also analyzed al-Qaida's actions and potential threats they pose. 'Even small-scale use of WMDs have large- scale effects," Tanter said. "I think al-Qaida will be tempted to use (chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear weapons) as soon as it's possible." Peter Straudhammer, former vice president of science and technology at California-based TRW Inc., dubbed the nuclear threat "extreme," the bio- logical threat "major" and the chemical threat "moderate." He said an effective terrorist weapon is immediate, has a sensational impact, leaves no trace and has an easy delivery. WMDs are not new to warfare, Straudhammer said. Their earliest use dates back to 1346, when Mongols laying siege to the Crimean city of Caffa sent corpses infected with the Black Death inside the city. The Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of biological and chemical weaponry in 1925. Alireza Jafarzadeh, foreign affairs analyst for the Fox News Channel, said the problem with funda- mentalism has come into view since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Solving the threat from WMDs means focusing on Iran, he said. "We need to fight this in the heart of fundamen- talism - in Iran -just as you couldn't fight com- munism in Eastern Europe before fighting it in the USSR," he said. JUEL HItDMAN/Daily Peter Staudhammer discusses the history of weapons of mass destruction to a packed audience last night in the Michigan League's Hussey Room last night. Van Harp, former assistant director of the FBI's Washington field office, explained the Various pro- tocols used by the government to prevent a threat from WMDs. He said harbors are particularly vul- nerable to attack, and have a great potential to harm the United States and world economies. Harp, a special agent in charge of addressing the anthrax scare of 2001, also discussed the bureau- cratic changes made since Sept. 11, saying lines of responsibility between law enforcement and intelli- gence have been blurred. He defended the USA Patriot Act, saying it "removed the bureaucratic obstacles of the constitution that have built up over time like barnacles on ships." LSA junior Paul Dobson said he enjoyed the event, but disagreed with some of the speakers' pol- icy suggestions. In particular, he opposes Harp's stance on the Patriot Act, and does not believe initi- ating a revolution in Iran is a correct solution to the problem in the area. LSA sophomore Ilya Rusinov said the forum was a great venue for people to hear about crucial issues facing the country. He was pleased that so many organizations co- sponsored the event, including the University Activities Committee and the American Movement for Israel as well as groups from both sides of the political spectrum. Playing for hunger Flu vaccinations may not protect against new strain By Farayha Arrine Daily Staff Reporter UAVID TUMA4NIaly Dan Mullkoff of the band 'King Mob' plays in a show at the Diag yesterday as part of "Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week." ONCOLOGY Continued from Page 1 Its two current residents, however, will be the last until the program can find the money to carry on. "Just last week we had a successful fundraiser at Rick's American Cafe, Get Down for Israel, that raised nearly $8,000," said Halman, describing the student support, especially among the University's Jewish population, for the program. "It is essential not just for the patients in Israel that we continue this partnership in research but for the gener- al furthering of knowledge in our Uni- versity and nation's field of study." Reinforcing Halman's assertion is the ongoing research by past and current fellows into the disproportionately high breast cancer rates of Ash-Kenazi Israeli women. The study, a main focus of Ben- David, draws its subjects from an isolat- ed sample not available in the U.S. "Our work is in conjunction with cur- rent University research but, especially in the case of (Ben-David), we also bring an expanded research and teaching base," Meirovitz said. Among the research projects currently undertaken by Meirovitz with the department include the reduction of brain damage during radiation treatment, and making malignant pancreatic cells more sensi- tive to chemo and radiation therapies. To fund the continuation of Israeli Oncology Fellowships at the Univer- sity, Halman and the department administration are trying to secure endowments from companies and alumni but maintain that "great fundraisers" like the one at Rick's are essential to the program's success. Meirovitz cannot emphasize enough the importance of continua- tion of funding for the fellowship. He has been grateful for the hospi- tality of the University, and for the support provided for he and his fam- ily in acclimating to the United States. "From my heart," Meirovitz said, the program "has been well-set from the beginning, fruitfully enriching the research" at the University as well as both his Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and medical facilities across Israel and the United States. In preparation for flu season, the University has begun providing immunizations for students. But one particularly nasty strain of influenza may slip through the defenses of this year's flu shot. University Health Service Director Robert Winfield cited reports that sug- gest an early onset of the flu in Texas has a strain not contained in this year's vac- cine. The New York Times reported that this new strain, Fujian, is part of a cate- gory that causes more serious illness if contracted and can lead to hospitaliza- tion or even death. The Fujian strain is not among the three strains contained in this year's vac- cine. But those three are close enough to the Fujian and for that reason may not lead to an outbreak of influenza. The new strain was recognized ear- lier this year but was not included in the vaccine because of time con- straints, Winfield said. Adding the Fujian strain to the vaccine would not allow enough time for farmers to pre- pare enough eggs, in which the flu shots are prepared. If the vaccine is not successful in detecting the Fujian strain, some sources predict "that this will be a year with a lot of influenza, in which case there will be long waits to be seen in all health clinics and if there is a big outbreak it may be hard to get to the health clinics," Win- field said. Students living in close quarters with each other, particularly a majority of freshman and sopho- mores in residence halls, are at high risk for catching influenza and also are at risk for contracting meningo- coccal meningitis, an infection that can be fatal. Influenza, spread through drops from the infected person's nose or mouth, is a highly contagious viral infection leading to symptoms of a high fever and body temperature, body aches, cough, fatigue and chills. Flu shots Dates, locations of gShts Wednesday, Nov. 1 9 10 am, - 3 p.m Michigan Union Pond Room 9 3 p~m. - 6 p.m. Mosher Jordan Residence Hall 2 10am. 3 pm Chemisry BuidIng Lower Atrium S11 a.t1-4 pm. South Quad Residene Ha A "Most people think of influenza as the stomach flu," said Lisa Butler, Commu- nity Wellness coordinator for the Michi- gan Visiting Nurses, which has teamed up with UHS to provide the shots. But she added that the "flu is a lot more seri- ous" than typical colds. Flu shots are important in prevent- ing the onset of flu symptoms and are up to 70 percent effective. Although it is more important for children, sen- iors and pregnant woman to receive the shots, students are also encour- aged to get them. "If you are a healthy person, your rea- son to get a flu shot is to try and prevent missing a week to 10 days of class or work," said Winfield. Both flu and meningitis shots are available at UHS which charges $17 for flu shots and $85 for meningitis shots. Students can receive shots at designated campus sites and the price will be charged to their accounts. The shots are "covered under Care Choice and Medicare Part B and most students could probably take it back to their insurance companies to see if they would be reimbursed," said Krista Hop- son, spokeswoman for the University's Allergy, Immunization and Travel Health Clinic. While everyone is encouraged to take this preventative measure as soon as possible, Winfield warns that the flu shot is not for everyone. "People with diabetes, asthma, heart disease and difficulties with their immune system" should avoid the vaccine because of possible side effects. The UHS website also discour- ages anyone with an allergy to eggs from getting it. Students already experiencing flu symptoms should avoid the vaccine as well. "If they are sick, they should not get the flu shot, because at that point your immune system is already fighting something. It would help them to get it once they feel better, though," Butler said. The University has decided this year not to offer FluMist, an intranasal ver- sion of the vaccine developed by a Uni- versity professor, because of possible dangers reported with its use. Winfield said it might be available next year after its effects are observed more carefully. Until then, the flu and meningitis shots, which cause only a sore arm for a few hours, will be available to students for the remainder of the week. APARTMENT HOMES A fordiable! 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartment Homes BUDGET Continued from Page 1 unusual circumstance," Peterson said. Other avenues for the state to reduce its budget include delaying a planned tax cuts. Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said the governor has not ruled out pausing a 0.1-percent cut in the 4.0-per- cent state income tax set to take effect on Jan. 1, The Associated Press report- ed. That move would save the state $115 million in revenue. "The pause in the income tax rollback is on the table," Boyd said. MSA Continued from Page 1. "(The campaigning) brings elec- tions to my attention, but it doesn't make me want to vote," said LSA sophomore Sonia Sharma. "I feel like I have been seeing the same fliers. The fliers are just annoying." But the barrage of campaign advertisements hasn't yet annoyed everyone. LSA senior Jonathan Clinton said he just ignores the campaigning. Although he doesn't find the advertising very intrusive, he doesn't plan to vote. "I've never been that interested in it." Engineering junior Sam Benton also doesn't plan on voting but for different reasons. "I don't see that (MSA elections) really matter. I don't see it having any real power to change anything," he added. "I see fliers of people saying there will be more buses or trans- portation. But I don't think the MSA has the power to make those changes." Many students said they either did not care about voting or they did not know what they would be voting for. For some, the campaigning has not only failed to encourage them to vote - it has accomplished the opposite. "It makes me not want to vote. All it is, is people saying, they're horrible, vote for us, instead of peo- ple saying this is what is good about us," said Kinesiology senior Stacy Lerchenfeld Some students who do plan to vote said they would only vote for their friends. "I probably wouldn't vote if I didn't know anyone (who was running)," said Art & Design junior Matthew Kaczynski. " s " 0 Resident Activity Center Washer & Dryer Carwash Center Nature Trail I'WWJWIMCHIGAINDAILY. COI 1100 RaitRun Circle Ann Arb~or, Ml 481 03 Phone (734) 998-1000 Fax (734) 998-0000 www.ced-concord.com Resort to the Lifestyle Yau Deserve. ~I~e~ja~ ats1fera4 CLl' cp. FCI(1tC Tr ICS4 J(jrtt -tUL 6PM - 8PM GROOMINGgAR A NEW GROOMING EXPERIENCE FOR MEN SPRING TERM IN MAINE writing, camping, reading, hiking, music, canoeing, art NE 711212. C_ _ ._ a2 I