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©2003 The Michigan Daily
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vol. CXIII, No. 65
One-hundred-thirteen years ofeditorialfreedom
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www.michigandaily.com
RONNI 1:1
k
New server
makes files
moressecure
By Naila Moreira
Daily Staff Reporter
Students who access their e-mail using Telnet will soon
have a more secure inbox. Beginning Jan. 5, Telnet will no
longer access the Information Technology Central Services
Login Pool, a group of servers that stores e-mail, file system
space for students and faculty and other information.
Instead, Telnet will be replaced by Secure Shell, or SSH, a
program designed to increase computer security. The new
server can be downloaded from the Internet and also comes
on the new Blue Disc. "We're trying to help protect users'
accounts - specifically to protect the integrity of users'
passwords and their data," said Adam Bisaro, a technologist
at Information Technology Central Services. SSH provides
an encrypted connection over which to transmit data such as
passwords, he said.
In contrast, no cryptography is used in Telnet. "Eaves-
droppers will sit on networks and look for username-pass-
Word combinations," said Paul Howell, information systems
security officer for the University's Administrative Informa-
tion Services.
These usernames and passwords can then be used to log
into the University network, giving hackers access to a host
of University resources.
"If you store your dissertation in your (Institutional File
System) space, they could potentially get in there and delete
the whole thing," said Janine Ovens, computer systems con-
sultant for the geology department.
Hackers within or outside of the University community
could also send e-mail from student or faculty accounts,
change data on Wolverine Access, or change test scores if a
graduate student instructor used IFS space to store grades,
she said.
Switching to a more secure system will have some costs.
"There is certainly overhead and cost in terms of individual
administrators running around installing software - there's
effort involved," said Bisaro.
Much of this effort will come from tech support, who
must educate and assist users as the change is made, he said.
Bisaro added that many students are worried they will no
longer be able to use Pine, the program used through Telnet
to access e-mail.
"We will run Pine," Sandy Colombo, director of the UM
Computing Environment, said. "That's the biggest confusion
that people have had with this." Both Telnet and SSH allow
users to log on to the servers where programs like Pine are
stored, she said.
Slight differences may be visible in menus and program
setup between SSH and Pine, said Bisaro. "But after you've
made your connection ... you should see absolutely no dif-
ference," he said. Larger differences will be noticeable in
SFTP, or Secure File Transfer Protocol, which will replace
its predecessor, FTP, at the same time as Telnet is phased
out.
Students with older operating systems are most likely to
suffer from the change, Bisaro said. SSH programs will not
run on some older operating systems, especially on older
Macintosh computers.
Also, students traveling abroad may have difficulty
accessing their e-mail with SSH. "Let's say you're a student
and you're traveling someplace, and you walk into a cyber-
cafe. How do you get SSH on that cybercafe machine?"
Howell said.
Some students who use Telnet expressed ambivalence
See E-MAIL, Page 3
White
House
hopefuI
Ku nich campaignsin A2
aBy Michael Gurovitsch
Daily Staff Reporter
Although U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of
Ohio ninth nationally among the nine
Democratic presidential candidates in a
November CNN poll, the zeal exhibited by
his frequently cheering supporters during
his visit to campus yesterday suggests a
popularity the polls does not show.
Kucinich, the first presidential candidate
to campaign at the University for next
year's election, spoke in the Michigan
League's Courtyard Garden about Iraq,
health care and tuition, before walking to
Borders Books and Music to briefly join a
picket line on East Liberty Street in sup-
port of the striking workers.
Organizers were forced to move the
speech outdoors after supporters filled the
hallway outside the already over-crowded
room in the Michigan League.
Kucinich, a former mayor of Cleveland,
spent the majority of his speaking time dis-
cussing what he called the Bush adminis-
tration's failure in Iraq. He said if he were
to be elected president, he would withdraw
American troops within 90 days and turn
the occupation administration over to the
United Nations.
He added that he was the only candidate
to present a comprehensive plan on how to
withdraw U.S. troops while still maintain-
ing Iraqi stability.
"I stand alone among all presidential
candidates. We cannot continue the occu-
pation of Iraq," Kucinich said.
"We are very lucky to have a presidential
candidate who understands peace. We all
See KUCINICH, Page 3
SETH LOWER/Daily
Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich marches with protesters at Borders Books and Music on East Liberty Streetsyesterday
after delivering a speech to supporters at the Michigan League.
Female undergrads increase numbers nationwide
By AdirajDutt
Daily Staff Reporter
Higher education institutions nationwide
are seeing more women on their campuses -
increased female enrollment has women cur-
rently comprising about 56 percent of the
288,368,698 college students in the United
States. The numbers were equal five years
ago. Experts say the cause for this emerging
trend is unknown, but educators point to sev-
eral factors for explanation.
That trend is hitting close to home, where
female undergraduates outnumber males by
600 students on campus. The University's
undergraduate male enrollment has decreased
by 310 from 1999 to 2003 while female
enrollment has increased by 334 during the
same period.
Male enrollment declined every year
since 1999 except for a slight increase in
2001, whereas female
increased every year
since 1999. Women
presently make up 51
percent of the under-
graduate student body.
Andre Gill, admissions
counselor in the Office of
Undergraduate Admis-
sions, said women will
probably continue to
make up a higher per-
centage of the student
body. "This has been a
national trend. There are
more women on the U of
M campus than men," he
said. "The trend will
probably increase to 55
percent in a few years."
Other campuses across
enrollment has also experienced a greater change in enroll-
ment. The Univer-
sity of California at
Who rules the school? Berkeley sawa
female enrollment
Numbers show female undergraduate rise from about 51
, percnt in1999to
enrollment overtakes male at 'U, percent in to
nearly 54 pecnrcent in
2002.
Female undergrads outnumber Gill said when
males by 600. the University
admissions office
The number of female under- admits about half
grads increased by 334 between of its applicant
1999 and 2003, while male under- pool, the office
graduate enrollment fell by 310. doesn't try to admit
a specified number
Nationally, 56 percent of college opfimednumand
and university students are female. of men and
women. For unde-
termined reasons,
the country have more women ultimately accept their admit-
tance than men.
"You have to look at some of the reasons
men and women go to college," Gill said.
"Many men go because their buddies go to
college. Many women go to pursue a career
or to receive an education."
Psychology Prof. Jacquelynne Eccles said
the trend of increased female enrollment is
occurring around the world.
"I don't think we know why (the trend is
happening) but that females have always got-
ten better grades than males. The better
grades might be getting more women into
college," she said. "Males might be finding
something better to do with their time" like
entering the work force.
The number of black women enrolling in
some universities has increased because they
are more likely to attend college than their,
male counterparts, Eccles added. The rise in
See FEMALES, Page 7
Prof receives /pple' award for excellence
University history prof
wins award for excellence
in teaching
By Maria Sprow
Daily Staff Reporter
History Prof. Matt Lassiter has only
been at the University for four years,
but he's been thinking about giving his
ideal last lecture since yesterday, when
he learned that the day would come
much sooner than he had ever thought
- Jan. 28.
Before his biweekly "History of
American Suburbia" lecture began
yesterday morning, films, books, eval-
uations and his students were at the top
of his mind. The lecture started off
slowly, with Lassiter handing out class
evaluations and asking his students to
carefully consider which films and
books should be included in the class
next semester.
As he paced across the stage of the
Lorch Hall auditorium where his lec-
ture is held, a group of students sitting
in the front stood and told the class
that they also had an announcment to
make: Lassiter was this year's winner
of the Golden Apple Award.
As Lassiter's students applauded and
cheered - one surprised student
responded with a loud "Oh My God"
- Lassiter stood on the stage looking
modest and slightly embarrassed.
"Well, let's do your evaluations.
tion," he later told his students, saying
that he had had no idea what was hap-
pening. "But the Borders strikers got
some free publicity out of this," he
added, pointing to a pin he wore on his
shirt.
Despite Lassiter's surprised reaction,
his students said they weren't shocked
by the announcement.
"He's awesome. This is the best
class I've taken here at Michigan," said
LSA senior John Schwartz.
"He uses a lot of media and he
involves a lot of pop culture and things
we've grown up on."
The Golden Apple Award is an
annual award given to professors
through the group Students Honoring
Outstanding University Teaching. Stu-
dents nominate their favorite profes-
sors, and the recipient gives the annual
"Ideal Last Lecture" in January. The
actual Golden Apple Award is given at
the lecture.
According to the UM-SHOUT web-
site, the theme of the lecture comes
from the belief that all educators
should teach as if giving their "last lec-
tures."
Students who nominated Lassiter for
the Golden Apple said Lassiter inspires
them through his creative lectures and
because he is not afraid to take up con-
troversial issues.
"He presents fair and unbiased pre-
sentations of history while highlight-
ing injustices that are often
downplayed. He inspires student
JEFF LEHNERT/Daily
Christian Scientist David Stevens speaks about religion, spirituality and sexuality during an interfaith
dialogue in the Michigan League yesterday.
Paneli sts discuss roe of
sexuM.ality within religiYon
By Victoria Edwards
and Ryan Vicko
Daily Staff Reporters
A panel representing four religions discussed
how their faiths view premarital sex and homosexu-
al marriage, among other spiritual and sexual top-
ics, last night at the Michigan League.
Christian Scientists sponsored the event, which
featured Islam with Mucahit Bilici from the Mus-
lim Graduate Student Association, Buddhism with
Robert Senger from Brown University, Judaism
with Hillel Rabbi Shoshana Dworsky, and the
Christian Science movement with David Stevens.
During the course of the night, the panelists
members could ask their own questions.
A recent Massachusetts court ruling legalizing
gay marriage and the ordination of a gay Episcopal
bishop made the topic of homosexuality and reli-
gion especially relevant.
"It is viewed as unnatural ... it is a sin' Bilicl
said about the Islamic view of homosexuality.
He added he supports the Rainbow Coalition, a
gay support group, but his religious beliefs are in
conflict.
Stevens, Dworksy and Senger expressed no
direct conflict between their beliefs and homosexu-
ality or homosexual marriages.
"Sex is not strictly prohibited as long as there is
SHUBRA OHRI/Daily
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