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www.michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 93 ©2004 The Michigan Daily
Remembering 50 years of intergration
ADMISSIONS
Applications
from minorities
drop in '03-04
CHRISTINE STAFFORD/Daily
(From left) LSA senior Alexander Robinson, LSA sophomore Riana Anderson and Larry Rowley, assistant prof. of
higher education and Center for Afroamerican and African Studies conduct a panel on Brown. v. Board of
Education in the School of Education yesterday.
By Alison Go
Daily Staff Reporter
Since the University revised its admissions
process after last year's lawsuits, the number of
applications from underrepresented minorities is
down 23 percent, while total applications
dropped 18 percent.
"We knew this year would have challenges,"
said Associate Director of Admissions Chris
Lucier. "But I'm reassured that the students
we're admitting now are really strong and
qualified."
Because these numbers are still preliminary,
they do not include the
most recent applicants, Col g
such as the 1,800 applica-
tions received Jan. 30 and
on the deadline, Feb. 1. U' sees a delln
One reason for the unusu-
ally large influx of appli- MAppficator the
cations near the deadline ert1tmro2R
is the number of online ,
applications, Lucier said. Underrepresente
Underrepresented 23percentfewera
minorities - blacks,
Hispanics and Native
Americans - sent 2,322 c3W 12 r
applications last year and.
1,790 applications this 8 For non-residents
year. down 21 percent.
At this time last year
the University had}
received 24,447 total UA hstm et
applications, while during
the 2003-2004 academic>
year, it received only 20,125 applications. These
numbers are not problematic, said Director of
Admissions Ted Spencer. 20,000 applications is
actually the typical amount the University
receives in a year, while the 25,000 applicants of
the past years represent "boom years" in terms of
total applications received, he said.
Although minority applications have
decreased according to the numbers calculated
so far, the Office of University Admissions said
experience dictates that "underrepresented
minorities tend to apply toward the end of the
admissions cycle," and the large number of
applications they have not yet processed may
close the gap between the decline in total appli-
cants and minority applicants.
University officials also speculates that the
fear of a racially divisive campus atmosphere
derived from the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
- which would ban race-conscious in govern-
ment policies, such as public university admis=
sions - has discouraged prospective applicants:
Similarly, misunderstanding over the outcome of
last year's admissions lawsuits may have discour-
aged minority students from applying.
"It's time to communicate to prospective stu-
dents that part of the decision was a victory,"
said University spokeswoman Julie Peterson.
"We need to let students of color know that we
want them to be here."
To convey that the
ml University still seeks a
diverse student body,
the OUA will continue
In applicants to emphasize its out-
reach programs that
inrty are down j2S focus on reaching
3academic year underrepresented racial
and socioeconomic stu
minorities submitted dent groups across the
lications this year country. This year's out-
reach programs held by
'tan r d ars OUA include trips to
nEst year.......h500 schools within
Michigan and out of
state 144 schools.
"We need more time
to work with schools,
>f parents and organiza-
~r, he Uiverity tions ... to explain how
mt m e int uncomplicated the
application process
really is Spencer said.
Spencer also warns that application figures are
not necessarily related directly to enrollment fig-
ures. Continual high attendance at prospective
student programs like Campus Day indicate that
despite less applicants, students are still just as
likely to enroll in the University, he said.
The University is not the only school that has
experienced a decreased number of applicants.
Nationwide, students are applying to fewer col-
leges than in years past, Spencer said. Admis-
sions offices from Michigan State University and
the Ohio State University also report overall
declines in applications.
According to what the admissions office has
See ADMISSIONS, Page 7
Student retracts
rape allegations
By AdilrajDutt
Daily Staff Reporter
The 18-year-old Washtenaw Commu-
nity College student who claimed she
was sexually assaulted on the campus
early last week retracted her story,
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Comman-
der Dave Egeler said.
After the student reported being
pulled into a van and raped while
walking through a campus parking lot,
WCC began a com-
munity-wide effort
to raise safety t IS pOSs1
awareness. someone c
The future of the
student remains recant the
uncertain. She avoid enb
could face prosecu-
tion for filing a but we kn
false police report,
which is a felony not the m4
punishable by up to
four years in jail,
Egeler said. Spokeswc
Though the sexu- Cc
al assault claim was
retracted, the col-
lege plans to continue some of the
newly implemented campus safety
measures. "This Wednesday we are hav-
ing a safety awareness meeting that will
still be held," WCC spokeswoman Janet
Hawkins said. "We will still continue
the shuttle service for now. We are tak-
ing a wait-and-see approach."
The shuttle service, which runs from
6 to 10:30 p.m., transports students
from a campus building to their cars in
the parking lot - where the student
claimed to be assaulted.
Eb
aj
0
Esc
omT
Other safety measures include cam-
pus-wide e-mails and notices containing
safety information.
"We have had an escort service, and
from time to time we post notices in the
school newspaper and on bulletin
boards;' Hawkins said.
"It is possible that someone could
recant their story to avoid emnbarrass-
ment, but we know that is not the case
here,"he said. "At this point the claim of
being sexually assaulted is unfounded."
Initially, the WCC
student's rape claim
e dtatwas thought to be
)uld linked to another
incident in which a
Story to woman was found
rassment, unning shirtless
~ down Geddes Road
w that iS in Superior Town-
eh r:ship last Tuesday.
a here. But Egeler con-
firmed that the two
-Janet Hawkins assault cases are not
ian, Washtenaw linked.
imunity College Safety procedures
available to students
at the University
include SAFE Walk 24 hours a day, tak-
ing students from buildings on campus
to any destination that is within a one-
mile drive or 20-minutes walk from the
Central or North campus diags.
Night Ride and Ride Home, the Uni-
versity's cab services, are also available
to students as an alternative to walking.
Blue light emergency phones located
across the University's campus provide
students with a direct connection to the
Department of Public Safety to report
any crimes.
Cadets debate
w/z t/ier firbn
range needed
By Donn M. Fresard
Daily Staff Reporter
Four years after the demolition of the University
ROTC's rifle range, most ROTC faculty and cadets have
learned to get along without it.
The indoor rifle range was torn down along with
the North University Building in late 2000 to make
room for construction of the Life Sciences Institute
building, which opened last fall. The ROTC has not
since requested that the University build a new shoot-
ing facility.
Lt. Col. Steven Rienstra, chair of the Army Offi-
cer Education Program, said he would appreciate a
new rifle range but does not consider it vital to the
program.
"While it would certainly be preferential for us
to have a firing range, it really hasn't gotten to the
point where it would be cost-effective to build
one," Rienstra said.
The ROTC currently sends cadets to a firing range at
Fort Custer in Battle Creek for weapons training.
The majority of today's ROTC class have not
participated in the program long enough to
remember the facility. Indeed, many young cadets
said they are unaware that a rifle range ever exist-
ed on campus.
Cadet Rudolph Becker, an LSA sophomore, who did-
n't know about the range, added that he did not consider
weapons training a vital component of the ROTC cur-
riculum.
"ROTC isn't all about shooting guns," Becker said.
"It's more about leadership, not really about becoming a
marksman."
ROTC cadet Katherine Banas expressed similar senti-
ments.
"That's not really one of my top concerns," said Banas,
an LSA sophomore. "As of right now, it's not really been
See ROTC, Page 7
UHS begins tests on
res hall stomach flu
Previous outbreak caused by
faulyfoodpreparation
By Michael Kan
Daily Staff Reporter
By the end of this week, University Health Ser-
vice hopes its culture tests will reveal the identity
of the contagion causing the recent campus out-
break of viral gastroenteritis, often known as the
stomach flu.
Yet University doctors are already speculating
that the cause of the illness could be Norwalk virus
- a common but highly contagious disease that
can easily spread through environments such as
college campuses.
UHS Director Robert Winfield said until the
tests are completed they will not be able to name
the virus causing the illness, since several diseases
can result in gastroenteritis. But he added, "Nor-
walk virus, now called norovirus, is certainly one
possibility."
Norwalk virus is one of the diseases that are gen-
erally known for causing the illness now spreading
over the campus, according to the Centers for Dis-
ease Control.
The virus causes symptoms of nausea, vom-
iting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. With an
incubation period of a few days, the infection
occurs through eating foods or coming into
contact with people or objects contaminated
with the disease.
Winfield also said rotovirus, a virus similar to
Norwalk virus, may have caused the spread of gas-
troenteritis in the residence halls.
Since Saturday, 13 new gastroenteritis cases were
reported, bringing the total number of cases to 83,
said University Housing spokesman Alan Levy.
See STOMACH FLU, Page 7
Michigan State leads as organ
donation competition kicks off
CHRISTINE
STAFFORD/Daily
By Megan Greydanus
and Yasmin Elsayed
Daily Staff Reporters
The competition is heating up as the Wolverines battle the
Spartans in yet another event. But this time students must lit-
erally stick to the motto: "No Guts, No Glory."
ages and medical histories" to consider becoming donors. No
cost is charged to the donor or the donor's family.
"So many lives can be changed by the decision to become a
donor," said Amy Olszewski Gift of Life youth education
coordinator.
Traditionally, individuals have requested to become donors
when they receive their driver's licenses. But signing the back
LSA freshman
Gabe Bussey
donates blood in
Alice Lloyd
Residence Hall
yesterday as part
of the University
of Michigan vs.
Michigan State
University organ
donation drive.
Anyone can sign
up to become an
/r
ti
n
a