Tuesday, March 9, 2004 Opinion 5 Sports 10 Jess Piskor demands full disclosure Michigan's tourney chances still alive Liars, witches and wolves, oh my! Breaking Records ... Arts, Page 9 LI it Weather HI: 39 LOW: 24 TOMORROW 4& 32 One-hundred-thirteen years ofeditorialfreedom www.michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 108 ©2004 The Michigan Daily Wordplay Group suggests changes to 'U' health services By Aymar Jean Daily Staff Reporter The University will soon begin to roll out new resources and poli- cies in response to findings announced by a mental health task- force yesterday. This week - at the same time as the "Depression on College Campus- es" conference - the Mental Health Work Group will unveil three new resources for students: a new website under the University's domain, a resource guide and a map of campus mental health services. The University created the work group in 2001 to examine its own health system, after research was conducted in cites nationwide on deficiencies in university counsel- ing and a rising need for services. The group, representing such departments as the University Health Service and Counseling and Psychological Services, recently released a report of the University's mental health services. The report evaluates the administration's strengths and weaknesses and offers suggestions for improve- ment. The administration imple- mented some recommendations earlier this year. The guides address one of the group's recommendations, that stu- dents be provided with central resources to ease access to campus services. Currently, the vast, decen- tralized system may hinder access, the report states. It also recom- mends that the administration develop a 24-hour phone number where a student may receive advice on navigating the system. A review of the University's psy- chological services showed a com- plex network of departments and offices that group members deemed confusing. A student receiving help at CAPS, for exam- ple, could be referred to UHS, Uni- versity Center for the Child and Family, the Psychological Clinic or a host of other offices. "We noted that we had a lot of difficulty understanding this," said UHS director Robert Winfield, who chaired the work group. Among its many recommenda- tions, the group suggested that the University improve communication between agencies, perhaps by cre- ating a referral form for students and standardizing the referral process. The group's report also includes an evaluation of costs, suggestions for faculty training and administra- tive policies for students who need to be withdrawn from school. The issue of stigmatization also figured prominently in the evaluation. Although most of the Universi- ty's resources are free for students, some must refer its clients to off- campus providers, which often charge for their services. Numerous Health resource U' unveils new website www.umIch.edu/-mhealth The website provides students with a central resource outlin- ing the University's mental health services. students without insurance - and still more whose insurance does not cover mental health services in the Ann Arbor area - are then faced with a difficult situation, the group concluded. "In 1999, approximately 5 tol0 percent of undergraduate students and 3 percent of graduate students (did) not have health insurance," the report states. CAPS, intended for short-term counseling, generally limits its ses- sions from eight to 10 sessions. This is sufficient for most students, but those who require many more sessions are referred to an off-cam- pus provider. "All University counseling cen- ters struggle with this," CAPS Director Todd Sevig said of the problems involved with providing care and dealing with a student's financial needs. CAPS's mission remains to "see as many students as want to be seen," he added. See HEALTH, Page 7 I BRETT MOUNTAIN/Daily I Scrabble Club members Heather Steffy, an LSA sophomore, and Stephen Butala, an LSA freshman, play at the Michigan Union yesterday. 'Students show wide range of views on election issues By Lucille Vaughan Daily Staff Reporter As Republicans tout their expertise on national security and Democrats counter that this year's election should focus on the troubled economy, University students appear equally divided between international and domestic concerns in mak- ing their choice for a candidate. Many students are still upset about the war in Iraq and its national security would be the most important issue," he said. Many University students feel equal concern over both international and domestic issues. "Issues include what we are going to do about the Iraq situ- ation, and the economy over here. A lot of people are having a hard time finding jobs. I couldn't find an internship for this summer," Engineering freshman Kevin Xu said. For many University students, the economy remains one of SNRE dean criticizes Bush decisions on science issues their biggest anxieties implications for Americans. LSA junior Jeff Kominsky said he feels the American presence in Iraq is a topic that needs to be addressed in the upcoming presidential elections. "As a Democrat, I think the most important issue is the Iraqi war," he said. "Was it reasonable? Was it justified? You know, they haven't found any (weapons of mass destruction) yet." Other students feel that national secu- rity is the most critical topic that the presidential candidates need to address. LSA senior Steve MacGuidwin, presi- dent of the College Republicans, said "I would say the economy is going to be the biggest issue, with the U.S. coming out of the recession, and getting jobs back with the people.' - Ryan Ford LSA junior as they consider their post-graduation prospects. "I would say the economy is going to be the biggest issue, with the U.S. coming out of the recession, and get- ting jobs back to the people," LSA junior Ryan Ford said. Ford added that he was an unde- cided voter until it became clear that John Kerry would win the Democrat- ic nomination. Then he decided to support President Bush. "There's a possibility I would have voted for Joe Lieberman, if he was nominated, but Kerry seems to go in two different directions and is very weak in By Naha Moreira Daily StaffReporter Rosina Bierbaum, dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment, has signed a statement severely criticizing the Bush administration's record on science. Bierbaum joins 62 prominent scientists who have signed the statement, including 20 Nobel Prize winners and 19 win- ners of the National Medal of Science. The statement claims the Bush administration "has often manipulated the process through which science enters into its decisions." "Furthermore," the statement continues, "in advocating policies that are not scientifically sound, the administration has sometimes misrepresented scientific knowledge and mis- led the public." White House Science Advisor John Marburger said, "I don't think that these incidents or issues add up to strong support for the accusation that this administration is deliber- ately acting to undermine the processes of science," accord- ing to a Knight-Ridder report. But, Marburger added, "given the prestige of some of the individuals who have signed on to this, I think they deserve additional response and we're coordinating something." The signatories include experts on human health, national security and other scientific fields who have held advisory position in previous administrations. Bierbaum said the sci- entists were brought together to help write the statement by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an action group that issued the statement and a supporting document. The UCS called upon Bierbaum - who served four years as the senior environmental advisor for former President Bill Clinton and another 10 months under Bush - as an expert on climate change and the environment. "A lot of us were hearing about problems in the particular area where we are experts," Bierbaum said. "What (the UCS) decided to do was get all of us together and talk about whether we really did think this was more systematic and pervasive than before." The attendees, she said, concluded that the answer was "Yes." See DEAN, Page 7 President Bush has an exemplary record on national security. "He is the only one who is qualified (to be president). He took the nation through its darkest hour. He is the only one who can end terrorism." LSA freshman Erwin Burns also said keeping America safe from attack was his primary political concern. "Since terrorism is the biggest thing going on right now, I think defense," he said. Domestic issues such as gay marriage, reproductive rights, and education are also cause for concern to many University students. LSA senior Mahima Mahadevan said that she wants the presidential candidates to take firm stances on gay marriage. See CANDIDATES, Page 5 STORIES FROM BEHIND BARS Friend recounts inmate's strife Project aids incarcerated women in struggle to receive clemency By Ashley Dinges and Chloe Foster Daily Staff Reporters Paris Carriger spent 20 years of his life on death row in Arizona, convicted of armed robbery and murder. But within 48 hours of his scheduled execution, a federal circuit court granted Carriger's appeal and he was freed. Law and psychology Prof. Phoebe Ellsworth, a friend and supporter of Carriger, told his story yes- terday to the University community. In a lecture titled, "The Story of Paris Carriger," a brown bag luncheon sponsored by the Prisoner Creative Arts Program, she explained to the audience her relation- ship with Carriger. The lecture is part of a series of events sponsored by PCAP during March. PCAP is a University organiza- tion that allows prison inmates to express themselves artistically through workshops led by students. During his time on death row, Carriger contacted -nt__-Z.L r .F ttI ..--- 4;__ ...-A U 30s, his friend Robert Dunbar turned him in for rob- bing a jewelry store and killing the storeowner. Eventually, Carriger was convicted and given the death penalty. Due to poor representation, the jury was never aware that Dunbar, the state's star witness, had a reputation of committing crimes and lying to cover himself. In 1987, Dunbar was back in prison and believed to be near death. He confessed to a judge that he had lied about Carriger, but the judge disregarded him. Six months later, Dunbar found out he was not dying, and retracted his story. With several appeals turned down and Carriger's December 1995 execution date approaching, Ellsworth traveled to Arizona to meet him for the first time. Along with a psychiatrist, Ellsworth spoke on behalf of Carriger at his clemency hearing, in which the court sustained the execution one day before it was sched- uled, and said it must be re-tried on the grounds of poor representation by the state and likelihood of inno- cence. Women claim to have been unfjustly accused of nfc/mes commited in selfdefense By Melissa Benton and Kate Tomkie Daily Staff Reporters Eyes widened and jaws dropped last night at the haunting retellings of women who believe they have been unjustly incarcerated for self-defense crimes. Students gathered at the Michi- gan League to raise awareness and pro- vide a voice for imprisoned women through the Michigan Battered on behalf of prisoners requesting their release. "Clemency is not the same thing as being pardoned: It's not saying that you're innocent, just that you deserve your freedom," said Shuchman. Event leaders shocked and riveted their audience with personal accounts of women currently seeking clemency from the state. One woman, convinced to return home by her abusive husband, was later that night set on fire in her sleep. Still, she serves a life sentence for the murder of her husband. These women are rarely granted clemency. Lynn D'Orio, a criminal defense lawyer involved in current ME mommmUrIfflim"