NEWS The Michigan Daily - Monday, December 6, 2004 - 3A ON CAMPUS V' ' brings out men's voices against violence Students can run By Kelly McDermott hand out ribbons to students and Pavglaniti, an LSA senior, hopes for chairs of MSA Daily Staff Reporter encouraged other men to take a personal that events like these will help people pledge to end violence against women. realize that such violence is a serious commissions Students met on the Diag last night Men wearing the ribbon agreed to never issue. "The first step is admitting that t av ll h d i -- f all , - irn - d at n i fl- bN- th r ' b- W. l-tn A, -A 1 4 , t The Michigan Student Assembly is seeking students to run to be chairs of its 14 commissions, which include Academic Affairs, Voice your Vote, Minority Affairs and Women's Issues. An informational meeting will be held today at 8 p.m. in the MSA chambers on the 3rd floor of the Michigan Union, and elections will be tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Psychologist to explore importance of science in psych Psychologist Carol Tavris will lec- ture on the importance of scientific and critical thinking psychology at 4 p.m. today in room 1210 of the Chem- istry Building. Tavris has published two textbooks and two best-sellers titled "Anger: the Misunderstood Emotion" and "The Mismeasure of Woman: Why Women Are Not the Better Sex, the Inferior Sex, or the Opposite Sex." Jamaican poet to read and talk about her work Award-winning poet Lorna Goodi- son, who has written six volumes of poetry, will read and talk about her work at noon today in Rackham's Oster- man Common Room. University Choir to perform at Hill The University Choir will perform works by composers Felix Mendelssohn and Otorino Respighi today at 8 p.m. in Hill Auditorium. CRIME NOTES Sexual assault in Kerrytown reported to DPS A caller reported a sexual assault in the Kerrytown neighborhood to DPS. The victim was taken to the University Hospital Emergency Room. Suspected pot turns out to be cigar tobacco A substance alleged to be marijua- na was found in a parking lot at 900 Huron Street. The substance was actu- ally cigar tobacco. Obscene phone calls ring out on University campus Two obscene phone calls were report- ed Saturday and yesterday. Yesterday's originated in the area around the Uni- versity hospital. Saturday's was reported from Stockwell Residence Hall. There are no suspects in either case. THIS DAY In Daily History School for veterans opens at University Dec. 6, 1945 - Beacon Institute, the school for World War II veterans seek- ing positions in industry, was scheduled to open at the University Jan. 2. Co-founder Keith Haien said 40 veter- ans would be admitted in January and that the school's experience with the first group would determine the number accepted for future classes. Original plans had called for the admission of 50 students each month to begin a six-month course. Veterans enrolled in the program were expected to stay at Willow Run Village and be transported to the school, located near the Michigan Central station, by state-furnished buses. The program did not graduate any- one "we can't recommend to industry," Haien said. CORRECTIONS Please report any errors in the Daily to corrections@rmichigandaily. com. at a vig new in memory oz an women who have been victims of violence at the hands of men. The vigil last night marked the end of Ann Arbor's White Ribbon Campaign, sponsored by the organization Men Against Violence Against Women. The campaign began in 1991 as a response to the Montreal Massacre, in which a man shot and killed 14 women at the University of Montreal on Dec. 6, 1989. Today marks the 15th anniversary of that incident. The now-international campaign is held annually during the first week of December and raises aware- ness of the seriousness of violence against women. Nearly 25 percent of college women are subject to the violence of men, Coert Ambrosino, a member of the group, said last night during the vigil. "By taking part in the White Ribbon Campaign, we hope to change people's perception that men's violence against women is acceptable." During the vigil, MAVAW observed a moment of silence for women who have died as a result of violence. Some participants handed out candles to students and spoke in memory of three women associated with the University who had died as victims of men's violence. Last week, MAVAW distributed white ribbons and held events in order to raise awareness about men's violence against women. Almost 75 group members helped commit, conaone or remain siieni a out such violence. "If every man was to take a per- sonal pledge, we wouldn't have a problem," said Ambrosino, an LSA sophomore. This year's campaign was the most successful everc according to M ale part MAVAW. Over- . r all, 5,000 white 18 really i ribbons pinned to - t flyers were dis- the issu tributed to men violence a: and women alike passing through women... the Diag. Many, female students appreCiate took ribbons to give to their boy- men are w friends or other t men they knew, get inv( Ambrosino said. In addition to in this stri distributing rib- bons, the group - M held a poetry event on Wednes- day. During the poetry session, male students read pieces that related to violence against women. "It was a good way to express their feelings about how they felt about violence against women and violence in general," said Vincent Paviglianiti, an active supporter of the group. T .t . V 0 U m ere s a prowem that needs to b~e deari with," Paviglianiti said. LSA senior Megan Shuchman, one of few women present at the vigil, said she was pleased with the campaign "Male participation is really impor- tant in the issue of violence against . women," Shuch- icipation man said. "We appreciate that nportant men are willisg Le of to get involvel e Ofin this struggle. gainst MAVAW als, participates ir . We other events throughout the that year, includ ing "Take Back T11 ing the Night," a )vedmarch and rally "Femme Fair' iggle." and "V-day,. which is a global campaignagainst 4egan Shuchman violence against LSA senior women. "Change occurs with little things, Paviglianiti said. "We need to be aware of the issue. Violence against women is no joke." MAVAW will continue to spread its message through events like the White Ribbon Campaign. The group holds weekly meetings open to everyone on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the Michigan Union. LSA freshman Jesse Wallin hands out candles at a vigil held by Men Against Violence Against Women on the Diag yesterday. The group runs the White Ribbon campaign to combat violence. Asians more likely to have hepatitis B By Philip Svabik and Laura Van Hyfte For The Daily Up to 1.5 million Americans are afflicted with hepatitis B, according to The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University in California. But more than half of those infected are Asian Ameri- cans. Making the disease even more dan- gerous for Asian victims is that they rarely experience any symptoms, allow- ing hepatitis B to act as a silent killer, said Anna Lok, director of clinical hep- atology at the University. Transmitted through bodily fluids, hepatitis B isa virus that causes inflam- mation of the liver and over time can lead to liver failure and eventually death. For Asian Americans, the disease is an endemic health problem, mean- ing that it is typical for a group. Com- pared to the 0.3 percent of the general population who are infected, 15 percent of Asians incubate the disease. This makes Asian Americans the population at highest risk for acquiring the virus. Lok said the reason for this high rate is that many Asian Americans are born with hepatitis B. Other ethnic groups usually contract the virus when they are adults and engage in sexual activity, she added. For these groups, the infection is only acute, lasting less than six months. But since Asian Americans obtain the disease at birth, the infection can last for life, Lok said "Newborns have very weak immune systems, so when they are infected they have a 90 percent chance of progressing to chronic infection," she said. Once the disease becomes chronic and continues to remain active in the liver, the virus will slowly destroy liver cells for the remainder of the victim's life, Lok said. While the liver wilt regenerate cells, the organ cannot repair the damage in its entirety, leaving scars on the tissue. "Scar tissue causes resistance to blood flow and then causes even fur- ther problems. Then you don't have enough liver cells to do metabolism functions, to make proteins. Then you have all this scar tissue blocking blood flows," Lok said. Those with chronic infections since birth can expect to feel the culmina- tion of the scarring through symptoms of nausea and abdominal pains from the disease starting at 40 to 60 years of age, Lok said. By then, options for treatment can do little, she added. Cirrhosis, or severe damage to the liver cells, and liver cancer are the final result of the long-term deterioration. According to the World Health Orga- nization, 25 percent of those with the chronic infection die later from liver disease or liver cancer. But this endemic among Asian Americans is not something new. For thousands of years, hepatitis B has pervaded through the Asian continent, Lok said. With the large number of chronic infections dating back eons, the disease has become self-sustained among the Asian population, as par- ents with the chronic infection con- tinue transmitting the disease to their children. "We don't know what started it. Once it started, then you have almost a vicious cycle," she said. Those victims came to America, expanding the problem's geography, she added. Scientists have yet to understand the historical origins of the phenomenon. Yet Lok said the prevalence of the dis- ease might be connected to the different strains of hepatitis B, which show slight genetic variations from one another. Lok added that the different strains are often found in certain population groups, and the strains pertinent to Asian Ameri- cans may in some way cause andifferent human response to the disease. Since the development of hepatitis B vaccinations, the cycle may be on the verge of breaking as newborns in Ameri- ca are required to be vaccinated. With a hepatitis B immune globulin - a shot containing a high level of antibod- ies that can temporarily protect the child upon leaving the birth canal - and a sub- sequent vaccination, newborns have a 95 percent chance of avoiding the disease. Despite the vaccinations, many col- lege students are still at risk because newborn vaccinations only began in 1991, Lok said. Moreover, college campuses tend to be hotbeds for sexual transmitted dis- eases like hepatitis B, said Robert Ernst, associate director of clinical services at University Health Service. "Those also susceptible to hepatitis B are people who have had more than one sexual partner in six months, which is very important for students on college campuses," he said. Students looking to get tested for hepatitis B can schedule an appoint- ment with UHS. The cost for the test is included in student fees, but the cost for the vaccination ranges from $89.97 to $119.97. If afflicted with the virus, Lok said treatments such as medications are available that can suppress hepatitis B from doing further damage. To heighten awareness of the prev- alence of hepatitis B among Asian Americans, on Friday, fraternity Pi Alpha Phi sponsored an event tied to the Jade Ribbon Campaign, which aims to educate Asians on the dangers of the disease. Both Lok and Ernst spoke at the event, highlighting the gravity of the situation. LSA freshman Alex Ly, who attend- ed the event said, "The information was very surprising. I was glad I came here. I plan on getting tested." Lok said it's time for Asian Ameri- cans to end the negligence toward the disease and begin prevention. "The message we want to get out there is, like all medical conditions, early intervention and prevention is the best. If you know that you have a prob- lem, then you know how you can deal with that problem," she said. - Daily StaffReporter Michael Kan contributed to this article. Notable Numbers 1.5 Millions of people in the United States afflicted with hepatitis B. Percent of general population who have the disease Percent of Asian Americans who have the disease Cost for Hepatitis B vaccination Percent with chronic infection who die later from liver disease or liver cancer amom a dad a Santa 0 warnt a hanukkah a christmas a kwa nzaa graduation omy birthday State government ties up loose ends is,,1 D LANSING (AP) - State lawmakers are set to tackle everything from replac- ing the state standardized test for high school juniors to setting higher fees for manufactured home owners in an effort to wrap up their two-year session this week. The week will be a busy one for the House and Senate because both chambers plan to be done for the year on Thursday. Bills leftover after they adjourn have to be re-introduced next year when the 93rd Legislature begins its session. It will be especially hectic in the House, where voting likely will be held up for hours as many of the 39 represen- tatives who won't be returning for the upcoming session will give their fare- well remarks to their colleagues. Thirty-seven House members are leaving because they have served the maximum six years allowed in the House under term limits. Two - Dem- ocrat Jennifer Elkins of Lake and Matt Milosch of Lambertville - lost their re-election bids this fall. The House also has to make time to finish work on several key pieces of legislation before adjourning, includ- ing Senate-approved bills to replace the MEAP test with a version of a college entrance exam - likely the ACT and an ACT work skills exam. A House committee is scheduled to take up the five-bill package after the chamber's afternoon session today, but leaders may decide to move those bills without a hearing because time is running out to get them back to the Senate for its agreement to House changes. House Education Committee Chair- man Brian Palmer (R-Romeo) has emphasized that lawmakers need to sign off on a comprehensive package of leg- islation that not only makes the Michi- gan Educational Assessment Program test more attractive to lIth graders, but improves the system of administering the test, scoring it and getting results back to students. Last year, MEAP results were delayed by several months, with scores from tests taken in January and February not reaching schools until late August. Nearly 3,000 tests were lost. "If we do one little piece and don't look at the total, we may not be fixing the problem and we may be inadvertent- ly causing some other problems," Palm- er said. "We have to do it as a total." 1.5 GHz 15" PowerBook 512MB RAM 80GB Hard Drive DVD-R/CD-RW Airport Extreme Wireless Internet Card 3-year Apple Care Warranty $2338 1.33 GHz 12" PowerBook 256MB RAM 60GB Hard Drive DVD-ROM/CD-RW Airport Extreme Wireless Internet Card 3-year Apple Care Warranty $1588 40GB :10,000 songs $375 20GB: 5,000 songs $275 0 4GB :1,000 songs 5 colors to choose from $249 U-M Computer Showcase Michigan Union, ground level (734)647-2537 www.showcase.itcs.umich.edu/ wae ends pecembpr 22/s2004 www.apple.com/students s ±