NEWS

The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 3A

. ON CAMPUS
Poets discuss
links between
poetry and history
Adam Zagajewski, a Polish poet
considered to be one of the finest of his
generation, will discuss his work with
.University faculty members and poet
Linda Gregerson today from 4 to 6 p.m.
in the Osterman Common Room of
Rackham Graduate School.
Zagajewski is known for his infusion
of poetry, ethics and history. The dis-
,cussion will focus on the links between
poetry, exile, history and imagination.
Huaren Asian
cultural show
6 kicks off
The annual Huaren cultural show,
which celebrates the cultures of
China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Sin-
gapore, will be held tonight at 8 p.m.
at the Power Center for the Perform-
ing Arts.
The sponsor, the Huaren Cultural
Association, invites numerous student
groups for participation in hopes of
increasing collaboration by the incorpo-
ration of diverse ideas.
'Other Huaren events this year will
tinclude the Minority Bone Marrow
Donor Drive and a dance workshop.
Tickets are $9 at the Michigan Union
Ticket office and $10 at the door.
Workshop teaches
how to maximize
use of Google
Learn how to get the most out of
Google in a workshop today from 3 to
4:30 p.m. at Harlan Hatcher Graduate
Library.
The free class, Google Unleashed,
will teach participants how to use the
more commonly unused tools of the
search engine, including Google Images
and Google University Search.
CRIME
NOTES
* Laptops stolen
-from Davidson Hall
A caller reported to the Depart-
ment of Public Safety Tuesday that
tWo students' luggage, containing
laptop computers and other items,
was stolen from room 2220 in David-
son Hall of the Business School.
Subject receives
unwanted online
messages
A DPS unit met with a Sexual Assault
Prevention and Awareness Center staff
member Tuesday who reported that she
had been receiving unwanted contacts

from a subject she met online. A report
has been filed.
THIS DAY
In Daily History
Medical staff
successfully moves
into new hospital
Feb. 17, 1986 - University Hospital
staff wheeled out more than 350 patients
on Feb. 14 in what was a successful
move to the newly-built hospital.
Originally planned for Jan. 5, the
move to the new hospital was post-
poned, as the hospital violated state fire
codes and failed to obtain proper certifi-
cation for its medical gas system.
"It was just a sea of people," said
'ally Sample, associate director of the
new hospital who observed the move.
Hospital staff said they were relieved
that during the move, none of the
patients suffered any health problems.
Lining the route to the new hospital,
enmergency aid stations designed to han-
dle any problems went unused.
"We were very fortunate," said Alla
Gains, a hospital administrative assis-
tant.

Congress strengthens indecency laws

WASHINGTON (AP) - Chafing over a
"wardrobe malfunction" and racy radio shock-
jock programs, the House overwhelmingly
passed a bill yesterday authorizing unprecedent-
ed fines for indecency.
Lawmakers sought to hit broadcasters where
it hurts - the pocketbook - in approving the
measure 389-38, rejecting criticism that the
penalties would stifle free speech and expres-
sion and further homogenize programming.
The bill would increase the maximum fine
from $32,500 to $500,000 for a company and
from $11,000 to $500,000 for an individual
entertainer.
"With passage of this legislation, I am con-
fident that broadcasters will think twice about
pushing the envelope," said Rep. Fred Upton,
(R-Mich.), chairman of the House telecommu-
nications panel and author of the bill. "Our kids
will be better off for it."
The White House said in a statement that it
strongly supports the legislation that "will make

broadcast television and radio more suitable for
family viewing."
A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate,
where it has broad bipartisan support. Sen. Ted Ste-
vens, (R-Alaska), chairman of the Commerce Com-
mittee, has said he wants to act on the bill quickly,
but he hasn't given a timetable.
Any differences in the two bills would have
to be resolved before it can go to President
Bush for his signature. Last year the two cham-
bers were unable to reach a compromise.
Opponents said they were concerned that
stiffer fines by the Federal Communications
Commission would lead to more self-censor-
ship by broadcasters and entertainers unclear
about the definition of "indecent."
They cited the example of several ABC
affiliates that did not air the World War 11
drama "Saving Private Ryan" last year because
of worries that violence and profanity would

"But the prurient Puritans of this house are not satisfied with free
choice and the free market.... they want the government to decide
what is or is not appropriate for the public to watch or listen to."
-Jerrold Nadler
Democratic Congressman from New York

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D-N.Y.), said chang-
ing the channel is the best way for families to
avoid racy programming.
"But the prurient Puritans of this House
are not satisfied with free choice and the free
market," Nadler said. "Instead, they want the
government to decide what is or is not appro-
priate for the public to watch or listen to."
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, chief execu-
tive officer of the Media Access Project, a
law firm that represents small broadcasters,

said some of his clients already are censoring
themselves because they cannot risk fines at
the current level.
National Association of Broadcasters spokes-
man Dennis Wharton said voluntary industry
initiatives are preferable to government regu-
lation in addressing programming issues. He
added that there is often more explicit content
on cable and satellite channels, which are not
subject to indecency fines but can be just as eas-
ily accessible to children.

lead to fines, even though
had aired on network TV.

the movie already

Pharmacies can
sell drugs by mail

Despite Senate
approval of the bill,
pharmacists say
legislation is flawed
LANSING (AP) - Local phar-
macies in Michigan hope to sell
and distribute prescription drugs by
mail, but they do not think legisla-
tion lifting the state's mail-order
ban goes far enough.
A bill approved yesterday in the
state Senate would let in-state phar-
macies fill prescriptions received
by mail.
Currently, those pharmacies can-
not use mail-order services because
they face a $5,000 fine for each vio-
lation.
Supporters say the bill, approved
31-5, would help pharmacies com-
pete as employers increasingly
nudge state employees, autoworkers
and retired teachers toward drugs
filled by large mail-order and Inter-
net pharmacies. It's a good first step
toward leveling the playing field,
they say.
"Whenever possible, I think the
state should be doing business with
Michigan-based companies," said
Sen. Virg Bernero, (D-Lansing), the
bill's sponsor. "It helps keep jobs
and economic activity right here at
home."
The bill, however, is not support-
ed by pharmacists like Fred Nelson,
who owns pharmacies in School-
craft, Three Rivers and Vicksburg.
Nelson said the legislation is
flawed because it does not allow
pharmacies to participate in cen-
tralized filling, where mail-order
and chain pharmacies use machines
to fill thousands of prescriptions
per day from a warehouse.

The process is becoming more
popular as the volume of prescrip-
tions soars, and mail-order compa-
nies can more efficiently fill large
numbers of prescriptions.
"It would let us partner with them
so they could ship the prescrip-
tions right back to the pharmacy,"
said Nelson, who noted he lost two
prescription orders to out-of-state
mail-order firms yesterday.
Greg Baran, director of govern-
mental affairs for the pharmacy
group, said lawmakers are mistaken
to think the bill would help existing
Michigan pharmacies.
"It does nothing to allow commu-
nity pharmacies to compete or par-
ticipate with any of the mail-order
programs," he said.
Baran said pharmacy benefit
managers, who administer pre-
scription drug plans for millions of
Americans, have their own mail-
order firms and try to lure local
pharmacists' customers away.
Three Democrats and two Repub-
licans voted against the bill. The
Democrats were Sens. Irma Clark-
Coleman, Hansen Clarke and Buzz
Thomas of Detroit.
"If the intent is to level the playing
field, we should level it," Thomas
said, explaining that many Detroi-
ters use neighborhood pharmacies.
The Republicans voting no were
Sens. Tom George of Kalamazoo
County's Texas Township and Shir-
ley Johnson of Royal Oak.
George said the bill might only
encourage existing, large mail-
order pharmacies to set up shop
rather than help smaller pharmacies
struggling to keep up.
Democratic Sens. Jim Barcia of
Bay City and Raymond Basham of
Taylor were absent and didn't vote.
The bill now heads to the House.



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