NEWS
The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 18, 2005 - 3A
ON CAMPUS
Women play pool
for free in Union
Pool Hall
The Michigan Union is hosting
Ladies Day today. From 11 a.m. to 11:30
p.m., ladies can play pool for free in the
Union Pool Hall.
Chemistry Prof to
speak on oxidation
Chemistry Prof. Vincent Pecoraro
will lecture today at 4 p.m. in the
Vandenberg Room of the Michigan
League. The topic of his Margaret and
Herman Sokol Faculty Lecture in the
* Sciences is "Shedding Light on Pho-
tosynthetic Water Oxidation." There
will be a reception in the Hussey room
after the lecture.
Free HIV testing
in LGBTA Office
The HIV/AIDS Resource Center
will offer free and anonymous HIV
testing at the Office of LGBT Affairs
in 3200 Michigan Union from 6 to 7
p.m. today. Call 800-578-2300 for
more information.
U Philharmonia
Orchestra to play
at Hill tonight
Andrew George will be conduct-
ing the University Philharmonia
Orchestra tonight at 8 p.m. in Hill
Auditorium. There will be pieces
from Glinka, Evan Chambers, Tubin
and Borodin.
CRIME
NOTES
Fire causes
extensive damage
in Chem Building
A fire was reported to the Depart-
ment of Public Safety Friday. The
reported fire was ignited in a gas
chromatograph pyrolysis inlet inter-
face at the Chemistry Building on
April 7, 2005. The fire was extin-
guished when it was discovered.
There is estimated property damage
at $10,000. The fire appeared to be
accidental in nature.
Subject injures
finger playing
basketball
A caller reported to DPS on Friday
a severe finger injury sustained while
playing basketball at the Central Cam-
pus Recreation Building. The subject
was transported to the University Hos-
pital Emergency Room.
THIS DAY
In Daily History
MI police dog
used in narcotics
investigation
April 18, 1969 - Police dogs
were used for the first time to search
for drugs in Michigan. The previ-
ous February, a woman returned to
Detroit Metro Airport from a trip
to California and went to claim
her suitcase. Detective Sgt. Frank
Van Wolfen of the Wayne County
Sheriff's Department and a German
Shepard named Bomber searched
arriving luggage after receiving a
. call from federal authorities in Cali-
fornia alerting the police about the
woman.
Bomber was the first dog to be
used in a narcotics investigation in
Michigan. The woman challenged
her arrest saying that the Fourth
Amendment protected her against
unreasonable search and seizure,
and that an animal cannot establish
probable cause. The County Sheriff
maintained that Bomber is simply
another investigatory tool the police
have at their disposal.
Women I obby for over-the-counter Plan B
By Julia F. Heming
Daily Staff Reporter
The debate over emergency contraception, a] ko n as the
morning after pill, has intensified lately as suppor er tothe di ug
are lobbying for it to obtain over-the-counter staus I he disus-
sion has prompted both moral and medical debaie (Yei th use
of the oral contraceptive that must be taken ithin 7 hours of
unprotected sex.
Nisha Gulati, a spokeswoman fort he Femin ist Majority
Foundation, said American women would greatly benefit from
increased access to emergency contraception because it would
decrease the number of unintended pregnancies. The FMF has
been campaigning for over-the-counter availablity of emergency
contraception since the Food and Drug Administration approved
the drug for prescription use in 1999.
"Emergency contraception is available without a dotor's pre-
scription in 26 countries - this is exactly what we're going for
here," Gulati said. She cited the availability of emergency con-
traception in France, which she said has the lowest number of
unintended pregnancies in the world.
LSA junior Ashwini Hardikar, a member of Students for
Choice, said emergency contraception should be readily available
for women. "In the case of a rape victim, it's so impor ant to have
the morning after pill," she said. "At least the rape victim won't
have to go through the extra pain of unwanted preognancy."
In May 2004, the FDA rejected the application1 ot oser-the-
counter status for Plan B, a specific brand of emergencN contra-
ception. While the FMF said this decision showed the power of
"anti-choice congressional pressure" on the FDA, the FDA said
the decision was a result of inadequate information on the effect
of the drug on women under the age of 16.
Plan B was resubmitted in July 2004 with a new clause that
required prescriptions for women under the age of 16 and pro-
vided over-the-counter access for older women. The FDA has yet
to make a decision on the proposal.
Meredith Hochman, a doctor at Planned Parenthood in Ann
Arbor, said she prescribes Plan B to women who have had unpro-
tected sex. She said she supports the movement for over-the-
counter status.
"There's a time sensitivity - having it available over the coun-
ter will really decrease the number of unintended pregnancies and
therefore decrease the number of abortions that are performed,"
she said. Plan B has been shown to reduce the chances of preg-
nancy by 89 percent if taken in the first 72 hours after intercourse,
Hochman said.
Gulati said emergency contraception has the potential to pre-
vent 800,000 unwanted pregnancies each year.
But others said they feel that changing the status of Plan B
would have negative consequences for public health. An article on
the website of Concerned Women for America, a national conser-
vative women's organization, states that the change to over-the-
counter status is not reasonable because of the lack of research on
the long-term effects and the effects of repeated usage.
Hochman said if a woman takes emergency contraception more
than once in her menstrual cycle, she may experience a problem
with her next cycle - including heavier menstruation or irregular
periods. She encouraged women to use nonemergency contracep-
tion to minimize the need for Plan B.
Hochman added that she would not advise women to use
Plan B as their only method of birth control, even if it were
available over-the-counter. "The cost of using emergency
contraceptive pills (would discourage them)," she said. "It's
expensive in comparison to what you'd pay if you got on some
form of birth control."
One dose of Plan B costs around $20 without insurance, while
one month of an inexpensive oral contraceptive costs around $30
without insurance.
The article from Concerned Women for America also cited
an increase in sexually transmitted diseases in countries where
emergency contraception is widely available. The number of
Chlamydia cases in the United Kingdom - where emergency
contraception is available without a prescription - rose by 3,000
in three years, according to the article.
Hardikar said the danger of increased cases of STDs is a result
of abstinence-only sex education, not increased access to Plan B.
"With a comprehensive sex education program, the ways to pre-
vent pregnancy would be taught along with barrier contraceptive
methods," she said. "It's important to educate people on both."
There is no definite date for the decision on over-the-counter
status for Plan B. President Bush's nominee for new FDA com-
missioner, Lester Crawford, was denied confirmation by Sens.
Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) because
Crawford would not provide a date for the Plan B decision.
The Senate can overrule this block of a confirmation with a
60-vote majority.
The FMF and its 166 affiliated groups are collecting petitions
to influence the FDA's decision.
Crystal Lander, the director of the FMF's Choices Campus
Leadership Program, stressed the importance of the campaign.
"It's absolutely essential (emergency contraception) is avail-
able and stocked at every pharmacy and campus health cente
across the nation," she said in a press release.
COOL CITIES
Continued from page 1A
is currently being designed. The project has the
benefit of adaptability - the software can be repro-
grammed at any time to change the display according
to the operator's wishes.
The other proposal was for three lounges in Ihe
Michigan Theater that would accommodates -
ing and screens for microcinema - low-bude i
films shot with digital cameras, edited on comput-
ers and distributed digitally. The lounges w ould
be located in the main lobby, the screening ro'im
lobby and the mezzanine.
Michigan Theater CEO Russell Collins proposed
that the films would play continuously while the
lounges were open. He said the theater may open ear-
Iir to make the lounges more available to customers,
wio would not have to pay to watch the films for at
V ast the first year of the program.
a service to the microcinema patrons, the the-
ater sould provide free wireless Internet, though
concerns were raised Friday that this would
attract more users than the theater could accommo-
dae -i mny of whom might only visit the theater to
Use the Inte net. Wireless Internet is currently offered
at 41st a few campus locations - including Espresso
Ra le, the Michigan Union and Rendezvous Cafe.
Uh films' audio would either be provided through
1h1i n speakers or wireless headphones.
Co %ins said the advanced technology involved in
miur cinema enhances the viewing experience. "The
ni e experience is remarkable" for high-definition
dirial hi-m, he said.
Collins also said the microcinema lounges would
provide an opportunity for local filmmakers to find
an audience for their work.
"The majority of the product would be produced
regionally," he said.
Collins said he was undeterred by worries that free
movies and the Internet might spur a flood of demand
and undermine the theater's revenue from films that
require paid admission.
"Dealing with excessive success is a problem I
hope I have to deal with," he said.,
The Cool Cities Taskforce, appointed by the Ann
Arbor City Council, will be submitting the two
proposals to the state at the end of next week. The
taskforce is applying for $200,000 in grant money to
cover the cost of both projects.
Art and Design lecturer Bill Burgard, who taught
the class that developed the soundfall, said the State
Street Area Association will go forward with the pub-
lic art regardless of whether the city receives a grant
for the project.
The taskforce is soliciting public feedback on the
proposals at elbaratta@comcast.net until the April
29 deadline for the submission of the grant applica-
tions. The state will announce the recipients of Cool
Cities grants on June 24.
The taskforce decided on the soundfall and
the microcinema lounges after considering about
14 proposals.
In the first year of the Cool Cities initiative,
Ann Arbor did not submit a grant proposal but
supported Ypsilanti's application for a $100,000
grant to expand the Riverside Arts Center, which
it received last June.
LGBT
Continued from page 1A
on campus - including a possible addi-
tion to the bylaws - explicitly called for
adding the phrase.
"The change in the bylaws would
provide a strong internal protection for
transgender people," said Law School
Prof. Bruce Frier, who chaired the task-
force. "This is a community (that) has
had trouble getting protection. They still
live in a certain state of fear."
Rassi said not adding the phrase cre-
ates the impression that the University
does not value transgender people.
"It tells people that they are not
approved of," he said. "It sends this
implicit message that, while some
people at the University may value you
for being yourself, the highest levels do
not. That's not a really a message they
should want to send."
Courant sent an e-mail to the entire
campus community on Feb. 23 notify-
ing it that "the University will interpret
and apply the prohibition against sex dis-
crimination in its equal opportunity and
nondiscrimination policies to include
discrimination based on gender identity
and gender expression."
Frier said that while the gesture was
appreciated, an e-mail is not a strong
enough signal that the University will not
stand for discrimination on the basis of
gender identity and expression.
"It's not going to be enough just to
have this e-mail message," he said.
During the public statements portion
of last month's regents' meeting, Frier
pleaded with the regents to consider the
effect of not taking action to add the
phrase. He said the lack of a statement
in the bylaws leaves transgender people
vulnerable to violence and could even
indirectly incite potential harassers to
take violent action against them.
"Those who would harass may
be emboldened by knowing that the
regents have not put this into the
bylaws, and they may view this as a
tacit approval of harassment and even
violence," Frier said.
The University's stance that "gender
identity and expression" is already cov-
ered is based on a 2004 6th U.S. Circuit
court case - Smith v. City of Salem
- that says "sex" encompasses "gender
identity and expression."
Gloria Hage, the lawyer in the Univer-
sity general counsel's office who worked
on determining the legal implications of
adding or not adding the phrase, refused
to comment on or explain the Universi-
ty's stance.
Frier said the interpretation that "gen-
der identity ;ad expression" is covered
under "sex" is unusual.
"I think ty were trying to create this
kind of i ;lusion that we were basically
going dcwn a pith that was already set,
but thlt's just baloney," Frier said. "We
can't just live in a universe where we give
words strange mea,,nings and then not tell
anyone a bot~ lit"
Frier suggstedadding "including
gender JIni sand expression" in paren-
theses to is aer the word "sex"
to clear h (n isiun.
TIhe '' he no' yet publicly
respun I all o add the phrase.
"It' e a rsot sue. Regent David
Bradon Is \r hori jsaid. referring
to the t _ a he a iversity administra-
tors Iia not hmu hi up a resolution
to the ierts ' chan y the bylaws. "It's
somethii; ! n htig' handled in the
(entra adu mum trout
Rosioer lam'r. ce president of stu-
dent a ir a v i of the other seven
iretent u a id t '''spond to phone messag-
es. Recant 'l it White (D-Ann Arbor)
re isedt 1 C iIomnt.
Specu ittt n over why the University
will not nnd the bylaws centers on
the ide' ti th regents, who affiliate as
either RxpVhI1ans or Democrats, do not
Wn at io ' tp ions in conflict with the
stances ) heir political parties.
V"sot u c oeted the bylaw change
weuk Ibe made because it is a basic civil
right, "fI'. rid. "We didn't think it
would h s.o politicized that it would
be iD emoera' s %ersus Republicans. We
thought 'i',hts bridged parties."
Cuiem 'ni h'nissed the idea that the
ioenis ar m tica fly motivated.
rir ad r' nilikely that the regents
nouM iiia the iddition down publicly
becan; I rs ii'Oer public relations
i iss ci m ici c d he political consid-
r.t it ,° i ' io ruental decisions.
"Y ha I seem to be at the point
where s can ' do anything just by estab-
lishing that it's the right thing to do," he
said. "You have to go through this song
and dance with the regents."
Frier added that the University's repu-
tation for being on the forefront of civil
rights is at risk.
"We're already behind the curve," he
said. "I was hoping that in this case we
could get back. By the time you get to
that kind of administration, everything
is political. You win some and you lose
some. We've lost this one."
Members of the transgender commu-
nity and others who support adding the
phrase have spoken during the public
comment portions of the February and
March regents' meetings.
Denise Brogan, a 49-year-old Law
student, has spoken at both meetings.
Brogan was born a man, but transitioned
from male to female 11 years ago. Since
then, she told the regents, she was fired
from three jobs because of her transgen-
der identity but was unable to fight back
legally. She said the phrase would reduce
similar instances for others.
At March's regents' meeting, the Wol-
verine Coalition for Human Rights - a
group started last February specifically
to support the movement to amend the
bylaws - presented the regents with
600 signatures of students, faculty and
administrators who support the change.
At Thursday's regents' meeting, they
plan to present about 200 more.
The Michigan Student Assembly
has also passed a resolution urging the
regents to amend the bylaws. Former
MSA secretary Brian Hull presented the
resolution at March's regents' meeting.
"With the sexual orientation part
we stand strong," Hull said at the
meeting, referring to the campus
homosexual community's support for
transgender people. "We share their
dream; they share our dream. We
will continue to fight for them. Every-
one here knows what happens when
a dream is deferred. It's not going to
sag. It's going to explode."
MAYOR
Continued from page 1A
deficit," Mardirosian said.
LSA senior Je'nai Talley, who
attended the meeting, voiced simi-
lar concerns.
"It's not that easy to get that much
money," she said.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's office
estimates Detroit's deficit at $300
million for the 2005 fiscal year.
LSA junior Riana Anderson, presi-
dent of the University chapter of the
NAACP, said rejuvenation of the city
is an important goal and that the
program would make the city more
attractive to families, but said fund-
ing the program would be difficult.
"I think that ... because (the Chil-
dren's Fund) will bring people back
into the schools, we will have even
more students to pay for, which will
lead to even more funding problems,"
Anderson said.
McPhail said she plans to fund the
program by reorganizing Detroit's
budgetary priorities.
"The money is there. It's what
we're spending it on that's the prob-
lem," McPhail said.
McPhail said that the city gave
the Compuware Corporation a 15-
year tax break and donated $18 mil-
lion worth of land for construction
to the company.
"That money could have gone
towards the program," McPhail said.
Another concern some students
raised was McPhail's apparent
emphasis on her personal'gripes with
the mayor's office rather than politi-
cal issues.
"I would have liked to hear her talk
more about the political issues, and
less about personal vendettas," Mard-
irosian said.
MOSES, the DP and the NAACP
hope to bring in the third and final
candidate, Mayor Kwame Kilpat-
rick, in the fall to complete their
speaker series.
I I
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