NEWS
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - 3A
* ON CAMPUS
MESA holds
festival to
benefit children
The Office of Multi-Ethnic Stu-
dent Affairs is hosting "O-Fest" on
the North Campus Diag today from
noon to 4 p.m. There will be pie-
throwing, root-beer pong and raf-
fles. Raffle items include a private
flight-tour over Ann Arbor, certifi-
cates to Caf6 Felix and comedy club
tickets. Raffle tickets are $3 or twoj
for $5, and the drawing will be held
at 4 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit the
children at Ozone House. Tickets
are also available by contacting
OfestRocksMyWorld@umich.edu.
U' orchestra
performs pieces
by Beethoven
The University Symphony Orches-
tra will be performing tonight at 8
p.m. at Hill Auditorium and will be
conducted by Kenneth Kiesler. The
orchestra will perform selections
from Beethoven and Mahler.
A capella group
to hold auditions
Auditions for 58 Greene, an a
cappella group, will be held today
and tomorrow from 5 to 11 p.m. in
the Michigan Room of the Michigan
Union. Walk-ins are welcome. For
more information, visit http://www.
umich.edu/~58greene.
CRIME
NOTES,
Panel discusses women in science fields
By Julia F. Heming
Daily Staff Reporter
Engineering Prof. Valeria Bertacco said it was
not until she entered the science field, that she
discovered the stigma surrounding women scien-
tists. She said she doesn't think the stereotypes are
meant with malice, but that it's hard to avoid the
conception that women can't accomplish as much
in physical sciences as men can. "(People) still
expect an old guy with a long beard to know the
most," she said.
Three months after Harvard University Presi-
dent Lawrence Summers sparked a national
debate with a comment on the innate differences
in abilities and preferences of women in sciences,
the Society of Women Engineers hosted a panel
discussion on the controversial remarks with three
University of Michigan professors of physical sci-
ences and engineering last night.
Physics Prof. Timothy McKay said Summers's
comments were not appropriate because he disre-
garded existing research done on gender issues in
the science fields. "For someone with that much
authority to speak publicly without understanding
the research behind it is disconcerting," he said.
The research on the subject includes a recent
study by Jacquelynne Eccles of the Institute of
Social Research, which followed 1,200 partici-
pants from childhood to 30 years of age. The study
found evidence for significant differences between
the two genders.
Eccles said she found women to be less interested
in engineering positions because they felt they would
be working individually instead of with others. She
said women have been seen to be more social than
men, as social disabilities are more prevalent in
men. Eccles said Asperger's Disorder - a variant
of autism in which those affected experience social
isolation - is much more common in men.
"There are more men who aren't interested in
working in social groups - there are brain differ-
ences between males and females," she said. "(But)
we don't know the extent to which those brain
differences contribute to the abilities of men and
women." But McKay said cultural influences are a
greater factor in dissuading women from entering
sciences than these inherent differences. "The cul-
tural expectation that people have for what kinds of
careers certain groups pursue has an effect on the
careers that those groups pursue," he said.
McKay said the differences in women's repre-
sentation in sciences in other countries is indicative
of the influence of cultural norms. Eccles agreed,
adding that there are more women than men in
engineering in India.
The professors at the event spoke about the bur-
dens placed on women in physical science fields.
While Summers said some women would not want
to work in the fields because of the large time com-
mitment, Bertacco said the homogenous environ-
ment is a greater factor. "It is difficult to work in an
environment where you are the only person who
stands out," she said.
The National Science Foundation's ADVANCE
program at the University works to promote women
in faculty positions in science and engineering. The
program has committees and advisors who work to
make the academic environment friendly for women.
Chemistry Prof. Mark Banaszak Holl said the
program has been beneficial for his department. "We
can identify (women) as great candidates, but we
can't make them come. We've been able to get them
here, and these resources have helped," he said.
Another factor Summers cited was the innate
preference differences between men and women,
who may have more interest in having a family.
The professors all spoke against this notion, saying
both men and women take time off of their careers
following the birth of a child in their families.
McKay said two men in his department have taken
advantage of this option.
"I don't see why I can't have a husband (and this
job)," Bertacco said. "Why would a man be able to
work 50 hours a week and a woman couldn't? Only
because your grandmother didn't."
Eccles's study found that the controlling fac-
tors in the low numbers of women in science and
engineering are a result of a lack of confidence at
a young age, brought about by both parents and
teachers. "Parents are more likely to attribute their
daughter's math achievement to hard work rather
than talent," she said. "When you tell a girl that
she's doing it because she's working hard, she
doesn't draw the same confidence."
The study also discussed the influence of the
classroom setting on young women, as physi-
cal science and engineering classes tend to focus
on competition with other students over overall
improvement.
Holl said it is important for all instructors to
look into this type of research. "We try to provide
enough differences in the learning approaches that
are offered in the class to appeal to all the different
learning types," he said.
Joe Serwach, a University spokesperson, said the
presence of women in these fields has been impor-
tant in scientific study at the University. "If any of
these women had not gone into science, all of these
things that they discovered would not have been
known. The University is trying to improve the cli-
mate so that we can have a more diverse workforce
and a more diverse student body," Serwach said.
McKay stressed the importance of not alienat-
ing women in these fields because of both the need
for diversity and simply raw numbers.
"Being a leader in science and technology in
the U.S. is essential - we need more than our fair
share of smart people. We need everyone who is
qualified to be working on it," he said.
Engineering sophomore Elizabeth Perez decided
to organize the event, she said, when Summers's
comments put a damper on her motivation. She said
she has seen the stereotypical attitudes that her male
peers hold while working on group projects.
"(They say), 'You do the write-up, we'll crunch
the numbers.' You wonder, is it my abilities that are
flawed?" she said.
"It's really uplifting to hear that the Michigan
faculty don't have the opinions that women don't
have the abilities to participate in these fields,"
Perez added.
Student injured
by vehicle
A subject was struck by a vehicle
Sunday while on her way to class,
the Department of Public Safety
reported. The driver of the vehicle
assisted the subject to her class, and
the victim sustained a minor injury
to her left ankle.
Woman assailed
by stranger
A woman was punched in the
face by a stranger as she walked
down the 400 block of South Fourth
Avenue at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday,
according to the Ann Arbor Police
Department.
wihe woman said she was walking
wiha friend when a man ran up,
punched her in the face and said,
"I got you." The woman said she
had never seen the man before, said
police. The woman was bleeding
from the mouth and was taken to the
University Hospital. There are cur-
rently no suspects.
Student robbed
on East U.
A University student living on the
800 block of East University Avenue
awoke to an intruder in his bedroom
early Saturday, the AAPD reported:
The student said the man ran out
after being confronted. According
to reports, a housemate returned 45
minutes later, at about 2:15 a.m.,
and noticed that several items were
DRUGS
Continued from page 1A
addiction psychiatrist and director of the
Chelsea-Ann Arbor Treatment Center.
Sufferers with ADHD are believed
to lack certain neurotransmitters -
chemicals released by brain cells that
influence the action of other brain cells
- in the frontal lobes of their brains.
This is the area of the brain closest to
the forehead with the most advanced
brain functions, responsible for coordi-
nating our actions and planning our next
moves while blocking out other impuls-
es we may have. Without it, the ability
to concentrate and block out impulsive
actions is impaired.
"You want to think of the brain
as several areas," Karam-Hage said.
"There are impulse-generating areas
and impulse-controlling areas. With
ADHD, the frontal lobe is not working
to inhibit other areas of the brain."
For narcoleptics, or people who fall
asleep uncontrollably, amphetamines
function the way other kinds of stimu-
lants do - they promote wakefulness.
For narcoleptics and healthy people, the
stimulants can cause the brain to pump
out much more of the neurotransmitter
dopamine in the frontal lobes, keeping a
person awake, alert and "wired."
According to the National Institutes
on Drug Abuse, common side effects
to these drugs are the jitters, feelings of
nervousness or paranoia, and anxiety
- an experience akin to drinking too
many cups of coffee.
Students who take Adderall or Dex-
edrine often report staying awake for
extended periods of time. They also
swear by the fact that the drugs impart a
heightened focus and ability to concen-
trate.
But in his opinion, Karam-Hage said,
"For the person (using these drugs) who
doesn't have ADHD, I think it is an illu-
sion that they are concentrating more."
In contrast, the consequences of these
drugs are well documented. The areas
of the brain that control pleasure and
addiction are loaded with dopamine.
"With Ritalin and amphetamines, you
run the risk of addiction if you're not
careful," Karam-Hage said. The Drug
Enforcement Agency has classified
amphetamine-based stimulants under
the Class II schedule, carrying restric-
tions on prescriptions and refills of the
medication.
A 2005 report in the journal Addic-
tion by Sean McCabe, acting direc-
tor of the University Substance Abuse
Research Center, surveyed illicit pre-
scription stimulant use at four-year
universities. At one college, up to 25
percent of respondents indicated that
they had abused stimulants during the
past year. It was also found that more
competitive universities had higher rates
of stimulant abuse.
The pharmaceutical community is
moving toward alternate treatment
options with drugs that control nor-
epinephrine, another neurotransmit-
ter found in the frontal lobe. Sold
under the brand names Wellbutrin
and Strattera, they are slower-act-
ing and lack the dopamine kick of
amphetamines. The epinephrine
drugs are less likely to be abused,
though they can take up to several
weeks to show an effect.
Karam-Hage believed that the
popular conception of using "study
drugs" to enhance academic perfor-
mance during the upcoming exam
period was still misplaced. "It's
not even the ethics - it's simply not
effective," the psychiatrist said. "So
you're shooting yourself, not in the
foot, but in the head, right?"
By Christina Hildreth
Daily Staff Reporter
By the end of the week, the multi-bil-
lion dollar corporation that is the Uni-
versity of Michigan is expected to have
a new executive officer.
University President Mary Sue
Coleman and University Regent
Rebecca McGowan's (D-Ann Arbor)
announced yesterday their nomination
of Sally Churchill for University vice
president and secretary. Coleman and
McGowan will present their recom-
mendation at Thursday's University
Board of Regents meeting.
While Churchill's approval as
executive officer would require a
majority vote, the board is expected
to confirm the nomination.
As vice president and secretary,
Churchill, who currently works for
the University as an attorney in the
Office of General Counsel, would
serve as the primary communicator
between the regents and Coleman,
as well as performing other duties.
The vice president and secretary,
McGowan said, is a position that
"is central to the board being able
to fulfill its role of corporate gover-
nance."
The decision was made after a
two-month search by a board sub-
committee.
McGowan said the applicant pool
included many "very experienced
people, largely from the University."
After reviewing all the applications
and completing a handful of inter-
views, the board's search committee
selected Churchill, a University alum.
"Certainly the subcommit-
tee and the president (agreed) that
Sally Churchill was our person,"
McGowan said.
The search came on the heels of
former Vice President and Secretary
New vice president to
be approved this week
Lisa Tedesco's resignation in Feb-
ruary. Tedesco had served as vice
president for seven years.
Tedesco, who taught in the Universi-
ty's School of Dentistry before serving
as vice president, will return to aca-
demics at the University of Columbia,
where she will pursue a fellowship,
said Carol Volker, an administrative
assistant in the Office of the Vice Pres-
ident who worked with Tedesco.
As an assistant general counsel,
she has represented the University
in a wide variety of cases, includ-
ing those involving various building
projects and environmental issues.
If confirmed as University vice presi-
dent and secretary, she could deal with
similar issues upon taking office May 1.
"(Churchill) works on so many of
the issues, many of which have enor-
mous financial implications that
come before the board," McGowan
said.
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THIS DAY
In Daily History
0 Administration
has no plans to
increase tuition
April 19, 1961 - University
administrators announced yesterday
they have no plans to recommend
the University Board of Regents
raise tuition, despite an expected
state budget that would appropriate
$6.6 million less than the $43.9-
million figure the University had
requested.
Help us introduce our two new dishes,
Angel Hair with Fresh Asparagus and
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offered only now w en asparagus is in season. You couldeat
b y free at odles Company for a year and wrin two roundtrip
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o if you're incredib ly fresh and wholesome, or just look good
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A - - II. . a -.