NEWS Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - The Michigan Daily - 3A ON CAMPUS You are invited to Mary Sue's house University President Mary Sue Coleman will hold an open house for students today from 3 to 5 p.m. at her house at 815 S. University Ave. Students will be provided with light refreshments. Singing group to hold auditions Kopitonez, the University's only Asian a cappella group, will hold auditions today from 6 to 8 p.m. in the basement of the Mod- ern Language Building. All stu- dents are welcome. Workshop to help students find time to work, play The Office of New Student Pro- grams will host a time manage- ment workshop today at 7 p.m. in the Maize and Blue rooms of the Student Activities Building. Students will learn strategies for effectively balancing their person- al, academic and extracurricular lives. Participants should bring a day planner to the event. Club to tackle deep questions over deep dish The Undergraduate Philosophy Club will hold a mass meeting today at 9 p.m. in room 2271 of Angell Hall. There will be a short informational session, followed by free pizza and philosophical dis- cussion. CRIME NOTES Campus police nab slumbering trespasser A man found sleeping in the exterior doorway of the School of Social Work Building was arrested for trespassing yesterday at about 4 a.m., the Department of Public Safety reported. The man was released but will be taken back into custody if police catch him again. Shirt stolen from League A shirt was stolen from the laun- dry area in the Michigan League, DPS reported. The theft occurred sometime during the weekend. Workers' dust triggers alarm The fire alarm went off in the Walgreen Drama Center at about 11 a.m. on Monday, DPS reported. The alarm was triggered by construction workers sweeping up dust. THIS DAY In 'U' History MSA reps accused of embezzlement Sept. 13, 1989 - The Michi- gan Student Assembly created a special committee last night to investigate a tip that one or more of its representatives embezzled assembly funds. The assembly is not releasing any details to avoid needlessly defaming representatives who may be involved in case the charg- es prove to be false. The new committee consists of five members. Law School Rep. Bruce Frank was selected as chair. Frank said the committee would meet over the weekend and decide how to proceed afterward. MSA President Aaron Wil- liams said he was informed of the allegations last night only hours before the meeting. Harvard puts early admissions to rest Experts say change could shake up elite college admissions BOSTON (AP) - With a $26-billion endowment and 370 years of history, Har- vard University says it can afford a gamble that could shake up the world of elite col- lege admissions. Harvard announced plans yesterday to drop its "early action" admissions round - and urged rivals to follow. Under early action, applicants get word by late fall if they've been accepted to a college, but can still apply elsewhere in the spring. Some other schools have "early decision," mean- ing accepted applicants cannot apply else- where. Harvard said such early admissions programs have two harmful effects: they may hurt schools' diversity because poor and minority students are less likely to use them, and they create anxiety for the typically more affluent applicants who take advantage of them. Nearly 23,000 people applied to Har- vard last year - including about 4,000 in the early round - but the move's broader significance is that it could persuade other elite universities to change their admissions policies. Many other prestigious colleges have acknowledged early admissions has become a strategy tool for the well-con- nected, and have tweaked their programs. But none have dropped them. If others follow Harvard's lead, it could noticeably change the college application experience of high-achieving students. Applicants would face less pressure to identify a first choice early in their senior year of high school - but would also lose the chance to put the process behind them. If other colleges don't follow Harvard, the school's dean of admissions William Fitzsimmons acknowledged it may soon abandon the experiment. Detroit teachers, district reach tentative deal Teachers' pay would increase 1 percent in two years, 2.5 percent in three DETROIT (AP) - A teachers strike that extended summer vaca- tion for 130,000 students moved toward an end yesterday as a union tentatively accepted a three-year contract with school officials who were seeking to close a $105 million budget deficit. The deal came shortly before dawn after marathon bargaining between Detroit Public Schools Superintendent William Coleman and Janna Garrison, president of the 9,500-member Detroit Federation of Teachers, in the offices of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick, Gov. Jennifer Gran- holm and Detroit religious leaders had been pushing both sides to come to terms that could end the 16-day strike. "I want to thank you on behalf of the kids;' Granholm told negotiators at a news conference called to cele- brate the deal. She called ita victory for "all those kids out there and their parents who have been waiting for their classes to start" "Our teachers love our students," Kilpatrick added. "Children - chil- dren always remained the primary goal for both sides" Kilpatrick said. Both sides said the contract involved painful sacrifices. The dis- trict initially sought a 5.5 percent pay cut over two years to help balance the district's $1.36 billion budget. The union sought a raise after years without one. In the end, they agreed on a one- year pay freeze,followed by increases of 1 percent the second and 2.5 per- cent the third. Veteran teachers also will start paying 10 percent of their health insurance costs, something that only those hired since 1992 did formerly. The union's "It's not executive board approved the deal contract during a midday meeting yester- a contra day. The union scheduled a mem- can live bership meeting for 9 a.m. this for - Vi a vote on whether to return to work Det whilearatification vote takes place. A yes vote could return teach- ers to their schools for preparation Wednesday afternoon, with classes starting Thursday, said union Presi- dent Janna Garrison. "Students, we'll see you in school,' said Garrison. "This is a great day for the city of Detroit;' Coleman said. "We have a great school year ahead of us." The strike began Aug. 28 on what was supposed to be the first of three days of preparation for the start of class, originally scheduled for Sept. 5. 4c t The district originally said it needed $88 million in concessions from the union, which represents 7,000 teachers and 2,500 counselors, social workers and other support per- sonnel. On Saturday, union bargainers rejected the district's revised offer with a 0.75 percent pay cut the first year and increases of 1 percent and 2.5 percent the second and third years. It also would have required teachers to pay a good part of their health insurance t, but it's costs. The agreement lct we followed Wayne County Circuit with." Judge Susan Bor- man order Friday that the strikers return to work troit teacher Monday, which most teachers ignored, and Gra- nholm's decision to name a Michigan Employment Relations Commission fact-finder to aid the talks. State law allows for fines or other kinds of discipline for employees who ignore a back-to-work order. Teachers appeared unenthused with the proposal but willing to live with it. "It's not a good contract, but it's a contract we can live with;' said teacher and union executive board member Vince Consiglio. "It's better than the alternative of people going to court." Bill requires girls to get vaccine for cervical cancer Vaccine stops some strains of sexually transmitted illness LANSING (AP) - Michigan girls entering the sixth grade next year would have to be vaccinated against cervical cancer under bills backed yesterday by a bipartisan group of female lawmakers. The legislation is the first of its kind in the United States, said state Sen. Beverly Hammerstrom, the lead sponsor. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June for use in girls as young as 9, up to age 26, and has been hailed as a breakthrough in cancer prevention. It prevents infections from some strains of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. A government advisory panel recommended that 11- and 12-year- old girls be routinely vaccinated against the virus but stopped short of recommending the vaccine be required by schools. The American Cancer Society estimates 9,700 women nationwide will be diagnosed with cervical can- cer in 2006, and 3,700 will die. "We believe we can save the lives of these girls" said Hammerstrom, (R-Temperance) who was joined at a news conference by many of the Senate's female legislators, both Republican and Democrat. Sixth grade is a good time to require the vaccine because students already have to receive tetanus and hepatitis immunizations by then, Hammerstrom said. Some conservatives around the country have expressed concern that schools would make the vac- cine a requirement for enrollment. They have argued that requiring the vaccine would infringe on par- ents' rights and send a message that underage sex is OK. But Hammerstrom said Michigan groups have not come out against the legislation for philosophical rea- sons. A bigger concern may be cost. The three-shot vaccination costs $360. Hammerstrom said most employer health plans in Michi- gan will cover the vaccine and said uninsured girls could be covered through the federal government's Vaccines for Children program. State legislators will urge Con- gress to provide more money to cover the vaccine for the uninsured, but will look at boosting state appro- priations if there is not extra federal funding, Hammerstrom said. 4 4 i