Whose best interest CRIME
Continued from page IA
NEWS
Thursday, October 12, 2006 - The Michigan Daily - 7A
is served when celebs
adopt from Africa
the Sexual Assault Prevention and
Counseling Center - last year.
There were two more rapes last
year than in 2004.
There were two more on-cam-
pus robberies in 2004 than last
year, five more cases of arson,
three more motor vehicle thefts
and 14 more drug law violations.
Aggravated assault has gone
down from 16 cases in 2004 to 12
cases last year.
The total number of larcenies
has increased during the past three
years to 1,244, up 23 percent from
last year.
Burglaries have more than dou-
bled since 2004. The hike is likely
due to only a few perpetrators com-
mitting multiple crimes, DPS said.
"Two pairs of people have
been identified as suspects
in upwards of 20 burglaries,"
Brown said.
JOHANNESBURG,SouthAfrica
(AP) - Reports that Madonna may
have adopted a Malawian child have
focused attention on foreign adop-
tions in Africa - and raised ques-
tions about whether it's in an African
child's best interest to be spirited
away to the wealthy West.
"Are celebrities doing it for the
right reasons and not to make a state-
ment?" asked Pam Wilson of the
Johannesburg Child Welfare Society.
Comments on talk radio across the
region have been even more pointed,
with callers accusing the pop-music
star of going on a "shopping expedi-
tion"
At this time, current legislation in
Malawi does not even allow forinter-
country adoptions. This would make
it illegal for Madonna to take home
a child from Malawi, although there
are rumors that restrictions were to
be waived for her.
The adoption of children from
poorer nations - Cambodia, Ethio-
pia, Romania - by rich foreigners
has been happening for decades.
Angelina Jolie adopted her son,
Maddox, from Cambodia and her
daughter Zahara from Ethiopia. Mia
Farrow, now the mother of 14, began
adopting children from poor coun-
tries in 1973 with an orphan from the
Vietnam War.
Wilson said there would always
be a "demand" for children from
developing countries.
"There is a shortage of healthy
babies in the First World, particularly
now when there is no longer such a
stigma to being a single parent and
there are few babies in the system,"
she said.
Adoptions of orphans from abroad
have been increasing steadily in the
UnitedStates - tomore than 22,000
in 2004. Russia, China and Guate-
mala have been the main sources of
these children; only a few hundred
per year have come from Africa.
By 2010, the U.N. estimates, 18
million African children will have
lost a parent to AIDS. Already there
are more than 43 million orphans on
the world's poorest continent.
In Africa, orphans usually are
absorbed into extended families,
but AIDS has affected many of the
people who might have traditionally
provided support. So, many of those
millions who have lost parents to
AIDS or other causes are cared for
by orphanages - or find themselves
living on the streets.
While some may see a great need
being left unfilled, international
adoptions are not "an easy option;'
said Jackie Schoeman, executive
director of Cotlands, aSouth African
organization that cares for children
affected by HIV.
"For us, first prize is to place the
kids locally or even regionally. If the
only other option is for them to be
in a long-term institutional then we
would consider international adop-
tion."
Schoeman said there were
advantages to international adop-
tions. Recently one of the children
for whom her organization cares
was adopted by parents in the U.S.
and now can receive medical care
unavailable in South Africa.
However, Schoeman and others
are concerned about the long-term
effects of such a big move on a child,
particularly in the development of
cultural and individual identities.
"We don't really know enough
about what a black child growing
up in Finland is going to feel. I don't
think it would be an alien culture
because they would have grown up
exposed to it. But will they have felt
better staying at home?" she asked.
At the heart of the matter is the
motivation of people wanting to
adopt orphans from troubled coun-
tries, especially HIV-positive chil-
dren.
EXERCISE
Continued from page 1A
palsy. Their treatment of choice
isn't a drug or an operation, but
a simple machine feared by all
middle-aged couch potatoes: the
treadmill.
Twelve years ago, University
researchers Dale and Beverly
Ulrich started researching how
to get Down syndrome infants
to walk at earlier developmental
stages. After years of trials and
research, they've found a way
to teach Down syndrome babies
to walk almost as early as their
peers using tiny treadmills built
for infants.
"Long before these children
can walk, we try to train them by
holding and supporting them on
a treadmill," said Dale Ulrich,
who heads the Center for Motor
Behavior and Pediatric Disabili-
ties under the Division of Kinesi-
ology. His wife, Beverly, is dean
of kinesiology.
The treadmill pulls their legs
back, which stretches the leg
muscles and springs them for-
ward. These repetitions train the
babies' brains to stimulate move-
ment.
Their success with Down syn-
drome babies has turned their
research toward a new goal:
applying the same methods to
infants at risk for cerebral palsy.
The cerebral palsy infants
present a special challenge,
Dale Ulrich said, because their
high muscle tone causes their
legs to move spastically. Down
syndrome children have more
relaxed leg muscles.
A year and a half ago, the
Division of Kinesiology won a
five-year grant from the federal
Department of Education to con-
tinue this research. Since then,
researcher Rosa Angulo-Barro-
so, who works with the Ulrichs,
has been working on finding
ways to help children at risk for
cerebral palsy.
Right now, researchers are
trying to collect data by working
with at-risk infants between the
ages of six months and one year.
The research team separates
these infants into one of two
groups for a study that will fol-
low them until six months after
they start walking. The control
group receives no intervention,
and the experimental group has
mini-treadmills installed in their
homes.
For the experiment, each
child's parents support him on
the treadmill for an eight-minute
workout five days a week. The
research team then makes visits
to the homes once a month to
assess the infant's motor devel-
opment. Six months after the
babies can walk on their own,
their parents bring them to the
research lab for a final evalua-
tion.
"We use assessment batteries,
which are typically used in the
clinics by pediatricians," Angu-
lo-Barroso said. "We assess in
general, not only their progress
in walking, but also in their
motor and cognitive develop-
ment."
Researchers are looking not
only at the infants' progress in
walking, but also their other
motor skills and even mental
ability. Dale Ulrich explained
that being able to walk early
allows infants to explore their
environment sooner, which helps
their cognitive development.
Graduate students perform the
bulk of the assessment. Graduate
student Meghann Lloyd is one of
the research assistants who has
been working closely with the
Ulrichs and Angulo-Barroso for
the past few years. She describes
the work as a great learning
experience.
"We get to build a really inter-
esting relationship with the fam-
ilies and kids," Lloyd said. "That
is definitely one of the perks for
working in the family's home in
a longitudinal study. We become
a bit of a resource for some of the
parents, because they often have
questions for us."
Many undergraduate students
have also lent a hand in the
research. Lloyd estimates that 10
to 12 undergrads are working on
the project.
"(Undergrads) are there to
learn about research and help
us by assisting, but we make
an effort to make sure that they
all get a chance to go out to the
homes to see the families and
kids," Lloyd said. "Also, when
the infants come into the CCRB
research center, they get to see
them and their progress. They are
getting more than just numbers
on a page or pictures on a file."
Angulo-Barroso estimates that
the final results of the research
on cerebral palsy will become
public around 2008 or 2009.
"We have seen tremendous
amounts of success in our Down
syndrome infants," Dale Ulrich
said. "Our infants at risk for
cerebral palsy are taking a lot of
steps, but it is too early to tell."
IDEAS
Continued from page 1A
A mastadon fossil replicated by
Palentology Prof. Daniel Fisher
was displayed at another booth.
Fisher wants to sell the copies
to museums for display and data
analysis.
"This is a great event to raise
awareness about what is done
and get ideas by seeing what
other people are doing," Fisher
said of the fair.
Two booths introduced alter-
native power sources.
Michael Bernitsas and Kamal-
dev Raghavan may have discov-
ered a new water-based source.
Their invention uses ocean cur-
rents to produce electricity.
Engineering Prof. Levi
Thompson works with his team
to convert hydrogen into efficient,
non-polluting fuel.
More than 300 guests, half of
whom were faculty members and
researchers attended the confer-
ence. An assortment of appe-
tizers and drinks was set up for
guests as they mingled with the
scientists.
Marketing manager Mark
Maynard said the event was "like
a cocktail party where people
could wander around and discuss
research:'
The Office of Technology
Transfer, which is responsible for
marketing inventions by Univer-
sity researchers, sponsored the
convention.
"On average, one brilliant idea
comes out of research every day,"
Maynard said. "It is our office's
job to make sure that it comes out
in the world."
Amish school to be razed today RELIEF
Continued from page IA
NICKEL MINES, Pa. (AP) - The Amish school
where a gunman shot 10 girls last week, killing five of
them, is expected tobe demolished today, a fire depart-
ment official said.
"Tomorrow morning the school is going to be torn
down," Mike Hart, a spokesman for the Bart Fire Com-
pany, said late yesterday.
Hart said private contractors are scheduled to start
demolishing the school before dawn today and haul the
debris to a landfill, a process expected to take about
four hours. "There will be no burning," he said.
The West Nickel Mines Amish School has been
boarded up since Oct. 2, when gunman Charles Carl
Roberts IV stormed the one-room schoolhouse, releas-
ing 15 boys and four adults before tying up and shoot-
ing the 10 girls. Roberts, who had come armed with
a shotgun, rifle, handgun and a stun gun, then killed
himself.
The five wounded girls are all still believed to be
hospitalized. The hospitals are no longer providing any
information about the patients at the request of their
families. One of the hospitals, Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia, announced this week it would waive the
children's huge medical bills.
Hart had said previously that classes were expected
to resume this week at a makeshift schoolhouse in a
garage on an Amish farm in the Nickel Mines area.
Bill Kiger, executive director of Pennsylvania One
Call System Inc., a Pittsburgh company that processes
requests from excavators, builders and others for the
location of underground utilities, said his records show
the demolition will take place tomorrow.
SPRING BREAK 2007 Celebration
20th Anniversary w/ Sun Splash Tours.
Free trip on every 12 before Nov. 1.
Free Meals & Parties, Hottest Deals
Ever. Group Discounts on 6+. Hottest
Spring Break Destinations. Call
1800-426-7710.
www.sunsplashtours.com
SPRING BREAK W/STS to Jamaica,
Mexico, Bahamas & Florida. Sell
Trips, Earn Cash, Travel Free! Call for
group discounts. Info/Reservations
800-648-4849. www.ststravel.com
For Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006
ARIES
(March 21 to April 19)
This is a good day to sit down
with someone and discuss (in practical
terms) the best approach to a creative
project or how to work with children.
Romantic couples might also make seri-
01s plans.
TAURUS
(April 20 to May 20)
Not only do you have a lot of energy
today, you're also determined and
extremely persevering. You can accom-
plish a tremendous amount. Get down to
it!
GEMINI
(May 21lto June 20)
Your efforts to work with children will
be very successful today. Similarly, the
arts and creative projects will go
extremely well. You're tireless in going
after what you want.
CANCER
(Jane 211o July 22)
This is a great day to make repairs at
home. You're in the mood to work, and
you want long-term results for your
efforts. (Great!)
LEO
(July 23 to Aug. 22)
Sit down with someone today to make
long-range plans. You're very convinc-
ing because you believe what you're
saying. (A good product always sells
itself)
VIRGO
(Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)
Work hard to increase your earnings
now. This is also an excellent day for
business, commerce and all financial
transactions. You smell money!
LIBRA
(Sept. 23 to Oct. 22)
Any kind of physical activity will
please you today. Your endurance levels
are particularly high. You can work or
exercise for a loooong time.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)
You might have to work on behalf of
others today. You're working behind the
scenes as well. At some point taday,
you'll be selfless and put others ahead of
you.
SAGITTARIUS
(N'ov. 22 to Dec. 21)
Group sports will please you today.
Actually, any kind of group activity
(especially physical) will be satisfying.
You have a lot of determination and
strength today.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)
Others are extremely impressed with
you now. For one thing, you're working
hard. This does not go unnoticed. Keep it
up, because you might get a raise or a
promotion.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)
You can really plow through some dry
studying if you have to today. You have
the disciplined energy necessary to get
the job done. You're very focused.
PISCES
(Feb. 1910o March 20)
This is the day to tackle detailed, pre-
cision work that requires concentration
and focus. You'll have no trouble finish-
ing the task at hand. Insurance matters,
shared property, inheritances and debt
are good places to begin.
YOU BORN TODAY Everyone
knows that you're generous and big-
hearted. This is often why you're the
center of attention. You have a good
business sense. People enjoy your wit
and entertaining personality. You're def-
initely not afraid to indulge yourself!
Your flamboyance and flair for life are
memorable. You will have to make an
important decision this year. Do what's
best for you.
Birthdate of: Hugh Jackman, actor;
Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; Martie
Maguire, singer
native Lebanon swelled, Ayna
was stunned and appalled.
"I had two options," he said.
"Either weep and stay in shock,
or try to do something about it."
He spoke with Susan Wilson,
director of the Office of Stu-
dent Activities and Leadership,
who advised him to channel his
efforts through an official stu-
dent group. He contacted the
Lebanese Student Association
and began corresponding with
Jaber.
Jaber, who is also an edito-
rial cartoonist for The Michigan
Daily, said planning was diffi-
cult at first.
"There was nobody really on
campus. No vigils or support -
the things a solid campus com-
munity would do;" he said.
Mostly through e-mail, Ayna
and Jaber brainstormed and
coordinated fundraising strate-
gies and activities. When Ayna
left for Beirut and the fall semes-
ter began, Jaber and his group
started to carry out what the two
had planned.
So far the Lebanese group
has managed to raise more than
$1,000 by soliciting donations
from fellow students, friends
and family. They plan to contin-
ue and expand the drive, adding
T-shirt sales, club nights and a
Halloween dance.
Most of the money will go to
the Lebanese Red Cross. Sev-
eral other philanthropic groups
- like CHF International, a
nonprofit that provides youth
employment training and small-
business loans to impoverished
communities in the Middle East
- are still being considered for
smaller donations.
"We're looking to get the best
bang for our buck, the most repu-
table (organization)," Jaber said.
The group acknowledges that
many Middle Eastern charities
are facing intense scrutiny. With
reports of FBI raids on Muslim
relief groups hitting the news
regularly, soliciting money for
Lebanon can raise eyebrows that
a drive for Hurricane Katrina
victims would not.
"Everything is political over
there," said Rhana Natour, com-
munity chair for the Lebanese
group. "Some people may be
suspect - 'Oh, you want money
for this region or this region' -
they want to know that it's going
only to relief efforts."
This is not overly discourag-
ing, she said. "Ultimately, the
humanitarian interests are what
override anything."
Despite the intensity of Middle
Eastern political dialogue at the
University, Natour and Jaber say
the campus response has been
overwhelmingly positive. A few
vocal students have confronted
members of the Lebanese group
about their ideologies, Jaber
said, but it happens rarely.
In the end, he said, "We're
just a few students trying to see
if you have any change to help
someone build a house."
Across the border,
across the Diag
The American Movement for
Israel's program - known as the
Michigan Invest in Israel Initia-
tive, or Mi3 - began in April as
a response to campus activists
who were calling for the Univer-
sity to divest from Israel.
Mi3 is an attempt to show
more productive and sustainable
solutions for the region, board
member Tamara Livshiz said.
"(We) donate money to organi-
zationsthat promote co-existence
and demonstrate constructive and
productive change," she said.
Since this summer, AMI
has been working with Magen
David Adom - Israel's official
emergency aid society. Livshiz
volunteered with the society,
which functions as the state's
Red Cross, this past summer.
While helping run ambulances,
she witnessed the agency's com-
mitment to cross-cultural aid
firsthand. She was inspired to
help further.
"We chose Magen David
Adom because they serve and
employ all people, Jews and
Arabs alike," Livshiz said. "It
shows a certain unity among the
two peoples."
Mi3 has sponsored regular bar
nights, raffles and other events.
In November, they plan to bring
an ambulance to the Diag to help
raise money.
Though it is not a formal
member, Magen David Adom
is officially recognized by the
International Committee of the
Red Cross. It is also a member
of the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies, along with the Leba-
nese Red Cross.
The trouble with teamwork
Some see the similarities
between the Lebanese Stu-
dent Association and American
Movement for Israel's efforts as
an opening for cooperation.
"I think that there's a lot
of room for us to actually do
something together," Berman
said, "Especially if we're doing
almost the same charity."
Joint fundraising could
increase the ability to raise a
meaningful sum of money, Ber-
man said, as well as sending a
strong message of unity to the
University community.
Unfortunately, politics and
relief make quarrelsome bedfel-
lows. An embroilment of issues,
both abroad and on campus,
make discussion of dual efforts
difficult, and execution even
more so.
For the Lebanese group, a
major concern is staying with-
in the scope of their mission
statement and organizational
structure. Targeting money to
Lebanon makes sense, Jaber
said,-because going outside
of that country - to the Gaza
Strip or Northern Israel, for
instance - could detract from
their goal.
"We are the Lebanese Student
Association," he said. "It makes
sense to give back home."
The Lebanese group is not
political. As such, it focuses on
helping the Lebanese communi-
ty, rather than engaging in wider
regional debates.
The desire to avoid entangle-
ment in sensitive issues also
breeds a wariness for organiza-
tions with overt political under-
tones.
The politics of relief extend
beyond the University. On
August 27, U.S. Rep. Tom Lan-
tos (D-Calif.) asked that a $230-
million Lebanese aid package be
frozen on the grounds that the
Syrian border was too "porous,"
and that the funds could easily
end up in the hands of terror-
ists.
Berman said he has similar
concerns.
"The problem is, when you
give money, you never know
who you're giving it to," he said.
"I would gladly give 100 dollars
to a group that was legitimately
rebuilding a Lebanese person's
house without Hezbollah ties.
But I don't know how to find that
organization."
The solution, in Berman's
mind, starts on campus: in open-
ing dialogue between groups
with similar values, but poten-
tially conflicting politics.
"We're all students at Michi-
gan," he said. "We go to football
games and cheer for the same
team. We have more in common
than we think."
Berman believes a level of
personal familiarity and con-
fidence must be established
before politics can be discussed
seriously.
"I feel if I admit that Israel
isn't perfect, I make myself open
to a lot of attack. Before you
admit that, you need a level of
trust," he said.
For both sides, it will always
be difficult to discuss issues
surrounding this complex and
volatile part of the world with-
out getting tangled in politics.
But Berman said he believes
moving beyond the fundamen-
tal tensions would be worth-
while for at least one party: the
innocent casualties of the cross-
fire.
"We can sit and talk about the
war all day," he said, "That's not
going to build a house."
MODELS, PHOTOGRAPHERS
wanted. Find opportunities at the Mid-
west 'Spring Break' Models Search, see
www.JMBPromotions.com
INSTITUTE
OF MICHIGAN
Learn the Arabic Language
by qualified instructors.
Beginners & all levels,
tutortng tndividuals
& groups.
Tel. 734 330 4130
or ihamid@aol.com
going strongfor
one-hundred-fieen years
C 2006 King Features Syndicate, Inc