The Michigan Daily--Tuesday, July 13, 1982-Page 3 COMPLETION DATE MAY BE SET BACK Hospital strike ends in sixth week By BILL SPINDLE The six-week-long ironworkers strike at the University Replacement Hospital ended over the weekend, but not before causing a "significant" delay in construction timetables, according to hospital officials. Ironworkers reported for work yesterday morning for the first time since they went on strike June lover a contract dispute. HOSPITAL planner Marsha Bremer said the length of the strike will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to make up for lost time. "We know that a significant amount of time has passed. There is no way that it won't affect the final (completion) date," Bremer said. The project's completion date-set for the fall of 1985-could be pushed back from one to five weeks because of the strike, she said. BREMER SAID, however, that hospital officials were unsure what the total cost of the strike would be. The only costs to the University will be the result of construction delays, Bremer said, and other costs will be covered by contractors. The delay could start the new hospital out on a deficit, Bremer said, because money from patient care, which wiffbe used to help pay off construction debts, would not be coming in for the weeks the project was delayed. Ironworkers Local 25 and two other tradeunions- Operating Engineers Local 325 and Teamsters Local 247-Walked off the job in June when their contracts with Associated Contractors of Detroit expired. Although Operating Engineers and Teamsters ratified contracts nearly three weeks ago, Iron- workers refused all contract offers until this weekend. Bremer said it will take until tomorrow for con- struction to resume fully, adding that machinery and the site in general must be prepared before construc- tion of the steel girder frame can resume. Other parts of the construction, including work on the parking structure, roadwork, -and foundation laying, have stayed on schedule despite the strike, she said. Frye supports iterim program in Geography By GEORGE ADAMS Vice President for Academic Affairs Should the committee decide to con- Billy Frye said yesterday he will tinue the program, they would also "almost surely" accept a recommen- have to find a replacement for Kish, dation that an interim Program of who is scheduled to retire in 1983. Georgrapy be created for the 1982-83 Although the program outlined by academic year. Kish would allow students to concen- The recommendation, made by LSA trate in geography, Jacoby said the Dean Peter Steiner, suggests that Frye recommendation presented to the authorize "the interim program for Regents by Frye may lack this teaching and research in georgraphy" provision. She said the LSA submitted by former geography Prof. currimulum committee's decision will George Kish in June, according to Robin have an impact on the program's final JacQby, Frye's assistant. degree offerings. "I THINK it's fair to say there will be "THIS (THE program) is entirely some program in geography in the consistent with the thinking at the time coming year," Jacoby said. of the elimination of the geography The program, if accepted by the department," Jacoby said, adding Regents later this month, would be that the formation of the program does directed by Kish. not represent as administrative step Courses would be taught by eight back from the decision to cut the depar- tenured geography professors who tment. "The department was were relocated to other positions after the. eliminated. That did not mean there Regents voted to eliminate the depar- would not be instruction in tment last June. georgraphy," she said. The program would offer 29 courses Steiner declined comment on his (roughly nine any given term), down recommendation, saying only that it from the 82 courses offered in the 1980- was "cautiously positive" towards the 81 academic year. Kish proposal. "I AM FAVORABLY inclined toward Both Frye and Jacoby said the this recommendation," Frye said, ad- program would require minimal funds ding that it must now go to the LSA for operation: the plan submitted by curriculum committee for evaluation. Kish calls for a staff of eight professors, The program would be an academic one part-time secretary, possibly sup- year "test," according to Jacoby. plemented with work-study help. Steiner's recommendation asks that a Frye said he will evaluate the three or four-person advisory commit- recommendation and submit. his tee report to Frye and Steiner at the decision to the Regents at their July 22 academic yesr's end to decide whether and 23 meetings. the program should be continued. Bench warming day This woman enjoys the beautiful summer sunshine on her lunchbreak out- side the Federal Building. "Sehool reforms necessary, but will take time, educators say LANSING (UPI) - Top educators said yesterday Michigan's school aid formula must be overhauled, warned financially depressed districts that refors will nto come in time to help them during the coming year. State School Superintendent Phillip Runkel was joined by leaders of the Michigan Education Association, Michigan Federation of Teachrs, Michigan Association of School Boards and Michigan Association of School administrators at a news con- ference on the issue. The conference was held in connection with a day- long workshop in Lansing designed to get some 33 school districts off the state's "critical" list and on the road to financial recovery by helping them win voter approval for new milages. the list grew from 32 to 33 with the addition of Menominee. R UNKEL NOTED this marks the third year the of- ten-feuding groups, representing management and labor in the educational world, have come together to promote school tax issues.. He said the number of districts viewed at "critical" due to millage failures is about the same as last year. MEA Director Beverly Wolkow, however, said the state's largest teachers' union is "extremely displeased" by the fiscal state of eduction in Michigan. Ms. Wolkow said excessive reliance on the property tax as a means of funding education has created sharp distinctions between "the haves and the have nots" among Michigan's school districts. Wealthy districts are able to maintain a wide-ranging curriculum, while poorer ones are struggling to maintain a basic program, she said..