Page 2-The Michigan Daily-Friday, July 21,1989 Strike Continued from Page 1 nurses can work elsewhere for the same money, but in less stressful environments. Also,the constant in- flux of new, untrained staff adds to the responsibilities of the senior nursing staff. Most nurses said they want the administration to hire more nursing staff, decrease the amount of manda- tory overtime expected from them, and improve staff retention rates by offering more benefits. According to Lesley Shafer, RN, who picketed the hospital's main en- trance on Wednesday, some University Hospital units are staffed solely on an 'on-call' basis. This means that nurses who have already worked an eight, ten, or twelve-hour shift can end up working mandatory overtime shifts of 8 to 12 hours more. "How can you make good de- cisions when you're that tired?" asked Shafer. On Wednesday afternoon, the hospitals were operating at 41 per- cent capacity with only 364 of the 886 available beds occupied, and 12 of the 54 patient care units closed. Patients have been discharged, trans- ferred to other area hospitals, or con- solidated into the 42 units remaining in operation. Admissions have ceased, and ambulances are being directed to other hospitals. St. Joseph's Hospital is now full, and some patients are being transferred to hospitals in Ohio. The hospitals are making daily assessments to deter- mine the number of inpatients they are able to serve. All elective surgeries have been cancelled, and other surgeries have been delayed, said Marszalek- Gaucher. Should an organ become available to one of the three patients waiting for liver transplants, Marszalek-Gaucher said, "we would have to assess our ability to do that transplant." "We're not closed, but we're try- ing to keep the volume down.The emergency room is open, but we're trying to turn away cases when pos- sible, unless the patient is so criti- cally ill that there is reason to be- lieve they won't survive the ride," said UMH Public Relations Department representative Toni Shears. So far between 300 and 500 RN's have picketed at six sites around the medical complex, including the main entrance, the loading dock, and the emergency department. Kirkpatrick said he hopes that the large picket lines will encourage more UMPNC members to show their support as they realize that the strike is under- way. In addition to picketing by nurses, hospital housekeeping staff represented by the American Federation of Service and Maintenance Employees and UMH Security staff are also picketing the hospital's main entrance in a show of support for the nurses, and for in- formational purposes. Federal Express has reduced its services to the University Hospitals to one pick-up per day. The University Hospital Administration is asking all staff not on strike to volunteer for extra du- ties. Staff sleeping arrangements have been made, nurses have been hired from temporary agencies, and non-striking UMPNC members are being bused across picket lines every half hour from an off-site parking area. Hospital administrators are try- ing to limit the presence of newspa- per and television reporters by ask- ing employees to present their ID badges at hospital entrances. Only 270 of the 493 nurses scheduled for shifts Wednesday morning reported to work. Marszalek-Gaucher estimated that about half of those who came in were RN's who had decided not to participate in the strike. "We've done everything within our power to get our nurses back at work. Now we have to figure out how we're going to gear-up again. Many people are waiting for admis- sion,"said Marszalek-Gaucher. "I fer- vently hope [the strike] won't last long." A nursing strike has occurred only once before in the 120-year his- tory of University Hospitals, when the UMPNC went on strike for 23 days in April of 1981. CORRECTION The Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center does not endorse the Coalition to Boycott Domino's Pizza. This was reported incorrectly in last week's Daily. PASS IT AROUND! 0ovocay "Bright" n9eg na$ News briefs Physicists meet at 'U' BY ALEX MAWS Over 200 physicists, electrical engineers and materials scientists from 20 countries attended the fourth International Conference on Modulated Semiconductor Structures this week at the University. The latest advances in artificial semiconductor structures and ultrasmall electronic devices are among the topics being discussed at the conference which ends today. Tremendous advances have been made in recent years in the field of semiconductors which are used as the key components to almost all electronic devices including computer hardware, industrial and military equipment, and consumer electronics. "We are now able to reduce the size of a semiconductor to that of about 10 atoms," said Roberto Merlin,prof.of physics and chair organizer of the conference. This technology will allow for the development of smaller electronic devices which will be able to process information faster. Semiconductors will serve as a crucial link in leading us into the "information age" of the 21st century, said George Wright, a participant in the conference. Speaking at the conference was Leo Esaki, a Nobel Prize winner, who has been instrumental in the semiconductor field. "The conference is important to bridge the interdisciplinary gap between the different fields involved in basic semiconductor research," he said. Exposing Contragate BY ROLLIE HUDSON Tony Avirgan, one of the investigative journalists responsible for the international revelations between the contras and drug sales, will speak Monday at 8:00 pm in the Wolverine Room of the Michigan Union. Avirgan was injured in the "La Penca bombing" press conferance in 1985 which eventually led to the implication of the CIA in the subsequent Iran-Contra Affair. An update on the Christic Institute's lawsuit against Contragate defendants will be the focus of Avirgan's speech. He will also analyze the connections between drugs, arms trafficking, and US foreign policy. The speech is being sponsored by the Latin American Solidarity Committee. Dental School dean nominated BY TARANEH SHAFII Yesterday afternoon the University's Board of Regents approved the nomination of Bernard Machen, former president of the American Association of Dental Schools, as dean of the University's School of Dentistry. Machen will replace two-year Interim Dean William Kotowicz this fall. Machen has been with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for 14 years and is currently the associate dean of the School of Dentistry. The Michigan Daily (ISSN0745-967) is published once aweekduring the spring and summer terms by students at the UniversityoftMichigan. Subscription rates: for spring and summerl(2 semesters) $6.00 in-town ands$8.00 out-of-town, prepaid. The Michigan Daily is amemberof The Associated Press and thelStudent News Service. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109. PHONE NUMBERS: News (313) 764-552, Opinion 747-2814, Arts 763-0379, Sports 747-3336, Classified advertising 764-557, Display advertising 764-0554, Billing 764-0550 EITORAL STAFF: Edlen*-OAFF: Fran Obeid Managing Edtor BesyEs Opinion PageEditor L z Page Sports Editr Seve Blnder Photo Editor a lWood NwStudentEdilionEdir AlexGordon ArtsEditor MiedadPaFiser Executive Editor MgdCruz Nea Saw. Aaron Moordsh, Diane Cook, Ann Eveleh, Linda Ki, An Maurer, Us Plk, Michlle Rbidoux, Taraneh Sha, Vera Songwe, KdlyThayer, Cheryl Wnsm, WendyWorthen, DimaZalaSmo. opinntmhl:TanmAboed, Dave Ausk, Pam NadasenKabryn Savoie, Hilary Shadri. Kalyn Jhnson, LisaHaman. SportsfSt: k oelHeadTaylor Uncd. Arts Sta:Marisa Aaya, Sherril BennettJery Brown, BredtEdwards, Natai Engler, MiceFschor,Uam Ftaherty, Forwe0 Green i, Brian Jarinen,W is Pal, Ad Schneider, Mark ShamanTey Sber, Chd eSkarsane, Nabeel Zubed. Photo au' bSurSim,MAmhan. - BUSNESSSTAFF: BaleesnMmerw David Ednger FmahneMer Ji KaS AuhWatluineasMmngeR Spinak CpuerSyn Tm.Hais Sol" Mangr serehPele - DO laysSsl: Eric Carlyle, WendCa On oo er, Lisa HunterJefLemanRadeRaney, Nne Weis, Rodle Yowmg. 6 6 6 0 0 55p Can you read this: RABBIT ( 9a If sat,' yos'll learn to read Chinese characters by playing a computer lane called 'luck or labbit' over the weekend. baic scriptsto l~earens620o-th Cpit o vnueLnsin, Mfichgan 40906 (1) Th Alpht of 5the Wst (duckse) which you hbo:517 372-460 5,:517 372-9595 alreadykow; and 121 The Ideograph of theSEa t(rabbis) whih rh P ee Flash51~Crd, gF5b= -~n fr IL lheiD Nk-o-hbttoi a wiltei ac 5toplay a PeasePint gme with Cbinese Cmpter FlashCod. The Flohrbods ilo .MsA . help yofiure ouandremeberlh batul SCinse Address: idgaphs, b acaion ith tbhIe E isk alphbe. --. The PXFlshars r bsed cn the pincipl s f Pinxxie hck Ose Sox (puwwce,,aS ~-cby, abbevateld to X fr , 8$ .cSiq it1Chck or mosey 'ordr eclcced$995/et Pe-Ch phcIostcgrapbhc).The P-Ttr ,ohlps youread the, PasCcr, (Fo quantity dscount, pesecall or Cinese idogaphs, alphbclly!PII CiCaCrd: V11A, Now auce ,ote- th5ken eo ear Pit A fewplesant sek"dwith your Cinse,,Cmpter FIashC,,dOrat 0 4.95 wilivegS yu a x .=isaebec alaZ) e) ocacy piceessgit orle; _- . Lcqccae: Enlishb. No pirbeciedgeof Cin".required. (C) Cpyigb te89by Cinscmuterpc -Cawiljoac, krmorc,,111l1ePCorcompatible,, Snpin ce d,AS-Ill a56E Alltigts c Acerd Ann Arbor Civic Theatre MainStreet Productions Presents The S gn in Sidney I$rustein's i Wioow by Lorraine July 6, 7, 8, Hansberry 13, 14,15 Directed by and 20 21, & 22, Marvin Sims at80 .. I Performances at - For Ticket 103_S_.MainSt. Information Tickets $500 Call 662-7282 T-f -O 0 1 . ..