One hundredfive years
of editorialfreedom
'U' Medical
Center ranked
*15th best in
nation
* Survey ranking is one
higher than last year
By Katie Wang
Daily s Edto
A survey conducted by U.S. News
nd World Report ranks the University
Medical Center as the 15th-best teach-
ing hospital in the nation out of one
hundred and twenty-six hospitals sur-
seyed. Last year, the Medical Center
was ranked 16th.
Dr. Max Wicha, director of the
University's Comprehensive Cancer
Center, said he was pleased with the
rating.
"In general, most of the people who
oted for these are on the East Coast"
Wicha said. "The fact that we rank in
the top 15 is a real tribute."
The Medical Center's cancer center
was rated as the 15th-best in the nation,
a large boost from last year's ranking of
40.
This boost reflects a decision made
by the center to emphasize cancer
(treatment and research)," Wicha said.
"We have brought in talented people to
*build up on our clinical program.'
The Johns Hopkins Hospital in
Baltimore, Md., received top honors.
ranking no.1, followed by the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Massachusetts General Hospital, UCLA
Medical Center and Duke University
Medical Center rounded out the top
five.
The University Medical Center was
he only hospital in the state recognized
for its overall excellence or for any
medical specialties.
The ratings are based on the reputa-
tion among board-certified physicians,
rating on specialties, the ratio of regis-
tered nurses to beds and the amount of
high-tech equipment.
The University received special
recognition for its geriatrics, urology
and neurology specialties.
The Medical Center has maintained
its standard of high quality, despite
undergoing a series of transitions,
including large budget cuts and drastic
reductions in its work force. In May,
about 200 Medical Center employees
lost their jobs.
Margo Schneidman, Medical Center
spokesperson, said she does not think
See HOSPITAL, Page 8
Ie £tidiin &dlg
Wednesday
August 7, 1996
'U' seeking
doctors for
By Jennifer Harvey
Di~uj \1Iana in; 's Ed[itor
At least two national leaders in acad-
emic medicine are being considered by
the University for the presidential post
vacated by James Duderstadt on June
30.
Two medical doctors, E. James
Potchen and M. David Low, have been
approached by the University regarding
the presidency, The Michigan Daily dis-
covered in an independent poll.
Pochen is the chair of radiology at
Michigan State University. Low is the
president of the University of Texas
Health Science Center in Houston,
Texas.
"People have discussed (the
University presidency) with me,"
Potchen said in an interview with The
Michigan Daily. "I've had discussions
with people party
to the process."
Law School
Dean Jeffrey
Lehman, who
chairs the presi-
dential search
advisory commit-
tee (PSAC). said
he would neithe
confirm nor deny Lehman
the validity of any reports or specula-
tion about presidential candidates.
Potchen said he had been asked by
several individuals to submit his cur-
riculum vitae to PSAC. "I understand
my c.v. has gone forward to the search
committee," Potchen said.
Potchen obtained a bachelors of sci-
ence degree from Michigan State
See SEARCH, Page 2
JONATHAN LURIE/Daily
Tearing down the house
Construction workers began demolishing the former Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity
house on South State Street on Aug. 1. The space is being cleared by the
University to make a 60-space faculty and staff parking lot.
u rises expecte at
Republican7Convention
Primary elections set
November ballots
By Katie Wang
Dail News Editor N D
Many surpris- OLD
es are expected at PARTY
next week's
N a t i o n a l
Convention in
San Diego,
Calif., including C
an answer to the -
mystery surrounding presidential hope-
ful Bob Dole's choice for a running
mate. Dole has indicated he will
announce his choice this Saturday.
The convention, which lasts Aug. 12
15, will officially 5
mark the beginning
of the presidential
campaign season.
The Democrats
will stage their
convention in
Chicago, Ill., later
this month.
For several -
months now, Dole Engler
has trailed
President Clinton
in media-conducted polls by as many
as 20 points. The latest USA
See CONVENTION, Page 8
By Laurie Mayk
Daily Editor in Chief
State and national house candidates
from Ann Arbor didn't have much to
worry about as they waited for primary
election results to roll in last night.
Democratic and republican candidates
for state and U.S. representative had no
challengers in their primary elections.
Instead, they could relax in the
warmth of the primary and prepare for
the heat of November's election.
"We won! We like to think we won,"
said Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor).
Rivers will be facing Ann Arbor
businessman and former CEO and
president of University Microfilms Joe
Fitzsimmons in the final election.
Candidates in the republican U.S.
Senate primary, however, were biting a
few more nails. Grosse Pointe business-
man Jim Nicholson and former talk
show host and veteran candidate Ronna
Romney ran neck-and-neck in the polls
for hours last night, with raw vote totals
sometimes reported as close as three
votes apart. By midnight though
Nicholson conceded to Romney, who
will square off with Sen. Carl Levin (D-
Mi.).
While first-time candidates, like
Fitzsimmons, appeal to voters for fresh
ideas and changes, incumbents say they
understand the needs and special char-
acteristics of their constituency.
"The thirteenth district is always
interested in the people who run as indi-
viduals," Rivers said. Ann Arbor voters
pay special attention to the ethics and
personalities of .the candidates, she
said. Risers also said voters in her dis-
trict are "notorious ticket splitters,
such as in the 1994 gubernatorial elec-
See PRIMARIES, Page 2
IN THIS WEEK'S
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'Kansas City' extravaganza
disappoints.
S1PORTS
Former 'M' swimmer Dolan
to appear on Wheaties box.