8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 11, 1998
Houses to
move for
parking lot
By Redcloud George
For the Daily
Chapters may be lost from Ann
Arbor's history books by the end of
May when three historically valuable
houses are removed to make way for a
new parking lot.
The University currently owns the
houses that are located at 916 Maiden
Lane and 919 and 925 Wall Street. The
need for additional parking stems from
renovations the University is sched-
uled to perform during the summers of
'98 and '99 to provide safe parking
facilities and prevent water damage to
the Cancer and Geriatric Centers and
the west end of University Hospital.
During the period of construction,
the University will need to compensate
by providing additional parking lots
near the Medical Center.
One of the new parking lots will be
constructed in the space currently
occupied by the three houses.
But Tom Stulberg, who is a mem-
ber of the Individual Historical
Properties Historical District Study
Committee, said these particular
houses have historical value and are
worth saving.
Stulberg's committee is attempt-
ing to preserve at least one of the
three houses, even though they are
not officially recognized as histori-
cally valuable. Stulberg said the
houses have "a lot of character left,
though they are run down."
Stulberg added that the houses,
though dilapidated, are links to Ann
Arbor's past. According to Stulberg, the
house that sits on 925 Wall Street was
acquired by George Jewett, the father of
the first African-American football
player at the University.
Stulberg said fortunately there is an
'Semester at Sea'
keeps studies afloat
This old house, at 919 Wall Street, will be moved to a new location in order to
accommodate the Increased need for parking near the University Medical Center.
opportunity for the University to build
on the property and still allow the
houses to be saved.
Stulberg said that by putting long I-
beams under the main structure of the
house, a crew can use large jacks to lift
the house and drive it to a new loca-
tion. He added that relocating the
houses to different places from where
they stand may detract from their
impact on the history of the neighbor-
hood, but the buildings that are moved
will not be demolished.
"My primary goal is to try (and)
save the structures," Stulberg said.
Fred Mayer, Assistant Director of
Capital Planning and University
Planner, said that the parking lot will
only exist as long as necessary.
Mayer said the University will even-
tually construct buildings for medical
research and treatment on the property
gained from moving the houses.
Removing the houses may benefit
students at the cost of losing pieces of
Ann Arbor's history.
"I do really think that if something
has historical value, it should be left
alone unless there is a good reason,"
said Meredith Ackerman, an LSA
sophomore.
Ackerman said she didn't fully
agree with the University's plans to use
the land for medical facilities.
LSA senior Todd Pinsky said the
University should make students the
priority.
"Personally, I feel that the school
needs to cater to the personal needs of
the students," Pinsky said. "One of the
students' needs is parking."
Stulberg said house owners sold the
properties knowing that the University
would build on that land.
"It's been pretty common knowl-
edge that the University wants to
develop this whole block," Stulberg
said.
Stulberg bid on 916 Maiden Lane
during an open house last Thursday.
His hope is that other interested parties
will bid on the remaining two houses
in order to "find some new homes for
the houses," Stulberg said.
"You lose that history when you lose
the building," Stulberg said.
By Cassie Frank
For the Daily
In 1835, the "Beagle" set sail with
a twenty-six year old naturalist
named Charles Darwin aboard and
the theory of evolution was born. In
1513, Ponce de Leon set out to find
the fountain of youth. Instead, he
found Florida. On September 10,
1998. as part of the "Semester at
Sea" program, the S.S. Universe
Explorer will depart Vancouver with
University students aboard. Who
knows what they'll discover?
"Semester at Sea" is a floating
university that travels the world
while contributing to students' learn-
ing experiences.
The program began with a vision.
A Hong Kong businessman, C.Y.
Tung, wanted to see ships used for
educational purposes. In 1963, his
dream became a reality when the
University of the Seven Seas was
founded at Chapman University in
California.
Unfortunately for Tung, the pro-
gram got off to a rocky start. The
group purchased the ship "Queen
Elizabeth I," only to have it go up in
flames in the Hong Kong harbor
before it ever left port.
Now, in its 35th year, the program
is having better luck. The S.S.
Universe Explorer departed this
spring for Venezuela, Brazil, South
Africa, Kenya, India, Vietnam,
Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan
Sith 600 students representing 200
colleges and universities.
One thing is clear - the un-sea-
worthy need not apply. Three months
at sea may require a little more than
Dramamine, participants said.
LSA senior Deborah Kolben
explained why she ruled out
"Semester at Sea" when considering
study abroad programs.
"I can't even go on the pirate ship
at Coney Island without feeling sea-
sick," Kolben said. "Besides, being
trapped on a ship with 500 strangers
-- no thanks!"
Although claustrophobia and nausea
are factors, those ailments are a priec
some students are willing to pay.
"Whenever I read the newspaper
now I feel so much more attached,"
said Graduate Molly Farabee, who
was aboard the Spring 1996 voyage.
"When we were in South Africa, it
was right after (Nelson) Mandela
had been elected," Farabee said.
"A friend of mine asked a woman
if she had ever met Mandela ... the
woman laughed, (and) then she said
oney, I haven't met him, I'v
talked with him, I've hugged him.
Everyone has met him.' It felt like
we were witnessing history."
While the focus of most study
abroad programs is cultural immer-
sion and language proficiency,
"Semester at Sea" takes a different
stance.
"The program takes it global com-
parative approach, with an emphasi
on the non-Western world," said Paun
Watson, director of enrollment man-
agement at the Institute for
Shipboard Education.
Watson said the main purpose of
the program is to examine the com-
mon issues which affect different
countries.
in addition to 600 students and 70
faculty, staff and family members,
50 non-student adults participate in
"Semester at Sea" through th
Continuing Education Program.
Watson called these seasoned trav-
elers, "an integral part of the ship-
board community ... who often con-
tribute through life experiences."
At a time when global is in and
national is out, "Semester at Sea" is a
study abroad experience with a focus
on the 21st century, Watson said.
Smoking may be in the genes
By Laura Lemire
For the Daily
Smokers may not deserve all the blame for their
habit. Recent research at the University finds some
people may be "born to smoke."
Ovide Pomerleau, a researcher at the Nicotine
Research Laboratory at the University Medical
School, found heavy smokers were much more
likely than non-smokers to say they experienced
pleasurable effects the first time they smoked,
leading them to believe that some people are pre-
disposed to be smokers.
"Practically everyone experiments with smok-
ing at some point, but only some become smok-
ers," Pomerleau said.
The study found 78 percent of heavy smokers
reported pleasurable effects, defined as a buzz or
relaxation, while only 27 percent of non-smokers
experienced such reactions.
Cara Monroe, an LSA Senior and smoker, remem-
bered the first time she lit up. "I was with a group of
friends at the time," Monroe said. "I felt a little
buzzed, but it helped to calmtrne down."
Monroe said that although it'would be difficult
for her to quit smoking today, it would have been
easy a few months ago. "Now I feel cranky and
nervous when I need a cigarette," Monroe said.
The research also found both smokers and non-
smokers experienced unpleasant effects their first
time trying cigarettes, in the form of either cough-
ing or nausea.
Adam Bradley, a Business junior and non-
smoker, recalled feeling "a little nauseous after the
first cigarette." He said although his initial
response to smoking did not stop him from light-
ing up again, lte now doesn't smoke if he is sober.
Participants in the University study filled out a
questionnaire to indicate their smoking history.
Some of the questions included, "How long can
you delay your first cigarette of the day?" and "Do
you smoke when you are sick?" Answers from
these questions showed dramatic differences in
behavior between smokers and non-smokers.
The study also reports 84 percent of smokers
were in a social setting when they first experiment-
ed with cigarettes, while only 64 percent of non-
smokers were socializing during their first puff.
One possible cause for this finding, Pomerleau
explained, is that smokers are more responsive to,
peer pressure. The social context of smoking is the
LSA first-year student Thuy Nai enjoys a puff of her favorite cigarettes at an Ann Arbor cafe yesterday. A
University study suggests smokers like Nai may be predisposed to smoke.
most complicated aspect of the research, he said. the nicotine addiction, Pomerleau said.
The presence of other drugs also plays an Pomerleau said finding out why some are pre-
important role in smoking behavior. disposed to smoke is the key to developing pre-
"Eighty percent of alcoholics are smokers," vention campaigns. "In the future sve hope it is
Pomerleau said: NumeroUs Vari ables affect smok- possible to identify people at risk of picotine
ing behavior, making it a chtaletnge to understand addiction," ie said.