Oue Ekbiiaukig
One hundred seven vears of'edi'nrkal reedom
News: 76-DAILY
Display: 764-0554
Cl a.ied 76 ,55
Monday
Group to
*ocus on
sciences
By Erin Holmes
Daily News Editor
University President Lee Bollinger
nounced last week the creation of the
Life Sciences Commission, which will
assess the status of life science programs
at the University and the potential for
new achievements in these studies.
"From the start, I've been saying that
building, enhancing and reinforcing the
life sciences is a significant goal,"
Bollinger said. "There has been so
much fresh discovery in this area by so
4any talented people"
The 19 faculty members appointed
to the commission represent several
life science departments at the
University, including biology, physics,
chemistry and pharmacy.
"My principle goal was to invest the
very best faculty," Bollinger said. "You
want the most talented - some of the
most talented - people."
University Provost Nancy Cantor
described the commission as "very
uch an independent group," which
ill work on its own and "touch
base" with other offices at the
University as plans develop.
"The things the commission is doing
will have an impact on a very broad
spectrum of things," Cantor said.
Bollinger said the appointment of the
commission is just the beginning of
See SCIENCES, Page 2
Baker leaves 'U' post behind
By Susan T. Port
Daily News Editor
After eight memorable years in Ann Arbor,
Associate Vice President for University
Relations Lisa Baker announced her resigna-
tion effective July 1.
University President Lee Bollinger said
Baker's decison was not unexpected.
"I have known for some time she was won-
dering what career path to take," Bollinger
said. "I filly understand and support her."
Baker said she needs to take a break from
her position at the University to spend more
time with her three-year-old daughter and her
husband.
"This is not something you do without a lot
of thought," Baker said. "It seemed like the
right time to do it."
Baker said the University holds many
meaningful and important memories, which
she will cherish for the rest of her life.
"It's a wonderful job. It's been a wonderful
experience," Baker said. "The University of
Michigan is such a great place to work."
As associate vice president for university rela-
tions since 1994, Baker acted as spokesperson for
the University and oversaw news and informa-
tions services in conjunction with presidential
and marketing communications.
Before coming to the University, Baker
spent 10 years working in Washington in gov-
ernment and media relations.
Baker's announcement follows the resigna-
tion of her immediate superior, Vice President
of University Relations Walt Harrison, who is
leaving the University to serve as the fifth
president of the University of Hartford.
Julie Peterson, director of news and infor-
mation, said she has worked closely with Baker
for a number of years.
"Lisa is great to work with," Peterson said. "I
See BAKER, Page 2
Brightd idas bud
for 'Find'oAr ' '
By Laura Lemire
For the Daily
Professors, artists, merchants,
architects and scientists from the
"Friends of Nichols Arboretum" pro-
gram took to the Arb last Friday
morningto generate ideas on building
a stronger relationship between the
environment and the local communi-
ty.
"We are trying to get people to
use the Arb," said Harry Morton,
director of the Arb. Morton stressed
the importance of representatives
from a variety of interests working
together to build the desired envi-
ronmentally conscious community.
"We are working to reach out to the
community by creating teams from ,,-
different disciplines," Morton said.
Before walking from the School of-
Public Health to the Arb, former U.S.
Poet Laureate Robert Hass encour-
aged the group of about 40 people to 7 -
brainstorm ideas for development of
the Arb by discussing the success of -
the national literary project he started,
"River of Words."
Hass developed the program to
foster a relationship between the arts
and the environment for students
ranging from kindergarten to high
school. The program will serve as a
model for the "Friends of Nichols ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daiiy
Arboretum." Two men canoe on the Huron River in the Nichols Arboretum yesterday. Friday, artists
See ARB, Page 2 and professors met in the Arb to discuss ways to promote attendance in the park.
Oklahoma!
ITD extends plan for the millennium
By Erin Holmes
Daily News Editor
In an effort to prepare the University's com-
puter systems for the year 2000, the Information
Technology Division has announced that its
"Planning for the Millennium" project will now
incorporate individual campus units.
The project stems from IBM's "Year 2000"
computing awareness seminars in the '70s and
'80s and has been underway for several years.
Jose-Marie Griffiths, the University's
chief information officer, said computer
date coding is the culprit behind the new
millennium's technology problem.
"Computers use different methods to store
dates," Griffiths said.
In the year 2000, she explained, computers
may become confused as to whether a "35" rep-
resents 1935 or 2035.
"This presents a problem," Griffiths said.
"According to the computer, University staff may
qualify for retirement before their start date."
Griffiths said the University Central
Computing System was the program's top pri-
ority since it encompasses payroll and student
registration.
"We started with the more critical problems,"
Griffiths said, adding that the CCS changes will
be completed by January 1999.
To enhance awareness of more individual-
ized University computing changes in the year
2000, the program has initiated a plan to have
all campus divisions submit assessments of
their potential computing problems.
"We know we have to do something, we
just have no idea what the problems are,"
Griffiths explained. "It would be hard to look
at each laptop on campus." Griffiths said the
unit assessment, due July 1, will help identify
similar problems among campus divisions.
Griffiths said various University departments
will be asked to compose action plans to accom-
modate common problems. Griffiths added that
projections of resources needed to achieve com-
pliance -the ability of computers to understand
year 2000 dates - will also be developed. The
plans will be due this September.
See MILLENIUM, Page 2
MATT MADILL/Daily
Michigan third baseman Pam Kosanke and the Wolverines
are bound for the World Series in Oklahoma. See Page 16.
1- IN I 1 1,01 NO i I I IN 1 ON I iillllmmmmllwlllll
N!EWS
University professorship pro-
motions emphasize teaching
ability. Page 3.
R TSSPORTS
Seinfeld finale disappoints The Michigan tennis teams fall
audience and does not live up short at the NCAA Regional
to hype. Page 9. Tournament. Page 16.
http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily