Tuesday, May 4, 1999 - The Michigan Daily 3
Seniors
reflect
on years
at'U'
By Nika Schulte
Daily News Editor
Despite wearing a cap and gown
and carrying a commencement pro-
gram which included his name,
LSA graduate Mike Guest said it
was hard to imagine that he had
completed his undergraduate years
at the University.
"It doesn't really feel any differ-
ent," Guest said. "I don't think it
will hit me until I leave Ann Arbor."
Guest was just one of the more
than 3,600 graduates who celebrated
their accomplishment Saturday at
Michigan Stadium on the sunny,
cloudless day that University
President Lee Bollinger jokingly
described as "probably the most
beautiful day of the century."
During his address, Bollinger
reminded students to not only appre-
ciate the value of self-deception in
order to achieve accomplishments
but also to appreciate the virtue of
laziness.
"We hope and assume this has
been part of your educational expe-
rience," Bollinger said, adding that
such freedom in students' lives has
been preparation for the busyness of
life ahead.
The student speaker, LSA graduate
Janet Adamy, also told students to
DANA UNA"E/"a
A University graduate celebrates at spring commencement held Saturday at
Michigan Stadium where about 3,600 undergraduate students were
rely on out-of-the-classroom experi-
ences, such as celebrating football
victories, sympathizing with others
over difficult examinations and
embarking on pizza runs at 2 a.m.
Adamy explained that in the real
world, much can be gained if gradu-
ates continue to "embrace strangers
as you did in the Big House" or
"look to support from others as you
did after econ exams."
Keynote speaker Kofi Annan, sec-
retary-general of the United
Nations, also reinforced the notion
of helping others during his address.
Annati reminded students that it is
their obligation to support and
accept others.
"Tolerance is not only the respon-
sibility of an institution, responsibil-
ity falls on each and every one of
us," Annan said.
During the end of the ceremony,
graduates displayed their excitement
by doing a "wave" during the clos-
ing remarks of Alumni Association
President Calvin Tobin. Instead of
viewing the "wave" as a sign of dis-
respect, Tobin expressed his appre-
ciation of the action.
"What you just did is a great
thing," Tobin said, explaining that he
had been a cheerleader during his
time at Michigan.
Linda Permut of Huntington
Woods, Mich., who attended the cer-
emony to celebrate her son Ben's
graduation said she was delighted
by the ceremony. "The weather and
speeches were great," Permut said.
Permut said one of the best high-
lights was that she was able to spot
her son among the sea of black caps
and gowns.
"We even got a photo," she said.
LSA graduate Jenny Geyer said
she was very excited about the day.
Geyer said although it marked an
end to her memories at Michigan,
there are many more to be made.
"It's just the beginning," Geyer
said.
Unidentified
hacker threatens
password safet
By Jason Stoffer he is concerned about computing
Daily Staff Reporter security because it does not take
A computer hacker broke into the sophisticated computing knowledge
University's computing network early to gain access to user passwords.
last week, stealing the passwords of "If I were a hacker, I'd just go to a
more than 1,500 University students computing center and watch fingers
and sending the information to hack- move" Chan said. "I eliminate a lot
ers around the world. of worry because I don't go to
Information Technology Division ResComp.
officials have determined that the "I just dial into telnet from home"
hacker breached the system by Chan said.
obtaining a user name and password. While last week's security breach
The hacker then used them to install was especially severe, hackers target
an electronic intrusion tool into the ITD systems regularly, said Kathleen
computing system. Young, a technologist in the office of
Director of the Office of Policy the CIO. She said ITD continuously
Development and runs cam-
Education for the i bpaignsto
Chief In formation o p r om ot e
Office Virginia do is change your awareness
Rezmierski said of account
reports were filed with password often." security.
the Department of " T h e
Public Safety and the -- Kathleen Young best thing
Federal Bureau of Technologist in the office of the to do is
Investigation and that Chief Information Officer c h a n g e
the hacker has not been your pass-
identified. w o r d
University computing experts con- often!',Young said. "Certainly change it
curred that a password can be very dan- more than once per semester."
gerous if it falls into the wrong hands. But despite ITD's efforts, many
A hacker can use illegally obtained students either ignore or are unaware
passwords to access private informa- of computer security problems.
tion or to commit felony crimes using University researcher Paula
an unsuspecting user's account, said Gunzburger shrugged her shoulders
Office of the Chief Information when asked if she felt the need to
Officer spokesperson Wanda Monroe. change her password often.
Hackers with a stolen password "I stayed more than two years with
"have access to Wolverine Access and the same password and I never had
can change your whole schedule," any problems," she said.
Monroe said. "They can get into your Since many students have left Ann
(Institutional File System) space. Arbor and do not check their e-mail
They can send derogatory e-mail regularly during the spring, ITD auto-
using your name." matically changed the passwords of
In an e-mail message sent out to all affected students who had not
affected students, Rezmierski and changed their password by today.
ITD director William Aikman asked Those students who find their pass-
students to reset their passwords words reset must go to the ITD
immediately. Accounts Office in the Michigan
Engineering junior Steve Chan said Union to re-access their accounts.
SACUA ends search for chair
By Nick Falzone
aily Staf Reporter
Two weeks ago, the members of
the Senate Advisory Committee for
University Affairs believed that
astronomy Prof. Gordon MacAlpine
would soon serve as their new chair.
At the time, MacAlpine also
thought former SACUA Chair
William Ensminger would "hand him
the gavel" on May 1, inaugurating
him as the leader of the faculty gover-
nance body.
* But on April 20, the last day of
classes. MacAlpine received a pack-
age in the mail from Trinity
University in San Antonio, Tex. He
opened it discovering that Trinity was
offering him a position in its science
department: the Charles A. Zilker
Distinguished Professor of Physics.
"Although Trinity had spoken with
me earlier, this situation was not aetu-
,v anticipated," MacAlpine said. "I
'ceived an official, written offer on
April 20 and I responded on April
26"
MacAlpine replied positively to
the small liberal arts school, realizing
he would have to resign from
SACUA just days before he was
scheduled to ascend to the position of
chair. MacAlpine said he believed
Trinity would offer him opportunities
he could not find here at the
University.
"Unfortunately, the political situa-
tion in my department has made it
very difficult for me to carry out my
responsibilities here, either in
research or teaching," MacAlpine
said.
MacAlpine informed Trinity on
April 26 that he would accept the job,
the same day SACUA members held
another election to pick a new chair
Many believed biology Prof. Lewis
Kleinsmith, the current vice-chair of
the organization, would ascend to the
higher position.
But Kleinsmith said he did not have
enough spare time available to serve
as SACUA chair.
"I'm working on a cell biology
textbook and it's it production right
now and will be for the next 10
months,' Kleinsmith said. "I'm work-
ing on the book with two other people
and we've made pledges to each other
to keep our deadlines," adding that he
felt he could not keep them while
serving as chair while keeping his
"sanity."
But Social Work Prof. Sherrie
Kossoudji offered to take on the
responsibility of chair and Ensminger
passed the job over to her on May 1.
the date when the term of the new
chair officially started.
Kossoudji, unlike most SACUA
members, is not a full professor in
her department, a promotion that
usually requires the faculty member
to be on good terms with the admin-
istration. But even though previous
SACUA chairs have had to pit them-
selves against administration,
Kossoudji said she does not believe
this will occur during her one-year
term.
"There are no reasons to be antago-
nistic," Kossoudji said. "I hope to
maintain good relations with the
University."
4
Rkichrdson's
GIORGIO ARMANI
POLO RALPH LAUREN Calvin Klein
I
3205. State St.
(lower level of Decker Drugs)
662-1945