Monday, May 17, 1999 - The Michigan Daily 3
Bishop speaks
about book
controversy
By Michael Grass
ilv News Eitor
Since the release of his book, "Why Christianity Must
Change or Die," a year ago, Episcopal Bishop John Shelby
Spong has caused a great stir among some members of the
'hristian faith.
Last Thursday, 125 area residents. members of the clergy,
and curious readers of the Newark, N.J. bishop gathered at St.
ndresss Episcopal Church to hear the controversial bishop
peak on why he believes organizational religion is dying.
Spong's beliefs have generated debate within the religious
ommunity because he supports ideas which other Christians Bishop John Shelb
ave said are radical, including the ordination of homosexual 125 people at St.
iests. "It's good to hi
In an interview before the speech, Spong said his support of afraid to say," s
homosexual clergy has created the most controversy of any of Andrews.
his ideas. "That is what the Gospel that I have come to under- Through his wr
stand commands me to do," Spong said. what lie called "thi
Spong said some of his critics have sent him 16 death threats West - the chur
ever since his latest book was released a year ago. writing for "thos
one major idea Spong expressed to the audience is that the Christian institutio
stoty of Jesus Christ, told in the Bible, was witten for those liv- Matthew Law
ing in the First Century. Episcopal center
"I live in this (current) frame of reference," Spong said, approach refreshin
laining that many ancient Christian beliefs are outdated. "What he's sat
[he 1724 discovery of the female egg cell and its role in sex- explaining that Sp(
ual reproduction discounted the story of divine creation, Spong attention.
said. Referring to ti
H e added that before the acceptance of this discovery, the cre- Reformation, Spot
ation story supported the repression of women, because it was them down to 12.
believed hit tthey did not contribute to the conception of a child. put them on the In
Techlab open house
showcases innovations
'U' effort removes
abandoned bicycles
By Phil Bansal an traffic may be ticketed along with
waily Stiff Reporter bikes that are unregistered. Bikes which
In order to quell complaints that junky, are registered with the city of Ann
abandoned bikes are an eyesore, the Arbor have an easily spotted reflective
University's Housing Security Services is sticker on them.
continuing their effort to clear bike racks Allan said most students haven't regis-
around the University. Officers started tered their bikes with the city of Ann
the annual clearing about two weeks Arbor. He also said that, although he can't
before winter term. speak for all of his offices, only unused
Security officers have been informed looking bikes will be ticketed.
by UHSS to ticket bikes showing any Unregistered, but nice-looking bikes,
signs of continued neglect, such as rusted shouldbe left alone, although some decent
chains, missing pedals or bent tires. bikes have been impounded, he said.
UHSS considers such property to be Owners of impounded bikes do not
"abandoned", and allows those who have to pay a fine to reclaim their bike,
receive tickets 48 hours to remove their although owners of impounded, unregis-
bikes to another location. If a ticketed tered bikes might receive a lecture for not
bike is not moved, Housing Security having registered their bikes, Allan said.
said it will be impounded, taking it to If a bike without the registration
the North Campus Housing Facility sticker is stolen and is later found by
Storage Area. police agencies, like the Department of
Joel Allan, manager of housing ser- Public Safety or the Ann Arbor Police
vices, said he regrets being the "bad Department, then there is no corre-
guy" in the situation, but said he has to sponding proof to return the bike to the
comply with University policies. owner.
Allan said he would like students to Housing Security provides a table at
take responsibility for their property, say- Festifall where students can register
ing he would like "them to follow policy their bikes. Additionally, bikes can be
and not" have "to force them to follow registered at City Hall anytime.
policy. We prefer not to cut (the locks)." Shirley Cowan, secretary at the Hill-
After the bikes are impounded they area Building Operations office, said
will linger at the storage area for at least she is glad they are being removed.
30 more days after which time the She said the actions of UHSS "has
Property Disposition department will put improved the appearance of the build-
them up for sale. ing, getting all those raggedy bikes out
Bikes blocking vehicular or pedestri- of the way"
DANA UiNNANE/Dalys
by Spong addresses a gathering of more than
Andrews Episcopal Church on Thursday.
Tear him verbalize what we in the clergy are
aid Nancy Baum, associate rector at St.
itings, Spong said he attempts to reach out to
t fastest growing organization in the Christian
ch alumni association," adding that he was
e who feel they can't find God in their
ins."
ence, reverend at Canterbury House, the
at the University, said he finds Spong's
ng.
ying is very encouraging," Lawrence said,
ong is sparking discussion on issues that need
se beliefs of the leader of the Protestant
ng said Martin "Luther had 97 theses - I got
"Luther put them on the church door, while I
Iternet."
By Ray Kania
ids Stiff Reportr
Offering a glimpse of their latest inno-
vations in robotics and artificial intelli-
gence, the College of Engineering's
Advanced Technology Laboratory
'sened its doors last Wednesday.
ne of the featured products was the
artificial intelligence engine "Soar,"
witch was developed by professors and
students of the computer science pro-
gram.
"Soar" could be a video game fain's
best friend since the program is able to
interface with computer games. Soar
controls the enemy, and is able to match
a human player move for move.
Rackham student Mike VantLent said
Soar represents the result of research in
Ov computers learn, combined with
psychological experiments.
VinLent said because the program
jears from humans, "the Soar agent is
more realistic Is acts like a person"
But VanLent also demonstrated Soars
more practical applications. Tlie U.S.
Department of Defense has used Soar to
create war simulations for pilot training
The university's department of
SChattical engineering presented the
' tions of its Mobile Robotics
Laboratory
.lohann Borenstein, head of the robot-
ics lab. demonstrated the GuideCane, a
device isIntnded to, aid people who arc
visually impaired.
The GuideCane uses sonar devices to
detect obstacles, determines how to avoid
them and steers its user along a safe path.
Borenstein hopes his invention, for
which he won a Discover Magazine
award for technical innovation in 1998,
will become commercially available. But
Borenstein said the GuideCane needs
further developments before it can reach
totsumters.
Borenstein said the GuideCane "falls
short of being a useful product," and
hopes to continue refining his invention,
but needs to find additional funding
before he can continue his work.
The object avoidance technology used
in the GuideCane is one of the Mobile
Robotics Lab's areas of focus.
The technology is also used in a des ice
called the Tactical Mobile Robot, which
resembles a toy truck with oversized tires
carrv ing a small lap-top computer.
Lars Ferner, a visiting researcher from
the LUniversity of Kaiserslautern ii
Germany, explained that the des ice's
sophisticated sonar 'eyes" allow it to
independently detect and as oild obstacles.
Demonstrators said the Tactical
\loble Robot is intended 'rmcitltary
uses. The des ice, which can climb stairs
and negotiate rough terrain, could scout
the interior of an-occupied building and
relay information. keeping soldiers out of
harm's wai.