The Michigan Daily - Monday, u Y i, ddu -3 Construction starts for Life Sciences Institute y Anna Clark Daily Staff Reporter After two years of planning and research, groundbreaking has finally begun on the Life Sciences Institute. "It's all happening pretty quickly. I think we're ahead of the curve in terms of other institutions pursuing the life sciences," Jack Dixon, Minor J on professor of biological chemistry and chair the Life Sciences Advisory Committee said. The LSI complex will be located along Washtenaw Avenue, across from Palmer Field, where it will connect the now vacant area between the Central and Medical campuses. Construction has begun on a parking structure, which will be mostly underground, and work on the main LSI buildings will commence soon, Dixon said. He added that construction should take two and a half years to complete and shouldn't cause much inconvenience to traffic, as construction will take place in an empty space. When finished, the LSI will consist of sever- al buildings that will house laboratories, class- rooms, offices, a restaurant and a parking structure. The LSI is intended for study and research in "what it means to be human, how best to lead a human or humane existence (and) what it is to be a living organism on this planet," University President Lee Bollinger said in a letter sent to the University community on May 24. Several University departments will combine to create new courses of study and to support new research in fields influencing everything from medicine to the humanities. Besides the physical developments in the LSI, progress is also being made in less tangible aspects of the project. A high priority now is to find a director. "We're focusing most of our energies in the search for a director," Dixon said, He went on to say the University is currently con- sidering several possible candidates, but won't'be able to make any definite announcements for a few months. In support of the initiative, lecture series' and visiting professors haie already been inaugurated at the University. with goals coinciding with the mission of the LSI. Dixon pointed out that the broad scope of the LSI will have an enormous influence. "This will impact virtually every aspect of our lives - not only in ways we perceive but in ways we haven't even he conceived of,' he said. "There's a lot of excitement, everywhere from engineering to business." Ann Arbor ranks third in state in non- smoking restaurants By Laura Deneau Daily Staff Reporter Ann Arbor restaurants are fast coming havens for those unwilling to atgest second-hand smoke according to a recent poll. Ranked third in the state, 88 restaurants in Ann Arbor prohibit smoking, while 130 in Grand Rapids and 126 in Traverse City do the same. The implications of such a statistic say a lot about local views on health issues and smoking culture. Where restaurant owners are now catering to a sector of non-smokers, the many students and restaurant employees hat smoke may feel as though they're ing discriminated against. "Going outside to have a cigarette is pretty ridiculous, especially when it's cold out" Carolyn Dennis, an Eastern Michigan University junior, said. "I know a lot of employees that smoke and come to work here (Rendez-Vous Cafe) looking for that kind of atmos- phere;" Ian Lang, an LSA senior, said. Prohibition of smoking is a large sue at coffeehouses, where coffee drinking befits conversation and smok- ing. Of the many coffeehouses in Ann Arbor, only Rendez-Vous Cafe and Cafe Felix capitalize on the smoking sector of their business by providing substantial smoking sections inside. "I don't think it affects our other business much at all," said Brett Wilmot, Assistant Manager of Cafe Felix, about the deterrent effect smok- ing has on non-smoking customers. 'ie ceilings are high and well venti- ted ... you really can't tell." But where restaurants like Cafe Felix and Rendez-Vous feel they can afford smoking by isolating it in sections and LOOKING FOR SO COME WRITE NEW STOP BY 420 M CALL 76 installing ventilators, other restaurants do not. From its opening in 1986, Pizza House has stuck to a policy of non- smoking indoors, even for patrons at the bar. While this causes mild disappoint- ment from some customers, providing a smoke-free atmosphere is the more expedient goal. Considering Ann Arbor's ranking in the poll, Todd Oxnes, General Manager at Pizza House, said that "the implications are important." He said he believes public support of non-smoking will encourage people to consider health issues. The growing concern of customers has been the cause of many restaurants Billy Armsh prohibiting smoking, which shows a few resta growth of general awareness. Seva, a vegetarian restaurant, main- tains a tradition of support for healthy living. This dates back to 1973, when the original owners made a commitment to providing a smoke-free environment. Unlike Pizza House, smoking is prohib- ited even outside on the deck.' "It's very rare that people will ask for smoking," Meredith Buddington, front of the house manager, said. As the attitude of restaurants reflect the behavior and concerns of their cus- tomers, smokers must further adapt to their growing position as a minority. "There really are less smokers than non-smokers and its really hard to reserve sections for smokers when they stay empty," Sarah Berendt, LSA senior and waitress at Gratzi, said. "You have to respect everyone's pref- erences" Dennis said as she smoked with friends at Rendez-Vous, voted best smokers hangout by University students in The Michigan Daily's Weekend Etc. Magazine. METHING TO DO? S FOR THE DAILY. 1AYNARD ST. OR -DAILY 4/ NORMAN NG/Daly aw, a Florida resident, enjoys a cigarette outside Rendez-vous Cafe on South University. Rendez-vous is one of only urants in the area that allow smoking. Earn $60 in a four session computer-mediated negotiation experiment that is being held in the Business School throughout July. Experimental sessions last under an hour. Days: Sunday through Thursday Times: 5:00 and 6:30 PM. To be included in the pool of possible subjects, register at: http://ddm.bus.umich.edu/~summer0O To participate, you must be over the age of 18.