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Blood shortage
threatens region
By Natalie Plosky
Daily Staff Reporter
The Southeastern Michigan Blood
Service Region of the American Red
*oss announced that area blood sup-
ply was at dangerously low levels on
June 26. But the shortage is actually a
nationwide concern, as virtually all of
the Red Cross' 36 Blood Services
regions have reported critically low
blood supplies.
Greg Vasse, American Red Cross
CEO for southeastern Michigan.
described the severity of the blood
ortage in the area as dangerously
0ow.
;We have more demand than blood
on the shelf, with no sign of relief,"
Vasse said in a press release. "Without
a community-wide response to
increase our local blood supply, some
hospitals may have to cancel elective
surgeries. The need for 0-type and B-
type in particular is urgent."
The shortage is due, in part, to news
that imports of blood from other blood
regions would not be sent to the area.
Southeastern Michigan typically
imports about 30 percent of the daily
supply of blood required to meet the
needs of patients in Wayne, Macomb,
Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw
Counties from other blood regions
around the country. But, low collec-
tions nationwide have diminished
imports to southeastern Michigan.
Compounding the problem is the
fact that summer is a typically difficult
time of the year for collecting blood.
Stephen Shiner, volunteer coordina-
tor for the 'Washtenaw County Red
Cross, explained some of the reasons
for this summertime problem.
"Everybody is going on summer
vacation and people are outside of
their homes more often," Shiner said.
"School is out for area colleges, uni-
versities and high schools, where
See BLOOD, Page 7
UGA
loses
lawsuit
battle
By Josetyn Gingrich
Daily News Editor
The fight for affirmative action at
the University of Georgia took a step
backward last Monday, as U.S. District
Judge Avant Edenfield of Savannah
ruled that race could no longer be a fac-
tor in admissions. Edenfield ruled that
three white women who were denied
admission to the University of Georgia
in 1999 should be offered admission
for the Fall 2000 semester.
"We're disappointed, but we respect
the opinion of the court, University of
Georgia spokesperson Matthew Winston
said. "We have a long way to go."
Under the current policy, UGA
admits the majority of applicants based
solely on GPA and test scores. Only the
last 10 to 15 percent of applicants are
subjected to a 12 factor index which
includes race.
"(Admissions policies) wouldn't
have . to be changed drastically,"
Winston said. "Race is only one com-
ponent out of many."
UGA officials have not decided if
they will appeal the decision.
"At this point, we can't say," Winston
said. "We're still in consultation."
In a press release, UGA President
Michael F. Adams said "This is yet
another step in what promises to be a
long process. We respect the Court and
we want UGA admissions to comply
with federal law."
"We also want to be as aggressive as
possible within the law in attracting
people of all races and backgrounds to
the University of Georgia," he added.
The effects of the ruling will likely
reverberate in the national debate over
affirmative action in admissions. But
here in Ann Arbor, Liz Barry, associate
See UGA, Page 7
Karen Stearnes, a registered nurse, prepares Kenya Beckmann, a development
officer for the University libraries, to donate blood.
cancer survivors speak at symposium
By Lisa Hoffman
For the Daily
On Saturday, 788 people joined together at the
Power Center to celebrate life and remember
their fight with breast cancer.
The Comprehensive Cancer Center's Betty
Ford Breast Cancer Symposium for Patients,
titled "Complementary and Conventional
Options for Today and Tomorrow", featured
doctors and experts on state-of-the-art treat-
ments, nutrition and the healing power of medi-
tation.
The symposium, named after former First
Lady Betty Ford. a breast cancer survivor, host-
ed keynote speakers Jill Eikenberry and Michael
Tucker. Eikenberry and Tucker are former "L.A.
Law" co-stars, a married couple and Eikenberry
is a breast cancer survivor.
Upon her diagnosis, Eikenberry kept her can-
cer a secret from everyone except closest friends
and family, and went in for radiation therapy fol-
lowing taping for "L.A. Law" during the first
years of the series.
When a co-star noticed the blue radiation
marks on her chest, Eikenberry knew she had to
announce her condition to the public. She made
a prime-time documentary on NBC with other
breast cancer survivors including Betty Ford.
Ford remarked, "Maybe if I, as First Lady, could
talk about it candidly and without embarrassment,
many other people would be able to as well."
Since then, Eikenberry and Tucker have been
telling their inspirational story across the coun-
try. They speak specifically of the importance of
not being alone.
Eikenberry advised audience members to,
"listen to the more authentic voice in your head
and let go of the fear. Battling the cancer along
with the fame acted as a catalyst to look deeper
into our relationship."
Following "L.A. Law," they took classes on
communication and sexuality, and realized how
little they knew of each other.
"Most important, we learned how to listen to
each other, and I learned how to shut up. l never
put my opinion first. My job is to make Jill tell
See BETTY FORD, Page 7
'LA. Law" co-stars Jill Elkenberry and Michael Tucker speak at
he Power Center on Saturday for the Breast Cancer Symposium.
I
Power to the people Worldwide Groove
0)e power on Mackinac Island will be back up today Bumpus rocks the funk in Internet
after a week of outages. music festival.
NFW : ' Patae 3 All'. Pate 10
We are the champions
'U' football team picked to win Big
10 title this year.
SPORTS, Page 13
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