10A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 26, 1995 Hindus celebrate Diwali holiday, Festival of Lights' oc /S fi By Lenny Feller Wily Staff Reporter More than 100 University students gathered at the Blue Lounge in ',tockwell residence hall yesterday to cplebrate the holiest and most auspi- cious Hinduholiday oftheyear: Diwali, the "Festival of Lights." Sudhakar Kulkarni, a Pujari from the BhartiyaTemple in Lansing, conducted the Puja ceremony commemorating the "victory of light over darkness. The victory of knowledge over ignorance." A Pujari is a Hindu spiritual leader. "It's our Thanksgiving,.our July 4th, our Christmas," said Vidya Kumar, an Inteflex sophomore. Diwali also cel- ebrates the relationship between brother and sister. School of Education junior Rajeshri Gandhi called the event "one of the happiest times of the year." The purpose of the Diwali holiday is to pay tribute to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and it is commemorated as the Hindu new year. The celebration is marked with the "It's our Thanksgiving, our July 4th, our Christmas. f - Vidya Kumar Inteflex sophomore exchange of gifts, and is a time for family unity, said second-year Medical student Anand Parekh, a member of the Hindu Students Council. HSC was founded five years ago here at the University and has since spread to 30 national chapters throughout the country. This is the third year HSC members have conducted a Diwali ser- vice at the University. Formany who attendedthe Stockwell gathering, Diwali represented a chance to maintain the religious and cultural bonds that were ingrained in them since birth. Dancers perform at Stockwell's Blue Lounge at last night's PuJa, a celebration for Diwall. "We celebrate this at home every year," said LSA first-year student Vinay Jindal. "It's something I can do at school and not feel away from home." "It's a nice event to come to if you can't go home," echoed LSA junior Nina Jain, a co-coordinator of the cel- ebration. For others, it was a chance to re- establish ties with their homeland. "I was glad to see celebrations like this happening in countries other than In- dia," said UHC Midwest Coordinator Jwalant Lakhi, who immigrated to the United States five years ago. "This way, people don't miss their home country so much." The event began at about 8:15 p.m. with Kulkarni leading the hourlong Puja. He recited numerous prayers to Lakshmi, Lord Ganesh and other Hindu gods. At appropriate moments, the assembled congregation chanted with him. Following the service, numerous na- tive Indian foods were unveiled includ- ing Raiti, Poories and Pakora. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Diwali also commemorates the day that Ram, a Hindu hero, re- turned to the city of Ayodaha after defeating the demon-king, Ravana, fol- lowing a 14-year exile. State will reo LANSING (AP) - Michigan residents will heve their first chance in five years to prepay a youngster's college tuition later this fall, but even its sponsors admit it will not be as good a deal as before. The board of the Michigan Education Trust agreed yesterday to offer MET contracts at a price of $19,808 for four years of tuition at either the University of Michigan or Michigan State Uni- versity. }That's more than double the $8,380 cost for a newborn offered in 1990. "This is what it costs to go to college today," state Treasurer Doug Roberts said in defense of the price tag. But House Minority Floor Leader Pat Gagliardi said that was a phony offer. "The situation is that Doug Roberts has been trying to kill this program for five years along with the governor and today they tried to do a political shell game by opening up the program and then pricing it in such a fashion that a working class family has no way ofpaying for it," said Gagliardi (D-Drummond Island). pen tuition prepayment program At most, he said, a contract should cost no more After the state won a lawsuit with the federal than $12,000. government over the tax-exempt status of the The Price of ME Roberts saidchanging economics make the MET MET fund, Roberts decided it could be reopened. Prices for the three option contract less of a bargain than when Gov. James The pricing is based on the assumption that Education Trust contracts Blanchard kicked it off in 1988. Interest rates are 5,000 contracts will be sold. Roberts said if too applications will be taken lower now and tuition is expected to keep increas- few are sold, the program may be cancelled. ing, he said. The price assumes the state will earn 7.5 percent H Full benefits plan cover On top of that, Roberts said, promotion of the onthemoney it invests and that college tuition will tuition at any Michigan pu MET contracts will make clear that the state is not increase 8.13 percent for 1996-2001 and 7.3 per- $4,952 a year or $19,808 promising thatthe contract will be enoughto cover cent after2001. Tuition increased3.96percent this 8 Limited benefits plan cc tuition in the future. year. years' tuition at any scho( "We're not selling aguarantee. We're selling an The program approved by the board calls for a Michigan State, or partial investment," he said. three-week application period to run Nov. 27 to schools: $3,765 a year or MET lets purchasers prepay tuition at one of Dec. 15. Contracts will be sent out in January and N Community college plar Michigan's 15 public universities or 29 commu- purchasers will have until Feb. 29 to return them years at any of 29 commu nity colleges. Money paid to the state is invested with their payments. a year or $3,062 for twoy and used to pay tuition bills for the beneficiary Purchasers can choose from three plans: when they enroll in college. ® One or two years' tuition at, a community would pay only 105 per More than 55,000 people bought MET contracts college. average tuition cost, mear during three enrollment periods between 1988 and Up to four years' tuition at any Michigan not cover full tuition at ti 1990, creating a $620 million fund. But Gov. John public university. schools. Engler claimed the contracts were underfunded Up to four years' tuition at any school except Unlikeprevious MET of and refused to take more applications when he Michigan or Michigan State. A student could still declined with the age of th took office in 1991. attend those two schools, but the MET contract same regardless of age. r, is under the Michigan for which Nov. 27-Dec. 15:' ing up to four years' ublic university: 8 for four years. overing up to four ol except Michigan or tuition at those two $15,060. n, covering up to two unity colleges: $1,531 years. rcent of the statewide ning it would probably hose two higher-priced fferings, in which prices he child, the price is the Doctors urge d by Mercy not wC to specialize FARMINGTON HILLS (AP) =- Mercy Health Services, a health-care services company, said yesterday that it will offer medical students financial incentives to become primary-care doc- tors instead of specialists. More general practitioners are going to be needed as more people and com- panies sign on with managed-care health plans, which usually ask participants to choose a primary-care doctor to over- see their health care. The Council on Graduate Medical Education predicts a national shortage of 35,000 general practitioners and a surplus of 115,000 specialists within five years. Mercy's $1 million program will re- cruit promising students before they pick a specialty. Students will get half their tuition paid and a $15,000-a-year stipend to partly offset the generally lower pay general practitioners earn. The idea is to make being a family doctor more competitive with the higher paying specialties. A general practitio- ner just out of school typically earns less than $100,000, while a specialist earns more than $200,000. "We're going to need more of the best and brightest medical students for pi- mary care, so we need to offer more of a level playing field when they're choosing a focus in medicine," said Dr. Bruce Van Cleave, Mercy's vice presidentofprofes- sional and physician services. Each student also will be assigned to a primary-care doctor who will serve as amentor in developing theskills needed to work with patients and develop a thriving practice. "You have to manage the health of a person" Mercy spokeswoman Ginny Seyferth saidyesterday. "It's muchmore than just learning surgical procedures." Those chosen for the program must commit to a year of practice with the Mercy system for each year of support. Seyferth said most health-care plans sign on students after they graduate and help them pay off their tuition loans, but, "that really doesn't help us encour- age students to go into primary care." Students usually decide to choose a specialty in their second or third year of medical school, she said. "We're trying to go in at it before they make their decision." Hearing postponed for 3rdtie By Jodi Cohen Daily Staff Reporter A judge yesterday postponed the pre- liminary examination of a man accused of arson in University housing. It was the third postponement. Dale Lipke of Oakland County was arraigned Sept. 25 for the Sept. 22 fire in Baits housing. He faces one count of arson in a dwelling house and one count of conspiracy to commit arson in a dwelling house. At the arraignment, Lipke, 23, pleaded not guilty to both felony charges, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Yesterday's hearing, which was held at Washtenaw County's 14th District Court, was postponed three weeks until Nov. 15 after both sides requested a delay. Lipke, who is not affiliated with the University, is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. The fire, which swept through a ground-floor room of Baits II Ziwet House on North Campus, caused an estimated $200,000 in damages. No- body was injured. The Nov. 15 pre-trial exam will de- termine if there is enough evidence for Lipke to stand trial. Don't Buy A Computer Yet! Manufacturers and advertisers do not tell you everything you need to know about their computers. You must be.prepared! Get the information you need from our PC buying report first. There's no obligation and the report is free. To receive your copy of the PC Report, call our free recorded message at (313) 482-4745 Phone lines available 24hrs, 7days/week. Hundreds of disabled activists move protest to Capitol steps LANSING (AP) - Hundreds of members ofa group dedicated to better rights and services for the disabled dis- rupted business atthe Capitol yesterday by blocking all building entrances for about 45 minutes. Michigan State Police reopened one 'ntrance at 1:30 p.m. and the 300 rotesters began to disperse at 3:30 r.m. after meeting inside the Capitol with a representative of Gov. John 'Engler. It was the third day of protesting by the group, American Disabled for At- iondant Programs Today. Five were arrested for trespassing or disorderly conduct, state police Inspector GaryPost said. Three ofthosewerebooked .et the Lansing city jail and released on personal recognizance bonds. "There were no physical confronta- tiOns. It was a passive resistance sort of 4emonstration so a number were car- rtid away," Post said. Police closed two blocks of Michi- gan Avenue in front of the Capitol at 11 a.m. for about 25 minutes while the protesters traveled from a hotel to the Capitol grounds in single file. They gathered at the Capitol steps, chanting, "Nursing homes have got to go." The protesters have targeted Lansing and Engler because the Republican gov- ernor has become a leader in the na- tional effort to change welfare laws. Verna Spayth, a state coordinator from Ann Arbor, said they wanted to ask Engler three things. "We want him to support the Commu- nity Attendant Service Act, we want him to call on the National Governors Asso- ciation to meet with ADAPT and we want him to call on Newt Gingrich to introduce a proposal to earmark 25 percent of the Medicaid nursing home budget for home and community services," she said. At noon they broke into smaller groups and blocked primary entrances to the Capitol. One other entrance re- mained open for 45 minutes before be- ing blocked by protesters. The protesters dispersed after State Police Lt. Tom Ambs negotiated an agreement that three ADAPT represen- tatives could meet with Jeff McAlvey, Engler's legislative liaison. The group wanted to meet with Engler, who has an office in the Capitol but spends most of the time in his main office across the street. Engler spokesman John Truscott said the governor was unavailable to meet with the group. He declined to say ex- actly where the governor was except that he was in Lansing. At least four protesters were arrested and ticketed Tuesday when than 200 people gathered at Engler's residence for about four hours. On Monday, ADAPT took over the Michigan Republican Party headquar- ters in Lansing. They controlled that building for two hours before retreating to prepare for Tuesday's action. AP PHOTO Members of a group of disabled people blocked the steps of the state Capitol yesterday, chanting, "Nursing homes have got to go." The group, ADAPT, blockaded the entrances for 45 minutes in its third day of protesting. 'k 3, r A nti-Curl it When bad perms, frizz or natural curl are the enemies of style, it's ok to use unnatural force. It's the radical new salon service from Rusk that tranquilizes, smooths, soothes and leaves hair in great shape. introductory N offer: receive an 8-oz. bottle - - " MULTI COLOR SPECIALISTS . ARTIST ON STAFF - RUSH ORDERS - NEAR U OF M CAMPUS 1217 PROSPECT, ANN ARBOR 665-1771 0FF with this ad. .I -P * "ru'u~u w