C1 LI>.Til The Michigan Daily - Monday, October 30, 1995 - 5A Technology costly for Mchigan schools LANSING (AP) - Many Michigan ,school districts are finding it hard to pay forthe expensive and rapidly chang- ing technology deemed necessary in tlassrooms these days. Twenty-eight of the Lansing area's 39 districts have asked for money to pay for technology improvements, or Wan to in the near future, the Lansing "State Journal reported yesterday. "Technology is one of the last areas where we can ask formoney," said Toms .White of the Michigan Association of School Boards. "People are more likely to see and understand the need for it in schools: It changes so rapidly and it's SoD expensive." And school administrators say the costly technology boom has coincided with Michigan'srevampedschool financesys- tem, which restricts districts from turning to voters for increased operating taxes. "it provided the money to maintain the currentlevel ofprograms, but districts are going to have a hard time meeting those 'newoutstandingneeds,"said Laingsburg Suiperintendent Hal Beatty said. Many districts are turning to either bond proposals or an enhancement tax to pay for technology. "If you look back five years ago, it wasn't even a budget consideration, ,now it's so important," said Don Sovey, associate superintendent for business at the Charlotte Public Schools. NECTARINE Continued from Page 1. Snydersaidthe"problem arose" when' the crowd asked for rap music, which "is never played at the Nectarine (they simply don't have any rap music.)." But Snyder said that "before anyone claims that the Necatrine (sic) is institu- tionally rascist, (sic) I believe they should investigate the circumstances a little more." Snyder could not be reached for fur- ther comment. HUES contends that the Nectarine's actions were racially motivated. "HUES takes responsibility for not listeningwhen our friends told usthey'd heard rumors about the Nectarine being a racist place," Edut said. "We hoped, perhaps foolishly, to forge a new rela- tionship between ethnic communities and the only large club in town...." Co-publisher Ophira Edut added: "It's not just the money that we could have made at the door, but the bad PR that the shut-down has given us.... We are now victims linked to racism, and one of the purposes of HUES was to fight if." Tali8dut doubted this week's protest events would accomplish much. "I don't think that the speakout or picketing will solve anything, but it is a first step in raising community aware- ness about discrimination," she said. "We are hoping other groups will come t and tell their stories. We know this is not an isolated event." Representatives of the Rainbow Oa- sis Center said they canceled their Hal- loween 'fundraiser because the allega- tions of racism at the Nectarine might .violate the 'group's mission statement, hut they are not taking a position on the incident. "We will not be pursuing this; this is up to the two parties involved," said Rochelle Mailhot, one of the centers's co-chairs. State commission looks for new DNR director LANSING (AP)-WANTED: Natu- ral resources director to run demoral- ized, shrunken department with history of wavering leadership and internal squabbling. Must work with pro-busi- ness governor, critical Legislature, envi- ronmental groups and suspicious public in anti-government climate to set hunt- ing, fishing, parks and timber policy. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission won't run this ad in its search fora new director for the Depart- ment of Natural Resources. But the idea reflects some of the hurdles awaiting its choice. "This is an agency that is emotion- ally devastated. They are not happy people," said David Dempsey of the Michigan Environmental Council, a coalition of environmental groups. "It's a controversial agency. They need somebody to make them proud of their work again." The latest snag in the DNR's long line of internal complications is the resignation of Director Roland Harmes. His decision caps four years of un- happiness with Harmes' leadership, the resignation or transfer of several top DNR officials and the creation of the Department of Environmental Quality that gutted the DNR of its environmen- tal protection responsibilities. The commission, which oversees the It's a controversial agency. They need somebody to make them proud of their work again" - David Dempsey Michigan Environmental Council DNR and picks its director, met last weekto discuss itsplantofill the $87,299- a-year job. NRC Chairman Larry DeVuyst of Ithaca, said it will accept applications until Dec. 5, set up a screen- ing committee to recommend finalists and make the choice in January. Significantly, that timing will permit Gov. John Engler to make two NRC appointments that could expand his in- fluence on the commission and its choice for DNR director. Engler aides insist he will stay out of the selection process. Others charge Engleris deeply involved, to the benefit of business and the detriment of the environment. Complaining that Engler's intentions seem less than pure, Thomas Washing- ton, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, said he wished the governor had less say over who sits on the commission. "We happen to feel these directors should be acceptable to the governor, but the governor ought not topickthem," Washington said. "We need somebody who can act independently and do what's right for the resources of the state." DeVuyst makes no apologies for in- volving the governor in the director search. "It would be foolish for a commis- sion to chose a director who did not have the support of the executive of- fice," he said. But, he said, he has "no name from governor's office" on who's accept- able. "I don't expect to," he said. "I'll present them with our candidate." Observers say the split-up of the DNR may actually make its operation easier, by giving the Department of Environmental Quality the controver- sial, complicated environmental pro- tection issues. Still, just setting hunt- ing, fishing, parks and land rules can be a handful. TONYA BROAD/Daily Jack o' all trade. Paul Peterson, of Ann Arbor, carves a pumpkin at the Gandy Dancer yesterday. Lupus Awareness Month targets non-whites in programs By Anita Chik For the Daily October is Lupus Awareness Month, and orga- nizers say it's clear that most Americans need more education about the non-communicable dis- ease characterized by a failing immune system. "People could not associate the symptoms to get a total picture of lupus," said Duane Peter, director of communications and development at the Lupus Foundation of America. "People need to understand (lupus)." Lupus patients usually have symptoms like achy and swollen joints, fever, skin rashes, anemia and prolonged fatigue that mimic other diseases. They experience emotional problems such as constant depression, tiredness and stress. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune diseasethat is not contagious but could cause life-threatening effects on lupus patients. Peter said people of all ages can get lupus, but women of child-bearing age -15 to 45 years old - are 10 to 15 times more likely to be afflicted. "There's no cure (for lupus). No one knows its A recent survey indicated that 1. 42 million people - about one out of every 185 people in the United States - were infected with lupus .., cause. It goes on and on for a lifetime," said Thomas G. Roberts, executive director ofthe Michi- gan Lupus Foundation. "You could imagine how tiring you are when the whole body turns against you." He explained that lupus is opposite to AIDS in terms of the functioning of the immune system. With AIDS, the immune system shuts down, while with lupus it overproduces anti-bodies to attack healthy tissue and organs like kidneys. A recent survey indicated that 1.4-2 million people - about one out of every 185 people in the United States - were infected with lupus and 90 percent of the victims were women, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Although 86percent ofthe people LFA surveyed had heard about lupus, they lack understanding the symptoms, health impacts and consequences of having the disease, Peter said. To increase the public's attention and under- standing of the symptoms and health effects of lupus, LFA has established 91 chapters in the United States to inform people about lupus and help lupus patients in various communities. This year, MLF plans to set up a Lupus Aware- ness Task Force in Detroit, aiming at increasing the awareness of non-whites about the disease. "There's a higher risk for black Americans, Asian Americans, Native American Indians and Hispanics than Caucasians," Roberts said. "One in every 62 of other minorities (have lupus) but only one in every 123 Caucasians have it." He suggested that a better-informed public would be more able to manage the disease. According to LFA statistics, 20 years ago, 40 percent of lupus patients did not expect to live longer than three years. Now, about 80 percent of them can live a normal lifespan. Many doctors still lack the ability and knowl- edge to detect the disease and give appropriate medical advice to lupus patients, Roberts said. "Lupus goes everywherein your body. It's very difficult for doctors to diagnose. It's a frustrating disease." he said. Roberts said his foundation recommends those suffering from lupus see a rhumatologist. 10 Great Reasons Why YOU Should Choose Air Force Nursing 1. Change, Challenge, Growth 2. Management opportunities early on 3. Rapid advancement 4. Advanced education 5. Opportunity to be selected for specialty training 6. Comprehensive medical and dental care 7. 30 days of vacation with pay 8. Worldwide travel 9. Member of world's best health-care team 10. Plus, you may qualify for a $5,000 bonus!* * Find out more -- contact an Air Force health professions recruiter near you. 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