European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 the stars and stripes thursday March 17,1988 Quail sex study does t Fly with Proxmire Washington a two Federal research agencies were Given the Golden fleece award wednesday by sen. William Proxmire for spending s107,000 to study sexual behaviour of japanese Quail. Cole Porter lyrically told us the obvious that Birds do i Proxmire said in a Senate speech. But what stimuli and responses Are involved in various components of their sexual behaviour was nevertheless deemed worthy of a detailed study Fay these two agencies. While this research project May be Well designed and carefully executed the question remains whether with massive Federal deficits and limited funds for scientific research spending for this project is the Best use of taxpayers monies the Wisconsin Democrat said. Proxmire awards the fleece each month to an Agency he considers has made the most wasteful use of tax funds. Wednesday s award went to the National science foundation and the National Institute of mental health. This was a study of learning not of the Quail said foundation spokesman Jack Renric. The Quai was chosen because it is an easily available Laboratory animal that readily engages in the behaviour that he the researcher wants to Renirie recalled similar criticism several years ago when another government Agency studied the sexual behaviour of the screw worm Fly. That research he said resulted in a method for halting destruction of cattle herds by he Fly. In its summary of the project the National Sci ence foundation said the objective of the research was to further the understanding of learning mechanisms and to discover How organisms rely on what they have Learned to guide their actions in Complex social situations critical to the survival of their Spe cies such research will also Tell us about an aspect of sexual behaviour that has received Little systematic attention to Date the foundation wrote. Given the life threatening nature of certain forms of sexual be Havior with the spread of aids knowledge of How sexual habits Are acquired is very important researchers were interested in three sexual learn ing Phenomena sexual looking classical condition ing of sexual arousal and improvement in copulatory performance with researchers used the japanese Quail because of it uninhibited mating habits. When a sexually mature male is placed with a female copulation occurs rapidly often in less than five minutes according to a summary of the project. Proxmire said the study found that the male Quail spends a considerable amount of time staring at the female. The sexual looking phenomenon was so Strong that these amorous males did t seem to care whether or not the female recipient of their longing glance was alive or dead Proxmire told colleagues. How Ever these male Quail showed a distinct viewing preference for female Quail Over male Quail or female the senator added the study also found that practice improved sexual performance. Even the most inhibited males eventually acquired As vigor Ous performance As All other subjects. " 23 protesters in wheelchairs arrested in . Washington a after Block ing buses tuesday during the morning Rush hour at the department of transportation a Blind person and 23 protes ters in wheelchairs were arrested police said. The demonstrators members of americans disabled for accessible pub Lic transit were protesting the Appeal by the transportation department of a judge s ruling that All Public transit authorities must provide services for the handicapped regardless of Cost. The protesters had chained themselves to the entrances of the transportation building monday afternoon and stayed there through the night As temperatures dipped below freezing. In the morning they wheeled themselves into the traffic District of Columbia police officer Wal Ler Ferguson said. We kept warm with the thought we were sending the department of transportation a message that we will Lake any action necessary to obtain our civil rights protester Stephanie Thomas told hearing commissioner John Treanor after her arrest. Treanor released the protesters on $10 Bond each saying they could forfeit the Bond in lieu of a Fine. Protesters in wheelchairs Block the transportation department Entrance. The demonstrators were charged with obstructing traffic at about 9 a.m., police said. It is unfortunate disabled people have to take these actions. But Well continue to do so until the Federal govern ment acknowledges our right to use pub Lic transit said Clayton Jones a protester from Hartford Conn. The department of transportation is appealing the Jan. 4 decision by . District judge Marvin Katz in Phila Delphia that struck Down the depart ment s regulation that transit agencies spend 3 percent of their budgets on the disabled. Katz called the 3 percent an arbitrary and capricious figure that was so Low it denied the handicapped the minimum Quality of service mandated by the con Gress. Transportation Secretary Jim Burnley spoke briefly with the demonstrators monday and offered to meet them again next week said Hal Paris spokesman for the department. We Haven t heard anything from them Burnley said tuesday. He confirmed that the department was appealing Katz decision but would no elaborate while the Case is pending. Reagan stands by . Mideast peace talk plan Washington a president Reagan vowed wednesday not to revise or abandon the . Plan for Mideast peace talks in the face of opposition from israeli prime minister Yitzhak Shamir. As they parted after a two hour White House session a deadlock was apparent. Shamir registered his Strong reservations to an International conference demanded by King Hussein of Jordan with . Support. The israeli Leader urged Reagan to modify the . Plan. Shamir said he is willing to hold direct negotiations with Jordan under . And soviet auspices. Or Shamir said i shall be ready to con Sider a similar but Reagan speaking first in the East room said the United states will not slice this initiative apart and not abandon he advised Shamir that there is a sense of urgency behind the . Initiative to hold the peace conference next month. Reagan said those parties who do not agree to hold negotiations need to answer to themselves and their at the same time he said Shamir had no directly rejected the . Proposal which also Calls for negotiations on an Overall settlement by december. As Shamir s talks in Washington wind Down he leaves thursday the offi Cial who briefed reporters said we arc where we expected to but he also threw cold water on Sha Mir s offer to negotiate with Jordan under . And soviet auspices. The proposal was made by Secretary of slate George Shultz last october on a trip tothe Middle East and was subsequently rejected by Hussein. Despite their disagreement Reagan again offered assurances to Israel and a warning to its enemies that no wedge will Ever be driven Between on the eve of Shamir s visit Reagan underscored the . View that Arab israeli negotiations arc urgently needed and would help both sides. When it comes to Israel the United state is not a Bargainer or a broker Reagan said in a speech tuesday to a United jewish Appeal group. The United Stales is a Friend and an Shamir s spokesman Avi Pazner summing up three hours of talks the prime minister held tuesday with Shultz said he did not give an did not say yes he did not say no to Shultz s proposal to hold an International peace conference next month. But Pazner said Shultz s proposal is a sticking Point that has to be resolved if we arc going to go the israeli occupied West Bank and Gaza strip have been plagued by protests in which 96 palestinians have been killed in clashes with Isia Cli forces in a Little More than three months. The peace conference would set the stage for negotiations starting May 1 be tween Israel and a mixed delegation of jordanians and palestinians to set up palestinian self Rule in the territories for three years. In the second stage of Shultz s plan negotiations on an Overall settlement of the 40-year Arab israeli conflict would begin by december. There the United Stales would Call on Israel to relinquish at least some of the territories in Exchange for Arab recognition. Shultz acknowledged tuesday he was unable to Bridge differences with Shamir. Shamir said that in Israel s View the Middle East peace conference could not play any positive Pazner claimed that Hussein wants the conference to let Israel s enemies put pressure on Israel to try to bring Israel to agree to solutions it would not agree to in free Shamir offered last october to hold israeli jordanian negotiations in Washington with . And soviet Pazner said Shamir stands by the offer even though it was rejected by the King. Shultz had set this week As a deadline for a reply from Israel and Jordan. In Amman a senior jordanian official told the associated press that Jordan is consulting with its Arab neighbors on the proposal. On Capitol Hill. Assistant Secretary of slate Richard w. Murphy sought to reassure supporters of Israel that an International conference would not dictate solutions to any Side. Meanwhile nine Republican senators made Public the text of a letter 0 Shultz urging him not to subject Shamir to is. Anti cum or pressure. It said american support should not be used As a lever to Force Israel s Leaden to adopt a policy which they see As dangerous to the National Security of their country especially when such policy entails injecting the soviet Union into the peace the letter was signed by Sens. Chic Hucht a Nev. Jesse Helms . Steven Larry Presslor . And Chris Bond a to
