One hundred ten years ofeditordlfreedom ti NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED; 76-0557 www michigandaily. corn Friday March 16, 2001 " ; ~ . i!# f f is Sootball ticket prices going up Student ID checks coming soon, Martin says By Anna Clark Dailv Staff Reporter Prices 'of season football tickets will be raised significantly this fall for both students and the public as part of the Athletic Department's long-term plan to rebuild financial stability. In addition, students may have to show their M-Cards to gain access to Michigan Stadium as early as the fol- lowing season, Athletic Director Bill Martin said yesterday. For students, ticket prices will rise from $13.50 to $17.50 per game. Including a new. $5 service fee, stu- dent tickets for all six home games this year will cost $110, compared to $85 "We are not here to finance your social life through Michigan football tickets." - Bill Martin Athletic Director a~t . ' h.c Victors $47 3 Blue $43 Maize $39 Students $17.50 SOURCE: Michigan Athletic Department Michigan Stadium will be divided into four sections, each with different ticket prices. Last year's tickets cost $31 per game for the general public and $13.50 for students. last year. This is the first student ticket increase since the 1996 season. Martin announced the price hike and highlighted other parts of the plan - including seating restructuring - at yesterday's meeting of the University Board of Regents. Yesterday evening, Martin also sent an e-mail to University students highlighting the changes. Additionally, Martin said, the Univer- sity soon plans to take measures to make sure student tickets are not being sold for profit. "When I was a student I had to show my ID. That is coming again. Trust me," Martin said. "It just turns me sideways when I turn on eBay and see all these tickets for sale, and you look at the sec- tion number and you know those are stu- dent seats. "We are not here to finance your social life through Michigan football tickets." Martin said certain financial chal- lenges forced the Athletic Department to increase ticket prices and look into other ways to generate revenue. He noted that the athletic program has grown signifi- cantly, while "costs to remain competi- tive are growing." He added that revenues from the foot- ball, ice hockey and men's basketball programs support all 25 varsity sports. "The new ticket pricing plan will bring in $5 million in additional rev- enue," Martin said, comparing it to the $2.2 million the University received See TICKETS, Page 5 I- MSAelections winter 2003 INDEPENDENTS' Part six of a six Part series about campaign platforms Some try toavo id politics ofparties By Shannon Pettyp ece Daily Staff Reporter Although the University has a wide variety of student political parties, some students who wish to become involved in the Michigan Student Assembly feel their platforms are best represented by running independently of any party. MSA President Hideki Tsutsumi, an independent, has made an unprecedent- ed decision to run for re-election despite much opposition from current MSA representatives. Tsutsumi said he is running again in an effort to try and fulfill some of the issues he was unable to accomplish in his first term. "I feel that I could accom- plish a lot - I just want to continue the l work I started," Tsutsumi said. tIn addition to finishing some projects he started last term, Tsutsumi also plans to improve the bus system on North and Central campuses, an issue he already began, extend dinning hall and other University building hours and improve communication between MSA and the student body. "I would like to hold a town hall meeting once a month where students can come to express concerns to MSA members," Tsutsumi said. Tsutsumi said he feels his position as an independent candidate increases his ability to achieve his goals. y "The best person to do this is inde- pendent candidates; independents can stay above the fray of campus politics," Tsutsumi said. Tsutsumi's running mate, LSA junior See INDEPENDENTS, Page 7 Whitey could get probation By Kristen Beaumont Swartz stated that barring any unex- Daily Staff Reporter nected developments in the investia- - Former Michigan football captain James Whitley pleaded guilty yester- day to charges of carrying a concealed weapon and will likely be sentenced to one year of pro- bation. Whitley was dis- missed from the team Dec. 14 after he was found car- rying a loaded handgun at a Hill Street apartment complex. Whitley As is standard when any plea of guilty is entered, Circuit Court Judge David Swartz ruled that Whitley waived his rights to a jury trial with the plea. A preliminary sentencing date was set for May 3. tion, Whitley will be sentenced to one year of probation. The concealed weapons charge car- ries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, but Whitley guilty plea will most likely save him from having to serve any prison time. Whitley was brought in for ques- tionigig by the Ann Arbor Police Department when he was found carry- ing a Jennings 380 Auto semiautomat- ic handgun outside the apartment of then-teammate David Terrell's ex-girl- friend. Whitley told police he was at the apartment to help Terrell mediate a dis- pute between Terrell and his ex-girl- friend's new boyfriend. He was subsequently dismissed from the football team by coach Lloyd Carr. Terrell has not been charged with any crime related to the incident. SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily Hideki Tsutsumi, whose one-man, signboard campaign last year gave him a landslide victory in the Michigan Student Assembly presidential race, is now seeking to lead the assembly for an unprecedented second term. Hidekie clms he hs fulfilled hs duties; colleages disagrree By Shuinon Pettypiece Daily Staff Reporter Through campus politics and the struggle to carry through with promises he made to voters last winter, Hideki Tsutsumi said he has successfully fulfilled his role as Michigan Student Assembly president, despite the questioning of his leadership ability by assembly members. "I have continued to carry the sign saying 'Tell me your concerns' since after I was elected," Tsutsumi said. "The problem with previous candidates was that students didn't Friday Focus: A final look at the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in next week's MSA election. Page 10. information online for 380 out of 1,900 undergraduate courses and improving the University bus system. "I promised to improve the bus system; it improved. It used to run every 20 minutes but had gaps during the day when students would have to wait 40 minutes. Now it runs 20 minutes all day," Tsutsumi said. MSA Treasurer Siafa Hage said he agrees Tsutsumi has accomplished his campaign promises but there are many other issues that the assembly had to deal with which the president was not involved. "He did a great job as far as advocating the bus service and getting text book information online, but as far as everything else MSA was involved in, he didn't bother himself with it. He was not much of a leader and he really frustrated many members of the assembly," Hage said. MSA Vice President Jim Secreto, Tsutsumi's running mate during last year's election, said Tsutsumi's leadership See HIDEKI, Page 7 Sean McGrath plays the Irish bouzouki at Conor O'Neill's pub on Main Street yesterday. McGrath, an Irish native, will perform there with his band today and tomorrow. LUCK OFFTHE "JSH Pus even know the name of the MSA president in the past" He defends himself by claiming that he has fulfilled the promises he made to voters, including putting textbook Sparks flying 4 fraternities plan Local bars f return to campus By Jacquelyn Nixon Daily Staff Reporter Four fraternities are planning a fresh start for their chapters on campus in response to a new expansion policy adopted by the Interfraternity Council and declining numbers of students receiving bids during rush. Zeta Beta Tau, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Delta Theta and Alpha Epsilon Pi, all of which were kicked off campus in recent years, now hope to return to campus under IFC's new expansion policy. came through rush didn't get a bid at all," Hustvedt said. "The addition of the new chapters on campus is what we're taking into consideration." Alpha Epsilon Pi is remodeling its house, which is expected to be occu- pied by new members by the fall. The fraternity approached IFC in November and was able to recruit about 30 men, said Alpha Epsilon Pi Executive Vice President Sidney Dunn. AEPi's charter was revoked in December 1999 after a pledge was shot in the groin with a BB gun during a hazing incident. Other pledges alleged to celebrate By Courtney Crimmins D~aly Staff Reporter # Whether Irish or not, students have long anticipated tomorrow's St. Patrick's Day festivities, and the bars are ready for them. The holi- day, although not a huge celebration in Ireland, has become an excuse for a full day of drinking on college campuses. The green beer will start flowing at many bars in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti at 7 a.m. tomorrow. bring your hats and gloves and wait because it's a great ole Irish bar," said bar manager Mary Zon Esbeck. "It is very hectic, very fun, but only the strong survive." Conor O'Neill's is opening with breakfast at 7 a.m. and lunch and appetizers beginning at 11. There is a $5 cover charge because of the costs incurred in trying to create a traditional Irish environment. "I flew a band over from Ireland. There will be traditional Irish danc- ing, and bagpipes," said Esbeck. The bar's reputation for Irish fun is well-known among students. "I am going to Conor O'Neill's to dance the Irish jig with a guy wear- ing only a skirt and nothing under- neath," said Becky Ward, an LSA sophomore. The Wooden Nickel in Ypsilanti is also opening at 7 a.m. tomorrow. In special preparation for the espe- 1 E