Tuesday, March 2, 2004
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Cagers prepare for last
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www.michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXIII, No. 103 ©2004 The Michigan Daily
Singing for your seats
BRETT MOUNTAIN/Daily
sArt and Design Junior Jeremiah Brown talks about his work in
his illustration class, Art and Design 419. Several art
students said they are still adjusting to a new curriculum.
Students protest
arts cuicuu
By Gennaro Filico
Daily Sports Editor
The Michigan Athletic Department
announced yesterday that in 2005 it will
employ a preferred seating program in Michi-
gan Stadium, in which seat location for non-
students will largely rely on donation levels.
"Requiring an annual seat donation for
select season ticket locations is common
among our peer institutions," Michigan Ath-
letic Director Bill Martin said. "Michigan is
the only school of the top 20 attendance lead-
ers in college football that has not implement-
ed a preferred seating program."
Once the program is fully operational, the
self-supported athletic department plans that
it will mill raise $9.5 million annually. These
earnings will benefit the entire athletic depart-
ment by funding scholarships and facility
improvements, Martin said.
"A lot of people think (the funds effect) just
football, but we're a department of intercolle-
giate athletics, we're not simply a department
of intercollegiate football," said Joe Parker,
associate athletic airector for Development.
"A lot of people feel like it should directly
benefit football, and football gets a lot of
attention and we always want to make sure it's
appropriately resourced. But, at the same
time, we're trying to meet the needs for 24
other sports teams."
This preferred seating program affects 31
percent of Michigan Stadium's seats, but
leaves ticket prices unchanged for all students,
except seniors who will graduate before the
fall. Season ticket holders in these preferred
areas will be required to make a payment
ranging from $125 to $500 per ticket,
depending on seat location. The payment is
80-percent tax deductible. People who partici-
pate in the program will become members of
the Victors Club. ,
Season ticket holders currently in the pre-
ferred seating area who do not make dona-
tions will be given options for an alternative
seating location. For just one year - May 1,
2004 through April 30, 2005 - a ticket hold-
er will be able to transfer tickets to another
person by providing a $500 tax-deductible
donation for each seat.
"A lot of people look at it as a seat license,
and I'd say it's not really that," Parker said.
"We're encouraging philanthropy and for
those people that are willing to make the gift,
they get the benefit of a better site line (in
Michigan Stadium). Over time people will
See SEATING, Page 3
New preferred seating program at Big House
will favor those who make donations to 'U'
By Donn M. Fresard
Daily Staff Reporter
I -, -
The new School of Art and Design curriculum had
what might be called a rocky beginning, with some dis-
gruntled students leaving the art school in protest during
the program's first year. Now in their second year under
the new curriculum, art students are still largely frustrat-
ed with its broad and demanding requirements. But rather
than transfer, some students have taken a more hopeful
tack, forming a new student government with an aim to
improve the program through dialogue between students
and administrators.
Lydia Gregg, president of the Art and Design Student
Government, said she and other art students formed the
organization last year intending to work with the adminis-
tration to discuss and change aspects of the new program
that students find troubling.
"It's a very complex system, and we disagree with
parts of it and agree with other parts," said Gregg, an Art
and Design senior. "I have faith in (Art and Design Dean
Bryan Rogers') ability to change things, but at this point
it's a work in progress."
The art school's curriculum was redesigned in 2002 to
require students to become proficient in a wide range of
artistic techniques and media before choosing an area of
concentration. But many Art and Design students feel
that the new requirements limit their choices, leaving
them without enough time to develop skills that are
important to them.
See ART SCHOOL, Page 7
,
DPS reports
fewer residence
hail incidents
By Ashley Dinges
Daily Staff Reporter
As the installation of electronic locks in residence halls
continues, the University's Department of Public Safety
reported that the amount of home invasion crimes - thefts
from student rooms and other locked areas - in residence
halls has decreased since the last academic year.
"Our best sense is that the decline in statistics is relat-
ed to multiple efforts. It is a combination of restricted
access, lock sets, enhanced communication, education
and awareness. All of those create a multiplier effect for
improved safety and security," said Housing spokesman
Alan Levy.
In the 2001-2002 academic year, there were 99 reported
incidents of home invasion, whereas the following year there
were 35 reports. The preliminary data collected for the fall of
2003 indicates about 13 reports of home invasion.
Capt. Joe Piersante, commander of police services, also
said that the decrease is a result of combined efforts from
several programs.
"Where the camera initiatives and other deterrents were
installed - along with crime prevention programs - there
was a decrease in crime in those buildings," Piersante said.
Specific statistics about crimes in residence halls for 2003
will not be available until October, but Piersante said that
most crimes involve theft.
After a rise in burglary and other incidinces, such as peep-
ing Toms, in residence halls from 2001 to 2002, the halls
converted to being locked 24 hours a day, accessible only by
See RES HALLS, Page 7
BRETT MOUNTAIN/Daily
Students volunteering to give tours of an exhibition of art by Michigan's prisoners explore the exhibit last night ahead of its opening today. The exhibit, placed in the North
Campus Media Union, is sponsored by the Prison Creative Arts Project.
Expressions from within
Charity group showcases more than;
340 works ofart by M chiran prisoners
By Nicole Frehsee
For the Daily
Beginning today, pictures of animals, landscapes and
nature scenes will line the walls of North Campus' Media
Union Gallery. Though it sounds pastoral, this is no down-
on-the-farm art show - it is an exhibition of art created by
Michigan's prisoners.
The show's opening at 5 p.m. tonight kicks off two weeks
of events sponsored by the Prison Creative Arts Project,
including discussion panels, guest speakers, and film screen-
ings. In its ninth annual exhibition, the show is expected to
draw a crowd of 2,500 before its March 16 closing.
Though the art exhibition is their largest event, PCAP
administrator Suzanne Gothard also predicts a healthy
turnout at the Michigan Theater showing of Brad Lichten-
stein's movie "Ghosts of Attica" and Stephen Hartnett's read-
ing of his book "Incarceration Nation" at Shaman Drum
Bookstore. The events are held March 11 and 12th respec-
tively. Organized by Gothard and curators English Prof.
William "Buzz" Alexander and Ariella Kaufman, the exhibi-
tion's purpose is to create a forum for inmates to "express
themselves and to get their work out," Gothard said. "It's a
big event."
"We have people lining up at the door," said Janie Paul,
who has been the show's curator for the last eight years. Stu-
dents and faculty, as well as community members and rela-
tives of artists, come to see 340 works of art by 213 inmates
from various prisons around the state.
Opening night will also host speeches by four former
prison artists and an art instructor at a correctional facility.
Preparation for the exhibit began in the fall, when PCAP sent
letters to Michigan's prisons asking for artistic contributions.
Works were chosen based on their originality and artistic
ability. Popular mediums include sketches, paintings, col-
lages and "scratch art," where a metallic image is created by
scraping off the top layer of a black sheet of paper.
Former contributor and inmate Jason Rios, who created a
mixed media piece for two past shows, said the exhibition
helped his personal growth. "When you're incarcerated,
you're a forgotten member of society. (PCAP's exhibit) put
me back in touch with humanity," said Rios, 27, who was
Students and faculty, as well as
community members and relatives
of artists, come to see 340 works
of art by 213 inmates.
released from prison in 2001.
The pieces display differing degrees of expertise; both
"primitive" works and "extraordinary, gallery-worthy
pieces" are shown, said Paul.
All art is for sale, ranging in artist-determined price from
$25 to $500, with most pieces in the $60 to $100 range. 90
percent of the profits go to the artist and the other 10 percent
go toward theprision.
The show's innovative works often surprise visitors, who
often "expect to see limited work coming out of a limited sit-
uation, but there's an incredibly wide range, from very peace-
ful works to graphic representations of prison life," Paul said.
Regardless of the subject matter or quality of the art, she
added each piece displays a "tremendous emotional intensi-
ty" and serves as an emotional "lifeline" for its creator.
Job market shows little promise for undergrads
By Michael Kan
Daily Staff Reporter
It's no walk in the park to get a job these days. With 2.2
million jobs lost since 2001 and the Michigan unemployment
rate at more than 7 percent, many seniors searching for jobs
are still ogling the
employment pages
of newsnaners hon-
"It's the most frustrating thing ever. There are no other
words to describe it except frustration," Marino said.
Unfortunately, students' frustrations probably won't be
relieved anytime soon. According to recent studies, this year's
graduating seniors can expect slightly better job prospects
than last year since companies are slowly hiring more college
graduates. Yet despite these increases in hiring, the reports
and experts also warn graduating seniors they will still strug-
gle to find jobs as they see no easy ways to get ahead in
any significant change in the job market.
"Most forecasts have shown that this year's prospects are
better, but it will still take some time for people to be
absorbed into the job market," he said.
Shapiro said the job market will still be challenging for
seniors not only because the increase in hiring still isn't great
enough, but also because of strong competition. "In addition
to competing with other new college graduates, they will have
to compete with the clog of workers who have been trying to
Scavenging for work
Increased demand for labor may stll make
finding a career difficult for students
The state unemplo~yment rate is greater than 7 percent
As of January, the national ratewas .1 peren
Some analysts predict a 12.7-percent increase in
college graduate hiring from last year.