LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 6, 2004 - 3A CAMPUS Hill Aud. reopens 0 with ribbon- cutting ceremony Hill Auditorium will reopen at 1 p.m. Thursday after renovations began in May 2002. University Presi- dent Mary Sue Coleman will partici- pate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Speakers from Albert Kahn Associ- ates and Quinn Evans Architects will discuss highlights of the renovation. Musicians will be performing pieces by Stravinsky, Ginastera and other composers. Local fiddle player Jeremy Kittel will also present his own composition, "Lost Time." Self- guided walking tours of the renova- tions will continue until 7:30 p.m. Music school now offers daily carillon concerts The University School of Music will open the playing room to the public at. noon and 1:30 p.m. every weekday beginning this week in the Lurie Tower on North Campus. The concerts, in the room, will feature a carillonist playing Lurie Tower's treasured set of 60 Dutch bells. These bells create a sound typical of Holland's world-famous carillons. Director discusses film on Cuba's Sephardic Jews Anthropology Prof. Ruth Behar will showcase her 2001 documentary "Adio Kerida," (Goodbye, Dear Love), at noon today in the Osterman Room in Rackham Building. The film examines the search of Sephardic Jews with roots in Cuba for their Jewish, Cuban and Latino identities. In the film, she underlines themes of expulsion and departure at the core of the Sephardic heritage. The film will run for about 58 min- utes. Behar will lead a discussion about the documentary after the viewing. This film viewing is part of the Brown Bag Lecture series, sponsored by the Institute for the Humanities. Partici- pants should bring a bag lunch. Choir kicks off first meeting of the year Student singers may be interested in joining the official choir of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. The Arts Chorale will hold its first meeting at 4 p.m. today in Lecture Room one of the Modern Languages Building. Art museum screens two Surrealist videos The University Museum of Art will show two Surrealist shorts at 12:10 p.m. tomorrow in the museum's audio- visual room. The two art videos are Rene Clair's "Entr'acte" and Marcel Duchamp's "Anemic Cinema." The art videos are part of the museum's exhibit on Surrealism. U.S. imperialism symposium begins with film viewing A free film screening of Catherine Benamou's "Cine-Tropes and Gazas of Empire, 1898-2000" will start at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in 3512 Haven Hall. Benamou is an American culture and film and video studies professor. The screening will open the Universi- ty Atlantic Studies Initiative' sympo- sium "Covering American Empire." The symposium will examine the imperial extent of American history and culture. Scholars from the Univer- sity and around the nation will gather for panel discussions and other pre- sentations. Mass meeting held to recruit orientation leaders Students who are thinking about spending the summer on campus have the opportunity to assist with new student and parent orientations. The Office of New Student Pro- grams will hold a mass meeting for students who are interested in apply- ing for summer orientation leader- ship positions at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the Kalamazoo Room of the Michigan League. Students can try ___ ft1,1w w Commencement speech inspires graduates By Ashley Dinges Daily Staff Reporter As many students left school for winter break, others celebrated a greater form of closure: com- mencement. Friends and family members filled Crisler Arena on Dec. 14, supporting the graduates as they culminated their academic careers. "As graduates of the University of Michigan, we can help our nation overcome fear and ignorance again," said Jessica Burstrem, an LSA graduate who spoke at the ceremony. Burstrem was chosen to speak on behalf of the graduating students. "At the University of Michigan, we have learned the very real sense of freedom that comes with the ability to ... express our ideas openly and freely," Burstrem said. Burstrem's accomplishments at the University include several awards, such as the Dean's Merit scholarship and Regents' scholarship. Also, several of her poems have been published. "Not everyone knows what it means to be able to speak freely without fear of punishment. We must speak with ... the mouths of those who do not speak," Burstrem said. She also offered her time volunteering as a youth counselor, and was involved in the University's K- Grams program - which pairs University students with elementary school students in a pen pal exchange. Thomas Miller, U.S. ambassador to Greece and University alum, gave the commencement speech. Miller received four degrees from the University, including three in political science and one in Asian studies. "Try as hard as I can, I cannot remember my col- lege graduation," Miller said, as he joked with stu- dents and shared his memories of the University. "When I was a student here, I thought getting good grades was the most important thing. Today, as I reflect on my experiences, I know that critical problem solving and thinking ... serve as ends in themselves;' Miller said. At the ceremony, Miller was awarded an hon- orary Doctor of Laws degree. Before becoming the ambassador to Greece, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina for two years. University President Mary Sue Coleman also spoke and offered congratulatory praise to the win- ter graduates. "This is a day to remember that the world is bet- ter because ... we continue to make a difference," Coleman said. Coleman related the students' experiences at the University to those of another alum - journalist Mike Wallace. Coleman stressed that Wallace faced many of the same obstacles as current students today, such as a need for financial aid. She closed her speech with advice to the class of 2003. "We must all remember to keep the quest for knowledge alive." While many students leave to pursue careers or continue their education, roommates and LSA graduates Sarah Studley and Ed Keogh said they plan to stay in Ann Arbor until August. Studley is hoping to join the federal Teach for America program after graduation, to tutor children in low-income areas of the country. Both graduates stressed their love for Ann Arbor. "I don't plan on leaving," Keogh said. "Ever" Studley added, with a laugh. Pre-game jitters Auto companies record low sales last year, hope for gains in 2004 Fans tailgate outside the Rose game. B ETMOUNAIN/Daiy Bowl stadium before the big DETROIT (AP) - U.S. sales of new cars and trucks dropped to their lowest level in five years in 2003, but analysts and executives say a strong finish to the year, a bevy of new vehi- cles and an improving economy bode well for business in 2004. Despite record levels of consumer incentives, total U.S. sales were 16.7 million in 2003, about 1 percent lower than the previous year. New car and truck business hasn't been that low since 1998, though annual tallies have reached all-time highs in the past few years. General Motors Corp. fell short in its bid to increase U.S. market share for a third straight year in 2003 as the world's largest automaker, along with Detroit rivals Ford Motor Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, saw sales decline. At the same time, some foreign automakers posted record results, including Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and BMW Group. A variety of new vehicles helped several foreign brands expand their stake in the U.S. market in 2003, but analysts say an upcoming product offensive by Detroit's Big Three could make such gains more difficult this year. "I think Detroit will continue to lose market share in '04, but at a much slower rate," said David Healy, an ana- lyst with Burnham Securities Inc. "They have a pretty good pipeline of new product in the works." Another positive for GM, Ford and Chrysler, Healy said, is they continue to sell of lot of higher-priced sport util- ity vehicles and premium-brand cars. "The profit implication of what they're selling is pretty impressive," he said. "Americans apparently are taking their price cuts and buying up" GM, which will launch 13 all-new models in 2004, said yesterday its sales fell 9.5 percent in December from the same period a year ago, when it poured on consumer incentives to meet year- end market-share targets and sparked extraordinarily high volume. Such a decline in sales last month was expect- ed among analysts. Truck sales were down 11 percent; car volume was off about 6 percent. For the year, GM sales were down 2.4 percent, though it set an industry sales record for trucks. In an interview Monday during media preview days at the North American International Auto Show, GM chairman Rick Wagoner said the industry as a whole rebounded well from sluggish sales in the first half of 2003. "That gives both the industry and us a good base to run into this year," Wagoner said. "What I don't want to do is what we did last year, which, I hate to say, was kind of fall asleep in the first quarter and you get yourself in a big hole." Toyota's American arm said its 2003 "I think Detroit will continue to lose market share in '04, but at a much slower rate ... They have a pretty good pipeline of new product in the works:~' - David Healy Analyst, Burnham Securities Inc. sales rose 6.3 percent to more than 1.8 million vehicles - the company's best performance in its 46-year history. For the second year in a row and the sixth time in the past seven years, Toyota's Camry was America's best-selling vehicle. Toyota said the record year also increased its market share to an all- time high and established Japan's No. 1 automaker as the best-selling car brand in the United States, leaping ahead of Ford and Chevrolet for the first time. "Industry sales will continue to grow in 2004, spurred by a healthy economy and steady growth in con- sumer confidence," said Jim Press, executive vice president of Toyota's Granholm signs bills to help tool-and-die industry hire students LANSING (AP) - Legislation that would help the tool-and-die industry recruit students and allow the state broadband development authority to make loans to certain tool-and-die busi- nesses was signed by the governor yes- terday. The bills were part of a plan by state House and Senate Republicans to encourage job growth in the state and help certain industries. The broadband bill would allow the Michigan Broadband Development Authority Act to offer loans to qualified tool-and-die businesses if those busi- nesses were located in a recovery zone. It was tied to another bill signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm yesterday that would allow the establishment of tool-and-die recovery zones, which are similar to ren- aissance zones and would offer tax breaks to companies covered by them. The third bill would give skilled trades groups the same access to.stu- dents for recruiting purposes as colleges, universities and others. U U WELCOME STUDENTS FOOD FOR THOUGHT The popular history of the Vietnam War often borders on urban legend. I am a private businessman in Ann Arbor and a Vietnam Vet. I run ads in the Michigan Daily called Food for Thought. I seek no business from the ads, but am simply trying to dispel some of the myths of the Vietnam War. Those myths are not just an insult to we who served, but more importantly, to those who died. Many of my ads will hopefully cause you to contemplate the ramifications of protesting. No sane person favors war. Where honest people may disagree is in how to prevent war. While protesting may give the participant a feel-good emotion, many have come to the conclusion that protests not only ensure war, but prolong it once it begins. How did I personally come to that conclusion? By reading all that I can get my hands on; not about Vietnam, but coming out of Vietnam. Here is a nugget: "The Western anti-war movements had contributed much to our victory." A Viet Cong Memoir, Truong Nhu Tang, co-founder of the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong). My comparisons of the Vietnam War to current events may differ from those commonly portrayed. They may make you feel uncomfortable, but, hopefully, will give you food for thought. The UM prides itself on diversity; diversity of thought ought to be part of it. Gary Lillie & Assoc., Realtors www.garylillie.com K* REC SPORTS IN TRA MUR AL S The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports Intramural Sports Program www.recsports.umich.edu 734-763-3562 REC SPORTS IN'rRAMURALS Entries taken: Wed, 01/07 ONLY 11:00AM - 5:30PM IM Building Entry Fee: $85.00 per team Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Wed, 01/07 6:00 PM or 9:00 PM 1M Building Play begins: Thurs, 01/08 IM Building Basketball I > Entries taken: Tues, 01/06 ONLY 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM IM Building Entry Fee: $435.00 per team Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Tues, 011/06 6:00 PM IM Building Play begins: Wed, 01/07 Yost Ice Arena Ice Hockey < < 4 .* .. F,, >> x : 4 Y ~ Entries taken: Wed, 01/07 ONLY 11:00 AM-5:30 PM IM Building Entry Fee: $50.00 per team Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Wed, 01/07 7:15 PM IM Building Play begins: Thurs, 01/08 IM Building t 7 l Entries taken: Wed, 01/07 ONLY 11:00 AM-5:30PM IM Building Entry Fee: $75.00 per team Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Wed, 01/07 8:00 PM IM Building }A Play begins: Thurs, 41/08 IM Building Innr Tulka +a DAVA Maim Diramathidl I I 1 1 ,!