NEWS

The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 3A

SUMMER NEWS

Nader on ballot

Housing crunch
displaces families,
undergrads
A housing shortage caused by a
larger-than-expected freshman class
prompted the University to relocate
upperclassmen from Vera Baits I and
II Residence Halls to family housing
units on North Campus.
The undergraduate students who
chose to give up their rooms this fall to
incoming freshmen relocated to North-
wood I, II and III complexes, which
previously were only leased out to stu-
dents with families. They also had the
option of canceling their leases with
University Housing.
The University also narrowed the
number family-only housing facilities
on campus by encouraging residents in
the Northwood I, II and III complexes
to move into the Northwood IV and V
units, which have more bedrooms but
are also more expensive. But families
who relocated there were given the
option of paying the lower rent rates of
the first three Northwood complexes
While the Residence Hall Associa-
tion supports the University's decision,
some Northwood residents have pro-
tested the move.
City Council
delays proposed
couch ban
After months of unrest, students
finally breathed a sigh of relief after
the Ann Arbor City Council decided
to table a proposed municipal ban on
upholstered porch furniture.
The Council delayed the ban on Aug.
16 following protest by MSA and delib-
eration from council members that con-
cluded that students and faculty were
not adequately incorporated into the
decision-making process. The argu-
ment behind the ban stemmed from
the observed fire hazards posed by the
furniture.
Dean of students
resigns, interim
dean selected
Two months after the resignation
of then-Dean of Students Ed Willis in
May, the University chose his successor
in late July. Vice President for Student
Affairs E. Royster Harper appointed
former Law School Dean Susan Eck-
lund as interim dean of students.
New budget
restores student
affairs funding
The Student Affairs budget, which
many students expected to be decreased
for the upcoming year, was injected
with new funds in mid-July when
administrators discovered means to
avoid 5-percent funding cuts.
One program funded under the bud-
get, the Sexual Assault Prevention and
Awareness Center, which the Universi-
ty reorganized last year, is expected to
receive funding increases of $70,000.
The Office of Multi-Ethnic Stu-
dent Affairs, Student Activities and
Leadership and Pow Wow - a Native
American cultural show - also stand
to receive funding restorations.

Fall ballot to
include decision
on marijuana
Ann Arbor voters in November will
decide whether medical marijuana
should be legalized, a controversial
question that was placed on the ballot
as a result of 7,000 petition signatures
collected through the initiative of local
supporters over the course of one year.
The petition drive was led by Scio
Township Trustee Charles Ream and
won the support of 5 percent of city res-
idents. Ann Arbor currently has a law
that makes the possession of marijuana
punishable by a $25 fine.
Student, former
professor die in
plane crash
A plane crash in Vermontville Twp.
claimed the lives of Engineering stu-
dent Jeffrey Chen and former Universi-
ty Mechanical Engineering Prof. Allen

By Andrew Kaplan
Daily News Editor
John Kerry faces a different race for the presi-
dency in Michigan now that Ralph Nader, a long-
time consumer advocate, has been added to the
state ballot.
Democrats on campus and around the state say
Nader's presence on the Michigan ballot - which
came after a state appeals court ruling on Friday
that also allowed a proposal to ban gay marriages
in the state to be placed on the ballot - could sub-
tract valuable votes from the Kerry camp.
Those votes could have a greater impact here,
where Kerry has a weak lead over Bush, than in
more solidly Democratic states such as California.
Overall, Michigan plays a powerful hand in decid-
ing the president because of its 17 electoral votes
that, from election to election, oscillate between
Republican and Democratic affiliation.
"It's going to help (Republicans) get George
Bush elected if Nader is on the ballot in a swing

state like Michigan," said Un
Democrats Chair Ramya Rag
junior.
The battle in Michigan will b
lege campuses, Raghavan said,1
represent the bulk of the state's
normally turn out to the polls.
run as an independent candidate
up his campaign toward studen
Michigan State University and th
Michigan Union on Monday.
"He's pretty popular among c
said Nader's state coordinator, M
referring to polls that show Nad
better among younger voters tha
ing populace as a whole. She ad
sition to the Iraq war has won ov
disaffected by Kerry's support o
Joellen Gilchrist, chair of th
County Billionaires for Bush -
that lobbies against the preside
theater -said Democrats swing

changes race
niversity College will ultimately benefit the president, as group
;havan, an LSA members costumed as swashbuckling billionaires
rushed to paste their flyers over signs posted by
e fiercest on col- Nader followers on the Diag.
because students The Michigan Democratic Party has lashed
voters who don't out at Nader and at state Republicans for petition-
Nader, who will ing for the independent candidate, but stopped
e, is also stepping short yesterday of saying that Nader's access to
nts with stops at the ballot will imperil Kerry's chances in the
he ballroom of the November election.
"It's not going to change our effort," said Michi-
college students," gan Democratic spokesman Jason Moon, referring
argaret Guttshall, to the court's ruling. But he conceded that "a vote
er performing far for Nader is a vote to reelect George Bush."
in among the vot- Currently, Nader's Michigan campaign spreads
ded that his oppo- its message mainly by holding social events,
ver a constituency engaging people one-on-one and flyering. In
f military action. Michigan he shies away from aggressive TV and
e South Oakland radio advertisements.
a political group Michigan State junior Ryan Dinkgrave, chair
nt using satirical of his school's chapter of Students for Nader, said
ing toward Nader students in Michigan supporting the independent

for Kerry
"It's going to help
(Republicans) get George
Bush elected if Nader is
on the ballot in a swing
state like Michigan."
- Ramya Raghavan
College Democrats Chair
candidate have just recently begun coordinating
their efforts.
Many signatures gathered to support Nader's
berth in the presidential race are still being contest-
ed - including those submitted in Pennsylvania,
which has 21 electoral votes. Nader has handed in
petitions in 29 states and the District of Columbia.


Fall ofa

home

Student govt groups
plan battle of bands,
State of College address

By Kristen Przybylski
Daily Staff Reporter
Student government is gearing up for another semester with
new projects, including a State of the College address, battle of
the bands and the creation of an international relations minor.
To mark the third anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks, MSA will sponsor a conference featuring speak-
ers such as former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter and
CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin. The event will take place on
Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Business School.
MSA will also unveil a website next Monday that will help
students in the search for off-campus housing. Through this
website, students will be able to rank landlords and describe
their experiences with housing. Students will be able to
access this service at www.msa.umich.edu.
The Residence Halls Association and the University
Activities Center will be working with MSA to put on a bat-
tle of the bands at Palmer Field this Friday at 5 p.m. "We're
working together on getting the campus excited and united,"
MSA Vice President Jennifer Nathan said.
MSA also hopes to host a Spring Fling event on the last
day of classes. Students will be able to celebrate the end of
next year's winter term with live music and other festivities.
"We're hoping for some big names," said MSA President
Jason Mironov, a Business School senior.
The LSA Student Government's plans for the year
include events geared toward student outreach, politics and
school pride.
During last spring's elections, LSA-SG President Lau-
ren May, a junior, and Vice President Ryan Ford, a senior,
announced they plan to turn the focus of the group toward
more nonacademic projects. They cited Thursday's Palmer
Party, an annual festival for freshmen during welcome week,
as an example of the shift in their efforts. "That was a good
event to get freshmen involved right away," Ford said.

"We're working on continuing things like that."
Also this fall, the student government will register
voters and advertise groups such as MTV's Rock the
Vote and Voice Your Vote, which encourage voter par-
ticipation.
Planning is also underway for what members of LSA-SG
hope will turn into several days devoted to homecoming fes-
tivities. Current plans include a spirit day on the Diag, live
music, and other games and activities.
"The school is full of school spirit, so why not channel
that into homecoming celebration?" May asked during her
campaign last semester.
A State of the College address is also on the student gov-
ernment's agenda for this year. LSA-SG is hoping to book
several deans including Assistant Dean of Undergraduate
Education Marjorie Horton to speak along with May to
inform students about what is going on within the college
from the perspective of both the administration and the stu-
dent government.
"We're going to do this to keep communication lines open
with students and get their feedback," Ford said. The event is
tentatively scheduled for late November.
LSA-SG will also be continuing efforts to add an interna-
tional relations minor. The minor would include two tracks,
one focusing on cultures and the other on politics. Ford
stressed that while progress has been made in this area, the
work is not done.
"We actually got half of what we wanted," Ford said,
referring to the go-ahead from LSA deans and department
heads for the culturally based minor. "We're still pushing for
the political track with departments like political science.'
Ford said the cultural international relations minor should be
available to students this winter.
In order to follow through on a promise made during their
winter campaigns, the MSA executives will also be making
an effort to connect with more student groups this year.

Ann Arbor fire fighters battle a blaze at 501. Linden St. In the early
morning of Sept. 3. University students living in the house lost their
possessions along with their residence.


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