I
Thursday,January 13, 2005
News 3A The face of Liberty
Street may change
Opinion 4A Joel Hoard dares
America to get over
itself
Sports 12A Icer Moss improves
in final season
EX,., aP-LORE ANN'sEG
£ it 4
Weather
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TOMORROW:
23/2.2
One-hundredfourteen years ofeditorialfreedom
www.michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan m Vol. CXV, No. 59 x2005 The Michigan Daily
Legislature returns amid protest
Economy and
obs focus of
new
session
By Karen Tee
Daily Staff Reporter
The Michigan Legislature reconvened
yesterday for the first day of the 2005-
06 session with another budget deficit
looming on the horizon. Thirty-nine
new representatives were sworn in yes-
terday, comprising over one-third of the
110-member state House.
The high turnover rate is a result of term
limits, which currently require representa-
tives to leave the House at the expiration of
three two-year terms. The state Senate was
all familiar faces, as state Senate terms do
not expire until 2006.
Term limits also affected the House
leadership. Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) has
replaced Rick Johnson as speaker of the
Republican- controlled House, the represen-
tative who presides over the chamber and
serves as his party's highest-ranking official
in the House.
DeRoche addressed the budget situation
in his inaugural speech. He pointed to tem-
porary solutions such as Gov. Jennifer Gran-
holm's cigarette tax hike as inadequate.
"This Legislature was party to every fee
increase, one-time fix and tax shift," he said,
in brief remarks to representatives and their
families. "All this was done in an effort to
put off hard decisions and with the hope that
things would magically turn around on their
own. It hasn't worked."
Michigan's economy and the current out-
flow of jobs are the most important issues
spokesmen for DeRoche and state Senate
Majority Leader Ken Sikkema (R-Wyo-
ming) say legislators will tackle in the com-
ing year.
DeRoche spokesman Matt Resch said,
"The state continues to spend more money
than we have. DeRoche is determined to
make sure the Michigan state government
spends within our means and reforms the
See LEGISLATURE, Page 7A
Koib promotes bill aimed
at curbing discrimination
By Justin Miller
Daily Staff Reporter
LANSING - Michigan residents Jessica McCor-
mack and Danielle Root plan to make their relation-
ship official at a ceremony in May, but it will not be
legally recognized because of the statewide adoption
of Proposal 2 - which defines marriage as an institu-
tion between a man and a woman.
The marriage amendment was under fire yesterday
in Lansing where legislators met for the first session
of the year. At the same time a variety of civil rights
groups gathered in front of the state Capitol Building
to demand equal treatment under the law as well as
protections and benefits for their families.
McCormack, Root and their 5-year-old daughter
joined about 100 people in the "Protecting Our Fami-
lies" rally sponsored by the University's Stonewall Dem-
ocrats - a group that focuses on promoting gay rights.
See LGBT, Page 3A
MSA plans bus
rides to Bush
inauguration
JUMPING AHEAD
Desp ite initial
problems, trip
to commence
By Jeremy Davidson
Daily Staff Reporter
After deciding Tbesday to send buses
to Washington for the presidential inau-
guration, the Michigan Student Assembly
postponed registration for the trip because
of accusations of partisanship.
The postponement came a day after
MSA voted to appropriate $6,805 to sub-
sidize the cost of bus tickets for less than
half the usual price by a vote of 27-1 with
three abstentions.
At around 3:30 p.m., about an hour and
a half before the registration for the trip
was to begin yesterday, MSA moved the
time at which it would begin accepting
reservations to noon today.
Registration for the event was to be
done by MSA's Peace and Justice Com-
mission, but some representatives said
they felt the commission was too biased
to handle the process.
"The Peace and Justice Commission
seems to be a very liberal commission,"
said MSA Rules and Elections chair
Russell Garber, the only member to vote
against the resolution to send buses to
D.C. "They were the ones who brought
in Michael Moore. It was my belief that
more liberals could be on those buses,
* and they were becoming MSA-subsi-
dized protest buses. I felt that the process
was becoming slanted," he said.
MSA president Jason Mironov firmly
voiced confidence in the nonpartisanship
of MSA's Peace and Justice commission.
But in light of the concerns over the com-
mission's perceived bias, Mironov and
MSA Vice President Anita Leung took
over the registration process.
"The reason Anita and I chose to take
registration on ourselves wassbecause
ultimately it's our responsibility to make
sure the event is nonpartisan. Concerns
were voiced to us that it might be par-
tisan, so now we can say with absolute
certainty that they wont be. We have the
utmost faith in our P. and J. (MSA Peace
and Justice Commission) chairs, but we
will sleep better knowing that we've done
it ourselves," Mironov said.
The postponement did not disap-
point the College Democrats or College
Republicans.
Ben Saukas, vice chair external of the
College Republicans, said the group was
pleased with the decision because it gave
it more time to inform their members
about the registration and trip.
"We are quite happy that they post-
poned it," Saukas said.
"I don't think the delay from yester-
day at 5 p.m: to Thursday at 12 p.m.
should make a huge difference. I think
people who were interested will stay
interested," LSA junior College Demo-
crats President Ramya Raghavan said..
RC junior Ryan Bates, co-chair of
MSA's Peace and Justice Commission,
said he was very pleased with the deci-
sion to subsidize buses to Washington,
and that it was a good experience work-
ing with Raghavan and College Repub-
licans president Allison Jacobs.
"The Peace and Justice Commission
forwarded the idea of sending buses to
Washington, D.C. and contacted Ramya
Raghavan and Ali Jacobs, who both
decided to co-sponsor the resolution
and speak on its behalf to the assem-
bly," Bates said.
Garber, an LSA junior, said he voted
against the resolution not only because
See BUSES, Page 7A
Restored
Hill wins
praise of
architects
By Laura Van Hyfte
For the Daily
The American Institute of Architects
is honoring Hill Auditorium, a Uni-
versity venue for world-renowned per-
formers and guest lecturers, for being a
masterpiece of renovation.
The University's Hill Auditorium,
along with 35 other recipients, was
selected out of 630 submissions for the
award. Other winners included the Jubi-
lee Church in Rome and the Chongming
Island Master Plan in Shanghai, China.
"The AIA awards are very
prestigious. This is a significant honor
that recognizes the preservation work
that we completed with this project,"
said Diane Brown, spokesman for facili-
ties and operations at the University.
Significant restoration of a wonderful
hall, including restoring the house to its
original color scheme, made Hill Audi-
torium stand out from other submissions
for the AIA Honor Award, Brown said.
A new air conditioning system, 28
new bathroom stalls and a replaced
electrical and ventilations system were
among the many improvements to the
91-year-old building. $33.5 million was
raised to modify it. Commencing in
May 13, 2002 and completed on April
20, 2004, the project focused on modi-
fying the building to 21st century archi-
tectural standards. Doing this, along
with trying to maintain the building's
20th century aura, was the most diffi-
cult for the architects to do, said Mike
Quinn, a spokesman for Quinn Evans
Architects - the company in charge of
design and preservation.
"The recognition of Hill Auditorium
by the AIA is a great accomplishment
for the University of Michigan and the
city of Ann Arbor," Quinn said.
The expertise of two major architec-
tural firms, Quinn Evans Architects and
Albert Kahn and Associates, Inc., were
influential in the Hill Auditorium reno-
vation project.
Hank Baier, associate vice presi-
dent for the University's facilities
and operations, explained how the
renovation project was also the col-
lective effort of many in the city of
Ann Arbor. Over $2.8 million was
raised by private sources for the ren-
ovation.
"We appreciate the efforts of all the
men and women within the University
and our partners who participated in the
restoration and update of Hill Audito-
rium. Everyone's hard work, dedication
and attention to detail led to spectacular
results and this wonderful recognition,"
Baier said.
Since 1857, The AIA has repre-
sented the professional interests of
America's architects. Members of the
AIA adhere to a code of ethics and
professional conduct that assures the
client, the public and colleagues of
an AIA-member architect's dedica-
tion to the highest standards. Over
'740 aflrhitectral and1 nrofessdn-~
Courtney Sims scored 17 points in Michigan's 71-61 win over Northwestern in the Wolverines' Big Ten home
opener at Crisier Arena last night to move to 2-0 in conference play. See full coverage on Page 10A.
*A fter tsunami, students reflect and cope
By Amber Colvin
Daily Staff Reporter
Although last month's tsunami disas-
ter occurred on the other side of the
world, the effects of its waves were felt
here in Ann Arbor. About 800 Univer-
sity students are from the three regions
affected by the tsunami - South Asia,
Southeast Asia and East Africa - said
International Center Director Rodolfo
Alatamirano.
LSA senior Hershey Jayasuriya said
most of her father's side of the family
was part of the death count.
"My family has long roots in Ambal-
angoda," Jayasuriya said of the seaside
town in Sri Lanka where she once lived
and has visited often. "That town was
very much a part of my family ... it just
feels like I've lost my home."
Much of the town was destroyed by
the enormous waves and the same is
true for much of the rest of Sri Lanka, a
country off the southern coast of India
"Different people deal with grief in
different ways. For me, it was to be
active in an organization," she said.
She now co-leads the group with RC
senior Beth Bovair. Jayasuriya said
the group acts as a resource for other
student organizations to collaborate
in coordinating tsunami aid events on
campus.
Other students have experienced
similar losses.
Rackham student Nat Kulvanich said
that his family had a resort in Khao
Lak, Thailand, but now the business
is gone. He added that his aunt who
was staying at the resort was unable to
escape and is now missing.
But the rest of his family survived.
"My family is OK," Kulvanich said.
"My mother, father, brother and sister
are OK."
In Thailand, the town of Khao Lak
was hit hard, and now the former tour-
ist attraction lies underneath rubble.
Engineering freshman Rahul Nevatia
town.
Walter said his family was up high
enough to not get hurt by the waves cre-
ated by the tsunami.
Walter also said he has been on pre-
vious trips to Phuket, Thailand, a city
that was severely damaged in the tsu-
nami.
"It's scary to think that a year ago, I
might have been there," Walter said.
Tomorrow students,
University staff and
members of Ann
Arbor can share
their grief at a vigil
for tsunami victims.
It will begin with
a candle ight
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