Monday, November 21, 2005 News 3A English prof wins prof of the year award Opinion 4A Chris Zbrozek: calling a crisis a crisis Sports 8B A look at other' rivalries in Michigan sports HEw LARA/E PR&jE~CT" ENiGTENS STAGE .. ARTS, PAGE 8A One-hundred-ifteen years ofeditorialfreedom -- --------------- H WINNOW www.michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXVI, No. 35 ©2005 The Michigan Daily Fire ravages apartment Students living on second floor of complex reportedly jumped out of building to escape blazes By Ashley Dinges Daily Staff Reporter Flames climbed out of a three-story student apartment complex on South Campus early this morning as the Ann Arbor Fire Department worked to put out the blaze. Firefighters responded to a 12:52 a.m. call reporting the fire at the 12-unit building and arrived at the scene within minutes. They were still working to control and distinguish the fire as of 1:42 a.m. The building is located at 1611 South State St., on the cor- ner of South State Street and Stimson Street, across from the University's golf course. The complex, owned by Oppen- heimer Properties, houses one- and two-bedroom units. All residents of the burning apartment were able to escape. Fire inspectors said the cause of the fire was unknown early this morning as officers continued to monitor the scene. Ann Arbor Police Department Sgt. Torn Hickey said the fire started on the second floor and woke the resident of that apartment and his visiting brother. "We don't know anything," Hickey said. Other residents on the third floor above the burning apart- ment broke a window and jumped out. Officers were able to catch a woman, but a man who tried to lower himself broke a leg in the fall and was taken away via ambulance. "People jumped out of the third floor. There was no fire escape," said resident Sylvie Khajuria, a graduate student in the School of Information. Khajuria and her roommate, who live in the rear of the building, left their apartment after another tenant screamed to them. "Some guy ran down the stairs yelling, 'This building is on fire,"' she said, holding her roommate's cat across from the burning building. "We live in the back. All we heard was breaking glass." "We were like, grab your coat and the cat," she said. Khajuria said neither she nor her roommate heard a fire alarm while she was watching television in her room. "Nothing went off. I wasn't going to get out of bed," she said. Some residents carried armfuls of belongings across the street, including crates of textbooks. While officers worked at the scene, tenants were escorted to a University bus, parked in the Salvation Army parking lot across the street. Department of Public Safety Sgt. Tim Shannon spoke with residents aboard the bus. Firefighters extinguish a fire in a three-story student apartment complex located on 1611 South State St. Greden: no seat for Rapundalo Council member who proposed joint MSA- City Council committee may not serve on it By Jeremy Davidson Daily Staff Reporter When Stephen Rapundalo (D- Ward 2) first proposed a joint committee between the Michigan Student Assembly and City Coun- cil, his idea was to create a direct channel between students and the city government. But it seems that Rapundalo's hopes to open up to students in his first term on Council may have to find an outlet other than his pro- posed committee. The Council will vote tonight whether or not to appoint Leigh Greden (D-Ward 3) and Wendy Woods (D-Ward 5) to the two Council member spots on the com- mittee. "Stephen will have his hands full being brand new on Council." - John Hieftje Mayor of Ann Arbor The move comes as a surprise because Greden and Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje have suggested that Rapundalo would be a likely choice to serve on the committee "Stephen will have his hands full being brand new on Council," Mayor John Hieftje said. Greden said that while he feels See CITY, Page 7A Ohio State 25, MICHIGAN 21 ALEX DZIADOSZ/ Daily Stephen Hockenbarger, who traveled to Ann Arbor with his parents to protest "The Laramie Project" on Saturday, stands in front of Michigan League with other protesters. 'Project' draws protests from religous group By Neil Tambe Daily Staff Reporter . t The drama spilled out of the Mendelssohn Theatre and into Ann Arbor when pastor Fred Phelps's congregation arrived Saturday night with the message "God Hates Fags" to protest the University's produc- tion of "The Laramie Project." "The Laramie Project," a play about the death of Matthew Sheph- ard, a man killed because he was gay, drew protests from about 15 members of the Westboro Bap- tist Church - an ultra-conserva- tive, independent religious group. Wedged between the Michigan League and North University Ave- nue, the protesters arrived with signs in hand at approximately 7:15, displaying messages condemning gays. Phelps himself was not pres- ent at the protest. The group often protests perfor- mances of "The Laramie Project" and other pro-gay events across the Engineering junior Michael Elders- veld speaks against members of the Westboro Baptist Church. nation because of their religious views regarding homosexuality. As soon as they arrived, the con- gregation was met by 350 to 400 See LARAMIE, Page 7A RYAN WEINER/ Daily Michigan defenders Alan Branch (80) and Morgan Trent (14) miss Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith (10) during the Wolverines' 21-25 loss on Saturday. Once again, defense doesn't come through Dep't name change angers film students of you fail four out of nine times, most people wouldn't be lauding you as an improved line this year, the defense has failed and has come up short most of the time. That's exactly what doomed the Wolverines on Saturday, and slip away. Unfortunately for everyone in the Big House - especially the seniors watching their last game as undergrads - the defense couldn't By Jeffrey Bloomer1 Daily Film Editor this year as part of its transition into a department, along with several cur- riculum changes and new requirements for incomin~y concentrators. i