Wednesday,January 11, 2006 News 2 Iran defies United Nations restrictions Opinion 4 Conservatives vs. Momin BASKETBALL HAS TAKEN A BACKSEAT TO LIFE FOR DANIEL RTN ... SPORTs, PAGE 8 One-/zundredyffteen years ofedtorzadfreedom Arts 5 Latest Apple convention unveils new technology - - ----- - ------------------- - -- - -------------------------- 1 www.michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXVI, No. 52 62006 The Michigan Daily OJ 'M' swim coach to be taken off ife support Former swimmer and assistant coach Eric Namesnik suffers mortal injuries in crash By Nate Sandals Daily Sports Writer Suffering from injuries sustained in a car accident last weekend, former Michigan swimmer and assistant coach Eric Namesn- ik was prounced brain dead at about 3 p.m. yesterday at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Superior Township. He will be taken off life support today after his organs are prepared for donation. Namesnik made a name for himself as both a swimmer and an assistant coach in his 16 years at the University. He gained national recogni- tion at the 1992 and 1996 Olym- pic games, where he won two silver medals. Namesnik's con- dition took a turn for the worse at about 7 a.m. yes- terday after he was seriously injured in Namesnik a traffic accident early Saturday morning, according to former swim team captain Dan Ketchum. Sgt. Brad Hill of the Ann Arbor Police Department said there were over a dozen cars involved in the pile-up, which occurred I Life after Coke: Area feels effects Nearby bottlers, distribution plants could be hurt by University cutting Coke contracts By Neil Tambe Daily Staff Reporter In addition to drying the mouths of Coke lovers across campus, the Univer- sity's suspension of Coca-Cola products will likely have an impact on regional Coca-Cola employees. Responding to pressure from campus activist groups that allege the company has committed civil rights and environmental injustices in India and Colombia, the Uni- versity decided last month to temporarily suspend its contracts with the company. The University's supply of the beverage is bottled at a plant in Detroit and distrib- uted across Southeast Michigan by way of a distribution center in Van Buren. The University purchases over 80,000 cases of Coke products each year, accord- ing to Percy Wells, spokesman for Michi- gan's Coca-Cola bottling company. The total yearly bill comes out to about $14 million. Wells said the decrease in sales result- ing from the contract suspension will have an immediate impact on the bot- tling company. "The decision only affects Michigan jobs, Michigan workers and local Michi- gan families;" Wells said. Gordie Johnston, a Coca-Cola truck driver, said he believes jobs will be affect- ed over the long term if the contract is not renewed. "When (students) are at full swing, they go through a lot of pop," he said. Coke sells syrup to independent bot- tling plants, which then produce and dis- tribute the cola. "Coca-Cola does not sell or distribute anything in North America," Wells said. "It's distributed by local bottlers." Michigan's bottling company employs about 2,000 people, 64 percent of whom are unionized. The local union,called Teamsters Local 337, boasts a membership of about 560. Delivery workers are entirely union- ized and the commission sales staff is non-union. According to Wells, employees come from all walks of life and include college students, urbanites, blue-collar and white- collar workers. "Everyone needs a job, no matter what position they are working in," he said. In addition to bottlers working at the plant, the loss of sales could affect every- one from salaried salespeople, who make $40,000 to $50,000 per year, to delivery truck drivers earning about $19 per hour, Wells said. The reduction in sales would likely affect drivers with less seniority first because delivery routes are assigned first to employees with seniority. Drivers without products to deliver would be sent home that day without full pay. The University plans to resume its con- tracts if the company agrees to an third- party investigation in Colombia. Coca-Cola officials argue that local- ly-produced beverages are not linked to the operations in India and Colombia. A letter to the University from Coca- Cola signed Dec. 19 said, "Banning Coca-Cola products at the University of Michigan will not affect the bottlers in Colombia or India, which are distinctly separate companies." University Spokeswoman Julie Peter- See COKE, Page 7 JUSTIN BASS/Daily Coca-Cola truck driver Gordie Johnston says Michigan workers could be affected by the University suspending its contracts with the soft-drink giant. on I-94 near Jackson when "He was 0 such a huge influence on my career. It's hard to think about swimming right now." - Tom Dolan, former Olympian and teammate several vehi- cles lost con- trol in the drizzle. Namesn- ik's for- mer coach and co- worker Jon Urbanchek was at the hospital when he was pronounced brain dead. A number of his former teammates were also present. Since the MSA supports raise ONE FISH, TWO FISH " " 0 in minimum wage accident, there has been an out- former Michi- pouring of support from gan swimmers. Assembly also agrees to fund panel to discuss issues and viewpoints from both sides with students By Joelie Dodge Daily Staff Reporter Building on its precedent of addressing major state and national issues, The Michi- gan Student Assembly approved a resolution yesterday to support the concept of rasing the mininumwage in Michigan to $6.85.. The assembly also agreed to plan and fund an unbiased panel event for students about the wage issue. Members of the Raise the Wage Student Coalition, a student group advocating an increase in the state's minimum wage, attended last night's MSA meeting wearing green cloth- ing to show their size and strength as they pro- moted the resolution. The panel will be composed of experts from both sides of the issue. Coalition members said the panel's purpose will be to educate students about the pros and cons of increasing the mini- A swimming alumni group called the "Michigan Old Guard" sent an e-mail to many former Michigan swimmers alert- ing them of the situation and suggesting ways for them to support the family. One of Namesnik's most famous races took place against fellow Wolverine Tom Dolan in the 400-meter individual medley at the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta. Dolan finished first, beating Namesn- ik by a mere .35 seconds. Though Dolan and Namesnik were often See NAMESNIK, Page 7 mum wage. The coalition believes MSA's response is important to its success. "MSA support is important because they are the voice of the students," said Ryan Bates, who represented one of the groups in the coalition, Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality. "It is their role as a body to inform students, but also they are who we elect to stand up for what is right in the interest of the students." At the meeting, MSA General Counsel Russ Garber objected MSA addressing large issues such as increasing the minimum wage. "This is something that isn't under MSA's jurisdiction," he said. "If five people care about something it's a student issue. These are major national and international issues. It is not an issue MSA should be dealing with in this form." The coalition argues that MSA support is a vital ally of the student body to promote the issues student groups support. "We see it as a compelling social justice issue and these sentiments are shared by many students in the student body," said Pam Baker, coalition member and chair of Students for See WAGE, Page 7 Rackham student Ron Oldfield displays two of his cichild fish. He was the first stu- dent outside of the Medical School to be awarded the Jody C. Ungerlelder Award, which honors humane treatment of animals In research. Dingell addresses A2 What sucks? LSA-SG wants to know New program promises to address campus problems that students complain about By Ekjyot SalnI Daily Staff Reporter Ever find yourself saying "this sucks" when registering for classes, choosing a was how credit brackets are used to assign class registration appointments. Expansion of Entr6e Plus locations and an increase in Wolverine Access hours also came near the top of the list. "We have the resources and responsibility to address the issues most important to stu- dents rather than pursue our personal agen- das," LSA-SG President Yahkind said. Students can e-mail their complaints Calls for change Most common complaints about the University: Class registration appointment assignment system Too few Entree Plus locations residents' Congressman addresses troubled state economy during speech, which is part of annual dialogue series By Bo He Daily Staff Reporter concerns economic issues facing the state and addressed questions ranging from the current budget deficit to job outsourcing. One of the key issues heavily affecting the national economy is the ongoing war in Iraq. The war is costing the United States more than $1.5 billion every week, according to the National Priorities Project. With the final tab expected to easily top $2 L ,I i i i i