Thursday,January 12, 2006 Opinion 4A Sports 4A Alison Go locks her doors Swimming plays hard in Puerto Rico j1 C7\ 'ZS SHAgpEvWill u OCN : 7JDENT HOING ,. 11w STATEMENT Arts 8A NBC's "Four Kings" can't save Thursdays One-hundredfifteen years ofeditorialfreedom www.mc/ingandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXVI, No. 53 02006 The Michigan Daily Dispute in Detroit FOREST CASEY/Daily An MTV cameraman trails Susan Kennedy, a student at Ann Arbor's Community High School, who wants to get "Made" into a belly dancer. A2 high-schoolers vle to 'Made EMMA NOLAN-ABRAHAMIAN/Daily Grand Valley State University student Allison Kranz testifies during a hearing about alleged fraud concerning the ballot proposal that would ban some affirmative action programs yesterday night in Detroit. Resi en sues ion 1 iL Men is let Witnesses say MCRI lied to them; commission to hold more testimonies By Christina Hildreth Daily Staff Reporter DETROIT - The affirmative action saga continued in downtown Detroit last night as the Michigan Civil Rights Commission held the first of several hearings to investigate allegations that circulators collecting signatures for the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative deceived petition signers. MCRI, which has collected more than 500,000 signatures to place an initiative on November's ballot that would ban some affirmative action programs in Michigan, has vehemently denied all fraud charges. But Detroiters showed up by the dozens last night to tell tales of alleged fraud. "I'm here tonight to represent myself saying 'Take my signature off,' " said Lynn White, a Detroit resident and member of a city workers' union. White said a canvasser working for MCRI told him the petition was in support of affirma- tive action. MCRI purposefully employed black circulators to collect signatures so they could be used "as a smoke screen to bamboozle us to sign it" he said. "Who in their right mind - being black - would sign that petition?" White said. The members of the commission questioned several witnesses brought in by BAMN - a mil- itant group in opposition to the measure - in an effort to iron out the details of the alleged fraud, asking them to clarify what circulators told them about the initiative and what they understood those descriptions to mean. What the commission will do with the testi- mony is unclear at the moment, said commission spokesman Harold Core. "Right now they are just listening," Core said. Under Michigan's constitution, the commis- sion has a duty to "carry out the guarantees against discrimination." Core explained that the group acts as a quasi- judicial body, and can issue orders similar to a judge, or make recommendations to another body such as the Michigan Supreme Court. Although more than 300 people spilled into MTV reality show that revamps teenagers lives descends on area schools By Kimberly Chou Daily Arts Writer Ann Arbor Community High School's Ellen Griffith wants to be made. She's determined to endure grueling workouts, stick with 1,400-calorie diets and, if MTV is willing to pay for it, have the toned torso of Gisele Biindchen in five television-documented months or less. "I want the body of a Victoria's Secret model," the bubbly-blond junior said dur- ing an open casting call for MTV's reality show "Made," held during lunch hour at the alternative high school. Griffith's situation is a variation on the typical classroom fodder the show's viewers have come to expect - the "Dungeons and Dragons"-loving mathlete who's coached to beauty-queen perfection or the 40-pounds- overweight trumpet player who drops the weight and runs for class office. "Made" has become this generation's after-school special. Airing every Mon- day at 4:30 p.m., each episode follows a different makeover candidate. Dictato- rial coaches, physical injuries, high school crushes and frustrated tears make frequent appearances. Billed as more than a make- over show, MTV's website describes each subject's process as "a mission to transform his or her life." Griffith was one of several CHS students who filled out applications and interviewed with MTV representatives for a chance to realize their aspirations on national televi- sion. Other applicants included Laura Leach, a sophomore who wants to design clothing for patients with different ostomies, holes creat- ed in surgery for excretemeny, and Katrina Ardan, a junior who aims to be a slam poet. MTV also held open interviews at Dex- ter High School Monday and at Huron High School yesterday afternoon. The network asked that Pioneer High School host an open casting session, but the administration declined the invitation, spark- ing rumors about the school's decision. "They simply had no space," said Liz Margolis, communications director for Ann Arbor Public Schools. "The small theater was booked, the big theater was booked - there was no room in the cafeteria and none of the classrooms were big enough." Pioneer Principal Louis Young did not return phone calls asking for comment. Pio- neer students were allowed to go to Huron See MADE, Page 7A EMMA NOLAN-ABRAHAMIAN/Daily Shanta Driver, National BAMN Co-Chair, describes how workers collecting signa- tures for MCRI were duped. the hall at the Cadillac Place where the hearing was held, not a single reprgsentative of MCRI attended. MCRI executive director Jennifer Gratz released a statement prior to the event calling the hearing "a kangaroo court," saying the commis- sion was merely providing BAMN "a stage upon which to conduct its ridiculous political theater." The release included a statement from MCRI to See BALLOT, Page 7A 'U' remembers legendary swimmer Swim community reminisces on Eric Namesnik, who died yesterday morning By Gabe Edelson Daily Sports Writer Eric Namesnik, former Michigan swim- mer, assistant coach and two-time Olympic silver medalist, died at 10:11 a.m. yesterday morning at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township from injuries sustained in a serious car accident last week. "Snik," as Namesnik was affectionately called, was 35. "There's something special Snik had," said retired Michigan head coach Jon Urbanchek, Namesnik's mentor and close friend. "He set the bar of excellence. Excellence in the pool, excellence in the classroom, excellence in community service, excellence in the way he handled himself. He put the bar up there. It doesn't matter who you talk to. That's exactly what they say." Namesnik was hospitalized with two punc- tured lungs and head injuries after his car slid on black ice and collided with an oncoming car. He remained in critical condition in a drug-induced coma - intended to relieve pressure from bleeding in the brain - for more than three days following the crash. At his teaching certificate, Namesnik served as the team's volunteer assistant coach while he swam for Club Wolverine, Michigan's post- graduate and professional training program. When he retired from competition follow- ing the 1996 Olympics, he became a regular assistant on Urbanchek's staff. He served for three years as an associate head coach until he left the program following Urbanchek's retirement after the 2003-04 season. "He had a real good sense of humor;' Urbanchek said. "I think sometimes that's a real good X-factor in coaching. It's not all the X's and 0's. It's the interpersonal relationships with other people. I think that's where he had an edge over every- body." Even after cur- rent Michigan coach Namesnik Bob Bowman took the reins, Namesnik continued his involve- ment with swimming in Ann Arbor. He was in his second year as both the head coach of the Wolverine Aquatics Club and a volunteer assistant with the Eastern Michigan men's swimming team at the time of the accident. Former Michigan captain Dan Ketchum said he will remember Namesnik as more of City sets schedule for vote on lease dates- Vote for housing ordinance slated for sometime in March By Kelly Fraser Daily Staff Reporter COURTESY OF ALTER GOLDSTEIN LSA Senior Ruby Robinson and Sari Beliak from Arizona State University clean debris from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans over winter break. Students find unreal scene in Ne w Orleans The Ann Arbor City Council may vote on a proposal to move back lease signing dates for off-campus housing. The Michigan Student Assembly neared the end of its quest to create later lease-singing dates last night when the City Council Relations Com- mittee, an advisory group composed of members from the MSA and the council, began outlining its plan to move to a vote. The first step is scheduled for Jan. 30, when the committee will host an open-forum style public hearing between landlords and students. The hearing will open with a short statement from both landlord and student representatives and end with public comments. Several MSA representatives on the commit- On humanitarian trip to hurricane-torn city, students rebuild homes, synagogues By Carissa Miller Daily Staff Reporter New Orleans's Bellaire Drive looks like set from a Hollywood disaster movie, according to a group of students who trav- eled to the city earlier this month. School buses sit unattended in lawns or lodged into the sides of buildings. Homes rest in the middle of the street. For residents on this street and many others in the ravaged city the devastatin lived in these places and went about their daily lives." Various universities nationwide, includ- ing Northwestern University and Har- vard University, sent student volunteers to repair and rebuild homes, schools and synagogues. The University of Michigan sent about 10 students, led by Chabad House's Rabbi Alter Goldstein. For five days, they worked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. moving furniture, clearing debris and removing flood-soaked carpet and drywall. They built the first Habitat for Human- ity home for New Orleans Katrina victims, Litt said. Most of the areas they visited were i i