Tuesday, March 28, 2006
News 3 Daily alum gives
$500k for new
building
Opinion 4
Sports 9
Sam Singer
bashes France
Jack Johnson
might go pro
'INSIDE MAN' IS PURE COOL ... ARTS, PAGE
One-hundred-sixteen years of editord freedom
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w ww. m ic g-andaily. com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vol. CXVI, No. 100
02006 The Michigan Daily
v r
Letter to
regents
slams skyboxes
Prominent faculty blast
Athletic Department s
plans for luxury boxes in
the Big House
By Donn M. Fresard
and Karl Stampfl
Daily Staff Reporters
In a sign of growing campus resis-
tance to the Athletic Department's pro-
posal to build luxury boxes in Michigan
Stadium, 33 past and present faculty
members have signed a letter urging the
University Board of Regents to reject the
private boxes.
The letter, which was scheduled to
arrive in regents' mailboxes yester-
day, is an attempt to sway two unde-
cided regents from voting for the boxes,
according to John Meyer, a professor
emeritus of engineering who signed the
letter.
"We heard that two regents were on
the fence; that's what prompted the most
recent letter drive," said Meyer, who
would not name the regents.
The letter's signatories include former
University President James Duderstadt,
former LSA dean Edie Goldenberg and
several current and former deans and
department chairs.
In the letter, the faculty members
argue that, by elevating wealthy fans
above the rest of the crowd and making
the stadium "something virtually indis-
tinguishable from a professional sports
venue," the
luxury boxes
would signal
"a dramatic,
disturbing
and damag-
ing departure
from the Uni-
versity's egali-
tarian values
and tradition."
"The for-
tunate will be
above, and the
"The fortunate
and the masse
unwashed - w
in the general
Professor e
Pointe Farms) dismissed the level of
opposition as nothing unusual for a major
project and said he hasn't yet decided
whether he will vote for the skyboxes.
"The devil's always in the details," he
said. "I'll wait
will be above, until I see the
proposal:'
s - the great Pollack
noted that the
ill be sitting faculty has
historically
seats." served as a
moral compass
for the Univer-
-John Meyer sity and said it
meritus of engineering is particularly
important that
the regents pay
attention to their concerns now that finan-
cial pressures guide the University's deci-
sions more than ever.
The Athletic Department says the
luxury boxes would pay for themselves
in the long run and even eventually turn
a profit.
Many other major college stadiums,
including the stadiums at Ohio State
University and Penn State University,
have enclosed seating.
Most in the campus community agree
that Michigan Stadium needs a renova-
tion. It was constructed in 1927 at a cost
See BIG HOUSE, page 7
masses - the great unwashed - will be
sitting in the general seats," Meyer said.
The letter goes on to say that build-
ing prominent skyboxes to entertain
elite fans would project to the public a
troubling impression of the University's
values and priorities, and that the Uni-
versity should instead strive to put its
best academic face toward the public.
"I think this shows that leading faculty
at the University of Michigan give luxu-
ry boxes a failing grade," said John Pol-
lack, organizer of Save the Big House, a
group opposed to the skyboxes.
Regent S. Martin Taylor (D-Grosse
AARON HANDELSMAN/C
Ann Arbor resident Charles Smith and dog Scout take their daily walk yesterday. Smith, who owns two dogs,
expressed concern for their safety in the face of a recent rash of dog killings in the area. "I usually let the dogs run
around (in the back yard) at night. Now, whenever I hear any barking, I bring 'em In," he said.
Dog slayisgs worry
students with pets
Yost to get new locker room
Coaches say
improvements will help
teams get off ice faster
By Mark Glannotto
Daily Sports Writer
Yost Ice Arena will have some new luxuries
when the Michigan hockey team takes the ice
next season.
The Athletic Department has approved a
project to add a new locker room to the south
end of the arena. It will serve as the visitor's
locker room during hockey games.
In previous years, both the Michigan hockey
team and the visiting opponent had lockers on
the same end of the arena. This led to problems
with getting both teams on and off the ice in a
prompt fashion.
"In the heat of battle, there's always a chance
of a bad situation ... with both teams going off
at the same end," Michigan coach Red Beren-
son said.
Once the renovation is completed, the teams
will enter the ice from opposite sides of the
rink.
"We're doing this for our everyday game
management at Yost," said Michael Stevenson,
executive associate athletic director.
The project will cost about $450,000.
In addition to a new locker room, Yost will
see a new entrance into the arena for the oppos-
ing teams, as well as a slight reconfiguration of
the bleachers on the south end.
Hockey is not the sole reason for the new
addition to Yost.
"The added benefit to us is that the locker
room can be used for visiting baseball teams,
visiting soccer, visiting softball, visiting field
hockey and visiting club sports who are play-
ing at Oosterbaan," Stevenson said. "It's got a
lot of added value to the department other than
See YOST, page 7
In brief
A new locker room will be
added to the south end of
Yost Ice Arena
The project will cost about
$450,000
Visiting teams will enter
the ice on the side opposite
the Michigan team
The locker room is expect-
ed to improve Michigan's
chances of hosting an NCAA
tourney regional game
The locker room will also
be used for baseball, softball
and field hockey
Authorities investigating string
of killings that left nearly 40
animals dead in Ann Arbor area;
pet owners keep dogs close
By Drew Philp
Daily Staff Reporter
Violet is no longer allowed to roam free. The dog's
owner is now keeping a closer watch on the pug, who was
dressed in a pink and blue sweater yesterday.
After a recent string of macabre dog killings in Washt-
enaw County, Violet will have to do her business in con-
stant view of her owner, recent graduate Julia Clogston.
Since January, 39 animals have been found dead in the
same area of Superior Township, a 36-square mile area
east of Ann Arbor. The victims include mostly foxes and
coyotes - as well as six dogs that appear to be family
pets.
On Sunday morning, a pit bull puppy and a cocker span-
iel shot in the head were found dead in the same area. Early
Saturday, another dog was found dead about five miles
east of downtown Ann Arbor, its head and feet bound with
twine.
Clogston, keeping an attentive eye on Violet, said the
Dozens of foxes, coyotes and dogs have
been found killed
A total of 39 animals have been killed, with
at least 14 in the past week
Anyone with information can contact the
Huron Valley Humane Society's animal cru-
elty tip line at 662-5585, extension 112
killings have shocked her.
"Who kills puppies?" she asked.
A rottweiler was also found decapitated recently, and
on Friday two foxes and two dogs were found slain. Seven
more carcasses were found Thursday, all in the same
vicinity.
Because of the escalation of the killings, the Washtenaw
County Sheriff's Department has assigned a detective to
assist the Huron Valley Humane Society with the investi-
gation, Commander Dave Egler said.
A full-time animal cruelty investigator from the humane
society is also working on the case.
Kelly Schwartz, director of operations for the Humane
See DOGS, page 7
OLD SITE
NEW SITE
New "Schools, Colleges and
Departments" navigation bar
Main color changed from
blue to lighter periwinkle,
upsetting students who yearn
for the return of maize and blue
Quicker load time
Clearer, less
cluttered design
More noticeable
content tabs
across the top of
the page
Easier for staff
to maintain and
modify
More room for
news stories,
"Michigan Focus"
items and "Quick
Links"
Advisors
complain
of unpaid
teaching
Six CSP workers team up
with lecturers' union to protest
added responsibilities without pay
By Ekjyot Saini
Daily Staff Reporter
Six advisors in the Comprehensive Studies Pro-
gram - a unit of LSA that provides academic
support and instruction to disadvantaged students
- have teamed up with the Lecturers' Employee
Organization to file grievances charging that the
University is overworking and underpaying them.
The complainants, who mostly perform admin-
istrative duties for the department, claim they are
not being compensated for additional work they
have been asked to carry out; they teach at least
one class during the summer, in addition to admin-
istering the Summer Bridge program. They do not
receive any extra pay for their teaching.
"(The University) never denied that we work
overload," said Elzora Holland, an academic advi-
sor in the Comprehensive Studies Program.
During past summers, the University has paid
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Wmeebsite redesign yields mxe reactions
New site loads quicker, has
more features, but to students,
+'C emnly no+ mn;i :n am,] ,A hip
ments, but some students said they consider
the update a change for the worse.
The website's gateway hadn't been
updated in four and a half years. Its design
"It's still kind of blueish, but it's not a 'Go Blue' kind
of blue."
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