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 - - - - --------- ---------------- - - - - --------- - --------------- ----------- --------------- ------------- - ----- - --- ------------------ ------------- ------------------------- 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 *.,. , Y ...p a a "& n:.n . , f1 r. , n t nLi 5Ad: at9J ...rdr r ', at : a aa 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." ,I I