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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vol. CXV, No. 106
02006 The Michigan Daily
_ 'l
Challenger
faces tough
mayoral race
Popular Ann Arbor
mayor will face first
primary challenge since
taking office in 2000
By Andrew Grossman
Daily Staff Reporter
Mayor John Hieftje has never faced a
primary challenge since being elected in
2000. This summer, that will change.
City Council member Wendy Woods
(D-Ward 5), who is also associate direc-
tor of the University's Michigan Com-
munity Scholars Program, is mounting a
challenge to the incumbent mayor in the
Democratic primary on Aug. 8.
In an interview in her office in Couzens
Residence Hall, Woods did not point to any
specific policy differences that sparked
her decision to challenge Hieftje. Instead,
she said her campaign is based on the need
to include more people in the city's policy-
making process.
Hieftje, a former realtor and City
Council member himself, has compiled a
record as a strong environmentalist. His
office is littered with awards from envi-
ronmental advocacy groups. Among his
accomplishments as mayor, he cites a bal-
anced budget, the passage of the Green-
belt ballot initiative to prevent sprawl
into open spaces around Ann Arbor and
the preservation and expansion of Ann
Arbor's park system.
Woods also claims partial credit for
some of these achievements.
"Many of the things he's been able to
do as mayor has happened because of the
Council that's been working with him,"
she said.
In the past three general elections,
Hieftje has dominated his Republican
opponents, never losing a precinct. In
2004, he defeated Republican Jane Lumm,
capturing 68 percent of the vote.
But because Ann Arbor is so heav-
ily Democratic, a challenge from within
Hieftje's own party could be a threat, former
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon said.
"Because we have partisan elections,
probably the only way you're going to get
a decent hearing is to run as a Democrat,"
said Sheldon, a Republican who served as
mayor from 1993 to 2000.
Still, the race promises to be an uphill
battle for Woods. She will need to con-
vince voters that they should reject a pop-
ular incumbent.
Woods disagrees with the commonly
held perception that, in most levels of
government, incumbency is often an
insurmountable obstacle for challengers
if voters aren't unhappy with the current
officeholder.
"Rather than looking at this as being
'I've got to find out how many people are
discontent and encourage them to do that,'
what I'm hoping to do with my campaign
is bring in ideas," she said.
"We're going to talk about things -
we're going to, you know, hear from the
public, hear from each other, generate new
ideas and then allow people to make that
distinction."
If she can do this effectively, she may
John Hieftje
Mayor of
Ann Arbor
Education:
Eastern Michi-
gan University
(bachelor's)
Top prior-
ity: Promote
sustainable,
environmen-
tally friendly
development in Ann Arbor
Wendy Woods
City Council
member; asso-
ciate director,
Michigan
Community
Scholars Pro-
gram
Education:
University
of Michigan
(bachelor's
and masters)
Top priority: Include more people
in city govenment
have a chance at an upset, Sheldon said.
"She has very credible standing, espe-
cially within the Ann Arbor community,
but also within the University community,"
Sheldon said. "If she works hard, she should
be able to provide competition for John."
But many remain skeptical.
"I don't think she has chance," said one
Council member, who asked that his name
be withheld. "But I think she's trying to do
this to position herself for the future."
Both candidates have ties to the Univer-
sity. Woods is associate director of MSCP,
a residential program focusing on com-
munity service and social justice issues.
Hieftje teaches a-course in local govern-
ment at the Gerald R. Ford School of Pub-
lic Policy.
University students who have worked with
Woods are supportive of her candidacy.
"I don't know too much about her politi-
cal career, but just seeing how she leads
MCSP and seeing her speak on different
issues, I definitely think she would be a
good mayor," said Engineering sophomore
Collin Hayward, a peer advisor in the pro-
gram.
But Council member Margie Teall
(D-Ward 4) said doesn't see a need for a
change.
"I don't see a reason to bring in someone
different," said Teall, who has endorsed
Hieftje. "(Woods is) working well on the
Council."
- Layla Aslani contributed to this report.
High school senior Shakina Russell stands in the guidance suite at Lewis Cass Technical High School last month. Russell, who wants to be an
anesthesiologist, will move to campus for her freshman year at the University this fall.
'
catches Cass
Since 2001, more than 10
percent of all black freshmen
at the 'U' have graduated
from Cass Tech
By Christine Beamer
Daily Staff Reporter
In less than two months, Shakina Russell
will walk out the shiny new doors of Lewis
Cass Technical High School for the last time
as a high school student. About two and a half
months after graduation day, she will real-
ize the dream she's held since eighth grade
- experiencing first-hand how great it is to be
a Michigan Wolverine.
Russell, who wants to be an anesthesiolo-
gist, is a senior at Cass Tech, Detroit's largest
public magnet high school. The student body is
95-percent black. The same percentage will go
on to post-secondary education.
Over the past ten years, Cass has sent more
underrepresented minorities to the U
than any other high school.
Since 2001, more than 10 perce
black freshmen at the University h:
Cass Tech graduates.
Why do so many Cass Technician
Wolverines? The answer lies in a
recruiting relationship that reaches
back more than 35 years.
"U-M and MSU think this is
their school," said Doris Walls,
director of the high school's guid-
ance and counseling department.
For years, the University of
Michigan consistently attracted
more Cass Tech seniors than any
other school, University officials
said. Today, though, more seniors
from Cass Tech attend MSU.
Tech talent
University applicants.
"I got a lot of letters from a lot of people,"
nt of all said Cass senior Jonathon Ray, who will enroll
ave been at the University in the fall.
He added that he was recruited by Purdue,
s become Yale and several private schools, but only
applied to the University of Michi-
gan because it was his childhood
dream to be a Wolverine.
The school has received two of
f the U.S. Department of Educa-
tion's Blue Ribbon awards, a mark
of excellence in secondary edu-
CASS TECH cation. Cass students average 19
First in a four-part on the ACT - a full three points
series higher than the Detroit average -
and many have several Advanced
Placement credits under their belt
by graduation day.
peting for According to Tyrone Winfrey, director of
s' strong the University's Detroit Admissions Office, the
ters from University wins so many Cass students because
ague rep- recruiters make it a point to be highly visible
minority See CASS TECH, page 7
I
It's not just in-state schools comp
these students. Cass Tech student
academic performances draw recrui
across the country, including Ivy Le
resentatives eager to attract the top
MSA: Make North Quad greener
750 postcards advocating
LEED certification of North
Quad delivered to 'U'
By Davo Mekelburg
Daily Staff Reporter
It's not always easy being green.
In an attempt to promote environmental
responsibility in University buildings, the
Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolu-
tion last night's urging that plans for the new
North Quad adhere to Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design standards.
LEED is a rating system designed to assess
buildings' efficiency and soften their blows
to the environment. There are five levels
that a building can reach: certified, bronze,
silver, gold or platinum. The MSA resolu-
tion will result in a letter being sent to Phil
Hanlon, associate provost for academic and
budgetary affairs, suggesting North Quad
achieve at least a silver level.
The Environment Committee of the Col-
lege Democrats met with Hanlon yesterday
to deliver 750 postcards advocating design-
ing the building with LEED certification in
mind.
The North Quad schematic designs were
pulled from the schedule of the University
Board of Regents meeting last month at
which the regents were slated to be asked to
approve them.
It's much easier to integrate LEED into a
building during the formation of the plans,
said Sarah Duffy, who started the Environ-
ment Committee.
See MSA, page 7
A new Seely
At last night's meeting,
the first for newly sworn in
President Nicole Stallings,
Michigan Student Assembly
appointed three new members
to its executive board:
Treasurer: Josh Kersey
Student General Counsel: Zach
Yost
Chief of Staff: Ally Jacobs
Legendary
journalist speaks
on Ford years
By way of storytelling,
women take back the night
Woodward says
he now understands
why 38th president
pardoned Nixon
By Karl Stampfl
Managing News Editor
Bob Woodward was wrong.
rating the library's 25th anni-
versary.
It was Sept. 8, 1974. Wood-
ward and Bernstein were fresh
off investigative coverage of
the Watergate scandal that
forced Nixon out of the White
House, making room for Ford,
a University alum.
The reporter, then 31, was
in a New York City hotel room
Speak-out is part
of series of events
to combat violence
against women
By Ekjyot Saini
Daily Staff Reporter
Women struck by sexual
violence told their stories last
night at the Michigan League
in a display of strength, sur-
vival and support.
With tears in her eyes and a "I woke up one
cracking voice, an LSA senior, was there," she sa
who wished not to be named I was dreaming
because of the sensitive nature (the thoughts) asi
of her testimony, shared the Public Health
story of
how se"l d1
survived "Peo e don't realize.
more than how often this occurs
seven years
of sexual and the impact it has
abuse.
From age on people's lves."
10 to 17, the - Ashley Brant
LSA senior
%xiaa nnt;t,_Public Health student
night and he
id. "I thought
and pushed
ide."
student Ash-
ley Brant,
who helped
organize
the event,
said she
wanted to
heighten
public
knowledge
about rape
ant n.s.
I
7 I
I I