Wednesday, April 5, 2006 News 2 Iraq charges Saddam with genocide Opinion 4 Sports 10 Emily Beam is sick of Dance Marathon Wolverines buck Broncos twice AN INTERN/IE W i HE DI Er ~ < U FOR SWKn ... ARTS, FAGE 8 One-hundred-sixteen years of editorialfreedom mm algalgap - - - ---------------------- man www. mikgandaiy.eom 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