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long enough to give students some
breathing room between moving in
and starting classes at the start of
September.
The role of the University
in off-campus housing
he University is cer-
tainly desirous of con-
structively working
with students, the City
and the private sec-
tor in maintaining and
improving high-quality
student neighborhoods. While there
are some limitations as to how far
the University can or should go to
affect the activities of the private
sector, we have a strong interest in
the quality of off-campus environ-
ments because of the impact they
have on town-gown relations at the
broader level, and on the ability of
University students to live in a set-
ting that facilitates their academic
success and personal growth.
The Division of Student Affairs
provides support to students living
off-campus in two significant areas:
the Off-Campus Housing Program,
part of the Housing Information
Office, and Student Legal Services,
which together provide direct assis-

The recently concluded fall term was
marked by some disturbing events in off-
campus housing, including three signifi-
cant fires ... as well as crimes against both
person and property involving students

Director, Public Affairs and
tance to many hundreds of Universi-
ty's students annually. Their online
off-campus listings, resources and
other services are utilized by thou-
sands of students.
Two years ago, the University Office
of Government Relations, University
Housing and Student Affairs began an
initiative to bring together on a regular
basis historically oppositional groups, or
groups that worked hard to avoid face-
to-face conversations with one another.
The initiative - Campus Neighbors -
involves representatives such as students,
landlords and property managers, Univer-
sity administrators, city council members,
City of Ann Arbor staff, neighborhood
associations and off-campus group hous-
ing (ICCGreek Life). Campus Neighbors
has had some modest, but noteworthy
accomplishments including developing
improved move-in and move-out waste
management and recycling in student

-Alan Levy
Information, University Housing
neighborhoods; education and awareness
outreach to off-campus students; and the
first-ever mass e-mail communications to
off-campus students with timely informa-
tion related to living off-campus.
At the Off-Campus Housing Program,
we see a wide continuum in terms of both
student-tenants and landlords. It is criti-
cal to have in place serious consequences
that discourage and extinguish negative
conduct from both students and landlords,
while at the same time rewarding stu-
dents who are good tenants and citizens,
and landlords who exercise principles of
excellent property management. Over
the last year, there seems to be increasing
energy from the key stakeholders involved
in off-campus housing to press for achiev-
able improvements that will strengthen
the quality of off-campus student neigh-
borhoods, which in turn will be good for
students, their surrounding neighbors, the
city and the University.

Leading the Way
y Kevin Porter / University Varsity Athlete
Kinesiology Sophomore Kevin Porter has compiled quite the hockey-
playing resume this past year. Through 19 games of the Michigan season,
Porter has already notched 10 goals, just one short of his totalfrom last
year.
Porter was selected to team USA at the World Junior Championships
for the second consecutive year, and was pleasantly surprised when he
was voted captain of the national team by his teammates.
In recent years, the United States has worked its way to international
prominence with Porter and other Wolverines' leading the way. Michigan
junior Matt Hunwick and former Michigan goaltender Al Montoya led the
American team to its first-ever gold medal.
The United States finished fourth in the tournament after losing a semi-
final game against Russia and the third place game against the Czech
Republic.

CAI I LIN KLEIUt./Uaily
Keying in their passcode, a student enters their dormitory. For many stu-
dents, safety is one of the appeals of living in University housing.

By Dale Winling Graduate Student, Architecture and Urban Planning

o be named Captain for the World
Junior USA Team was an amazing
honor.
It started when Coach Walt Kyle called
me into his office after practice only a few
days before the tournament began to go over
a few things. We talked about things such
as line combinations, systems and who the
leaders of the team were going to be. I was
told that I would be expected to be a leader
on the team and that I would most likely be
either the captain or assistant captain.
Once the team arrived on Victoria Island
(British Columbia), we had a five-day train-
ing camp. We just had regular practice on
the ice. Some days we had two practices, but
off the ice, we had a lot of downtime and
played a lot of cards, hung out and watched
movies.
On the day before we headed to Van-
couver, the team voted for captains. When

- James V. Dowd
Even though I was told
I might be the captain I
was still very surprised
when it came true. I
couldn't have been more
happy at the time.
- Kevin Porter
we arrived in Vancouver, I was called in
to meet with Coach Kyle. This was when
I found out I had been voted captain and
that the assistants would be (Miami Univer-
sity sophomore) Nate Davis and (Minnesota
freshman) Phil Kessel.
Even though I was told I might be the
captain I was still very surprised when it

Kinesiology sophomore Kevin Porter was the USA Junior Hoc

W

hat city are
you from? The
answer to this
question cor-
relates pretty
strongly with
peoples' feel-

ings on the housing problem in Ann
Arbor. Undergrads, grad students and
young professionals who move to this
city from Kalamazoo, Bloomington,
Chicago, or any other Midwestern city
or town blanch at the rents people are
expected to pay in Tree Town. Arriv-
als from Boston or San Francisco think
they're getting a great deal for living in

a cute downtown with amenities like
museums and music venues within
walking distance. Count me in the for-
mer camp; I comment on Ann Arbor is
Overrated and curse under my breath
every time I write a rent check that dou-
bles what I was paying (with less space)
as a student at Western Michigan Uni-
versity.
According to the 2000 census, in
1999 more than 45 percent of Ann
Arbor renters paid more than 30 per-
cent of their income for rent, the federal
standard for affordable housing. In that
same period, of course, homeowners
and landlords saw double-digit appre-

ciation on their houses.
Objective measures aside, there are
political ramifications to the debate.
The eternal town-gown conflict (in Ann
Arbor and elsewhere) is exacerbated
by, if not fueled by, the student housing
issue. Longtime residents and historic
preservationists see single-family resi-
dences and grand old mansions being
turned into apartment houses predomi-
nantly occupied by students, and point
the finger at the consumers rather than
criticizing the economic structures that
create the markets. A political oppor-
tunist, Ann Arbor mayor John Hieftje
criticizes the University for not building

came true. I couldn't have been more happy
at the time. Even though I wanted to call all
of my family and friends to let them know,
I was told not to tell anyone until it was
announced to the team.
The responsibilities I took on were pretty
simple for the most part, such as leading our
team stretch, making sure everyone was up
in the morning and at the team meals.

My or
exchange
teams' cap
when need
Even the
well as we
proud to i
with - a:
players in 1

I

.
k "
'

YOT NT CUNTERPOT NTI
The Cage Match
with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the G.I. Joes

ByT: Heroes In A Hal
Well, we're not even going to do the
whole "my-dad-can-beat-up-your-dad"
thing. First, it's obvious that Splinter
would kick George W. Bush's ass. Sec-
ondly, they're not really our dads. But,
just something to keep in the back of your
mind before we begin.
So, down to the real reason we would
slaughter you in an inter-species war:
We're fucking mutant ninjas. Have you
ever met a ninja? Stealth, speed, sharp
objects. We've got them all.
Yes, even speed and stealth. Many years
and freakish experiments have passed
since that fateful day with the hare. Our

f-Shell
thighs are bigger than your waist.
Oh, and about your toy guns. You
pathetic humans keep making different
kinds of protection for bullets and the
like. We've already got them - shells
anyone? Pull the trigger and we're pop-
ping into our shells faster than Lindsay
Lohan lost 90 pounds.
And what do you have to stop razor
sharp swords and sies? Nothing! And
if those don't work, we'll send the idiot
brothers to beat you with their sticks and
nun chucks. An army of one you say? Tur-
tle power for life bitches.

By: The Real Americ
I know mommy and daddy turtle told
you fairy tales about slow and steady win-
ning the race, but last time we checked,
bullets don't lie down and take naps
' while they are flying through the air.
You think you can take us? We've got
three words for you: guns, guns and more
guns. And oh yeah - more guns.
Sure you have your shells and your
sewers, but our flamethrowers, sub-
machine guns and bazookas will put you
out of business.
And if somehow you were to survive
that, we are the true American heroes,
funded by the government. Which means

Panl

che:
nex
wor
T
ninj
ons
enga
brir
in y
YV
forge
just
you
E
supe

The Michigan Daily

8B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 12, 2006