Wednesday, September 20,2006SCIENCES LOST GENERATION ... E STATEMENT Opinion 4A Emily Beam wont buy GM44 Arts 5A New York disco 1l tr 4 u zg Sports 11A Position switch works for Blue's Trent One-hundred-sixteen years of editonzd freedom www.michianday.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXVII, No. 12 @2006 The Michigan Daily One prof's plan to save BigThree LEFT: Pope Benedict XVI says he regrets that Muslims have been offended by some of his words In a recent speech In Germany. TOP RIGHT: Angry Pakistani Muslims chant slogans after setting on fire the effigy of the pope Saturday. BOTTOM RIGHT: Father Dennis T. Glasgow says mass at St. Mary Student Parish at 331 Thompson St. yesterday. Pope strife touches campus Professor says apology for comments 'quite significant' in history of Catholic Church By Kelly Fraser Daily Staff Reporter As the fallout from Pope Benedict XVI's controversial remarks on the Islamic faith last week continues to worry world leaders, students on cam- pus expressed regret for the rift creat- ed between the Catholic and Muslim faiths. During a speech at a German univer- sity last week, the pope quoted Manuel II Palaeologus, a 14th century Byzan- tine Emperor, who said the Prophet Mohammad spread the religion of Islam "by the sword." The remarks have sparked outrage and violence throughout the Muslim world. On Sunday, the pope apologized that his remarks were misunderstood, but did not retract them. Some in the Muslim community have called for additional apologies. Yesterday, the pope issued a state- ment urging mutual respect for reli- gious beliefs and also denounced the killing of a nun in Somalia, which may have been connected to his remarks. History Prof. Brian Porter, an expert on the Catholic Church, said the pope's apology is unprecedented. "To many outside observers, the apology may appear half-hearted, and in some sense it was, because he said in essence, 'I'm sorry you misunderstood me,' " Porter said. "But in the context of the Roman Catholic Church, (the apology) is really quite significant." Unlike previous popes, who have used staff and consultants to write ser- mons and speeches, Porter said Bene- dict prides himself on writing all of his remarks himself. "I think he recognized very quickly he made a very significant error," Por- ter said. "But there are some words that are very difficult to unsay." Porter said that the pope could have chosen to use many different examples from within the Christian faith, such as the crusades, to illustrate his point. "Why he chose that example, I'm truly bewildered," Porter said. LSA senior Ellen Michaels, who is Catholic, said an apology was neces- sary. "From what I've read he was severe- ly repentant," Michaels said. Michaels said the best way to mend the rift created between Catholicism and Islam would be for Catholics and Muslims to step back and respect each other's convictions. "Both religions teach forgiveness and tolerance, and I think the best way to speak up is to exemplify those val- ues," she said. Rackham student Christopher Blauvelt, who is the coordinator of See POPE, page 7A For the flailing auto industry, could fuel-efficient vehicles be the answer? By Andrew Grossman Daily Staff Reporter Financial salvation for the Big Three automakers lies with more fuel-efficient cars, according to a University study released Monday. The study, authored by Walter McManus, a scientist at the Universi- ty's Transportation Research Institute, found that Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler could increase com- bined profits by up to $2 billion in the 2010 model year by aggressively build- ing cars that go above and beyond fed- eral standards for fuel efficiency. That's almost two-thirds of General Motors 2005 loss of $3.4 billion. If the companies choose to only meet the federal standards, they could lose up to $3.6 billion in profit, the study says. American automakers have strug- gled recently as rising gas prices have driven consumers away from the inef- ficient trucks and sport utility vehicles that formed the base of their business. Car buyers have increasingly looked to smaller Japanese cars that get better gas mileage. In the latest sign of the Big Three's woes, Chrysler, the carmaker with the third-highest market share in America last year, announced Monday that it would slash its third-quarter production by 24 percent. This paves the way for Toyota, a Japanese firm, to move into third place at the end of the year, while Chrysler will drop to fourth. It also projected a $1.5 billion loss for its U.S. division in the same quarter. "Even the Big Three now acknowl- edge that high gas prices and their over- dependence on fuel-inefficient SUVs and pickup trucks have accelerated their financial freefall," McManus said in a written statement. The study looks at three different potential gas prices: $3.10, $2.30 and $2. It argues that the Big Three auto- makers stand to increase revenues at all three levels, even if prices fall from their current national average of $2.50. The major Japanese car companies would likely see little change in rev- enue because their products are already fuel-efficient. Spokespeople from Ford and Chrys- ler said the companies are already working toward producing more fuel- efficient cars. "Fuel economy has always been important," Chrysler spokesman Jason Vines said. "It's more important now than ever before." Chrysler is collaborating with Mit- subishi and Hyundai on a new engine that would boost its cars' gas mileage substantially. The company also plans to introduce its first hybrid in 2008, a Dodge Durango SUV. Ford, which recently announced plans to offer buyouts to all salaried employ- ees and cut 10,000 salaried workers, also acknowledged the importance of producing cars that use less gas. "We recognize the competitive advantage of building vehicles that are aligned with consumer demand, includ- ing vehicles that are fuel-efficient," Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley said in a written statement, In June, Ford backed down from a pledge to produce 250,000 hybrid vehi- cles a year by the end of the decade. Instead, the company said it would focus more on alternative fuels like ethanol and bio-diesel. See BIG THREE, page 7A Crime spikes again for start of fall semester MIRROR, MIRROR Several robberies and incidents of sexual prowling mark the week in crime By Ashlea Surles Daily Staff Reporter The first weeks of school don't only bring the start of classes and keg parties. They also usually bring an increase in crime. This year was no exception. Last week alone there were six robberies in Ann Arbor, mostly in student areas - a dramatic increase from the four-week stretch before that, which saw only two robber- ies. At least one student was taken to the hospital as a result. There has also been an increase in nonviolent theft. Police said the robberies were isolated and do not represent a crime spree. Police also said they have had a high success rate apprehending suspects, arresting three out of the five so far. "We've been on a roll. We've caught everybody," Sgt. Brad Hill of the Ann Arbor Police Depart- ment said. "Sometimes we don't catch anybody." Hill said an increase in crime is not unusual in the weeks after stu- dents move in. During the same period last year, there was only one fewer robbery and one fewer break- ing and entering incident. There were 12 cases of breaking and entering last week. Last Monday, a man began a series of robberies near the 1500 block of Patricia Avenue at about 11 p.m., when he pounded on a door, claiming he'd been stabbed, they left when the resident told him to go around to the front. Police suspect he was involved in two more incidents, the first at about 1 a.m. A 21-year-old student living on the 800 block of Arch Street said she heard noises on the floor below around that time. She went to the stairway and saw the man look up and begin to walk toward her, police said. He pressed a butcher knife to her stomach and demanded money. She gave him her wallet and he left. See CRIME, page 7A To one charity, old books mean a better world AARON HANDELSMAN/Daily Ann Arbor resident Shonda Bottke talks yesterday with Yulia Nanansen, owner of Mosaic Sphere Studio. The studio Is located at 100 N. 4th Ave. 'U' names chief health officer r 'U' chapter resells thousands of books, donates profits to literacy programs Ekjyot Saini Daily Staff Reporter Two years ago, Sarah Simmons found a bookmark in a used book. Simmons, then a freshman in the Residential College, didn't realize how much that thin piece of card- board would change her college experience. The bookmark was for better- worldbooks.com, which sells used books and donates the profits to reading and literacy charities. Shortly after finding the book- mark Simmons organized a Better World Books drive at the Univer- sity to collect old texts for Books for Africa, a charity that provides books to 26 African nations. "I don't know how many books we collected, but it was difficult seeing as we had to organize a cam- puswide book drive by ourselves," she said. Simmons went on to organize more drives in her sophomore year. She worked through Better World Books to assist a local chapter of Room to Read - a group that helps establish schools and libraries in Asia - and the Golden Key Inter- national Honor Society. Better World Books was started in 2003 by three friends after they graduated from the University of Notre Dame. Co-founder Chris Fuchs said he and his friends stum- bled onto the idea of selling used books online during their senior year because they were strapped for cash and without job prospects. See BOOKS, page 7A Better book drives The University, with1,000 books donated last year, ranks 15 out of the 32 state universities where Better World Books runs drives. Here are annual averages of a few that donated more: Michigan State University - 3,000 books Grand Valley State University - 1,500 to 2,000 books Western Michigan University -1,500 to 2,000 books Winfield will keep responsibilities as UHS director By Kelly Fraser Daily Staff Reporter Robert Winfield is busy. He's the director of Univer- sity Health Services, works as a physician, co-chairs the Infec- tious Hazards Planning Group and works with the pandemic flu planning group, among other jobs. You can add one more to that list. University President Mary Sue Coleman this week appoint- ed Winfield the University's first chief health officer. Coleman created the position as part of her initiative to improve the health and well-being of staff, students and faculty. "Bob has the knowledge, insight and skill to advance our vision and commitment to the health of the University commu- nity," Coleman said in a written statement. Winfield will coordinate the University's actions on campus health and wellness. He will also serve as spokesman on those subjects. In addition, he will be an advocate for adequate health care and plans to advance public discussion on the topic. The job makes him respon- sible for all three of the Universi- ty's campuses - Dearborn, Ann Arbor and Flint. Winfield will work alongside two groups carrying out Cole- man's initiative: the President's Michigan Healthy Community Task Force and the Michigan Healthy Community Executive Vice President Working Group. "The style I will approach this with is a style of encouraging collaboration and mutual prob- lem-solving;" Winfield said. He said he will give 25 percent of his time to his new post, 10 to 25 percent to seeing patients and the rest to serving as director of UHS. He plans to work between 50 and 60 hours a week. Winfield said he is not yet sure what he'll do in his first year as chief health officer. "It is too early to tell" he said. "But there are a number of issues I'm passionate about." Winfield cited health insur- ance, alcohol, tobacco use, domestic violence, nutrition and physical activity. No additional staff will report to him, Winfield said.