OTBALL .ALASKAN DISPATCHES FROM THE DAILY:DON'T GIVE UP T A BG MA N I G .C EETROIT SCHOOLS PAGE 2 THE DAILY BLOGS FROM FAIRBANKS MICHIGANDAILY.COM/THEGAME OPINION, PAGE 4 4b1E IcI438anDrnIj ) . N[REI EN Y AI Ann Arbor, MichiganM www.michigandaily.com nday. January i9, 207 CHANGES ON THE BOARD Family, friends remember 'go-to guy' Turner, 27, was REMEMBERING RYAN headed to Army after graduation from dental school By JESSICA VOSGERCHIAN Daily Staff Reporter Those who knew him well remembered Dentistry student Ryan Turner as a man with a taste for adventure who was devoted to his friends, family and country. Turner collapsed early Wednesday morning while exercising at the Central Cam- pus Recreation Building and was pronounced dead a short time after. He was 27. The unexpected tragedy left Turner's friends and family in shock. He had no known health problems and lived a healthy life, said fellow Dentistry stu- dent A.J. Lytle. Turner didn't smoke or drink heavily, and he exercised regularly. Preliminary results of an autopsy showed that Turner died of natural causes, said Diane Brown, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman. A natural athlete, Turner played varsity football and baseball at Willamette High School in Eugene, Ore. He graduated from high school in 1998. At Oregon State Universi- ty, where he earned a bachelor's degree, as well as at the Univer- sity of Michigan, he played in intramural leagues. Turner completed basic Army training with Lytle two summers ago. The two friends used money provided by the Army to pay for their dental training and shared plans to begin serving as Army dentists in July. The arrangement would have combined several of Turner's passions: his country, traveling, new experiences and helping people. "He was what you would call a 'go-to guy,' " Lytle said. "He'd drop what he was doing to do something for you or with you." Lytle recalled a weekend Turner kept him company on the long drive to upstate New York so that Lytle could attend a bachelor's party. "He just said, 'I've never been to New York - lets go,' A memorial service for Den- tistry student Ryan Turner is scheduled for10 a.m. Saturday in the Sindecuse Atrium at the School of Dentistry. It is open to those who knew him, family said. even though we only had two days." Dentistry student Andrew Green, a housemate of Turner's also remembered him as fun- loving. He and Turner frequented local bars like Leopold Brothers and Mitch's after its reopening to play pool and have a few beers. Green and Turner met on their first day as School of Den- tistry students three years ago when they moved in together. Green was just a name Turner picked out of a list of incoming School of Dentistry students looking for housemates, but they fastbecame friends. "It felt like he was a buddy of mine I'd had for years," Green said. Turner came to Ann Arbor knowing no one, so his social life largely revolved around the School of Dentistry, Green said. Dentistry had always been important to his life, family members said. Turner decided he wanted to be a dentist when he was 11 or 12 years old, said his mother, Kim Turner. "He loved his patients," she said. He was a representative of the American Student Dental Asso- ciation, a group that advocates for the legal interests of dentists. Through the association, Turn- erhelpedpushfor anationalsys- tem for licensing dentists. "He wanted to get rid of the idea that the dentist is scary, that it's painful," said his brother, Eric. Turner's parents, stepfather, two brothers and his sister came to Ann Arbor yesterday after learning of Ryan's death. Turner's close friends received the grieving family. "Ryan's friends are the best friends we've ever met," said Brian Ble, Turner's stepfa- ther. "They've taken care of us amazingly over the last few days. It's a credit to Ryan. His friends are amazingbecause he was amazing." Regent Julia Darlow (right) took her seat on the University Board of Regents monthly meeting yesterday. She replaced Domino's Pizza CEO and former Michi- gan defensive end David Brandon (left), who served for eight years before losing his reelection campaign in November. REGENTAL HANDOFF Darlow brings new perspective It's not the end for former 'M' end By JAKE HOLMES Daily StaffReporter Although newly elected University Regent Julia Dar- low (D-Ann Arbor) didn't get a chance to voice her opinions at her first meeting on board, that doesn't mean she's shy about expressing them. Darlow said her priorities during her eight-year term are affordability and diversity in an interview last month. Citing a national survey that gave the University an "P' for affordability, she said she wants to keep tuition low so potential students won't be discouraged from attending because of the cost. "I think we need to be focused on how we can ensure that all different people in Michigan who qualify can have the oppor- tunity to come here," Darlow said. Darlow said she was discour- aged by the passage of Proposal 2, which banned the use of affir- mative action by public institu- See DARLOW, page 7 By BRIAN TENGEL Daily StaffReporter Sitting in a white leather chair in his plush second-floor office yesterday, David Bran- don, CEO and chairman of Domino's Pizza, looked back on his eight years as a member of the University Board of Regents yesterday. Brandon, a Republican from Ann Arbor, lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Julia Darlow in November. He served on the board for eightyears. A former defensive end on the Michigan football team, Brandon is an imposing figure whowalksasifhe is perpetually approaching the line of scrim- mage on the gridiron. When- ever the University is the topic of discussion, though, Brandon breaks out in a genial smile and assumes an air of unguarded sincerity. As Brandon speaks about the University, he exudes pas- sion and gratitude, giving the impression that it has done so See BRANDON, page 7 ADMISSIONS UPDATE Digital system prompts acceptance rate increase STRIKE ONE FOR MOTT'S Completed apps up 11 percent By WALTER NOWINSKI Daily StaffReporter A new paperless system being used by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Department this year has led to a dramatic increase in the University's acceptance rate compared to the same time 1 last year, officials said. As of Dec. 31, acceptances had increased by 12.3 percent from the same time last year. This year 65.9 percent of the applications reviewed before the end of December were admitted, compared with only 53.6 percent last year. During the same period, completed applications to the university jumped by about 11 percent. Chris Lucier, associate director of undergraduate admissions, said applications and acceptances to the Uni- versity increased because the new system is better at expe- diting admissions decisions for top applicants. Most applicants undergo a three-stage review process. Applications are evaluated first by a general admissions counselor and then sent on to a secondary counselor who specializes in the region the applicant comes from. After these two reviews, the appli- cation is sent on to an upper- level manager who makes the final admissions decision. The new paperless sys- tem expedites the process by removing several physical steps. Last year, applications had to be transported from See ADMISSIONS, page 7 MS. COLEMAN GOES TO WASHINGTON The University of Michi- gan joined Michigan State University and Wayne State University in filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday in response to a suit filed by militant pro- affirmative action group By Any Means Necessary. The brief reiterates the University's argument first laid out in December in response to another BAMN suit before a federal judge. The argument was that it should be allowed to com- plete the current admissions cycle before being forced to implement Proposal 2. Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge bowls at Colonial Lanes last night. The Tigers hosted a benefit for C.S. Mott children's Hospital and the Detroit Tiger Foundation. Fans bowled alongside Tigers players, who signed autographs and posed for pictures. TODAY'S WEATHER HI: 28 GOT A NEWS TIP? LO: 11 Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michgandaily.com and let us know. COMING MONDAY Is'Letters From Iwo Jima' one of the year's best films? ARTS INDEX NEWS...... Vol. COOII No. 79 UOK (2002 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com OPINION.. .2 SPORTS,. . ............5 .3 CLASSIFIEDS........................6 .4 A RTS ..... .............. .........8 .4