~Ryan Malett:.aubefrftr tem u ar from perfect oe Woiverin 'PTn Chapionshp Giving Michigan a midterm evaluation Football Saturday, inside ZIie lid1iipn Dai1jj Ann Arbor, Michigan Friday, October 12, 2007 michigandaily.com Martin: Crisler next to be renovated r RENOVATION OF CRISLER? Possible changes to Crisler Arena, according to Athletic Director Bill Martin " Repairs to the roof " New air handling, electrical and mechanical equipment * New seats ' Improved lighting, " More concession stands " More seating for disabled fans * Wider aisles with hand- rails * A curtain to block offthe upper deck for smaller events * An extra mat for the wres- tling practicefacility * A practice courtfor bas- ketball teams * A new sound system Athletic Department has no concrete plans yet to pay for project By GABS NELSON Daily News Editor Though construction might be several years away, the Athletic Department is tak- ing steps toward a renovation of Crisler Arena. University Athletic Director Bill Martin said the Athletic Department hopes to begin the project after it finishes work on Michigan Stadium. That project is scheduled to begin this fall and wrap up by the beginning of the 2009 football season. He said Crisler's infrastructure needs major work, though he's content with the arena's size, location and architecture. Crisler - the home of the University's men's and women's basketball teams and the train- ing facilities for the men's wrestlingteam and women's gymnastics team - hasn't under- gone major repairs since it opened in 1967. The Athletic Department has commis- sioned a study of the building's infrastruc- ture to determine what a renovation project would need to accomplish. Martin said he has seen a preliminary report and expects the final version within two months. According to the initial report, the arena needs a new roof as well as improved mechanical, electrical and ventilation equipment, Martin said. He said the Ath- letic Department intends to make a variety of other changes to improve the facility for athletes and fans, like better lighting, more concession stands and wider aisles. "We have to address those issues," Martin said. "We'll get to it." But it might take years, if the pace of the Big House renovation is any indication. Athletic Department officials were already developing plans to renovate Michigan Sta- dium three years ago, as The Michigan Daily reported in December 2004. After another two years of planning, they presented project plans to the University Board of Regents in May 2006. It took 13 months from that point for the regents to approve all aspects of the project. The process ended in June when the regents gave the Athletic Department per- mission to grant construction contracts. Steve Wolters,the presidentof Maize Rage - a student group that fills the studentsec- tion at Michigan Men's Basketball games - said he's disappointed he won't be around to see the new Crisler Arena but thinks the hir- ing of John Beilein as men's basketball coach will make up for Crisler's current flaws. "I'd love to be here when the football is done and the basketball is done, butI'm more excited with the product we're going to have on the court," Wolters said. "That'll over- shadow any kind of problems we have with the arena." Wolters said the top priority, besides improved lighting, should be the construc- tion of a basketball practice facility, because a top-of-the-line practice facility would help the University recruit better basketball play- ers and show that the University is commit- ted to running a top basketball program. The men's and women's basketball teams must See CRISLER, Page 7A University Athletic Director Bill Martin says Crisier Arena's infrastructure needs an overhaul. TRYING TO REVIVE A TRADITION DEBATING A BAN By a landslide, co-op rejects Israel boycott. People's Food Co-op board members say they're still open to debate By DANIEL STRAUSS Daily StaffReporter Despite the efforts of a group called Boycott Israeli Goods, products made in Israel will remain on the shelves of the Peo- ple's Food Co-op of Ann Arbor. At a meeting of the co-op's Board of Directors last night, officials announced the outcome of a vote to determine whether the organization should boycott Israeli products. The final vote was 262 members in favor of the ban and 866 opposing it. The motion to boycott Israeli goods started this summer when Boycott Israeli Goods proposed a referendum to the co-op's board. The group aimed to protest what it said was cruel treatment of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government. Although the co-op's Board of Directors rejected the proposed referendum, the group collect- ed 600 signatures - enough to force a vote by co-op members. A majority of the votes was needed to implement the ban. After announcing the vote tally yesterday evening at Hathaway's Hideaway, a meeting place on South Ashley Street, People's Food Co-op President Linda Feldt said she received hundreds of e-mails and had conversations about the issue with both passion- ate supporters and opponents of the boycott. She said she doesn't See CO-OP, Page 7A With a homecoming parade that snaked around campus yesterday, the Michigan Student Assembly sought to revive a long-dormant tradi- tion. The parade was part of an effort to boost school spirit in anticipation of Saturday's Homecoming football game between Michigan and Purdue. The University hadn't had a Homecoming parade since 1996. band from Churchill High School in Livonia. The parade faced low turnout and dreary weather, including light rain. Public Policy junior Jon Tap, who came to watch the parade, said he was excited to see stu- dents showing spirit despite the conditions. "Our campus doesn't do things like that," he said. "This is the first step in the right direction. It may be a shaky step, but I still feel like it's a OUTBREAK IN ANN ARBOR Health officials: Measles not likely to hit University Yesterday afternoon's parade, held on State good thing." Street, featured nine floats led by the marching - KAREY QUARTON and LISA PAUL At B-School reunion, it's Maya Angelou, not a CEO Author to speak at Hill this afternoon By KIRA ROSE For the Daily No one knows what Maya Ange- lou is going to say when she speaks at Hill Auditorium this afternoon. She could speak about her career as a civil rights activist. She could speak about her poet- ry. Or her novels. Her lecture is simply titled "An Afternoon With Maya Angelou." Even the event's organizers say they have no idea what she'll talk about. The best-selling author, poet, playwright, director, producer, actress, lecturer and civil-rights activist could speak about almost anything - with authority. Tickets for the.free event, spon- sored by the Ross School of Busi- ness, are no longer available. The Business School is bringing Angelou to campus as part of its alumni reunion weekend. (She is not an alum.) At first, Angelou seems like an unlikely speaker for the business school. ButBusiness School Spokes- man Paul Gediman, the business school spokesman, said Angelou fits well with the school's mission. "Business doesn't exist in a vac- uum. It exists in the real, complex world full of artists, writers, poets, doctors, activists, and others," Ged- iman said. Business school junior Matthew Wyble said he plans to attend the event. "It's cool because it's not some- thing the business school normally brings in," he said. "This event is useful for making us well-round- ed." Gediman said Angelou's lecture fits well with the school's overall speaker program, which has fea- tured internationally recognized speakers like former AOL Chair- man Steve Case; activist Zainab Salbi, Demo- "An cratic strate- Afternoon gist Julianna with Maya Malveaux Angelou, and former General Elec- Where: Hill Auditorium Geneal Eec- When: Today at trit Chair- 1:30 p.m. Jak Sposo:Ste phtooM. man Jack Ross School of Business Welch. Coot Admission by ticket only, tree Angelou of charge spoke at East- ern Michigan University in 2004, but this is the first time she will be lecturing at the University of Michigan. See ANGELOU, Page 7A Nine suspected cases have been reported to county By JAKE SMILOVITZ For the Daily An outbreak of measles in Washtenaw County elementary schools does not pose a major threat to the University, local public health officials said yes- terday. Nine suspected cases have been reported to the Washtenaw County Public Health Depart- ment and the Centers for Disease Control in the last two weeks. The scare began 11 days ago when a student at Burns Park Elemen- tary School in Ann Arbor started to show symptoms of the disease after his family returned from a trip to Europe, county and federal officials said in a conference call yesterday. . The officials said they are not worried about the disease infect- ing the University student body or residence halls. "There is some reassurance of the fact that we have not had a huge number of suspects in the area and nobody from the University," said Stan Reedy, the public health medical director for Washtenaw County. He said the only reason to worry about the virus reaching the community would be if these elementary school children vis- ited campus or if University stu- dents visit classrooms in the Ann Arbor area. "Although the potential is there, that is not really a major concern," Reedy said. Measles is considered an out- break -.after only one confirmed case because it is highly con- tagious, he said. The virus can spread when an infected per- son coughs, sneezes or shares a See MEASLES, Page 7A TODAY'S HI 54 WEATHER L: 36 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michigandailycom and let us know. ON THE DAILY BLOGS The University's sister college bans computers MICHIGANDAILY.COM/THEWIRE INDEX NEW S....... .................. 2A CLASSIFIEDS ..................... 6A Vol.CXVIlINo.29 OPINION..........................4A SPORTS..................8A 2007 The MichiganDaily ARTS ................................5A FOOTBALLSATURDAY.........1B michigandoily.com of