Wolverines anonymous You've probably never heard of these three, but they're the key to a successful start to the John Beilein era. Tipoff 2007 N U E EH N YE j EIT1111IA FEM Ann Arbor, Michigan Thursday, November 8, 2007 michigandaily.com ENV1RONMENTALE A degree Ingreen at engin school New masters program to teach sustainable engineering By LISA PAUL For the Daily Next fall, students will be able to get a dual masters degree that will combine engineering and natural sciences to produce environmen- tally conscious engineers. Gregory Keoleian, an associate professor in 'the School of Natu- ral Resources and Environment and one of the architects of the Engineering Sustainable Systems degree, said the program is a vital step in the right direction for sus- tainability. "This program is important because we want to educate engi- neers about sustainability chal- lenges and provide them with the tools to address those challenges," Keoleian said. "This degree looks at the nexus of sustainability and technology." Although the initial program will only be available as a dual masters degree, Keoleian said there are other efforts to try to integrate environmental concerns into the undergraduate engineer- ing programs as well. The partnership between the College of Engineering and the School of Natural Resources for the program is the first of its kind in the nation. Students in the pro- gram will have to complete all of the requirements to earn a masters of science in both engineering and natural resources and environ- ment. When the program begins, par- ticipants will follow one of three tracks depending on their engi- neering field. These tracks will focus on sustainable energy sys- tems, sustainable design and man- ufacturing systems or sustainable See DEGREE, Page 3A Kinesiology senior Anjani Mahabir pays only $350 a month for half of a two-bedroom Ypsilanti apartment. She likes the apartment but not the drive to campus. ELECTION '08 Ruling en dangers Jan.15 J1primary Judge says part of law is unconstitutional MASON, Mich. (AP) - Michigan's bid to have an early role in picking 2008 presidential candidates is in jeopardy after a judge ruled yesterday that part of a state law establishing a Jan. 15 primary is unconsti- tutional. The ruling effectively cancels the primary date unless there is a successful appeal or state law is changed to allow the vote to go forward. The primary date had been pushed up by state Republicans and Democrats to make Michigan more relevant to the selection of presidential candidates. Michigan's move was under fire even before Ing- ham County Circuit Court Judge William Collette ruled unconstitutional a provision in the law to give the Democratic- and Republican parties exclusive access to lists of who voted in their party's primary. The national Republican and Democratic parties had threatened to slap the state parties with sanctions for violating party rules if Michigan followed through on the primary plan. Several Democratic candidates withdrew from the Michigan primary, leaving Hillary Rodham Clinton as the only top-tier candidate left on the ballot. Michigan's vote date is watched closely by other states with early presidential primaries and caucuses. State officials and lawmakers had not decided on their next move as of yesterday afternoon. It is pos- sible the state could appeal the ruling or have lawmak- ers pass a different version of the law that resolves the issues from yesterday's ruling. A two-thirds majority of lawmakers supporting the existing law might also do the trick. See PRIMARY, Page 3A MOVING EAST Rents are lower in Ypsilanti, but some students say it's not worth the commute By Layla Aslani Daily Staff Reporter During the upcoming search for off-campus housing, some students might be tempted by the lower rates in Ypsilanti to make the move east. But some who live there warn that the lower prices are not always worth it. Still, rent in Ypsilanti can often be significantly lower than in Ann Arbor. The lower cost of living is a trade- off for long daily commutes and social isolation, they say. LSA junior Kelly Kieft said financial concerns were influential in her deci- sion to live in Ypsilanti rather than Ann Arbor. She said that two years ago she paid approximately $230 a month, including most utilities, to share a two-bedroom apartment with two friends. On making the move to Ypsilanti, Kieft advises other students, "Only do it if you have to." Dwight Amador, a broker at Hall- mark Appraisal, a company that appraises real estate in Southeast Michigan, said Ypsilanti's housing is typically 10 tot15 percent cheaper than Ann Arbor's. According to a survey of average rental rates released yesterday by Uni- versity Housing's off-campus housing office, the average rent for a two-bed- room unit is $1,117. The survey was compiled using data reported by landlords registered with the office. The majority of prop- erties included in the survey are in Ann Arbor, but the data also includes landlords with properties in nearby cities. BrianEvans, arealtor inWashtenaw County, paid home prices are higher in Ann Arbor because the city has more jobs, a higher household income and a better public school system. . Amador pointed to different factors than Evans. Amador said the price difference is due to the fact that Ann Arbor's economy is more diversified than the surrounding cities like Ypsi- lanti, and because of this Ann Arbor is less affected by the state's economic troubles. Amador also attributed the price difference to Eastern Michigan Uni- versity's declining enrollment rate. The school's enrollment rate has steadily declined from 2002 to 2006 by about 7 percent. Amador said this decline creates a surplus of Ypsilanti housing, which translates to savings for prospective tenants. The longer units go unoccu- pied, the more likely landlords are to cut rental rates, he said. Amador said living in Ypsilanti might be a good option for students, adding that he doesn't think commut- ing would be difficult because of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authori- ty's bus system. Kieft, who currently lives in Ypsi- lanti with her parents, said she was frustrated with commuting. . Kieft used toride a city bus 40 min- utes one way to get to class daily. She said she often read for class on the bus to pass the time. Now she drives to campus, but she said it is not much better because she has to find a parking spot, usually a 20-minute walk away. "I told myself I'm not going to force myself to exercise because I usually walk about an hour a day," she joked. "I'm not lookingforward tothe winter - I may have to change my system." Study abroad plans influenced Kinesiology senior Anjani Mahabir to live in Ypsilanti this semester before going to Prague in January. See YPSILANTI, Page 7A TUG-O-WAR FOR JENA CAMPUS CRIME Students robbed in home at gunpoint Two suspects still at large By KELLY FRASER Daily NewsEditor Ann Arbor police are search- ing for two suspects after two female students were robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night when two men entered their home on West William Street through an unlocked door. The women were not hurt in the robbery, which occurred at about 9 p.m, said Lt. Angella Abrams of the Ann Arbor Police Department. The men rummaged through the house and stole the women's cell phones, two laptop comput- ers and cash before fleeing the scene, Abrams said. The first suspect is described as a black male with slightly pockmarked skin. He has a medi- um build and is about 6-feet tall and 220 pounds. He is between 25 and 30 years old. The man was wearing a black or brown leather coat and was carrying a small semi-automatic handgun. The second man is described as a black male also between 25 and 30 years old and with a medi- um build about 5-feet 9 inches tall and between 190 and 200 See ROBBERY, Page 3A University alum Jerry White co-founded the Landmine Sur- vivors Network to connect survivors of landmine explosions. White spoke in Rackham Auditorium yesterday. Alum who survived landmine calls for end to 'victim mentality' Landmines are 'weapons of mass destruction in slow motion" By ELIZABETH LAI For the Daily University alum Jerry White was hiking in North- ern Israel with two of his friends when he wandered onto an unmarked landmine. The earth beneath him exploded, severing his right foot from the rest of his body. "I kept thinking, 'Where's my foot? Where's my foot?" White told an audience at Rackham auditorium last night. He said as the blood flowed from his limbs, he thought "I'm watching myself die." Last night, White addressed an audience of about 200 students, alumni and faculty for the Ross School See SURVIVORS, Page 7A CHANEL VON HABSBURG-LOTH RINGEN/Dai Members of the Social Welfare Action Alliance rallied on the Diag yesterday to demand freedom for the lena 6, a group of black youths from Louisiana charged with assault in fiat many belieoe isa racially-otiated prosecution. They held a tag-n-war to show that tie mooement to free the hena is locked in a lag-of-war with the Louisiana justice system. TODAY'S WE ATHER HI:46 GOTANEWSTIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail L0: 33 news~almicbiganndaily.com and let as know. ON THE DAILY BLOGS Sarprise: Sims simmering MICHIGANDAILY.COM/THEGAME INDEX NEW S..... . -............ .......2A CLASSlFIEDS.........; Vol, Th1I Igan. 4 i OPINION .............. .. .4A THE B-SIDE.. 020a7lThe Michigan Daily SPORTS- - - -S.. A T IP O FF...... oichioandoilycnm SP R S......... 6A ............A1 ......I. B