Opinion, Page 4A Ann Arbor, Michigan Monday, November 26, 2007 michigandaily com STREAK SNAPPED BIG HOUSE CONTROVERSY Feds get OK to inspect stadium Judge allows Justice Department to join MPVA lawsuit By GABE NELSON Daily News Editor A judge on Wednesday granted the U.S.Department of Justice permission to send a squad of investigators to Michigan Stadium to examine the stadium facilities and determine whether they comply with the Ameri- cans with Disabilities Act. U.S. District Judge Sean Cox approved the visit at a hearing in federal court Wednesday where he also approved the Justice Department's request to become a co-plaintiff in a suit filed in April by the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America. The suit says the sta- dium violates federal accessibility standards. The visit, scheduled to begin on noon tomorrow and continue for at least five days, will allow Justice Department attorneys to build a case against the Uni- versity. University spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham said the University will provide the Justice Department with whatever information it needs for its investi- gation. The Education Department's Office of Civil Rights has accused the University of impeding its investigation by ignoring requests for information or documents regarding the stadium. "We're happy to accommodate them - whatever they need," Cunningham said. "We'll continue to be cooperative, just like we always have." Cunningham said she thinks the Justice Depart- ment's visit will clear up accusations made by the Office of Civil Rights. In a response to the office sent by the University earlier this month, Gloria Hage, the University's inter- im general counsel, wrote that the University repaired some stadium facilities - like bathrooms and conces- sions - after the Office of Civil Rights informed the University that they didn't meet code. Cunningham said the Office of Civil Rights has con- tinued to claim that these problems exist, although the University has sent the office photos showing that they have been repaired. She said she hopes Justice Department investigators will measure the dimen- sions of stadium facilities and find that the University has taken steps to bring the stadium into compliance. Federal investigators joined the suit upon the request of the office of Civil Rights, which began an See STADIUM, Page 7A Michigan hockey players Chad Kolarik, Kevin Porter and Max Pacioretty celebrate during the Wolverines 5-1 win over Minnesota at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night. The win marked the first time Michigan has beaten the Golden Gophers in the last seven tries. The Wolverines also beat Wisconsin on Friday. For more on the games, see SportsMonday. BAR NIGHTS Fundraisers questioned elsewhere, safe in A2 After underage drinking busts, bar nights have drawn ire in Evanston By JAKE HOLMES Daily StaffReporter The bar night - a lucrative fund- raising method often used by campus groups - has drawn criticism in one Big Ten college town because of per- ceived problems with underage drink- ing. In Ann Arbor, the bar night is alive and well, and it's one of the most con- venient moneymakers for University of Michigan student groups. After busts at several Northwestern University bars for underage drink- ing, the city council of Evanston, Ill., considered banning minors from bar nights. Despite concerns about under- age drinking in thebars, the city council decided to renew a regulation allowing minors to attend bar nights in the city. The new law allows student groups at Northwestern to hold a maximum of 40 bar nights per year with students 18 and older attending past midnight. But for a student group at the Uni- versity of Michigan trying to find a way to connect members and raise money without spending a lot of money up front, a bar night remains a popular - and legal - method. At an Oct. 11 bar night at Touch- down Caf, the University's chapter of Dance Marathon received 80 percent of all cover charges collected. About 400 people attended showed up, each indirectly donating $4 of the $5 cover charge to Dance Marathon. That raised about $1,600 for the group. Dance Marathon external direc- tor and LSA senior Steve Crompton arranged the evening with the bar and sent e-mails and Facebook invites about the night to Dance Marathon members. Touchdown Caf6 collected all the money for drinks, but it provided music and a venue for free. Student groups bring guests and the hosting venue manages the rest, mak- ing bar nights an attractive proposition for campus groups. "(Bar nights) are a high return-on- investment fundraiser," Crompton said. For smaller student groups, bar nights can be the cheapest way to hold a fundraising or social event, he said. Groups hoping to hold such nights at on-campus locations would have to hire a DJ, provide drinks and snacks and prepare and clean up the event themselves. For a large group like Dance Mara- thon, booking bar nights is straightfor- ward. Long-standingrelationshipswith campus bars mean the group rarely has to fight for space at venues. But smaller groups, like the Ameri- can Movement for Israel, also hold bar See BAR NIGHTS, Page 7A STUDENT GOV'T SCANDA l e MSA rep. pleads not guilty A MINIATURE CITY Pre Mic Anton prelim day to March election of usin crime, trial hearing set to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine, and the other was a high court for Jan. 3 misdemeanor charge of interfering with an electronic device, which By JULIE ROWE carries penalties of up to two years Daily StaffReporter in prison and a $1,000 fine. Vuljaj was charged in connec- higanStudentAssemblyRep. tion with the denial of service Vuljaj pled not guilty at his attacks launched to shut down inary examination Wednes- the Michigan Progressive Party's two charges relating to the website duringthe election. Vuljaj 2006 student government was a member of rival party Stu- n. One was a felony charge dents 4 Michigan. ig a computer to commit a A preliminary examination which carries penalties of up requires the prosecution to show evidence providing probable cause to believe that the defendant com- mitted the crime. On Wednesday, Doug Lewis, Vuljaj's attorney and the director of Student Legal Services, bypassed this step and moved for a pretrial hearing. Judge John B. Collins granted the motion. The pretrial confer- ence, an opportunity for the pros- ecution and defense to discuss matters that will simplify the trial, was scheduled for Jan. 3. Engineering senior Joel Sch- See MSA, Page 7A Classes seek to mold entrepreneurs Engin school develops courses to help their own businesses, the College of Engineering will offer courses on entrepreneurship next semes- ter. students turn ideas "The classes are in response to students' requests to learnmore of into profit the mechanics of being an entre- preneur, so we're really excited By ELAINE LAFAY about offering these courses," said Daily StaffReporter Thomas Zurbuchen, the direc- - - ------- ftor of the University's Center for To connect students with pro- Entrepreneurial Programs. fessionals and help them launch The student initiative came from the student entrepreneur organization MPowered, which was formed this semester to help student entrepreneurs con- nect with potential investors and understand what it means to run a small business. "We have an extremely recep- tive student base," said Ashwin Lalendran, a junior in the College of Engineering and president of MPowered. See CLASSES, Page 7A Model train enthusiasts gathered at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds yesterday for a Southeast Michigan Model Railroad Flea Market and show. Members of the Michigan LEGO Train Club displayed a model town that included many Detroit buildings. The 30-by-7.5 foot model was made entirely out of LEGOs, with no glue or paint. TODAY'S WEATHER HI:40 GOTANEWSTIP? LO: 28 Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and letusknow. ON THE DAILY BLOGS Revenge is best served on ice. MICHIGANDAILYCOM/THEGAME INDEX NEW S ................................2A CLASSIFIEDS.................. 6A Vol. CXVm, No. 56 OPINION ...........................4A SUDO KU............................8A (2007TheMichigan Gaily ARTSS................ ..... A SPORTSMONDAY................1B michigondoily con """ 'a A