The Statement die dlian datIl Ann Arbor, Michigan Wednesday, November 28, 2007 michigandailycom ST STADIUM CONTROVERSY Coleman: 'U' can't comply with ADA President says 'U' would need dramatic overhaul to add 1,000 accessible seats to Big House By GABE NELSON Daily News Editor University President Mary Sue Coleman said yes- terday that the decades-old structure of Michigan Stadium makes it impossible to add wheelchair-acces- sible seating anywhere besides the entrance portal, meaning the University couldn't make 1 percent of all seats in the stadium bowl wheelchair-accessible with- out performing a major overhaul. That's the standard laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act that the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Justice say the Uni- versity should have to meet. They're suing in federal court to force the University to comply with the ADA. "You can't get more than something like 350 seats plus companion seats," Coleman said. "It's not physi- cally possible unless you destroy the bowl and start over." Coleman said in an interview yesterday that she was disappointed by the University's inability to reach a settlement with the Office of Civil Rights over how to make Michigan Stadium accessible to disabled fans. The office, which conducted an eight-year investiga- tionofthe stadium, referred thecasetotheU.S.Depart- ment of Justice last week. The Justice Department was granted permission the next day to become a co-plain- tiff in a federal court case filed by the MPVA, saying the University should be forced to upgrade Michigan Stadium to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. "We were working diligentlyto come to a settlement with the Department of Education. When that didn't happen, the next logical thing was to turn it over to the Department of Justice," Coleman said. "There's a See STADIUM, Page 7A MSA Rep. Kenneth Baker (LEFT) slammed MSA President Zack Yost for creating a Facebook.com group that mocked MSA Rep. Tim Hull (RIGHT ity," prompting an outcry, because Hull has Asperger's syndrome. Pres. draws fire Quiet elections to begin at midnight for Facebook group Yost apologizes for was created by Yost a little more than a year ago - when he was the mocking MSA rep in assembly's student general counsel. In the group's description Yost wrote, offensive group "I'll give that kid a fucking disability he can write home about if he keeps By SCOTT MILLS sending these code amendments to Daily StaffReporter everyone." Hull has a mild form of autism An insulting Facebook.com group called Asperger's syndrome. Until created by Michigan Student Assem- this semester, when it was disbanded, bly President Zack Yost that makes Hull was the co-chair of MSA's stu- fun of MSA Rep. Tim Hull was made dents with disabilities committee. public at last night's MSA meeting by An image attached to the Facebook MSA Rep. Kenneth Baker. group consists of the scribbled words, The secret group, titled "I waste "SHUT UP TIM!" more time reading Tim Hull's code Hull has proposed dozens of amendments than I do on Facebook," See FACEBOOK, Page 3A Ruling party faces little opposition By DAVE MEKELBURG Daily News Editor The Michigan Action Party is run- ning a virtually uncontested slate in the student government elections that begin at midnight tonight, ensur- ing that it will maintain its hold on the Michigan Student Assembly and LSA Student Government, which rep- resents students in the largest college at the University. The most contested races will be for the LSA seats on MSA. There are 10 available seats up for election, and both MAP and the Defend Affir- mative Action Party have fielded 10 candidates each. There are also two independent candidates and two can- didates running with the Michigan Independent Party. In contested elec- tions, DAAP candidates rarely garner a significant number of votes. DAAP promotes affirmative action and vocally opposes racism on cam- pus. Some key incumbents up for reelec- tion in the LSA races include MAP candidates current MSA Treasurer Sabrina Shingwani, an LSA junior, and current MSA Rep. StellafBinkevich, the chair of the Budget Priorities Commit- See ELECTION, Page 3A MARKING AIDS WEEK Adidas executive defends company's labor practices New 'U' apparel supplier has come under fire at other colleges By ANDY KROLL Daily Staff Reporter The man in charge of overseeing Adidas's labor and environmental standards outlined the company's factory assessment programs and rules designed to protect workers last night in a presentation at the Michigan League. The University signed a $7.5 mil- lion per year contract with Adidas in June to make the German com- pany the University's exclusive ath- letic apparel provider. Adidas has come under fire at the University of California at Berkeley and the Uni- versity of Wisconsin at Madison for alleged labor violations. Gregg Nebel cited Adidas's improved Key Performance indica- tor - a ratingsystem that evaluates a factory's level of worker-manage- ment communication, factory com- pliance and industrial relations - as evidence of his company's tougher labor monitoring standards. Nebel fielded questions from the audience about the Desig- nated Suppliers Program, which requires universities to use facto- ries approved by the Worker Rights Consortium, an international Eight sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt are hanging in the Michigan Union Ballroom this week to mark World AIDS week. The quilt is a memorial to people who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. As deadline looms, primary fight goes on Gregg Nebel, an Adidas executive who oversees the company's labor pt defended the company's treatment of its workers in a speech last night. Democratic ballot likely to include only half of the candidates LANSING (AP) - The battle over what Michigan's presiden- tial election will look like was still being fought yesterday, even as deadlines loomed for getting absentee ballot applications to those overseas. The GOP-controlled state Senate declined to take up a bill restoring the names of Demo- cratic candidates John Edwards, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden to the Democratic ballot. The lack of action angered some Democrats who wanted to have all eight of their candidates on the ballot and left some Republicans worried that Democrats might skip the Democratic primary to vote in the Republican one. Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) said infight- ing among Democrats scuttled the vote, but Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) called the decision a missed opportunity. The four Democrats withdrew their names to satisfy Iowa and New Hampshire, which were unhappy Michigan was challeng- See PRIMARY, Page 7A national labor-monitoring group, for the production of their licensed products. In response, Nebel said he does not support the DSP, and he ques- tioned the consortium's right to approve certain factories for the program and not others. "The factories under the DSP won't last, and it's not a sustainable program at all in the textile indus- try," Nebel said. In April, Members of Students Organized for Labor and Economic Equality urged the University to adhere to the standards of the DSP, but University President Mary Sue Coleman decided not to align with the program. Adidas has come under fire this year at several large public univer- sities for instances of labor rights violations in factories subcontract- ed to Adidas throughout the world. Student activists at the Univer- sity of California at Berkeley pro- tested Adidas in February after a report issued by United Students Against Sweatshops found that the company threatened to reduce pro- duction at a subcontracted Indo- nesian factory where workers had unionized. In October, students at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin at Madison See ADIDAS, Page 7A 04 wm , TODAY'S WEATHER H': 43 GOT A NEWS TIP? LO: 26 Call 734-763-24s9 or e-mail news omichigandaily.com and let us know. Canadian scare tactics MICHIGANDAILY.COM/THEFILTER INDEX Vol. CXVI S, No.58 02007 The Michigri icighandoilycom NEW S......, OPINION.. ARTS...... .2A CLASSIFIEDS. .. 6A .4A SPORTS.. . ..A........8A .5A THESTATEMENT..................1B