The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, March 14, 2008 - 3
NEWS BRIEFS
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.
Florida voters pitch
mail-in election
Florida Democrats yesterday
proposed a vote-by-mail presiden-
tial primary to solve the high-stakes
delegate dispute while acknowledg-
ing the plan's chances are slim.
Democrats in Florida and Michi-
gan have been struggling to come
up with an alternative to ensure
their delegates are seated at the
national convention this summer
after the party punished them
for holding early primaries. The
pressure to resolve the issue has
increased amid the protracted
fight for every delegate between
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and
Barack Obama.
Karen Thurman, chairwoman
of the Florida Democratic Party,
offered a mail-in/in person pro-
posal for voting and urged state
leaders, the national party and
the presidential candidates to sign
on. Under the plan, all of Florida's
4.1 million Democrats would be
mailed a ballot. They could send it
back, or cast a ballot in one of 50
regional voting centers that would
be set up. The election would end
June 3, a week before a Democratic
National Committee deadline to
name delegates.
DURHAM, NC.
Two men charged in
student's death
Authorities have charged a sus-
pect in the slaying of the University
ofNorthCarolina student president
with the January killing of a Duke
University graduate student.
Awarrantfiledyesterdaycharges
17-year-old Lawrence Alvin Lovette
Jr. with first-degree murder in the
death of Abhijit Mahato.
The 29-year-old computational
mechanics doctoral student was
found shot to death inside his apart-
ment in January.
Authorities have charged both
Lovette and Demario James Atwa-
ter with first-degree murder in the
death of Eve Carson. The 22-year-
old was found last week lying on a
street about a mile from campus.
BAGHDAD
Body of missing
Archbishop found
The body of a Chaldean Catholic
archbishop was found in a shallow
graveinnorthernIraqonyesterday,
two weeks after he was kidnapped
by gunmen in one of the most dra-
matic attacks against the country's
small Christian community.
The sad discovery of Arch-
bishop Paulos Faraj Rahho's body
came on a day that saw more vio-
lence elsewhere in Iraq. A parked
car bomb exploded in a commer-
cial district of central Baghdad,
killing 18 people and wounding
dozens more, police said. Gunmen
also killed five members of an anti-
al-Qaida group near Tikrit, and a
correspondent for a newspaper in
Baghdad.
ALBANY, N.Y.
In scandal's wake,
Paterson prepares
to step in as Gov.
New York Lt. Gov. David Pat-
erson says it's time for the state to
get back on track after Gov. Eliot
Spitzer's stunning resignation be-
cause of a prostitution scandal.
The Harlem Democrat takes
over Monday, becoming the state's
first black chief executive and the
first legally blind governor in the
country.
He told reporters and others
in Albany yesterday that he didn't
become governor like most politi-
cians do, but he plans to honor the
promise he made when he became
Spitzer's running mate in 2006.
-Compiled from
Daily wire reports
3,987
Number of American service mem-
bers who have died in the war in
Iraq, according to The Associated
Press. The U.S. Military identified
the following deaths yesterday:
Army Cpl. Jose A. Paniagua-
Morales, 22, Bell Gardens, Calif.;
Army Sgt. Phillip R. Anderson,
28, Everett, Wash.
Army Spc.Donald A. Burkett, 24,
Comanche, Texas.
Army Capt. Torre R. Mallard, 27,
Oklahoma.
DANCE MARATHON
From Page 1
changed by it that he's now inspired
to change other kids' lives, too."
Mill Creek held its Dance Mara-
thon last week. It was the school's
third and biggest yet.
Colin has been involved in the
committee of eight students for
each of the last two years, adjusting
to his leadership role along the way.
"They were all workingtogether,
but Colin was definitely very spirit-
ed about the event," Berryman said.
"He feels a sense of ownership."
The committee brainstormed
the theme, food and logistics of the'
event, which lasted three hours and
included snacks, prizes, a DJ and a
frozen lemonade machine.
Mill Creek students raised a
minimum of $25 each by reaching
out to their families and friends.
Colin surpassed that amount with
ease, becoming the school's highest
fundraiser with $380.
"Nobody got donations like
Colin," Berryman said. "He said, 'I
just don't take no for an answer."'
Colin said his committee never
thought it would run out of the 150
T-shirts it ordered. But more than
175 kids showed up, raising a total
of $7,245.
"I was like totally shocked - I
couldn't believe it," he said. "I could
have cried, but I didn't."
Dawn Northrup, Colin's mom,
said Colin's involvement organizing
the event was almost as beneficial
to him as the University's Dance
Marathon was.
"It's just as important for him to
learn how to help other people and
give back to others," she said. "It's
kind of come full circle."
She added that Colin's experi-
ences with the University's Dance
Marathon helped boost his morale
and confidence.
"I think it changed the way his
peers saw him, and as a result it
changed the way he saw himself,"
she said.
A soon-to-be freshman at Dexter
High School, Colin said he has no
interest in leaving Dance Marathon
behind him. He said he's excited
about the possibility to "drum one
up or cook one up somehow."
"I think within a couple years
there might be enough support to
put on one like I've done," he said.
Berryman said Colin has devel-
oped a sense of leadership.
"People think when they see akid
in a wheelchair that he's disabled,"
she said. "Colin's anything but dis-
abled. He's one of the most able kids
in that class to be a leader."
DEMOCRATS
From Page 1
bers of the group over the summer.
He said he hopes to draft a plan
that would assign students to chair
different committees and schedule
activities for every day from the
beginning of fall term to Election
Day in November.
To help a Democrat get elected,
Styer said he plans to hold tailgates
before football games and hold ral-
lies on the Diag where members of
the College Democrats will pass
out literature on candidates, give
away stickers and register voters.
The group also plans to canvass
with "district invasions," where
members of the College Democrats
will travel to other voting districts
in the state. Styer said some mem-
bers might travel to Ohio if the
Democratic campaign needs them
there.
"We're going to.go full steam for
whoever it is," Styer said.
While John McCain secured the
Republican nomination on March
4, Barack Obama and Hillary Clin-
ton have been locked in a dead heat
in the Democratic race since then.
So far the University's chapters
of Students for Obama and Stu-
dents for Hillary have campaigned
REPUBLICANS
From Page 1
firm and thoughtful voice for the
Republican Party on campus,"
Smith said.
One of his sparring partners,
LSA sophomore Tom Duvall, chair
of the University's chapter of Stu-
dents for Obama and a high school
friend of Smith's, said Smith will
make that happen.
"He'll make sure it's a positive
campaign," Duvall said. "Know-
ingBrady, he'll really helptobring
respect to this campaign season
and the discourse will be elevated
on this campus."
With a laugh, Duvall added, "I
definitely respect him asa worthy
opponent."
Despite what he called "a bit
of an ugly primary fight" with a
"few black eyes" between John
McCain and Mitt Romney, Smith
said he thought students who sup-
ported Romney or one of the other
candidates vying for the Republi-
can nomination will rally around
McCain for the presidential elec-
tion this November.
hard against each other. When asked which candidate he
Styer said he's confident that the supported, Styer said he supported
"friendly tension between the two Obama because "Obama has a set of
groups," would diminish, allow- policiesandanagendathatwillgive
ing the groups to come together by us the most change in our nation."
November. Styer was quick to mention that he
LSA sophomore Tom Duvall, would support either of the Demo-
chair of University's Students for cratic candidates "100 percent"
Obama group, agrees. in the general election, though.
"The people who are involved Double majoring in political sci-
with 'Students for' groups are also ence and philosophy, Styer said he
involved with College Dems, so at mighttrytransferring into the Ger-
our hearts we're all Democrats," ald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
Duvall said. He intends to study law or work for
One reason for Styer's relaxed political campaigns in the future.
attitude might be that he already Styer beat out two challengers,
has experience uniting Obama and LSA junior Sarah Duffy and LSA
Clinton supporters. His mother is junior Salim Alchurbaji, to win the
a staunch Clinton supporter, while position. Both opponents said they
his father backs Obama. were confident Styer will manage
Styer said he's a Democrat the organization well.
because of his mother, a University "Nathaniel's a great guy. He's
alum. His mother, he said, encour- more than competent," Alchurbaji
aged him to "get out of conserva- said.
tive Holland, Michigan" where he Styer's predecessor, LSA senior
grew up. Sam Harper, said he believes Sty-
Styer described her as a "pretty er's managerial skills and experi-
big feminist" and more outspoken ence as co-chair of the Student
than his father. Issues Committee will benefit him
The family often discusses as he oversees future events.
politics, but things get interesting "I'm very confident that with
though, when they start talking the election, there willbe a surge of
about specific candidates, he said. people wanting to get involved, and
"My mom is avery strong person he'll be able to capitalize on that
and she wins those debates all the and get people engaged on cam-
time," Styer said. pus," Harper said.
"I think that John McCain has ble and are better for the health,
gotten a bit of a bad rep, but when growth and sustainability of the
you look at a comparison of ideas, nation."
it'll be very easy to unite the party Smith criticized the univer-
on campus," he said. "The man is sal health care plans suggested
very principled, and the man rep- by Democratic candidates Hill-
resents Republican values." ary Clinton and Barack Obama,
In addition to holding events on which he said were too intrusive
campus to distribute information into people's lives.
to students, Smith said the group Smith beat out two challengers
plans to canvass and make phone - College of Engineering sopho-
calls for McCain in the fall. Smith more Ashley Schneider and Ross
said he also hopes to bring promi- School of Business junior Anton
nent Republicans to campus more Vuljaj - in the first round of vot-
often. ing to win his new position. Vul-
Next week, the group will host jaj recently resigned from his
long-time Republican National position as a Michigan Student
Committee member Chuck Yob. Assembly representative after
Although he originally sup- pleading guilty to felony charges
ported former Arkansas Gov. related to an incident where he
Mike Huckabee during the pri- crashed an opposing party's web-
mary race, Smith called McCain -site as a freshman.
"the right nominee" and a "mav- Smith, a history major from
erick." Smith said he supported Midland, Mich., said he first
Huckabee because of his views on became interested in politics in
health care and the environment. middle school during the 2000
"It's a shame that the left has presidential race between Al Gore
kind of a monopoly on these two and George W. Bush.
issues of health care and the envi- "History is the past, but what's
ronment," Smith said. "Especially cooler than shaping the country's
when the Republican ideas on future?" he said. "That's why I got
these issues are more responsi- interested in politics."
Michigan Dems, candidates
negotiate do-over primary
Any agreement would
require approval from
DNC, Granholm
LANSING (AP) - Michigan
Democrats are close to an agree-
ment with presidential candidates
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and
Barack Obama to hold a do-over
primary.
Party officials and the cam-
paigns negotiated on Thursday,
and state Democratic leaders were
hopeful that an agreement could be
reached on Friday, said Democratic
officials, who spoke on condition of
anonymity because of the sensitiv-
ity of the talks. To go forward, any
plan would require the approval of
the two campaigns, the Democratic
National Committee, state party
leaders and Gov. Jennifer Gran-
holm, who is backing Clinton.
Michigan Democrats need to
act quickly because the politically
divided legislature will have to sign
off on the deal and approve how to
spend the privately raised funds
for a new election. Members of the
Democratic-controlled state House
and Republican-controlled state
Senate leave atthe end of the month
on their two-week spring break.
The contest mustbe held by June
10 for the results to count under
DNC rules. Michigan currently
has an election set.for May 6 for
voters to decide on education
issues. The date of that contest
could be changed to accom-
modate a new presidential pri-
mary.
The Clinton campaign made
it clear that it strongly prefers
a state-run primary to mail-
in voting during the meeting,
according to a campaign offi-
cial speaking anonymously
about the private talks. People
involved in the private meeting
said the Clinton advisers favor
the state-run primary because
there would be less likelihood
of problems such as fraud and
ballot counting than with a
mail-in vote.
The national party punished
Michigan and Florida for mov-
ing up their primaries before
Feb. 5, stripping them of all
their delegates. The two states
have been struggling to come up
with alternative plans to ensure
their delegates are seated at the
national convention this sum-
mer in Denver.
Michigan held its primary
Jan. 15 and Florida voted Jan.
29. Clinton won both, although
she was the only major candidate
on the Michigan ballot.
On Thursday, Florida Democrats
proposed a vote-by-mail presiden-
tial primary while acknowledging
the plan's chances are slim.
Karen Thurman, chairwoman
of the Florida Democratic Party,
offered a mail-in/in person pro-
posal for voting and urged state
leaders, the national party and
the presidential candidates to sign
on. Under the plan, all of Florida's
4.1 million Democrats would be
mailed a ballot. They could send it
back, or cast a ballot in one of 50
regional voting centers that would
be set up.
The election would end June 3, a
week before a Democratic National
Committee deadline to name del-
egates.
The estimated cost is $10 million
to $12 million.
Asked if the plan will be imple-
mented, Thurman said, "I have a
feeling that this is probably closer
to not, than yes."
Members of Florida's congres-
sional delegation reiterated their
opposition to the plan, saying, "We
do not believe that this is a realis-
tic option at this time and remain
opposed to a mail-in ballot elec-
tion or any new primary election in
Florida of any kind."
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