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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
michigandaily.com
COCA-COLA CONTROVERSY
.Coke cleared in India investigation
'U' says it will
continue to deal with
company after seeing
first of two reports
By KELLYFRASER
Daily NewsEditor
Based on a report of the company's
environmental standards in India
released yesterday, the University has
agreed to continue purchasing Coca-
Cola products.
Some students whose activism
helped spur the report though, say the
findings don't change their opposition
to the University's dealings with the
company.
The University commissioned the
report in response to a now-defunct
student campaign to investigate the
company's environmental standards
in India and alleged human rights vio-
lations in Colombia. The campaign,
which was led by the Coalition to Cut
Contracts with Coca-Cola, began in
2004. It reached its peak when the
University briefly suspended its con-
tracts with Coke in late 2005.
Students claimed that Coke's prac-
tices in the two countries violated the
University's Vendor Code of Conduct,
which outlines standards for com-
panies conducting business with the
University.
After a 16-month investigation, The
Energy and Resources Institute, an
independent environmental research
organization based in New Delhi,
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
Includingthe documents from the Coke
report, see www.michigandaily.com
found that two of the company's six
plants examined in the report were
contributing to water shortages in the
areas surrounding the facilities, but
cleared the company of allegations of
high pesticide levels in both the water
used to make the beverages and the
water being discharged by the plant.
See COKE, Page 2
COMMENCEMENT 2008
Big House
could.
still1 be an
opt-ion
At meeting, 'U' officials say
Michigan Stadium
still a possibility for
April 26 ceremony
By ELAINE LAFAY
Daily Staff Reporter
Spring Commencement could still be held at Michi-
gan Stadium, University officials said at a forum yes-
terday.
Students have protested the University's announce-
ment last week that it would hold graduation at East-
ern Michigan University, using websites and Facebook
groups to mobilize.
The forum was held to give students the oppor-
tunity to voice concerns about the plans, which
University officials said became necessary because
of the ongoing construction of luxury boxes at the
stadium.
After hearing the background behind the decision
from University officials, students took the floor to
voice their frustrations, ask further questions and pro-
pose alternatives that would bring the ceremony back
to campus.
These options included holding the ceremony in the
Diag or at Crisler Arena with overflow seating at Hill
Auditorium. Many students said they just wanted to be
inAnn Arbor for their graduation.
Michelle Pate, director of University and Devel-
opment Events, said the administration needed to
gather more information to determine how feasible
holding commencement in the Big House would be.
Pate said there are safety concerns because the sta-
dium might not have enough entry and exit portals at
this point. The' number of portals would be reduced
from 44, which is how many the stadium has for foot-
ball games, to between four and six because of the con-
struction, she said.
One option under consideration is holding gradua-
tion in one corner of the stadium on the North or South
side because the East and West sides would be inacces-
sible.
University officials said they had thought com-
mencement could still take place at Michigan Stadium
despite the construction until the middle of December,
when they began looking at other options.
Pate said various factors like the number of tick-
ets available to each student were main concerns of
the administration. University officials said that any
commencement venue would need at least 31,500
See COMMENCEMENT, Page 7
FOR MORE ON THE STADIUM...
Indluding a columnoand letters to the Daily, see Opinion, Page 4.
Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich rr sponds to a question about medical marijuana from Renee Wolf,thefirstMchigander who was prescribed the drug
Kucinich campaign stops on campus
cand
tha
B'
At a
yesterd
Dennis
for free
and fc
and un
healthc
for U.S.
Democratic More than 500 people - includ-
inghigh schoolstudents and elderly
idate draws more adults and entire families - packed
into the National Science Auditori-
n 500 to speech um for the rally, at which Kucinich
explained the importance of voting
y DANIEL STRAUSS in the state's primary.
Daily Staff Reporter "Tomorrow is an election which
no one should take for granted
campaign stop on campus because this is Michigan's oppor-
ay, presidential candidate tunity and it's your opportunity
Kucinich (D-Ohio) called to change the entire debate within
college education at two- the Democratic Party," Kucinich
our-year public colleges said. "And there needs to be a real
iversities, a not-for-profit debate on issues, not providing a
are system and more jobs Democratic version on the war as
citizens. opposed to a Republican version of
the war."
Kucinich, one of the four Demo-
crats who will appear on the state's
primary ballot, visited the Uni-
versity for a rally sponsored by
Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
Students for Kucinich and the Uni-
versity chapter of the College Dem-
ocrats.
The other Democratic hopefuls
chose not to campaign in Michi-
gan to protest the state's decision
to move its primary up to Jan. 15.,
a violation of party rules.
Kucinich garnered zero percent
of the vote in the Iowa caucus on
Jan. 3 and 1.4 percent of the vote
in New Hampshire's Jan. 8th pri-
mary. Most national polls predict
Kucinich will finish the Michigan
primary with about two to three
percent of the vote.
During his speech, Kucinich
focused on setting himself apart
from the other presidential candi-
dates.
"I'm the only candidate for pres-
ident who voted against the war,
who voted against funding the war
100 percent of the time, who voted
against the Patriot Act - because
I read it - who stands for a non-
for-profit healthcare system, who
See KUCINICH, Page 7
In A2, Lieberman throws
support behind McCain
One day before state
primary, few students
turn out to greet
Connecticut senator
By JACOB SMILOVITZ
Daily StaffReporter
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) ral-
lied in Ann Arbor yesterday to support
Sen. John McCain's bid for the presi-
dency.
The event was held in the atrium of
the McKinley Towne Centre in Ann
Arbor and featured speeches followed
by a town hall-style question-and-
answer session.
About 100 people sporting McCain
stickers, only a handful of whom were
University students, turned out to show
their support.
In his speech, Lieberman didn't shy
away from addressing the importance
of the Michigan primary for McCain's
prospects of becoming president.
"This primary, in Michigan, is so
critically important," Lieberman said.
"I honestly believe that if John McCain
wins it here, he's going to win it every-
where, and be the next president of the
United States."
LSA junior Justin Zatkoff, who deliv-
ered a speech before Lieberman and
is the co-chair of Midwest Students
for McCain, said in an interview after
the event that students should support
McCain because he will be able to create
jobs inthe state of Michigan.
"I encourage every Michigan student
to think about one thing: Do they want
See LIEBERMAN, Page 2
Vote today
Both major parties are holding their primaries.
When you get to your polling place, you'll need
to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot.
Hillary Clinton is the only leading Democratic
candidate on that party's ballot, If you support
Barack Obama or John Edwards, don't write their
names in - your vote won't count. Backers of
those candidates are urging voters to show their
support by marking the "uncommitted" box.
FIND YOUR PRECINCT online at publius.org
POLLS ARE OPEN todayfrom 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
IF YOU'RE A NEW VOTER who registered by mail, you must
bring a photo ID or a documentlthat lists your name and address.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) made the case for Republican presidential
candidate John McCain at the McKinley Towne Centre in Ann Arbor.
McCain will campaign in Ypsilanti today.
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ON THE DAILY BLOGS
Coverage ofttoday's state primaries
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Vol. CXVIII,No.76 OPINION .............................4 CLASSIFIEDS ..................... 6
Q0n8nTheMichiganDaily ARTS.................. 5 SPORTS ........ ...............................8
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