The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com N ewTshmWednesday, November 5, 2008 - 7A U' scientists get win with Prop 2 passage Narrow majority passes controversial stem cell proposal By EMILY BARTON Daily News Editor After the passage yesterday of Proposal 2, which amended the state's constitution to loosen restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, University researchers will now be able to derive their own embryonic stem cell lines. The ballot initiative passed nar- rowly with 52 percent of the vote,, with 91 percent of the precincts reporting as of 2:30 a.m. Wednes- day. It overturns a 1978 Michigan law banning the destruction of human embryos. Michigan's ban on cloning remains intact. Scientists at the University have been conducting embryonic stem cell research with lines derived in other states, but the new amend- ment will allow them to start deriving lines from fertility clinic embryos that would otherwise be discarded. Opponents of the initiative have cited precedent from other states to argue that the new law could lead lawmakers to spend public money on stem cell research, and argued that the ballot language is vague enough that it would not adequately prohibit the misuse of human embryos. Proponents of the measure say the initiative will enable research in Michigan that could lead to cures for diseases like Juvenile Diabetes and Parkinson's Disease. "We're very pleased with the vote today," said Chris DeWitt, spokesman for Cure Michigan, the campaign advocating the ballot ini- tiative. "This has helped bring our state in line with 45 other states for stem cell research." Cure Michigan started its cam- paigninitiative over ayear ago when Rick Johnson, former speaker of the state House of Representatives, Detroit Attorney Linda Bloch, for- mer U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz(R-Battle Creek) and Richard Whitmer, a for- mer chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield formed a com- mittee to push for a ballot initiative. Previous legislation introduced to state Congress failed to pass, and the committee members decided to leave the decision up to voters. Crowds celebrated after Obama's victory was announced at the Michigan Denocratic Party's victory party in the Renaissance Center. Eated U celebrates Obama win Mich. becomes 13th state to legalize medicinal pot Granholm, attorney general had opposed ballot initiative By EMILY BARTON Daily StaffReporter Michigan became the thir- teenth state to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes yesterday after Proposal 1 passed with 63 percent of the vote in the 91 percent of precincts reported by early this morning. The ballot initiative allows patients with severe medical con- ditions like cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma and hepatitis C to legal- ly use marijuana to treat pain and other symptoms. Patients would be able to own 12 marijuana plants and 2.5 ounces ofusable marijuana once they've been granted permis- sion by a doctor, registered with the Department of Community Health and been issued a program identification card. The initiative was proposed by the Michigan Coalition for Com- passionate Care, a Ferndale-based organization. "We'reveryexcitedbecausethis is a solid victory for the patients and their families who desire to use medical marijuana when other treatments aren't working for them," said Diane Byrum, spokes- woman for the coalition. opponents of the initiative, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Attorney General Mike Cox, said the ballot language doesn't clearly stipulate how patients would obtain marijuana and voiced concern that a change in the law would cause an increase in crime and violence. The opposing campaign was led by Citizens Protecting Michigan's Kids, a coalition of anti-drug orga- nizations. The passing of asimilar proposalin California led to the creation of thou- sandsof"potshops,"quasi-legalstores sellingmarijuana to people with pre- scriptions. Proponents of Proposal 1 have insisted that Michigan's law will guard against those problems. The ballot language provides penalties for anyone who illegally sells marijuana but doesn't explain how patients should obtain it. "The ballot initiative is silent on how you get the first seed, because the reality is that patients are getting that today and using it," Byrum said. OBAMA, From Page 1A 14 percent increase from the number of people who cast bal- lots at student dominated polling places of 2004. Eighty-three percent of voters at 14 student-heavy Ann Arbor precincts supported Obama. Obama, whose victory in the Electoral College entered land- slide territory, began the race two years ago as the underdog. He had to defeat the favored Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York to win the Democratic Party's nomination. In doing so, he defied historical precedent to become the first black man to earn a major party's nod. The Democratic nominee once again defied political paradigm in his campaign strategy. He energized an entire generation of young Americans withhis message ofhope and change. During his acceptance speech last night, given before a crowd of more than 240,000, Obama implored Americans to support him as he carries out his progres- sive platform. "I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation,the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block,brick by brick, calloused handbycallousedhand,"hesaid. Obama's platform, which cen- ters on tax breaks for middle- income families, health care policy reforms, withdrawal from Iraq and developing alternative energy technology, has resonated overwhelmingly with young vot- ers. About two-thirds of voters under the age of 30 supported Obama, representing 17 percent of the national electorate. This group of young, primarily first-time voters, who formed their political opinions under a president with some of the worst approval ratings in the history of approval ratings, voted for the young first- term senator whose eloquent rhet- oric promised them a change from the only administration they'd known since middle school. Many of these people not only voted for him, but they dedicated themselves to getting him elected. Membership in the University's chapter of College Democrats qua- drupled in size when the school year began. At the group's first mass meeting, they turned away more than100 people because they couldn't fit the 300 people wanted to help elect Obama in one room. Collectively, the group commit- ted tens of thousands of man-hours to canvassing and phone-banking for the candidate. More than 30 College Democrats members con- sidered the mission a full-time job. Inhis acceptance speech,Obama thanked them for their efforts.. "It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep," he said of those who worked for his campaign. College-aged supporters across the nation contributed to the largest volunteer base of any political cam- paign. The Obama campaign also usedtechnologylikesocialnetwork- ing to build a registration, outreach and turnout machine the likes of which no democracy has ever seen. These grassroots efforts mobilized entire blocsof first-time voters. The 18- to 24-year-old demo- graphic has never played such an influential role in the election of a president. Historically, young vot- ers haven't shown up to the polls.' Voter turnout among those aged 18-24 has trailed that of voters aged 25 years and older by about20 percent forthepast 30years, accordingtoThe Center for Information and Research HOW THE COUNTRY VOTED onCivic LearningandEngagement. But to combat this group's infa- mous apathy, Obama's campaign, armed with record-shattering fundraising totals, poured money into courting the youth vote. His campaign produced and distrib- uted youth-specific literature,, which listed his pledges to make college more affordable and acces- sible. He used text messaging and viral videos to get his message out to a group of people whose lives revolve around blogging, instant messaging and social networking. On a campus scattered with Obama campaign literature and plastered with the president- elect's likeness, students celebrat- ed throughout the streets of Ann Arbor in droves. Their chants and yells could be heard for hours after the major news networks called the race for Obama. Before flooding the streets, stu- dents gathered at campus bars and residence hall lounges to watch results trickle in. Just before 11 p.m., the election- watching crowds at Good Time Charley's braced themselves for the closing of polls in California. They began counting down from ten. As they cried one, the television screens displayed the CNN projec- tion, "Barack Obama elected presi- dent." As students embraced and took photos of the screen, they lined up at the bar to order blue-colored "Obama shots." Others simply stared at the screen, their eyes transfixed and welling with tears. - Daily Staff Reporters Jillian Berman, Kelly Fraser, Charles Gregg-Geist, Andrew Grossman, Elaine La Fay, Katherine Mitchell, Nate Sandals, Caitlin Schneider, Kyle Swanson and Sara Lynne Thelen contributed to this report. U.S.AIR FORCE R.O*T.C INTERNING WITH US ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE. THEN AGAIN, MAYBE IT IS. The U.S. Air Force is looking for electrical, computer and environmental engineering students who want to work with some of the most advanced technology in the world and at the same time get paid well to do it. If all this sounds intriguing to you, contact AFROTC and learn how you can spend your summer on the cutting edge. Pay is $4,500 for 10 weeks Round-trip airfare, lodging and living expenses Rental car Students who complete the program may be offered AFROTC scholarships. Pays 100% of tuition and fees $900/year for books $400-500 tax-free monthly stipend Call 1-734-764-2403 or visit AFR0TC.com. VOTING From Page1A was not authorized to talk to the press, held up a bundle of5oo votes from one of the three precincts inside the high school and smiled. "It's been crazy," he said of the whole day. Hood said the only problem at Warren Woods Tower was confusion between the three precincts all housed in the same building. But he said those prob- lems subsided as the number of people voting at once dimin- ished. A precinct supervisor at a War- ren middle school, who wouldn't give her name because she didn't have the authority to talk to the press, said there were long lines but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. "The lines are long - people are coming out to vote for the presi- dency," she said. "Lines are good because they mean people are. coming to vote." Karen Amato, a poll observer for the Michigan Election Com- mission, said there has been an astounding level of turnout in Macomb. "At the 3 different Warren Woods sites I've been to, of the 1,200 people expected to vote, already 400 had voted before 1:00," she said. She said the only problem she saw was a lack of supplies at some of the polling places. Meanwhile in Detroit, poll workers also experienced long lines, but with relatively few other problems. Poll workers at Central United Methodist Church, which houses two precincts, said the biggest rush was from 7 a.m.,to 9 a.m. as people tried to vote before heading to work. After that, there contin- ued to be a steady trickle of voters throughout the day, the poll work- ers said. Alfred Kirkland, a poll work- er at Central United Method- ist Church, said the only real problem was people showing up at the wrong precinct. But Kirk- land said the church shuttled those people to their correct precincts. - Daily Staff Reporter Trevor Calero contributed to this report.