.IIE lMIpgan haily Ann Arbor, Michigan Monday, November 17, 2008 michigandaily.com A BUS RIDE LIKE NO OTHER ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT Opposing groups to unite for first time In effort to find middle ground, AMI and SAFE collaborate on event emphasizing peace efforts By VERONICA MENALDI Daily Staff Reporter For the first time, two University student groups on opposite sides of a bitterly fought ideological divide are collaborating to sponsor an event promoting peace in Israel. The event, backed by the University's chapter of American Movement for Israel and Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, is a speech focusing on peace efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Titled "The Parent's Circle Family Forum: Overcoming Pain to Work Towards Peace," the event kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight in the Michigan League Ballroom. Ross School of Business junior Sasha Gribov, head of AMI, described the collaboration as unprecedent- ed, with the two groups standing on opposite sides of so controversial an issue. "It's something that hasn't been done before," he said. "It won't solve our political differences, but we felt it's something that could make all of us under- stand what's at stake." SAFE, a group of about 400 student-activists, advo- cates Israel leaving the Gaza strip and the West Bank. AMI also has about 400 members and advocates maintaining and strengthening the current borders of Israel. Both promote understanding of the Middle East through educational events. "We are students at one of the best universities in the country," LSA junior Andrew Dalack, co-chair See ISRAEL, Page 7A School of Music junior Curtis Wiklund celebrates with new fiancee Jordin Nelson after proposing marriage to her on a University bus Friday. Wiklund contacted friends from New Life Church to help decorate the bus. When Wiklund got on the bus with Nelson at Pierpont Commons, the friends on the bus began singing "I Say a Little Prayer." NEAR-CAMPUS CRIME Mllano faces assault chrges Football player faces up o to years for two harges stemming from assault of hockey player By TREVOR CALERO Daily StaffReporter The Michigan football player sus- jected of attacking a Michigan hockey layerinalate-nightincidentlastmonth has been charged with two counts of assault and is expected to turn himself in to police today. Prosecutors issued a warrant on Fri- day for LSA senior Mike Milano, 22, charging him with two counts of assault stemming from an incident last month after which LSA junior Steve Kampfer, a Michigan hockey player, was hospital- ized with a fractured skull. The first charge, assault with intent to do greatbodilyharm, is afelonythatcar- ries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The second charge, for misdemeanor aggravatedassault, carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine, University Police spokes- woman Diane Brownsaid Friday. "We're working with the perpetra- tor's attorneyto make arrangements for him to turn himselfin and be arraigned," Brown said. John Shea, Milano's attorney, told The Ann Arbor News that his client would turn himself in today and that Milano is notcguilty of the charges. Milano is the main suspect in the Oct. 12 incident, in which Kampfer was "body slammed" into the sidewalk on Church Street, near East Quad Resi- dence Hall, police said. Kampfer, a starting defenseman on the hockey team, was hospitalized fol- lowing the incident. Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson said Kampfer will miss eight to ten weeks of play as a result of his injuries. Kampfer, 20, filed for a Personal Pro- tection Order eight days later, request- ing that Milano be prohibited from contacting him or coming near him. Kampfer's PPO request states that he was walking with his back to Mila- no and two of his friends when he was attacked from behind, resulting in "a See ASSAULT, Page 7A PROTESTING FOR GAY RIGHTS Hundreds rally onA2 streets against Prop 8 U sets fundraising record: $3.1billion Michigan Difference FROM THE DAILY effort biggest of any For an editorial on the campaign, U.S. public school see Opinion, Page4A. About one million people worldwide took part in rallies By THOMAS CHAN Daily StaffReporter A crowd of about 250 people in Ann Arbor braved the wet, 30-degree weather Saturday afternoon to join nearly a million others in cities across the coun- try and the world to protest the recent same-sex marriage ban in California. The protest, held in front of the post office at Fifth and West Lib- ty streets, was one of hundreds h'eld nationwide opposing Propo- sition 8, a ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in Califor- -ia, and passing with 52 percent .fthe vote on Election Day. While at the post office, the wet but otherwise jovial crowd chanted slogans and held post- e*s, which read "Defend Equality. Love Unites," and "Fight H8." At one point, the crowd even sang a variation on "I Love You," the well-known song from Barney and Friends. Law School student Tom Bous- nakis, one of protest's organiz- ers, told crowd that while he was excited for President-elect Barack Obama's support of gay rights, he was disappointed that Proposi- tion 8 succeeded on Election Day. The rally was peaceful and there were no signs of counter- protests. Sergeant Ed Stuck of the Ann Arbor Police Depart- ment said there was no violence or incidents that required police intervention. At about 3 p.m., the crowd at the post office briefly marched through downtown Ann Arbor and then to the Diag. Once on the Diag, the rally con- cluded in minutes, but not before the organizers could implore the protesters to remain politically active. "You guys are going to have to stay informed," Law School student David Brown, one of the event's organizers, said to the crowd. The event's organizers, mostly See PROTEST, Page 7A By KYLE SWANSON Daily Staff Reporter With a drumroll and streamers flying in the air, the head of the University's Michigan Difference Campaign announced Friday that more than $3.1 billion has been raised during the campaign, num- bering it the largest fundraising effort in the University's history and the largest ever accomplished by a U.S. public university. The campaign broke the record set by the University of Califor- nia at Los Angeles, which raised $3.06 billion during a 10-year span from 1997 to 2006. The University of Michigan's campaign was first made public in 2004. Campaign Chair Rich Rogel made the announcement at Hill Auditorium before staff, alumni and donors who gathered to cel- ebrate the campaign's success. Donors told their stories, Univer- sity President Mary Sue Coleman made comments and philanthropy expert Paul Schervish gave a key- See FUNDRAISING, Page 7A BY THE NUMBERS 3.1 Billion dollars raised in The Michigan Difference campaign Number of buildings funded, partially or fully, by the campaign 910 Millions of dollars contributed tofthe University's endowment SOUlRCF-: UNIVFRSITY OF MICHIGAN sAID ALASLAH/Daily The Michigan Difference Campaign held its finale celebration in the Hill Auditorium. on Friday. The campaign raised $3.1 billion over four years. WEATHER Hi:31 TOMORROW LO: 24 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. ON THE DAILY BLOGS Christmas songs are great, but ... THEFILTER.BLOGS.MICHIGANDAILY.COM INDEX NEWS.......... Vol. CXIX, No. 53 SUDOKU...... 02008 The Michigan Daily OPINION..... michigondaily.com ...2A ARTS ..................... ...3A CLASSIFIEDS.......... ...4A SPORTSMONDAY... 5A 6A A