The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 3 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 3 NEWS BRIEFS WASHINGTON Obama says stimulus vital to avoid 'catastrophe' President Barack Obama pressed Congress Monday night to urgently approve a massive economic recov- ery bill, using the first prime-time news conference of his presidency to warn that a failure to act "could turn a crisis into a catastrophe." With the nation falling deeper into a long and painful recession, Obama defended his program against Republican criticism that it is loaded with pork-barrel spending and will not create jobs. "The plan is not perfect," the president said, addressing the nation from the East Room of the White House. "No plan is. I can't tell you for sure that everything in this plan will work exactly as we hope, but I can tell you with com- plete confidence that a failure to act will only deepen this crisis as well as the pain felt by millions of Americans." WASHINGTON Stimulus bill narrowly survives Senate test vote An $838 billion economic stimu- lus bill backed by the White House narrowly advanced in the Senate on Monday over strong Republican opposition, and Democratic lead- ers vowed to deliver the emergen- cy legislation for President Barack Obama's signature within a few days. The vote was 61-36, one more than the 60 needed to move the measure toward Senate passage on Tuesday. That in turn, will set the stage for possibly contentious negotiations with the House on a final compromise on legislation the president says is desperately need- ed to tackle the worst economic crisis in more than ageneration. The Senate vote occurred as the Obama administration moved ahead on another key component of its economic recovery plan. Officials said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would outline rules on Tuesday for $350 billion in bailout funds designed to help the financial industry as well as hom- eowners facing foreclosure. DETROIT GM's Lutz to retire at end of the year Bob Lutz, America's ultimate car guy and the man credited with lead- ing wild success at Chrysler in the 1990s and a near-complete overhaul of General Motors Corp.'s vehicle lineup, has decided to retire from the business at the end of the year. Lutz, 76, a former U.S. Marine aviator who once crashed his per- sonal helicopter at a Michigan air- port, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that his age and skills may not be compat- ible with a new era of government regulation of the industry, includ- ing higher fuel economy and carbon dioxide emission regulations. "It's now a business environ- ment that doesn't really play to my greatest skills, which were perhaps more in the intuitive, emotional area with sort of a sense for what the market would want," he said. "I think we're entering an era where what the market would want is going to take to some extent a back seat to what is going to be required by government regulation." *FORT DRUM, N.Y. Military chief caps extra troops to Afghanistan at 30K No more than an estimated 30,000 additional troops will be sent to Afghanistan as the U.S. ramps up forces there, the nation's top mili- tary officer told soldiers Monday. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen also called U.S. efforts in Iraq a success, even though "we're not done." Mullen, speaking to fresh-faced soldiers and war-weary military wives, sought to boost morale and sootheconcerns atthe Armybase that has seen a constant revolving door of troops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last eight years. "I don't see us growing a force well beyond the 20,000 to 30,000 for Afghanistan - American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines - beyond that 30,000 or so," Mullen told about 800 soldiers and specialists gathered for a town hall meeting. - Compiled from Daily wire reports Journalist to discuss Middle East At event tonight, entitled "Another Angle: Report- and Advocacy (IDEA) and the publications. Abu Toameh "has an ing Conflict in the Middle East." Committee for Accuracy in Mid- important perspective to share, Abu Toameh will Abu Toameh will share his per- dle East Reporting in America. regardless of the political cli- .ah w sonal narrative of being an Israeli- Rachel Goldstein, chair of the mate," Goldstein said. talk about his work Arab journalist during political American Movement for Israel, said Currently, Abu Toameh is a tumult in the Middle East. He will she hopes that notjust those with a Jerusalem Post and U.S News and By ELYANA TWIGGS discuss his experiences working vested interest in journalism will World Report correspondent for For the Daily for both Israeli and Palestinian find the speech enlightening. the West Bank and Gaza areas. He newspapers. "We hope that even people who previously served as a senior writ- Usually, Khaled Abu Toameh Abu Toameh is expected to dis- are just interested in the Middle er for The Jerusalem Report and reports for the Jerusalem Post and cuss the importance free sp'ech East in general, or what's been correspondent for Al-Fajr, a now- U.S. News and World Report. But and a free press, especially in going on, especially regarding the defunct Palestinian publication. today, Abu Toameh will report to his line of work. In the past, Abu Israeli and Palestinian conflict, Abu Toame studied at Hebrew students in Ann Arbor, discussing Toameh has said he would write will feel welcome to come and University in Jerusalem and has his experience as a journalist amid for any publication that will have get a different perspective on the produced numerous films about conflict in the Middle East. him - regardless of the publica- issue," she said. Palestinians for the BBC. Speaking tonight at 8 p.m. tion's political stance. Goldstein, an LSA junior, said Goldstein said that Abu Toameh in the Vandenberg Room of the The event is a joint effort by the AMI invited Abu Toameh to speak has significant experience to share. Michigan League, Abu Toameh American Movement for Israel, a because of his unique perspective "Now that Israel is kind of a has traveled from his hometown pro-Israel campus group, Israel on the conflict, having reported 'buzzword,' he is especially time- of Jerusalem to present a speech Initiating Dialogue, Education, for both Palestinian and Israeli ly," she said. NOTES From Page 1 added that it "doesn't necessarily make it different than other forms of unauthorized collaboration." Esrold Nurse, assistant dean of the Office of Student Academic Affairs, said he has not considered any policy regarding these web- sites. "We haven't considered it, which is notto suggestthatwethinkthey're allgood,butwejusthavenot,"Nurse said. "This is all newtous." Nurse said ifstudents are caught uploading notes from copyrighted lectures they could be brought up YOGURT From Page 1 Yogobliss will sell cream-based yogurt in four flavors: original, green tea, strawberry and mango. To spruce up the snack, custom- ers will also have 30 toppings from which to choose. Kim said there will most likely be 12 freshly cut fruit toppings and 18 dry toppings. Along with the four flavors of yogurt, Kim and Ann plan to sell gelato, shakes, smoothies, iced coffee and the milk tea variety of Bubble Tea. Kim said the Yogobliss prod- uct would also contain probiotics which he said "are good for your immune system and reduce your chance for colon cancer." A small original-flavored yogurt is five ounces and just 90 calories per on academic misconduct charges or legally prosecuted. LSA senior Kerri Sperling said she started using StudyBlue.com at the beginning of this school year. "It's a really innovative way to study because if you miss a class you can just (download) the notes," Sperling said. "And also, for the people that upload their own notes it's kind of like you're getting a bet- ter experience because it's enhanc- ing your performance." At 26 campuses across the coun- try-includinghereattheUniversity - StudyBlue.com has an incentives program for students like Sperling to share notes. For every file that is uploaded or flashcard pack that is serving, according to Kim, a medi- um-sized yogurt is 8 ounces and a large-sized yogurt is 12 ounces. In an interview yesterday, Amer Batish, owner of Amer's Mediterra- neanDelisaid, "frozenyogurtisget- tingmore and more popular because people are health concerned." Though Yogobliss means Batish will have more competition, he sus- pected there would be enough cus- tomers to support both eateries. "Healthy competition is good," Batish said. Officials at Stucchi's, an Ann Arbor go-to for homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt, had a similar atti- tude toward Yogobliss's opening. Kate Bodden, the manager of Stucchi's and an LSA sophomore said that although Stucchi's might lose some customers in the market for frozen yogurt, "in terms of ice cream, people have favorite flavors madepublic, the student receives $1. Additionally, for every hitthat a stu-t dent's file or flashcard pack gets thatc student 50 cents. "You get paid every time some- i one looks at your notes, so it's event that much more of an incentive forZ the quality of your notes to be good1 because more people will click onN your file,"{Sperling said. Ben Jedd, chief communications officer for StudyBlue.com, said thei site was first developed as a school 1 project in 2006 at the University of1 Wisconsin. It was then expandedt to other campuses, including the1 University of Michigan in 2007. r "The biggest thing about the tool is that it was built for studentsN and are notgoingto stop comingto Stucchi's." Kim said that in with its design, Yogobliss will be decorated with chic pod chairs and ghost chairs that give off a futuristic vibe and will seat around 20 people at a time. The walls will be adorned with edgy wall art and three LCD televisions. Kimsaidthathewantstocreate"a place where people can hangout." Kim, who attended Eastern Michigan University, said he feels close ties to Ann Arbor. "Coming back to campus makes me feel younger ... it makes you feel like you're back in school," Kim said. Though still in the works, Kim said grand opening plans will most likely include "50 percent off for everything" on the first day and is expected to take place in mid- to late March of this year. and it was built by students so that's really had a great impact on our user base," Jedd said. The site has been the most pop- ular at Big Ten schools including the University of Wisconsin, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Penn State Uni- versity and Ohio State University, Jedd said. "Large universities are where it's really taking off, and I think a big part of that is that those are the places that have those large classes, those 100 to 500 person lecture halls, that study tools and notes really do come in handy," Jedd said. "So I would say the larger the uni- versity, the more popular the site." BUSES From Page 1 month grace period to allow University staff and students to obtain a new MCard, if necessary. Beginning March 16, cards that have expired or are damaged will no longer be accepted, and riders will be required to pay the $1 fare . when boarding. In order to obtain a new MCard, cardholders may go to one of the MCard offices locat- ed at Wolverine Tower, the Student Activities Building, Pierpont Commons, the Cen- tral Campus Recreation Build- ing or, for health system staff, the Med Inn Building of the University Medical Center. CLASSES From Page 1 it becomes harder to fit their classes and other distribution require- ments into schedules. "Students have approached us before about this," Megginson said. "They would love to be able to take courses during the summer that would let them use the summer as a way to compress the college time that they have to be here, but we haven't been offering enough courses for them to choose from." Megginson said another rea- son students stay extra terms may be because it's tough to sublet 12-month leases and apartments in Ann Arbor during the summer. "It can be that students may just choose to be here because they have the space rented already, and they have to pay for it so that can be some economic benefit to the stu- dcist," he said. JoAnn Peraino, LSA curriculum and enrollment manager, said LSA enrollment corresponds with nation- al trends of students taking spring and summer classes. There has been a 9-percent increase since 2007 in enrollment for a full load of classes in the spring and summer terms at the University, Peraino said. "We're trying to meet the needs we hear not just from our students but from trends across the, coun- try," she said. In addition, Peraino said wait- lists for prerequisite courses have lengthened in the fall and winter terms, which may cause delays in completing concentrations. "We're hoping - especially for some of the big classes in fall and winter that students just can't get into because they fill up so fast - that this will relieve some of that pressure as well," she said. LSA freshmanVictor Jonesplans to stay during the spring and sum- mer terms to take classes that will fulfill his English major require- ments. He said he's glad LSA is offering a wider course selection. "More class options is a good thing because there's usually not enough spring and summer class- es to take, and it will probably get more people to take them," he said. LSA sophomore Molly Borman is staying for spring term because she needs the course credits in order to graduate on time. "A lot of my classes are only three credits, and ifthey're only three cred- its each, I don't have enough credits to graduate in four years," she said. - UARTS 250 - "CREATIVE PROCES AN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIO-LECTURE COURSE In residency at the Abbey of Pontlevoy, FRANCE May 18 - June 12, 2009 Four Weeks/Four Credits Sat es the LSA Creative Expression Requirement INFORMATION SESSIONS: Tuesday, Febr ry 17,5:0pm,Art & Architecture Bldg. Room Wednes y, Feb 18, 7:00pm, Michigan Union Pond Room Making creivity an integral part of students' lives and work. Learn more now: www.artsonearth.org/students oNwEARt& Start Your Career in Accounting. Northeastern's MS in Accounting/MBA for non-accounting majors: . Earn two degrees in just 15 months. . Complete a 3-month paid residency at a leading accounting firm. . Proven track record of 100% job placement. Take the first step. Visit us online or at an information session near you. Learn more about the program and upcoming events - a at www.msamba.neu.edu. 617-373-3244 gspa@neu.edu www.msamba.neu.edu Northeastern U N I V E R S I T Y