FROM THE DAI LY:
Why the state legislature's failure to pass
a public smoking ban is hurting innocent
people and the state's economy.
See Opinion, Page 4
GROWING YOUNGER
Brad Pitt shines at every age in director
David Fincher's coming-of-age tale about a
man who goes from old to young.
See Arts, Page 5
UFje *id6igan Fi
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, January 9, 2009
michigandaily.com
THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION
Large-scale
plan proposed
for economy
CUIF REEDER/Daily
Ann Arbor resident Michelle Kinnucan (right, with flag) protests last night during a candlelight vigil on Main Street for victims of the violence in Gaza.
Vigil mourns Gaza dead
Rep. Schauer says
stimulus must address
middle-classconcerns
By BENJAMIN S. CHASE
Daily StaffReporter
Faced with an economy in tail-
spin and a recent federal report
predicting a $1.2 trillion budget def-
icit in 2009, President-elect Barack
Obama unveiled more details about
his economic stimulus at George
Mason University yesterday.
Dubbed the "American Recovery
and Reinvestment Plan," it pledges
to invest heavily in infrastructure
upgrades nationwide, including
improvements to bridges, roads
and mass transportation, dramati-
cally expand alternative energy
research spending and modernize
Medicare and Medicaid.
The plan hopes to create 3 mil-
lion new jobs and provide direct
tax relief to 95 percent of American
workers. It also hopes to double of
renewable energy production.
The economic stimulus package
will focus heavily on reinvestment
in infrastructure, government pro-
grams and health and social ser-
vices at a state level, which could
help relieve some of Michigan's
economic hardships.
Rep. Mark Schauer, a first-term
Democrat from Battle Creek, has
pledged to support the economic
recovery package.
"As we invest in rebuilding
our economy, Michigan needs to
receive special help," Schauer said
in an interview yesterday, add-
ing that such help would need to
include "tax relief for middle-class
families."
A member of the House Trans-
portation and Infrastructure Com-
mittee, Schauer saidhe is dedicated
to taking a hands-on approach to
promoting alternative energy ini-
tiatives and tackling infrastructure
improvementsbothnationwide and
in Michigan.
Schauer said these initiatives
will be essential for the survival
of the Detroit automakers, all
reeling from reported declines of
more than 30 percent in sales for
the month of December. Chrysler
was hardest hit by the economic
downturn, with its December sales
plummeting 53 percent compared
to figures from the same month last
year.
In a letter to Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
and House Minority Leader John
Boehner (R-Ohio) earlier this
week, Schauer outlined his goals
for the economic stimulus package
and the changes it will bring to the
American economy.
"No state has been hit harder by
the economic crisis than Michi-
gan,"Schauer saidintheletter, "and
instead of waiting for more bridges
to collapse, or for home heating and
fuel costs to climb back to record
highs, we can make a down pay-
ment on long-term job growth and
sustain our natural resources for
future generations."
The proposed package will
likely cost the federal government
between $675 and $775 billion to
implement, accordingto the Obama
transition team and Democratic
Party leaders in Congress.
See OBAMA PLAN, Page 7
175 gather to push for
peace after Israeli
strikes in Gaza
By MATT AARONSON
and AMY MUNSLOW
Daily StaffReporters
About 175 people joined in a
candlelight vigil last night to pro-
testtherecentoutbreak of violence
in Gaza.
The vigil, which took place at
the corner of Liberty Street and
Main Street, was organized by
local activist groups Michigan
Peaceworks and Interfaith Council
for Peace & Justice, among others.
The event was also sponsored by
local Jewish and Muslim groups
seeking a cession of violence in the
region.
As of last night, The Associated
Press reported about 750 Palestin-
ians and 13 Israelis have died since
the beginning of Israel's military
assault on Dec. 27. A quarter of the
Palestinian deaths were civilians.
The event was peaceful, with
demonstrators of all ages and back-
grounds lining both sides of the
street holding candles and signs,
talking softly with one another in
the snow.
"We want to see a ceasefire and
we want to see humanitarian aid
allowed into Gaza," said Chuck
Warpehoski, director of ICPJ.
News of a U.N. Security Council
cease-fire resolution broke shortly
after the vigil ended.
Laura Russello, Michigan Peace-
works' executive director, said the
vigil was meant to promote peace
not a particular political stance.
She said she was proud of the will-
ingness of a wide range of groups
to stand together against violence.
"In order to promote peace, we
have to demonstrate peace in our
community," she said. "Our mes-
sage is to bring together local Jew-
ish and Muslim communities and
show that these groups can work
together toward a peaceful solu-
tion."
The event was planned in three
days and publicized primar-
ily through word of mouth, e-mail
and posters, Russello said.
Warpehoski said organizers
weren't sure that they would be
able to get many people to attend
the event on such short notice, but
that "the response has been tre-
mendous."
Demonstrator Matt Bussey, a
graduate student at the Universi-
ty's Center for Middle Eastern and
North African Studies, said he was
impressed by the large turnout for
the vigil.
"It's heartening to see all these
people come out. A lot of people
don't know what is going on," said
Bussey, who lived in Jerusalem for
six years and has family currently
living in Israel.
Lauren Ramanathan, a Swarth-
more College sophomore from Ann
Arbor, said she joined Michigan
See GAZA VIGIL, Page 7
GOVERNING GREEK LIFE
Panhel president
aims to unify Greeks
Local eateries closed after flood
By VERONICA MENALDI
DailyStaffReporter .
LSA junior Rachael Reeves said
in high school she never would
have dreamed that almost three
years into college she would be
giving speeches and running
meetings. But as the newly elected
president of the Panhellenic Asso-
ciation, the group responsible for
governing most sororities on cam-
pus, she'll be doing just that.
Reeves said that the major focus
of her time in office will be work-
ing to bring the Greek community
closer together.
She said being involved in
Greek life, .as the former presi-
dent of Alpha Chi Omega sorority,
empowered her and gave her the
support and courage necessary to
become a student leader.
"I was strongly encouraged by
the women in my own sorority to
run for president of my house,"
Reeves said. "I feel as if my expe-
rience as president of my sorority
has given me the skills to capably
run an executive board, but those
skills will, of course, have to be
tailored to a more diverse com-
munity."
Reeves said her main goal as
Panhel president is to increase
junior and senior retention and
work more closely with members
of the other three Greek councils.
"I have personal intentions
that I would love to see contin-
ued through 2009," Reeves said.
"These include building strong
relationships with IFC and the
multicultural councils, older
members of the Greek system
and other organizations such as
Healthy Houses."
Reeves said she doesn't have
specific plans -in mind for how
she'll work with the other Greek
councils, but added that collabora-
tion will be extremely important
for the future of the Greek sys-
tem.
"The Greek system needs to
focus onunity, and by polishingthe
skills necessary to run a board and
interact well with the members,
other organizations, the adults
and the University of Michigan,
it'll be possible," Reeves said.
Besides reaching out to other
Greek councils, Reeves said she
also wants to focus on internal
issues within Panhel, but she
won't decide on any specific plans
until she meets with the rest of the
executive board.
"I believe that goals warrant
specific timelines and need to be
formulated as a group, as Panhel
works as a team," Reeves said.
LSA junior Meghan Glynn,
See PANHEL PRESIDENT, Page 7
Bubble Island, The
Blue Leprechaun yet
to re-open after pipe
break causes damage
By LINDSAY KRAMER
For the Daily
Students returning to campus
with a craving for bubble tea or fish
and chips may have to wait to get
their fill. A flood on Dec. 24 forced
South University mainstays Bubble
Island and The Blue Leprechaun to
temporarily close their doors while
damages are repaired.
A broken pipe in the fire sprin-
kler system in Big House Tanning
caused the flooding, which was
reported to the Ann Arbor Fire
Department at about 5 p.m. on the
day of the incident. All of the busi-
nesses in the complex located on
the southwest corner of South For-
est Avenue and South University
Avenue closed following the inci-
dent, but all have since reopened
except for Bubble Island and The
Blue Leprechaun.
The Blue Leprechaun, for-
merly Touchdown Cafe, suffered
$285,000 in damages from the
flood. Starting last April, the space
underwent renovations to trans-
form the formerly club-style bar
into a pub. The flood has forced
the restaurant to replace its floors,
electronics and ceilings that had
only been in use since the pub's
MORE FLOOD DAMAGE PHOTOS Doag Iriggs of Constructive Art installs a new floor at The lo
AT MICHIGANDAILY COMLeprechaun after a flood dawaged the recently renovated
restaurant over winter break.
opening in late August.
Perry Porikos, the co-owner of
the restaurant, said it was unfortu-
nate that the flood came only a few
short months after the renovations.
"We wereopened for four months
in a brand new place," he said.
But Porikos said that he expects
to re-open in the next few days and
remains optimistic that his business
won't be affected in the long run.
"We established a pretty "good
following for the past few months,"
he said. "We have enough space to
attract big groups for after games
or for after school drinks during
the week, so hopefully we won't be
affected."
Bubble Island also suffered
extensive damage as vi result of the
flood. The shop is still under con-
struction to replace the drywall
and ceiling. Most of the food inven-
tory was also destroyed, but most of
the tea-making equipment was not
damaged. The store will re-open on
Monday according to a sign on its
front door.
Amy Wang, the shop's assis-
tant general manager, said Bubble
Island lost business from both local
customers and University students
because of the flood. "(The flood)
has affected business because we
were still making decent money
See FLOOD DAMAGE, Page 7
WEATHER HI 24
TOMORROW LO014
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