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Ann Arbor, Michigan

Thursday, April 9, 2009

michigandaily.com

ALUM IN THE NEWS
Tough road
ahead for
GM CEO
Armed with University
lessons, Fritz Henderson tries
to right struggling automaker
By VERONICA MENALDI
Daily StaffReporter
Fritz Henderson may have the most unenvide
job in America. His predecessor forced out by the
Obama administration and his company barrel-
ing toward the uncertain world of bankruptcy,
Henderson - who took over as CEO of General
Motors Corp. last Tuesday - is in the national
spotlight to save one of America's largest compa-
nies in record time.
As he takes on that task, he may be drawing on
some of the skills and lessons he learned as a Uni-
versity student almost 30 years ago.
Henderson received his bachelor's degree in busi-
ness administration from the University in 1980.
During his time here, he was also a walk-on pitcher
for the Michigan baseball team from 1978 to 1979
and a William A. Paton Award winner, an award he
received after earning a top score on the Michigan
certified public accountant examination in 1980.
After his graduation from the University, Hen-
derson went on to Harvard Business School, where
he received a master's degree in business adminis-
tration before starting his career at GM.
Henderson's former baseball coach, Moby Bene-
See HENDERSON, Page 7A

TOSSING TO THE TOP

STUDENT DIALOGUE
Dissecting
campus talk
about Israel
Experts, professors conflict on campus.
One typically cited reason for
and campus leaders this dynamic discourse is the
large Jewish and Arab student
discuss students' populations on campus and in
nearby parts of Michigan.
interest in conflict Sociology Prof. Silvia Pedraza,
said the demographic of both the
By NICOLE ABER student body at the University
Daily StaffReporter and the larger Southeast Michi-
gan area is the main reason stu-
The Middle East may seem far dents are so actively engaged in
away to some, but the Israel-Pal- the issue on campus.
estine conflict, which has shaken "We have a very large propor-
the region for more than 60 years, tion of students who are Jewish
has also persisted as a heated and an increasing number, still
topic of activity and discourse on a minority, but an increasing
campus here in Ann Arbor. population of students who are of
Both Israeli and Arab groups Muslim background, and perhaps
on campus have held demonstra- that's why it's such a big conflict
tions, sponsored controversial here," she said.
speakers and advocated for their According to officials at the
respective causes in past decades. University of Michigan Hillel,
According to various Univer- there are 6,000 Jewish students
sity professors familiar with the on campus.
topic and student leaders of Arab Kamelya Youssef, president
and Israeli groups on campus, of the Arab Student Association,
there are many factors that con- said she is unsure of how many
tribute to why there is such an Arab or Arab American students
active dialogue surrounding the See CONFLICT, Page 7A

Washtenaw County Community College sophomore Connor Otto juggles on the Diag yesterday.

For alcohol charge, Stonum
gets 12 months probation

S Freshman wide
receiver charged with
operating a vehicle
while visibly impaired
By JENNA SKOLLER
Daily StaffReporter
Michigan freshman wide receiv-
er Darryl Stonum was sentenced
to 12 months probation in Ann
Arbor's 15th District Court this
morning after pleading guilty to a
charge of operating a vehicle while
visibly impaired.

As par of the probation, District
Judge Julie Creal ordered Stonum
to attend substance abuse educa-
tion and a Mothers Against Drunk
Driving Victims Impact Panel.
Stonum was required to pay
funds and costs of $115, probation
oversight fees of $240 and a Uni-
versity Department of Public Safe-
ty fee of $100.
Stonum was also ordered to com-
plete three days of the Washtenaw
County Jail Community Work Pro-
gram.
"The Community Work Pro-
gram," according to ewashtenaw.
org, "provides an alternative to
incarceration for sentenced misde-

meanants and adult probationary
felons by coordinating and super-
vising their participation in com-
munity service activities."
Both Stonum and Director of
StudentLegal ServicesDougLewis,
who represented him, declined to
comment on the sentencing.
Stonum was arrested Sept. 28
around 4 a.m. after he was pulled
over on State Street near campus,
according to police reports. Stonum
was traveling at about 60 miles per
hour when he almost hit another car
crossing through the intersection at
State Street and Hill Street.
The preliminary breath test
See STONUM, Page 7A

FH ANEL V N HAoBUr LipH
Freshman wide receiver Darryl Stonum (far right) in court today. He was sentenced to 12 months probation for impair


W COMMUNITY SERVICE
Boost in federal funding creates more
* AmeriCorps opportunities for students

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
'U' scientist receives
top research award

New legislation will
allow organization
to increase capacity
to 250,000
By SARAH ZAWACKI
For the Daily
AmeriCorps, a service organi-
zation that focuses on picking up
some of this country's most down-
trodden communities, is getting a
helping hand from the federal gov-
ernment, in the form of a massive
boost in funding.
This increase in federal funds
to AmeriCorps will allow more
students from the University and
across the country to participate in
the program.
Late last month, Congress sent

legislation to President Barack
Obama's desk that will pump more
than $6 billion into community
service programs over the next five
years. Because of this boost in aid,
funding for AmeriCorps tripled,
allowing the organization's par-
ticipant capacity to increase from
75,000 to 250,000.
The bill, named after Sen.
Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), will
provide for the largest expansion
of national service in 50 years.
AmeriCorps, which was created
by President Bill Clinton in 1993,
offers students over the age of 18 the
chance to live in subsidized hous-
ing and receive health care while
serving in communities around the
country. Following their service,
participants receive a financial
award to pay for college or graduate
school or to pay back loans.
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve

America Act will increase the
amount students receive for service
from $4,725 to $5,350, the maxi-
mum financial aid offered through
the Federal Pell Grant. The Ame-
riCorps award will also be tied to
the Pell Grant to match any future
increases in the financial aid.
Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.),
chairman of the U.S. House of Rep-
resentatives Education and Labor
Committee, wrote in a press release
that the bill comes at an especially
important time, given the current
economic climate.
"History has shown that in times
of crisis, Americans turn to service
and volunteering for healing, for
rebuilding and for hope. The spirit
and generosity of the American
people is one of our nation's great-
est assets," he wrote. "This legis-
lation is just what we need, at this
pivotal moment, to get our nation

BY THE NUMBERS
How recent changes to service policy
will affect community organizations.
$6 BILLION
Amount President Obama will pump into
community service programs over the next
five years.
250,000
The organization's participantlcapacity after
its funding tripled. The new capacity far
exceedsthe previous total of 75,000.
$5 350
Increasefrom $4725thatthe Edward M.
Kennedy Serve America Actwill increasethe
amount students receive for service.
back on track."
As a result of the surge in fund-
ing, the Michigan division of Ame-
riCorps has increased its number of
See AMERICORPS, Page 7A

Ming Lei one of 50
researchers picked
in the country
By SHRUTI GANDHI
For the Daily
The Howard Hughes Medi-
cal Institute, a nonprofit medi-
cal research organization that
fosters some of the nation's most
promising young scientists, has
recently highlighted one of the
University's own.
Ming Lei, assistant profes-
sor of Biological Chemistry, was
presented with the Early Career
Physician-Scientist award earlier
this month. Lei was one of only
50 young scientists chosen from
around the country.
"I was the only one selected
from Michigan, so it is really a

great honor," Lei said.
In addition to his full salary
and benefits, Leiwill receive a six-
year appointment that includes
a $1.5 million budget and fund-
ing for equipment and research
space.
Lei said he will use the grant
money to continue his research
on DNA replication and its role
in biological functions, like the
acceleration of the aging process
and the survival of cancer cells.
In particular, Lei is working
to determine the structure of
molecules that build telomeres,
specialized regions that cover the
end of DNA and appear to play a
key part in both aging and cancer
cell replication.
"Studyingthe role of telomeres
is crucial for research related to
both cancer and aging," Lei said.
This award will allow Lei
See HUGHES, Page 7A


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