yMxRE INSIDE
GGY"OP"AD THRNSTN "MO RE' SPORTS
A LLCNNECTET ANN A R ?M' picks up second Big Ten loss despite sophomore
Manny Harris's 20-point effort. 8A
OPINION
American Movement for Israel and Students Allied for
Freedom and Equality offer their take on Gaza. 4A
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Thursday, January 15, 2009
michigandaily.com
ANIMAL TESTING
'U,under
fire for
testing
on dogs
Group files federal complaint that
University prof. made false
statements in order to perform
tests on live animals
By KYLE SWANSON
Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan Health System's prac-
tice of using live animals to train doctors enrolled in
its Advanced Trauma Life Support course came under
fire yesterday when a federal complaint was filed with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging that the
University is in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
The complaint, filed by the Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine; claimed that Dr. Richard
Burney, a professor of surgery in the Medical School,
made false statements in his recommendation to a
University committee in order to gain permission to
use live animals for his course. The complaint also
alleges that he gained permission to use the live ani-
mals when alternative methods of training have been
approved by the American College of Surgeons.
Burney's course currently uses dogs acquired
through a private research firm from shelters in
Mescota and Gratiot Counties. The dogs are put under
anesthesia and used as practice dummies for life-sav-
ing procedures. The dogs are then euthanized after
procedures due to severe injuries.
The University Committee on Use and Care of Ani-
mals has approved the practice, but Dr. John Pippin,
senior medical and research advisor to PCRM and
author of the complaint, claims false statements by
Burney may have led to the committee's decision.
See ANIMAL TESTING, Page 7A
PALESTINE
One of the demonstrators at last night's SAFE event on the steps of the Michigan Union.
Two events wpoi nts of view
Gaza supporters pack
Union steps, groups
for Israel wear blue
By NICOLE ABER
Daily StaffReporter
As the temperature neared zero
degrees on Wednesday night, about
200 people gathered on the steps of
the Michigan Union to protest Israel's
recent invasion of Gaza.
The demonstration was organized
by Students Allied for Freedom and
Equality, a campus student group on
campus that aims to promote human
rights and self-determination for the
Palestinian people, according to the
group's website.
Andrew Dalack, SAFE'S co-chair,
said the group planned the protest in
order to galvanize campus support for
the Palestinian cause.
"There's a sizable number of students
on campus that demands an immediate
cease fire, that supports an immediate
end to U.S. military aid to Israel and that
supports the full and immediate end to
Israel's current occupation in the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank," Dalack said.
Students and Ann Arbor residents
carne out in droves to show support for
SAFE's cause. Many protestors were
carryingsigns including ones that read,
"What has Zionism done for peace?"
as a woman shouted in a mega-phone,
"Boycott Israel now."
In addition to holding up signs, stu-
dents carried both Palestinian and
Hamas flags.
Dalack said he was upset that protes-
tors were carrying flags of political par-
ties, like Hamas.
"I was disappointedby the ignorance
some people displayed in their. lan-
guage, signage and behavior to onlook-
ers as well," Dalack said. "I hope that
the inappropriate behavior by some
community members does not reflect
on the community as a whole, as they
are supportive, rational and of high
moral caliber."
Members of Students for Social
Equality were also at the demonstra-
tion to show support for the cause,
despite minor disagreements with
SAFE's message.
"Students for Social Equality oppose
the attack, but we also try to bring per-
spective of the bankruptcy of religious
nationalism," LSA senior Daniel Green,
See TWO SIDES, Page 7A
FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION
State budget group proposes deep
cuts to higher ed. and scholarships
Options include cutting
7.1 percent of colleges'
funding or $200 million
* scholarship program
By DANIEL STRAUSS
Daily StaffReporter
Drastic measures to bring the state's
spending on higher education in line
with its declining tax revenues are cur-
rently taking shape in Lansing.
An education study group, commis-
sioned bythe state's Legislative Commis-
sion on Government Efficiency, outlined
several ways the state could save money
over the next couple of years.
A recent report from the study group
suggested abolishing thesMichigan
Promise Grant Program, which is bud-
geted at about $150to $200 million every
year. The scholarship program accounts
for 40 percent of all scholarship aid at
the University.
If the state decides to follow the
advice of the study group and cuts the
scholarship program, students at the
University who currently benefit from
the scholarship will still receive money.
The changes won't be felt until the high
school graduating class of 2010.
The group also suggested the state
reduce across-the-board spending to
higher education institutions by 7.1 per-
cent.
Other options included merging some
See STATE BUDGET, Page 3A
PROPOSED OPTIONS
Budget analysis group's potential cuts
Eliminate the Michigan Promise Grant Program,
beginning withthe high schoolgraduatingclassof
2010, for annual savingsof $150-$200 million.
Reduce University and Community College
Operations appropriations across the board by
7.1%. for savings of $12.2 million.
Mergeor consolidateuniversitiesand/or community
colleges within a region for potential annual savings.
Priatizethe Universityof Michigan-AnnArbor, for
a savints of $226.7 mifflion.
Developa fundingformulaforthe15publicuniver-
sities that takes into account total expenditures
at each university, tuition revenue,,changes in the
number of students, and types of programs and
degrees offered.
The Ross School of Business students and faculty shuffle by the Siegle Cafe yesterday.
Norovirus outbreak
suspected in Ross cafe
FUNDING THE 'U'
University receives record amount from NIH
$301 million in federal
research funds puts 'U'
at No. 7 nationally
By ESHWAR THIRUNAVUKKARASU
Daily StaffReporter
The University's Medical School
received more than $301 million for the
2008 fiscal year from the National Insti-
tutes of Health - its single largestsource
of federal funding, according to a recent
press release.
The record amount puts the Medical
School seventh on the list nationally of
all universities for NIH grant funding,
behind leader Johns Hopkins Universi-
ty. The University was second on the list
for medical schools affiliated with public
universities.
Close to 45 percent of the Univer-
sity's research expenditures came from
NIH grants, which were used to fund
everything from studies in the School of
Nursing to studies in the Undergraduate
Research Opportunity Program.
Dr. James Woolliscroft, dean of the
Medical School, said the funding is espe-
cially significant given the current eco-
nomic situation.
"Especially in the current tight fund-
ing climate that we and all medical
schools face, the entire U-M Medical
School community should take pride in
topping $300 million in NIH funds for
the firsttime, and in ranking firmly inthe
See RESEARCH FUNDING, Page 3A
Authorities believe virus
began with sick workers
and is now contained
By JACOB SMILOVITZ
ManagingNews Editor
A norovirus is the suspected culprit of
a slew of illnesses suffered by employees
and students who work and study at the
newly constructed Ross School of Business
cafeteria.
Authorities believe the outbreak began
when one employee of the recently opened
Siegle Cafe came to work with the illness
and, due to its highly contagious nature,
spread easily.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the illnesses
of 13 workers in the cafe and 10 people who
had eaten there were being linked to the
norovirus outbreakbased ontheir symptoms,
which include mostly intestinal and stomach
problems. None of the people who reported
their illnesses to community health officials
have been hospitalized as of Wednesday
afternoon.
Terry Alexander, the executive director of
the University's Department of Occupation-
al Safety and Environmental Health office,
which oversees campus community health
issues, said authorities got involved when
See VIRUS, page 3A
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