The Michigan Daily - michigandaity.com
Tuesday, September 8, 2009,- 3C
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Tuesday. Seotember 8. 2009 - 3C
I
. Obama names former 'U' prof
as NIH director candidate
By KATHERINE MITCHELL
Daily StaffReporter
JULY 10, 2009 - President
Barack Obama announced the
nomination of Dr. Francis Collins
as his choice for director of the
National Institutes of Health on
Wednesday.
Collins, a former University
professor and researcher, had
been serving as director of the
Human Genome Project until
his resignation in 2008. He was a
University faculty member from
1984 to 2003 during which time
he researched and taught in the
Medical School.
Human Genetics Prof. Thomas
Gelehrter, who recruited Collins
to the University and co-taught a
medical genetics class with him
for many years, said he believes
that Collins is a remarkable
researcher.
"He is an outstanding scien-
tist," Gelehrter said. "Clearly he
is a star."
Collins's most noteworthy
accomplishments include the dis-
covery of the cystic fibrosis gene
while researching at the University
in 1989 and directing the comple-
tion of the Human Genome Project
in 2003. The project mapped and
identified all human genes, suc-
cessfully identifying the more than
20,000 genes in human DNA and
their multiple sequences.
The NIH - based in Bethesda,
Md. - controls billions of federal
grant money awarded to thousands
of scientists. The organization's
Web site states that the orga-
nization awards almost 50,000
competitive grants to more than
325,000 researchers. These grants
reach over 3,000 universities -
including the University of Michi-
gan - along with medical schools
and other research institutions in
the United States and abroad.
If officially appointed director
of the NIH, Collins would face
new challenges in light of the
economy and the new presidential
administration. Both Gelehrter
and Deb Gumucio, one of Collins
first post-doctoral researchers
in Collins' lab at the University,
recognize how Collins's natural
abilities will aid him in shaping
the future of the NIH.
Gumucio, a professor of cellular
and developmental biology in the
Medical School, said Collins has
teambuildingskillsvaluable to the
See NIH CANDIDATE, Page 7C
Making campus buildings 'green'
University facilities
teams-plan to tackle
about thirty builidng
each year
By ELAINE LAFAY
Daily StaffReporter
SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 - A new
campus-wide energyprojectseeks
to stem rising energy costs by
making buildings more efficient
and educating building occupants
about ways to better conserve
energy.
Planet Blue, which was offi-
cially launched this fall, is head-
ed by the University's Facilities
and Operations department. It
includes three teams comprised of
engineers, mechanics, plumbers
and building managers.
Since the pilot program began
in October of last year, each Plan-
et Blue team has aimed to upgrade
ten University buildings per fiscal
year. The goal of the program is to
decrease the $111 million the Uni-
versity spent on utilities in the fis-
cal year 2007 by about,10 percent.
A major aspect of Planet Blue
involves upgrading a building's
facilities such as fitting it with
dual-flush toilets or faucets with
lighter water flow. Teams also
plan to install motion sensors to
decrease lighting costs and reduce
the amount of time fans run.
But before making these
upgrades, Planet Blue's leaders
first choose which buildings to
renovate - a decision based on
which buildings are the most
expensive to run and are the least
energy efficient.
The decision to upgrade abuild-
ing is also based on whether the
benefits of the new improvements
will outweigh their costs over a
span of eight years.
The Chemistry Building, for
example, cost the University $4.1
million dollars in the fiscal year
2008 - one of the most expensive
on campus. It was one of the first
buildings selected for upgrades.
The changes to the Chemistry
Building included fitting some
teaching labs with occupancy
sensors for fume hoods - a proj-
ect estimated to save $200,000 a
year.
Planet Blue teams also reduced
fan usage in the Institute for Social
Research building on Thomp-
son Street. That project will save
$80,000 a year. The relocation of
computer servers in the Fleming
Building is expected to save about
$97,000 a year.
Only buildings financially sup-
ported by the University's general
fund are eligible for upgrades by
Planet Blue. Athletics facilities,
University Hospital facilities and
University-owned housing don't
receive general fund money and
must pay for their own renova-
tions.
But Planet Blue's project man-
ager Kris Kolevar, said he was
confident these departments will
ask for consultations. Athletic
Director Bill Martin has already
asked Planet Blue to renovate
some sports facilities.
An education campaign about
reducingpersonal energy-use hab-
its was added to Planet Blue after a
University study found most peo-
ple on campus were unaware of
efforts to make University build-
ings more energy efficient.
See GREEN, Page 7C
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond delivers the keynote speech for the University
of Michigan's 2009 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium in Hill
Auditorium on Monday, January 19, 2009.
NAACP chairman
celebrates MLK
and Obama.
Dance Marathon helps children,.
families have. fun or a good cause
By VERONICA MENALDI
Daily StaffReporter
MARCH 19, 2009 - Almost 12
years ago, twins Miles and Evan
Peguese were born three months
early, weighing only 1 lb 12 oz and
1 lb 9 oz, respectively. Their moth-
er, Andrea Peguese, was told that
if her children were to survive
they would face a pretty difficult
life ahead.
Andrea said she "never lost
faith and just knew that they were
going to make it." And that is what
they did: her "miracle babies" sur-
vived. In the summer of 2003, her
five-year-old twins were selected
as Michigan ambassadors to rep-
resent the state for the Children's
Miracle Network, an organization
that raises money for children's
hospitals.
But Peguese said that her kids,
who were diagnosed with cere-
bral palsy, would have never got-
ten this opportunity without the
help of the University of Michigan
Dance Marathon organization.
"It's really because of the Dance
Marathon that we really got intro-
duced to the Children's Miracle
Network and we've been a spokes-
person for CMN," Peguese said.
The University of Michigan
Dance Marathon is one of the larg-
est non-profit, student-run orga-
nizations in Michigan. It raises
awareness and funds for children
in need of pediatric care and assis-
tance.
This weekend, hundreds of stu-
dents will stand on their feet for
30 hours to raise money for fami-
lies like the Pegueses. The annual
marathon starts at 10 a.m. Satur-
day and will go until 4 p.m. Sun-
day.
The Peguese family has been a
fixture at the marathon for seven
years, but Andrea will never forget
the first time she attended.
"I lead with my heart, and
something in me just said do it, it
sounds like it'd be fun," she said.
"I didn't expect the emotion that
the students were going through.
It's huge that they were impacted
so deeply, their passion just really
burned through. And to stand on
your feet for 30 hours you have to
have a lot of passion."
Hilary Powsner, UMDM's
media relations coordinator, said
the dance marathon is a "tribute"
to the children they help.
"We are standing for those who
cannot stand," she said. "The out-
pouring of support that our orga-
nization both gives and receives
is, at least for me, the biggest rea-
son why I stay involved."
Peguese said that she not only
appreciates the students' passion,
but also their ability to show her
children a good time during the
marathon.
"I have found that the adults are
the ones that have problems deal-
ing with people with disabilities,"
she said. "And this (UMDM) was
an opportunity that allowed us to
interact with a great number of
people at one time. And they never
questioned what is their disabil-
ity or what's wrong with them. It
was just accepted and that breaks
down the barriers."
Powsner said that interacting
with the families is part of what
makes the marathon such a mean-
ingful experience.
"When you have a 10-year-old
kid who is just so excited to be a
part of this event, it is impossible
to put into words how right it
feels," she said.
The Ham-Kucharskis are
another family that students will
have a chance to interact with at
Dance Marathon. Dawn and her
husband Richard have one child, a
10-year-old son named Alex.
Alex suffered a stroke at birth
and has autism and cerebral palsy.
He has been involved with UMDM
for the past eight years and Dawn
said the organization has given
him the opportunity to become
more comfortable interacting
with others.
"Thanks to the social and rec-
reational opportunities offered
to Alex in his eight years of love
and acceptance with UMDM, he
now goes everywhere happily, and
loves malls, restaurants, parties,"
she said. "His old behaviors are
practically non-existent."
Dawn added that every time
they go to the marathon, it causes
"tears and laughter." She said she
has a lot of appreciation for the
students who participate.
"I can't even put into words
how much I love and admire these
students," she said. "When I was
a student, I never thought I could
give so much. I see that they see
school as a place where they can
not only get a degree but also make
an impact."
Peguese said she is excited for
the weekend because it provides
her family with a short escape
from reality.
"It's a relief. It's a safe weekend.
It's a safe interaction for all the
children and all the families," she
said.
By CHARLESGREGG-GEIST
Daily StaffReporter
JANUARY 19, 2009 - In the
keynote address of the 23rd Annual
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Symposium, NAACP Chairman
Julian Bond told the large crowd
assembled in Hill Auditorium
that while Obama's election is a
major victory for the Civil Rights
Movement, it is not the end.
"Weknowonemanclimbingtothe
top of the mountain does not mean
the end of the climb for everyone
else," he said to murmurs of approv-
al. "The NAACP is not the National
Association for the Advancement of
one Colored Person."
Throughout his speech, Bond,
a civil rights leader and founding
member of the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee, empha-
sized the challenges that remain for
the African American community.
He pointed specifically to highrates
of poverty, incarceration and homi-
cide among African Americans.
Bond, a former Georgia Demo-
cratic state legislator, repeatedly
criticized the Republican Party for
ignoring issues that are important
to minorities.
"The Republican Party has
focused almost entirely on its
base and marginalized the rest of
the country," he said. "As long as
they do not look like or respond to
minority voters, the Republicans
will remain a minority party."
He was also vocal about the fight
for affirmative action.
"For mostofus the ideathatrace
should not be considered in reme-
dying racial injustice is ludicrous,"
he said. "There are no non-racial
remedies for remedying racial dis-
crimination.
Bond made particular reference
to the University, which was a focal
point in the debate over affirmative
action earlier this decade.
"This school - and not this
school alone, but particularly this.
school - stood up for justice and
equality when affirmative action
was challenged," he said.
Encouraging the audience to
continue working for social justice,
Bond said that King did not win
civil rights victories on his own.
"We must not forget that Dr.
King stood before, and with, thou-
sands," Bond said. "This movement
made Martin, Martin did not make
the movement."
Amie Snapke, an Ann Arbor ele-
mentary school teacher who was
at the event, said she plans to use
some of Bond's ideas to teach civil
rights history to her students. She
said students are more interested in
civil rights after Obama's election.
"The kids are super-excited. It's
greatto seethekids excited,"she said.
LSA senior Vanessa Andre said
she was glad Bond pushed people
to keep fighting for civil rights.
"He was saying that we're not
done yet," she said. "I think that's
probably the most important part
of the whole speech, and we've got
to keep saying that."
Bond ended his speech by echo-
ing Obama's campaign slogan.
"Now we know we can, if only
we will."
John A. WeissJr.
contributed tothis report
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