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 MovE FalU FUKe4sCle BIJSeptebe-r 8! applicatiosdue THURS NO. P.