* MEDICINAL MODELS PLAYFUL COMEDY
Though medical marijuana is legal in Basement Arts' production 'The Two Couple
Michigan, it's still tough for patients to Play and Other Short Works' is a relatable
find - a problem the state must fix. anthology of plays guaranteed to illicit laughs.
SEE OPINION, PAGE 4 SEE ARTS, PAGE 8
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Ann Arbor, Michigan
* GOVERNING THE GREEKS
Greeks mull
changes to
risk policies
Now the function solely of
fraternities, party oversight could
include greater sorority role
By VERONICA MENALDI
Daily StaffReporter
In an effort to create a safer party environment,
members of the Interfraternity Council and Panhel-
lenic Association are considering new ways for mem-
bers of sororities to take a more active role in risk
management at parties.
Though national sorority policies for each of the
houses are a complex set of varying rules and regu-
lations, Greek Life officials think that by working
together a system can be devised that would allow the
sororities involved in IFC-sponsored parties to shoul-
der some of the risk associated with hosting a party.
Panhel Vice President of Social Responsibility
Michelle March said a task force was created to con-
sider how to have a more even distribution of respon-
sibility between the men and women in Greek Life and
to enhance the overall safety of the registered events.
"The Panhellenic Executive Board is extremely
invested in promoting the safety and health of all our
Greek members," she said. "We feel this can best be
accomplished by having women in more active risk
management positions at registered events."
But these changes could conflict with national
sorority organizations' policies about placing women
in more active risk management roles.
According to Linda Kahangi, executive director of
the national organization of the Alpha Phi Fraternity,
Alpha Phi has a few standing rules that might make
See PARTY POLICY, Page 7
Friday, December 4, 2009
michigandaily.com
BOOKS ABOUND
SOUTH UNIVERSITY BLAZE
Two arrests
made for
South U. fire
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Oct. 2
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Both suspects The building, located at 1215
South University, had been
ire thought to vacant for 12 years. The edifice
caught fire just before 11 p.m.
be homeless on Oct. 24 and was aflame for
about an hour before firefight-
By NICOLE ABER ers arrived at the scene.
Daily StaffReporter The fire, which caused the
building's roof to collapse, also
o men thought to be home- caused some smoke and water
cave been placed under damage to the neighboring
for deliberately causing apartment building, University
e that devastated the for- Towers, and dislocated approxi-
'inball Pete's building on mately 600 University students
4, according to Sgt. Brian for several hours that night.
k of the Ann Arbor Police Jatczak told the Daily that
tment. Arens was arraigned on Nov. 29
two suspects, 21-year- after being spotted in town by
sstin Arens and 18-year- patrol officers.
n MacKenzie, have been "He was seen walking around
ed with arson of personal downtown," Jatczak said. "He
rty, Jatczak said. was interviewed, and it was
.e detectives that handled determined at that point that
se were able to get some there was enough informa-
ace from the scene and tion to arrest him on the arson
to different (people) that charge."
ed that area," Jatczak said. He is now being held on a
vere able to come up with $100,000 bond at the Washt-
l different suspects, and enaw County Jail, Jatczak said.
on the interviews were Arens is set to appear in court
identify these suspects." on Dec. 9 at 1 p.m., according to
suspects' motives in the Jatczak.
ire yet to be determined, MacKenzie, who Jatczak said
ing to Jatczak. See FIRE ARREST, Page 7
MIA MARINO/Daily
Engineering freshman Kedao Wang (far left) and other students browse an array of books at the School of
Information booksale yesterday. The book sale benefits Alternative Spring Break for graduate students.
CAMPUS-CITY RELATIONS
CAMPUS CRIME
Little action on proposal to create Milano receives minimal
" Monroe St. pedestrian walkway
University request
has been pending
before City Council
for more than a year
By JOELLE HECKER
For theDaily
Though ground has broken and
construction is underway on the
Law School's new academic build-
ing, plans to close the block of
Monroe Street between the Law
Quad and this new academic build-
ing and replace it with a pedestrian
mall are far from fruition.
University officials proposed
the construction of a pedestrian
mall on Monroe Street between
South State Street and Oakland
Avenue approximately one year
ago. However, officials admit that
much still needs to be done before
the pedestrian mall can become a
reality.
Jim Kosteva, director of commu-
nity relations at the University, said
the request to close off the block
has been pending before the Ann
Arbor City Council for more than
a year.
"Our request is still pending in
front of the city authorities, and we
are awaiting a hearing before the
City Planning Commission," Koste-
va said in an interview yesterday.
If the City Council approves the
proposal, upgrades to area utili-
ties would be needed, Kosteva said,
including improvements to nearby
waterlines.
Kosteva said local traffic is
another point of consideration,
since some Ann Arbor residents
believea change to the street would
create traffic problems at other
locations in the immediate vicinity.
However, Kosteva said he's not
concerned about any potential traf-
fic problems and doesn't believe the
traffic changes would impact local
citizens.
"The traffic analysis that we
had done gave us enough comfort
to say that, 'Yes there's bound to
be changes in the traffic patterns,
but none, in our view, that would
cause such a significant disruption
or have a significant impact to the
area,'" Kosteva said.
No specific funding source for
the project has been identified,
though Kosteva said University
resources and fundraising efforts
would support the project.
See MONROE STREET, Page 7
sentence for misdemeanor
Former Michigan
football player had
been charged with
aggravated assault
By DEVON THORSBY
Daily StaffReporter
LAW SCHOOL DEATH
Missing Law School student's body found
Former Michigan football play-
er Mike Milano had tears of joy in
his eyes as he received a minimal
sentence in Washtenaw County
Circuit Court yesterday for an
aggravated assault conviction he
was found guilty of in October.
Milano was sentenced to pay a
$200 fine and other court costs for
his Oct. 22 misdemeanor convic-
tion.
The charge stems from an
incident that occurred outside of
Rick's American Caf6 on Oct. 12,
2008 that left Michigan hockey
player Steve kampfer in the hos-
piral with closed-head injuries.
Milano confronted Rampfer for
being physically aggressive with
Kampfer's former girlfriend out-
side of the bar.
A verbal argument ensued, and Mike Milan(
when Kampfer turned to walk while at the
away, Milano attacked him. ing limite
A trial jury acquitted Milano neck, pars
of felony assault charges, but con- stress dir
victed him of the lesser charge. Milano w
Kampfer was not present in for his act
the courtroom for Milano's sen- being atta
tencing, but Washtenaw County in the futu
Assistant Prosecutor Paul Barnett "At thi
read a statement from Kampfer death of
concerning Milano's pending sen- you, Mr.
tence. read.
In the statement, Kampfer Milano
pointed out his suffering that faced as
resulted from his injuries, includ- read Kam
Officials say
35-year-old student
committed suicide
By KYLE SWANSON
Daily News Editor
Casey McGinnis, the 35-year
old Law School student who was
reported missing on Nov. 12, was
found dead in Ann Arbor earlier
this week after he took his own
life.
Law School Associate Dean
David Baum sent an e-mail to
members of the Law School com-
munity yesterday afternoon to
inform students.
"We know this is very sad news
to hear at a particularly difficult
time of year," Baum wrote to stu-
dents. and faculty. "Our heartfelt
condolences go out to Casey's fam-
ily and to those of you within our
community who came to know
Casey during his time here."
According to Baum's e-mail,
McGinnis's family posted a mes-
sage to friends and supporters on
his Facebook wall Wednesday.
"Our hearts are broken and the
sadness is profound," the family's
posting read. "Please give us time
to get our bearing and adjust to the
situation."
Law School officials are making
themselves available to students
who want to talk to someone about
the situation. Additionally, coun-
selors at the University's Coun-
seling and Psychological Services
office have been made aware of the
situation and are available to talk
with students on a walk-in basis
between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday
through Thursday.
Baum told students in his
e-mail that he is not aware of
any plans for a memorial service,
but promised to keep students
apprised as more information
becomes available.
ARIEL BOND/Daily
o has tears of joy as he receives his sentence for an assault charge
Washtenaw County Circuit Court yesterday afternoon.
ed ability to move his
anoia and post-traumatic
sorder. He wrote that.
vas not at all apologetic
tions and that he feared
acked from behind again
ure.
s time I am scared to
being attacked again by
Milano," the statement
remained straight-
he listened to Barnett
pfer's statement, which
repeatedly asserted that Milano
was fueled by "liquid courage"
the night of the incident and
that Milano was likely to com-
mit a similar crime again in the
future.
In the statement, Kampfer sug-
gested Milano be sentenced to 10
weeks incarceration, to account
for the "weeks (he) could not live
(his) life." He also requested Mila-
no receive five years probation as
well as anger management and
See MILANO, Page 7
'I ..................................
WEATHER H I:32
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