* 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 Cje4 £idigan 0,aIVj 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 I a Tw less h arrest the fir mer P Oct. 2 Jatcza Depar The old Ju old Ia charg proper "Th the ca eviden talked handle "We v severa based able to The c ase a accord 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 TOMORROW L: 21 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 ore-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM INDEX NEW S . .......... ......... ........ 2 ARTS ....................................5 Why no one cares about the Grammy nominees. Vol CXX, No.60 SUDOKU.......,...................3 CLASSIFIEDS. ......................7 MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE FILTER c 2009 The Michigan Daily OPINION.. . ...........4 SPORTS............................8 michigandoriy.com nj