The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, January 29, 2010 - 7
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, January 29, 2010 - 7
COOKING IN THE COLD
SAMANTHA TRAUBEN/Daily
Students in the Michigan Outdoor Leadership Semester clinic practice cooking on backcountry stoves yesterday. The program, which is offered by the University's
Department of Recreational Sports gives students the opportunity to learn wilderness skills.
WIRELESS
From'Page 1
"In a lot of the rural areas there
are satellite and cable options, but
they are expensive and their cov-
erage is spotty," he said. "In those
areas, this (Wireless Washtenaw) is
the primary choice of users."
In order to complete the initia-
tive, 20/20 Communications has
begun seeking federal grant money
in the first round of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"This particular funding propos-
al is for $4.2 million," McFarlane
said. "But it's estimated that it will
cost about $10 million to build out
the remainder of the county."
20/20 Communications, McFar-
lane said, plans on applying for sub-
sequent rounds of funding for the
project in the future.
Currently, the project only reach-
es 100 square miles out of the 720
miles it aims to serve. As a result,
the initiative has only attracted 550
BREWERY
From Page 1
is already saturated with breweries
like Grizzly Peak Brewing Compa-
ny and Arbor Brewing Company.
E.T. Crowe, Wolverine State's
director of sales and marketing, said
Wolverine State Brewing Company
will place its tap room on West Sta-
dium Boulevard, in hopes of attract-
ing a local demographic that doesn't
want to head downtown and also
targets University students.
"There's really no bar out there,"
Crowe said. "It's going to be a hang
out place. What I want to attract
is anyone willing to try something
a little different, whether they are
students or locals. We've gotten a
lot of feedback from local people
who want to be able to walk and
have a few beers and walk home in
the summer."
Roy agreed with Crowe, saying,
"there is really no place to just go sit
down and have a beer" in town.
SUSTAINABILITY
From Page 1
believes the University's collab-
orative approach will yield greater
results than simply focusing on one
aspect of environmental sustain-
ability.
"Other universities set carbon
reduction goals," he said. "We
believe we can leap frog our com-
petitors."
Philip Hanlon, vice provost for
academic and budgetary affairs,
said the entire University com-
munity's involvement in the move-
ment is vital to its success.
"A lot of the urgency behind
(this) actually came from students,
faculty, alum, friends of the Uni-
versity, and so it's entirely appro-
priate you're all here today," said
Hanlon - who will take over as
the University provost when Tere-
sa Sullivan steps down in June.
"We want to really have every-
one's ideas in this process," he
continued. "What we're trying to
do is draw on the key expertise we
have on this campus."
Terry Alexander, executive
director of the Office of Campus
Sustainability, emphasized that
users - a number too low to yield
a positive return on the investment
or to sustain the project.
McFarlane said, since the ini-
tiative began in 2004, the project
has adapted to advancements in
technology and product avail-
ability. The efforts, he added, still
remain hinged on acquiring fed-
eral aid.
"They're using technology now
that will penetrate further and
have stronger signals," he said.
"Also, the circumference areas of
the signal are larger, but again it all
boils down to acquiring the funding
to provide the technology."
David Behen, vice president of
Ann Arbor-based information inte-
gration company GDI Infotech, -
and who has been involved with
the Wireless Washtenaw project -
said he believes the project stands a
chance at gaining the federal fund-
ing needed for completion.
"I'm optimistic that the project
will be chosen in one of the rounds
for funding, and I think it can be
Like many other brewers, Roy
and Thrall entered the micro-
brewing business by creating their
own recipes and home brewing.
The company now sells its beer
through more than 100 vendors. In
Ann Arbor, it can be found at sev-
eral bars like Scorekeepers Bar &
Grille and the Blue Leprechaun..
Roy and Thrall said they are
hoping to have the tap room open
by the Michigan Football team's
annual spring football game. But
because they are four to six weeks
behind schedule, they think it's
more realistic that they will be fully
operational by mid-May.
Because the tap room will be
more of a brewery than a restau-
rant, Chris Carrington, Grizzly
Peak's general manager, said he
doesn't think the company will
create much competition because
Grizzly Peak is a restaurant in addi-
tion to a brewery.
"I'm sure there will be a few
people going out there to try it, but
most of our regulars are very loyal,
a success," he said. "We'll have to
wait and see though."
If the project does not receive
federal funding, the company will
have to reconsider its involvement,
McFarlane said.
"I think 20/20 will have to sit
down and re-examine their invest-
ment and their technology and see
where else they wantto go," he said.
"At this point, until other funding
sources are identified and solidi-
fied, the project is on hold."
Behen, also a former deputy
administrator for Washtenaw
County, said 20/20 Communica-
tions decided to take part in the
project though most other Internet
providers didn't think they would
profit from building infrastructure
in the county.
"They want to have better service
available, when others were just not
willing to go into those poor rural
areas yet," Behen said.
The success of Wireless Ypsi-
lanti - a competing wireless Inter-
net project in the county - has also
and I don't think we'll take a big
hit," Carrington said.
But, Grizzly Peak will lose its
assistant brewer Oliver Roberts,
who is leaving the restaurant to
become the head brewer at Wolver-
ine State Brewing Company.
Roberts said he chose to take
this position after meeting Thrall
and Roy, adding that he has plans
already in the works to enrich Wol-
verine State's product and entice
locals to try it.
"We're definitely going to have
dark lager and Wolverine Beer,"
Roberts said. "We're going to be
doing a lot of experimental lagers
as well as some wheat beers."
In addition,. Roberts will be
working with local home brewers
on a tap called Liquid Soundtrack.
"We are going to have eight or
nine taps and going to showcase
what people in the state are brew-
ing," Roberts said.
. He added that he aims to have
Wolverine State's beers encapsu-
late the "craft brew spirit."
caused some to question the need
for Wireless Washtenaw. McFar-
lane said, despite their similarities,
the projects pursue separate goals.
"Though they're both technolo-
gies that complement the area,
WirelessYpsi focuseson downtown
Ypsi and downtown Ann Arbor," he
said. "Wireless Washtenaw focuses
on the rural areas and outlying
areas."
Ed Shaffran, a member of the
Wireless Washtenaw advisory
board, said despite the availability
of Wireless Ypsilanti, the project is
definitely stilla necessity.
Wireless Washtenaw's advisory
board is composed of represen-
tatives from various companies,
public schools, colleges like the
University of Michigan and Eastern
Michigan University and members
of the Washtenaw County Board of
Commissioners.
"I don't think there's a question
that there is still a need because of,
the remoteness of the area," Shaf-
fran said.
Medical School student Paul
Marinec wrote in an e-mail inter-
view that he would be interested
in going to the tap room because
the idea of a brewery specializing
in lagers could be "fantastic" if the
lagers are good.
"I have tried their beer, and it's
pretty good," he added.
LSA senior Ross Smith wrote inan
e-mail interview, that the tap room
would be appealing to graduate stu-
dents and beer aficionados, but might
be less attractive to mostundergradu-
ates because many students "simply
have the mindset that beer is beer."
"Graduate students can typi-
cally coincide with professionals or
families in a brewpub type setting
where a group of undergraduates
would not," he wrote in the e-mail.
"I am also a craft beer enthusiast,
which means trying new beer and
in general well-made beer is very
attractive to me. Also an 'ordinary'
undergraduate really doesn't care
what exactly they're being served
as long asit is cheap."
In Tampa speech,
Obama calls to
end polarization
Following up State each other."
Party divisions arise less over
of the Union, pres. goals - the main one for both par-
ties is jobs - then how to achieve
tells partisans to them. Those policy discussions
are even more difficult in this
settle differences midterm election year, when lead-
ers weigh what's better: working
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Trying together or targeting the other for
to bury a year of polarization, defeat.
President Barack Obama yester- Obama's challenge is to pull
day escalated his appeal for poli- together enough unity to get
ticians and voters alike to settle results this year on weighty
differences without tearing each items - economic growth, Wall
other apart. His plea: "Let's start Street regulation, energy and the
thinking of each other as Ameri- embattled health care. A Gallup
cans first." Poll has found him to be the most
Obama made sure to weave that politically polarizing president in
message throughout his stop in recent history.
Florida, one otherwise intended He has also acknowledged
to promote his economic agenda a problem in connecting with
by announcing $8 billion in high- people, one that left them with a
speed rail awards. "remoteness and detachment" as
Coming one day after his State he pursued a policy agenda meant
of the Union address, and one to help the middle class. In turn,
day before meeting with House Obama has focused his rhetoric
Republican leaders with whom lately on making clear he is out
he continues to battle, Obama's fighting for people.
emphasis on civility was a nod to Followingup on his State of the
political reality. He needs Repub- Union pledge to work with the
licans more than ever to get his GOP, Obama will address House
agenda passed, and he is getting Republicans today in Baltimore,
saddled with more public blame where lawmakers are holding
for the partisanship he promised their annual retreat. He'll also
to change. tour a small business in the same
"Nothing that human beings do city and announce a new job-cre-
will be perfect," Obama, accompa- ation proposal.
nied by Vice President Joe Biden, The proposal would give com-
said as he capped a town hall at panies a $5,000 tax credit for each
the University of Tampa, where net new worker they hire in 2010.
he was received with boisterous Businesses that increase wages or
support, hours for their existingworkers in
"But we shouldn't sort of 2010 would be reimbursed for the
assume that the otherside is either extra Social Security payroll taxes
heartless or doesn't care about they would pay.
sick people or is some socialist/ No company could reap more
communist who's trying to take than $500,000 from the combined
over the health care system," the benefits, one of several features
president said. "We start getting meant to tailor the program more
into these caricatures. They're so to small businesses than to large
damaging." corporations. Startup companies
Just how far to go in working could receive half that amount.
with Republicans has been an Existing companies could not
evolving calculation for the White close down and then reopen under
House. Obama ended up muscling a new name and receive any ben-
through a giant economic stimu- efits, White House officials said
lus plan with little help from the yesterday.
opposition party and was poised The program, which needsacon-
to do the same on major health gressional approval, would end on
care legislation until Democrats Dec. 31, and carries an estimated
lost the super-majority they need cost of $33 billion. Administration
- 60 votes - to overcome delays officials proposed funding it with
in the Senate. money repaid to the government
Obama takes responsibility, but from the 2008-09 bank bailout
not blame. program.
He still casts Republicans as a The Social Security, system
party of "no" and calls that their would not lose any revenue under
political strategy. the plan, administration officials
"I want the Republicans off said.
the sidelines. I want them to The House rejected a similar
work with us to solve prob- proposal last month, although
lems," Obama said. And then he Senate Democrats have warmed
added: "I don't want an attitude to the idea lately. House Repub-
'If Obama loses, then we win.' I licans, meanwhile, hinted they
mean, that can't be a platform. would have questions about the
All of us should be rooting for effectiveness of Obama's plan.
In e-mail, officials
tell students that
they should wait
before going to Haiti
From Page 1 ditions inHaiti, and in accordance
with the University's internation-
a trip to Haiti sometime soon, al travel policy, no undergraduate
though not in the immediate student may travel to Haiti with
future due to safety concerns. University resources or under
"We are confident that there University auspices until condi-
will be a time in the next few tions improve," they wrote in the
years when we can organize a ser- e-mail.
vice trip to Haiti," she said. Student organizations involved
And as the death toll in Haiti in raising money for the relief
reaches 200,000, according to effort like the Michigan Haiti
The Associated Press, University Earthquake Action Relief Team -
administrators are cautioning a group formed by Multi-Ethnic
students from traveling to the Student Affairs to unite campus
country. relief efforts - have also advised
In an e-mail sent to the Univer- against traveling to the nation in
sity community yesterday, Uni- crisis.
versity Provost Teresa Sullivan "Though intentions are good,
and Vice President for Student and M-HEART is not recom
Affairs E. Royster Harper cau- mending anyone to turn your
tioned students against going to back on the country at this time,
Haiti right now. M-HEART recommends people
Undergraduate students are to really re-think plans to go to
prohibited from traveling to the Haiti at this time," Felix Lopez,
country through University pro- LSA junior and a member of
gramming, though graduate and M-HEART, wrote in an e-mail
professional students may do so interview.
if they have "specific professional The School of Public Health
experience and qualifications," also recently issued anews release
Sullivan and Harper wrote in the citing the dangers of traveling to
e-mail. Haiti as well, and recommended
The administrators cited insuf- onlytravelingto Haiti with a larg-
ficient modes of communication er organization.
and travel and a limited amountof "Volunteers need food, water,
resources as the primary reasons shelter, and orientation to aid
why students should avoid travel facilities, and this hinders relief
to the country. efforts already underway," the
"Because of the severity of con- news release states.
SAMANTvHA TRAUBE/aily
Panelists discuss a new sustainability initiative at a town hall meeting yesterday. The program aims to increase the University's
commitment to the environment through research, academics and operations.
in setting goals for the initiative,
moderation is key.
"Ifweput asimple goal outthere,
that's not goingto do it," he said. "If
we put something out there that's
so outrageous, it's never goingto be
achieved; that won't work either.
What we really need is something
that will move us forward."
In her October State of the Uni-
versity address, University Presi-
dent Mary Sue Coleman said one
of the University's main priorities
for the year would be spearhead-
ing programs and research in
environmental sustainability.
After yesterday's meeting, Drew
Horning, GESI deputy director,
continued to stress the importance
of involvement from members of
the University community and the
general public, and said anyone
can submit his or her idea for the
endeavor on the intiative's website.
- Jennifer Domingue
contributed to this report.
FAN THE DAILY ON FACEBOOK