Courtney Ratkowiak: As a public institution, the University's medical school should start paying more attention to in-state students. PAGE 4A ~be 1IIigan0aIVj Ann Arbor, Michigan UNt V STR RE A L Wayne State open center for research Monday, February 8, 2010 michigandaily.com PLAYING UNDER THE STARS Headquarters in * Lansing will be hub for research in state, officials say By JOSEPH LICHTERMAN Daily StaffReporter LANSING - Michigan's Uni- versity Research Corridor, a col- laboration of the University of Michigan, Michigan State Univer- sity and Wayne State University officially opened its headquarters here Friday afternoon. Created in 2007, the URC was formed to foster cooperation and combine resources between the three research universities in order to help strengthen the state's economy. University President Mary Sue Coleman, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and Wayne State University President Jay Noren attended the event. Each president spoke passionately about the URC and outlined their goals for the consortium. Coleman said collaborations between the three universities in the state will ultimately help See photos for this story at Michigan's economy and future, adding that the partnerships extend throughout all levels of the universities. "That's deeplysatisfyingbecause I firmly believe that we will all rise, we will all challenge each other to be better as we are collaboratingto help the state," Coleman said. "We clearly understand that our future is deeply connected with the state's future. We believe that we can be a positive force for change and we want to do that." Jeff Mason, executive director of the URC, said the consortium was established in order to bring the research occurring at each of the three universities together to help facilitate growth in Michi- gan's economy. "For every company expanding or locating to Michigan, there were companies that were contracting or, at worse, closing," Mason said. He explained that expanding companies in the state are in sec- tors like information technology, life sciences, advanced manufac- turing and alternative energy. He added that the universities have a See URC, Page 7A MAX COLLINS/Daily The Michigan men's hockey team shakes hands with players from the Wisconsin hockey team after the Badgers' 3-2 win in Madison. The game was played on an out- door rink constructed in Wisconsin's camp Randall Stadium, home of the Badgers' football team. For more on the game, see SportsMonday, inside. Officials: Betsy Barbour dining hail willremain open next year Housing will look elsewhere to cut costs, Logan says By JOSEPH LICHTERMAN Daily StaffReporter After much protest from residents, University Housing announced Saturday that the din- ing hall in the Betsy Barbour Resi- dence Hall will remain operational for the 2010-2011 academic year. At a meeting with Betsy Bar- bour and Helen Newberry resi- dents last week, University officials discussed closing the dining hall in an effort to cut down on costs. If the dining hall closed, Hous- ing said residents could eat in the North Quad Residence Hall that is scheduled to open next fall on East Washington Street. But on Saturday, Linda New- man, director of University Hous- ing, sent an e-mail to all Barbour and Newberry residents announc- ing plans to keep the dining hall open. Newman wrote in the e-mail that the meeting held last Wednes- day between Housing officials and residents influenced Housing's decision. "The earnest views of the Bar- bour/Newberry community have persuaded us to continue to pro- vide meal service at Betsy Barbour Hall next year," Newman wrote in the e-mail. University Housing spokesman Peter Logan said in an interview See BARBOUR, Page 7A CONSIDERING SOLUTIONS SA M r S VIK In campus firefighting, AAFD, 'U' share a complex relationship As AAFD faces cuts, union official says it will seek University help By LAUREN DAVIES For theDaily While Ann Arbor firefighters of Local 693 respond to fire emer- gencies on campus, the Univer- sity doesn't plan to extend further financial support to the depart- ment, which is facing severe bud- get cuts. Last month, Ann Arbor fire- fighters postponed potential lay- offs by taking a 4-percent pay cut. However, the city is now con- sidering laying off 19 firefighters when a new contract is set in July. The changes have the potential to impact fire safety on campus, and the fire department may turn to the University for support. Though Local 693 is strapped for funds, University officials say they will not create a firefighting unit on campus even though the University has its ownpolice force. According to University Police spokeswoman Diane Brown, the University created the Department of Public Safety because city police were strugglingto respond quickly to campus calls. In addition, DPS officers are trained specially to respond to campus-specific crimes like residence hall incidents and large University events. Unlike DPS officers, University officials don't believe firefighters need specialized training to serve campus. Brown said the five fire stations in Ann Arbor are located close to the University and have had no recent history of delayed See AAFD, Page 7A MIA MARINO/Daily Participants at the "Creating the Solutions tothe Problems that Plague Our Broken Cities" sit on a panel discussion on Saturday. The event was hosted by the University's Law School. Beanster's Cafe facig money woes ANN A BOR S NATIONAL 00KSELLER Decline in sales for Borders could spell big job losses in A2 Official: 18-percent loss in sales due to opening of Panera Bread nearby By ALEXA BREEDVELD For the Daily Beanster's Cafe, located in the Michigan League, has long been a popular spot for students to study during breaks between classes, grab a quick lunch and chat with friends. But despite long lines and tables that are always filled, the caf6 is reporting an 18-percent decline in sales for the 2009 fiscal year. According to Laura Seagram, the marketing specialist for the Uni- versity cafes, sales have been down since Panera Bread opened a block away from Beanster's on North Uni- versity Avenue in April last year. In an effort to set itself apart from Panera Bread, Seagram said Beanster's is trying to offer things the national chain can't, like using locally grown ingredients and man- agers who are trained chefs and baristas. "These are things we're trying to do to stand apart ... both marketing- wise and operationally, to bring in that audience, to try and compete with somebody who is a national brand," Seagram said. Beanster's Manager Jessica Rob- erts also said the cafe aims to give customers something different from whatcthey can expect from a nation- al chain. "Our focus for Beanster's Cafe is a core menu that is value friendly, with seasonal fresh products that See BEANSTERS, Page 7A con 15th Bor bookst strugg emplo in mai nn Arbor-based months. And with the chain being one of the area's largest employers, npany is county's a decline in sales for Borders may mean a significant number of Ann 1-largest employer Arbor residents would be out of a job. By ROBIN VEECK Like many bookstores, Borders For the Daily is fighting to compete with online - - retailers like Amazon.com Inc. ders, the popular national Borders is also facing the decreas- tore based in Ann Arbor, has ing profitability of its movie and led with decreasing sales, music sales. While Borders's com- yee layoffs and a change petitor Barnes and Nobles Inc. nagement over the last few reported a 5-percent fall in holiday sales from last year, Borders's sales were down 13.7 percent from last year's. Borders is Washtenaw County's 15th largest employer, according to a report released bythe AnnArbor. com business review. The report, which states that Borders employs 825 people in Washtenaw County, was released last month before the most recent wave of corporate lay- offs. David Petrak, Ann Arbor city See BORDERS, Page 7A WEATHER HI: 26 TOMORROW LOX22 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. Nw ,V N l 31,; m II iIMk One 'U' student's adventures in Granada, Spain. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE WIRE INDEX NEW S....... ....................... 2A ARTS.. . ......... .......... A Vol, CXX, No. 89 AP NEWS...............3A CLASSIFIEDS.............. hA.......6A ©201 The Michigan Daily OPINION.. . . . 4A SPORTSMONDAY................l 1B michigondoily.com 1 Vii