* Chris Koslowski: After Rep. John Dingell announced another bid for Congress, it's In season two, MTV's 116 and Pregnant"features time to consider term limits. teen moms not too thrilled to make sacrifices. PAGE 4 > PAGE5 ~Iie l1fliditgan 4L3atItj Ann Arbor, Michigan Tuesday, February 23, 2010 michigandaily.com CREDiT ON CAMPUS New credit rules won't affect deal for 'U,' bank IVAN SEKRETAREV/AP University students Charlie White and Meryl Davis standing on the medal podium at the 2010 Olympics in Vanouver last night. The two won the silver medal in the ice dancing competition placing behind the Canadian team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Last night was the third time since 1976 that a non-Russian team won gold in the sport. 'U' students win silver mSSSedal Bank of America contract won't change after new policy went into effect yesterday By TORREY ARMSTRONG Daily StaffReporter The Credit CARD Act, a piece of federal legislation reforming credit card laws and limiting some of the credit card indus- try's most profitable and punitive practices, took effect yesterday after being signed into law in May. The law bans companies from issuing credit cards to anyone under 21 unless they have an adult co-signer or can demon- strate the ability to repay the debt through a financial back- ground check. While some have praised the legislation as protecting college students from being targeted by the credit card industry, others have decried the restrictions it places on students' and teenag- ers' abilities to apply for credit cards. President Barack Obama said in a statement released yesterday that the law will make the pro- cess of applying for a credit card more transparent. "These new rules don't absolve consumers of their obligation to pay their bills, but they finally level the playing field so that every family and small busi- ness using a credit card has the information they need to make responsible financial decisions," Obama said in the statement. Though the legislation could have far reaching implications for the way credit card compa- nies advertise to students, Jerry Sigler, senior vice president and chief financial officer of the University's Alumni Associa- tion, said the new laws will not significantly affect the Alumni Association's contract with Bank of America. The Daily reported in Febru- ary 2009 that, under the con- tract, the Alumni Association provides Bank of America with student and alumni information in exchange for revenue based on the number of accounts opened with that information. According to Sigler, the pro- gram mostly targets alumni, which is why it won't be signifi- cantly affected by the legislation. See LEGISLATION, Page 7 Charlie White, Meryl Davis bested by Canadian pair in Vancouver last night Staffand Wire Reports University students Meryl Davis and Charlie White danced their way to second place last night in Vancouver, earning sil- ver medals for the United States Olympic team. Davis and White's silver was the 25th medal for the U.S. team, matching its record set in 2006 for medals won at a non-domestic Olympics and giving the United States back-to-back ice dance medals for the firsttime ever. With the medal, the Americans are now all butcguaranteed to sur- pass that 25 medal-win notch, as the U.S. women's hockey team can do no worse than a silver medal after advancing to the finals. In an interview last night, Davis told The Associated Press she was thrilled with winningthe silver medal. "There is so much to be proud of right now," Davis said. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, who finished with a score of 221.57, bested-White and Davis's score of 215.74. The Cana- dian pair won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance last night, an ice dance first not only for Can- ada, but also for any team from North America. The North American first and second place pushed the Russians, who have long held a spot atop the ice dance podium, down to the bronze medal. For only the third time since ice dance became an Olympic sport in 1976, a Russian or Soviet couple did not win the dance gold. Reigning world champions Oksana' Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia finished third. Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who were the silver med- alists at the 2006 Olympics, came in fourth. Virtue and Moir's program was tender and sensual, like a mar- ried couple stealing away for a See OLYMPICS, Page 3 NCAA INVESTIGATION 'U' alum says he filed suit to hold regents accountable A PERSONAL STORY Robert Davis alleges regents violated Open Meetings Act By KYLE SWANSON DailyNewsEditor When University alum Robert Davis slapped the University's Board of Regents with a lawsuit late last week, he said he simply wanted to stress the importance of holding the University's leaders accountable. Davis's lawsuit stems from a special, informal meeting of the Board of Regents held on Feb. 3 behind closed doors in University President Mary Sue Coleman's private conference room. A source familiar with the situation told The Michigan Daily at the time that the focus of the meeting was the NCAA's investigation into alle- gations that the Michigan Football team violated NCAA regulations regarding the amount of time stu- dent-athletes can spend in practice and off-season workouts. Davis's 34-page summons and complaint filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court alleges the University violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act by holding the meeting behind closed doors and for refusing to release minutes from the meeting, among other claims. In an interview with The Michi- gan Daily yesterday, Davis said he simply wanted the University's governing board to comply with See LAWSUIT, Page 7 SENATE ASSEMBLY Before faculty, Wilbanks discusses state government SAM WLSON"aily Fra full storyonlthe Students fvr Life A panel of speakers discussed their experiences with abortion at an event hosted hy Students tan Life yesterday in the Michigan Unions Pond teem. Panel, goatothetaily's newshlagal Ah=ve, Karen Hoddren talks at the event about her experience. michigandailccm/hlogs/The Wire. Arson suspect sentenced yesterday VP of gov't relations says she's meeting with 2010 election candidates already 0 By ANNIE GORDON THOMAS Daily StaffReporter Speaking at a Senate Assembly meeting yesterday, University Vice President for Government Rela- tions Cynthia Wilbanks updated faculty members on work under- way in her office. Wilbanks discussed some of the challenges her office will face NOTEBOOK in dealing with Michigan's 2011 fiscal year bud- get. In addition, she spoke about how her office is preparing for the upcoming election and pending legislation that may have conse- quences for the University. Wilbanks told faculty that her office would need to begin to forge new relationships with potential state senators and members of the state House of Representa- tives because many current sena- tors and representatives will not be returning to office due to term limits. As many as 29 of the 38 members of the state Senate will be leaving, Wilbanks said, adding that she has been meeting with representatives who are likely to win their elec- See SENATE ASSEMBLY, Page 7 Arens apologizes for 'stupid' act in South U. fire By BETHANY BIRON Daily StaffReporter Justin Arens - one of two defendants charged with setting fire to the former Pinball Pete's buildingon South UniversityAve- nue last October - moved to set a trial date to lessen his sentence that was determined yesterday at the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. Arens was arrested in Decem- ber in connection with the fire that charred the abandoned building on Oct. 24. The fire also caused slight damage to neigh- boring Momo Tea and the Univer- sity Towers apartment complex. Before yesterday's sentencing, Arens made a final statement to the courtroom to ask forgiveness for his actions. "I want to apologize to every- body here for wasting their time," Arens said. "What I did was stu- pid." Arens' lawyer, Raymond Mul- lins, also spoke on Arens' behalf, See ARENS, Page 3 WEATHER H I: 32 TOMORROW Lo:24 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Photo Slideshow: Davis, White claim silver medals. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE GAME INDEX NEWS ...................................2 ARTS. . . ...........5 Vol. CXX,No.100 SUDOKU .............................3 CLASSIFIEDS ...................... 6 s20ttTheMichiganDaily OPINION . .. .4 SPORTS.. . . ..........8 michigandoilycom f.