The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 7A
Investigation into incident
at Chi Psi house dropped
AAPD: Sexual
assault case closed
at victim's request
By DEVON THORSBY
Daily StaffReporter
The investigation of the sexual
assault of an 18 year old girl at a Chi
Psi fraternity party in November
has been closed, according to the
Ann Arbor police.
AAPD Lt. Angella Abrams told
the Daily yesterday that the case
TEXTBOOKS
From Page 1A
pate pay a rental fee and sign a
contract that requires them to
return the book by the last Fri-
day during finals. Students must
also provide a credit card, which
would be charged for the price of
the book plus a 10-percent process-
ing fee in case the rented book isn't
returned.
Riedman said she hopes the
program will help the bookstores
effectively compete with Chegg.
"We've started to see more
competition in that area," she said.
"We knew that rentals were an
area that we needed to explore as
well."
While the rental program is new
this semester, Riedman said "it's
been hugely successful."
Riedman said the Nebraska
Book Company is committed to
continuing the program in upcom-
ing semesters.
MARIJUANA
From Page 1A
weekly.
"My idea when it comes to
cannabis is to bring it to a level
that any other industry is, and in
this case it's a multi-billion dol-
lar industry that just needs to be
legitimized," Freed said. "Within
that industry I do believe is the
salvation of the state of Michi-
gan."
Freed said Michigan is the
perfect setting for this industry
to flourish because of its envi-
ronmental landscape and soaring
unemployment.
"Michigan, more so than Cali-
fornia or Oregon, has this ability
because we have the farmland,
we have the unemployed people,
we have these empty factories,"
he said. "Everything's already
here and most of this is green
industry and a lot of it can be gov-
ernment funded."
But James McCurtis, public
information officer for the Mich-
igan Department of Community
Health, said because caregivers
are limited by state regulations
to growing a certain amount of
the plant, the idea that medical
marijuana industries could solve
the economic woes of the state is
unrealistic.
"Honestly, I don't think it
could fix Michigan's economy,"
he said. "The way the law's writ-
INSURANCE
From Page 1A
care plans, Karen Klever, student
insurance manager at UHS said.
"Student insurance people are
sort of on hold in essence to what
the government's plans are going
to do and how it's going to affect
it," Klever said.
Anticipating several different
outcomes, Klever said her office is
"keeping an open mind" but is not
doing anything differently during
this year's negotiations.
The uncertain nature of the
bill leaves many unknowns for
student insurance plans in the
2010-2011 school year, potential-
ly making current negotiations
obsolete.
"This insurance has to be effec-
tive for fall 2010 and I have to have
alternatives available for the stu-
was "closed due to the victim's
request."
AAPD Lt. Dave Monroe told The
Michigan Daily at the time of the
incidentthatpolicerespondedearly
on Nov. 22, 2009 to a call reporting
sexual assault at the South State
Street fraternity house.
Monroe said at the time that
both the victim and the sus-
pect were 18 years old and knew
each other before the incident
occurred.
Michael Taub, president of Chi
Psi, told the Daily at the time that
the suspect was not a member of .
"I think in the future what's
important is to give students a
choice so that if they want to buy
the textbook new or used they can,
or if they want to rent they can,"
Riedman said.
Studentopinionsonthenewpro-
gram are largely positive, though it
remains to be seen if the program
will catch on and compete with the
various other options, including
online retailers, traditional meth-
ods of purchasing books and buy-
ing from friends.
Engineering freshman Matt
DiTullio said he didn't know
whether students would begin
renting books more often than
buying them.
"I think that students who buy
from a bookstore will use books,
but I think that a lot of students
prefer buying books cheaper from
friends," he said.
Though DiTullio didn't buy any
books from Ulrich's this semester,
he said he would be willing to give
the new program a try.
the fraternity.
"The person that this affects is
a person who is not affiliated at all
with the fraternity," Taub said in
a Nov. 23 Daily article. "He was
not a guest at the event nor was
he at all affiliated as a brother or
pledge."
AnnArbor.com reported yester-
day that the suspect is a Michigan
Football player, who was arrested
the morning of the reported sexual
assault.
The football player remains on
the team, according to AnnArbor.
com.
LSA sophomore Ben Sackett said
he wouldn't rent books because he
doesn't think it would save him
any money.
"Generally, I found that it's not
really that much of a better deal,"
Sackett said.
While he said he wouldn't use
the program, he thought it would
catch on with a majority of stu-
dents.
Engineering sophomore Mal-
colm Hegeman is aware of the
new program, but said he will
most likely only rent books for
classes that don't pertain to his
major.
"If it's a class that isn't really
important to me or to my field of
study or major, then I would be
more likely to rent a textbook," he
said.
Hegeman added that he thought
the new service will be competi-
tive with websites like Chegg.com.
"I could see the program here
on campus being just as success-
ful," he said.
The site of the former Pinball Pete's location on South University Avenue. The building was torn down after afi
late October.
ten, people aren't compensated
for providing marijuana or any-
thing like that. (Caregivers) are
reimbursed," McCurtis said. "It's
not anything where they can
make a profit from it, they can't
open up a medical marijuana
store...medical marijuana is not
the answer for the economy."
But officials at the Med Grow
Cannibis College, in Southfield,
Mich. disagree.
The school - founded last May
by 24-year-old Nick Tennant
- has about 80 to 120 students
enrolled each month and a cur-
riculum with classes on cannabis
horticulture, legal issues, history,
cooking, advocacy and politics,
according to Tennant.
Perry Belcher, a professor at
the college, teaches the history of
cannabis from 6000 B.C. through
modern day, which analyzes the
various perspectives of marijua-
na throughout time and the pro-
paganda that has contributed to
its negative stigma.
Belcher said the medical mari-
juana industry has the prospect
to offer vast job opportunities
for the unemployed in the state,
especially for those interested in
becoming caregivers.
Because Michigan's medical
marijuana law limits patients and
caregivers to grow the plant, as
opposed to purchasing it at a dis-
pensary - as is the case in other
states like California - Belcher
said most of the jobs that are
dents, and so I can't put things on
hold for what might be," Klever
said.
She said her office's current
strategy is to establish a plan that's
"flexible" so that it could be re-
adjusted easily to fit any changes
that may come in the upcoming
months with the national health
care legislation.
It is still unknown what, if any,
components of student insurance
policies will change, or if existing
plans will be replaced completely
by a public option.
Despite the uncertainty of next
year's insurance plan, Klever said
Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield
entered into the bidding for the
first time this year. Continued
corporate interest demonstrates
that private insurance compa-
nies - many of which are directly
involved in the creation of the bill
- are not concerned that the leg-
becoming available because of
the legalization of medical mari-
juana in the state are in the hor-
ticultural sector.
"It's incredible to watch actu-
al farming come back into style
and become a powerful occu-
pation for somebody," Belcher
said. "These are really jobs that
are happening and income that's
being made and it's all by the
people for the people. What I'm
seeing is great success, not just
for the college but for the state
of Michigan."
Chris Chiles, an LSAsenior and
founder of the University's chap-
ter of Students for Sensible Drug
Policy, said he thinks the indus-
try could greatly help Michigan's
economic situation.
"I think people will very soon
realize the benefits of the emerg-
ing medical marijuana industry
because more revenue will stay
in-state instead of being fun-
neled away to illegal markets,"
Chiles said.
The medical marijuana eco-
nomic sector also provides
entrepreneurial opportunities
for people out of work or recent
graduates looking for employ-
ment, Chiles said.
"It's creating more revenue
and giving people the knowledge
to create their own businesses
and become entrepreneurs in
this industry," he said. "Soin this
respect, I think it's nice to see
that open up."
islation will affect their student
plans with universities adversely,
she said.
Students covered under the Uni-
versity's current student insurance
plan receive the same University
Health Service benefits that stu-
dents under their parents' insur-
ance have, in addition to coverage
under the nationwide Aetna net-
work. The policy covers doctor
and specialist visits and medical
testing procedures, among other
services-.
"It's a very good policy, it's a
very rich policy," said Klever.
Other unique benefits of the
plan are that it doesn't require pol-
icyholders to be full-time students
and it offers inclusive coverage for
students' spouses, according to
Klever. ,
"We don't exclude anyone who
is working towards their degree, "
she said.
VACANT LOT
From Page 1A
the area when the fire occurred led
Ann Arbor police to believe Arens
and Mackenzie were involved in
the incident. Arens was arrested
on Nov. 29 after Police spotted
him walking in downtown Ann
Arbor. Mackenzie later turned
himself in.
Arens, 21, pleaded no contest to
charges of arson of real property
to Circuit Court Judge Melinda
Morris on Monday. Arens now
faces up to 10 years in prison for
the conviction - a reduced sen-
AMBASSADOR
From Page 1A
century is law enforcement on a
global scale, fighting organized
crime, cybercrime, piracy, counter
narcotics, human trafficking and
other forms of lawlessness over
international borders," he said.
He added that the FBI and the
Russia Federal Security Service
have already begun collaborating
to specifically fight international
cybercrime.
Though Beyrle admitted that
many U.S. presidents have made
similar promises to improve
U.S. relations with Russia with
little success, he said the Obama
administration is taking a differ-
ent approach.
At a July 2009 summit, President
Barack Obama and Russian Presi-
dent Dmitry Medvedev agreed to
form a bilateral commission, which
wouldfocusonanexchangeof ideas
between the two countries.
"It was agreed there would be
tence after making a deal with
Prosecutor Karen Field.
tn preliminary court proceed-
ings, Field dropped the additional
charge of arson of personal proper-
ty for both defendants, stating that
the arson of a vacant building fell
more accurately under real prop-
erty. The dismissal of the personal
property charge removed 10 years
from Arens's maximum sentence.
Arens faced problems earlier in
court proceedings when a request
to lower his $100,000 bond was
denied in his preliminary exami-
nation by Judge J. Simpson, who
cited his previous criminal record.
Inthe past,Arens was convicted
about 16 working groups under
this presidential commission,
focusing not only on nuclear secu-
rity or health, but also issues like
space, cultural exchanges, sports
and a whole range of issues to
build a structure of interaction
below the level of presidents,"
Beyrle said.
He said though presidents of
the U.S. and Russia have had good
relationships in the past, it is vital
to take steps to unite the constitte-
ents of the respective nations.
The ambassador said Russia
experiencedgreatchange inthelast
few years, edging closer to democ-
racy and to a healthier relationship
with America. He said Russian citi-
zens are traveling across national
borders more than ever and have
uncensored Internet access, despite
previous restrictions.
"Russia has never been more
open to the outside world, and the
Russian people have never been
more free to express their opin-
ions," Beyrle said.
But he said the state of human
of home invasion and retail fraud.
With such a history, Judge Simp-
son said Arens's release would be
"detrimental to the safety of the
community."
Arens remains in custody and
will stand before Judge Morris
again for sentencing on Feb. 22.
Mackenzie, 18, stood in front
of Judge Morris on Jan. 4 for his
pretrial conference, which was
adjourned until Jan. 25.
At the time of the adjourn-
ment, the court was made aware
that Mackenzie intended to sub-
mit a written request to post the
$50,000 bond and be released
from custody.
rights in Russia remains a problem
and added that organized political
activity and television broadcasts
are still closely controlled.
In his closing remarks, the
ambassador said the United States
has a responsibility to help Russia
reach its democratic potential.
"Our national interest demands
that we maintain a productive,
constructive relationship with
this country to ensure that her
transition to a prosperous democ-
racy - the democracy that my
Russian friends in Moscow tell me
that they deserve after all they've
been through in the last 20 years
- happens sooner rather than
later," he said.
Joanna Steele, a graduate stu-
dent in the School of Information,
said she felt encouraged by the
ambassador's speech.
"I attended a talk at the U.S.
Embassy in Moscow in 2006 and
was very disappointed by the atti-
tude of the embassy at that time,"
Steele said. "After hearing the
ambassador today, I'm hopeful."
FAN THE DAILY ON FACEBOOK
WHY RENT WHEN you can Buy?
Check out all of the available proper-
ties for sale in the area.
www.lSellA2.com 734-476-9768
HELP WANTED
M!BARTENDING!!! $300 /day poten-
tial. No exp. nec., training provided.
AGE 11+ OK. 800-965-65209x 125.
APPLY NOW! FUNDRAISE for the
U: Michigan Telefund, $9.25/hr. NEW
campus location! Students apply @
www.telefund.umich.edu or 763-8773
INSIDE SALES CONSULTANT
Part time (32 hours per week)
Responsibilities include making out-
bound calls to prospective clients to
support and build the business as well
as developing an existing account base.
Must be able to meet goats and objec-
tives.
Requirements include previous sales
perience and comfort working on the
In-
ternet. Must be highly organized with
exceptional attention to
detail. $15/hoar.
Please submit resume to:
barbaramontgomery@annarbor.com
JANITOR/CUSTODIAN: PART
TIME day positions available in Ann
Arbor. A valid Michigan driver's li-
cense and social security card are re-
quired to apply. Please call today for
additional information. 586-759-3700.
THESIS EDITING- LANGUAGE,
organization, format. 25 yes. U-H exp.
996-9566 or mriteon@iserv.net
CHILDCARE
EARLY MORNING 2-3 days a week.
Older child, Responsibile references
and Own Transportation. 734-769-1462
For Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010
AEIES
(March 21 to April 19)
Today's New Moon is the perfect time
for you to think about your life direction
in general. Are you heading in the direc-
tion you want to go?
TAURUS
(April 29 to May 20)
Is there any further education or train-
ing that you can get that will help you in
your job or career, or enrich your life in
some way? Today is the best day to con-
sider this possibility.
GEMINI
(May 21 to June 20)
What is your relationship to the debt in
your life? Its good to develop a steady,
ongoing plan to reduce your debt.
Perhaps youneed to define matters about
shared property.
CANCER
(June21 to July 22)
How can you improve your partner-
ships or close friendships? This is the
only New Moon all year that gives you
an excellent chance for "a new begin-
sing" in this area.
LEO
(July 23 to Aug. 22)
Can you think of ways to improve
your job, how you do your job or how
you feel about your job? The New Muon
makes today a great day to make new
resolutions.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23to Sept. 22)
It's important to have a healthy bal-
ance in your life. Do you have a good
balance between play, fun and recreation
versus your work, obligations and
responsibilities?
LIBRA
(Sept. 2310o Oct. 22)
Every New Moon is a chance to make
resolutions. Today's New Moon is the
time to think about how to improve your
home and your family relationships.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)
Are you clear in your communication
with others? Do you really listen, or are
you just waiting for your chance to talk?
Think about this.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)
What is your relationship to money?
Do you think you are your bank account
or your possessions? What are your val-
ues?
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)
Today, the only New Moon in your
sign all year is taking place. This is the
perfect opportunity to think about the
image you create.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 290 Feb. 18)
Do yoa take enough downtime for
simple moments of privacy to restore
and replenish your state of mind? It's so
easy to ignore this in our busy, hectic
lives.
PISCES
(Feb. 19to March 20)
Do you hang out with quality people?
If you want to have more friends, the
secret is simple: be friendlyl
YOU BORN TODAY You are pus-:
sionate about your beliefs, and you
won't hesitate to pursue your course. In
this way, you are very focused.
Obstacles and adversity will not daunt
you. Not only are you courageous, but
danger seems to attract you! This year,
something you've been involved with
for about nine years will diminish or end
in order to make room for something
new.
Birthdate ofKevinDurand, actor;
waye Dunamay, actress; Albert
Schmeitzer, Nobel laureate/theologian.
WANT TO JOIN THE NEWS SECTION?
COME TO OUR MASS MEETING.
TON IGHT8 RM.
AT 420 MAYNARD
2010 King Featuresyndicte, Inc.