The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS DETROIT Detroit Schools to go to student homes to raise attendance Attendance agents are going door-to-door in search of Detroit students who have not made it to class. The district says the agents spoke yesterday to parents whose children have missed class time or failed to make it to school for Count Day last month. Students must attend class full- time for the financially struggling district to receive full funding from the state. Fall attendance Count Day is one of two dates used to determine how much money each school district gets from the state. Detroit has surpassed its 76,053 student goal for the fall, but some have not attended full-time or remained in class for the entire day. A final count is due Oct. 29. Detroit has lost nearly 100,000 students since 1997, when enroll- ment was 175,168. CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida Pending funding approval, NASA to launch new shuttle There's still the matter of money. But it looks increasingly likely that NASA will get an extra space shuttle flight. President Barack Obama signed the NASA 2010 Authorization Act into law yesterday, following last week's approval by Congress. The measure directs NASA to move forward with an additional shuttle flight, before retiring the fleet. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says the funding issue should be resolved once Congress returns to Wash- ington in a lame duck session next month. Only two shuttle launches offi- cially remain, with the next one coming up Nov. 1. The extra space station delivery mission would take place next June. Nelson says the additional flight will ease the impact of shuttle job cuts. MOSCOW, Russia Russian spy makes * public appearance post-exposure A Russian bank says it hired the spy Anna Chapman to help with innovation in information tech- nology. Yesterday's statement from FondServisBank is intended to explain Chapman's sudden appearance last week at a remote cosmodrome for the launch of a Russian-American crew. The bank works with aerospace com- panies. With her flaming red hair and penchant for posting sultry pho- tos of herself on social networking sites, Chapman is the most famous of the 10 sleeper spies arrested in U.S. this summer and then sent back to Russia in a spy swap. She has avoided the media and the public since her return, so her appearance at the launch site caused a sensation. In the United States, she was accused of using her technological savvy in her work as a spy. LANSING State income tax revenue runs above expected amount Income tax revenue is coming in higher than expected in Michigan, a sign that more people are work- ing or earning more money. Gov. Jennifer Granholm said yesterday that the state general fund is expected to have about $100 million more than state econ- omists estimated in May when the books are closed on the budget year that ended Sept. 30. She calls the $100 million "a significant chunk of money," although it's only a tiny percent- age of the $7.8 billion general fund. 0 The state uses that fund to pays for everything from prisons to food inspections and health care for low-income residents. Although income tax revenue is up, money from the state's main business tax is lower than expect- *ed. Revenue for the school aid fund is running slightly above expecta- tions. - Compiled from Daily wire reports. REGENTS From Page 1A to $6.69 billion. An increase of that nature would put the University's endow- ment performance on par with that of other schools across the country, who have similarly seen their endowments rebound some- what from significant losses in 2009. Harvard University saw an 11-percent bump this year, which helped to offset a 27.3-percent loss in its endowment value last year. Similarly, Yale University saw an 8.9-percent increase in its endow- ment value, which had dropped 24.6 percent in 2009, and the Uni- versity of Virginia gained 12.5 per- cent on its endowment, which fell by 21 percent in 2009. The University's Board of Regents voted to lower the Uni- versity's endowment payout rule over the summer, lowering the annual payout from 5 percent to 4.5 percent of the seven-year aver- aged value. Over time, this change will mean that the University is required to pay out a smaller per- centage of the endowment's total value each year. ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT REQUESTS $3M MORE FOR CRISLER REVAMP The regents will also consider a proposal to increase funding for a project approved in January to renovate Crisler Arena. The regents previously approved a $20 million proposal to replace the seats in the lower bowl of the arena, which will bring the University in line with the Ameri- cans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, the previously approved project will relocate, widen and add handrails to the aisles in seating areas. It will also replace the roof and remove asbes- tos from the building and replace heating and ventilation units and implement a new electrical sys- tem. Updates to critical safety sys- tems are also expected as part of the project, including a new fire detection, alarm and suppression system, as well as a new smoke evacuation system and emergency exit lighting. The regents approved a sche- matic design for the project in July, when it was also announced that the student section would be moved to the west side of the stadium and the band would be moved to the north end of the sta- dium. According to a communication sent to the regents, the additional $3 million is being requested so upper-bowl seating can also be replaced. Similar to the already approved lower-bowl seating replacement, aisles would be widened and handrails would be added. Funding for the project, if approved as revised, would be provided by the Athletic Depart- ment, with construction expected to be completed in winter 2012. REGENTS TO CONSIDER WORK ON SIMPSON CIRCLE PARKING STRUCTURE The University's Board of Regents is also expected to approve a renovation of the Simp- son Circle Parking Structure on the Medical Campus on Thursday. The structure was built in 1975 and has since undergone only minor repairs and improvements, according to a communication sent to the regents by Slottow and Ora Pescovitz, the University's executive vice president for medi- cal affairs. Renovations are intended to designate approximately 470 parking spaces, currently used by staff, to patient andvisitor parking for the new C.S. Mott Children's and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, while also bringing the structure up to current standards. The project's scope includes repainting, new lighting, new directional signage, guardrail improvements and modifications to the entrances and exits of the structure. A new pedestrian bridge connecting to the hospital has also been proposed. Pescovitz and Slottow wrote in their communication that the University's strategic parking and transportation plan would address staff parking needs, which would include the use of additional com- muter parking lots on North Cam- pus. The project is estimated to cost $3.15 million and, if approved, would be financed by resources from the University's Hospitals and Health Centers as well as Parking and Transportation Ser- vices. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2011. - Alyssa Adler contributed to this report. MARIJUANA From Page 1A ule I drug under the Controlled Sub- stances Act. Schedule I is the most restrictive out of the five drug clas- sifications listed under the act. The category consists of drugs that have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the United States. In 2001, the DEA denied a petition to make marijuana a less restricted classification, citing its lack of medical use as the primary reason. With major discrepancies between state and federal attitudes toward medical marijuana, it's no surprise that things haven't been smooth sail- ing for the industry since the drug was legalized for medical use. Physicians and policy makers agree that there's a lack of federally supported research on the medical benefits of the drug. Despite avow from President Barack Obama's administration not to penalize legal medical marijuana operations, many doctors, marijuana providers and patients fear federal prosecution. These difficulties, along with the stigma associated with mar- ijuana, make it difficult to obtain and use the drug legally. As Ann Arbor resident Connie Bank, who uses marijuana for her arthritis and fibromyalgia, put it, the industry is a little bit like "the wild wild west." Mike Meno, the director of com- munications for the Marijuana Policy Project - the organization respon- sible for drafting Michigan's medical marijuanalaw- saidthat withmedi- cal marijuana laws already in place in 14 states and under consideration in others, pressure on the federal gov- ernment to reconsider its views on marijuana is building. "We're really reaching a critical mass where the federal government can't keep its head in the sand any- more," Meno said. According to the Marijuana Policy Project website, there are currently three pieces of legislation under consideration in the United States Congress that, if passed, would sig- nificantly impact federal drug policy. The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act would allow citizens to possess up to 3.5 ounces of marijuana without facing fed- eral criminal penalties. The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act would legalize medical marijuana nationwide. The Truth in Trials Act would protect state-sanctioned med- ical marijuana patients and caregiv- ers from federal criminal penalties. In 2009, the American Medical Association announced that it sup- ported further research into mari- juana's medical benefits. "Our American Medical Associa- tion (AMA) urges that marijuana's status as a federal Schedule I con- trolled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines," AMA reported. As the country continues to adjust its views of marijuana, Michigan's medical marijuana industry contin- ues tostruggle with not only a lack of federally supported research, but also with the stigma that comes with building an industry around a sched- ule I drug. Mike McLeod, one of the founders of the Ann Arbor Medical Marijuana Patient Collective, said many people are uncomfortable with a legalized form of marijuana because ithas been criminalized forso long. "There's still alot of fear," he said. "There's a lot of people in the com- munitywhohaveseen (marijuana) as being illegal. They've watched peo- ple go to jail. They've watched par- ents lose their children. They've been told their whole life that ifyougrow a marijuanaplant, you'llgotoprison." When Connie Bank's doctor, who she said is the "go-to-guy" in Ann Arbor for arthritis and lupus, gave her written certification to qualify for medical marijuana, he asked her not to tell anyone. "He believes that it works, he's just afraid," she said. Despite the obstacles in their path, medical marijuana patients, caregiv- ers and advocates vow to continue building the industry throughout the next few years. At the end of the August A2M2PC meeting, which occurred one week after Ann Arbor's City Council passed a moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensa- ries, Dennis Hayes, another founder of A2M2PC and a local lawyer who specializes in medical marijuana legislation, looked out at the group of patients and caregivers with a big smile on his face. "It's going to be a whale of fun for the next three to five years," he said. COMING OUT From Page 1A homosexual agenda." The Univer- sity community rallied around Arm- strong after the blog and Shirvell's appearances on campus criticizing Armstrong gained national media attention. Gabe Javier, assistant director of the Spectrum Center, said the week- long celebration coincides with the anniversary of the first march for Lesbian and Gay rights that took place in Washington, D.C. in 1979. "This week is symbolic not just for Michigan but for people all over in the LGBTQ community," Javier said. "We celebrate it here to really show people that it's possible to live out happy, healthy lives and to really combat the messages of homophobia in our society." As part of the week-long cel- ebration, the Spectrum Center held GlowLight Vigils at Bursley Hall, the Hill area and at Regents' Plaza to provide a "beam of hope," for LGBTQ students and allies, in light of recently publicized suicides, accord- ing to Javier. He said the vigil was a good first step to combating the issue of bullying and said the Spectrum Center will be working with various student groups throughout the year to make certain that school adminis- trators and policymakers are taking a "proactive stance" to bullies. Social Workstudent Gabe Radeka, co-coordinator of the vigil, said the event aimed to inspire students and provide an opportunity to show sup- port for both students who identify as LGBTQ and community allies. "We want to show solidarity," Radeka said. "We want to send the message thatitgetsbetter." Radeka said the vigil also served to raise awareness about challenges that young people who identify as LGBTQ might face. "It's about resilience and honor- ing those who have felt like they didn't have any other choice besides suicide," Radeka said. "Plus it's on National Coming Out Day so it's also aspace to think about the fact that for people coming outisn'tsafe." She added that this was the first year the vigil was held in three loca- tions, which gave more students an opportunitytoparticipate. "It's a container for people to come together and have some feelings and be inspired to do the hard work that's ahead," Rabeka said. LSA freshman Alex Ngo said he found the vigil to be "really inspira- tional." "I just came out of the closet and to see so many people here who are just like me was really amazing," Ngo said. LSA junior Alex Brown said he found the event to be "fantastic," adding that he thought it showed an element ofcampus unity. LSA junior Kelsey Strait said the event reaffirmed her views on the University community. "It really shows that this cam- pus is really accepting of everything because there was such a great turnout," Strait said. "I'm just really happy to go here and be surrounded by people who are so accepting of others." LSA freshman Sarah Szollar said the atmosphere allowed her to "real- ly feel the comraderie." Radeka said she felt it too. As an undergraduate at the University 20 years ago, Radeka said she didn't see as much visible support for LGBTQ students and allies as she does now. Javier said he hopes the events will help students realize that the Univer- sity is a safe place for them to be. "We need allies to be out, identified as allies of the LGBTQ community." AATA From Page 1A At the start of the press confer- ence, Griffith said the demand for public transportation in the city continues to grow, with a 40-per- cent increase in ridership of AATA's fixed route bus service in the past five years. This represents an even greater increase than the state- wide growth in public transporta- tion usage, which was a 22-percent boostcthroughout the past six years, he said. All of the speakers at the press conference, including CEO of AATA Michael Ford, thanked Dingell for making the city's voice heard in Washington, D.C. At $1 million, the federal grant - which is aFederal Transit Administration State of Good Repair project - will cover part of the project's cost, as the total expenditure is estimated at about $4 million, Ford said in an interview after the press confer- ence. The remaining $3 million will be funded through "several different pots of money" the AATA has access to, including state dol- lars and "district grants," he said. The renovation is slated to begin in the spring of 2011 and conclude by the summer of 2012. The new transit center will have an added floor, which will increase the size of the current building from 2,000 square feet to about 6,000 square feet, Ford said during the press con- ference. Mayor John Hieftje also spoke at the event, thanking Dingell for his help in getting federal grants for the city. Hieftje said the renovated tran- sit center is going to be a "great addition" to the city, adding that it will encourage Ann Arbor resi- dents to continue their high rate of public transportation usage. Dingell took the floor next and said that Ann Arbor's public trans- portation system is "a great and enthusiastic public service" that contributes to a better "quality of life" for the city's residents. He rec- ognized Hieftje's and other public officers' hard work in spearhead- ing various city projects, like the transit center renovation. "...Understand that this is the result of hard work and real vigor and real mission because, as the Bible tells us, 'Without a vision, people perish,"' Dingell said. Susan Pollay, executive direc- tor of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, said better transportation in the city means more customers will come into the city and make it easier for employees of Ann Arbor business- es to commute. "Here in downtown Ann Arbor, we know that the small, indepen- dent businesses and the new econ- omy companies are the groups that are going to be generating the jobs of the future," Pollay said. Ford said that while there may be some changes to the AATA bus routes as a result of the construc- tion, the authority is going to do everything it can to have as few "disruptions as possible." He also said that while the new center is being built, the existing building will still be functional to minimize disturbances for customers. There is also currently con- struction on Ann Arbor's Down- town Library parking lot on South Fifth Avenue, one block over from the Blake Transit Center. And while several of the speakers at the press conference said the timeline of the two construction projects mayoverlap, Hieftje said he doesn't foresee this being too problematic. The renovation of the Blake Transit Center is part of a greater countywide push to increase the accessibility and availability of public transportation in the area, Ford said. As part ofthis plan,in the future AATA plans to work on introduc- ing transportation from the Blake Transit Center to Detroit Metro Airport, he said. Ypsilanti resident Jessica Gransden said she uses Ann Arbor's public transportation sys- tem about 10 times a day, going to and from home, work and class at Washtenaw Community College. She said a renovated transit cen- ter would be a welcomed change, as the current building is often crowded with people waiting for buses in the winter. "I think it would help," Grans- densaid. "...It'susually packed wall to wall." Ann Arbor resident Thomas Krawford, Jr., who uses the Ann Arbor's buses to get to work at a local high school every day, said he's open to the idea of a new transit center, though he's con- cerned about the cost of the con- struction. "I suppose on the one hand progress is a good thing but on the other hand nothing is totally perfect," Krawford said. "There's always some sort of drawback in the long run." LECTURE From Page 1A In front of an audience of about 80 people, Olivas discussed the increasing trend in higher education of students suing professors. Olivas said the number of lawsuits has been on the rise since the 1960s. "It is very clear that this is a path- way that students have found attrac- tive," Olivas said. Giving several examples of stu- dent-teacher lawsuits, Olivas said some of the confusion in court rul- ings on the issue stems from the courts viewing professors as spokes- people of their public institutions. With this view, Olivas said profes- sors are condemned forspeakingout for or against religion. Sometimes these condemnations are unjust, Olivas said, as with the example of a Mormon theatre stu- dent who refused to read and act out material she felt was sacrilegious. In this case, Olivas said he felt it was the professor's right to choose his class- room materials and assignments. Though these professors may be condemned for the wrong reasons, Olivas said he does recognize that there are some professors who take too many liberties with course mate- rial and their treatment of students. Olivas cited one professor who used Hustler magazine as assigned reading for his remedial English class, which made his students feel unintelligent and uncomfortable. As an overall solution to the legal issues faculty members face, Olivas said a university must recognize that its different departments have different modes of instruction. But in addition to giving autono- my to faculty, universities ought to have institutional norms and codes of conduct in place, Olivas said. He added that senior faculty members must teach these norms to junior faculty members, so that the faculty can become self-monitoring. Olivas said that by using a system like this, members of a faculty can feel comfortable standing together if one is the target of a lawsuit. "If they're under assault, all of us are under assault," he said. In an interview after the lecture, Olivas said he is passionate about the issue of academic freedom given the nature of the threat it poses to all educators. "I believe in the enterprise, and I want to make it a better place to work and live and do my research," he said. "When anybody else's inter- ests are harmed, I think they threat- en all of our interests." Jack Bernard, the University's assistant general counsel, said he has been to every lecture in the series since 1995, adding, "academic freedom is a very important prin- ciple that the University needs to support." school of ,R information Connect with SI AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR PROSPECTIVE MASTER'S AND PH.D. STUDENTS Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 Great Lakes Room, Palmer Commons RSVP by Monday, Oct. 18 at simmich.edulrsvp A graduate degree from the School of Information prepares you for an exciting array of Information Age careers. Our Ph.D. program prepares you for teaching and research in academia and corporate research labs. Find out how our flexible, multidisciplinary program will benefit you! A Michigan MSI can lead to a career as: Archivist, Librarian, Research Analyst, Web Marketing Manager Multimedia Consultant, Data Analyst, Usability Engineer, Information Architect, Auction Designer/Manager, Computational Linguist, Natural Language Engineer, Po icy Advisor, Museum Curator Community Organizer - and many more!