2A - Thursday, November 18, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com MONDAY: TUESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers Michigan Myths WEDNESDAY: THURSDAY: FRIDAY: Professor Profiles CampusCubs Photos of the Week Asha for Education Members of Asha for Education - a campus organization that raises funds for developing Indi- an educational programs - make it a priority to inspire and motivate those less fortunate. As one of more than 73 international Asha chap- ters, Asha-Ann Arbor selects a variety of educa- tional initiatives in India to support each year. Members facilitate dona- tions to both schools and specialized educational programs, such as after- school tutoring. Currently, the group is involved with Prayas, an institute for children liv- ing with mental or physi- cal disabilities or in poor social conditions, and Pudiyador, a non-profit organization promoting education for children living below the poverty level. Rackham student Karthik Sathiyamoorthy, Asha's project coordinator, said the group strives to identify the most promis- ing initiatives to fund. "We'll physically go and look at a site," he said. "We (then) vote to decide if the project will be supported." Ensuring that the orga- nizations are using funds wisely is also a priority, according to Rackham stu- dent Vishalakshi Krish- nan, Ann Arbor chapter coordinator for Asha. "Once we pick a project, we do an annual assess- ment to see if the group is using the money in the way they said they would," she explained. "If a project becomes self-sufficient... we'll move on to another project which would need more help." Group members seek funding projects through community events and personal donations. Eat to Educate, an annual fundraiser running today in the North Atrium of East Hall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., is offering meals for a small fee from local res- taurants, like Suvai: Taste of India and Temptations. Other fundraisers include a 5K walk/run in Detroit and a station for henna - a dye used decoratively on the body - at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Krishnan said in addi- tion to spreading aware- ness of Asha on campus, the events also serve to enlighten people about Indian culture. Krishnan, who said she's been involved with the club for three years, added that she would like to continue recruiting new members while organizing events in association with other Asha chapters in the metro Detroit area. Sathiyamoorthy echoed Krishnan's statements, emphasizing the impor- tance of having dedicated volunteers. "We'd like to have a larger volunteer base and continue to be financially healthy," he said. - CLAIRE GOSCICKI SALAM RIDA/Daily Art students Ian Matchett and Micaela McCabe per- formed today, running while taking their clothes off as music blasted and friends threw popcorn and cereal. hr~ie WMCtpgaa Dail 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com JACOB SMILOVITZ KATIE JOZWIAK Editor in Chief Business Manager 734-418-4115 ext. 1252 734-418-4115 ext. 1241 smilovitz@michigandaily.com tmdbusiness@gmail.com CONTACT INFORMATION Newsroom office hours: Sun.-Thurs. ta.m.-2a.m. 734-418-41 opt.3 NewsTips news michigandaily.com Corrections corrections@michigandaily.com LetterstotheEditor tothedaily@michigandaily.com Photography Department photo@michigandaily.com Arts Section artspage@michigandaily.com Editorial Page opinion@michigandaily.eom Sports ection sports@michigandaily.com Display Sales display@michigandaily.com Classified Sales classiied@michigandaily.com Online Sales onlineads@michigandaily.com Finance finance@michigandaily.com EDITORIAL STAFF Matt Aaronson ManagingEditor aaronson@michigandaily.com Jillian Berman ManagingNewstEditor berman@michigandaily.com SENIOR NEWS EDITORS: Nicole Aber, Stephanie Steinberg, Kyle Swanson, Eshwar Thirunavukkarasu, Devon Thorsby ASSSANTE S EDITORS:Be t hanyB i on, DylanCi ntiCaitlin Huston, Lindsay Kramr, Jose~phLichtrmn,Vronica Msrdi, Olyna igss RachelVan Gilder Editorial PagetEditor vangilder@michigandaily.com SENIOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Michelle DeWitt, Emily Orley, Laura Veith ASSISTANT E DITORIAL PAGE EDITORS:WillButler, WillGru ndler,Harsha Pandura nga Ryan Kartje Managing Sports Editor kartje@michigandaily.com SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS: Mark Burns, Michael Florek,Chanel Jennings, Tim Rohan, Nick Spar, Joe St apleton ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS: Ben Estes,Stephen Nesbitt,Luke Pasch, Zak Pyzik,Amy Scarno Jamie Block ManagingArts Editor block@michigandaily.com SENsIORARTS EDITORS:Carylreki,dAnrLai,Je anorsd SS NRTSEDITrORSKres tynAchoe, LeiahBurginJha ronco, Ravi Shekhar PandeyDavidTao Max Collins and photo@michigandaily.com SamWolson Meeaieee'hertoditors S NIORPHOTEDTO R:r Al Bonad, Missa McClain ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS: Jake Fromm, Jed Moch Anna Lein-Zielinski and design@michigandaily.com Sarah Squire ManagngesiniEdirors Trevor Calero Magazine Editor calero@michigandaily.com DEPUTY MAGAZINE EDITOR: Jenna Skoller Melanie Fried and copydesk@michigandaily.com AdiWollstein tepythiefs BUSINESS STAFF JuiannatrinSalesMa ,er , SALESFRE sMANAGER:Stephani~e Bokr MARKETINGMANAGER:GjonJuncaj Hillary Szawala Classified Manager CLASSIFIED ASSISTANT MANAGER: Ardie Reed lason Mahakian ProductionManager Meghan Rooney Layout Manager Nick Meshkin Finance Manager Chrissy Winkler circulationManager Zach Yancer Web Project Coordinator The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and wintertermsby students attheUniversityofMichigan.One copyisavailablefreeof charge toall readers.AdditionalcopiesmaybepickedupattheDaily'sofficefor$2.Subscriptionsforfallterm, startinginSeptember, viaU.S.mail.are1ter termlJanuary through Aprl)s$115, yearlong (Septemberthrough April)is$195.Universitylaffiliatesare subject toareduced subscriptionrate. n-campussubscriptionsfrfatermare$35Subscrptionsmestbepreaid.TheMichiganDaily isa embnelfTherAsscatd Prssnd TheAsociaredCollegatrPrrss. 0 0 CRIME NOTES Textbook taken Laundry bag CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES WHERE: Duderstadt Building WHEN: Tuesday at about 8:30 p.m. WHAT: An unattended backpack on the second floor was stolen, University Police reported. The bag was later found in a men's bathroom, but an engineering textbook missing. Gift cards swiped. WHERE: University Hospital Emergency Room WHEN: Tuesday at about 12:45 p.m. bandit bounces WHERE: Laundry Building WHEN: Tuesday at about 4:45 p.m. WHAT: Numerous plastic laundry bags, valued at $27, are missing, University Police reported. There are currently no suspects. Wallet missing WHERE: Mott Children's Hospital Film screening WHAT: "Dead Man Walk- ing," an adaptation of the book, analyzes the justifi- catiohs of ending a human life. The film examines the death penalty from a humanitarian perspective. WHO: University of Michi- gan Museum of Art WHEN: Today at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Museum of Art, Helmut Stern Auditorium Action theatre CORRECTIONS " An article in yester- day's edition of The Michigan Daily ("A proE's protestingpast") incor- rectly stated a survey sent to students is part of the ISR. It is not. . An article in yes- terday's newspaper ("Student governments unite to try and increase voter turnout') incor- rectly stated a question appearing on the LSA ballot. One question seeks to dissuade pro- fessors from holding exams on election day. " An article in yester- day's newspaper (" Vet- erans talk transition to college") inaccurately identified Joe Schwarz, a lecturer at the Ford School of Public Policy. . Please report any error in the Daily to corrections@michi- gandaily.com. KFC announced plans yesterday to give one high school student $20,000 towards their college edu- cation for the best tweet it receives, according to a USA- TODAY.com article. The only requirement is the tweet must contain the hash tag KFC. "Gibson Fleck" is the first original musical writ- ten by undergraduates to be performed by the School of Music, Theatre & Dance this weekend. >FOR MORE,SEETHE B-SIDE, PAGE 3B A jawbone found on the island of Aruba is being tested to see if it is con- nected to missing American teenager Natalie Holloway, a MSNBC.com article reported. Holloway disappeared in 2005. WHAT: During the past WHEN: Tuesday at about 3:34 WHAT: Classical actingis month about $345 of gift cards p.m. combined with martial arts, were stolen from the social WHAT: A patient's wallet fencing, arts and dance, to worker assistance program, containing a credit card, debit form a uniquely different University Police reported. card, and some cash was sto- performance. Theatrical This is not the first incident, len, University Police reported. combat training is offered but police currently have no There are currently no sus- in a wide range of weap- suspects. pects. ons and combat styles. WHO: The Ring of Steel MORE ONLINE WHEN: Today at 7 p.m. LvemNsGetm ore online at mic iai om/blogs/TheWi red JWHERE: Student The- atre Arts Complex Israeli PM races to bolster dsupport for a peace deal In this Dec. 2,1998 photo, former Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz stands at attention as the Iraqi national anthem is played at a conference in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq's president said yesterday he won't sign off on a death penalty sentence for Aziz. Iraq pres. opposes death sentence Tariq Aziz Talabani says he supports Aziz, an 'Iraqi Christian' BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's presi- dent declared yesterday that he will not sign off on the hanging of Tariq Aziz, joining the Vatican and others in objecting to the death sentence for a man who for years was the -international face of Sad- dam Hussein's regime. President Jalal Talabani's state- ment sets up a showdown between those seeking maximum punish- ment for key figures of the ousted regime and groups calling for rec- onciliation after years of fierce sectarian conflict unleashed by the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. "I feel compassion for Tariq Aziz because he is a Christian, an Iraqi Christian," Talabani, a Kurd, told France's 24 TV. "In addition, he is an elderly man - aged over 70 - and this is why I will never sign this order." However, Talabani's opposition does not necessarily mean Aziz, 74, will escape the noose. Aziz was sentenced in October for his alleged role in a campaign of persecuting, killing and torturing members of Shiite opposition and religious par- ties that now dominate Iraq. The Iraqi constitution says death sentences must be ratified by the president before they can be car- ried out. But there are mechanisms to bypass the president - such as an act of parliament or the approval of one of Talabani's deputies. Justice Ministry spokesman Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar told The Associated Press that death penal- ties can be carried out regardless of the president's refusal to sign an execution order. "If the president refuses to sign an execution that is not a veto on a verdict," Bayrkdar said. Although Talabani says the death penalty violates his socialist principles, many convicted crimi- nals and members of the former regime - including Saddam him- self - have been executed during his presidency. Talabani has tried to block only one proposed execution - that of Saddam's defense minister, Sultan Hashim al-Taie, a popular figure among the country's Sunni minor- ity. Al-Taie, who was sentenced to death three years ago, is still alive. It is unclear whether Tala- bani will follow up his comments Wednesday with a vigorous cam- paign to save Aziz's life. The decision to prosecute and execute members of Saddam's Sunni-dominated Baathist regime t was popular among majority Shi- ites, who now control the govern- ment. The regime sent hundreds of thousands of opponents to death or exile. Many Shiites want ven- geance. "I support Aziz's execution as any other criminal's whose hands . are stained with the Iraqi people's blood," said Zaid Ghalib, a shop owner in Baghdad's Shiite slum of Sadr City. But although Aziz is Christian and not Sunni, many Sunnis view his conviction and those of other former regime members as proof they'll forever be held responsible for actions carried out years ago. "The ignorant people running this government came (to power) for revenge only," said Hussam Ahmed, a resident of Baghdad's predominantly Sunni district of Azamiyah. Aziz's family has argued that he was not responsible for the crimes for which he's accused but is being persecuted simply because he was a member of Saddam's regime. "I want to reassert that my father's execution sentence was a political decision. Therefore, it's null and void," said Aziz's son, Ziad, speaking from neighboring Jordan. "As a fam- ily, we thank the president and we appreciate his decision." Officials say vote on Palestine-Israel deal could happen today JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- yahu said yesterday he was close to reaching an understanding with the U.S. that would allow him to present a proposal for restarting stalled peace talks to his Cabi- net, capping weeks of painstaking American efforts to get negotia- tions back on track. Facing rising opposition to the deal within his governing coali- tion, Netanyahu vowed to push hard for approval from his govern- ment. Officials said a vote could take place as soon as today, The U.S. has proposed a 90-day slowdown on West Bank settle- ment construction to help bring the Palestinians back to the nego- tiating table and in exchange offered a package of incentives to Israel. Netanyahu has signaled he is ready to comply, but is seek- ing written assurances from the Americans that he will not have to extend the settlement freeze after the three months are up. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton declined to com- ment yesterday on the demand for a written guarantee, saying only that efforts to revive the peace talks were continuing. "We are working intensively to create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations that can lead to a two-state solution and a comprehensive peace," she said during a jointnews conference with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in Washington. Netanyahu's office issued a statement late yesterday saying he "hopes to conclude contacts with the U.S. soon" in order to bring present the deal to his 15-mem- ber Security Cabinet - a group of senior government ministers split between pragmatists and hard- liners. "The prime minister will, with great determination, bring it before the Cabinet for a positive decision" the statement said. Officials close to Netanyahu said he would convene his cabinet in the next 24 hours to approve the deal. The officials spoke on condi- tion of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. In a potential boostfor Netanya- hu, representatives from the ultra- Orthodox religious party Shas said yesterday they would abstain in a Cabinet vote - but only if it explic- itly excluded Jerusalem. Absten- tions from the party's two Cabinet would allow it to succeed; oppos- ing it would mean defeat. A growing number of pro-settler lawmakers in the hard-line gov- ernment oppose the deal. Fourteen members of Netanyahu's Likud Party, more than half of the party's parliamentary delegation, sent a letter to the prime minister yester- day urging him not to approve the agreement. U.S.-backed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in late September, just weeks after they were launched, follow- ing the expiration of a 10-month Israeli slowdown on settlement construction. The Palestinians say they can- not negotiate while Israel contin- ues to build homes for Jews in the West Bank and east Jerusalem - captured lands that the Palestin- ians claim for a future independent state. Seeking to break the impasse, the U.S. has proposed that Israel reinstate the building restrictions, while promising key military and diplomatic support. Israeli officials say the deal would include deliv- ery of 20 next-generation stealth fighter planes and U.S. pledges to veto anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations. During the 90-day freeze peri- od, Israel and the Palestinians would try to work out a deal on their future borders. With a bor- der determined, Israel could then resume building on any territories it expects to keep under a future peace deal. Netanyahu worked out the con- tours of the deal during a marathon meeting last week in New York with Clinton. But since announc- ing its details over the weekend, he has faced mounting opposition inside his hard-line government. Israeli officials said Netanya- hu is seeking written assurances from the Americans that he will not have to extend the freeze after the 90-day period ends. They said Israel also wants it to be clear that east Jerusalem - claimed by both sides - be enempt from the build- ing restrictions. A U.S. envoy, David Hale, briefed Palestinian officials in the West Bank Wednesday. Palestin- ian officials have expressed con- cern about the generous terms to the Israelis - and the possibility of east Jerusalem being exempt from the building restrictions. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Hale had told them there was still no agreementcon the U.S. proposal. "We said we will not give any reaction before we see it officially," Erekat said. The Palestinians are divided between two rival governments, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority that is pursuing a peace agreement with Israel, and the Islamic militant Hamas regime that rules the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians claim both areas, located on opposite sides of Israel, for a future state and will need to resolve their split to establish their country. An Israeli airstrike ripped through a car in Gaza City on Wednesday, killing two militants accused of helping kidnap a British Broadcasting Corp. journalist in March 2007, officials said. The men, Islam and Moham- med Yasin, are related and belonged to the Army of Islam, said a Gaza official who declined to be named because of the sensi- tivity of the matter. The shadowy extremist Muslim group draws inspiration from al-Qaida, though it is not believed to have opera- tional links. Israel has killed dozens of want- ed Palestinian militants - and a number of bystanders - in air- strikes over the years. But Israel has greatly scaled back its opera- tions since a fierce military offen- sive in early 2009. BBC reporter Alan Johnston was released about four months after his abduction in Gaza.