The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Monday, November 29, 2010 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS MORENCI, Mich. FBI: Planes and dogs hunt for three missing children The head of Detroit's FBI office says two planes, police dogs and the agency's behavioral science experts are aiding the search for three southern Michigan boys who went missing on the same day their father tried to hang himself. Police in Morenci say they fear the boys are in "extreme danger," and the father hasn't been ruled out as a suspect. Chief Larry Weeks says 39-year- old John Skelton is being treated at a hospital in Ohio for "mental health issues" following Friday's suicide attempt. Nine-year-old Andrew, 7-year- old Alexander and a-year-old Tanner Skelton were last seen Thursday. Tanya Skelton report- ed them missing Friday after her estranged husband failed to return them on time. FBI Detroit chief Andrew Arena said yesterday that it's routine for his agency to join suspected abduc- tion cases. PORTLAND, Ore. At Christmas tree ceremony, bomb suspect hoped for 'spectacular show' A Somali-born teenager plotted "a spectacular show" of terror- ism for months, saying he didn't mind that children would die if he bombed a crowded Christmas tree- lighting ceremony, according to a law-enforcement official and court documents. He never got the chance. Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, was arrested Friday in downtown Portland after using a cell phone to try to detonate what he thought were explosives in a van, pros- ecutors said. It turned out to be a dummy bomb put together by FBI agents, and authorities said the public was never in danger. The case is the latest in a string of alleged terrorist planning by U.S. citizens or residents, includ- ing a Times Square plot in which a Pakistan-born man pleaded guilty earlier this year to trying to set off a car bomb at a busy street corner. In the Portland plot, Mohamud believed he was receiving help from a larger ring of jihadists as he com- municated with undercover agents, but a law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on a condi- tion of anonymity told The Associ- ated Press that no foreign terrorist organization was directing him. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Palin says Iowa bookstore signing not a political move Hundreds turned out for a Sarah Palin book signing in Iowa, an event the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presi- dential candidate insisted was not for political purposes. Palin's stop Saturday at the Bor- ders in West Des Moines brought her back to Iowa, which hosts the caucuses that kick off the presiden- tial nominating season. The "America by Heart" author has hinted that she's considering a 2012 presidential run, but says the visit was to promote her new book and that's all. Security was tight, and Palin did no media interviews. People who bought her book were shuffled to the signing table in small groups. RIO DE JANEIRO Police raid slum to ensure safety for upcoming Olympics Police and soldiers charged into Rio's most dangerous slum at day break yesterday, seizing the bastion of the city's biggest drug gang in a battle to make the seaside metropo- lis safe for the Olympics and soc- cer's World Cup. Black-clad officers poured into the Alemao slum complex amid heavy gunfire, with helicopters fly- ing low overhead. But the officers encountered less resistance than expected and they declared victory two hours later, even if many gang members still remained inside. A Brazilian flag was raised at the shantytown's highest point at midday. - Compiled from Daily wire reports. KARTJE From Page 1A have the right staff: I used all of those excuses to justify keeping him. One more year. That's all he needed, I thought. But even I underestimated how much a game like Saturday's meant. It might as well have been 2008 again - when Michigan lost 42-7 to Buckeyes - as the Wolverines couldn't produce any offense, the defense got run over and there were no special teams. Simply put, they just aren't a 7-5-caliber team. And sure, for the first time in three years, Michigan is going to a bowl. But really, has Michigan played like a 7-5 team at any point this season? The Wolverines barely hung on to beat depleted Purdue and FCS Massachusetts teams; they needed a final drive to beat Indiana and Notre Dame, triple overtime to beat Illinois, and they blew out a bad MAC team in Bowling Green. Thoseare teams with a combined record of 26-32. Michigan's one win to hang its hat on came in the season's first game against Connecticut. But when it comes down to it, a mar- quee win in your third season should come against a team more impressive than an 8-4 squad from the Big East. FOUR LOKO From Page 1A ban on a specific product. "I'm not much for the govern- ment banning things. We still sell 40-percent alcoholic drinks and higher, and we have 101-51-proof rum on our shelves that people have killed themselves on," he said. "I think that it is up to the consumers to be careful and to make their own choices." Maher Jaboro, co-owner of A & L Wine Castle, also said he noticed greater interest in the drink. Before Four Loko was pro- hibted, Jaboro said he sold one case each week. Since the ban, he has sold about five cases a week. He added that he thinks the measure is unjustified. "There's a lot of things that are similar or even worse, and (the commission is) just going after one particular drink. It's just not right," Jaboro said. "Before it used to be they were after it because it looked like an Arizona Iced Tea can, but it's not 12 year olds that are buying it, it's adults that are buying it." Kinesiology senior Will Cook shared a similar opinion as Jaboro, noting that students can make their own Four Loko-style drinks by mixing alcohol and caf- feine. "My problem with the ban is that there is already alcohol and stimulants out there, and they're forcing the makers of the drink to not put those two things together, which is not effective in my opin- ADVISING From Page 1A updates were made to the PAAO website and included Wolverine Access tutorials, developed by Ron Gordon and Chris Luebbe, both advisors and coordinators at Newnan. The tutorials - in the form of step-by-step YouTube videos - show students how to complete various tasks on Wolverine Access like swapping classes, dropping classes, registering and using Maize Pages. Information about the new pre-health and pre-law resource room located in Angell Hall was also added to the site, Dodd wrote. He added that Law School, Medi- cal School, Dental School and pre-health peer advisors staff the resource room. A first-year timeline, developed by the New Student Committee, which offers a calendar of "critical items for first-year students," was added to the site, Dodd wrote. Key additions to the Newnan website itself also include the Aca- demic Success Strategies website, informational YouTube videos and electronic versions of impor- tant forms, Dodd wrote. The Academic Success Strate- gies website, primarily developed by Amy Muldoon, an advisor who now works at the University of Virginia, aims to help students develop habits and organizational skills they may nothave utilized in high school, Dodd wrote. "What so many of us know is And maybe that's the sad - which he said will come after reality of this whole three-year the bowl game - should be much debacle. That, all along, Rich less about whether Michigan Rodriguez was never going to could get Harbaugh and much take a less-talented team in a more about whether Rich Rodri- tough conference and coach guez has made progress and them to big-time wins. He was deserves to stay in Ann Arbor. never going to beat Ohio State It's a decision he's had five on Saturday or Michigan State months to think about, a ques- in October, simply because this tion he should already know the Michigan team never had a answer to. chance at being that much more "Sometimes people see what talented than the rest of its con- they want to see," Rodriguez ference, like his West Virginia said. "We've made progress. But team was in the Big East. not as much as aslot of folks want, That's not because the spread not as much as I want." offense won't work in the Big But on the field against Ohio Ten - it will, someday. But for all State, there was nothing to see. the bells and whistles of Rodri- There was no progress. There guez's and defensive coordina- was just a team lacking any sem- tor Greg Robinson's schemes, blance of execution, asteam that the Wolverines forgot to do one has beat itself more than its beat important thing the past three good Big Ten teams, asteam mov- years - just execute and play ing in the wrong direction. fundamental football. That's It was finally clear to me. what Big Ten and Michigan Maybe Rich Rodriguez was football were built on from the never the right fit for Michigan beginning. It's what we've seen and Michigan was never the from Mark Dantonio this season, right fit for Rich Rodriguez. 63 miles away in East Lansing. "Michigan will be back," Ohio It's also what we've seen out State coach Jim Tressel said of Jim Harbaugh, a guymany after the game. fans would love to see return to And it will, no doubt. But it's Ann Arbor. After all, in his first clear as day now, after three of year at Stanford, Harbaugh's 4-8 the worst years in Michigan foot- squad beat then-No. 2 USC in a ball history, that it won't be back game that the visiting Cardinal with Rich Rodriguez as its coach. had no business winning. Now, Stanford is 11-1 and a top-5 team. - Kartje can be reached But Dave Brandon's decision at rkartje@mich.edu. ion because people are just going only one product being taken off to get Red Bull and drink it with shelves. vodka anyways," he said. "When a party store has over According to Jaboro, this isn't 1,000 items, just one item is not the first time a product has gar- going to affect (business) like if nered interest after being pro- you banned a whole liquor shelf... hibited, citing a recent ban on Unless it was banned on cam- whipped cream vodka. pus only, then students would go "The state banned it only somewhere else to buy it, and we because of the fact that it was would lose business," Kamano whipped cream," Jaboro said. "As said. "But since it's banned across soon as it came out, we got it in, state, it's not affecting anyone people were really interested in other than the Four Loko tom- it, and when it got banned people pany." bought it out." Sierra Ruiz, a sophomore at Jerome Kamano, manager of the University's Flint campus, the Diag Party Shoppe on North said in an interview in the Michi- State Street, said he has seen a gan Union that she supported "big jump" in the number of stu- the ban because she thinks the dents buying Four Loko. He added mixture of caffeine and alcohol that he thinks customers are buy- is unhealthy. ing the drink not because they "It's making people do stupid enjoy it but because they want to things faster. I actually went to a try it before it's no longer available Four Loko going-away party, so for purchase. they had bought a lot of Four Loko "I don't think they bought it to flavors," Ruiz said. "I only had one stock up because it was so good," can, and I was done for the night. Kamano said. "I think more peo- It is one of those things where it is ple bought it just to try it." dangerous. People are drinking it After learning about the dan- like it is punch, but it's not really gerous effect the product has had safe." on students, Kamano said he sup- Western Michigan University ported the ban. senior Rachel Jackson said in an "We sell a full line of liquor, but interview on the Michigan Union I think the problem (with Four steps that though she enjoyed Loko) was the caffeine," he said. drinkingthe beverage, she doesn't "I guess because of the mixture blame the MLCC for banning it of alcohol and caffeine it's been for safety reasons. affecting a lot of the students in "I think it sucks that it's a bad way. It was right for it to be banned, but I kind of understand banned." why; it's a blackout in a can," she Though Four Loko sales have said. "I have blacked out almost been boosting recent business, every time, but it tastes so good all the owners said the ban would and it's so functional. It makes not affect their stores because it's sense but I'm going to miss it." that UM studentsbring stellar aca- that he just stops by the Newnan demic records and fine records of office when he needs anything. extracurricular accomplishment "I have not (used the website)," with them from high school, but Wolitzer said. "I usually just go in were able to compile those records if I need anything and it's gener- of achievement without needing ally to see if I'm still on track for rigorous preparation and organi- graduation." zational strategies," Dodd wrote. LSA sophomore Julia Bank also "At UM, those underdeveloped said she doesn't use the site. academic planning and success "I don't really know that much strategies sometimes hinder per- about it," Bank said. "I usually formance," he continued. "The just call my academic adviser and Academic Success website points make an appointment if I need students to a number of resources anything." designed to improve their ability Dodd said he doesn't expect to maximize class time, improve the Newnan website to reach all textbook reading, work with fac- LSA students because of the abun- ulty and study with peers, for dance of information students are example." exposed to on a regular basis. Students can also find YouTube "Students are overwhelmed by videos on the Newnan website the information culture and the that include information on study conundrum we face is that the abroad opportunities, the road to more we try to publicize informa- business through LSA and how tion, the more information over- to find internships. The forms load we create," Dodd wrote. "I section of the Newnan website know that students aren't aware contains forms for major/minor of every option, opportunity or declaration, progress checklists resource on campus; they can't and more. be." With all the recent updates, However, Dodd added that, some students, including LSA with limited resources, he con- freshman Ashlyn Harris, said they tinues to believe online tools can are finding it easier to succeed and reach a greater number of stu- access resources on campus. dents. "I really got alot out of the Suc- "We use electronic resourc- cess Strategies site," Harris said. es when it is the most efficient "I've always had a problem with delivery of the information or no procrastinating on assignments. other option exists," Dodd wrote. This website definitely helped me "Competing for student eyeballs change my work habits and man- is tough when they are continu- age my time better." ously scanning CTools blasts, However, many other students Facebook posts, e-mails and texts said they don't use the Newnan from friends and parents and web website. searches. Deleting is more com- LSA senior David Wolitzer said mon than reading." SACUA chair wants to form new appeals cmte. with power to overrule DPS From Page 1A that the committee is supposed to be an independent oversight committee," Friedman said. "I want to do what I can while I'm chair to make sure that the rules of the committee and its relation- ship with the University are con- sistent with that." In an interview last year, Stephen Hipkiss, the then-DPS Oversight Committee chair, said the committee typically receives two grievances each year, though eight to 12 com- plaints are usually filed with DPS. An issue will be labeled a grievance or complaint based on which body the grievant chooses to review the matter. Since Jan. 1, 2010, the comnit- tee has received three grievanc- es, which have been submitted through the committee's new online submission form, accord- ing to University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald. Friedman said he could not disclose information about the grievances because they are con- fidential unless the party filing the grievance allows it to become public or the matter has been resolved. The committee is required to meet at least twice each year to discuss grievances. In a Nov. 16, 2009 Daily article, Hipkiss said it was not uncommon for the com- mittee to meet only once per year. The frequency of meetings has since increased, as Fried- man said the committee has met more than twice this semester and will meet "as many times as necessary" to resolve issues brought before it. "Given what we have before us, I expect a fair amount (of meet- ings) plus extensive e-mail cor- respondence," Friedman said. "It has turned out to be a real work- ing committee." On Nov. 19, LSA senior Rebec- ca Egler, a member of the Uni- versity's undergraduate chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, became the third student to be elected as a student repre- sentative on the committee. Five candidates ran in the elec- tion organized by MSA, and Egler won with 1,310 votes. In an interview last week, Egler said the University's ACLU chapter encouraged her to rujn. "We thought it would be a great idea to try and get someone with a civil liberties perspective on the committee to represent that voice on campus," she said. Aware of MSA's previous ille- gal appointments to the commit- tee, Egler expressed approval of the campus-wide vote to elect individuals to the position and said the election process went "smoothly." "I think it's important to make sure that the people represented on the committee are also most representing the students who are filing these grievances, and the only way to ensure that is if the students can elect the com- mittee members," she said. To help resolve a grievance, the committee may make recom- mendations to University admin- istrators like Tim Slottow, the University's executive vice presi- dent and chief financial officer who handles the committee's recommendations. However, committee members cannot issue rulings or override previous ver- dicts. "They could use persuasion, but they don't really have the power to overturn decisions," said Ed Rothman, SACUA chair and professor of statistics. Because the oversight com- mittee is only an advisory group, Rothman said SACUA wants to form an appeals committee that has the power to overturn deci- sions. As an example, Rothman said the committee would be able to review trespass orders issued by DPS. In the last few weeks, mem- bers of the University commu- nity have expressed concern over DPS's current trespass policy, which permits all 56 DPS officers to give trespass warnings when- ever they deem it necessary. A trespass order was recently issued to former Michigan assis- tant attorney general Andrew Shirvell, who was banned from campus after verbally attacking MSA President Chris Armstrong at campus events and on his blog. DPS modified the order less than two months later, allow- ing Shirvell at campus locations where Armstrong is not likely to be present. Though changes are needed, Rothman said he recognizes the importance of the trespass policy for protecting members of the University community. "There are crazies out there, and we don't want them running around campus," he said. However, he said an immediate appeals process would make sure campus officers could not "over- step their bounds." If implement- ed, the appeals process would allow for a small committee to automatically review the order the day after a trespass order is issued to determine if it is jus- tified or should be withdrawn, Rothman explained. Since the DPS Oversight Com- mittee can only make recom- mendations, Rothman said it's necessary to create a separate committee that can enforce its own decisions. "I want a committee that actu- ally can take action," he said. Color resign Groap ( 208 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (734) 997-7030 www.solonxf.com Featuring Products by KgRASTASE H,-,,E WANT TO WRITE FOR DAILY NEWS? E-mail berman@michigandaily.com to get started.