2 - Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
2 - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
MONDAY:
In Other Ivory Towers
WEDNESDAY:
Professor Profiles
THURSDAY: FRIDAY:
Campus Clubs Photos of the Week
The other block 'M'myth
Of all the myths on campus,
there is one that is best known
among the. student body - that
a new student's failure to avoid
stepping on the iconic 'M' in the
Diag will lead to a failing grade
on his or her first blue book exam
at the University.
The legend has been told dur-
ing new student tours at the
University, and has led count-
less students to walk in a zig-
zag fashion through the Diag to
avoid stepping on the 'M.' How-
ever, some students have tossed
the myth aside and purposely
stepped on the brass letter donat-
ed by the University's Class of
1953.
But there's no way to confirm
-whether the myth carries any
validity.
Several students have stepped
on the 'M' and haven't failed their
first blue books, while other stu-
dents who have purposely avoid-
ed stepping on the 'M' have had
less than stellar starts to their
academic careers at the Univer-
sity.
But if the myth is true, then
students who step on the 'M' do
have a way to remedy the inevi-
table consequences by following
the second half of the myth.
According to the lore, a student
can reverse the curse and avoid
failing his or her first blue book
exam by running naked from the
'M' on the Diag to the pumas that
sit in front of the Ruthven Muse-
um of Natural History.
And while this feat maybe pos-
sible, the jaunt must be complet-
ed within the time it takes for the
carillon in the Burton Memorial
Bell Tower to strike midnight.
The problem with this remedy
is that while the carillon is played
at the start of each new hour dur-
ing the day, it sits silently at night
- not making any noise when the
clock strikes midnight.
Additionally, with the renova-
tion currently being done to the
carillon and the bell tower, the
clock doesn't even strike mid-
night. Since work began on the
upper levels of the bell tower, the
clock has been stuck at 6:30.
But the myth of stepping on
the 'M' is not the only legend that
surrounds the bronze figure.
In earlier years, it was said
that if a student stepped on the
'M' during their undergraduate
career he or she would lose their
virginity before graduating.
And in its infancy, the 'M' also
served as a boundary to divide
freshmen and sophomores, with
freshmen not being allowed to
enter the area of the stone that
surrounds the 'M.'
- KYLE SWANSON
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I
A University student steps on the 'M,' which one myth suggests
can lead toa student failing his or her first blue book exam.
CRIME NOTES
Posters pilfered Trespassing man
in School of Ed. caught sleeping
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
Sex-themed AIDS forum
WHERE: School of Education
WHEN: Sunday at about 5
p.m.
WHAT: Three posters were
stolen from the first floor,
valued at $200, University
Police reported. There are no
suspects.
WHERE: Modern Languages
Building
WHEN: Monday at about 2:45
p.m.
WHAT: A man not affili-
ated with the University was
discovered sleeping under
the stairs, University Police
reported. He was read trespass
nd Pcntd dff thp nmic
Jeopardy
WHAT: Students are invited
to participate in a game of
Jeopardy centered around
questions about sex in order
to increase awareness about
sexually transmitted dis-
eases. Hot chocolate and
doughnuts will be served.
WHO: CoitusLove
WHEN: Today at 11 a.m.
Parking pass anu ea the rmis. WHERE: Angell Hall
taken from car Credit card
WEEOxodHuig swiped by thief Lecture on
WHERE: Oxford Housing W ehomosexuality
WHEN: Sunday at about 8 WH ERE: UniversityHsia
WHAT: An information ses-
sion about HIV and AIDS
will be held to break down
stigmas and stereotypes.
Refreshments will be served.
WHO: PULSE
WHEN: Today at 6 p.m.
WHERE: The 2nd floor
of The Michigan Union
Pop concert
WHAT: Singer and song-
writer Matt White will
perform hits from his
album "Best Days." Gen-
eral admission is $15, and
reserved seating is $22.
WHO: Michigan
Union Ticket Office
WHEN: Today at 8p.m.
WHERE: The Ark
CORRECTIONS
0 Please report any
error in the Daily to
corrections@michi-
gandaily.com.
Two University of Colo-
rado graduates are mar-
keting a business called
"Hangover Helpers," Fox News
reported. The service cleans up
the homes of customers after
a party, while also delivering
morning breakfast burritos
and Gatorade to the hosts.
Wisconsin Governor-
elect Scott Walker recent-
ly refused $810 million
in federal stimulus funds for
improved passenger railway
systems in his state.
xv FOR MORE,SEE OPINION, PAGE 4
The number of eating
disorders in children has
jumped drastically, CBC
news reported. The number of
hospitalizations due to eating
disorders in children under 12
rose 119 percent from 1999 to
2006. Pediatricians are being
encouraged to push for legisla-
tion to help prevent this.
EDITORIAL STAFF
Matt Aaronson ManagingEditor aaronson@michigandaily.com
Jillian Bennox ManaginN sditor ierman@michigandaily.com
SENIOR NEW S EORS: Nicobe Aber, Stephanie Steinberg, Kyle Swanson, Eshwar
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS: Bethany Biron, Dylan Cinti, Caitlin Huston, Lindsay
Kramer,JosephLichterman,,Veronica MenaldiElyana Twiggs
Rachel Van Gilder Editorial Page Editor vangilder@michigandaily.com
SENIOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Michelle DeWitt, Emily Orley, Laura Veith
ASSISTANTEDITQRIAL PAGE EDITORS: Will Butler, WillGrundler,Harsha Panduranga
Ryan Kartje Managing Sports Editor kartje@michigandaily.com
SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR S: Mark Burns, Michael Florek, Chantel Jennings, Tim Rohan,
Nick Spar, Joe Stapleton
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS: Ben Estes, Stephen Nesbitt, Luke Pasch, Zak Pyzik, Amy
JamieBlock ManagingArtsEditor block@michigandaily.com
ASSIS^ANTRTSEDTORS: ristyncho eah BurginSharon Jacobs,Kavi Shekhar
Pandey, David Tao
Max Collins and photo@michigandaily.com
Samt Wlson Mantging Phoxtdiors
aS OPHonM nDTRAielBot , E rissa McClain
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS: Jake Fromm, Jed Moch
Anna Lein-Zielinski and design@michigandaily.com
Sarah Squire Managing DesignEditors
SENIOR DESIGN EDITOR: Maya Friedman
Trevor Calero Magazine Editor calero@michigandaily.com
DEPUTY MAGAZINE EDITOR: Jenna Skoller
Melanie Fried and copydesk@michigandailycom
AdiWollstein CopytChiefs
BUSINESS STAFF
JuliannaCrimxSalesxManager
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CLASSIFIED ASSISTANTMANAGER: Ardie Reed
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Nick Meshkin Finance Manager
Chrissy WinklerCirculation Manager
Zath Yancer Web Project Coordinator
The Michigan Daily(ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
winter termsby studentsattheUniversityofMichigan.Onecopyisavailablefreeofchargetoall
readers.Additionalcopiesmaybepickeduprat theDaiy'sofficefor$2.Subscriptionsforfallterm,
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isamember of The Associated Pressand The AssociatedColegiate Press.
p.m.
WHAT: A hanging lot pass
was stolen out of the car of
a vehicle parked at Oxford,
University Police reported.
The pass belonged to a male
student. There are no suspects.
WHEN: Saturday at about
11:15 a.m.
WHAT: A credit card was sto-
len from a patient's room, Uni-
versity Police reported. There
are no suspects.
WHAT: A lecture entitled
"What Makes Gay Life
Worth Living?will be led
by Dr. John Corvino. The
lecture will cover topics
such as teen suicide and
the value of relationships.
WHO: Spectrum Center
WHEN: Today at 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Amphitheatre
at Rackham Graduate School
MORE ONLINE
Love Crime Notes? Get more online at michigandaily.com/blogs/The Wire
New editors say they want to utilize
new technologies, work together
0
From Page 1
the paper during the next year, she
hopes to deliver the product read-
ers have come to expect.
"I really want to continue to
uphold the same standard that the
Daily has practiced for the last 121
years," she said.
She added that some of her main
goals include expanding circula-
tion into downtown Ann Arbor
and using social networking out-
lets like Facebook, Twitter and
mobile applications to disseminate
news.
LSA junior Kyle Swanson, who
was appointed as the paper's man-
aging editor for next year, said that
while he has worked at the Daily
for four years, he is excited to be
part of the new team.
"I'm excited to be at the Daily
for another year," he said. "And
I'm excited to be able to work with
Stephanie, and all the other edi-
tors and staffers."
Newly-elected Managing News
Editor Nicole Aber, an LSA junior,
said she plans to further lever-
age new forms of technology to
revamp how readers receive their
campus news.
"We're going to really try and
'increase our use of multimedia
'next semester to make more visu-
ally interesting components to go
with stories," shesaid.
Similarly, all the new editors
said they had major plans to make
improvements within their sec-
tions, through organizational
changes and new training meth-
.ods.
Co-Managing Photo Editor
Jed Moch, an LSA junior, said
that along with his co-editor, Art
& Design sophomore Marissa
McClain, he plans to ensure all
'photographers have a strong grasp
of basic design elements, such as
Photoshop skills and use of artifi-
cial lighting.
"The cornerstone of our cam-
paign was staff expansion and
staff training," he said. "We want
to bridge the gap between people
on staff and editors, and bring
everyone up to a level where
they can feel comfortable editing
and taking on significant assign-
ments."
The newly-elected co-manag-
ing sports editors, LSA junior Nick
Spar and Engineering junior Tim
Rohan, said they hope to improve
efficiency between writers and
editors to make the most of every-
one's time.
"I think we have a really great
group of people on staff," Spar
said. "And I'm confident the sports
section will rise to new heights."
LSA junior Sharon Jacobs, the
newly-elected managing arts edi-
tor, said she hopes to increase
communication between writers
and editors in her section.
"I hope to preserve the integ-
rity of the writers' self expression
while holding Daily Arts to the
high standard of writing and con-
tent that we have upheld for the
last couple of years," she said.
Other editors mentioned their
plans to make their sections more
accessible and familiar, both to
student readers as well as to Daily
staff members.
LSA junior Carolyn Klarecki,
who was appointed to be the Mag-
azine editor for the coming year,
said she has plans to make The
Statement more available to Daily
writers in all sections.
"I want The Statement to be a
place where all the best writers
at the Daily can showcase their
work," she said. "And where peo-
ple at the Daily can explore topics
in-depth that they don't always get
to in other sections."
Co-Managing Editorial Page
Editors Emily Orley and Michelle
DeWitt, both LSA juniors, said
they hope to create an editorial
page that students are excited to
read every day.
"We're hoping to write edi-
torials that stir up some passion
around campus and are applicable
to students," Orley said.
Despite the varying goals of the
sections, Steinberg emphasized
the importance of collaboration
among the staff to create a stron-
ger paper overall.
"I hope to instill a new sense
of collaboration between the sec-
tions and more communication
between the editors," she said.
Section editors agreed, say-
ing stronger collaboration in the
future will be necessary to publish
the best possible paper.
Aber said she believes commu-
nication between the news section
and other areas of the paper will
help make the paper more unified
and integrated.
"We're going to try to expand
on working with the opinion sec-
tion, so that we're all on the same
page when news breaks or when
it comes to relevant news issues,"
she said.
Moch also said the photo sec-
tion hopes to send photographers
to the meetings of other sections,
such as news and design, in order
to make sure the lines of commu-
nication remain strong.
Despite the extra time and
effort required to enact their far-
reaching goals, many of the new
editors admitted they were anx-
ious for their terms to begin.
Aber said she was excited for the
new semester because she antici-
pated a lot of change with the elec-
tion of the new editing team.
"I'm just excited to see where
Stephanie takes the paper," she
said. "And I'm happy that I get to
be a part of it."
LSA juniors Zach Bergson and
Helen Lieblich were also elected
co-managing design editors by the
Daily's Design staff.
In addition, Engineering junior
Sarah Squire, currently a co-man-
aging design editor, will focus on
special web projects during her
second year on the paper's man-
agement team as the Daily's web
development manager.
Steinberg also said the coming
year seems to hold a lot of promise,
and that she is extremely excited
to take on her new position and to
begin working with the new staff.
"I think we're going to work
really well together as a team to put
out the best product that we can,"
she said. "And I anticipate that
we're going to have fun doing it."
- None of the Daily
staffers named in this report
edited this article.
0
South Koreanumarines man an armnored vehicle while on patrol on Baengnyeong Island today near the border between North
Korea and Sooth Korea.
Mil*itary escalation could.
endangrer Korean waters
Sea border in Korea
seen as a recipe for
accidental warfare
YEONPYEONG ISLAND,
South Korea (AP) - The view
from this South Korean island
takes in the undulating hills of
North Korea just seven miles
away and the seafood-rich waters
all around - a region of such eco-
nomic and strategic importance
to both countries that one expert
calls ita recipe for war.
Violence often erupts in this
slice of sea claimed by both coun-
tries. Boats routinely jostle for
position during crab-catching
season, and three deadly naval
clashes since 1999 have taken a
few dozen lives.
The South's president took
responsibility Monday for fail-
ing to protect his citizens from
a deadly North Korean artillery
barrage on Yeonpyeong Island on
Nov. 23. The originsofthe attack
can be traced to a sea border
drawn at the close of the Korean
War, nearly 60 years ago.
As the conflict ended in a truce,
the U.S.-led U.N. Command divid-
ed the Yellow Sea without Pyong-
yang's consent, cutting North
Korea off from rich fishing waters
and boxing in a crucial deep-
water port, a move that clearly
favored the South.
North Korea has bitterly con-
tested the line ever since, arguing
that it should run farther south.
But for Seoul, accepting such
a line would endanger fishing
around five South Korean islands
and hamper access to its port at
Incheon.
"It is the perfect recipe for
'accidental' warfare," Erich Wein-
gartner, editor-in-chief of Can-
Kor, a Canadian website focused
on North Korean analysis, wrote
recently.
"The navies of both sides pro-
tect their respective fishing ves-
sels. Mischief and miscalculation
does the rest," he added. "The out-
break of hostilities is less surpris-
ing to me than the fact that for 60
years these hostilities have been
contained."
The Nov. 23 attack hit civilian
areas in Yeonpyeong(pronounced
yuhn-pyuhng), marking a new
level of hostility along the con-
tested line. Two civilians and two
marines died, and many houses
were gutted in the shelling.
Normally home to about 1,300
civilian residents, the island was
declared a special security area
yesterday, which could pave the
way for a forced evacuation of
those who did not flee last week.
Military trucks carrying what
appeared to be multiple rocket
launchers were seen heading to a
marine base on the island.
Long-range artillery guns
and a half-dozen K-9 howitzers
were also on their way, the Yon-
hap news agency reported, citing
unidentified military officials.
South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak, in a nationally tele-
vised speech, vowed tough conse-
quences for any future aggression,
without offering specifics.
"I feel deeply responsible for
failing to protect my people's lives
and property," he said.
After his speech, Yeonpyeong
officials announced new live-
fire drills for Tuesday, warn-
ing residents to take shelter in
undergroundtbunkers. Another
announcement later in the eve-
ning said there would be no exer-
cise; marines on the island had
failed to get final approval from
higher authorities.
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