POLITICAL RAP GAME
What the political credibility of
hip-hop artists today says about
the evolution of the industry.
PAGE 4A
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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
michigandaily.com
MOVING EXPRESSION
GET TING AROUND ANN ARBOR
AATA mulls
bigger buses,
monorail in
transit plans
Rackham student Tracy Halloran performs at the School of Dance's Composition and Improvisation Dance Class Showings yesterday. Students presented an informal perfor-
mance of their semester composition studies.
A NN A~3
ouncil to con sid medic
marijuana zoning ordinance
In new study, route
between Central and
North Campuses is
a major priority
By DYLAN CINTI
and ELYANA TWIGGS
Daily StaffReporters
The Ann Arbor Transit
Authority is currently working
with University and city offi-
cials on two long-term projects
to enhance transit on a local and
county level.
The first project, the Ann
Arbor Connector Feasibility
Study, seeks to pinpoint advanced
transit options that would be
installed in the city, like trains or
larger buses. The second project
is the AATAs countywide tran-
sit master plan, which is aimed
at improving and expanding the
city's busing system. Both plans
are in the development stage and
aim for both short-term and long-
term improvements, according to
city transportation officials.
NEW MODES OF CITY
TRANSIT
An electric-powered train
system could lie in Ann Arbor's
future - or so city officials hope.
The city-sponsored Ann Arbor
Connector Feasibility Study was
designed to identify alternative
modes of transportation that
could improve transit citywide.
Recently submitted in a draft
form to the AATA, the study
endorses three modes of trans-
portation: an enhanced busing
system, a light rail transit system
and an elevated train system,
which would include a monorail.
URS Corporation, an engi-
neering and technical services
organization based in California,
performed the study. The aim
of the study was to identify the
transit options that would best
accommodate Ann Arbor's trans-
portation needs, according to
Richard Nau, URS vice president
for transit and railroad business.
Chief among these needs,
according to Nau, is a more effi-
cient mode of transit between the
University's North and Central
Campuses.
"One of the things that's driv-
ing the study is improving the
connection between the North
Campus and the Central Cam-
pus," Nau said.
According to Jim Kosteva, the
University's director of commu-
nity relations, students, faculty
and staff make more than 20,000
See TRANSPORTATION, Page 3A
Assessment comes
shortly after other
a SE Michigan cities
ban medical pot
By SUZANNE JACOBS
Daily StafflReporter-
Medical marijuana dispensa-
ries could be allowed in retail
zones - with some restrictions
- if the Ann Arbor City Council
approves an ordinance recently
drafted by the Ann Arbor Plan-
ning Commission.
The ordinance would also put
restrictions on the establish-
ment or expansion of medical
marijuana dispensaries -. or
nonresidential places where one
or more caregivers transfer
medicine among themselves
and/or to patients - within the
city. In addition, the ordinance
applies to cultivation facilities
and home occupations, which
are defined by the commission
as single-family dwellings used
for nonresidential purposes
involving medical marijuana.
The Ann Arbor City Council
reviewed the ordinance once on
Oct. 18 and will do so again on
Dec. 20.
The ordinance in question
addresses a temporary mora-
torium regulating the avail-
ability of medical marijuana in
Ann Arbor, which City Council
passed on Aug. 5. This tempo-
rary moratorium, set to expire
on Jan. 31, was designed to pro-
vide the planning commission
time to finalize regulations for
dispensaries before too many
opened.
Ann Arbor City Planner Jill
Thacher said that it's typical for
the council to make changes to
proposals during second read-
ings, and she expects this ordi-
nance will be no different.
The biggest obstacle in draft-
ing the ordinance, Thacher said,
was the commission's lack of
knowledge about the medical
See ORDINANCE, Page 3A
MSA rejects measure calling for
Athletic Dept. to fire Rodriguez
A PATRIOTIC TALE
MSA VP: Resolution
'distracts' from more
pertinent business
By CLAIRE GOSCICKI
Daily StaffReporter
At the final Michigan Student
Assembly meeting of the semes-
ter last night, representatives
shot down a proposed resolution
to encourage the University's
Athletic Department to dismiss
Michigan football coach Rich
Rodriguez.
The resolution, proposed by
Public Policy junior and ex-officio
representative Nathan Hamilton
and LSA freshman and represen-
tative Omar Hashwi, received 5
yes and 24 no votes to be placed
on last night's meeting agenda.
The resolution states that,
"Rodriguez's first two years at
Michigan featured two losing
seasons, no bowl games, and
accusations of possible NCAA
violations in regards to the hours
the team practices ... and Rodri-
guez currently has the lowest
winning percentage of any coach
in the history of Michigan foot-
ball."
Fans and media have been
speculating on Rodriguez's job
status after his third straight
loss to Ohio State at the end of
last month. University Athletic
Director David Brandon has said
repeatedly that he would evaluate
Rodriguez at the end of the sea-
son, which he defines as after the
Wolverines play Mississippi State
in the Gator Bowl on New Year's
Day.
Speaking before the assembly,
Hashwi recalled football seasons
past, highlighting the differences
See MSA, Page3A
Author Blaine Pardoe autographs his biography titled "Lost Eagles" for Doug Bauer at the Hatcher Graduate Library yesterday. Par-
doe's book is a biography about Frederick Zinn, a University alum and World War I Air Force pilot.
As Fulbright expands sites,'U'
alumni optimistic about future
SNRE students, faculty participate
in UN Climate Change Conference
Program also sees
increase in number
0 of applicants
By SARAH ALSADEN
Daily StaffReporter
State Department officials
recently expanded the reach of
the Fulbright Scholars Program
and both grant recipients and
applicants from the University
are hoping the expansion will
mean more opportunities for
University graduates.
The program, which offers
students grants to pursue Eng-
lish Teaching Assistantships,
independent research and study
in countries around the world,
will now offer grants specifically
designed for students with inter-
disciplinary interests like entre-
preneurship, sustainability and
innovation. Two hundred-fifty
students pursuing ETAs have
either left for their assignments
or will be leaving in early 2011
thanks to the expansion, accord-
ing to Rosalind Swenson, direc-
tor of the Fulbright program
at the Department of State's
Bureau of Educational and Cul-
See FULBRIGHT, Page 2A
Ten 'U' students
attend symposium in
Cancun, Mexico
ByVERONICA MENALDI
Daily StaffReporter
For most, Canemn, Mexico is
one of the go-to spots for a fun-
filled spring break. But for about
30 University students, professors
and alums, the location has taken
on a whole new meaning in recent
weeks.
These individuals are attending
the two-week United Nations Cli-
mate Change Conference, which
started Nov. 29. A few University
representatives were in Cancn
during the first week and others are
participating in the second week
of the conference, which is now
underway. According to a press
release issued by the University,
there are 10 students participating.
Miguel Sossa, MBA and MS can-
didate from the Erb Institute for
Global Sustainable Enterprise, said
that in the first week, representa-
tives from 132 nations attended
the conference and explained their
goals for the conference.
According to the press release,
the participating nations were
the ones who signed the United
Nations Framework Convention on
See CONFERENCE, Page 3A
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