The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, January 7, 2011 -3
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, January 7, 2011 - 3
NEWS BRIEFS
DETROIT
Muslim group sues
critic over website
" A Muslim civil rights group in
the Detroit area has filed a lawsuit
to stop a critic fromusing its name.
The Council on American-Islam-
ic Relations, known as CAIR, says
lawyer Debbie Schlussel has cre-
ated a website called cairmichigan.
com. It lets visitors go to other web-
sites that are critical of Muslims.
Schlussel recently wrote on her
blog that she wanted to "drive the
Muslims crazy" by registering a
nonprofit group with the state and
naming herself executive director
of CAIR-Michigan.
A lawsuit filed Wednesday
in Detroit federal court accuses
Schlussel of violating trademarks.
She says the suit could simply be
an attempt to silence her critique
of what she says is the "dominant
intolerant strand of Islam" on her
website, and she calls CAIR "a
Hamas front group."
OMAHA, Neb.
" Police: Gunman
suspended before
school shooting
Hours before he opened fire on
two principals at his high school, a
Nebraska teenager calmly accepted
a suspension for driving on an ath-
letic field. He went home to speak
with his father and some friends -
all the while giving no hint of turn-
ing violent, police said Thursday.
But after his father left to run
errands, 17-year-old Robert Butler
Jr. took a handgun from a closet
and headed back to the school to
confront the administrator who
had punished him.
Butler, whose father is a detec-
tive for the Omaha Police Depart-
ment, asked to see the assistant
principal and fatally shot her in
her office with his father's service
weapon. He then wounded the
9 principal and fled before killing
himself.
Authorities on Thursday out-
lined the events that led up to the
shooting, which unfolded at Mil-
lard South High School on the first
day of class after holiday break.
Butler had transferred to Omaha
in the fall from a school in Lincoln,
about 50 miles away _
TORONTO
Canadian Mafia
family's funeral
home set on fire
In the latest attack against a
reputed Canadian Mafia family, a
funeral home belonging to the Riz-
zuto clan was firebombed yester-
day.
Montreal police Const. Yannick
Paradis said the Loreto funeral
home in Montreal's east end dis-
trict of Saint-Leonard was set on
fire early yesterday morning.
Three men were arrested and
charged with arson and related
crimes. They appeared in court yes-
terday and will be detained until a
bail hearing on Monday.
Police said there was no immedi-
ate indication of any injuries in the
attack, and they were still trying to
determine what type of device was
used.
The Rizzuto crime family came
to prominence in Montreal with a
violent coup against its Calabrian
rivals in the 1970s.
They became one of the most
powerful Mafia families in the
world, with connections to a num-
ber of businesses that appeared
legitimate, including bars, restau-
rants and construction companies.
MAPLE RIDGE, British Columbia
Charges filed in
Facebook rape case
Canada's federal police force has
charged two teenage boys after a
girl was gang raped at a party and
photos of the incident were put on
Facebook.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Sgt. Peter Thiessen said Thursday
that 18-year-old Colton Ashton
McMorris has been charged with
sexual assault and 19-year-old
Dennis John Allen Warrington has
been charged with production and
distribution of child pornography
in the Sept. 10, 2010, incident. The
girl was 16 at the time.
The photos were widely circulat-
ed on the Internet after they were
posted on the popular social net-
working site. A 16-year-old boy was
charged last fall with production
and distribution of child pornogra-
phy in connection with the attack.
-Compiled from
Daily wire reports
CENSUS
From Page 1
difficulty in obtaining federal
grants or receiving attention in
national elections.
"It means less opportunities
to win support for transporta-
tion projects and service proj-
ects, and most importantly, for
Ann Arbor research grants,"
Irwin said.
To combat these issues, state
politicians are aiming to retain
college graduates, carry out
more transportation projects
and make the state's tax laws
more appealing to businesses.
Many businesses in the state
oppose the Michigan Business
Tax because of its 22-percent
surcharge. Recently inaugu-
rated Republican Gov. Rick Sny-
der also supports a repeal of the
Mithigan Business Tax.
In order to bring more jobs to
the state, Irwin said he is working
to introduce a bill to appropriate
state funds to the high-speed rail
project that would create trans-
portation between Kalamazoo,
Mich. and Dearborn, Mich. The
project has already received $150
million in federal aid.
Though Irwin and Ouimet
spoke of upcoming projects like
the high-speed rail corridor
and rebuilding the East Stadium
Bridge in Ann Arbor, Public Pol-
icy Prof. John Chamberlin said
residents will likely be kept wait-
ing for these improvements.
"I think the state is in such bad
shape, they're going to have to
cut (the budget in) nearly every
place (possible)," Chamberlin
said. "There are going to be fewer
opportunities to secure funding
at the state and federal level for
projects."
Chamberlin said universities
often make other adjustments
- like raising tuition - when
federal and state funding isn't
sufficient.
"Tuition will probably go up
and continue to," Chamberlin
said. "On the other hand, Ann
Arbor's economy is in much bet-
ter shape than most of the econo-
mies (in the state)."
ouimet said the asset of a
young student population and
the start-up companies that
arise from universities will be
the state's "economic engine" for
growth in the coming years. In
addition, he said research grants
received by the universities help
to maintain research programs
that attract both scientists and
businesses to cities home to the
Michigan's universities.
Though 'most state represen-
tatives are calling for economic
recovery, Chamberlin said the
state legislature will likely be
distracted by the upcoming
redistricting, or redrawing of
district lines, that will determine
the districts of the new U.S. rep-
resentatives.
He added that with Republi-
cans in control of the state's leg-
islative and executive branches,
redistricting will most likely
become an effort to weaken
Democratic representatives'
strength within their constituen-
cies. He also noted that Republi-
cans might attempt to build their
majority in districts where their
party won by a close margin.
"It shouldn't be that hard for
the Republicans to redraw to
knock out one more Democrat,"
Chamberlin said. "(They can)
pit two Democrats against one
another, that's what they did last
time (in 2000)."
U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-
Ann Arbor) wrote in a Dec. 21,
2010 press release that in the
past, party differences in the
state legislature have gotten in
the way of providing the best
results for Michigan residents
when it comes to redistricting.
"I hope that Michigan's state
legislature and all those involved
with redistricting rise above the
partisan fray and put the people
of Michigan first," Dingell wrote.
-------------
M 4
1 A
ROSS
From Page 1
Dolphins are pursuing Harbaugh
has left their coaching situation
muddled. Though Tony Sparano
is currently under contract as the
team's head coach for one more
season, there is speculation that
he'll be fired after a disappoint-
ing 7-9 season. But as of late
Wednesday night, ESPN.com
reported that Sparano would be
retained.
The University's Athletic
Department did not immediately
respond to requests for comment
from the Daily.
Within the past couple of
months, Harbaugh has gar-
nered national attention in both
the collegiate and professional
ranks. Before Michigan's regu-
lar season even ended, many
thought he'd ultimately return to
his alma mater and become the
team's next head coach.
But the media buzz surround-
ing the Harbaugh-to-Michigan
rumors has subsided since Satur-
day's Gator Bowl loss. And Ath-
letic Director David Brandon all
but eliminated the possibility of
Harbaugh signing with Michi-
gan during his press conference
on Wednesday.
"Jim Harbaugh is close to
Michigan, and I think Jim is
in a position where he's mak-
ing important decisions as (they
relate) to where his career is
going," Brandon said. "I person-
ally believe that Jim Harbaugh is
headed to the NFL."
He later added: "There are
many stories ambling around out
there about what Jim Harbaugh
is thinking and going to do and
where his interests are as there
are about all of the atmosphere
that's been around here the last
few days.
"So I don't want to speak on
behalf of Jim and I don't want
to speak on behalf of the people
who say they are speaking on
behalf of Jim. Jim has got deci-
sions to make. Jim Harbaugh is a
great coach, he had a terrific sea-
son and I think the world of him."
Harbaugh has rebuilt the Stan-
ford program since he accepted
its head coaching position before
the 2007 season. After seven
consecutive losing seasons, the
Cardinal posted an 8-5 record in
2009, and on Monday, Harbaugh
led the team to an Orange Bowl
victory - its first bowl win since
1996.
Harbaugh's brother, John
- the head coach of the Balti-
more Ravens - recently offered
some insight on Jim's chances of
becoming Michigan's coach.
"I don't know what he's going
to do," John said on his weekly
radio show on Tuesday. "I think
the Michigan thing is done now.
I think that's over. I don't think
he's going to have anything to do
with that. I think that says a lot
about Stanford."
WOLV-TV
From Page 1
vided advice to viewers in the Dec.
7, 2010 episode about how to be
sexy during exam week when stu-
dents don't have much time to get
spruced up. He suggested going
commando or bra-less, wearing
sweatpants or putting hair in a
ponytail.
As Yudin talked about his sexy
study tips, a picture of a smiling
female in a low-cut button up shirt
wearing glasses popped up on the
screen. .
"That's what I would look like
(studying)," Rosenbach joked.
"Third floor UGLi. Come and find
me."
As the episode ended, Plonsker
offered viewers a Hannukah-
themed sex tip.
"I just want to go over a quick
role play for the holiday this year,
a Jewish Hannukah version,"
Plonsker said. "It's called the 'Mel
Gibson (Sadomasochism) Thing.'
One of you pretends to be Mel
Gibson. One of you pretends to be
Jewish, and you just beat the crap
out of that person because God
knows, (Gibson) hates Jews."
Rosenbach said in an interview
after the taping that some of what
Plonsker says on-air can cause
problems.
"If our episodes are deemed too
inappropriate or offensive for the
University, we don't air them," she
said. "It'll show live, like tonight.
But we won't rerun onWOLV-TV."
Being censored isn't too much
WANT TO
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MICH IGAN
DA I LY
Come to our
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JAN.13
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JAN.19
7:30 p.m. at 420
Maynard St.
of a concern, Rosenbach added,
because "Turned On" still posts
episodes on the show's Facebook
page and Vimeo.com.
Rosenbach said issues often
arise because scripts are impro-
vised from a list of bullet points.
"It'll say like talk about gifts, or
talk about this sex position. When
the script is so improv based you
have the chance that things could
take a turn and get inappropriate
quickly," she said.
But Plonsker said many of the
jokes made on the show are meant
to be light-hearted and comical
and that people can sometimes
take them too seriously.
"People are infinitely too sen-
sitive about sexual commentary,"
Plonsker said.
Rosenbach, who is also the
show's main producer, said the
show started a few years ago as
informational, but with the arriv-
al of her co-host Plonsker, the
emphasis shifted toward comedy.
"Kids aren't watching for sex
advice," Rosenbach said. "They're
not going to turn to us as doctors
or professionals."
Plonsker added that some
questions are still serious, such
as proper dating etiquette or the
logistics of sexual activities. But
he said he often goes for shock
value with humor that, like the
Gibson joke, tends to be vulgar or
offensive.
LSA sophomore Nicole Tillem,
the show's marketing director,
said because viewership is limited
to students in the residence halls,
"Turned On" is trying to find ways
to reach out to all University stu-
dents.
"It's more promoted through
word-of-mouth," she said, adding
that Facebook and Vimeo offer
great access for anyone to watch
"Turned On" at any time.
Plonsker joked about the lim-
ited number of viewers.
"I feel like that's the major rea-
son why we all do it because it's
entertaining, and having viewers
is really secondary because they
don't exist," he said.
LSA freshman Ryan Bloom
said he's never heard of "Turned
On," though he was familiar with
WOLV-TV.
"I'd be interested in watching
the general programs on the sta-
tions," Bloom said. "It's worth it
to watch the efforts of the general
students. You can appreciate the
work they put into it."
LSA freshman Annalise Povolo
said she didn't know about the
channel or program, but laughed
while watching a five-minute
snippet of "Turned On" pointed
out to her on the show's Facebook
page.
"It's funny," Povolo said. "It
would be something to check out."
Tillem said she markets the
show through a blog to increase
viewership.
LSA junior Kat Riley, associ-
ate producer of "Turned On,"
said even with the show's limited
audience, she remains optimistic
it will continue to attract viewers.
"It's the most-watched show on
WOLV-TV," Riley said. "There's a
reason for that."
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