The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Wednesday, March 16,2011 - 3A
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, March 16, 2011 - 3A
NEWS BRIEFS
ANN ARBOR
Nine-year-old
Ann Arbor girl
nabs Clooney role
A George Clooney movie film-
ing this week in Michigan also
features Ryan Gosling, Marisa
Tomei, Paul Giamatti and Philip
Seymour Hoffman.
And Talia Akiva.
The 9-year-old from Ann
Arbor earned the role of Cloo-
ney's daughter in "The Ides of
March," which AnnArbor.com
says began shooting in Talia's
hometown on Monday.
Clooney stars as a candidate
running in the presidential pri-
maries.
Talia is a third-grader at Eber-
white Elementary and plays Beth
Morris, daughter of Clooney's
Mike Morris.
Clooney is both directing and
acting in the film.
For her audition, Talia says
she was asked to "play school and
pretend to sleep."
She met Clooney for the first
time on Monday.
ARLINGTON, Va.
Last WWI vet
buried in service
Frank Buckles was buried
yesterday with the pomp and
ceremony befitting the man
who outlived 4.7 million other
Americans who served in World
War I.
His flag-draped casket was
carried to his gravesite at Arling-
ton National Cemetery on a
caisson led by seven horses. A
seven-man firing party fired
three rifle volleys and a bugler
played "Taps" as hundreds of
onlookers saluted or held their
hands to their hearts.
At the end of the grave-
side service, soldiers from the
Army's vaunted "Old Guard"
folded the flag as an Army band
played "America the Beautiful."
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen.
Peter Chiarelli presented it to
Buckles' daughter, Susannah
Flanagan.
"To our comrade in arms,
Frank Woodruff Buckles, our
nation bestows military honors,"
said Lt. Col. Keith N. Croom, an
Army chaplain. "In life, he hon-
ored the flag. Now, the flag hon-
ors him."
MILAN
Last WWI vet
0 buried in service
Premier Silvio Berlusconi
paid for'sex with an under-age
Moroccan teen 13 times at his
villa near Milan, prosecutors
said in a document filed yester-
day seeking indictments against
three aides for allegedly solic-
iting prostitutes for the Italian
leader.
The seven-page document,
obtained by The Associated
Press, alleges that the sex-fueled
parties started with dinner, pro-
gressed to erotic dancing involv-
ing the premier and culminated
with Berlusconi's choice of a sex
partner, or partners.
Prosecutors have formally
closed the investigation and are
seeking indictments against the
three aides, whom they accuse
of identifying possible sex part-
ners for Berlusconi and inform-
ing them of payment and other
compensation "that they would
have received for their sexual
availability."
MEXICO CITY
Gunmen kill two
kids, woman
A convoy of gunmen chased
their target into a home in the
resort city of Acapulco and
sprayed the residence with bul-
lets yesterday, killing two small
children and an elderly woman
inside, authorities said.
Police' in Guerrero state,
where Acapulco is located, said
witnesses reported the man
tried to escape from the attack-
ers by hiding inside the house.
A woman, 60, was killed, along
with two boys ages 2 and 6,
police said in a statement.
-Compiled from
Daily wire reports
PROGRAMS
From Page 1A
from 15th to 14th, breaking the
so-called "T-14."
However, the University of
Michigan Medical School fell
in the rankings. The medical
school rankings were divided
into two categories - research
and primary care. The Uni-
versity of Michigan Medi-
cal School research ranking
dropped from 6th to loth place
while its primary care rating
fell from 14th to 20th from last
year to this year.
With an 8.5 percent accep-
tance rate, the University of
Michigan Medical School
accepts students with an aver-
age undergraduate GPA of 3.77
and an average MCAT score of
11.6.
Three different schools
took the top spots in each of
the two medical school cat-
egories. Harvard University,
the University of Pennsylvania
and Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity ranked in the top three for
research, and the University of
Washington, the University of
North Carolina-Chapel Hill
and Oregon Health and Sci-
ence University took the lead
in primary care.
The Ross School of Business
ranked 14th among full-time
MBA programs, tying with the
University of California-Los
Angeles. Stanford University
took the top spot, surpassing
Harvard University, which
shared first place with Stan-
ford last year.
All but one subspecialty -
information systems, which
ranked 17th - in the Ross
School of Business fell within
the top 11 spots.
The University's Business
School students have an aver-
age undergraduate GPA of 3.4
and an average GMAT score of
704, according to U.S. News &
World Report.
The University of Michigan
College of Engineering ranked
ninth on the list for engineer-
ing programs, with the sub-
specialty nuclear engineering
taking first place.
The University of Michi-
gan also earned a first place
spot for the School of Public
Health's Department of Health
Management and Policy.
However, the University tra-
ditionally chooses not to place
much emphasis on national
rankings.
"While University officials
are pleased that U-M consis-
tently is ranked as one of the
nation's finest universities by
U.S. News & World Report,
they also note that this type of
strict ranking of schools is not
the most accurate measure of
the quality of an institution,"
an August 2010 University
press release stated.
In an interview in August,
University spokesman Rick
Fitzgerald said rankings do not
always represent a school or
program.
"(There are) lots of other
factors that go into what makes
the best place for an individual
student to attend," Fitzgerald
said.
UHS their advocacy for the organiza-
tion by voting against any bill to
From Page 1A reduce funding that comes up in
the Senate.
many patients on Medicaid and "Both of (the senators) are
other subsidized health care pro- long time supporters of Planned
grams, according to Cooper. Parenthood," Scranton said.
"If we don't serve our patients "We would hope that they would
that have very few resources or no continue that support and vote
insurance, there's no one else that against anything that would cut
can do that ... another agency (is funds to Planned Parenthood."
not) prepared to handle that situ- Planned Parenthood has
ation on the breadth that we can received local and national sup-
do it," Cooper said in an interview port against the proposal, accord-
yesterday. ing to Cooper. She wrote in the
She added that many students e-mail that more than 769,000
also receive free health benefits people have signed an open letter
from Planned Parenthood. to Congress, which Planned Par-
"A lot of students, especially enthood posted on its website.
before the health care reform, are "People are seeing this as a
aged out of their parents health direct attack against Planned
insurance plans, or frankly, a lot Parenthood, which it is, but also
of parents don't have jobs any- a broader attack against repro-
more," Cooper said. "Students are ductive health care, (and) critical
going without health care, and health care services for people
Planned Parenthood takes stu- who need it and can't afford it,"
dents regardless if they can pay." Cooper said.
Sarah Scranton, the executive LSA junior Amanda Caldwell,
director of Planned Parenthood chair of the University's chapter
Advocates of Michigan, said U.S. of College Democrats, said she
Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) thinks if the bill passes, students
voted against the proposed cut would be affected much more
and that she hopes Senators Carl than they think, as funding to
Levin (D-Mich.) and Debbie Sta- contraceptives and other services
benow (D-Mich.) would continue would likely be eliminated.
disagreements over his policies.
SNYDER "If you don'tlike abudget, write
From Page 1A a resolution to protest his bud-
get, not a resolution to protest his
ues of students. And he does not return to his alma mater," MSA
advocate for students," Friedman Law Rep. Michael Wagner said.
said of Snyder during the debate. Wagner also cited the Univer-
Friedman added in an inter- sity's tradition of inviting gover-
view after the meeting that he nors to speak at commencement
thought the University's deci- as a reason why Snyder should
sion to have Snyder be the com- be welcomed. Former Michigan
mencement speaker could act as Govs. Jennifer Granholm, John
a catalyst to spark discussion on Engler, James Blanchard and Wil-
the governor's plans to cut state liam Milliken all spoke at Univer-
higher appropriation funding. sity commencements during their
"I'm glad we had this debate, time in the Governor's Mansion.
and I look forward to using this as "The invitation of the sitting
a future juggling point in future governor to address this uni-
debates on higher education versity is a good and impressive
funding, and how we can make achievement on the University
the best of the situation we have," of Michigan, not something we
Friedman said. should condemn," Wagner said.
MSA representatives who Nate Hamilton, an MSA ex-offi-
opposed the resolution said it cio for the University's chapter of
would be inappropriate to reject a College Republicans, echoed Wag-
commencement speaker based on ner's objections to the resolution.
"UHS will lose money if this
bill becomes law," Caldwell said,
noting that university health cen-
ters are among many community-
based health clinics that receive
funding from Title X.
"It's playing politics with wom-
en's lives," Caldwell added. "It's
funding programs for women
who have no other options for
health care who can't go any-
where else."
Proponents of the reduction
to Title X say the government
shouldn't be funding or support-
ing abortion - one of the preven-
tive health practices offered by
Planned Parenthood. However,
while Title X finances much of
Planned Parenthood, it also pro-
hibits using federal funding for
abortions.
"You see Republicans talking
on the news on how it's going to
end abortions, but that's not what
it's about," Caldwell said.
LSA junior Charles Bogren,
chair of the University's chapter
of College Republicans, did not
respond to an e-mail inquiry from
The Michigan Daily last night.
The Senate has until Friday to
pass the bill or pass a resolution to
extend the deadline until April 8.
"This resolution is politically
driven and intolerant, plain and
simple," Hamilton said at the
meeting.
MSA speakers against the reso-
lution also expressed concerns
that the suggested letter from the
assembly would alienate Snyder's
office and other Republicans in
the state Legislature and would
discourage future visits from
political leaders.
Snyder's policies weren't the
only turnoffs for some MSA mem-
bers. Social Work Rep. Allison
Horky, another co-author of the
resolution, expressed doubt about
Snyder's oratory skills.
"I think he's actually a bad
speaker, which is actually just as
legitimate a reason to not want
to listen to him for 30 minutes,"
Horky said at the meeting.
- Brandon Shaw
contributed to this report.
RESTAURANT
From Page 1A
the State Theater.
In addition to offering a
variety of Mediterranean
foods, La Marsa will have spe-
cialty dishes, like the Egyp-
tian entree koshary - a dish
Gannouni described as a mix
of rice, pasta, tomato paste,
spices, lentils and fried onions.
The restaurant will also serve
a special bread pudding called
omo ali, which contains French
bread, honey, rosewater and
mixed nuts.
"There is so much fast food
in Ann Arbor," Gannouni said.
"I want to serve (students)
fresh, quality and quantity."
Ed Davidson, who owns
the building occupied by La
Marsa, and is also the owner of
Bivouac on South State Street,
expressed his excitement that
a Michigan resident's business
is moving into the space.
"I wanted fresh food, and
the food is excellent," David-
son said, adding that he's eaten
at one the other La Marsa loca-
tions.
Cos closed its location since
it had problems paying rent,
Davidson said, adding that he
has high hopes for La Marsa.
"(State Street) has become
quite an entertainment district
in Ann Arbor," Davidson said.
"People are expecting a little
more than fast food, and now
they'll have it."
Gannouni said he hopes the
opening coincides with the
Ann Arbor Art Fair.
Workers at two Mediterra-
nean restaurants already near
campus have differing opin-
ions on the impact La Marsa's
opening will have on their
businesses.
Ali Ramlawi, owner of Jeru-
salem Garden on South Fifth
Avenue, said he doesn't think
La Marsa will affect his res-
taurant.
"I'm sure we (will) share
the same clientele sometimes,
but I don't think it'll have any
impact," Ramlawi said. "We're
a niche with a pretty strong
following."
But Christine McGinn, an
employee at Pita Kabob Grill
on East William Street, said
the addition of another Medi-
terranean restaurant will like-
ly have a negative effect on the
establishment.
"I assume having another
Mediterranean restaurant a
block away will split business,"
McGinn said.
Tom Heywood, director of
the State Street Association,
expressed optimism about La
Marsa's potential in the city.
"The more restaurants in
some ways, the better off (we
are) because there are more
choices," Heywood said. " ...
We look at them all as part of
the family."
Gannouni said he is happy to
be joining State Street and that
he is eager to contribute to the
diversity of cultures in the city.
"I want to add something
to Ann Arbor," Gannouni said.
"Ann Arbor is an international
place."
- Daily News Editor Dylan
Cinti contributed to this report.
NPR
From Page 1A
gramming. NPR does not receive
any direct federal funding, though
about 2 percent of the compa-
ny's revenue comes from grants
awarded by federal agencies.
If the bill is passed, Michi-
gan Radio stands to lose up to
$425,000 of federal funding - a
figure that represents 8 percent of
the station's yearly budget.
"($445 million) per year is a
relatively small number in the
scope of the federal budget," Steve
Chrypinski, Michigan Radio's
marketing director, said. "(But)
for some stations that would be
a really (harmful) cut. Federal
money can be up to 40 percent of
(a station's) budget."
Severely affected stations like
WNMU, which broadcasts in
Michigan's Upper Peninsula and
northeast Wisconsin, will experi-
ence the greatestfinancial distress
in the event of a funding cut. Eric
Smith, WNMU's general man-
ager, told The Los Angeles Times
in a March 11 article that the loss
of funding "would be devastating"
for the station.
Other stations in similar finan-
cial positions would be forced
to lay off many staff members as
well as decrease programming,
Chrypinski said. He added that
Michigan Radio would consider
these options to make up for lost
revenue, and the station may
increase fundraising.
"We haven't made any specific
contingency plans saying we're
going to eliminate this program or
make changes in staff," Chrypin-
ski said. "(That is) partly because
we don't know how it's going to
shake out - will that money be cut
by a percentage (or) will it go away
entirely?"
While MichiganRadio ispartof
an industry that has been shrink-
ing in recent years, Chrypinski
said the company has increased
reporters to "fill the gap" between
demands for news radio and the
dwindling supply of companies
still broadcasting.
"Aside from what NPR does
(by) providing national and inter-
national news, we do dozens of
local feature stories coveringnews
going on in Michigan," Chrypin-
ski said. "Public broadcasting is
really fillinga need that I think is
there."
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