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." A 4