I REGIONAL RUMBLE Michigan takes on the balanced * Nebraska-Omaha team in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. * PAGE 8 ~1ie id~iari ai0j ) Ii I I I"N "'' 1' \l1$OP LI)I'1'OHI Xl I-BLEI))7\I 0 Ann Arbor, Michigan Friday, March 25, 2011 michigandaily.com STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS Uncontested Larkin and Laverty take LSA-SG seats LSA voter turnout yields 16 percent, increases from last semester By RACHEL BRUSSTAR Daily StaffReporter After staying up late last night to wait for the results of the LSA Student Government elections, LSA juniors Anne Laverty and Jeff Larkin expressed their ela- tion and eagerness to get started in their new executive positions. In anuncontested race, Laverty and Larkin received 1575 votes - 1640 including exception ballots - according to unofficial results for the LSA-SG spots of president and vice president, respectively. Official elections results are expected to be released today. In an interview yesterday eve- ning, Laverty said she is looking forward to leading the governing body along with Larkin. "Jeff and I are really excited for this opportunity to imple- ment some of our new ideas and give attention to ideas that have beenbroughtup formerlyinother administrations of student gov- TYPE-IN VOTES Our favorite write-in candidates for MSA president and vice president Karlos Marks Mickey Mouse Lady Gaga Charlie Sheen ernment and really bring them actively to campus," Laverty said yesterday evening. Larkin echoed Laverty's ear- nest outlook on the potential of LSA-SG in the upcoming year. "I can't wait to get to work and help Anne in whatever kind of capacity that she needs and what- ever kind ofcapacity government needs meas a whole," Larkin said. In an interview earlier this week, Laverty and Larkin said they think hearing students' opinions and channeling them into LSA-SG is important for the government to make changes its constituents will be content with. "Right now student govern- ment is just not very reflective of the constituents we represent..." Laverty said at the time. "And I feel that that needs to be changed, and in previous administrations thathasn'tbeen addressed." See LSA-SG, Page 3 cHRIS RYBA/Daily Newly elected Michigan Student Assembly Vice President Brendan Campbell (left) and MSA President DeAndree Watson (right) celebrate atan MForward results party after hearing they won the top student government positions early this morning. MForward to govern MSA for a second year Watson, Campbell early this morning. Watson and Campbell, both elected president LSA juniors, defeated LSA freshman Briana Hatcher and and vice president LSA sophomore Lena Cintron of the Defend Affirmative Action By ROBIN VEECK Party. The voting numbers were Daily StaffReporter unavailable as of 2:45 a.m. last night. MForward candidates DeAn- Watson and Campbell's presi- dree Watson and Brendan dential campaign emphasized Campbell were elected the next MSA's potential for more stu- Michigan Student Assembly dent advocacy and the candi- president and vice president dates' hope to increase interest in MSA among the student body. Interviewed after results came in early this morning, Watson - who currently serves as MSA's speaker - said he is excited to take the top position. "I want everyone to know that I'm extremely honored to know that so many students have entrusted me with the responsibilities of president," Watson said. "They can expect great things from this adminis- tration." According to unofficial elec- tion results, this year's turnout was 11 percent. While the turn- out dropped from last year's 14 percent, Watson said he is happy with the number. "I'm at least excited that over 10 percent of the student body decided to vote in this election, especially considering that it wasn't the most contested," Watson said. MSA Election Director See MFORWARD, Page 3 ' UNIVERSITY ACADEMICS 1000 Voices lobbies LSA for entrepreneur classes MPowered petition reaches goal of 1,000 signatures By JENNIFER LEE Daily StaffReporter Their aim was to get 1,000 signatures. And as of this morn- ing, members of the 1000 Voices project surpassed their goal by five votes. Launched by student group MPowered, the 1000 Voices project is a petition focusing on expanding student entre- preneurship beyond the walls of the Ross School of Business and College of Engineering. The campaign's goal is to get LSA to offer entrepreneurial classes and other resources for students to implement their own innovative ideas. Many LSA students have expressed a desire to have the option of taking such classes, said LSA junior Ankit Mehta, the president of MPowered, a group that focuses on entrepreneurship and student ventures. He added the purpose of 1000 Voices isn't necessarily to incite students to start their own businesses, but to engender an entrepreneurial mindset into LSA classrooms. "Entrepreneurship is not just a popular subject, it's also a driv- ing force of the world," he said. To spark this entrepreneur- ial energy in LSA, 1000 Voices is advocating for courses about See LSA, Page S tINSKIRKLAND/Daily LSA junior Jack Chism, a Pi Kappa Phi member, feeds fraternity member LSA sophomore Salman Ahsan, who was blindfolded and had his hands bound during a dinner that helped members experience what it is like to have disabili- ties. The event was hosted by the fraternity in Tishman Hall last night. Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers host disability awareness dinner UNIVERSITY RESEARCH 'U' study unexpectedly finds brain contains more plasticity Group raises funds for A2 Center for Independent Living By GIACOMO BOLOGNA Daily StaffReporter About 60 Pi Kappa Phi brothers took measures to experience what it would be like to be blind or deaf at a din- ner last night to promote dis- ability awareness. As the fraternity brothers ate dinner, almost every mem- ber at the table either wore ear- plugs, had their hands bound or was blindfolded. This was meant to simulate the everyday challenges people with disabil- ities face. The University's chapter of the fraternity hosted the Empathy Dinner on North Campus for individuals with disabilities and presented the Circle of Life Grant - totaling $580 - to the Ann Arbor Cen- ter for Independent Living. The dinner featured speak- ers from the Cornerstone- Wolcott Center - a non-profit organization based in Davison, Mich. dedicated to aiding indi- viduals with disabilities - and the Ann Arbor Center for Inde- pendent Living - a community center at 3103 Homestead Com- mons Drive that provides edu- See FRATERNITY, Page 3 Researchers But in a recently released study that examined how the brain examine neuron changes as people learn, research- ers found that cells can change role in memory their behavior. The collaborative study between By PATRICIA SNIDER two University laboratories also Daily StaffReporter found that the brain contains more synaptic plasticity - the ability Prior to a new University study, to undergo change that promotes scientists didn't believe that a cell learning and memory - than pre- could change its behavior. viously believed, according to a March 18 University of Michigan Health System press release. Geoffrey Murphy, lab direc- tor and an associate professor of molecular and integrative physiol- ogy, described the surprising cell behavior discovered in the study. "For example, if you're waiting for someone to show up, you modify your behavior," Murphy said. "For us, as an organism, that's pretty See STUDY, Page 5 WEATHER HI: 33 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail TOMORROW LO:20 news@michigandaily.com and letus know. NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Zell Writers Series welcomes LSA professors MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE WIRE INDEX AP NEW S ....................2 NEW S ...........................5 Vol. CXXINo.117 SUDOKU.......................3 ARTS...................., ..6 ©201tTheMichiganDaily OPINION......................4 SPORTS . . . michigondaily.com"""""""8 A? A