()N 6-I I )) I TWNTY-TWN YEA ( IF E I Ti VI LIII NI
Ann Arbor, Michigan Tuesday,^October 4,2011
michigandaily.com
Ask,
FACULTY GOVERNANCE
SACUA mulls
resolution on
state same-sex
benefits bill
Members support
current University
policy concerning
partner benefits
By MARY HANNAHAN
Daily Staff Reporter
The University's leading faculty gov-
ernance body is taking a stand against
the state Legislature's attempt to block
benefits for domestic partners.
In response to a bill passed by the
state House of Representatives that
would take away medical and fringe
bo efitsfrom employees' domestic part-
nes, members of the Senate Advisory
Committee for University Affairs dis-
cussed their proposed resolution in sup-
port of the University's current policy at
their meeting yesterday.
The University currently provides
health benefits to gay and lesbian cou-
ples as well as unmarried heterosexual
couples as per a University Board of
Regents bylaw. However, the Michigan
Senate is trying to pass bill 4770, which
would prohibit employers from provid-
ing medical or fringe benefits to anyone
who is not married to or a dependent of
an employee.
The resolution states that SACUA
supports the University's current ben-
efits policy, which provides benefits to
those who the University defines as a
"qualified adult." To do otherwise, the
resolution states; would hinder the Uni-
versity's efforts to acquire the best fac-
See SACUA, Page 6
Students and passersby sign a "Free Speech Board," which was displayed on the Diag yesterday as part of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform's
Genocide Awareness Project. The University's chapter of Students for Life hosted the center's exhibit on campus.
Pro-life group hosts
contentious proj ct
Center for Bio-Ethical
Reform shows graphic
images on Diag
By ADAM RUBENFIRE
Daily Staff Reporter
Large signs warned passersby
entering the Diag yesterday that
graphic images were up ahead.
The images were part of a day long
photo exhibit of the Genocide Aware-
ness Project that displayed photos
of aborted fetuses next to images of
Holocaust victims, the genocide in
Darfur and a lynching of an African
American person. The project is an
effort of the California-based Center
for Bio-Ethical Reform, and the cam-
pus organization Students for Life
reserved the space on the Diag for the
exhibit.
A truck bearing images of aborted
fetuses also circled Central Campus
throughoutthe day. In an interview on
the Diag yesterday, Darius Hardwick,
regional director for the Center for
Bio-Ethical Reform, said the exhibit
makes a relevant connection between
genocide and abortion.
"The basic comparison of the simi-
larity between abortion and (the)
Holocaust is lots of dead victims,"
.Hardwick said. "There (ore) lots of
Watch a video about ths story on
MichiganDaily.com
other comparisons - like you have to
dehumanize a victim before you can
kill them, and that was done in the
Holocaust."
The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform
brings the exhibit to different places
throughout the country, mainly to
college campuses, according to Hard-
wick.
"It is the prime demographic of peo-
ple having abortions," Hardwick said.
He added that college campuses
are also better suited for the organi-
See PROJECT, Page 6
ANN ARBOR CITY COUNCIL
Hieftje praises Fuller Road Station
progress, $2.8 million federal grant
University President Mary Sue Coleman addresses The Business of Biology class yesterday.
Coleman speaks to
BUSiness Of B10oo
As class guest lecturer,
president discusses
research experiences
* By KAITLIN WILLIAMS
Daily StaffReporter
Students in The Business of Biology
put away their laptops, sat up straighter
and listened attentively as University
Prgsident Mary Sue Coleman acted as
the professor for the day.
Coleman gave an hour-long lecture to
the class in the Michigan Room of the
Michigan League yesterday and spoke
about her career as a researcher and the
difficulties research universities face.
Colemanbeganthelecturebydescrib-
ing her experience as a researcher. She
received her undergraduate degree in
chemistry from Grinnell College in Iowa
See COLEMAN, Page 6
AATA, MDOT, Amtrak
to collaborate on
new train station
By JENNIFER LEE
Daily Staff Reporter
Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje
announced continued progress on sev-
eral rail initiatives at the City Council
meeting last night.
Hieftje said $2.8 million in fund-
ing from the federal government will
be used by the Ann Arbor Transit
Authority, the Michigan Department
of Transportation and other organiza-
tions to implement plans for the Fuller.
Road train station.
"One of the beauties
of that for Ann Arbor
and for the Fuller Road i
Station and all of our
partners - Amtrak,
AATA, MDOT - is
that the track improve-
ments that are needed for the commut-
er rail will also be going forward and
will be paid forby the federal funding,"
Hieftje said.
The Fuller Road Station initiative
has tried to bring a new train station to
the city for several years. The space is
currently a paved parking lot acrossthe
street from the Fuller Park Pool and.
Soccer Complex.
Hieftje expressed his excitement for
the rail initiative and pointed out that
there is a total of $380 million coming
into the state to improve rail systems
throughout Michigan. These funds,
he said, will guarantee the purchase of
rail between Detroit and Kalamazoo,
Mich. for improved train service.
"Everything is going forward and
looking very good for rail transit here
in Southeast Michigan and actually
across the state," Hieftje said.
He addedthatMDOT, which already
owns the trains for the commuter rail,
is looking to move forward with the
project to potentially include service
See HIEFTJE, Page 6
GREEK LIFE
Originally founded at the University, Acacia fraternity returns to campus
Fraternity left campus
in 1994 due to finances
By PHOEBE BARGHOUTY
For the Daily
After a i7-year hiatus, a fraternity
founded at the University is getting
ready to return to its birthplace.
The Interfraternity Council has
allowed Acacia Fraternity to begin
recruiting to once again establish a
chapter at the University, where it was
created in 1904. The fraternity left the
University in 1994 due to logistical and
financial reasons, according to Ben
Haddad, a leadership consultant with
Acacia, and Joe Psyk, the director - of
expansion and recruitment for the Aca-
cia Headquarters, who is working to re-
establish the campus chapter.
When the IFC - the student-run
governing body of 31 fraternities at the
University - extended an invitation to
Acacia .for fall recruitment, Psyk and
Haddad said members of the national
organization were very excited. They
said they're hoping the opportunity for
undergraduate men at the University
to become "re-founding fathers" will
attract an ample pledge class.
"We want to continue with the rich
heritage we have with the University,"
Psyk said.
Acacia's history at the University
includes helping to get the bronze 'M'
placed in the middle of the Diag. The
fraternity brothers petitioned then-
University President Harlan Hatcher
to install a new 'M' in the Diag after
the previous one was destroyed during
renovations, according to an article in
the December 1952 edition of Acacia's
newsletter.
Haddad said he hopes potential
pledges realize they could have a unique
opportunity to start a new legacy.
"You get to be a re-founding father,"
See FRATERNTIY, Page 6
WEATHER HI: 74 GOTANEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANDAILYCOM INDEX AP NEWS ................3 CLASSIIEDS ....... ..6
W T ORO L Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail Hardaway Jr. on WVooden Preseason Watch List Vol. CXXI, No. 21 . OPINION .. ..........4 NE W S ... ........6
OMORROW LO: 51 news@michigandaily.com and let us know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE GAME ©2011 The Michiean Daily A RT S.............. ............7
T17 I m~~~~~~~~~~ichieandaily.caw ......... PO T . ......
4 4