()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