IGNITING DEBATE _I The University's campus-wide smoking "a Ive es t 6. ban has been in effect for three months, f but the topic is still hot. E flINSIDE ~11eEllkligan 0aiIg Ann Arbor, Michigan Wednesday, October 5, 2011 POSING FOR PINK UNIVERSITY RESEARCH URC spurs Michigan economy by $15.2B ALDEN REISS/Daily Students participate insa yoga event sponsored by Victoria's Secret PINK in the Michigan League Ballroom yesterday. People who attended the free yoga class received Victoria's Secret items and had the chance to receive PINK yoga clothing through a raffle. LOCAL BUSINESSES Borders intelectl er a i b a sN acurdb Bne University Research Corridor launched 71 start-ups in last five years By RAYZA GOLDSMITH Daily StaffReporter While the state has stripped millions of dollars in funding for higher education, Michigan's three largest research institu- tions have given that amount, and more, back to the state. The University Research Cor- ridor, a consortium of the Uni- versity of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, released a report yes- terday crediting the corridor with a $15.2 billion contribution to the state's economy. The University of Michi- gan alone spent $1.24 billion on research in the 2010 fiscal year, and the 2011 Empowering Michi- gan Economic Impact Report indicates thq URC spent $1.8 bil- lion on research in the last year. Since its inception in 2006, the universities that arepart of the URC have awarded an increas- ing number of high-tech degrees and havt grown 13.3 percent from 2006 to 2010. The corridor also fostered 14 start-up companies in 2010 and has produced 71 start-up companies in the past five years. URC Executive Director Jeff Mason said the findings show the significance of the universities' collaboration. "The universities that came together five years ago to create the URC are having a significant impact on Michigan's economy and the future of our economy here in the state," Mason said. Similarly, University President Mary Sue Coleman wrote in an press release issued yesterday that the report shows how much universities can help the state. "Higher education plays an increasingly significant role in the transformation of our state, region and national economy," Coleman wrote. "This report is clear evidence of that impact." Mason said the URC allows Michiganuniversitiesto pooltheir strengths and enhance research in See URC, Page 5A Customer data transferred in $13.9 million deal By ANDREW SCHULMAN Daily StaffReporter Subscribers to newslet- ters from the defunct Borders ___ Group Inc. may still receive e-mails announcing new book releases, discounts and promo- tions. But, the sender won't be the recently closed Ann Arbor- based company. As part of a $13.9 million deal to acquire most of Borders's intellectual property, Barnes & Noble will gain Borders's website, trademarks and infor- mation database for 48 mil- lion customers. The sale was approved in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Sept. 26. The- deal came four days after discus- sions between the court's judge and a third-party ombudsman about whether the transfer of the database, which includes former Borders customers' first and last names, e-mail address- es and phone numbers, could compromise consumer privacy. Barnes & Noble earned pur- chasing rights for the intel- lectual property in a Sept. 14 auction. On Sept. 22,in one of the first hearings since the auc- tion, Judge Martin Glenn halt- ed the sale saying he believed privacy concernswould prevent federal and state regulators from approving the deal. More than 25 state attorney generals authored a letter to the case's See BORDERS, Page SA CAMPUS CRIME DPS releases annual safety report, larcenies still most frequent crime DPS chief: 2010 campus crime rates similar to past By BRANDON SHAW Daily StaffReporter Despite the recent rise in reported assaults near campus, crime data released last week indicates there was no large change in criminal activity on campus last year. The University's Depart- ment of Public Safety released the University of Michigan Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report on Friday. Previously referred to as the Campus Safety Handbook, the report con- tains crime statistics in DPS's jurisdiction - all University property - for 2010. The infor- mation is required by law to be publicly released, as outlined in the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. DPS Chief Greg O'Dell said the crime data shows noth- ing particularly different from previous years. The most reported crime during 2010 was larceny with 840 reports - an increase from 786 larce- nies in 2009. In 2008, there were 861 larcenies. In addition to the larcenies, there were 50 sexual assaults reported to the University's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center as well as 10 aggravated assaults, 27 burglaries, 391 liquor law See DPS, Page SA Children play on the public art piece created by Herbert Dreiseiti at the city of Ann Arbor Municipal Center yesterday. City unveils public . ." art piece in front of Municipal Center Structure by Municipal Center at 301 E. Huron Street yesterday, "Honk if you German artist led to love public art!" Chamberlin PNA controversy about was one of more than 150 people art funding who attended 0 the unveiling of a By ADAM RUBENFIRE public art piece in Daily StaffReporter front of the city's recently renovated Municipal Marsha Chamberlin, arts pro- Center last night. The enthusiasm fessional chair of the Ann Arbor from the crowd contrasted the Public Arts Commission, shout- previous controversy surround- ed at passing traffic outside the See ART, Page 6A Jennifer Egan discusses her latest novel during campus visit Author of 'A Visit from the Goon Squad' gives talk in Zell series By CASSIE BALFOUR Daily Community Culture Editor Yesterday's roundtable dis- cussion in the Hopwood Room found Jennifer Egan packing the room as effectively as the rockers she writes about in her latest novel, "A Visit from the Goon Squad." Egan's work has resonated with everyone, from the Mas- ter of Fine Arts students and smattering of Ann Arbor resi- dents who crowded yesterday's roundtable discussion, to even the 2011 Pulitzer Prize Board that bestowed "Goon Squad" with one of most coveted prizes in literature. The famed author was invited as part of the Zell Visiting Writers Series to make three public appearances at the University this week, culminat- ing in a lecture this afternoon at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Despite having written "Goon Squad" with a middle- aged demographic in mind, the book has a punk-rock sensibil- ity that makes it appealing for a wider audience than just par- ents and literary gatekeepers. Modern and quirky storytell- ing distinguishes the sprawling TERRBOMLNGRAFr/Daily Author Jennifer Egan reads from her novel at the University of Michigan Museum of Art on Monday. novel, and nearly every charac- her fluency in text-speak in ter is fleshed out and connected one section. Another chapter to all the others. Egan proves See EGAN, Page 6A WEATHER HI 72 TOMORROW LO: 53 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. 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