46P.. 4 p y+ i ii k i i #i 'S( j! i l y Ann Arbor, Michigan Wednesday, October 12, 2011 michigandaily.com STATE REGULATIONS 'U'educates community on state neonatal blood bank Blood samples from babies in Michigan used for research without consent By PAIGE PEARCY Daily StaffReporter If you were born at a hos- pital in Michigan after 1984, your blood is probably stored in Detroit and used for research. But most Michigan-born resi- dents don't know this. Since 1984, blood samples of nearly every baby born in Michigan were collected and saved and now sit in Wayne State University's Tech Town warehouse in Detroit as part of the Neonatal BioTrust. In 2009, lawmakers decided to allow the 4 million-plus sam- ples to be used in research without requiring consent from individuals. Life Sciences and Society, a program in the University's School of Public Health, held a town hall meeting last week to inform students and Michigan residents about the bank and to help them make a decision about the future of their blood. The town hall meeting was one of several that have taken place throughout the state during the year. Sharon Kardia, director of LSS and chair of the Depart- ment of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health, one of the leaders of the town hall meetings, said many people are surprised to find out about the blood bank. "(They) had no idea that their blood spots or their kids' blood spots were in this bio- bank," Kardia said. "The next piece after the surprise is usu- ally (a kind)of concern: 'Well what else do they have, why wasn't I told and when are they goingto ask?"' It is estimated that 20,000 University students have their blood in the BioTrust, accord- ing to an LSS press release. The program seeks to inform stu- dents that they can sign a con- sent document or ask that their blood not be used. Kardia said researchers want the public to give consent and use samples from people who give consent so that good relationships are maintained between the research and pub- lic communities. "Consent is such a funda- mental part of good research See BLOOD BANK, Page 6A MARLENE LACASSE/Daily FROM LEFT: University President Mary Sue Coleman, Residence Hall Association President Haley Prasad, E. Royster Harper, the University's vice president for student affairs; and University Housing Director Linda Newman, cut a ribbon at a ceremony yesterday celebrating the opening of newly renovated Couzens Residence Hall. Couzens renovations laude",..d at dedication Residence hall now has wireless Internet, air conditioning By RAYZA GOLDSMITH Daily StaffReporter Equipped with wireless Inter- net, air conditioning, a game room and a kitchen for student use, the updated Couzens Resi- dence Hall is far from the build- ing it was when it originally opened in 1925. Faculty, staff and alumni joined University President Mary Sue Coleman yesterday at a dedi- cation ceremony for the renovat- ed hall, which is home to about 525 students. Couzens reopened at the beginning of the semester after undergoing a massive inte- rior renovation. The $49 million reconstruction, which is part of a larger University undertak- ing to improve residence halls, required Couzens to close during the 2010-2011 school year. Coleman said she is happy with the outcome of the building, especially its aesthetics. "It is better thantI ever thought it would be," Coleman said in an interview after the event. "The creativity that's gone into repo- sitioning the spaces and making everything just absolutely gor- geous ... I mean, I couldn't have even imagined it (turning out) this good, so I'm thrilled." In addition to the amenities like wireless Internet and con- trollable air-conditioningin indi- vidual rooms, Couzens also now has a number of tools for group study, music practice rooms and new audio and video equipment available for students. The build- ing is also home to the Residence Hall Association's offices and Couzens Active Minority Eth- nic Organization multicultural lounge. During the past few years, the University's Residential See COUZENS, Page 6A $NTHE NEWS Ann Arbor favorites featured in . .1NYT travel article '36 Hours' Angelo's, Big were already there. sity and lives in Ann Arbor. For its Travel section story last "I think Ann Arbor is a fantas- House, Zingerman's week, the Times highlighted Ann tic place," Conlin said in an inter- Arbor culture and profiled a vari- view the The Michigan Daily. highlighted in story ety of local res- "It's such a great place to come taurants, shops, NN AiP and visit." By GIACOMO BOLOGNA museums and $ Conlin also wrote a different Daily StaffReporter the unique col- _ "36 Hours in Ann Arbor" piece for lege atmosphere the Times in 2002. She said one of Every week The New York that travelers the reasons the Times decided to Times takes readers to interest- can enjoy on a update its travel coverage of Ann ing cities through its "36 Hours" 36-hour trip. Arbor was because of the recent travel feature. But Ann Arbor The author of the article and a renovations to Michigan Stadi- readers who picked up the Sun- Times contributor, Jennifer Con- um. day edition this week found they lin, graduated from the Univer- See NYT, Page 6A MICHIGAN STUDENT ASSEMBLY GEO asks MSA to support graduate student research assistants union Christmas decorations on display at This & That candy store on East Liberty Street yesterday. This & That candy store to close by the end of Nov. Owner cites panhandling as factor in closure By HALEY GOLDBERG Daily StaffReporter Candy lovers are filling their pockets with the remaining chocolates, gummies and suck- ers before This & That candy store closes next month. Andrea Graef, owner of This & That, said she is closing the East Liberty Street business - which opened in July 2010 - by the end of November due to lack of patronage, corporate competition and a rise in pan- handling and crime in the area. Graef said the competition from nearby businesses such as CVS, 7-Eleven and the Tower Mini Mart on Maynard Street, as well as the Borders closure last month, contributed to her deci- sion to shut down her store. "The area has made a dras- tic change from when I first wanted to be down here," she said. "It seems that the area has become kind of depressed." Like Graef, other business owners and operators in the area have recognized panhan- dling in the area as an issue See THIS & THAT, Page 6A President of GEO speaks on divisive issue at meeting By CLAIRE HALL and HOLLY TAYLOR Daily StaffReporter, For the Daily After getting the cold shoul- der from the state, the Gradu- ate Employees Organization is now turning to the University's student government for support on a controversial unionization issue. GEO asked the Michigan Student Assembly's legisla- tive branch last night to con- sider a resolution supporting the unionization of graduate student research assistants - a request that was recently denied by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. GEO President Saman- tha Montgomery spoke at last night's MSA meeting and explained the issue at hand. While the University's Board of Regents voted in favor of allow- ing GSRAs to unionize, Univer- sity administrators - including University President Mary Sue Coleman - disagree with the move. Coleman expressed her view See MSA, Page 3A WEATHER HI: 67 TOMORROW LO:53 GOT A NEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail Hunwick named CCHA Goaltender of the Week news@michigandaily.com and letus know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE GAME INDEX AP NEWS ................ Vol. CXXII,No.27 OPINION........... ...... 02011 The Michigan Daily A RT S................... michigandoily.com .3A . NEWS.. ..A...........6A .4A SPORTS ....................7A .5A THE STATEMENT.... t...1B 64 4M