TAKE A MICHI-GANDER COLDPLA Four Michigan teams are near the Even though the top of the hockey rankings, thankscan d,'y to in-state talent. please. o PAGE 7q 41ie 0Iidigan 0a Igj Ann Arbor, Michigan NEGOTIATIONS UMHS, nurses agree on contract Both sides have been in discussions since April By STEVE ZOSKI Daily Staff Reporter After months of negotiations, the University of Michigan Health System and the Michigan Nurses Association reached a tentative contract agreement on Friday. The MNA will meet at a date to be determined to hold a ratification vote. Katie Oppenheim, chair of the University of Michigan Profes- sional Nurse Council, said spe- cific details about the deal can't be released yet, but more details will be provided soon. "We are unanimously recom- mending ratification of this agree- ment," Oppenheim said. "That is all that we can say at this point. Once we have the first ratification meeting, we will post (the agree- ment) on our website." A UMHS spokesman declined to comment on the new contract. UMHS and the MNA have been in negotiations since April and the nurses have been working without a contract since July. The main controversy in the discussions was centered on the nurses' com- pensation and benefits. The nurses claimed that UMHS' See CONTRACT, Page 5 Tuesday, October 25, 2011 michigandailycom YELLO? FACULTY GOVERNANCE SACUA argues for same -sex benefits Faculty also tutional autonomy of universi- ties in the state of Michigan," supports updates Scarnecchia said. The University's current to recreational benefit policy under the bylaws includes health benefits for facilities homosexual as well as unmar- ried heterosexual couples. By MARY HANNAHAN Earlier this month, some Daily StaffReporter SACUA members questioned whether the University should As the state threatens to take be involved in the state issue away domestic partner benefits because it operates according for employees, the University is to its own bylaws. At the time, claiming their independence. SACUA Chair Kate Barald said Suellyn Scarnecchia, vice she believed the University president and general counsel, needed to be involved because spoke before the Senate Advi- of the law's widespread impact sory Committee on University on other institutions. Affairs yesterday, stressing the At yesterday's meeting, Ed importance of domestic part- Rothman, SACUA member and ner benefits for employees. She professor of statistics, raised said if the state passed legisla- concern that this course of tion requiring the University action would potentially putthe to revoke benefits for domestic University's autonomy at risk. partners, the University would Scarnecchia acknowledged his stand by its current constitu- unease, and said constitutional tional independence ard disre- self-government cases are risky gard the legislation. because the court may poten- "We would argue that the tially rule against the University Legislature cannot tell the uni- and create limits on its power to versities what kind of benefits make its own decisions. to offer its employees, and this "Any time we go into court would be based on a long line of and argue that we should be cases that recognize the consti- See SAME-SEX. Page S School of Music, Theater & Dance junior Jordan Harris and Prof. of Music Stephen Rash, the creator of the "Gypsy Pond Music 13" exhibit, dial a music-producing telephone in frost of the Moore Buildingyesterday. ANN ARBOR CITY COUNC Council supports street crossing i-mprove-ments Members approve resolution for increased safety By JENNIFER LEE Daily StaffReporter In order to make the city's streets safer for pedestrians, Ann Arbor City Council mem- bers voiced their support to explore new ways to improve crosswalks during last night's council meeting. Council members unan- imously voted p to approve a resolution to permit city staff to research improve- ments for the pedestrian street crossing at the intersection of Washtenaw Avenue and Plym- outh Road. The staff plans to report back to council with their recommendations in late fall and further the discussion in a meeting on Dec. 12. During the meeting, City Council member Carsten Hohnke (D-Ward 5) said pedes- trian safety is an initiative that will always be.a priority for the City Council. "We are continuously engaged in trying to find new ways to improve all of the E's: See STREET, Page 6 INSIDE THE MUSIC Michigan fans receive 'Heartsaver Hero' awards TERRA MOLENGRAFF/Daily School of Music, Theatre & Dance senior Justin Aftab performs his piano and vocal piece "Landscape 4:54" yesterday. CAMPUS CLUBS Definition of life debated by Students for Life, Secular Student Alliance Two celebrated for saving Notre Dame fan's life at game By HALEY GOLDBERG Daily Staff Reporter While fans became con- sumed by the seconds ticking away in the final minutes of the Michigan versus Notre Dame football game on Sept. 10, Leo Staudacher, a Notre Dame fan, was thankful for another ticking - the beating of his heart. Staudacher, who suffered a heart attack at the beginning of the second quarter, left the Big House still alive, thanks to Michigan fans Dr. Marvin Sonne, a dentist from Trenton, Mich. and a School of Dentistry alum, and Jan Tardiff, a regis- tered nurse from Bay City, Mich. who performed CPR on Stau- dacher. The two were presented with "Heartsaver Hero" awards at the American Heart Associa- tion's Washtenaw County Heart Ball this past Saturday. Dr. Al Dodds, chair of the ball and cardiologist for Michigan Heart at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, awarded Sonne Groups to address Diag that spurred controversy across campus, murmurs of more abortion the issue were heard again at a debate last night. issues in future In the Kuenzel Room of the Michigan Union, members of By KATIE BURKE the Secular Student Alliance For the Daily and Students for Life gathered to discuss the 1973 Supreme Three weeks after the Cen- Court ruling Roe v. Wade - ter for Bio-Ethical reform held which defined abortion as legal a pro-life presentation on the until a fetus is "viable" - in an event hosted by the Michigan Political Union. The question of the defi- nition of life was repeatedly contested on both sides. While the Secular Student Alliance argued that life is a continu- ous process with no definitive beginning, Students for Life countered with the idea that life begins at conception. See DEBATE, Page 6 MCKENZIE BERZERIN/Da Dr. Marvin Sonne receives an award for saving the life of Leo Staudacher at the Michigan v. Notre Dame game on Sept.10. and Tardiff for their ability to effectively apply their CPR training to save Staudacher's life. "They were able to prevent brain injury damage because of lack of oxygen by getting in and quickly starting CPR," Dodds said. "He was saved. It was very fortunate to have people right there who knew CPR." Staudacher, a 69 year old from Bay City, said he was enjoy- ing the Notre Dame game with his three sons until the second See HERO, Page5 T H GOT A NEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANDAILYCOM WTMOERO H: 54 Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail Spotted: Hunting trip prep TOMORROW LO: 41 news@michigandaily.com and let us know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/FASHION INDEX AP NEWS......... Vol. CXX11,No.34 OPINION.......... 0201 The Michigan Daily N EWS................. michigondaily.com ............3 CLASSIFIEDS .... 6.........6 . 4 SPO RTS ........................7 ............5 ARTS......... .......8 A