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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, November 18, 2011
~michigandaily.com
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS FALL 2011
BOARD OF REGENTS
East Quad,
Baits II
renovations
approved
LSA freshman Angela Jung, the newly elected LSA representative on the Michigan Student Assembly, celebrates at the MForward watch party last night.
MForward candidates sweep
student government election
Five incumbents,
five new students
elected to LSA-SG
By ALYSSA ADLER
and GIACOMO BOLOGNA
Daily StaffReporter
Boisterous cheers erupted
from members of the MForward
during their watch party last
night upon members hearing
that all eight of their candidates
had been elected representatives
in Michigan Student Assembly.
Of the 22 open seats in this
week's elections, eight were
filled by MForward, four by
independents and 10 by write-in
candidates, according to Rack-
ham and Law student Timothy
Bekkers, MSA election director.
LSA junior Sean Walser,
MForward chair, said the elec-
tion of all the party's candidates
is representative of the student
body's desire to see more ini-
tiatives that reflect students'
needs and desires. He noted
MForward's past successful
initiatives, including the imple-
mentation of Saturday night din-
ing in the residence halls and the
Open Housing Initiative, which
pushes for gender-neutral hous-
ing at the University.
"We see this as a great accom-
plishment ..." Wasler said.
"Students are supporting us
consistently in each election."
Ten of the 22 seats were for
Rackham Graduate School,
three for the College of Engi-
neering and one seat each for
LSA, School of Information,
School of Art & Design, Den-
tistry School, School of Medi-
cine, College of Pharmacy and
the School of Social Work. LSA
sophomore Lucy Zhao, a mem-
ber of MForward, was elected
to the one open seat on the Uni-
versity's Department of Public
Safety Oversight Committee.
Six students as well as write-in
candidates ran for the position.
Three schools - the School
of Natural Resources and the
Environment, Medical School
and School of Social Work -
failed to elect any representa-
tives in the March election.
Rackham Graduate School only
elected write-in candidates and
all 10 of Rackham's representa-
tives either resigned or were
removed for absences. Until two
weeks ago, not a single repre-
sentative had attended an MSA
meeting.
While two members of Rack-
ham student government have
attended the last two MSA meet-
ings, they were not on the ballot.
Rackham, which had vacancies
in all 10 of its representative
seats, only had one candidate on
the ballot last night - Patrick
O'Mahen, who is not affiliated
with MForward but is a mem-
ber of the Graduate Employees'
Organization.
O'Mahen, a former Michi-
gan Daily columnist, wrote in
an e-mail interview that he is
See MFORWARD, Page 3
Regents criticize-
state plan to fund
higher education
By KAITLIN WILLIAMS
Daily Staff eporter
Several Univers y regents
raised questions abouthe Uni-
versity's long-term 'housing
strategy at their monthly meet-
ing yesterday.
The questioning came after
the regents unanimously
approved renovations to East
Quad and Baits II Residence
Halls. The Board of Regents also
tackled issues concerning the
state budget and addressed the
ongoing scandal at Pennsylvania
State University.
E. Royster Harper, the Uni-
versity's vice president for stu-
dent affairs, said at yesterday's
meeting that the East Quad and
Baits II projects aim to improve
student residential living stan-
dards on a short-term scale. But
Regent Andrea Fischer New-
man (R-Ann Arbor) said she'd
like University Housing to focus
more on the "bigger picture" of
improvements.
"As good of a job as we've
done, I think the North Quad
experience has had an impact on
all of us," said Newman, praising
the new residential-academic
complex.
Newman asked Harper how
University Housing will deal
with the decreased bed space
for students next year since East
Quad and Baits II will be out of
commission. Baits Iis also clos-
ing at the end of this academic
year due tosub-standard boilers
and fire safety system.
The East Quad and Baits II
renovations, both of which will
be completed in summer 2013,
could displace 150 to 300 return-
ing residents during the next
school year, according to Harper.
University President Mary
Sue Coleman said Northwood II
and Northwood III Apartments
will house for some displaced
students. Additionally, the
reopening of Alice Lloyd Resi-
dence Hall, which is closed this
year for renovations, will help
with the accommodation.
University Regent Laurence
Deitch (D-Bingham Farms)
said he disagrees with using the
Northwood apartments as space
for students since the space is
primarily meant for families.
"We need to focus on building
more facilities like North Quad,
or a public-private partnership,"
Deitch said.
Harper added that Univer-
sity Housing will come up with
a "master plan" for on-campus
housing by this spring and pres-
ent the first installment of it to
the regents soon.
University Housing's long-
term goals include improving
See REGENTS, Page S
/ CAMPUS COMMUNITY
t Armstrong starts scholarship
at'U'for victims of bullying
ADAM SCHNITZER/Daily
A Spectrum Center member leads a tour around the Pride (Not Prejudice) Exhibit in the Michigan Union yesterday.
Broadway stars honor Spectrum
Spectrum Center at Rackham Auditorium. Linda Goodrich, will showcase
The center - a resource for performances by Broadway
celebrates 40th students with questions about talents such as David Burtka
gender identity, gender expres- ("Gypsy"), Celia Keenan-Bolg-
anniversary with sion and sexual orientation er ("The 25th Annual Putnam
- is commemorating its 40th County Spelling Bee"), Gavin
Pink Carpet Gala anniversary this weekend with Creel ("Hair") and Laura Karp-
tailgates, campus tours and a man, an Emmy Award-winning
By ARIELLE SPECINER special tribute concert tonight composer and MT&D alum,
Daily Arts Writer called "Broadway Comes who is writing a piece for the
Home" Pink Carpet Gala Event. show.
The Spectrum Center is pull- The event, directed by School Creel, a two-time Tony nomi-
ing out the pink carpet tonight of Music, Theatre & Dance Prof. See SPECTRUM, Page S
Shirvell also files far better place to be who you
are and to express everything
motion to have you wanttobe able to express."
When Armstrong was MSA
Gordon removed president last year, Andrew
Shirvell, who was serving as
from case an assistant attorney general
for the state of Michigan at the
By PAIGE PEARCY time, wrote about Armstrong
Daily StaffReporter on his blog, Chris Armstrong
Watch. Shirvell criticized Arm-
Former Michigan Student strong for pushing a "radical
Assembly President Chris Arm- homosexual agenda."
strong released a YouTube Shirvell was fired last
video Wednesday announcing November for reasons related
a scholarship for University to his actions toward Arm-
students who have experienced strong. Shirvell responded to
bullying. Armstrong's video yesterday
In the video promoting the and wrote in a press release
scholarship, Armstrong said his that it is "defamatory."
personal experiences inspired "The public protests that I
him and his parents to create engaged in during 2010, as well
the scholarship. as my former blog, are pro-
"Going to Michigan showed tected by the First Amendment
me how it can get better ..." of the United States Constitu-
Armstrong said in the video. tion," Shirvell wrote. "There
"This is a scholarship for any- was no 'bullying' and no stalk-
one who's experienced bully- ing."
ing or other adversity and gives Shirvell also wrote in the
them the opportunity to come press release that he filed a
the University of Michigan - a motion seeking to prevent
Deborah Gordon, Armstrong's
attorney, from acting as Arm-
strong's lawyer.
"Deborah Gordon has a
severe conflict of interest and
cannot continue to represent
Chris Armstrong in Armstrong
v. Shirvell, asa result of the new
lawsuit that I have filed against
Gordon (Shirvell v. Gordon),"
Shirvell wrote.
Shirvell claims Gordon
influenced Mike Ondejko -
the investigator for his case -
by attempting to get him fired
from his position in the Attor-
ney General's office and intimi-
dating him.
"Ms. Gordon used her prior
relationship with the investiga-
tor Mike Ondejko to basically ...
get me fired," Shirvell said in
an interview with The Michi-
gan Daily last month.
Gordon and Armstrong have
filed grievances with the state.
Armstrong initially filed a civil
suit against Shirvell in April -
intending for Shirvell to retract
the statements made against
See SCHOLARSHIP, Page S
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