The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, December 2, 2011 - 7A
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, December 2, 2D11 - 7A
'U' entrepreneurial group
hosts 1000 Pitches summit
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Daniel Atkins presents at the Humanities, Arts, Technology Advanced Collaboratory conference in Rackham Auditorium
on Friday.
Experts discuss digital age
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ational event to the 21st century academia.
i i e iDavidson, co-founder of HAS-
draws global TAC - a nationwide network of
hnology leaders scholars committed to maximiz-
ing the potential of new technol-
ogy - spoke to the amphitheater
By ALEXANDRA of professors, activists and stu-
MONDALEK dents about the institution of
Daily StaffReporter learning and how it must change
to accommodate growth in the
erts spoke about the bur- post-industrial age.
g growth of the digital age "We have great institutions
demics in front of a crowd that do a good job of preparing us
kham Auditorium this past for the 20th century," Davidson
nd. said. "How do we rethink those
by Davidson, an English institutions for the 21st century?"
sor at Duke University, Panels and presentations at
ie first of several speakers the conference offered by a vari-
fifth annual Humanities, ety of professionals from schools
Science and Technology such as Columbia University
ced Collaboratory con- and Cornell University sought
e held Thursday through to investigate the nuances of the
lay. This year's event, titled digital age.
al Scholarly Communi- Philosophy professor Daniel
focused on improving Herwitz, professor and director
technology available to of the University's Institute for
dents and staff of research the Humanities, said the Univer-
sities, as well as adapting sityhas become asignificantplay-
er in the digital era. According to
Herwitz, this period emphasizes
the importance of student adapt-
ability to technology.
Herwitz added the three most
important qualities of students
in the digital age are "the ability
to think synergistically between
different kinds of technolo-
gies, the ability to have a critical
approach to complex social prob-
lems and the ability to negotiate
global divides."
LSA senior Paris Von
Habsburg-Lothringen, HAS-
TAC's event coordinator, said she
supports the University's efforts
at becoming a more digital com-
munity.
"Digital humanities allow peo-
ple to connect across the various
concentrations," Von Habsburg-
Lothringen said. "I see that
there's a lot of professors now
who try to integrate technology
into the classroom as a teaching
aid and a way to improve learn-
ing."
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Semi-finalists MPowered hosts in the winter
semester.
network at "People are engaged and
moving forward and meeting
[Poweredevent great mentors today," Christo-
pher said. "We're giving (the
By STEVE ZOSKI semi-finalists) the people they
Daily StaffReporter need to reach out to and learn
from so they can take the next
tdent entrepreneurs, big step."
rs of local start-ups and One of the keynote speak-
ersity professors came ers, Marc Weiser, managing
her this weekend as stu- director of RPM Ventures -
' entrepreneurial ideas in an Ann Arbor-based venture
000 Pitches competition capital company that invests
:judgment. in businesses developed in the
e participants gathered Midwest - said in his speech
he inaugural 1000 Pitch- that networking is essential for
ummit held by the stu- entrepreneurial success.
entrepreneurship group "Today is about your first
wered at TechArb, a busi- step," Weiser said. "Entrepre-
incubator on East Liberty, neurship is not a destination, it
aturday. Semi-finalists of is not a thing you become, it is a
aurth annual 1000 Pitches state of mind."
etition met and listened Weiser, an adjunct assistant
est speakers, who offered professor of entrepreneur-
e on entrepreneurial and ial programs in the College of
ing skills. Engineering, offered advice
ch fall, University stu- about networking.
submit their entre- "Don't confuse networking
urial ideas to the with notoriety," he said. "You
etition, which has 10 don't have to have everyone in
ories. Students with the the world know who you are.
pitch in each category will You just have to know every-
a $1,000 award from the body you want."
's sponsors, which include Doug Neal, managing direc-
College of Engineering's tor of the Center for Entre-
er for Entrepreneurship, preneurship, told the event's
niversity Law School and participants that competition
le, on Dec. 11. is an opportunity for students
Powered members said to become entrepreneurs while
decided to hold a summit still in school.
year because it enhances "When I was in school and
xperience for participants. there was no entrepreneurship
less sophomore Scott program, I just wanted to get
topher, a 1000 Pitches out," Neal said. "I wanted to
ct director, said the event get into the world and experi-
d bridge the gap between ence it.
submission deadline of But Neal explained that as a
18 and related events that student, he didn't have access
to the resources that University
students do to pursue his entre-
preneurial interests right away.
"The resources on our cam-
pus are incredibly valuable ..."
he said. "This and the other
programs all linked together
provide all sorts of resources.
Students can stay in school
and can achieve results while
they're here."
LSA junior Gautam Muth-
usamy, an 1000 Pitches partici-
pant at Saturday's event, said he
hoped to network to enhance
his penny stock company into
an investor relations company.
"I'm looking for the next
phase," Muthusamy said.
"That's primarily why I came
here - to network with people
and find some venture capital."
Engineering seniors Kins-
huk Rajan and Andrew Copp
collaborated to create a proto-
type of a medical testing device
that is currently beingtested by
a doctor at the University Hos-
pital.
"My idea is a simulator
that simulates a fundamental
test that doctors use to assess
dehydration and peripheral
perfusion," Rajan said. "Unfor-
tunately, it's a test that many
younger doctors are bad at
doing, soI built a simulator that
simulates the test and allows
them to practice with it."
Copp said the idea can still
be improved upon, and one rea-
son he came to the summit was
to find ways to pitch the simu-
lator better.
"One of the reasons I'm here
is to try and find better ways
to explain what exactly it is
we're doing," he said. "Even my
parents don't really get what
exactly it is I'm making."
SUGAR BOWL
From Page 1A
While there were indications
that Michigan was headed for
the Sugar Bowl, due to more to
its large fanbase than its 10-2
record, its rumored opponent
changed throughout the week-
end. Houston was the most
likely, but its loss in the Confer-
ence USA Championship Game
on Saturday left the door wide
open.
"We really didn't know,"
said senior tight end Kevin
Koger. "We kept hearing differ-
ent stuff. ...We were just going
through every scenario pos-
sible, Googling all the scenarios
as each game went on."
The final announcement was
CONFERENCE
From Page 1A
SAM in the past, it has been
increasing its role in the pro-
gram.
"Having the conference here
in Ann Arbor symbolizes our
recommitment to the Student
Association of Michigan," Wals-
er said.
This weekend's meeting drew
participants from 11 of Michi-
gan's 15 public universities. The
agenda included a wide array of
issues, including discussion on
the impact of state legislation on
students.
Gage said SAM has been
achieving tangible goals, like
aiding to defeat a bill in the
state House of Representatives
that would have cut $13 million
in funding from Wayne State
University and $18 million from
Michigan State University.
Earlier this fall, SAM started
a petition opposing the bill and
collected signatures from stu-
dent leaders at the 15 schools.
Kevin Tatulyan, vice president
of SAM and a student at Wayne
State University, also met with
state Rep. Bob Genetski (R-Sau-
gatuck), who introduced the
bill, to discuss their grievances,
according to Gage.
After the meeting, Genetski
pledged that the bill would not
a bit of a surprise. It was the
Hokies, a team the Wolverines
have never played. The two pro-
grams find themselves in simi-
lar situations. The Hokies were
blown out of the ACC Cham-
pionship Game, losing their
chance at the Orange Bowl.
But Virginia Tech fell to just
No. 11 in the BCS rankings, leav-
ing them in contention. They
weren't a popular choice, as
many fans and analysts thought
teams like Boise State or Kansas
State were more deserving.
"I think there's a lot of rea-
sons why Virginia Tech would
be an attractive team to a BCS
bowl," said Virginia Tech coach
Frank Beamer in a teleconfer-
ence last night. "The number
of years we've won 10 straight
games, I think that's another
thing, the only team to do that.
leave the committee, and while
Gage said SAM cannot take full
credit for Genetski's decision,
he emphasized the ability of the
organization to influence state
legislation.
"That's a really tangible
result," Gage said. "We may not
be able to win the cuts just yet,
but let's work on smaller, more
obtainable goals. Let's work on
keeping that bill in committee
and saving $31 million."
Tyler Helsel, a SAM spokes-
man and a student at Lake Supe-
rior State University echoed
Gage's sentiments, and said
student governments now have
more of an active relationship
with state lawmakers.
"SAM has built this bridge to
where (student governments)
can go, and we can discuss these
issues with the decision-mak-
ers," Helsel said.
Jeremy Jones, a student gov-
ernment representative from
Saginaw Valley State University
who attended the conference,
said SAM works on issues that
affect both current and future
students.
"As a future teacher, I defi-
nitely want to see my students
go on to college, and obtain
degrees and have successful
careers," Jones said. "Personally,
(because) I pay for my education
myself, it's definitely important
to me that it remains affordable
Over the years I think the Vir-
ginia Tech name has gotten to
be a very good name."
Michigan has only reached
two bowls since the 2007 loss to
USC - a 41-35 win over Florida
in the 2008 Capital One Bowl
and a 52-14 loss to Mississippi
State in last season's Gator Bowl.
As questions over whether
each team deserves to make the
trip to New Orleans begin to
fade, Michigan will move for-
ward. Hoke said the team will
have the week off "a little" bit
during finals week and a couple
of days off near the holidays.
But other than that, it's back to
work.
"That Ohio game is long
gone," Hoke said. "It's been a
while ago. So we've got to look
forward and we've got to work
forward toward the bowl game."
and that I can graduate without
a lot of debt."
During the conference, MSA
introduced aresolution to oppose
a House bill that would eliminate
benefits for domestic partners of
employees at public universities
in the state.
According to Omar Hashwi,
an LSA sophomore and MSA
representative who spoke at the
conference, 570 adults and 48
children would lose benefits due
to the new legislation.
SAM passed MSA's resolution
unanimously, and it will now be
sent to lawmakers.
Despite its mission to unite
members of student govern-
ments within the state, not every
university or college in Michi-
gan has consistently sent repre-
sentatives to the organization,
and Gage said he would like to
see increased attendance in the
future so students can work
together to combat issues like
cuts to higher education.
"Regardless of the size,
regardless of the quality of edu-
cation, we're all in this same boat
together," Gage said. "If you cut
one (budget), you cut another."
According Helsel, SAM's vis-
ibility isn't widespread around
the state, but is something they
would like to improve.
"A lot of people don't know
what SAM is and what we do,"
Helsel said.
MOTT.
From Page 1A
and about 300 volunteers, most-
ly comprised of members of the
UMHS community, contributed
to the effort. To ensure patients
were well fed and hydrated,
meals were provided from Plum
Market in Ann Arbor.
To make the move more
exciting for patients, the staff
developed a theme of traveling
on an airplane and provided
small gifts, such as backpacks,
blankets and coloring books.
Kathy Wade, director of
social work for UMHS, said the
theme was intended to create a
welcoming environment for the
hospital community.
"We really tried to address
it from babies to kids to ado-
lescents to teenagers that are
moving," Wade said. "And the
families, we've involved them
since the very beginning."
Gavin said nurses and staff
members of one intensive
care unit even made Top Gun
T-shirts to follow the theme. ing in the old building have been
"It was a way of making it fun prepping for this and waiting
for the kids and for the staff and for this," Gavin said. "Now that
of thinking about it as a jour- it's finally here, all this training
ney," Gavin said. "A very short is paying off."
journey, but a journey." Pat Warner, executive direc-
Throughout the day, updates tor of the new hospital, said
were posted on UHS's Facebook the transition went smoothly
and Twitter pages. Photos and throughout the day, adding that
postings generated comments staff members were prepared
from those connected to the for any possible interruption to
hospital, many offering memo- the move, including deliveries
ries of the hospital or thank- of babies or emergency situa-
ing hospital staff. Others wrote tions like cardiac arrests.
questions about where new "With a move like this, you
departments will be located and plan every contingency you can
how the move was progressing. think of," Warner said. "Have
Gavin said parents of past we along the way had to make
patients and future patients tweaks in the plan? Yes. But
were eager to see the develop- have there been any barriers or
ments online. things we didn't have an imme-
"They're asking questions diate solution to? No."
and commenting," Gavin said. According to Warner, there
"So this virtual community that were no emergencies, but the
is being built around Mott is day did not pass without some
also being engaged today." excitement. The first baby was
Gavin added that all the prep- born in the new hospital at
aration added to the anticipa- 8:45 a.m. yesterday, before the
tion of the opening of the new move was completed to parents
building. Yasmina Debieb and Ali Mah-
"Staff who have been work- moudi.
LIBRARY
From Page 1A
initiatives.
"The ability to join these
resources together in a help-
ful format for people to use for
research and inquiry is really
amazing," Green said.
The new library features
presentation and event spaces
with dual projectors, screens,
a whiteboard and seating for
more than 30 students. It also
includes nine workstations with
software for spatial and statisti-
cal analysis, data visualization
and a high-quality scanner.
"The librarians and resourc-
es help the process from start to
finish," Green said. "People can
find the data they need, can get
information for the way they
are collecting data and can cre-
ate an end point, with data com-
putation and presentation."
The library also has a maps
and materials viewing bar that
spans the length of the library.
Green said the bar provides
increased space for students to
conduct research and has moni-
tors that allow for simultaneous
access to maps, data and statis-
tical software.
"Where the maps were pre-
viously located, on the eighth
floor of the Hatcher Library,
the maps were difficult to
access and the viewing area was
cramped," Green said. "Now
with the assistance of a librar-
ian, several maps can be taken
out and viewed at once with the
large space on the table."
The library's namesake, Ste-
phen S. Clark - a 1974 alum of
the College of Engineering and
1976 graduate of the Ross School
of Business - said he donated to
the library because he valued
the libraries during his time at
the University. -
"I needed a quiet refuge to
study (in college) so that is how
I discovered the libraries," said
Clark, who is now president of
Dwyer Instruments, Inc. "They
saved my college career."
Margaret McKinley, director
of development for University
Libraries, worked with Clark in
deciding how to utilize his past
contributions to the library sys-
tem, which included providing
funding for increased techno-
logical resources in many of the
libraries on campus.
"I toured the libraries with
Stephen to show him all the
innovations his contribu-
tions have made," McKinley
said. "After several visits, he
expressed that he was thinking
about funding a new library so
we worked on ideas and decided
on combining the three units."
Clark said he was impressed
by the libraries' ability to adapt
to technological advances, par-
ticularly through the Google
Books Library Project - a col-
laboration with universities
around the nation to digitize
thousands of books and make
them accessible online - and
wanted to help facilitate growth
of its programs.
"I liked how the library was
adapting to change, rather than
hiding from it," Clark said.
"The library was embracing
the change, starting with the
Google Books Project. I liked
the idea of linking books and
sharing on the Internet - that's
how I knew the libraries would
be around for a while and would
be a good use of my funds."
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