2A - Thursday, January 19, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 2A - Thursday, January19, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom WHO'S ON FIRST? (The 1*idpgan aitm 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com JOSEPH LICHTERMAN ZACHARY YANCER Editor in Chief Business Manager 734-418-4115 ext. 1252 734-418-4115 ext. 1241 lichterman@michigandaily.com zyancer@michigandaily.com Keeping up with culture What is the value for stu- dents to learn about American culture? It provides students with a sense of the variety of the cultur- al conflicts that have been pres- ent throughout American history. There is not a singular American culture, but a framework of gov- ernment that helps to sustain a sense of unity in the face of diversity. Students read a variety of opinions and study important court cases that shine light on the culture of a particular period. What classes are you teaching? I am currently teachingAmeri- can Culture 100. 1 am director of the Program in American Cul- ture, and I was the director of the Native American Studies Pro- gram from 2002 to 2005. I have taught Native American history, U.S. History 260 and graduate courses about frontier history and historical research methods. What advice do you have for students wishing to pursue a degree in American Culture? It's important to develop writ- ing and critical thinking skills. The American Culture Program emphasizes ethnic and racial diversity, and it is one of the most diverse units at the University in terms of the faculty and students. This program is comprised of a CRIME NOTES Big House blunder WHERE: Michigan Stadium WHEN: Tuesday at about 10:45 p.m. WHAT: A University vehicle pummeled into an entrance gate, University Police reported. Though the gate was damaged, no inju- ries were reported. CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES Tooth trouble A morning with PhilanthroFest WHERE: School of Den- Dr. motown tistry WHEN: Tuesday at about 1:45 p.m. WHAT: A male patient with a gun permit brought a handgun into the building's lobby, University Police reported. His gun was taken and charges are pend- ing review. Lock be a No more moped .o tonig laptop tonight WHAT: Charles Sykes, an Indiana University Motown scholar, will discuss the his- tory of the famed Detroit recording company. WHO: University Health Service WHEN: Today at 8 a.m. WHERE: Mendelssohn Theatre Knit your way to zen WHAT: A workshop for beginner knitters who want to learn or share skills and develop a sense of commu- nity. The seminar is devoted to health and wellness. WHO: Counseling and Psy- chological Serivces WHEN: Today at3 p.m. WHERE: The Michigan Union, room 3100 WHAT: Campus service groups will be available to discuss their organiza- tions and how to join. Free water bottles will be given to participants if they make origami for a boy with Leu- kemia. WHO: LSA Student Govern- ment and Alpha Phi Omega WHEN: Today at 4 p.m. WHERE: The Michigan Union Step show WHAT: Step Afrika!, a pro- fessional stepping company, will perform. Tickets are free of charge WHO: School of Music, Theatre & Dance WHEN: Tonight at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Mendelssohn Theatre CORRECTIONS . Please report any error in the Daily to correc- tions@michigandaily.com. traditional humanities mission, since the study of American cul- ture evolved out of combined his- tory and literature studies in the 1950s, but also has a strong popu- lar culture dimension. What is your favorite thing about the University? (The University) does better interdisciplinary work than any place I've been. There are a lot of cross-listed courses that can reach a wide range of students. I like the bigness of the University. It's a great research university, and the professors take teaching seriously. - ROBBIE AUSTIN T H R T H INGS YOU Grant Korgan, a man who was paralyzed from the waist down after a snow- mobiling accident in 2010, reached the South Pole after a two week, 75 mile trip, The Associated Press reported. Korgan traveled using a "sit- ski" device. Are comic books high art or low art? Can graphic novels even be considered books? Academ- ics and fans of the pictured media discuss both sides to the debate. , FOR MORE, SEETHE B-SIDE, INSIDE An upcoming episode of the popular ABC show Modern Fami- lyfeatures a child using an explitive, The Associated Press reported. The No Cuss- ing Club is lobbying ABC to pull the episode. 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Newsroom 34-418-4os npt.3 Corrections corrections@michigandaily.com Arts Section arts@michigandaily.com Sports Section sports@michigandaily.com Display Sales display@michigandaily.com Online Sales onlineads@michigandaily.com News Tips news@omichigandaily.com Letterstothe Editor tothedaily@michigandaily.com Ediforial Pate opinion@michigandaily.com Photography Section photo@michigandaily.com Classified Sales classified@michigandaily.com Finance finance@michigandaily.com 0 0 WHERE: North University Parking Lot WHEN: Tuesday at about 11:40 a.m. WHAT: A moped was removed from the lot after several weeks of aban- donment and attempts at contacting the male owner, University Police reported. WHERE: University Hos- pital WHEN: Tuesday at about 10:40 a.m. WHAT: A $1,000 laptop was stolen from a locked room, University Police reported. No suspects have been identified. *I Obama rejects p Keystone XL pip Boehner, GOP review before a looming dead- line forced on him by Republi- critical of president's cans. His move did not kill the project but could again delay a decision tough choice for him until after the November elections. WASHINGTON (AP) - In a Right away, the implica- politically explosive decision, tions rippled across the politi- President Barack Obama reject- cal spectrum, stirred up the ed plans yesterday for a massive presidential campaign and even oil pipeline through the heart of hardened feelings with Canada, the United States, ruling there a trusted U.S. ally and neighbor. was not enough time for a fair For a U.S. electorate eager for lan for )eline work, the pipeline has become the very symbol of job creation for Republicans, but Obama says the environment and pub- lit safety must still be weighed too. The plan by Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. would carry tar sands oil from western Can- ada across a 1,700-mile pipeline across six U.S. states to Texas refineries. Obama was already on record as saying no, for now, until his government could review an alternative route that avoided environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska - a route that still has not been proposed, as the White House emphasizes. But Obama had to take a stand again by Feb. 21 at the latest as part of an unrelated tax deal he cut with Republicans. This time, the project would go forward unless Obama himself declared it was not in the national interest. The president did just that, reviv- ing intense reaction. "This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that pre- vented the State Department from gathering the informa- tion necessary to approve the project and protect the Amer- ican people," Obama said in a written statement. "I'm dis- appointed that Republicans in Congress forced this deci- sion." Republicans responded unsparingly. "President Obama is destroying tens of thousands of American jobs and ship- ping American energy secu- rity to the Chinese. There's really just no other way to put it. The president is selling out American jobs for politics," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said. Insisting that the pipeline would help the econ- omy, he declared: "This is not the end of the fight," signal- ing that Republicans might try again to force a decision. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov walks to speak ata news conference in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. Lavrov says Moscow will not follow its World Trade Organizations' commitments with the U.S. unless it scraps a Cold War trade law. Russia threatens to block U.N. plans to use force against Syria p.-, Foreign minister: No justification for interference by foreign military MOSCOW (AP) - Russia will block any attempt by the West to secure U.N. support for the use of force against Syria, Russia's foreign minister said yesterday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lav- rov said Russia's draft of a U.N. Security Council resolution on the violence in Syria that cir- culated Monday was aimed at making it explicitly clear that nothing could justify a foreign military interference. Western diplomats said it fell short of their demand for strong con- demnation of Syria's President Bashar Assad's crackdown on civilians, that has left more than 5,000 people dead. The Security Council has been unable to agree on a reso- lution since the violence began in March because a strong opposition from Russia and China. In October, they vetoed a West European draft resolu- tion, backed by the U.S., that condemned Assad's attacks and threatened sanctions. Lavrov said Russia would reject any attempts at securing a U.N. sanction for a military interference in Syrian affairs. "If some intend to use force at all cost ... we can hardly pre- vent that from happening," he said. "But let them do it at their own initiative on their own conscience, they won't get any authorization from the U.N. Security Council." Lavrov also said that Russia doesn't consider it necessary to offer an explanation or excuses over suspicions that a Russian ship had delivered munitions to Syria despite an EU arms embargo. Lavrov told a news confer- ence that Russia was acting in full respect of the international law and wouldn't be guided by unilateral sanctions imposed by other nations. "We haven't violated any international agreements or the U.N. Security Council reso- lutions," he said. "We are only trading with Syria in items, which aren't banned by the international law." Lavrov accused the West of turning a blind eye to attacks by opposition militants and sup- plies of weapons to the Syrian opposition from abroad. "They are dodging the main question - why we should keep silent about the extremist oppo- sition's actions against admin- istrative buildings, hospital, schools," he said, urging the West to use its contacts with the opposition to urge it to refrain from violence. He said that arms supplies to the Syrian opposition are "unac- ceptable and absolutely coun- terproductive, because it only fuels more violence." Russia has been seen as a backer of the Syrian regime since the Soviet times when Syria was led by Bashar Assad's father, although Russian offi- cials last fall hosted promi- nent Syrian opposition leaders in Moscow in a bid to sponsor talks. Meanwhile, activists said Syrian troops have shelled a town near the border with Lebanon, and living conditions were deteriorating there after six days of siege. A resident and activist of the mountain resort of Zabadani describes the town as a "war zone." He says dozens of anti- government army defectors are deployed at the entrances to prevent any attempt by forces loyal to Assad to storm the area.