2A -Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
2A -Thursday, February 23, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
(The fichipan Dail!;
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
Engineering Dean David Munson
What were your dreams as akid?
I grew up in the 1950s and '60s and
it was the era of the big space race with
the Soviet Union. Iwas reallyinterested
in space, but was also really interested
in communication systems. My dream
was to be working for either NASA or
a research lab, or anything that would
involve math or science.
What brought you to the Univer-
sity?
I had been a regular professor for
many years at the University of Illi-
nois and at some point I decided to try
administration. So, I came to Michigan
in 2003 as the chair of electrical engi-
neering and computer science. It was
really the opportunity for that kind of
job and the overall high quality of the
University that brought me here.
What do you do outside of work? students achieve.
As a dean, I'm too busy to pursue
some of the things I used to do. But I Are you morec
still do some singing, gardening, land- servative person?
scaping and a little bit of kayaking. And In the 1960s and
sometime when I retire, I'll get back to ered to be conserva
woodworking. considered liberal.'
don't think I've cha
Tell me about your job as the dean I think society hasc
of engineering.
I spend a lot of time in meetings, no What would
surprise. I'm not able to teach because changed on North
my schedule is so erratic since I spend I would like to
a lot of time on fundraising. I average roller coaster co
about two days a week on matters of North and Centr,
fundraising. There are times when would come to No
I'm traveling every week, but I very thrill of the ride.
much enjoy spending time with the else that's so unu
alumni, our donor base. I refer to that that the students fr
as spending time with the older stu- would like to visit.
dents. I get to see the successes our
of a liberal or con-
d '70s, I was consid-
tive. Now, I'm surely
The funny thing is I
anged all that much;
changed.
you like to see
Campus?
see an all-weather
nstructed between
al Campus. People
rth Campus for the
We need something
usual and fantastic
om Central Campus
- JOSH QIAN
Newsrnm
734-18-4115 opt.3
Corrections
corrections@michigandaily.com
Arts Section
arts@michigandaily.com
Sports Section
sports@michigandaily.com
Display Sales
display@michigandaily.com
NesTips
news@michigandaily.com
Letters tothe Editor
tothedaily@michigandaily.com
Editorial Page
opinion@michigandaily.com
Photography Section
photo@michigandaily.com
Classified Sales
classified@michigandaily.com
0
0
COURTESY OF DAVID MUNSON
David Munson is the University's
Dean of Engineering.
CRIME NOTES
Bye-bye bicycle Vending
WHERE: 1110 Block of
North University Avenue
WHEN: Tuesday at about
9:45 a.m.
WHAT: A bicycle was sto-
len from the bike rack near
the C.C. Little bus stop, Uni-
versity Police reported. The
crime is said to have taken
place some time between
Feb. 17 and Feb. 20.
Valet villain
WHERE: University Hos-
pital
WHEN: Tuesday at about
3:30 p.m.
WHAT: An embezzlement
case was brought against
a valet employee who has
allegedly been stealing valet
parking payments since
December, University Police
reported.
vendetta
WHERE: Couzens Resi-
dence Hall .
WHEN: Wednesday at
about 1 a.m.
WHAT: A vending machine
was broken into and ran-
sacked, University Police
reported. There are cur-
rently no suspects.
Mad hatter
WHERE: Michigan Union
WHEN: Tuesday at about
noon.
WHAT: A subject report-
edly stole a knit hat from
the Barnes and Noble book-
store in the basement of the
Michigan Union around
11:20am, University Police
reported. A possible suspect
has been identified.
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES -
Professional Classical
An incresing number of
presentation performance Rio De Janeiro residents
are being cited for public
WHAT: Graduate students WHAT: The Hagen Quartet urination, Reuters reported.
are invited to learn how to will be performing several Since January 20, more than
present themselves pro- well-known classical pieces. 800 people - both men and
fessionally to employers WHO: University Musical women - have been arrested
through improved resumes, Society for relieving themselves out-
cover letters and practiced WHEN: Tonight at 7:30 .
interviewWsituations. Res
Online Sales Finance
onlineads@vichigandaily.com finance@mihigandaily.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Josh Healy ManagingEditor jahealy@michigandaily.com
Bethany lron Mangi ews Etdit e y biron@miciivndaily.com
nSvNRNESEDTORS: HleyvGltthorn,HleyvGldbeg, Rayza Gldmtnh,
Paige Pearcy, Adam Rubenfire
ASStsTANNEW SETv RS: Giacomo Bologna, Anna Rozenberg, Andrew Schulman,
PeteShhi, K.C.Wassman
AshleyGriesshammer and opinioneditors@michigandaily.com
Andrew Weiner Editorial PageEditors
SENIOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Harsha Nahata, Timothy Rabb,Vanessa Rychlinski
ASSISTANT EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Jesse Klein, Patrick Maillet
Stephen Nesbitt Managing Sports Editor nesbitt@michigandaily.com
SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS: Everett Cook, Ben Estes, Zach Helfand, Luke Pasch,
Neal Rothschild, Matt Slovin
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS: Steven Braid, Michael Laurila, MattSpelich,
Clleen ThmasLiVkelich,DaieIWasserman
Leah Burgin ManagingArts Editor burgin@michigandaily.com
SnnnnRT SE s TRElliotAernJacobAxeradDaidTaoKaylaeadhya a
Chloe Stachowiak
Erin Kirkland and photo@michigandaily.com
Alden Reiss Managing Photo Editors
ASSISTANTPHOOEDITORSdam an,,Austen ufford,AllisonKruske
MarleneLacasse, Adamschnitzer
Arjun Mahanti Managing DesigntEditor mahanti@michigandaily.com
SENIOR DESIGN EDITORS:Krisit Begonja, Anna Lein-Zielinski
Dylan Cinti and statement@michigandaily.com
Jennifer Xu MagazinetEditors
DEPUTY MAGAZINE EDITOR: Kaitlin Williams
Christine Chun and copydesk@michigandaily.com
Hannah Poindexter CopytChiefs
SENIoR COPY EDITORS: Josephine Adams, Beth Coplowitz
Zach Bergson OnlineEditor bergson@michigandaily.com
Imran Syed Public Editor publiceditor@michigandaily.com
BUSINESS STAFF
Julianna Crim Associate Business Manager
Rachel Greinetz Sales Manager
SophieGreenbaum Production Manager
Sean Jackson Special Projects Manager
Connor Byrd Finance Manager
Ashley Karadsheh Client Relationships Manager
Meryl Hulteng National Account Manager
The Michigan tally 1SSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge
to all readers. Additional copies may be picked p at the Daily's office for $2. Subscriptions for
fall term, starting in September, via U.S.mal are $110. Winter term (January through April) is
$115, yearlong (september through Apri is $195.University affiliates are subject to areduced
subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are$3. Subscriptions must be prepaid.
iu~c v C W IL~uuu. 1 g
istration for the event is
required.
WHO: The Career Center
WHEN: Today at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Rackham Gradu-
ate School
Movie viewing
WHAT: A screening of
the 1971 movie "The Panic
in Needle Park," starring
Al Pacino and Kitty Winn,
which portrays the lives of
heroin addicts in New York
City who fall in love.
WHO: Substance Abuse
Research
WHEN: Tonight at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Angell Hall Audi-
torium A
WHERE: Rackham Audi-
torium
Security talk
WHAT: Author and jour-
nalist Shane Harris will
give a lecture on the chal-
lenges of domestic security.
WHO: Gerald R. Ford Presi-
dential Library
WHEN: Tonight at 7:30
p.m.
WHERE: Gerald Ford
Library
CORRECTIONS
0 Please report any
error in the Daily to
corrections@michi-
gandaily.com.
The University has
two carillons, the
bells heard once a day
between noon and 12:30 p.m.
They can be found on both
Central and North Campus
in the bell towers. FOR MORE,
SEE THE B-SIDE, INSIDE
A New York woman has
started a "cat bounty
hunting" service in
which she lures cats from
corners into pet carriers,
Time magazine reported.
The fee per service is $80 and
each service can lastbetween
two and 45 minutes.
DINGELL
From Page 1A
Dingell said the kind of bipar-
tisanship he remembers from his
earlier "puppy" years in congress
is still possible, noting the efforts
he's made with current members
of Congress. However, he blamed
the current situation, in part, on
the inability of many representa-
tives to make their duty to the
public a priority.
"We have to sit down and say
look (what my Dad told me): Son,
the best politics is the best public
service," he said. "If you do what
is best for the country, the people
are going to put you back into
power. If you don't, they won't."
Dingell recalled when he
warned his father, who preced-
ed him in serving in Congress,
about candidates who were pre-
paring to run against him during
re-election periods.
"Dad would say to me, 'Son,
don't worry. I take care of my
people,"' Dingell said. "That's a
great rule to follow, but I don't
think a lot of my colleagues
have."
When discussing legislative
issues, Dingell said he favors
some form of union between gay
and lesbian couples, though he
did not comment specifically on
marriage equality.
Dingell also decried the influ-
ence of money on politics, label-
ing the Citizens United Supreme
Court decision likening corpo-
rations to people as "absolutely
outrageous." He said he spent
$19,000 on his first campaign,
much less than the hundreds of
millions of dollars politicians
spend on campaigns now.
Dingell still defended mem-
bers of Congress against frequent
accusations that they mislead
the public. He said it is easy for
members of the public to confuse
their changing ideals with learn-
ing on the job, and using ques-
tionable sources of information
as distortion.
"Most (members), honestly,
are trying to tell you the truth,"
he said. "Some of them will view
the truth as something they
heard on some broadcast or read
in some kind of a newspaper or
heard in church, and every once
in a while, those folks are right
and every once in a while, they're
wrong."
Dingell added that lobbyists
and special interests are wrongly
criticized for harming the politi-
cal process. While he admitted
that many lobbyists go too far in
pursuing members of Congress,
he said precluding them from
voicing their opinion would be a
violation of democracy.
"The fait of the matter is
that everybody is entitled to be
heard," he said. "Everybody,
including lobbyists, has a right
to be heard and their concerns be
evaluated properly in the process
of writing legislation."
In an interview after the event,
Public Policy Dean Susan Collins
said she appreciated that Ding-
ell answered so many questions
and contributed to a transparent
atmosphere.
"Not everyone has to agree
with his standpoints, but I think
he does an excellent job explain-
ing why he holds certain posi-
tions," Collins said.
Collins pointed to Dingell's
assertion of seeking accurate
facts on a particular issue as an
important lesson she hoped that
students learned from the event.
Many students echoed Collins,
and said they enjoyed the oppor-
tunity to hear from Dingell even
if they did not share his opinions.
Rackham student Ariel Pearl-
Jacobvitz said she welcomed the
chance to hear about Congress's
problems from an insider.
"My biggest problem with
politics is politics for the sake
of politics - egos in the way of
actually getting things done and
politicians seeing themselves as
lords over men," Pearl-Jacobvitz
said. "There's just an issue when
it becomes this horse and pony
show."
Rackham student Andrew
Bracken said Dingell offers inter-
esting insight into the legislative
process.
"He's kind of an institution in
himself," he said.
A student hangs flyers outside Studio One in the Walgreen Drama Center yesterd
THE NEWS NEVER STOPS.
NEITHER DO WE.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE OVER BREAK, CHECK
MICHIGAN DAILY.COM FOR ALL YOUR UNIVERSITY
NEWS AND INFORMATION.
UNIONIZATION
From Page 1A
about the issue."
McCann said the bill was an
attempt to restrict graduate stu-
dents' rights, calling its implica-
tions "disappointing."
Rackham student Stephen
Raiman, founder of Students
Against GSRA Unionization,
said the legislation's passage in
the House is a positive develop-
ment and will benefit GSRAs
if the bill makes it through the
House.
"GSRA unionization is very
harmful to the University and
(it's) a bad deal for GSRAs,"
Raiman said. "This legislation
protects us from the threat of
forced unionization and will
prevent (GEO) from changing
the law from the way it (has)
been for 30 years."
Raiman said SAGU members
will continue to work with leg-
islators to ensure its passage in
the House.
He added that the bill is not
impeding GEOs ongoing efforts
within the Michigan Employ-
ment Relations Commission to
try to reverse a 1981 ruling that
prevents GSRAs from claiming
status as public employees.
At the beginning of the
month, GEO presented evidence
and called witnesses before an
administrative law judge argu-
ing in support of GSRA union-
ization. Both the University
and GEO had the opportunity
to make arguments and cross-
examine witnesses.
"MERC is simply interpreting
the statute, and it was decided
in 1981 that the law considered
GSRAs to not be employees,"
Raiman said. "MERC is trying
to change that, but really all
MERC does is administer the
laws that are on the books."
Rackham student Liz
Rodrigues, communications
chair for GEO, disagreed with
Raiman's stance and said she
believes that the bill is an attack
on GSRAs' rights and MERC's
involvement in the dispute.
"I do think it's an attempt
to interfere with the ongoing
MERC process," Rodrigues said.
"In terms of its impact, I don't
know now ... but we are confi-
dent that GSRAs are employees
and we trust in the MERC pro-
cess."
She added that the passage of
the legislation is not surprising
because the issue has continued
0
MCKENZIE BEREZIN/Daily
lay.
to divide politicians along party
lines, noting that the Senate has
a large Republican majority.
Though members of SAGU
are hopeful that the bill will
pass through the House, which
is forbidden from voting on the
bill until at least five days after
its passage in the Senate, they
are continuing their efforts to
be heard by MERC.
Julia Stern, the administra-
tive law judge assigned to the
case, determined that SAGU and
Michigan Attorney General Bill
Schuette, who are opposed to
unionization, would be allowed
to call witnesses and submit
evidence outside of the official
hearing.
This week, Stern has heard
testimony from those opposed
to unionization, and today she
is expected to hear testimo-
ny from Stephen Forrest, the
University's vice president of
research.
Stern will consider the evi-
dence presented to her and sub-
mit a recommendation to MERC
next month. MERC ultimately
has the power to determine
whether or not GSRAs should
be classified as public employ-
ees and have the right to vote to
unionize.