The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Monday, September 10, 2012 - 5A

The Michigan Daily michigandailycom Monday, September 10, 2012 - 5A

DEFENSE
From Page 1A
537 rushing yards allowed - an
astounding figure considering
that Michigan gave up a total of
1,712 yards on the ground all of
last season. (Slightly over three
times the amount that the defense
has allowed in just two games so
far this year:)
The opponents certainly have
something to do with it. Alabama
is essentially a minor league NFL
team, and-the Crimson Tide is
likely to roll over everyone it faces
this year.
And Air Force presented a
unique challenge, due to the com-
plexity of its triple-option offense
and the breakneck tempo with
which it operates.
Fifth-year senior safety Jordan
Kovacs, a team captain and the
leader of the defense, acknowl-
edged the unit wasn't up to par on
Saturday. But he also was quick
to point to the problems posed by
the system the Wolverines were
up against.
"Obviously, we gave up some
points," Kovacs said. "We didn't
get ourselves off the field at times
when we really needed to, but at
the end of the day, we're not going
to see an offense like this again."
Last season, the improvement
of the defense after two years
of absolute woe was a revela-
tion. Defensive coordinator Greg
Mattison appeared to be noth-
ing short of a miracle worker. It
was almost assumed, then, that
 REGENT
From Page 1A
Irwin also had warm words for
Bridget McCormack, a University
law professor and one of the Dem-
ocratic candidates for the State
Supreme Court nominated at the
convention.
"She's one of the Supreme Court
candidates I've been most excited
about in my entire life, frankly,
because here you have somebody
who's not just from our commu-
nity but someone who's done great
things in our community," he said.
Irwin said McCormack's
involvement in the Innocence
Project, a group in the Law School
dedicated to exonerating innocent
people wrongly jailed, makes her
an even more attractive candidate.
"Sometimes mistakes are
made," Irwin said. "And it's people
like Bridget Mary McCormack
and the folks who she works with
- the students that she works
with at the Law School - that
make sure that those mistakes are
ferreted out ... and make sure that
justice is done."
LSA junior Matt Jones, co-
chair of the state of Michigan Col-
lege Republicans and the state of
Michigan director of Students for

Mattison would be able to work
his magic again and keep things
humming despite the loss of three
starters along the defensive line.
The early returns say other-
wise.
But growing pains along the
defensive line were to be expected
given the inexperience there. The
more troublesome part of Satur-
day's game was the play of the
linebacking corp, which consisted
wholly of returning starters.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker
Jake Ryan, the new recipient of
Bennie Oosterbaan's reinstated
legacy jersery, made some big
plays, especially late, but also
seemed out of position at times.
Fifth-year senior Kenny Demens.
and sophomore Desmond Mor-
gan, on the other hand, were
much less consistent, often unable
to diagnose the complex plays
that Air Force ran.
It reached the point that the
latter two were replaced by a pair
of true freshmen, Joe Bolden and
James Ross III. Michigan coach
Brady Hoke explained their play-
ing time - as well as the appear-
ances of several more freshmen
on Saturday - by talking about
their talent and his desire to keep
everyone fresh.
That's a dubious explanation
- defensive line is one thing, but
in a tightgame, most coaches are
reticent to rotate linebackers. It
makes one wonder how confident
the coaches really are in some
players that were thought to be
reliable options.
Given this staff's track record,

you would expect the defense to
improve by leaps and bounds as
the season goes on. The best way
to get better performances out
of inexperienced players is to get
them experience, and that will
continue to accrue. It's possible
that, by the end of the season,
these first two games will be
outliers.
And there was a silver lining
from Saturday. When it absolutely
needed to, the defense came up
with stops. Michigan forced a
turnover on downs when Air
Force was driving to tie or take
the lead late in the fourth quarter,
and then repeated the feat on the
Falcons' final drive of the game.
But those were two bright
spots on an otherwise dismal day
defensively.
"I would say there is a unique-
ness to the offense and the
schemes," Hoke said. "But at the
same time, I think we're a work in
progress."
The defining sound from Satur-
day was that groan, hnd the defin-
ing sentiment was worry.
Improvement should be
expected, and Kovacs said he
foresees as much.
But right now, as his com-
ments show, even Hoke knows
that unless the defense comes
together, a Big Ten champion-
ship - the only way to prevent
this season from being a failure,
in the coach's eyes - is out of the
question.
- Estes can be reached
at benestes@umich.edu.

CO-OP
From Page 1A
"We are an established non-
profit, not just a student orga-
nization," Fishman said. "We're
actually insured to be able to
sell on campus which is a great
opportunity to get healthy and
affordable alternatives available
on a student budget."
Frog Holler, an organic farm
in Brooklyn, Mich., sources
food to the co-op and their
stand, according to LSA junior
Stacey Matlen, the co-op's
finance coordinator. Eventually
they hope to supply local, farm-
grown produce to students.
"We would've originally liked
to have started out sourcing
from local farmers, but there are
complications with health codes
and certification necessary for
the University so we buy in bulk
from Frog Holler," Matlen said.
Last spring, Matlen applied
for a grant from the Planet Blue
Student Innovation Fund - a
University organization that
SUPPORT
From Page 1A
about 140 students. However,
she noted she was disappoint-
ed that the attendance did not
match the group's 2008 mass
meeting numbers, which were
nearly two times Sunday's
attendance.
Leaders of the College Repub-
licans said they were similarly
content with a standing-room-
only crowd that came out to the
Michigan League at their meet-
ing Sunday evening.
For the College Republicans,
the attendance and fervor to
deny President Barack Obama a
second term in office is indica-
tive of the group's collective
confidence that Republican
presidential nominee Mitt Rom-
ney will win in Michigan.
Citing a Public Policy Poll-
ing poll released last week that
showed that Obama holds a sev-
en-point lead in the state, Matt
Jones, state director of Students
for Romney, said the College
Republicans could help the
Bloomfield Hills, Mich., native
win the state.
"It really comes down to our
ground game, and the (College
Republicans) are a big part of
that ground game," Jones told
students at the meeting. "So
really, you can make a differ-
ence, and because Michigan's
a swing state for the first time
since 1988, we can influence the
entire national election."
Jones added: "And of course,
I don't even need to say, it'll feel
great to knock Barack Obama
out of office."
In an interview after the

provides funding for student-
run sustainability programs -
and was awarded $35,000. After
a successful pilot day last spring
in the Chemistry Building, the
food stand moved to its new
home on the sidewalk of North
University Avenue.
"Our pilot day sold produce
on a smaller scale and it was
fairly successful," Matlen said.
"We're now at a much better
location and being outside while
the weather is still nice gives us
more exposure."
LSA freshman Humphrey
Akujobi said the location was
particularly appealing to him,
since he has his own kitchen
and is able to use the produce to
cook meals.
"I think it's really cool that
they have fresh produce and
it's really convenient because
I live on North Campus," Aku-
jobi said. "I have an apartment
with a kitchen so I would have
to walk far to get to the grocery
store and this is just so much
more convenient."
LSA freshman Angela Huang
event, LSA junior Russ Hayes,
internal vice chair of the Col-
lege Republicans, said the
desire to remove Obama from
office may have boosted meet-
ing attendance, which he said
was the best' in the last three
years.
"Why do we want to keep
going for another four years?"
Hayes asked. "We want to try
something different. We want
to try real, actual change. Why
don't we see some real results?"
Earlier in the day, the Uni-
versity's chapter of the Col-
lege Democrats touted Obama's
accomplishments, claiming his
political triumphs are the rea-
son the upcoming presidential
election is exceptionally signifi-
cant.
U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-
Mich.) also spoke at the College
Democrats meeting, along with
state Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann
Arbor) and state Sen. Rebekah
Warren (D-Ann Arbor).
In his address to prospective
members, Dingell recited a line
that Vice President Joe Biden
used with supporters at a late-
August event in Detroit.
"General Motors is alive, and
Osama bin Laden is dead," Ding-
ell recited.
Dingell also discussed the
Affordable Care Act, student
loans and the automotive indus-
try bailout of General Motors
and Chrysler.
Fran Brennan - Michigan
director of Working for Amer-
ica, a labor organization for
working families - also spoke
at the event, and said this year's
election could be a turning
point in the country's history,
underscoring the importance of

said she was most excited about
the accessibility to fresh pro-
duce because it invoked feelings
of being back home.
"It's awesome that you can
get fresh produce here on cam-
pus because I love just eating
raw peppers or a huge head
of lettuce right' out of the bag
sometimes," Huang said.
Though it's only a weekly
food stand, the organization has
goals to have a permanent food
cart and eventually a storefront.
"Also, one of our goals is to
have people realize the impact
of what they eat in terms of their
own bodies and their communi-
ties," Fishman said.
Matlet said that though the
group is looking to expand and
increase its efforts, the Ann
Arbor Student Food Co-op is
content with its progress.
"Honestly, right now, I am
happy we can get our produce
out here," Matlen said. "To be
able to provide fresh, afford-
able, produce on campus is a
large step since its origin just a
year ago."
young voters.
"This is the time," Brennan
said. "If you don't get engaged
this time, it really is serious,
because this is a crossroads. It's
going to determine what your
life is going to be for years to
come."
She urged students to get out
to the polls, emphaszing that the
youth vote is critical to Obama's
re-election efforts.
"You in this room can be the
difference between whether
we are celgbrating on Novem-
ber 6th a new era with Barack
Obama, or we are not celebrat-
ing and we are fearful about
what the next four years will
bring," Brennan said.
At the College Republicans
meeting, students discussed
campaign efforts for the Repub-
lican candidates for the Uni-
versity's Board of Regents,
including Dan Horning and Rob
Steele. Leaders also discussed
the group's structure and
upcoming activities.
The major constituency
among students at both meet-
ings was freshmen, who said
they attended to influence the
outcome of the election and be
more politically active.
Engineering freshman Phil
Brenz said he attended the Col-
lege Republicans' meeting to aid
Romney's election efforts. He
said he felt like an "outsider" at
the University before the meet-
ing,.but afterward felt enthusi-
astic.
"I feel pretty energized, and
like we can make a difference in
the campaign for the fall."
-Sam Gringlas
contributed to this report.


Romney, attended the Republican
state convention as a delegate for
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Jones said he was pleased with
the Republicans' nomination of
Steele and Horning because, of
their past involvement with the
University and specifically with
the College Republicans.
"Steele and Horning both, we
have a history with working on
various different projects," Jones
said. "I guess you could saythey're
the students' regents because they
really have worked closely with us
over the years."
Jones also notpdthathe enjoyed
the change in political climate
fromAnnArborto the convention.
"Livingin Ann Arbor, one of the
most liberal places in the country
... we are indeed the minority," he
said. "I think being around people
that are ready to elect Mitt really
gets us fired up."
LSA senior Rachel Jankowski,
chair of the University's chapter of
College Republicans, volunteered
at the convention. She said while
the convention was informational
for her, it will also be beneficial to
those who couldn't attend.
"We also wanted to make sure
we were educated on the issues so
that we could come back and teach
our peers about it," she said.

Jankowski added that despite
the higher average age of conven-
tion attendees, gaps across age
groups were successfully bridged.
"I truly enjoyed being around
so many like-minded energized
people," she said. "They tend to be
an older crowd at the convention,
(and) they were excited to see that
young people were interested in
the party."
LSA senior Sean Walser, vice
president of the Student Asso-
ciation of Michigan, also attended
the Democratic Michigan con-
vention, which he described- as
diverse, yet focused.
"I think it was cool to see so
many people in one room work-
ing on a lot of different issues but
really united behind one common
cause," he said.
Walser stressed the impor-
tance of students taking part in
the nomination of the University's
Board of Regent candidates. He
said the election process is read-
ily overlooked by most people,
but remains especially important
because there is no primary elec-
tion for regent candidates.
"People don't realize that this
campus is getting run essentially
by those individuals that are nomi-
nated at the party convention," he
said.

Chicago teachers go on strike for first time in 25 years

26,000 protesters
expected to picket
today
CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago
teachers went on strike Mon-
day for the first time in 25 years
after their union and district
officials failed to reach a con-
tract agreement despite intense
weekend negotiations that the
union said were productive but
still failed to adequately address
issues such as job security and
teacher evaluations.
The two sides were not far
apart on compensation, but were
on other issues, including health
benefits - teachers want to keep
what they have now - and a new
teacher evaluation system based
partly on students' standardized
test scores, Chicago Teachers
Union President Karen Lewis
said.
"This is a difficult decision
and one we hoped we could have
avoided," she said. "We must do
things differently in this city if
we are to provide our students
with the education they so
rightfully deserve."
Mayor Rahm Emanuel con-
demned the union's decision,
and said the negotiations could
be resolved if the two sides kept
talking, "given how close we
are."
"This is not a strike I wanted,"
Emanuel said. "It was a strike of
choice ... it's unnecessary, it's
avoidable and it's wrong. "
More than 26,000 teachers

and support staff were expected
to hit the picket lines early Mon-
day, while the school district
and parents carried out plans
for keeping nearly 400,000 stu-
dents safe and occupied while
classes remain empty in the
coming days in the nation's third
largest school district.
Both Emanuel and union offi-
cials have much at stake. The
walkout comes at a time when
unions and collective bargaining
by public employees have come
under criticism in many parts
of the country, and all sides are
closely monitoring who might
emerge with the upper hand in
the Chicago dispute.
The timing also may be inop-
portune for Emanuel, a former
White House chief of staff whose
city administration is wrestling
with a spike in murders and
shootings in some city neighbor-
hoods and who just agreed to
take a larger role in fundraising
for President Barack Obama's
re-election campaign.
As the strike deadline
approached, parents spent Sun-
day worrying about how much
their children's education might
suffer and where their kids will
go while they're at work.
School officials said they will
open more than 140 schools
between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30
p.m. so children can eat lunch
and breakfast in a district
where many students receive
free meals. The district asked
community organizations to
provide additional programs
for students, and a number of

churches, libraries and other
groups plan to offer day camps
and other activities. But it's not
clear how many families will
send their children to the added
programs.
"They're going to lose learn-
ing time," said Beatriz Fierro,
whose daughter is in the fifth
grade on the city's Southwest
Side. "And if the whole after-
noon they're going to be free, it's
bad. Of course you're worried."
Eric Ferrer, a cook, said his
children can stay home Monday
with his wife, who works in a
store. But if the strike goes more
than one day, they would have a
problem - one that he sees no
way to solve.
"My wife is off tomorrow, (so)
we can keep them at home," said
Ferrer, as he sat in a McDonald's
restaurant on the city's South-
west Side with his wife and their
8-year-old son and 3-year-old
daughter. "She works the next
day (and) so do I."
School board President David
Vitale first announced Sunday
night that talks had broken off,
despite the school board offer-
ing what he called a fair and
responsible contract that would
cover four years and meet most
of the union's demands. He said
the talks with the union had been
"extraordinarily difficult."
Emanuel said the district had
offered the teachers a 16 percent
pay raise over four years, dou-
bling an earlier offer.
Lewis said she would not pri-
oritize the issues, saying that
they all were important to teach-

ers.
That included concern over
a new evaluation that she said
would be based too heavily on
students' standardized test
scores, which she said would
be unfair to teachers because
it could not adequately account
for outside factors that affect
student performance, including
poverty, violence and homeless-
ness.
She said the evaluations could
result in 6,000 teachers losing
their jobs within two years.
City officials said they did not
believe that was true, but said the
union would not tell them how
they came to that conclusion.
Emanuel said the evaluation
would not count in the first year,
as teachers and administrators
worked out any kinks. Schools
CEO Jean-Claude Brizard said
the evaluation was mandated
by state law but "was not devel-
oped to be a hammer," but to help
teachers get better.
Emanuel said the union
should have postponed the strike
because an agreement is close.
He also said his negotiatingteam
would be available all night if the
union was willing to talk, but
Lewis said negotiations would
resume Monday.
The strike is the latest flash-
point in a very public and often
contentious battle between the
mayor and the union.
When he took office last year,
Emanuel inherited a school dis-
trict facing a $700 million bud-
get shortfall. Not long after, his
administration rescinded 4 per-

cent raises for teachers. He then raises in exchange for lengthen-
asked the union to reopen its ing the school day for students by
contract and accept 2 percent pay 90 minutes. The union refused.
[ ,SA

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