W, +6 4 ; 4 c (...}N I;-I...I UN hIlk ITA.IIS(. F E'DIT'(.}Ia I A I, 1'.IaI'AJ4D()1-I Ann Arbor, Michigan UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION Regents OK South Quad renovations Friday, September 21, 2012 michigandailycom Coleman also gets 3 percent raise, donates it back to the University By PETER SHAHIN Daily StaffReporter The University's efforts to revamp residence halls on cam- pus have continued with the approval of a $60-million reno- vation of South Quad Residence Hall. In addition to approving updates to the residence hall, the University's Board of Regents voted to raise the salary of Uni- versity President Mary Sue Cole- man and discussed the impact of Coursera technology in the classroom during its monthly meeting Thursday afternoon. Stephen Forrest, the University's vice president for research, also reported that the University's research budget was increased by 3 percent this year, a historic high. The 106,700 square-foot renovation of South Quad will increase the size of the dining hall, the upgrade the restrooms, improve study lounges and add more of study spaces throughout the building. A majority of the project's funds will be devoted to util- ity upgrades including a new air conditioning and heating system and improved wired and wireless Internet access. Timothy Slot- tow, the University's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the renovation will involve a "total revamp" of the first two floors. In an interview before the meeting, E. Royster Harper, the University's vice president for student affairs, said the project would be similar to previous renovations in other residence halls, noting that improving the student experience while pre- serving the history of the build- ing is key. "In our heritage halls, because some of the buildings are so icon- ic and so beautiful, we're really investing in them, and investing heavy in the infrastructure," Harper said. "The majority of the money has been in the infra- structure, in the wiring, in the HVAC systems." According to Harper, the ren- ovation of East Quad Residence Hall is still on schedule and slat- ed to re-open in time for the fall 2013 semester. However, closing South Quad at the same time as East Quad's reopening will result in a net loss of 300 beds in the University Housing system. "We'llbein thiskind ofcrunch for several more years," Harper said. "We've been doing pretty See REGENTS, Page 3 The School of Art & Design's name change was announced at the Penny Stamps lecture series at the Michigan Theater Thursday, Stamps gve.325 "u to School of Art & Desig Regents rename ofthichool of Art and Design and Desi n in 1974, and-o6nd- -at '' gallery, profes- to the Penny W. Stamps School of the largest gifts to any art sorships and an expansion of school in honor of of Art and Design to recognize school in the country. a scholarship program within a $32.5 million donation to the According to Jerry May, the School of Art and Design. Penny W. Stamps school, the largest in its history. the University's vice president University President Mary In addition to the donation for development, the money Sue Coleman wrote in a state-. By PETER SHAHIN from the Penny and Roe Stamps provided by the Stamps and ment that the donation plays a Daily StaffReporter Foundation, the University will matched by the University critical role in positively mold- contribute $7.5 million, for a will largely be used to sustain ing the future experiences of The University's Board of total of $40 million. The dona- existing programs, including students. Regents unanimously voted tion is the biggest since the the Penny W. Stamps Distin- "The depth of the Stamps' Thursday to change the name foundation of the School of Art guished Visitors Series, the See STAMPS, Page 3 LEGAL DISPUTE Gordon asks court for -. mental exam of Shirvell Armstrong attorney filed request in federal court Monday By SAM GRINGLAS For theDaily In the latest twist in a long series of legal proceedings, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. lawyer Deborah Gordon requested a court-ordered mental exami- nation of Andrew Shirvell, the former Michigan assistant attorney general. The federal court filing, submitted on Monday, is in response to an ongoing defa- mation lawsuit filed by Shirvell against Gordon. In August, Shirvell was ordered to pay $4.5 million in damages to Chris Armstrong, a University alum and the first openly gay president of the University's student government. Gordon represented Armstrong in his case against Shirvell, which was filed in response to ablog he authored attacking Arm- strong's "radical homosexual agenda." Shirvell appealed the case filed by Armstrong, and pro- ceeded to file a defamation law- suit against Gordon, claiming that Gordon's statements to the See SHIRVELL, Page 3 ELECTION 2012 'West Wing' cast reunites in commercial for Law professor Michelle Mirowski, program coordinator at the Leslie Science & Nature Center, discusses the eastern screech owl with students during Earthfest on the Diag Thursday. Earthfest lauds sustainability Annual event showcases community efforts By KATIE SZYMANSKI Daily StaffReporter Not even chilly, rainy weather could put a damper on EarthFest 2012: Party for the Planet, one of the University's largest events promotingsustainability. The rain cleared just in time for students and organizations to gather on the Diag to celebrate Mother Earth at the University's annual sustainability festival on Thursday afternoon, which is organized by students and the Office of Campus Sustainability. Each of the 50 booths addressed one of four main categories relat- ed to the goals set by University President Mary Sue Coleman for the University to achieve by 2025 - community awareness, climate action, waste prevention and healthy environments. This year's celebration fea- tured booths from student organizations - including LSA Student Government, Central Student Government and Stu- See EARTHFEST, Page 3 McCormack running for state Supreme Court By ANDREW SCHULMAN Daily StaffReporter The cast of "The West Wing" has a new policy crisis: getting voters to fill out the nonpartisan ballot on Election Day. In a four-minute political advertisement released Thurs- day on YouTube, the show's cast, including Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney and Richard Schiff, encourages voters to fill out the nonpartisan section of the ballot when voting on Nov. 6. One version of the advertise- ment points specifically to the Michigan Supreme Court race and mentions Bridget Mary McCormack, the associate dean of clinical affairs at the Univer- sity Law School and a candidate for the Supreme Court. The advertisement was, in part, due to the initiative of McCormack's sister, Mary McCormack, an actress who played deputy national secu- rity adviser Kate Harper on the show during its last three sea- sons. See WEST WING, Page 3 WEATHER HI 60 TOMORROW LO:40 GOT A NEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail #michlinks news@michigandaily.com and let us know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE WIRE INDEX NEWS .............. Vol. CXXII,No.14 SUDOKU............ ©2012The Michigan Daily OPINION........... michigondoily.com ..2 ARTS .......................5 .3 SPORTS .......................6 ...4 CLASSIFIEDS................6 pi