ARTS FOOD COLUMN: Columnist Nathan Wood gives students a quick, simple recipe for making the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. }> PAGE5 SAINT PATRICK Patrick Omameh is Michigan football's Renaissance man. aINSI 0a I Ann Arbor, Michigan Friday, November 16, 2012 michigandaily com Court strikes down affirmative action ban 6th Circuit: Prop 2 Case could head unconstitutional to Supreme Court WELCOME TO THE 60s By RAYZA GOLDSMITH Daily News Editor The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled en banc Thursday that Michigan's voter-approved ban on affirmative action was unconstitutional. The court issued an 8-7 deci- sion to overturn a state ballot initiative - commonly known as Proposal 2, which was voted into law in 2006 - that banned the use of "preferential treat- ment" in state decisions regard- ing university admissions or employment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. The ruling was made by all 15 judges on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, at the request of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, a defendant in the case. A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals made an initial ruling against Proposal 2 in July 2011. The majority ruled that the ban on the basis of race is a violation of the Equal Protec- tion Clause of the 14th Amend- ment to the U.S. Constitution and therefore unconstitutional. The decision overturns a previ- ous decision made by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan at Detroit, which ruled Proposal 2 to be constitutional. The majority opinion was based on two primary argu- ments, rested on the argument that admissions decisions can be considered a part of the politi- cal process. Judge R. Guy Cole Jr. wrote for the majority, argu- See 6TH CIRCUIT, Page 3 By RAYZA GOLDSMITH Daily News Editor Though affirmative action became legal again in Michi- gan on Thursday, the change may be short-lived, according to University experts. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio effectively changed Michigan law on Thursday by lifting the ban on affirmative action, overturning the decision of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan at Detroit in the case of Coali- tion to Defend Affirmative Action v. Regents of the Uni- versity of Michigan. In April, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Fran- cisco, Calif. upheld a ban on affirmative action in Califor- nia instated by the state's vot- ers, ruling in opposition to the 6th Circuit. The discrepancy, according to some, makes it a near certainty that the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the issue of ballot initiatives banning affirmative action in state constitutions. Residential College Prof. Carl Cohen, a leading propo- nent of Michigan's Proposal 2, said the Supreme Court often intervenes when two circuit courts issue opposite rulings on the same issue. "They almost have to (take up the case)," Cohen said. "They're almost obliged to do so because of the conflicting decisions in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in See SUPREME COURT, Page 3 MUSK ET's production of 'Hairspray' relies on costume design to evoke the 1960s experience, establish character and reflect how the story evolves. Because of their budget and time constraints; the designers bought and rented costume pieces, but added their own embellishments. For more see page 5. M CAMPUS RENOVATIONS Regents approve upgrades to Earl V. Moore building Michigan Stadium also to get $6 million paint job By PETER SHAHIN Daily StaffReporter The University's Board of Regents unanimously approved a host of renovations across cam- pus, from minor facelift projects to sweeping overhauls of iconic structures, at its monthly meet- ing on Thursday The largest agenda item approved by the regents is a comprehensive $23.2-million renovation of the Earl V. Moore building on North Campus. Orig- inally constructed in 1964 and the home of the School of Music, Theater & Dance, the Moore building has become dilapidated and inhibits the performance of students and faculty. At the University's annual leadership breakfast on Oct. 30, University President Mary Sue Coleman announced the building would be upgraded in part with a dona- tion from alumni Bill and Dee Brehm. "I know the faculty from Music, Theatre & Dance will agree when I say this project is overdue," Coleman said at the leadership breakfast. In a communication with the regents filed before the meeting, Timothy Slottow, the Univer- sity's executive vice president and chief financial officer, wrote the building's 21,000 square foot expansion and renovation will include a large new rehearsal hall, lecture hall and music prac- tice rooms. Out of the overall $23.2-mil- lion cost to renovate the struc- ture, the University will provide $14 million augmented with $8 million from the Brehm family. The University will also seek an additional $1 million fromsmaller donors and alumni of the School of Music, Theater & Dance. "Our School of Music, Theater & Dance competes for and attracts the most talented students in the country," University Provost Phil- See MOORE, Page 3 RUBY WALAU AND TERESA MA Top: A protester lights a candle on the Diag as part of a vigil honoring the victims of the conflict in Gaza. Bottoi freshman Matt Huang spray paints at Israeli for Art on the Diag on Thursday. Gaza offensive sparks UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION Board officially names Lynch as next University general counsel demonstrations Students split over conflict between Israel, Hamas By ALICIA ADAMCZYK DailyStaffReporter In light of the escalating conflict in the Middle East this week, two student groups held events on the Diag to promote peace and raise awareness about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Thursday. Following the killing of Ahmed al-Jabari - the military commander of Hamas, a mili- tant organization that governs the Gaza Strip and is classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government - by an Israeli airstrike Wednesday, the con- on Diag flict has raised tensions in the region and grabbed the attention of students at the University. Artists for Israel, a group of professional, New York-based artists who travel across the United States painting in sup- port of Israel, spray-painted four canvasses on the Diag in an effort to encourage students to express their political views See GAZA, Page 3 Dept. of Energy lawyer to start new position on Jan. 7 By PETER SHAHIN and SAM GRINGLAS Daily StaffReporters During its monthly meet- ing Thursday, the University's Board of Regents approved Timothy Lynch as the next general counsel, effective on Jan. 7. Though Lynch, the current deputy general counsel for liti- gation and enforcement at the U.S. Department of Energy, did not attend the meeting, he said in a phone interview after the meeting from his home hn Washington, D.C. that he is excited for his new role. "Michigan is one of the very best educational institu- tions in the world," Lynch said. "There aren't many Michigans out there at all. I don't think there's really a better place to go for someone who wants to do work for a $6-billion client that has such a strong public mission. Michigan itself is just a fantastic university and a great cultural place." Lynch said his background as a trial lawyer and litigator will play an important role in guiding the University's legal matters. "My vision is to make sure the general counsel's office is providing the University with the kind of high-quality advice it needs to continue to thrive as one of the foremost education- al institutions in the world," Lynch said. "Issues that can come up in the higher educa- tion context often make their way to the Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court." He noted his time as an adjunct professor at George- town University and the Uni- versity of Virginia will provide valuable experience in tran- sitioning to the field of higher education. "I've learned just as much from the student, if not more, than what I've taught them," Lynch said. "My experience See LYNCH, Page 3 WEATHER HI: 49 GOT A NEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail #michlinks TOMORROW LI; 33 news@michigandaily.com and let us know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/TH E WIRE INDEX NEWS ........ .... Vol. CXXIII,No.45 OPINION........... ©2012 The Michigan Daily A RT S.................. michigandoily.com .2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 .4 SPO RTS .......................7 .5 FOOTBALL SATURDAY..1B