The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Friday, March 22, 2013 - 3

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, March 22, 2013 3

NEWS BRIEFS
LANSING
Lawmakers pass
failing schools
oversight bill
The Republican-led House
approved legislation Thursday
that would give the state the go-
ahead to take control at some of
Michigan's lowest-performing
public schools, sparking a fiery
debate in the Legislature over
the course of action needed to
help persistently failing students
succeed in the classroom.
The bill passed 57-53 on a
mostly party-lines vote. It would
allow the Education Achieve-
ment Authority, currently in
place in 15 Detroit schools,
to take the reins at Michigan
schools in the bottom 5 percent
of achievement, based on student
test scores, for three straight
years.
Majority Republicans say the
program, which Republican Gov.
Rick Snyder has called one of his
top legislative priorities, is an
urgently needed way to give stu-
dents in failing schools a chance.
CANBERRA, Australia
Prime minister
apologizes for
forced adoptions
Australian Prime Minister
Julia Gillard delivered a historic
national apology in Parliament
to the thousands of unwed moth-
ers who were forced by govern-
ment policies to give up their
babies for adoption over several
decades.
More than 800 people affect-
ed by the policy cried and
cheered as they listened to the
apology in the Great Hall of Par-
liament House and responded
with a standing ovation when it
was finished.
NICOSIA, Cyprus
Cyrpus mulls, new
bailout plan
Cypriot politicians moved
Thursday to restructure the coun-
try's most troubled bank as part of
a broader bailout plan that must be
in place by Monday to avoid finan-
cial ruin. Concerned customers
rushed to get cash from ATMs as
bank employees protested.
Cyprus has been told it must
raise 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 bil-
lion) if it is to receive iO billion
euros ($12.9 billion) from its fel-
low eurozone countries and the
International Monetary Fund. If it
does not find a wayby Monday, the
European Central Bank said it will
cut off emergency support to the
banks, lettingthem collapse.
That would throw the country
into financial chaos and, ultimate-
ly, cause it to leave the eurozone,
with unpredictable consequences
for the region.
JERUSALEM
Obama heckler

called out during
speech to students
President Barack Obama was
interrupted by a heckler while
giving a speech to an audience of
Israeli university students, but
he didn't lose his cool.
The president was talking
about the U.S. being a close ally to
Israel when the heckler piped up.
The crowd shouted him down.
"This is part of the lively
debate that we talked about,"
said an unruffled Obama. "This
is good."
That got him a standing ova-
tion from many of the students.
"I have to say we actually
arranged for that because it made
me feel at home," Obama said,
grinning. "I wouldn't feel com-
fortable if I didn't have at least
one heckler."
- Complied from
Daily wire reports

Notebook: Regents give

CSG debate looks

approval for renovations at diverse issues

$55 million
Taubman library
renovation the
largest single item
By JENNIFER CALFAS,
SAM GRINGLAS AND
PETER SHAHIN
Daily StaffReporters and
Daily News Editor
At Thursday's meeting of
the Board of Regents, the Uni-
versity's top governing body
approved a number of renova-
tion and construction projects
and a number of honorary
degrees to be granted during
May's commencement ceremo-
nies and heard from University
President Mary Sue Coleman
about the selection of Dick
Costolo, CEO of Twitter, as the
speaker for the event.
Coleman began her remarks
by recognizing last month's
$50-million donation to LSA.
The donation, made by Univer-
sity alum Helen Zell, the wife
of real estate mogul Samuel
Zell, was used to establish 22
permanent scholarships for a
master's program in creative
writing. The contribution
marks the biggest donation in
the college's history and the
third largest to the University.
"Just as Helen Zell is a
thoughtful and engaged gradu-
ate of the University, so, too, is
Dick Costolo, the CEO of Twit-
ter - the speaker at this year's
commencement program,"
Coleman said. "This is a pow-
erful group of individuals that
are leaders inbusiness, arts and
humanities and philanthropy."
The big-ticket item on
the regents' agenda was the
approval of architectural
designs for a renovation to
the Taubman Health Sciences
Library. The Taubman Health
Sciences Library is one of the
largest medical libraries in the
United States and also holds
some of the oldest medical
records in the world - some
dating as far back as 1470. The
$55-million project was origi-
nally approved at the April
2012 meeting.
During the renovation, the
library will transfer parts of
its collection to an offsite loca-
tion to open up floor space for
academic use. The 137,000
square-foot renovation budgets
a smaller area for the actual
library collection and more
space for instructional needs.
New additions will include a
clinical skills and simulation
suite, more computing and
study areas, and space desig-
nated for faculty and student
service.
The Medical School will
bear the cost of the project,
scheduled to be completed in
fall 2015. There will be 72 on-
site workers employed during
the renovation process.
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo
and six others granted
honorary degrees
The regents approved six
honorary degree recipients in
addition to this year's spring
commencement speaker, Twit-
ter CEO and 1985 alum Dick

Costolo.
In an interview with the
Daily on Sunday, Costolo said
he was surprised by the Uni-
versity's choice of speaker.
"It's really the single great-
est honor I could ever imag-
ine receiving," Costolo said.
"When I grew up as a kid out-
side of Detroit in Troy, I always
wanted to go to Michigan.
It was the only university I
applied to, and I always knew I
wanted to go there."
The regents also approved
six other honorary degree
recipients, which will be pre-
sented in April.
University alum and philan-
thropist William Brehm will
receive a Doctor of Laws. The
co-founder and chair of SRA
International, a consulting
firm focused on national secu-
rity, Brehm previously worked
at the Department of Defense
during the 1960s and 1970s.
He has made significant dona-
tions to the University, nota-

bly an $8-million contribution
to renovate the Earl V. Moore
building at the School of Music,
Theatre & Dance.
The University will honor
ballerina and educator Suzanne
Farrell this spring with a Doc-
tor of Fine Arts. Farrell cur-
rently produces the dance
company she founded that's
produced at the Kennedy Cen-
ter in Washington, D.C.
Recipient Rosabeth Kanter,
former editor of the Harvard
Business Review and a business
professor at Harvard Business
School, has published multiple
books on business leadership
and sustainability. She will
receive a Doctor of Letters.
From University of Michi-
gan-Flint, former Democratic
Congressman Dale Kildee (D)
will receive a Doctor of Laws.
Kildee served in office for 36
years before his retirement last
year.
David McCullough, Pulitzer
Prize and Presidential Medal
of Freedom honoree, will
receive a Doctor of Humane
Letters.
He is a historian and the
author of several bestselling
biographies on U.S. presidents
and other historical topics.
Jeffrey Sachs, economist and
director of the Earth Institute
at Columbia University, will
receive a Doctor of Science at
the University of Michigan-
Dearborn. As a special adviser
to the United Nations Secretary
General, his work has focused
on international development
and poverty eradication.
Coleman lauded this year's
honorees for contributions that
align with future aspirations of
this year's graduates.
"Their accomplishments
speak well to the potential
and promise of our graduating
class," Coleman said.
Regents approve South
Quad and Moore Building
renovation
While South Quad sche-
matic renovation designs
were approved last month, the
regents approved construction
bids and contracts for the proj-
ect.
With a price tag of $60 mil-
lion, the project calls for reno-
vation of South Quad's ground
and first floors as well as bath-
rooms throughout the building,
encompassing nearly 106,700
square feet. The design calls
for an updated and enlarged
dining facility akin to the Hill
Dining Center, which serves as
a dining hub for the Hill neigh-
borhood.
Additionally, reconfigured
study spaces, music practice
rooms, and study lounges will
foster new spaces for student
interaction.
Along with prominent
changes to the space, infra-
structure improvements will
include new plumbing, fire
detection and suppression sys-
tems, wireless Internet and
accessibility improvements.
Generating 131 on-site con-
struction jobs, the project is
scheduled for completion in the
summer of 2014.
Regents also authorized
reconstruction of the Earl V.
Moore Building roof for an

estimated cost of $1.8 million
funded by investment pro-
ceeds.
The current roof has exceed-
ed its projected life span and
is now showing signs of wear,
Slottow said in a communica-
tion to the regents. The project,
which includes improvements
to roof walkway surfaces and
roofing systems, will be com-
pleted by the fall of 2013.
Regents approve softball
facility schematic designs
During the meeting, regents
also approved the schematic
design for the Softball Center
New Facility project. The agen-
da item included a revised bud-
get and a proposal to increase
allocated funds from $4 million
to $5.2 million with the assis-
tance of Athletic Department
resources and gifts.
In a communication with the
regents, Athletic Director Dave
Brandon and Timothy Slottow,

the University's executive vice
president and chief financial
officer, said the original project
budget presented in October
underestimated the true cost of
the facility.
Integrated Architecture will
complete the 10,200 square-
foot project, which will include
new player and coaching staff
locker rooms, new offices,
hydrotherapy pools, fitness
spaces and meeting spaces.
Slated for completion in
winter 2014, the project will
employ 19 on-site construction
workers.
Winter Classic may be
back on for January 1, 2014
Coleman also used the meet-
ing to announce that, despite
a cancellation this year, the
Big House tentatively plans
to host the NHL Winter Clas-
sic on Jan. 1, 2014. The Winter
Classic was supposed to take
place earlier this year, but was
canceled due to the National
Hockey League's lockout and
labor dispute.
While the regents affirmed
their support for hosting the
classic, associate athletic direc-
tor Dave Ablauf said the NHL
has not officially confirmed
the event and won't until they
announce the resolution of
their labor contracts.
"They haven't announced
any date yet. The regents con-
firmed the support for when-
ever the NHL announces it,"
Ablauf said.
The NHL was forced to pay
the University $100,000 last
year despite the cancellation.
The NHL will compensate the
University up to $3 million for
the use of the Big House during
the event.
See the proposed schematics
for the Taubman Health Scienc-
es Library and the Softball Cen-
ter at michigandaily.con
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Candidates spar
over diversity,
entrepreneurship
By AMRUTHA SIVAKUMAR
and STEPHEN YAROS
Daily StaffReporters
Eighty minutes was all it took
for the five presidential candi-
dates to express their views on
issues that the Central Student
Government would face in the
follow academic year.
While Business junior Scott
Christopher appeared as an inde-
pendent candidate, all others
represented a party or an orga-
nization. These included LSA
junior Chris Osborn, forUM's
candidate and current CSG
treasurer; LSA freshman Nick
Swider, momentUM's candidate,
a CSG intern and the sole fresh-
man to run for the presidency
in CSG history; Business junior
Michael Proppe, youMICH can-
didate and CSG speaker; and LSA
sophomore Chene Karega, DAAP
vice presidential candidate and
running mate for Rackham stu-
dent Ashley Garrick.
During the previous CSG
assembly meeting, a controver-
sial resolution to support the
University's divestment from fos-
sil fuels failed to pass. Represen-
tatives for the Divest and Invest
movement, which supported the
resolution, were present at the
debate and questioned the candi-
dates on their views.
While Proppe believed that
divestment would not solve any
sustainability issues on campus,
other candidates affirmed its
importance and hoped to look
into renewing the resolution in
the next year.
Diversity was another prev-
alent theme throughout the
debate, and the issue reached a
head when a student in the audi-
ence addressed the issue. When
asked if they support affirma-
tive action, the answer from each,
candidate was a "yes."
All five candidates said minor-
ity student representation was
a problem at the University
and believed that affirmative
action was part of the solution.
Proppe admitted to having con-
flicted views on the issue not
long before. Daniel Morales, a
youMICH candidate and leader
of Coalition for Tuition Equal-

ity, helped convince Proppe to
change his views.
"I admit in the past I did not
support affirmative action in col-
lege admissions," Proppe said.
"But I think it is extremely impor-
tantto have that diversity of expe-
rience, to learn from people with
different backgrounds than you."
The other candidates echoed
Proppe's sentiments, agreeing
that the implementation of such
policies would promote a more
diverse studentbody.
Reflecting DAAP's role in the
University as an advocate for
minority issues, Karega spoke
out on the issue.
"We are all Americans and we
believe that everyone deserves to
go to school, everyone needs edu-
cation," Karega said. "We want
to double minority enrollment at
this University."
Under the leadership of CSG
President Manish Parikh and
Vice President Omar Hashwi,
CSG involvement with entrepre-
neurship has grown over the past
year. All candidates, except for
that runningunder DAAP, voiced
support for entrepreneurship.
youMICH's platform cur-
rently involves creating a resi-
dential learning community that
would provide students with a
5-year curriculum during which
they would earn a bachelor's and
master's degree in business while
creating small businesses.
Onthe other hand, Osbornsaid
forUM would work on developing
curricula already in the works,
such as the Flipped Semester,
rather than creating anything
entirely new. The Flipped Semes-
ter is a proposed nine-credit
entrepreneurship learning expe-
rience that would replace a tradi-
tional semester at the University.
Christopher's involvement
with Parikh's endeavors as the
chair of the ECommission and
president of MPowered has
placed him in the middle of
many entrepreneurial initiatives
this year. He said that this focus
would continue in the following
year under his presidency.
While the ECommission is the
most funded commission in CSG,
Karega thought that there were
more vital issuescthatthe CSG could
focus their energies on than sup-
porting business-minded students.
"Ijustwantto remind everyone
that there is the Ross School of
Business, so if anyone wants, they
can go there."

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