The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, March 28, 2013 - 3A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Thursday, March 28, 2013 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS LANSING, Mich. Group submits petitions for vote on wolf hunting A coalition of environmental and animal welfare groups says it has filed petitions seeking a statewide referendum on wolf hunting. The group called Keep Michi- gan Wolves Protected submitted 253,705 signatures to the secre- tary of state's office in Lansing on Wednesday. If officials verify that at least 161,305 of the signatures are valid, the issue could be placed on the November 2014 election ballot. LANSING, Mich. Snyder signs $23M bill for recreation Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation to spend $23 mil- lion for land purchases, trail upgrades and other recreation projects. The money in the bill signed Wednesday comes from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which consists of royalties from sales and leases of state-owned mineral rights. Most of the 76 grants will go to local governments that also cover part of the projects' costs. The biggest grant goes to Hayes Township in Charlev- oix County, which gets $3.4 million to buy 20 acres with 1,400 feet of Lake Charlevoix shoreline. It previously was the location of a summer camp. MIAMI Guantanamo prisoners say guards withold water Prisoners taking part in an expanding hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay leveled new complaints about their military jailers Wednesday as a team from the International Com- mittee of the Red Cross made a fact-finding trip to the U.S. base in Cuba. In an emergency motion filed with a federal court in Wash- ington, lawyers say guards have refused to provide drinking water to hunger strikers and kept camp temperature "extremely frigid," to thwart the protest. A spokesman for the detention center denied the allegations. "The reality is that these men are slowly withering away and we as a country need to take immediate action," said Mari Newman, a human rights lawyer based in Denver, who was among those who submitted the motion. ATHENS, Greece Bomb explodes near Acropolis in central Athens A bomb exploded outside a Greek ship owner's house near a crowded pedestrian area under the Acropolis in central Athens on Wednesday night, causing minor damage but no injuries, police said. The explosion a few hundred meters from the country's most famous monument occurred at about 8:30 p.m., after a warning call to a Greek newspaper. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which follows a string of bomb attacks in the financially- struggling country by anarchist groups that have caused no major injuries or loss of life. Police spokesman Panagiotis Papapetropoulos said officers were able before the blast to evacuate one or two people from the building and to seal off the area. "Judging by the minor extent of the damage, it can't have been a very strong explosive device," he said. - Complied from Daily wire reports E-MAIL From Page 1A for the party. "Mr. Davis is the party chair, not legal chair," Lane said. "He was not authorized to disclose this information. Mr. Davis regrets the error in question." Swider released an individu- al statement as well, expressing disappointment with the inci- dent and concern with the use of blackmail. "I am incredibly disappoint- ed with the lack of integrity, character, and honor by forUM and its leaders," Swider said. "Obviously, I don't give a damn about a personal attack against my appearance." This incident, however, illu- minates a larger issue - pre- paring and filing complaints to gain a competitive advantage over other campaigns. Com- plaints are heard by the UEC, the CSG judicial branch, and can results in demerits. Par- ties and candidates can only be issued 10 and five demerits respectively before they're dis- qualified. A suit was filed last year against Business senior Man- ish Parikh and LSA sopho- CONTRACTS From Page 1A the last week before right to work takes effect Thursday. Collective bargaining units rep- resenting University workers announced that union members from five different labor groups have ratified new tentative agreements with the Univer- sity over the last few weeks: the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employ- ees; the Graduate Employees' Organization; the House Offi- cers Association; the Lecturers' Employee Organization and the Michigan Nurses Association. Together, these five unions rep- resent about 11,000 University employees. The recently ratified agree- ments - which will last four to five years, depending on the organization - don't ful- fill Pscholka's 10-percent cut threshold. "While it's not completely clear how the 10 percent would be measured, we do not believe 10 percent savings is achiev- able," University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said in an email. Pscholka believes the Univer- sity could reduce tuition costs by spending some of its $8-bil- lion endowment on scholar- ships and by spending some of ENDOWMENT From Page 1A paign, said she predicts the Uni- versity could begin divestment in five years. "It's also about putting our values here at the University of Michigan into practice and say- ing that as a socially responsible institution we should be socially responsible in our investments," Pfeiffer said. Marvin said that while the energy sector of the Univer- sity's endowment has been the "top performer" during the last decade, past success doesn't ensure future success. "You can't use historical returns to predict the future. That's just poor investment practice," Marvin said. "So the argument that the energy industry has done terrific and will continue to do terrific just because it has been doing well doesn't have any basis in reality." The campaign has about 150 total members, which includes a VIDEO From Page 1A director, wrote in a statement that the "video showed poor judgment, in our view, and an insensitivity to race issues. This was bad leadership." In a letter to the editor pub- lished in Wednesday's edition of The Michigan Daily, LSA senior Nol Gordon wrote that the video was a "clearly not-so- veiled attempt at showing us just how "with it" - read: black - youMich really is." more Omar Hashwi - then candidates for CSG - regard- ing a supporter who e-mailed listservs he didn't own. In the end, the UEC voted 3-2 the duo would only receive four demerits. That complaint alone delayed the release of the results by nearly 10 hours and eventually delayed the ratifica- tion of the election results sev- eral weeks. "My impression is that the way that these things normally work is that you don't take any legal action really until after the election is over or until very close to the election being over," Lane said. Lane added that forUM has been doing nothing out of the ordinary in this regard. "Everything that we are doing is exactly what all the other parties are doing. It's exactly what the other par- ties are doing," Lane said. "It's exactly what parties have done in the past." Still, Lane said forUM does not plan on using complaints or hearings as a way of win- ning elections, but that parties "keeping tabs" on one another is the norm. "We all mutually under- stand that that's the reality of the situation," he said. its "unencumbered reserves." "Cost-saving measures are a good thing that can help you save tuitiondollars and still have a good, high-quality education," Pscholka said. "Chances are your parents aren't getting five- and eight-year contract exten- sions with guaranteed raises." Though some feel universi- ties are being attacked by the bill, Pscholka said he is simply standing up for his constituents. "If some universities choose not to participate in the (spend- ing) increase, that's their choice, not mine, and they should be held accountable for it," Pschol- ka said. "It seems everybody has a lobbyist (in Lansing) except students and parents and tax- payers. So I plan to be a lobbyist for students, parents and tax- payers." Pscholka questioned the University's motives for get- ting a contract done earlier this month, consideringthe impend- ing change to union's rights in the state. Negotiations for the LEO contract began back in Novem- ber, before the right-to-work legislation was passed. Fitzger- ald said such a timeframe is typ- ical for these negotiations. "I would just point out that legislation doesn't take effect until (Thursday), and that's what the legislature approved," Fitzgerald said. range of students, the campaign has partnered with numerous organizations, including the Program in the Enviornment club, the Public Health Sustain- ability Initiative, Students for Clean Energy and the Student Sustainability Initiative. Pfiefer said the group plans to raise awareness on campus by attend- ing regents' meetings and host- ing a DiagsDay on April 3. The movement has not been met with widespread acceptance. While LSA Student Govern- ment passed a resolution in sup- port of divestment from fossil fuels two weeks ago, the Cen- tral Student Government voted down a similar resolution after weeks of deliberation. Rackham Rep. Wonwoo Lee voted in favor of the resolution to support divestment from fos- sil fuels. "As an institution - as the Leaders and the Best - we real- ly, truly have to consider these institutional divestments as a necessary measure to curb cli- mate change," Lee said. The video was also brought up at Tuesday night's CSG assembly meeting when LSA sophomore Chavon Taylor addressed the assembly in community concerns. "A lot of people in my com- munity - the African-Amer- ican community - were very offended by this video," Tay- lor said, adding that the video was "ignorant" and "insensi- tive." At the meeting, CSG presi- dent Manish Parikh said he hadn't seen the video, but it said it's important that if stu- Business junior Scott Christopher, the independent presidential candidate, LSA sophomore Laurel Ruza, the chair of youMICH, and Clancy said they don't plan on holding or preparing any complaints to file on Thursday. All three, however, declined to absolute- ly rule that possibility out. "I do know some people are thinking of strategies on how to file lawsuits, but we haven't put much thought into that," Christopher said. Ruza noted the negative connotation with filing com- plaints late. "We try not to wait until the last minute," Ruza said. "I think that does look like you're trying to kick somebody out specifically." Ruza said that when suits are filed to counter other suits, smaller infractions that are commonly ignored might come into play. "If we're being attacked with small violations and that sort we do have those violations that we've seen as well," Ruza said. "It's nothing that we want to embark on, but at some point parties start doing these stra- tegic little petty UEC violations and it kind of is a back and forth at that point." Pscholka emphasized that the government and the pub- lic should act with a greater sense of urgency in dealingwith tuition costs and other fiscal issues, noting that the country is in $78 to $90 trillion in debt and unfunded liabilities. "I'm not trying to go after unions, not trying to screw anybody," Pscholka said. "I'm very concerned about the fis- cal condition of the nation and the state. I'm not going to spend money I don't have, and I'm not going to put more debt on the next generation." State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) said ratifying LEO's new contract was not just about combating right to work, but also "about trying to make up for a chronic issue of underpay- inglecturers." Pscholka claimed that old labor contracts for Uni- versity employees compensated them fairly. Irwin said he also felt that the motives for Pscholka's bill were different than those that he had expressed. "(Republicans) want to hamper the effectiveness of labor unions because it serves their political interests," Irwin said. "The reason Republicans passed right to work is because they wanted to weaken the Democratic Party. It's all about politics - it has nothing to do with good public policy." LSA junior Russ Hayes, an LSA representative, said he doesn't think divestments are something student government should focus on. "We're a student government that ought to be supporting real- istic, tangible, impactful reso- lutions for campus," he said. "I don't think the divestment reso- lution, while well-intentioned, met those goals." The issue has also become an issue in the CSG presidential elections. The Divest and Invest campaign endorsed forUM can- didates. forUM, the Defend Affir- mative Action Party and the campaign of independent Scott Christopher said they support- ed divestment from fossil fuels in individual statements. you- MICH, however, said that while it supports sustainability, divest- ment is not the best solution. "YouMICH supports sustain- able efforts on campus through research and clean energy," the statement read. "However, divestment from the 900 million dents are doing anything that may be insensitive toward other students, it should always be brought to the attention of the campus, not just during an election. "Whenever such content anywhere on campus happens for any community, I think all of us should be vigilant about this throughout the year," he said, adding that he believes Business junior . Michael Proppe and LSA sophomore Bobby Dishell - youMICH's presidential ticket - are "very fine individuals." DINGELL From Page 1A your government. I work for you." Dingell also spoke about his rebuttal to Congressman Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget plan. He said Ryan has been vague and misleading with his use of future tax reforms, and claimed his policies are not geared towards increasing affordability for U.S. citizens. "Frankly, it's fiction," Dingell said. "He takes and repeals all of the Affordable Care Acts, except things that are going to increase federal revenue. He eliminates all the things that are going to provide additional care." Dingell is against Ryan's replacement of Medicare's defined benefit plan with a voucher system because, infla- tion occurs and the cost of living increases, benefits will decrease since they won't be adjusted for inflationary measures. Dingell said stability in the financial sector is vital for investment in the economy and the United States is on the verge of an economic boom. "The U.S. is ready for a period of economic greatness," he said. "And the corporate treasuries are bulging with money, but they don't want to spend ... They want to invest and make jobs because they don't have any apprecia- tion of the financial system we're looking at, because until the bud- get is finally decided, and they have certainty - and business needs certainty. If they get cer- tainty, they'll invest." Public Policy senior Mad- elynne Wager, a member of TCKB, said she thought Ding- ell's perspective as the longest- serving representative on the national debt is vital for creating a successful plan of action for the future. "So if we can understand his experience, and the types of issues he faces, we can then re- orient our actions in the most effective manner," Wager said. Public Policy junior Matt Andonian said he wanted to take advantage of the unique oppor- tunity to see Dingell, and agreed that the budget is not practical for the future. "Obviously (the budget) isn't sustainable. I think there's quite a few things they need to really look at." SCOTUS concludes hearing on DOMA Several justices expected to invalidate part of marriage law union of an purposes of It affect statutes in tus is rele tax breaks! Social Sect efits and, ft WASHINGTON (AP) - Con- health insu cluding two days of intense care for spo debate, the Supreme Court sig- Kennedy naled Wednesday it could give Marriage A a boost to same-sex marriage by on the pow striking down the federal law chosen to that denies legally married gay sex marria spouses a wide range of benefits federal sta offered to other couples. "which in As the court wrapped up its that the fe remarkable arguments over gay intertwined marriage in America, a major day-to-day ity of the justices indicated they risk of runr will invalidate part of the fed- what has ah eral Defense of Marriage Act - be the essen if they can get past procedural power, whit problems similar to those that riage, divo appeared to mark Tuesday's nedy said. case over California's ban on Other ju same-sex marriage, creates wha Since the federal law was Ginsburg c enacted in 1996, nine states and marriage, f the District of Columbia have marriage." made it legal for gays and lesbi- If the coi ans to marry. Same-sex unions part of DC also were legal in California resent a vi for nearly five months in 2008 advocates.] before the Proposition 8 ban. thing short Justice Anthony Kennedy, of gay m often the decisive vote in close that someF cases, joined the four more-lib- justices agi eral justices in raising questions hear the fi Wednesday about a provision challenge t that defines marriage as the same-sex m THE NEW LINE CHINESE CUISINE SPECIALIZING IN HONG KONG, TAIWANESE, SZECHUAN & HUNAN STYLES 734-995-1786 116 S. MAIN STREET E ENW.HURON AND WASHINGTONST.) ANN ARBOR WWW.KAIGARDEN.COM man and a woman for f federal law. s more than 1,100 which marital sta- evant, dealing with for married couples, urity survivor ben- or federal employees, urance and leave to ouses. said the Defense of ct appears to intrude er of states that have recognize same- ges. When so many atutes are affected, our society means deral government is d with the citizens' life, you are at real sing in conflict with ways been thought to nce of the state police ch is to regulate mar- rce, custody," Ken- stices said the law at Justice Ruth Bader alled two classes of full and "skim-milk wrt does strike down OMA, it would rep- ctory for gay rights But it would be some- of the endorsement arriage nationwide envisioned when the reed in December to ederal case and the o California's ban on arriage.