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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, September 20, 2013
michigandaily.com
ADMINISTRATION
Forrest to
step down
from VPof
research
Cites desire to
rejoin faculty,
work on developing
private enterprises
By PETER SHAHIN
Daily News Editor
At the Board of Regents meet-
ing Tuesday, Stephen Forrest,
vice president for research,
announced the University's com-
bined research budget for the fis-
cal year ending June 30 reached a
record $1.33 billion - a $54.7-mil-
lion increase over last year's bud-
get of $1.27 billion. Forrest also
announced his intention to leave
his current position to return to a
normal faculty position.
As in previous years, federal
funding from a variety of agen-
cies and departments makes up
the majority of the research bud-
get, contributing a combined 62
percent of the $1.33 billion. The
National Institutes of Health,
the single largest benefactor at
$509.7 million, reduced its fund-
ing by $9.3 million from last year
- but other agencies, including
the National Science Foundation,
NASA, the Air Force and the Fed-
eral Highway Administration,
more than made up that differ-
ence.
Another bright spot in the
portfolio is blossoming research
partnerships with private indus-
try, which grew 14 percent since
last year to $73 million. Although
partnerships remain a small part
of the overall portfolio, their
share has consistently grown
over the last few years and willbe
increasingly important as federal
support stagnates or declines.
According to the National Sci-
ence Foundation, the average
institution derives five percent of
its external research from indus-
try - less than the University's
eight percent from such partner-
ships.
Support for research from the
state of Michigan increased six-
fold over the past year, but still
amounts to only $3.5 million.
"The faculty are getting much
more rewarded from the culture
by working with industries," For-
rest said in an interview after the
meeting. "That's part of diversi-
fying the portfolio as research
See FORREST, Page 3
University officials cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Michigan Union Grill dining area on Thursday.
MUG celebrates reno vations
Celebrations held
for new, 'brighter'
ground floor
of Union
By STEPHANIE SHENOUDA
Daily StaffReporter
With the smell of orange
chicken wafting through the air,
complimentary Frosties from
the Wendy's mascot and the cut-
ting of a ribbon, the Michigan
Union Grill - the dining area in
the Michigan Union's basement
- was officially opened.
Though the pomp and cir-
cumstance of a grand open-
ing took place Thursday, the
MUG was opened to the public
shortly before fall term began.
The space was renovated to cre-
ate a brighter and more inviting
area - a community space for
students as opposed to-simply a
food court.
E. Royster Harper, vice presi-
dent for student affairs, spoke
to the crowd about the historic
importance of the MUG to the
University.
"The MUG has changed and
so have we, depending when
you hailed here," Harper said.
"There was a swimming pool on
the ground floor that was made
into the Alumni Center, that I've
only heard about, but there's a
little bit of our past here, as well
as our commitment to sustain-
ability."
Harper added that the wood
paneling from the former bowl-
ing alley in the Union was pre-
served in the area by Ahmo's-
Mediterranean Grill to be sus-
tainable and give a nod to the
University's past.
Harper also expressed
pride at the amount of student
involvement in planning the
MUG's renovation.
See MUG, Page 3
r CRIME
'U' alum
suspect
in device
theftLs
Credit cards, cell
phones and laptops
found by police
By ARIANA ASSAF
Daily StaffReporter
Laptop larceny is a relatively
common crime on campus, and
while police sometimes catch
suspects red-handed, thieves
don't usually have their collec-
tion of loot at the scene of the
crime.
At the Art and Architecture
Building on Wednesday, Uni-
versity Police arrested Univer-
sity alum Siddharth Kirtikar,
a 28-year-old man who was in
violation of a trespass warning
issued by police. On his person,
police found three laptops as
well as multiple credit cards, cell
phones and external computer
hardware. University Police said
they were unable to determine
whether Kirtikar stole the goods
at the same time or even if he
See STEALING, Page 3
A DMINIST RA TION
Munger Residences
on track with regent
approval for design
TERSA MA THEW/Daily
Former Sen. Olympia Snowe speaks about her 40 years as a legislator at Rackham Auditorium Thursday.
Snowe: Partisanship at root
of Congress's dysfunctiOon
Former senator announcing that she would Thursday to give a lecture
Rackham students
concerned with
expensive costs
of housing
By JENNIFER CALFAS
Daily StaffReporter
As the former Blimpy Burger
building sat unoccupied a block
away, the University's Board
of Regents approved the sche-
matic design for the residence
hall set to take the burger
joint's place at the body's meet-
ing Thursday in the Michigan
Union.
The Munger Graduate Resi-
dences, which will cost about
$180 million to build and is
expected to be complete in
2015, is funded mostly by a
$110-million donation from
University alum Charles Mung-
er, vice chairman of Berkshire
Hathaway. Munger funded a
similar project at Stanford Uni-
versity in 2009. The regents
announced Munger's donation
April 2013, noting that Mung-
er will work closely with the
administration in the construc-
tion process.
Part of Munger's donation is
reserved for a fellowship pro-
gram for graduate students.
Before the board approved the
design, Regent Andrea Fisch-
er Newman (R) said Munger
asked to name his $10-million
fellowship endowment the
Coleman-Munger Fellows.
Newman saidthe name reflects
Coleman's commitment to the
University.
"Mary Sue will be remem-
bered as a great part of this gift
and bringing it in, and we're
honored that he chose to name
the fellows after her," Newman
said.
In a presentation to the
board, Lee Becker of Hart-
man-Cox Architects said the
site "couldn't be better." The
Hartman-Cox Architects and
Integrated Design Solutions
architecture firm worked
together to design the build-
ing. Hartman-Cox previously
designed the Law School'sRob-
ert B. Aikens Commons Addi-
tion and the school's South Hall
in 2011, and Integrated Design
Solutions just finished design-
ing.East Quad Residence Hall.
The building will include 96
apartments with a total of 632
bedrooms organized in seven-
person apartment spaces. Fac-
ing West Quad Residence Hall,
the main entrance will come
See MUNGER, Page 3
le
c
not seek reelection for a fourth
ctures as part term in the Senate. Her reason-
ing for doing so proved to be a
f Ford series sad indictment of the state of
dysfunction in Congress: She
By BEN ATLAS felt she could better solve the
Daily StaffReporter body's issues of polarization
and hyper-partisanship from
mer Senator Olympia the outside.
e, a moderate Republican The former senator, known
Maine, stunned many for being an advocate for com-
al observers in 2012 by promise, came to campus
entitled, "What's Gone Wrong
in Washington, and Why It
Doesn't Have to be this Way"
as part of the Ford School's Citi
Foundation lecture series.
Snowe spoke to the audience
in Rackham Auditorium about
how the federal government
and Congress have gone off-
track, what has contributed to
the undermining of the politi-
See SNOWE, Page 3
For
Snow
from
politic
WEATHER HI: 67
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