The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, September 20, 2013 - 3 'U' buses will travel to Detroit starting Oct. Friday and Saturday transit will conntect to A2 to Detroit Center By MATTHEW JACKONEN Daily StaffReporter Eastern Market or Campus Martius Park on a Saturday morning? Soon, students will have the option. Beginning Oct. 5, a new Uni- versity-sponsored shuttle transit service will begin taking students from Ann Arbor to the Univer- sity's Detroit Center - with stops at Eastern Market, the Cultural Center, Downtown and south- west Detroit under consideration. The primary aim of the ser- vice is to provide the University community with a more efficient option for getting to and from Detroit, where the University has devoted significant financial and educational resources in recent years in an attempt to broaden student experiences. The University's Detroit Cen- ter and Semester in Detroit Pro- gram announced that a pilot service will be available free of FORREST From Page 1 funding becomes more difficult from funding from the federal government - we have to broad- en our base." However, Forrest added he's concerned about the effects that federal sequestration - an across-the-board, 5.1-percent cut to all discretionary spend- ing - which will be evident in 2014's research report. However, the University is already expe- riencing "shortfalls" in funding because of the cuts. "The research is about eco- nomic growth," Forrest said. "Innovation has long been the source of economic power of this country really since the post-war charge on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the fall semester. Addell Austin Anderson, the director of the University's Detroit Center and co-director of the MDetroit Center Connector, said the continuation of the ser- vice beyond the fall semester isn't guaranteed, but she is "optimis- tic" about securing funding for the winter semester. "It's all going to depend on how successful we are to get riders," Anderson said. "I feel optimistic because we have gotten a huge outpouring of support and people that are interested." Funding for the project almost entirely comes from a $45,000 grant from the Transforming Learning for the Third Century fund - a project of the Third Century Initiative, a University program to explores innovative teaching opportunities. Anderson also emphasized that this project is fulfilling a need that many University affili- ates and Detroiters have had for a while. "This is something that has been a long time coming," Ander- son said. "There has been some frustration that there hasn't been an easy way to get (to and from) campus and Detroit." Anderson added that the ser- vice will be beneficial to both Ann Arbor and Detroit residents in that both can more easily enjoy the benefits of the two cities, calling it a "two-way street." She hopes the service will provide new opportunity to "get off cam- pus andgo see what'sgoingon" in Detroit. Another shuttle service to the Dearborn area is also under con- sideration. The first shuttle to Detroit will leave Ann Arbor at 8:15 a.m. on Friday and the last shuttle will return at 8:45 p.m. On Sat- urday, the first shuttle will leave Ann Arbor at 8:00 a.m., and the final shuttle will return at 11:00 p.m. The tentative schedule was formed based on an online survey filled out by University students and staff. LSA senior Haley Sakwa, chair ofCSG's Detroit Commission, said the shuttle program's organizers consulted with the commission and the newly-reformed Detroit Coalition in trying to gauge stu- dent interest and determining when there would be demand for the service. "You can't expect the Detroit Center to reach out to all the stu- dent groups (focused on Detroit) on campus," Sakwa said. "Unless we make it easy for the adminis- tration to include what we have to say, I don't think they'll be able to include the students voices and opinions in their decision." Sakwa added that while the commission has some concerns about the funding for the pro- gram, given that it has a limited time grant, she is hopeful that it will continue past the trial period this fall. LSA junior Michael Baroody said the service is long overdue. "As an institution for higher education we have much to learn from Detroit," Baroody said. "For me personally, having been involved with the campus farm in the past, I see a huge potential for partnerships and programs with Detroit's urban agriculturists." Baroody said it would help stu- dents appreciate what the city has to offer the University and stu- dents. "While there are partner- ships with Detroit already in place ... this will most definitely foster a new level of interest and appreciation for this great American city," Baroody said. "Having only been to Detroit once or twice, I can't wait until this takes effect." era. This is very much going to hurt our prospects in the future being able to compete on an international level." Forrest, who will step down from his current role in Janu- ary, has served as vice president for research since 2006. His ten- ure has been marked by signifi- cant growth in the University's research budget despite econom- ic challenges - growing from a little more than $800 million in 2008 to $1.33 billion currently. Forrest received his doctorate in physics in from the Univer- sity in 1979 and went on to work at Bell Labs - a storied basic research laboratory owned at the time by AT&T - and assumed his first teaching position at Princ- eton University in 1992. His biog- raphy states that he has written around 465 journal articles and holds 203 patents. He will rejoin the College of Engineering as a faculty member while also working on growing some of the companies he has helped found. Forrest will also devote time to working on his research project - one of the largest in the College of Engi- neering's portfolio. "What I'm really looking for- ward to is being able to focus on one set of problems, rather than focusing on administration of a giant University - which has been exciting in all dimensions - but I also had to maintain a really excellent and robust research program," Forrest said. Forrest added that during his eight years in Ann Arbor, the University has actively worked to engage both large and small busi- ness and foster economic growth in the region. "When you walked through the city of Ann Arbor (in 2006 or 2007), you wouldn't see small business activity," Forrest said. "Now, if you walk around, walk down Liberty, walk in any num- ber of directions, you'll see small high-tech startups listed every- where. "It's definitely helping our economy in many, many ways - not just for start-up companies, but also with our engagement with big companies like GM, Toyota and Dow." University President Mary Sue Coleman will soon appoint an interim vice president of research while the search for a permanent successor is underway. -Daily Staff ReporterJennifer Calfas contributed reporting. SNOWE From Page 1 cal process and possible solutions to these problems. Above all else, Snowe emphasized that the spirit of bipartisanship would be the key to solving the nation's myriad issues. "Our (political) system should be a marketplace of ideas predi- cated on consensus building, not a battle of ideology," she said. Snowe lamented Congress's many "self-engineered and man- ufactured crises." The downgrad- ing of the country's credit rating in 2011, she argued, was in part caused by legislative inaction on the debt and entitlement spend- ing; this past January, as a result of earlier failed negotiations, it took Congress right up to the 11th hour to finally resolve the fiscal cliff issue, that economists warned would have had serious consequences on the economy as a whole. The habit of "legislating up to deferral and brinkmanship," as Snowe described it, still persists, as Congress must deal with bud- get issues to avert a government shutdown before Sept. 30 and decide whether or not to raise the debt ceiling by mid-October. Compounding this concern was Snowe's claim that there's "very little institutional memory" of how the legislative process worked within both chambers. According to Snowe, more than half of the members of both the Senate and House have fewer than 6 years of experience, mak- ing them only familiar with the current climate of dysfunction and inaction. Snowe acknowledged that part of the reason for the rise in par- tisanship and polarization had to do with shifting demographics among the electorate, referencing pollster Nate Silver's statistical estimate that the number ofswing districts in the House shrank from 103in1992 to just 35 in 2012. Because of this, "most elections are predetermined before they even occur," creating"little politi- cal incentive to reach across the aisle." In addition to issues within Congress, Snowe also cited the MUNGER From Page 1 from Thompson Street, with an additional student entrance and loading dock at the back of the complex. The residence will have eight floors, and the top floor will fea- ture lounges, study spaces and a fitness center, accompanied by a running track. Becker said this is his "favorite" floor since it allows residents to interact with each other ina common space. After the regents approved the design, Regent Andrew C. Rich- net (R) said he was happy the design represented an innovative living space that aims to engage graduate students from a variety of disciplines who may not other- wise interact. Since the expected cost of liv- ing inthe hall is $1,000per month, Rackham students have asked the regents to work to lower the price. Rackham student Kaitlin Flynn, vice president of Rackham Student Government, spoke dur- ing the public-comments section, stressing her opposition to the building's cost. Flynn said graduate students, like many undergraduates, live on a fixed income and do not have financial help from their parents, making $1,000 per month an unreasonable amount to expect for housing. Along with Flynn, Public Obama administration's failure to communicate on a consistent basis with congressional lead- ers as a cause of dysfunction. She referenced how former President Ronald Reagan and former House Speaker Tip O'Neill would meet every week, and despite their vast ideological differences, under- stood what they had to overcome for the good of the country. Since leaving office, Snowe has embarked on a speaking tour to promote her book, "Fighting for Common Ground," and has estab- lished Olympia's List, a political action committee that supports congressional candidates in both parties who value bipartisanship and consensus. College campuses have been a popular destination on Snowe's tour because of her desire to com- municate to young people about the importance of public service and what the mission of public service is all about: to solve prob- lems and achieve practical results. "I don't want (students) to be turned off by this (political) cli- mate and I don't want them to take their cues from this climate," Snowe said in an interview before the event. "I'd rather change it." Prior to delivering her lecture, Snowe spent much of her day meeting with students. She had a question-and-answer session with Prof. John Schwarz's pub- lic-policy class, had lunch with another group of Public Policy students, and held a question and answer session with Women and Gender in Public Policy, a student organization within the Ford School. Public Policy graduate student Erin Sullivan, amember of WGPP, said Snowe was very candid in talking about her experience in the Senate. "She wanted the full experi- ence, and she gave plenty of stu- dents the opportunity to engage with her, which is what we should be striving for," Sullivan said. Crucial to changing the cul- ture of dysfunction, according to Snowe, is involving people - especially students - in the polit- ical process. "We're a representative gov- ernment; we get the government we demand," Snowe said before the event. "If we value bipartisan- ship, we will get it." Health student Cameron Glenn, president of the Public Health Student Assembly, and Michael Proppe, the Central Student Gov- ernment president, said at the meeting that they wished the University took more student input into consideration before proposing the schematic design. In response to the students' comments, E. Royster Harper, the University's vice president for student affairs, said she hopes the board can make the housing more affordable. She added that the creation of the residences is necessary as the last graduate stu- dent housing option constructed was Northwood V in 1971. Harper attended a forum host- ed by Rackham students last week to answer questions and concerns that students had over the design. At the forum, students were pri- marily concerned with the com- munity-livingstyle ofthe building and its cost to future residents. Harper told the students that the administration has to signifi- cantly consider Munger's vision for the building because he was so heavily involved in the planning process. "If this were 'just us' and the funding were 'just us,' we would have some different kinds of options," Harper said at the forum. "But I think when you are in partnership ... you make some agreements about what you're going to offer, then we have to honor those agreements." W MUG From Page 1 "The Michigan Union is actu- ally all about people," Union Director Susan Pile told the Michigan Daily. "The food is a key motivator, but what we actu- ally want to see is people hanging out with their friends down here or meeting for a study group." Pile said her favorite part of the new design is the community table, which was brought out of storage after being carved by stu- STEALING From Page 1 stole them at all. UMPD Chief Joe Piersante said an individual called police after the suspect was spotted carrying multiple laptops. The trespass warning - which was issued in May - required that the man stay away from all Uni- versity buildings. "At that time, it was just a dents in 1911. "We were able to bring it out and I think it's a really nice way to marry the present with the past," Pile said. "It tells a story and serves a function and that's really what we're about, so I think it's perfect." She added that the University Unions's motto is "creating life- time memories," which she feels the space will better allow stu- dents to do. "In the past you might have done it or seen people where they're like 'I'm just going to get my sandwich and leave, I don't want to be down here,' "Pile said. "It was dark, and the response that we got from students was that it felt like you were eating in a basement, which no one wants to do, so it definitely doesn't any- more." LSA senior Adam Kleven was one of several students who offered his input as part of the Union committee. One of the committee's duties was assessing which restaurants and vendors would be a part of the Union's new lineup. "Ahmo's being a local business was an important factor in why we chose them, and Subway has been a great partner, and they're an affordable option, so that's important to students," he said. Kleven said he believes that student involvement is always going to be an important part of the Union. "The Union was created by students for students, soI believe it's very important that they feel like it's a place they want to be and like their interests were rep- resented," he said. "Overall, I'm very happy with the turn-out and know that other students will be too." warning," Piersante said of the initial warning. "He was asked to leave the property, and if he came back he was subject to arrest." University Police described Kirtikar's current living situa- tion as transient and between residences. Up until several months ago, he was living in an apartment in Ann Arbor, Pier- sante said. Kirtikar was arraigned Thurs- day on four counts of financial transaction device crimes and one count of receiving stolen property. His bond was set at $100,000 cash. Piersante said investigating Kirtikar for theft of the devices will probably take a couple of weeks, during which time Uni- versity Police will attempt to determine the origins of the stolen devices, if any fraudulent charges were made on the sto- len credit cards, to whom they belong and what he planned to do with all of the belongings. "It's a little easier for the cred- it cards because they have IDs on them," Piersante said. "It's a little harder for the laptops and cell- phones." Piersante stressed the impor- tance for University students to register their electronics and bicycles. Had these devic- es been registered, Piersante said it would be much easier to return them to their rightful owners. UN Sec-General meets with Iran's new president UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Iran's foreign minister and the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon exchanged views Thursday on the country's con- troversial nuclear program and its potential role in end- ing the Syrian conflict, two issues expected to dominate next week's annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. Mohammad Javad Zarif, a former U.N. ambassador, returned to U.N. headquar- ters for the first time since he was named foreign minister by the country's new president, Hasan Rouhani, who will be making his first appearance at the General Assembly on Tues- day. "I commend the efforts of the new government in Iran in pro- moting dialogue with the inter- national community," Ban said. "I'm pleased thegovernment... is now taking some concrete steps to fulfill the promises made by president Rouhani during his recent election campaign." After years of frozen diplo- matic relations, U.S. President Barack Obama and Rouhani, considered a relative moder- ate in Iran's hard-line clerical regime, exchanged letters after his election. This has fueled widespread speculation that U.S. and Iranian officials may meet on the sidelines of the Gen- eral Assembly. Avaaz, an activist organiza- tion that uses the internet to mobilize support for various political issues, said it launched a campaign this week which has already been signed by more than 1.1 million people calling on the U.S. and Iranian leaders to agree to talks at the General Assembly. It is also running polls in Iran to gauge opinion on a U.S.-Iran meeting. "This could be President Obama's Nixon-to-China moment that would save Syr- ian lives - the question is whether the two reform- minded leaders who will soon be mere steps away from each other in New York will seize it," Avaaz Campaign Director Ian Bassin said. Zarif hosted a lunch for many U.N. ambassador and Wednesday and invited the five permanent members of the Security Council - the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France. Several ambassadors who attended said they did not see U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power and a well-informed U.N. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because the lunch was private, said the U.S. did not attend. The secretary-general told reporters he had "a very good meeting" with Zarif and praised the government's release Wednesday of 12 political pris- oners - a move Ban said he pushed for when he visited Iran in August 2012. U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky added that they dis- cussed "Iran's growing coop- eration with the international community on a host of issues, including the nuclear file, as well the role Iran could play in promoting a political solution to the conflict in Syria." Zarif was equally upbeat about the meeting. "We had a good meeting with the secretary-general, dis- cussed various issues of interest to all countries including Iran and the United Nations," the Iranian foreign minister told several reporters. "We attach great importance to the role of the United Nations and we had a good discussion on the nuclear issue and on other issues." WE KINDA LIKE YOU. DO YOU LIKE US? D YES Q NO D MAYBE Please check one. OR JUST PROVE IT ON FACEBOOK. Facebook.com/michigandaily ' II I A