The Michigan Daily - michigandai(y.com

Monday, October 7, 2013 - 5A

GLOBAL
From Page 1A
Public Policy junior Tracey
Fu said she attended the con-
ference to hear the speakers
and learn from other passionate
leaders on campus.
LSA senior Rina Joshi said
she expected to learn from
the event how she could effi-
ciently serve as a student

leader of her organization,
FreeHearts.
Majie and Cunningham said
they are beginning to plan the
next coalition event. In the long
run, Majie said he hopes one day
the coalition might not have to
exist.
"If the University took a
strong enough interest in their
students' engagement, then
there wouldn't have to be an ini-
tiative like this," he said.

STUDENTS
From Page 1A
of the tunnel," Worthy said.
"There are people who have
been in your shoes. And yes,
(black students) don't have a
huge community here to sup-

port you, but the ones who are
here, we're definitely here and
prevalent."
Complete with photogra-
phers, freestanding chande-
liers and a red carpet, the event
featured plenty of dancing,,
music, food and the crowning
of the 2013 Ms. Maize and Mr.

Blue.
The two honorifics are tra-
ditionally given to two seniors
- one male and one female -
who attain high academic suc-
cess and represent the values of
community service and social
awareness that Sister 2 Sister
and H.E.A.D.S espouse.

This year's Ms. Maize and
Mr. Blue were LSA and Kine-
siology senior Tiffany Steele
and LSA senior Christopher C.
Horne.
"Winning this is special
because it's based on what you
do and what you put into the
community," Steele said.


From Page lA
100 years later,
. RecSports still
playing strong

Students, alumni,
administrators
celebrate centennial
By MICHAEL SUGERMAN
Daily StaffReporter
In 1972, University alum Jim
Warner and his housemates
formed a team called "Mor-
row's Men," named after their
" landlord. They competed in 16
intramural sports, and Warner
became the Intramural Athlete
of the Year.
Forty-one years later, Warner
- wearing his Morrow's Men
team shirt - looked around the
Intramural Building gym and
saidwith agrin, "The smellis the
same as 40 years ago."
Warner was one of about 350
intramural athletes and employ-
ees of past and present to fill the
gym in celebration of the pro-
gram's centennial Friday.
In 1913, the University was
first in the nation to create a for-
mal department for recreation
on a college campus. Fifteen
years later, it builtthe first dedi-
cated intramural facility in the
country.
"Recreational sports is yet
another contribution that this
remarkable university has
made to all of higher education,
and in so doing, to the lives of
millions of people in this coun-
try - especially millions of
students," said Loren Rullman,
associate vice president for stu-
dent life.
In its 100 years, the program
has expanded from a couple
thousand students to nearly
18,000, playing on more than
2,000 intramural teams, in
addition to 2,000 students on
32 competitive club teams, Rul-
Iman said. The IM Building was
eventually joined by the Cen-
tral Campus Recreation Build-
ing, North Campus Recreation
Building, 38 acres of fields, ten-
nis courts, basketball courts
and several other programs.
Since the intramural pro-
gram was established, approxi-
mately 35 million games have
been played in recreational
facilities, according to Bill Can-
ning, outgoing director of Intra-
mural Sports.
Michigan Radio Network
Color Commentator Jim Brand-
statter, the event's emcee, dis-
cussed +his own memories of
playing IM sports and said they
help students realize their love
for sports even if they can't play
on varsity or club teams.
"The purpose of the pro-
gram is to create transforma-
tive experiences for students
to learn, grow, contribute and
lead," Brandstatter said. "That's
exactly what the University
of Michigan is all about. The
words of the fight song - 'lead-
ers and best' - aren't just lyrics.
They're an attitude."

Canning attested to this sen-
timent with statistics: nearly
70 percent of students played
varsity sports in high school,
whereas only one percent play
on varsity teams at the Univer-
sity, he said.
He said the IM program suc-
cessfully epitomizes the "sports
for all" vision of its founders,
former Michigan basketball
coach Elmer Mitchell and for-
mer Athletic Director Field-
ing Yost, providing avenues for
competition even when varsity
athletics are not a reality.
Though 100 years is a great
milestone to celebrate, it also
means it's time for the Universi-
ty's recreational facilities to be
renovated. As a result - thanks
in part to lobbying by student
coalition "Building a Better
Michigan" - the University's
Board of Regents approved a
$65 per semester charge as part
of every student's tuition that
will go toward funding the ren-
ovations. The fee will ultimately
raise $173 million, $80 million
of which will go specifically to
improving intramural and rec-
reation buildings and resources.
Law student Jessica Kraft,
who played a role in starting the
"Building a Better Michigan"
campaign, said the University
has a "bright future" in recre-
ational sports.
"Hopefully when you come
back and visit again, you'll see
amazing new buildings with
new students in them doing the
same old, great Michigan thing
of being the leaders and the
best," Kraft said.
In a night that focused both
on the history and future of
Michigan's recreation program,
the National Intramural-Rec-
reational Sports Association
paid tribute to the University's
impact on intramural sports
over the years.
NIRSA president-elect Stan
Shingles presented a NIRSA
resolution that recognized "the
contributions of the University
of Michigan to the profession of
collegiate recreation, and com-
mends this university for their
significant role in establishing
collegiate recreation - the pro-
grams, facilities, and dedicated
professionals to the mainstay of
today's college experience."
Equally as important as the
program's national influence,
Canning said, are the social net-
works it creates between par-
ticipants, employees, student
leaders and sponsors.
Warner, the University alum,
is a testament to the intramural
sports social web - he met his
wife at the last intramural game
he played at Michigan. She was
visiting a mutual friend and
ended up filling in at third base
on his co-ed softball team.
"I can attribute my marriage
of 37 years to intramurals at the
University of Michigan," War-
ner said.

PATRICK BARRON/Daily

Protesters picket on State Street Friday against the poaching oftelephants for their ivory tusks.

ELEPHANTS of 43 marches that occurred on, "The ivory black market in mately 400 people signed the
six continents Friday, coordinat- China is growing," Batlemento March for Elephants petition
From Page 1A ed by the David Sheldrick Wild- said at the march. "Ivory is worth calling for government action
life Trust's "iWorry" campaign. more than cocaine, diamonds and regarding poaching. March for
use have threatened elephant The issue has garnered nation- gold." Elephants also distributed more
herds in many African nations. al attention as the U.S. govern- Batlemento, a legal assistant in than 100 "say no to ivory" brace-
About 40 protesters attended ment plans to crush six tons of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., became lets and informational packets.
the march, holding signs declar- seized illegal ivory this month. involved in elephant advocacy Several students talked with
ing "all ivory is blood ivory," Looking at the rising demand after connecting with a wildlife her about forming a group on
"every tusk saves a life" and "let for ivory in China, March for photographer in Kenya through campus dedicated to the organi-
them live." Protesters chanted, Elephants organizer Andrea Facebook. She recruited others zation's goals. Batlemento said
"Passing by you'll let them die" Baltemento said iWorry blames to join the cause through social she hopes the students will help
and called out facts - including a recent increase in coordinated media outlets, as well. Most of the work toward March for Ele-
the claim that one elephant dies slaughter of elephants, such as march's participants were adults phant's ultimate dream: to enact
every 15 minutes. attacking entire herds and poi- who live outside of Ann Arbor. a complete global ban on ivory
The Ann Arbor event was one soning water supolies. During the event, aporoxi- trade.

LIKE US ON
FACEBOOK
FACEBOOK.COM/MICHIGANDAILY

.1,

;.

I 4 4

A