The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 - 3A
NEWS BRIEFS
LANSING, Mich.
Snyder postpones
cigarette tax vote
A state board delayed voting
on Michigan's new cigarette tax
collection contract Tuesday at
the request of Gov. Rick Snyder's
administration, which is review-
ing complaints about the selection
process and a competitor's offer to
do the work for less.
4 The five-year $9.6 million con-
tract was expected to be awarded
to Xerox State & Local Solutions,
since it won preliminary approval
from a committee last week and is
the Treasury Department's rec-
ommended winner of the bid.
It was not clear exactly why.
Kurt Weiss, spokesman for the
Department of Technology, Man-
agement & Budget, said the gov-
ernor's legal office advised the
agency to remove the item and
that he was still checking into the
reasons late Tuesday.
AUSTIN, Tex.
Texas abortion
battles continue
A federal appeals court weighed
whether to grant an emergency
motion Tuesday that would allow
some new Texas abortion restric-
tions to take effect, the latest step
in a lengthy battle activists on both
sides predicted would end up before
the U.S. Supreme Court
Texas leaders urged the panel to
quickly hear their appealof ajudge's
ruling Monday striking down a
requirement that doctors perform-
ing abortions must have admitting
privileges at A hospital within 30
miles of their clinic.
He agreed with abortion-rights
activists that the restriction, which
was to be enforced starting Tues-
day, placed an unconstitutional bur-
den on women seeking an abortion
and didn't make the process safer, as
state officials had argued.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Obama apologizes
for website woes
Lawmakers confronted the
Obama administration Tuesday
with a difficult new health care
problem - a wave of cancellation
notices hitting individuals and
small business who buy their own
insurance.
At the same time, the federal
official closest to the website apolo-
gized for its dysfunction in new
sign-ups and asserted things are
getting better by the day.
MOUNT VERNON, Wash.
Adoptive parents
guilty of murder
A Washington couple accused of
starving, beating and forcing their
adopted daughter outside as pun-
ishment were sentenced Tuesday to
decades in prison for her death.
Larry and Carri Williams were
convicted Sept. 9 of manslaughter
in the death of a teenage girl they
adopted from Ethiopia.
Hana Williams was found dead
May 12, 2011, in the backyard .of
the family home in Sedro-Woolley,
about 60 miles north of Seattle.
The autopsy said she died of hypo-
thermia, with malnutrition and a
stomach condition as contributing
factors.
DAMASCUS, Syria
Polio outbreak in
Syria confirmed
The U.N. confirmed an out-
break of polio in Syria for the first
time in over a decade on Tuesday,
warning the disease threatens to
spread among an estimated half-
million children who have never
been immunized because of the
civil war.
Meanwhile, hopes for a negoti-
ated settlement to the three-year
conflict appeared ever more dis-
tant as Syria's President Bashar
Assad sacked a deputy prime min-
ister for meeting Western officials
to discuss the possibility of hold-
ing a peace conference.
-Compiled from
Daily wire reports
HORIZON
From Page 1A
the MiWorkspace project - a
collection of desktop services
for University employees '- will
also be retired.
Whenever possible, Project
Horizon will transition other
ITS services to their NextGen
alternatives. Both the database
hosting and custom server ser-
vices transition to the next gen-
eration products, MiDatabase,
and MiServer.
According to the Project
Horizon website, programs
placed under "containment"
will have limited new users, and
will eventually be replaced with
an ITS or third-party alterna-
tive. They will continue to be
supported, and security patches
and version upgrades will still
be applied. Notable programs
being placed under contain-
ment include AFS Group Stor-
age, Web Application Hosting,
Drupal and Oracle Hosting and
faculty HTML Web Pages.
A reference table on the ITS
website provides information
on all plans for ITS services.
Houser said students may
not feel the effects of these
changes because most of the
services assessed by Project
Horizon aren't used by stu-
dents, with the exception of
faculty HTML web pages.
Houser said professors who
want to keep their personal
websites will have to explore
alternatives, such as maintain
their own sites. He added that
analysis by University IT pro-
fessionals found that it was not
cost-effective for the Univer-
sity to provide such a service.
Rex Holland, vice chair of
the Senate Advisory Commit-
tee on University Affairs, said
he doesn't foresee the discon-
tinuation of HTML Pages as
being a problem for most fac-
ulty.
3D
From Page 1A
Six weeks after his birth, his
parents discovered he had trou-
ble eating. Two months later, a
tube was inserted in his trachea
to prevent chest contractions
and other cardiopulmonary
reactions.
The Youngstown, Ohio
resident was born with tra-
cheobronchomalacia, a rare
condition where the windpipe's
tissue is so soft it can collapse
over time. Kaiba's case was
especially severe; a tracheos-
tomy - a tube that's inserted
into a patient's windpipe and
exits outside of the neck - and
other common treatments were
not helping.
Green and Hollister had
already formed a partnership in
experimenting with new solu-
tions .to tracheobronchomala-
cia. A call from a surgeon from
Akron Children's Hospital to
University Hospital provided
the chance to use the experi-
mental device.
The splint that saved Kaiba's
life is about the size of a thimble.
It's made from a biodegradable
material that will dissolve in his
trachea in two years according
to Hassan Nasser, a medical stu-
dent who researches in Green's
lab. The splint gives Kaiba's tra-
cheal tissue additional time to
strengthen; his windpipe will
be strong enough in two yeats
to function when the splint dis-
solves.
"Kids still have the abil-
ity to grow and develop their
own cartilage," Nasser said.
"The splint buys him a couple
years for his own cartilage to
grow."
This support for Kaiba's tra-
chea was lentby the customized
nature of the splint. David Zopf,
a fifth-year otolaryngology resi-
dent in Green's lab, said the use
of 3D printers allows doctors to
custom fit and design a device
like Kaiba's with precision.
"The whole process really
provides a tool that provides a
customized microdevice in a
matter of time that wasn't seen
before," Zopf said.
The production of an indi-
vidual splint itself takes about
a minute, and designing an
individual- tube is similar-
ly straightforward. Nasser
,described how doctors took
a CT scan of Kaiba which
allowed a comprehensive, 3D
view of his chest.
Examining CT scans, which
combine a series of X-rays from
multiple angles, is like analyz-
ing a loaf of bread by looking at
individual slices of bread. This
CT scan revealed the worst
case of tracheobronchomalacia
Green had ever seen.
From a scan, the already cre-
ated blueprint for the splint
design can be customized for
the patient's body on a com-
puter.
Ward said 3D printers are
following the same trajectory
as personal. computers, which
were once only found in indus-
trial and research institutions,
but now can be found in over
75 percent of American house-
holds, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau. In the next 50
years, he said, these machines
will likely be ubiquitous in
American households.
"I think 3D printing has
arrived. It's way more than a
fad," Ward said. "In the not-
so-distant future, people will
download CAD drawings and
print products at home. They
will design their own stuff and
sell it. And more and more peo-
ple like Glenn (Green) and Scott
(Hollister) will use it to do good."
The treatment has not been
disseminated to other tracheo-
bronchomalacia patients. But,
when the time comes for mass
production, a printer can pro-
duce 200 splints in four hours
- approximately 1.2 minutes for
one splint.
"I'm always impressed when
you look at the splint and you
look at what it does," Nasser
said. "It's a fairly simple solu-
tion that's really had a dramatic
impact and could potentially
have more."
FORUM
From Page 1A
ture hall, students would more
frequently be out in the field -
helping the community, working
in labs and even partnering with
artists.
"If 10 years from now we have
students that characterize their
first year as sitting in class, that
just feels like this wasted oppor-
tunity to me," Hilton said.
At the conclusion of the meet-
ing, Hilton announced plans to
implement a task team to further
explore all of the ideas and dis-
cuss how they might be imple-
mented on a University-wide
scale. The team will be composed
of faculty and students selected
from Tuesday's event.
Many students are already
stepping out of the classroom and
into massive open online cours-
es, or MOOCs. From the com-
fort of home, students can enroll
in courses and interact with a
global community learning the
same material. Late last year, the
University partnered with major
MOOC provider Coursera and
currently offers 10 courses. Cur-
rently, students can't take cours-
es for credit, and Hilton said the
University has no plans to offer a
for-credit option any time soon.
Nonetheless, many students
find MOOCs helpful. Steve How-
land, a first-year Engineering
BUDGET
From Page lA
a will to make a difference in the
city.
"I'd be on jobs at people's
houses and talks would turn
to politics and people would
always say, 'Hey, you know more
about this than anybody; you
should run for city council,' " he
said.
Hayner's top priority is the
city's revenue and budget - he
hopes to enhance funding for
areas such as the fire department
and pension fund while examin-
ing areas that may be overfund-
ed.
Overall, Hayner wants to
improve efficiency of all city
services, eliminating areas of
overlap with other providers.
He said finding ways to increase
community involvement in city
efforts and planning is also
important.
Another relevant issue for
Hayner is "sensible develop-
ment" in the city - namely,
providing sufficient housing
throughout Ann Arbor at reason-
able prices. He said the larger
apartment complexes primar-
ily used by students have in fact
done more harm than good as
prices have yet to decline as
promised.
Similar to mayoral candidate
Stephen Kunselman, currently
graduate student, has already
taken five online classes, two
through the University. Howland
liked that he could rewind and
review complex material that
otherwise would have remained
confusing.
"I'm excited that Michigan
is involved in educating more
people than just the ones taking
degrees through the University,"
tIowland said.
Online media was another
point of emphasis during the
event. Students saw the poten-
tial integration of resources sch
as Khan Academy and YouTube
into curriculum as beneficial for
both struggling and high-achiev-
ing students. Such tools would
bring in alternative perspectives
students are for the most part
unaccustomed to in a formal
classroom.
Websites with large amounts
of traffic, like Facebook, were
proposed as an untapped gold
mine that could be adapted for
educational purposes. Hanona
said professors could easily cre-
ate a group for each of their
classes and post provocative
questions, links and related class
material that would pop up on
students' Facebook News Feeds.
"You're learning even when
you don't want to learn," Hanona
said. "But it's a nice thing because
you're always exposed to things
you're eventually going to need
to know."
the Democratic council mem-
ber for Ward 3, Hayner supports
imposing a strict ethics policy for
elected officials to eliminate con-
flicts of interest and avoid ques-
tionable appointments.
"We're just starting to get
a mix of interests, I guess you
could say, between the public
and the people on city council
that they're actually starting to
debate these appointments say-
ing, 'Is this the best person for
the job?' he said.
With regards to Ann Arbor's
relations with the Univer-
sity, Hayner would like to: see
improved communication
between the two institutions,
especially concerning new con-
struction.
Council members have
expressed concern that the
University's persistent pur-
chasing of land is robbing the
city's tax roles. Hayner said he
wants to explore implementing
the Payment in Lieu of Taxes
program, where the city would
collect payment from lands that
are otherwise tax exempt such
as federal lands or nonprofit
organizations like the Univer-
sity.
"We're all living here togeth-
er," Hayner said. "Students are
here; we're all here together, so
you don't have to enter into it and
it's not something we're saying,
'We demand this or that.' It's just
a conversation."
SPOON
From Page 1A
simplicity," Henson said. "Peo-
ple are really excited to talk
about food, read about food and
most importantly eat food. We
aren't expecting chefs to come
to the site."
LSA senior Jordan Korn,
Spoon's business director, said
they have resorted to social
media platforms and events to
draw attention to the Ann Arbor
site.
"We are still establishing
ourselves editorially," Hen-
son said. "A classic startup -
with minimal money involved
because we are not in print.
Writers contribute as volunteer
fondles-for the love of fond.
and to gain experience in a digi-
tal space."
World of Beer co-owner Chad
Wilson, said the event gave him
a good opportunity to connect
with students.
"It's not so important for me
to have a great sales night," he
said. "It's more important for
me to connect with our cus-
tomer base and give back to the
community because that's what
we like to do."
For a $5 cover fee, students
tasted food - from Frita Bati-
dos, Ali Baba's, Mrs. Fields, the
Wafel Shop, Firehouse Subs and
Tios Mexican Cafe. Live music
at the event featured student
performers Hannah Elizabeth,
Aaron Dombey, a cappella
group Kol Hakavod and DJ Dan
Hoffmann. Other entertain-
ment included a photo booth
and a guessing-game contest
to win gift cards to Mani and
Isalita.
Students expressed their
excitement about how they plan
to utilize Spoon UM's website
and the resources it has to offer.
LSA senior Kyle Jonna said she's
looking forward to exploring
Spoon University's website for
the first time.
"What I think is really inter-
esting is that I can go on there,
look at any restaurant, and real-
ly get a full view of the restau-
rant before I go so I don't spend
any extra money on something I
don'twant," Jonna said. "Ithink
in the long run, it will help me
and the entire student body by
making the restaurant selection
Man arrested for Texas killing
spree after hiding from police
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@MICHIGANDAILY
Criminal's attacks
leave five dead
including mother
TERRELL, Texas (AP) -
Fear and confusion gripped a
rural North Texas community
for several hours until an ear-
ly-morning arrest Tuesday, as
investigators sought desperate-
ly to stop a series of attacks that
left five people dead, including
the suspect's mother.
Charles Everett Brownlow
Jr. was arrested at about 1:30
a.m. Tuesday after running
into the woods following a
high-speed chase, authorities
said. Terrell police Chief Jody
Lay said he thinks Brownlow
might have attacked others
if an off-duty officer hadn't
spotted his car.
Brownlow, 36, was being
held on one preliminary
count each of capital mur-
der and evading arrest,
although additional charges
were expected. Prosecutors
referred calls to the police
in Terrell, which is about 30
miles east of Dallas.
"We're all in astateofshock,"
Lay said at a news conference
hours after Brownlow's arrest.
"You have a tendency to think,
'How can that happen here?'
This is a country community,
a rural community, people are
real close. This is going to be,
it's going to have a really big
impact on us."
Lay declined to discuss a
possible motive. He identi-
fied the victims as Brownlow's
mother, Mary Brownlow, 61;
his aunt, Belinda Walker, 55;
Jason Michael Wooden, 33;
Kelleye Lynnette Sluder, 30;
and Luis Gerardo Leal-Carril-
lo, 22. Lay~said that Brownlow
"hung out occasionally" with
Wooden and Sluder. It wasn't
immediately clear whether he
knew Leal-Carrillo.
Brownlow's brother, Ter-
rence Walker, said Brownlow
struggled with drug addiction
and "always wanted to take
something that wasn't his."
He said Brownlow had been
living at their mother's home
and that she continued to look
after him.
"I was hoping my mom
would open her eyes and real-
ize that she needed to let him
grow up, put him out," said
Walker. He said his own fam-
ily spent the night at a hotel
instead of their home in For-
ney, and that he was armed
with a pistol in case his brother
came after him.
Brownlow's criminal record
dates back to 1995 and includes
convictions for drug posses-
sion, burglary and assault-
ing a family member in 2011.
Records indicate Brownlow
was accused of striking a
woman he had a relationship
with. In 2009, he was sen-
tenced to three years in prison
for being a felon in possession
of a firearm, and was paroled
after seven months.
The attacks began around
5 p.m. at the home of Belinda
and Robert Walker. He said
he arrived home to find his
wife lying on the floor of his
15-year-old son's room.
"I just went in calling my
wife's name and she never
did answer," Robert Walker
said.
About 30 minutes later, fire
units responded to a blaze at
Mary Brownlow's house a few
blocks away. When the fire was
extinguished, crews found her
body in the smoldering wreck-
age. Lay said it was clearly
arson.
At about 10:30 p.m., police
responded to a report of a
shooting at another home and
found Wooden and Sluder
dead. A 3-year-old boy in the
home was unharmed and was
released to relatives.
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