CIE ffiE1)i6fl 0aIj (INI a l1 \,ll ) \\N I1 Ann Arbor, Michigan Thursday, March 13, 2014 michigandaily.com Abortion law to have little effect on 'U' plans VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily LSA junior DeVante Rollins and LSA senior Susie Robinson, UROP peer advisors, talk to LSA freshman Richard Wu about research opportunities at the Major/ Minor Expo in the Michigan Union Wednesday. M ors ar dr sstudent Measure prohibits abortion coverage in most new healthcare plans By SHOHAM GEVA Daily StaffReporter Michigan's controversial new abortion insurance law will go into effect Friday, but students and faculty with healthcare plans provided through the Uni- versity should not see a change in their coverage. The law, which was passed late last year, prohibits health- care plans purchased after Thursday in Michigan from covering abortions. Some indi- viduals, specifically those who are fully insured through an employer or enrolling organi- zation, will have an option to purchase a rider - an additional costto their insurance - to have abortion coverage. The domestic and interna- tional student health insurance the University provides through Aetna qualify as fully insured plans, which means that to con- tinue coverage under this law, the University would have to add on that additional rider. But, since the law only applies to new enrollments, students will not see any change until August, when the University must renew its plan. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Aetna Spokeswom- an Cynthia Michener said the effect of the law on the Univer- sity's student insurance plans will not be clear until then. "It's too early to know," Michener wrote. "We will dis- cuss the University of Michi- gan's plan options during the renewal process." However, Laurie Burchett, See HEALTHCARE, Page 3A Pi an rograms large their interests. Staff from the Newnan LSA d small look for Academic Advising Center hosted the Major/Minor Expo, new recruits - held in the Michigan Union ballroom - to give students the ByAMIA DAVIS opportunity to meet with facul- DailyStaffReporter ty, staff and advisers from vari- ous concentrations and discuss Wednesday afternoon, potential interests. ided students paused their The Newnan Advising Center c hair pulling to explore consists of general LSA academ- najors and minors that fit ic advisers who help students choose courses, career paths and alternative choices to the plans they make. They also cer- tify students' graduations and assist them with academic dif- ficulties. All LSA majors and minors were represented at the expo- sition. Several programs from outside LSA also attended, including those from the Ross School of Business, the School of Education and the School of Social Work. Erin Trame, department advising coordinator for Newn- an Advising Center, said the expo was a chance for all LSA departments to come together in one location. It also gave all students - freshman to senior, LSA or non-LSA - a chance to talk to major advisers and set up advising appointments. "It makes it much easier See EXPO, Page 3A On undec frantic new n CAMPUS LIFE Administration and IFC plan for St. Patrick's STICK 'EM UP Groups encourage students to 'stay in the blue' on the alcohol-heavyholiday By ARIANA ASSAF Daily Staff Reporter This St. Patrick's Day week- end, green beer may very well replace green tea as the breakfast drink of choice. However, the University also has a lineup of non-alcoholic activities for stu- dents. Wolverine Wellness, Beyond the Diag, the Center for Cam- pus Involvement and the Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones worked together to give stu- dents alternative activities for St. Patrick's Day that don't involve alcohol. Joy Pehlke, University Health Service health educa- tor and Sarah Daniels, assistant dean of students, were part of the effort that created events such as the Sober Skate and Shamrock It. Pehlke said that programs are similar to UMix - including food, movies and games to draw crowds. She said she encourages students to keep up-to-date with activities on the Dean of Stu- dents' website. For example, green donuts and water will be handed out at oppo- site ends of the Diag on Monday for students on their way to class or on their way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at local establish- ments. "History here on campus will tell you that some students will go out first thing in the morning as soon as the bars open because there are some places around here that do morning specials," Daniels said. Pelkhe said students who go out - especially over the week- end - tend to drink in excess. She listed strategies such as keeping track of drinks, pacing oneself and eating throughout the day to avoid sickness or injuries. "One of the unique problems of St. Patrick's Day weekend is that people drink during day and at night, so often that's different than what people normally do," Pehlke said. Although in years past the holiday has also brought warm- er weather, the forecast for this weekend is chilly. Both Daniels and Pehlke said that this adds to the risk, as being intoxicated may See ST. PATRICK, Page 3A NICHOLAS WILLIAMS/Daily Art & Design senior Carisa Bledsoe performs "Off the Wall" at Links Hall in Chicago Feb.15. See Page 48 in today's B-Side for more. POLIKCY Cse may lead to same- sex mrig ealization ANN ARBOR Candidates prepare for K judicial election As two judges retire, competitive race ahead for numerous contenders ByEMMA KERR Daily StaffReporter As Washtenaw County judges Nancy Wheeler and Donald Shel- ton prepare to step down from their posts in January, the race to fill their positions is heating up. The judicial election will have its primary on Aug. 5 followed by the general election on Nov. 4. Candidates running so far include Jane Bassett, Tamara Garwood, Constance Jones, Julia Owdziej and Tracy Van den Bergh, all of whom are compet- ing for Wheeler's seat, and Vero- nique Liem, Patrick Conlin and Michael Woodyard are vying for Shelton's seat. Wheeler's successor will be responsible for family law, pro- bate cases and ensuring that claims to an estate of a deceased person are properly recognized. There is also a potential for change in the docket over the fol- See ELECTION, Page 3A State considers arguments in adoption controversy By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily StaffReporter Michigan could be the next state to legalize same-sex mar- riage upon the review of recent case hearings by a federal judge. Last Friday concluded a series of arguments regarding the legality of same-sex mar- riage in the state of Michigan and the validity of a 2004 pro- posal that banned the practice, lasting two weeks. At the heart of controversy is whether same sex couples are able to be ade- quate parents. Hazel Park residents April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse brought the case to court after the state denied them joint adoption of their three chil- dren. While the case began as a matter of changing the adop- tion process in Michigan, the lawsuit ultimately called into question the same sex mar- riage ban itself. The state, represented by Attorney General Bill Schuette, is defending the voters' 2004 See MARRIAGE, Page 3A WEATHER HI:42 GOTANEWS TIP? TOMORROW LO: 24 Call 734-418-4115ore-mail news@michigandaily.com andIletus know. NEW ON MICHIGANDAILYCOM Social disorder: Gentrification and you MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS INDEX Vol. CXXIV, No.81 a24The Michigan Daily michiaondailycom NEW S.........................2A SPORTS. .......... 6A SUDO KU .....................3A CLASSIFIEDS ...............6A OPINION.... ....4A B-SIDE....................1B ii