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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
michigandaily.com
GOVERNMENT
Obama talks
affordability
in address
President focuses
on domestic policy
in sixth State of
the Union speech
By SHOHAM GEVA
Daily StaffReporter
President Barack Obama
delivered his sixth State of the
Union address Tuesday night,
highlighting mostly domestic
policy items such assjob creation
and student loan debt. He also
announced an executive order
to raise the minimum wage for
federal contractors.
In his speech, one particular
area of importance for students
is the process of informing col-
lege students and their families
about higher education, such as
student loans.
"I want to work with Con-
gress to see how we can help
even more Americans who feel
trapped by student loan debt,"
Obama said.
In an interview with The
Michigan Daily after the
speech, Rep. John Dingell (D-
Mich.) said each topic Obama
mentioned - from the war
in Afghanistan to immigra-
tion reform - was pertinent to
twenty-somethings and college
students.
"It's their country," Dingell
said. "Everything is of impor-
tance to them."
On the topic of student loans,
Dingell agreed with Obama's
statements, adding that it was
necessary to provide financial
assistance to college students.
"That's one of the biggest
problems when I talk to the peo-
ple I see and serve," Dingell said
of paying off student loan debt.
LSA junior Mary Bridget Lee,
communications director of the
University's chapter of the Col-
lege Democrats, echoed the
need to for legislators to consid-
er college students' finances at
the organization's watch party
at the Ford School of Public
Policy.
"A key component for col-
lege students is our purchasing
power and being able to afford
institutions like this one," she
said.
LSA sophomore Derek
See OBAMA, Page 3A
ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily
Former Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons, who last played for the Wolverines on Nov. 23, 2013, was permanently separated from the University in December.
''cut ties with Gibbons
Documents indicate
former kicker violated
Student Sexual
Misconduct Policy
By MATT SLOVIN and
ADAM RUBENFIRE
Daily Sports Writer and
Daily StaffReporter
Brendan Gibbons, the Michi-
gan football team's starting
kicker for the past three seasons,
was permanently separated from
the University of Michigan last
month for violating the Univer-
sity's Student Sexual Misconduct
Policy, according to documents
reviewed by The Michigan Daily.
"You will be permanently
separated from the University of
Michigan effective December 20,
2013," reads a Dec. 19, 2013 let-
ter addressed to Gibbons at his
Florida residence from the Uni-
versity's Office of Student Con-
flict Resolution, which facilitates
disciplinary proceedings against
students. The Michigan Daily did
not obtain these documents from
the University.
The permanent separation
of Gibbons, who was a graduate
student in the School of Social
Work after graduating with a
general studies degree, stems
from an incident that was report-
ed to have occurred on Nov. 22,
2009, according to documents.
This corresponds with previ-
ous media reports that a sexual
assault involving a Michigan foot-
ball player occurred in the early
morning hours of that day. Gib-
bons was a freshman and a mem-
ber of the football team at the
time that the conduct was alleged
to have occurred.
In the Statement of Student
Rights and Responsibilities as
well as the Student Sexual Mis-
conduct Policy, the University
uses the phrase "permanent sepa-
ration" to refer to the expulsion of
a student. The letter to Gibbons,
signed by Stacy Vander Velde,
associate director of OSCR, stated
that he would be prohibited from
taking any further courses at the
University and that his student
See GIBBONS, Page 3A
CITY COUNCIL
A2mayor
hopefuls
il for
tight race
Four City Council
members have declared
their intention to run
for the position so far
By EMMA KERR
Daily StaffReporter
Four candidates have declared for
the Ann Arbor mayoral race of 2014,
and though they all identify as Demo-
crats, their personalities, the issues
they plan to emphasize and the way
they plan to interact with the Univer-
sity all differ.
Each candidate has a connection
to Ann Arbor, whether it be academic
or personal, and each has varying
degrees of support for current Mayor
John Hieftje (D) and experience as an
elected member of the City Council.
Councilmember Christopher Taylor
(D-Ward 3) attended the University
for 12 years, earning degrees in vocal
performance, English and history and
finally attending the Law School. His
background has led him to explore his
long-term interest in government and
politics through the City Council.
See MAYOR, Page 3A
LET'S MAKE-UP
ACADEMICS
English prof. honored
for published poetry,
joins national board
Rackham student Andi Drogenous, a drag performer, applies eyeliner before a drag show at a club in Cleve-
land, Ohio.
RESEARCH
Study finds fungicide
worsens coffee rust issue
Khaled Mattawa has
authored four books,
translated nine
By BRIE WINNEGA
Daily StaffReporter
Associate English Prof. Khaled
Mattawa has been elected to
the Academy of American Poets
Board of Chancellors, the group
announced Jan 15.
Mattawa is the author of four
books of poetry and has trans-
lated nine books of contemporary
Arabic poetry. He is the recipi-
ent of numerous other awards,
including the prestigious Gug-
genheim Fellowship and the PEN
American Center Award for Poet-
ry Translation.
The Academy was established
80 years ago with a mission to
support poets and to promote
appreciation for poetry across the
United States. One of the organi-
zation's ongoing efforts is Nation-
al Poetry Month, which takes
place every April.
Mattawa said although his elec-
tion was only recently announced
by the AAP, he has known about it
since December.
"All of our chancellors are well-
established in the art of poetry,"
said AAP Executive Director
Jennifer Benka. "They have pub-
lished multiple books and they
have been recognized by other
institutions for the excellence of
their art."
New chancellors are selected
by the current Academy Board
and serve for a term of six years.
Mattawa is now one of 15 Acad-
emy Board members.
Benka said responsibilities
of chancellors include suggest-
ing ideas and giving feedback for
the Academy's programs, getting
involved with projects for Nation-
al Poetry Month and serving as
judges for two of the seven major
prizes awarded to poets through-
out the country.
Mattawa said he was honored
to receive this recognition.
"I feel lucky," he said. "Wheth-
er people think that I deserve this
recognition or not, I certainly feel
lucky. There's a lot to feel lucky
about in my own life as an indi-
vidual and as awriter."
Mattawa, who was born in
Libya, said his membership in the
AAP, an American institution, is a
testament to his ability to remain
whole as an individual rather than
culturally divided.
"Some of my friends from Libya
have been telling me this is some
of the best news they've heard in a
while," Mattawa said. "So, if only
for that, to bring my other country
some good news with this honor is
agreat thing in my life."
Michael Schoenfeldt, chair of
See PROFESSOR, Page 3A
The fungus has rust, an environment disease
that has devastated Latin
devastated Latin American plantations since
2012 that is already causing
American farms significant losses in produc-
mi-212 tion.
since mid-2012 In reality, it's quite the
opposite of a cure. Accord-
By YIJIA ZHOU ing to University ecologists,
Daily StaffReporter using fungicide could make
the situation worse, as it
A cup of coffee can be a kills "good" fungus, which
lifesaver in the morning - protects coffee from the dis-
unless it's rusty, that is. ease.
Recent reports from Uni- In a Jun. 22 publication
versity researchers suggests in BioScience, an academic
that spraying fungicide is not journal, John Vandermeer,
the perfect cure for coffee professor of ecology and
evolutionary biology and
his co-authors - Ivette Per-
fecto, professor of ecology,
natural resources and envi-
ronment and postdoctoral
fellow Doug Jackson - dis-
cussed the possible harm
that fungicide could bring to
the ecological system. They
also provided an alterna-
tive solution for killing the
disease: The restoration of
traditional shade-growing
techniques.
Coffee rust disease,
according to Vandermeer, is
caused by Hemileia vasta-
See COFFEE, Page 3A
pursuing the
paycheck
You might want to think
twice before accepting
that unpaid internship this
m summer.
r INSIDE
WEATHER HI: 25
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INDEX NEWS.........................2A SPORTS................6A
Vol. CXXIV, No. 57 SUDOKU.....................2A CLASSIFIEDS...............6A
2014 he Michigan Daily OPINION.....................4A STATEMENT.................1B
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