2A - Thursday, September 11, 2014 The Michigan Daily -.michigandaily.cam 2A - Thursday, September 11, 2014 The Michigan Daily -michigandailycom Living in the Dark Ages For a student, knowledge is power. But that kind of power doesn't help whenastormknocksoutyourelectric- ity for a few days - and that's exactly what happened to LSA junior Tucker Schumacher and his five roommates. Their power went out last Friday, and they were subsequently stuck in the dark for four days. Schumacher had gone home for the weekend, and though his roommates informed him via text that they lost electricity, he forgot about it until his return Mon- day night. "I went to my room, flipped on the light switch and nothing happened," Schumacher said, adding that this barred him from doing any work there. "I had to go to the bathroom in the dark. I had to shower in the dark. Pretty much I had to do everything in the dark" The outage spared one working outlet in the home, which meant that all six roommates were forced to share. Luckily, they had a power strip handy to extend their device charging capabilities and ultimately avoid any squabbles. Food also became an issue for the students, Schumacher said, as their stove would not work during the power outage. "I was forced to basically provide BTB (Cantina) with their monthly revenue by myself," he said. "They're right next to our house. I mean, damn it, it's good." The loss of power was resolved Tuesday, Schumacher said, and now all is well. In fact, he found the experi- ence illuminating. - MICHAEL SUGERMAN 9hc fitchigoan Dailg 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com PETER SHAHIN DOUGLAS SOLOMON Editor in Chief Business Manager 734-410-4110 eat. 0251 734-410-4115 ext. 1241 pjshahin@michigandaily.com dougsolo@michigandaily.com Newsroom NewsTips 734-418-4115 opt.3 news@michigandaily.co Corrections LetterstotheEditor corrections@michigandaily.com t othedaily@michigandaily.com ArtSection Editorial Page arsmnichigandailyecom opinion@michigandailycom SportsSection PhotographySection sports@michigandaily com photo@michigandaily.co Display Sales Classified Sales dailydisplay@gmaiLcom classifed@michigandaily.com Online Sales Finance onlineads@michigandaily.com finance@michigandaily.com EDITORIAL STAFF Katie Burke Managing Editor kgburke@michigandaily.com lenniferCalfas Managing News Editor jcalfas@michigandaily.com SENIOR NEWSEDITORS:Ian Dillingham,SamGringlas,WillGreenberg,RachelPremack ASSTA" "NEWS EITORS: Allana Akhtar, Neala Berkowski, Claire Bryan, Shoham Geva, Amabel Karoub Emma Kerr, Thomas McBrien, Emilie Plesset, Michael Sugerman and Jack Turman Megan Mclonald and Daniel Wang ditorialPageEditors opinioneditors@michigandaily.com SENIOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Aarica Marsh and Victoria Noble ASSISTANTEDITORIALPAGEEDITORS:MatthewSeligmanandDavidHarris Greg Gamo and Alejandro Zdiiga ManagingSportsEditors sportseditors@michganday.com SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS: Max Cohen, Alexa Dettelbcah, Lev Facher, Rajat Khare, Jake Lourim and Jeremy Summitt ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS: Max Bultman, Minh Doan, Daniel Feldman, Simon UMHS From Page 1A high ranking should result in a more dense applicant pool. Even without extra applicants, the University's residency programs are extremely competitive. UMHS cur- rently has 1,199 residents. This year, it brought in 379 new residents, and Lyp- son said UMHS usually takes between 300 and 400 per year. The number of applicantsvaries from program to pro- gram. In the internal medicine pro- gram, only 1.5 percent of applicants were acceptedfor the2014 cycle. Most residencies last between three and seven years, depending on the specialty. In spite of the potential benefits of a larger applicant pool for the Univer- sity and more information for medi- cal students, Lypson did mention a possible drawback to the rankings. She said students may feel inclined to apply to the top-ranked programs rather than those that they feel would best suit their needs. "When you are trying to weigh so many possibilities, one of the ways to. shorten your list is to go to these rank- ings to help you start to make some decisions," she said. "Sometimes that lessens a student's ability to really make the best choice for themselves." DEBATES From Page 1A which Democratic challenger Mark Schauer and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder have yet to accept invitations to the same debate. In the Senate race, Peters has called for multiple televised debates and has accepted invitations from Michigan State University, WXYZ and the League of Women Voters along with the postponed WOOD- TV debate, none of which Land has replied to. The Peters campaign announced Tuesday that Peters' debate negotiator John Cherry, lieu- tenant governor under Jennifer Gra- nholm, would work to set up planning meetings with Land and groups who have offered to host debates. "This is the first open U.S. Sen- ate seat in over 20 years," said Zade Alsawah, deputy communications director for Peters' campaign. "And that's why Gary feels it is so impor- tant that Michiganders hear from both candidates on the issues that matter most." The Senate seat Peters and Land are competing for is currently held by Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, who announced last year that he would be retiring and would not seek another term. Levin has represented Michi- gan for more than 30 years since win- ning his first race in 1978. Land spokeswoman Heather Swift wrote in an e-mail that the campaign is currently evaluating opportuni- ties for debates. Following the Peters event in Grand Rapids, Swift said he has differences in his Congressio- nal Record and campaign material regarding issues such as equal pay, immigration and outsourcing. "It's only appropriate that Gary Peters's first debate would be against Gary Peters," Swift wrote. "Con- gressman Gary and Candidate Gary disagree on the issues that matter to Michiganvoters." Aaron Kall, director of the Univer- sity of Michigan Debate Team, said when it came to the state Senate race, it was unusual to see no debate in a race without incumbents. He pointed to Land's previous public speaking experiences, however - she has most- ly spoken from notes and in smaller settings - asa potential explanation. "Because there's no incumbent, both candidates are going to be less known by the public," Kall said. "Debates, several of them, would give both candidates the opportunity to introduce themselves and make their positions more clear." In the 2012 U.S. Senate race, which pitted incumbent Democratic Sen. the issues that affect them and their Kaufman,Erin Lennon,JakeLourimand JasonRubinstein Debbie Stabenow against former U.S. families," Cunningham wrote. John Lynch and jplynchemichigandaily.com Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland), there The Schauer campaign announced EOIORATS E ITOR:: ia sasssmo, Natalie GadboisHika odnd were no debates. In the 2010 guber- Wednesday that it had also formally A;O1"TAle S EDrITOn Jas ro,,,Jakso HadIliJkabdMdde natorial election, Snyder and Demo- accepted invitations to debates from Thomas cratic challenger Virg Bernero had one WXYZ, CBS Detroit and Michigan Teresa Mathew and debate, as well as a joint event at the Public Television. PauhernManagig hotditors photo@michigandaily.com SNOPHTEDTR:AllioFarrand and Ruby Wallau Detroit Economic Club, a traditional The lack of debate this election ASSISTANTPHOTOEDITORS:KatherinePekela,VirginiaLozano, SxslMcOenziesBs,,is, ad ihoasWllams, forum forgubernatorial candidates. cycle is not unique to Michigan. JCa lGrMKenziezi s Aside from the postponed WOOD- Nationwide, high-profile Senate races GabrielaVasquez Managingonigntdinan drsigs@nichigandaiy.om TV debate, the Schauer and Snyder in Tennessee and Mississippi have SENIORDESIGNEDITORS:AmyMackensandAlicia Kovalcheck campaigns have additionally been at also included no debates. In the New CarlinaDuan Magazine Editor statement@michigandaily.com odds over a proposed debate at the York Democratic primary last week, ETATEMNTPOEOEDITOOR RubyWaadu r k DEC. Both have accepted invitations incumbent Democratic Gov. Andrew STATEMENTLEADDESIGNER:AmyMackens to hold an event at the club on the Cuomo, who has declined debating MarkOssolinskiand Meaghan same day, but at different times. his closest opponent, called some SENIOROPYEDITORSMaramSheikhand David Nayey Emily Benavides, communications debates a "disservice to democracy," Austen Hufford Online Editor ahufford@michigandaily.com director of Snyder's campaign, wrote according to a report in The New SOCIALMEDIA E IBrannes~ons W in an e-mail interview that the gover- York Times. BUSINESSSTAFF nor offered two dates and times for Kall said the overall aversion to Madeline Lacey i.rityAouns Managr the DEC event a month ago. debating in the current election cycle Ailie Steir classified Manager "The ball is in Congressman could be a result of the increased SimonneKapadiaLocalAccountsManager Schauer's court," Benavides wrote. scrutiny that has come to character- Lotus AnNationalAccounts Manager "We look forward to discussing the ize public debates. Olivia Jones Production Managers issues facing Michiganders and are "It's a cost-benefit analysis," he Nolan Loh special Projects Coordinator proud of our record." said of a campaign's choice to engage Jason Anterasian Finance Manager Schauer press secretary Cathy in debates. "Clearly, if you avoid Bacile Cunningham wrote in an them, you're going to take some heat The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-67) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may e-mail that the campaign is calling in the press, in the media, because bepickedupattheDalysofficefr2.Subscriptions forfalIterstaranginseptemberviau.s.malare$110. for televised evening debates because the media is the host of a lot of these wn"t"rm'('an'' r''o'ghApri)s'15,yarlo(eptemberthrhl)is195Uni"s"y affil""ts are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must they are more accessible for the aver- debates, and so there may be a loss be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press. age voter, politically there. But if the debate "Voters have a big decision to make actually happens and you have a total on Election 'ay, and they deserve to 'flop performance, then the voters are FOLLOW US @MICH IGANDAILY know where each candidate stands on certainly goingto see that." d a RIDESHARE From Page 1A their limousine for $50 pnd have a Certificate of Authority, which is a one-time fee of $300 with a renewal fee of $50. Uber Michigan Manager Michael White said UberX driv- ers are usually part-time driv- ers who are students over 21 and retirees trying to make money to pay off student loans or pay bills. White added that UberX driv- ers have to pass federal, state and county background checks, a driving record review, a mechani- cal vehicle inspection and online safety training. However, UberX drivers use their own vehicles and are required to have their own Michi- gan insurance policy rather than commercial insurance, which is the center of the argument. White said whenever an UberX driver is transporting someone, he or she is covered by Uber's primary commercial insurance policy, which includes $1 million of liability insurance. "Any time that that person is actually providing transportation to somebody, they are covered by a commercial insurance policy that meets or exceeds the state requirements for a limousine and is more than double the require- ments for an Ann Arbor taxi," White said. Michael Frezell, communica- tions manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation, and John Heed, former chief operating officer of Select Ride - the parent company of Arbor Lim- ousine and Yellow Car - argue that UberX violates the Limou- sine Transportation Act because it does not require drivers to have a chauffeur's license, acom- mercial vehicle plate or full-time commercial insurance. According to MDOT, UberX drivers can be pulled over by police officers, pay a maximum $500 fine and face imprisonment Frezell also said UberX drivers selectively using the commercial insurance from Uber and their personal insurance while trans- porting individuals is putting the driver at risk. "Your own personal insurance for your vehicle will state that if you operate a vehicle ina for-hire commercial basis, your policy is not valid if you get into an acci- dent," Frezell said. Heed said by not having to pay for a chauffeur's license, rideshar- ing companies are at an economic advantage compared to compa- nies with commercially insured vehicles. "They can be cheaper because they geta huge price advantage of not obeying laws that are on the books," Heed said. When Uber came to the Detroit area last year, MDOT notified the company about the Limousine Transportation Act by sending them a letter in December. Frezell said they have not received a response from Uber. "It's not like the company isn't aware of the law," Frezell said. White believes that Uber is not breaking the law because the idea of connecting riders and drivers through technology was not con- sidered. "The whole idea of what we're doing was not even conceptual- ized yet," White said. "That was not written to address the type of service we're providing asa tech- nology company." Councilmember Sally Petersen (D-Ward 2), a sponsor of the reso- lution passed last week, said the first step in addressing these com- panies is the operating agreement. From the operating agreement, she said she hopes state lawmak- ers can recognize the significance of this issue and draft legislation. White said Uber is happy to work with Michigan and its cit- ies to draft legislation that would emphasize the transparency of its pricing and its quality of service. "We're open to working with both the state and the cities in Michigan in order to put in place regulations that would apply to our service aslong as they provide for economic development, pro- vide for competition and provide for consumer safety," White said. However, Heed said UberX needs to obey law as it has been written - not as it suits them.4. "Until the laws change, they should comply with the law," Heed said. "If they are complying with the law, there is no reason for an operating agreement. If they aren'tcomplying with the law, the operating agreement is not legal." w ALERT From Page 1A these training items." In a statement, the University's NROTC unit apologized for the incident and said it resulted from a break of standard operating procedures and subsequent mis- understanding. "One midshipman was in pos- session of a rubberized, non-firing training weapon," the statement - -o5S read. "Weunderstand the implica- tions and optics of armed persons appearing on college campuses and the serious concern and response caused ... The midship- man should nothave attempted to transport this equipment through campus while on foot, out of uni- form and formation." The statement also said the unit would "implement proce- dures to ensure this mistake does not recur." In addition, Commander Scott Howell, exec- utive officer of the University's NROTC unit, said in an inter- view that in a typical situation, training weapons are transport- ed ina less conspicuous manner, which would avoid alarmingstu- dents. Howell said if NROTC stu- dents or officers are not in uni- form and in formation while holding the training weapons, the students are either in a van or holding the weapon in bags or cases around campus. Kinesiology sophomore Vic- toria Norris was in a lecture in one of the Chemistry Building's auditoriums when the first alert went out. She said a student sit- ring in the front of the class stood up and showed the professor the message, at which point, she said, "everyone started kind of panick- ing." The students ultimately worked together to turn off the lights, shut down the projector, silence their phones and shel- ter themselves under desks and between seats, she said. Norris added that the students neither saw nor heard anything suspicious, and some hadn't even received the emergency alert in the first place. She received hers solelyvia e-mail, even though she is signed up to receive textwarnings. "We had absolutely no idea," she said. "And actually, a lot of people didn't get the alert until minutes after it had already hap- pened. I didn't get the alert until about 10 minutes after they had already cleared it. "It was probably the scariest thing that ever happened to me," Norris added. Norris wasn't the only stu- dent to receive delayed warn- ings, an issue that Neumann said "depends alot on the technologies involved." Inclement weather, service providers and other related inter- mediary systems were cited as potential reasons for scattered message receipt times, something that Neumann said University Police are constantly working to improve. Some students, including Nor- ris, said the e-mail alerts were significantly more delayed than the texts. University Police said e-mail is not expected to be the primary mechanism for emer- gency messaging as it is not the fastest way to reach students. Regardless, University Police said the hope is that sending the mes- sages over a variety of media will reach a large area of the campus community. "We're always trying to get the best technology to help us make those mass notifications," Neumann said. "We continue to evaluate each emergency alert to try and find ways to make it bet- ter. In this case, we would say the system worked." LSA sophomore Eldar Hoessel, an office assistant in the Housing Information Office, agreed that the system worked. The office is stationed in the Student Activities Building and went into lockdown after Hoessel's boss received the notification about a potential gunman. "It was kind of shocking, because no one really expects that (to happen)," Hoessel said. "I thought it was a good effort. I felt pretty safe, just because I think that thetiming of everything (was good) in case it was actually areal emergency." Though the notification sys- tem appears to have been effec- tive, Norris was concerned by the content of the alert informing the campus community once the situ- ation was resolved. "It was never clear as to what actually happened," she said. Though the information became available onthe DPS web- site, Norris felt that a text follow- up would have been beneficial. "If we got that text right away, I would say 99 percent of students are going to have their phones on them, so it's going to be the quick- est way to communicate with the student body," she said. MASS MEETING TONIGHT 420 Maynard at 7:30 p.m. A A 4