The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

Friday, October 17, 2014 - 3A


FOOTBALL
From Page 1A
"The survey showed that we've
reached a tipping point," Dishell
said after the meeting. "Students
said no more. To notice that if you
would have just barely over 10
percent of your over 12,000 stu-
dent section buying tickets again
... that's-not a pretty number."
Subsequently, Dishell said he
and Brandon had agreed on the
reduction of football student sea-
son ticket prices (the recommen-
dation is no more than $150), the
elimination of rental fees at ath-
letics facilities for student organi-
zations with charitable aims, the
creation of new student advisory
boards and regular student meet-
ings with Brandon.
The Athletic Department con-
firmed these stipulations in its
release Thursday night, adding
its commitment to hold monthly
meetings between Brandon and
students to "address topics relat-
ing to all 31 teams and Michigan
Athletics."
The statement also established
the initiative to work with the Big
Ten to create a blackout week-
end where Crisler Center will be
available for MUSIC Matters in
2016. MUSIC Matters is a student
organization that annually brings
in an end-of-year concert per-
former, in addition to facilitating
SpringFest, which spotlights the
work of other student organiza-
tions and local talent.
Other recommendations in
the report that were not verbally
agreed upon with the Athletic
Department included offering
free concessions for students
who attend the game on time
and expanding the men's basket-
ball student section in the lower
bowl.
Regent Andrea Fischer New-
man (R) expressed discontent
with the survey's rate of respons-
es following Dishell's presenta-
tion at the regents meeting and
said 12 percent was not represen-
tative of the entire student body.
"I think (Dishell) is doing a
goodjoboftryingtoworkwiththe
students and the administration
and the Athletic Department,"
Newman said in an interview
after the-meeting. "(But) I was_
disappointed that it represented
only 12 percent of students."
Dishell also responded to this
concern after the meeting.
"Anyone who has done market
research, anyone who has done
statistical, social science sur-
veys ... 12 percent is an incredible

response rate," he said. "And we
also saw that, on these surveys,
when we looked at last year's
CSG surveys, the behaviors that
came out of this response rate are
reflective of the student popula-
tion."
For some administrators, stu-
dents and regents, these policy
changes were only the tip of the
iceberg when examining internal
issues with the Athletic Depart-
ment.
University President Mark
Schlissel opened the regents
meeting with a prepared state-
ment in which he touted the role
of athletics in all facets of the
University community. However,
he also said the Athletic Depart-
ment must reinvigorate its role in
facilitating the safety of student
athletes.
"We have a very passionate
community that cares deeply
about our wonderful athletic tra-
dition as well as the sense of con-
nectedness our programs have
long provided for us," he said. "I
value that connection highly and
want to preserve and enhance it."
He then he addressed the
muddled actions taken regarding
sophomore quarterback Shane
Morris, who was put back into
the Sept. 27 football game against
Minnesota shortly after likely
sustaining a concussion.
"I was deeply disappointed in
the department's initial response
in handling the situation," Schlis-
sel said. "We must be accountable
for the facts with a response that
is timely and takes responsibility
for error. Without this we break
trust with our stakeholders."
Investigation of this mistake
following the game yielded con-
flicting messages from Brandon
and Michigan coach Brady Hoke.
Schlissel noted the University
has made several policy changes
since the Minnesota game, such
as placing a trainer in the press
box with instant replay access
and two-way radio communica-
tion with medical staff on the
sidelines, as well as reinforcing
the practice of taking away the
helmets of injured athletes.
He has also instructed the Ath-
letic Department to conduct a full
review of in-game player safety
procedures. The review is being
conducted bythe department and,
findings and recommendations
will be shared with the regents
and public at appropriate times.
He said the University will
need more extensive, long-term
approaches to address additional
issues.
"We work to establish the right

balance between competitive-
ness, financial stability and the
athletic traditions we hold dear,"
Schlissel said.
Zeid El-Kilani, a Public Policy
graduate student, spoke dur-
ing the public comments portion
of the meeting and said that all
moves beingtaken to appease the
student body - both with regard
to safety and commercialization
- fail to address the overarching-
ly negative atmosphere created by
the Athletic Department admin-
istration. ,
El-Kilani authored the CSG
petition to fire Brandon in the
first week of October, which has
since amassed more than 11,000
signatures.
Analysis conducted by The
Michigan Daily two weeks ago
revealed that the majority of
these signatures were alumni, not
current students.
"We are nauseated by the dou-
blespeak, public relations gap,
and outright contempt that ema-
nate from the Athletic Depart-
ment," El-Kilani said during his
speaking time. "It is clear that
change is necessary. That is why
I, and more than 11,000 other stu-
dents and alumni, respectfully
request the University relieve Mr.
Brandon of his duties as Athletic
Director."
Despite some media specula-
tion, Brandon's job security was
not a topic of conversation at
the regents meeting. El-Kilani
said there were "underlying cul-
tural issues" which would not be
addressed by the current policy
changes atplay.
Even if Brandon's job had been
discussed, firingpowerultimately
lies with Schlissel. Otherwisethe
regents' only role in personnel
oversight is selecting the Univer-
sity president.
"I think (the Athletic Depart-
ment) sees its role as overseer
of the whole Michigan brand,
including everything to do with
how the public perc'eives our Uni-
versity," El-Kilani said. "But in
reality, they're a tool for fostering
community on campus, engag-
ing our students and alumni and
bringing us all together. But I
think they've lost track of that."
Regent Mark Bernstein (D)
alluded to this issue in conver-
sations with the media after the
meeting came to a close.
He said "the board is working
in partnership with our president
to make a thoughtful, deliberate,
responsible decision," and added
that, "this personnel matter is a
delicate matter that is important
to discuss with our president."

CLINTON
From Page 1A
to get out there and work for it.
And trust me, you don't want to
wake up the day after the elec-
tion and wish you would have
done more."
As candidates for state office
took the stage preceding Clin-
ton's remarks, they also spoke on,
voter turnout - a common theme
for Democrats this election year.
In the 2012 presidential elec-
tion, President Barack Obama
won Michigan by 9.5 percentage
points but during midterm elec-
tions Republicans have typically
had an advantage.
"Elections have consequenc-
es," Southfield Mayor Brenda
Lawrence, candidate for the U.S
House of Representatives, told
the crowd. "And I will tell you,
four years ago, many of you in
this room did not vote. You just
sat it out. You said 'Oh, he's a
nerd. How bad can it be?' I don't
think I can tell that to anyone
now."
Lawrence was referring to
Snyder, who ran on the slogan of
'one tough nerd' in his 2010 elec-
tion. Her message was echoed by
U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Royal
Oak), whose brother, Senator
Carl Levin's (D-Mich.) retire-
ment has led to the state's open
Senate seat.
"You can sum it up this way,"
Levin said. "2016 can wait.
And that's especially true as
to who's going to be the sena-

tor. My brother ... he's up North
campaigning for this ticket and
we owe him gratitude. He never
gives up fighting. This is what all
of us face; who's going to carry on
his work of 36 years?"
"We can do much better than
we did in 2010, and we're going to
do it in the year 2014," he added.
During her remarks, beyond
urgingthe crowd to vote, Clinton
also touched on several specific
policy issues, grouping objec-
tives like pay equity, healthcare
and strengthening the middle
class under the theme of being
pro-family. She cited General
Motors CEO Mary Barra, who
spoke at the University's Spring
2014 Commencement, as a
woman taking hold of a leader-
ship position.
"Let us remember, this is the
state where Rosie the Riveter
inspired a country," Clinton said
on pay equity. "You now have
leaders like Mary Barra cracking
ceilings, showing there's no job a
woman can't do. So just ask your-
self - why is it that women still
get paid less than a man for doing
the same work?"
She spoke extensively on the
auto bailout, which has been
a contentious issue this elec-
tion cycle in Michigan. Peters
has emphasized his support for
the bailout repeatedly during
the campaign - Land, up until
this month, has not, something
Peters has criticized.
"(Schauer and Peters) decid-
ed to take the risk, stand with
President Obama, roll up their

sleeves and get to work," Clin-
ton said. "Now, there are some
choices that define careers and
define what people are made
out of. There are choices that
shape your whole life. This was
a choice that would change the
future of an industry atstake and
a nation."
While Clinton did not men-
tion her plans for 2016 - she has
been rumored to be a possible
candidate for the Democratic
nomination for U.S. President
- during the event, many can-
didates alluded to it, also telling
the crowd that a large Democrat-
ic turnout in 2014 would build a
strong basis for Clinton in 2016.
"I'm so proud that she's got
my back today," Schauer said
in his introduction to Clinton's
remarks. "And whatever the
future holds for you, Madam
Secretary, I will always be on
Team Hillary."
After the event, Oakland Uni-
versity freshmen Aaron Decarie
and Jenna Russell, who will be
first-time voters in this year's
midterm election, said Clinton's
speech had been inspiring.
"It lets you know that your
votes matter, and it can help
(them) win," Russell said.
Michigan will see at least two
more national figures before
Election Day - Clinton's hus-
band, former President Bill Clin-
ton, is expected to rally for state
Democrats Wednesday in Flint,
and President Obama is expected
to visit the state in the week lead-
ing up to the Nov. 4 election.


SNYDER
From Page1A
The city had reached that point,
and Snyder said he had no choice
but to tap bankruptcy lawyer
Kevyn Orr, a University alum,
to the position. Soon after, Orr
filed for municipal bankruptcy
for Detroit, making it the largest
U.S. city ever to do so.
Snyder marveled at the pace of
progress the city has made in the
18 months since Orr's appoint-
ment. He said the Plan of Adjust-
ment, which outlines how the city
will restructure debt and city ser-
vices in bankruptcy, had earlier
that day received approval from
the city's last major creditor and
was now just a month or so away
from court approval. Snyder said
he owed most of the credit to
Orr, Mayor Mike Duggan and the
judges and mediators involved in
the bankruptcy process.
In addition to those leaders,
Snyder said he is also indebted to
the city's retirees for their role in
supporting the so-called "grand
bargain." This plan addressed
the controversy over the bank-
ruptcy's effect of freeing the

city from its obligation to pay
retired city employees the full
cost of their pension they were
promised. The centerpiece of the
adjustment plan will give the city
$816 million over 20 years to help
reduce pension cuts, with funds
comingfromthe state, nonprofits
and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Snyder noted that as the bank-
ruptcy has gone on, the city has
made strides in other areas. He
said the city is now better lit,
trash is being picked up more fre-
quently, blighted buildings con-
tinue to be removed and crime
has gone down significantly. In
addition, Snyder highlighted that
the residential areas in midtown
and downtown have a 95-percent
occupancy rate. Still, the city
faces significant challenges in
these areas.
With that in mind, Snyder also
made an appeal to the audience
of mostly law students about con-
sidering living in Detroit, citing
its great employment opportuni-
ties and affordability.
"In your lifetime, how many
chances will you have to be on
ground floor of bringing some-
thing back that most people
thought, wasn't going to come

back?" he asked.
In a Michigan Daily survey
from earlier this month, only 22
percent of surveyed University
students saidthey would consider
living in the city after graduation.
Law student Timothy Gar-
cia, who attended the lecture,
appreciated how the governor
addressed the problems the city
needed to fix while also playing
up its exciting potential.
"I was surprised, actually, that
he came to Ann Arbor in the mid-
dle of campaign season," Garcia
said. "I'm really glad he did."
Though Snyder did not men-
tion the campaign explicitly, he
did talk about his role in Detroit
in broader terms, noting that
while being the face of a historic
bankruptcy might create a nega-
tive perception, it will be a good
thing in the end.
"I don't think about legacy,
but when they write the history
books, it'll say, 'Governor Rick
Snyder was the one who put
Detroit into bankruptcy'," Sny-
der said. "That will be a good
thing. Because otherwise the day
after, the day after that and the
day after that would be the worst
in the history of Detroit."


DIVERSITY
From Page 1A
mittee released a report detailing
several potential changes, includ-
ing the creation of a strategic plan
for diversity.
"I look forward to being able
to present new strategies to the
regents and the entire Michigan
communitylater this year,"he said.
He also said the University is
continuing to meet with members
of the University's Black Student
Union.
"These ongoing discussions are
resulting in very productive con-
sultations," he said.
Discussions with the adminis-
tration and members of the Black
Student Union earlier in the year
resulted in a renovation of the
Trotter Multicultural Center while
the administration continues to
search for a new space for a new
multicultural center.
Schlissel noted that two recent
University appointees, Robert
Sellers, the vice provost for equity,
inclusion and academic affairs,
and Kendra Ishop, associate vice
president for enrollment manage-
ment, have assumed their roles and
started developing new approaches
toaddressminorityenrollmentand
campus climate.
He also cited the University's
Change It Up campaign, which
helps students to develop the skills
to intervene when they see or hear
behavior that is harmful to the
campus climate, and the Inclu-
sive Language Campaign kicked
off, which kicked off in Septem-
ber, as examples of new programs

designed to address inclusion.
Regents approve three capital.
projects
The regents also approved three
facilities-related projects, includ-
ing the naming of the new Ross
School Academic Building as Jeff
T. Blau Hall. Blau, a Business alum,
currently serves on the Ross School
Advisory Board. In 2006, he made
a$4milliondollargiftandthisyear
he made an additional $5 million
gift to the Business School.
The regents also approved reno-
vations at the Institute of Continu-
ing Legal Education. The 9,000
gross square feet first floor renova-
tions will remodel existing offices,
create a conference room and
improve heating, ventilation and
electrical improvements. The total
cost of the project is $1.75 million.
Renovations to the Michigan
Memorial Project Laboratory were
also approved. The 2,700 gross-
square-foot renovation plan will
convert an office space into a state
of the art laboratory for creating
prototype batteries.
Regents receive annual invest-
ment report
Douglas Strong, the University's
interim executive vice president
and chief executive officer, pre-
sented the regents with an annual
report on the University's invest-
ments.
The University's endowment
has grown to $9.7 billion in fiscal
year 2014, up from $8.4 million in
2013, making it the eighth largest
endowment fund among American
universities.
According to the report, the
University's fiscal year 2014 invest-
ment return was 18.8 percent.

That figure is up 10.7 percent from
last year. Strong said the increase
could be attributed, in part, to new
donor gifts as part of the Victors for
Michigan fundraising campaign,
which was launched last year.
This report marks the fourth
year of double-digit investment
returns over the past five years.
"This is an indication that
markets, in general, have fully
recovered from the impact of the
financial crisis and the economy
is finally emerging from the sub-
sequent Great Recession," Erik
Lundberg, the University's chief
investment officer, wrote in a
release.
However, lower rates could be
on the horizon.
"While strong. -investment
returns are welcome, such positive
performance appropriately needs
to be tempered by the recognition
that high current returns usually
beget lower future returns as mar-
kets often get ahead of underlying
fundamentals," he wrote.
In fiscal year 2014, the Univer-
sity's endowment funded $283
million in operating expenses, an
increase of $7 million over last
year. The University distributes 4.5
percent of its endowment value for
operations.
In an endowment, the principal
funds are typically left intact, but
the organization often taps into
investment proceeds for needs
such as operating expenses. The
report notes $2 billion is set aside
for student scholarships, for exam-
ple.
Daily News Editor Sam Gringlas
contributed reporting.


CONFERENCE
From Page 1A
ting racism in schools.
The dialogue training was
held among students in a very
full Union Ballroom, with stu-
dents sitting at round tables. The
students were unafraid to share
their thoughts, and there was a
steady flow of student input com-
ing through the speakers as each
student spoke through the micro-
phone. Roger Fisher, associate
director of Intergroup Relations,
spent time passionately leading
the discussion, encouraging stu-
dents to be leaders against racism
in their own classrooms.
"There's a difference between
a rebellion and a revolution,"
Fisher said, addressingthe room.
"A rebellion is just acting out. It's
throwing one real good orga-
nized fit. It's having a tantrum.
Revolution requires change. It
requires strategy. It requires
commitment, intelligence - all
these other things. We have to
decide, am I committed to just
a good old-fashioned tear down
the walls rebellion, or am I com-
mitted to a revolution?"
Walking out of the ballroom,
Farmington High School junior
Margaret Kohler expressed
anxiety about missing a day of
school. With a 4.0 GPA and a
self-described privileged back-
ground, Kohler admits she is
on the high end when it comes

to achievement. Even so, she is
dedicated to raising awareness
about the disparities of achieve-
ment associated with race, and
this was her third year in a row
attending a conference of this
type.
"I could name 20 people who
never talk about this stuff,"
Kohler said. "If we don't do it no
one else will."
Kohler said she has seen an
achievement gap at her school,
and to combat it, students of
different races need to interact
more with one another.
"Farmington High School
in our district has the biggest
achievement gap, and I think
that's super connected to this
whole diversity thing and race
cliques," Kohler said. "I think if
students were to mesh more with
students who aren't like them,
then you'd definitely see lessen-
ing of the achievemefit gap."
This point came up again and
againat the conference - greater
integration between students of
different races makes it easier
to combat the stereotypes asso-
ciated with race. Hafner said
some students feel pressured by
the "mythical" benchmarks for
academic success that have been
constructed for students of their
particular race.
"I think that's where that
comes from, the myth that if
you're smart and you're Black,
you're acting white, or the ste-
reotype that certain groups of
people aren't intelligent," she

said. "I think some kids live into
that expectation placed on them,
and some work really hard to
fight against it."
Still, each student had individ-
ual experiences in their school
and not all of them had witnessed
or experienced directly racial
issues.
Darryl Dunlap, a student at
North Farmington High School,
said he has not personally run
into conflicts with peers or
teachers, but that he has friends
who have told him they feel held
back by their race.
"I wouldn't say my race has
ever held me back; generally I
would say all my teachers like
me," Dunlap said. "Some of my
Asian friends may not be as
smart as they're made out to be,
and they struggle sometimes too,
even though people usually think
they're smart."
Dunlap was on the volun-
teer committee at the confer-
ence, meaning he is one of the
students trusted with helping
to make sure everything runs
smoothly. Last year, Dunlap
attended the 2013 MSAN confer-
ence in Massachusetts. He said
his experiences with the national
conference have been inspiring.
"When I first went last year, I
was kind of like, this is a chance
for me to get out of school," he
said. "But then once you get
into the topics of discussion, it's
an eye-opener. You actually see
what is going on and how you can
help change things."


TAYLOR
From Page 2A
Board have an opportunity to weigh
in and consider developmentoppor-
tunities earlier in the process of site
plan approval.
In addition, he said he plans on
having a more balanced plan for

the kinds of buildings constructed
downtown.
This kind of variety in devel-
opment, Taylor said, will include
employment centers downtown
and possibilities other than resi-
dential buildings, which the city's
zoning currentlytends to favor.
This variety could, as public
speakers at City Council meet-

ings in the past have consistent-
ly advocated for, include more
affordable housing. Affordable
housing has been another major
concern throughout the elec-
tion, though the construction of
affordable housing facilities does
not rest directly on City Council.
Read more online at michigan-
daily.com.


LATINA
From Page 2A
These things are valuable right?
I don't have any milk right here,

or sugar, or none of that, but that
memory is real."
Carter said her multicultural
backgroundhelpedher respectother
people and their customs more.
"It allowed me to have real-

ly personal experiences about
not judging people, because I
was placed in all these various
situations where I was able to
really learn about people," she
said.