The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Tuesday, September 2, 2014 - 5A

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Tuesday, September 2, 2014- 5A

NEWS BRIEFS
DETROIT
Vice President
Biden says workers
deserve 'fair share'
U.S. workers deserve a "fair
share" of any improvement in
corporate profits, Vice Presi-
dent Joe Biden told hundreds
of Detroit-area union members
Monday during the first of three
Labor Day stops in the city.
A job is "about your dignity.
It's about your place in the com-
munity. ... You can't do that
unless you get a fair wage," Biden
told the crowd gathered on the
grounds of the former Tiger Sta-
dium ahead of organized labor's
annual parade Monday.
He stuck with populist
themes, criticizing corporate
pay and companies that leave the
U.S. for lower taxes.
Workers don't want a handout,
said Biden, adding: "Just give
them a chance."
MILWAUKEE
Obama renews
push for raising
minimum wage
President Barack Obama
renewed his push for Congress
to raise the minimum wage
Monday in a buoyant accounting
of the economy's "revving" per-
formance, delivered on behalf
of Democrats opening their fall
campaigns for the midterm con-
gressional elections.
"America deserves a raise," he
told a union crowd in Milwau-
kee, vowing to keep a hard sell
on Congress in much the way
he once courted his wife. "I just
wore her down," he cracked.
Timing his push to Labor
Day, the traditional start of
the autumn campaign, Obama
aggressively drew attention to
recent economic gains, setting
aside past caution on that sub-
ject.
WASHINGTON
House and Senate
panels warn of
threat from Islamic
State fighters
Leaders of the House and
Senate intelligence committees
on Sunday prodded President
Barack Obama to take decisive
action against what they say are
growing threats from Islamic
State militants on U.S. soil.
The lawmakers, one Republi-
can and one Democratic, offered
bipartisan pressure on the White
House to turn back the hazard of
Islamist fighters who have taken
control of vast swaths of Syria
and Iraq. Those militants now
are looking toward the United
States or Western Europe for its
next targets, lawmakers said.
Without offering specifics on
any threats or suggestions how
to confront them, the lawmakers
said Obama soon needs to devel-

op a comprehensive strategy to
crush the fighters.
BERLIN
German chancellor
supports arming
Kurdish fighters
Chancellor Angela Merkel has
told lawmakers that it's in Germa-
ny's interests to arm the Kurdish
fighters who are battling Islamic
extremists in Iraq.
The government decided Sun-
day to send 16,000 assault rifles,
millions of rounds of ammunition,
hundreds of anti-tank weapons
and several armored vehicles to
forces fighting the Islamic State
group, breaking with Germany's
previous reluctance to send weap-
ons into conflicts.
Merkel on Monday told a spe-
cial session of parliament the deci-
sion was "very carefully weighed."
She said German officials faced
a choice between "taking no risks,
not delivering (weapons) and ulti-
mately accepting the expansion of
terror" or supporting those fight-
ing the extremists.
-Compiled from
Daily wire reports

Schlissel makes
first remarks in
new student event

Annual convocation
welcomes freshmen
to the University
By JENNIFER CALFAS
ManagingNews Editor
When University President
Mark Schlissel approached the
podium in the Crisler Center for
the first time in his new role, he
was in good company. In front of a
crowd of several thousand fresh-
men at the New Student Convoca-
tion on Friday, Schlissel delivered
his first formal remarks to Uni-
versity undergraduates.
Immediately, Schlissel told the
University's newest batch of stu-
dents that they, like him, face the
challenge of adjusting to a new
environment.
"This evening, we begin our
Michigan journey together,"
Schlissel said.
Schlissel's speech came
between performances by stu-
dent groups and several other
addresses, including comments
by CSG President Bobby Dishell,
a Public Policy senior; Ted Spen-
cer, associate vice provost and
executive director of the Office of
Undergraduate Admissions; and
E. Royster Harper, vice president
for student life.
Schlissel began by address-
ing the obvious: As the 14th Uni-
versity president, he, like the
thousands of new freshmen, has
a lot to learn. After his first few
months, however, he already has
some advice to give.
"Have you figured out the
UGLi? If not, you will soon," he
said. "Learning the culture of the
Michigan community is a little
confusing at first, but soon none
of this will phase you."
Throughout his speech,
Schlissel lauded students for

their academic and personal
accomplishments that led to their
decision to attend the University.
He emphasized the value of a
University education, encourag-
ing students to make the most of
the academic and extracurricu-
lar resources offered.
"Drink from the academic fire
hose that is Michigan," Schlis-
sel said. "Learning at a research
university ... presents you unique
opportunities to discover, be
entrepreneurial and intellectu-
ally restless."
Harper echoed Schlissel's
remarks by highlighting the abil-
ity of students to make their own
mark on the University - which
she strongly encouraged.
"The University is a very
special and constantly evolv-
ing place; it's your universe,"
Harper said. "You need not leave
it or take it as it was when you
entered. We expect you to make
a contribution to the University
and the world."
In his speech, Spencer said
the class of 2018 was the "stron-
gest" class to have ever entered
the University - a characteristic
that has typically been associated
with each year's incoming class.
Though the class of 2018's
enrollment data will not be offi-
cially revealed until October,
Spencer said the freshmen are
"very diverse with strong rep-
resentation of racial, ethnic and
religious class."
Before closing his first set of
remarks to undergraduate stu-
dents, Schlissel quoted Mary
Oliver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning
poet, to pose a question for stu-
dents to carry throughout their
careers at the University.
"'Tell me: What is it you plan
to do with your one wild and
precious life?"' Schlissel recited.
"The answer begins here and
now."

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
LSA freshman Emily Pielack greets University President Mark Schlissel and his wife, Monica Schwebs, at the historic
President's House Thursday.
President's open house
draws over 1,000 students

Students line
South U. to meet
the University's
new president
By CLAIRE BRYAN
and YARDAIN AMRON
Daily StaffReporters
Thursday was a sunny after-
noon fit for ice cream and, con-
veniently, University President
Mark Schlissel was serving.
Students and parents lined
South University Avenue and
the hallways of the newly reno-
vated President's House for a
chance to grab a snack and snap
a picture with the University's
new president, who assumed
office in July. Students were
informed about the event via
e-mail the day before the event
on Aug. 27.
At the back of the residence,
Schlissel and his wife, Monica
Schwebs - who moved into
the historic residence at 815 S.
University this week - greet-

City Council to discuss zoning,
affordable housing at meeting

Councilmembers
will also discuss
use of ridesharing
companies Thesday
The City Council will meet
Tuesday to consider resolutions
concerningzoning and ridesharing
companies. The Council will dis-
cuss the operation of Uber and Lyft
companies in Ann Arbor, aswell as
a fund transfer in support of a con-
tinuing affordable housing effort
and various zoning proposals.
Resolution: City
Administrator to negotiate
withridesharing companies
Councilmembers Sabra Briere
(D-Ward 1), Sally Hart Petersen
(D-Ward 2) and Christopher Tay-
lor (D-Ward 3) have announced
their sponsorship of a resolu-
tion that would recommend that
City Administrator Steve Powers
negotiate operating agreements
with companies such as Uber and
Lyft following last month's dis-
cussion regarding taxi ordinance

changes.
This resolution lists specific
parameters of such companies'
operation within the city of Ann
Arbor, including specifications
for acceptable drivers, required
driver background checks,
required reports from rideshar-
ing companies to the city and a
minimum insurance coverage of
$1 million.
Last month's approval of taxi-
cab rates will also be given final
consideration.
Resolution: Transfer of
$729,879 to West Arbor
affordable housing project
In support of the West Arbor
Section 8 rent-assisted housing
project,the Councilwillbevoting
to appropriate necessary funds to
fill a shortfall in the project's bud-
get of $16,564,370.
The Ann Arbor Housing Com-
mission is requesting aid fromthe
Council to make up the $729,879
difference not covered by the
Michigan State Housing Direc-
tory Authority and low-income
tax credits.

Council approved the project
on June 3 of last year, but this
additional transfer would come
from its affordable housing fund,
which currently has a balance of
$1,580,799.
Resolutions: Zoning
The Council will also be vot-
ing on various changes to zoning,
including approval of the Gift of
Life project and the demolition of
20 homes on North Maple Road in
order to construct a public hous-
ing apartment complex. Gift of
Life is a non-profit organization
that seeks to improve people's
quality of life by encouraging
quality organ and tissue dona-
tion.
Consideration for the Gift of
Life expansion was postponed
on Aug. 29 and will be given ini-
tial consideration at Tuesday's
meeting. This project concerns
the use of $10.5 million to add
a three-story building to the
existing Gift of Life research
facility in Ann Arbor, which is
contingent on the changes made
to zoning laws.

ed guests in the backyard at
the end of a long receiving
line. People strolled around
the green, sampling maize &
blue cookies, an assortment of
ice cream bars and cider from
stations staffed by University
Catering. A shorter line offered
a chance to sig n the 2-foot-
thick President's House guest
book.
The constant stream of
guests kept Schlissel tied up for
the event's entirety.
"We think this is probably
the most people who have ever
come," said E. Royster Harper,
vice president for Student Life.
"A lot of new students, trans-
fer students, international
students, a few juniors and
seniors, but really a lot of first
year students and parents."
In previous years, President
Emerita Mary Sue Coleman
hosted similar open houses
after the New Student Convo-
cation, which will take place
on Aug. 29 this year. Though
the date change landed in the
middle of dorm move in, the
RESEARCH
From Page 1A
positions.
"When the Cold Wa
ended, that restriction wa
lifted, but there were a num
ber of traditionalists th
believed it should remai
that way and so it's take;
a while to actually elect a;
American," Fisk said.
The International Counci
of Scientific Unions found
ed COSPAR in 1958, on
year after the Soviet Unio
launched its first satellit
into space. Since then, th
committee has worked t
encourage the exchange o
scientific knowledge, eve:
during periods of intens
geopolitical conflict.
"Interestingly enough,
was actually elected in Mos
cow, because that's wher
the meeting was being hel
this year, at a time when on
could say, perhaps, that th
Cold War was coming back
little bit," Fisk said.
Relations between th
United States, Russia an
the EU. have been severel
strained following Russia'
annexation of the Crimea:
Peninsula, which belonge:
to neighboring Ukriane. Th
friction intensified in Jul
after a commercial passen
ger jet - Malaysia Airline
Flight 17 - was reported
shot down over Ukraine, a:
act widely believed to be th
work of pro-Russian separat
ists using weapons supplie
byRussia. Investigations int
the crash are ongoing.
"In fairness to COSPAR
and I think appropriatel
at the meeting in Mosco
the geopolitical situatio
was not an issue," Fisk said
"COSPAR simply rises abov
those things."
Several weeks into his ten
ure, Fisk said he is learnin
to balance his responsibili
ties as head of the committe
with his other roles. In addi

student turn out still exceeded
that of Coleman's final open
house lastyear.
"He wanted this event early
so he could meet students while
they have time and to meet par-
ents who are still here," Harper
said.
Schlissel has spent the
recent weeks touring campus
to meet with members of the
community in advance of his
presidential inauguration,
which is scheduled for Sept.
5.
At the exit, Engineering
senior Erin Aldernik said, "It
was nice to shake his hand,
take a picture with him, get
some free food. I'm excited to
see what he does."
Music, Theater & Dance
freshman Matt Sina and his
parents were pleasantly sur-
prised that a school as large as
the University would host such
an event.
"I definitely know that he
doesn't' have to do this, so I
genuinely appreciate it," Sina
said.
- ion to teaching a graduate
course titled "SpacerPolicy
and Management," which
teaches students policies
between the United States'
and the international space
r community, he serves as
s chairman of the board of
- Michigan Aerospace Corpo-
t ration, a company he found-
n ed with Paul Hays, another
n former Space Science ;po-
n fessor.
Fisk, however, is no strang-
l er to taking on multiple roles.
- After spending the early part
e of his career at NASA's God-
n dard Space Flight Center, he
e moved to the University of
e New Hampshire, where he
o was eventually appointed
f vice president for research
n and financial affairs.
e In 1987, Fisk returned to
NASA as the associate admin-
I istrator for space science and
- applications. During his six
e years in that position, he said
d he was always working to
e increase international coop-
e eration among scientists.
a "It's something that has
been a part of my career for
e some time, the concept of
d international cooperation,"
y Fisksaid. "It's somethingthat
s I feel very strongly about."
n Fisk added that improv-
d ing scientific cooperation
e through groups such as
y COSPAR may help settle
- international conflict on a
s political level. He referenced
y the role of Roald Sagdeev, the
n scientific advisor to Soviet
e President Mikhail Gor-
- bachev at the end of the Cold
d War, who helped to bridge
o the divide between U.S. and
Soviet space scientists.
, "The scientific contacts
y, that took place (at the end
w of the Cold War) between
n the Soviets and the Ameri-
. cans, particularly in space,
e I believe had an important
impact onhow the Cold War
- ended - peacefully," Fisk
g said. "I think that can be
- always the case - using sci-
e ence to bridge geopolitical
- differences."

Americans detained in North
Korea call for U.S. intervention

Washington sends
representative to
negotiate release
PYONGYANG, - North Korea
(AP) - North Korea gave foreign
media access on Monday to three
detained Americans who said
they have been able to contact
their families and - watched by
officials as they spoke - called for
Washington to send a high-rank-
ing representative to negotiate for
their freedom.
Jeffrey Fowle and Mathew
Miller said they expect to face
trial within a month. But they said
they do not know what punish-

ment they could face or what the
specific charges against them are.
Kenneth Bae, who already is serv-
ing a 15-year term, said his health
has deteriorated at the labor camp
where he works eight hours a day.
The three were allowed to
speak briefly with The Associated
Press at a meetingcenter in Pyong-
yang. North Korean officials were
present during the interviews,
conducted separately and in dif-
ferent rooms, but did not censor
the questions that were asked. The
three said they did not know they
were goingto be interviewed until
immediately beforehand.
All said they believe the only
solution to their situation is for
a U.S. representative to come to

North Korea to make a direct
appeal.
That has often been North
Korea's bargaining chip in the
past, when senior statesmen
including former President Bill
Clinton made trips to Pyongyang
to secure the release of detainees.
North Korea says Fowle and
Miller committed hostile acts
which violated their status as tour-
ists. Ithas announced that authori-
ties are preparing for the trial, but
has not announced the date.
In Washington, National Secu-
rity Council spokesman Patrick
Ventrell said, "We have seen the
reports of interviews with the
three American citizens detained
in North Korea."

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