a 8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 12, 2206 UMPATRIOTS PRANK ACADEMIA BY CARISSA MILLER MANAGING NEWS EDITOR For students preparing for final exams last fall, the Angell Hall computer lab and Shapiro Under- graduate Library offered more than just fluorescent- dominated late-night study spots. For at least a few minutes,these familiar sites pro- vided comic relief. Courtesy of the UMPatriots, a group of Universi- ty students dedicated to amusing their peers through video-recorded pranks, students witnessed a real- life presentation of a game of Pac-Man. Members of the Patriots have also performed sketches in University classrooms dressed as Super- man and a clan of ninjas. Viral videos, or short video clips spread through Internet sharing, typically showcase humorous sketches like those by the UMPatriots, as well as sports highlights, live performances and clips from t.v. programs. The UMPatriots do not consider themselves an organized club, but members said they are constantly looking for people to contribute ideas for new projects. "We don't have much to say. We have no alterior motives and don't necessarily have any philosophy for doing what we do" members said in an e-mail. In the last six months, the Patriots - who are intent on remaining as anonymous as possible and avoid interviews with the media - have attracted attention on the Internet and from local media. This past April,the Patriots appeared on America Online Comedy's list of Top 11 Viral Videos, peak- ing at No. 2 with "Superman Leaves the Lecture." AOL Comedy obtains the video clips from blogs and websites. The Patriots are just one example of the mil- lions of Americans latching on to the fast-grow- ing craze of creating and sharing video pranks and homemade movies online. In December 2005, two former employees of Internet payment company PayPal launched You- Tube,an interactive website allowing usersto watch, upload and share fast-streaming videos. YouTube quickly became one of the most-visited online video sites, sparking efforts to break into the user-directed video market from companies including Yahoo! and Google. I I To view the full-length videos, go to www.umpatriots.com. NEWS HAS A NEW HOME. DURING RENOVATIONS, THE DAILY HAS MOVED TO 413 E. HURON ST. CHINA Continued from Page 2 audience members' business cards from a basket and then threw a football to the lucky guests. The individuals selected then gathered at the front of the room and sang the University fight song, "Hail to the Victors," in order to receive their gift. The favorite gift was a football autographed by Head Coach Lloyd Carr, Grafton said. He said that the Lucky Draw gave "a great sense of Michigan." Today, the future of the relationship between the University and Chinese universities is looking espe- cially bright, but a long history of perseverance has contributed to this. The work toward creating a University presence in China began with the third University President, James Angell, who was Minister to China from 1880 to 1881. Then University Regent Levi Barbour created a scholarship program in 1914 for Asian women who planned to study medicine, public health or education. Five to eight scholarships are awarded each year. "There are Barbour scholars everywhere in China," said Vice President of University Relations Jo Rumsey, who has traveled to China four times on behalf of the University. The University had made several trips during the 1900s, but a long-term commitment in China had yet to be established. In 1998, Lieberthal was appointed Special Assistant and Senior Director for Asia on the National Security Council under former President Bill Clinton. The University has faced difficulties finding ways to connect with alumni in China. Grafton said much of the difficulty is generated by a lack of collaboration among various schools within the University that intend to create programs and foster relationships in China. Before the advent and widespread use of the Inter- net, Grafton said, it was very difficult for alumni to maintain communication. Transportation to and from China is also very expen- sive, he said. Rumsey said sustaining alumni clubs overseas has been very difficult because of the costly and time-con- suming nature of long-distance communication. One of the most recent developments is the opening of a University office in Beijing in 2003. Rumsey is currently composing a contact list of the participants in the recent receptions in China. a the michigan daily INDIVIDUALS NEEDED FOR RE- SEARCH STUDIES: The Pfizer Research Clinic in Ann Arbor is seeking healthy men ages 18-55, for participation in upcoming drug research studies. Study participation re- quires a stay of 10 to 20 days in the Research Clinic. Individuals will be paid for participat- ing in study activity. Payment for study par- ticipation ranges from $1800-$2500. You must not take daily prescription medications or have any chronic illness. You must be a non-smoker or light-smoker to be eligible. A pre-screening process is required. For more information, call the Research Recruiters at 1-800-567-8804. Pfizer Research Clinic 2800 Plymouth Rd.,AnnArbor, MI48105. SCOREKEEPERS IS NOW Hiring an Office Assistant, available momings and the occa- sional weekend. Great for Accounting and Econ. Majors. Contact Reid ( 734-995-0100 or apply @ 310 Maynard St. AA. 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History of University-China Collaboration O 1880-1881: University President James Angell serves as Minister to China. 1911: University students organize the first Chinese Students Club. 1920s-1930s: The University enrolls more Chinese students than any other university. 1961: The University Center for Chinese Studies is created. 1972: China's ping-pong delegation plays against the University's team in Detroit. 1979: Prof. Michel Oksenberg serves as senior staff for East Asia and China on President Jimmy Carter's National Security Council. 1981: University President Harold Shapiro leads a group of University leaders to China. 1982: The first U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Leonard Woodcock, joins the University's Political Science Department. 1998: President Bill Clinton appoints Prof. Kenneth Lieberthal Special Assistant and Senior Director for Asia on the National Security Council. 2001: The University becomes the first authorized non-Chinese university to grant graduate engineering degrees in China. 2003: The University's Office in China is opened in Beijing. 2005: University President Mary Sue Coleman and a delegation of University leaders travel to China and solidify various collaborative initiatives. 6 I AFRAID OFAPH.D.IN AMINISKIRT? 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