Arts 9 Stone finds
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Sports 13 Starting spots on
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www.michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXVI, No. 130 @2006 The Michigan Daily
The M-PACT impact Hieftje, Warren
A comparison between last year's M-PACT guidelines and the new
program for 2006-2007 take primary
expands
} 0 Grants will replace loans for the most
needy in-state students, one out-of-state
student tells his financial aid story
By Leah Graboski
Daily News Editor
For many college students, paying back thousands in
loans is a daunting task. But for some this year, the bur-
den will be slightly less overwhelming.
The University announced Tuesday that the M-PACT program
- a year-old financial aid program available only to Michigan
residents - will replace student loans with grants for about 400
students who need the most finandial assistance.
These students will be awarded $3,700 in grants
instead of the $3,478 in loans they received last year. In
addition, last year's work-study offerings of $2,500 will
be slightly lowered to $2,278.
The policy will give the University students most in
need a clean slate after graduation by eliminating the
GRAPHIC BY BRIDGET o'DONNELL
-PACT grants
burden of repaying thousands of dollars in debt.
M-PACT is funded by private gifts, some of which are
a result of The Michigan Difference Campaign, a fund-
raising effort launched by University President Mary Sue
Coleman in 2004 with a goal of raising $2.5 billion.
In all, M-PACT impacts 1,800 students. The minimum
aid students can receive is a $500 grant. M-PACT is only
one aspect of the financial assistance University students
receive. The students most in need can also expect to receive
$8,800 in federal grants and $1,300 in state grants.
"Financial aid isn't just about low-income students.
Bear in mind that more than two-thirds of University
undergraduates receive some sort of financial aid -
either need-based or merit-based," University spokesman
Joe Serwach said in an e-mail.
Financial aid will increase by 10 percent for all stu-
dents this year.
Serwach said between 5,500 and 5,800 students are
expected to receive more aid this year than in 2005-2006.
Although out-of-state students do not qualify for M-
PACT, Serwach said the University recognizes that about
See M-PACT, Page 3
Incumbent John
Hieftje, Rebekah Warren
win race, voter turnout
reached about 15 percent
By Sandy Liberman
Daily Staff Reporter
In this past Tuesday's primary
election, citizens selected city can-
didates to join the state senate, rep-
resentative and governor candidates
on the Nov. 7 election ballot.
Although some candidates came
away Tuesday night with over-
whelming victories, the races for
city council and state representa-
tives remained close.
Because Ann Arbor is primarily
democratic,the winners of the demo-
cratic primary in the city are expect-
ed to win in the November election.
In the mayoral race, incumbent John
Hieftje won a majority of the votes
and will serve another six-year term
in office. Hieftje won more than two-
thirds of the vote to defeat current Ward
S City Councilwoman Wendy Woods.
"I will continue to work on the
Green Energy Plan, bringing rail
transportation to Ann Arbor, balanc-
ing the budget and protecting human
services funding," Hieftje said.
Rebekah Warren won the demo-
cratic nomination for the 53rd District
State Representative, which includes
most of Ann Arbor.
She defeated Ward 3 City Coun-
cilman Leigh Greden by roughly
2,000 votes.
"I feel that my 13-year experience
in Lansing resonated most with the
public because they really liked the
idea that I will be able to hit the
ground running as representative,"
Warren said.
The city council race - contested
only in Wards 1, 3 and 5 - attracted
fewer voters to the polls, with each
vote significantly impacting the
results of the election.
In Ward 1, Ronald Suarez will
take Jon Roberts' seat, which Rob-
erts assumed last winter.
"Even though I am elected from a
ward, I feel like I represent people
across the city," Suarez said.
He said he will go against the sta-
tus quo and give citizens a voice in
city politics.
In Ward 3, Stephen Kunselman
won a tight three-way race by just
29 votes. Kunselman said he was
the only candidate to take a strong
position against the Allen Creek
Greenway Project, which will estab-
lish a public park around a private
railroad near Main Street.
Despite his opposition to the divi-
sive project, Kunselman said he is
optimistic that the third ward will
unite behind him.
"Though the vote was close, there
were many similarities between me
and the other candidates," he said.
Incumbent Ward 5 councilmem-
ber Chris Easthope won a bid for
another term in office.
With fewer than a 15-percent voter
turnout in the election, most citizens
did not make it out to the polls.
"Between the students gone and
homeowners on vacation, August is
probably the worst month of the year
for voter turnout," Suarez said.
Although turnout was low, some
nominees pointed out that this is
normal for a primary election.
"We are satisfied with the vote,"
Warren said, adding thatcomparedto
See PRIMARY, Page 2
'U' hires new North Quad architect
After criticism of original
design, complex's exterior will
be more like existing buildings
By Kelly Fraser
Daily News Editor
Nearly five months after University
administrators sent plans for North Quad-
rangle back to the drawing board, a sec-
ond architecture firm has been selected to
revamp the complex's exterior design.
The University recently hired the New
York-based firm Robert A.M. Stern to serve
as lead designer on the combined academic
and residence hall complex project. Einhorn,
Yaffee, Prescott - the original team of archi-
tects - remain on the project, said Philip
Hanlon, associate provost for academic and
budgetary affairs.
A schematic design of the complex was
expected to be presented to the University's
Board of Regents for approval this past March,
but the project was pulled from the agenda at
the last minute because University officials
were dissatisfied with the complex's exterior
design and overall feel.
Hanlon said that University administrators
wanted the building's facade be more welcoming.
During the meeting, Timothy Slottow, the
University's Chief Financial Officer, said that
based on conferences with University admin-
istrators, the project was not ready to be pre-
sented to the regents.
University officials later announced that the
complex's opening would be delayed by one
year, until fall 2010.
Hanlon said University officials still hope to
meet this schedule. New schematic plans may
be ready to be presented to the regents as early
as this fall, he said.
Costs are also expected to rise above the
See NORTH QUAD, Page 2
Today's issue is the last edition of
the Daily printed this term. We
thank you for your readership
throuhout the semester and
encourage you to keep track of
the latest campus news during -
the break by reading online
updates on our website, www.
michigandaiy.:corn.