Tuesday, May 29, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 3 TEXTBOOKS From page 1 gan Student Assembly approached him with student concerns over textbook prices, said MSA Vice President Mohammad Dar, who is also a member of the taskforce. "This is a real victory," said Monts. "It's a real les- son to students - it's been their persistence to resolve these issues that got this carried out." Monts said several University deans and faculty members are behind the taskforce's suggestions. But he added that changes in the textbook system wouldn't be seen for a few more terms. "In terms of rollout, we may have to wait until next year," he said. "I'm hoping it's the spring, but it might be the fall of 2008." The taskforce suggested that the University create an online system for posting required reading and advise professors to have textbook lists available at least 10 weeks before the start of a term. The taskforce plans to gain fac- ulty support for the program by emphasizing the strain of high textbook prices on students and by asking professors to encourage their colleagues to use the system. The proposal also includes cre- ating a website where faculty could post textbook lists for students and booksellers to view, and students could buy or sell used textbooks. Links to postings about textbooks would appear on students' sched- ules on Wolverine Access. The taskforce found that the University's textbook sys- tem is lagging behind those at many other universities. The report compared how early in the year 39 universities make their textbook lists available to book- stores. The University of Michi- gan ranked number 38, while Ohio State University ranked number 20 and Santa Fe Community College ranked first. Half of all universities in the studyhadatleast79percentoftheir winter term textbooks ordered by Dec. 1. Only about 45 percent of the University's order was in bythen. But local booksellers aren't to blame for the lack of used books. If the University does not make textbook lists available at least 10 weeks before the start of the next term, other universities get first choice of used books available from the stores' parent companies. The current system also leads booksellers to offer students lower prices for used books because with- out book lists they can't be certain the books will be in demand. CEO alum gives $4.5 mill to 'U' ACLU pursues partner benefits By EMILY ANGELL Daily News Editor University alum and JetBlue Airways CEO David Barger recently gave a $4.5 million gift to the Barger Leadership Insti- tute in the Organizational Studies Program in the College of Litera- ture, Science and the Arts. The gift will support fellow- ships, internships and research for undergraduates. Barger hopes to provide under- graduate students with global leadership experience early in their education, said a statement released May 11. "There is a big difference between management - the abil- ity to get something done - and leadership - the vision for how something should be done," Barg- er said in the statement. "Leader- ship is front-line connectivity. It's about being plugged in to the cus- tomer, the culture, the govern- ment and being visionary." $1.5 million of the $4.5 mil- lion gift will be matched with $500,000 from the University President's Donor Challenge to support an Organizational Stud- ies professorship. The funds will also go to attracting leaders of business, government and philanthropy to speak on campus. "We are tremendously grate- ful for this transformational $4.5 million gift to Organizational Studies," LSA Dean Terrence McDonald said. "The Barger Leadership Institute will prepare undergraduates early in their aca- demic experience to become the strategic leaders of tomorrow in an increasingly global, techno- logically driven and innovation hungry society." Barger established the Barger Family Professorship with a $2 million gift in 2005. That same year he created the JetBlue Air- ways London School of Economics Summer Program with a $75,000 donation. CORRECTIONS Please report any error in the Daily to corrections@michigandaily.com. By EMILY BARTON Daily News Editor The Michigan Supreme Court granted the American Civil Liber- ties Union its request to appeal the February decision that banned the ability of public institutions to offer health benefits to the partners of same-sex couples. The prohibition of benefits in February was based on an amend- ment passed in 2004 that banned same-sex marriage in Michigan. The ACLU is asking for the case to be considered in a lower court so that voter intent can be evaluated, said Jay Kaplan, the ACLU Lesbi- an Gay Bisexual and Transgender legal director. Kaplan said if this is granted, the ACLU will listen to voter testimony to determine how people generally interpreted the original amend- ment. A date still hasn't been set for the appeal, but Kaplan said it will prob- ably occur in the next few months. The February ruling allowed the University to continue grant- ing benefits to same-sex couples through December. The University supports the ACLU's appeal, University spokes- woman Kelly Cunningham said in an e-mail. "The University works hard to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment and will continue to promote access to health benefits for our employees and their fami- lies," she said. RANDOLPH COURT APARTMENTS I S 2 Bedroom Apartment Homes Ground Floor Ranch Style! Private Entrance! Patio! Spacious Kitchen! Air Conditioning! Laundry Facilities! 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance! Pets Welcome! And much, much more! Call today to reserve your new address! 734'971-2828 Let us help, you move homre for the summer. We offer: UPS~ shipping Packaging services Packaging supplies And more... Show your student I.D. and save 10% 2232 S. 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