Rodriguez agrees to buyout

OPINION
Priced out
Tom Michniacki explains that
it's not just the high cost of
medical school keeping stu-
dents from becoming doctors
- it's the high cost of trying to
get in, too.
See Page5
ARTS
Monster superhero
still in fine form
Del Toro's latest is an extrava-
gant, if not spectacular, return to
the comic book world with "Hell-
boy II."
See Page 9
SPORTS
Athlete takes on
Cirque du Soleil
Former Michigan gymnast Elise
Ray joined the Las Vegas Cirque
du Soleil show "LOVE" after she
participated in the 2000 Sydney
Olympics.
See Page 13
INDEX
Vol. cxviii, No.140
02008The Michigan Daily
michigandaily.com
SU D O K U ........................................2
OPINION ........................................4
CLASSIFIEDS .................................6
CROSSWORD................................6
A RTS .............. ........ ................. .9
SPORTS .. ........................... ...13

By DAN FELDMAN
Daily SportsEditor
With just three offensive start-
ers returning, redshirt junior run-
ning backs Kevin Grady's driving
while intoxciated charge, four
quarterbacks that have thrown
one combined pass at the college
level, Michigan footballcoach Rich
Rodriguez's load is still heavy, but
it just got a bit lighter.
On Tuesday, Rodriguez settled
a lawsuit filed against him after he
left the MountaineersinDecember

to become the Wolverines' coach, agree with the validity of the
agreeing to pay West Virginia Uni- terms, Rich and the rest of us at
versity $4 million. Michigan felt that it would be best
Rodriguez's contract with West to get this distracting issue behind
Virginia had a buyout clause for us," Martin said through the Ath-
that amount, but he-contested pay- letic Department. "This situation
ing it for nearly six months because is now resolved, and we are ready
he claimed West Virginia didn't to move onward to a new era of
meet several promises and that $4 Michigan football."
million was unreasonably high. West Virginia officials are
Rodriguez will pay $1.5 million also glad the lawsuit is settled.
to West Virginia in three annual "I'm very pleased that we resolved
payments of $500,000 beginning this matter and wishhimthe best at
in January 2010. The Michigan the University of Michigan," West
Athletic Department will pay the Virginia President Mike Garrison
other $2.5 million in a single pay- said. "And we all move forward."
ment made by the end ofthis month Others have mixed opinions
and cover Rodriguez's legal fees, about the lawsuit being settled.
according to a statement released "I think it's good for both pro-
by Athletic Director Bill Martin. grams," said West Virginia booster
"Although he continues to dis- See RODRIGUEZ, Page 8

MCCAIN IN MICHIGAN

reversa
on ballot
Amendment would
repeal law against
destroying embryos
By TREVOR CALERO
Daily StaffReporter
Sean Morrison'sjob as director of
the University's Center for Stem Cell
Biologyis difficultto saythe least.
In the state of Michigan, it's cur-
rentlyillegalto destroy embryos for
research purposes, making it diffi-
cult for him to conduct his studies.
Morrison said embryonic stem
cells could provide many new ways
to treat diseases because they may
have the ability to generate any cell
type in the body in unlimited quan-
tities. But it's impossible to find out
exactly what they are capable of
until the research is done,he said.
Morrison has had trouble
recruiting scientists to do that
research, he said, because of the
state's restrictions.
But his job may get a little easier.
A constitutional amendment
to end the state's ban will most
likely be on Michigan's ballot next
November. The group Cure Michi-
gan submitted 570,016 signatures
to the Secretary of State July 7, far
more signatur than the 380,126
required to put an proposal on the
ballot. The Secretary of State is
currently reviewing the petition.
The 1978 law frustrating Mor-
See STEM CELLS, Page 8

Sen. John McCain made a campaign stop at a Belleville auto parts factory last week. For more, go to www.michigandaily.com.