Monday, August 15, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 'U' offers camp for disadvantaged students Program encourages local middle school students to learn in a hands-on way By JESSICA TREPKA For the Daily InnoWorks - a science sum- mer camp program held at the University and other schools around the nation for socioeco- nomically-disadvantaged middle school students - will embark upon its fourth year at the Uni- versity in the quest to enrich the minds of local youths when it opens camp at the end of August. With the philosophy of "by students, for students," college volunteers organize a week long camp of activities and experi- ments using resources offered by the University to teach real-world applications of science and engi- neering, according to the United InnoWorks Academy website. This year, the camp will be com- posed of Whitmore Lake Middle School students and be held from Aug. 22 to Aug. 26. According to Jon Gold, an engineering senior who works as director of administration for the camp, the program focuses on a different school in the Ann Arbor area each year, and students who qualify for reduced lunches at that school are eligible to apply by expressing why they feel they should be chosen to attend the free summer camp. Gold said that while the pro- gram receives many applications, only 30 students are accepted, adding that the admissions pro- cess aims to take into account more than just academic achieve- ment and "is not all about grades." "We are really looking for students with a natural desire to learn and get better," Gold said. He added his favorite part of the camp is seeing students con- tinually grow throughout the week and gain confidence. "As the week goes on, a lot of the shy students would learn how to take charge for projects," Gold said. "Once they came up with great ideas and started working together, you could see on their face the realization that they real- ly have something to contribute." Valerie Zeer, an LSA sopho- more and the camp's curriculum co-director, said the InnoWorks program is unique because the camp takes the students out of the classroom and branches out from traditional learning by providing them with opportunities to learn about science using hands-on activities. Zeer said her personal inter- est in studying neuroscience first stemmed from a former science teacher who performed experi- ments with the students after every lesson. "Originally, I absolutely hated science," Zeer said. "I thought it was boring. I always said making science hands-on was the way I had my interest sparked in sci- ence." Marjani Greene, a tenth-grade student who participated in the camp last year, said her favorite part of the camp was the germ lab. "It was interesting because I got to see how many germs there really are," Greene said. She added the camp inspired her to pursue a career in foren- sics. "I decided to go into foren- sits because I really like problem solving," Greene said. "I learned a lot about problem solving at Inno- Works. The camp made me enjoy it more. I was able to sit down and investigate." Nikhil Iyer, an LSA junior and statistics and executive direc- tor of the program, said campers work closely with their college mentors in finding a possible career path in a science-related field. "The camp inspires them to learn more about careers of research in science," Iyer said. "They work with their mentors and see how cool it is to do sci- ence. It's possible to have fun doing science." Pc l idiigan DAMl 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com BETHANY IRON ZACHARY YANCER Editor in Chief Business Manager CONTACT INFORMATION Newsroom ofice hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11a~m- 2am News Tips news@michigandaily.com Corrections corrections@michSandailyacom letterstotheEditor hedaiy@michandaily.com Photo Department photo@michigandaly.com ArtsSection arts@michigandaily.com Editorial Page opinion@michigandailycom SportsStion sportemichigandailyon Magaaine koarecm c,oOandaaycom, Advertising Phone:734-764-0554 Department display@michigandaily.com lassifieds Phone:734-764-0557 Department classified@michigandaily~com EDITORIAL STAFF Mark Burns Managing Editor Brie Prusak MngngNw Eio Teddy Papes EdiorialPae E~ditor Grude,,MelanieKruvelis StephenJ. Nesbitt Manaingo rtsnEditor Julia AliSmnith-Eppstenrer Managing Arts Eitor julialixmcigndaiy.com, SENIOR AR0T EITO: LahBurgin trinrKirkland Managing PhotoEdior d,,oo@,ihigondiy.o', The Onion to begin A2 coverage this fall Distributor says satirical paper will appeal to University students By MARISA WINTER For the Daily In addition to campus humor publications The Every Three Weekly and The Gargoyle, stu- dents will soon have the opportu- nity to leaf through the pages of the nationally renowned satirical paper The Onion as it begins dis- tribution in the city of Ann Arbor this fall. Founded in Madison, Wiscon- sin in the 1980s, The Onion is a humorous news source that covers local, national and international issues, as well as entertainment news in its non-satirical section called The A.V. Club. University alum Bobby Mitchell said he plans to distribute The Onion with the help of his Chicago-based distri- bution company - Bopper Media Inc. - adding he decided to bring the paper to Ann Arbor because he thinks the town has an audience that will appreciate its humor. "Ann Arbor has the most per- fect market for The Onion based on where it is now, the people who read it and the community as a whole," Mitchell said. Living and working in Chica- go, Mitchell said he was exited to bring an office to Ann Arbor that would cover local and national news, adding he would eventually like to distribute to Ypsilanti and the greater Detroit area. The Onion is currently dis- tributed in fourteen cities across the country and is continuing to expand. Mitchell said the similari- ties between the founding city of Madison and Ann Arbor make it an easy choice as a new venture for the publication. "There are a lot of similarities between Madison and Ann Arbor - they are both college towns and the people must be relatively intel- ligent to understand the humor," he said. Bopper Media Inc. will print and distribute the paper, which will provide local stories and humor that will be featured in the entertainment section. Mitchell said circulating the newspaper in new places like Ann Arbor brings a fresh, new comedic side of print to the hands of the masses. Carrie Palmer, director of franchising for The Onion, said their roots are in print media and they have been long anticipating distribution to Ann Arbor resi- dents. "Ann Arbor is a perfect fit," Palmer said. "We always wanted to be in Ann Arbor - a great col- lege town and a fantastic commu- nity." Palmer added she believes the paper is expected to receive a warm welcome by the educated. and sophisticated Michigan stu- dents and surrounding residents who will appreciate its humor. "The young, educated and soon-to-be affluentdemographic... is smart enough to get our humor," she said. "This demographic, both on and off campus, fits our brand perfectly. We are extremely excit- ed to finally bring our paper here." Through the partnership with Bopper Media Inc., the satirical news source will distribute 20,000 papers weekly starting after Labor Day weekend, Palmer said. Anne Finn, public relations manager for The Onion, echoed the sentiments of Mitchell and Palmer that it is important for their publication to expand and that Ann Arbor seemed to be a natural fit. "The Onion's ongoing print expansion is a testament to our content," Finn said. "Over the last year, we've introduced the news- paper to new markets through- out the U.S. as well as in Toronto, Canada. Finding the right partner is always key, and we are thrilled to now have a presence in Ann Arbor." 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