Ann Arbor, MI
Trading in the
maize and blue
Former quarterback
Steven Threet shares
the reasons behind
his transfer
SEE PAGE 11
Curbing smokers'
rights an injustice
Why the University's ban
on outdoor smoking is
nothing but huff and puff
SEE PAGE 4
ARTS
'Wolverine' not
sharp enough
Unrealistic special effects
ruin X-Men's latest trip to
the silver screen
SEE PAGE 9
SPORTS
'M' baseball falls
flat in Columbus
The Wolverines dropped
two games before
salvaging a late win
SEE PAGE 11
IN DEX
Vol CXIX, No. 135 1T 2009 The Michigan Daily
michigandaiy.com
N EW S ......... .............. ........... . . -..2
O PIN IO N ... .....................................4
A RTS .........................................:......9
SPO R T S ............................................ 11
CL A'7S!FIED ........................................6
Graduates raise their fists one last time to HNail to the Victors" at this years graduation ceremooy io Michigan Stadiom.
A final- farewl
Weekly Summer Eclition
ANIMAL TREATMENT
Activists
target
UMHS
practices
Animal rights
groups cite many
violations
By LARA ZADE
ManagingNewsEditor
The University of Michi-
gan Health System is-under fire
from two animal rights groups
following reports of misconduct
in University laboratory experi-
ments and improper use of fed-
eral funding.
Alka Chandra, a laboratory
oversight specialist for People
for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals, said that documents
obtained under the Freedom
of Information Act revealed 33
violations of animal treatment by
the University over a six month
period.
"We have never seen any-
thing like this before in terms of
number of violations in such a
limited period of time," Chandra
said.
In lightcof the findings, Chan-
dra submitted a letter on behalf
of PETA requesting that the Na-
tional Institute of Health revoke
the University's assurances - the
permits that allow researchers to
conduct their experiments.
In the letter, which was ad-
dressed to NIH Director of the
office of Animal Welfare Patricia
Brown, Chandra wrote that the
University displays a "culture of
contempt" toward animal wel-
fare.
Chandra cited examples of
University researchers letting
animals die of starvation, dehy-
dration and beingtrapped in cag-
es that caught on fire. She also
said that a University researcher
See PETA, Page 8
A crowd of 40,000
gather once more at
the Big House
By JASMINE ZHU
Daily News Editor
Graduating students in caps and
gowns filed through Michigan Sta-
dium Saturday as this year's gradu-
ation commencement ceremony
returned to its regular venue.
The University of Michigan
Commencement Band played a fit-
ting arrangement of"M Fanfare" for
a crowd of approximately 40,000 to
kick off the ceremony.
Last year, spring commence-
ment exercises were relocated to
the Diag for the first time in the
University's history due to ongoing
construction at the Big House.
University alum Will Rich, who
graduated from the Ford School of
Public Policy last year, said he was
happy to see graduation return to
the Big House.
"It was great," Rich said. "I ac-
tually graduated last year on the
Diag, so it was nice to be able to do
it in the Big House this year."
Throughout the commence-
menteeremony, thespeakersvoiced
a shared sentiment of perseverance
in the face of economic uncertainty.
LSA Dean Terrence McDonald
said that though the class of 2009
is graduating in turbulent times, he
is confident the situation will turn
around.
"America is now, and forever
will be, a good investment," Mc-
Donald said.
School of Music, Theatre &
Dance senior Ariel Arce, who gave
the reflection, said that in spite of
the economic crisis, "It's neverbeen
a better time to be young."
Her optimism was echoed by
LSA senior George Dong, the stu-
dent speaker for the event.
"Yes we can, and yes we will
change the world one day," said
Dong, echoing one of President
Barack Obama's most famous man-
tras.
Dong, who is from Fuhou, Chi-
na, explained that his presence at
the podium was quite an achieve-
ment. When he first came to the
University, he barely spoke English.
Now, Dong will teach English in the
inner city of Chicago as part of the
non-profit organization Teach for
America.
"Although our homes are miles
apart, it's the Michigan experience
that connects us all," Dong said.
Dong ended his speech with a
rousing chorus of "It's Great to be
a Michigan Wolverine," and was
joined by the graduating class.
Larry Page, Google co-founder
and University alum, delivered the
commencement address at the cer-
emony.
Page urged the graduating se-
niors to have a "healthy disregard
for the impossible," citing his per-
sonal obstacles in creating Google.
"Sometimes it's important to
wake up and stop dreaming," said
Page, in reference to how he trans-
formed his vision of Google into a
reality.
Summing up the secret to
changing the world in one sentence,
Page said that the key is to "always
work hard on something that is un-
comfortably exciting."