Mice fed crumbs 
from local eatery 
to examine yeast, 
sugar digestion

By LEA GIOTTO

Daily Staff Reporter

When Ann Arbor locals think 

of Zingerman’s, they are most 

likely not considering the estab-
lishment as a beacon for medical 
advancement.

However, bread from Zinger-

man’s Bakehouse contributed to 
a new study involving intestinal 
bacteria and its role in curing 
intestinal and autoimmune dis-
eases such as yeast infections and 
Crohn’s disease.

The study, co-conducted by a 

University professor, found that 
certain bacteria in the intestines 

— namely one strain called Bacte-
roides thetaiotomicron — are able 
to digest sugars on the surface 
of yeast, a large and unique com-
ponent of the human diet. These 
sugars have previously been dis-
covered to exacerbate many of the 
symptoms of common intestinal 
diseases.

Eric Martens, assistant profes-

sor in the Department of Micro-
biology and Immunology at the 
University Medical School; Wade 

michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Monday, January 12, 2015

CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

Mayor officiates 

ceremony as 

fire department 

welcomes new head

By LARA MOEHLMAN

Daily Staff Reporter

Ann Arbor’s new fire chief is 

preparing to set the city ablaze 
with plans to improve its fire-

fighting unit.

Friday morning, members of 

the Ann Arbor Fire Department, 
the Ann Arbor Police Depart-
ment and the Ann Arbor City 
Council gathered for the inaugu-
ration of the city’s new fire chief, 
Larry Collins.

Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher 

Taylor (D) served as master of 
the ceremony, which took place 
at the Ann Arbor Fire Depart-
ment on North Fifth Avenue.

Taylor said he was excited to 

welcome Collins to Ann Arbor, 
who had previously served as fire 
chief for the Brevard County Fire 
Rescue in Florida since 2009.

“It’s a tremendous day for Ann 

Arbor to welcome a new chief,” 
Taylor said. “I want to say, chief, 
that I think you’ll like it here 
in Ann Arbor. I think you’ll be 
proud, and you will value your 
colleagues in the fire department 
because they are dedicated, pro-
fessional, and work hard every 
day to protect us.”

Taylor stressed the impor-

tance of the Ann Arbor Fire 
Department in maintaining the 
city’s mission of maintaining the 
quality of life of its citizens.

“At its core, basic services are 

what this city is all about, and 
at the core of basic services, of 
course, is fire, and police, and 
law enforcement.”

Amy Brow, Ann Arbor Fire 

Department 
assistant 
chief 

of operations, also expressed 

Governor gains 
national media 

attention ahead of 

2016 primaries

By EMMA KINERY

Daily Staff Reporter

Following his reelection and 

the success of several of his 
state economic reforms, several 
national media outlets have float-
ed Republican Gov. Rick Snyder 
as a contender in a crowded field 
of potential GOP presidential can-
didates.

Snyder sparked national media 

attention after he visited Wash-
ington, D.C. in early December 
to accept Governing Magazine’s 
award for Public Official of the 
Year. During the trip, he said he 
hoped to visit more places around 
the country to tell the story of 
Michigan’s recovery.

Several major national media 

outlets have since run stories 
about Snyder’s prospects, includ-
ing Politico and The Washington 

Post.

However, the governor has 

remained 
noncommittal, 
tell-

ing reporters at the U.S.-China 
Automotive Forum on Sunday 
he thought experience running 
a state would make for an ideal 
presidential candidate, but he 
declined to say whether or not he 
would consider running for the 
position.

“Right now I’m just trying to 

get around,” he said jokingly, in 
reference to a torn Achilles ten-
don. “I’m back to working on lit-
eral running first.”

Michigan’s first lady Sue Sny-

der has been less reserved. Dur-
ing the annual joint interview 
with her husband on Michigan 
Public TV, she said she would not 
want Snyder to run for president 
nor seek the vice presidency.

Snyder’s office did not return 

several requests for comment on 
the prospect of his 2016 candi-
dacy.

In regard to Snyder’s overall 

chance of attaining the presiden-
cy, Political Science Prof. Vincent 
Hutchings said the candidacy 

University 

researcher stresses 

importance of 

disease awareness 

By PARISHA NOVA

Daily Staff Reporter

A 
University-based 
data 

project has found patients with 
kidney disease are living longer 
than in the past.

The United States Renal 

Data System, whose coordi-
nating center is located in the 
School of Public Health Build-
ing, reported fewer cases of 
end-stage renal disease and 
fewer deaths related to it in the 
U.S. this year compared to last 
year in its annual data report.

As of 2012, there were 

636,905 people in the United 
States being treated for end-
stage renal disease, which 
worsens or eliminates the kid-
ney’s ability to function and 
support the body’s needs. The 
kidneys filter wastes and tox-
ins out of the body’s blood sup-
ply, making them an essential 

organ for supporting life.

Treatments for end-stage 

renal disease include dialysis — 
a method through which blood 
is purified clinically, or kidney 
transplant.

Rajiv Saran, a professor 

of internal medicine and the 
associate director of the Uni-
versity’s Kidney Epidemiology 
and Cost Center, said the report 
shows a declining trend in the 
growth rate of new cases of the 
disease.

“The USRDS registers and 

tracks every patient diagnosed 
with end-stage renal disease,” 
Saran said. “For the last three 
years, the rate of appearance of 
patients reaching end-stage has 
decreased.”

Saran said the data indicates 

an improvement in U.S. health 
care. After the age of 30 to 35, 
the body’s organ functions start 
declining. Low kidney func-
tion coupled with risk factors 
such as diabetes, hypertension 
and obesity makes the body 
more prone to end-stage renal 
disease. Fewer cases of this 
disease indicate an increased 
focus on addressing risk factors 

Vice president 
for student life 

discusses current 

campus issues

By IRENE PARK

Daily Staff Reporter

E. Royster Harper, vice 

president for student life, 
participated 
in 
the 
third 

#UMichChat event to discuss 
student life at the University 
on Friday afternoon.

Participants asked Harper 

questions using the #UMi-
chChat hashtag on Twitter 
about various topics, includ-
ing the rewards and the chal-
lenges of her administrative 
role and campus issues she 
considers most important. 
The University’s Office of Stu-
dent Life manages programs 
and facilities related to life on 
the University’s campus.

When asked about the stu-

dent life challenges on the 
agenda for the upcoming year, 

See FIRE CHIEF, Page 3A
See SNYDER, Page 3A

See TWITTER, Page 3A
See ZINGERMANS, Page 3A
See KIDNEY, Page 3A

RUBY WALLAU/Daily

During an inauguration ceremony, Chief Larry Collins is sworn in as Ann Arbor’s 14th fire chief at the Ann Arbor Fire Department Friday. 

ROBERT DUNNE/Daily

LSA senior Monica Korzon, Woman’s Ice Hockey forward, plays in a scrimmage against the HoneyBaked senior B team 
Sunday.

FROZE N FACE- OFF

Red Berenson doesn’t want the 

attention to be on his 800th win

» INSIDE

SportsMonday

INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 44
©2015 The Michigan Daily
michigandaily.com

NEWS......................... 2A

OPINION.....................4A

ARTS...........................5A

SUDOKU..................... 3A

CL ASSIFIEDS............... 5A

SPORTSMONDAY..........1B

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WEATHER 
TOMORROW

HI: 13

LO: -7

Snyder not 
discussing 
Oval Office 
possibility

Intestinal bacteria study 
uses Zingerman’s bread

National report:
Kidney patients
now living longer

Harper 
addresses 
concerns 
in ‘U’ chat

A2 inaugurates new fire 
chief after lengthy search

CAMPUS LIFE
HEALTH

GOVERNMENT

