Michigan students to know when they’re free.” Sean DeMonner, executive director of Teaching and Learn- ing for Information and Technol- ogy Services, said buying the app in August constituted a valuable investment for the University. “In the process, we concluded that there was some value that we were interested in learning from Aashay and Zakir,” he said. “How they had thought about this prob- lem, how they had formulated a solution — we came to a conclu- sion to purchase the holdings of the company they had formed.” Kumar and DeMonner declined to disclose the Univer- sity’s purchase price. The University is planning to add the application’s mechanisms to its CTools gateway pages, according to Kumar. DeMonner said the Univer- sity’s current online tools such as Wolverine Access and CTools don’t include modern social fea- tures, like Buzzn. “We’re interested in trying to understand how students think about these features and capabil- ities, also seeing if we can apply those learnings to services avail- able from the University,” he said. Kumar and Tyebjee have been friends since meeting during Welcome Week in 2012. Since neither originally knew much about coding, they outsourced the iPhone and Android beta test version of the application. After the beta launched in April 2013, the students hired two more developers that summer to create a more developed version, which launched in 2014. The two had been in contact with Engineering Dean David Munson since they began work- ing on the app. “He’s always open to talking to students,” Kumar said. “He told us to just build it because that’s when we were going to see if this would be useful or not.” Munson eventually brought the students’ idea to the Uni- versity’s attention, resulting in a meeting between Kumar, Tye- bjee and Laura Patterson, the University’s chief information officer. After the University pur- chased the app, Kumar and Tye- bjee shut down the iPhone and Android versions. DeMonner said the acquisition was part of an effort to learn more from the University’s students. “We’re also trying to get better at interacting with the student body in general,” he said. “We’re trying to better understand how they think about technology, how they want to use technology, and trying to make sure that input is reflected in our services.” Kumar said he and Tyebjee started to really work on the app when they realized the product could be useful to many students. “We originally thought this was just our issue, but as we talk- ed to more people, we realized that this could be useful for the general Michigan population,” he said. For Kumar, the most use- ful part of the app is “Groups,” which allows people to make groups with their roommates or others — allowing the app to automatically show when every- one is busy. LSA senior Alec Pinchak, who used the Buzzn mobile applica- tion before the University pur- chased it, said Buzzn was useful and easy to work with. “I use it a lot to meet up with people I work with, as well as friends,” he said. “It’s really con- venient and simple to use.” APP From Page 1A 2A — Wednesday, January 14, 2015 News The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES Chris Christie outlined his agenda in a State of the State Address on Tuesday in Trenton, New Jersey. Christie, who many suspect will run for Presi- dent, highlighted his accom- plishments as governor, The New York Times reports. 1 TUESDAY: Professor Profiles THURSDAY: Student Voices FRIDAY: Photos of the Week MONDAY: This Week in History WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers Leadership workshop WHAT: Students can attend this introductory course to improve and identify leadership skills. WHO: Human Resource Development WHEN: Today from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. WHERE: Administrative Services Building Mixed media performance WHAT: Performer Joseph Keckler translates modern experiences into a variety of mediums including monologues, videos and songs. WHO: Institute for the Humanities WHEN: Tonight at 8 p.m. WHERE: Kerrytown Concert House North Korea’s juche myth WHAT: Brian Myers, a Professor at Dongseo University, sets out to refute the consensus that Kim Il Sung’s Juche doctrine is central to North Korean ideology. WHO: Nam Center for Korean Studies WHEN: Today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. WHERE: School of Social Work Building Ford school lecture WHAT: University of California President Janet Napolitano will discuss poli- tics and public service. The event will be livestreamed. WHO: Ford School of Public Policy WHEN: Today from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Power Center Steve Forbert concert WHAT: The Mississippi singer-songwriter will be performing songs from his latest album, “Over With You.” WHO: Michigan Union Ticket Office WHEN: Tonight at 8 p.m. WHERE: The Ark A WINTER WALTZ Bones found By Lara Moehlman Mastodon bones were found two hours away from campus in Bellevue Town- ship. The bones have been brought to the University to be analyzed by students and faculty. They will also be added to University research collections. ON THE WEB... michigandaily.com THE WIRE Mini interviews WHAT: Students are invited to attend a workshop discussing Multiple Mini Interviews and how schools use them. The workshop will feature team projects and ethnical questions. WHO: The Career Center WHEN: Today from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: The Career Center ROTC cadets fulfill multiple roles on campus, as both students and soldiers-in- training. Take an inside look at the physical training required and hear from the newest student commander. >> FOR MORE, SEE THE STATEMENT 2 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com JENNIFER CALFAS Editor in Chief 734-418-4115 ext. 1251 jcalfas@michigandaily.com DOUGLAS SOLOMON Business Manager 734-418-4115 ext. 1241 dougsolo@michigandaily.com Newsroom 734-418-4115 opt. 3 Corrections corrections@michigandaily.com Arts Section arts@michigandaily.com Sports Section sports@michigandaily.com Display Sales dailydisplay@gmail.com Online Sales onlineads@michigandaily.com News Tips news@michigandaily.com Letters to the Editor tothedaily@michigandaily.com Editorial Page opinion@michigandaily.com Photography Section photo@michigandaily.com Classified Sales classified@michigandaily.com Finance finance@michigandaily.com EDITORIAL STAFF Lev Facher Managing Editor lfacher@michigandaily.com Sam Gringlas Managing News Editor gringlas@michigandaily.com SENIOR NEWS EDITORS: Shoham Geva, Will Greenberg, Amabel Karoub, Emma Kerr, Emilie Plesset, Michael Sugerman ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS: Tanaz Ahmed, Neala Berkowski, Alyssa Brandon, Nabeel Chollampat, Gen Hummer, Emma Kinnery, Lara Moehlman, Carly Noah, Irene Park, Lindsey Scullen Aarica March and Derek Wolf Editorial Page Editors opinioneditors@michigandaily.com SENIOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Claire Bryan and Matt Seligman ASSISTANT EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Regan Detwiler, Michael Paul, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Mary Kate Winn BLOG EDITOR: Tori Noble Max Cohen and Jake Lourim Managing Sports Editors sportseditors@michigandaily.com SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS: Max Bultman, Daniel Feldman, Rajat Khare, Erin Lennon, Jason Rubinstein, Jeremy Summitt ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS: Chloe Aubuchon, Minh Doan, Jacob Gase, Kelly Hall, Zach Shaw, Brad Whipple Adam Depollo and adepollo@michigandaily.com Chloe Gilke Managing Arts Editors chloeliz@michigandaily.com SENIOR ARTS EDITORS: Jamie Bircoll, Kathleen Davis, Catherine Sulpizio, Adam Theisen ARTS BEAT EDITORS: Alex Bernard, Karen Hua, Jacob Rich, Amelia Zak Allison Farrand and photo@michigandaily.com Ruby Wallau Managing Photo Editors SENIOR PHOTO EDITORS: Luna Anna Archey and James Coller ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS: Amanda Allen, Virginia Lozano, Paul Sherman Emily Schumer and design@michigandaily.com Shane Achenbach Managing Design Editors Ian Dillingham Magazine Editor statement@michigandaily.com DEPUTY MAGAZINE EDITORS: Natalie Gadbois STATEMENT PHOTO EDITOR: Luna Anna Archey STATEMENT LEAD DESIGNER: Jake Wellins Hannah Bates and copydesk@michigandaily.com Laura Schinagle Managing Copy Editors SENIOR COPY EDITORS: Emily Campbell and Emma Sutherland Amrutha Sivakumar Online Editor amrutha@michigandaily.com Kaylla Cantilina Managing Video Editor Carolyn Gearig Special Projects Manager BUSINESS STAFF Madeline Lacey University Accounts Manager Ailie Steir Classified Manager Simonne Kapadia Local Accounts Manager Olivia Jones Production Managers Jason Anterasian Finance Manager The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $110. Winter term (January through April) is $115, yearlong (September through April) is $195. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press. SEXUAL ASSAULT The University of Virginia has reinstated its chapter of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity after a police investigation did not find any evi- dence of the alleged gang rape detailed in a controversial article in Rolling Stone Magazine, The Cavalier Daily reported Monday. UVA President Teresa A. Sulli- van announced the decision after Charlottesville Police Depart- ment officials told the univer- sity they did not find “substantive basis to confirm that the allega- tions raised in the Rolling Stone article occurred at Phi Kappa Psi.” “We welcome Phi Kappa Psi, and we look forward to working with all fraternities and sorori- ties in enhancing and promoting a safe environment for all,” Sulli- van wrote in a statement. Columbia University under investigation for mishandling sexual assaults Columbia University officials confirmed that the school is par- ticipating in two federal investi- gations by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights over the school’s han- dling of sexual assault and harassment cases, The Columbia Spectator reported. The Department of Educa- tion is reviewing Columbia’s compliance with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender and Title II, which prohibits discrimination by public entities on the basis of ability. The investigations opened Jan. 8 following federal com- plaints filed against the univer- sity by 23 Columbia and Barnard College students last spring alleging violations of Title II, Title IX and the Clery Act. Columbia and Barnard join a list of 93 universities under investigation for their handling of sexual misconduct cases, including the University of Michigan. — JING JING MA Read more online at michigandaily.com. UVA reinstates fraternity BRIAN BECKWITH/Daily LSA junior Michelle Huang and Information junior Josh Blumberg ballroom dance at WinterFest at the Michigan Union Tuesday. Two hundred people were evacuated and one firefighter died when smoke filled a metro station in Washington, D.C. The source of the smoke is still unknown and the station was temporarily closed, CNN reported. industry resurgence. In his speech, Obama cited the indus- try’s recovery as an example of America’s recovery post-econom- ic recession. Vice President Joe Biden vis- ited the Auto Show Jan. 15, 2014. There, he spoke of similar themes of recovery in the auto industry and praised automakers for cre- ating middle-class jobs amid eco- nomic downturn. University alum Tom Finelli initially planned to pursue aero- space engineering, but when he graduated in 1992 there were not many jobs in the field. After a few career moves, and returning to school for his business degree, he became the vice president of purchasing and supplier quality for FCA. “Michigan and the metro Detroit area have a lot to offer, even outside of the opportuni- ties within Chrysler,” he said. “We have really made an effort to promote not only Detroit but the state of Michigan and the advan- tages that young people have by living here. You can see here everyday in the city of Detroit the rebirth that is going on.” Finelli said like Detroit, the auto industry is on the rise — and as the companies grow, so does their demand for workers. The job market has continued to grow so extensively in Southeastern Michigan that it’s becoming diffi- cult for FCA to find enough talent in the area, he added. University alum Brian John- son, the executive business plan- ner in Purchasing and Supplier Quality for FCA, echoed Finelli’s sentiments and stressed that stu- dents don’t need to leave the state to find jobs. He made reference to the book “Acres of Diamonds” by Russel Connell, which he said “talks about this guy that goes and searches the whole world to find his diamonds when they’re really right under his feet.” “I kind of equate that to the automotive industry; what we have in Detroit where there’s a great opportunity for students that are graduating here,” Johnson said. “The opportunity that exists in the automotive industry is huge.” FCA is one of many employ- ers that actively recruit Univer- sity students. Crane found her job after participating in Chrysler internship program. “There’s so many jobs, even if they’re not in automotive, that are connected to automotive,” she said. “At the Auto Show, I ran into fellow U of M students who were report- ers, who were product specialists, who were there for all sorts of dif- ferent functions, all because it was an automotive-based event.” AUTO SHOW From Page 1A judges, who began hearing oral arguments from both sides last August, ruled in a 2-1 decision. Numerous marriage-equality interest groups have expressed their frustration with the U.S. Supreme Court’s lack of action pertaining to same-sex mar- riage. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette issued a statement Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court did not announce a deci- sion. Schuette has vowed to enforce the state’s ban. “I am hopeful the court will eventually take up this issue and optimistic they will choose to do so at their next conference,” Schuette said. “The sooner the United States Supreme Court makes a decision on this issue the better it will be for Michigan and America.” Emily Dievendorf, executive director of the advocacy organi- zation Equality Michigan, said the state of Michigan is more than ready to join the 36 other states where same-sex marriage is legal. Brad O’Conner, vice presi- dent of the Jim Toy Community Center, said the wait for many Michigan couples, for both in- state and out-of-state licensure, has been difficult and emotional. “With the arc continuing to bend toward justice in the Unit- ed States, we look forward to the day when all families, not just here in Michigan, but nation- wide are recognized under the law,” he said. COURT From Page 1A 3 Correction appended: A previous version of “SACUA discusses changes to Information Technology policy,” which ran Jan. 13, incorrectly reported the nature of the conversation on LSA faculty grievances. SACUA discussed bringing LSA procedures in favor of a more uniform policy. CORRECTIONS Please report any error in the Daily to corrections @michigandaily.com. JOIN THE MICHIGAN DAILY COME TO OUR MASS MEETINGS @ 420 MAYNARD ON Wed., Jan. 21 Thurs., Jan. 22 Sun., Jan. 25 Mon., Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE We’re accepting applications in all sections. NEWS. SPORTS. OPINION. ARTS. PHOTO. VIDEO. DESIGN. COPY. Mo. in which unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer, sparking a nationwide debate on racial stereotyping and police violence. Later in the meeting, Zear- foss, the Law School assistant dean, discussed minority enroll- ment at the University dur- ing the time allotted for guest speakers at CSG meetings. Zearfoss discussed the his- tory of minority enrollment at the University, including a time- line of U.S. Supreme Court cases related to affirmative action and the state of Michigan’s 2006 passage of Proposal 2, which banned the use of affirmative action in admissions. “Racial diversity improves the dialogue on campus and the learning environment,” she said. In recent months, several events have called on the Uni- versity to improve its efforts to recruit and enroll minority stu- dents, including protests and campaigns organized by the BSU. Zearfoss said the Law School makes a concentrated effort to recruit a diverse applicant pool by personally reaching out to potential students, visiting campuses and waiving applica- tion fees. However, these efforts have not yielded a significantly diverse enrollment. “All of the steps we take are useful and helpful but it will never substitute the more direct route of just taking race into account,” she said. “So, it will always be something we have to continually give attention to and examine to see what we can do better.” CSG representatives had the opportunity to ask Zearfoss questions after she finished speaking. CSG President Bobby Dishell, a Public Policy senior, asked about the potential implemen- tation and impact of pipeline programs, outreach programs designed to prepare targeted students for higher education. Zearfoss said pipeline pro- grams would not be effective for ensuring diversity in a program as competitive as the Univer- sity’s Law School. “I think making personal con- nections is the key for us,” she said. CSG From Page 1A michigandaily.com