michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Thursday, January 15, 2015

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

» INSIDE

Councilmember 

proposes resolution 
to facilitate dialogue 
on homeless camps

By EMMA KERR

Daily News Editor

Councilmember Stephen Kun-

selman (D–Ward 3) announced 
Wednesday night that he intends 
to challenge the recent effort to 
recall him from Ann Arbor City 
Council by addressing the issue of 
homeless camps in Ann Arbor at 
Tuesday’s Council meeting.

Kunselman has come under 

fire from various members and 
allies of the homeless community 
in Ann Arbor following state-
ments some individuals of that 
community considered insensi-
tive and threatening. The recall 
petitions specifically cite Kunsel-
man’s July comments on the city’s 
controversial decision to bulldoze 
a homeless camp.

These types of camps do not 

meet current zoning ordinances 
in the city of Ann Arbor nor do 
they adhere to Michigan resi-
dential building codes, meaning 
camps like the one in question 
cannot legally remain in use.

The Washtenaw County Elec-

tion Committee decided on Jan. 5 
to consider four submitted recall 
petitions both factual and clear, 
clearing the way for the petitions 
to appear on a ballot if they get 
2,000 signatures from Ann Arbor 
voters by May. Kunselman is also 
up for reelection in November. A 
successful recall petition would 
remove him from office several 
months earlier than his term con-
cludes.

In a press release, Kunselman 

said he will not appeal the deci-
sion to confirm the language of 
these petitions in court, but rath-
er that he plans to eliminate what 
he believes is misinformation by 
placing a resolution on City Coun-
cil’s agenda. The “Resolution 
Supporting the Establishment 

Faculty, students 
gather to share 

experiences, ideas 

for solutions

By ALYSSA BRANDON

Daily Staff Reporter

At an open speak-out Wednes-

day night, members of the Univer-
sity community participated in an 
intimate dialogue in the Michigan 
Union’s Rogel Ballroom on police 
brutality and recent events in Fer-

guson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y.

The discussion — sponsored 

by Central Student Government 
in collaboration with Counsel-
ing and Psychological Services, 
the Black Student Union and the 
Students of Color of Rackham — 
derived from a November CSG 
resolution pledging to stand in 
solidarity with the people of Fer-
guson. In August, unarmed Black 
teenager Michael Brown was shot 
and killed by a Ferguson police 
officer, sparking a national dia-
logue on race and police brutality.

A clause of the resolution stated 

CSG would plan a forum to dis-
cuss police brutality with the Uni-
versity community.

The event included no formal 

speakers and was open to any-
one in the University community. 
Those in attendance were first 
asked to reflect on their own expe-
riences with policing at the Uni-
versity and offer their thoughts 
and perspectives about the quality 
of policing on campus.

BSU speaker Arnold Reed, an 

LSA senior, shared a story of how 
he and his and fraternity brothers 
were surrounded by police one 

night while practicing their step 
routine for the October 2014 Mid-
night Madness performance.

“Walking away from that situa-

tion I felt very confused, attacked 
and unsafe,” Reed said. “Had that 
been a different group of guys, 
who knows what would’ve hap-
pened?”

BSU secretary Cap Kendall, a 

Kinesiology junior, discussed how 
her negative experiences with 
campus police have emotionally 
impacted her.

“It’s to the point where I don’t 

See KUNSELMAN, Page 3A
See SPEAKOUT, Page 3A

Event aims to 

develop student ideas 
through mentorship, 

seed funding

By CARLY NOAH

Daily Staff Reporter

Entrepreneurially minded Uni-

versity students are preparing 
to compete for a new title: “The 
Startup.”

Organized by the University’s 

Center for Entrepreneurship and 
modeled after NBC’s reality show 
“The Voice,” the program, in its 
first year, encourages students to 
share their business ideas in an 
environment designed to simu-
late the real-world stakes faced by 
entrepreneurs.

Similar to what contestants 

endure on “The Voice,” selected 
applicants will participate in a 
casting call, where they will pres-
ent their business proposal and 
describe what “The Startup” can 
do for their personal and profes-
sional development.

If selected, students will com-

Taylor talks 

continued positive 
interactions with 
President Schlissel

By ANASTASSIOS 
ADAMOPOULUS

Daily Staff Reporter 

Mayor Christopher Taylor 

(D) has been in office for two 
months — and a great deal has 
happened.

Under Taylor’s purview, the 

city has adopted a resolution 
calling for Ann Arbor police 
officers to wear body cameras, 
inaugurated a new fire chief and 
approved the construction of a 
new parking structure.

And the mayor has met with 

University 
President 
Mark 

Schlissel twice since coming to 
office — one of these meetings 
was during Taylor’s first day on 
the job.

Taylor, a University alum, has 

previously stressed the impor-
tance of a strong relationship 
between the city and the Uni-

versity.

He said he expects to meet 

with Schlissel periodically and 
looks forward to continued 
communication with the Uni-
versity, which he added indi-
cates a “mutual commitment” 
to the Ann Arbor community.

“We are long term players,” 

Taylor said in an interview with 
The Michigan Daily. “It is in 
the University’s best interest 
to have a city that works (and) 
have a successful Ann Arbor, 
and it is in Ann Arbor’s interest 
to have the University continue 
to be a global leader in higher 
education.”

Taylor has played a role in 

facilitating several initiatives in 
his first two months as mayor, 
such as beginning snow remov-
al earlier than usual this year to 
preempt weather-related traffic 
issues.

He also noted that City Coun-

cil is trying to make local hous-
ing more affordable and is using 
a Homeless Needs Assessment 
report to direct these efforts. 
The initiative comes after the 
council approved in December 

See MAYOR, Page 3A

Former DHS 

secretary discusses 
negative perception 
of political discourse

By ANASTASSIOS 
ADAMOPOULUS

Daily Staff Reporter 

The Ford School of Pub-

lic Policy hosted University 
of California President Janet 

Napolitano, former secretary of 
Homeland Security under Pres-
ident Barack Obama, for a lec-
ture and question and answer 
session on public service and 
politics Wednesday.

Napolitano, who also served 

as Arizona’s governor from 
2003 to 2009, spoke to an audi-
ence of almost 300 at the Power 
Center on a number of issues 
including public higher edu-
cation institutions, negative 
perceptions of politics and her 
experiences serving in various 

posts.

Napolitano urged the crowd 

to change their views on the 
role of politics, which she said 
has turned negative across 
the country, and to strive to 
become leaders and improve 
what they see as problematic 
with the current leadership.

“When practicing politics 

is perceived as a lesser, not 
greater form of public service, 
practicing 
politics 
becomes 

unattractive to those who like 

See NAPOLITANO, Page 3A
See CFE, Page 3A

PAUL SHERMAN/Daily

LSA senior Arnold Reed shares his experiences with the police during the Police Brutality Speak Out at the Michigan Union Wednesday.

PAUL SHERMAN/Daily

Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California, discusses her experiences in public service and education 
as a part of the Ford School of Public Policy’s Policy Talks Lecture Series at the Power Center Wednesday.

INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 46
©2015 The Michigan Daily
michigandaily.com

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

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

SPORTS ......................7A

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

CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A

B - S I D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 B

NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM
Mastodon bones found near University
MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS

GOT A NEWS TIP?
Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail 
news@michigandaily.com and let us know.

WEATHER 
TOMORROW

HI: 26

LO: 17

A look into the student-driven 
film production team

M-Agination

Kunselman 
requests
debate over 
recall plans

Mayor reviews 
city initiatives, 
‘U’ relationship 

Napolitano calls on students 
to engage in public service

CFE kicks 
off business 
competition, 
The Startup

At speakout, community
discusses police brutality

ANN ARBOR

TOWN-GOWN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

