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Friday, April 3, 2015

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

INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 94
©2015 The Michigan Daily
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O PI N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

S U D O K U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

CL A S S I F I E DS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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WEATHER 
TOMORROW

HI: 50

LO: 30

Next stage of 

projects could focus 
on North Campus 

facilities

By GENEVIEVE HUMMER

Daily Staff Reporter

Over the past decade, the Uni-

versity has undertaken several 
significant efforts to improve resi-
dential life on campus through 
the Residential Life Initiatives, 
launched by University President 
Emerita Mary Sue Coleman in 
2004.

According to University Hous-

ing, nearly 10,000 undergraduate 
students live in one of the Univer-
sity’s 18 residence halls and 1,480 
individual apartments each year. 
When it comes to freshmen spe-
cifically, 97 percent elect to live in 
University housing during their 
first year, meaning most fresh-
men students eat, sleep, study and 
socialize in the University’s resi-
dential spaces.

Since 
the 
program 
was 

launched, the Residence Life Ini-
tiative has pumped millions of dol-

lars into the University’s residence 
halls. West Quad Residential Hall’s 
reopening in the fall will mark the 
end of the initiative’s second phase, 
which included massive projects at 
East Quad and South Quad as well.

Though the University does not 

currently have the funding in place 
for a third phase of the project, sev-
eral University administrators say 
North Campus dorms would likely 
be the focus of a future project.

“Now we’re doing the planning 

to think, well, if that ends in 2017, 
we have a little time now to think 
about what we want to do next,” 
Loren Rullman, associate vice 
president for student affairs, said 
in an interview with The Michigan 
Daily.

Residential Life Initiatives

Citing the connection between 

living and learning, Coleman con-
sistently identified improvements 
to residential life as one of the cor-
nerstones of her presidency.

“I want our university to invest 

time, effort and funding in expand-
ing and improving the residential 
experience of our students,” Cole-
man said in 2004. “We can find a 
host of new ways to provide a bet-
ter environment for learning and 

ADMINISTRATION

Over 200 march 
from the Union 
to protest sexual 

violence 

By EMMA KINERY 

Daily Staff Reporter

Thursday’s gloomy weather did 

not rain on the parade of activists 
participating in the 37th annual 
Take Back the Night rally.

The event was hosted by the 

student organization University 

Students Against Rape and the 
Ann Arbor chapter of Michigan 
Takes Back the Night, and was 
funded and sponsored by Central 
Student Government.

The rally began at the Michigan 

Union where marchers gathered 
to watch performances by singer 
Hope Thomas and the dance 
groups Salto Dance Company and 
Liem Irish Dance. Several mem-
bers of the organization spoke 
throughout 
the 
performances 

before the march, and one survi-
vor gave a testimonial.

LSA freshman Hayley Walton 

informed attendees of the organi-

zation’s new resource on the Take 
Back the Night’s website, which 
allows survivors to share their sto-
ries with the option of anonymity.

Many ralliers, like LSA fresh-

man Rachel Beglin, noted sexual 
assault as a pertinent issue.

“I haven’t had as horrible of 

an experience as some, but I 
have been definitely personally 
exposed to the way people talk on 
campus,” Beglin said. “It’s really 
not OK and that’s what we’re say-
ing tonight.”

Campus and community orga-

nizations set up tables to advocate 
for their causes related to sexual 

assault awareness and prevention. 
Planned Parenthood, Students For 
Choice, Free Hearts, I Will Week, 
the Sexual Assault Prevention and 
Awareness Center, SafeHouse, 
What the F magazine, Students 
For Reproductive Justice and pro-
moters of the app Companion all 
had tables at the event.

Take Back the Night also had 

tables selling T-shirts and dis-
tributing wristbands and stick-
ers. They also had a table where 
marchers could write a message of 
hope on a balloon which would be 
released during the march.

ANDREW COHEN/Daily

LEFT: Students and community members attend a candlelight vigil in the Michigan for the annual “Take Back the Night” rally. TOP RIGHT: Participants in “Take 
Back the Night” march down the streets of Ann Arbor to protest sexual violence. BOTTOM RIGHT: Michigan Take Back the Night arranged for a police escort. 

Make Michigan 
retains positions 
after UEC resolves 

litigation

By NABEEL CHOLLAMPAT

Daily Staff Reporter

After a week of litigation, 

LSA junior Cooper Charlton 
and LSA sophomore Steven 
Halperin, Make Michigan pres-
idential-elect and vice presiden-
tial-elect, respectively, will hold 
on to their five-vote lead in this 
year’s Central Student Govern-
ment elections.

Results 
were 
previously 

unofficial due to several pend-
ing cases filed to the Univer-
sity Election Commission by 
The Team and Make Michigan 
against each other. The last 
of those cases were decided 
Wednesday evening. Both par-
ties were found not guilty, and 
both chose not to appeal those 
decisions.

Law student Paige Becker, 

the University’s elections direc-
tor, said the results were now 
certified, due to the decisions.

Along with the presidency 

and vice presidency, results for 
the CSG assembly were also 
certified. Make Michigan won 
23 seats and the Department of 
Public Safety Oversight Com-
mittee seat. The Team won 21 
seats, the Defend Affirmative 

Slate of women 

leaders encourage 
students to engage 

with politics

By EMMA KINERY

Daily Staff Reporter

Several 
prominent 
state 

female political leaders visited 
the Ford School of Public Policy 
on Thursday to discuss women’s 
experiences running for elected 
office.

The event drew about 50 

attendees, mostly female, and 
was hosted by Graduate Career 
Services and Women and Gen-
der in Public Policy.

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie 

Dingell (D–Mich.) introduced 
the panel, which consisted of 

Gretchen 
Whitmer, 
former 

Michigan 
Senate 
minority 

leader; Regent Kathy White (D), 
chair of the University’s Board 
of Regents; state Rep. Gretchen 
Driskell (D–Saline); and state 
Rep. 
Stephanie 
Chang 
(D–

Detroit). 
Chang 
participated 

via conference call and the rest 
attended in person.

Before the start of the panel, 

Public Policy Dean Susan Col-
lins noted that each of the panel-
ists have a connection the Public 
Policy School, either as students, 
guest lecturers or representa-
tives of the University.

In her introduction, Dingell 

encouraged women to run for 
office because of the different 
viewpoints she said they bring to 
the table.

“Women bring a different 

perspective to the public policy 
arena,” Dingell said. “Women 

are people who have to balance 
more balls than men. The young-
er generation is doing more of 
this than some of my genera-
tion.”

Referencing a book focused 

on the ethics of kindness that she 
said influenced her in college, 
Dingell said she felt “care” was 
what women brought to public 
policy, and that women are bet-
ter at bringing people with dif-
fering viewpoints together.

Chang also noted the different 

approaches that women bring to 
the legislature.

She said women tend to be 

more collaborative as leaders, 
and added that women tend 
to understand policies affect-
ing families, women and chil-
dren better than their male 
colleagues.

“There have been studies and 

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SAN PHAM/Daily

U.S. House Representative Debbie Dingell discusses her experiences as a woman in politics during the “Pathway to 
Politics: Women in Elected Office” panel at the Ford School of Public Policy on Thursday. 

Ahead of primary, 
newcomer Will Leaf 
to face long-serving 
member Sabra Briere

By ANASTASSIOS 
ADAMOPOULUOS

Daily Staff Reporter

University alum William Leaf, 

a 2012 graduate, is challenging 
incumbent Sabra Briere (D–Ward 
1) for her 1st Ward City Council 
seat.

In anticipation of the upcoming 

Aug. 4 Democratic primary elec-
tion, Briere and Leaf discussed 
their goals and oftentimes con-
trasting priorities.

The 1st Ward divides Central 

Campus in half. Extending from 
the Law Quad to beyond North 
Campus, it is exemplary of the 
thin lines that exist between city 
and campus. According to a study 
conducted by The Michigan Daily 
in February, 24.54 percent of stu-
dents are registered in the 1st 
Ward, making it the second-high-
est student-registered ward after 
the 2nd Ward.

Briere, a University alum and an 

Ann Arbor resident since 1973, said 
that prior to getting involved with 
City Council she worked a number 
of jobs. Her last job was for a non-
profit organization which she lost 
due during the recession.

“Why do I run again? Part of 

that reason is that I think I am 
really effective in what I am doing. 
That feeling of effectiveness is 
remarkably rewarding,” she said.

Briere has retained her seat 

since her first appointment in 
November 2007. Briere charac-
terizes herself as a City Council 
member who acts independently 
— a strategy she says she tried to 
maintain in what she found to be 
a divided City Council in the past.

“I don’t make decisions based on 

who else is supporting something, 
and I don’t make decisions based 
on personal loyalties,” she said. “I 
make decisions based, as much as 
I can, on the facts in front of me. 
Even when I don’t like the facts. 
They are still facts.”

Briere said one of her main 

strengths is being open to listening 
to people’s problems and listening 
to all sides of an issue.

Her main concerns are infra-

structure changes that may be 
needed due to changing weather 
patterns, increasing pedestrian 
safety and reconsidering zoning 
rules, among others.

“Sometimes it’s about being able 

to see results,” she said. “But some-
times it’s about being able to see 
the big picture. Seeing the moving 
parts and seeing the consequences, 
both the anticipated ones and the 
unanticipated ones that no one was 
expecting to see.”

Briere is also on the city’s Plan-

ning Commission, the Environ-
mental Commission, Housing and 
Human Services Advisory Board 

ANN ARBOR

See RESULTS, Page 3
See PANEL, Page 3
See COUNCIL, Page 3

See RALLY, Page 3
See DORMS, Page 3

Future of 
‘U’ housing
renovations
uncertain 

Students rally on campus 
for ‘Take Back the Night’

CSG results 
in executive 
race certified 
after cases

Female elected officials 
talk experiences in office

Ward 1 Council 
candidates talk 
zoning, safety

