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Ann Arbor, Michigan
Thursday, September 10, 2015

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

Administrators say 
departments, units 
will guide strategic 
planning process

By LARA MOEHLMAN

Daily Staff Reporter

University 
President 
Mark 

Schlissel hosted a second diversi-
ty summit Wednesday afternoon 
in which he further outlined the 
University’s plans to improve 
equity and inclusion on campus.

During the summit, the presi-

dent emphasized the drive behind 
the planning process:

“Dedication to academic excel-

lence for the public good is insep-
arable from our commitment to 
diversity, equity and inclusion,” 
he said. “We cannot be excel-
lent without being diverse in the 
broadest sense of that word.”

The meeting was closed to the 

press, but was live streamed on 
the University’s website.

Though a complete strate-

gic plan has yet to be released, 
Schlissel detailed goals dur-
ing Wednesday’s event to direct 
about 60 appointed facilitators 
within each college and campus 
unit to collaborate with faculty, 
staff and students to design their 
own programs for enhancing 
diversity within their units.

These planning leaders will 

be responsible for overseeing the 
planning process within their 
specific areas as well as partici-
pating in coordination with the 
overall campus diversity efforts.

Schlissel 
emphasized 
that 

success in enhancing diversity 
largely depends on the collective 
efforts of each individual depart-
ment rather than simply the cen-
tral administration.

“At this stage, we’re not seek-

ing to define where we will end 
up or what success will necessar-
ily look like,” he said. “We want 
to have a structure in place that 
will allow us to engage the great 
minds and passionate individuals 
on our campus and to move for-
ward in a collaborative manner. 

President also 
announces $175 
million grant for 
apprenticeships

By EMILIE PLESSET

Daily News Editor

WARREN, Mich. — At the 

first stop of his administration’s 
nationwide Back-to-School tour 

Wednesday, President Barack 
Obama returned to Macomb 
Community College in Warren, 
Mich. to champion increased 
access to affordable education 
and vocational training.

Traveling with Dr. Jill Biden, a 

community college professor and 
the wife of Vice President Joe 
Biden, the president discussed 
his administration’s efforts to 
expand funding for apprentice-
ships and promote initiatives to 
make community college free.

“I want two years of commu-

nity college to be as free and uni-
versal as high school is today,” 
Obama said.

Before 
Obama 
began 
his 

26-minute speech, Biden — who 
has taught at a community college 
for more than 20 years — touted 
the Obama administration’s focus 
on education, citing investment 
in early childhood education and 
efforts to increase the number of 
students graduating high school 
and attending college.

During 
her 
speech, 
Biden 

announced she would serve as 
chair of the College Promise Advi-
sory Board, a new independent 
commission composed of commu-
nity college leaders, policymakers, 
businesses and foundations that 
will explore ways to expand exist-
ing programs that provide free 
two-year college degrees.

During his State of the Union 

address in January, Obama pro-
posed a $60 billion program that 

POLITICS

Roads, marjiana, 
higher ed. funding 
and LGBTQ rights 
to receive attention

By EMMA KINERY

Daily Staff Reporter

The Michigan State Legis-

lature reconvenes today after 
months away on hiatus for sum-
mer break. After key propos-
als — such as Proposal 1 to fix 
Michigan’s roads — failed to pass 
in the last session, here is a recap 
of issues to watch as the year 
unfolds. 

Roads

While many Michigan resi-

dents agree the state’s roads are 
in poor condition, legislators 
have yet to agree on how to fix 
them.

The last session ended with 78 

percent of voters defeating Pro-
posal 1.

The proposed bill would have 

increased the Earned Income 
Tax Credit, removed the fuel tax 
and increased the sales tax from 
6 to 7 percent. 

Several 
road 
improvement 

proposals are already on the 

docket for introduction in both 
Michigan’s House of Repre-
sentatives and Senate. Over the 
summer, legislators held several 
closed-door meetings to discuss 
potential plans to increase road 
funding.

House Bill 4440 aims to create 

a distinct transportation fund in 
the state treasury where money 
will be allocated for road repairs. 
The proposed bill provides $2.5 
million to go specifically toward 
annual road improvement with 
the percentage of funds to be 
divided based on the area’s popu-
lation — 40 percent would go to 
communities with 1,000,000 to 
1,749,999 residents, for exam-
ple. HB 4611 similarly creates a 
transportation fund within the 
state treasury, but in this version, 
would be funded through special 
vehicle and fuel taxes.

Rep. 
Jeff 
Irwin 
(D–Ann 

Arbor) said while he would like 
to see a roads bill pass, he doesn’t 
currently see one he supports.

“I don’t think a good bill to fix 

the roads will pass, but I hope it 
does,” Irwin said. “I would vote 
for a balanced plan to fix our 
roads, coupled with rolling back 
the Republican tax increases on 
the working poor. But, I don’t see 

MICHIGAN

IRENE KIM/Daily

LSA freshman Michelle Shumonov takes a free Group X yoga class at the Central Campus Recreation Building on 
Wednesday. 

YES TO YOGA 

Students talk foreign 
affairs, negotiations 

as review period 
nears conclusion

By ISOBEL FUTTER

Daily Staff Reporter

The Iran Deal has dominated 

conversation 
in 
Washington 

since it was negotiated this sum-
mer, and many University stu-
dents are joining in. 

Officially known as the Joint 

Comprehensive Plan of Action, 
the Iran Deal was announced in 
late July by the Obama admin-
istration. The JCPOA is a pro-
posal designed to significantly 
decrease Iran’s nuclear program 
in exchange for reduced sanc-
tions by the P5+1 countries — the 
United States, the United King-
dom, China, France, Russia and 
Germany.

If the deal goes into effect, 

Iran would be allowed to have 
a small amount of enriched ura-
nium and materials. The permit-

ted amount would not be large 
enough to create a nuclear bomb, 
according to experts. In return 
for reducing their nuclear sup-
ply, Iran would receive sanctions 
relief.

The deal has been lauded as 

a historic agreement by sup-
porters. But for some University 
students, the deal hits close to 
home.

Maryam Arbabzadeh, a Ph.D. 

candidate in Natural Resources 
and Environment, is an Ira-
nian student and a member of 

University retains 
No. 4 spot among 
public universities 

By TANAZ AHMED

Daily Staff Reporter

The University ranked 29th in 

this year’s U.S. News and World 
Report survey of the country’s 
best colleges released Wednes-
day, maintaining its spot from 
the 2015 rankings.

The University also retained 

its public university ranking 
from the previous year, holding 
on to the fourth-place spot.

The University of California, 

Berkeley, ranked as the num-
ber-one public institution, with 
University of California, Los 
Angeles, and University of Vir-
ginia ranked second and third, 
respectively.

The Ross School of Business 

was rated the nation’s fourth-
best 
undergraduate 
business 

school, maintaining its rank-
ing from last year. The College 
of Engineering came in at sixth 
place for best undergraduate 
engineering 
programs, 
mov-

ing up from last year’s seventh 
place.

ACADEMICS

President Barack Obama speaks alongside Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States, at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan on Wednesday. 
Obama spoke about his plan to increase education in America by creating free and public acess to two years of community college. 

See DIVERSITY, Page 2A
See OBAMA, Page 3A

» INSIDE

the b-side

See IRAN, Page 2A
See STATE, Page 3A

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily
LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily

Schlissel: 
Diversity 
plan slated 
for 2016

ADMINISTRATION

Obama plugs community 
college during Mich. trip

State legislature 

returns from 
summer hiatus

Iran Deal generates debate 
on campus ahead of vote

U.S. News 
ranks ‘U’ 
29th best 
in nation

INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 123
©2015 The Michigan Daily
michigandaily.com

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

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

SPORTS...................... 5A

SUDOKU..................... 2A

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

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Obama touts familiar message in Warren visit
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