Goodspeed Update 2004: News and Information for Students at the University of Michigan

NEWS

Thursday, October 30, 2003

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Posted by Rob at 5:42 PM

I've posted the results of my city council candidate questionnaire. I know it might look a little unwieldy, but I've organized it by ward: find which ward you will be voting in, and then scroll to that part of the page. Tomorrow I'll post a basic student voting guide, with voting suggestions for each ward.

> Ann Arbor City Council Questionnarie 2003

Posted by Rob at 4:38 PM

Quick question: If I created an RSS feed for the Goodspeed Update, would you use it? Feel free to use comments to post a simple Yes or No, or email thoughts to rob @ goodspeedupdate.com. RSS is a way of letting others know when you've updated your blog.

Posted by Rob at 4:20 PM

There are a few articles of interest in the Daily today. They covering the greenbelt issue in the city council elections in "A2 city council hopefuls discuss urban sprawl" However, their statement "... all University residence halls are located in the 4th Ward" is incorrect:

- Ward 1 contains West Quad and Bursley, and the Michigan Union and Bursley are voting locations
- Ward 2 contains the Hill dorms, and Markely is a voting site
- Ward 3 contains East Quad, and is also a voting site
- Ward 4 contains South Quad, also a voting site
- Ward 5 contains the Main Street area and the Northwest corner of the city, most students would vote at a precinct at Jefferson and Fifth Street (west of Main street)

For more voting information see my voting page.

From the article: While Kinsey said he thinks the city is effective in maintaining a tolerant balance in relations between the Ann Arbor Police Department and the students, Trudeau said, �I would like to see an independent board set up to address complaints that students and also residents have of unfair violations.�

The Daily also endorses Scott Trudeau and Rob Haug in Wards 1 and 4 in an editorial today.

Also of note is "Lecturers rally for improved relations", and the Daily writes about yesterday's crime alert: "Student assaulted near Frieze building" Finally, a representative of the Border's employees' union responds to a viewpoint written by management: "Borders, not Daily, needs to get facts straight."

Posted by Rob at 3:47 PM

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Here's a crime alert that was just issued by DPS:

"UM DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

** CRIME ALERT **

Date: October 28, 2003 6:15 PM

Location: 800 Block E. Washington

Offense: Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree

Summary: The suspect jumped out from behind some bushes and fondled a female student. The woman was able to free herself and fled the area.

Suspect: White male, 25-35 years old, 5'10"-6'0", approximately 150 lbs. He was described as having dark, spiked hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue or black, puffy, waist-length jacket."

Posted by Rob at 3:23 PM

The Ann Arbor News writes about the issue of density in the city of Ann Arbor yet again in a story today, "However city votes, density issues loom." Underlying the whole story is a generally skeptical tone, and the assumption that only people living way out in suburban developments (and subscribe to the News) are "city residents." Here's an example:

"In almost every instance, city residents have opposed higher-density housing, especially when condominiums are proposed near single-family homes."

Let's analyze this statement. First, the News is excluding students, over 1/3 of the city, from definition of "city residents." Have you ever heard students oppose higher-density housing downtown? A few might grumble about particulars: that new housing is too expensive, the buildings are ugly, etc, but in general it's widely recognized there's a distinct lack of enough good, inexpensive housing near campus. The article briefly mentions accessory apartments, which the New York Times though important enough to write a story about earlier this month. Oh, that's right: City Council had already unanimously rejected them in the city!

And they include something I didn't know about U-M athletic director Bill Martin: he believes in density. Although, perhaps only because it would benefit him as a real estate developer:

"Changes require foresight and nerve, says Bill Martin, athletic director at the University of Michigan and chairman of First Martin Corp., an Ann Arbor real estate development company.

Martin, who also serves on the Washtenaw Land Trust, holds an MBA from the University of Stockholm. Density is an integral part of Stockholm's master plan, and has resulted in high-rise buildings 10 minutes from the countryside. "Stockholm has had a master plan since the 15th century," said Martin. Ann Arbor has master plans as well, but according to Martin, has less willingness to accept density.

A supporter of the greenbelt proposal, Martin believes increasing density the only way to foster a healthy tax base necessary to repair aging infrastructure. "We need 1,000 units of housing or more, and not just affordable housing, but all levels. We need three or four Tower Plazas," said Martin, referring to the 26-story condominium building at the corner of Maynard and East William streets. "

Posted by Rob at 2:53 PM

The Association of Michigan Universities, an association of student governments at Michigan's public universities (of which MSA is part), has begun a letter-writing campaign to the Michigan legislature to convince them not to cut funding for higher education, recently passing the 2,000 letter mark through their website helphighered.org.

> See AP: "Students turn in thousands of letters against cuts"

Also, the events planned for National Take Affirmative Action Day have made the AP wire. ("U. of Michigan students host National Affirmative Action Day events") In case you didn't recieve this via email:

"STUDENTS SUPPORTING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND THE NAACP UofM CHAPTER
NATIONAL TAKE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DAY

Wednesday, Oct. 29th:

WARD OFF WARDEL
Let Our Voices Be Heard.
an interactive program on affirmative action featuring Ann Arbor Slam Poets!
7pm Pendelton Room, Michigan Union

Thursday, Oct. 30th:
TRICK OR TREAT?
JUSTICE AFFIRMED TAKE ACTION!
Come out to the diag to hear a BET comic impersonate Ward Connerley himself. Music from DJ Grafitti, MCed by a WJLB radio personality!
12pm, DIAG

EVOLUTION OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PANEL
10am, Anderson Room, Michigan Union"

Posted by Rob at 3:23 AM

As a reminder, GEO and LEO are planning a noon rally today on the Diag:

"Campus Equity Week
RALLY FOR FAIR TREATMENT of U of M EMPLOYEES

Fight for Lecturers� Job Security
Fight against Proposed health Care Cutbacks
Fight Undergrad tuition Hikes

Diag -- Noon

Wednesday, Oct. 29th"

Posted by Rob at 2:43 AM

Why Are We Back in Vietnam? ask Frank Rich in a New York Times Op-Ed piece this Monday, discussing the nature of journalism in wartime. Luckily, there's still Frontline and Nightline, two television shows Rich singles out for their truth-telling. And to make Frontline even more appealing, their program on Iraq is available to watch online via streaming video on their snappy website.

"A TV news venue that the administration spurns entirely, by contrast, stands a chance of providing actual, fresh, accurate information. There have been at least two riveting examples this month. Ms. Rice, Mr. Powell and Mr. Rumsfeld all refused to be interviewed for an Oct. 9 PBS "Frontline" documentary about the walkup to the Iraq war. Yet without their assistance, "Frontline" nonetheless fingered Ahmad Chalabi as an administration source for its pre-war disinformation about weapons of mass destruction and the Qaeda-Saddam link. It also reported that the administration had largely ignored its own state department's prescient "Future of Iraq" project � a decision that helped lead to our catastrophic ill-preparedness for Iraq's post-Saddam chaos. "Frontline" didn't have to resort to leaks for these revelations, either: the sources were on-camera interviews with Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, our first interim leader in Iraq, and Mr. Chalabi himself.

The administration officials who stiffed "Frontline" habitually do the same to ABC's "Nightline." Ted Koppel explains why in a round-table discussion published in a new book from the Brookings Institution Press, "The Media and the War on Terrorism": "They would much rather appear on a program on which they're likely not to get a tough cross-examination." On Oct. 15, the week after the "Frontline" exposed, the White House was true to form when asked to provide a guest for a "Nightline" exploring the president's new anti-media media campaign. But later in the day, the administration decided to send a non-marquee name, Dan Bartlett, its communications director. Mr. Koppel, practicing the increasingly lost art of relentless follow-up questioning, all but got his guest stuttering as he called him on half-truth after half-truth. Mr. Bartlett tried � but soon failed � to get away with defending a litany of prewar administration claims and insinuations: that the entire American contribution to rebuilding Iraq would be only $1.7 billion; that Iraqi oil income would pay for most of the reconstruction; and that the entire war would proceed as quickly as a cakewalk.
...
At the tender age of six months, the war in Iraq is not remotely a Vietnam. But from the way the administration tries to manage the news against all reality, even that irrevocable reality encased in flag-draped coffins, you can only wonder if it might yet persuade the audience at home that we're mired in another Tet after all."

Posted by Rob at 2:33 AM

LSA Senior, activist extraordinaire, and my friend Jackie Bray turned 21 Monday and I promised I would post about it. Well, here it is, I'd link to scandalous photos and quotes, but they're not forthcoming. Yes, this website has been reduced to a gossip sheet.

Posted by Rob at 2:20 AM

I've been told the Ann Arbor News printed the letter to the editor I wrote with Ben King about the YMCA site on October 7th last Sunday. If printing it nearly a month after I wrote it wasn't enough, they leave off Ben's name. I'd also link to a copy of the letter as it appears in print, but I can't seem to find it on the Ann Arbor News website.

Posted by Rob at 2:15 AM

"The burden is on you, the upper-middle class."

Whoa Ari, let's not be too revolutionary. As a disclaimer, Ari's something of a friend of mine, but hey, being biased is what I do. Here's some more excerpts from his column this week in the Daily:

"I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot for the fire-starting anarchists in the Earth Liberation Front. Shocking how a beef-eating, leather-coat-sporting chap like myself can giggle approvingly at ELF antics, but hey, revolution makes for strange bedfellows.

Some raise their fists in support, some cry on about ecoterrorism and some need an explanation. The ELF is a loose network of militant environmentalists that has been known to set fire to under-construction high-income houses and vandalize and incinerate SUVs whose gas consumption is rapidly destroying our environment as well as funding the Saudi terrorist regime, a loyal ally of the Bush-Cheney junta.
...

What I hope the ELF can do is make SUV drivers feel as if they have been vilified, as if their precious Ford Explorer is in itself a criminal waiting to be executed by the vigilante squad because of its lethal effect on the rest of us. Ditto for the developers; their actions not only kill the landscape, but their conformist dreams are killing our nation's middle class.

Perhaps it's unfair that SUV owners would have to live in fear of the ELF. Well, when I owned a car, I had to live in fear because I was constantly flanked by these tanks that could kill me with one soft collision, because I couldn't afford an SUV's high cost. SUV drivers don't like the taste of fear? Neither do I. ... "

In other news, does anybody want to apply to serve on Ann Arbor's Cool Cities Advisory Group?

Posted by Rob at 1:54 AM

AFSCME 3800, which represents 1,800 clerical workers at the University of Minnesota, is on strike, that University's first in over 40 years. Both sides seem preparing for a long battle: the Union is soliciting strike funds via Paypal on the web, and is making arrangements to help their members stay clothed, fed, and housed without paychecks. Also, former Daily editor Nick Woomer is sitting in a University building in solidarity with the workers.

For more information:
> AFSCME 3800 Website
> UWorkers.org (student supporters' website)
> Sit-in Webcast

Posted by Rob at 1:27 AM

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Thursday's Greenbelt Discussion makes the Ann Arbor News "In Brief" section:

"Greenbelt forum at U-M Thursday

University of Michigan student groups are sponsoring a public forum on the Greenbelt proposal, urban sprawl and affordable housing in Ann Arbor from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the Michigan Union Ballroom.

The speakers will be Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje; Margaret Dewar, a U-M professor of urban planning; Rick Hills, a U-M law professor; Mike Garfield, director of the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor; and Matt Lassiter, a U-M professor of history. There will be time for participants to ask questions on Proposal B. The event is free and open to the public."

Posted by Rob at 3:43 PM

Break-ins:

"900 block Northwood Street, 6:30 a.m. Monday. Door kicked in; box of checks, TV, laptop computer, digital camera and stereo player taken. Total value: $2,220.

800 block of East University Avenue, 11:35 a.m. Monday. Entry through unlocked door; a University of Michigan football ticket, money and a cell phone taken. Total value: $300."

And more oddities of our fair city from the Ann Arbor News police beat:

"Peeper escapes during police chase

Police chased a window peeper through backyards early Monday after he watched a woman showering, but officers were unable to catch him, Ann Arbor Police reported.

A 21-year-old woman said she as showering at her home in the 800 block of East Ann Street at 7:30 a.m. Monday when she saw a man peering through her bathroom window, reports said. She said she screamed, then the man ran northbound in a long trench coat, reports said.

Officers spotted a man matching the description in a gated yard, but he was able to run off before they got close, reports said. A police tracking dog also was unable to find him.
...

Man reports abuse by homeless man

A 47-year-old homeless man was arrested Monday night on allegations that he physically and sexually assaulted a man who allowed him to stay at his residence in the last few weeks, Ann Arbor Police said.

The 29-year-old victim, who is mentally disabled, said he had been forced to perform sex acts and beg for money for the older man, reports said. He said he permitted the man to move in with him earlier this month and then became fearful of him, reports said.

The suspect is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail while prosecutors determine whether he will be charged with a crime. He also was wanted on misdemeanor warrants, police said. "

Posted by Rob at 3:42 PM

The University loves to evoke the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) when asked about their internal discipline policies, or to make public any data remotely related to students. However, a 1998 FERPA amendment allows them to release data about disciplinary proceedings where students were found responsible for behavior "that would constitute a crime of violence or nonforcible sex offense." I think this issue is complex: because the burden of proof is lower for disciplinary proceedings than it is in a court of law, and the process at U-M is generally designed to be "educational," there might be a good reasons to keep this information private. However, the University can also invoke FERPA simply to keep discipline secret, which may permit abuse - transparency is one way to make sure policies are enforced in a consistant, fair manner. This from a report by the Student Press Law Center:

"... Although federal law permits the disclosure of records of the outcome of disciplinary proceedings when a student is found responsible for behavior that would constitute a violent crimes or a nonforcible sex offense, many college say they would rather maintain the students' confidentiality. Others said they were either compelled or restricted from releasing the records under state law, but many of those schools were in agreement over their concern for students' privacy.

The unscientific survey raises the question as to whether the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is effective in its current state of voluntary release of that crime info. FERPA states a school can lose its federal funding if it has a policy or practice of releasing students education records without receiving consent. Under a 1998 amendment, schools are permitted to release the outcome of disciplinary proceedings where a student is found responsible for behavior that would constitute a crime of violence or nonforcible sex offense. Schools, however, are not required to release this information under the amendment. Access advocates argue that state open-records laws should require that release in some states.
...
The University of Michigan said that releasing the documents would constitute an "unwarranted invasion of an individual's privacy" and were thus exempt under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. However, courts have consistently said that releasing information involving allegations of criminal misbehavior does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy."

Posted by Rob at 3:25 PM

Monday, October 27, 2003

The freshman seminar class Honors 135 Section 001 is planning a forum with LSA Honors Program Director Stephen Darwall on honors' new admissions criteria next Sunday, November 2nd from 4:30-6:00 PM in the MSA Chambers. I think this might be a good opportunity for students to learn about the new admisisons policy, and let him know how important the changes were. If that weren't enough, the organizers are planning to serve free Jimmy John's, and will compile the concerns into a formal document to present to the program. Also, perhaps this could be a good venue to discuss the Perlman Honors Commons.

Posted by Rob at 8:53 PM

The Daily finally covers the increasing costs of health insurance for University employees in their article today, "Plan hikes employee insurance payments." They wait until nearly the last paragraph to give what should be in the first: "The committee estimated that employees would pay anywhere from an extra $15 to $430 in premiums under the plan, depending on which of the seven proposed insurance plans they chose, and what tier they were in." I suspect the GEO rally has something to do with these increases, which they believe violates the terms of their contract.

Also in the news: The Power Mac G5s now installed in Angel hall have two monitors: "Students see double with new monitors in computing sites," and the Daily writes about evangelism on campus, somehow lumping the Muslim Student Association's Islam Awareness Week along with Christian proselytizers: "Preachers, groups try to gain converts on campus."

Posted by Rob at 8:39 PM

Planada Parking Structure?

The University has razed the Planada Apartment building:
> September 2003
> October 2003 (late last week)

Posted by Rob at 7:37 PM

The Graduate Employees Organization is calling a rally noon this Wednesday on the Diag in this enigmatic post on their website:

"Calling all workers & students:
What do tuition increases, health care cutbacks, and no job security have in common?
Come rally for the fair treatment of U of M employees on the Diag, Wed. 10/29 at 12 PM. A fun surprise ending is promised!"

Posted by Rob at 12:02 AM

Sunday, October 26, 2003

"FCB House of Flavors" is the name of the new business that opened in the formerly vacant spot across from Cafe Ambrosia on Maynard Street. And the business model is perhaps more absurd than the name: the store sells apparently only drinks, dispensed from probably two dozen machines situated along the walls, including a variety of frozen smoothies, and hot drinks - flavored coffees and cappuccino, and others. There is exactly one employee at any one time, the person at the cash register.

If one can get beyond the simple possibility that anyone thought opening a frozen drink store in Ann Arbor in October was a good idea, I predict the operation will fail; most likely close in less than six months. Why? First, this is Ann Arbor: people aren't buying drinks for the flavor, they want to pay for an experience: the sound of the cappichino machine, a place to sit and read in a place to go to that's not their house or on campus. Second, in our neo-corporate world what sells is authenticity, not sheer flavor and variety. Whether foods or consumer products, for the modern consumer novelty alone isn't enough: it must be attached to something intangible. This is why Starbuck's has a conscious corporate policy to open stores in historic buildings in urban environments, to somehow counteract the karmic effect of all those mall-and-airport shops, and why Potbelly's desires "Buildings with character and/or unique features" to open new franchises: they know they are selling not just coffee and too-small sandwiches, but also an experience.

What would work? In this city obsessed, like much of America, with the authentic and unusual, America's most chic products can coexist alongside nonmanufactured authenticities. Along State Street alone, one can purchase Mavi jeans at Bivouac or the latest in stylish eyewear at See, but also buy imported handmade clothes or Fair Trade Coffee. And so, it's sad to say, but a corporate entity that seeks to aggressively highlight the historic architecture of Nickels Arcade in order to burnish their carefully honed image would most likely succeed, whether a coffee shop or restaurant.

I, of course, would prefer to see a small business there, for social, economic, political, and personal reasons. It might be a sad observation, but I think the market probably could support yet another coffee shop. A business I think might thrive at that location is is something called an "old-world bakery" - IE, a place that, gasp, bakes food! I think that such a place could complement Nickel's Arcade's other businesses, which include a luxury men's clothing shop, imported gift and antique stores, and a shop selling popcorn and candy. I think the clientele frequenting these stores would be more than willing to pay a premium for a fresh, well-made brownie, muffin, or cookie, and a nice place to sit. Also, within a few city blocks is a variety of offices, all which I'm sure would invest in locally produced carbohydrates for special mornings, meetings, and visitors.

I discovered such a shop in Detroit along Cass Avenue near Wayne State University Summer 2002, when, as intern at the ACLU of Michigan, I was sent to buy muffins. After walking three typically deserted Detroit city blocks one morning a little after 7:00AM, entering Avalon Breads I was forced to wait in line with what appeared to be an eclectic combination of suits, students, hipsters, and local residents to buy homemade, organic baked goods. Here's more about that company:

"Motivated by the grassroots development manifesto promoted by Grace Boggs and others, business partners Ann Perrault and Jackie Victor opened Avalon International Breads in the Corridor in 1996.

"What I really liked about what Jimmy and Grace talked about is that it was a very practical approach to revolutionary concepts," says Jackie Victor. "They had a big picture vision for the city and planet, but very tangible methods for reaching it. You can actually see the results of your labor after four years, not four decades."

Serving fresh-baked organic breads, pastries and focaccia pizzas, as well as coffees, Avalon serves area residents, suburbanites, and city restaurants that feature the bakery's breads on their menus.

Perrault and Victor believe that community-based businesses must economically and spiritually uplift their neighborhoods. The bakery keeps money circulating within the Cass Corridor community by hiring at least 50 percent of its racially diverse staff from the neighborhood. It recycles, and, though it is a small business, offers full-time employees health insurance and average wages of $9.00 an hour.

Perrault and Victor�s success flies in the face of nay-sayers who predicted that the business would fail because of the duo�s insistence on locating it in a rough-and-tumble area of the city and placing a large plate-glass window on the storefront.

"People felt like we were crazy," says Victor. "Even the landlord said the neighborhood wasn't ready for windows." (From "Detroit Renaissance")

Posted by Rob at 11:26 PM

"All three candidates are focusing attention on Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), a method of counting votes that ensures that the winner must have a majority of the votes, and which allows people to rank their choices, enabling voters to vote their conscience while eliminating runoff votes and ending the spoiler issue (see www.fairvote.org for more details of IRV). Ann Arbor once had IRV, in the 1975 mayoral race that elected Al Wheeler. In addition, the candidates are variously raising development, affordable housing, water and transportation issues."

> From the Green Party's Ann Arbor city council candidates' press release.

Posted by Rob at 6:30 PM

I just sent a questionnaire to the candidates for city council. The deadline for responses is Wednesday at 8:00 PM, and I'll post them here sometime Wednesday night. Here are the questions:

1.In your view, what are the most important issues facing the city?

2.What is your position on the mayor's Greenbelt proposal?

3.Do you consider students to be residents of the city of Ann Arbor in the same sense that you are, or are they something else?

4.Are the interests of students adequately represented in Ann Arbor city government? What would you do as a member of city council to increase the levels of communication and involvement of students in city government?

5.What would you do as a member of city council, if anything, to make Ann Arbor a more pedestrian-friendly city?

6.How would you have voted (or to incumbents, did vote) on the resolution regarding the Patriot Act passed last summer? Would you vote for resolutions about issues the city is only tangentially connected to � such as the Patriot Act, or policies of other branches of government?

7.How should the city handle parking downtown? What do you think about the Downtown Development Authority?

8.What would you do make living in Ann Arbor more affordable? Are rents too high? If so, what should be done about it?

9.Would you support the re-districting of the city wards that would create one or more majority-student wards? Would you support changing the way the city council is selected?

Here's a list of the candidates and their email addresses. (I've inserted spaces in the addresses to foil spammers - delete them to use) The only candidate I wasn't able to find either an email address or working telephone number for was Donna Rose - if anyone can help me contact her, please email me at rob @ goodspeedupdate.com

# 1st Ward:
Incumbent Bob Johnson Democrat - rjohnson@ ci.ann-arbor.mi.us
Rob Haug, Green Party - rhaug@ umich.edu, rob@ hvgreens.org
Rick Lax, Independent - rlax@ umich.edu

# 2nd Ward:
Incumbent Mike Reid, Republican - MReid@ ci.ann-arbor.mi.us
Amy Seetoo, Democrat - adseetoo@ umich.edu

# 3rd Ward
Leigh Greden, Democrat - lgreden@ dykema.com
Rich Birkett, Libertarian - vicechair@ lpwash.org
Donna Rose, Independent

# 4th Ward
Incumbent Marcia Higgins, Republican - MHiggins@ ci.ann-arbor.mi.us
Dan Sheill, Libertarian - dsheill@ umich.edu
Scott Trudeau, Green Party - strudeau@ umich.edu, scott@ mutiny.net.
Jon Kinsey, Independent - kinseyforcouncil@ yahoo.com

# 5th Ward:
Incumbent Wendy Woods, Democrat - wwoods@ ci.ann-arbor.mi.us
Jason Kantz, Libertarian - kantz@ linato.pair.com, jason@ kantz.com
Adrianna Buonarroti Green Party - abuonaro@ umich.edu, junes_tears @yahoo.com

Party websites:
> Huron Valley Greens
> Washtenaw County Libertarian Party
> Ann Arbor Democratic Party
> Washtenaw County Republican Party

Posted by Rob at 6:16 PM

Saturday, October 25, 2003

The Ann Arbor News gives the impression that supporters of the Greenbelt proposal are rolling in cash, although they do note many paragraphs into the story that "The reports indicate that thus far, the greenbelt opponents have vastly outspent supporters, with the majority for cable television ads." If one group raises more than their opponents in one filing cycle simply because the timing of some of their large donations, but the opponent has "vastly outspent" them, is it ethical and accurate to choose the headline "B friends raise most funds"? I think that what's news is that hundreds of thousands of dollars of money from a few corporate homebuilders has filled TV and radio with propaganda and paid for anonymous, harassing phone calls, and the supporters of B are struggling to keep up.

The News also found it necessary to re-write a press release about the creation of a new, pro-sprawl group, even though they don't plan to spend more than $1,000. If I start a group with no members and no budget, do you think they'll write about me? See AANews: "New PAC set up to fight Proposal B"

Posted by Rob at 11:53 AM

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has arrested 245 suspected illegal immigrants in 21 states employed as cleaners at Walmart in something the federal government is calling "Operation Rollback." The Associated Press has reported that investigators have found evidence Walmart knowingly employed the illegal immigrants.

What I found interesting was the list of countries where the immigrants were citizens. Although I haven't read much about it, this summer I found many people working seasonal jobs in both Maine and North Carolina (and I assume across the U.S.) were from the former Soviet states and eastern Europe. Here's the list: Mexico 90, Czech Republic 35, Mongolia 22, Brazil 20, Uzbekistan 14 , Poland 13, Russia 12, Georgia 11, Lithuania 11, Slovakia 4, Bulgaria 3, Hungary 3, Ukraine 2, Argentina 1, El Salvador 1, Guatemala 1, Honduras 1, Tajikistan 1.

> See "Wal-Mart plans review of all 1 million U.S. workers after raids"

Posted by Rob at 11:16 AM

"Bruce Madej chuckles at the suggestion that his "publicity machine" at the University of Michigan won the Heisman Trophy for Charles Woodson in 1997.

"Heisman budget," said Madej, Michigan's sports information director. "What budget? We didn't spend anything."

Nor did his department have to. The Heisman formula was working for Woodson.

"The player with the best chance plays for a top-10 team, plays on television, plays well late in the season and plays a skill position," said Dennis Dodd, a Heisman voter who reports on college football for CBS SportsLine.com. "That's the formula." ...

> From NYTimes: "In Heisman Competition, Fitting Into the Formula Helps"

Posted by Rob at 11:08 AM

Friday, October 24, 2003

"A strike continues to be imminent," says UFCW Local 876, the union which represents the employees of Ann Arbor's downtown Borders. The union announced today on their blog that Borders Inc. has agreed to settle charges of unfair labor practices filed under the National Labor Relations Board. According to the union, the charges include:

"- unlawfully suspending and discharging a union supporter;
- unlawfully interrogating employees about the union organizing drive;
- unlawfully threatening employees with discipline if they discuss discipline with other employees;
- unlawfully instituting more onerous working conditions."

Posted by Rob at 12:21 PM

Members of the Michigan Student Assembly and the Residence Hall Association clashed yesterday about revising the access guidelines to the Residence Halls, so that anyone with an M-Card could access the dorms between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Lest we forget: until February 2002, the Residence Halls were open to anybody 8-5. Brimming under the surface of this article is the issue of MSA campaigning: with the elections coming up, I can only assume that members of MSA would like to see access made more lenient to facilitate campaigning.

However, the conflict is something of an irrelevant charade: RHA has even less formal political authority to change policies than MSA, and as the article says "MSA will need the consent of RHA in order for the University's Housing Board to consider making changes to the current access policies." Yes, that's right: they're fighting over a suggestion. Even if RHA and MSA were in agreement in this one I doubt the policy would change: the University seems happy to react to parent fear by creating a false (because it's still easy to get in) security culture in the residence halls with locked doors, cameras, and surveillance.

Posted by Rob at 12:11 PM

The Ann Arbor News continues their greenbelt coverage today:

> "Would greenbelt be a draw or a deterrent?"
> "Candidates nearly split on greenbelt issue"

Posted by Rob at 12:08 PM

The Michigan Student Assembly is once again providing cheap transportation to the Detroit Metro airport for Thanksgiving. MSA Airbus is offering ten trips on November 25 and 26 to the airport, and frequent return trips on Sunday, November 30. Tickets, available at the Michigan Union Ticket Office, are $8 for one-way and $13 round-trip with reservations. Tickets can also be purchased on a standby basis, although reservations are suggested.

This service is the hard work of my friend and U-M undergrad Neil Greenberg and a small group of dedicated members of student government. It's an embarrassment to the University that this financially sustainable and much-needed service must be organized by undergrads through the auspices of student government: the administration should, like many other colleges and Universities, run a shuttle to and from the airport on a regular schedule, with extra trips when demand requires. Although I believe it should be free, they could easily charge a small amount - and the costs to the University, which owns their own buses and purchases fuel in bulk - would almost certainly be less than Airbus, which uses charter coaches.

Posted by Rob at 11:43 AM

Thursday, October 23, 2003

Have you heard anything about electronic voting? No, I don't mean a scantron machine that verifies your paper ballot before you leave the voting precinct (Used in Ann Arbor and just about everywhere else rich people live) - I mean a machine that records your vote electronically, keeps no record, and registered negative 16,022 votes for Al Gore in Florida. Made by a company that gives lots of money to republicans. To quote something I heard Jim Hightower say once, 'no matter how cynical I get I can never seem to keep up'. Here's some information about students who have made public internal documents, including the one below, from that company. Oh, and I'm risking a lawsuit from the Diebold corporation for posting this here:

"From: Lana Hires [mailto:lhires@co.volusia.fl.us]
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 8:07 AM
To: jmglobal@earthlink.net; Glanca@ges.com
Cc: Deanie Lowe
Subject: 2000 November Election

Hi Nel, Sophie & Guy (you to John),
I need some answers! Our department is being audited by the County. I have been waiting for someone to give me an explanation as to why Precinct 216 gave Al Gore a minus 16022 when it was uploaded. Will someone please explain this so that I have the information to give the auditor instead of standing here "looking dumb". I would appreciate an explanation on why the memory cards start giving check sum messages. We had this happen in several precincts and one of these precincts managed to get her memory card out of election mode and then back in it, continued to read ballots, not realizing that the 300+ ballots she had read earlier were no longer stored in her memory card . Needless to say when we did our hand count this was discovered.
Any explantations you all can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks bunches,
Lana" (Source)

If that weren't hair-raising enough, check out "All the President's Votes" from the London Independent:

"Something very odd happened in the mid-term elections in Georgia last November. On the eve of the vote, opinion polls showed Roy Barnes, the incumbent Democratic governor, leading by between nine and 11 points. In a somewhat closer, keenly watched Senate race, polls indicated that Max Cleland, the popular Democrat up for re-election, was ahead by two to five points against his Republican challenger, Saxby Chambliss.

Those figures were more or less what political experts would have expected in state with a long tradition of electing Democrats to statewide office. But then the results came in, and all of Georgia appeared to have been turned upside down. Barnes lost the governorship to the Republican, Sonny Perdue, 46 per cent to 51 per cent, a swing of as much as 16 percentage points from the last opinion polls. Cleland lost to Chambliss 46 per cent to 53, a last-minute swing of 9 to 12 points.

But something about these explanations did not make sense, and they have made even less sense over time. When the Georgia secretary of state's office published its demographic breakdown of the election earlier this year, it turned out there was no surge of angry white men; in fact, the only subgroup showing even a modest increase in turnout was black women.

There were also big, puzzling swings in partisan loyalties in different parts of the state. In 58 counties, the vote was broadly in line with the primary election. In 27 counties in Republican-dominated north Georgia, however, Max Cleland unaccountably scored 14 percentage points higher than he had in the primaries. And in 74 counties in the Democrat south, Saxby Chambliss garnered a whopping 22 points more for the Republicans than the party as a whole had won less than three months earlier.

Now, weird things like this do occasionally occur in elections, and the figures, on their own, are not proof of anything except statistical anomalies worthy of further study. But in Georgia there was an extra reason to be suspicious. Last November, the state became the first in the country to conduct an election entirely with touchscreen voting machines, after lavishing $54m (�33m) on a new system that promised to deliver the securest, most up-to-date, most voter-friendly election in the history of the republic. The machines, however, turned out to be anything but reliable. With academic studies showing the Georgia touchscreens to be poorly programmed, full of security holes and prone to tampering, and with thousands of similar machines from different companies being introduced at high speed across the country, computer voting may, in fact, be US democracy's own 21st-century nightmare.
...
Roxanne Jekot, who has put much of her professional and personal life on hold to work on the issue full time, puts it even more strongly. "Corporate America is very close to running this country. The only thing that is stopping them from taking total control are the pesky voters. That's why there's such a drive to control the vote. What we're seeing is the corporatisation of the last shred of democracy.

"I feel that unless we stop it here and stop it now," she says, "my kids won't grow up to have a right to vote at all."

Posted by Rob at 12:26 AM

Honors Director Prof. Stephen Darwall posts on his blog theletter to the Daily he wrote in response to my viewpoint where I criticize the Perlman Honors Commons as injust and elitist.

I've already responded to the letter, in which he argues the honors commons is the same as a residential hall library. Here was part of my response: "This seems to obfuscate the situation - the Benzinger doesn't have a huge sign over the door reading "Residential College Library" - it is, in fact, designed for the use of all residents of East Quad, as is appropriate for a residence hall library. Located at the heart of campus, it seems to me the Perlman Commons should be logically open to all students."

Posted by Rob at 12:02 AM

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

A number of student organizations are sponsoring a forum on the Greenbelt proposal and affordable housing in Ann Arbor to be held Thursday, October 30 from 7:30 to 9:30 PM in the Michigan Union ballroom. The event will be moderated by Prof. Matt Lassiter, and the panelists include:

- John Hieftje, Mayor of Ann Arbor
- Roderick Hills, U-M Professor of Law
- Margaret Dewar, U-M Professor of Urban Planning
- Mike Garfield, Ecology Center

I think this even will be a great opportunity to ask Mayor Hieftje some tough questions about why one-story boutiques surrounded by ugly, empty 8-story parking garages is in any way "European," and asking Profs. Hills and Dewar about some things the city could do to increase the amount of housing downtown. One idea is allowing accessory apartments, or "granny flats," in neighborhoods zoned for single family residence. Oh wait, the city council already unanimously rejected those two years ago. The sponsors include Students for PIRGM, Environmental Issues Commission of MSA, College Dems, Planners Network, and the Urban Planning Club.

Posted by Rob at 11:32 PM

My friend Ben gets feisty in a letter to the Ann Arbor city council ...

"Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 01:11:02 -0400
From: bcking@umich.edu
Subject: Proposal re: non-resident emergency billing
To: JHieftje@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, JLowenstein@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, MReid@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, HHerrell@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, JCarlberg@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, MHiggins@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, wwoods@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, MTeall@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, CEasthope@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, RJohnson@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us, KGroome@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us

Dear Ann Arbor City council,

I am writing because I am concerned about the recent proposal that would charge out of town students for emergency assistance. In my opinion, this is simply ludicrous and is another way that the city tries to extort money from the students. All you see us as is a source of revenue in the form of parking tickets and exorbent rent, and now for emergency services. I pay rent in Ann Arbor, I have lived here for four years. I am as much a resident of this town as someone who has changed their drivers license. My money pays for the businesses in this town to operate as much as yours does. I pay taxes on the
money I make at jobs here.

The council's worries that a student would hesitate to call for help is well founded. We are paying for schooling, rent, food, all without the time for a real job and with parents who don't all live in West Bloomfield. Some of us simply could not afford an emergency call. People should not have to pay for emergency service, especially if they are residents of this town. The safety of anyone in this town should be of more importance to the city council than the increased revenue potential. If this proposal would keep students from calling 911 in an emergency, then it is not worth the money you would make with it. Is the well being of 39,000 humans who reside in this town not important to you? We are not cash machines, we are living, breathing people who need a fire truck for an emergency as much as you do.

Benjamin C. King"

Posted by Rob at 10:45 PM

The Ann Arbor News clearly knows what emotion sells the most newspapers: Fear. In a headline today they arouse uncertainty over the greenbelt proposal, repeating an allegation made by the pro-sprawl lobby, asking "Is the greenbelt plan legal?"

It turns out the plan is legal, as long as the city and the surrounding townships change their laws slightly before next July. This is what I don't understand: why didn't the Ann Arbor News call a lawyer, call a judge, call the police, or call an expert and find out if it actually is legal or not? If they get conflicting replies, the headline might read "Legality of Greenbelt proposal in question." If everyone says there's nothing about the proposal on its face illegal (and I assume there isn't, since I assume ballot measures are vetted by the city's legal staff) then the correct headline would read something like "Developers switch to fear-tactics, lie about legality of proposal." Instead, they choose a screaming headline that gives everyone the vague sense the proposal might be illegal, and wait until deep in the story to make clear it's not.

Also see: "Minority enrollment down in U-M freshman class", and these break-ins, two in majority student neighborhoods:

" 800 block of Tappan Street, 8:32 p.m. Tuesday. No signs of forced entry; two laptop computers valued at $2,400 taken.

3300 block of Tacoma Circle, 12:50 p.m. Tuesday. Entry through garage door; laptop computer and case valued at $1,000 taken.

100 block of North Ingalls Street, 10:46 a.m. Tuesday. Entry through unlocked front door; laptop computer valued at $1,500 and jewelry valued at $500 taken."

Posted by Rob at 2:45 PM

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Seem crowded around here?

Yes, the admissions lawsuits had another effect than establishing a new legal precedent for the use of race in admissions to institutions of higher education: it was great PR for the University. In a press release today, the administration announced they had set two new records: for the first time student enrollment has topped 39,000 students, and received a record number of applications for this year's freshman class: 25,943.

Where are the minority enrollment numbers? Slightly below the glowing prose about how "Our schools and colleges have accomplished this despite the severe budget constraints that we experienced this year. They did this by focusing the budget cuts on less essential services and programs, and by concentrating their resources on their core academic priorities." Which must be code for "digital screens in Haven but no Residence Hall Libraries, and no Woodshop."

Well, it turns out minority enrollment is up ... 0.2 percent. And enrollment of black students is unchanged: "In the total student body, which includes undergraduate, graduate and professional students, underrepresented minorities make up 13.8 percent, up from 13.6 percent last year. By racial group, enrollment percentages are: African American, 8.1 percent (unchanged); Hispanic American, 4.9 percent (up from 4.7 percent); Native American, 0.8 percent (unchanged); Asian American, 13.4 percent (up from 12.9 percent); and white, 66.3 percent (down from 66.7 percent). A smaller percentage of students (6.4 percent) listed other racial categories or did not indicate their race than last year (6.8 percent).

Although there is stable enrollment among underrepresented minorities in both the undergraduate student body and in the total campus enrollment, administrators noted that freshman enrollment among African American, Hispanic American and Native American students declined from 2002 levels. "

Well, I'll give them a few points for honesty, but didn't black students lead three University-wide strike to achieve 10% black enrollment ... in the 1970s? During the Black Action Movement, or BAM 1, "The strike, which lasted eight days, came to an end when negotiations between BAM and the administration resulted in a commitment made by the University to work toward 10 percent black student enrollment by 1973. BAM and the administration also agreed to additional BAM demands, all designed to create a better atmosphere for minority students. (Source) At least we got CAAS and the multicultural lounges out of the deal. Can somebody remind me again why the administration keeps acting so smug about their supreme court victory? Sure, it's a great legal victory, but numerically speaking the University hasn't come very far in thirty years.

Posted by Rob at 11:36 PM

Some 1,800 clerical workers at the University of Minnesota have gone on strike, the first union strike at that university since 1944.

"... "Some University professors and teaching assistants will move classes off campus.

Melissa Williams, a graduate student in American studies, said she will hold her classes off campus Tuesday.

�The fact is, (the University) can�t do anything about it. If they impose any disciplinary action, there�s a good chance we�ll be unionized next year,� Williams said.

More than 150 professors are taking their classes off campus, affecting more than 4,000 students."

> See MN Daily: "Clerical workers go on strike"

Posted by Rob at 11:17 PM

Maybe it's just me, but sometimes this place seems downright surreal. The Ann Arbor city council is considering adopting a new city pet ordinance that would require dog walkers pick up their pets waste, banning keeping reptiles as domestic pets, and prohibiting owners from leaving pets over 24 hours. I'm not sure where the reptile bit is coming from - they seem perfectly acceptable pets to me. Maybe there's something I don't know about your average lizard, or a new development in protestant bourgeois liberalism. In addition, I know many pets can be left for more than a day with no problem - including reptiles, some cats, and fish. Why not define this a bit differently? Apparently the proposed law carries personal meaning for an outgoing city council member:

"Council Member Heidi Herrell agreed to remove that language if it stood in the way of the council approving the ordinance.

"It's mostly common sense and we've written it down," said Herrell, D-3rd Ward, about the revisions, recommended by a task force that she led.

The 38-page, revised ordinance could be passed at the next meeting Nov. 6. That will be Herrell's final meeting. Herrell, who is well known for her animal activism, is stepping down after eight years on the council.
...
After the meeting, Herrell broke down in tears while discussing the disappointment of not being able to get it passed."

While some of the provisions seem a bit unnecessary, I hope they are able to pass something.

If that's not weird enough, they city is considering allowing the Ann Arbor Fire Department to charge at least $285 an hour to respond to emergency calls made by non-residents. Luckily, our esteemed city council members seem hesitant:

"... Council Member Heidi Herrell, D-3rd Ward, said if a student is paying rent in the city, they shouldn't have to pay for those services. But, she said, students who live in dormitories on campus should be charged because the University of Michigan doesn't pay property taxes to the city.

Council Member Chris Easthope asked about business owners who pay rent in Ann Arbor but live out of town.

Council Member Mike Reid, R-2nd Ward, said the city should check with other college towns to see how they decide residency status for students.

Council Member Kim Groome, D-1st Ward, said that she was concerned students may not call for emergency help if they know they will be charged for it."

Yes folks, they're vaguely concerned. As far as I'm concerned, emergency medical response is a public service, and I don't care where you live, or even whether you are a citizen or not. It's absurd the city council is even entertaining this type of proposal - it's millions of student dollars that keep their beloved downtown vibrant, and if it weren't for us they'd all be bumping into each other out in the strip malls bemoaning what a nice place "downtown" used to be, trying to run a city with half the tax dollars. Maybe you'd like to let them know what you think about being charged for calling 911?

Oh, and the usual attempted break-ins and drunken shenanigans in today's Police Beat as well.

Posted by Rob at 11:01 PM

Here's some recent student ghetto break-ins:

"2800 block of Windwood Drive, 10:10 p.m. Saturday. Entry through sliding glass door; $20 cash and a $300 camcorder taken.

1600 block of Miller Avenue, 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Front door pried open; digital camera, laptop computer, cash, duffle bag, and Discman taken. Total value: $4,080.

500 block of East Ann Street, 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Entry through unlocked door; a backpack and digital camcorder valued at $720 taken.

300 block of Packard Street, 5:19 p.m. Saturday. Entry through unlocked front door; digital camera and University of Michigan hockey tickets taken. Total value: $530.

1000 block of Packard Street, 4 a.m. Saturday. Entry gained to bedroom during party; laptop computer valued at $2,500 taken.

3900 block of Varsity Drive, 10:33 a.m. Saturday. Unlocked glass window opened to gain entry; two computers, a keyboard, two monitors, a fire safe and software taken. Total value: $3,495.

2400 block of Mulberry Court, 4:44 p.m. Monday. Door kicked in; house ransacked, but unknown what was taken."

Posted by Rob at 5:52 PM

Monday, October 20, 2003

A college student has been charged for carrying forbidden weapons and materials onto commercial airliners to show how weak the security measures actually are. The box cutters he had left on a Southwest aircraft were discovered nearly five weeks after they were placed there. I think this backs up my theory that most airline security is an elaborate ruse to make us feel safe. This from Reuters:

"... Investigators say Heatwole put the items on the planes on September 12 and 14 -- over a month before they were found and just days after the two-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks in which hijackers used box cutters as weapons.

On four earlier occasions he also carried weapons onto planes, an official complaint stated, noting that on two of those occasions he left items on the planes which were found while the other two times he took the items away with him.

An affidavit from FBI bomb technician Eric Morefield suggested Heatwole's personal beliefs were behind his actions. Most Quakers are pacifists and some have been known for their acts of civil disobedience.

"(Heatwole)...stated that he was aware that his actions were against the law and that he was aware of the potential consequences for his actions and that his actions were 'an act of civil disobedience with the aim of improving public safety for the air-travelling public,'" Morefield wrote." ...

Posted by Rob at 9:31 PM

As quick note, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center's annual "Speak Out" is tomorrow, at 7 PM in the Michigan Union Ballroom. In SAPAC's words: "Speak-Out is an opportunity for survivors of sexual violence- dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking- to share their stories in a supportive and safe environment. All are welcome to attend in support of survivors."

Posted by Rob at 9:19 PM

Former Daily editorial page editor and my friend Nick Woomer has become involved in a labor struggle at the University of Minnesota where he is attending law school. AFSCME Local 3800, the union which represents clerical workers at the University, may go on strike tomorrow over unresolved contract issues. The union wants the University to agree to wage increases for seniority, job security provisions, and not to cut their healthcare benefits significantly. In his role helping organize support for the Union, Woomer has penned an op-ed piece for the student newspaper, and even rushed the stage during an administrator's speech to deliver a petition.

For background on the strike:
10.17 Strike policies worry profs, TA's
10.20 Union talks wind down

If the issue sounds strangely familiar, it's because it should: the University of Michigan has been quietly cutting the healthcare benefits of its employees here in Ann Arbor. Read about it more on GEO's website, or this Ann Arbor News Article from September 12th:

"In the first step of what could be a three-fold increase in health care costs in coming years, most University of Michigan employees will have to pay monthly premiums in 2004, according to the school.

As faculty members and staffers have returned to work this school year, the university has been detailing the costs for employee health insurance plans. U-M currently pays the full medical benefits for 70 percent of employees and retirees, including anyone with individual coverage.

More than 28,000 employees and nearly 6,000 retirees get health insurance through the university.

Beginning in January, most will pay 5 percent of medical premium costs, with the university paying the balance. Nationwide, health care costs jumped nearly 14 percent in 2003. And if rates continue to rise as expected, U-M workers could pay up to 15 percent of their premium costs in the next two to three years, the university said. "

Posted by Rob at 9:12 PM

Michigan makes #5 on Mother Jones' "Top Ten Activist Campuses," singling out the efforts of Students Supporting Affirmative Action to mobilize students to go to D.C. for the affirmative action lawsuits, and the city's annual Hash Bash, organized by Students for a Sensible Drug Policy and other area activists. #1? The University of Tehran, for student protests after the Iranian government arrested a dissident professor.

"5. University of Michigan: Since it was Michigan's admissions policy being reviewed by the court, 16 busloads of students convoyed from Ann Arbor to join Black Tuesday. On a higher note, 4,000 Wolverines rallied in April to protest the nation's drug war -- which this year saw John Ashcroft take time off from Al Qaeda to raid Internet bong distributors and head shops in "Operation Pipe Dreams." Many who demonstrated smoked up; thanks to Ann Arbor's progressive pot laws, only one student was arrested for possession."
(Which isn't exactly correct: state law applies on the Diag, so getting caught with marijuana is more than a $5 misdemeanor, the city's 1970s-era ordinance)

And with student government elections coming up, it's time to start thinking about issues. Last spring, I criticized the University Party for their #4 platform item: Putting a Taco Bell on campus. Ironically, the University of Chicago made #7 on Mother Jones' list partly because of activists who recently forced a Taco Bell out of their food court because of that company's abusive labor practices. Last spring, I observed that the University Party's platform was mostly "superficial changes" designed to appeal to "people for whom bad financial aid, abusive landlords, social justice, etc are not priorities." The alternative, the "Students First" party was in general much better, but ran at least one conservative candidate - Dustin Lee in the Law School. (Who lost to the UP candidate David Osei.) Perhaps for our mutual edification I'll conduct a candidate survey on some of the issues for this year's election, coming up in the end of November. (What should be in party platforms? To get an idea, see my "Argument for a Political Student Government")

"7. University of Chicago: Taco Bell is the most popular vendor in the U of C's food court, but campus activists still scored one of the first victories of the national "Boot the Bell" campaign. Because Taco Bell's tomato suppliers are said to exploit migrant farmworkers, Chicago students lobbied the university to sever ties with the chain. On Halloween, 60 students, many dressed as tomatoes, marched on the administration offices. In November, U of C's food-services manager declined to renew the Taco Bell contract."

Posted by Rob at 8:08 PM

A woman was grabbed by two men at the corner of South U and East U early Sunday morning, according to the University Record police beat. DPS is also seeking the anonymous man who thwarted an attack reported October 5. I'm not sure if they're referring to this incident reported September 21st, where another similar thing occurred: a stranger came to assistance of another during an assault. To quote a chapter title from Jane Jacob's book: "On the Uses of Sidewalks: Safety"

Also, today's Ann Arbor News police beat is full of tidbits: a shirtless man was shot by a Taser by the Ann Arbor Police outside Michigan Theater Saturday, a man was attacked with a stool at Pinball Pete's, and a woman apparently jumped to death from a downtown parking garage. The police beat also includes information about another attack from early Sunday morning:

"An Ann Arbor woman said she was walking near the city's downtown early Sunday when a stranger grabbed her, then walked away when she screamed, city police reported.

The 29-year-old woman said she was on the north side of Catherine Street at 12:19 a.m. when she heard someone walking behind her, then a male voice asking if he scared her, reports said. The woman said the man then commented on the cold weather and grabbed her around the neck and stomach, reports said.

The woman said she screamed and he let go, then he said he simply wanted to "ask her something" and walked away, reports said. Officers did not find anyone matching the description in the area.

Posted by Rob at 3:24 PM

The University's investment portfolio returned a 5.4% profit last year, now totaling $3.5 billion according to the University Record. However, the University Investment Pool - composed of "working capital" for different construction projects - increased by 4%, and the shadowy "Veritas" - the University's self-insurance unit incorporated in Vermont - lost 1% of its assets.

Posted by Rob at 3:02 PM

The University has selected an architectural firm for an expansion of the U-M Museum of Art. The $35 million project will renovate the existing museum as well as add an addition nearly doubling its size. The firm said in a released statement that the project "provides the unique opportunity to create a thoughtful and delicate dialogue between historical and contemporary architecture, to forge a singular new identity for the Museum of Art, yet with multiple purposes and perceptions." If you cut through the jargon, they're saying they face a tough task: double the size of a old museum on a cramped site without destroying its unique character. Built in 1910, the art museum's building, Alumni Memorial Hall was constructed originally to commemorate U-M alumni who died during the Civil War.

Posted by Rob at 2:55 PM

The director of the LSA Honors Program, Prof. Stephen Darwall, responds to my viewpoint in a letter to the editor today, arguing that the Perlman Honors Commons is just the same as the RC's Benzinger Library. This seems to obfuscate the situation - the Benzinger doesn't have a huge sign over the door reading "Residential College Library" - it is, in fact, designed for the use of all residents of East Quad, as is appropriate for a residence hall library. Located at the heart of campus, it seems to me the Perlman Commons should be logically open to all students.

And to clarify, in my viewpoint I never claimed the honors program has closed the commons to non-honors students. The program does, however, do many small things to try to ensure only honors students use the lounge: the sign above the door reads "Honors Commons," the door is left slightly ajar, and only honors students are told to study there. What I asked in my viewpoint was that the commons be "formally opened to all students." What might that look like? Perhaps a simple sign taped to the door reading "Perlman Study Lounge. Open to all students for quiet study, M-F 9-5"

Here's the letter:

"To the Daily:

One day before his viewpoint criticizing the Perlman Honors Commons appeared in the Daily (Perlman Honors Commons dishonorable, 10/16/03), Rob Goodspeed defended the Residential College's Benzinger Library against a (rumored) University closing on his weblog (www.goodspeedupdate.com), saying that the library "serves as a resource for the Residential College: RC professors put ... materials on reserve there, and the library has hosted a variety of artistic and educational events in the past." The Benzinger Library is a resource for the RC in precisely the same sense that the Perlman Honors Commons is a resource for the Honors Program. Each exists primarily to support the activities of its respective program. The Honors Commons' function is to provide a site for honors seminars in its internal classroom, for intellectual events such as the Fresh Ideas symposium I host biweekly, for events planned by the Honors Student Steering Committee, for meetings between honors faculty and students, for student meetings, for student (and faculty) study, and for informal conversation. As for access, Goodspeed is simply mistaken when he says that access is restricted to honors students. Although the primary function of the commons is to support Honors Program activities, we have not found it necessary to restrict access to serve that function. Of course, unlike the Benzinger Library we have a central location, so we can't guarantee that that will always be so. Finally, I would like to clarify a misunderstanding about our admissions process. It is true that this year we will be able to make use of the University's new application materials (with new essay questions and teacher recommendations) to get a better sense of our applicants, including their intellectual seriousness and curiosity, but it is just not true that before the program relied entirely on grades and test scores. The program also took account of other factors, including, like University admissions, race, in order to build a more diverse class. We are in complete agreement with Goodspeed about the importance of that goal.

Stephen Darwall

Director, LSA Honors Program"

Posted by Rob at 5:30 AM

Sunday, October 19, 2003

I've received a number of positive response to my viewpoint about the Perlman Honors Commons, with the exception of one email. I was surprised by this email I received from someone I don't know:

"Just wanted to say "thanks" for writing your viewpoint, "Pearlman Honors Commons Dishonorable" in Thursday's Daily. Up until today I was an honors student (I voluntarily withdrew myself from the program for a host of non-academic reasons), and I couldn't agree more with everything that you wrote. Thanks for speaking up on behalf of numerous honors students, including myself."

Posted by Rob at 4:10 PM

Tell the DDA: There are too many parking structures downtown!

"DDA asks for input on parking issues

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority will offer coffee and danish at the Fourth and Washington parking structure from 7 to 10 a.m. and 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday. As a Customer Appreciation Day, it's a chance for area residents to let the DDA know their thoughts about the DDA and downtown parking."

I find it odd that parking garages are deemed sacred when it comes to height - many in the downtown area top 7 or 8 stories, a height that would make local politicians sputter on about how it's changing the "European feel" of our lovely city if they were buildings, not ugly slabs of stacked cement. I guess there's nothing more European than a parking garage that goes over a street! I suppose parking garages are nonthreatening to the suburban mentality, which can't conceive of a city built on the premise that at least some people wouldn't need or desire a car. At the very least, it means free coffee and danish, but if you've ever paid to park in Ann Arbor - whether in a garage or at a meter on the street - you've paid for it: your money went to the Downtown Development Authority.

Posted by Rob at 3:19 PM

It appears that the city council is poised to exercise their "right of first refusal" and buy the YMCA building on William for $3.5. (Here's a letter to the editor I co-wrote to the AANews on the issue) However, I don't understand the secrecy involved - the city debated the issue in a closed session. Although things certainly may change, I'd like to see the city acting to involve more people to determine the future of this unique downtown property.

"Hieftje also said he'd like to see the city and Downtown Development Authority work together to determine what goes on the property. Hieftje said the city intends to keep the 100 units of affordable housing downtown.

He said the site could also hold a new AATA bus terminal but the city wanted to review all its options. The mayor said he didn't see any options for paying for the Y building that included the use of the city's general fund reserve. Instead, Hieftje said the city could find federal dollars or a DDA partnership."

> From AANews: "City plans to buy the Y building"

Posted by Rob at 3:16 PM

Yes folks, it's a bourgeois contradiction: the rich Ann Arbor homeowners slugging it out with rich Ann Arbor developers over the mayor's "Greenbelt" iniative, a modest and much-needed proposal not without some drawbacks. Meanwhile, the residents of the low-income housing units at the Y, the people who live in Ypsilanti and are forced to ride the bus downtown to work, and, to a certain extent, even the student population is left out of the discussion. I guess regional transportation and growth policies don't affect any of them!

The Ann Arbor News' coverage of what at least some people think about the mayor's greenbelt proposal has been prolific in the past week, perhaps even obsessive. The News has dedicated a special section of their website to stories about the proposal, including some interesting maps of the potentially affected area.

In an attempt to be at least somewhat comprehensive, here's a quick rundown of Ann Arbor news stories that have been printed since I last updated this website:

10.16 "Greenbelt details"
10.16 "Greenbelt faceoff; debate draws large crowd"

"This is a modest program," [Mayor Hieftje] said. "It is a tool ... to redirect development." ... Ann Arbor resident Scott Wojack, 34, said he opposed the proposal going into the debate and heard nothing to change his mind. Wojack said there are better ways to combat urban sprawl - better zoning restrictions and more development downtown, and that the quality of life argument defies logic.

(Too bad Wojack, a Republican who has run unsucessfully for a seat in the Michigan house, doesn't seem to understand the nature of regional planning: the major is proposing a Greenbelt specifically because the city doesn't have the power to zone land outside the city limits. Of course, one solution is to make it easier for cities to annex surrounding towns when they reach a specific density, but something tells me the Grosse Pointes wouldn't be too happy about that.)

10.17 "Greenbelt foes make anonymous calls"

" The message starts, "Hi. I'm calling about the city's $100 million tax proposal on the November ballot." The voice then states the proposal was "rushed to the ballot by the city without a single public hearing or testimony."

It then says there are several unanswered questions and asks that the resident vote it down.

"Whether it is legal or not is not the point," said Mike Garfield, co-chairman of Friends of Ann Arbor Open Space, an organization in favor of the greenbelt millage. "They point is, they are afraid to say who they are. I think they don't want Ann Arbor voters to know that the primary opponent to the parks and greenbelt millage are big out-of-town developers and their primary funding for this campaign is coming from outside of Ann Arbor."

10.18 "Algea blooms into role as sprawl debate point"
10.18 "Unanswered questions" (About greenbelt proposal)
10.18 "Battle flares over details of greenbelt"
10.19 "Learn more about the greenbelt" (Details of three forums, located at three locations you have to drive to from "Downtown": Weber's Inn, EMU, and WCC)
10.19 "Townships have stake"

Posted by Rob at 2:55 PM

Thursday, October 16, 2003

'Keys to the Kingdom'?

In an email which made its way into my mailbox recently via prolific forwarding, another little mystery of Ann Arbor has been resolved. Yes folks, the secret recipe of Michigan restaurateur Pizza House's Chipati Sauce. I've found that the Chipati, a glorified salad-in-a-pita served with a mysterious red sauce, has many fans although some are in the closet about it. According to the following email, the mysterious sauce (available to take home for $3.99 a bottle!) is nothing less than Franks Redhot Sauce and ranch dressing. And while I haven't tried it out for myself, the mixture sounds just plausible enough to be true!

"From: XXX
To: XXX
Subject: keys to the kingdom
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003

i can't believe it's taken me so long to get this out: quick story that you will all love me for. (jamie, i think i told you this?)

in A2 recently. we go to Pizza house. stupid waiter. i ask to buy a bottle of chipati sauce, and ask if it will stay good if sealed for a while. he says the following: "i don't see why it would. it's only...wait, i don't know if i should tell yuou this" and clare and i went silent, held our breath, tried to look nonchalant. and then this dumb young thang gave us the keys to the kingdom, aka, the recipe.
"it's only frank's red hot mixed with ranch dressing."

use it well, my friends, and pass it on. ... "

Posted by Rob at 3:58 PM

I've neglected to link to the website of "Friends of Ann Arbor Open Space," a group supporting the greenbelt proposal.

Posted by Rob at 3:37 PM

Well, the Daily has shown exactly what an interesting institution it is, publishing today a viewpoint I've penned about why I think the Perlman Honors Commons should be formally opened to all students. I have to say that my pessimism about the paper has waned slightly; they've posted their bylaws, and proven themselves more mature than a lifetime ban of myself. (Although somehow failing to write anything about their former writer David Enders' recent visit back from Iraq) Both good first steps, however small. Maybe next week they'll co-sponsor a panel discussion on the coverage of campus crime with the Black Student Union. As a former crime beat reporter, I'd be more than happy to participate.

Anyway, what about this honors lounge anyway?

"Elitism is an interesting idea to be concerned with at the University. After all, the competitive admissions process combined with high tuition inherently create an elite institution. What matters, of course, is exactly how that elite is chosen. This is in part what the admissions lawsuits have been about: which criteria can and should be weighed so that the University can achieve en elite with justice. There exists across campus a variety of resources for students who seek them out - from offices geared toward specific communities to programs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. These are entirely appropriate, and in fact, needed. However, if a program supported by the University's general funds overtly excludes students from their resources, we must examine their selection criteria closely.

Few lounges, offices or classrooms on campus are overtly advertised exclusively for the use of only some students. Certainly very few are situated in a highly visible location at the center of campus, passed by thousands of students every day. In fact, I can only think of one like that: the Perlman Honors Commons.

...

Under these admissions criteria, which admitted this years' honors freshmen, the honors lounge institutionalizes these biases and privileges and tells the student body: Only some have the right to be here, and other's don't. Never mind the criteria are little more than a proxy for wealth, only loosely related to intellectual curiosity or intelligence. Never mind that honors is partly self-selecting: Many people have other interests or jobs or families that keep them from having the liberty or desire to write a thesis or take more rigorous classes. Never mind that all students are at least initially charged the same tuition, live in the same city, take almost all of the same classes. If honors had its way, the commons would be for honors students only. Period.

In four years, after the composition of the honors program has (hopefully) changed to reflect a more comprehensive admissions process, the honors lounge would still be wrong. Having an office is one thing, deliberately closing a large space at the center of campus to the majority of students, perhaps because they don't have the time, money or interest to participate in honors is unacceptable. To the extent the honors program reflects the pragmatic observation that there are students who would like to experience a more demanding undergraduate experience and actively seeks and admits students on the basis of their intellectual seriousness and curiosity, I believe it is an acceptable institution. It's unacceptable, however, if it means opportunities and spaces automatically closed to the general student body. This is why you'll never see me studying in the Perlman Honors Commons until the day it is formally opened to all students. I encourage my fellow honors students to join me."

And to nip this one at the bud: every student is welcome in the Residence Hall's "Multicultural" lounges. Hence the "multi" part.

Posted by Rob at 1:44 AM

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

I was recently reminded about something I have been meaning to post. I heard from a source at the Residential College at the beginning of the month that there was some discussion at a meeting about closing the only two remaining Residence Hall Libraries: the Bursley Library, and the East Quad's Benzinger Library. As a quick refresher, you might remember I wrote about this in July, after being contacted by a friend and former residence hall librarian who had discovered she had been abruptly fired because the administration was switching to another "service model." Sometimes I wonder where such corporate lingo comes from when it is used by administrators: they are running a public educational institution, not maximizing profits for their stock holders!

My friend in the RC was particularly concerned about the potential closing of the Benzinger Library because fulfils a unique role in East Quad. It not only serves like the old Residence Hall Libraries and offers books, CD's, magazines, and movies that residents can check out, but it also serves as a resource for the Residential College: RC professors put court materials on reserve there, and the library has hosted a variety of artistic and educational events in the past. If it is closed outright, all of these functions would be eradicated, and if it is "transformed" into another "service model," as far as I can tell it would not have material to check out, and perhaps only function as a study lounge.

The closing of the Bursley Library would also be troubling because of that residence hall's distance from the Media Union - the small library provides a convenient space for students to study, meet, or relax, without forcing them to hike down the hill on a suburban campus designed for the convenience of cars, not pedestrians. When I lived in Bursley in 2000-2001 I found the library a nice, very quiet space to study for exams, especially since many of the hall lounges had been closed, or are used by groups as meeting spaces.

University administrators must not forget in their drive to streamline their operation that destroying small things like hall lounges and residence hall libraries do impact the quality of life of students, making their lives a little less pleasant. While sacrificing all for efficiency may make sense in the business world, the University has in several recent cuts (Such as the Woodshop, (read the Daily article) shown little sensitivity to student's desires and needs, and made changes whose costs I believe outweigh any small budget gains.

To further cast a shadow over the University's motives, last year the Residence Hall Head Librarians voted to join GEO, arguing that they were paid less than other graduate student employees for the 30 hours per week they worked in addition to being full time students. They even went so far as to scheduling a strike last spring during the negotiation process. Firing them all was certainly an efficient way to end the negotiation, but more reminiscent a stridently anti-union corporation and not the University of Michigan, who recently formed a committee to formulate an ethics policy to apply in their purchasing contracts, part of which requires contractors respect worker's rights to organize!

> See Daily: "Res Hall libraries end loans of movies, CDs, magazines"
> Daily, March 2003: "Librarians halt picket to further negotiations"
> Daily, Dec. 2002: "Head Librarians join GEO to raise bargaining power"

Posted by Rob at 3:12 PM

A Kinder, Gentler Police State

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