CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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GOVERNMENT
Legislation could allow two-parent adoption RITA MORRIS/Daily
LSA freshman Lauren Hubbard and Kinesiology freshman Danni Doppelt enjoy their snow day Monday by sledding on trays down the hill across from Stamps Auditorium.
Updated severe weather policy guided cancellation New assessment procedures led to snow day decision By MICHAEL SUGERMAN Daily News Editor
In October, the University reviewed and updated its guidelines for responding to severe weather. The results of the eval-
uation process took full effect Monday as classes were canceled for a snow day. Under this new protocol, called the Emergency Reduction in Operations, the University’s Division of Public Safety and Security spearheads evaluation of whether canceling classes is necessary, and reports their assessment to the University president, who makes the final call.
In a release Sunday night, DPSS Executive Director Eddie Washington wrote that dangerous road conditions had played a main role in his recommendation to cancel classes. “Snowfall totals of 12 to 18 inches with high winds are making the roads dangerous, especially for the many faculty, staff and students who live outside the city of Ann Arbor,” he said. University spokesman Rick
Fitzgerald said Monday that Washington’s recommendation was based on consultation with numerous sources, including the National Weather Service, the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County officials. Washington subsequently relayed information to individuals from the Office of the Vice President for Communications, the office of the Provost, UniSee WEATHER, Page 3
If passed, children of unmarried couples would receive benefits By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter
State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor) proposed a bill on Thursday to legalize unwed, two-parent adoption in Michigan. The issue originally catalyzed what is soon to be a U.S. Supreme Court case, DeBoer v. Snyder, challenging the constitutionality of Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban. Before taking their case to state and federal court, Hazel Park residents April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse were barred from completing a second-parent adoption for their child. Though the two initially sought to challenge this law, the case shifted to a broader consideration of samesex marriage. A couple would opt for two-
ACADEMICS
LAWSUIT
LSA launches new minors for Winter 2015 Options expand to include programs in Yiddish, Intergroup Relations, others By CARLY NOAH Daily Staff Reporter
From programs focused on language and culture to art and entrepreneurship, the College of Literature Science and Arts is offering five new minors beginning this semester. Three of these are completely new and offered in LSA: Yiddish Studies, Arab and Muslim American Culture, and Intergroup Relations Education. The other two — Art and Design and Entrepreneurship — were not formerly available to LSA students, but have been officially incorporated into the LSA curriculum. JoAnn Peraino, LSA curriculum and enrollment manager, said the qualifications for creating a new minor are often based student interest, though multiple departments cannot offer the same minor. Peraino added that once a minor has been created within a department, the department is responsible for overseeing that the minor is attracting student interest. “If a minor doesn’t seem to be taking off or one that has been in existence for a while begins to lose interest, we may retire minors,” she said. “But they typically stay on the books for
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a long, long time. We haven’t retired any in a long time because all of our minors have at least a few students in them.” Intergroup Relations Education The minor in Intergroup Relations Education focuses on creating discussions around issues of social identity, inequality and discrimination. The minor, which is a minimum of 19 credits and a maximum of 22, begins with students enrolling in two core courses: Intergroup Dialogues and Foundations of Intergroup Relations. Following those classes, students must choose one of two tracks — either the Facilitative Leadership track or the Campus Communities and Research track. Students also elect one elective LSA course that is related to intergroup relations and complete the capstone course in intergroup relations. Kelly Maxwell, IGR co-director, said the Intergroup Relations Department celebrated its 25th year in 2013. “Last year our campus really began talking about issues of inclusion and became more involved with student activism,” Maxwell said. “It made us realize that it’s time to formalize the minor.” Last year, members of the University’s Black Student Union lobbied administrators to address a series of demands designed to address stagnant minority enrollment and campus climate, among other issues. In November, the UniverSee MINORS, Page 3
parent adoption if one member is either the biological parent of a child or the sole legal guardian in an adoption. The other member of the couple would not be either, but wishes to legally adopt the child so as to officially be recognized as its parent. Irwin’s legislation, House Bill 4133, would guarantee the same benefits to children of single parents or unmarried couples as those given to children of married couples. These benefits include health insurance, authorization for medical care and continued care by one parent in case of the death or separation of the other. “Studies have shown the importance to children of maintaining a safe, loving home with two stable parents,” Irwin said in a statement. “This bill will ensure that more children in Michigan can enjoy benefits of two parents who share all of the rights and responsibilities of parenthood.” In March 2014, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman struck See ADOPTION, Page 3
Court rules in favor of former ‘U’ student Judge upholds defamation lawsuit against previous state official By SHOHAM GEVA and EMMA KINERY Daily News Editor and Daily Staff Reporter
DAVID SONG/Daily
Mayor Christopher Taylor discusses the city’s listing as a supporting municipality in an amicus brief for a Supreme Court case, DeBoer vs. Rick Snyder, at City Hall Monday.
Chief Seto talks decision following Rosser shooting Investigation results presented to City Council Monday night By ANASTASSIOS ADAMOPOULOS Daily Staff Reporter
During Monday’s meeting of the Ann Arbor City Council, Ann Arbor Police Chief John Seto responded to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s decision not to press criminal charges against Ann Arbor Police Officer David Ried following the fatal shooting of Ann Arbor resident Aura Rosser. The meeting also addressed the city’s response to the pre-
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vious weekend’s snowstorm, as well as submitting an amicus brief in the case challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, which will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in the spring. During the police chief’s remarks, Seto expressed his condolences to Rosser’s friends and family and added that Rosser’s death was a tragic outcome of a justified response. He noted that Ried is a fine and professional officer with sound judgment. Rosser was shot and killed in November while two Ann Arbor police officers were responding to a report of domestic violence. The prosecutor’s report said Rosser approached the officer’s with a knife and declined to put it down when asked by police.
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“The community expects its officers to resolve a wide range of conflict,” Seto said. “When doing so, they have a duty to protect citizens who are in danger and they have a right to protect themselves. Both were required of Officers Ried and Raab on November 9.” Seto said while the Ann Arbor Police Department awaits the delivery of 86 body cameras, the department is developing training and policy for the use of cameras by police officers. He noted that he has added diversity awareness and autism awareness to the department 2015 training calendar. He also said he plans to continue working with the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission in the coming See SETO, Page 3
Vol. CXXIV, No. 59 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld a defamation lawsuit Monday against Andrew Shirvell, former state assistant attorney general, over his harassment of a University student. Shirvell was accused of antigay rhetoric against University alum Chris Armstrong, the first openly gay Michigan Student Assembly president. The Michigan Student Assembly is now known as Central Student Government. In 2010, Shirvell was fired after creating a blog titled “Chris Armstrong Watch,” which argued Armstrong was promoting a “radical homosexual agenda.” Mike Cox, Michigan’s attorney general at the time, wrote that the firing was not due to his exercising of his First Amendment rights, but for his “harassing conduct.” In 2011, Armstrong sued Shirvell for defamation. A year later, Armstrong won the case, which ordered that Shirvell pay him $4.5 million in damages. Shirvell appealed the decision shortly thereafter. See COURT, Page 3
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