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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Voting guide: CSG party platforms explained
AMANDA ALLEN AND RUBY WALLAU/Daily
RIGHT: LSA sophomores Nicole Khamis and Tahany Alsabahi, LSA junior Laith Hasan and LSA junior Devin Ross, authors of the Divestment Resolution, answer questions from Central Student Government members about the resolution at the CSG meeting in the Rogel Ballroom on Tuesday. TOP LEFT: LSA seniors Taylor Ryan, Daniel Hurwitz-Goodman and Alyssa Tender hold signs in support of Divestment. BOTTOM LEFT: Students raise their hands in support of BDS.
SAFE presents revamped divest resolution to CSG Vote expected next week following review by resolution committee By LEA GIOTTO Daily Staff Reporter
After failing to secure the passage of a similar proposal last year, Students Allied for Freedom and Equality proposed a
new divestment resolution at Tuesday night’s Central Student Government meeting. SAFE is the University’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, an international organization that stands for Palestinian solidarity on college campuses. One of the group’s primary goals is to advocate for the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement, which in part asks institutions to divest from companies that allegedly facilitate the violation of Pal-
estinian human rights. Divestment movements are typically group proposals made to a city or university board, requesting suspension of investments in companies that support unethical or immoral actions. The proposed resolution asks CSG to support the creation of a committee through the University’s Board of Regents to evaluate the University’s investments in four companies. In the resolution, SAFE specifically accused The Boeing Company, Cater-
Polls now open as three parties vye for assembly seats, offices By ALYSSA BRANDON Daily Staff Reporter
pillar Inc., G4S and the United Technologies Corporation of profiting from alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. The meeting began with nine speakers voicing their position during the community concerns portion of the meeting. Eight of the speakers, including seven University students and an Ann Arbor resident, spoke in favor of divestment. LSA sophomore Benjamin See DIVEST, Page 3A
Central Student Government executive elections have arrived, and the University community has a host of candidates and platforms to consider. The Team Running on The Team’s executive ticket are LSA junior Will Royster and LSA sophomore Matt Fidel, who will vie for CSG president and vice president, respectively. Royster is currently the Black Student Union’s academic concerns chair; Fidel previously served on the Social Responsibility Committee for the now-disbanded Sigma Alpha Mu. The Team is CSG’s newest party, and its platform focuses on inclusiveness and uniting the student body. One of its priorities is
RESEARCH
CAMPUS LIFE
Vietnam War protestors talk 1965 teach-in Organizers recount historic event during 50th anniversary celebration By ALYSSA BRANDON Daily Staff Reporter
Fifty years since the historic “Teach-In Against the Vietnam War,” a dozen retired University faculty members and activists took the stage in Angell Hall Auditorium to reflect on their experiences with activism Tuesday. In 1965, approximately 50 University faculty members organized what they called a “Teach-In” — a protest and that would consist of University faculty discussing the negative aspects of war continuously for a night. Frithjof Bergmann, a philosophy and romantic studies professor in 1965, was a main organizer of the protest. During the event, he said he and other University professors conceptualized the original teach-in after participat-
ing in an anti-war protest outside the White House. “We thought, there has got to be something more we professors can do other than walking around until we had holes in our shoes,” Frithjof said during the event. “For me that was the beginning, and the idea that professors can do more than march in circles.” Frithjof said more than 3,000 individuals attended the 1965 teach-in. The night consisted of debates, lectures and musical performances — all aimed at educating the University community about peace. “It became obvious in that night, that actually one could make a difference in one night, and that was something that very few knew,” Bergmann said. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Thomas Mayer, who was an assistant professor of sociology during the teach-in, said participating in the protests propelled him forward in activism throughout his teaching career. “It really convinced me that explaining an issue and giving See TEACH-IN, Page 3A
on-campus diversity, which The Team plans to target by advocating moving the Trotter Multicultural Center to a more accessible location, among other initiatives. The Team has also announced plans to increase CSG transparency by creating a text-message hotline, interactive newsletter and CSG-staffed coffee cart in Mason Hall. In a prior interview with The Michigan Daily, Royster said The Team wants to focus on empowering other students. “What we really care about is empowering the campus through cross-campus collaboration,” Royster said. “Even our motto, ‘Our Campus, Our Community, Our Commitment, Your CSG,’ we really mean that.” Fidel said he and Royster want to focus more on change and less on politics. “We aren’t worried about the credit; we’re worried about seeing change,” he said. Make Michigan Make Michigan is returning to See PLATFORMS, Page 3
‘U’ awards grants for study of lake levels Research to address local impacts of fluctuating Great Lakes water levels WILLIAM LYNCH/Daily
By IRENE PARK
Members of the North Campus community attend a town hall meeting to discuss future renovations in a racquetball court on Tuesday.
Architecture firm joins forum on NCRB project Town hall centers on construction plans approved by Board of Regents By COLLEEN HARRISON Daily Staff Reporter
Big changes are ahead for the North Campus Recreation Building. Last week, the University’s Board of Regents approved
a $13 million renovation to the NCRB. The project will also include the construction of an 18,000 square foot addition. In 2013, the regents enacted a $65-per-term student fee to fund renovations for the University’s unions and recreation facilities. About 30 members of the North Campus community gathered Tuesday night to participate in a town hall with the firm contracted to complete the project.
Charles Lewis, the senior vice president of Integrated Design Solutions, led the meeting and presented attendees with mock-up renovation designs. Mike Widen, the director of Recreational Sports, co-facilitated the meeting and helped field attendees’ questions. “We wanted to take you through where we’re at in general with the planning,” Lewis said. See NCRB, Page 3A
Daily Staff Reporter
University grants are aiming to explore the impacts of the historically high rate of water level fluctuation in the Great Lakes. The University’s Graham Sustainability Institute awarded seven grants, totaling $70,000, to American and Canadian researchers studying how Michigan residents are adjusting to the fluctuations. John Callewaert, director of the Integrated Assessment Center at the Graham Sustainability Institute, said changes in the lakes’ water levels could have a significant impact on regional habitats, recreation and shorefront management. To study those impacts, the University will award $10,000 over a six-month period to each See GREAT LAKES, Page 3A
the statement How do students spend money? Results from a Daily survey
WEATHER TOMORROW
HI: 47 LO: 21
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 88 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A T H E S TAT E M E N T. . . . . . . . . 1 B