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ROSS STRIKES AGAIN ADMINISTRATION
Psych prof. appointed faculty mediator Ombuds serves as middleman in faculty conflicts
TERESA MATHEW/Daily
Stephen Ross speaks at the Business School in Sept. 2012. Ross’ total donations to the University will total $313 million with the gift, according to The Wall Street Journal.
WSJ: Real-estate tycoon gives $200M, largest gift to ‘U’ in history
also serve as the chairman of the donation would put Ross secUniversity’s upcoming multi- ond behind Michael Bloomberg, year fundraising initiative set to mayor of New York City, who begin in November. pledged $350 million to Johns The donation — reportedly Hopkins University earlier this to be split year. between A press the Athletic conference Department to announce and the Unithe donation -Stephen Ross said versity’s is scheduled business for 9 a.m. to The Wall Street Journal school that Wednesday bears his morning with name — elevates Ross’s total giv- Ross, University President Mary ing to the University to $313 mil- Sue Coleman, Athletic Direclion. His new total inches him tor Dave Brandon and Business up the ranks of top university School Dean Alison Davis-Blake. donors in the nation. AccordThe Michigan Daily could not ing to statistics compiled by The reach the University for comChronicle of Philanthropy, this ment as of 2 a.m. Wednesday
“I believe you give until it feels good.”
By PETER SHAHIN and JENNIFER CALFAS Daily Staff Reporters
Not to be outdone by Charles Munger, philanthropist and real estate mogul Stephen M. Ross nearly doubled the size of the previous biggest donation in University history with a pledge of $200 million, first reported by The Wall Street Journal early Wednesday morning. Ross will
morning. In an interview with the Journal, Ross, 73, said the donation will “finish the job” in completing renovations on the Business School’s other buildings. In the last fifteen years, every one of the top 10 business schools in the country has spent at least $30 million on upgrades to its facilities. One of the chief factors in convincing Ross to give his original $100 million donation was to help keep Michigan’s business school competitive with peer institutions. “I believe you give till it feels good,” Ross told the newspaper. Ross is the founder and chairman of Related Companies, a See ROSS, Page 3A
By SAM GRINGLAS Daily Staff Reporter
Bruno Giordani, chief psychologist in the University’s Department of Psychiatry and professor of psychiatry, neurology and psychology, began his term as faculty ombuds, the University’s chief mediator, Sunday. A faculty member at the University for 26 years, Giordani has a vast array of experience in academia and University governance. Between 2005 to 2007, he was chair and vice chair of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs and for 12 years was the director of
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CSG holds first fall meeting Assembly resolves election issues, clarifies rules By AMRUTHA SIVAKUMAR Daily Staff Reporter
On Tuesday evening, the new Central Student Government assembly convened in the Michigan Union for the second time since the highly contested March elections. In addition to introducing new resolutions that clarified and defined rules within student government — and re-addressing an old resolution that opposed the price increase to student season football tickets — the assembly looked upon a series of agenda items. After representatives who were unable to attend the first assembly meeting in April were sworn into their positions, the assembly voted to resolve the tie in the election for the singular representative seat available for the School of Public Health. In the March elections, four students tied for the representative position, each garnering one vote from their school. But,
because all four of those students were absent at the meeting, the assembly voted to leave the seat vacant for the remainder of the semester. CSG President Michael Proppe, a Business senior, also informed representatives of developments between CSG and the University that had taken place over the summer, including the push for more student input in administrative decisions. Proppe specifically referenced the new general-admission policy for home football games, which was largely implemented without advisement from University students. Despite addressing the University’s Board of Regents at its May meeting, passing a CSG resolution against the new policy and personally speaking to Athletic Director Dave Brandon, Proppe was unable to convince the department to compromise on the issue. However, representatives from the Athletic Department will address the assembly on Sept. 17 to discuss its reasoning behind the policy and address concerns. “The resolution worked, See CSG, Page 3A
the neuropsychology section of the University Health System. As ombuds, Giordani will serve as a mediator in conflicts and as a liaison with standing to recommend changes in policy or procedures to senior University officials. According to the faculty ombuds website, ombuds — which translates to “representative” in Old Norse — is a neutral official positioned outside of an organization’s staff hierarchy. In their historical role, ombuds have provided a check on government rulers in the interest of a nation’s citizens. In 2003, following the practice of other universities, then-Provost Paul Courant created the position of faculty ombuds at the request of SACUA. See OMBUDSMEN, Page 3A
CSG adds two new boards to gov’t Commisions to focus on Detroit, civic engagement By AMRUTHA SIVAKUMAR Daily Staff Reporter ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
Notre Dame defensive tackle Louis Nix III (right) weighs in at 342 pounds. That’s more than two Dennis Norfleets. He won’t just be one of the Michigan line’s biggest tests of the year, but one of the toughest, too.
‘M’ looks for scout-team player for Nix, or two The 342-pound lineman is part of an elite front seven By ZACH HELFAND Daily Sports Editor
No one would ever accuse Notre Dame defensive tackle Louis Nix III of being petite, so Devin Funchess had to
catch himself after practice Tuesday. The Fighting Irish defense suffocated Michigan last year, Funchess said, because of their overpowering front seven. Funchess, a sophomore tight end, said Notre Dame’s defensive line in particular was especially fearsome, and this year it returns two of three starters. “The D-line, all three of
those little guys right there — ” Funchess said, then stopped. He raised his eyebrows. “Not little,” he said. “They’re kinda big.” Even that underplays the size of the three Irish linemen. Defensive end Sheldon Day, the smallest of the bunch, is 290, and he is dwarfed by his teammates. The other end, Stephon Tuitt is 6-foot-6, 312 See FOOTBALL, Page 3A
So far away
The Central Student Government has increased the number of taskoriented commissions that exist within its structure in order to grow its ability to enact change on campus. On Aug. 15, Business senior Michael Proppe, CSG President, issued executive orders to establish two commissions — the Voice Your Vote Commission and the Commission on Detroit Engagement — based on the recommendations of CSG affiliates and student-body members. The commissions, appointed by the CSG president, exist within the executive branch to conduct indepth studies on campus issues and recommend solutions for consideration. After discovering last year’s See COMMISSIONS, Page 3A
Making a Movement
Is a long-distance relationship in college really a crutch?
The Coalition for Tuition Equality forged significant change in University policy.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIII, No. 124 ©2013 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A ARTS...........................6A
S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A S TAT E M E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 B