2013-09-25

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ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Ann Arbor, Michigan

michigandaily.com

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

CSG reps upset with counsel candidate Despite allegations, Keeney appointed as general counsel By AMRUTHA SIVAKUMAR ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily

LSA senior Antoyrie Green gets ready to read from “To Kill a Mockingbird” during the University Library’s Read Out in honor of Banned Book Week. Participants read a two to three minute excerpt of some of their favorited banned books in order to raise awareness about literary censorship.

Banned books get spotlight ‘Read out’ held on Diag to start censorship dialogue By SARA YUFA For the Daily

In a town like Ann Arbor, it’s hard to imagine access to books would ever be denied. However,

bans on certain literature are still an issue across the United States. Tuesday afternoon, University Libraries hosted its fourth annual Read Out on the steps of Hatcher Graduate Library to raise awareness of censorship during national Banned Books Week. Participants read a few passages from books that have his-

torically been contested and banned such as “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, and “Waterland” by Graham Swift. Other Banned Books Week events at the University include an exhibit at Shapiro Undergraduate Library that took place last week and a Virtual Read Out Thursday.

Associate Librarian Emily Hamstra, who has planned the event for four years, said it is an advocacy week from the American Library Association to spotlight censorship policies. “It’s mainly to make people aware that these sorts of things happen in our community because people have pushed to have (books) taken off of the See BOOKS, Page 2A

‘U’ researchers work on brain breakthroughs By IAN DILLINGHAM Daily Staff Reporter

The human brain forms synapses — microscopic connections between neurons in the brain — to record thoughts, memories and ideas. When 100-billion neurons need to find their connections, the biology behind the process is complex, to say the least. Assistant Biochemistry Prof. Hisashi Umemori said many debilitating diseases, including autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia, could be linked to certain neurodevelopmental dysfunctions that occur when brain structures fail to properly mature. Umemori’s research was published in the scientific journal, Nature, on Sept. 15. At the molecular level, these dysfunctions are caused by improper wiring of synapses. Recently, Umemori’s lab identified an important new molecule,

SIRP-alpha, which is involved in the process of synapse maturation in the brain, thus opening the door to possible therapeutic treatments. “These diseases are caused by defects during synapse formation, so that’s why understanding the steps of these molecules — by which the brain is formed — we hope to contribute to the treatment and prevention of those diseases,” Umemori said. The lab is exploring neuron connectivity and brain development, especially the pathways by which the brain systems become wired early in life. “Neurons are precisely connected to each other, meaning each neuron knows exactly where to connect,” Umemori said. “We’re interested in how such a precise network is formed.” Neuronal pathways in the brain are formed in two distinct steps, Umemori said. The first step, which begins at birth and continues until adolescence, establishes the initial connections between neurons and forms a preliminary network. In the second step, the connections are either reinforced or eliminated based on the amount See BRAIN, Page 2A

Party politics took a toll on the Central Student Government agenda on Tuesday night as assembly representatives made accusations against Law student Jeremy Keeney, who was nominated to be student general counsel, of being ethically compromised. The University Election Commission is a five-member body responsible for settling electionrelated disputes in CSG. A member of the assembly is required to serve on UEC each year. Keeney, who served as an independent assembly representative for the 2012-13 academic year, was nominated for the position.

WRITE OFF

RESEARCH

Work focuses on synapses, has potential clinical applications

Daily Staff Reporter

The assembly members voted to appoint Keeney as SGC with 20 yes votes, six no votes and 12 abstentions. During the last CSG election cycle in late March, LSA senior Chris Osborn — political party forUM’s presidential candidate — was disqualified from the CSG elections on grounds of election code violations despite garnering a plurality of the popular vote. Candidates of opposition party youMICH, Business senior Michael Proppe was instated in his place. Rumors that Jeremy Keeney had been promised a position in the executive branch of CSG in return for ousting forUM through the UEC from the election circulated, along with an e-mail that allegedly proved Keeney’s prior affiliation with youMICH. In April of last year, University alum Shreya Singh, former See CSG, Page 2A

ACADEMICS

History professor’s lecture to be aired on C-SPAN Lecture recorded in Ann Arbor to be featured in history series ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily

Ross sophomore Angie Pae works participates in the Great Write Off at Espresso Royale on State Street on Tuesday. In honor of the upcoming State of the Book literary symposium on Saturday, Espresso’s front window area was decked out with typewriters and free donuts in order to raise money for six local literary organizations.

CRIME

Lectures focus on minors’ safety on college campuses Presenters reflect on cases at University, UPenn By RACHEL PREMACK Daily Staff Reporter

In a small School of Social Work classroom Tuesday, the school held the first seminar in

a yearlong series on the safety of minors on colleges campuses. Supported by a grant from the Family Assessment Learning Laboratory for Education and Research, the series will consist of eight three-hour discussions on the maltreatment of minors on college campuses. The series is a response to the child sexual abuse scan-

dal involving Jerry Sandusky, Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach, and the child-pornography case involving former medical resident Stephen Jenson, along with the institutional failures surrounding these events. Social Work Prof. Kathleen Coulborn Faller said these incidents highlighted flaws in See LECTURES, Page 2A

By SAM GRINGLAS Daily Staff Reporter

History enthusiasts, mark your calendars. C-SPAN, the cable network known for uninterrupted broadcasts of congressional hearings, is set to air a lecture Saturday that was delivered by History Prof. Gina Morantz-Sanchez. The lecture will air at 8 p.m. on C-SPAN3 — channel 105 in Ann Arbor. Morantz-Sanchez’s lecture will be featured on American History TV, a weekend-long programming block designed especially for history buffs. Each weekend, a college lecture is featured in the 8 p.m. timeslot, branded as “Lectures in History.” Morantz-Sanchez’s lecture will cover the backlash toward the Women’s Liberation MoveSee C-SPAN, Page 2A

Dave Brandon’s fireworks A look at the athletic director, businessman and Michigan man

WEATHER TOMORROW

HI: 74 LO: 50

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» INSIDE

INDEX

Vol. CXXIII, No. 138 ©2013 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


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