ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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AUTUMN ARBING
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
University community braces for shutdown JAMES COLLER/Daily
LSA freshmen Emily Sheridan and Molly Williams enjoy one of the first days of autumn by studying in the Nichols Arboretum Monday.
ROTC, federal recruiting, D.C. programs affected by gov’t closures By TAYLOR WIZNER
HEALTH CARE
Insurance exchanges open With opening of marketplace, ‘U’ students, faculty have new options By BEN ATLAS Daily Staff Reporter
When Dania Berjaoui graduated from Eastern Michigan University in the spring, she left behind not only the comfortable confines of a college environment, but also another impor-
tant safety net: her student health insurance. Now working as an administrative assistant in office of the University Health Service Director, Berjaoui is not eligible for University health benefits because she is a temporary employee. While some young adults can now be insured under their parents’ plan until age 26, Berjaoui’s father was laid off last year and now is enrolled in Medicaid, the federal government’s program for low-income Americans that covers children until only age 18.
Berjaoui is one of roughly 48-million uninsured Americans who have the opportunity to learn more about their options starting Tuesday, when open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace — one of the key components of the Affordable Care Act — begins. Last week, the University Benefits Office, per ACA requirements, sent out a letter to all 67,000 of the faculty and staff it services to provide notice of the beginning of enrollment. Roughly 46,000 employees are currently eligible to receive
coverage through a University health plan, and are unlikely to participate in the new marketplace, according to Brian Vasher, director of operations for the Benefits Office. However, the remaining 21,000— most of whom are temporary employees like Berjaoui — may be inclined to use the marketplace. Outside of temporary employees, it’s unclear how other University demographics, such as graduate and professional students, may benefit from the marketplace. The University’s See INSURANCE, Page 3
Daily News Editor
Now that the government has shut down, the Ann Arbor and University community are preparing for the consequences of a reduced government. The University’s three ROTC programs — Army, Naval and Air Force — are programs of the Department of Defense, which is affected by the shutdown. Captain Joseph Evans, Naval ROTC commanding officer and chair of the Naval Officer Education Program, said the possible impact on students in the program would depend on how long the shutdown lasts. Evans said there would be no immediate, “outwardly visible” effects, as most issues would be dealt with internally. He noted
CRIME
By ARIANA ASSAF Daily Staff Reporter
Trends from the University’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report released Monday show that sexual-assault cases and alcohol violations increased substantially from years past, while reports of most other crimes have remained steady or declined. The report, published annually by the University, contains 2012 crime statistics along with numbers from previous years and is required by U.S. Department of Education policy. The report breaks down the types of crimes reported, who crimes were reported to and if the incident occurred on campus or at an off-campus location involving students. It only details crimes that were initially reported on or near campus and doesn’t detail the outcomes of investigations There were 21 forcible rapes reported to police agencies and the University. In 2011, there were ten cases. These reports do not include confidential locations, such as those reported to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center. The report showed that reports of rape and fondling more than doubled in 2012.
WEATHER TOMORROW
HI: 79 LO: 59
There were two forcible rapes reported to University Police, up from one incident reported to UMPD in 2011. In the recent report, two forcible rapes were reported to other police, and 17 were reported to non-police. In 2011, there were two forcible rapes reported to other police agencies and seven reported to non-police. There were 21 cases of forcible fondling reported in 2012, more than double the eight cases reported in 2011. The report also noted that sexual-assault cases reported to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center decreased from 44 in 2011 to 34 in 2012. In September, the University altered its sexual misconduct policy to be in accordance with guidelines set out in the federal Title IX mandate. As a result, every allegations of student sexual misconduct must be internally investigated by the University. Although there is no confirmed correlation, reports of sexual assault increased significantly in 2011 after the interim Title IX ordinance at the University made authority figures more responsible for reporting sexual assault. Administrators involved in the new process have said the increase in sexual assault reports may be due to the new changed procedure. Robberies and assaults reported decreased significantly from their 2011 levels. There were 14 robberies reported in 2011 compared to four in 2012. Aggravated assaults decreased from 30 in See REPORT, Page 3
Federal agencies postpone recruiting visits Several government agencies have also notified the Career Center that they would no longer be sending recruitment officials to the Career Expo on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. The State Department and the National Security Agency, which were also holding separate events with University departments, cancelled their presentations and notified the Career Center. “Based on the uncertainty of a potential federal government shutdown, the information sesSee SHUTDOWN, Page 3
CITY
Report: sexual assault, liquor violations up In annual report University Police break down crimes on and near campus
that at least three members of his staff would be furloughed, but the rest are military employees who would not be affected. He noted that in the long term, the students’ scholarships could be in jeopardy, but those details are not clear. Officials at the University’s Army and Air Force ROTC programs could not be reached for comment.
Ann Arbor City Council member to seek mayor’s office Kunselman would challenge Hieftje for Democratic nomination ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
By WILL GREENBERG Daily Staff Reporter
Martha Pollack, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, speaks to SACUA members Monday.
Pollack reflects on first months as ‘U’ provost SACUA members seek greater administrative transparency By EMILIE PLESSET For The Daily
Martha Pollack, University provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, made an appearance at the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs meeting Monday, discussing goals for recruitment, college affordability and funding allocations. At the meeting, Pollack reflected on her first few months as provost and discussed upcoming initiatives to improve various aspects on
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campus, including improved education, a more diverse student culture, college affordability and research enterprise. During the meeting, members also discussed changes in benefits and salaries and asked for more transparency from committees discussing these changes. To improve campus inclusion, Pollack said she’s in the early stages of working on a new recruitment program for community-college students. According to Pollock, the program would “strengthen (the University’s) ties to community colleges and expand student support services” and is a “really good way to try and tackle” what she says is a diversity problem. SACUA also discussed ways to allocate resources,
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INDEX
and how to keep college affordable for students while still ensuring departments receive their appropriate funds. “We have a huge array of programs on campus that are intended to address diversity on campus,” Pollack said. “What we need to do is figure out which ones we want to put more resources into.” According to Pollock, over the past year, average student-loan burden decreased by $500 and out-of-state students saw their amount of need-based aid double. Additionally, in 2012 University had the lowest in-state tuition increase in the past 30 years. “College affordability continues to be a top priority,” Pollack said. “We still have a lot farther to go, but if you See PROVOST, Page 3
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City Councilmember Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3) has begun the petitioning process to become a candidate for the mayor of Ann Arbor in 2014. Kunselman — who is an employee in the University’s Energy Management Office — went to the City Clerk Friday to obtain the petition to be nominated as a candidate in the Democratic Party. He is currently in the middle of his third term as a council member in Ward 3, having first been elected in 2006. Even though the deadline for the primary-election petition is midMay, Kunselman said he typically likes to start his campaign process early, adding that he is “not a typical candidate.” Kunselman said he wants to change the political culture in Ann Arbor and increase transparency. “I very much believe in good public policy and budget priorities that serve a broader element of our community rather than what we’ve seen in the last few years if the direction of our city is to be basically focused on downtown,” Kunselman said. He went on to say Mayor John Heiftje’s (D) lack of communication See OFFICE, Page 3
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