ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, January 23, 2014
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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BUSINESS
THE SWING OF THINGS
Restaurant Week makes long-term customers Despite the low prices, business managers say exposure brings in a new clientele By CHRISTY SONG
VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
Daily Staff Reporter
Instructors Lauren Janicki and Chris Glasow swing dance with Swing Ann Arbor at the Michigan League on Wednesday.
ADMINISTRATION
Board talks future of ‘U’ Regents discuss digital education, health system By SAM GRINGLAS Daily News Editor
For centuries, scores of immigrants, writers, artists and entrepreneurs have
journeyed to New York City in search of opportunity or inspiration. Hoping to draw their own insights from a selection of the East Coast’s premier academic institutions, the University’s Board of Regents gathered in New York City late last week to discuss a range of topics, including the future of academic health centers and digi-
tal education. The sessions, which were closed to the public, were held in place of the board’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. This is the second time this board has opted for an out-of-state, January trip. Last year, the regents flew to Los Angeles to meet with leaders from Google, Stanford University and University of
California-Berkeley. In an interview with The Michigan Daily before the trip, University President Mary Sue Coleman said the excursion provides a time for the regents to get out of their normal environment and think broadly about issues facing institutions of higher education. See BOARD, Page 3A
HOSPITAL
By AMABEL KAROUB Daily Staff Reporter
As the end of open enrollment for health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act draws near, University students are reaching out to ensure that the public is educated about their options under the new law. The Washtenaw Health Initiative has recruited nearly 70 University students who are now working around the county to educate low-income individuals about the ACA. Their mission: encourage the uninsured to come to hospitals, like University of Michigan Health System, where employees are on call to help people enroll. HealthCare.gov — the national public exchange program for health insurance providers — has an ongoing open enrollment
period, allowing new customers to register for health insurance from last October until March 31 of this year. While approximately 75,000 Michiganders have signed up for coverage under the new laws, there are thousands more who desperately need health insurance, and do not know how ACA works and what kind of benefits they can recieve. WHI project manager Carrie Rheingans said students are looking to educate those who believe they cannot afford health insurance under the new act. “The biggest hurdle that people have is that they still think it’s going to be expensive,” Rheingans said. “Historically, insurance has been expensive, that’s why people didn’t get it. But they don’t know about all of the tax credits and other assistance that is available until they go on there and enter their own personal information.” While misconceptions about expense are one reason why many low-income Americans have not have signed up for See LEGISLATION, Page 3A
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
SUIT UP
Students aim to provide ACA info to public Washtenaw Health Initiative recruits garner sign-ups for insurance plans
On a typical day, Asian sea bass at Main Street’s Mélange costs a cool $29. The Restaurant Week special, though, was $28 and included three courses. It’s natural to assume that such low prices would discourage restaurants to participate in Restaurant Week, and Laura Wanke, general manager and owner of Mélange, confirmed she experienced a slight dip in profits. However, she said the huge wave of customers makes Restaurant Week an advantageous marketing tool for attracting a new clientele. “We’re going to take the increased volume for that one week definitely over the reduced profitability,” Wanke said.
The weeks following the holiday season in January are often tough for restaurants; customers’ wallets and waistlines have to recover from present shopping and Christmas cookiemunching. Gratzi manager Luke Magnini said Restaurant Week gives the establishment a boost it typically doesn’t experience this time of year. He added that restaurants rarely see many customers in early January, as most restaurant-goers are recovering from the holidays. “It’s not that much of a difference as far as revenue wise per person, but it’s a great boost to get people in as in otherwise would normally be a slow week for us,” he said. Other restaurants affirmed that the publicity and low-prices of Restaurant Week pleases both regular and firsttime guests. Magnini said Restaurant Week goers often become long-term guests. “We find a lot of guests that have become regulars and this is kind of their week to explore and to see a lot of the new restaurants, but also to See RESTAURANTS, Page 3A
Resolutions created in CSG, Big 10 meeting Delegates from universities draft goals for tuition equality By MICHAEL SUGERMAN Daily Staff Reporter
VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
Business junior Haolin Wang meets with a company at the Career Fair in the Union on Wednesday.
RESEARCH
Study examines stem cell role in breast cancer care New findings suggest they exist in transition states By KAITLIN ZURDOSKY Daily Staff Reporter
Researchers at the University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, in collaboration with
an international cohort, have developed means of identifying two states of breast cancer stem cells, giving them new clues as to how to treat patients with cancer. By distinguishing the different states, they hope to find more targeted and effective treatments for the disease, which kills over 40,000 people each year in the U.S., according
to the American Cancer Society. “What we found is that the stem cells actually are like chameleons — that is they can exist in two different states,” said Max S. Wicha, M.D., professor of Oncology and director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. In breast cancer, a small See CANCER, Page 3A
For the first time in history, student government delegations from all Big Ten universities convened at the biannual Association of Big Ten Students Conference, hosted last weekend by the University of Minnesota. Members of the Central Student Government’s executive committee comprised the University’s delegation, attending lectures, participating in forums and collectively passing six resolutions pertaining to issues the delegates found to be relevant on campuses throughout the Big Ten. Business senior Michael Proppe, CSG president, said higher education affordability was at the forefront of talks between the delegates, which ultimately was reinforced by the resolutions they passed. “You see a lot in common,” Proppe said. “Across the board, you have cuts in state funding to higher education. EverySee RESOLUTIONS, Page 3A
bongs and bowls The highest quality glass shops of Ann Arbor
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 53 ©2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU.....................2A OPINION.....................4A
CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A B S I D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 B