ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, September 4, 2014
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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ADMINISTRATION
Search for new execs. continues into the fall Committees moving toward filling EVPMA, CFO positions
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Rackham student Adrianne Muntz speaks at a forum about the unrest in Ferguson, Mo. at the School of Social Work Wednesday.
Students discuss Ferguson School of Social Work hosts forum to discuss Michael Brown shooting By EMILIE PLESSET Daily Staff Reporter
After weeks of nationwide coverage of the turmoil in Ferguson, Mo. over the controversial shooting of Michael Brown, the University’s Community Organization Learning Community along with the Commu-
nity Action and Social Change minor program hosted about 90 students and faculty Wednesday to discuss race relations in light of the protests. Students gathered for the interactive forum and were given the chance to exchange thoughts, concerns and discuss possible ways forward from Brown’s death. Brown, a Black teenager, was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who is white, on Aug. 9. The details of the incident are still under investigation. However, Brown was unarmed, alleg-
CAMPUS LIFE
edly, and in response Ferguson residents took to the streets to protest violent police practices Black citizens. Protests continued after a portion of the demonstrators looted a local convenience store. Ferguson police employed riot gear and armored vehicles to contain the protests. The situation has sparked national discussion on the use of excessive force by police officers and systemic prejudice against young Black men. Wednesday’s forum began with faculty members sharing their reactions to the inci-
By SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter
As University President Mark Schlissel heads into his first year, he may not be the only new face in the administration for long. Two executive committees, one formed in May and one in August, are currently searching for replacements for Ora Pescovitz, former executive vice president for medical affairs and CEO of the University of Michigan Health System, and Timothy Slottow, former University executive vice president and chief financial officer. Both announced earlier this year that they would be stepping down. There are 13 executive officers in total at the University. Of those, 10 hold permanent positions. The
dent. Among the speakers was Desmond Patton, an assistant professor of social work and assistant professor of information, who discussed his recent visit to Ferguson. While he did witness the protests in the street, he also saw the other areas of the neighborhood living peacefully, offering him a unique perspective on the town. “What I saw was not what you all see on the news,” Patton said. “After I came back I knew we had to have a discussion in the School of Social Work. We See FERGUSON, Page 2A
remaining three are interim CFO Douglas Strong, interim EVPMA Dr. Michael Johns and S. Jack Hu, interim vice president for research. The EVPMA search committee, formed in May, is further along in the search process than the CFO committee. Dr. Paul Lee, director of the Kellogg Eye Center and chair of the EVPMA committee, said the search has been going well thus far, and he’s been pleased with its progress. Over the past few months the EVPMA committee has hosted public forums with groups such as UMHS faculty and staff, and has met with other groups across the University that are impacted by the position. Lee said the committee is now finished with that phase, though it is still accepting feedback and nominations. “It was wonderful to hear the degree of focus from all the people who participated on what’s good for the University of Michigan as an organization, what’s good for the patients and family who trust See SEARCH, Page 2A
SCRIPTED STYLE
ANN ARBOR
‘Take back the City DDA meeting RC’ reaches an agreement canceled Mural painting to continue with approval from arts coordinator By MICHAEL SUGERMAN Daily Staff Reporter
Last semester, a small group of students in the Residential College, one of East Quad Residence Hall’s learning communities, wrote a quote on the white wall of the building’s basement. When maintenance staff painted over the “mural,” a movement started: “Take Back the RC” — an effort to assert student ownership of the learning community. The movement was strong enough to elicit a response from the RC’s administration, members of which met with students in mid-April to discuss solutions to the problem. Now, that solution has arrived in the form of a fourpage document titled “Art in East Quad: Policies and Procedures.” Drafted during the
summer, the guide requires any resident of East Quad — not just the RC — to propose public art projects to a new arts coordinator, who will help to evaluate available space and potential maintenance concerns before approving potential works. The document encourages students to consult with the coordinator early during the fall semester, though additional requests may be accepted on a rolling basis. The criteria for artwork will include “contribution to the educational purposes of the University,” in addition to its “aesthetic quality” and “relative uniqueness,” among other factors. RC Acting Director Charles Bright, who worked with University Housing to draft the new policy, said it is the best of both worlds — combining the priorities of dorm residents with projects potentially generated through art classes housed in East Quad. “Truth be told, people need to own the spaces they live in,” Bright said. “They need to feel See RC, Page 2A
Social gathering leads to unintended legal conflict By WILL GREENBERG Daily News Editor VICKI LIU/Daily
Due to an unfortunate oversight, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority lost a night out for drinks. The DDA canceled a scheduled meeting Wednesday night after two Michigan Daily reporters were denied entry to the scheduled venue. The city’s official online calendar listed a DDA meeting for Wednesday as a “DDA Chair’s Gathering” at Bill’s Beer Garden on Ashley Street. However, the restaurant only allows customers of legal drinking age, unless a parent accompanies them. DDA Executive Director Susan Pollay said the gathering was only intended to be a social event. They decided to post the meeting online in case there was a full quorum and she said it was not intended to include See DDA, Page 2A
Haji Noor Deen Mi Guang Jiang, a master calligrapher, speaks about his unique style in Angell Hall Wednesday.
MAYORAL ELECTION
After winning primary, Taylor focused on general election Democrat to face Independent for mayoral seat By EMMA KERR Daily Staff Reporter
Ann Arbor’s mayoral race has reached a standstill. Currently, there are no official debates scheduled leading up to the general election, which will pit City Council member
Christopher Taylor (D–Ward 3), who won the Democratic primary last month, against independent candidate Bryan Kelly. While the party affiliation of Ann Arbor’s mayor has consistently alternated between Republican and Democratic candidates since 1965, no independent candidate has successfully won the seat in the last 50 years. “The math of it is not positive, and that’s kind of why I’m trying to run it more of a cam-
paign that is beneficial to society,” Kelly said. Taylor thanked voters on his campaign website following the primary and expressed continued focus on the city’s future, saying he is now looking toward the general election and his time as mayor if elected. “I am honored and humbled by last night’s victory,” Taylor wrote. “Now the hard work, the important work, begins. I am so excited to get started.” See VOTING, Page 2A
jazz in Detroit The Detroit Jazz Festival flaunts the city’s fresh music culture.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 121 ©2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU.....................2A OPINION..................... 3A
SPORTS......................4A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A B-SIDE ....................1B