ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Friday, September 19, 2014
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Athletics upgrades approved by regents VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
Pussy Riot members Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alekhina speak at the Penny Stamps speaker series hosted by the Penny Stamps School of Art and Design Thursday at the Michigan Theatre .
Pussy Riot talks protests, gov’t repression in Russia Feminist activists famous for protests against Putin By RACHEL PREMACK Daily News Editor
Students and Ann Arborites lined East Liberty Street Thursday night to see two members from Pussy Riot, a Russian punk
rock protest group that’s made international headlines since their 2011 inception. Dressed in A-line skirts, tights and lace-up sneakers, Nadezhda (Nadya) Tolokonnikova and Maria (Masha) Alyokhina did not look so different from their undergraduate audience — a few of whom wore the neon balaclavas that Pussy Riot members typically don. Interarts junior Daniel Ghas-
tin was one such balaclavaed student, who said he and other performance arts students came to show solidarity for Pussy Riot. “As performers, we want to understand what they do better and a form of imitation is the greatest compliment,” Ghastin said. “I am really curious in what makes them tick and how they formulate what they do, but also I really admire the balls
IM Building, South Campus facility to receive $118.7 million investment By CLAIRE BRYAN Daily Staff Reporter
that they have.” Before entering the theater, one performance art student mimicked a Pussy Riot dance while two others filmed him. Attendees packed the 1,700seat Michigan Theater, where punk rock music played in the background as they found their seats. Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were not there to play their own music, but See PUSSYRIOT, Page 2A
From varsity rowers to intramural racquetball fanatics, student-athletes are in luck. Thursday, the University’s Board of Regents approved $18.7 million in renovations to the Intramural Sports Building and the construction of a $168 million South Campus athletics facility — one of the largest sports-focused construction projects in decades. The athletic campus proposal, called the Athletics South Competition and Performance Project, is funded in part by a $200 million gift by real estate tycoon Stephen Ross, a University alum. The $200 million was split evenly between the Athletic Department and
Ross’ namesake business school and followed his first $100 million donation to the school in 2004. Plans for the athletic facilities call for the construction of a 310,000 square-foot facility designed to serve studentathletes, including participants in men and women’s track and field, cross country, soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, tennis, gymnastics and women’s rowing teams. “What I appreciate about the proposal is the holistic approach that it takes,” University President Mark Schlissel said. “It allows us to address a number of important needs across these teams simultaneously.” According to Douglas Strong, interim executive vice president and chief financial officer, the project will construct five facilities including an indoor and outdoor track venue that will accommodate 2,000 and 1,000 students respectively and a lacrosse stadium slated to accommodate 3,000 spectators. See ATHLETICS, Page 5A
Provost announces plan to control enrollment Admissions office considers admitting fewer early applicants By SAM GRINGLAS Daily News Editor
This fall, the University enrolled 6,532 freshmen — an increase of 307 over last year — and about 500
more than University officials had intended. At Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Regents, University Provost Martha Pollack detailed several steps the Office of Admissions plans to take to reduce the size of future classes — including shifting more early applicants to a wait list. She also outlined the University’s plans to handle this larger-thanexpected freshman class.
“We have been over-enrolling every year for the past five years and we have to stop this,” Pollack said. “I’m not happy about it.” This year, the University received a record-breaking 49,731 applications for Fall 2014 admission. Though the University’s adoption of the Common Application in 2010 provided a bump in applications, the growth has conSee REGENTS, Page 5A
ABBY KIRN/Daily
University President Mark Schlissel presides over Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting at the Michigan Union.
ELECTION 2014
AG Democratic candidate aims to aid student debt Totten hopes to give women better access to contraception By BEN ATLAS Daily Staff Reporter
It has been 60 years since an incumbent attorney general in Michigan has lost a bid for reelec-
tion, but Mark Totten, Michigan State University law professor and Democratic nominee for that spot, is hoping to bring that streak to an end. Totten, 40, has both a law degree and Ph.D. in ethics from Yale University and his past experience includes stints as a staff attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and a clerkship for a federal judge. See TOTTEN, Page 5A
Schuette’s platform supported by experience Republican incumbent hopes to keep seat for second term By SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter
Attorney General Bill Schuette (R) will ask Michigan’s voters to elect him to a second term this November. Running on the slogan “Michigan’s voice for victims,” over the past three years, Schuette has been involved in
issues affecting a variety of constituencies, ranging from college students to Detroit pensioners. As his campaign ramps up, he’s picked up endorsements from several groups, including police officers and small businesses. His Democratic challenger is Mark Totten, a Michigan State University law professor. Gay marriage In March, a district court struck down Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage, which was approved by voters as an amendment to the state constitution in 2004. Schuette, who represented
the state in defense of the ban, filed for an appeal and an emergency stay on the decision. Both were granted, which means the change will not go into effect until the appeal is settled. Oral arguments were heard in the case this August by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Schuette’s decision to defend the ban drew attention because many other state attorney generals, especially in the wake of a 2013 Supreme Court decision against parts of the Defense of Marriage Act, have declined to defend similar litigation. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Gen-
eral Eric Holder has stated that state attorney generals are not required to defend the bans. “In 2004 the citizens of Michigan recognized that diversity in parenting is best for kids and families because moms and dads are not interchangeable,” Schuette said in a March statement on his choice to appeal the ruling. “Michigan voters enshrined that decision in our State constitution, and their will should stand and be respected.” Rape kits Five years ago, the city of Detroit discovered more than See SCHUETTE, Page 5A
» INSIDE
Football with a smile Willie Henry has matured to join Michigan’s fierce defensive line
WEATHER TOMORROW
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 140 ©2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU.....................2A OPINION.....................4A
A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A F O OT B A L L S AT U R DAY. . . 1 B