CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, October 30 , 2014
Ann Arbor, Michigan
michigandaily.com
CAMPUS IDENTITY
‘U’ working to improve minority enrollment
ABIGAIL KIRN/Daily LSA freshman Darian Razder and LSA sophomore Anna Kreiner carry a mattress across the Diag Wednesday to raise awareness about sexual assault on college campuses as part of the Carry That Weight campaign in solidarity with Columbia University junior Emma Sulcowicz.
Students call for changes to sexual assault policies Demands posted on the Diag request improved training and awareness By EMMA KERR Daily Staff Reporter
Early Wednesday morning, a list of seven demands covered the block ‘M’ on the Diag, calling on
the administration to improve the University’s approach to sexual assault on campus. The protest falls on the national “Carry That Weight” day of action, which aimed to raise awareness of sexual assault and abusive relationships by asking participants to carry a standard dorm room mattress with them throughout the day. The demands were plastered in cut-and-paste style and surrounded by spray painted trigger
warnings and calls to expel rapists — protesting the University’s perceived complacency in handling sexual misconduct on campus and advocating for student voices to be heard. Beginning with a demand for further training and awareness, the list calls for a mandatory program that would educate new students on the meaning of consent, the specifics of the University’s sexual misconduct policies and information on gender-neutral
After Proposal 2, administration explores options to reach diversity goals By SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter
language. Currently, the University provides resources for students through the Office of Student Conflict Resolution and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center. Existing programs like Relationship Remix, a workshop aimed toward educating first year students on relationships and sex, work to educate students about sexual assault and how to prevent it. See PROTEST, Page 3A
Minority enrollment at the University has shifted dramatically in the past decade, following two court cases over the University’s race-conscious admission policies and a successful statewide referendum that banned the consideration of race in a public higher education admissions decisions. This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, more commonly referred to as Proposal 2. The 2006 popular referendum banned the consideration of race, among other factors, in college admissions — rendering the final
ELECTION 2014
ANN ARBOR
Taylor’s work to DDA part of plans for development
In Senate race, Land struggles with narrative
Despite fundraising advantage, prospects grim for GOP candidate By SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter
As the Nov. 4 election approaches, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land has become more difficult to define. She’s bringing in significant amounts of money — her campaign raised a total of $11 million in contributions as of the last quarter, more than her Democratic challenger — and she’s not short on airtime, running multiple ads in the lead-up to elections. This week, she concluded an expansive bus tour of the state, covering 3,181 miles over the course of three months. That strong showing in resources, however, is juxtaposed with some less-than-favorable numbers. By the most recent polls, Land trails her Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Gary Peters,
by an average of 11.4 points. And she’s only garnered one major media endorsement, from Crain’s Detroit Business. At the start of campaign season, Land’s chances of succeeding longtime U.S. Senator Carl Levin looked favorable — a former Secretary of State who ran two successful statewide campaigns for the position in 2002 and 2006, beating her opposition by more than 10 percentage points each time. In the Senate race, early polls had her doing well. The seat, the first open in Michigan in 20 years, was highlighted by Republicans in their effort to flip control of the U.S. Senate in their favor. “Terri’s got a great record,” said GOP consultant Stu Sandler, president of Decider Strategies. “If you look at her record as Secretary of State, she ran a statewide office for eight years and did so with extraordinary success, and it’s one of the reasons, if you look today that Crain’s endorsed her, it’s one of the reasons why.” But from the start, her campaign has been unable to escape See SENATE, Page 3A
word on affirmative action in the state of Michigan. The Supreme Court decision does not necessarily signal anything new for the University. Since the ban was passed in 2006, the institution has admitted students without an affirmative action policy in place. At least since the 1970s, and as recently as last year’s BBUM protests led by the Black Student Union, activists and student protesters have set a goal of having Blacks constitute 10 percent of the student population, a threshold that has never been reached. But now that the last glimmer of hope for a restoration of affirmative action has faded, it commits the University to a difficult situation — a time in which minority representation is at one of the lowest points and renewed protests are demanding it climb up to a goal higher than ever before. New strategies There are three steps to the See ENROLLMENT, Page 3A
Mayoral candidate aims to maintain downtown growth By JACK TURMAN Daily Staff Reporter ALLISON FARRAND/Daily Ron Weiser, Republican candiate for the University’s Board of Regents, discusses policy proposals in his office.
Regent candidate stresses strong political experience Ron Weiser tauts leadership locally and abroad By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter
Though Ron Weiser has a large office on Main Street, he does his work on a small table in the corner of the room. Most of the office is adorned with University wrestling medals,
Slovakian artifacts, pictures with former U.S. presidents and senators and other memorabilia from his past. Weiser is one of the Republican candidates running for the Board of Regents, alongside Dr. Rob Steele. The two, in addition to Democratic candidates Mike Behm and Katherine White, will vie for two contested seats on Election Day. The seats are those of current regents White and Julia Darlow (D). Darlow is not seeking re-election.
Originally raised in St. Joseph, Mich., Weiser moved to Ann Arbor in 1962 to study accounting at the University. After graduating with honors, he did postgraduate work at the Law School and the Business School. Shortly after graduating, Weiser founded McKinley Associates, a real-estate venture that eventually grew to be valued at $4.6 billion. In 2001, former President See REGENT, Page 3A
City Councilmember Chris Taylor (D–Ward 3), the Democratic mayoral candidate, discussed taking a balanced approach to city issues if elected. However, Taylor has repeatedly highlighted the importance of downtown Ann Arbor in both the first postprimary debate Oct. 7 and in an interview with the Daily Oct. 16. Taylor said the downtown area needs to be a vibrant place where people can work and live comfortably, while still maintaining a focus on other issues. “It also has to have a character and finding that balance is going to be what we are trying to do here,” Taylor said. For downtown Ann Arbor to preserve this character, Taylor plans on working closely with the Downtown Development Authority. “I think the DDA has done great work for the downtown (area) and See DEVELOPMENT, Page 3A
the boo-side A look at students’ experiences with the paranormal
» INSIDE WEATHER TOMORROW
HI: 44 LO: 29
GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know.
NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM ‘Who We Are’ Initiative MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS
INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 20 ©2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU.....................2A OPINION.....................4A
SPORTS.....................6A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A B-SIDE ....................1B