CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Friday, January 16, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
SOULFUL SONG
GOVERNMENT
Judge rules 300 Mich. same-sex unions valid Court orders to state to recognize marriages performed during March stay By SHOHAM GEVA Daily News Editor
In a decision announced Thursday morning, a U.S District Court ruled that the state is required to recognize 300 same-sex marriages performed in Michigan last year. In the ruling on the case, Caspar v. Snyder, Judge Mark Goldsmith wrote that once marriages have occurred, the state cannot retract them under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. “The same-sex couples who married in Michigan during the brief period when such marriages were authorized acquired a status that state officials may not ignore absent some compelling interest — a constitutional hurdle that the defense does not even attempt to surmount, ” the ruling read. “In these circumstances, what the state has joined together, it may not put asunder.” If the state does not appeal the decision in the next 21 days, the marriages will become valid next month. The marriages in question were performed during the day-long interim period between a March district court decision to strike down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in DeBoer v. Snyder and the granting of a stay on that deci-
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sion pending an appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court. In a departure from decisions in favor of same-sex marriage legalization across the country, the circuit court has since reversed the district’s court ruling, holding that the state’s ban, as well as several similar measures in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, was constitutionally valid. Plaintiffs in the case have since asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the issue. Justices heard the petition last week, but have yet to make a decision on whether they will take up the case. As part of his ruling, Goldsmith also declined to issue a stay on the recognition of the marriages tied to the petition before the Supreme Court, which would have halted the ruling from coming into effect until the Supreme Court acted on the petition. In a statement Thursday morning, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, who requested the stay on the marriages and is litigating the case to protect the state’s ban, reiterated previous calls for the Supreme Court to take up the issue. “We are reviewing Judge Goldsmith’s decision, but as I have said repeatedly, the sooner the United States Supreme Court makes a decision on this issue the better it will be for Michigan and America,” Schuette said. In contrast to Schuette, the plaintiffs in the case, represented by the ACLU, have taken the position that a decision on the Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban would not impact the See MARRIAGE, Page 3
CHARLES KOWALEC/Daily
Bassist and vocalist Gwenyth Hayes performs with the Gwenyth Hayes Trio at the Gifts of Art free concert at the University of Michigan Hospital Thursday.
DEVELOPMENT
Ross recieves $20 million for leadership initiatives University alum’s donation to fund creation of new student center By SHOHAM GEVA Daily News Editor
The money keeps rolling in. The Ross School of Business announced a new $20 million gift to the school Thursday morning. Donated by former General Mills CEO Stephen W. Sanger, a University alum, and his
wife Karen Sanger, a small business attorney, the gift will be used to create the Sanger Leadership Center. In a press release, Stephen Sanger lauded current Business School leadership programs, namely the Ross Leadership Initiative, and said he was honored to support the continued growth of additional opportunities. “Among those of us who have recruited talent for our companies, one of the things that sets Ross graduates apart is their leadership skills,” Sanger said. “This difference reflects the innovative,
TRANSPORTATION
or new leadership methodologies. In a statement, Scott DeRue, the Business School’s associate dean and incoming faculty director of the Sanger Leadership Center, said its creation will increase the school’s unique capacities to provide leadership training. “I envision a future where 50,000 Michigan Ross students — past, present and future — lead positive change in themselves and around the world,” DeRue said. “The creation of the Sanger Leadership Center and the generous See DONATION, Page 3
ADMINISTRATION
Regents plan strategic talk in Ann Arbor
‘U’ commits funding to Night Owl bus service Despite previous plans, route to continue running through semester ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
French lecturer Mark Burde presents on the tradition of satirical newspapers in France at East Quad in response to the recent attacks on the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo.
By TANAZ AHMED Daily Staff Reporter
Though Central Student Government previously announced plans to discontinue the Night Owl bus route, the body announced Wednesday that the service will continue. As of last semester, CSG and the Interfraternity Council funded the Night Owl as a pilot program, each contributing $15,000 and hoping the University would assume responsibility for sustaining the program’s funding. In December, CSG said the University had not secured long-term funding. University Parking and Transportation Services has committed to funding the service at least through the end of the semester. The late-night bus route, See NIGHT OWL, Page 3
WEATHER TOMORROW
hands-on programs of the Ross Leadership Initiative.” The center will focus on sustaining current elements of the RLI. The initiative currently facilitates several programs for students, including yearly competitions to form profitable, socially minded businesses in Detroit, crisis management simulations and workshops focused on self-reflection and leadership skills. The center will also provide feedback for students and personalized coaching, along with resources for faculty working on innovative ideas
HI: 37 LO: 32
Residential College lecture talks Charlie Hebdo fallout Mark Burde clarifies aspects of French satire in context of incident By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter
After millions filled the streets of France to honor the victims of the Charlie Hebdo shooting, French lecturer Mark Burde delivered a lecture titled “Satire and
Society in France This Week and Last” at the Residential College’s French coffee hour on Thursday. “About four million people marched in the entirety; the most people marching for any political reason, any reason at all, any sort of gathering, since World War II. It was a huge deal,” Burde said. “So the question is, why was this so important?” The talk centered on the Paris shootings on Jan. 7, which killed 12 people and wounded 11. The attack targeted specific cartoonists and editorial staff of the
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French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Carried out by two French Muslim brothers, the attack was a response to the magazine’s satirical publications featuring the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Images of the Prophet Muhammad are forbidden in the religion of Islam. The attack prompted international outcry as #JeSuisCharlie went viral. However, some have been critical of expressing total support for the publication, which many say prints satirical cartoons See FRANCE, Page 3
NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Defendent pleads guilty in 2013 murder MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS
INDEX
Session to focus on long-term policy initiatives with Schlissel By GENEVIVE HUMMER Daily Staff Reporter
The University’s Board of Regents will meet this month for a strategic session closed to the public to discuss topics concerning the future of higher education. Regent Denise Ilitch (D) wrote in an e-mail interview the meeting would focus on a diverse range of initiatives. “We will be discussing Academic Excellence and its evolving direction, the Biosciences, Challenges confronting the higher education business model, Diversity at UM, UM Health System and Athletics,” Ilitch wrote. The meeting is also intended to recognize the one-year anniversary of
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the selection of University President Mark Schlissel, who was appointed by the regents to succeed President Emerita Mary Sue Coleman in January 2014. Additionally, Ilitch said the sessions will give the board the opportunity to orient incoming Regent Michael Behm (D–Grand Blanc), who was elected in November 2014. Behm replaced outgoing regent Julia Darlow (D), who chose not to run for reelection. This is the first of the strategic sessions to be held in Ann Arbor. In 2013 and 2014, the regents traveled to California and New York, respectively. In California, the regents met with Google research scientist Dan Russell, Stanford University President John Hennessy and Robert Berdahl, former president of the Association of American Universities. During last winter’s trip to New York, the board met See REGENTS, Page 3
NEWS............................ 2 OPINION.......................4 ARTS............................. 5
SPORTS......................7 SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6