Issuu

CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, September 10, 2015

Ann Arbor, Michigan

michigandaily.com

ADMINISTRATION

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily

President Barack Obama speaks alongside Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States, at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan on Wednesday. Obama spoke about his plan to increase education in America by creating free and public acess to two years of community college.

Obama plugs community college during Mich. trip President also announces $175 million grant for apprenticeships

Wednesday, President Barack Obama returned to Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich. to champion increased access to affordable education and vocational training. Traveling with Dr. Jill Biden, a community college professor and the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, the president discussed his administration’s efforts to expand funding for apprenticeships and promote initiatives to make community college free.

By EMILIE PLESSET Daily News Editor

WARREN, Mich. — At the first stop of his administration’s nationwide Back-to-School tour

“I want two years of community college to be as free and universal as high school is today,” Obama said. Before Obama began his 26-minute speech, Biden — who has taught at a community college for more than 20 years — touted the Obama administration’s focus on education, citing investment in early childhood education and efforts to increase the number of students graduating high school and attending college.

State legislature returns from summer hiatus By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter

The Michigan State Legislature reconvenes today after months away on hiatus for summer break. After key proposals — such as Proposal 1 to fix Michigan’s roads — failed to pass in the last session, here is a recap of issues to watch as the year unfolds. Roads While many Michigan residents agree the state’s roads are in poor condition, legislators have yet to agree on how to fix them. The last session ended with 78 percent of voters defeating Proposal 1. The proposed bill would have increased the Earned Income Tax Credit, removed the fuel tax and increased the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent. Several road improvement proposals are already on the

docket for introduction in both Michigan’s House of Representatives and Senate. Over the summer, legislators held several closed-door meetings to discuss potential plans to increase road funding. House Bill 4440 aims to create a distinct transportation fund in the state treasury where money will be allocated for road repairs. The proposed bill provides $2.5 million to go specifically toward annual road improvement with the percentage of funds to be divided based on the area’s population — 40 percent would go to communities with 1,000,000 to 1,749,999 residents, for example. HB 4611 similarly creates a transportation fund within the state treasury, but in this version, would be funded through special vehicle and fuel taxes. Rep. Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor) said while he would like to see a roads bill pass, he doesn’t currently see one he supports. “I don’t think a good bill to fix the roads will pass, but I hope it does,” Irwin said. “I would vote for a balanced plan to fix our roads, coupled with rolling back the Republican tax increases on the working poor. But, I don’t see See STATE, Page 3A

Administrators say departments, units will guide strategic planning process By LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporter

University President Mark Schlissel hosted a second diversity summit Wednesday afternoon in which he further outlined the University’s plans to improve equity and inclusion on campus. During the summit, the president emphasized the drive behind the planning process: “Dedication to academic excellence for the public good is inseparable from our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said. “We cannot be excellent without being diverse in the broadest sense of that word.” The meeting was closed to the press, but was live streamed on the University’s website. Though a complete strate-

Y E S T O YO G A

MICHIGAN

Roads, marjiana, higher ed. funding and LGBTQ rights to receive attention

During her speech, Biden announced she would serve as chair of the College Promise Advisory Board, a new independent commission composed of community college leaders, policymakers, businesses and foundations that will explore ways to expand existing programs that provide free two-year college degrees. During his State of the Union address in January, Obama proposed a $60 billion program that See OBAMA, Page 3A

Schlissel: Diversity plan slated for 2016 gic plan has yet to be released, Schlissel detailed goals during Wednesday’s event to direct about 60 appointed facilitators within each college and campus unit to collaborate with faculty, staff and students to design their own programs for enhancing diversity within their units. These planning leaders will be responsible for overseeing the planning process within their specific areas as well as participating in coordination with the overall campus diversity efforts. Schlissel emphasized that success in enhancing diversity largely depends on the collective efforts of each individual department rather than simply the central administration. “At this stage, we’re not seeking to define where we will end up or what success will necessarily look like,” he said. “We want to have a structure in place that will allow us to engage the great minds and passionate individuals on our campus and to move forward in a collaborative manner. See DIVERSITY, Page 2A

ACADEMICS

U.S. News ranks ‘U’ 29th best in nation University retains No. 4 spot among public universities By TANAZ AHMED Daily Staff Reporter IRENE KIM/Daily

LSA freshman Michelle Shumonov takes a free Group X yoga class at the Central Campus Recreation Building on Wednesday.

POLITICS

Iran Deal generates debate on campus ahead of vote Students talk foreign affairs, negotiations as review period nears conclusion By ISOBEL FUTTER Daily Staff Reporter

The Iran Deal has dominated conversation in Washington since it was negotiated this summer, and many University students are joining in.

Officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Iran Deal was announced in late July by the Obama administration. The JCPOA is a proposal designed to significantly decrease Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for reduced sanctions by the P5+1 countries — the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia and Germany. If the deal goes into effect, Iran would be allowed to have a small amount of enriched uranium and materials. The permit-

ted amount would not be large enough to create a nuclear bomb, according to experts. In return for reducing their nuclear supply, Iran would receive sanctions relief. The deal has been lauded as a historic agreement by supporters. But for some University students, the deal hits close to home. Maryam Arbabzadeh, a Ph.D. candidate in Natural Resources and Environment, is an Iranian student and a member of See IRAN, Page 2A

The University ranked 29th in this year’s U.S. News and World Report survey of the country’s best colleges released Wednesday, maintaining its spot from the 2015 rankings. The University also retained its public university ranking from the previous year, holding on to the fourth-place spot. The University of California, Berkeley, ranked as the number-one public institution, with University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Virginia ranked second and third, respectively. The Ross School of Business was rated the nation’s fourthbest undergraduate business school, maintaining its ranking from last year. The College of Engineering came in at sixth place for best undergraduate engineering programs, moving up from last year’s seventh place.

the b-side A look at Detroit’s underground music scene WEATHER TOMORROW

HI: 65 LO: 49

GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know.

» INSIDE NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Obama touts familiar message in Warren visit MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS

INDEX

NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A SPORTS......................5A

SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A B-SIDE ....................1B