CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Feds update timeline for student aid application READ INSIDE ROBERT DUNNE/Daily
LEFT: Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi makes an official announcement of his candidacy for state representative to the 53rd Michigan House District at Buhr Park Children’s Wet Meadow Project on Monday. RIGHT: Rabhi hugs Ann Arbor resident Margie Teall, a 12-year city councilmember, after his announcement.
ACADEMICS
Provost: Friday class could help stop weekday drinking SACUA meeting addresses diversity plan, excessive alcohol consumption By GENEVIEVE HUMMER Daily Staff Reporter
More classes might be offered only early Friday morning next semester — and it is no accident.
University Provost Martha Pollack presented two key issues Monday for the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs’ consideration: diversity and student drinking. One suggestion she made to SACUA members in regard to quelling campus drinking involved increasing the number of large enrollment classes on Friday mornings, in addition to encouraging faculty to give short talks about the dangers of
excessive alcohol consumption in class. On the topic of quelling excessive student drinking, Pollack said faculty involvement could play an important role. Art & Design Prof. Anne Mondro, a SACUA member, said it might be helpful if faculty suggested dry events to students in class. “Let us say, ‘Hey, here’s a whole list of other events that are happening.’ ” she said.
Greek and Latin Prof. David Potter, a SACUA member, said the solution must involve changing the school’s image and culture. “One of the difficulties is that students come here with the expectation of partying,” Potter said. “They’re told this is a fourday school.” Before classes commenced last week, the University rolled out a package of new initiatives designed to combat drinking on See PROVOST, Page 3
In Iowa speech, Obama announces initiative to adjust FAFSA deadline By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter
With the aim of helping more Americans see college as an affordable option, President Barack Obama announced a new initiative to align the Free Application for Federal Student Aid due date more closely with college applications. Obama’s plan, which he announced Monday in Iowa, would potentially move FAFSA’s application date to October — rather than its current January due date, which falls months after students have already applied to college. The changes will go into effect in the 2017-2018 fiscal year. FAFSA is a mechanism to check students’ eligibility for federal and state government scholarships,
FROM THE DAILY
ADMINISTRATION
Our View: ‘Greek’ meeting fails in call for reform Administrators lack nuance to reach target audience with mass event By THE MICHIGAN DAILY Editorial Board
For the first time in University of Michigan Greek life’s 170-year history, chapter members from all four councils — Interfraternity, Panhellenic, National PanHellenic and Multicultural — were required to meet with administrators last Thursday evening to discuss party culture and how it affects perceptions of our school. With problems such as sexual assault and alcohol abuse disproportionately affecting Greek life members, it’s obvious some sort of action is required. However, administrators should not be led to believe that holding a large meeting, during which they talked at instead of with members, was a productive use of time. Instead, they should realize they failed to engage their target audience and made little, if no progress in initiating needed reforms. Each chapter was required to send at least 70 percent of its members to the meeting at Hill Auditorium or else face a semester of social probation, a letter to their national organization and a $1,000 fine. Perhaps due to this attendance requirement, the mass meeting was met with some resistance. Members of the crowd disrupted University President Mark Schlissel and other members of the administration with loud coughs
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and laughter when issues such as alcohol abuse, sexual assault and other problems pertaining to Greek life were discussed. However, this behavior did not go unreprimanded. Alex Krupiak, the 2015 IFC executive board president, ended the meeting by commenting on the disrespectful behavior as “flat-out embarrassing” for the entirety of Greek life. While only a small minority of members displayed this massive immaturity, it demonstrated stomach-churning ignorance toward the serious issues facing Greek life that must be addressed. That said, the initiative to bridge gaps between Greek life and the administration was admirable. However, the lack of awareness within the administration about the underlying roots from which alcohol abuse, property destruction and sexual assaults stem, coupled with the “not in my backyard” attitudes of some students involved in Greek life, resulted in an ineffective dialogue that sought to appeal to emotions instead of proposing real, substantive changes. During the meeting, the University called on members of Greek life to internally create a more constructive campus culture and lead progress toward upholding school values. However, administrators stated they couldn’t find short-term solutions for the cultural problems permeating campus, and didn’t give specific policy suggestions that could provide a framework for the student-led changes to occur. While members of Greek life ultimately decide how they See GREEK, Page 4
grants and loans. It is also used by higher education institutions to determine how much financial aid to allot students. Packing college acceptances with delivery of financial aid packages is something that the University has been working toward in the last year. In an interview with The Michigan Daily earlier this month, University President Mark Schlissel said these efforts could result in “modest incremental changes in the direction of diversity.” As a result, Kedra Ishop, associate vice president for enrollment management at the University, sees the announcement as positive for both higher education institutions and students. “The president’s order makes the financial aid timetable much more palatable for families and will broaden what they think is possible for themselves,” she said. “This is a win-win for both our University and our students and See FAFSA, Page 3
Regents consider bachelor’s in public health Thursday’s meeting agenda also set to include bond proposal By MICHAEL SUGERMAN Daily News Editor DELANEY RYAN/Daily
Scott Campbell, associate professor of Urban Planning and a member of the Pedestrian Safety and Access Task Force, presented objectives on making changes to protect pedestrians to the Ann Arbor City Council on Monday.
Council reviews report on pedestrian safety in A2 Task force offers proposals intended to reduce pedestrian fatalities, accidents By ISOBEL FUTTER Daily Staff Reporter
Pedestrians in Ann Arbor, many of whom are students and young people, are at risk of injury according to a recent study conducted by Ann Arbor officials. Vision Zero — an initiative endorsed by the city’s Pedestrian Safety and Task Force Committee that strives to eliminate fatalities or serious injuries to pedestrians — was presented to the Ann Arbor
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City Council Monday night in an attempt to address this issue, along with survey results reguarding pedestrian safety in Ann Arbor. The report included several policy proposals, including improved crosswalks and a ban on using hand-held devices for drivers. Though Ann Arbor crashes involving pedestrians represent only 16 percent of all crashes, pedestrians account for one-third of the fatalities and one-fourth of all serious crash-related injuries. The study states that Ann Arbor averaged 55 pedestrian crashes per year for the five-year period 2010-2014, which was a 22 percent increase from the previous fiveyear period. Council did not vote on the report on Monday, but
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will continue to consider the proposal at future meetings. After 17 months of studying Ann Arbor’s road system, pedestrian fatality and surveying the community, the Pedestrian Safety and Task Force created a 59-page document report. Linda Diane Feldt, chair of the Pedestrian Safety and Access Task Force, said the report was created in an effort to have a cohesive and effective plan for pedestrian safety. “There was disconnect between the experience of those people walking, those in cars, and of course, distracted roadway users,” Feldt said. The objectives of the report is to improve pedestrian access, improve understanding of traffic See PEDESTRIANS, Page 3
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For the most part, the agenda for Thursday’s University Board of Regents meeting is pretty standard. Pending construction projects will be up for approval, a new round of professors will likely be granted tenure and the Central Student Government president will give his first monthly report of the school year. For this month’s preview, The Michigan Daily perused the agenda and sifted out some of standout items on Thursday’s agenda. Public Health major A resolution to create a two-year major program through the School of Public Health, if passed, would allow undergraduate students to declare a public health major as of the fall 2016 semester. The program will focus on “the importance of critical thinking applied to important health problems of the 21st century,” according to an action request written by Provost Martha Pollack and Martin Philbert, dean of the See PUBLIC HEALTH, Page 3
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