CELEBRATING OUR ONE-HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, September 24, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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ACADEMICS
Canvas to replace CTools by fall 2016 AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks to supporters at a campaign rally at the Spring Arbor University Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
Carson talks social issues, education during Mich. stop GOP presidential contender, ‘U’ alum emphasizes conservative values By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter
SPRING ARBOR, Mich. — Chanting “Go Ben, Go!” and “USA! USA! USA!” the crowd of Ben Carson supporters who filled Spring Arbor University’s gym-
nasium exploded with applause as the former neurosurgeon and University alum walked on stage. Recent polls place Carson, who is running for the Republican nomination for president, in second or third place in the GOP field, behind Donald Trump and in close competition with former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Known for his Christian principles and rags-to-riches story, it’s not surprising Carson chose to speak at the small Christian university in Spring Arbor. Brent
Ellis, Spring Arbor University president, led the crowd in prayer during his opening remarks. Prior to Caron’s arrival, Sen. Mike Shirkey (R–Clarklake) and Rep. Earl Poleski (R–Jackson) eased the anxious crowd awaiting Carson — who was stuck in traffic — with a rendition of “God Bless America.” Carson opened his speech by describing his life story, reflecting on how his mother’s faith in God helped him excel in school. In elementary school, Carson said he struggled academically
and envied others in class who were naturally gifted in school. Growing up in poverty in Detroit, his mother forced him and his brother to get serious about their education by making each of the boys write a book report every week — it was only later they discovered she was illiterate. “I was not very enthusiastic about this program — and that’s putting it very lightly — I didn’t want to do that, her friends were always criticizing her. They See CARSON, Page 3A
After pilot, provost says new learning platform received positive feedback By GENEVIEVE HUMMER Daily Staff Reporter
Say goodbye to CTools. In an e-mail Wednesday afternoon, University Provost Martha E. Pollack and Laura M. Patterson, associate vice president and chief information officer, announced that beginning with the fall 2016 semester, all new course sites will be hosted by Canvas. Canvas, piloted during the 2014-2015 academic year, is a digital course management system with discussion boards, classroom notifications and a platform for submitting assignments, among other features. The pilot included more than 10,000 students, 150 instructors
GREEK LIFE
BUSINESS
After 81 years, ‘Mud Bowl’ may conclude streak IFC prevents Greek life involvement in annual event after SAE loses charter By JACKIE CHARNIGA Daily Staff Reporter
The Mud Bowl, a charity touch football game hosted annually by the University’s since-disbanded chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, will not be played this year. In the last five years, the event has raised more than $100,000 for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. The Interfraternity Council has said Mud Bowl cannot be held due to a standing policy that forbids fraternities from co-sponsoring events with chapters that have been disbanded. The University’s SAE chapter, which has hosted the football game for 82 years, lost recognition from its national chapter this year. The policy forbids fraternities from co-sponsoring events with illegitimate organizations — such as an organization that is on social probation, suspended or expelled from the IFC — or they run the risk being disbanded themselves.
Though IFC can’t prevent a private group from hosting an event, Greek life members — who have historically made up a large portion of the event’s participants — would face discipline if they were to participate this year. IFC President Alex Krupiak said the policy was not created with the knowledge that it would result in the discontinuation of Mud Bowl. He said, at that time, SAE was in good standing with the IFC. SAE was expelled from the IFC in 2011 for hazing. “It’s not something that was created in recent times,” Krupiak said, “It was definitely more than three years ago at minimum.” Former SAE President Brett Mizzi, a Business senior, said Greek life is misapplying the policy, because anyone who forms a sevenperson team is invited to participate. “The fact that the University is trying to intervene on individual students’ decisions about whether to play a touch football game or not is absurd,” Mizzi said. Public Policy junior Zachary Dubin, a former member of SAE, said halting the tradition of Mud Bowl was unfair to previous generaSee MUD BOWL, Page 3A
and 130 courses. Of that group, 92 percent of faculty and 100 percent of student focus group participants either preferred Canvas to CTools or were neutral to the change. In a press release, Wallace Hopp, professor of industrial and operations engineering and Business School associate dean for learning and design, said his transition to Canvas went smoothly. “I love the fact that it’s becoming a standard in our industry. I’m talking to some of the other top business schools and they’re on Canvas, making it very easy for us to share best practices,” he said. “I converted over to Canvas this year and I’m really pleased. I am facilitating a flipped classroom delivery and have set-up digital videos and online assessments through Canvas. It’s worked flawlessly for me.” The flipped classroom is a model in which lectures are delivered online and are watched outside of class, allowing profesSee CTOOLS, Page 3A
Pub trolley to launch in downtown Ann Arbor MARINA ROSSDAILY
University Planner Sue Gott discusses potential locations of the Trotter Multicultural Center during a focus group at the current Trotter Multicultural Center location on Wednesday.
Harper outlines plans for new multicultural center Some students say they prefer renovation of current facility By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter
During the height of #BBUM — the student-driven campaign that aimed to draw attention to the experiences and challenges of Black students on campus — the movement’s leadership stressed the importance of relocating the Trotter Multicultur-
al Center closer to campus. But at a forum on Wednesday, several students were hesitant about moving the facility, even as the University considers options for a new location. E. Royster Harper, vice president for student life, joined several University officials at Trotter to solicit input on the process. During the session, Harper emphasized the need to honor the legacy of the original facility, even if the University moves forward with plans to construct a new one. University officials also discussed a potential the timeline for building a new center and
provided their perspective on the decision-making process. The speakers included University Planner Susan Gott and Diana Adzemovic, senior design project manager for Architecture, Engineering and Construction at the University. There are currently three locations under consideration for the construction of a new multicultural center: the site of the current Michigan News Service building on Maynard Street, between Betsy Barbour and Helen Newberry Residence Halls on State Street and near the Munger Residences on See TROTTER, Page 2A
Peddle-powered, booze-friendly tour to stop at city landmarks, bars By ISOBEL FUTTER Daily Staff Reporter
Trolley Pub, which offers pedal-powered trolley tours in cities across the country and encourages riders of age to bring their own alcohol, is opening a branch in downtown Ann Arbor. The trolleys can transport up to 14 riders, who all help prop the trolley with foot pedals, similar to a paddle board. The BYOB-style pub also offers hop-on, hop-off service at several Ann Arbor bars and local landmarks. Ann Arbor Trolley Pub will start offering rides on Friday, beginning at the Heidelberg restaurant on Main Street. For the first two weeks, the company will offer free promotional rides. Customers are allowed to bring their own beer and wine for the jourSee PUB, Page 3A
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 132 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A SPORTS......................5A
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS............... 5A B-SIDE ....................1B