ONE-HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, October 1, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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CAMPUS CONTEXT
‘U’ president takes candid approach to Greek life
DAVID SONG/Daily
Munger Fellows Catherine Cheung and Marco Hidalgo, unveil the giant, commemorative MCard in honor of Charles Munger that was used to officially open the Munger Graduate Residencies on Wednesday.
Munger residents praise unique living environment Schlissel, students celebrate opening of new graduate student housing
ate Residences on Wednesday, a project largely funded by University alum Charles Munger, a real estate mogul. The residence hall, which houses more than 600 graduate students from 19 colleges and schools in shared, apartmentstyle units, aims to bring together students from diverse backgrounds. Business graduate student Marco Hidalgo, who is a Munger fellow, welcomed attendees by describing his experience since he moved into the residence hall.
By LYDIA MURRAY For the Daily
University officials and students highlighted the importance of community and diversity as they celebrated the opening of the Munger Gradu-
Fellows facilitate community building and serve as floor leaders. “I’m outside of my comfort zone in every conversation, and I’m really enjoying it,” he said. University President Mark Schlissel also spoke at the event, discussing the importance of creating a holistic learning experience out of the classroom. “As I’ve been here now for a year, I’ve come to realize that every moment here is a precious opportunity for students to learn, and of course that learn-
ing goes on in classrooms, but the students are only spending a fraction of their time in classrooms,” he said. Kinesiology graduate student Catherine Cheung said the residence hall fosters a unique sense of community. “We have absolutely everything we need,” she said. “So much so that the fellows have coined the phrase ‘let me Munger that for you,’ meaning let me search our Munger community for what you’re looking for.” See MUNGER, Page 3A
Schlissel has ramped up efforts to initiate culture change, curb drinking on campus By GENEVIEVE HUMMER Daily Staff Reporter
University President Mark Schlissel and his administration have spent the last academic year working to roll out new policy initiatives regarding several campus issues — most notably athletics, diversity, sexual assault, alcohol abuse and Greek life. This week, The Michigan Daily reviews the events that got the ball rolling. Today, we consider Schlissel’s approach to initiating culture changes in Greek life and alcohol use on campus. The overview: Upon arriving at the University, Schlissel said addressing risky drinking on campus would be a top priority for his first year on campus.
GOVERNMENT
GREEK LIFE
Student loan program ends awaiting bill in U.S. Senate Federal Perkins Loan provided $12 million to ‘U’ students last year By SAMANTHA WINTNER Daily Staff Reporter
Legislation enacting the Federal Perkins Loan Program — which provides 500,000 lowincome students with needbased financial aid to pay for college — expired Wednesday. The Perkins legislation originally expired in September 2014, but included a one-year extension period so colleges and universities could continue to award loans after its expiration. Wednesday marked the end of that extension period. A bill aiming to reinstate the program for one more year passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, but no
similar bill has made its way through the Senate thus far. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D– Mich.) and Gary Peters (D– Mich.) sponsored a resolution on Sept. 24 expressing support for the continuation of the Federal Perkins Loan program, along with several other senators. In a press release Tuesday, Sen. Peters said Perkins loans give low-income students the chance to earn a degree. “The Perkins Loan Program has helped make higher education a possibility for millions of students by providing affordable, low-interest loans,” he said. “I strongly support continuing this program to ensure that students in Michigan are not priced out of the opportunity to get an education, and I will be working with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that the Perkins Loan Program is extended.” However, until the Senate passes a version of the House See PERKINS, Page 3A
A 2015 study produced by the Office of Student Conflict resolution reported that alcohol and drug-related violations of the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities increased by 29 percent over 2014. The changes: Before this year’s Welcome Week, the University rolled out a package of initiatives designed to curb alcohol abuse on campus, including a policy to notify the parents of students with repeat alcohol offenses and a program to ramp up Division of Public Safety and Security engagement efforts in studentheavy neighborhoods. Schlissel also spoke candidly during an all-chapter Greek life meeting, in which he called on the organization to address its role in perpetuating campus drinking culture. The context: The first move to approach the issue in recent years began before Welcome Week in 2014. In an attempt to decrease risky drinking, the University opted to shorten Welcome Week. The period between dorm move in and the first day of classes, See SCHLISSEL, Page 3A
DKE kicked off campus after merger attempt Fraternity pledges to appeal decision after IFC votes to expel chapter
RUBY WALLAU/Daily
By ISOBEL FUTTER
Michael Botticelli, director of national drug control policy, overviews drug policy on treatment and recovery during the Recovery from Addication Conference in Rackham Amphitheatre on Wednesday.
White House ‘drug czar’ discusses substance abuse Office of National Drug Control Policy director talks recovery By NABEEL CHOLLAMPAT Daily Staff Reporter
The drug czar paid a visit to campus on Wednesday. Michael Botticelli, director
of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, discussed addiction during a lecture at Rackham Amphitheatre on Wednesday morning. Botticelli’s position is more commonly known as President Barack Obama’s “drug czar,” and he directs drug control policies in the United States. His talk, delivered to about 30 University students and faculty members, focused on substance abuse recovery and included
testimonials from doctors and recovery patients. Botticelli, himself a recovered alcoholic, discussed the challenges faced by substance abusers on their paths to recovery. “You don’t see hope on the other side,” Boticelli said. “We have to provide hope and have people see what recovery is all about.” A main focus of the presenSee CZAR, Page 3A
Daily Staff Reporter
At the weekly Interfraternity Council presidents’ meeting, fraternity chapter executives voted to officially remove the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity from the IFC. IFC President Alex Krupiak, an LSA senior, said the fraternity was removed for attempts to merge with Sig, a rogue fraternity. “They were forming a merger with an off-campus that was formerly known as Sig and they had a lot of different allocations and problems with them,” Krupiak said. “The IFC did not approve of that merger.” DKE President Evan Field, an Engineering junior, said in an e-mail statement that the fraternity is tremendously disappointed with the result of Wednesday’s IFC See DKE, Page 3A
» INSIDE
the b-side A look at the Michigan Gospel Chorale.
WEATHER TOMORROW
HI: 61 LO: 42
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INDEX
Vol. CXXV, No. 2 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A SPORTS......................5A
SUDOKU..................... 3A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A B-SIDE ....................1B