ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, March 24, 2016
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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GOVERNMENT
Sec. of Ed. emphasizes progress of Pell Grants
Federal officials urge universities to increase accessibility in higher ed MCKENZIE BEREZIN/Daily
Neil deGrasse Tyson, head of the Hayden Planetarium, discusses the cosmic perspective — the viewpoint that existing as part of the universe should make one feel significant instead of insignificant — at the Hill Auditorium Wednesday.
Neil deGrasse Tyson talks human role in the universe Astrophysicist urges audience to explore the sciences By IRENE PARK Daily Staff Reporter
Neil deGrasse Tyson, an award-winning astrophysicist, author and television host, visited Ann Arbor Wednesday night for
a stop at Hill Auditorium as part of his “An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson” tour. The tour began in January in Los Angeles and ends Thursday in Detroit. The theme of Tyson’s Wednesday night talk was “cosmic perspective,” which Tyson defined as a view bigger than an individual’s own perspective that offers a humbling but enlightening outlook of one’s place in time and space.
In his lecture, Tyson stressed that because humans are made of the most abundant elements — such as hydrogen, carbon and oxygen — they are not different or separated from the rest of the universe. “We are literally stardust — if that doesn’t make you feel large, I don’t know what will,” Tyson said. “We are not only in the universe, but the universe is in us.”
Tyson also addressed the importance of investing in science, technological, engineering and math research, as well as being comfortable seeing math and science in popular culture. He even suggested featuring STEM researchers on currency, as is done in Germany. “(It’s) a culture that is not afraid to display the (STEM) brilliance of their citizens,” Tyson See TYSON, Page 3A
By CALEB CHADWELL Daily Staff Reporter
In a call with reporters Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. and Roberto Rodriguez, deputy assistant to the president for education, stressed the importance of colleges playing a role in increasing access to higher education. “A college degree is the surest path to the middle class for many students, especially for students from low-income families,” King said. “But there are far too many barriers preventing low-income students from enrolling and graduating from college.” King said higher education institutions have a responsibility to expand opportunity and target support to lower-income students, particularly Federal
C U LT U R A L C E L E B R AT I O N
SCIENCE
CITY
A2 officials undecided on petition for EPA aid
‘U’ researchers create coating resistant to ice Spray repellant could impact auto, refrigeration industry By ALEXA ST. JOHN Daily Staff Reporter
The hassle of scraping ice off your car windshield in belowfreezing temperatures and snowy weather might soon be a thing of the past. University of Michigan researchers recently developed ice-repellent coatings that have the ability to make ice slide off materials such as car windshields, ships and airplanes. Made from rubber, the spray-on technology could have a major impact on multiple industries affected by ice and cold climates. The product was developed by Kevin Golovin, a doctoral student in materials science and engineering, and Anish Tuteja,
associate prof. of materials science and engineering. The ice-repellent coating technology is being funded through several federal offices and departments including the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization, a program that provides resources to the College of Engineering and the University’s Transportation Research Institute, is also sponsoring the project. “Living in Michigan, we see the issue of ice everywhere, so the need for a surface like this was quite obvious,” Tuteja said. The new spray-on coating works through chemical alterations and blending of rubbers, Golovin said, ultimately creating a product that has never been made or prototyped before. “When you have two hard objects stuck together, they have to rigidly snap apart, but if See RESEARCH, Page 3A
Pell Grant recipients. Federal Pell Grants are need-based grants for students given in a maximum amount of $5,815 yearly. “These institutions must ensure the degrees students receive prepare them for the 21st century economy and success after college,” he said. Currently, King said only 10 percent of schools in the country are enrolling their fair share of Pell recipients and also graduating more than half of them on time. He said the United States must do better. While noting that department officials realize the rising cost of college makes it hard or impossible for some students to attend college, King said under the Obama Administration the maximum Pell Grant amount has increased and will now be indexed to inf lation. Pell Grant recipients now encompass 40 percent of all college students. King also touched on Obama’s 2015 pitch to make community college free as a key to making higher education accessible for See EDUCATION, Page 2A
Ann Arbor Twp. pursues superfund designation for dioxane plume AVA RANDA/Daily
LSA senior Nikki Baron makes slushies for students during Israel Day on the Diag Tuesday. The event celebrated Israel and its various cultural aspects.
Students talk 2016 candidates as nomination process proceeds With five choices remaining, student support varies after Michigan primary By LYDIA MURRAY and CAITLIN REEDY Daily Staff Reporters
The presidential race began with 23 candidates. Now, only five remain — two Democrats and
three Republicans. On campus, students appear to lean toward Sanders, but that is certainly not the only view present. The Michigan primary was just one example of how student voters have significantly impacted the election cycle. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D–Vt.) scored a surprise win over Hillary Clinton with 50.1 percent of the vote, despite having a 20-point deficit in the polls leading up to the election. High voter turnout and support among young people — particularly
students — in part drove Sanders to victory in the state. On the Republican side, Donald Trump’s victory was expected by pollsters. Gov. John Kasich’s (R–Ohio) had hoped to achieve a second place finish to bolster his position moving forward. Though Cruz came in second, Kasich found particularly strong support in the areas surrounding the University of Michigan, earning 34 percent of the overall Republican vote in Washtenaw See ELECTIONS, Page 3A
By BRIAN KUANG Daily Staff Reporter
Ann Arbor Charter Township is exploring the possibility of petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to designate a local dioxane plume contaminating groundwater beneath the township as a superfund site. Doing so would grant the EPA, rather than the state, authority to clean the toxic matter, a move that’s desirable for many township leaders due to their lack of confidence in the state’s ability to resolve the problem. However, Ann Arbor officials say they are unsure if they will support a move by the township to do so. Improper wastewater disposal by Gelman Sciences, an Ann Arbor life sciences firm, between 1966 to 1986 created a large, slow-moving See WATER, Page 3A
the music b-side Arts Writer Dayton Hare dives into Seven Mile Music’s mission
» INSIDE WEATHER TOMORROW
HI: 46 LO: 26
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INDEX
Vol. CXXV, No. 95 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS............... 5A B-SIDE ....................1B