Massachusetts Daily Collegian: Dec. 4, 2013

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Columnist Zac Bears says:

Don’t blame

obama

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The MassaChuseTTs

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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Serving the UMass community since 1890

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atkins Farms Bulk YCMP sales eliminated considers a 2nd branch By NiKoLeta NiKova Collegian Correspondent

President to decide within the week By Kate Leddy Collegian Correspondent A petition asking Atkins Farms to establish a second market in North Amherst has nearly reached its goal of 400 signatures, and its creator, Cinda Jones, is feeling hopeful. For years, Jones has been trying to convince Atkins Farms president Pauline Lannon to open a second market that would be easily accessible to areas in North Amherst such as Leverett and Sunderland. “I started thinking,” Jones said, “what would invigorate North Amherst? What would be the ideal business that would do very well and jump-start the community?” Jones believes that Atkins Farms is the answer. During the 1960s, it began as a small family business in South Amherst, and although it has come a long way from its origins as a small fruit market, Akins’ policy of providing customers with locally produced and privately labeled products has remained the same throughout generations of ownership. Today, one can purchase freshly baked cakes and pastries, homemade pies, locally grown produce, cheese, wine, meat, flowers and more. They also do catering, gift baskets and deliveries. In 2011, Lannon seri-

ously considered Jones’ proposal, but renovations at the Atkins Farms in South Amherst led to a decline in profits and the idea began to seem less plausible. Now, Lannon has once again started to seek out locations for a potential second location. Jones is the retail owner of what she believes she is the perfect spot: a new commercial building called The Cowls Trolley Barn. Located at 68 Cowls Rd., the building has 2,000 square feet of retail space – a fraction of the size of Atkins farm in South Amherst. However, Jones believes the new market could “start off small,” as the original Atkins had, “and in a few years’ time expand to a location right across the street.” What’s more, Jones and Lannon have agreed that the new market would be able to sell many of the popular goods that its South Amherst branch does, but with less production effort. Fresh baked goods, flowers and more could be delivered daily from the South Atkins to the North Amherst location. Lannon herself was convinced, but unsure of how high the public demand was. When Jones offered to find out through a Facebook group and then with a petition, the responses were more enthusiastic than the two had hoped. The petition, which see

market on page 3

As of this semester, University of Massachusetts Dining Services will eliminate bulk YCMP sales, according to David Eichstaedt, director of Retail Dining Services. Previously, these bulk sales had allowed students to use up leftover swipes to purchase cases of chips and soda at the end of the semester. According to Eichstaedt, UMass Dining Services promoted these sales by displaying cases of items that could be bought in bulk in the Campus

By NathaN Bomey, BreNt SNaveLy aNd aLiSa PriddLe Detroit Free Press

DETROIT — The city of Detroit on Tuesday officially became the largest municipality in U.S. history to enter Chapter 9 bankruptcy after U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes declared it met the specific legal criteria required to receive protection from its creditors. The landmark ruling ends more than four months of uncertainty over the fate of the case and sets the stage for a fierce clash over how to slash an estimated $18 billion in debt and long-term liabilities that have hampered Detroit from attacking pervasive blight and violent crime. “It is indeed a momentous day,” Rhodes said at the end of a 90-minute summary of his ruling. “We have here

issues with campus police,” specifically with cars parked improperly near the Campus Center. Also, Eichstaedt said that Dining Services received “complaints from customers that they were trying to use the Bluewall as a place to get a meal and the Bluewall was overrun with people trying to buy cases of [food].” “[These complaints] started us down the path of bringing it to an end, it was just creating too many logistical problems on camsee

ycmp on page 3

EvAn SAhAGiAn/collEGiAn

The UMass Belly Dance Club performs in the Campus Center Auditorium on Tuesday as part of a University talent show.

“We have here a judicial finding that this once proud city cannot pay its debts.” Steven Rhodes, bankruptcy judge a judicial finding that this once proud city cannot pay its debts. At the same time, it has an opportunity for a fresh start. I hope that everybody associated with the city will recognize that opportunity.” Rhodes - in a surprise decision Tuesday morning also said he’ll allow pension cuts in Detroit’s bankruptcy. Rhodes emphasized that he won’t necessarily agree to pension cuts in the city’s final reorganization plan unless the entire plan is fair and equitable. “Resolving this issue now will likely expedite the resolution of this bankruptcy case,” he said. Rhodes’ verbal ruling Tuesday - which will be followed by a 140-page written opinion - gave Detroit the green light to enter Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

and now we are just getting ripped off, plain and simple.” “I’m not very happy about that,” added junior Eric Hughes. Eichstaedt said that while Dining Services understands the challenges that will be experienced by some students, there were several factors underlying the decision. One of the most important factors was that the bulk YCMP sales had “become too unmanageable in all aspects,” he said. Eichstaedt said that the bulk sales had “created

UMass got talent

Judge rules on Detroit City eligible for Ch. 9 bankruptcy

Center for the past eight years. Over this past summer, however, Eichstaedt and his colleagues, Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises Ken Toong and Director of Residential Dining Garett Distefano, decided to stop YCMP bulk sales beginning with the fall 2013 semester. Many UMass students are unhappy with the policy change. Senior Alex Farmer said she thinks that the elimination of the bulk sales “is kind of stupid cause before we were getting ripped off anyways

“The court finds that Detroit was and is insolvent,” he said. “The court finds that the city was generally not paying its debts as they became due.” Rhodes said he will not issue a stay on the bankruptcy, meaning the case will proceed. University of Michigan bankruptcy law professor John Pottow said Rhodes was clearly urging the city to reach a consensual resolution with its creditors. “Bottom line: he’s pushing negotiation,” Pottow said in an email. Still, Rhodes also scolded the city for rushing through negotiations with its creditors, noting they only had 30 days to offer a counter. Saying that amount of time is “simply far too short,” Rhodes see

detroit on page 3

Proposed off-campus housing sparks debate Concerns include safety, environment By SheLBy aShLiNe Collegian Staff

Concerned about the effects of developing a new housing complex in the woodlands of Amherst, an organization called “Save Historic Cushman” has brought together community members in opposition of the potential construction. Landmark Properties, working out of Athens, Ga., is considering buying 146.6 acres of woodlands in Cushman, on which they would construct multibedroom cottages primarily geared toward students. A total of 175 units were proposed, which could house approximately 641 residents, according to the Amherst town website. According to Jack Hirsch,

president of “Save Historic Cushman,” safety is a primary concern. Hirsch said that Landmark Properties asked the town to modify the roads that would be constructed throughout Cushman as a result of the development. “All of those modifications basically make the roads less safe,” said Hirsch, adding that the roads would potentially have “narrower turning radiuses” and “steeper grades than the town allows” in order to save money during construction. The organization is also concerned about the population of spotted salamanders, which are native to Massachusetts. They worry that Landmark Properties will use harmful pesticides on the lawns of the cottages, or that the salamanders will be harmed during the con-

struction itself. Members of the organization also appreciate the traditional building patterns of the old mill town and its preserved historical aspects, and fear that the entire atmosphere of rural Cushman could be changed as a result of the development. The project would more than double the area’s population. Residents of Cushman also fear their property values could decrease as a result of the development. However, not all of the 200 members of “Save Historic Cushman” actually live in the village; concern is felt by “citizens from other parts of Amherst and further afield” as well, according to the organization’s website. Hirsch feels the ideal outcome would be to have the land put in a conservasee

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