Arbor Update

Politics

U-M Dearborn Passes Divestment Resolution

Posted by Ari Paul on 24. February 2005

On Tuesday February 22, 2005, the Student Government Senate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn voted without opposition to adopt Senate Resolution (SR) # 2005-009 calling on the “University of Michigan Board of Regents [to] create an advisory committee to investigate the moral and ethical implications of the University’s investments in companies which directly support and benefit from the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation.” (pg. 3, SR # 2005-009)

SR # 2005-009 states: “Whereas, University policy states that if a particular issue regarding the investment portfolio ‘involves serious moral or ethical questions,’ then “an advisory committee consisting of members of the University Senate, students, administration and alumni will be appointed to gather information and formulate recommendations for the Regent’s consideration.” (pg. 2, SR # 2005-009)

This initiative was sponsored by Senator Jamil Khuja and endorsed by the Committee for Student and Academic Affairs and the Arab Student Union. A presentation was prepared and presented by Chairman Mohamed Alsoraimi and Senator Patrick Cates of the Committee for Student and Academic Affairs

Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman Bilal Dabaja is planning a student-faculty town hall on Thursday March 10th @ 2:30, at which SR # 2005-009 will be one of the agenda items for discussion.

In accordance with SR #2005-009, the Student Government of the University of Michigan-Dearborn “urge[s] this committee to demand that the University of Michigan immediately divest from companies that are directly involved in the ongoing illegal occupation, because we deem these investments to be unethical.” (pg. 3, Resolution #)

Comment [58]

Regional

Michigan man fighting censorship

Posted by MarkDilley on 24. February 2005

“Roseville artist Edward Stross, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, 2 years probation, and a $500 fine for painting a mural of Michelangelo’s “Creation of Man,” which includes a bare breasted Eve, on the outside of his studio. Thanks to support from the Michigan Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, his sentence may be stayed pending an appeal. For now a portion of the mural deemed offensive has been covered.”

via Bombs and Shields

UPDATE, 10am, 24Feb: Lots of photography of Stross’ work, and an account of ongoing harassment by the city, is available at dETROITfUNK. (Link promoted from Hillary’s comment below.) – Murph.

UPDATE, 10:20am, 24Feb: image from the MetroTimes

Comment [4]

Culture

THE JOE SUMMERS GYPSY JAZZ TRIO

Posted by MarkDilley on 24. February 2005

Joe Summers leads this all-acoustic jazz trio that plays the music of Django Reinhardt and other European Gypsy composers. The trio features Joe Summers on guitar, Chris Moyer on guitar and Dave Sharp on bass.
This Friday February the 25th at 8:30pm
Admission $5

via Dreamland Theater

Campus

Wednesday Morning Campus Newsbits

Posted by Matt Hollerbach on 23. February 2005

I like that word—newsbits.

Proposal A Fails
...and more. Click for results on all votes.
> Washtenaw County Unofficial Election Results

MSA sides with students on Coke concerns
In a heated meeting last night, MSA voted to support the student Coke Campaign Coalition. But the vote came after the resolution was modified several times. Nevertheless, members of the coalition consider it a victory
> Daily: MSA finds Coke guilty

MSA delays student PIRG vote
Due to a last-minute injunction filed with MSA’s judicial oversight body (Central Student Judiciary – CSJ), MSA was barred from voting on funding a pilot student PIRG chapter. The injunction was filed by MSA chief of staff Elliot Wells-Reid, citing concerns of jeopardizing MSA’s 501©(3) status.
During a question/answer session, Wells-Reid was unable to substantiate his claims, and refused to answer most questions. Some have speculated that his motivations for stalling the bill have more to do with his personal biases against PIRG organizations than actual legal concerns.

GEO wins student support, LEO pickets
In a final bit of MSA news, the assembly voted to support GEO in their current negotiations with University administrators. And for information on LEO’s current situation, you’ll have to go to the Daily:
> LEO stages picket

Local

Washtenaw County Jail Millage vote today

Posted by Murph on 22. February 2005

Today is the County-wide vote on a 20-year, 0.75mill tax increase to construct a larger County jail, operate that larger jail, and provide alternative treatment programs. While there seems to be general consensus that the alternative programs (such as mental health services and drug addiction treatment) are desirable, that programming accounts for slightly more than a quarter of the predicted $314 million revenues from the millage, with the rest of the revenue dedicated to constructing the larger jail, operating it for 20 years, and paying debt service on the construction bonds, and these other costs have generated a lot of resistance.

The millage’s supporters have stated that the County jail needs to be expanded in order for any part of the local justice system – even alternative treatments – to be effective. The Washtenaw County Criminal Justice Collaborative Council, the body which drafted the proposal, has seen plenty of airtime in the Ann Arbor News, with such articles as “Criminals love crowded jail” and “Tax would help keep mentally ill out of jail”.

Opposition to the millage has received less publicity, with the “No Giant Jail Committee” and the website A2Buzz.org the closest things to official opposition groups. NGJC founder Chuck Ream, has championed the view that an expanded jail will reduce pressure on the County to seek alternative solutions, making it easy for the County to simply lock up non-violent offenders, with marijuana users Ream’s largest concern (especially after Ann Arbor’s Police Chief in November ordered his officers to ignore the successful ballot initiative meant to shield medical marijuana users from police harassment or prosecution).

A Michigan Daily article on a protest against the jail millage cites Ream as offering a compromise position,

Despite his grievances, Ream said that if the University and the community contributed to a revised draft of the millage proposal, he would be in favor of a similar proposal appearing on the ballot in three to six months since it would come from the community. This sentiment was reflected by a flier that was being distributed by the protesters, which said “Vote No on Proposal A! Help Create Plan B!�

and, in yesterday’s editorial, Throwing away the key, the Daily came out against the millage, saying,

Some programs that would be funded by the increased millage, particularly improvements to the county’s treatment of mentally ill prisoners, are worthy. However, building larger prisons cannot alleviate the problems caused by a flawed criminal justice system that has seen a four-fold increase nationwide in the prison population since 1980. Voters should reject the tax increase to expand the Washtenaw County Jail and instead demand changes to the strict mandatory sentencing laws for nonviolent offenders that inevitably lead to prison overcrowding.

ArborUpdate doesn’t so much have editorials in which to take positions on things; you should read this piece as written by somebody who will be voting “no”.

> View the text of the proposal
> Some polling locations have changed: check yours at www.publius.org

Comment [27]

Campus

Coke vs. Killer Coke

Posted by Matt Hollerbach on 21. February 2005

The following message was sent by MSA VP Anita Leung to the student government body. The event mentioned is open to all students.

Reps,

It has (finally) been finalized! Tonight we will have an educational forum targeted to MSA representatives on the Coca Cola Resolution. Both sides will be represented by up to three people and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. I know this is very last minute, but PLEASE attend as it will expediate Tuesday’s meeting.

Coke vs. Killer Coke Info Session
TONIGHT (Monday) 6-7 PM
in MSA Chambers
FREE DINNER

MSA representatives will have priority both entering the room and asking questions (all students are welcome to attend). Either Jason or I will be moderating questions.

Format: Each ‘side’ will have 30 minutes to address MSA reps.

Attendance is MANDATORY. Please email or call if you cannot come.

Anita

previous ArborUpdate stories on the Coke Campaign:
> VALIDATING THE SCRUTINY: The Straight Dope on Coke
> PROTEST COCA-COLA’S LABOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSES
> Killer Coke, Rally and teach-In

Regional

Taxing to terminate Toronto's trash?

Posted by Murph on 20. February 2005

Michigan is currently the third-largest importer of trash in the nation, with over a quarter of landfilled trash coming from out of state, but the State legislature may act to stop that. From the Detroit News

In a plan that has already drawn fire from business interests, House Democrats want to scare Canada and other trash exporters from Michigan by making dumping costs among the highest in the nation. The plan would increase tipping fees for all trash to $7.50 a ton from 21 cents a ton.

Canadian waste has become Michigan’s most-discussed environmental issue since Toronto began trucking all its household trash to Wayne County in 2003.

Still, the tax plan could test residents’ resolve. Higher fees have slashed waste imports to other states such as Pennsylvania, but the Michigan plan would cost households about $12 a year in increased disposal charges.

The Michigan Waste Industries Association is apparently calling the plan “unconstitutional”, and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce has also lined up against the measure. Interesting that business is opposing an environmental plan that uses market forces (increasing the cost of dumping) to achieve its goals, isn’t it? One would think that they would laud such a move as giving people and businesses the choice of paying to continue to throw things away or to become more efficient and generate less waste.

Comment [18]

Campus

Vagina Monologues Today

Posted by Matt Hollerbach on 20. February 2005

              ~~~~* THE 2005 VAGINA MONOLOGUES *~~~~

                       directed by Carol Gray

                        SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20
                        AT THE POWER CENTER

                two performances: 2:00pm and 7:30 pm

                    TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE
                    $10/students  $15/community

             purchase at the door or on www.mutotix.com

    all proceeds are donated to SAFE House and the Clemency Project
                  QUESTIONS? E-MAIL bigv@umich.edu

                 *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Campus

Prisoner Art Show Now in its 9th Year

Posted by MarkDilley on 19. February 2005

THE PRISON CREATIVE ARTS PROJECT presents:

What: Ninth Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners
When: March 2 through March 16
Where: Media Union Gallery, University of Michigan North Campus
2281 Bonisteel, Ann Arbor, MI
Time: Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 7pm
Sunday 1pm to 5pm
Monday Closed
Schedule

Culture

WFUM airing controversial "Postcards" episode today

Posted by Murph on 18. February 2005

The PBS children’s show Postcards from Buster has come under fire for an episode that includes two couples of lesbian mothers and their children, including a condemnation from US Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling. In response to the criticism, PBS decided not to distribute the episode.

Thanks to a letter to the editor from Amy Drake of Ann Arbor in today’s Ann Arbor News, I’ve learned that the PBS member station that produces “Postcards” is making the episode available anyways, and that Flint station WFUM will be airing it at 4pm today. WFUM is broadcast on channel 28, and is available on Comcast in Ann Arbor on channel 24.

If just watching the episode isn’t enough for you, you can make a pledge to WGBH (Boston), the station that produces “Postcards”, or pledge to WFUM (Flint) in support of their decision to show the episode.