Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

VotePair Encourages "Strategic" Voting

Posted by Murph on 12. October 2004

The website VotePair.org is seeking to match Greens, Libertarians, and Naderites in swing states with Kerry supporters in “safe” states for the purpose of strategic vote swapping—the third party supporters agree to vote for Kerry where it counts, while the Kerry supporter in Texas or Massachusetts vote for the third party candidate in order to keep that candidate “visible”.

Online vote pairing was pioneered in the 2000 Presidential election, though the Detroit Free Press points to the limited scope of that effort:

How much impact a successful vote-swapping operation could have is open to speculation. The groups involved in the 2000 election claimed to have “helped 36,000 voters exchange pledges.” But how many of the 36,000 actually followed through is impossible to know. Nader received 84,165 votes in Michigan in 2000, about 2 percent. Gore had 51 percent of the vote

VotePair does not currently display any information on how many people have registered from any state.

Links:

Comment [2]

Admin to Limit Student Honors

Posted by Ari Paul on 12. October 2004

The administration has decided it will limit the amount of honors listed on students’ official transcripts.

The Daily reports:

The new policy narrows transcript notations to include eight approved honors. Previously, the list contained more than 400 honor societies, fellowships, scholarships, awards and student organization memberships, said Lester Monts, senior vice provost for academic affairs.

The change was prompted in part by the efforts of Student Voices in Action, a group formed earlier this year to protest student budget cuts, said Monts. Last spring, SVA staged protests and spoke at a University Board of Regents meeting for the removal of Michigamua, a secret society, as an honorary notation on transcripts.

Although SVA was pushing for Michigamua’s removal from transcripts, the administration decided to overhaul the entire honors system, said Matthew Stehney, president of the Native American Student Association.

Indigenous Rights, Sustainable Business &

Posted by MarkDilley on 12. October 2004

What:

A presentation about Indigenous Rights, Sustainable Business & Building a Fair Trade Economy

Who:

Jose Vasquez, President of Las Abejas Civil Society & Macario Arias Gomez, President of Maya Vinic Coffee Cooperativefrom Chiapas, Mexico

When:

This Wednesday at 7:00 PM

Where:

Natural Science Auditorium

Why:

Free Fair Trade Coffee from Amer’s!

Sponsored by the Environmental Issues Commission of the Michigan Student Assembly, Environmental Justice Group, UM Amnesty International, Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality, Tzedek, School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Brewing Hope coffee is available at Amer’s on State Street!

More info on Brewing Hope Coffee

Borders not acting right!

Posted by MarkDilley on 12. October 2004

A follow up to the successful negotiation of a contract for Borders workers

Is this anti-union decertification attempt a manager crosses the line:

“In violation of labor law, GM Maria Zachmann at store #27 in MPLS distributed a not-so-subtle decertification letter to all union employees at the store.”

Frontline tonight

Posted by MarkDilley on 12. October 2004

Found this nice news on B5 of the NYT Critics page. This television review is by Alessandra Stanley and is about tonights Frontline television show – The Choice 2004.

“In Mr. Kerry’s case, the film retraces his fierce aversion to war. Not only do we see Mr. Kerry in 2002 express prescient qualms about sending troops to Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein before voting to give the president the authority to go to war, we also see him express similar, pained reservations just before the 1991 Persion Gulf War led by the president’s father. (“Are we really ready for another generation of amputees, paraplegics and burn victims?” he asked his Senate colleagues on the eve of the 1991 vote. “Their is a rush to war here.”) (emphasis added)

ohhh and this nugget from Slate – which led me to this gem
(by searching on dread scott roe v wade)

I’ll stop now.

Fire Destroys Yankee Air Museum in Willow Run

Posted by Murph on 10. October 2004

The Yankee Air Museum’s hanger at the Willow Run Airport burned down last night, with smoke visible as far away as Saline (livejournal).

From the Museum’s website:

The Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport suffered a disastrous fire last night that destroyed the historic hangar that housed the museum. The museum staff was able to move the historic B-17, C-47 and B-25 aircraft out of the building, thus saving the heart of the collection. In addition, all the historic aircraft on display outside of the main building were untouched by the fire. While many irreplaceable artifacts, photos and books were lost in the fire, the Volunteers at the museum are thankful that the aircraft collection remains largely intact. Only a small number of non-flyable aircraft that were in restoration inside the hanger were lost.

Links:

Comment [3]

Growth Issues Frame Mayoral Race

Posted by Brandon on 9. October 2004

An Ann Arbor News article looks at where Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje and challenger Jane Lumm stand on key issues of growth, density, and the “Greenbelt.” The candidates share many views, agreeing that more high-rise residential buildings will be necessary in Ann Arbor but opposing the proposed North Main Condominiums. Regarding the “Greenbelt” millage, Lumm would like to see a more rigid division of funding toward city parks (1/3) and the purchase development rights in the townships (2/3), while Hieftje stresses the need for flexibility. Moreover, Lumm criticizes the recent reorganization of the city planning department under the city administrator, which she says “compromises planning autonomy.” Hieftje defends the move as a means to streamline the development process.

Comment [12]

Academic Brown Bag

Posted by MarkDilley on 9. October 2004

Monday, October 11th, 12:00-1:30

MSA Chambers 3909 Union

Topic: Nationally renowned Trans Activist & Educator Jamison Green will be our guest Speaker.

University to Replace Frieze with "North Quad"

Posted by Murph on 8. October 2004

University President Mary Sue Coleman has announced plans to tear down the Frieze Building and construct a 500-resident dorm by 2008, tentatively named North Quad. A concept, budget, and choice of architectural firm are to be presented in December, with the demolition of Frieze to occur in 2006.

Coleman intends for the dorm to contain suite-style rooms for upperclassmen, as well as dining and academic facilities:

“I envision this space as a magnet location on campus – creating a density of activity, including dining options – that will be available day and night for students and faculty,” Coleman said in a memo to Courant and Harper. “Shared spaces might include meeting rooms, production facilities, studios, classrooms, seminar rooms or a small auditorium – spaces that can be used by faculty and students together or individually, for creative or scholarly projects.”

The Theatre and Drama Department, currently in Frieze, will be moved to the not-yet-constructed Walgreen Drama Center on North Campus, and other departments currently in Frieze are to be relocated on Central Campus.

Replacing Frieze with a new building is consistant with University’s recent trend of replacing old buildings and expanding upwards, rather than acquiring new land—North Quad is expected to be 6 or 7 stories tall, similar to the recent Corner House Lofts building across Washington from the site.

Update, 4:02pm, Richard Murphy: Predictably, the Old Fourth Ward Association and others are objecting to the University’s plans:

“I think it’s an absolutely abominable decision,” said Louisa Pieper, who worked with Detter on the downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Program and retired as the city’s historic preservation coordinator in 1999.

“It’s the wrong place for a dorm,” she added. “And it’s a really bad move when it comes to the rest of the town. That building has tremendous historical significance for people who have grown up and lived in town.”

Hank Baier, U-M’s associate vice president for facilities and operations, said preserving any part of the Frieze Building would be expensive and the building can’t be fully reconfigured to meet the needs of the university.

The University’s demolition and replacement of Frieze do not have to be approved by any City of Ann Arbor agency.

See also Ann Arbor is Overrated’s discussion of the issue. End update

Links:

Comment [4]

Kryptonite Comes Clean

Posted by Murph on 8. October 2004

A few weeks after breaking some bicycle U-Locks with Bic pens became common common knowledge, Kryptonite is offering a free exchange for owners of those locks. Kryptonite’s website contains a form for lock owners to request a replacement, and a phone number for further information.

Ann Arbor cyclists should also register their bikes—lifetime registration is available at the City Clerk’s office and at local cycle shops for $3.50 and offers an increased chance of getting your bike back if stolen.

(Kryptonite link from livejournal user wisn.)

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