Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Family Housing Shuffle Upsets Some

Posted by Rob Goodspeed on 15. July 2004

Due to a “larger than expected” freshman enrollment, University Housing has contacted residents in certain parts of family housing, giving them the option of moving (for free) to other parts of family housing or terminate their lease entirely.

The Graduate Employee Organization is considering it a “big blow to the graduate student community” since the total number of housing units available – currently over 1,400 units – will be cut in half, and since the move comes abruptly after current residents have recently signed one-year leases. Activists are planning to speak at today’s Regent’s Meeting at 3pm about the decision.

An email sent to residents of Family Housing I, II, and II by Carole Henry, Director of University Housing and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, and obtained by ArborUpdate.com, spells out the changes:

Although it would have been preferable to communicate this to you when we sent lease renewal information, we are sharing this as quickly as possible given an unforeseen set of circumstances regarding a larger than expected freshman enrollment. This is particularly significant because the University has a commitment to provide on-campus housing for all new freshmen.

... University Housing has determined that it is necessary to change the designation of some Family Housing apartments in Northwoods I-III to house single upperclass and additional single graduate students. Current upperclass students with contracts at Baits Houses are being relocated to available vacancies in Northwood apartments in order to make the Baits rooms available for incoming freshmen. We are hopeful that we can secure additional vacancies in Northwood I, II, and III through this communication so that we can successfully accommodate those students who need University housing.

The email makes it clear that if residents don’t respond, the University will assume they’re chosing “Option 3” (Options 1 and 2 are either moving into private housing or moving to another family housing unit at not cost):

OPTION 3
REMAIN IN YOUR CURRENT APARTMENT

You can also choose to remain in your current apartment. Every effort will be made to continue all the services, programs, and activities that you are accustomed to in Family Housing, even though the composition of the community will be changing.

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Viva Graffiti!

Posted by Ari Paul on 15. July 2004

CHICAGO-The Ann Arbor News, while slow on the uptake, reports on stencil graffiti. While the News would have you believe that this is breaking news, these artworks have been around the city for a bit of a while.

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America's Finest News Source Airs U Dirty Laundry

Posted by Brian Kerr on 13. July 2004

The Onion has implicated the University of Michigan in a shocking checks-for-degrees scandal. Forget banning porch couches or trying to clean up street art ahead of the Street Art Fair—real cool cities get panned by comedy newspapers!

Grosse Pointe Librarian update

Posted by dilleym on 13. July 2004



via Windchime Walker

“I was sitting beside the librarians and library staff who filled the first three rows. They were dressed in black and wore their pink “3rd Year – No Contract” pins. And many of them wept as they heard – FINALLY – what they mean our community, how we value them. And theirs weren’t the only wet eyes in that high school library. I saw a brand new School Board member, Ahmed Ishmael, wipe his eyes at one point. That’s a good sign.

But we’re not going to stop there. A number of folks read letters they’ve written to our local newspaper about this issue. We’re supporting our local Michigan State Representative’s bill that would give our community the option of electing its Library Board. We’ll be out in full force at the next Library Board meeting on July 26 – watch out!!! – and we’re going to continue picketing in front of the Central Branch every Thursday from 5-6:30 PM. I’ll be there with the Raging Grannies this coming Thursday, singing songs I’m adapting from our solidarity pickets with the Border’s workers in Ann Arbor last winter.

If you want to join us at any of these events and need more information, feel free to contact me, or email Kathleen (kathleengallagher AT wayne DOT edu), the Youth Services librarian at the Central Branch. We can use all the support we can get. ”

I know that librarians in Ann Arbor have had struggles in the last few years. Can we foster some solidarity here?

More info

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'New Mirlyn' Launch

Posted by Brian Kerr on 12. July 2004

Ladies & gentlemen, presenting the New Mirlyn—a revamp of U of M’s online library catalog and monstrosity.

See also the University Library’s happy talk announcement page and a recent University Record article about Mirlyn.

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Even More Couch Ban Info

Posted by Rob Goodspeed on 11. July 2004

It looks like we’ll have even more time to to talk to city council:

From: Greden, Leigh
To: Rob Goodspeed
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 18:45:29 -0400
Subject: RE: proposed porch couch ban

Hi Rob-

I believe the Michigan Daily published in its editorial that Council would actually vote on the ban on July 19, but the Daily was incorrect. As the Ann Arbor News reported, the proposal will come before Council on July 19, but only for a “first reading.” If the proposal passes “first reading,” it does not become law. Instead, it must proceed to a “second reading,” which would take place—at the earliest—on August 2. It is possible that the “second reading” would not take place until August 16. Either way, the Council will not take final action on July 19. Indeed, there will not even be a public hearing at that time. The public hearing will take place during
“second reading.”

Hope that helps. Thanks, LRG

More Couch Ban Material

Posted by Rob Goodspeed on 11. July 2004

Popular local blogger AnnArborIsOverrated.com has decided to turn the proposed couch ban into a full-fledged crusade:

Yes, we’re really pushing this porch couch thing. It encompasses everything about Ann Arbor that we started this site to protest. It’s an attempt by A2 pseudo-liberals to enforce gentrification, eliminating the voices of those likely to disagree by waiting until they’re out of town and convincing the more ambivalent with disingenuous arguments about fires and vermin. And it will have a real effect on many students’ lives…. So we hope you don’t get bored with all the porch couch posts, and we’ll see you on the 19th.

> Recent Ann Arbor is Overrated Posts about the couch ban
> Previous ArborUpdate.com posts on the proposed ban
> Read me defending porch couches

How can you make a difference?
E-Mail the Mayor and all of city Council with this link, or use the city website to find their information.

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FY 2004 University of Michigan Employee Earnings Posted

Posted by Rob Goodspeed on 11. July 2004

> See post on Goodspeedupdate.com
> Download Excel spreadsheet (.xls, 5.06 MB) (link fixed)
> See FY 2003 Data

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Student Activist Dies

Posted by Rob Goodspeed on 11. July 2004


Magali Padilla, a highly involved and politically active third year LSA student has recently died. According to an email distributed by University administrators planning a memorial service, Magali and her mother passed away after they were involved in an automobile accident in Jalisco, Mexico.

At Michigan, Magali was popular and involved in many cultural, environmental, political and community service organizations. Magali was particularly active in efforts to increase cross-cultural communication and understanding at the University, and her involvement in a variety of progressive political causes.

Recently, she had been a leader in the organization Student Voices in Action, which successfully challenged a number of damaging and frivolous budget cuts proposed by the Division of Student Affairs, speaking on behalf of that organization and La Voz Latina at the March regents’ meeting.

Tomorrow (Sunday), Magali will be mentioned during Spanish Mass at 2:00pm at St Mary’s student parish in Ann Arbor. Afterwards at around 3:30 pm her friends will be holding an outdoor memorial service at the Geddes entrance to the Arboretum. All are invited to attend either event.

Friends and acquaintances of Magali are encouraged to leave thoughts and memories as comments on this website.

Update 8/4: The photo is taken from an entry from friend Rahul Saksena’s blog entry about her.

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One of the Gems of Detroit

Posted by on 10. July 2004

Concert of Colors

This free concert is at Chene Part next weekend for three days.

Among those playing will be Ann Arbor’s own Joe Reilly plus Ani DiFranco and Los Lobos to name a few. Check out the schedule

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