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GOVERNMENT
In address, Obama calls for reduced college costs Foreign policy, middle class also prominent in State of the Union
AMANDA ALLEN /Daily
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder gives the 2015 State of the State address at the State Capitol in Lansing on Tuesday.
By JACK TURMAN, ALLANA AKHTAR AND SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporters and Daily
Snyder talks education in State of State address Governor also urges voters to pass ballot proposal to fix roads in May By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter
Staying true to his nickname, Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, the “tough nerd,” emphasized edu-
cation as one of several means to create opportunity in his State of the State address Tuesday. Using a “river of opportunity” as a metaphor for improving education and job prospects in the state, among other issues, Snyder said he will shift the state’s focus from creating new programs to addressing problems. “Quite often we’re addressing symptoms. We’re not addressing root causes. In some cases, we’re actually facilitating dependency
on government,” Snyder said. “That’s not right.” Snyder said his plan would focus on five principles: people, causes, increasing results without increasing cost, community and measuring outcomes. Though several other governors who may be potential 2016 presidential candidates discussed national policies in their addresses, Snyder primarily emphasized Michigan-centric policies. Snyder has not discussed any potential
CAMPUS LIFE
By EMILY MIILLER For the Daily
Over 40 employers and hundreds of students gathered Tuesday in the Dana Building’s Ford Commons for the University’s first campus-wide Green Career Fair. Open to all University students, the fair showcased internships and jobs centered around environmental and sustainability issues. Though the School of Natural Resources and Environment has organized similar fairs for graduate students in the past, this year’s event was open to all students. The fair was co-hosted by the student organizations Students for Clean Energy and Net Impact Undergrad, and sponsored by the environmental consulting firm Antea Group. LSA senior Jesse Selvin, president of Students for Clean
Energy, co-organized the event and said many students are concerned about sustainability, but do not know how to become involved. “We really want to make sure students know sustainability is something that’s vital both on campus and afterwards,” Selvin said. “And not only that it’s vital, but that it’s available, it’s accessible.” Selvin added that he was pleased with the diversity of participating companies. “I would say it runs the gambit from environmental consulting companies to engineering companies to nongovernmental organizations and research,” he said. Han Zhang, a representative from Dow Chemical, said it is important for students to recognize that they can apply their interest and skills in sustainability beyond college. LSA senior Michelle Dimuzio said she liked the fair’s concentration on environmental careers in contrast to larger career fairs. She attended the See GREEN, Page 3A
President Barack Obama gave his seventh State of the Union address Tuesday evening before a Senate and House controlled by the Republicans for the first time during his presidency. The president’s speech touched on several key issues from his years in office, including conflict in the Middle East and the economic recession. He expanded on proposed reforms in several areas announced by the White House in the weeks leading up to the address as well. Chief among his reforms were proposals to impact the price of paying for college as part of an overarching theme
2016 candidacy despite speculation. On education, Snyder introduced several key initiatives that, if passed, would impact Michigan students from preschool to higher education, including calling for legislative support for a statewide evaluation system for K-12 teachers and a commission to study third-grade reading scores. He also announced he will ask the legislature to include an addiSee SNYDER, Page 3A
ANN ARBOR
D E M V I E W I N G PA R T Y
Green Career Fair focuses on sustainability This year’s event open to undergraduates
News Editor
addressing “middle-class economics.” “Middle-class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change,” Obama said. “That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement — and my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year.” In the address, Obama specifically stressed a plan announced earlier in the week to simplify and consolidate the American Opportunity Tax Credit, an 2009 initiative that gives low and middle class families tax benefits on higher education costs. Though the AOTC is set to expire by 2017 under the current tax plan, Obama said he hopes to make it a permanent feature of the tax code, with the amount of credit adjusted to keep up with inflation. The president also proposed making it easier to apply for tax credits, as well as require colleges and universities to proSee POTUS, Page 3A
Complaints lead to new homeless legislation City will engage in efforts to displace temporary camps humanely SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
LSA freshmen Anna Bauer and Maddie Rabe, members of the University’s chapter of the College Democrats, view the State of the Union at the College Democrats watch party in the Weill Building on Tuesday.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CSG considers resolution to invest in UGLi outlets Assembly plans to transfer nearly $9,000 to library By TANAZ AHMED Daily Staff Reporter
The Central Student Government’s main focus Tuesday night was funding additional power stations in the Shap-
iro Undergraduate Library to address students’ mounting needs to charge up. The new electricity expansion proposal would place an additional 67 table-mounted power stations in the UGLi. These would include three power outlets and one USB port each. Because there were questions about the project’s total cost and the need for charging
stations to include USB ports, the resolution was ultimately referred to CSG’s finance committee and will come to a vote at next week’s meeting. Installation costs would amount to $8,772 — the resolution in place proposes that CSG cover the costs with money from its Legislative Discretionary Fund by transferring it to the UGLi’s facilities coordinaSee OUTLETS, Page 3A
By LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporter
The heaviest topic of discussion of Tuesday’s Ann Arbor City Council meeting centered on the city’s homeless camps. The dialogue came in the wake of numerous demonstrations by public commenters supporting these camps. In recent months, Councilmember Stephen Kunselman (D-Ward 3) has been targeted by members and allies of Ann Arbor’s homeless community following statements last November that some considered offensive. These claims resulted in a petition to recall Kunselman, which was approved in the first week of January. Subsequently, the council discussed and approved a revised See HOMELESS, Page 3A
» INSIDE
the statement Walking in Glue: Mental health among college women
WEATHER TOMORROW
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 51 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A T H E S TAT E M E N T. . . . . . . . . .1 B