The News of Ann Arbor

U-M Regents hold emergency meeting to ban "You Suck" chant

2012-02-21T11:39:00.002-05:00

U-M President Mary Sue Coleman and the Board of Regents held an emergency meeting Tuesday morning to ban the "You Suck" chant (to the tune of "Temptation") at all sporting events.The regents unanimously voted to prohibit the chant after reviewing tape of several instances at recent games."While students are merely illustrating the impending failure of the visiting team to, for example, get a

Michigan prepares to be covered by santorum; Ann Arbor area likely to be spared

2012-02-13T15:26:00.006-05:00

In the wake of two polls showing Rick Santorum ahead of Mitt Romney in Michigan's Republican presidential primary, local emergency managers are gathering as much plastic sheeting and bleach as they possibly can to prepare for the pending mess."This could get ugly," said Muddy Walters, Washtenaw County's Director of Disaster Preparedness. "We're hoping the county avoids the worst."Political

Developers seek asylum at local church

2012-02-09T10:38:00.005-05:00

After narrowly escaping a pitchfork-wielding mob yelling "We just don't want you here!" Wednesday night, developers of a proposed student-housing project sought refuge at a local church.The developers could not be reached for comment, but observers saw them running for their lives down Main Street being chased by a crowd of angry NIMBY-ites. (The News Of Ann Arbor does not print the names of

Anonymous commenter makes astute, well-supported point

2012-02-06T13:10:00.003-05:00

In what media experts are calling an industry first, an anonymous commenter on one of Ann Arbor's news Web sites made a interesting and well-researched point that moved the discussion in a positive and constructive direction.The commenter used his or her personal experience, data that are publicly available on the Web, and a keen wit to puncture the prevailing preconceptions surrounding the topic

Exclusive: U-M still doesn't pay property taxes

2012-01-30T14:50:00.002-05:00

An investigative follow-up by The News Of Ann Arbor to a published report that Briarwood Mall is the city's largest property tax payer has revealed that the University of Michigan pays absolutely zero in property taxes.The outrage levels in the atmosphere above Ann Arbor rose dramatically on the news, despite the fact that U-M has never paid property taxes. The National Weather Service issued an

Obama to complete Stadium bridges, Library Lot parking structure on swing through Ann Arbor

2012-01-23T15:24:00.004-05:00

While President Barack Obama's ability to change the partisan nature of Washington has not yet been fully applied, he plans to demonstrate his remaining superpowers by personally finishing the Stadium bridge and Library Lot parking structure construction projects during his visit to Ann Arbor on Friday, according to aides.A schedule of his visit released by anonymous administration sources shows

Storm of the Millennium REALLY hurtling toward Ann Arbor this time

2012-01-19T12:22:00.003-05:00

Local stores have replenished their supplies of ramen noodles, batteries, and bottled water Thursday as weather-warning-weary residents stock up again for the first significant snowfall of the season."It's been ... busy," said Joe Smitzel, clerk at the Blue Front store at State and Packard streets. An estimated six inches of snow is predicted to fall in Ann Arbor, leading some experts to fear for

Ordinance ticketed for idling

2012-01-18T09:05:00.004-05:00

Before the Ann Arbor City Council reconsidered a proposed law banning auto idling Tuesday night, the ordinance itself was ticketed for not moving for the past five months.The move drew the ire of ordinance-rights activists across the country, and the ordinance issued the following statement: "Whereas I'm not even a law yet; whereas bills in Congress typically languish for months or years without

Restaurant Week aims to boost lagging, underexposed sector of local economy

2012-01-13T15:33:00.004-05:00

Participants in Restaurant Week, which starts on Sunday, face a sisyphean task -- expose Ann Arbor's anemic eatery sector to a customer base traditionally unused to dining out.Participating restaurants are banking on a discounted pricing system -- $2 for hors d'oeuvres, $3 for drinks, $4 for salads, $10 for small entrees, $15 for large entrees, a 25 percent discount for the second and third diner

Storm of the Millenium barreling toward Ann Arbor

2012-01-12T14:47:00.004-05:00

There was a run on ramen noodles, batteries, and bottled water at local stores Thursday as residents braced for the first significant snowfall of the season.The fear was palpable at the Blue Front store on Packard and State, according to clerk Joe Smitzel."Yeah, we've had a couple people buy some batteries and water," he said. "They seemed kind of worried."The forecast called for as many as six

Wolverines' Sugar Bowl MVP: Replay Official

2012-01-04T09:14:00.003-05:00

Breaking with tradition, the University of Michigan Wolverines football team gave its Sugar Bowl Most Valuable Player award to the replay official who ruled that a Virginia Tech touchdown in overtime was actually an incomplete pass.At the same time, the play instantly restored thousands of Michigan fans' faith in referees -- a group most Wolverine enthusiasts routinely blame for anything that

Jones children clearly Ann Arbor's brightest, cutest

2012-01-03T13:01:00.004-05:00

All objective measures indicate that the Jones children — Maggie, 4, and Tyler, 2 — are head and shoulders above all other kids in Ann Arbor when it comes to intelligence, wit, looks and athletic ability.The previously held (and clearly overly generous) allowance by parents Ginny and Stan that perhaps a handful of youth in town could hold a candle to their offspring has been slowly but inevitably

Top 9 New Year's resolutions for University of Michigan students

2012-01-01T23:24:00.005-05:00

An extensive investigation by The News of Ann Arbor has yielded the following list of most popular New Year's resolutions for the 27,000 University of Michigan undergraduates for 2012.Listed in reverse order for maximum suspense:9. I resolve to spend less time, emotion, and intellectual energy on the intricacies of Michigan football.8. I will not eat Panda Express orange chicken for lunch more

Top 10 New Year's resolutions for Ann Arborites

2011-12-31T14:33:00.004-05:00

An exhaustive, in-depth, not-seeking-journalism-awards investigation by The News Of Ann Arbor has revealed the top 10 New Year's resolutions made by Ann Arborites.In reverse order, for dramatic effect:10. I will use my real name when posting to annarbor.com or other local news sites.9. I resolve to spend less time, emotion, and intellectual energy on the intricacies of Michigan football.8. I will

U-M mulls three-day academic week

2011-12-17T15:00:00.001-05:00

In an apparent nod to the realities of college social life, the University of Michigan Regents are considering a three-day academic week that would only allow classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.A U-M official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the university is simply acknowledging the default patterns of student registration -- that is, almost nobody enrolls in classes on

Vagrants flock to Ann Arbor on news of skatepark funding

2011-12-07T19:00:00.004-05:00

Vagrants, delinquents, ne'er-do-wells and a host of other pierced and tattooed undesirables began flocking into Ann Arbor Wednesday night as word spread that the heretofore placid burg would soon be home to something called a "skatepark."For some reason, the state awarded the project $300,000, giving it enough money to qualify for matching funds that the county inexplicably pledged previously.

Hoke to sportswriters: "Don't even try 'Hoke vs. Hokies' headlines"

2011-12-05T09:26:00.002-05:00

U-M football coach Brady Hoke warned sportswriters Monday against attempting to use his last name and the nickname of Wolverines' bowl opponent the Virginia Tech Hokies in the same headline."This is lame," he said in his weekly press conference. "Obvious, lazy, too easy. You're better than that."A previous News of Ann Arbor investigation revealed that sports editors were champing at the bit to

Professor uses feminine pronoun

2011-11-30T12:51:00.005-05:00

In a move that proved his progressive bona fides, U-M Professor Jonah Messerschmidt used the feminine pronoun in class Wednesday when a simple "he or she" would have sufficed.The statement caused considerable confusion amongst Messerschmidt's English 124 students, with the female pupils thinking he was talking about one of them, and the males feeling unnecessarily excluded.A bevy of bewildered

Preservationists protest Stadium Bridge construction

2011-11-14T09:37:00.004-05:00

A group of historical preservation activists are protesting the replacement of two crumbling bridges near Michigan Stadium, saying the construction will destroy the last remaining examples of a historically important bridge design.Jacques Banane, president, CEO and outreach director for Preserve Ann Arbor's Unique Spans, said the bridges, built in 1917 and 1921, are the last instances in Michigan

As homes razed for City Place, Ann Arbor dropped from top-ten rankings

2011-11-10T09:54:00.004-05:00

Publications from Forbes magazine to Triangles Monthly have dropped Ann Arbor from their lists of top places to live in reaction to the demolition of seven homes on South Fifth Avenue to make way for the City Place development.A survey by The News Of Ann Arbor revealed that Ann Arbor's only remaining ranking is "#3 Most Dysfunctional City Council and Development Community" in the magazine of the

Thousands visit new Mott hospital for open house, hoping never to return

2011-11-07T13:43:00.004-05:00

Thousands of curious locals flocked to the grand opening of the new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital over the weekend, with the nearly unanimous conclusion that it is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility they hope never to set foot in again."It looks like a great place to have a life-threatening injury or illness treated, God forbid," said Ann Arbor resident Fred Smith.The

No media left in Michigan to confirm latest media employment news

2011-11-02T16:06:00.006-04:00

The company that owns annarbor.com took some action affecting hundreds of employees at its other Michigan news organizations -- although there were no reporters left in the state to verify exactly what happened and why.What is clear, however, is that the company created a new corporate entity called MLive Media Group, and that it produced a marketing video featuring a waterfall.Reporters in other

Weekend Recap: Thousands of U-M fans suddenly care about breast cancer

2011-10-31T09:08:00.002-04:00

Thousands of Michigan football fans suddenly started caring about breast cancer Saturday when the Wolverines took the field wearing pink arm bands, ankle tape and gloves."I never really gave it a second thought until the game," said longtime season ticket holder Frank Vaccanzo. "But our tough Michigan players looked so silly wearing pink that I had to sit up and take notice."Vaccanzo said he's

UM students build world's first LEED-certified beer-pong table

2011-10-26T09:00:00.004-04:00

In a move that will surely enhance the University of Michigan's reputation as an environmental steward, a group of students has designed and built what is believed to be the world's first LEED-certified beer-pong table."We party with a purpose," said senior art history major Bubba Fitzgibbons, leader of the group Better Environmental Education and Recreation or BEER. "We want to show the world

Rumor: Wealthy U-M football boosters to buy, burn all copies of "Three and Out"

2011-10-25T11:18:00.004-04:00

A group of wealthy U-M football boosters is reportedly considering purchasing every copy of the tell-all book "Three and Out" in order to burn them and suppress any negativity about the program."Look, we all know what RichRod's record was, the only result rehashing it is going to have is to push all the best recruits to Michigan State or Ohio State," said Thurston Howell VII, a 1932 U-M graduate