“The University of Michigan will continue to define the great public university of the world”

President Mary Sue Coleman proposed to create a new ethics center in an address to the Regents yesterday outlining her “vision and goals” for the university, connected to the kick-off of a new capital campaign. From her remarks:

On a second front, we will continue to pursue a host of long-range ambitions as we launch the public phase of our comprehensive capital campaign next month. Private giving will animate our vision and goals, in every campus unit and collectively for the institution.

* We need to know if there are financial barriers that place a Michigan education out of reach for some academically qualified students, and how we can lower those barriers. This discussion must include a significant study of our financial aid programs ? along with an emphasis on scholarship support as a centerpiece of the upcoming capital campaign”

Although I’m glad she stressed the importance of access, let’s not forget what President Angell’s full quote was: “An uncommon education for the common man.” I hope in her goals president Coleman doesn’t lose sight of that vision of a truly public University. Here’s her “vision”:

” * We will sustain academic excellence
* We will foster active engagement
* We will build collaborative learning communities
* We will create greater access to Michigan?s academic quality”

> President Coleman’s Address: “Shaping the Michigan Difference”
> DetNews: “U-M president plans ethics center”
> AP: “University of Michigan president unveils latest priorities”

Here’s the top ten from ClickbackAmerica.org, a fundraiser for the Movon.org voter fund:

1. University of California, Berkeley $1960
2. University of Washington $1306
3. University of Texas at Austin $1224
4. University of Wisconsin-Madison $1224
5. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities $1191
6. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor $1145
7. University of California, Los Angeles $1082
8. New York University $1036
9. San Francisco State University $884
10. University of Colorado $867

FURNITURE COLLECTION!!
THIS Saturday (April 24th) and next Sunday (May 2nd) Students in Action for Ann Arbor in Need will be collecting furniture to donate to Fairy Godparents and Community Self Sufficiency Center in Detroit. We are looking for any furniture, small appliances, laptop computers, (no clothes) in relatively good condition! Please drop the goods off at 505 E. Hoover (across from the IM building, on the corner of Sybil and Hoover) between 9 and 6. Or email furniture at umich.edu/call us at 945-2772 for more info or to schedule a pick up within Washtenaw County.

Articles of note:

> AANews: “Michigan Festival begins with bunch of ‘good chatters’”
> AANews In Brief: “U-M Naked Mile becomes non-event”
> AANews: “Tweaks to Greenbelt law urged”
> (Street closures)

A Couple Thefts:

“Ann Arbor

1000 block of Packard Street, occurred between noon Wednesday and 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Screen pried off window to gain entry; two laptop computers valued at $3,000 taken.”

Ann Arbor resident and Arborblogger George H.‘s SongBuddy website got a brief mention in today’s New York Times:

” … Alf Eaton, a life scientist in Paris, has written several programs to encourage people to create playlists (www.pmbrowser.info/hublog). He credits “MP3 bloggers” – aficionados who unearth MP3 links – and sites like Webjay and www.songbuddy.com with “establishing a middle ground” in the war between file sharers and the music industry. “I hope that the record industry will begin to see the value in what these grass-roots enthusiasts are doing to promote their music,” he said in an e-mail message. .. “

> From NYTimes: “Web Sites for Music Playlists and Baby Blogs”

Michigan native Michael Moore’s new film, “Fahrenheit 911″, will premier at the Cannes film festival this summer.

UMich-specific websites seem to be popping up left and right these days. I was just emailed about “Collegefaces.com,” an “online facebook” for U-M and Michigan State. “You can use the site to search for other members of your school via major, class, courses, interests, and social ties.” But don’t get too excited: the U-M alumni association is planning on starting their InCircle networking tool next month.