- Aaron Augsburger/Daily
- University of Michigan ice dancers attended the regent's meeting Thursday, March 18, 2010. Buy this photo
By Kyle Swanson, Daily News Editor
Published March 18, 2010
Excitement was on the agenda during the University’s Board of Regents monthly meeting yesterday, when four Olympic ice dancers and University students paid a visit to receive a resolution from the University’s governing board.
More like this
Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who took the silver medal in Vancouver last month, and Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, who finished in 11th place at the winter games, were honored with a commendation from the regents.
Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R–Ann Arbor) read the resolution out loud before presenting a copy to each of the four University students.
“The regents take great pride in Meryl Davis, Charlie White, Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates for being such splendid ambassadors for the maize and blue at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games,” Newman said. “Their enthusiasm, poise and dedication showed the world what it means to be a Michigan Wolverine.”
Due to a previously scheduled practice session, the four arrived late to the meeting, but the regents broke from their agenda to honor the four University students as soon as they arrived, calling a recess so they could talk with the students.
During the recess, which lasted for about 15 minutes, the regents visited with the ice dancers, congratulating them and posing for pictures.
Regents Laurence Deitch (D–Grosse Pointe), Denise Ilitch (D–Bingham Farms) and Newman even took pictures with Davis and White on their BlackBerrys and iPhones while wearing the students’ Olympic medals.
The meeting then resumed with Ilitch joking, “Well, now that we’ve acted like total groupies.”
REGENTS APPROVE HONORARY DEGREE FOR OBAMA, FIVE OTHERS
The Board of Regents approved a recommendation from University President Mary Sue Coleman to grant six honorary degrees to special guests who will be on hand for this year’s spring commencement.
Among those receiving a degree is President Barack Obama, who will be delivering the commencement address at this year’s ceremony. Obama, who will be the third sitting president to deliver a commencement address at the University, is to receive a Doctor of Laws degree.
Last year, Obama spoke at commencement ceremonies for the Naval Academy, Notre Dame and Arizona State University. ASU came under heavy criticism when officials said they would not offer an honorary degree to Obama because he hadn’t achieved enough while president.
The Board of Regents also approved honorary Doctor of Laws degrees to be given to Jean Campbell, founder of the University’s Center for the Education of Women, and Charles Vest, president of the National Academy of Engineering.
Stanford Ovshinsky, president of Ovshinsky Innovation LCC and an inventor with hundreds of patents, is to receive a Doctor of Sciences degree. Susan Stamberg, a special correspondent for National Public Radio, was approved to receive an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree. Jazz musician Ornette Coleman will receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
REGENTS APPROVE $3.8 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION
The regents also unanimously approved spending $3.8 million on repairs to Lorch Hall and the James and Anne Duderstadt Center at yesterday’s meeting.
The Board of Regents approved spending $2.2 million on a project aimed at correcting problems with the Duderstadt Center’s soffits caused by air leaks and condensation problems.
According to a communication given to the regents by Tim Slottow, executive vice president and chief financial officer, the project will involve installing vapor and air barriers along with thermal insulation and upgrading part of the building’s mechanical systems.
The project will be financed with money from the University’s General Fund and is expected to be completed by fall 2010.
The regents also approved a second request from Slottow that will use $1.6 million to address “areas of significant deterioration” to Lorch Hall, which was built in 1928.
