Bollinger named 12th 'U' president
Lee Bollinger, Dartmouth College provost and former University Law School dean, was unanimously selected yesterday as the 12th president to lead the maize and blue.
Bollinger, an outspoken advocate for higher education and the more contentious issues of affirmative action and gay rights, has often been characterized as strong-minded, intelligent and charismatic.
Clinton triumphs
WASHINGTON - President Clinton capped a remarkable personal comeback last night to become the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win re-election to the White House, boosted to a landslide electoral-vote victory by a growing economy.
Clinton's victory came just two years after voters soundly rejected his policies and threw Democrats out of power in Congress. But the healthy economy and rising public confidence helped dampen voter anger to give Clinton a victory over Republican Bob Dole.
Levin trounces Romney for Senate
DETROIT - Sen. Carl Levin didn't need President Clinton's coattails for his re-election yesterday. With the largest margin of victory in his career, the Democratic incumbent slid comfortably into his fourth term as U.S. senator.
"He would have won with or without the president," said former Michigan Gov. and Ambassador to Canada James Blanchard.
Dems. Maynard, Taylor lead in regents' races
The race for University Board of Regent could not be called this morning, and with 71 percent of the state vote counted at 4 a.m., two Democrats were positioned for board seats.
Democrat Olivia Maynard had captured 27 percent of the vote and Democrat S. Martin Taylor had won 24 percent - possibly securing the two open spots on the board.
Rivers pulls away in U.S. House race
In a tough race that relied on heavy funding and campaigning, Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers claimed an unofficial victory over Republican candidate Joe Fitzsimmons in the 13th congressional district.
"It certainly looks like I won, but all the numbers aren't in yet," Rivers said this morning at 1:30 a.m.
Surgeons: Full recovery for Yeltsin
The operation lasted seven hours and involved five bypasses. Yeltsin regained consciousness about five hours later, was heavily sedated and was still on a respirator to guard against postoperative complications. Doctors said they couldn't predict when he could leave the hospital.
Hundreds of thousands of Russians took to the streets yesterday, showing that President Boris Yeltsin faces more troubles even if he fully recovers from heart bypass surgery.
Sheldon secures third term
With the race for Ann Arbor mayor in a dead heat, Democratic challenger Christopher Kolb threw in the towel.
Sighting the historically Republican-friendly absentee ballot numbers that were yet uncounted, Kolb conceded the Mayor's Chair to Republican incumbent Ingrid Sheldon at about 12:30 a.m. - even as the latest numbers reported the two candidates in a virtual deadlock at 50 percent apiece.
Lumm squeaks by in race for 2nd Ward seat
The city's 2nd Ward wasn't supposed to be an extremely close race - but in the end it was too close for incumbent Republican Jane Lumm's comfort.
The final tally saw Lumm capturing about 51 percent of the vote compared to Democratic challenger Barbara Bach's 49 percent - but even a 2 percent victory was more than Lumm had expected after hearing of returns late last night.
Schroer declares win in 52nd District race
Democratic incumbent state Rep. Mary Schroer declared an unofficial victory in the 52nd District after leading Republican contender David Felbeck by approximately 30 percent of the vote early this morning.
At about 3:30 a.m. with 48 of 54 precincts reporting, Schroer led by a 30-point margin.
Brater holds House seat
In the race for Ann Arbor's 53rd State House District, incumbent Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) defeated Republican challenger and political newcomer Chris Schmitt by 42 percentage points to secure a second term in Lansing.
Brater, whose campaign included an emphasis on education and the environment, both popular issues among students, obtained 71 percent of the vote, with 45 of 51 precincts reporting as of 3:30 a.m.
Chief justice leads court race
Voters had to pick two Supreme Court justices for eight-year terms from among seven candidates. With 14 percent of precincts reporting, Chief Justice James Brickley, a Republican, had 26 percent, or 201,785 votes.
Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Kelly, a Democrat, held a narrow lead over Republican Hilda Gage. Each had 20 percent, but Kelly had 155,499 votes to Gage's 151,806.
Internet slows down as millions check results
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - It was the "mother of all nights" for the Internet on yesterday as millions logged in to check the election totals or chat about the outcome.
Things on the Web normally tend to slow down a little towards supper time anyway, but by 7 p.m. Ann Arbor time the wait for some sites was molasses-slow, while others poured only slightly more easily onto the screen.
Expert: Defendant capable of premeditation
Dr. Carol Holden was called as a rebuttal witness by the prosecution in Schmitz's first-degree murder trial in Oakland County Circuit Court.
The defense rested its case yesterday. Schmitz, who was not called to testify, is on trial for the shotgun slaying of Scott Amedure, a gay acquaintance who revealed a crush on Schmitz during a taping of the "Jenny Jones Show" in March 1995.
Welfare reform aggravates child-care inspection
LANSING (AP) - The state's ability to properly inspect day care centers is being strained by an increasing number of facilities - fueled by welfare reform - and fewer regulators to inspect them.
"We simply aren't going to be able to address those increasing needs with decreasing staff," Alana Voight, chair of the Michigan Coalition for Children and Families, which represents more than 75 child advocacy groups, told Booth Newspapers in a story published Monday.
Executive director named for Detroit empowerment zone
The zone's 50-member board of directors announced Monday that Denise Gray, 42, would be head of the Empowerment Zone Development Corp.
The former executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America next week will take charge of the agency responsible for monitoring and coordinating more than 80 social and economic development programs in the zone.
Students cast votes, support Clinton victory
With President Clinton winning his bid for re-election, many students said they had taken the opportunity to vote and were happy with the election results.
"We're voting for our future. It's not like our vote doesn't count," said Engineering junior Celia Aaron. "My vote could be the deciding vote for the presidential election."
U.S. House race too close to call
DETROIT (AP) - First-term U.S. Rep. Dick Chrysler, a Republican, faced a strong challenge yesterday in one of the most-watched of Michigan's 16 congressional races.
"I see Dick Chrysler as a man that has been in this to the end," Republican Gov. John Engler said last night.
Parties vie for House control
Democrats made modest inroads yesterday in Speaker Newt Gingrich's Republican majority in the House, but the GOP partly offset its losses by capturing Southern seats vacated by veteran Democrats. Republicans were poised to capture their first back-to-back majorities in 66 years.
"It looks like we will almost certainly keep control of the U.S. House," Gingrich told a cheering crowd. He said the two sides were "in the process of swapping seats."
GOP keeps Senate
WASHINGTON - Republicans appeared headed toward retaining control of the Senate - possibly by an enlarged margin - after picking up seats in Alabama and Nebraska, according to exit polls and early returns from yesterday's voting.
Democrats retained open seats in New Jersey and Georgia and were running well yesterday night for several Republican-held seats, but apparently not enough to make the net gain of three seats that they needed to take control.
Higher Ed Notes
National Report
Michigan State Proposal Outcomes
World Report
Bollinger is a familiar face for 'U' officials
Lee Bollinger's old friends in the University administration are excited for him to come home.
After two years away from the University, they look forward to working with the former Law School dean once again - this time with Bollinger as their leader and the 12th University president.
Student govt. leaders pleased with selection
Students who have kept up with the search for the 12th University president said they are pleased with yesterday's selection of Dartmouth Provost Lee Bollinger.
"He's someone students will really respect and like to work with," said Probir Mehta, vice president of the Michigan Student Assembly.
The Bollinger Bio
Faculty excited about Bollinger's return to 'U'
Under the University's 12th president, faculty members are hoping to gain a louder voice and more muscle in adminstrative decisions. And many have said Lee Bollinger - the regents' choice - will lend a more sympathetic ear to faculty concerns.
A former dean of the University's Law School, Bollinger will leave his current post as provost at Dartmouth College to return to Ann Arbor in a new light.
Other 3 candidates face futures away from 'U'
After conducting the most public search in the University's 179-year history, the Board of Regents chose the finalist with the most intimate knowledge of the University. And the candidate whom the regents know the best.
While former Law School Dean Lee Bollinger will return to Ann Arbor, the other three finalists will stay at their home institutions.
Pols see next pres. as effective link to Lansing
Although they were surprised about how quickly a new University president was chosen, local and state officials said they were pleased with the regents' selection of Dartmouth Provost Lee Bollinger.
"I'm surprised they came to a decision today," said Mayor Ingrid Sheldon (R-Ann Arbor). "Bollinger was a respected dean in the Law School, so he has the advantage of knowing the students, faculty and the campus."
Dartmouth students, faculty sad to see provost go
While the University will welcome back a familiar face to campus in President-select Lee Bollinger, students and faculty at Dartmouth College say they are losing one of their most prized professors and administrators.
"The University of Michigan is to be congratulated on an absolutely wonderful appointment," Dartmouth President James Freedman said yesterday in a written statement. "Lee Bollinger is an outstanding academic leader and will be one of the most distinguished university presidents in the country.
A Look Back
11-06-96