A planned cooperative program between Eastern Michigan University and Ypsilanti businesses encourages the businesses to offer a discount card to EMU students, employees and alumni. So far, 11 businesses have signed up. When the number reaches 25, the program will get underway, according to Ted Coutilish, associate vice president for marketing and communications. He mentions that he worked on a similar program at Wayne State, where the program started with 25 business participants and grew to about 170. The newspaper praises the program in a March 26 editorial, calling it a "win-win proposal" for the community and the university.