ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Wednesday, October 9, 2013
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CSG partners with IFC to expand Blue Bus services Routes to run Thurs. through Sat., include off-campus neighborhoods By AMRUTHA SIVAKUMAR Daily Staff Reporter
When January comes rolling around, students can expect to see more Blue Buses rolling through off-campus neighborhoods. The Central Student Government announced Tuesday that it had partnered with the Interfraternity Council to pilot an off-campus bus route that will run at least three days of the week. Starting Winter 2014, the bus route will utilize existing Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and University bus stops from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. After re-reading all of the crime alerts that he has received since arriving at the University four years ago, CSG President
Michael Proppe said the alerts prove that there is a need for safer off-campus transportation services. He said 84 percent of reported crimes took place after 10:00 p.m., 67 percent took place off-campus and 64 percent occurred in scenarios in which the victim was walking. The idea of a bus route operating off campus was first discussed during an IFC during the Winter 2013 semester. As a result, Proppe and CSG Vice President Bobby Dishell, also the vice president of recruitment for IFC, incorporated an off-campus route as one of their six platform promises in the March CSG elections. In a process that began in April and involved dialogue that lasted the duration of the summer and included meeting with University administrators in Parking and Transportation Services, University of Michigan Police Department and the Office of Student Life. Discussions with the AAATA regarding the agency’s own research solidified that a fixed See BUS, Page 3A
ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
University President Mary Sue Coleman gives her final State of the University address at the Ross Business School Tuesday. She and her husband, political scientist Ken Coleman, donated $1 million toward global scholarships.
Coleman donates $1 mil. At final address, Coleman and husband donate to global scholarships By JENNIFER CALFAS and SAM GRINGLAS Daily Staff Reporters
Before University President Mary Sue Coleman reached the podium at her annual leadership breakfast Tuesday morning, the atmosphere inside Ross School of Business’s colloquium had already become bitter-
sweet. In her final State of the University address, Coleman’s impending departure was evident in her reflections on development, research and student life with rounds of applause and cheers. The gathering of administrators and University supporters lauded their president not only for the last year’s work, but for more than a decade spent at the University’s helm. “It would be easy to be a bit melancholy, but there’s no time for that,” Coleman said. “There’s simply too much momentum to do anything but look ahead.”
RESEARCH
By KATIE BURKE Daily News Editor
Going to church may be good for the soul, but a University researcher is looking to find out if it lowers blood pressure too. Public Health Prof. Neal Krause and four of his colleagues have received $8 million from the John Templeton Foundation to conduct in-depth research in the next three years on the relationship between religion, spirituality and health. “The field (of religion and health) is very disoriented, very disjointed; a phenomenon like religion is very complex,” Krause See GRANT, Page 3A
provide financial support for talented students we admit to ensure the academic quality of Michigan.” Coleman also addressed the national concern of college affordability, which has been compounded by rising tuition rates at the University. Between the 2004 and 2012 academic years, LSA tuition increased 60 percent for in-state students and 55 percent for out-of-state students. To ensure that students see financial aid rise with tuition, the campaign will work to ensure that higher education is See BREAKFAST, Page 3A
STUDENT LIFE
Study to examine health, religion $8M project to examine links between spirituality and wellness
During her speech, she laid out lofty goals for “the Michigan of tomorrow,” including a $1-billion campaign fundraising goal for financial aid alone — nearly double the $545 million raised for that purpose during the previous campaign, The Michigan Difference. Coleman said student support must be the top priority of The Victors for Michigan Campaign, set to begin Nov. 8. “We want every student, no matter where they hail from, or what their family circumstance, to have access to a Michigan education,” she said. “No goal is more important. We must
Students prepare for youth conference on global climate change Funded by CSG, more students will attend this year By YARDAIN AMRON Daily Staff Reporter
VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
Michael Higson and his service dog, Africa, speak at the Delta Gamma Lectureship in Values & Ethics in Rackham Auditorium Tuesday.
Delta Gamma Lecturership teaches disability awareness Speaker survived 9/11 with help of seeing eye dog By CHARLOTTE JENKINS Daily Staff Reporter
The University’s chapter of the Delta Gamma women’s fraternity hosted best-selling author Michael Hingson for its second Lectureship in Ethics
and Leadership event Tuesday to a crowd of about 200 students and guests. Blind since birth, Hingson was at work on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Roselle, then his guide dog, led Hingson and others down the 78 flights of stairs and through the chaotic situation that ensued that day. Lectureship is a national Delta Gamma event that will occur on 19 campuses through-
out the country this year. This is Delta Gamma’s second such event at the University. The first was held in spring 2011 and featured Kerry Kennedy, an American human rights activist and writer. LSA junior Ailie Steir, vice president of communications for Delta Gamma, said the event’s purpose is to bring someone to campus that can talk about ideals, values and See DISABILITY, Page 3A
As University students count down the days to Fall Break, about 50 students have their hearts set on the weekend after, when they will carpool to Pittsburgh to join 10,000 fellow youth leaders from across the nation for the Powershift conference. The biannual youth summit is aimed at training and educating the next generation on climate change and demanding from leaders a shift in policy from fossil fuels to clean energy. From Oct. 18 to Oct. 21, registered youth leaders will hear from keynote speakers and participate in panel and workshop trainings on a range of environmental and social issues. Participants will also enjoy concerts featuring artists such as Big K.R.I.T. and Talib Kweli. Created and organized by the youth-led Energy Action
Coalition, the conference entered the international scene in 2007, when a few hundred youth leaders converging on Washington, D.C. quickly grew to 6,000. That number doubled to almost 12,000 by 2009. This year will mark the University’s first sizeable presence at the conference. Public Policy junior Marissa Solomon was still a high-school senior and aspiring rabbi when she attended Powershift in April 2011. Having already been accepted to the University, Solomon noticed a lack of Wolverines at the summit. There were only two, to be exact, perhaps due to the April conference’s concurrence with finals week. In comparison, she said there were 50 students from Ohio State University, another 50 from Michigan State University and 20 from Kalamazoo College. While this year’s conference does not coincide with finals, Solomon and her team still confronted many hurdles. Funding remained the biggest issue. EAC charges a registration fee that has risen from $50 to $80 — a fee many students are unable to afford. See POWERSHIFT, Page 3A
the personal statement issue This week, we dedicate the issue to those moments where you speak to us.
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News
2A — Wednesday, October 9, 2013
MONDAY: This Week in History
TUESDAY: Professor Profile
S P I N C YC L E
VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily
University alum Robert Luzynski practices poi, a performance art of spinning a weight, Tuesday.
WHERE: Matthaei Botanical Gardens WHEN: Monday at about 4 p.m. WHAT: A vehicle was purposely scratched while parked, University Police reported. There are no suspects.
Need some chips? WHERE: Gorguze Family Laboratory WHEN: Tuesday at about 12:15 a.m. WHAT: A vending machine door was found open, though it’s uncertain whether it was tampered with, University Police reported.
THURSDAY: Alumni Profiles
FRIDAY: Photos of the Week
STRIKES AT LEAST FOUR TIMES IN ONE MONTH
Alleged ‘poopetrator’ at large at Yale University At least four times in the past month, an unknown individual or group of people has soiled students’ laundry in dryers with urine and feces, The Yale Daily News reported Monday. Early Friday morning, students were alerted by e-mail that a laundry line of soiled clothing — later proved to be stained by chocolate — was strung outside the Saybrook residence hall. Yale security officials say they’re increasing security in laundary rooms, but students tell the Daily News that it’s unclear if changes have been made at other residence halls. Yale police and administrators are investigating the issue and reviewing laundry-room
security. The Daily News reports that rumors have come to light on campus that suggest that a prank group may be responsible for the soiling. In incidents like this, hall directors at Yale, known as masters, are finding it difficult to protect the safety of students while still allowing them to have freedom from constant surveillance, according to the Daily News. Northwestern University students steal equipment from Ohio State game Two Northwestern University students stole a yard marker, a
football and staff jackets during Northwestern’s football game against Ohio State University on Saturday, The Daily Northwestern reported Monday. During halftime, Northwestern University Police reported that a yard marker had been stolen from the field. The marker was found in the student section with two students, one of whom was wearing an event staff jacket. The two students were escorted out, and shortly after event staff reported the two jackets as missing. The students were charged with theft, released on a $1,500 bail and will appear in court Nov. 20. - CAROLYN GEARIG
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CRIME NOTES
Scratched up
WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers
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CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
The art of deception WHERE: Art and Architecture building WHEN: Monday at 5:10 p.m. WHAT: A wallet was reportedly stolen from a desk on the third floor between 1 and 4:45pm, University Police reported.
No dumping zone WHERE: 613 OxfordWHEN: Monday at about 7:30 p.m. WHAT: Several students were warned for illegal dumping after they were spotted disposing trash in a University dumpster, University Police reported.
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Flu shot clinic WHAT: MHealhy will host the next in a series of flu shot clinics for faculty and staff. Employees not covered by accepted insurance can pay $25 for a shot. WHO: Campus Information Centers WHEN: Today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Duderstadt Connector Hall
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY
Engaged learning WHAT: University leaders will discuss engaged learning practices and programs through the University libraries. WHO:University Library WHEN: Today at 10 a.m. WHERE: Hatcher Graduate Library
Cover-letter workshop
Graduate school fair
WHAT: Career Center experts will discuss cover letter basics and strategies in an interactive workshop. Attendees should bring position descriptions for prospective internship or job positions. WHO: The Career Center WHEN: Today from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Student Activities Building
WHAT: Potential graduate students are invited to connect with representatives from more than 100 graduate schools in The Career Center’s information fair. WHO: The Career Center WHEN: Today from 3 to 6 p.m. WHERE: Student Activities Building
1
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American adults scored below average on tests of math, reading and problem solving compared to international peers, ABC News reported. Japan, Canada, Finland and Australia scored higher than the U.S.
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DEPUTY MAGAZINE EDITOR: Paige Pearcy
This week’s The Statement is filled with Personal Statements this week recounting moments of significance submitted by readers like you. >> FOR MORE, SEE INSIDE
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Sony made New Yorkers believe that a woman had telekinetic powers, Gawker reported. The stunt was part of a “prankvertising” campaign for the new adaptation of the horror film, “Carrie.”
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European Union passes tough Turmoil leaves scars on Cairo Vivacious city new anti-smoking regulations now has curfew, Menthol banned, health warnings to cover most of pack
BRUSSELS (AP) — European lawmakers approved sweeping new regulations governing the multibillion-dollar tobacco market on Tuesday, including bigger drastic health warnings on cigarette packs and a ban on menthol and other flavorings to further curb smoking. They stopped short, however, of tough limits on electronic cigarettes. The European Parliament vote in Strasbourg came after months of bitter debate and an unusually strong lobbying campaign by the tobacco industry, which decries the regulations as disproportionate and limiting consumer freedom. The Parliament dismissed many of the industry’s
arguments, agreeing on a slightly watered-down version of the proposed legislation. The lawmakers voted to impose warning labels — with the inclusion of gruesome pictorials, for example showing cancer-infested lungs — covering 65 percent of cigarette packs and to be shown above the brand logo. Current warning labels cover only 30-40 percent of packages. The legislature still must reach a compromise with the 28 European Union governments on certain points before the rules can enter into force. Diplomats say a deal could be struck by the end of the year. The new rules were viewed by the World Health Organization and EU health officials as an important milestone — but not the end of their quest to stop people from smoking and keep teens from ever picking up a cigarette.
Smoking bans in public, limits on tobacco firms’ advertising, and other measures over the past decade have seen the number of smokers fall from an estimated 40 percent of the EU’s 500 million citizens to 28 percent now. Still, treatment of smoke-related diseases costs about 25 billion euros ($34 billion) a year, and the bloc estimates there are around 700,000 smoking-related deaths per annum across the 28-nation bloc. Legislators also voted for new limits on advertising for electronic cigarettes, but rejected a measure that would have restricted them to medical use only. The battery-operated products, which are enjoying a boom in the United States and many European countries, turn nicotine into a vapor inhaled by the user and are often marketed as a less harmful alternative to tobacco.
unfriendly spirit
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s capital has long been proud of its nickname, “Mother of the World” — a metropolis of 18 million throbbing with the vitality and fun of other great cities, even if at times it seemed unmanageable and chaotic. But Cairo’s spirit has been deeply scarred by 32 months of turmoil and bloodshed from two “revolutions,” constant protests and crackdowns, and a military coup. Residents talk of an unfamiliar edginess. People are more suspicious of each other, whether because of increased crime or constant media warnings of conspiracies and terrorism. Families are split by bitter ideological differences. Fights
are sparked by a word or a gesture seen as supporting either the military or the Islamists who were ousted from power by the armed forces. The mood goes beyond ideology. With police battered by the upheaval and rarely enforcing regulations, many people flout laws with no thought of the consequences — whether it’s the cafes that take over sidewalks or thugs who seize plots of land. A curfew in place for nearly two months has put a damper on Cairo’s nightlife. It has been eased to start at midnight, but that was usually the hour when streets and parties were just getting lively. Political violence has killed more than 2,000 people in the city and wounded many others, starting with the Jan. 25, 2011, revolution that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak. That was followed by demonstrations against the military rulers
who replaced Mubarak, the protests during President Mohammed Morsi’s year in office, and the June 30 “revolution” that prompted the July 3 coup against the president. “Political differences have made some people lose their humanity,” said Shaiymaa Awad, a 32-year-old Morsi supporter. Awad said she was in a bus recently that drove past Rabaah el-Adawiya, the mosque where hundreds of Islamists were killed in August when police cracked down on a sit-in demanding Morsi’s reinstatement. When she broke down crying, “other passengers looked surprised, but none of them understood why,” Awad said. The Rabaah mosque is not the only city landmark now more famous for one of the violent incidents of the past 2½ years. Others include: — A historic bridge over the Nile, once a favored romantic spot for couples, that was the site of a battle between police and anti-Mubarak protesters. — The towering Nile-side state TV headquarters nicknamed “Maspero,” now known for the army’s killing of more than 25 Christian protesters. — Moqattam, once simply the rocky plateau overlooking the city where couples went to steal kisses, now remembered for a bloody street fight between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and opponents. New neighborhoods joined the list Sunday, when Morsi supporters and police clashed, killing at least 40 people. With more streets strewn with debris and blackened by fires, Cairenes fear the city is turning into a Baghdad or a Beirut at their most violent. “Blood is everywhere,” said Belal Fadl, a popular satirical columnist and scriptwriter. “It is good that life goes on after every episode of bloodshed, but it is terrible from a human perspective,” he said, adding that people now react to violence “as if they are watching it on a silver screen.”
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Detroit gets 35 days to develop plan for lawsuits A federal judge issued an order Tuesday giving Detroit officials 35 days to develop and present a plan to settle lawsuits that were pending before the city filed for bankruptcy protection. The order from Judge Steven Rhodes would allow a lawsuit by the mother of a slain police officer to move forward at the end of the 35-day period unless the city’s plan was approved or a time extension granted. Dozens of unsettled lawsuits against the city automatically were put on hold July 18 when Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr filed the bankruptcy petition.
NEW YORK
Stocks slide as Washington stalemate drags on The stock market is closing at its lowest level in a month as the U.S. government enters a second week of being partially shut down. Investors fear the budget stalemate could prevent Congress from raising the government’s borrowing limit by next week’s deadline, bringing a threat of a debt default by the U.S. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 136 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 14,936 Monday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 14 points, or 0.9 percent, to 1,676, the lowest in a month. The Nasdaq composite fell 37 points, or 1 percent, to 3,770. Two stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was much lighter than usual at 2.6 billion shares.
NEW ORLEANS
Judge hears estimates of BP oil spill damages For weeks after BP’s massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, people across the globe were captivated by a live video feed from underwater cameras that showed the company’s blown-out well belching plumes of black crude into the water. On Monday, more than three years later, clips from the spill cam were projected on a screen in a New Orleans courtroom while lawyers for BP and the federal government quarreled over how much oil gushed out of BP’s Macondo well during the 87-day crisis. The images helped some of the scientists calculate how much oil polluted the Gulf. Determining how much oil spilled is a multibillion-dollar question for U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, who is presiding over the trial involving the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and the nation’s worst offshore oil spill. The judge ultimately could decide how much more money BP owes for its role in the disaster.
NAIROBI, Kenya
1,600 ivory pieces hidden in sesame seeds Kenyan officials are counting and weighing more than 1,600 pieces of illegal ivory found hidden inside bags of sesame seeds in freight traveling from Uganda to Kenya’s major port city, Mombasa. Kenya Wildlife Service official Arthur Tuda said Tuesday that smugglers hid small pieces of ivory inside hundreds of 90-kilogram (200-pound) bags of seeds. Tuda said officials have found 1,642 ivory pieces weighing nearly 5 tons in two shipping containers bound for Turkey. Tuda said the seized ivory, discovered by officials last week, did not come from recent kills. He said no suspects were in custody. Wildlife officials are alarmed at the increasing number of African elephants and rhinos being killed to feed demand in Asia, particularly China, for ivory and rhino horn powder. —Compiled from Daily wire reports
BREAKFAST From Page 1A “an intellectual passport, not a fiscal anchor,” she said. “Investing in Michigan provides life-long dreams,” Coleman said. “Higher education is the single most important investment students can make for their futures.” Coleman and her husband, political scientist Kenneth Coleman, contributed to student aid with aa $1-million gift that will provide financial support for study-abroad programs. She will leave the University only a few months into the new development drive. “Campaigns are not the vision of the president, but rather the aspirations of the broader University community,” Coleman said. “The immense planning that has gone into it is a wonderful gift to the University’s next leader.” Coleman also touched on an array of accomplishments from the previous year. When she began her tenure in 2002, she completed former University President Lee Bollinger’s work with the Michigan Difference campaign. She also oversaw the completion of the Life Sciences Institute, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Throughout her years as president, Coleman launched the Residential Life Initiative, which continues with the renovation of South Quad Residence Hall, and approved the renovations of the student unions and recreation buildings. The breakfast was not only the last for Coleman, but also for various administrators who plan to step down from their roles. Ted Spencer, executive director of undergraduate admissions, and Lester Monts, senior vice provost for academic affairs, will resign from their respective positions, serving for more than 25 years and 20 years, respectively. Additionally, Constance Cook, the
News executive director for the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, and Ruth Person, the chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint, will retire from their roles. Though Coleman’s speech urged the University to push forward, she did not end her final State of the University address without lingering in the past. With the University’s 2017 bicentennial, Coleman said the anniversary serves as an opportunity to redefine the campus. Coleman appointed Gary Krenz, who serves as special counsel to the president, to work as the co-chair for programs surrounding the milestone. “The bicentennial compels us to rediscover this impact, tell it and celebrate it,” Coleman said. Prompting the audience to visualize the University’s vast history early in her speech, Coleman asked attendees to imagine “a seminal moment” when a stranger, newly arrived in Ann Arbor from Detroit, came forward to support the University. “It’s 1840,” Coleman began. “And what we know was the Diag was a scrubby pasture. A lone classroom building faces State Street ... And now a gift arrives. It is a German encyclopedia from a fur trader who has never been to Ann Arbor. We don’t know why he chose the University, but we know he believed strongly in educating the next generation, including his own children.” Channeling that distant moment from the penthouse of a building she helped bring to reality, Coleman allowed a speech on the University’s future to dip into its past. “The University of Michigan is about legacies, and it is about futures, about historic encyclopedias and talented freshmen,” she said. “We’re reflecting on all of them, on everything that’s been accomplished in using those experiences to move forward on bold ideas, crazy dreams, and using them to create the University of tomorrow.”
Obama nominates Yellen to head U.S. monetary policy as Fed. Reserve head After Summers withdrew nom., Yellen would become first chairwoman WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will nominate Federal Reserve vice chair Janet Yellen to succeed Ben Bernanke as chairman of the nation’s central bank, the White House said Tuesday. Yellen would be the first woman to head the powerful Fed, taking over at a pivotal time for the economy and the banking industry. Both Yellen and Bernanke are scheduled to appear with Obama at the White House on Wednesday for a formal announcement. Bernanke will serve until his term ends Jan. 31, completing a remarkable eight-year tenure in which he helped pull the U.S. economy out of the worst financial crisis and recession since the 1930’s. Under Bernanke’s leadership, the Fed created extraordinary programs after the financial crisis erupted in 2008 that are credited with helping save the U.S. banking system. The Fed lent money to banks after credit markets froze, cut its key shortterm interest rate to near zero and bought trillions in bonds to lower long-term borrowing rates. Yellen, 67, emerged as the leading candidate after Lawrence Summers, a former Treasury secretary whom Obama was thought to favor, withdrew from consideration last month in the face of rising opposition. A close ally of the chairman, she has been a key architect of the Fed’s efforts under Bernanke to keep interest rates near record lows to support the economy, and she would likely continue steering Fed policy in the same direction as Bernanke. The White House announcement comes in the midst of a
confrontation between Obama and congressional Republicans, particularly those in the House, over the partial government shutdown and the looming breach of the nation’s $16.7 trillion borrowing limit. Obama has been harshly critical of Republicans for demanding either changes in health care or spending policies in exchange for paying for government operations and raising the debt ceiling. White House aides, however, said Obama was not likely to use Yellen’s nomination announcement for partisan remarks on the shutdown and debt limit. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said that the administration probably decided to go ahead with the announcement to send a signal of policy stability to financial markets, where investors are growing increasingly nervous over the partial shutdown and what they perceive as the much bigger threat of a default on Treasury debt if Congress does not raise the borrowing limit. “Markets are very unsettled and they are likely to become even more unsettled in coming days,” Zandi said. “Providing some clarity around who will be the next Fed chairman should help at least at the margin.” As vice chair since 2010, Yellen has helped manage both the Fed’s traditional tool of shortterm rates and the unconventional programs it launched to help sustain the economy after the financial crisis erupted in 2008. These include the Fed’s monthly bond purchases and its guidance to investors about the likely direction of rates. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., who heads the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which must approve Yellen’s nomination, said he will work with the panel’s members to advance her confirmation quickly. “She has a depth of experience that is second to none, and I have no doubt she will be an excel-
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 — 3A
BUS From Page 1A bus route would be more effective than expanding SafeRide, a University service for latenight transportation between campus buildings and areas within a one-mile radius of campus. While the initial cost of $30,000 to run the route for the first semester will be equally split between IFC and the CSG
GRANT From Page 1A said. The John Templeton Foundation was founded in 1987 to fund research projects that include focuses on science, character virtue development and freedom and free enterprise. The foundation’s website states, “Our vision is derived from the late Sir John Templeton’s optimism about the possibility of acquiring ‘new spiritual information’ and from his commitment to rigorous scientific research and related scholarship.” With the grant, Krause and his colleagues from across the country will conduct a survey of 3,000 people over the age of 18 around the United States. The team has pinpointed a variety of religious factors to test as well as biological markers such as weight, blood pressure and presence of stress-related hormones.
DISABILITY From Page 1A ethics. At a national level, Delta Gamma has chosen to support Service for Sight, a charity which raises awareness about obstacles for the blind or nearly blind populations and the resources available to them. Lectureship speakers do not have to relate to the sorority’s chosen cause, but Steir said the chapter and alumni were excited about Hingson’s connection to activism for the blind. Hingson previously spoke at the Delta Gamma National Convention in Indiana. Hingson discussed his own experiences as a disabled person and his foun-
POWERSHIFT From Page 1A Solomon responded by raising more than $1,130 through a private donation website — most coming in from family and friends of her team. An additional $600 of funding was granted by a Central Student Government resolution passed late Tuesday night by a unanimous vote. The resolution requires attendees to present a report to the assembly on the conference and further sustainability initiatives the University can pursue. Results from the Powershift conference can be seen on several U.S. campuses. The
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executive branch’s discretionary budget, running the route for additional semesters will rely on the success of the program and a permanent stream of financial support from sponsors. The operation of the bus route during additional days of the week will depend on the support of CSG and other sponsors, Proppe said. He hopes that by the time January hits, he will secure approximately $70,000 to run the route all week.
Because the idea for an offcampus transportation system was initially conceived in the IFC, Dishell said the council wanted to continue to collaborate with CSG. IFC President Michael Freedman said the council was optimistic about its success. “It all really depends on the numbers and the results,” Freedman said. “But we’re pretty positive in thinking that the crime rates will go down because of the bus route.”
Krause said some of the religious dimensions the survey will examine include social relationships in religious communities, prayer, forgiveness and religious coping responses. “The list goes on and on, and that’s one of the reasons why we’re doing the study, because the list is so long, it’s time to pare this down a little bit and see if we can isolate important components,” he said. Krause initially entered the research field to study stress and health among older adults. He said that as he interviewed his subjects, religion became a common factor in dealing with stress — a fact that is contrasted by trends of younger generations. The application for the grant was a long, tedious process. Krause said he spent a few years focusing his research and finding the right questions to present to the foundation. The foundation has two grant-making cycles each year, and full proposals can only be submitted by invitation only.
According to the foundation’s website, grants are aimed at “contrarians” and “intellectual entrepreneurs” to connect different fields and address research questions that have previously gone unanswered. With regard to political and social implications of religious impacts on health, Krause said his team is focused on basic initial research rather than executing any institutional change. “Let’s say I go over to the hospital and try to implement something that’s religiously oriented; that could certainly be interpreted as a conflict of church and state,” he said. Krause said religion may not always be a positive factor in relation to health. “I’m not coming into this thinking that religion is good for everybody or that it’s the silver bullet we’ve all been waiting for, because what my research and what other people’s research has found is that it can have detrimental effects on people, as well.”
dation’s work advocating for the blind. “As a society, we don’t tolerate differences, we fear them,” Hingson said. “I look forward to the day I can walk into a restaurant and be handed a menu in Braille.” In 2011, Hingson established Roselle’s Dream Foundation, named in honor of the heroic guide dog. Proceeds benefit blind people in need of technological aids, such as the $5,495 machine that allows them to take notes in Braille. Members of the Manchester Lions Club — a local chapter of the national service organization — traveled from Manchester, Mich. to the event. Lions member Peggy Allen said she heard about the event through the Ann Arbor Lions Club, and wanted to attend because
of the Lions’ work supporting leader-dog programs for the blind and supplying lowincome or disabled people with eyeglasses. Engineering freshman Nikki Steltenkamp, a member of Delta Gamma, said she heard about the event during sorority recruitment. “One of the biggest pieces of advice my dad gave me before leaving for school was to go to everything, no matter what,” Steltenkamp said. “An event like this shows that college is not just about parties or studying.” LSA sophomore McKenna Meyer said she expected the lecture to center on Higson’s experience during 9/11, but was pleased to hear about his daily experience as a blind individual and the subjectification he faces.
“Divest and Invest” campaign — which Solomon helped start at the University — began just two years ago after a workshop hosted by two universities at Powershift 2011. According to Michigan’s Student Sustainability Coalition, the University has almost $1 billion dollars invested in fossil fuel industries, which accounts for 5 percent of total fossil-fuel investments from U.S. universities. In addition to “Divest and Invest,” this year’s conference will focus on environmental justice, which is a growing part of the environmental movement. “How our environment is affecting the people — a lot of time that is ignored in national
campaigns,” Solomon said. “People don’t look at the people aspect of it and that is so important to motivate other people.” The group initially reached out to churches for lodging, but many were already booked, and others unwilling to accommodate. “You don’t want a bunch of college students sleeping on your floor when you’re not there and you have services to run Sunday morning,” she said. “It’s a big ask.” Solomon said she is optimistic they will find friends at nearby schools that can squeeze 10 people on the floor, and will consider couch-surfing or camping, if it comes down to it.
Opinion
4A — Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Do I deserve to be a feminist?
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MELANIE KRUVELIS ANDREW WEINER EDITOR IN CHIEF
and ADRIENNE ROBERTS
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MATT SLOVIN MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
FROM THE DAILY
Federal inaction, local effects The shutdown could have huge ramifications for higher education
T
he current federal government shutdown — now in its second week — is costing the state of Michigan about $18 million per day according to the state’s budget director. There have been many “threats” and “warnings” from both parties, yet there appears to be no end in sight. While there have been major repercussions across the board, the shutdown has already induced huge ramifications for higher education. If the shutdown continues, which very well may be the case, the effects on University students could be astounding. The federal government shutdown has paused the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ current investigations of universities suspected of violating mandates of Title IX — the federal gender equality law — by mishandling of sexual violence on their campuses. The processing of Clery Act complaints — filed by students and faculty about college’s reporting of safety and security — as well as follow-up on resolved complaints and reforms in college policies have also been halted. Crimes concerning sexual assault are extremely time-sensitive issues, and not addressing them in a prompt manner might undo the steps that have been taken to make collegiate handling of sexual violence more transparent and fair. Federal research funding has been stalled, and all associated agencies have had to close their doors. Federal scientists — deemed nonessential — have had to drop their work, meaning the large community of researchers at academic institutions were forced to halt their ongoing projects. The University itself might see reduction in federal research as federal sponsorship accounts for about 62 percent of the University’s total research volume. Research projects funded through contracts rather than grants, or awaiting federal regulatory approval, are on hold. The University has also stalled the process for obtaining new awards for research. In addition, many federal electronic databases regularly used as schol-
arly resources in academic work and research papers aren’t being updated, including those of the Library of Congress, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Science Foundation and the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Military service academies have also been affected. Some immediate consequences include shutdown of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York, along with classes being cancelled at other academic institutions. At the schools still holding classes, such as the Air Force Academy, students can’t access books at the library, tutoring centers or resources from the media due to cuts in academic sources. Here at the University, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library on North Campus remains closed. These serious impediments are, however, fairly immediate — an elongated shutdown could cause immense difficulties in numerous other areas. The need-based Pell Grant and federal student loans have been affected — most of the employees overseeing the programs have been furloughed — making it difficult for recipients to get answers to questions. However, a longer shutdown could reduce federal funding in this area. Federal funding also goes beyond tuition for some college students; food subsidies, grants and loans for student housing all come from the government. These disagreements must end to eliminate the stranglehold on college students and the rest of the American people.
VICTORIA NOBLE | VIEWPOINT
A student-friendly GOP Critiques of the Republican Party haven’t been in short supply lately. Awkward sexist gaffes — hello, legitimate rape — and a stubborn government shutdown have led many to throw their hands up at the second largest American political party. But, even though it looks bad, the Grand Old Party isn’t beyond repair. If the party wants to win over traditionally liberal students — who have been turning out to the polls in record numbers — they have to ditch backward policies and update their platform to accommodate a changing world. Here are a few suggestions to help the Republicans do just that. First, stay out of our bedrooms. The “party of personal freedom” has no business telling us when we can or cannot use birth control or who can marry whom. According to a study by social work Assistant Prof. Michael Woodford, 68 percent of heterosexual Michigan students support same-sex marriage. Opposing equal rights has always put the offending party on the wrong side of history. If the Republicans want any sort of resurgence among students, they must reverse this trend of ignorance and inequality. Perhaps most pressingly, take charge of the healthcare debate. Most Americans still don’t like the Affordable Care Act, or at least don’t fully support it. While it’s great that the ACA gives healthcare to more uninsured Americans, the bill is still nothing more than a Band-Aid fix. Until hospitals stop charging insurance companies — and now the government — $70 for an antibiotic that costs six cents to manufacture, the healthcare debate will not end. If the Republican Party can come up with a solution to do away with this ridiculous inflation and lower healthcare costs across the board, it will surely expand their constituency. But that means they must shut up and compromise. According to Federalist Paper 10, a democracy is supposed to mediate between different factions. By design of the idolized founding fathers, the Republicans can’t get their way all the time. They’ll need to work with the — gasp! — liberal agenda if they expect the liberals to work with theirs. Maybe they’ll even stop a few government shutdowns in the process. Next, stop being sexist. Most Republican politicians don’t want to marginalize women, but sometimes that’s what their policies do.
Common-sense policies such as equal rights and pay shouldn’t be divided by partisan politics. They also need to leave the abortion issue alone. No legislator has the power to do anything about Roe v. Wade. The Republicans would be wise to ignore this issue and spend their political capital elsewhere. This capital would be best spent playing to their strength — the economy. Polls consistently show that more Americans trust the Republicans to handle the economy. Republicans need to stop fighting with Democrats over social issues and work on ways to reform the many government structures that inhibit economic growth. And they can do that by working the media. The Democrats frequently play the “cool kid” card by appearing on talk shows and new media outlets frequently visited by students. The Republicans rarely, if ever, appear on non-traditional news sources — as in, anything but Fox News. Some of President Ronald Reagan’s success can be attributed to his ability to use media to his advantage. Instead of complaining about media bias, modern Republicans need to use new media sources to change their stuffy public image. And lastly, Republicans need to support education. Education is a capital good with strong spillover benefits. Good schools can singlehandedly reduce crime, reduce income disparity without having to redistribute wealth and ensure long-term economic growth by investing in future laborers, leaders, professionals and capitalists. There’s absolutely no excuse for the Republicans not to support every effort to improve education and education funding at all levels. Strong primary and secondary schools give students a solid foundation for later work and education. Strong public universities help get promising impoverished students into quality institutions. The students then often go back to their original hometowns or cities and elicit real change for those areas. It’s clear that meaningful education can do more to solve social disparity than other federal programs ever could. It could also reduce welfare dependence. These goals could legitimize the Republican Party and make it slightly more attractive to younger generations. Victoria Noble is an LSA freshman.
B
eing an immature male and a self-identifying feminist can be tough sometimes. I mean, it’s not centuries-ofoppressionleading-towidespreadeconomic-andsocial-discrimination tough. But still, as someone who JAKE strives to be an OFFENHARTZ ally to all those fighting misogyny on the front lines, I often find myself in troublesome moral quandaries. What is my responsibility, for example, if a friend of mine cat-calls a group of scantily clad sorority girls outside of Rick’s? What is my expected response to the “Bitch, make me a sandwich” humor that still gets a cheap laugh while watching football? During moments like this — frequent as they are — is it my duty as an Emma Goldman-loving, Jezebelreading male to halt the conversation, to condemn the comment as sexist while debunking the myth that all feminists hate men? Regardless of whether or not I have an obligation to speak out against anti-women speech, I almost never do. Admittedly, cowardice and ignorance play a role in my silence, as I am neither courageous nor informed enough to intelligently expound upon the ways in which hate speech can contribute to oftenignored gender inequalities. Even if I were equipped with Mother Teresa’s bravery and Virginia Woolf’s eloquence, I’d still be hesitant to assert my feminist ideals in response to a friend’s demeaning language. But, this has less to do with my male-feminist identity than it does with the fact that I — as a 20-yearold with a juvenile sense of humor — am sometimes a total shithead. Sure,
I make a conscious effort to avoid the garden-variety misogyny that plagues the vocabulary of some of my peers, but in other respects I can be narrow-minded and insensitive. The truth of the matter is that just as assholes can be feminists, well-intentioned people sometimes use sexist language to degrade women. I’m not saying it’s OK — it totally isn’t. I truly believe that the seemingly harmless act of slutshaming girls outside a bar can contribute to the victim-blaming rhetoric that so harmfully pervades our culture. That said, the moral ground I currently stand on is simply not sturdy enough for me to feel comfortable reprimanding a friend for this all-too-common transgression. How then, do I define my role as a male feminist? For me, being a male feminist means acknowledging that my straight, male identity puts me at place of enormous privilege in our patriarchal society. It means recognizing that societal constructions of gender have led us to falsely equate hypermasculinity with power and femininity with weakness. It means accepting the fact that words have the power to perpetuate double standards — so that the word “bitch” being synonymous with both non-submissive women and effeminate men is problematic. Part of me, though, realizes it’s unfair to expect everyone to know or agree with these basic tenets of feminist theory. Discussions of social constructions and the patriarchy take place in University classrooms so that — just as privilege begets privilege — privilege also begets the study of oppression. The part of me that realizes this is,
in many ways, responsible for my rarely criticizing those who verbally encroach on my feminist ideals. Therefore, the matters that I’m passionate enough to espouse publically tend to be of the sort that any basic egalitarian would be outraged over. It’s absolutely appalling to me that one in four women will be victims of rape or attempted rape before graduating college. It’s embarrassing that — 50 years after President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act — women are still paid on average 77 cents for every dollar made by men. It’s more than unforgivable that educated members of the media think women breadwinners are antiscience and it’s a crying shame that rich, old — uterus-less — men insist on controlling the debate about abortion. While feminism seeks to illuminate these systematic discrepancies as institution-based, the mere recognition that all persons deserve equality isn’t cause for radical association. Do I deserve to call myself a feminist then, or is my selfidentification just some mental gymnastic to exchange accountability for credibility? The answer to that question remains uncertain, as there’s no President of Feminism I can call for a status report. In the meantime, here’s hoping our culture will one day reject rigid gender norms and all forms of subjugation, that unequal pay will soon be a thing of the past and rape statistics won’t make me wish my little sister would just go to college online. When that day does come, this petty matter of labeling can finally be put to rest.
There’s no President of Feminism I can call for a status report.
—Jake Offenhartz can be reached at jakeoff@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Kaan Avdan, Sharik Bashir, Barry Belmont, James Brennan, Eli Cahan, Eric Ferguson, Jesse Klein, Melanie Kruvelis, Maura Levine, Patrick Maillet, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Harsha Nahata, Adrienne Roberts, Paul Sherman, Sarah Skaluba, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe MAJA TOSIC | VIEWPOINT
How I learned to be white
At birth, I entered the lifelong process of blindly learning what it means to be white. Life coaches bestowed the notion of whiteness in me — my parents, peers, teachers, institutions, media, song lyrics, legal system, schools and countless others. Through an unspoken process of socialization, I have learned how to be white. At just four months old, my parents left a country filled with bloodshed, hatred and nationalism in the hopes of finding a utopia called America. Instead, they found the same deathly and suffocating grip choking the people of the United States. It was no longer just religion that simply divided people: It was race. At age two, my parents were already socialized by American society which included adopting the notion of separation and oppression along racial divides. They soon learned that this country was quick to assume, doubt, ignore, belittle, torture and deny based on the color of one’s skin. Now, America looks onto Bosnia and its civil war as a senseless affair between ignorant barbarians. Bold statement from a country with a similar history. At age five, Ruby and I were lumped together in preschool, because our teacher assumed that her non-white dialect and my nonEnglish accent went well together and made us equally un-American. At age seven, I desperately wanted my hair to be braided with pink clips and beads on the ends, but an unspo-
“
ken and uncomfortable exchange between my mother and the hairdresser ensued that proved silent resistance could be overlooked in order to appropriate someone else’s culture. At age eight, my parents climbed the social ladder and moved away from the poor inner city. At age eight and a half, my parents started to lock their car doors when they wandered back to their old neighborhood. At age nine, my whitewashed town grew afraid of others after 9/11. At age 10, my father pointed out the factories piled in Detroit and told me that all I would have to do in order to avoid the assembly line would be to work hard in school. At age 12, the evening news showed white individuals and lumps of color. At age 13, I learned the world history of white conquerors and saviors who acquired God’s duty to spread civilization to the rest of the world. At age 14, I moved to a rich, white area to go to a better school, and soon learned to ignore the too-close-forcomfort “ghetto” separated by an invisible border of high taxes. At age 15, the cool kids in high school bonded over creating their own racial slur. At age 16, my role models included all of my teachers at school — all of them white. At age 17, I let my head bob to the rhythm of lyrics and beats produced by a different race: by a different world ridden by a struggle I will never experience.
At age 18, I watched the masses of my affluent white peers receive academic awards while the handful of black students received athletic awards. At the University, I thought the campus was very diverse and welcoming. At the University, my heartbeat quickened when a black man was walking towards me at night. At the University, my slight accent attracted inquisitive comments, and my response of being born in Bosnia made me seem interesting and cool while immigrants of color received snickers and were negatively regarded as “fresh off the boat.” At the University, my white guilt drove me to smile excessively at people of color as they walked by. At the University, no one demanded that I speak without an accent, while others rolled their eyes when a foreign GSI entered the room. At the University, I am heard, listened to and respected. At the University, my voice belongs to me and does not speak for all people of my same identity. At the University, I am free to be me. No questions asked. No assumptions made. No threats hurled. At this very moment, one question lurks: What I am to do with what I have learned? What would you do? I dare you to take ownership of your education. Disrupt the cycle of bombarding messages, teachings of white norms and suffocating reinforcements. Maja Tosic is an LSA senior.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Think about it this way. The American people do not get to demand a ransom for doing their jobs.” — President Barack Obama said regarding his phone call with House Speaker John Boehner (R–Ohio). Obama said in a news conference that he would not negotiate over raising the nation’s debt limit.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Arts
EVENT PREVIEW
A Lennon tribute concert for peace Local artists to present peacethemed music By GRACE PROSNIEWSKI Daily Arts Writer
Few artists have so influenced and inspired people to work toward societal change as John Lennon. From his days with Veterans The Beatles, For Peace through his solo work until his John Lennon death in 1980, Birthday Lennon was an iconic and Concert unfaltering pro- Wednesday ponent of peace. at 7:30 p.m. As his 73rd birthday The Ark approaches, fans of Lennon $15 have an opportunity to celebrate his life and ideals while supporting a worthy cause. The sixth annual “Veterans for Peace John Lennon Birthday Concert,” put on by the Veterans for Peace Chapter 93, features several local artists, who will perform a wide array of Lennon’s works and other peace-related songs. For the first event held in Ypsilanti’s Corner Brewery, Chapter President Bob Krzewinski contacted Yoko Ono’s people in New York and asked to use John Lennon’s name for the peace event. About a month later, the chapter received a $10,000 check from Ono in support of the event. The concert continued to grow
and develop from then on, so much so that organizers decided to move it to a bigger venue. “The biggest change made to the event was moving it last year from the Corner Brewery to The Ark,” said Chapter Vice-Coordinator William Shea. “The Brewery was a free place, while The Ark cost significantly more. But at the Corner we had to get the sound system, lights, set up publicity, etc. But at The Ark, that’s all taken care of. Plus, because of the size of The Ark, there’s the potential to make, or lose, a bit more money.” The event promises to be a thoughtful forum on combating acts of war and systematic violence through peaceful means. “The concert,” Shea said, “serves two purposes: to raise money for the Utah Phillips/J. David Singer Chapter of Veterans For Peace’s Peace Scholarship Fund, a fund that has supported 10 college students who are studying conflict resolution, be it in a single course, a degree-granting program or research-dissertation work, and to get like-minded peace activists together to celebrate peace efforts throughout the world.” The criterion for receiving donations from the event has changed to accommodate more candidates in different concentrations. “The award system has been opened up,” Shea said, “to include almost any Michigan resident who is studying conflict resolution and has a need for funds to accomplish their activities and goals. We’ve given out as little as $250 for a small,
one-time project to as much as $5,000 for financial assistance on a major dissertation project.” Lennon’s aggressive activism against war serves as an inspiration for others who believe in peace to act on their beliefs. “Lennon was a militant pacifist,” Shea said. “He knew full well that you often have to get in warmongers’ faces to get them to pay attention to the fundamental destruction on the lives and psyche of those affected by war and conflict.” The call for peace is especially poignant when coming from veterans, men and women who have experienced the brutality of war firsthand and who refuse to let such atrocities continue unchallenged. “I am a Vietnam-era vet and when I meet younger vets, we often understand that the wars we’ve been in may be from a different time, but in reality there is no difference between one war and another,” Shea said. “A war is a war, be it World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. The destruction on all is the same, the (post-traumatic stress disorder) is the same, the dehumanizing effect on both military and civilian participants is the same, the hatred is the same.” With all the recent discussion about taking military action in Syria, Lennon’s message of giving peace a chance is as relevant today as ever. “War seems to be the first solution by many,” Shea said, “when truly it should never be considered a solution at all.”
TV REVIEW
‘Vampire Diaries’ spinoff ‘The Originals’ stands on its own By KELLY ETZ Daily Arts Writer
As a spinoff that already aired a back-door pilot in April, CW’s racy new series “The Originals” found itself in a tight spot when B+ it had to release yet another pre- The miere of sorts Originals last Thursday. Fans of “The Pilot Vampire DiaTuesdays ries” already at 8 p.m. have copious background CW on the original vampire family; we’ve seen their whole sordid story in repeated flashbacks since “TVD” season two. In the new premiere, “The Originals” had to work around this previous knowledge while providing enough token exposition for newcomers to gain a shaky foothold. To get around this, the series essentially recycles the previously aired pilot, but reworks the unfolding events through Elijah’s (Daniel Gillies) point of view. While it’s not oh-shit-what-isgoing-on exciting like a top-ofits-game episode of “TVD,” the premiere manages to get all of its ducks in a row with a satisfying amount of shifty looks and secret meetings to heighten suspense. As if we haven’t been waiting on the edge of our seats for months now. Elijah, while a supremely boring character in “TVD,” makes an excellent narrator here. We find out even more twisty details about his rocky relationship with Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and see him get a little too up-closeand-personal with Klaus’s baby mama, Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin). Turns out starchy, proper Elijah is human (well … you know what I mean) after all. Props to “The Originals” for handling the whole hybrid baby thing without delving into “Twilight” territory — though the super prolonged pause to hear the heartbeat was toeing the line. While “TVD” isn’t completely forgotten — there’s a shoutout or two to Mystic Falls — it’s clear the
CW
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 — 5A
FILM REVIEW
RADIUS-TWC
Government shutdown.
Articulate ‘Inequality’ is a treat for all By MAYANK MATHUR Daily Arts Writer
Robert Reich served as the Secretary of Labor under the Clinton Administration from 1993 to 1997. Prior to that, Ahe served in the adminis- Inequality trations of Gerfor All ald Ford (yay, Michigan!) and At the Jimmy Carter. Michigan Reich is striking in appear- RADiUS-TWC ance because of his height — he stands at about five feet tall — and his personable demeanor makes him an intriguing conversationalist. If Reich wants to tell you about one of the biggest economic and social problems of your country, you’re probably going to listen to him — and not just because you’ve paid seven or eight dollars. In director Jacob Kornbluth’s (“The Best Thief in the World”) latest documentary, Reich talks to the audience about the widening income inequality in the United States and the effect that it has on society. His story begins with America’s economy from the early years of the Great Depression and goes through today in an attempt to shed light on the seriousness of the matter. Clocking in at 85 minutes, this documentary is lean and straightforward, containing necessary splashes of wit and seriousness to keep the audience attentive. In broad strokes, “Inequality for All” can be split into two parts. The first deals with the
problem of income inequality and how the face of the economy has changed from 1928 to 2010. The second deals with the political and social effects associated with this problem, showing us that the widening gap between the rich and the poor is much more than a game of numbers. Both parts are held together by the thought that the middle class of any economy is its sustaining force and heartbeat. The economy is nothing but a reflection of the middle class. The film’s material focuses on the problems faced by the middle class, by way of stagnating income over a period of 40 years from the 1970s, which has resulted in a massive drop in expenditure. At the same time, the rich keep getting richer, but spend an insignificant portion of their enormous incomes. Therefore, the drop in middle-class expenditure is not buoyed by an increase in upper-class expenditure. Expenditure forms the backbone of a capitalist economy, and any sort of decrease goes a long way in harming the economy as a whole.
Doc about income gaps appeals to common sense. Reich is the anchor of the film and uses his experience to make the material all the more convincing. His amicable per-
sonality and wit make him the ideal person to take us through the troubling tale, and he makes the material easy to understand. There are no vague economic terms and complicated graphs — just plain and simple common sense (not so common after all). The documentary features interviews with people from the middle class and the rich upper class, helping to form a wellrounded and compelling argument. Inventive and animated visuals compliment the spoken material keeping the audience interested throughout. One of the biggest plus points of this feature is that it never indulges — there are no sentimental interviews from the victims, nor are there attempts to point fingers toward the people with big paychecks. The chief enemy here is greed. The seriousness of the situation is diluted at the climax due to an unnecessarily positive ending in which Reich tries too hard to find the silver lining in a bid to convince the audience that it’s all going to be OK. However, the documentary does make some important comments on the situation and even points toward a possible solution. It does well to paint inequality as an economic issue that eventually evolves into a larger societal problem as it rears its head in politics. “Inequality for All” chooses to delve into the grayer, murkier aspects of the country’s economic and political structure. It’s not only about who holds the bigger stick; it’s also about how the bigger stick is used to exert dominance over the oppressed.
Vampires sure do wear a lot of makeup.
series wants to stand on its own. With a wealth of stake-happy family drama and a darker, sultrier mood, “The Originals” has all the right elements of a juicy CW drama. This premiere is far superior to the premiere of “TVD” — there’s no fog, ravens or awkward actor fumbling. Instead, the actors are comfortably settled into their characters already; the heavy lifting is already done. Even Rebekah (Claire Holt), who spends the entire episode in either the bath or a robe (where is she, exactly?), seems completely in character. After all that drama with the cure, she deserves some down time.
Vampires, werewolves and witches. The best part of the premiere is unquestionably Marcel (Charles Michael Davis, “Grey’s Anatomy”), one of the only new characters specific to “The Originals.” The self-proclaimed King of the Quarter enlivens every scene he deigns to appear in, looking gorgeously at place in the rich, smoky
setting of New Orleans. Klaus’s old mentee dominates the supernatural around him, preventing the witches from practicing and killing anyone who gets in his way. It’s refreshing to see Klaus pitted against essentially himself; he enjoyed the upper hand for too long in Mystic Falls. If “The Originals” wants to stay relevant, it should put its efforts behind Marcel — he’s the clear oomph factor behind the new series. Even though essentially nothing happens plot-wise in the premiere, the last two minutes set up enough intrigue to make the next episode (returning to its regular time slot on Tuesday nights) explosive. Marcel has a secret weapon, Klaus is loveless as usual and Elijah is staked — again. Even if you’re not a fan of “TVD,” “The Originals” is worth the watch. It’s new, it’s fresh and it’s full of gorgeous people — seriously where does the CW find them all? As yet another show about vampires, werewolves and witches (oh my!), “The Originals” isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel here, but why should that be a bad thing? Reworking an established formula is part of the fun. It’s nice to know there’ll be a lot of blood-ringed mouths, slightly sadistic threats and bare abs. Bring it.
VISIT MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE+FILTER
Sports
6A — Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MEN’S GOLF
After hot start, reality check at Erin Hills Collegiate Michigan finishes eighth out of 14 at Wisconsin course By MICHAEL KESSLER Daily Sports Writer
Two top-three finishes to start the season for the Michigan men’s golf team was an ideal start, especially coming off a disheartening last season. The talented sophomore duo of Chris O’Neill and Brett McIntosh was off to a fantastic start, leading a young Wolverine squad that looked poised to compete for the Big Ten championship. Those expectations haven’t evaporated by any stretch, but a disappointing performance at the Erin Hills Collegiate may give those aspirations a sobering pause. The Wolverines fell back to reality with an eighth-place finish this week in Hartford, Wis., shooting a 29-over-par 893. Though Michigan started relatively well, shooting its best round of the tournament in the first round and finishing the day in sixth place, it slipped to eighth after a rough second round on Monday that was hampered by strong, gusty winds. Scores across the board spiked in the round, but despite an improved final round, the Wolverines were unable to make up any ground and settled for eighth place in the 14-team field. “We were capable of better,” said Michigan coach Chris Whitten. “The golf course was challenging and was really penalizing poor shots. This will leave a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths.” The subpar performance was in part the doing of a strong field, which included highly ranked teams like first-place finisher No. 10 Stanford, runner-up No. 4 UCLA and Oklahoma. Additionally, the recently-opened Erin
Hills Golf Course, which will serve as the home for the 2017 U.S. Open, was not easy to navigate. The course was adjusted to be more playable for collegiate competition, but it nonetheless served as a strong test for Michigan’s upcoming events. “We are going to play very difficult courses in the postseason,” Whitten said. “I think this course is a good preview for the courses we will play in the Big Ten Championships, so it was a really good experience from that perspective.” O’Neill, the undisputed leader of Michigan’s young squad,
“This will leave a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths.” led the team once again, shooting a one-over-par 217 that was good for a top-15 individual finish. But O’Neill struggled throughout the event with his wedge and short games, which contributed to his worst individual performance of the season. The rest of the team was unable to pick up the slack, as none of the other four Michigan golfers finished in the top 30. “I think we turned in a ‘B’ performance,” O’Neill said. “No one really played anything special, just kind of average golf. We have a lot of room to improve after this week.” Silver linings may have been hard to come by for the Wolverines, but the team still finished second out of the four competing Big Ten teams — ahead of Wisconsin and Michigan State — which bodes well for Michigan’s chances as it hones in on
Classifieds
the Big Ten Championships. “We want to have a very strong Big Ten record, and we want to have a high seed going into the Big Ten Tournament at the end of the year,” Whitten said. “So it’s good to see the Big Ten competition early in the year like this and see how we stack up at this point in the season.” Additionally, while O’Neill’s scorecard may have ended up better than his performance would indicate, fellow sophomore Brett McIntosh flipped the script. His scoring didn’t stand out, and his best round was a mediocre two over par, but his play on the course showed clear improvements. “I think Brett had a really good ball-striking week. Probably the best he has all year, and just from a scoring perspective, I don’t think the score showed as well as he played,” Whitten said. “Chris and Brett have different things they need to work on, but there were lots of encouraging things to see out of both of them.” For a team with just one upperclassman, inconsistency should not come as a surprise, and that inexperience finally reared its head at the Erin Hills Collegiate. But for O’Neill and the rest of the team, one mediocre event doesn’t change expectations going forward. “As a team goal, we said that we wanted to try and finish in the top three of every event, and this week that wasn’t accomplished,” O’Neill said. “Individually, I feel like this year I have a shot to win every time I tee it up. If I play my best golf, I think I’ll be right there in contention.” The Wolverines won’t have much time to dwell on their performance, as they will be back in action over fall break Monday in the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic.
Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com
RELEASE DATE– Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
FOR RENT
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 10% donation 6 “12 Angry Men” actor 10 Credit card bill nos. 14 Lucy’s landlady 15 __ code 16 Sodium hydroxide, on a chem test 17 1949 Olivia de Havilland film 19 Kathryn of HBO’s “Oz” 20 Dermatologist’s concerns 21 Rowboat propeller 23 “Where __ sign?” 24 Cold drink brand 25 Home of the Clinton Presidential Library 29 White House tween 31 Delightful time 32 Singer Shore 33 Pope of 903 35 Van Cleef & __: French jeweler/perfumer 36 Bead in a necklace 40 Small sword 41 Corduroy ridges 42 “__ Is Born” 43 Double-helix molecule 44 Coke and Pepsi 49 Sam’s Choice, e.g. 52 Dramatic opening? 53 Blackguard 54 Small pop group 55 When, in Act III, Romeo cries, “O, I am fortune’s fool!” 57 Course for Crusoe?: Abbr. 59 Nitpick, and what this puzzle’s circled letters represent 62 Actor Jared 63 What NHL shootouts resolve 64 Mountain ridge 65 Galley order
30 Took in or let out 45 1998 British Open champ Mark 34 Andorra’s cont. 35 Msg. to the whole 46 Declares untrue 47 Warnings squad 36 Hand-held clicker 48 “That’s quite 37 Current clear” DOWN 38 Perjurer 50 Some gallery 1 Shape-fitting 39 Gorilla observer statuary game Fossey 51 Summer hrs. 2 Cayuga Lake city 40 “Good Lovin’” 56 English guy 3 Ph.D. hurdles group, with “the” 58 Caught on to 4 Dastardly chuckle 43 Stop by 60 Floral chain 5 Gen. Robert __ unannounced 61 AOL, e.g. 6 Train unit 7 Mineral resource ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 8 Stupefies with drink 9 __ metabolic rate 10 “Wheel of Fortune” buy 11 The president, vis-à-vis one Thanksgiving turkey 12 Autodialed electioneering tactic 13 Arab tribal leaders 18 Map speck: Abbr. 22 Right, as a wrong 26 Lab assistant of film 27 Greek café 28 Longtime Philbin 10/09/13 xwordeditor@aol.com co-host
66 Sound that fits this puzzle’s theme 67 Outmoded
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ANNOUNCEMENT
By Gerry Wildenberg (c)2013 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
10/09/13
CANNABIS UNIVERSITY™ & Cannabis Engineers Grand Opening Cookout Oct 12, Gallup Park, Ann Arbor Call 734-355-3178
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Junior forward Alex Guptill is serving a team-sanctioned suspension, his second such suspension in as many years.
Without Guptill, ‘M’ adjusts for BC By ERIN LENNON Daily Sports Writer
For the No. 10 Michigan hockey team, Thursday night’s home opener against No. 4 Boston College just got even more daunting. Coming off a losing season in which the Wolverines missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 23 years, the pressure will no doubt be on in Yost Ice Arena for Michigan’s first regular-season matchup. To make mat- NOTEBOOK ters worse, this young team will skate without junior forward Alex Guptill, who will serve a team-sanctioned suspension, on Thursday before he returns to the lineup Saturday against Rochester Institute of Technology. Last season, Guptill led the Wolverines in nearly every offensive category with 36 points, 16 goals, 144 shots and three gamewining goals. A third-round draft pick by the Dallas Stars in 2010, Guptill also finished second behind thenfreshman forward Boo Nieves in assists and power-play goals. After Guptill sat out the exhibition game Sunday, Michigan coach Red Berenson announced Tuesday that he would miss the home opener as a result of an undisclosed incident that occurred over the summer. “It just happened to be a big game,” Berenson said. “This isn’t something I like, but it’s the right thing to do. It’s not something he likes either. It’s a big game, it’s a home game and it’s a tough game
to win.” Guptill stayed in Ann Arbor for an away series in December against Ferris State last season due to a similar incident. But for the time being, Berenson isn’t worried about a pattern of behavior. “I’m seeing more (maturity) now,” Berenson said. “That’s good. So we’re making headway.” Without Guptill on Sunday, Michigan managed 35 shots against 22 for Waterloo — a sign the offense is as strong as promised. But the Wolverines went 0-for-5 on power plays — one of Guptill’s specialties. The offense will have to convert on extra-man opportunities against the mighty Boston College defense to prevent playing from behind. SWITCHING IT UP: Nine of Michigan’s 10 freshmen saw time on the ice in Sunday’s exhibition. Despite a strong showing both offensively and defensively, Berenson favors familiar pairs on offense heading into the regular season. He expects to put Nieves back with junior Phil Di Guiseppe and partner freshmen JT Compher and Tyler Motte in an effort to increase power-play conversions. “I just didn’t see enough of the lines that I think we can do better with so we just made a couple of changes,” Berenson said. “I’m interested to see how three of our lines jell. We have a lot of young players, and you’re looking for that young player to do what you need.” On defense, Michigan’s penalty kill, which featured three freshmen, was near perfect against Waterloo. While fresh-
men Michael Downing and Kevin Lohan looked particularly strong, Berenson is uncertain as to which to lines will appear in front of Boston College’s trio of top scorers. Berenson plans to keep the three freshmen defensemen on their respective lines Thursday. AN EYE ON TROUBA: Former Michigan defenseman Jacob Trouba seems to have settled in nicely into his new home in Winnipeg, Man. Trouba made his NHL debut for the Jets last Tuesday, contributing one goal and one assist. In a single year at Michigan, Trouba netted 12 goals and 17 assists en route to a first team All-American selection. As a freshman, Trouba led all freshmen defensemen nationally, contributing six power play goals. The Rochester, Mich., native was named Michigan’s Hal Downs Most Valuable Player and firstteam all-CCHA, while winning a gold medal with the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia. As former teammates, senior captain defenseman Mac Bennett and junior alternate captain forward Andrew Copp were watching on Tuesday. “I played with him last year,” Bennett said. “He’s a very special player. You could see that last year. Obviously he’s ready for the next level, and he played like nothing’s changed.” Added Copp: “Topping Mac, I played with Trouba for nine years. He’s a confident kid, and those situations don’t bug him at all.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Mitchell out with broken foot By LEV FACHER Daily Sports Writer
After tearing her ACL prior to the Michigan women’s basketball team’s 2012-13 season, sophomore forward Kelsey Mitchell didn’t see game action during her freshman year. She’s now in jeopardy of suffering the same fate this year, after injuring her foot while running laps during a preseason workout. She underwent surgery to repair the injury on Oct. 7 after an x-ray revealed a fracture. Mitchell hasn’t seen action in NCAA competition, but she averaged 9.3 points and 10 rebounds in three games during Michigan’s summer tour of Europe. Mitchell first injured her foot on that European trip, but the
injury was initially thought to be less severe, but surgery became necessary once she re-injured the foot while running. “You feel for her because she worked so hard to get healthy after tearing her ACL last year,” said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico to MGoBlue.com. “She was going to really help us on the rebounding end this season. I know that she will work just as hard this time around to get back on the court. “She’s a local kid, she’s a great kid,” Barnes Arico said. “That’s pretty tough.” Losing players to injury is hardly an unfamiliar experience for Barnes Arico, who saw five players, including Mitchell, fall victim to torn ACLs last season. Mitchell’s injury leaves the
Wolverines with one less option at an already-depleted forward position. There are four other forwards on the roster, but only junior Cyesha Goree saw game action last year. Goree’s participation was extremely limited, too. She appeared in nine games, averaging 1.1 points and 2.7 minutes. The other three forwards — redshirt senior Kendra Soto, senior Val Driscoll and sophomore Rebecca Lyttle — missed all of the 2012-13 season due to injuries. “That took a toll on us,” Barnes Arico said, who cited inexperience as a concern leading into her second season as Michigan’s head coach. “We thought we were going to have everybody coming back into this season. We went to Europe with everyone healthy.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 — 7A
Green, a ‘load,’ helps to carry Michigan’s By MATT SLOVIN Managing Editor
Time and time again this offseason, the Michigan coaching staff said that Fitzgerald Toussaint was looking “like the old Fitz.” Thus far, an inexperienced offensive line has prevented Toussaint from fully demonstrating just how recovered he actually is from a horrific leg injury that cut his season short a year ago. But there have been times — mostly in Michigan’s last two games, in which Toussaint has averaged at least 4.6 yards per carry — when he has exemplified the Wolverines’ new power running game. But Toussaint will be at his best when he doesn’t have to handle the entire workload out of the backfield. For example, against Connecticut, offensive coordinator Al Borges said Toussaint was “running out of gas” by the end of the game. Luckily for the offense, this doesn’t have to be a one-man show.
“That’s pretty good,” Kane said. “He’s a big dude. He moves extremely well and has quick feet.” Saturday against Minnesota, the 240-pound Green carried the ball 10 times — his most since the opener against Central Michigan when he rushed 11 times for 58 yards and also scored his first collegiate touchdown. Green’s yards per carry average against Minnesota was just 2.3, down from 5.3 against Central Michigan, though he did score again. “He didn’t have big numbers,” Borges said. “He had a couple nice runs. He powered the ball inside at the 2-yard line (for a touchdown), which was good. “It was a good starting point against a Big Ten opponent, and he got a few carries.” Against the Chippewas, Green entered the game when the outcome had long since been decided. But he got carries against the Golden Gophers early — a sign the coaching staff has come to trust him to take some of the weight off of Toussaint’s shoulders. Never was that more
perfect fit for Green because the timing of his commitment coincided with the program’s re-installation of the pro-style offense (“That’s his cup of tea,” Kane said). Being the downhill running back that he is, Green knew he’d be able to contribute immediately. As the season begins to take its toll on Toussaint, having Green in the mix will be a luxury for Borges, who noted the freshman has come a long way during the last few weeks of practice. But as for what role Green will play going forward, aside from that of sidekick to Toussaint, Borges was hesitant. He said that he was happy to get Green 10 carries, but noted that keeping him on a set number of snaps per game wouldn’t be productive. “Sometimes, if he’s rolling, it could maybe be even more than that,” Borges said. “I always like the featured back, but we were almost overfeaturing Fitz because of the way the games were going. “To get another kid in there to see what he can do, particularly
TERRA MOLENGRAFF/Daily
Freshman running back Derrick Green had his workload increased in Michigan’s win over Minnesota on Saturday.
Waiting in the wings is Michigan’s No. 2 tailback, freshman Derrick Green, whom Borges described as “a load” during his Tuesday press conference. And that’s the perfect way to describe the top-ranked running back in the high-school class of 2013. Green’s former coach at Hermitage (Va.) High School, Patrick Kane, burst out laughing upon hearing Borges’s assessment.
evident than late in the game against the Golden Gophers, when the coaching staff put the ball in Green’s hands and trusted he wouldn’t fumble. Playing second fiddle to Toussaint isn’t something Green is accustomed to, though Kane, his high-school coach, called him a “team guy,” adding that individual stats have never mattered much to him. Kane said Michigan was the
a talented kid like that, there’s nothing wrong with that. But I’ll never put a number on how many carries he’s got to have.” Borges called Green a “work in progress,” which is to be expected for a freshman, even one who came in as highly touted as Green. But as the coaches become more comfortable with him, his carries will come, and they’ll be in key situations when the team needs yards.
Redshirt sophomore Graham Glasgow moved from guard to center against Minnesota.
ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily
Self-made Glasgow a rock on the interior By LIZ VUKELICH Daily Sports Editor
When offensive coordinator Al Borges first saw Graham Glasgow in 2011, he was skeptical that the offensive lineman would ever play in Michigan Stadium. Glasgow, now a redshirt sophomore, was all over the place as a tackle his freshman year, running into teammates and unaware of when to block. Borges doubted Glasgow would ever reach a high enough caliber to be on the field for a snap, let alone a start. It wasn’t just Glasgow’s confusion during practice that made Borges hesitant about putting him in the lineup — it was the fact that Glasgow, a walk on, was competing against his highly recruited, scholarship-worthy teammates, not just for a chance to play, but for the coaches’ attention. “It’s a credit to a walk-on kid to get in the starting lineup because he’s done something to get you thinking he can play,” Borges said. Glasgow talks about the coaching hierarchy in the eyes of a walk-on, the list of people that needed to take notice before he
could make the jump to being seriously considered to play in games. He had already caught the eye of the strength coaches, so next on the list of people to impress was offensive line coach Darrell Funk. But that was already taken care of: fifth-year senior left tackle Taylor Lewan was acting as a sort of liaison, casually bringing up Glasgow’s name in front of Funk as a younger guy who stood out. So after seeing Glasgow struggling at both the tackle and guard positions, Funk gave him center duties in practice last fall to see if he fared any better there. Finally, it was Borges’s turn to pay attention, after the spring game of Glasgow’s freshman year. He “wasn’t going to take the world by storm” at the time, said Borges, but the extra time Glasgow spent in the weight room during the offseason paid off. “(Glasgow) worked hard and ... it’s important to him,” Borges said. “That’s all a coach asks. If it’s important to you, you do all the right things to get you as good as you can be. If that’s good enough to play, then great.” Now, two years later, Glasgow
is a self-made lineman. He was awarded a scholarship at the beginning of the season, and after starting the first four games at left guard, he moved over to center for the Big Ten opener last weekend. He’s been one of Michigan’s most reliable interior linemen, which is why the coaches had no qualms about changing his position a week before the game. After the Minnesota game, Lewan said Glasgow plays better with a full plate, that the increased multitasking and heightened sense of responsibility make him a better fit at center than at guard. Glasgow agreed with the assessment, rationalizing it by saying that the number of things there are to keep track of during games keeps him from getting complacent now that he’s achieved both scholarship and starter status. “One good performance isn’t going to change their perspective,” Glasgow said. “There’s always that mentality you always need to work hard even if you’ve been given something. You need to still prove them right.”
8A — Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
statement OCTOBER 9, 2013
2B
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 // The Statement
letter from the editor
Papa
These are yours, ours, everyone’s statements. This issue is filled with stories about life’s experiences that resonated in our souls, so much that we had to put them on our pages. Writing can be a cathartic process, a way to wrestle through emotions, a moment to gain more understanding and — if we’re lucky — peace. I was lucky enough to read through many stories and see those moments of clarity. But I was also entrusted to select only six personal statements for these pages. Some are funny, some are sad, but all are the reality. One personal statement is published in The Statement regularly, but this week, we dedicate the issue to those moments where you speak to us.
THE
statement
Magazine Editor: Haley Goldberg Deputy Editor: Paige Pearcy Design Editor: Alicia Kovalcheck
Photo Editor: Teresa Mathew Illustrator: Megan Mulholland Editor in Chief: Andrew Weiner
Managing Editor: Matthew Slovin Copy Editors: Tom McBrien Josephine Adams Jennie Coleman
by Alicia Adamczyk
“H
ey, gorgeous.” It’s been three and a half years since Papa died, but I can still hear his familiar, embarrassing greeting. He came to my house almost every day when I was growing up, and the greeting was a tradition that had sprung up over the years. He’d walk in and say his hello, and I’d run over and give him a hug, blushing. After, we would sit in the family room and watch the Tigers game or Michigan football together. It may not seem like much, but it’s one of the things I miss most about him. Papa Henry, my father’s father, was a hard worker, fiercely loyal to family and, above all, he was kind. In the almost 18 years I got to spend with him, I never once heard him say something negative or hurtful about someone. He was a good man, and he made me a better person. Papa was a joker, constantly making us all laugh, even if we had heard the joke once or twice before. He was a favorite among friends and strangers alike. He loved crossword puzzles, and he fell asleep every time he picked up a book. On days when I thought the world was out to get me, he was my ally, comforting me when the tears wouldn’t stop. And when I felt insecure, Papa was there with a bologna and mustard sandwich, ready to make it better. He had a big heart, and he filled it with family. My grandma was the love of his life, and they had a marriage any couple would be lucky to have. He raised both of his sons to be respectful and kind. From driving my cousin, D.J., to school each morning, to sitting through every last one of my dance recitals, he loved each of his grandchildren unconditionally, and continuously showed it. The memories, of course, are endless. But my favorites revolve around our annual family trip to Traverse City. We were all on different schedules, but every year we set aside time for the Family Vacation because Papa wanted us all together. Truthfully, the games of putt-putt, rounds of go-carts, family softball games and sand castle-building competitions are some of the best times my family has had together. We still go to Traverse City every year, and we still have a great time, though his sunburnt feet are noticeably absent. Papa was a family man, but he was also one of the biggest sports fans I’ve ever known. Base-
ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND
ball was his game, but he loved Michigan athletics, too. My first game at the Big House, I was sandwiched between him and my dad, trying to learn the chants as I reveled in the glory of Michigan football. Admittedly, I don’t remember if we won or lost that game. But I do remember Papa let me borrow his Maize and Blue cap to keep the sun out of my eyes. He loved Michigan, but Papa didn’t go to college. He had ten brothers and sisters, and his parents just couldn’t afford it. When I was growing up, Nana and Papa would bring over bags and bags of presents every Christmas for their four — and eventually five — grandchildren. When Papa was a child, the Salvation Army brought him a pair of shoes every December. But he, and Nana, worked incredibly hard and sent both of their children to college. In that regard, Papa is the epitome of the American Dream. He worked tirelessly, painting houses and eventually working for General Motors, so he could give his family what he himself never had. For his children, it meant that they would receive a college education. For me, it meant a college degree from the University of Michigan, specifically. My family has bled Maize and Blue for generations. Michigan was my dream — and Papa was my biggest supporter. So growing up, I studied hard, I played sports, I joined clubs and I watched every Michigan game with my family on TV. I sang “The Victors” with the rest of my family when my sister was accepted in 2008, and I explored the campus with her, wide-eyed, counting down the days until I could join her in Ann Arbor. Everything was running smoothly, until it wasn’t. Papa passed away two weeks before my high-school graduation. It happened so quickly, we didn’t get to say goodbye, and Papa never knew that my dream of attending the University would come true. I transferred here in my sophomore year. It wasn’t fair, but that’s how it went. At the time, it felt like I lost my best friend. Sometimes, it still does. Almost four years later, I still cry when I try to talk about him. Writing helps. When I graduate from the University this May, I know Papa won’t be in the Big House with me. But I know how proud he would be of me, and I’m so thankful for the 18 years I got to spend with him. Alicia is an LSA senior and Daily news editor.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 // The Statement
3B
3 a.m., welcome week. by Jon Horford
D
rowsy and sober leaned back in a chair in the middle of the night, watching three couples engage in the college version of a mating ritual. One couple is sitting on the couch to my left, talking about nothing in order to put a respectable amount of time in between meeting and making the “beast with two backs.” Another couple is up by the counter, which doubles as a bar for the night. The male is courting his female friend with the I-bet-you-can’t-drinkmore-than-I-can game, which ultimately is supposed to make her more likely to shed her clothes. The girl that makes up one half of the final couple is the type that takes it upon herself to not seem like other girls, which leads her to think that talking about sports will make guys want to sleep with her. I had seen myself in some form of each situation before, and observing those three couples made me question, for the thousandth time that week, why we act the way we do. I understand that I don’t really understand. It’s easy to act like making it to a certain age, attaining certain degrees or getting a highly thought of career will grant you access to the knowledge that will allow you to be content with yourself. Searching for an epiphany in a dimly lit Rick’s that will let you take your mind off of whatever it is you were raised to think your mind should be focued on. A few more shots of shitty tasting liquid should help but if you really want to test your tolerance for certain situations, throw your sober self at the nearest bar around 1:30 a.m. and observe what a sense of “community” has become. Not that I don’t partake in said activities on a weekly basis, but somewhere between a group of 10 good friends texting silently in a living room pregame and conversations starting only after your breath becomes flammable, I have to draw the line. How many times has your pride stopped you from doing what you want because you didn’t want to feel weak or stupid? You had to maintain this image of yourself that you
thought other people would be willing to accept because ultimately, what’s worse in life than being alone and feeling like you don’t belong? You could have every treasure the world can offer but if you could only use those treasures for yourself, what worth would they truly have? The bottom line is that everyone wants to be loved in some way. This might sound lazy, but let’s
be attained if you have your thoughts and beliefs at a certain frequency. I’m not here to tell you what is best or what you should do; do what feels right to you and understand that not knowing and not being sure is the way it is and will be for everyone. Our journeys are different so don’t base yours off of comparisons to others. Begin to enjoy everything that happens to you. Will old
your decisions. The act of not doubting is strength. Believe in yourself and you will accomplish anything. And when you have become the person you had dreamed of becoming, remember this: no matter how many “great” things you accomplish in your life, you are no better than a person who has done what society would consider “nothing.” People are people. Explore the world and I’m sure you’ll find that whether you are in the largest cities or the most remote villages untouched by “civilization,” everyone likes to laugh, eat and fuck. They get jealous and they feel happy. They want to be accepted and they want to feel loved. They know things but they also know nothing. They are different but they aren’t different. Go anywhere and talk to anyone for long enough and you’ll realize that on some level, everyone can understand everyone else. Give it time and you’ll start to see yourself in every person you meet, that’s because — whether you know it or not — you are every person you meet.
ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND
get comfortable with the idea of being kind to everyone — become accepting of our situations and sympathetic to those who don’t know any better, ourselves included. We need to base the decisions we make on how thoughts of such things resonate with our spirits and not off of the judgment of people who in most cases don’t give a fuck anyway. Let’s come to an understanding that we are all connected, and despite what we are taught, we don’t have to see everyone as competition or a threat to what we consider success; as if a degree and a job that a majority of people see as important is what truly makes someone “valuable” as a human being. Less competition and more compassion; less judgment and more understanding. Maybe we should sacrifice the popularity contest in order to gain inner peace, or possibly discover that both can
age consume your imagination before you realize that you should have acted upon the thoughts and feelings that we toss to the shadows for fear that we may not be capable or that others might not accept us? Realize that, although we may seem separate, all of us are merely one. There is no individual, just one whole connected through spirit and a universal consciousness. And please don’t allow ego and pride to get in the way of your bonds with others. Is there anything sadder than words left unsaid? Thoughts that you were dying to share with someone but didn’t because you were stopped by being self-conscious. Let go of the idea of embarrassment and do what feels right to you. Care for others because they are a part of you, but don’t allow fear of what they might think stop you. Time is an illusion; so don’t let it affect
To think that I A hollow tree Could fill myself With others lives Would be to say My destiny Is bound to those Who dwell inside To say that I A drop of rain Could foster life In living beings Would be to say A single bead Can do things Greater than the seas To know that I A grain of sand Floating in space Cannot be seen Would be to say I understand Alone I can’t do anything Jon is an LSA senior.
4B
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 // The Statement
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 // The Statement
Physical prism
Losing It
by Juston Jaco
H
ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND
D
eep in the open-chambered springs of Yellowstone National Park, life colorfully covers itself across the safety of secluded landscapes — an image I’m sure must haunt watercolorists who were never able to capture it in all of its magnificence. Behind billowing blankets of steam lifting skyward every morning, life truly lives on the edge of survival here. Or does it? Whether from a distance or nearby, it’s impossible not to see the conglomeration of hundreds of billions of seemingly ostentatious microorganisms, known as “extremophiles,” that line the hot spring’s runoff channels, filling them with extravagant colors in an environment that was once thought to be too extreme for life to grow, develop or reproduce. Ecologists now recognize that we are only just beginning to understand how these organisms have adapted to live in such harsh environments. I can’t help but to wonder whether the secret to the birth of life is encoded somewhere within these distantly related extremophiles. *** This past summer, while attending the University of Michigan’s western-most campus in the Rocky Mountain range of
Jackson Hole, Wyo., 24 students and I learned a great deal about how the geology of a region shapes and modifies the ecology present. About halfway through the summer semester, our class traveled to Yellowstone National Park for three days of field observations. One morning we traveled to the Midway Geyer Basin. It was here that I found myself rapt in the spring’s warm veils of vapor as they erupted into the sky, as if the clouds themselves were generated on Earth in these open havens — a sight more marvelous than, dare I write, Old Faithful. “To be honest,” Earth and Environmental Sciences Prof. Joel Blum stated with a sly smile, “There is no better place to study geology and ecology than right below your feet.” We had been walking on an elevated bridge as to not damage the fragile, yet smoldering, rock surface below, when I had noticed one hot spring in particular: the Grand Prismatic Spring. While the size alone is impressive (it is the largest hot spring in the United States), what sets this juggernaut of a spring apart from others is the array of life that clings to the spring’s fringe and surrounding, outflowing paths, as if the assortment of microorganisms were the white light cast by the refraction through an optical prism. Red, orange, yellow and green were the
5B
resulting shades of the residing extremophiles while at the center of the spring itself laid the sharpest and most contrasting blue I had ever seen. Prof. Blum was right. I was only able to observe how captivating the landscape adjacent to the Grand Prismatic was when the sun rose, further increasing both the heat of the ground and the heat of the atmosphere. The haste of the climbing clouds eventually subsided, which in turn illuminated the ebb and flow of groundwater at the spring’s edge. Beating pulsations from under the gaping hole of the Earth flung water out and into the spectrum of life, and there was no immediate or apparent trend for the panorama presented in front of me. Magnificent reds swirled around orange and yellow blooms while dingy-brown and neon greens emptied into the river’s channels. I knew that what I was observing was a living mosaic of organisms suited to its particular environment; I just could not find the trend. But there was a pattern. Minute differences in elevation at the foothold of the Grand Prismatic spring regulated which species of bacteria could outcompete and thrive best within equally minute differences in temperature. Where some extremophiles pooled in cool-temperature water,
areas tended to be lush in emerald. In other areas where molten magma was just meters away from the Earth’s surface, hotter rock temperatures limited which bacteria could sustain populations. Where these extremophiles pooled in high-temperature water, areas tended to be set ablaze with fiery red. The happy medium extremophiles, represented by a stained deck of orange and yellow, found refuge underneath waters that filtered over the thick crust in areas ‘not too hot’ but ‘not too cold.’ The pattern was a highway-like construction of life that layered itself almost too perfectly between the surface of the ground and the surface of the water. It was another Earth. I wrote in the beginning that I imagine there must be a haunted watercolorist somewhere out in the world that was never able to capture the Grand Prismatic’s decadence. I say this with confidence because to paint the landscape would be to gloss over the eccentricities of the magnificent showcase of life. If I were a painter, I would find frustration in even the smallest paintbrush I owned, for the bristles alone would be larger than an entire colony of red extremophiles fighting the battle to keep their home. Juston is an LSA senior.
by Paige Pearcy e asked me if I was squeamish. “No,” I paused a second longer than I should have. “No, I’m not,” I
finished. “Alright, be here at eight,” he said. “I’ll have the saw all ready to go.” When I pulled myself out of bed at 7 a.m. the next morning, my eyes were still soldered shut with the dreams of my four-hour slumber. I reached my arms above me, let out a yawn and accepted that I really had to go. Pigs were waiting. I wondered why someone would choose to be a butcher. And I wondered even more why I chose to spend my morning learning about what they did. Being a butcher was not on my career list in the slightest. And yet my intrigue as a selfproclaimed foodie propelled my curiosity. When I reached the meat counter, heads of three pigs greeted me like my Barbies do when I venture into my childhood toy box — decapitated. Attached to the ceiling above us, dried prosciutto chunks, hams and various other meats hung with tags tied by twine, reading “Not for sale.” The hanging meats looked far less appetizing in appearance than the marbled pinks, reds and whites that collaged the case in front; they were dried out, browning and had crumbles from their breakdown dusting their exterior — the epitome of dry-aged. I watched the team of two butchers methodically chisel fat from their pieces of art. I thought about how easy they made it look and also how much I used to wish that that was what I could do to myself at age 15. After a thorough run down of the meat and cuts, I, naturally curious, began to wonder what they do with the unusual parts of the animals, like the ears and eyes. The butchers had stressed they try to make as little waste as possible. It was a question I later regretted. The butcher explained that she boils the pig heads whole causing the parts to decompose and form a congealed substance. Then, she molds it into a bundt cake shape and sells this as a delicacy called “head cheese.” I asked to see it. She offered me a slice of her creation after sensing my curiosity. I hesitated, certain I could see pieces of an eye and Crisco-like fat, and then placed the moist brown slice on my tongue. In an attempt to not taste it, I pushed it to the roof of my mouth, closed my eyes and swallowed the whole thing at once. It tasted
so strongly of salt that it made my mouth dry. However, I wasn’t surprised that I had eaten the slice because of what it was made out of — it’s rude to turn down something someone else makes — I was surprised simply by the fact that I ate it. Three years ago I didn’t eat food. This trip to a butcher was not about the job. It was a test. In my first year of high school, I would do
anything to eradicate calories from every meal. I became an expert mathematician, constantly adding up calories and determining how much I needed to cut to insure I consumed 3,500 less than my basal metabolic rate would burn that week. That amount of calories not eaten equaled one pound lost. There was a time when I knew how many calories were in an average sized single baby carrot (it’s 1.4 in case you’re wondering). I made sure there were only had five in my lunch and would throw away any extra carrots my mom had added as soon as I got to school. I would slowly eat the carrots, moving the debris around in my mouth and convincing my stomach it was full after I finished the last bite. My mom and I fought because she just wanted it to stop. She wanted me to turn it off and start eating normally again. But anorexia doesn’t work like that. It isn’t activated or deactivated — at least not quickly. No, anorexia controls the brain like a cruel puppeteer. I couldn’t stop because it told my brain I didn’t want to stop. My mom and I fought because she thought it was easy, but I knew it was hard and I wasn’t sure I had the energy to fight it. Food is an interesting bear, burdensome to
those who have it and to those who don’t. I hated food. I hated it because I lost control of it. I hated it because it caused so many problems. I hated food because I still didn’t feel beautiful even after I stopped eating it. As the butcher told me his qualifications for the meat he purchases and sells, he said he could tell when an animal was poorly fed because their muscles weren’t well devel-
She continued to explain that because of my weight I was at a point where I needed to be careful of my heart. It was being overworked and fast movements could have serious consequences. She also told me if I persisted to deny myself food, I would not be able to have my own kids. A crack traveled down my vertebrae and in reverse motion the hairs on my arms and back of my neck stood up. I cared less about the potential of my heart stopping when I walked up stairs — I wanted to be a mom someday. I knew at this point, my mother would not rest until treatment worked and the threat of death was retired. She wouldn’t let the disease win. I should thank her more often. Not eating became easy — I had become immune to hunger. Then when I started treatment and eating again, after months of ignoring the growls, forcing an entire meal into my stomach was harder. I could visualize the organ, shriveled and prunish from lack of use, having to stretch out for the entire serving of roast beef I had consumed. It hurt. I would make dimples in the skin on my belly after I ate, measuring how far I could push in with my fingers and feeling intangible pain as I could push less and less — I was full. Today, I clamor in my kitchen working to make food pretty, making sure spinach leaves are blanched just enough so that they’re soft but still as ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND vibrant as the greens still attached to oped. the earth. There’s seldom a day I don’t book“It’s like a malnutritioned person,” he said. mark a recipe and explore the never-ending “The tenderloin along the back is too small.” food blogosphere. The difference between I knew that three years ago my muscles now and then is that, although the voice is wouldn’t have fit his standards. still here, it’s much more quiet now and I A year after my formal diagnosis, which know how to not listen. my parents first met with denial and then That day at the butcher I thought about concern, I sat in my pediatrician’s office shiv- how much I actually enjoy steak and wonering because I had no body fat to keep me dered why I ever stopped eating it. Had I insulated. My pediatrician walked in as I ner- continued believing less food is more, I could vously bounced my knees up and down. She have been dead like the cows whose parts gently put her moisturized hands on them to were all over the butcher’s space — certainly keep them still, knocking the bones together. less gruesome, but just as dead. I knew I would be weighed at this appointI expected to go to the butcher and have ment so I wore the heaviest clothes I could some sort of revelation. I expected to figure find; this included wearing long underwear out how my relationship with food changed. beneath my jeans. The scale tipped at 89 I expected to find confirmation that the voice pounds. I continued this method of wearing was really gone. I expected to feel better. But heavy clothes for quite a while, hiding behind when I stepped outside of the shop and realmy layers and the heavier numbers to avoid ized the air carried the thick smell of a recent my mom’s eyes laden with bags of exhaustion rainfall and no longer the smell of cold cut and sadness. My mother’s visible pain didn’t meat, that was the only change I felt. affect me. Ultimately, I didn’t believe any of I didn’t feel uncomfortable and I didn’t feel the comments she would say about my weight guilt for what I did in my past. I didn’t really or my health — she wasn’t a doctor, how did feel anything — it was all just meat to me. But she know? perhaps that was affirmation I was looking “Paigey,” my doctor started, trying to slice for. the silent rope of tension between my mom Paige is an LSA senior and Daily deputy and I. “You have to stop this.” magazine editor.
6B
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 // The Statement
A Letter to My Freshman Self: How you’re using your English degree by Carmen Allen
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would tell you that all the hours you’re spending researching requirements for Columbia’s English doctoral program is a waste of time, but as it marks your first real practice in collecting and evaluating information, a process that will become all too familiar to you, I’ll let you be. You won’t transition to a Ph.D. immediately after undergrad but will abandon the idea altogether, entertaining thoughts of law school and volunteer work before you finally settle on corporate America. Thirty-seven days after your cap-and-gown-clad exit from the Big House, you’ll don a blazer and skirt for your first day as a management trainee on Long Island. You will work for Slomin’s, the nation’s largest privately-owned home security and residential heating oil company, and your hands-on exposure to the company’s operations will include shadowing alarm mechanics, HVAC technicians, oil drivers and sales representatives in between table sessions with department heads and executives. By May 4, you’ll be ready for a world without coursework and academic politics. A month into the real world, part of you will be starved for Ann Arbor’s intellectual life, but the other part will be relieved that you’re no longer volleying jargon around a classroom in theoretical discussions about intersectionality. Instead, you’ll be watching it. Over the next four years, you will minimize “access to education” to juveniles in Highland Park detention facilities and will blink when you see its evidence in the oil drivers and mechanics that speak and interact so differently than your classmates and friends. When you shadow a sales representative, more substantial discussions will replace small talk as you drive from one sales call to the next. You’ll talk religion and theories of political advocacy and family and work-life balance, everything the professional workplace deems taboo because it fears the abrasion with which the parties might speak. But you’ll talk delicately, no longer the freshman who huffs out sentences to make her case. You are not so naïve to believe that an employee’s worldview won’t affect his work experiences. How can you manage if you don’t know what’s going on in your employees’ lives? How can you communicate if you don’t know your audience? And through these discussions you’ll learn that this audience doesn’t listen harder when you throw around words like ‘dichotomy’ and ‘disseminate.’ It takes humility to release everything you learned, the vocabulary so carefully honed, the value of a degree reduced to your ability to converse with people without one. Within the first two weeks on the job, when you help Mechanic 292 snake wires through walls, handing him crimps and screwdrivers and the stepladder, you’ll find that field workers won’t open up when they think you’re a snobby college grad. You’ll see it in the way they talk about education. One technician will tell you, “You don’t need to be in the office. You’ll make more money as an oil mechanic.” Conversations with department heads about raises and bonuses will show you the complications of that statement, but English 325 has taught you that perception is everything. Field workers might shy away from giving you information, afraid that you’ll report them or that you might be their boss someday.
And you might. So you cultivate relationships to benefit your future self who in one, five, ten years from now can reflect with satisfaction on the beginning of your career. “Do you think people are inherently good or bad?” you ask Mechanic 292 during a lunch break overlooking the Atlantic. You talk about crime and anarchy, bouncing between his thoughts on a recent movie and your analysis of Native Son. He finds your crime and justice minor fascinating and asks about your classes, turning the discussion to the topic of autonomy. At the end of your rotation with him, he’ll thank you for the conversations, and you’ll carry the experience to department heads in a debriefing about employee treatment and company culture. You note that the field workers value managements’ interest in the day-to-day grind mechanics and drivers
ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND
undergo: this is Marx’s ironic but comfortable niche in the capitalist world. What you love about English you will find in the real world. It will begin in classroom discussions that grow heated as you befriend characters and evaluate their choices. It will continue outside of the classroom, when you will compare literary theory to managing a student organization. And it will culminate in your senior year, when you find that your thesis on transactional relationships in Dickens is not terribly dissimilar to the corporate America for which you are preparing. The value of an English degree is more than honors on a thesis, more than a B.A. on a resume. It’s preparing you for a career in management because it’s teaching you how relationships work. Contrary to popular belief, contrary to your own thoughts at this point, a liberal arts degree will not prepare you solely for a lifetime in academia but for success
in the real world as well. You’ll notice it in your colleagues’ comments on how well you articulate and in your ability to facilitate communication between the president and department heads. You’ll see it in the ease with which you can identify the larger picture. You’ll identify it in the ways your language classes are contributing to your thoughts on improving cross-company communication. This is how you will come to see it: You can’t have an oil delivery without a sale. And you can’t have a sale without marketing. And you can’t have effective marketing if you don’t understand how aesthetics appeal to people. And you can’t understand the effect of aesthetics if you don’t know how people work. And when the vice president says, “We’re proud to view customers as people, not account numbers,” you know that the liberal arts taught him that. Because the customer is first a purchaser, who is first a homeowner, who is first a part of humanity – and it is his human desires you are satisfying when you talk about good customer service, an attempt to make the face of a company a human-to-human interaction. How do you have a relationship with a service? You’ll discover that defamiliarization makes a good marketing technique. When discussing Photoshop effects with one of the programmers, you’ll know this is what literary theorist Shklovsky said, in more words, perhaps, about what makes the stone stony, now applied to the visual. The programmer wants to zoom and crop, showing only a section of the product equipment you’ll showcase online. You understand this as nothing less than metonymy — a part of an object representing the whole — a concept you will explore in depth during “Literature of the Holocaust” but wouldn’t have expected to find here. In a discussion with the president of the company about a banner photo on the new website, you defend your choice of a couple snuggled against each other, dessert in hand, a wintry window behind them. You’ll claim, “We’re not selling a product, we’re selling an experience. Home heating means intimacy.” You’ll situate yourself as the liaison between the marketing team’s vision and the programmers’ fixation on coding the mobile site. Throw in a cynical image management guru and you’ll realize you walked into a character-driven plot that will define your corporate experience. So you navigate the personality minefield to talk about language in a website copy discussion. What is home security, anyway? The longer you are in corporate America, the more you will realize how dependent it is on the liberal arts. Your business classes will teach you what a transaction is. Your friends’ engineering classes will teach them how to make it more efficient. But the humanities will tell you why it happens. As for you, you’ll question everything in debriefing sessions with department heads and executives. Your colleagues laugh at your inquisition and might let a snarky comment slide when you press deeper into an answer, all stemming from your acute observations in the field. But when the vice president of sales and marketing approaches you and says, “I hear you’re doing a good job,” you’ll smile. You have four years of participation points to thank for that. Carmen is an LSA alum.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 // The Statement
7B
The time I was impeached by Matthew Slovin
N
ot many people are able to say they held the distinction of being student council president. Far fewer can say they ascended to that position in the fourth grade because, well, how many elementary schools have a student council? But I can say, with near certainty, that I was the only grade-school politician to have been brought down by a Watergate-esque scandal — the likes of which Cincinnati’s Maple Dale Elementary had never seen before. Yes, that’s right. I was impeached as student council president before I had even reached middle school. My political career was over before it truly began. Had it not ended so abruptly, maybe I wouldn’t have chosen a career as a politican’s best friend and worst enemy — a journalist. Perhaps I’d have stuck with politics and, you know, actually made money the rest of my life. But I digress. Back to that fateful day at recess. It was a beautiful fall Midwestern day, and my term as president could not have been going any better. The year before, I began my political career as vice president but quickly rose to top dog with a coup that would make even Frank Underwood from “House of Cards” green with envy. Either that, or the kid who I had served under passed fourth grade and moved on to middle school. You choose. Approval ratings were high. I successfully strong-armed the cafeteria ladies into serving pizza one day a week (You can blame the childhood obesity epidemic on me.). On rainy days, during indoor recess, I made good on my campaign promise of a copy of “Oregon Trail” in every classroom. But it all came crashing down faster than all of my “Oregon Trail” characters could contract cholera. The end of my presidency began, like all political demises do, with a game of kickball. I was an above-average, if unspectacular, athlete in that day, long before I switched from playing sports to writing about them. Later in life, I would score a left-footed sliding goal to send a playoff soccer game into overtime before celebrating a la Brandi Chastain. I’d knock down 3-pointer after 3-pointer to defeat the local Jewish day school (a basketball powerhouse at the
time) in a shooting display that came from literally no where. Seriously, I have no idea what came over me that day. I’m a horrible basketball player. And yet, neither I, nor the kickball field-
ers who covered the school’s sprawling blacktop, could’ve possibly been prepared for what was about to occur. Standing about 15 feet behind the center fielder was a group of fourth-grade girls, who severely underestimated my ability to kick a ball. They were chatting and generally paying no mind to the fact that they were in fair territory of a kickball game between third and fourth graders, which felt like the Super Bowl if the players in the Super Bowl had little to no athletic ability. The pitcher delivered a slow roller, with minimal spin, just a few inches off the plate — in other words, right in my wheelhouse. I began striding toward the incoming ball and made perfect contact with the top of my foot. The ball soared out of the infield and over the head of the center fielder, who played me far too shallow. You probably see where this is going. Unfortunately, the gabbing girls in deep center didn’t. I wasn’t able to see what happened next. I was triumphantly rounding
the bases, probably jawing at the pitcher if I know my smartass fourth-grade self as well as I should. I didn’t observe the rubber ball land and, if I’m to believe the principal, collide
obstacles, who I’ll call Charlotte. I was familiar with Charlotte. Her mother was president of the school’s parent teacher organization. I felt bad for her. I really did. Until the next words came out of the principal’s mouth. The mother and daughter were alleging that a classmate had paid me $3 in exchange for kicking the ball in the general direction of the girls — in essence, a playground hit on an innocent child. I was appalled. I wasn’t sure which part of the ludicrous accusation to debunk first. The idea that I, nonviolent by nature, could be bought so cheaply, still offends me to this day. It was around this time when the principal informed me that this kind of conduct was not appropriate for the student council president and, because of that, I would be removed from that position. So she didn’t actually use the word impeached. Whatever. We both knew what this was. There were tears. Surely, this had nothing to do with Charlotte’s mother’s role as PTO president which, in those days, apparently meant something other than she had a little too much time ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND on her hands. with one of the unsuspecting girls’ hands. My mom, on the other hand, was livid, And apparently, I struck the kickball with as I later found out. She knew her son was enough force to break one of her fingers. incapable of intentionally harming anyone, The next thing I remember is being let alone a girl. I faked sick on the day we dragged (not literally — Maple Dale Ele- dissected worms in biology class, for crying mentary, to its credit, does not condone out loud. corporal punishment) into the principal’s Not to mention, my aim simply isn’t that office the following day during recess. good. Sometimes I can’t even hit the toilet Now this was not my first encounter with bowl. There’s no way that I could accurately the principal’s office, nor would it be my place a kickball so far away. If I could, I’d last. That would come senior year of high have homered every time, and I’d probably school when my cell phone was snatched be a professional kickball player, if such a away for texting in class. The message I thing exists. was composing? Informing my dad that I In hindsight, I should have demanded to had been accepted to Michigan. By then, I see the X-rays. Was that finger actually brohad developed a reputation as a bit of a class ken? But it shouldn’t even matter. clown, and I’d come to realize that the walk What does matter is that I recently to the principal’s office was a necessary evil Facebook stalked her, having not seen her for me to continue to have my fun. since shortly after the incident. Let’s just As I sat down, the principal calmly say she’s not not attractive. I wonder if she explained to me that the previous day’s holds a grudge … kickball homer, the pinnacle of my schoolyard athletic career, had resulted in a broMatthew is an LSA senior and ken pointer finger for one of the center-field Daily managing editor.
8B
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 // The Statement
V I S U A L S TAT E M E N T:
B L ACK H OMECOMIN G
I wanted to go to black homecoming because I’ve never been to a homecoming dance before And I’m not black, My skin is the slightly burnt Cinnamon shade of South India But they said all were welcome And I was The only people making me feel like outsiders Were the the ones who watched me Getting dressed and making plans Saying, “Well if we had white homecoming, everyone would be so upset.” And I pretended to listen, the question to me As ludicrous as people whining About how we have no straight pride parades I didn’t wear my dancing shoes Because I can’t even walk in heels But I think I did just fine in flip-flops And everyone who was there Black, White, Asian, and Latino Seemed to enjoy themselves We live in a world where color should be celebrated We Go Blue and wear Maize And the word ‘black’ should not dissuade It should encourage It should empower I hope to see you next year on the dance floor.
Poem and Photos by Teresa Mathew