ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Ann Arbor, Michigan
GOVERNMENT
Michigan Daily E XCLUSIVE
Obama talks affordability in address President focuses on domestic policy in sixth State of the Union speech By SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter
President Barack Obama delivered his sixth State of the Union address Tuesday night, highlighting mostly domestic policy items such as job creation and student loan debt. He also announced an executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal contractors. In his speech, one particular area of importance for students is the process of informing college students and their families about higher education, such as student loans. “I want to work with Congress to see how we can help even more Americans who feel trapped by student loan debt,” Obama said. In an interview with The Michigan Daily after the speech, Rep. John Dingell (D–
Mich.) said each topic Obama mentioned — from the war in Afghanistan to immigration reform — was pertinent to twenty-somethings and college students. “It’s their country,” Dingell said. “Everything is of importance to them.” On the topic of student loans, Dingell agreed with Obama’s statements, adding that it was necessary to provide financial assistance to college students. “That’s one of the biggest problems when I talk to the people I see and serve,” Dingell said of paying off student loan debt. LSA junior Mary Bridget Lee, communications director of the University’s chapter of the College Democrats, echoed the need to for legislators to consider college students’ finances at the organization’s watch party at the Ford School of Public Policy. “A key component for college students is our purchasing power and being able to afford institutions like this one,” she said. LSA sophomore Derek See OBAMA, Page 3A
ADAM GLANZMAN/Daily
Former Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons, who last played for the Wolverines on Nov. 23, 2013, was permanently separated from the University in December.
‘U’ cut ties with Gibbons
Documents indicate former kicker violated Student Sexual Misconduct Policy By MATT SLOVIN and ADAM RUBENFIRE Daily Sports Writer and Daily Staff Reporter
Brendan Gibbons, the Michigan football team’s starting kicker for the past three seasons,
A mayor hopefuls in for a tight race 2
By EMMA KERR Daily Staff Reporter
Four candidates have declared for the Ann Arbor mayoral race of 2014, and though they all identify as Democrats, their personalities, the issues they plan to emphasize and the way they plan to interact with the University all differ. Each candidate has a connection to Ann Arbor, whether it be academic or personal, and each has varying degrees of support for current Mayor John Hieftje (D) and experience as an elected member of the City Council. Councilmember Christopher Taylor (D–Ward 3) attended the University for 12 years, earning degrees in vocal performance, English and history and finally attending the Law School. His background has led him to explore his long-term interest in government and politics through the City Council. See MAYOR, Page 3A
was permanently separated from the University of Michigan last month for violating the University’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, according to documents reviewed by The Michigan Daily. “You will be permanently separated from the University of Michigan effective December 20, 2013,” reads a Dec. 19, 2013 letter addressed to Gibbons at his Florida residence from the University’s Office of Student Conflict Resolution, which facilitates disciplinary proceedings against students. The Michigan Daily did
LET’S MAKE-UP
CITY COUNCIL
Four City Council members have declared their intention to run for the position so far
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not obtain these documents from the University. The permanent separation of Gibbons, who was a graduate student in the School of Social Work after graduating with a general studies degree, stems from an incident that was reported to have occurred on Nov. 22, 2009, according to documents. This corresponds with previous media reports that a sexual assault involving a Michigan football player occurred in the early morning hours of that day. Gibbons was a freshman and a mem-
ACADEMICS FOR MORE, SEE THE STATEMENT
English prof. honored for published poetry, joins national board Khaled Mattawa has authored four books, translated nine By BRIE WINNEGA Daily Staff Reporter
NICHOLAS WILLIAMS/Daily
Rackham student Andi Drogenous, a drag performer, applies eyeliner before a drag show at a club in Cleveland, Ohio.
RESEARCH
Study finds fungicide worsens coffee rust issue The fungus has devastated Latin American farms since mid-2012 By YIJIA ZHOU Daily Staff Reporter
A cup of coffee can be a lifesaver in the morning — unless it’s rusty, that is. Recent reports from University researchers suggests that spraying fungicide is not the perfect cure for coffee
rust, an environment disease that has devastated Latin American plantations since 2012 that is already causing significant losses in production. In reality, it’s quite the opposite of a cure. According to University ecologists, using fungicide could make the situation worse, as it kills “good” fungus, which protects coffee from the disease. In a Jun. 22 publication in BioScience, an academic journal, John Vandermeer, professor of ecology and
ber of the football team at the time that the conduct was alleged to have occurred. In the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities as well as the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, the University uses the phrase “permanent separation” to refer to the expulsion of a student. The letter to Gibbons, signed by Stacy Vander Velde, associate director of OSCR, stated that he would be prohibited from taking any further courses at the University and that his student See GIBBONS, Page 3A
evolutionary biology and his co-authors — Ivette Perfecto, professor of ecology, natural resources and environment and postdoctoral fellow Doug Jackson — discussed the possible harm that fungicide could bring to the ecological system. They also provided an alternative solution for killing the disease: The restoration of traditional shade-growing techniques. Coffee rust disease, according to Vandermeer, is caused by Hemileia vastaSee COFFEE, Page 3A
Associate English Prof. Khaled Mattawa has been elected to the Academy of American Poets Board of Chancellors, the group announced Jan 15. Mattawa is the author of four books of poetry and has translated nine books of contemporary Arabic poetry. He is the recipient of numerous other awards, including the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and the PEN American Center Award for Poetry Translation. The Academy was established 80 years ago with a mission to support poets and to promote appreciation for poetry across the United States. One of the organization’s ongoing efforts is National Poetry Month, which takes place every April. Mattawa said although his election was only recently announced by the AAP, he has known about it since December. “All of our chancellors are wellestablished in the art of poetry,” said AAP Executive Director Jennifer Benka. “They have published multiple books and they
have been recognized by other institutions for the excellence of their art.” New chancellors are selected by the current Academy Board and serve for a term of six years. Mattawa is now one of 15 Academy Board members. Benka said responsibilities of chancellors include suggesting ideas and giving feedback for the Academy’s programs, getting involved with projects for National Poetry Month and serving as judges for two of the seven major prizes awarded to poets throughout the country. Mattawa said he was honored to receive this recognition. “I feel lucky,” he said. “Whether people think that I deserve this recognition or not, I certainly feel lucky. There’s a lot to feel lucky about in my own life as an individual and as a writer.” Mattawa, who was born in Libya, said his membership in the AAP, an American institution, is a testament to his ability to remain whole as an individual rather than culturally divided. “Some of my friends from Libya have been telling me this is some of the best news they’ve heard in a while,” Mattawa said. “So, if only for that, to bring my other country some good news with this honor is a great thing in my life.” Michael Schoenfeldt, chair of See PROFESSOR, Page 3A
pursuing the paycheck
You might want to think twice before accepting that unpaid internship this summer.
WEATHER TOMORROW
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Vol. CXXIV, No. 57 ©2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU.....................2A OPINION.....................4A
» INSIDE
SPORTS.......................6A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A S TAT E M E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 B
News
2A — Wednesday, January 29, 2014
MONDAY: This Week in History
TUESDAY: Professor Profiles
LET IT SNOW
LILY ANGELL/Daily
A solitary snowman stands alone in the Arb during the first snow day in 36 years.
WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers
THURSDAY: Alumni Profiles
FRIDAY: Photos of the Week
BLAST OFF
Penn State shoots for the moon A team of faculty and students at Pennsylvania State University are crowdfunding their way to the moon in what organizers say is the first space mission open to public participation, the Daily Collegian reported Tuesday. The mission is being pursued as part of Google’s Lunar XPrize competition, which offers $40 million to the first private group to successfully land on the moon’s surface, travel 500 meters above, below, or around, — and collect two “mooncasts.” The Penn State team, selfnamed the Lunar Lions, hopes to raise $406,536 through the crowdfunding campaign, which opened Jan. 20 and will run through Feb. 25.
CRIME NOTES
“The goal is to have one ordinary person help another ordinary person accomplish extraordinary things,” Ajeeth Ibrahim, Lunar Lions student president, told the Daily Collegian. UCLA Meal Swipe Trading Website Shut Down A website created by four University of California, Los Angeles students that allows other students to exchange meal swipes for goods such as notes and study guides has been shut down just two days after it launched, the Daily Bruin reported Monday. The decision to shut the site
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
USB gone
Outta my way!
Dance party
WHERE: University Hospital WHEN: Tuesday at about 6:30 a.m. WHAT: A University USB drive was reportedly taken from a locked first-floor office, University Police reported. There were no signs of forced entry and no suspects.
WHERE: 2200 Block Stone WHEN: Monday at about 9 p.m. WHAT: A vehicle hit a Blue Bus on the roadway, University Police reported. The vehicle was allegedly driving the wrong way on a one way street.
WHAT: Join a dance party featuring a DJ set by Scout, Live Dancing by K-Motion, and Laser Art by Mike Gould. WHO: Lloyd Hall Scholars Program WHEN: Today from 7 to 8 p.m. WHERE: Angell Hall
Sexual surgery lecture WHAT: Listen to a lecture on the history and practice of American genital sex reassignment surgery, featuring Professor Plemons. WHO: Lesbian, Gay, Queer Research Initiative WHEN: 4 to 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Lane Hall
Trying to take An invisible a fake accident
Cooking workshop
Engineering career fair
WHERE: Campus Safety Services WHEN: Monday at about 10:30 a.m. WHAT: A subject attempted to purchase a fake ID from a vendor, University Police reported. The investigation is still pending.
WHAT: Attendees can watch demos and create your own hummus, 7 layer dip, and decorate cupcakes. Participants get to eat what they make. WHO: Center for Campus Involvement WHEN: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Michigan Union, Wolverine Room
WHAT: Featuring over 150 organizations. WHO: The Career Center WHEN: 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. WHERE: Pierpont Commons
WHERE: Fuller Road WHEN: Monday at about 11:15 a.m. WHAT: An accident was reported but the officer responding to the call could not locate any vehicles, University Police reported.
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down came after discussions between the site’s founders and the UCLA administration Friday. Administrators expressed concerns that the site would allow non-UCLA students to gain access to campus dining halls. UCLA spokeswoman Alison Hewitt said in a statement that a business model based on trading swipes is against the school’s policy. Student founders of the site told the Bruin they are currently working on a way to restrict the site to only users who attend UCLA, which they hope will allay administrative concerns.
— SHOHAM GEVA
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY
1
Colorado’s Denver County plans to add marijuana to their summer county fair, the Associated Press reported. The county plans to add nine new pot-themed catagories, including contests for live plants, brownies and homemade bongs.
2
As the summer approaches, the hunt for jobs and internships are on the rise. But are unpaid internships worth the time and experience? >> FOR MORE, SEE STATEMENT, PAGE 1B
3
High levels of methane gas produced by 90 flatulent cows caused an explosion on one German farm, Reuters reported. The explosion resulted in a damaged roof and one injured cow, which was treated for burns soon afterward.
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Documents show NSA is tracking smartphone apps Downloaded materials can give personal data to NSA and GCHQ LONDON (AP) — Documents leaked by former NSA contactor Edward Snowden suggest that spy agencies have a powerful ally in Angry Birds and a host of other apps installed on smart-
phones across the globe. The documents, published Monday by The New York Times, the Guardian, and ProPublica, suggest that the mapping, gaming, and social networking apps which are a common feature of the world’s estimated 1 billion smartphones can feed America’s National Security Agency and Britain’s GCHQ with huge amounts of personal data, including location information and details
such as political affiliation or sexual orientation. The size and scope of the program aren’t publicly known, but the reports suggest that U.S. and British intelligence easily get routine access to data generated by apps such as the Angry Birds game franchise or the Google Maps navigation service. The joint spying program “effectively means that anyone using Google Maps on a smartphone is working in support of a GCHQ system,” one 2008 document from the British eavesdropping agency is quoted as saying. Another document — a hand-drawn picture of a smirking fairy conjuring up a tottering pile of papers over a table marked “LEAVE TRAFFIC HERE” — suggests that gathering the data doesn’t take much effort. The NSA did not directly comment on the reports but said in a statement Monday that the communications of those who were not “valid foreign intelligence targets” were not of interest to the spy agency. “Any implication that NSA’s foreign intelligence collection is focused on the smartphone or social media communications of everyday Americans is not true,” the statement said. “We collect only those communications that we are authorized by law to collect for valid foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes — regardless of the technical means used by the targets.” GCHQ said it did not comment on intelligence matters, but insisted that all of its activity was “authorized, necessary and proportionate.” Intelligence agencies’ interest in mobile phones and the networks they run on has been documented in several of Snowden’s previous disclosures, but the focus on apps shows how everyday, innocuous-looking pieces of software can be turned into instruments of espionage.
KHALIL HAMRA/AP
Policemen stand guard outside a courthouse during the trial of Egypt’s toppled President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday.
Egyptian Criminal Court tries Morsi for second time Former president will appear before the court in February CAIRO (AP) — The second court appearance for ousted President Mohammed Morsi was very different from his first: He wore a white prison uniform Tuesday instead of a trim dark suit. And when the Islamist leader wanted to speak, a judge controlled his microphone in the soundproof glass cell. The session was carefully managed by authorities, with state TV showing only edited excerpts, not a planned live feed, as the military-backed interim government and allied media sought to control the narrative of Egypt’s political turmoil following the Arab Spring. An agitated Morsi paced in the courtroom cage, separated from other defendants, and raised his hands as he angrily questioned why he was in court. “Who are you? Tell me!” he shouted at the presiding judge. Judge Shabaan el-Shami responded: “I am the head of Egypt’s criminal court!”
After five hours, the court session was adjourned until Feb. 22. The 62-year-old former president is on trial with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, and militants from the Palestinian Hamas group and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. They are charged in connection with prison breaks that freed 20,000 inmates during the 18-day uprising against Morsi’s predecessor, Hosni Mubarak. Three years ago, on Jan. 28, 2011, protesters battled police in Cairo with stones and firebombs, and burned down the ruling party headquarters. Crowds chased away the muchreviled police forces, torched their vehicles and burned some of their stations — forcing some police to withdraw or join the demonstrators, only to be replaced by the military. To mark Tuesday’s anniversary, Morsi supporters briefly clashed with police in central Cairo. Separately, gunmen also killed an aide to the interior minister in a drive-by shooting outside Cairo, as well as a policeman guarding a church in a southern section of the capital. Security forces were
deployed, erecting checkpoints as they braced for more trouble, but no major violence was reported. Morsi’s appearance in court was only the second time he has been seen in public since the July 3 military coup that toppled him following mass protests of his administration. Egypt’s first freely elected president was shown in court in November on separate charges in a session that was marked by his repeated outbursts. This time, however, Morsi was separated from other defendants in the glass cage, with a microphone controlled by the judge. A promised live feed from the courtroom did not occur, something a senior state TV official told local media that security forces demanded. In reports from the court, where journalists were allowed to attend but could not record or photograph, Morsi asked the judge to address him as the “president of the republic so long as I am alive or have not stepped down.” The comments were carried by the state flagship newspaper Al-Ahram, in its online version.
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GIBBONS From Page 1A privileges would be revoked. An additional OSCR document signed by Vander Velde and dated Nov. 20, 2013, stated that it was determined by the University that a preponderance of evidence supports “a finding that the Respondent engaged in unwanted or unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, committed without valid consent, and that conduct was so severe as to create a hostile, offensive, or abusive environment.” The Daily has been told that the respondent referred to in this letter is Gibbons. Complainants in this case are not identified in the documents reviewed by the Daily. Dave Ablauf, an associate athletic director and spokesman for the Athletic Department, declined to comment, noting that it was the first time it had been suggested to him that Gibbons was permanently separated. “We can’t comment on anything that involves private student matters in terms of student academic standings or University standing,” Ablauf said. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said he could not comment on Gibbons’ academic record because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
COFFEE From Page 1A trix, a fungus that mainly attacks coffee leaves. Pale yellow rustlike spots will appear on the leaves of infected coffee plants, which will then lose their leaves entirely and die from defoliation. A disease that ravaged South Asia during in the 19th century, coffee rust had not been a significant threat to Latin American plantations until late 2012. Due to reasons not yet understood by scientists, it killed thousands of coffee trees in the region, resulting in immense economic losses. Vandermeer said spraying fungicide and removing the plants’ sources of shade are
MAYOR From Page 1A Working as a transactional lawyer, Taylor believes he has an ability to work well with people in opposition to one another. Since his election to the City Council in 2008 — when he defeated Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3), another current councilmember now running for mayor — Taylor has focused on a few key issues in preserving Ann Arbor’s character while still being open to innovation. “Ann Arbor is a place where there is tremendous opportunity but there is also a value in its character,” Taylor said. “It will be important that the next mayor focuses on transportation, stability and trying to ensure that we have the kind of modest growth that will enable us to attract and keep young people in the city.” While Hieftje has yet to endorse any candidate, Taylor’s voting history is very similar to the mayor’s. Councilmember Sally Petersen (D–Ward 2) categorized the candidates as being in support or opposed to the mayor’s policies. Petersen, in contrast to Taylor, is an infrequent supporter of the mayor. She attended Williams College and Harvard Business School and has been on the City Council for more than a year. Although she and Kunselman have been in agreement on many of the issues that have appeared in the City Council over the past year, Petersen said their personalities differ greatly. “He seems to be at odds with
PROFESSOR From Page 1A the University’s English Department, said he was thrilled when he heard of Mattawa’s induction. “His reputation is stunning and growing all the time,”
News
Gibbons could not be immediately reached for comment. Permanent separation is a very rare sanction in OSCR proceedings. In the latest OSCR data from the 2011-2012 academic year, there were zero permanent separations. The Statement of Students Rights and Responsibilities states that “some behavior is so harmful to the University community or so deleterious to the educational process” that it may result in expulsion, among other possible sanctions. The Daily is not aware of any criminal charges pending against Gibbons. OSCR operates independently of the criminal justice system. Investigators in the University’s Office of Institutional Equity, which reviews internal complaints of sexual assault, work with a lower standard of evidence than that of criminal prosecutors, who must prove that a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. OIE may presume that a respondent engaged in alleged conduct if there is a “preponderance of evidence” against the individual. This standard states that a respondent is responsible if there is enough evidence to suggest a complaint is more likely true than not. If OIE investigators find a respondent to be responsible for alleged conduct, OSCR officials determine what sanctions, if
any, will be leveled against the respondent. According to Vander Velde’s letter to him, Gibbons met with OSCR officials on Dec. 4, 2013, to discuss OIE’s findings. It’s unclear why sanctions were not decided in this matter until recently. Revised University policies regarding sexual misconduct may have forced officials to internally review or re-review the allegations. The updated policies, which have been in effect since 2011, state that any allegation of sexual misconduct received by the University must be investigated. Reports made to officials other than those at the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Office of Ombuds are not considered confidential and are expected to be investigated by OIE. The participation of survivors in sexual misconduct cases is not required for the disciplinary process to take place. Other individuals or University officials may report allegations. A permanent separation would render an athlete ineligible to participate in any NCAA event. Michigan coach Brady Hoke said at a Dec. 23 press conference that Gibbons didn’t travel to Tempe, Ariz., for the Dec. 28 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl because he was dealing with a family matter at home. Ablauf, the Athletic Depart-
ment spokesman, said he is unable to comment as to whether Hoke was referring to the permanent separation. Earlier, on Nov. 30, 2013, Gibbons sat out the football team’s regular-season finale against Ohio State after team officials said he suffered an undisclosed muscle injury in the week leading up to the game. “He’s a little iffy,” Hoke said on Dec. 16. “He’s kicking a little bit. But I don’t want to over-kick him. I’ve never been a kicker, so I can’t imagine that (muscle) problem. So he’s a little iffy.” Hoke assumed the position of head coach in 2011, after the incident is alleged to have occurred. Though it’s not clear what Gibbons’ career plans are, Vander Velde’s letter noted that he might be obligated to inform future schools or employers of the sexual misconduct case in order to comply with those organizations’ respective policies. The letter advises Gibbons to “make this disclosure in the future as appropriate and in a manner that authentically represents the behavior for which you have been found responsible.” Gibbons is fourth in made field goals in Michigan history and owns the program record for consecutive successful extra points with 141.
the two most common ways to fight the disease in Latin America. However, both solutions create serious problems that may result in harming the complicated ecological system. “Fungicide functions by killing any kind of fungus directly, and here’s the problem: The disease is caused by a fungus, but there are also several other kinds of fungi that would kill this fungus,” Vandermeer said. “So you kill the bad fungus and the good fungus at the same time when using the fungicide.” He added that White Halo fungus is one of these “good” fungi that can help control the disease but is being killed inadvertently due to human behavior.
Additionally, abandoning traditional shade-growing techniques will not stop coffee rust dispersion. According to Vandermeer, it actually does the opposite. He explained that the traditional plantation in Central America creates a canopy of shade for coffee, which resembles a forest system in its complexity. “But people are removing the shades, thinking that if they get the coffee out to the full sun, then the fungus will stop growing,” Vandermeer said. “But we know as a fact that it does not work. In fact, you get more fungus when you have them in the sun instead of the shade.” Exposure to sunlight does not kill the fungus, but the
shade will lead to less wind, which is how the fungus spreads, according to Vandermeer. The ecologist provided his recommendations for fighting the disease: to continue research on the fungus, return to shade-growing techniques and “definitely stop using fungicide.” However, Vandermeer added that out that these solutions could face difficulties because they run counter to the interests of fungicide sellers. “They run around telling people, ‘What you need is fungicide.’ It was the same thing with pesticide and our food system. And most farmers get their information from salespeople.”
the mayor quite a bit,” Petersen said. “Steve and I actually tend to vote very similarly, but it’s not because I’m voting against the mayor, it’s because I really believe in the issue. His temperament is very different from mine — I like to consider myself very diplomatic and collaborative. He likes the argument.” While Petersen is currently a stay-at-home mom, her background includes a focus on business and customer concerns, traits she said are highly transferable to the position of mayor. Although Petersen and Taylor do not seem to be in agreement on all past City Council issues, she identifies herself as being similar in personality to Taylor, citing the recent decisions in the pedestrian crossing ordinance. “With Chris Taylor, I think our temperaments are very similar. He tends to vote more like the mayor and he tends to have a very idealistic approach, which I will say is not always the most pragmatic approach,” she said. Petersen addressed concerns relating to her lack of City Council experience relative to other candidates. “There may be a concern that I’ve only been on Council for over a year now, but I love Ann Arbor,” Petersen said. “If I am elected mayor, I will have had twice the experience as the current mayor when he was elected.” The fourth candidate, Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1), said her years of experience on the City Council and her years spent focusing on the concerns and opinions of citizens makes her the best mayoral candidate. “I am open to working with
people with whom I disagree,” Briere said. “That means that I have learned from people from all over this community who start the conversation telling me what I’m doing wrong, and leave the conversation knowing they have been listened to. And I have been told that is unique from all of the other people running.” When it comes to the University, each councilmember hopes to establish strong relationships with the school in spite of some competing interests. As for expanding campus outward, Ann Arbor residents often voice concerns that their traditional, family-based neighborhoods could be in danger of a student takeover. “It is not, however, because of the people in the building,” Briere said. “But for many people, their shorthand is we don’t want students because what they are really saying is we don’t want beer pong, and I can understand that.” The expanding University has increased tensions with the city, reducing opportunities for tax revenue in Ann Arbor amidst downsizing within the city given the recent economic environment. “The University is not concerned about students; they are concerned about the University, and the University includes their physical plant, what they build, where they build it,” Briere said. “It includes their athletic activities, it includes maintenance of the existing physical plant and it includes their various revenue sources, but it’s not about the city and the students.” Kunselman echoed similar views, adding that the University
tends to operate like a business enterprise. Kunselman, an Ann Arbor native and University alum, said he’s disappointed with the political insincerity and dishonesty he said he has witnessed in Ann Arbor. He said he hopes to restore a sense of trust in local government, which will, in his opinion, translate to a more positive relationship between the city and the University. “You’re not going to get a dime from the ‘U.’ There’s already a lot of existing collaboration between the University and the city so there’s not much more that you can do there. But what has been missing is trust,” Kunselman said. “The University has a very high standard for reputation, so if the government is not trusted, why would they want to be in the same room with it?” In regards to his only loss in his six runs for City Council, Kunselman said his and Taylor’s politics and personality still differ for this election. “That grudge is still out there,” Kunselman said. “There is a contingent of people that feel they are better than the rest of us.” As a University employee, Kunselman has a unique approach to University and city relations. He has also emphasized his intentions to make Ann Arbor a more fiscally responsible and practical city. “Local government has contracted in the past few years,” Kunselman said. “It’s going be a slow road to get back some of that because obviously government finance is much more constrained than it has been in years past.”
Schoenfeldt said. “In particular as a Libyan intellectual, he is able to use poetry to connect experiences across continents brilliantly.” Cultural diversity is an important characteristic of the Academy’s Board of Chancellors, Benka said. “As a national organization,
we want to make sure we are being counseled and advised by poets who come from very different places across the country,” Benka said. Mattawa said he is most looking forward to personally meeting his fellow chancellors, whose works he has known for a long time.
“I am for poetry that tries to make the language new and that tries to make the language accommodate new ideas and new concepts,” Mattawa said. “It’s my desire to let people know that poetry is a place where they can grow as individuals, and they can learn to begin imagining a better world.”
TWITTER @MICHIGANDAILY BREAKING NEWS...AND HEARTS
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 — 3A
OBAMA From Page 1A Magill, president of Young Americans for Liberty, opposed government interference in higher education, particularly in providing student loans. He said loans push tuition increases. “If you make their cost affordable, if you continually give people money so that they can pay a certain price, colleges can raise their prices,” Magill said. Obama reiterated many issues explored in his previous addresses, representing overarching policy objectives from his term that he has not completed yet. Michael Heaney, assistant professor of organizational studies, said it is common for second-term presidents to address issues that may only be favored by one party. “Especially in the president’s second term, especially in a country that’s highly divided, especially when the president’s approval rating is below 50 percent, it’s very difficult for the president under those circumstances to get cooperation from Congress,” Heaney said. “Under these types of conditions, presidents usually look more toward things they can do unilaterally.” Obama called for action on income in equality, announcing an executive order that will set the minimum wage for workers under new federal contracts at $10.10, a $2.85 increase from the current rate of $7.25. According to an Obama administration fact sheet, the executive order will cover workers who are performing services or constructing buildings. Luke Shaefer, assistant professor of social work, said this minimum wage bump would affect a small group of new federal employees. However, it has the potential to have a far-reaching effect. “Even if the president’s minimum wage increase for federal contractors is on the whole more of a symbolic gesture rather than one with concrete policy effect, it is possible that it will cause a chain reaction to increase activity across states,” Shaefer said. In Michigan, this change is already underway — a coalition of organizations called Raise Michigan announced a push Monday to create a ballot question in November addressing an increase in the minimum wage. Dingell said raising the minimum wage was necessary to foster economic growth. At the College Democrats’
watch party, members of the student organization said minimum wage discussion was the most pertinent element of the speech. Lee said a rising minimum wage will benefit college students. “The majority of college students work at least part-time jobs to support themselves,” she said. “With current costs of attending an institute of higher learning, raising the minimum wage is going to really make college more accessible.” LSA freshman Benjamin Meisel, freshman chair of the University’s chapter of the College Republicans, said Obama’s support of a higher minimum wage would inhibit growth in small business. “We should be encouraging growth, not stifling it,” Meisel wrote in an e-mail. Obama also announced the creation of six more private-public research partnerships in 2014. He added that connecting businesses and research universities and creating research hubs are key to securing high-tech manufacturing jobs in the U.S. The aspiration aligns with that of the University’s Michigan Mobility Transformation Center, a $100 million government-industry partnership. Similar to tech hubs that Obama pointed out, the Center aims to mark Ann Arbor as “the first American city with a fleet of networked, driverless vehicles.” Another facet of the president’s approach to Congress came in his stance on climate change. Andrew Hoffman, professor of natural resources and environment, said there has been a shift in the president’s rhetoric when discussing environmental issues. “He’s going to get things done through legislative action or through other means, but he’s going to follow his agenda with or without Congress,” Hoffman said. The president touched on foreign policy at the conclusion of his address, emphasizing that the United States will remain invested in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite all American troops being withdrawn from the region. “The fact is, that danger remains,” Obama said. “While we have put al-Qaida’s core leadership on a path to defeat, the threat has evolved, as al-Qaida affiliates and other extremists take root in different parts of the world.” —Daily Staff Reporters Michael Sugerman and Jack Turman, and Daily News Editors Ian Dillingham and Rachel Premack contributed to this report
Opinion
4A — Wednesday, January 29, 2014
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
VIRGINIA EASTHOPE
E-mail Virginia at vcehope@umich.edu
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.
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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
A suspect separation In order to clear itself of suspicion, the ‘U’ must be transparent
T
he University’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy defines an expulsion as a “permanent separation from the University.” On Dec. 20, 2013, former Michigan football kicker Brendan Gibbons was “permanently separated” from the University. The expulsion was handed down following the University’s investigation into a case of sexual assault dating to Nov. 22, 2009. At the moment, there is little information surrounding the story due to the nature of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which guarantees the nondisclosure of student records. Also, University officials have declined to comment on the story. While it is commendable that the University succeeded in punishing Gibbons for violating the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, there are serious questions that the school needs to answer. In November of 2009, Gibbons was allegedly involved in a sexual assault incident. On Nov. 20, 2013, a letter from the University’s Office of Student Conflict Resolution — the body that carries out disciplinary proceedings against students — stated that a preponderance of evidence was present to find Gibbons responsible for the alleged sexual assault. Gibbons met with investigators from the Office of Institutional Equity on Dec. 4, 2013 to review the findings. On Dec. 19, 2013, OSCR contacted Gibbons via a letter to his residence, informing him that he was permanently separated from the University as of Dec. 20, 2013. More than four years after the incident, action was finally taken against Gibbons, which leads to many questions for the University administration and Athletic Department that as of yet remain unanswered. Due to legal restraints of FERPA, there is a significant lack of available information from which to draw concrete conclusions. The University’s delay in reaching a decision regarding the Gibbons case until now is suspect. The initial reports of an incident of sexual assault surfaced in November of 2009, more than four years ago. At the moment, no information has been released regarding the investigation carried out by the OIE, making it impossible to know the timeline of the inquiry — when crucial evidence was obtained or even when the investigation was launched. It is possible that the implementation of new University policies regarding sex-
ual misconduct in 2011 led to the case being reviewed. Still, that was more than two years ago. It is difficult — maybe even unfair — to speculate on the delicate process of investigating an allegation of sexual assault, but the overwhelming student response has been one of suspicion. If the University knowingly postponed the expulsion of Gibbons in any way over the last four years, it would be an atrocity of the highest degree. The timing of the expulsion is questionable — and the University has not provided an explanation for why the separation process concluded in late December. The disciplinary action of the University comes right at the end of Gibbon’s football career and at the end of the football team’s season. Four days after Gibbons received the letter of expulsion from OSCR, Michigan coach Brady Hoke announced that Gibbons would not play in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl due to a “family matter.” At this point, Gibbons was already expelled from the University — therefore no longer on the team — indicating a bizarre lack of communication between the University and the Athletic Department. Although the University claims to be bound by FERPA in terms of what kind of information it can release regarding Gibbons’ proceedings, it needs to clarify the details of the case to the best of its ability under the law to save the University’s reputation and reinforce that this is truly a community that expects respect.
CHIRAPON WANGWONGWIROJ | VIEWPOINT
An uninspired choice
On Friday, the University announced the selection of Mark Schlissel as its 14th president. While some may rejoice at this choice, I received the news lukewarmly. This is not because I doubt President-elect Schlissel’s qualifications, but rather because I am disappointed at how the selection committee simply played it safe. By “safe,” I mean that they chose someone who will understand how to operate the giant that is the University of Michigan Health System, someone who understands how to continue bringing in research grants and someone who will uphold the University’s commitment to academic excellence. On the other hand, I share some students’ dissatisfaction that the selection committee did not make a bold choice that signifies a readiness to challenge the status quo and recommit our University to the public mission. Students dreamed of a president who would be ready to embrace what #BBUM is trying to achieve, tackle the complexity of health and wellness issues on campus and display the moral obligation to commit the University to social justice and sustainability beyond the low-hanging fruits. Even though students were excluded from the selection committee this time, we were still holding out hope that our voices would be heard at the student forum organized by the presidential search committee back in September 2013. However, after being told by the search firm that at the time of the student forum, candidate
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Winter wimp-out
interviews were already being held, I was skeptical that the regents really cared about our voices. The fact that the issue of sustainability was not even mentioned once in Friday’s announcement despite being featured prominently at the student forum increased my exasperation. Perhaps this is just a matter of miscommunication. If so, the selection committee needs to communicate to us whether they cared. However, if the lack of student input in this entire process is any indication, the Regents don’t seem to care and students have every right to be angry. We keep saying that higher education will change dramatically over the next few decades. Friday, the regents spoke loud and clear that they are content maintaining the status quo rather than being bold and responding to student demands. As my friend remarked, the University could have done amazing things with this opportunity. It didn’t. While my immense disappointment is directed at the regents and the selection committee, I withhold my judgment of President-elect Schlissel until he articulates his vision. In fact, his record at Brown shows a willingness to work with students, and his remarks on affordability and access are commendable. I hope he proves all my doubts and concerns unfounded and that in a year’s time, I will be able to look back and claim that this viewpoint is no longer relevant. Chirapon Wangwongwiroj is an alum.
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TO THE DAILY: Is anybody reading today’s print edition? Probably not, because the University of Michigan cravenly chose to cancel classes today, ending a proud 36-year tradition of keeping school open, no matter the weather. The last time Michigan canceled classes, it snowed 19 inches. Today? It’s a bit cold. And windy! But apparently that’s reason enough for the powers that be in the Fleming Building and student government to wave the white flag. Doesn’t the Wolverine’s natural habitat extend north of the Arctic Circle? Students and staff at Minnesota, Wisconsin and even Michigan State, the three northernmost Big Ten institutions, will all go to school today, despite temperatures well below the super-zero forecast in Ann Arbor. The Michigan Difference: Wimping out when the wind picks up. Champions of the West, or Cowards of the North?
Consider the world’s largest alumni base disgusted and embarrassed; the decision to cancel classes is a betrayal to recent graduates who proudly recall braving temperatures significantly below zero on their way to classes in February 2007 and February 2009. All those who came before certainly remember their own solemn, snowy treks to Angell Hall, the Modern Languages Building and West Hall with negative temperatures biting at their flesh, but not their resolve. We are all mortified by this capitulation. While the University is closed today, the bars surrounding campus will surely be open for business. We bet more than a few Wolverines brave the blustery weather to enjoy their day off. This is a yellow decision by the Maize and Blue. David Watnick and William Petrich 2010 and 2011 Alumni
Y
Dude, you’re a feminist
eah yeah, women have the same opportunities as men, no one’s against gender equity, what are feminists still doing here, blah blah blah. Let’s talk about food. Those of us fortunate enough to have family dinners NIVEDITA worth remember- KARKI ing always miss the goodness of a home-cooked meal. Inarguably, most people grew up around their mother’s cooking. But once you start talking about professional cookery, it’s a man’s world. The Gordon Ramsays, Jamie Olivers and Marco Pierre Whites have become the face of the industry, and the Nigella Lawsons become more known for their personal lives despite their equally phenomenal work. Seriously, just Google these names. The fight for gender equality has been fought for so long that oftentimes we forget things are still not the same for men and women. I could give you a list of places where women have either rarely or never been seen, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. Or wait, maybe I do. Check out every President of the United States, the number of female professors at the University, the highest-paid people in Hollywood, the proportion of female students at Ross, the highest-paid athletes and the list of Fortune 500 CEOs. I could mention many more areas lacking women, but those editing this article would probably have to cut them out for the sake of a word limit. In a TEDx talk, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie described a feminist as someone “who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.” These words can also be heard verbatim in Beyoncé’s new song, “Flawless.” It is one of the
most simple — yet most accurate — definitions of feminism that I identify with. I know several people who stand by this description of feminism, yet they shy away from identifying themselves as feminists. But when you ask them why they do so, they reply with shrugs, grunts, mumbles and other unintelligible noises. During my second week in college, I attended a social-justice conference here on campus. While discussing gender issues, I went around calling myself a feminist and didn’t have a clue about some people’s negative image of what it stands for — until I was told that I was expected to go around burning my undergarments, chopping off the hair on my head and letting it grow everywhere else to fit the bill. Sure, that could be what feminism means to someone, but feminism’s meaning has changed over time. I was puzzled by seeing that even the most informed people cave in to stereotypical images without even knowing what the term stands for. “Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes,” according to Adichie. Feminism has been an evolving concept. In the early and mid-20th century, women in most countries across the world fought for suffrage, representation in legislature, the right to work and the right to an education. In the 1970s and 1980s, there were some feminists who campaigned against objectification of women. Helen Gurley Brown, editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, revolutionized publishing worldwide by putting powerful women from various walks of life on the covers, dressed in what they
called “provocative clothes.” In the early 1990s, the concept of ‘cyberfeminism’ evolved, giving impetus to women empowerment through the web. Unfortunately, it lost its actual aim in the by-lanes of time. What does “social, political and economic equality” mean to us today? Does political equality mean a world average of 19.1 percent of women in Parliament? The fact that women made an average of 80.9 cents for every dollar a male earned in 2012? Could the difference be accounted for by clothing, the kind of career options women take up, the social behavior that is ‘ideal’ for a woman, the basic fundamental right to education, that women are limited by societal norms? All I want as a feminist is for women to be able to make choices as they please. I wish for every woman to have the freedom to choose her own path — to make decisions pertaining to her life by her own prudence and individual perceptions. Whether you choose to flaunt your faith by wearing a hijab or flaunt your legs like the next Miley Cyrus, as long as you’re doing it of your own free will, you’re a feminist. Whether you make the choice to be the next computer geek or decide to question philosophy like Socrates, you’re a feminist. Nobody’s choices should be shadowed by a particular half of the human population or limited in the name of societal culture. If you believe in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes, no matter what your gender is — you’re a feminist.
Whether you choose to wear a hijab or flaunt your legs, as long as you do it of your own free will, you’re a feminst.
— Nivedita Karki can be reached at nivkarki@umich.edu
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Barry Belmont, Rima Fadlallah, Nivedita Karki, Jordyn Kay, Kellie Halushka, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Paul Sherman, Allison Raeck, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe
H
Telling India’s entire story
onestly, I really can’t stand the LSA Theme Semester. Even when I first heard that LSA would have the theme “India in the World” for the Winter 2014 semester, I was unsure of how I felt. I suppose I should have felt proud since the HARLEEN University felt KAUR inclined to focus on my “motherland,” but I was more anxious than anything. I knew from past experiences that my family’s story tended to get left out of the picture when discussing India. Unfortunately, this time was no different. When the theme courses were released, I remember scrolling through them, still having some hope that they would provide a diverse array of perspectives and opportunities for students to learn about India. Instead, I found class after class on the North Indian perspective — one that is often focused on due to its because of its adoption of elements of Western culture. Bollywood, British India and the Himalayas may represent India to some, but I found myself looking at a carefully — though not necessarily accurately — constructed portrayal of India. This was created to fit into the image of India that is already present in the Western world — not one created to challenge it. The first newsletter the Center for South Asian Studies released claimed that “All of the Theme Semester
activities are geared towards helping students, faculty, and the community at large see the ways that India — whether through art and aesthetics or economics — is relevant to our everyday lives.” This is a very ambitious goal, but I would argue that the first step is at least making it relevant to those who are from India. As someone whose entire lineage is rooted in India, I cannot even bring myself to attend Theme Semester events or enroll in the classes. Does that really make it relevant? In all of the events and courses that the Center for South Asian Studies has planned, there have been mentions of India’s enormous diversity. However, a large focus on Northern India and Hinduism will overshadow any mention of other faiths and cultures. India will continue to be painted as the “world’s largest democracy,” even though it has a history of oppressing minority groups and targeting them with acts of violence. The most upsetting omission for me is that 30 years ago, the Indian government planned and carried out a military operation ending in the deaths of approximately 20,000 Sikhs. To this day, there have been no repercussions for those involved. “India in the World” may be exactly how the University and the Center for South Asian Studies want to portray India, but it should not be mistaken for the truth. There are several gaping holes in the picture, and I hope that they attempt to mend this mistake by creating space for more diversity in their events and programming for the rest of the term. Thus far, the newslet-
ter has showcased a very Northern, upper/middle-class and Hindu-centric India. Even though some of these identities are the largest in numbers, or most commonly portrayed by Western society, it would be silly to assume that they make up the majority of India’s identity as a nation. Luckily, we have quite a few student groups on campus, and even students outside of those groups, who come from incredibly different families and backgrounds in India. By including multiple perspectives, we can create a broader lens for others to view India, even if it may not be the perfect story. Although it may seem problematic to display the negative aspects of a community or country, it is even more troublesome to pretend that these issues do not exist. Without recognition and acceptance of problems, it is impossible to move forward and create positive social change. There may not be anything I can do about making the Theme Semester more inclusive at this point, especially when it comes to the courses it offers. Nevertheless, at least now I can be more aware. The underrepresented stories were very clear to me this time around because some of them were my own. In future discourse, I hope to remember that history is always written by the victors, and there will undoubtedly be perspectives left out. Just because I’m reading something out of a textbook or hearing it from the mouth of a professor doesn’t mean it’s the whole truth. It’s just one piece of it. — Harleen Kaur can be reached at harleen@umich.edu
News
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS BRIEFS DETROIT
Kellog Foundation gives $40M to Detroit art fund The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is giving $40 million to prevent the sale of Detroit art and help city retirees, raising the pool of money to $370 million. The announcement was made Tuesday by a coalition of foundations. The group wants to continue to attract financial support from foundations and individuals while Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder tries to win approval for $350 million from the state. City-owned art at the Detroit Institute of Arts could be vulnerable to sale in Detroit’s bankruptcy. At the same time, Detroit’s pension funds are short by $3.5 billion. Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr has until March 1 to propose a plan to take the city out of bankruptcy.
WASHINGTON
Obama expected to pick up pace in his second term Frustrated by years of partisan gridlock, President Barack Obama is moving to flex his presidential powers during his sixth year in office. He’s starting by using Tuesday night’s State of the Union address to announce executive actions to raise the minimum wage for new federal contracts, help the longterm unemployed find work and expand job-training programs. Obama’s go-it-alone strategy, with modest steps for now, is aimed both at jumpstarting his stagnant second term and prodding a divided Congress to take additional action to boost economic opportunity for millions of Americans. But there’s little indication lawmakers are ready to follow along, particularly as the nation barrels toward the midterm elections.
DENVER
Helicopter crash in Colorado under investigation Authorities were investigating after a helicopter crashed in western Colorado on Monday, killing all three people aboard. Witnesses who saw the crash believe the helicopter was carrying a crew inspecting power lines and that the aircraft snagged a line, Garfield County sheriff’s Deputy Ward Stowe said. The crash happened at 11:18 a.m. near Silt, a small town about 150 miles west of Denver. Doug Sheffer, the owner and chief pilot for DBS Helicopters, based in nearby Rifle, was among those killed, Sheriff Lou Vallario told the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. The names of the other two on board have not been released.
JERUSALEM
Palestinian leader reveals conditions for withdrawal Palestinians can accept a limited Israeli presence in the West Bank for up to three years after a peace deal, but reject demands for a transition period of more than 10 years, their leader said in comments broadcast Tuesday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated a long-standing position, suggesting that there’s been little movement in U.S.-mediated talks toward narrowing the gaps between the two sides. In an interview broadcast at an Israeli security conference, Abbas appeared to be speaking about the Jordan Valley, an area in the West Bank that borders Jordan and has become a central issue in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Israel wants a continued presence along the strategic border and Palestinians demand they withdraw once a Palestinian state is formed. —Compiled from Daily wire reports
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 — 5A
Hawaii student shot by police in standoff High school boy stabbed officer and attempted escape HONOLULU (AP) — A police officer shot a 17-yearold runaway in the wrist Tuesday morning at a Hawaii high school after the teen cut one officer with a knife and punched two others, authorities said. State Department of Education spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz said the boy showed up at Roosevelt High School near downtown Honolulu, and officials there recognized him as a runaway and called police. The boy had been a student at the public school before, but wasn’t registered for classes there this semester, she said. Honolulu police Maj. Richard Robinson said officers arrived at the school and tried to take the boy into custody, but he lunged at them. The teen attacked one of the officers with a kitchen knife, leaving him with a minor cut on his torso, Robinson said. He also hit two other officers, but neither suffered serious injuries. One of the officers then fired two shots, hitting the boy once in the wrist. The teen was taken to a hospital in serious condition, EMS spokeswoman Shayne Enright said. His injuries were not life-threatening. “The suspect was taken into custody and walked out of the school,” Robinson said. He added the boy was arrested on suspicion of three counts of attempted murder. The incident prompted a lockdown at Roosevelt, which has an enrollment of nearly 1,400. The officer who fired is on administrative leave during an investigation, Robinson said.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the officer who fired aimed for the boy’s arm or another part of his body. Robinson said the details were part of the ongoing investigation. Tenari Maafala, president of the statewide police officers union, said the knife posed a clear threat and officers are trained to stop a threat, regardless of the suspect’s age. “They didn’t come here looking to shoot somebody,” said Maafala, who went to the school as part of the Honolulu police peer support unit. Noah Powell, a 16-year-old junior, said the shooting happened in a school counselor’s office. Powell said he was in a nearby office and heard the struggle and shots but didn’t see the 17-year-old or know who he was. Powell texted his parents afterward to let them know he was OK. He said he also posted on Facebook that he was fine and got quick responses from people saying they were praying for the school. Kealii Akiona-Soares, a junior, was in a social studies class when he heard a faint shot at about 8:20 a.m. Then a school bell sounded and students were kept in their classrooms, the 17-year-old said. He said his class continued with a politics lesson, and everyone kept mostly calm. “I guess it happens a lot in mainland schools, so it’s not surprising,” Akiona-Soares said. Several parents, including Carolyn Richardson, gathered outside Roosevelt after word of the shooting spread. Some were visibly upset, and many texted or called their children, who were still on lockdown inside. “This is really freaking me out,” Richardson said.
Sochi drug tests to be more thorough Winter 2014 Olympics will check athletes repeatedly LONDON (AP) — Go ahead — just try to get away with it. If you’re willing to take the risk, you’ll pay the price. That’s the challenge laid down to drug cheats thinking they can dope their way to success at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. International Olympic and anti-doping officials are implementing the toughest drug-testing program in Winter Games history, using intelligence to target athletes and events considered most at risk. Authorities are focusing their efforts on weeding out dopers through rigorous pregames and pre-competition tests. Armed with an improved scientific method that can detect drug use going back months rather than days, the International Olympic Committee will conduct a record number of tests. Urine and blood samples will be stored for eight years for retroactive testing, providing further deterrence to anyone thinking they can avoid being caught. “I think it would be stupid to try to cheat,” IOC medical director Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press. “If there are any doping cases in Sochi, some of them may be because athletes are being stupid.” The Russian doping lab, which had faced possible suspension by the World AntiDoping Agency for inadequate procedures, has been fully accredited for the games and will be analyzing samples around the clock. The Winter Olympics have produced only a small number
of positive tests over the years as they involve far fewer athletes than the Summer Games and fewer sports with a record of doping. Olympic officials hope any cheats will have been screened out already through extensive out-of-competition testing carried out around the globe in the months, weeks and days leading up to the games. Don’t think, though, that nobody’s cheating or that Sochi will be doping-free. “You’d be foolish to write off the Winter Games as having any lesser risk,” said Andy Parkinson, chief executive of Britain’s national anti-doping agency. The IOC plans to carry out 2,453 tests in Sochi, including 1,269 pre-competition controls. That’s a 57 percent increase in pre-games tests from the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. The majority of the 1,184 incompetition tests will be done in sports like cross-country skiing and biathlon, endurance events with a history of blood doping and EPO use. About 20 percent of the doping controls will be blood tests. Much of the testing will be based on intelligence gathered from law-enforcement agencies, whistle-blowers and previous suspicious blood level results. The testing program begins on Jan. 30, the day the athletes village opens. From then until the close of the games on Feb. 23, Olympic athletes can be tested at any time and at any place, including training sites anywhere in the world. The games open on Feb. 7. About 2,000 of the 3,000 athletes competing in Sochi are expected to be tested — some of them two, three or even four times. The top five in all medal events are tested, as well as others chosen at random.
NASSER ISHTAYEH/AP
In this Friday, Jan. 3, 2014 photo, Jamal Abu Muhsin, second right shows his university degree earned at an Israeli prison in the West Bank town of Tubas near Jenin.
Imprisoned Palestinians receive college education Prison schools aim to provide new skills to convicts TUBAS, West Bank (AP) — Jamal Abu Muhsin was a firstyear Palestinian university student when he was convicted of stabbing a 76-year-old Israeli man to death in 1991, in retaliation for the killings of five Palestinian stone-throwers by Israeli soldiers. Recently released from prison, he’s now beginning a new chapter of his life thanks to a pair of university degrees — all earned behind bars. Abu Muhsin is among hundreds of Palestinians who have spent their time in Israeli prison pursuing higher education — a program that was supported by the Israeli prison system for two decades until it was cut in 2011 as part of a series of sanctions against prisoners. Since then, prisoners secretly have organized their own courses, with backing from universities in the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian officials say. Uprising leader Marwan Barghouti, the most famous Palestinian prisoner, teaches a master’s degree course in Israel Studies, and Abu Muhsin was one of Barghouti’s students. Abu Muhsin said studying helped him get through 23 years behind bars. “When I found myself in jail for life, I was faced with two options: either I make meaning for my life or waste my life and my mind behind bars,” said Abu Muhsin, 42, speaking at his home in the West Bank city of Tubas. He chose to study history, then languages and writing and finally sciences and econom-
ics before earning a bachelor’s degree in political science via long-distance learning at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He later added a master’s degree from the Palestinian AlQuds University. “I’ve studied materials about the Zionist movement from a Zionist perspective, but I found no discrimination against us as students. I would write papers to the university in which I would criticize the Zionist theory and they would accept my argument,” he said. “I wanted to understand everything in life and to make my long life in jail meaningful. Otherwise my soul would have died.” Israel first began offering university courses to the prisoners in the early 1990s, following a 14-day hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners. Since Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in 1967, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been imprisoned for anti-Israeli actions, from stone-throwing to killings. Hundreds of the roughly 5,000 prisoners held by Israel today are believed to be pursuing degrees, according to prisoners’ rights activist. Orit Adato, who served as commissioner of the Israeli Prison Service from 2000 to 2003, said that criminal prisoners around the world are allowed to study but when it comes to prisoners involved in political violence, Israel is particularly lenient. “The prisoners in Israel enjoy conditions above and beyond those of any others in the world,” she said. “It is part of a humane Israeli approach that even prisoners deserve rights.” Prisoners’ rights activists say conditions are tough however, and prisoners have staged several mass hunger strikes in pro-
test. Under her watch, Adato said prisoners were restricted to studying in Hebrew so that the learning material could be monitored and prisoners prohibited from studying subjects deemed dangerous, such as physics, chemistry and political nationalism. She said an upside of the program was that prisoners, who later went on to assume powerful positions in Palestinian politics, became fluent in Hebrew and familiar with Israeli society, which helped facilitate peace negotiations. Almagor, an Israeli association of families who have lost loved ones in militant attacks, said convicted killers shouldn’t be allowed to study. Meir Indor, head of Almagor, said the arrangement sent the wrong message and hurt Israeli deterrence. “It’s a basic principle: Just as those who were killed cannot study, those who kwilled them shouldn’t be allowed to study either,” he said. “We need to send a stronger message to all those who are waiting in line for the good life in Israeli prisons.” In 2011, Israel scaled back privileges of Palestinian prisoners in response to the continued captivity in Gaza of Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier seized by Palestinian militants five years earlier. Thought Schalit was released later that year, university studies have remained cut off since the 2011 decision, said Sivan Weizman, a spokeswoman for the Israeli prison service. said she could not comment on whether materials have been illicitly transferred to prisoners or whether the Palestinians are now teaching themselves.
Sports
6A — Wednesday, January 29, 2014
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sampson matures on and off the floor Senior becomes leader, learns how to love gymnastics By KELLY HALL Daily Sports Writer
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Michigan freshman wrestler Angelo Latora, who struggled this year in the 141-pound class, has since been benched in favor of redshirt junior Stephen Dutton.
Dutton regains form, starting role By ZACH SHAW Daily Sports Writer
Another loss by Angelo Latora, another cringe-worthy moment for Stephen Dutton. As the Michigan freshman wrestler fell, 6-1, to Purdue’s Danny Sabatello on Jan. 10 — his sixth loss in a row and ninth in 13 matches — Dutton could only watch from the sidelines, again. Yet another injury setback had forced him to watch Latora start over him in the 141-pound class. Fortunately for Dutton, Latora’s loss in the Purdue match will likely be the last time the junior has to watch from the stands. Since then, Dutton has exploded on the scene. After nearly two years off, a transfer and countless injuries, Dutton has won his first three Big Ten matches by a combined score of 44-5. It had been a while, but it wasn’t that long ago that Dutton was dominating the national wrestling scene, albeit for a different team. As a freshman at Lehigh, Dutton went 23-14 and came one win shy of being named All-American, a rare feat for some one year removed from high school. “He wrestled really well at Lehigh,” said Michigan assistant coach Donny Pritzlaff. “He
was a round-of-12 guy as a true freshman, right on the cusp of being on the next level. He kept wrestling well, but his second year had some injuries and didn’t like the fit at Lehigh. It worked out that he wanted to leave and I had just joined Michigan’s staff, so it was a natural fit to get him to come here.” The pairing of Pritzlaff and Dutton was years in the making. As an assistant coach at Hofstra from 2004-06, Pritzlaff met Dutton, then a seventh-grade wrestler, at a clinic in New York. As the years went on, Pritzlaff became family friends with the Duttons. Though the bond didn’t take fruition until after Dutton’s sophomore year, it paid off when he selected Michigan. The same spring that two-time NCAA champion Kellen Russell graduated from the weight class, the Wolverines appeared to have their next replacement lined up. As spring turned to fall, the anticipation grew. But during a wrestle-off to officially name him the starter, the injury bug bit Dutton again. Deciding to redshirt the season, Dutton was forced to train without tangible results. “I came here for one reason,
and that’s to wrestle,” Dutton said on Monday. “It’s been frustrating not being able to compete, I just tried to lead by going out in the room and working hard, competing hard, and that’s basically all I can do.” After a year away from competing, Dutton was more than eager to return to the lineup. But, yet again, that anticipation was put on hold, as a summer shoulder surgery from another injury took longer to heal than anticipated. “It’s been emotionally up and down for him,” Pritzlaff said. “He was doing really well in rehab and was as close as he could get to returning. But then he regressed and thought it was re-torn. He thought it might be the end for him.” But as the weeks wore on, Dutton kept pushing. After Latora’s sixth straight loss, it was now or never for the seasoned but rusty veteran. “After a while, he realized the pain will always be there,” Pritzlaff said. “Now he’s fighting through it the best he can. He’s in a good spot, he’s not 100 percent, but he knows that no one’s 100 percent at this level, so he’s just got to go.” Making his Michigan debut
Classifieds RELEASE DATE– Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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against Illinois, Dutton looked as healthy as ever, cruising to a 14-0 victory. The momentum has only increased as he’s taken down opponents from Minnesota and Michigan State by scores of 14-2 and 16-3, respectively. “It’s felt good,” Dutton said. “It’s nice to go out there after a while off and get some points and win some matches. But for the rest of the season, I’m going to have some good competitors, some top-ranked guys, so that should be a good test.” The hot start has allowed Dutton to become the No. 9 141pound wrestler in the country. But the biggest tests will come this weekend, as he takes on Penn State’s Zain Retherford and Ohio State’s Logan Steiber, ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively. “It just makes me work that much harder,” Dutton said. “I have to try and get in better and better shape every day. I was off the mat for so long, and I know the guys I’m wrestling have had a lot more time on the mat this year.” In Big Ten wrestling, Dutton’s long-awaited — yet so far successful — return will be put to the test early and often. But in a career full of pain, patience and waiting, few can handle adversity quite like Dutton.
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Joanna Sampson’s journey to becoming an NCAA national champion in the floor exercise wasn’t always pretty. If you look at her now, you wouldn’t expect that the senior co-captain of the Michigan gymnastics team was once a stubborn freshman who wanted everything done her own way. With that adamancy, though, came an unshakeable desire to succeed. “The thing that I’ve always told Joanna is that, because of her strong personality, she’s a natural leader,” said Michigan women’s gymnastics coach Bev Plocki. “But which direction are you going to lead?” Early in Sampson’s career, Plocki knew that Sampson had the potential for greatness. She just needed to find her place. Sampson wasn’t enjoying gymnastics much at all right before she came to Michigan. She put too much pressure on herself, and her love for the sport lessened. Though her competitive edge has led to many of her successes, learning to love gymnastics again played a significant role in her achievements. “I give her all the credit in the world because she found out what she wanted to be and how she wanted to lead, and she developed herself into that person,” Plocki said. And she has. On top of being a captain who her teammates can look up to, Sampson is a 2013 NCAA champion, a threetime NCAA All-American, a Big Ten Women’s Gymnast of the Year, and the 2012-2013 University of Michigan Female Athlete of the Year. “One of my biggest personality changes I’ve had since I’ve been here is really just being more open to everything and just kind of trying to relax a little bit more,” Sampson said. “I try not to take everything so seriously.” According to Plocki, even Sampson’s parents were shocked by her attitude change
since she’s been with the Michigan gymnastics team. “Joanna has matured and grown up big time in the years that she’s been here at Michigan,” Plocki said. Fellow co-captain and housemate Shelby Gies has experienced Sampson’s change firsthand. “Sometimes, she thinks that everything has to be perfect,” Gies said. “But everything she does is perfect; she just thinks that it has to be even more perfect. She’s very hard on herself a lot of the time, but she’s learning to not be as much.” Sampson treats every practice as if it were an actual competition, something her teammates notice every day. But though Sampson holds herself to a very high standard in and out of practice, her ability to accept her occasional mistakes has helped her become the captain that she is today. “As a freshman, because of the way I was, I didn’t necessarily expect (to be a captain), but it was always something I had a desire to be,” Sampson said. “I just always wanted to be that person that my teammates could look up to and come to, regardless of being a captain or not. As long as I was able to do that for my team, then I would’ve been happy.” And she’s happy now. “I don’t really have a specific goal for myself other than to just embrace everything while having fun my senior year,” Sampson said. “The season’s going great. I don’t think I could really ask for anything more so far.” Sampson’s hope is that she can help create the best season possible for her teammates while simply enjoying her final year at Michigan. She feels pressure, but now she’s approaching the season with a different mindset. “I think the sky’s the limit for her in terms of what her capabilities are,” Plocki said. “I just want her to relax and have fun and enjoy her senior year and get the most out of it that she can.” Sure, it’s not the only balancing act she practices, but Sampson has found the perfect harmony between enjoyment and her will to succeed.
“But which direction are you going to lead?”
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Gymnast Joanna Sampson has become one of the Wolverines’ leaders.
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Sports
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 — 7A
Wolverines embrace 9-year-old teammate Partnership with Friends of Jaclyn helps form bond By JASON RUBINSTEIN Daily Sports Writer
Most people have played a sport at one point in their lives. Whether it’s T-ball or basketball, many children shape their childhoods around sports and take away lasting memories. It could be the game-winning buzzer beater, a goal, a home run or just a friendship. Imagine if that was taken away. Enter 9-year-old Miles Root. Root’s life took a drastic turn when he was just five. His love of soccer would have to be put on hold. He was suffering from a brain tumor and would have to use his competitive energy elsewhere. The brain tumor was fully removed just a couple of days later, but Root then suffered from posterior fossa syndrome — symptoms that can occur after surgery — which resulted in him being unable to speak or move the right side of his body. The news was grim for Root, a Tecumseh, Mich. native. To cure the syndrome, he had to endure 30 rounds of radiation, nine rounds of chemotherapy, a shunt placement and two hospitalizations due to infections. Root, though, didn’t let that defeat him. Doctors confirmed he was cancer-free nearly four months after the initial diagnosis. But Root relapsed early last year and is now in hospice. Root and his family found he had a much larger support system this time, though — the Michigan men’s lacrosse team. Upon hearing his story, senior defensive midfielder Jeff Chu
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Senior defensive midfielder Jeff Chu and the Michigan men’s lacrosse team shaved their heads in solidarity last Saturday in order to promote cancer awareness.
knew he wanted to get involved. “I wanted to help and show support to kids with cancer,” Chu said. “A lot of athletes get to go to Mott Children’s Hospital on Thursday nights, and that was something I always really enjoyed. So I thought that this would be something we would enjoy.” The University’s partnership with the Friends of Jaclyn program made Chu’s aspirations tangible. The program — with a mission “to help improve the quality of life of children and their families battling pediatric brain tumors” — accomplishes its purpose by placing children on sports teams based on geographical proximity to the hospital. The Friends of Jaclyn program then reached out to
the lacrosse program about adopting Root. The decision was easy: The 9-year-old would become the team’s newest member. “No questions asked,” said sophomore long stick midfielder Chase Brown. “It was the least we could do to show our support.” Though Root can’t physically help the team, his presence has been emotionally beneficial to the Wolverines. “He and his family helped put a lot of things in perspective to a lot of young men who, for
the most part, have everything going well in their lives,” said Michigan coach John Paul. “This really puts in perspective that whatever problems you have, they often pale in perspective to other things people are going through. Our team has really embraced that, and it has had a tremendous impact.” Added Chu: “We as athletes have a really unique platform, and we can touch a lot of lives, and sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of that. But with Miles on our team, and when we bring him
“Being involved in a sport again is the best part for him.”
to the locker room, it brings the team back down to earth and puts things into perspective.” Educating the team about his illness isn’t the only way Root interacts with the team. Michigan lets Root lead the team in stretches and participate in practice. Before the annual Maize vs. Blue scrimmage, Root was given the opportunity to put on a maize jersey to be on the offensive team, or a blue jersey to be a part of the defense. He chose blue, and the unit erupted in cheers. Brown recalls that moment as his favorite with Root. “Being involved in a sport again is the best part for him,” said Nicole Root, Miles’s mother. “He can’t actively participate in sports, so being involved in something with camaraderie is
nice for him. It’s awesome to see others rallying around him.” Though they were already making an impact in Root’s life, the team wanted to do more. Again, under Chu’s direction, the Wolverines had no trouble finding the perfect way. Chase Jones, founder of the Vs. Cancer Foundation and a cancer survivor himself, reached out to Chu about the possibility of having the team shave their heads to raise cancer awareness. Chu had short hair, making the decision easy, but others had a harder time deciding. Lacrosse “flow,” or long hair that hangs outside of the player’s helmet, is part of the culture. It takes months to grow it out, and shaving it off is a major commitment. “Hair is a ‘lax bro’ thing, and I wasn’t sure how the team or other lacrosse teams would take to it,” Chu said. “But we recognize it’s for a good cause, so we’re willing to give that up.” Saturday, with the help of Ann Arbor’s Coach and Four Barber shop, the players followed through on their promise. Brown hadn’t had his hair cut in almost eight months. But said he would do it again in a heartbeat. As one player was getting shaved, others teased him about his chances with girls. But teasing aside, they enjoyed Root watching as they buzzed off their hair. “With Miles here, it not only helps me, but the team also,” Brown said. “There’s team bonding all over, and it’s unbelievable how this simple action can get so much laughing, but also shows a lot of support for his family, which is awesome.” Root’s presence is recognized every day by each team member, and it’s allowing him to be part of something that was taken from him. For now, sports can be a part of Root’s life once again.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
As an elite player, Stauskas welcomes teams’ attention By NEAL ROTHSCHILD Daily Sports Editor
ALEX GALEL/Daily
Freshman guard Siera Thompson is one of the best free-throw shooters in the country and is deadly from beyond the arc.
Road test won’t faze ‘M’ By ALEXA DETTELBACH Daily Sports Editor
For all its youth and inexperience, the Michigan women’s basketball team has figured out what some veteran squads never do — how to win on the road. The Wolverines (5-2 Big Ten, Michigan at 14-6 overall) Nebraska are 6-0 in true Matchup: road games Nebraska 13-5; this season, and Michigan 14-6 despite also When: having success Wednesday at home at the 8 P.M. EST Crisler Center, Where: Michigan Pinnacle has found its Bank Arena niche in hostile Radio: environments. In their six true MGoBlue road games, the Wolverines are beating opponents by an average of 19.2 points. Michigan will be on the road again Wednesday night to face the USA Today Coaches Poll’s No. 23 team, Nebraska, in its second-straight away game. The Cornhuskers (3-3, 13-5) are the fourth-ranked team the Wolverines have faced this season and are a critical matchup for their NCAA Tournament aspirations. Still, Michigan has mixed results against ranked
opponents, barely losing to then-No. 15 LSU on Nov. 30 and then falling more handily to then-No. 4 Notre Dame on Dec. 14. But the Wolverines nabbed their first and only win over a ranked team Jan. 15 when they beat then-No. 22 Purdue in West Lafayette. But Nebraska poses a new set of challenges for Michigan, which is just 1-7 against the Cornhuskers in its last eight matchups. “Nebraska is a great program, a top-25 program that’s made a run in the NCAA Tournament in the last few years, and they have a great environment at home,” said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico. “I think our kids are excited about the opportunity to play a great team, a great program on their home court.” The Cornhuskers’ leading scorer, forward Jordan Hooper, averages 19.1 points per game while grabbing 9.9 rebounds. Hooper is No. 8 among all active NCAA Division I scorers and leads Nebraska on both sides of the floor. And despite Michigan being the only Big Ten team to hold opponents under 60 points in league play, the Cornhuskers’ hot offense could change that. “(Nebraska) wins all their games that they score in the 70s, so we’re going to try and focus on stopping that,” Barnes Arico said. “That’s been a goal
of our team all year, to really lock down and play defense and really limit opponent’s best players.” Another impact player for the Cornhuskers is forward Emily Cady, who averages 14.2 points per game and 9.6 rebounds. Junior forward Cyesha Goree will need to continue her dominance on the boards to compete with Nebraska. Barnes Arico will most likely start her bigger lineup, which puts senior center Val Driscoll in the middle with sophomore guard Madison Ristovski coming off the bench. Since Ristovski has developed into a true sixth man, she has developed chemistry with the Wolverines’ two starting guards, junior transfer Shannon Smith and freshman Siera Thompson. All three players have the ability to score from long range and spread the floor out as well as penetrate the paint. Michigan will need its guards to play all over the floor to help balance the size mismatches the Cornhuskers pose. In addition to Nebraska’s star forwards, the team also has guard Rachel Theriot, who averages 13.2 points and 5.9 assists per game. But at 6-foot-0, Theriot is taller than the Wolverines’ guards, and she should provide a challenge for Smith and Thompson on the defensive end.
Becoming the ‘it’ guy for the Michigan men’s basketball team hasn’t been all open 3-pointers and clear paths to the basket for Nik Stauskas. Last year, as the fourth or fifth option, Stauskas was able to play as well as his talent would allow. The deck wasn’t stacked against him. But as he’s emerged this season as an elite player, the sophomore guard has had to deal with the auxiliary effects of a breakout season — becoming opponents’ focal point. Rather than simply being one of No. 10 Michigan’s best players — someone worth paying attention to — Stauskas is now the object of teams’ gameplans. Duke faceguarded Stauskas in early December, sticking guard Tyler Thornton on the guy who had carried Michigan’s offense to that point in the season and beyond. Stauskas was shadowed as soon as Michigan took over possession and denied the ball at all spots on the court. The Blue Devils removed Stauskas from the action, aided by the ankle injury he was already nursing. He could muster just two field-goal attempts, neither a make. Duke forced Michigan to play four-on-four and the Wolverines couldn’t capitalize in the 66-50 loss. “That Duke game was a big game for me, because they kind of shut me down and they just paid a lot of attention to me on and off the ball,” Stauskas said last week. Since then, teams have tried a few tactics — almost always unsuccessful — to prevent Stauskas from scoring opportunities. “That game by itself was a
pretty big learning experience for me, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job after that of adjusting to how teams play me,” he said. Initially, opponents played Stauskas tight, not giving him space to fire a jump shot and daring him to beat them off the dribble. But as Stauskas has flashed his improved strength, ball handling and floor vision, he has punished teams with high-flying dunks and nifty passes around the rim. In Big Ten play, teams have tried to wear Stauskas out on the defensive end, trying to render him less effective on the other side of the court. Penn State guard DJ Newbill commanded the Nittany Lions offense on Jan. 14, going at Stauskas repeatedly until the Mississauga, Ont. native was gassed and came out of the game on a substitution, slamming a chair in frustration. Newbill scored 17 points, but Stauskas couldn’t be kept down offensively, picking up 21 points and registering six rebounds in the 80-67 win. In last Wednesday’s win over No. 10 Iowa, 6-foot-9 forward Aaron White tired out Stauskas by backing him down in the post en route to 14 consecutive points in the second half. While Stauskas was less effective scoring the ball during that run by White, he still picked his spots during the second frame, tying a career-high with 26 points. “I understand I’m not the best defender in the world,” Stauskas said. “Teams are going to attack me. That’s exactly what teams used to do to me last year. They would have four down, have the guy at the top of the key and just go at me. So I understand that teams are going to do that, and I’ve got to be prepared.” Most recently, against
“Teams are going to attack me.”
Michigan State on Saturday, Spartan standout Gary Harris hounded Stauskas all night. He played physical defense, grabbing at the sophomore, holding him and bodying closely. Again, Stauskas found a way to stay effective, using screens and manufacturing enough space between his defender to let his 3-pointer fly — six times in total, and he made five of them in the 80-75 win. “He was limited to even touching the ball,” said Michigan coach John Beilein after the game. “Once we got used to that, then we said, ‘We’ve got to attack in different ways, and Nik can score off some residual things.’ ” In the final minutes, Michigan worked to get Stauskas the ball so that he could be fouled to shoot free throws to ice the game, but the Spartans double-teamed him, even taking him to the ground. Freshman point guard Derrick Walton got the ball instead on most of the final possessions, and he drilled all but one of his free throws. Stauskas watched Walton’s free throws and relish that once again, he’d taken an opponent’s best shot and responded by continuing to make his own.
BY THE NUMBERS Nik Stauskas
19
Average points per game in conference contests.
46.2
3-point field goal percentage for the season.
80.9
Free-throw percentage in Big Ten play.
33
Total assists in conference play, leading the team.
8A — Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Arts
EVENT PREVIEW
A2CT to perform ‘next to normal’ Tony Awardwinning musical comes to Ann Arbor By GRACE PROSNIEWSKI Daily Arts Writer
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in five American adults will experience next to a mental health issue, normal while one in Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 20 Americans lives Thursday to with a serious Saturday at 8 p.m. mental ill- Sunday at 2 p.m. ness such as Arthur Miller schizophreTheatre nia, bipolar $13-$25 disorder or major depression. Even while many people come forward and receive treatment for their mental illnesses, many still try to hide their conditions, silenced by stigmas and misconceptions. Into this complex landscape steps Ann Arbor Civic Theatre and its performance of “next to normal,” the Tony awardwinning musical and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The musical follows the lives of the Goodmans, a typical suburban family trying to keep things together while the mother struggles with worsening bipolar disorder. The musical also deals with issues such as suicide, grieving and the failures of modern psychiatry. Ron Baumanis, a neuropsychologist by day, is directing the performance of “next to nor-
mal.” It will be the 40th musical he has directed. One of the most interesting aspects of the musical, according to Baumanis, is its contemporary setting. “There’s a risk in writing a musical that takes place in your neighbor’s house … or maybe your own ... and not set on a tropical island, Oz, or the streets of Yonkers with its horse-drawn carriages,” Bamanis said. The music in the performance also creates a contemporary vibe, with many different genres filling out the production. “The musical,” Baumanis said, “is almost entirely sungthrough, with very few ‘spoken’ scenes, and the music is poprock in style, ranging from country pop ballads to straight-out rock. The musical is so brilliantly scored: guitars reflect character mood, drums keep a ‘heartbeat’ going throughout the show and its the driving force that makes the entire drama work.” The musical deals with some extremely heavy issues. While it certainly has something to say on what defines “normal” and the role of medicine in treating mental illness, there are many issues raised that can only be decided by the audience. “ ‘next to normal’ leaves some of the questions unanswered for the audience to think about and discuss,” Baumanis said. “And if there is one thing I can guarantee, people will be discussing the show on the way home. It touches on so many common themes even for those people who aren’t personally struggling with mental illness or grief issues that it provides lots of fodder for discussion, and even repeat viewings.”
The cast members invested large amounts of time and effort in order to create realistic, thought-provoking characters. “We had one evening,” Baumanis said, “where we discussed specific character quirks, and even had a speaker come talk to the cast about his own Bipolar Disorder and how he coped with it.” Following Sunday’s matinee performance, A2CT will conduct a discussion and Q&A with researchers from the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund at the University’s Depression Center and volunteers from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The session will answer questions regarding bipolar disorder and mental illness, the effects of mental illness on families and different treatment options. This event is free and open to the public. The musical and the afterperformance session will both offer audience members a better understanding of mental illness and the different effects of grief on different people. And for Baumanis, that understanding is key. “First, as an entertainer,” Baumanis said, “I want the audience to see a superbly sung and performed award-winning musical theater piece. Despite the seriousness of much of the show, it has a big heart, it has plenty of laughs and it’s a fullout Broadway musical.” “Second,” he continued, “I want them to take away their own notions of what relationships mean, the forms that grief can take on if left unexamined and an improved understanding of bipolar disorder in specific.”
TV REVIEW
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
TV REVIEW
PBS
Who said longboarding wasn’t cool?
Fans betrayed by leap in ‘Sherlock’ return By CHLOE GILKE Daily Arts Writer
BBC’s “Sherlock” ended its second season with the ultimate cliffhanger. After the title character managed to survive jumping from the roof of a hospital, C+ fans had to wait two ago- Sherlock nizing years to find out Sundays at how Sherlock 9 p.m. pulled it off. Series creator PBS Steven Moffat promised an exhilarating answer, only to be revealed early in the first episode of the third season. Spoiler alert: There is no real answer. Moffat and the writers give three explanations, but all are ridiculous outsider speculation. As someone who had been thinking up my own solutions to Sherlock’s survival, these fakeouts were insulting. By including diegetic London fanatics’ theories (and making them so outlandish and silly), Moffat is letting the audience know that he is aware his show has a passionate fandom. And that he doesn’t care to treat them with respect. A giant middle finger to the show’s passionate “shippers,” Sherlock shares a romantic moment with supporting characters in two of the flashbacks. But again, it’s a cruel twist on fan
expectations. Sherlock and Moriarty leaning in for a kiss makes a mockery of the exciting season two ender. It’s innocent fan service gone sour. Between this and the first episode’s case involving a deranged Guy Fawkes fanatic, the show hints at a troubling tendency to mock its own fans. But despite a rough beginning, the second installment of “Sherlock” is enjoyable. This episode elaborates more on the newly introduced Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington, “Mr. Selfridge.”) She is a breath of fresh air in a show that often pushes female characters aside for its two detective leads, and seeing Mary as a foil to Sherlock gives the two detectives an interesting new dynamic. With Mary to compete with, Sherlock must come to terms with his own feelings for John. His ice-cold detachment slowly fades as he realizes that Watson is more than just a sidekick: he’s Sherlock’s first loyal friend.
Same old, same old. As Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch (“Star Trek: Into Darkness”) gives a strong performance. He is more vulnerable than in seasons past, and even though the series
has only had nine episodes to date, he shows solid character development. Martin Freeman (“The Hobbit”) is excellent as always, a little more fierce and resistant to Sherlock than in seasons past. Though both actors are becoming more famous (and increasingly too busy to find time for TV work), they give their Oscar-worthy talent to “Sherlock”. Despite the big names, stunning cinematography and prestige that is associated with the BBC network, “Sherlock” still falls flat. The third episode of the season could easily be mistaken for great television, but it is sloppily written and sometimes unintelligible. Even after a second viewing, the logic of the episode was hard to follow. A revelation with Mary seemed to come from nowhere, and keeping track of who missed a bullet plays like a half-hearted version of the old “Reichenbach Falls” trick. Like last season’s finale, there is a surprising turn of events, but when an old character is reintroduced in the episode’s final minutes, it seems like Moffat is pulling another stunt on the audience. Season three will likely be remembered only for its memorable exploits and plot twists, but that’s hardly enough to make for an excellent show. If this season is any indication, we should expect more of the same when the show returns for a fourth season: plenty of action and fun, but a disappointing lack of substance.
FILM NOTEBOOK
Leaving the ‘Frozen’ bandwagon By ANNA SADOVSKAYA Daily Arts Writer
FOX
Jennifer Lawrence meets Miley Cyrus.
The gory glory of ‘The Following’ By JULIAN AIDAN Daily Arts Writer
As expected, writer Kevin Williamson’s dark and violent serial, “The Following,” punched its way into the season premiere, coming out of A the gate with The the brutal conclusion to last Following season’s cliffMondays hanger. at 9 p.m. After Clare’s ruthless death Fox and a fewmonth-long bender, we rediscover our hero, Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) a year later in New York, far from the horrors of last season, where Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) and his crew racked up a body count that most “Call of Duty” players would be jealous of. Now five months sober and teaching up-and-coming criminologists how to dissect and analyze crime scenes, Ryan seems to have gotten it together in light of the slew of tragic and horrifying events he witnessed and endured. Unfortunately, as the anniversary of Carroll’s death-by-massive-explosion approaches, a trio of ne’er-do-wells boards a subway train donning masks that are a facsimile of the cult leader’s face,
chanting about resurrection, Joe being alive and Hardy’s inability to stop them. Images and news of their killing spree paralyzes the city, so Ryan and Agent Mike Weston (Shawn Ashmore) are dragged back into the world of murder cults, sociopaths and so much backstabbing, both literal and otherwise. Emma (Valorie Curry), Joe’s protégé, meanwhile, finds herself left out of this new round of cult activity, having not heard from him in nearly a year. With edgy new lip rings and hair color, Emma is back to being at the right place at the right time, alerting other followers she’s hiding out with that Ryan Hardy is back and on the coattails of the new murders. Elsewhere in the city, a blonde falls prey to a hunky, pale stranger who casually helps himself to her refrigerator and iPod while she lies lifeless on her bed. Dolled-up and dressed to the nines postmortem, she is left in a park, propped up and reading Joe Carroll’s novel, destined to be found by our hero. The stranger is revealed to be working with three others — a former follower, a sadistic French woman and his twin brother. Rounding out the new club of cultists, Mark and Luke (both played by Sam Underwood) are a
dangerous pair with dichotomous personalities: the latter explosive and unpredictable, the former more reserved and calculated. Thankfully, even Luke manages to find solace in hugging it out … and collapsing tracheas. “The Following” ’s fear factor comes not from the actions of the killers, but from the deliberate and brilliant pacing with which each big shot is presented. The merciless, blood-drenched execu-
Scares come from deliberate, brilliant pacing. tion scenes are presented bluntly, forcing viewers to accept them as they come, while more subtle moments surprise you with the cold-blooded calculations of the predator. It’s fast-paced and shocking, everything “The Following” has always delivered, and yet this season promises the distinct taste of surprise left over from each episode — not from the big moments or reveals, but the more delicate and strangely terrifying stories that creep up when you’re least expecting.
Whenever something becomes popular, and inevitably makes an appearance on my Twitter feed, I immediately reject it. Thank god I discovered “Doctor Who” before I learned of its fan-base, or I’d still be completely disgusted with the show. And, yet, despite my vigilant hatred, I inevitably, a few months after the hype dies down, finally jump on the bandwagon and realize that I’m the idiot, and that whatever it is I vehemently spewed venom at earlier is actually pretty sweet. Without fail, this happens with 98 percent of pop culture in my life. Enter, “Frozen.” I love Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen.” As one of the first stories I read on my own, I remember reading it and hoping that snowflakes would turn to snow bees — I’d look for bits and specks of glass (my poor, poor mother) to crush, so the trolls’ evil mirror wouldn’t infect anyone else. I didn’t want any of that to be ruined in the “loose adaptation” that was to be “Frozen.” That, along with everyone’s sudden love for Idina Menzel, whom I adored when I was 11 because “Wicked” was my life, and I was ready to never see “Frozen.” But, it was a monumental occasion — the first snow day at the University since 1978, and it was too cold to leave my bed. So, I casually looked up “Let it Go” on YouTube because someone posted it for the fifth time on Facebook. And I knew, clicking play after the stream buffered, I knew I was going to end up watching the movie. And so, I prepared. For the jumping on the bandwagon and the loving it. Surpassing “Finding Nemo” as the highest-grossing original animated film of all time with a $348-million domestic box-office total, “Frozen” is a force to be
DISNEY
Girl power.
reckoned with. The soon-to-bereleased sing-along version is going to probably sell-out in theaters, and people everywhere will be humming “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” And for the most part, it makes sense that everyone loves it. Anna (Kristen Bell, “Veronica Mars”) is real and cool, funny in ways outside of the boring “awkward-butcute” heroine stereotype. Olaf (Josh Gad, “Jobs”) is hilarious and puppy-like in his never-ending love for everyone he meets and Elsa (Idina Menzel, “Enchanted”) is lost and confused, unlike most villains in today’s films. There’s music, there’s true love, there’s a lot of girl power and cute trolls! What’s not to love? The parents … they die. Yes, that’s unfortunate. And Hans (Santino Fontana) ends up being a complete sociopath, going from sweet to psychotic in, like, a millisecond, but that shouldn’t really matter right? And who cares that we first see Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) as a child who cuts ice without parental supervision, or that a troll adopts him. It’s part of the magic; it’s part of the fun. Actually … no. For the first time (… in forever), I didn’t become a raving “Frozen” fan after cracking and seeing the film. It’s beautifully animated, and wonderfully voiced, but the amount of crazy plot holes and unanswered questions was too high for me to
get into “the magic.” For one, who is Elsa? Who is Anna? Why is one of them born with a gift for ice? What did that bishop from weasel town even want? Why is everyone so white? And why are the trolls so lovecrazed? Some answers are “just because.” Some are “because this is a European story” and race can’t be changed (as an aside from someone who adores “The Snow Queen,” this movie has nothing to do with “The Snow Queen”). And some are “this is a fairytale so things just happen.”
I was ready to never see ‘Frozen.’ I want to love “Frozen,” but I don’t even know who half the characters are. I can only vividly remember Olaf, but that’s because he’s a one-dimensional laugh factor, and actually, really cute. It was a snapshot into the lives of the characters — not much backstory, not much context — and it didn’t feel worthy of the characters’ potentials. It felt not enough, and for garnering so much attention, it most certainly should have been.
Underpaid
&
Overworked
statement THE MICHIGAN DAILY JAN UARY 29, 2014
2B Wednesday, January 29, 2014 // The Statement
THE
list | B
uzzfeed, but better
Top 5 Paid Internships You Won’t Get This Year These internships are a career goldmine. Too bad they’re all a long shot. But hey — you can dream.
1. Nordstrom
You sure as hell don’t have to be a computer programmer to earn that paid internship. With an average monthly pay of around $2K and internship opportunities covering the whole spectrum of retail sales, Nordstrom tops our list of most impressive non-tech internships.
2. VMWare Of course, we had to put a tech company somewhere high on this
list. And if you land this one, prepare to be the richest intern in your graduating class. The long hours might just be worth it when you get that $6K paycheck each month.
3. Enst & Young
Wall Street is slowly dipping into the compensation they give to its employees. Regardless, if you’re looking to learn a lot in a short period of time, this is the place we see you doing it.
4. MTV Networks Push those suits to the back of your closet and take out your
attitude — MTV has a more avant garde approach to internships. A fast-paced media environment that pays is truly rare.
5. Google
Have this internship on your resumé, and you’ll be set for life. Whether it be in tech, marketing or research.
oh, the weather outside is frightful—
BUT OUR TWEETS ARE SO DELIGHTFUL!
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@thestatementmag COVER BY RUBY WALLAU & NICK CRUZ
THE
statement
Magazine Editor: Carlina Duan Deputy Editors: Max Radwin
Photo Editor: Ruby Wallau Illustrator: Megan Mulholland
Amrutha Sivakumar Editor in Chief: Design Editor: Nick Cruz
Peter Shahin
Managing Editor: Katie Burke Copy Editors: Mark Ossolinski Meaghan Thompson
my first time: all ears on Bey “Rocking out to Beyoncé’s new album while studying for my finals. All hail Queen Bey!” This is essentially all I saw on social media for two weeks of school during fall semester. While I wanted to join in on the fun, I felt like listening to the Queen would distract me from studying for the fast-approaching final exams and just tempt me into singing the entirety of Destiny’s Child songbook. It wasn’t time to cater 2 u, Bey. I’m sorry. But today, right now, Jan. 13th, 2014, it is time. I originally wanted to watch all the music videos that came along with the self-titled album, BEYONCÉ, but I realized I had already spent a good amount of the day on Beyoncé’s Instagram. It was time to let my ears enjoy. My eyes had seen enough for the day. Get at me, girl. #NP #Beyoncé Wow. Beyoncé is coming out hot with this first track, “Pretty Hurts.” She’s joking that pretty hurts though, right? Beyoncé knows she’s Beyoncé, right? Did Jay Z say something mean to you, Bey? I can be back in Brooklyn in a snap if you need me. “Haunted” is spooky. I won’t lie. Is it bad, though, that when I listen to this song all I see is Patrick Swayze’s character from “Ghost” in real life gliding all over the world watching people. I’m onto you, Bey. “Roadhouse” is one of my favorite movies, too. Much respect. Just put “Drunk in Love” on. Already feel a rich connection to this song. Guess I just have partying on my mind — or as Bey pointed out in her track “Party,” WE LIKE TO PARTY. Do you think Beyoncé would be down with being my date this weekend? I know it’s not a night out on the town with Jay — “Brooklyn” — but a random house on Geddes with free Backroom Pizza and unlimited carrots is a tempting
THE
by daniel feldman
ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN MULHOLLAND
alternative. Alright, Beyoncé just said she “woke up in a kitchen.” Beyoncé is clearly foreshadowing my weekend. Why did Bey just say surfboard three times? Please don’t blackout. Please don’t blackout. Answer me, Beyoncé. Jay Z just popped up on the track. He’s on to me. Skipping ahead now. Wait, did ‘Yoncé just say this album is just for all the “grown women out there?” Do I have to call my mom now, or whatever, to get special permission moving forward? Moving on, “No Angel.” First of all, I am an angel. Second of all, if you’re saying you aren’t one, I can help fix that. But you need to stop saying I’m not an angel if you want my help. Bey. Bey. Bey. Clearly you’re not listening to me. Whatever. Got to be honest, that track just made me upset. But I see my favorite Canadian rapper, Drake, is featured four tracks from now, so I’ll give you a second chance. Where is this penthouse? I know I just ate dinner, but after listening to “Jealous,” I seem to have room for
dessert. Siri, search for Beyoncé’s penthouse, Brooklyn, N.Y. Hello? Siri? Now finally, “Mine,” feat. Drake. Why did I know Drake would sound exactly this way when I saw he was featured in the song? I know he has intentions of upstaging Beyoncé here, but his voice fading in and out of the song is just so Drizzy. OK, all he says is “good girl.” I get it Mr. OVO. Do you have anything else to say? Glad to see you put a lot of effort into your lines, sir. This is not even close to the best you’ve ever had. You can do better, Aubrey, and you know it. I know the point of “XO” isn’t necessarily about losing electricity, but telling me I can “turn (your) lights out” is a bit misleading. I think Beyoncé is blackout, guys. I will NEVER let you lose power, Beyoncé. If such an event were to ever occur I would find you, light a candle and make sure you can see forever. It’s been an emotional couple of hours till this point, but I’m not even going to question Beyoncé on the notion that she “woke up like this.” Flawless.
rules TMD’
s weekly survival guide
No. 531:
No. 532:
No. 533:
Tweet up! University president to-be Mark Schlissel has an official twitter account. Now is the time to help him work on his hashtags.
Michigan Basketball just beat MSU and is ranked high again. Time to jump back on the bandwagon.
It’s a battle of the Starbucks’. When it comes to four dollar coffees, you can never be too picky.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 // The Statement 3B
the thought bubble
“
on the record P residential Edition
“In my experience, universities really don’t get led topdown; The best ideas come from the people who do the teaching and the learning, so that’s why I need to do some listening first.” “You Google ‘Michigan’ and the first 10 stories you get are about athletics. We’ve got to find ways to leverage that level of public attention onto the other wonderful things that are happening on campus as well.”
“Another thing that made me say ‘Michigan is a place I really have to look at’ is my feeling about the role education can play in solving society’s problems.”
PHOTO BY RUBY WALLAU
“As far as motivation, obviously the money and glamour might not be there with teaching, but I would say find the noble purpose and commit to it — whether that’s equality, or just getting kids to know history ... Go for something you feel good about every day, and don’t worry about the glitz and the glamour.”
“There’s something about the openness and the accessibility of a public universities that’s really special and it drew at my heartstrings.” – MARK SCHLISSEL, University of Michigan President-elect on being selected to lead the University,
– ROMAN WILLETS, Education senior
This “Wolf of Wall Street” duo has chemistry. Leonardo Dicaprio surprised Jonah Hill during his monologue on SNL this week, helping calm his nerves by recreating the “I’m Flying” scene from the “Titanic”.
trending #ColumbiaMall #WinTheGame #BrownToBlue
AP PHOTO/ Jose Luis Magana
Saturday was grim in Columbia, Maryland as a 19-year-old shooter took the lives of two mall employees in their 20s and killed himself soon after. It’s clear that stricter gun control laws are becoming all the more urgent.
PEOPLE.COM
#GRAMMYs #JonahHill #DigiTour2014 #SnowBlue #StadiumSeries
DIGIFEST.COM
You don’t need a multi-million dollar recording contract to make it on the tour bus. Ticket sales just went out for the month-long event that will feature an array of popular YouTube artists, some of whom may make it to the big leagues.
Starting this Saturday in Dodger Stadium between the Ducks and the Kings, the NHL is embarking on a six-day series of outdoor games in summer stadiums. Expect to see ice where you generally don’t. ALEJANDRO ZÚÑIGA
4B
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 // The Statement
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 // The Statement
PHOTO BY RUBY WALLAU
Salary Sacrificed: Are unpaid internships worth it? by Alicia Adamcyzk, Daily Staff Reporter
B
efore Engineering sophomore Christopher Reynolds crossed the Diag on his first day of class last fall, the Pennsylvania native knew he would need to save money from his high school lifeguarding job in order to pay for his college expenses. Initially, he thought he could spend his earnings on a new computer. But as it turned out, he needed the money to subsidize a different job experience. Reynolds, a first-generation college student, pays for his own tuition. So when he looked for an internship after his freshman year, he knew he wouldn’t be able to take anything that wasn’t paid. While he did manage to secure a paid internship with General Electric Aviation in Ohio, Reynolds said had he not successfully balanced paying his out-of-state tuition while saving up spare cash throughout the year and from the previous summer, he wouldn’t have been able to afford to take the job. Reynolds isn’t alone. With the internship quickly becoming a staple of the collegiate experience, many students are left pondering the costs and benefits of committing to a fulltime position without the standard full-time pay. “I felt really pressured to do something in the summer, but worrying about if I could afford it,” Reynolds said. “That pressure really beat me down the first semester, and I can’t tell you how happy I was that the internship offer was paid.” Many students, some in as tight of financial situations as Reynolds, aren’t fortunate enough to receive a paid gig. Instead, they are left to take an unpaid position to break into a career field. While many students at the University are able to afford such experiences with help from parents or savings from other jobs, others — like Reynolds — can’t rely on outside help. Without help or savings, the internship experience can be hard to navigate. But some interns
have fought back against unpaid labor. In June of last year, two interns working at Condé Nast publications — W Magazine and The New Yorker — filed suit against the publishing company, claiming they were paid less than $1 an hour for their work, which they said violated federal labor laws. Soon after, Condé Nast discontinued its internship program. Since the Condé Nast incident, several other lawsuits have been filed against companies alleging that unpaid internships violate federal law. With the obvious drawback of receiving no pay for work, the lawsuits further complicate the validity of unpaid internships for college students. Still, while some interns may have a legitimate case, not every unpaid internship is illegal. The U.S. Labor Department has noted that work performed by interns in governmental agencies and nonprofits does not have to be paid. The Fair Labor Standards Act lays out six points that must be met to constitute an unpaid internship, among which include mutual agreement of no payment, and supply of an “educational environment” for interns. The language of the law, however, is ambiguous in places, leaving legal interpretation up to employers and, increasingly, the judiciary. With some unpaid interns taking the case to the courts and others, like Reynolds, not able to afford to work for free, it begs the question: Is the unpaid internship worth it? Benefits of an internship Genevieve Harclerode, assistant director of experiential learning and employer development in the University’s Career Center, said internship experience has become a normal expectation for most employers looking to hire students after graduation. “While not every employer in every field is
expecting that you’ve done four internships in a field before you embark on an entry-level job search, certainly we are seeing that employers have a baseline expectation that you should be able to articulate why you might be interested in a certain industry,” Harclerode said. She explained that any kind of exposure to a professional setting is beneficial not only for employers to take students seriously, but for the students themselves to decide whether or not a certain field is the right fit. Additionally, internships provide the opportunity for personal growth. Amy Sumerton, program director of 826michigan, an Ann Arbor-based nonprofit organization that helps elementary and high school-aged students with their writing skills, wrote in an e-mail interview that the fact that the internships offered at the nonprofit are unpaid has never posed a serious issue. Sumerton said 826michigan has had interns from all socioeconomic backgrounds, who are always enthusiastic to volunteer their time. To help facilitate those interns who are less privileged, however, she said the program offers a lot of flexibility in hours and work management. “I think most of our interns understand that they are getting a valuable experience for their time, and doing something positive in their community,” Sumerton wrote. “They may not get a paycheck for their work, but interns typically gain a bevy of marketable skills, a better resumé and a great letter of recommendation.” Ford School of Public Policy junior Abigail Orrick said she enjoyed her unpaid internship with the Department of Education over the summer because it allowed her to communicate directly with the high school students she hopes to one day work with. While she applied to both paid and unpaid positions last summer, she said the Department of Education was her number one choice,
despite being unpaid. “The best thing about an internship is you’re not just studying the material out of a textbook or you’re not just listening to somebody else who’s had that experience, you’re doing it yourself,” Orrick said. Still, had she not received a scholarship through the Public Service Internship Program, a program within the University that provides resources and support to students interested in pursuing public service-related internships in Washington, D.C. over the summer, Orrick said she wouldn’t have been able to take her dream internship. Like others on the program, Orrick said she set a strict budget during her ten weeks in D.C., and tried to make the remaining funds of her scholarship last. “I did coupon over the summer,” she said, laughing. LSA senior Rachel Rowlands, who interned with Glamour Magazine over summer 2013 — before Condé Nast, the magazine’s publishing company, halted its internship program — said living and working in New York City was a great way for her to break into the publishing field, despite not receiving pay for her work. “I had a great time, I met some amazing people,” Rowlands said. “You can’t really get better first-hand experience than working with editors who do that everyday.” Internship hierarchy For many fields, including government, media, entertainment, fashion and nonprofit work, an unpaid internship is standard practice. While this doesn’t pose an issue for some students at the University, Harclerode, from the Career Center, said there are many students she works with who need to take creative approaches to financing their summers. Others, however, completely forego taking the internship because they simply can’t afford to work for free. Harclerode said it’s a sad situation for students who really want the experience, especially as employers come to expect it. But just because a student can’t afford to take an unpaid internship, that doesn’t mean she or he won’t be successful in future job searches. Sumerton, from 826michigan, emphasized the importance of enthusiasm and a demonstrated interest in the mission of the organization as key qualities in a potential intern or employee. “We look for applicants who are motivated and eager to learn things,” Sumerton said. “That, in my mind, is more important than just about any kind of experience.” Harclerode too said most employers expect to see that students have a demonstrated interest in their field. Typically, employers won’t know the difference between a paid or unpaid internship when they look at a resumé. While Harclerode thinks most employers do prefer to pay interns, it isn’t feasible for every company, especially smaller businesses and nonprofits. She noted that some companies, such as NBCUniversal, have moved to a paid internship program in recent years, perhaps in light of the lawsuits and attention now devoted to the Fair Labor Standards Act. “I think that’s a positive trend,” she said.
“Any move towards compensating college students is a good thing.” Pressure to succeed While many of his freshman friends were enjoying their first year at the University, Reynolds, the General Electric intern, said he felt immense pressure not only to find an internship, but to also support himself at the same time. While other interns used their first paychecks to buy new watches or televisions for their apartments, Reynolds, who cannot rely on financial support from his parents, was worrying about paying for gas to travel to and from work. Orrick, too, said there was a definite divide between students from different socioeconomic classes in D.C., where most of the internship positions are unpaid. Although Orrick and many others in PSIP budgeted consciously and had help from scholarships, she said it was obvious that many other students didn’t have the same worries. The financial constraints that some students have is something employers should take into consideration when developing their internship programs, she said. As the income gap between students in universities across the country increases, the same disparity can be seen in internships. “I think there is a bit of an issue with it being limited to middle and upper class students doing internships because they’re the ones who can afford them,” Orrick said. “It’s cutting those students out who would bring a lot to the internship and to their employer but yet can’t financially do it.” A creative approach Like the others, LSA senior Laura Goslin, who interned in Congressman Dan Kildee’s (D — Mich.) office, had to think outside of the box when it came to financing her summer in D.C. In Goslin’s case, this meant graduating a year early so she could use the money she saved from paying tuition to afford to live in one of the nation’s most expensive cities and work fulltime for free. “I made a deal with my parents that they would pay for housing,” Goslin said. “I was just really fortunate. I know if I didn’t have that set up I wouldn’t be able to go.” While the unpaid internship isn’t going away any time soon, there are many resources across campus that can help students take a creative approach to funding their ideal internship experience. LSA Internship Coordinator Elizabeth Pariano said she has witnessed the number of internships growing over the past few years as more students and employers recognize the benefits of the experience. While this means an increase in the amount of unpaid opportunities, she said it will also translate into more paid positions in the future. For those who find themselves struggling to pay for their summer experiences, Pariano said there are many resources for students to take advantage of. For example, LSA students with
demonstrated financial need can apply for the LSA Internship Scholarship, which can grant up to $5,000 to subsidize internship costs. “You need to be ready to ask one place and go to another,” Pariano said. “It’s on the minds of many of the people I talk with in these departments. I don’t think a student should ever hesitate to ask or inquire about it.” Additionally, Pariano is helping to develop the LSA Internship Network, which will connect LSA students with employers — including LSA alumni — looking for interns. The database will require employers to indicate whether the position is paid or unpaid, which is also a requirement for jobs posted on the Career Center’s website currently. Pariano said many students are able to “piece together” an appropriate amount of support through multiple channels to afford to take an internship. Hopefully, all of these resources will help students secure not only their ideal internship, but one that is paid for those who can’t afford to do it any other way. She said the University’s goal is to engage as many students as possible in the process if they’re interested in the experience. “We’d like to be able to support as many students as we can,” she said. “I think it’s important to give them the options and facilitate the options to open as many doors as we can.” Pariano emphasized the importance of the individual student figuring out his or her needs and taking the appropriate steps to accomplish their own goals and ambitions. She encouraged students to seriously consider what value they will get out of an internship — paid or unpaid — before they take it. In some cases, this may involve students creating their own opportunities or taking a path less traveled. “That’s a good thing, that there are so many paths,” she said. “There are opportunities to take other kinds of work.” Harclerode also stressed that there are many options for students who feel that they can’t afford unpaid internships. She suggested talking to employers about shortening the length of the internship, looking for scholarships or sponsors in the city of employment, considering less expensive cities to work in that offer similar opportunities and supplementing the internship with a paid job. While it isn’t the ideal situation, she encouraged students in financial straights to take advantage of the resources provided on campus. “Ultimately, I think anytime you have the opportunity to be able to gain more exposure and clarify career interests it’s a positive thing, but like I said, there’s some resources out there that would hopefully help support a student,” Harclerode said. “I do think there are some students who need to make difficult choices.” Reynolds seconded Harclerode, saying his internship experience took a lot of planning and budgeting. Still, he said all of the effort paid off because of the experience he received. “Even with all that planning ahead, it was still was kind of hard to get started,” he said. “In all, it really definitely is worth it.” To see the full version, go to michigandaily.com
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS
On campus, how do unpaid internships compare among students? A Career Center survey conducted in fall 2013 showed varying summer internship experiences.
Freshman
4.68% 105 internships
Sophomore
LSA survey respondents
25.28% 572 internships
Junior
32.6% 737 internships
Senior
37.6% 849 internships
Unpaid but with compensation 10.91% 247 students
Paid ‑ Hourly
36.46% 825 students
Paid ‑ Stipend
Compensation
20.99% 475 students
Unpaid
31.63% 716 students
Yes, I received scholarships from a source external to the University 5.25%
Additional Funding?
No, I attempted to seek additional funding but did not secure it 8.15% Yes, I received scholarships from the University 8.84% No, I didn’t seek additional funding
77.76%
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014 // The Statement
T H E V I S U A L S TAT E M E N T: M Y N I G H T W I T H A N D I Nicholas Williams photographed Andi Drogenous, a graduate student in the School of Social Work and a drag performer, performing at a club in Cleveland, Ohio.
O
n the surface, being in drag is a “Look”. When I first began exploring and documenting Drag Queens I mostly viewed the lifestyle on an aesthetic level. It was not until I met Andi Drogenous that I began to see another side to drag — it is a vessel to disrupting a gender binary. Drag inspires a generation of acceptance and being is more than putting on a dress and walking out the door, it’s about creating a dynamic persona. I met Andi online, and when we met up for coffee, I was struck by the knowledge that ze (gender neutral pronoun) had of drag and of zir energy. Over winter break I followed Andi to zir hometown of Cleveland, Ohio to watch zir performance at a club. Having total access to Andi’s full process put into perspective for me how much work goes in to the illusion behind the scenes. Broken down, drag is sixty percent getting ready, ten percent performing and thirty percent reigning as queen of the club. Andi spent four hours painting zir face, erasing every manly feature using various techniques learned from friends or
online. Bit-by-bit, Andi started to appear. We chatted idly as ze worked and at one point as ze finished up zir eyes Andi said almost to zir self, “Okay, Andi is here now.” I did not notice a dramatic change, but there was something different: Andi became sure of zirself, energized and ready to perform. Andi performed a lip sync and dance number that night. The audience at the club ranged from gay club goers to troops of Midwestern brides at their bachelorette party. After zir performance Andi navigated the crowd with ease, posing for pictures and drinking Long Islands as I kept taking pictures and subtly re-gluing her handmade acrylic nails. Today, Drag Queens are a visible part of popular culture thanks to shows like Ru Paul’s Drag Race ranking high in ratings, but the most raw, and true performances take place in the clubs. Whether on a reality show or a Drag performance in Cleveland, Queens continue to be an icon for liberation and freedom with one’s body. PHOTOS BY NICHOLAS WILLIAMS