ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Monday, April 7, 2014
Ann Arbor, Michigan
michigandaily.com
CAMPUS LIFE
Pride Prom celebrates students’ identities AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Michigan Sahana performs an Indian classical dance at That Brown Show at the Power Center Saturday.
Cultural event showcases South Asian music, dance That Brown Show blends diverse genres, disciplines
annual performance of That Brown Show. Students performed traditional and contemporary South Asian music and dance to a crowd of over 300 friends, family and members of the Ann Arbor community. That Brown Show was started in 2011 by Michigan Sahana, a group of Indian classical dancers and musicians, as a way to unite the different South Asian
By NEALA BERKOWSKI Daily Staff Reporter
Saturday, a blur costumes, dynamic harmonious voices Power Center for
of vibrant music and filled the the fourth
performing groups on campus and give them the opportunity to showcase their talents. The show also hopes to educate the University and Ann Arbor community on South Asian arts. Engineering sophomore Shwetha Hariharan, dance chair of That Brown Show for Michigan Sahana, said the group reaches out to South Asian performing groups all over campus in order to recruit teams for the
show. “We try to make it as inclusive as possible, and most years we’re able to get most of the teams to perform,” she said. “Sometimes they’ll have competitions or other things going on, but we really want to make an inclusive experience and allow all the teams to come together because it is one of the purposes of the show.” See BROWN, Page 3A
CSG Commission holds inclusive event that provides prom experience By EMILIE PLESSET Daily Staff Reporter
About 40 University students had a second chance to create prom night memories at the fireand-ice-themed Pride Prom in the Michigan League Saturday night. The LGBT Issues Commission of Central Student Government sponsored the Pride Prom to provide students the opportunity to express themselves in a fun social setting. The Commission works to improve and promote LGBTQ student life and pride throughout the year. LSA junior Robert Schwarzhaupt, the Commission’s chair, said the event is valuable because many LGBTQ individuals don’t have the chance to experience
prom or dances during in high school. “We really wanted to bring back that tradition and give people the space to experience that prom-cliché kind of dance,” he said. Although the Commission was unable to hold a prom last year, there have been other pride proms at the University in the past hosted by other groups. LSA senior Katarina Evans said she went to Pride Prom a few years ago in East Quad, but noted that this year’s prom included more of the campus community since it was held in the League. Many students attended this year’s prom wearing dresses and bow ties. While students danced in the center of the room, promgoers could also take pictures in a photo booth. Music, Theatre & Dance sophomore Kalia Medeiros, who attended the event, said it met all her expectations. “There’s a photo booth, dancing, camaraderie and food,” See PROM, Page 3A
ANN ARBOR
GREEK LIFE
Art students bring festivities to Main Street
‘Puppies on the Porch’ raises funds for charity
FestiFools and FoolMoon kick off city’s summer festival season By EMMA KERR Daily Staff Reporter
This weekend, FestiFools and FoolMoon brought Ann Arbor students and residents out of winter hibernation and onto Main Street and Washington Street to kick off the summer festival season. In its eighth year, the signature Ann Arbor events once again brought families and students alike to witness the parade of papiermâché puppets, including giant famous faces, ice cream cones saying “let’s spoon,” and monsters and dragons waving over the crowd. Shops were filled with customers and the streets were lively after a long winter. Art students put on the event as their semester project, which
is intended for children of the Ann Arbor community. Mark Tucker, Lloyd Hall Scholar Program arts director and creative director of WonderFool Productions, said this event offers an opportunity for students to interact with the community. “This just seemed like it would allow students a lot more freedom and give them the ability to work with people from the community, and to then end up showing their artwork to the broader community, so all of that seemed to make sense for getting students more motivated to make more interesting pieces,” Tucker said. Though the class began as a unique opportunity to get more non-art majors involved in the arts on campus, it has evolved into a manifestation of Ann Arbor’s culture, in all of its quirkiness and creativity. The event benefits the entire community, Tucker said — families enjoy the bright puppets and music, local vendors and shops enjoy the flooded streets and See FESTIFOOLS, Page 7A
Humane Society puppies help raise money for literacy program By STEPHANIE SHENOUDA Daily News Editor
VICKI LIU/Daily
Matt Dubriel holds a legalize marijuana sign at the 43rd annual Hash Bash in the Diag Saturday.
Thousands descend on A2 for iconic marijuana event Gathering reaches 8,000 amid debate over pot legalization By MAX RADWIN Daily Staff Reporter
Ah, spring is in the air … As was something else on Saturday.
This year’s Hash Bash, an annual celebration of all things hemp and marijuana, took place on the Diag and Monroe Street. Around 8,000 people attended this year’s event, a significant increase over other recent bashes. The number of attendees at Hash Bash has increased every year since the use of medical marijuana was legalized in
2009. In 2010 and 2011, nearly 5,000 and 6,000 were in attendance, respectively. Since 1972, individuals in possession of marijuana in Ann Arbor have only been charged with a small civil-infraction fine. But according to Charmie Gholson, the founder of Michigan Moms United to End the War on Drugs, the rally for total See HASHBASH, Page 3A
Despite rainy weather that forced the third annual Puppies on the Porch event indoors, spirits were high at the Sigma Chi fraternity house on Friday afternoon. In partnership with the Pi Beta Phi women’s fraternity, the philanthropy event was an “aww-inspiring” combination of wagging tails and happy humans. For $5, participants had the opportunity to play with 10 puppies provided by the Lenawee Humane Society in Adrian, Mich. There was also a raffle, puppy chow and hot dogs available to raise additional money. Half of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Humane Society and the other half will benefit See PUPPIES, Page 3A
Spring Game? The Wolverines returned to the Big House on Saturday.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIII, No. 55 ©2013 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A SPORTS ......................1B
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A P H O T O S T O R Y. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A