2014-11-20

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CELEBRATING OUR ONE-HUNDRED TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, November 20, 2014

Ann Arbor, Michigan

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GOVERNMENT

State gender identity protections uncertain ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

LSA senior Andrea Gillespie discusses sexual assault policy and campus climate at a roundtable discussion as part of the “It’s On Us” week of action at the Ford School of Public Policy Wednesday evening.

Campaign to end sexual assault promotes dialogue ‘It’s On Us’ roundtable talks garner ideas By EMILIE PLESSET Daily Staff Reporter

In a three-night roundtable policy discussion examining and critiquing the University’s approach to sexual assault,

about 70 University students joined the conversation held on campuses nationwide. The sessions corresponded with the White House’s National Week of Action to promote the “It’s On Us” campaign — a recently established federal initiative to raise awareness and end sexual assault on college campuses. Spread over three nights, each discussion engaged different age demographics, tar-

geting underclassmen and upperclassmen for the first and second night, respectively. The third night provided an open forum. “Students can discuss their individual role as students to help prevent sexual assault on campus,” said LSA senior Jacob Abudaram, an event co-organizer. “But also address some of the places where University policy is in position to address

What the F mag. hosts TEDx on gender norms By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter

In an effort to examine gender from a different perspective, about 50 students attended a TEDx event on Wednesday titled “Deconstructing Gender Assumptions,” organized by What the F, a feminist magazine on campus. To gauge varying views of gender, the event took a sweeping view of sex and gender from a biological, literary, social and personal light. It began with a screening of Northwestern University Professor Alice Dreger’s TED talk “Is Anatomy Destiny?” which introduced the idea that on a biological level, males and females are not very different; instead, gender is a societal idea. However, this viewpoint then becomes muddled when considering intersex indi-

viduals. The TED talk was followed by a reading of Jamaica Kincaid’s short story on gender roles in the 1970s titled “Girl.” It listed normative statements that her mother told her while growing up like “Always eat your food in such a way that it won’t turn someone else’s stomach” and “This is how to hem a dress when you see the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming.” Following the presentations, audience members talked about their experiences with gender acquisition, with the discussion facilitated by What the F staff. Gender acquisition is the process through which children learn gender. At one table, LSA senior Bella Gaeta said when she got a black belt in martial arts as a girl, her aunt encouraged her to practice more feminine activities. LSA freshman Iris Partlan’s response addressed the contradictions in that statement. See TEDX, Page 3A

By SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter

Among the many points of contention between the two amendments to the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act currently before the Michigan legislature, a primary one is the inclusion of gender identity and expression. Gender identity is defined as an individual’s psychological sense of their gender, according to the Human Rights Campaign. For transgender people, their gender identity is different than their biological sex assigned at birth. Gender expression refers to the way individuals display their gender identity. The first bill, introduced in September by Rep. Sam Singh (D–East Lansing) and Sen. Rebekah Warren (D–Ann Arbor), proposes pro-

tections for sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression. Both are not explicitly included in the current act, which shields Michigan residents from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status and marital status. The bill that Rep. Frank Foster (R–Petoskey) introduced last week, on the other hand, only calls for the inclusion of sexual orientation. The Democrat-introduced amendment would protect, for example, an employee whose gender identity does not match their biological sex from getting fired for identifying as transgender. State Republicans, most prominently Speaker of the House Jase Bolger (R–Marshall), have said the inclusion of gender identity and expression is unnecessary because transgender individuals are already offered protections under the mandate against sex discrimination in state and federal civil rights laws. Democrats, on the other hand, have said the amendment is necesSee IDENTITY, Page 2A

MOCHAS & MUGS

CAMPUS LIFE

Women explore complexity of topic via interdisciplinary approaches

the issue and where the University can be doing better.” The “It’s On Us” campaign, launched by President Barack Obama in September, reached out to colleges across the country to host events that promote the campaign and conversations about sexual assault prevention and awareness. About 200 campuses across the country are holding events this week See CAMPAIGN, Page 3A

Amendments to civil rights legislation face challenges on both sides of the aisle

ANN ARBOR

Council discusses Rosser case responses AAPD shooting of citizen to be reviewed by Mich. State Police By JACK TURMAN

RITA MORRIS/Daily

Daily Staff Reporter

LSA junior Christine Yu paints her own mug at “Mochas and Masterpieces” at the Ann Arbor Arts Center Wednesday.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Student prepares for legal action against University Student questions procedures that led to suspension By MICHAEL SUGERMAN Daily Staff Reporter

After being suspended from completing an internship in July, Social Work student Ta-

Kara Roquemore and those representing her say she is now prepared to take legal action against the University unless she is allowed to continue the job. Roquemore said she was dismissed from her field work — the final required step in attaining her degree — last semester, after police charged her with resisting arrest and

obstructing justice in May for an incident that took place Nov. 27, 2013. After being charged, Roquemore said she notified the School of Social Work and the field liaison in charge of her internship. “When I ended up telling U of M and my field liaison about it, they ended up saying, ‘OK, See BAMN, Page 3A

Following the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Aura Rosser of Ann Arbor by police Nov. 9, the investigation is now being conducted by the Michigan State Police. Rosser was killed at a home on the 2000 block of Winewood Ave. in Ann Arbor. According to Ann Arbor police, officers were dispatched to the home after a reported domestic disturbance. Rosser reportedly confronted the responding officers with a knife and was shot once after an officer discharged a firearm. Ann Arbor Police Chief John Seto provided information about the shooting during the public commentary porSee COUNCIL, Page 3A

The burrrrrr-side Daily Arts takes a look at U of M’s premiere ice carving team and its unique history.

WEATHER TOMORROW

HI: 26 LO: 10

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Vol. CXXIV, No. 30 ©2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com

NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU..................... 3A OPINION.....................4A

CL ASSIFIEDS............... 5A SPORTS.......................6A B-SIDE ....................1B


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