2015-06-11

Weekly Summer Edition Ann Arbor, MI

MichiganDaily.com

CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

inside

OBITUARY

four main types of information highlighted by admissions:

personal or extenuating circumstances

NEWS

Talent Showcase The Library Talent Circus featured performances from library staff >> SEE PAGE 3

NEWS

#MISafeCampus Sue Sndyer hosted summit discussing campus sexual assault prevention

Your Application read & scored by admissions staff member

middle score

OPINION

New legislation incentivizes mass incarceration >> SEE PAGE 4

ARTS

Music Festivals Columnist explains how to start your own >> SEE PAGE 6

The Daily hands out its final grades for the Michigan softball team >> SEE PAGE 12

INDEX Vol. CXXI, No. 136 | © 2013 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com

NEWS ....................................2 OPINION ...............................4 ARTS ......................................6 CLASSIFIEDS.........................8 CROSSWORD........................8 10 SPORTS..................................

final decision based on the 2 to 3 admissions readers who score applications from 1

(best to worst)

15

What happens next: ‘U’ admissions process explained University admissions officers discuss application review process Daily News Editor

Grading Softball

read & scored by territory counselor

read & scored by senior admissions staff member

ADMISSIONS

By SHOHAM GEVA

SPORTS

teacher recommendations “other considerations”

>> SEE PAGE 9

Privatization

high school performance

“When evaluators look at applications overall, Sanders said, they place emphasis on understanding a prospective student’s individual situation and resources .”

high or low score

Through the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, students can view their applications to schools where they were accepted and attend, as publicized by Stanford University newsletter The Fountain Hopper in January.

Earlier this year, with the hopes of gaining insight into the admissions process, the Daily worked with nine students who viewed their applications to the University, along with evaluative comments made by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

The nine students represented a variety of genders, class standings, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic

statuses, in- and out-of-state residencies, nationalities and geographic areas. The University did not allow the students to make copies or photographs of the applications, but did permit them to take handwritten notes, which they provided to the Daily for the purpose of this article.

This article was written with the purpose of providing more first-person information about a typically closed process often surrounded by assumption and myth, with the understanding that among an application pool of tens of thousands, testimonials from individual applications will not necessarily be definitive of the overall process.

The process Cumulatively, over the three years covered in student applications reviewed by the Daily — 2012, 2013 and 2014 — nearly 140,000 prospective students applied to the University.

What the admissions office’s final decisions stemmed from, according to the applications we

Thursday, June 11, 2015

reviewed, were largely an average of two- or three-page-long evaluations and a rating between 1 and 15 — 1 being the highest rating an application can receive, 15 being the lowest.

Among the nine students’ applications, there were several different paths taken through the admissions office before being admitted to the University.

Some were only evaluated by an admissions staff member and a senior admissions staff member, for a total of two evaluations. Others, however, had an additional evaluation from an admissions territory counselor.

In an interview with the Daily, Erica Sanders, interim director of the Office of Admissions, and Melissa Purdy, assistant director of the Office of Admissions, said applications receive differing numbers of evaluations based on the first evaluator — one of 82 part-time staff members who are assigned files at random.

According to the admissions See APPLICATION, Page 3

‘U’ donor Bertram Askwith dies at 104 Donated funds for renovations in Shapiro Undergraduate Library

By COLLEEN HARRISON Summer Daily News Editor

University donor and alum Bertram Askwith passed away at the age of 104 Monday night, according to a University press release.

During his years as an undergraduate, Askwith served as an editor for The Michigan Daily.

He majored in economics with a minor in journalism, and graduated from the University in 1931.

Askwith began his business, Campus Coach Lines — a company that transported students who were New York natives home for holidays and school breaks — as an undergraduate student. He started the business after a railroad strike in 1928 left many students struggling to find ways home from campus.

From 2000 to 2008, Askwith served as the vice chair of the Michigan Difference campaign.

He also created the Askwith Fund for Innovation in Asthma and Allergy Management in the Center for Managing Chronic Disease within the School of Public Health, which focuses on creating new techniques to aid those affected by asthma or allergies. Askwith, himself, donated to the fund.

Askwith established the Benny Friedman Fellowship in Sports for Knight-Wallace Fellows and the Mary Sue Coleman See ASKWITH, Page 8

2 NEWS

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

SUM M E R SACUA

Shakespeare in the Arb performance draws crowds Director adds modern touches to Shakespeare’s traditional works

By JACKIE CHARNIGA Daily Staff Reporter

BEN SCHECHTER/Daily

SACUA member Angela Fagerlin gives her opinion on an agenda item during

a Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs meeting at the Fleming Building on Monday.

Last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a set of actors made up of University faculty and students performed in Nichols Arboretum during the annual Shakespeare in the Arb. The program’s director, Kate Mendeloff, a Residential College faculty member, spearheaded the tradition in 2001 by first directing an outdoor production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as part of a grant.

“I chose ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ because I thought it was so perfect for the arboretum. And it was a real hit, despite the weather.

I mean, by our third performance, over 400 people showed up,” Mendeloff said.

The success of the first production led to a revival the following summer, which Mendeloff said received record crowds.

To commemorate the play that launched the annual performances, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is performed once every five years.

Shakespeare in the Arb traditionally hosts comedies or romances such as “Twelfth Night”, “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”

According to Mendeloff, Shakespeare’s comedic plays are more suitable to the family-oriented crowds that are usually drawn to the productions. Furthermore, she said,

they allow for more crosssectional casting options — a benefit for Mendeloff’s more experimental renditions.

“I want to be able to offer a lot of roles to women and find plays where I can do crosscasting easily. (My goal is) to provide as many opportunities because there generally are more student actresses and they don’t get as many opportunities to perform,” said Mendeloff.

Mendeloff, as an all-inclusive director, was unconventional with casting choices.

In her production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” three performers played the role of Puck, the play’s mischievous elf. As they performed the role simultaneously, the actors divided up the lines onstage.

“I started that because the first time I did this I had three people who wanted to be Puck and I said, ‘Figure it out,’ ” Mendeloff said. “I liked the idea of multiple Pucks so much that I’ve had that every time.

I can’t imagine one actor playing Puck.”

Other originalities in Mendeloff’s productions besides the increase of characters onstage includes strong feminist tones.

Elizabeth Wagner played the Queen of the Amazons in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“The play starts off with a physical fight between Hippolyta and Theseus,” she said.

“This is probably the most stage combat I’ve done in a production.”

Mendeloff said the venue lent itself to this creativity in production because it is more versatile for comedic performances.

“The environment is really a player in every scene. If we’re See SHAKESPEARE, Page 8

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Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

NEWS 3

Talent circus showcases artists, performers Showcase features performances from library staff, student employees

By ALAINA WYGANT Daily Staff Reporter

A drum team, a storyteller and a spinning artist, among other performers, wowed onlookers at the Duderstadt Center as part of the second annual Library Talent Circus Wednesday.

The circus, according to Rachel Maddix, who is the chair

APPLICATION From Page 1 office website, the staff members are “former educators and admissions professionals.”

LinkedIn searches of employees who reviewed applications provided to the Daily showed backgrounds including a substitute teacher and tour guide staff coordinator.

A particularly high or low rating at this stage, Sanders said, causes an application to be expedited, meaning it goes directly to a senior admissions staff member who assigns the applicant’s second and final rating.

Among applications reviewed, scores of 1, 2 and 3 were all expedited.

Applications that are not expedited instead go to the applicant’s territory counselor — a member of the admissions office who serves as the liaison for a particular geographic area — for a second evaluation, and then typically move to a senior staff member for a third and final evaluation.

“The territory counselor is able to add that added nuance to the review process that the first evaluator isn’t necessarily going to be able to do with a lack of familiarity of that particular high school,” Purdy said.

Regardless of which path the Daily-reviewed applications took through the system, their evaluations were largely similar in format — a standardized form accompanied by an overall rating.

Four main types of information were highlighted by the standardized form: personal or extenuat-

of the staff forum board, intended to bring together the University’s librarians and library staff.

In addition to live performers and three live demonstrations, the event also featured works from several University gallery artists.

Both the librarians and staff forum boards collaborated to host the event. Jacques Mersereau, the chairman of the Librarians’ Forum boards, said he conceptualized the talent showcase after noticing talents within some of the committee members. “...We thought, ‘There’s so much talent around us’,”

ing circumstances, high school academic performance and overall educational environment, counselor and teacher recommendations, and any other evaluative measures or considerations.

Additionally, evaluators filled out an overall comments section, which was typically where the rationale for the rating and a more subjective evaluation of notes in the rest of the form was found.

Among applications the Daily reviewed, academic record stood out as a key focus.

Both in the section for academic performance and in overall comments, each evaluator noted the applicant’s GPA, standardized test scores and the number of core, honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes taken compared to the number available at the applicant’s high school.

Also noted were average standardized test scores and the fouryear-college-going rate at the applicant’s high school, drawn either from information provided by the high schools or from Descriptor PLUS, a College Board data set purchased by the University.

According to Sanders, when it comes to academic performance, evaluators not only look at the raw numbers, but also at what an average student looks like in the applicant’s high school and geographic area.

“So, that (as) we’re evaluating the application, we’re able to determine — is this a student who took advantage of curriculum opportunities that were available, or were there no opportunities available to the student?” she said.

Mersereau said. “Most people have no idea — they see somebody behind the desk every day and they don’t really know what else they do in their life, and what I found out was there’s a lot of artists who have found a home here, their day gig is the library.”

Kelly Goodknecht, who was one of the featured acts, performed a spinning routine.

Goodknecht said she learned to spin when she was younger. Her reason for spinning, she said, is that it is relaxing.

“It’s a great way to kind of decompress,” Goodknecht said. “A lot of it’s the repeti-

For many of the applications reviewed, in written comments, evaluators paid special attention to coursework, noting varying facts about levels of rigor and more unique opportunities.

Part of the overall comments for one applicant read, “Is taking a rigorous schedule. Has challenged by dual-enrolling, taking summer workshops.” A second evaluator wrote that the same applicant had taken four AP classes, and added, “which is not out of ordinary at school.”

For another application, an evaluator noted the “challenged rigor available at (applicant’s high school).” A second noted the applicant had taken six AP classes, characterizing that as “strong curr(iculum) for school.” Other applications specifically noted student interest in University academic units, such as the Residential College, or professional career tracks, such as premedical.

Grades also were subjects of

tive aspect, it’s kind of just this repetitive hand motion, eventually, your hands just kind of go and do their thing.”

The Wolverine Press, which releases prints for the Helen Zell Visiting Writers Series and is part of the Buhr Library, was also among the demonstrations at the event. After printing and giving out a black and white picture of a wolverine to a person passing by, Wolverine Press Director Fritz Swanson said most people working at the press are Helen Zell MFA writing students.

Kat Finch, one of those Zell fellows with the press, said the

additional comments in some cases. Several application evaluations referenced an upward grade trend, and several others noted class grades below a B. In one application, the high school in and of itself garnered attention, and was identified as “high priority underrepresented” due to the school’s “cluster.” Sanders said the term referred to a classification system provided as part of Descriptor PLUS. Descriptor PLUS groups high schools in “clusters” through similarities of factors including average AP and standardized test scores, percentage of first-generation students, median family income, racial demographics and percentage of adults with professional jobs, according to College Board.

Beyond academic record, multiple other demographic characteristics and extracurricular experiences were also highlighted.

Online admissions materials note that the University has a holis-

students design the broadsides for the visiting writers.

“They’re called devils — partially from the wolverine, partially because back when people did letterpress, the little people running around, like the young children, were called devils because they would pick up the extras and such and throw them in the fire to bring everything else down,” Finch said.

Maddix said they held the showcase at the Duderstadt to coax students to travel to North Campus.

“We host it at the Duderstadt Center because, that way, it gets See SHOWCASE, Page 8

tic process that takes into account “participation in extracurricular activities, professional arts training, and evidence of leadership, awards, and service” as well as “educational and cultural diversity.”

Almost all of those categories, such as leadership in extracurriculars, artistic talent, academic and professional honors, cultural identity, and aspects of essays, were noted in at least one of the applications.

For extracurriculars, many evaluators noted, in particular, the number of years the student had been involved. Some also commented specifically on the diversity of the students’ activities as a positive, characterizing the students as well-rounded. One resume that received such a comment, for example, included journalism, religious activities and student government.

Several applications reviewed also referenced alumni family connections, income and parents’ educational levels, which aren’t factors listed in the main online materials as under consideration.

On one application, low income and parent-education level were specifically noted as extenuating factors. Several applications mentioned alumni connections both in the overall comments and as an extenuating factor.

Those three, as well as a number of other factors such as military service and being a scholarship athlete, are referenced in anappendix to the online materials, but not on the main site where factors like

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

4 OPINION

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.

420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu LAURA SCHINAGLE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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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.

With 698 people incarcerated per 100,000, the United States has the second-highest incarceration rate in the world. This mass incarceration serves to tear apart families and communities, while creating a growing population that, once released, will struggle to find jobs and housing due to the stigma surrounding incarceration. Although the U.S. prison population has grown substantially since the 1990s, the U.S. crime rate has gone down, and there’s no evidence to suggest that these high rates of incarceration have aided in decreasing crime.

Allowing this prison to reopen puts Michigan on the wrong side of crimi-

FROM THE DAILY

Problematic privatization

T

New legislation incentivizes mass incarceration

uesday, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed a bill permitting a closed correctional facility in Northern Michigan to reopen and operate as a privatized prison under the authority of the GEO Group of Florida. The new legislation provides for the upheaval of a restriction that previously prevented the Baldwin area prison in Lake County from housing inmates categorized under the highest security level, designated by a “Level 5” category. The intent of the legislation was to promote job creation and alleviate economic hardship in one of the state’s poorest regions. Under its new operation, the facility will house roughly 1,675 inmates from other states, such as Vermont and Washington. While the legislation provides some economic incentive — roughly 150 jobs — to Lake County, the privatization of the Baldwin facility only exacerbates existing issues surrounding the country’s high rates of mass incarceration as well as issues of safety and human rights violations.

The economic incentives of the legislation do not outweigh the concerns regarding the high concentration of high-risk inmates and the problematic history of the private company assuming control of the reopened Baldwin facility. The group in question, GEO Group, had issues at the same facility, which led to its closure in 2005. A state audit revealed that with no savings to the state, the GEO Group was also creating a security issue because its low wages led to high staff turnover. Previously, the company has been penalized in other states, such as New Mexico, where it was forced to pay $1.1 million in fines for understaffing one of the correctional facilities it operates. Additionally, at one of its facilities in Mississippi,

GEO Group was highly scrutinized for numerous unfair conditions and human rights violations, such as the promotion of fights, sexual conduct between employees and inmates and beating prisoners.

Outsourcing criminal justice initiatives to for-profit companies is a strategy that hasn’t worked well in Michigan in the past. It has created human rights violations that are a stain on the Michigan Department of Corrections, and there’s no indication of any significant change. Outsourcing prison food services to Aramark (a publicly traded company valued at more than $6 billion) has been a recurring problem. Since Aramark began its contract in Michigan in December 2013, more than 100 employees have been fired for

alleged misconduct, including distributing drugs, having sexual conduct with inmates and even an attempt to murderfor-hire. Food shortages and troubles with serving unsanitary food last summer caused Snyder to levy a $200,000 fine against Aramark, but the problems persist. This June, more maggots were discovered in Aramark kitchens. Aramark has demonstrated in Michigan the consequences of privatizing prisons: for-profit prison companies have incentive to cut corners to increase profit, often at the expense of the prisoners. Additionally, for-profit prison companies have very little oversight, which is a major issue in an environment where so many human rights violations are already flagrant.

I

nal justice reform. An industry that relies on mass incarceration to profit will not work to rehabilitate prisoners, but will instead strive to keep more prisoners for longer periods of time. It should be noted, however, that the Michigan legislature has taken some steps in the right direction.

Newly introduced House bills would end mandatory two-year sentences for first-time felony firearm charges, giving judges more discretion in sentencing. They would also allow these sentences to be served concurrently with the sentences for the underlying offenses. This is what Michigan needs for criminal justice reform, not another private prison.

A redundant narrative

feel as though I’m breaking one of the unwritten, cardinal rules of writing by beginning this column by stating that for the past few days I’ve had absolutely no clue what to write about. This week, I was afflicted with a serious bout of writer’s block. In past writings, I’ve MELISSA tried to focus on SCHOLKE topics or news stories relevant to my experiences or to the experiences of those around me. I tossed around numerous ideas, but every moment I began to draft an outline, every thought I scrawled felt like a reiteration of a previous piece of writing. I stubbornly wanted to stay within the realm of the subject areas I’ve written — and feel somewhat knowledgeable — about before. Establishing a niche as a writer is crucial, but at the same time, you do run the risk of sounding redundant if you don’t creatively expand. During a conversation with a friend, I, in one of the most cliché ways imaginable — another symptom of my current affliction — expressed concerns that I was beginning to “beat a dead horse” as I tried to formulate a new idea from the niche I spent so much time trying to craft.

In order to diversify and broaden the scope of my writing, I delved into a subject I frequently talk about, but rarely have the chance to write about — the music industry. As a music devotee, I often scour the Internet searching for album releases, artist bios, new singles, interesting Spotify playlists and music video unveilings. I — embracing a scenario that’s unfortunately quite common in our society — possess deep appreciation

for the artistic products created by a highly problematic industry. Even after attending the concert of one of my favorite artists last week, the late night trip back to Ann Arbor rapidly transformed from excited recollections of the performance into discussions about the varying degrees of creative control artists maintain over their work and the extent to which the industry relies upon sexist ideas to market and promote artists and their music.

Sexism in the industry was exactly what I found this weekend as the media was enthralled by the “feminist manifesto” provided in a female musician’s tweet this past weekend. Aiming to demolish media speculation that sought to objectify her as merely the “possession/property” of her past — or any suspected new — significant other, Ariana Grande, at length, utilized feminist principles to point out the extensive double standards in today’s music industry. Her musings were a passionate attempt to redirect the conversation and cut the metaphorical rope the media was using to tie her worth to her romantic relationships.

A Washington Post writer commenting upon the media attention Grande’s “feminist rampage” garnered lauded the tweet as a “brilliant career move” stating that: “But when stars come equipped with a list of subjects they will not talk about, they risk alienating themselves (and becoming quite boring). The best thing a celebrity can do is endear themselves to fans to get personal. And if they come off as robots without a personality or original thought, that’s a very quick way to slide into irrelevance.”

Regardless of whether or not the tweet was a burst of genuine feminist frustration or a moment of media hype to help avoid the oblivion of cultural irrelevance, the social media

OPINION 5 On Ari Gold, Seinfeld and P.C. culture Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

hype to help avoid the oblivion of cultural irrelevance, the social media manifesto draws attention to pervasive issues of subtle sexism in the music industry. The media — rather than discuss the music or any other career-related endeavors — focuses upon a few sensationalized tenets of a female musician’s life: her appearance, her romantic life or feuds with other artists. Before the release of 1989 for example, Taylor Swift was notorious for supposedly exhibiting a revolving door syndrome when it came to boyfriends.

A quote from the musician Beth Jeans Houghton, also known as Du Blonde, demonstrates another perspective on the pervasive nature of the sexism female artists experience. Houghton expressed that “the more annoying stuff is the really blasé, off-hand comments you have to deal with every day and that you are supposed to ‘get over because it doesn’t really matter.’”

The sexism may be subtle, but it extends to female participation in every realm of society. It’s the redundant, demeaning narrative that stubbornly refuses to vacate the media landscape. Magazine headlines and web story headlines thrive off of scrutinizing and appraising women’s appearances as they go about their daily lives.

Women lose autonomy in media coverage as they become objects or extensions of their significant other. Within a space of maybe six to 10 words, a woman’s past accomplishments are overshadowed by the outfit she chose to wear or whether or not she looks tired.

Stepping outside of the entertainment industry into the world of public policy where media coverage is supposedly more serious in nature, emphasis upon a female politician’s appearance continues to possess far too much clout. In fact, a 2013 study conducted by Name It. Change It. found that discussions of a female politician’s appearance — whether they’re favorable in nature or not — negatively influences voter perceptions of that candidate. Even after the ridiculously immense amount of commentary on the subject last election season, the notoriety of Hillary Clinton’s pant suits can’t be suppressed as recent articles discuss the exorbitant price of the garments.

Considering the plethora of campaign platforms and stances to consider and weigh against one another, details about a politician’s appearance are in no way beneficial to voters.

I realize that in my attempt to diversify my writing and find a creative solution, I stumbled on one of the most redundant narratives in our media landscape. What I’ve stated isn’t revolutionary.

Rather, it’s a subject that’s yet to be resolved even though it’s been reiterated ad nauseam. One could even call these media portrayals cliché.

It’s common sense to say the media needs to stop objectifying women in order to sell subscriptions or produce extra content.

However, the thing about clichés is that eventually people realize that it’s poor taste to keep using them.

The sexism may be subtle, but it extends to female participation in every realm of society.

RACHEL DAWSON

— Melissa Scholke can be reached at melikaye@umich.edu.

E-mail Rachel at rdawson@umich.edu

F

orgive me for being late to the game, but I started “Entourage” a couple of weeks ago. It only took a few minutes (and several handfuls of tortilla chips) before I was sucked into the world of Vinny Chase and Ari Gold.

And I admit, DEREK I’ve loved every WOLFE second of it. I finished Season 4 on Tuesday and am trying to finish as soon as possible so I can see the movie.

It’s funny. It’s witty. It’s entertaining. And because of that, it’s quickly become one of my all-time favorite TV shows (next to “The Wire” and “Breaking Bad”).

That said, there’ve been several questions I’ve been wrestling with in between my binge sessions: If this show premiered today — brand new — would it be as successful as it has been?

Would people still think Ari’s harassment of his gay assistant Lloyd is acceptable and continue watching week after week?

Would Vince and Co.’s constant attempts to seduce women be seen as just “guys being guys” or rather as perpetuating a misogynistic culture?

I don’t know for sure, but I’m willing to bet the show would be much more heavily criticized. I’m even questioning if I should be finding all of this as enjoyable as I do. Because, even with all the blatant homophobia and misogyny, I can’t get enough of it. (I watched six episodes Monday night!)

My feelings toward “Entourage” lend themselves to a conversation about the supposed “politically correct culture” we live in. Some argue it’s positive because it’s a good thing to be conscientious of others’ feelings and stories. Others argue it’s negative because we have to live walking on our tiptoes in fear of offending someone.

I love comedy — from TV shows to stand-up, I’m always watching — but I’ve also written about how the use of derogatory terms without reason has become too pervasive and is just plain wrong.

I don’t know if not wanting to hear words like “faggot” used pointlessly makes me a promoter

of P.C. culture or not, but according to one of my favorite comedians, Jerry Seinfeld, P.C. culture has become a danger to comedy.

On Monday, Seinfeld went on Colin Cowherd’s ESPN radio show and was asked by Cowherd, “Does the climate worry you now? … I’ve talked to Chris Rock and Larry the Cable Guy, they don’t even want to do college campuses anymore.”

“I hear that all the time,” Seinfeld responded. “I don’t play colleges, but I hear a lot of people tell me, ‘Don’t go near colleges.

They’re so P.C.’” Seinfeld continued by giving an example of his daughter using the term “sexist” incorrectly before claiming, “They (the newer generation, I’m guessing) just want to use these words. That’s racist. That’s sexist. That’s prejudiced. They don’t even know what they’re talking about.”

Cowherd then asked him if P.C. culture hurts comedy, to which he responded, “Yes it does.

Yes it does.”

Another comedian, Chris Rock, said in a November 2014 interview that he stopped performing at colleges in part because, “You can’t even be offensive on your way to being inoffensive.”

What bothers me about these comments is that it seems Seinfeld and Rock have accepted that P.C. culture is static. It cannot be changed. It is what it is.

The problem is that’s not how culture works. Culture evolves.

It is malleable, moldable and changeable, albeit not without a fight. If that wasn’t the case, then how is the increasing support for gay marriage over the last decade possible? How did women eventually gain the right to vote in the 1920s? That’s right, the culture changed.

Comedy is a unique place to effect social and political change. There is no denying the effect Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher and George Carlin, to name a few, have had on exposing huge problems in our society. So, why are we seeing other prominent comedians seemingly back away from this challenge to shape the conversation about important issues?

Having been on this campus for three years and seen P.C. culture in action, there have been many positive benefits to come out of it. Yes, you should be aware

of the identities of the people who you are talking to. Yes, you should check your privilege often. And yes, there is a time, place and way to have serious discussions about race, sex and socioeconomic status.

But that doesn’t mean it’s all perfect. Maybe, at times, we as college students are too worried about offending each other, so we avoid having the important conversations that need to be had.

Maybe our obsession with creating “safe spaces” has actually led to us being unsafe because we are blinding ourselves from reality.

And maybe our desire to completely eradicate bias from our curriculum is actually hindering our education because professors are people, too, with their own stories and understandings of the world, for better or worse.

This brings me back to comedy. Comedy plays an important role in developing our culture. It serves to highlight the flaws and even the positives. Perhaps that’s why I enjoy “Entourage” so much.

While I believe the goal of the show is for nothing more than entertainment, it succeeds in its commentary on homophobia and misogyny. Though not explicitly doing so, the show is rejecting this kind of culture, not supporting it.

The guys’ behavior is so absurd that I’m left with no choice to view it as such. And that’s why I find it so funny; it’s so not relatable to me that my reaction is to laugh. And although their actions can be construed as offensive — I’m often uncomfortable watching it — its overall message is not.

My point is that sometimes you have to see the outrageous and disgusting to understand and reject the outrageous and disgusting. To use Chris Rock’s words, you sometimes have to tolerate hearing the offensive on your way to hearing the inoffensive.

This isn’t the time for comedy to back away. We need it more than ever to help us learn what to make of everything that goes on. It can educate us on what prejudice really is when the term is getting thrown around so frequently. Comedy can help mold our culture for the better.

So, Jerry, I have a different “P.C.” for you. Please come. Ann Arbor is nice in the summer.

— Derek Wolfe can be reached at dewolfe@umich.edu.

6 ARTS

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

CONCERT REVIEW

ALBUM REVIEW

Indie-folk Accidentals ‘Skin’ has its rock the Ark with guests highs and lows

By KIM BATCHELOR

By AMELIA ZAK

Daily Arts Writer

Daily Arts Writer

Last Sunday, The Ark was filled for the indie-folk-rock styling of The Accidentals and, opening act, Abigail Stauffer.

And these girls can seriously rock.

Abigail Stauffer, an Ann Arbor icon most well-known for her dreadlocks, opened the show with the title track of her new album, Where I’m Going. She explained that the last time she and The Accidentals had played together at The Ark was for the debut of her album —The Accidentals opened for her, and she said she was excited to return the favor. Despite some feedback issues and the jocular threat of a naked cellist, Stauffer and her accompanying cellist, Dave Haughey, set the mood right.

Stauffer brings rich, dark, ringing vocals to her folksy acoustic sound. Her songs explore identity and inner power. Her music complements The Accidentals well and got the crowd excited for the epic folk-rock to come.

The Accidentals are fronted by singers and multi-instrumentalists Katie Larson and Savannah Bruist, along with drummer, bassist and backup vocalist Michael Dause. Katie’s jazzy alto twang and Savannah’s ethereal soprano combine together in some complex and stunning harmonies. They bring an impressive variety in their instrumental work. Within one show, be prepared to hear, the violin, the cello, the bass and acoustic and electric guitars masterfully played, while Michael adds a subtle beat preferring drum bushes to sticks.

They also brought with them a variety of friends. They invited The Appleseed Collective, a local favorite, on stage to sing with them. In a f lurry of stringed instruments, they brought the kind of old-fashioned folk that makes you long for a sunset on the front porch of farmhouse.

Finally taking the stage, the trio began with “Epitaphs.”

Despite speaking on the subject of capitalism, “Epitaphs”

With a crash, a boom and a scream, Of Monsters and Men glided onto the indie pop music circuit in 2010 to B immense critical acclaim.

Beneath Their freshman album, the Skin My Heart is Of Monsters An Animal, and Men climbed the Republic Records international music charts with the thenubiquitous delicious pop hit “Little Talks.”

My Heart is An Animal filled auditoriums with foot stomping, ebullient audiences that shouted back the joyful and usually naturebased lyrics of the Icelandic band.

By fully understanding, portraying and then utilizing their undeniably delightful otherness, Of Monsters and Men has never filled a need — it created one.

It’s unsurprising, then, that their sophomore album, Beneath the Skin, is shrouded in excited expectancies. Their vast array of fans — ranging in ages from young to old and in tastes from pop to indie — have held a hopeful anticipation for an album of deep drum kicks and on-the-beat shouted “heys!” to guide them through their 2016 summer. Elevated expectations, however, are typically tied to disappointment.

Such is the plight that is Of Monsters and Men’s secondary musical attempt. <em>Beneath the Skin</ em> shouldn’t be named a complete failure, but nor should it be titled a decided success. Instead, it can be accepted as an interesting project that leaves a listener supportive yet indifferent.

From the earliest notes and sweet sings of the album’s opener, “Crystals,” Of Monsters and Men delineate some musical and emotional growth that surely guided the production of this album. It’s a roaring track with perfect crescendos, a heavy melody and fantastic drum fills. The “woahs” that indie audiences so particularly admired on My Heart is An Animal

THE ACCIDENTALS

You had me at “cello”

calls forth a sort of carefree and upbeat emotion. It is a summer song, reminding the listener of fresh grass. The group played a number of new songs, such as “Parking Lot,” which was written to highlight their string work, and “Common Crisis.” They also pulled out some old classics, such as “Tangled Red and Blue” from their first album, “The Sound a Watch Makes When Enveloped in Cotton,” the title of which came from a short story, and “Requiem for a Lark” whose melody is borrowed from Bartók’s “Romanian Folk Dances.”

They also brought surprises.

One such surprise was a folk song which included rap sections by Rick Chyme. Others came in the form of the source of the music.

They utilized, for one, a homemade cello made out of a large barrel, which they have titled the Cauldron Cello, and integrated a knuckle crack in the song “Trouble.” Additionally, they performed a cover of “All About that Bass” by Meghan Trainor entirely on bass guitar, with Dause taking lead, which was met with great approval. Everyone joined in to sing along at the end with the unusual cover.

The Accidentals were not afraid to take risks, often leaving the comfort of the stage to drag their instruments down into the audience for a more intimate music experience. A notable example of this was during the song “Nightlife,” during which

they placed themselves back to back in the center of an aisle and slowly rotated to expose different sections of the audience to different harmonies as they played. It was an interesting idea and something I had personally never seen before; however, it made it rather difficult to see from the other side of the room.

A real standout was a song they had written barely a week ago titled “Michigan and Again and Again and Again and Again” — a rather repetitive title. This song was a love letter to the state of Michigan, referencing state staples such as the fir trees and the chilly temperature of the lake water. This song somehow managed to make me homesick for a state I was currently in.

The final song, a swing song, brought the entire cast of musicians back on stage. This finale impressed upon the audience the talent of the men and women on stage, featuring jazz-style solos from each member and multiple instruments, including a standup bass, a washboard and even what appeared to be a bike bell.

These are the kind of musicians whose songs will be stuck in your head for the next month, whose shows you will frequent avidly for years to come and whose merch you will rep proudly — lest we forget to mention the cat socks.

When looking for your new musical obsession, look no further.

reappear here, surely to be shouted again in the summer’s concert crowds. When stretched from song to song, however, the constants of Beneath the Skin are revealed. The drums fills, animalistic lyricism and conversation of female and male vocals by lead singers Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar bórhallsson are entertaining, sometimes. “Crystals,” “Slow Life” and “Thousand Eyes” hold levels of production that are nearly perfect. The futuristic, foreign vocals of Nanna follow in the footsteps of 2010’s “Little Talks.” Acoustic foundations are elevated by the insertion of electric guitars that create more layered, beautifully confused melodies.

Despite the album’s electrical risks and the band’s recreated talents, Beneath the Skin isn’t as jarring or exciting as their first recorded attempt. When measured, the songs that feel original, inspired or create viscerally exciting are weighed down by the ethereal but all-too-airy tracks. “Black Water,” “I of the Storm” and “We Sink,” for example, are simple songs holding pristine levels of production that render them sonically beautiful. But they flow from one to the other, differing little in their style and sound.

The tempestuous turns and twists in the band’s instrumentation deny any assertion of onetime or undeserved success. At its best, Beneath the Skin is a musical thunderstorm that seemed to emerge from the forests of Iceland.

Emerging from the rough of their foreign island, Of Monsters and Men have created an animalistic album only to be derailed by a couple rather uninteresting attempts.

It’s hard to deny the boring that belies the exciting when the latter is so clearly outnumbered. But despite the band’s failed, slowed departures on Beneath the Skin, their indie pop themes haven’t escaped them yet. The driving qualities of this band’s success — those crescendos, screams and lyrical conversations that created their sweeping fan base and support — remain clear: As Nanna’s melodic scream so perfectly puts it on “Thousand Eyes,” “I am the storm.”

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

FILM REVIEW

TV REVIEW

‘Aloha’ A-no-ha

By REBECCA LERNER Daily Arts Writer

LIFETIME

iMy jobs are stressful and that is why I never smile

‘UnREAL’ may be real

By HAILEY MIDDLEBROOK Daily Arts Writer

It’s no secret that reality TV competitions are falling fast. CBS’s “Survivor” is just barely surviving, the CW’s “America’s Next Top Model” is raking the bottom of the Cviewership barrel and FOX’s once- UnREAL goliath “American Idol” has Series finally bitten the Premiere dust. The truth Lifetime is, times have changed — what piqued our interest in 2005 is dramatically different 10 years later.

What’s in today are smart, bingeworthy sitcoms and dramas and reality shows that don’t pretend to be sincere. What’s out are the reality competition shows that walk the line between real and rigged, with contestants who are pathetic at best and cringe-worthy at worst — whose behind-the-scenes agendas are the most appalling of all.

And yet, people still watch them.

There’s a reason tabloids like People and Us Weekly have latched onto ABC’s “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” franchise, splashing the shows’ latest upsets across their covers. Whether viewers watch for the cat fights or the over-the-top dates, the hot guys or the shocking confessions, they’re engrossed in the “realness” of it all — the girls may be fake, the guys in it for the fame, but it’s still a reality show, no? The bachelor still ends up picking “the one” and the in-it-for-thewrong-reasons jerks get filtered out, right?

Not so fast. In “UnREAL,” Lifetime’s newest comedy-drama,

ARTS 7

what’s behind the camera comes to the forefront — and it’s not all roses and romance. The show centers on a show-within-a-show called “Everlasting,” a reality romance competition so familiar that it might as well be called “The Bachelor”: there’s a hot and eligible British suitor, Adam Cromwell (Freddie Stroma, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”), who’s given the task of finding his perfect match from a lineup of 20 or so hot and eligible girls.

As Adam waits outside the candlelit castle (emphasis on the candles; more on that later), the girls filter out of limousines, trying their damnedest to make a sexy first impression while also proving that they’re serious wife material. At the end of the night, Adam dons roses to the lucky girls while the losers get loaded back into the limo. And then the real fun begins.

That’s what they want you to think, anyway. Pan out from the sipping-champagne-in-the-limo camera shot and you’ll find Rachel (Shiri Appleby, “Swimfan”), clad in a “this is what feminism looks like” T-shirt, lying between stilettos on the limousine floor and looking utterly disgusted. She’s revealed to be a producer who’s given instructions via mic by Quinn (Constance Zimmer, “Entourage”), the show’s executive producer who makes Cruella de Vil look like Molly Weasley. But Rachel’s role isn’t just to make sure sequins are in place and champagne glasses are filled. She’s more of a puppeteer. The game is simple: Quinn labels the girls and arranges the drama, then Rachel pulls at their strings to make them dance. Ever notice why the shows always have a drama queen, a virgin, a single mom and a cold-

hearted villain? Because their roles make for good “reality” TV, as do dozens of other details, such as the sea of candles and the masterfully manipulated confessions. Or even the first of the first impressions: Quinn quickly cuts the scene when a Black contestant is the first to exit the limo, for the first girl must be “wifey” material (“It’s not my fault America’s racist!” she explains).

But wait, Rachel’s a feminist — at least according to her T-shirt and a comment about her women’s studies degree — so why is she here? It turns out some of the producers do have souls, or did anyway. In a few “Everlasting” seasons previous, Rachel had a raging meltdown at the show’s finale that resulted in a devastated contestant, a stolen car and a lockdown in rehab. Despite the incident, since no one can top Rachel’s eye for drama, Quinn wanted her back — and she’s hanging a jail sentence over Rachel’s head as incentive.

If nothing else, “UnREAL” is catchy because of its originality.

And, apparently, its authenticity: written by former “Bachelor” producer Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, whose short film “Sequin Raze” inspired the show, the documentary feel of the set makes it all the more startling. It makes you pity the producers, for they’re slaves to ratings charts. It makes you pity the contestants, because they’re simply role-casted meat puppets. It makes you ponder the difference between “reality” and “scripted” TV, about whether the latter can be more truthful than the former.

But even as “UnREAL” pulls at your heartstrings and twists your stomach, you can’t help but wonder if it’s manipulating you, too.

Perhaps we should have heeded Amy Pascal’s warning about “Aloha” during the Sony e-mail leak last December — “I D+ don’t care how much I love Aloha the director and the actors 20th Century — it never, not Fox even once, ever Quality 16 works.” A harsh assessment by someone who is deeply financially invested in it, but one that rings true for this disjointed and disappointing ode to the trials of love.

The film tries desperately to cover too many bases and half-asses most of them. The protagonist, infamous space-obsessed Air Force veteran Brian Gilchrist (Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”) goes to Hawaii to work with the incredibly wealthy Carson Welch (Bill Murray, “Caddyshack”). Welch has a dream of privatizing space flight.

Gilchrist is there for his inexplicably strong connection to both Hawaii and the leader of the native locals, Dennis “Bumpy” Kanaheele, who appeared as himself.

He must get the approval of Bumpy and a blessing ceremony before they can launch the rockets.

In the classic fashion of director Cameron Crowe, whose other credits include “Jerry McGuire” and “Elizabethtown” Gilchrist plays the tortured male asshole, and a beautiful woman comes along who is fascinated by his “mystery.”

In “Aloha”, there are two. There is the ex-girlfriend, Tracy, (Rachel McAdams, “About Time”) who after having two children with her stoic husband, Woody, (John Krasinki, “Big Miracle”) and about 13 years to get over it, is still itching to tell Gilchrist exactly what is wrong with him and how much she loved him. But also along for the ride is Gilchrist’s Air Force escort, Allison Ng, (Emma Stone, “Birdman”) an earnest professional who wants to explore this conundrum of a man. To add to the compounded chaos, there are several misled subplots about the occupation of Hawaii, children and a mysterious space mission. Crowe seems to want to put every thought about Hawaii that he has ever had, and the messy outcome is a half-assed

presentation of these topics.

Adding insult to injury is the almost completely illogical script.

The actors do what they can with it, but with lines like “You’re going to skin your knees on eternity, bro” and “I’ve lone-wolfed it all the way,” there was never much hope for it. The characters can barely communicate with each other, was demonstrated in one scene when Woody and Gilchrist must use subtitles to explain the male body language that apparently lends itself to telepathy. The only one to occasionally break out of the monotony of what sounds like an angsty teenaged love letter was Bradley Cooper, but even his best moments of acting were brought down by those around him. The biggest anchor was Ng, through no fault of Emma Stone. Ng is written as two entirely different people occupying the same body. One minute, she’s all salutes and fast talk about planes and the next she’s a ridiculous romantic flirting with Gilchrist.

The conflicting sides of her personality make her incredibly difficult to take seriously.

Much of the criticism about the character of Ng has risen not from her annoying multiple personalities, but from her constantly proclaimed racial identity.

Ng is supposed to be Hawaiian and Swedish, but Stone’s clearly white, blue-eyed and blonde exterior is seen as a direct offense to the possibility for an Asian American or genuinely Hawaiian woman as a lead role in a major movie. The rest of the movie is similarly unkind in their representation of the Hawaiian people.

The only native Hawaiian with a speaking role is Bumpy, and the rest of the Hawaiian cast members are portrayed as intimidating bikers or hula girls. The people, along with their customs and traditions, are objects in the background used to move the plot to its final destination.

It isn’t that I don’t want to see a cute rom-com about Hawaii or that I don’t want to see Emma Stone and Bill Murray in a drunken dance-off — of course I want those things. I’m only human. But I don’t want it to be filler distracting from an inherently flawed and careless movie. Next time we graciously receive a warning from the likes of Amy Pascal, we ought to take it more seriously.

8 NEWS

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Classifieds

SHAKESPEARE From Page 2 Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, June 11, 2015

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

FOR RENT

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Protective garment 6 Nothing like wetlands 10 New car stat 13 One of four men who managed both the Mets and Yankees 14 “Eva __”: Isabel Allende novel 15 JFK datum 16 *”Finds Print of Man’s Foot on the Sand” 19 __ were 20 Excited exclamation 21 Actress Katey 23 *“Wendy’s Story” 25 Jai alai ball 26 Arena sounds 27 Foretells 28 “Psych” finale?

30 Is for more than one?

31 Moneyed 32 Words creditors don’t want to hear ... or what each starred clue is with reference to its answer 37 Here, in Havana 38 Magic show prop 39 Soggy ground 40 Like campsites, at times 43 Rhett’s last word 45 Tops 46 *“Nightgown” 50 Wednesday Addams portrayer of film 51 1998 Australian Open winner Korda 52 Popular berry 53 *“What I Heard in the Apple Barrel” 56 ISP biggie 57 Ship protected by Hera 58 Ripped at the gym 59 Many Sam Goody sales 60 It hits the nail on the head 61 “Nope!”

DOWN 1 Pump part, perhaps 2 Maine flag image 3 Curved path 4 Measures 5 One of a toydom pair 6 Words heard coming and going 7 Extended sentence 8 Creep 9 Patriotic org.

10 __ chai: spiced tea 11 Woods, e.g.

12 Marmaduke of the comics is one 17 Jr. preceder 18 Notebook owner 22 “__ call!”

24 Rough file 25 Strip 27 Central Eur. power until 1806 28 __ lobe: brain area 29 What tenant farmers do 30 It’s “not what you see, but what you make others see”: Degas

33 “What I’m holding ...”

34 Wear away 35 Award since 1949 36 Indian curry dish 37 Where some worship from 41 Rises to the top 42 One of a pair of sci-fi twins 43 Spoil rotten

44 Dugout shelter 46 Construction area sign 47 “Sorry, impossible” 48 Props for Astaire 49 Buddy 51 Word with luck or gold 54 Easy mark 55 Penn, e.g.: Abbr.

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in a scene and there’s a hill, someone is going to roll down it,” Mendeloff said.

However, she said, because of the unpredictability of outdoor performances, casting has increased throughout the years.

“All roles are double cast.

That means that we have two of everything,” Mendeloff said.

“Sometimes, we’re even triplecast. Because things happen in the woods, you know. Ankles get twisted.”

The surrounding nature also allows for a less traditional production. Instead of maintaining a fixed stage, the company moves around the Arb to take advantage of the environmental perks.

“There’s a giant tree in the last scene and the Pucks sort of drape themselves over the branches.

I’ve always sort of envisioned lanterns hanging over the leaves so we’re trying to do that this year,” said Associate Director Carol Gray, a School of Public Health faculty member.

Gray has been with Shakespeare in the Arb since its inception, and noted the changes in the production over the years.

She said while the core movement of the play is the same, every year the casts and their unique dynamic change.

“I think some of the beauty of Kate’s directing style is that she allows new moments to be found in a 400-year-old play in a 15-year-old production,” she said.

ASKWITH From Page 1 Endowed Fund for the Raoul Wallenberg Fellowship.

Askwith also donated funds to the University for the creation of study spaces at Shapiro Library, such as Bert’s Cafe, Askwith Media Library and Bert’s Study Lounge.

A memorial service for Askwith was held June 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York City.

SHOWCASE From Page 3 a lot of people to come to North Campus, Maddix said.

“Sometimes, in the library world, things are more isolated and people don’t get a chance to get to North Campus. Also, North Campus has amazing facilities that we can use.”

One such the facility is the UM3D Lab, which had a live demonstration of 3D printing.

The UM3D Lab, part of the Digital Media Commons at the Dude, provides 3D printing access, learning and services to the University.

Nathan Diroff, who works in the lab, this lab provides services such as printing files for people who send them, as well as training people to use 3D printers.

“3D as a medium and as a method for production is amazing,” Diroff said. “Some of these things are different human anatomy that have never been printed in this way before, you can print things that have never actually existed in the physical realm before.”

The art gallery and exhibit will remain open in the Duderstadt through June 5. the program.”

Drawn in by the diversity of course options available to Liberal Studies students, Emma Davis, who is also a lecturer and dance instructor at UM-Flint, enrolled in the program. She said the f lexibility of the curriculum helps her tailor an education that fits her needs and that increased online offerings will help her meet those needs.

“With Liberal Studies, I was able to bring my interest in dance, community work and writing all together to form my own graduate focus. I shaped my own program as opposed to entering a program where a strict agenda is in place,” she said. “A lot of people of are working, including myself, while in the program, so sometimes it can be hard to come straight from work and sit in class for three hours in the middle of the night.

The cool thing about an online format is now work can be done at your own time and that really goes along with the independent nature of Liberal Studies.”

PEONIES IN BLOOM

Thursday, June 11 , 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

Rackham student Zhenzhen Zang prunes dead flowers from peony plants in the peony garden at Nichols Arboretum on Tuesday.

Summit condemns sexual assault, fosters dialogue Conference features remarks from Michigan politicians

By ALYSSA BRANDON

Summer Managing News Editor

Amid Department of Education investigations of various Michigan institutions’ sexual misconduct policies, including that of the University, state first lady Sue Snyder collaborated with Michigan politicians and educators in an effort to address issues of sexual assault on campuses.

Snyder hosted the “Let’s End Campus Sexual Assault” summit, an event designed to foster dialogue between leadership in government and education and the public. Held in Lansing, the conference featured remarks from campus sexual assault survivors, state representatives, and congressmen and educators from across the state.

During her remarks, Snyder lauded Michigan colleges and universities for taking steps to prevent sexual assault, but said there is still more work to be done.

“I have no doubt that together we will set a positive example

and make Michigan a leader in the fight against sexual assault on our college and university campuses,” Snyder said. “While we may not like to believe it, sexual assault can happen anywhere and to anyone. Our colleges and universities are already taking positive steps to prevent these crimes. But there’s always more that can be done. It is my hope that we can build on these efforts.”

Gov. Rick Snyder (R) echoed her remarks, and said the focus of the summit should be brainstorming ways to offer support to survivors of sexual assault.

“This is not about politics, this is not about party, this is about helping people,” Snyder said. “What can we do to stop it, prevent it, make sure it never happens again? And in the meantime, what can we do to provide better support for the people who have suffered through these terrible acts?”

In accordance with the Snyder administration, Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the Michigan State Police, announced an allocation of $500,000 in the 2016 state budget for implementing best practices of sexual assault prevention on college campuses.

A portion of the event was

also dedicated to educating attendees about the scientific and psychological elements of sexual assault. Wayne State Prof. Antonia Abbey shared her research on the role of alcohol in cases of sexual assault; Rebecca Campbell, a psychology professor at Michigan State University, discussed the neurological effects victims of sexual assault may experience.

The summit also engaged with the public remotely. Remarks, discussions and breakout sessions were all streamed live online throughout the duration of the conference. Additionally, Twitter users contributed to discussions by tweeting using the hashtag #MISaferCampus.

“Glad to see the level of commitment at the #MISaferCampus summit,” one user tweeted.

“Every deserves to #LiveWithoutFear.”

In a statement to the press, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D–Mich.), who also participated in the conference, said sexual assault should not be an accepted trend, and that Michigan should be a leading state in ending campus sexual assault.

“Today, one in five women are assaulted during their college years, and Michigan can, and should, lead the country in

ending assault on college campuses,” she said. “Today’s summit was a critical first step. By bringing together stakeholders from both sides of the aisle to listen and learn and discuss best practices, we can find ways to educate students, empower survivors and prevent sexual assault on our campuses and around the country.”

State Sens. Tonya Schuitmaker (R–Lawton) and Rebekah Warren (D–Ann Arbor), and state Reps. Laura Cox (R–Livonia) and Marilyn Lane (D–Fraser) held a panel discussion to brainstorm ways the state of Michigan could be a leader in combating campus sexual assaults. Debi Cain, executive director of the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board, also participated in the discussion.

During the panel, Warren, who is a representative of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, said it is vital that the state encourages victims to report crimes of sexual assault by implementing stronger mandates on testing rape kits.

“We know that this is one of the most underreported crimes that we have, and one of the reasons is that people are worried

NEWS 9

that they won’t be believed or if they will get the justice that they seek,” Warren said. “Those untested rape kits I think hang over our head as something we have to resolve to show people that we will take their cases seriously that they will get the justice that they need.”

Warren said legislature has taken steps to appropriate funds in two budgets that will go toward requiring stricter timelines for rape kit testing.

“Any new victims that are in a position of having to decided whether they will come forward or not should know that they will get treated with dignity they deserve,” she said.

In her remarks at the end of the conference, Sue Snyder said she was encouraged by the productive conversations the conference prompted.

“This inaugural summit has been one of the most encouraging things that I have been a part of,” she said. “The outpouring of support and dedication signifies a positive for this effort.”

Snyder also said continued dialogues about sexual assault awareness and prevention are

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

10 SPORTS

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

Fullback Wyatt Shallman and “The Team” outlasted the Michigan hockey team to capture the intramural championship.

Football wins in softball

By ZACH SHAW Summer Managing Sports Editor

As Kelis’ 2003 hit song “Milkshake” blared throughout Elbel Field, Wilton Speight, nicknamed “Grande,” strode to the plate.

This isn’t a Mad Lib, I promise.

The hip-hop singer confidently discussed how her milkshake brought all the boys to the yard, and on the first pitch, the sophomore quarterback nearly sent the ball out of it. It didn’t clear the fence, but was high enough and deep enough to cause left-fielder Kevin Lohan and centerfielder Tyler Motte to collide.

Speight took advantage of the miscue, quickly lugging every ounce of his 6-foot-5, 245pound frame around the bases.

As he crossed home plate and nearly took out junior fullback Wyatt Shallman, who was merely attempting a celebratory hug, the bench quickly mobbed him like his shot had earned six points at Michigan Stadium.

While most of Ann Arbor’s eyes were on Oklahoma City — where the Michigan softball team simultaneously played a fateful Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series Championship — “The Team,” an intramural softball team composed entirely of Michigan football players, had just evened the score at three against “Servi’sBoys,” a team comprised entirely of Michigan

hockey players in Michigan’s Intramural Slowpitch Softball Championship.

Just one at-bat later, fellow quarterback and rising junior Shane Morris, batting to Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” belted an equally impressive shot to left-centerfield.

Like Shakira’s hips, Lohan — who moonlighted as a sophomore defenseman during the school year — refused to put on the façade of a defensive effort, staying put while the ball rolled to the fence. Morris cruised around to give his team a lead it would never relinquish.

Behind Morris’ three runs, The Team overcame an early 3-0 deficit to take down Servi’sBoys, 18-7, to capture a championship and the oft-coveted T-shirts.

“The T-shirt means everything to us,” said self-proclaimed team manager and owner Jared Wangler, who redshirted as a freshman linebacker on the football team last fall. “We lost it last year in the semi-finals, and didn’t come back for second place. We got out in the semis and we’re back with a vengeance.”

Motte, who once was a standout baseball player and teammate with Michigan baseball standout Jacob Cronenworth before settling for sophomore forward on the hockey team, was slightly less enthused after the loss.

“To be totally honest, I didn’t know we got T-shirts,” he said.

“Our game plan is none — just hit the ball.”

They’re a good team, they’re average fielders. So if we bring the bats tonight I think we’ve got them.”

On the other side, numerous players cited the calm presence of Wangler and general manager/ rising-junior running back Derrick Green for keeping the team focused in the early struggles.

“I’m staying with my squad,” Green said. “It’s just the beginning, we’re all good. Anytime it’s competition, we’re locked in. It doesn’t matter if it’s here or in (football) practice, we’re trying to find a way to win.”

The competitive nature came to fruition in the third inning, when both teams grew frustrated with the officiating.

LSA junior and umpire Brandon Gregg, unenviably caught between the largest and strongest students on campus, knew it was time to put his foot down.

“For both teams, I’ve been to most of their games, so I wanna see them do well, and it was cool to see them out of their element.

But they’re all competitive, so you have to make the right call.

“At the beginning of the game, I kind of had to lay down the ground rules, and held to it. It kept them in check.”

Wangler, who missed his sister’s graduation for the game despite

being cut due to “a lot of errors,” utilized his time on the bench, preparing the postgame snack, manning DJ duties and keeping the team focused on the game plan.

“Our game plan is none — just hit the ball,” he told members of the team. “Actually, just get on base. We’re playing with nine and they’re playing with 10. Kind of a disadvantage, but we can do it.”

The increase in contact paid off. With less-than-optimal conditions, the hockey team failed to gain its footing in the field, making “at least a dozen” errors.

“It’s pretty wet and nobody’s wearing cleats out here really,” Motte said. “It’s kinda tough with the bright lights and the dark sky, but it’s good fun for the guys, the guys are enjoying it.”

Both teams boasted records of 5-1 heading into the contest, but when push came to shove, the hockey team couldn’t keep pace.

With football coach Jim Harbaugh in Indianapolis for his satellite camps and hockey coach Red Berenson away on an annual fishing trip with the team’s graduating seniors, it was clear that, despite the testy moments, the end goal was fun for both teams.

“It’s all about bragging rights,” Green said. “They beat us the first time, so if we come back and beat them, that would be really good.

“But really, just for us to come out here a day or two out of the week and play something other than football, it just makes our connection stronger.”

“It’s all about bragging rights.

They beat us the first time.”

“But it’s good for them, obviously with these two teams in the finals, both teams are full of athletes, and it’s the other competitive side we don’t see of each other. Some guys are athletic enough to come out here and look like college ballplayers, and some guys do it a little unorthodoxly, but they both get it done, and it’s good fun for us. But at the end of the day, we both want to win.”

At first, it looked like the squad Red Berenson built would do just that. Jumping out to an early lead, boasting more former baseball players and besting The Team earlier in the season, Motte and his team looked far superior to Wangler’s squad, despite failing to acquire a bat from the actual Michigan softball team.

“They couldn’t help us out, but we’re not messing around tonight,” said self-anointed power-hitting specialist and risingjunior forward Max Shuart in the second inning. “Honestly, we don’t think we’re gonna have much of a problem AMANDA ALLEN/Daily with these guys. Rising-junior Shane Morris pitched a complete game on the mound, earning the championship win.

“The T-shirt means everything to us.”

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

RITA MORRIS/Daily

Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico is working with USA Basketball this summer, where the new rule changes are already in place.

Barnes Arico weighs in on NCAA rule changes

By JACOB GASE Daily Sports Editor

For women’s college basketball, the days of 20-minute halves, one-and-one foul shots and lastsecond full-court drives are over.

Monday, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a proposal to play all women’s basketball games in four 10-minute quarters starting next season.

Under the new format, teams will reach the bonus and shoot two free throws after the fifth team foul in every quarter.

In past seasons, teams received one-and-one foul shot opportunities beginning with the seventh team foul of a half before reaching the double bonus (two free throws) with the 10th team foul.

Additionally, the new format features a rule that allows teams to automatically advance the ball to the frontcourt following a timeout in the final minute of the game.

The recommendation was initially made by the 13-member Women’s Basketball Rules Committee last month, and it aims to both “enhance the flow of the

game” and emulate the rules of the WNBA and international basketball.

Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico, who is working with USA Basketball for the second straight summer, welcomes the rule change as a means of creating a more universal game.

“We are excited about the changes,” Barnes Arico said. “Our game will now more closely mirror both the professional and international levels of competition, which I think is a great thing.

“I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach with USA Basketball again this year, allowing me the chance to play with international rules all summer as we prepare for next season. Many of the new college rules are reflected in the international game, so I am really excited that I get to experience that before the season kicks off in the fall.”

But Barnes Arico understands that the new changes will also bring a steep learning curve, especially when it comes to late-game strategy.

Games like the Wolverines’ one-point loss to Northwestern on

“I really think that our game is heading in the right direction.”

Feb. 14 — which featured numerous bonus free throw attempts down the stretch and culminated in a futile near-half-court heave by then-senior guard Shannon Smith — would certainly have unfolded differently under the new rules.

“I think that with anything, when you make changes like this, it is going to take some time to get used to,” Barnes Arico said. “We always spend parts of practice going through situations, especially end-of-game situations. We will continue to do that, but now those situations will be a little different and will be a learning experience for both our players and coaches.”

With its eyes on creating a better fan experience, the panel also approved rules that allow more physical post defense and permit bands or amplified music to play during any dead-ball situation.

In addition to the changes it has already approved, the committee has plans to reduce the number of media and team timeouts per game — an issue that will be further discussed in a conference call on June 24.

“A lot of these changes are being made to make the game more exciting for fans,” Barnes Arico said. “I really think that our game is heading in the right direction, and I am excited to see it.”

SPORTS 11

ALEXANDRIA BODFISH/Daily

Senior centerfielder jackson Glines was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round after earning first team All-Big Ten honors in his second season at Michigan.

Three Wolverines taken in MLB Draft

By CHLOE AUBUCHON Daily Sports Editor

The Michigan baseball team made its mark on the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, as three current Wolverines and two incoming freshmen were picked in days two and three of the three-day draft, which ran from Monday to Wednesday.

On Tuesday, junior second baseman Jacob Cronenworth and senior outfielder Jackson Glines were selected in the seventh and 10th rounds, respectively.

Cronenworth, who went to the Tampa Bay Rays, has had an award-worthy career at Michigan, playing and starting in all 180 games of his career. This season, the junior received All-Big Ten Second Team honors for the second time and was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, in addition to being named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He led the Big Ten with 91 hits and 62 runs scored on the season.

The Chicago White Sox selected Glines, who finished his final two seasons at Michigan with a .341 career average and 21 stolen bases after transferring from Fresno City College. The senior was named an All-Big Ten first team selection in his final season, where he posted a .492 slugging percentage, after receiving All-

Big Ten second team honors in his junior season.

Wednesday, the Kansas City Royals selected junior infielder Travis Maezes in the 13th round.

The two-time All-Big Ten third team selection has a career .305 average with 39 doubles, seven triples and home runs and 92 RBI. His .313 average in his freshman campaign was good for Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors.

Joining Maezes on Wednesday were incoming freshmen Jonathan Englemann and Charlie Donovan.

Englemann went to the Minnesota Twins in the 28th round, while the Milwaukee Brewers selected Donovan in the 30th round.

Engelmann hit .462 for Burlingame High School in San Mateo, California, earning Perfect Game honorable mention All-American honors as well as an all-region first team selection in 2015. His 34 stolen bases in his senior season broke the school record.

Donovan, the 2015 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, is a two-time all-state honoree and helped Westmont High School in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, to a 30-9 record and a spot in the Super Sectionals in the IHSA Class 2A State championships.

This year’s draft marks the 17th in the last 18 years where at least one Michigan player has been selected.

12 SPORTS

Thursday, June 11, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Final grades for Michigan softball

By KEVIN SANTO Daily Sports Writer

The Michigan softball team was dominant once again in its 2015 campaign, falling only one win short of a National Championship. With legendary coach Carol Hutchins at the helm, the Wolverines finished with a 60-8 record and captured Big Ten regular season and Tournament titles.

A week after Michigan’s season came to a close at the hands of two-time national champion Florida, the Daily grades the Wolverines’ performances.

Offense: A+ Michigan boasted a potent offense this year, leading the NCAA with 108 home runs and ranking third in runs scored per game. The number was good enough to break the program’s previous single-season home run record of 103.

The batting order was solid one through nine, with five players who posted double-digit home runs and only two players who hit below .300. Those two were freshman first baseman Tera Blanco and sophomore third baseman Lindsay Montemarano, but despite their batting averages,

it seemed the duo’s hits came at the most opportune times in tight games.

Junior second baseman Sierra Romero and sophomore left fielder Kelly Christner headlined the offense with respective .449 and .393 batting averages. They combined for 150 runs batted in and 43 home runs, solidifying the duo as the best in the country. Arguably the most impressive statistic: Romero struck out just eight times in 68 games.

In the championship series, freshman designated player Aidan Falk — a .344 hitter throughout the season — was on the bench .

That alone encapsulates how successful this offensive lineup was.

And the success can get even better. Of the team’s consistent contributors at the plate, only senior catcher Lauren Sweet will not return.

Defense: AThe Wolverines were solid on the defensive end all year, accumulating a .974 fielding percentage. Yet the number earned them just 20th in the country, while Florida sat atop the category.

That made all the difference in the championship series with such a slim margin for error. In the

DELANEY RYAN/Daily

The Michigan softball team had a season worth celebrating, winning its eighth-straight Big Ten title and finishing second in the nation.

first game between the two sides, an error by sophomore shortstop Abby Ramirez turned a solo home run into a two-run shot, and that entirely altered the outcome of the contest, as Michigan lost, 4-3.

But to say that one play encapsulates Ramirez’s individual and the team’s overall defensive performance this year wouldn’t be accurate.

Ramirez, combined with Romero, made up a consistent middle infield that committed just 19 errors in 68 games. Both Sweet and junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence had a perfect fielding percentage.

Though Montemarano’s .944 fielding percentage isn’t elite, the

DELANEY RYAN/Daily

Junior Sierra Romero led the team for the third straight season in most offensive categories and was a unanimous first team All-American.

number couldn’t do her defensive performance at third base justice.

Life at the hot corner isn’t easy, but the sophomore made it look so with highlight plays seemingly every weekend.

Pitching: A It’s hard to criticize a staff that came four runs shy of a National Championship.

Michigan’s pitching corps finished fifth in the nation in earnedrun average, and was second among power conference teams.

Realistically, the combination of sophomore right-hander Megan Betsa and senior left-hander Haylie Wagner was close to perfect.

The only fault of the staff was that the two failed to pitch their best at the same time. Wagner struggled to reach her previous AllAmerican status early in the season, at which point Betsa emerged as the Wolverines’ regular season ace. But in the World Series, it was Betsa who struggled, and Michigan relied on exceptional performances from Wagner instead.

At the same time, the fact that the pair failed to click simultaneously is a testament to the balance that this pitching staff exhibited.

After overcoming the adversity of losing senior right-hander Sara Driesenga, Betsa and Wagner posted a 1.72 and 1.75 ERA, respectively.

Though Wagner will be gone next year, Blanco will stay in Ann Arbor this summer to work on her pitching game, and Driesenga may use her redshirt to return for a final season in the maize and blue.

Bench: B+ Honestly, the Wolverines didn’t have much need to turn to their bench. The only time Michigan consistently worked with its bench was for pinch running and during Sweet’s brief leg injury in March.

The pinch running trio — juniors Olivia Richvalsky and Mary Sbonek and freshman Nikki Wald — combined for 48 runs scored.

Falk started all eight games at catcher during Sweet’s absence.

She posted a .556 batting average with six RBI and two home runs in a three-game series against Ohio State, earning her a starting spot at designated player after Sweet’s return.

The eight-game stretch without the veteran catcher could have proved difficult to cope with, but Falk ensured that the Wolverines didn’t skip a beat.

Coaching: A Well, this one is easy. In her 31st season as head coach, Hutchins maintained her typical standard of excellence. She and her coaching staff led Michigan through a season in which it had just eight losses and strung together a 28-game winning streak.

The coaching staff obviously played a role in adapting to the loss of Driesenga and Sweet’s brief injury, while elevating the Wolverines from a No. 8 preseason ranking to No. 2 to conclude the season.

Really, the only fault was that the Wolverines couldn’t capture a national championship.