ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CSG gives feedback on renovations to Union ZOEY HOLMSTROM/Daily
Sanja Savic Berhamovic speaks about Syrian Refugees during the discussion titled “Syrian Refugees: Trauma & Resilience” in the School of Social Work on Tuesday.
Panel discusses needs of Syrian refugee population Speakers criticize Gov. Snyder’s choice to pause efforts to welcome refugees By RIYAH BASHA Daily Staff Reporter
A day after Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced Michigan would attempt to
block Syrian refugees from entering the state, the Children Welfare Student Association held a discussion Tuesday night addressing the needs of Syrian refugees in Michigan. Snyder had previously implemented plans to accept an increased number of refugees fleeing violence in Syria, but has now said he wants to put those plans on hold following terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday that killed 129 people. Earlier
this week, French authorities announced that one of the individuals likely involved in the attacks entered Europe as a refugee from Syria, though that theory was likely incorrect. Organizers noted that planning for the event started at the beginning of the semester, preceding recent events, but that the conversation had become increasingly relevant in light of Snyder’s remarks. Thirty other governors have
made similar remarks. About 15 attendees, mostly School of Social Work students, listened to three panelists speak about the current situation, as well as the complex mental health needs of refugees and ways practitioners and social workers can address them. Panelist Loubna Alkhayet, a clinical therapist from Waterford, Mich., said she thought Snyder’s decision was a poor one for the See REFUGEES, Page 3A
Assembly hopes updates will increase student activity in the building By JACKIE CHARNIGA Daily Staff Reporter
Renovation plans for the Michigan Union are moving forward. Loren Rullman, associate vice president for student life, spoke with Central Student Government at their weekly meeting Tuesday to discuss the plans and gather input on the design process. During the meeting, CSG also heard from Trey Boynton, the director of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs. Representatives from Workshop Architects, one of the three firms currently working on renovations to the Union, asked CSG members to provide feedback as to what they use the Union for and what changes they would like to see to
ANN ARBOR
EVENT PREVIEW
Council votes to stop recognizing Columbus Day City to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in its place as official holiday By JACKIE CHARNIGA Daily Staff Reporter
Columbus Day is no more, at least in the city of Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously on Monday to recognize the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day in lieu of Columbus Day. The resolution was proposed by Councilmember Chuck Warpehoski (D–Ward 5), who said the idea for the resolution began over a year ago when other communities drew attention for honoring the area’s indigenous people instead of the explorer who was traditionally portrayed as the person who “discovered” America. Warpehoski said a resolution did not go through last year in part because he wanted to seek the input and support of indigenous groups in the community. “To make this change, it should
be done in partnership with indigenous people and not just as an act of charity without their consultation,” Warpehoski said. Warpehoski said he reached out to local schools and worked in partnership with Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Edmonds to draft the final resolution. Without local tribal governments to consult, he instead contacted the University’s Native American Student Association and, through his partnership with Edmonds, the Eastern Michigan Native American Student Association. “I grew up in a town in northern Wisconsin where there was a Ojibwe reservation on one side of me and a Potawatomi reservation on the other side of me,” Warpehoski said. “They were local tribal institutions that were available for contact. That’s not something we have here currently in Washtenaw County, so finding indigenous leaders is a different process.” Public Policy senior Isa Gaillard, co-chair of the Native American Student Association at the University, said his organization proposed adding language to the See COLUMBUS, Page 3A
the building. The architects plan to garner input through the Student Renovations Advisory Committee. In addition to Workshop Architects, Rullman said two other architecture firms having been hired, including Integrated Design Solutions from Troy who specialize in student spaces, and Washington, D.C.-based HartmanCox Architects, preservation architects hired to maintain the integrity of the original buildings. Rullman said two of the firms had previously worked on renovation projects for the University. IDS and Hartman-Cox both worked on construction of the Munger Residence Hall and renovations to the East Quad Residence Hall and the Law Quadrangle. Rullman said the project began with the Building a Better Michigan initiative in 2011, which lobbied the University to prioritize renovations for the student common spaces like recreation centers and unions. Rullman said more than half the funds for the renovation See CSG, Page 3A
Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes to perform at Hill Friday RITA MORRIS/Daily
Lucas Kirkpatrick, co-editor of “Reinventing Detroit: The Politics of Possibility,” describes the factors leading up to the city of Detroit’s current state and its future political potentials at the Art & Architecture Building on Tuesday.
Book on Detroit looks at city’s path forward Several local writers, experts contribute to new collection By BECCA SOLBERG Daily Staff Reporter
Along with a panel of local professionals and professors, Lucas Kirkpatrick, an assistant sociology professor at Southern Methodist University,
discussed the launch of his new book “Reinventing Detroit: The Politics of Possibility” on Tuesday. Edited by Kirkpatrick and Michael Peter Smith, a professor of community studies at University of California, Davis, the book comprises chapters written by various experts in urban policy, including professors from the University. The compilation aims to discuss the challenges Detroit faces and the methods currently being employed to
overcome them. In July 2013, Detroit declared bankruptcy and was placed under the control of an emergency manager. In December 2014, the city announced its exit from bankruptcy and control of the city was fully returned to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. The city has also struggled to cope with blight, crime, political corruption and a job loss. Kirkpatrick began his talk See DETROIT, Page 3A
Acclaimed Norwegian concert pianist brings unpretentious style to Ann Arbor By COSMO PAPPAS Daily Arts Writer
You walk into one of the hallowed halls of high culture — the Lincoln Center, the Philharmonie, the Sydney Opera House. You’re ushered to your Leif Ove seat, lower Andsnes, yourself quietly and prepare to piano be transported. Friday, Nov. The lights dim, 20 at 8 p.m. and everyone takes a sharp, Hill Auditorium quiet breath. Students $12 The vacuum of space and time Regular tickets is where it all up to $60 happens. Then — the first notes of the keyboard hit and then, then! ... The muses go to work tickling your fancy. See ANDSNES, Page 6A
the statement
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INDEX
Vol. CXXV, No. 32 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A ARTS..........................5A
S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A T H E S TAT E M E N T. . . . . . 1 B