ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, November 19, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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ACADEMICS
For course evaluations, methods still up for debate
DAVID SONG/Daily
Lynn LaPointem, a Lakota tribe member and employee of the state Department of Education, talks about the discrimination he faced as a Native American in higher education at Munger Graduate Residences on Wednesday.
Forum explores experiences of Native American students Cost of attendance, discrimination continue to present challenges at ‘U’ By RIYAH BASHA Daily Staff Reporter
The Native American Student Association, in conjunction with the Office of MultiEthnic Student Affairs, hosted
a public forum Wednesday on contemporary issues in the Native American community, both within the context of the University and at large. About 30 people attended the discussion held in the Munger Graduate Residences, asking questions of the fourperson panel. The night’s panel discussion was just one event in a lineup organized for November’s celebration of Native American Heritage Month. NASA’s co-chair, Isa Gaillard,
a Public Policy senior, said access to higher education. the panel aimed to bolster Panelist Sandra Momper, an recognition of native students associate professor in the School both at the University and at of Social Work, said a certain large. stigma still exists surrounding “We’re looking to increase Native American students’ awareness,” he said. “The ability to succeed in college. (University’s) relationship with “I was told, ‘You are not (Native Americans) has been college material,’ ” she said. historically challenged, and a lot Momper also criticized the of that is linked to enrollment financial aid afforded native issues as well.” students. Even after making Much of the conversation it to a university, many are focused on obstacles related the often dismayed by additional Native American community’s See NATIVE AMERICAN, Page 3A
MUSKET set to stage ‘Spring Awakening’ By NATALIE ZAK Daily Arts Writer
Cue the lights, the curtains and the teenage angst: As the actors take their positions and the music begins, the audience MUSKET returns to their Presents: adolescence “Spring where confusion Awakening” and tireless 11/20 and 11/21 emotion at 8 p.m., 11/22 dominated at 2 p.m. every thought. Power Center for the Addressing Performing Arts themes of &7-$15 sexuality and abuse in 1890s Germany, MUSKET’s “Spring
Awakening” offers an impressive insight into teenagers struggling to fend off their inner and realworld demons. A modern rock musical adapted from a late 19th century German play, “Spring Awakening” follows its leads through sexuality, physical abuse, diabolical authoritative figures, sexual coercion and even suicide. There’s little material excluded from this profanityridden musical — and that’s one of its most appealing qualities. Accurately and explosively conveying the bundled emotion contained in adolescent minds, MUSKET’s production manages to be relevant to college students. “There’s suicide, there’s sexuality, there’s coercion and a lot of adolescence,” debut director Wonza Johnson said. “It’s weird for us to go back to that because we’re so old now. As 18, 19, 20-year-olds, to go back to that age of being 15 and experiencing this for the first time has been challenging.” Johnson, a Music, Theatre & See MUSKET, Page 3A
By CAMY METWALLY Daily Staff Reporter
Over the past few months, the University’s course evaluations — and whether their results will be released to students — have become increasingly contentious. In September, the administration announced plans to release the evaluations after years of campus discussion surrounding the initiative. But the announcement drew significant pushback from faculty, leading to an October vote by the faculty senate assembly to support the delay of the release, citing concerns with the evaluation’s format, among other factors. University Provost Martha Pollack had said she would be willing to adjust the timeline for their release based
GARBA RAAS
ARTS PREVIEW
Classic rock musical comes to the Power Center this weekend
After pushback, ‘U’ continues to mull process for releasing data
on the assembly’s vote. Two committees have since been created to examine both the release of the evaluations and the instrument employed for evaluating courses — re-opening conversations about issues like question design and response rate that faculty have for years. The current system Many of the concerns raised by faculty and students on both sides of the issue aren’t new; they stem from how evaluations have been used long-term at the University. For many parties involved, course evaluations have important ramifications. For GSIs and lecturers, student evaluations are a factored into decisions about their reappointment. For tenuretrack faculty, they are used in conjunction with other evaluation mechanisms to determine tenure and promotion. Across the board, course evaluations are reviewed when considering nominees for teaching awards. Kinesiology Prof. Stefan Szymanski, a member of the Senate Advisory Committee on See EVALUATIONS, Page 3A
Q&A
Reflections on #BBUM two years after launch RUBY WALLAU/Daily
LSA freshman Apoorvee Singhal participates in Garba, a community folk dance, during the annual Garba Raas hosted by the Hindu Students Council in the Michigan League Ballroom on Wednesday.
Campaign’s leader considers progress, future for Black students on campus By ALYSSA BRANDON Daily Staff Reporter
GOVERNMENT
Students, faculty respond to Snyder’s refugee stance Campaign created to oppose temporary ban on immigrants fleeing Syria By EMMA KINERY Daily Staff Reporter
In wake of terrorist attacks in Paris that left 129 dead, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder
joined 31 governors in vowing to pause the entry of Syrian refugees into their states. Early reports indicated that one the attackers may have been a refugee from Syria, though officials now say that theory was likely incorrect. Even so, that notion stoked fears that ISIS fighters would enter the country along with the refugees fleeing their violent campaigns. In response, LSA senior
Sarah Raoof and Public Health students Tala Dahbour and Reem Kashlan launched a letter-writing campaign on Facebook. The campaign encourages students to visit the “Share your Opinion” page on the governor’s website to send either a pre-written or personal letter expressing opposition to his plan to block Syrian refugees. So far, 190 people have See SNYDER, Page 3A
Two years after the Black Student Union launched its #BBUM Twitter campaign, the challenges brought to light by those who used the hashtag to share their experiences as Black students at the University are still fresh in the minds of both BSU members and the University community. More than 10,000 tweets racked up within the first two days of the hashtag’s launch, and soon BSU members were at the helm of a movement that quickly captivated the University’s attention and garnered media coverage nationwide. Shortly after the launch of the hashtag, several BSU members held a Martin Luther King Jr. See BBUM, Page 3A
» INSIDE
the thanksgiving b-side A look at a revamped version of your Thanksgiving favorites
WEATHER TOMORROW
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INDEX
Vol. CXXV No. 33 ©2015 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A SPORTS......................5A
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A B-SIDE ....................1B