ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Monday, March 7, 2016
Ann Arbor, Michigan
michigandaily.com
CAMPUS LIFE
Concert to emphasize Middle East coexistence AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) stand on stage before the Democractic presidential debate in Flint on Sunday.
Democratic debate in Flint draws focus to local issues Candidates talk water crisis, Detroit school system failures
in Flint on Sunday for the seventh debate of the primary season, with a strong local focus. Over the two-hour debate, candidates answered questions from Flint residents and discussed state issues such as the Flint water crisis and the deterioration of Michigan’s economy and industry. The discussion marked a stark difference to Thursday’s Republican debate in Detroit, which devoted about 10 minutes in total to questions about the state.
By EMMA KINERY and LYDIA MURRAY Daily News Editor and Daily Staff Reporter
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D–Vt.) met
The debate came two days before Tuesday’s presidential primary in Michigan. Clinton, who has frequented the state since the Flint water crisis began to garner public attention, leads Sanders with 57 percent of the vote, according to the latest NBC/WSJ/Marist poll. Nationally, Clinton currently leads Sanders by 9.6 percent according to an average of polls from RealClearPolitics. Flint water crisis: The Flint water crisis proved a
Zak Witus: On accountability in diplomacy By ZAK WITUS Daily Opinion Columnist
Throughout the Democratic primary and caucus race, candidates have spoken a lot about foreign policy, especially regarding the Middle East. But we have heard shockingly little from the Democratic candidates about Israel, the single biggest recipient of United States military aid — $3 billion per year and $100 billion since 1962 by conservative estimates. In a press conference in Flint before the debate, I asked Bernie Sanders: If elected president, would you stop sending aid to Israel until they agree to abide by international law, namely by ending the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza? He said,
“The U.S. needs to have a level playing field in terms of its relationship to Israel and the Palestinian Authority … I will do everything I can to try to work in what is, as you know, a very, very difficult situation, if that is possible, but I do believe that the U.S. needs to have an even and level playing field dealing with both sides.” If we take this statement seriously, then Sanders as president would send the same amount of aid to the PA as it would Israel — that could be $0 to each, or billions to each. And if Sanders means he would even the playing field between Israel and the PA, then he would send tens of billions to the PA immediately to offset the amount already sent to Israel. For decades, and still today, the United States has supported Israel’s illegal and immoral occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Sanders would have to do a lot to end Israel’s economic, political and military domination of the See FOREIGN POLICY, Page 4A
By ANDREW HIYAMA Daily Staff Reporter
Mark your calendars — musical artist Matisyahu will be performing with fellow musician and Ann Arbor native Nadim Azzam at Hill Auditorium on April 4 as part of a concert series intended to promote unity. The concert is being hosted by Michigan Hillel and MUSIC Matters, who also hold the University of Michigan’s Annual SpringFest. Matisyahu, a JewishAmerican, and Azzam, a Palestinian-American, are touring together across multiple college campuses, attempting to bridge the many longstanding political, religious and cultural differences between Israel and Palestine.
B E ST COA ST
OPINION
Democratic candidates should talk more about Israeli occupation
significant topic throughout the debate, with Flint Journal editor Bryn Mickle, one of the moderators of the debate, questioning both candidate’s approach to addressing the crisis and their actions in the city. Both candidates, in their answers, called for the resignation of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder — a new position for Clinton and a repeated one for Sanders. Clinton answered Mickle’s See DEBATE, Page 3A
Musical artist Matisyahu to visit Ann Arbor for performance
Business junior, Kaitlin Smith, MUSIC Matters communications chair, said Matisyahu got his inspiration for the tour from protesters attending his concerts in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. This movement advocates for the end of public funding from the United States to Israel and aims to boycott institutions that financially support Israel, in protest of Israel’s policies on Palestinian rights. Matisyahu said in the tour’s announcement the goal of this tour is to demonstrate his solidarity with the Palestinian community and encourage harmony across the entire Middle East. Smith said Matisyahu envisions the tour creating a sense of community between different groups of students. “He feels that there’s a lot of misinformation out there, and a lot of people who are fueled by anger, so he’s going around and See MATISYAHU, Page 3A
ANN ARBOR
A2 residents, city officials oppose new ‘U’ bus depot AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Bethany Cosentino, lead vocalist of Best Coast, performs at the Majestic Theater in Detroit on Feb. 23, 2016. Best Coast’s performance is part of their joint tour – Summer is Forever II – with Wavves.
Councilmembers say city should be involved in planning, construction By BRIAN KUANG Daily Staff Reporter
CITY
Two new candidates enter election for seats on Council Diane Giannoa and Kevin Leeser to run against incumbents
By MARLEE BREAKSTONE Daily Staff Reporter
Two new candidates are vying for seats on the Ann Arbor City Council. Diane Giannola is a Democrat
seeking councilmember Graydon Krapohl’s seat in Ward 4 who is seeking re-election. Giannola is running under the slogan “Authentic, Realistic, Dependable.” “I’m a different sort of candidate. I’m not really running anti-anything,” she said in an interview. Giannola is currently employed by the University of Michigan and works as manager of Venture Accelerator, located on North Campus, where staff and
faculty who have developed new intellectual property through research and want to build their own private companies can rent office space. Additionally, she worked previously for the University as a medical researcher on academics, biotech and Pfizer. Her platform is focused on supplying the city’s residents with accurate information about city issues. She said she wants political decisions to be more of a conversation between City See CANDIDATES, Page 3A
After a tense meeting on Feb. 25 with University of Michigan officials, City Council members and local residents are openly calling for the University to halt its proposed North Campus transit center. The $38.5 million Transportation Operations and Maintenance Facility — which is to be built on North Campus adjacent to several residential neighborhoods — is meant to act as a full-service garage for the University’s fleet of 1,000 buses and other vehicles. The project was approved by the Board of Regents in 2014, and the bidding process was initiated in February 2016. While critics are not unified in their opposition to the facility, with complaints ranging from an increase See TRANSIT, Page 3A
Senior plight Wolverines fall without LeVert, Albrecht on Senior Night.
» INSIDE WEATHER TOMORROW
HI: 64 LO: 50
GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know.
NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Michigan beats Vermont at the Big House MICHIGANDAILY.COM/SECTION/SPORTS
INDEX
Vol. CXXIII, No. 83 ©2016 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A
SUDOKU.....................2A ARTS.....................5A S P O R T S M O N D AY. . . . . . . . 1 B