2016-03-16 by The Michigan Daily

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Ann Arbor, Michigan

michigandaily.com

CAMPUS LIFE

In ‘U’ visit, Matisyahu to focus on unification SAMII STOLOFF/Daily

Shuji Shimokoji, former Ambassador of Japan, answers a question about American, Japanese and Chinese foreign policy at the 2016 Walk in U.S., Talk on Japan event at the School of Social Work on Tuesday.

Former Japan ambassador discusses global relations Event features panel discussion on international economics By TIMOTHY COHN Daily Staff Reporter

On Tuesday, the Center for Japanese Studies hosted a discussion with Shuji Shimokoji, the former Japanese ambassador

to Venezuela and Panama. The event, “Walk in the U.S., Talk on Japan,” was part of a national discussion series sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan that aims to increase awareness about the relationship between the U.S. and Japan. The panel, attended by about 30 people, focused on the close economic ties between the United States and Japan as well as the importance of continued cooperation in the development of security policies.

Shimokoji was joined by a panel that included public sector officials such as Dr. Toshiyuki Miyawaki, a former Major General in the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, as well as individuals from the private sector, such as Hirokichi Nadachi, a prominent businessman in the Japanese automotive industry and Takaki Minamoto, a former investment banker for Morgan Stanley and current CEO of a Tokyo-based tourism agency. Saho Miyashita, a Japanese college student who has

Six months in, students remain unsure of Seto By RIYAH BASHA Daily Staff Reporter

It’s been a little more than six months since John Seto, the former police chief of Ann Arbor, took over as the University of Michigan’s housing security director — and some students still aren’t comfortable with his appointment. “Students should have input into that aspect of control in their life,” Rackham student Pete Haviland-Eduah, vice president of Students of Color of Rackham wrote in an e-mail interview. “As a person of color, I am concerned with his hiring because of what happened with Aura last year.” For many community organizers in Ann Arbor, time can often be marked as before Aura and after Aura. In November

2014, Aura Rosser, a 40 year-old Black woman, was fatally shot by Officer David Ried, a white Ann Arbor police officer, in what was determined to have been selfdefense The shooting, and subsequent decision to not indict Ried, sparked protests and petitions amid national outcry against police brutality that began with the August 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. The incident is still the motivation for many Black activists in the city; the Ann Arbor Alliance for Black Lives, initially Ann Arbor to Ferguson, was founded in the wake of Rosser’s death in November 2014. The key distinction in Ann Arbor, however, is that activism related to the shooting as largely remained restricted to organizations operating in Ann Arbor at large, rather than student groups on campus. Save for tweets by the Black Student Union and organizations partnering in solidarity, there didn’t seem to be many large-scale apparent effects See SETO, Page 3A

By ALYSSA BRANDON Daily News Editor

Reggae artist Matisyahu will touch on several themes relevant to current campus discourse in his April 4 at Hill Auditorium, themed around peace and unity. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Matisyahu said he began to conceptualize the theme of his campus tour of 12 universities after being implored to make an anti-Israel comment at a music festival last summer. Matisyahu said after he declined to make the comments, he was thrown off of the festival, which caused significant uproar both in and outside of Spain from his supporters and fans. Despite the controversy, he said he was invited to perform in Spain again, though Boycott, Divestment and

PE RFOR MING POETRY

PUBLIC SAFETY

University Housing security director was involved in Aura Rosser case

studied in the United States, also participated in the panel. In their opening addresses, each panelist spoke about their areas of expertise and how their experiences could help promote greater understanding of relations between Japan and the United States. Shimokoji highlighted the Japanese government’s economic policies, which he said are aimed at encouraging collaboration between the United States and See JAPAN, Page 3A

April concert part of nationwide tour spurred by BDS protests

Sanctions Movement protesters heckled him throughout the performance. BDS advocates for the end of United States public funding to Israel and boycotts institutions that financially support Israel, in protest of what they say is Israel’s ongoing restriction of Palestinian rights. “They wanted me to make a political statement basically denouncing Israel and promoting Palestine. They did it specifically because I’m Jewish and because they had gotten pressure from the BDS movement.” He said he initially felt angry toward the protesters and wanted to fight back against them, but as he continued performing throughout night, his anger turned to compassion. “I realized what these people, regardless what they think or what they’ve been taught or what they feel, they are right now susceptible to the sounds, to the actual waves that are coming forth and there was no escaping that,” he said. “I thought if I can somehow sing from a place and make music from See MATISYAHU, Page 3A

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Wolverines prepare for experienced Tulsa team Michigan opens NCAA tourney in First Four on Wednesday night By SIMON KAUFMAN

GREG GOSS/Daily

Ann Arbor resident J Kincaid performs one of her poems during ‘Skazat!’, a monthly poetry slam held at Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea on West Washington Street on Tuesday.

Student journalists focus of new bill against censorship State Sen. Rick Jones introduces legislation to decrease power of college administrators By TIMOTHY COHN Daily Staff Reporter

Last Tuesday, Michigan State Sen. Rick Jones (R–Grand Ledge) introduced Senate Bill 0848,

which aims to establish guidelines for how universities may or may not censor student publications and to provide protection for student journalists. The Student Free Press and Civics Readiness Act was co-sponsored by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R–Canton), Sen. Tom Casperson (R–Escanaba), and Sen. Steven Bieda (D–Warren). Jones, the primary sponsor of the bill, cited frequent cases of censorship of student journalists

at Michigan State University as the cause for introducing the Student Free Press and Civics Readiness Act. “I was approached by students from MSU who expressed concerns over censorship,” he said in an interview. “I want their constitutional rights to be observed.” Senate Bill 0848 includes provisions to prevent school officials from regulating content See CENSORSHIP, Page 3A

Daily Sports Editor

When the Michigan men’s basketball team tips off against Tulsa on Wednesday night in its First Four game in Dayton, Ohio, its two seniors — guards Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht — will be watching from the bench. Meanwhile, on the other end of the floor, the Golden Hurricane (12-6 American Athletic Conference, 20-11 overall) will run out four seniors in their starting lineup. They’ll have five more on the bench. Their nine seniors are the most of any team in the country.