2016 New Student Edition

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Fall 2016

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michigandaily.com

2A — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Bloomberg attacks

‘safe spaces’ at commencement Former New York City Mayor defends free expression in his speech By

SHOHAM GEVA EMMA KERR

and

Editor in Chief and Managing News Editor

KRISTINA PERKINS/Daily

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I—VT) enjoys a warm welcome from the crowd at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center.

ELECTION

In first visit to Michigan, Sanders talks student debt, Flint and young voter turnout Political candidate addresses packed EMU audience By

LYDIA MURRAY CAITLIN REEDY

and

Daily Staff Reporters

FEB. 15, 2016 - More than 9,000 people cheered and stomped their feet in response to the arrival of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D–Vt.) at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center Monday.

Sander’s visit was his first to the state of Michigan during his campaign and comes just three weeks before the Michigan primary on March 8. Sanders will return to Michigan on March 6 for a Democratic debate held in Flint.

At the Monday rally, he largely addressed familiar topics surrounding his campaign, many of which had personal connections to the mostly young, local crowd — including issues pertaining to Flint, higher education and youth voter turnout.

He also touched on recent events, referencing U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on Saturday.

There is immense speculation about whom President Obama will choose as his nominee to replace Scalia, and how much resistance that nominee will face from the Republican majority in Congress. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement Saturday that he thought the seat shouldn’t be

filled until the next president takes office.

Calling the GOP’s response to Scalia’s death an example of the party’s doctrine, Sanders said it was their chance to prove that they do, in practice, follow the text of the Constitution.

“I say to my colleagues in the U.S. Senate, my Republican colleagues, you talk about the Constitution a whole lot. How about obeying the Constitution and start holding hearings when President Obama nominates the next Supreme Court Justice?”

Sanders said.

“Talk about cowardice, obstructionism.

Here you have the Constitution clear as can be.”

Speaking more broadly during his remarks, Sanders said he was pleased by the large crowd attending the rally, noting that the issues he focuses on require the attention of everybody.

The crowd was comprised of residents and students from all over the state wanting to witness the candidate in person, including LSA senior Lucy Licht.

“I was really interested in seeing what the real-life energy was like,” Licht said. “I’ve watched Bernie on TV and read stuff about him but I don’t think I really captured the experience of the excitement

and energy of everyone coming together to hear what he has to say.”

Sanders’ visit follows two separate campaign stops in Flint for opponent Hillary Clinton, in the race for the Democratic nomination — on Feb. 7, Clinton herself, and a few days later, her daughter Chelsea Clinton.

During his speech, Sanders said he met with residents of Flint earlier that day but did not make any official appearances while there.

Both Sanders and Clinton have criticized the state government for their slow response to the Flint water crisis.

Clinton has brought the issue to national attention by referencing it during two recent Democratic debates, calling the current efforts insufficient. Sanders — echoing several state and national groups who have heldprotests in recent weeks — has taken a harder stance, calling for the resignation of Gov. Rick Snyder.

During his remarks, Sanders said prior to his meeting with Flint residents he did not fully understand the gravity of the crisis.

“I really did not know how ugly and how horrible and how terrible what is going on in our

“How insane is it to punish people for the crime of trying to get an education?”

community (is),” he said. “It is beyond my comprehension that in the year 2016, in the United States of America, we are poisoning our children.”

Sanders also touched on his plan for addressing student debt and making public colleges and universities tuition free. Sanders’ plan calls for taxes on Wall Street speculation — which would require banks to pay a fee for various financial transactions included under the umbrella of speculation such as stocks and bond trading — to finance the tuition-free college initiative.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D– Dearborn) has co-sponsored legislation that addresses the loanrefinancing issue Sanders calls for, though she is supporting Clinton in the race.

Sanders said higher education is key to maintaining a competitive economy, and characterized student debt as a “punishment” for individuals seeking education.

“Everybody knows that for our economy to be strong we need the best education,” he said.

“How insane is it to punish people for the crime of trying to get an education? That is why as part of our legislation, we are going to allow people to refinance their debt with the lowest possible interest rates.”

Recent surveys suggest a large base of Sanders’ supporters come from younger generations. In New Hampshire, Sanders won 83 percent of voters under the age of 30, The Atlantic reported.

Sanders promised college students in the room a future without mounting student debt and higher minimum wage, but cautioned the crowd that they must remain active in their campaigning and get friends and peers out to the voting booth.

“Your job, in every creative way, is to determine and make certain that every American is actively involved in shaping the future of our country, not just the 1 percent,” Sanders said.

Sanders also stressed that a true political revolution requires action from the bottom up. To take power away from the 1 percent — a rallying cry of the Sanders campaign — movement must come from the masses, he said.

“Real change never takes place from the top on down … real change takes place when people by the tens of millions look around and say you know what, the status quo is just no longer acceptable,” Sanders said. “It’s got to change. When the people lead, the leaders follow.”

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APRIL 30, 2016 - Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg touched on multiple topics of national discussion — including free speech on college campuses and the tone of the 2016 presidential election — in his Spring Commencement address Saturday morning, to a mixed response from the crowd.

Bloomberg, who also founded business news organization Bloomberg L.P. and recently considered a third-party run for the presidency, told the assembled graduates and families that fostering an environment on college campuses that allows for a variety of opinions is important.

On the topic of safe spaces, trigger warnings and microaggressions, Bloomberg said such mechanisms prevent students from learning about difficult experiences they will encounter outside of the University of Michigan.

“The fact that some university boards and administrations now bow to pressure and shield students from these ideas through ‘safe spaces,’ ‘code words’ and ‘trigger warnings’ is, in my view, a terrible mistake,” Bloomberg said. “The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations — not run away from them. A microaggression is exactly that: micro.”

His remarks came after University President Mark Schlissel told graduates that he has been proud to see students hold the administration accountable about free speech and discrimination, referencing outcry over the University’s response to anti-Islam chalkings found on the Diag in March.

Many students and faculty members have expressed concern over the past month about the chalkings and, in some cases, the University’s response to them. Several students who gathered to wash off the chalkings said they found the messages upsetting and disturbing, and expressed disappointment that the University didn’t take immediate action to clean off the chalk.

A letter in April signed by 480 faculty members condemned the chalkings, but also praised the University’s response to them.

Schlissel has responded to the incident publicly several times, emphasizing the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, but also noting the campus free speech policy.

In his remarks Saturday, he thanked students for standing against the chalkings.

“I saw our students step up again when many of you denounced anti-Islam chalkings on the Diag and offered support to your fellow students,” he said. “You made us better by upholding one of the greatest values to which we aspire.

Discrimination has no place at the University of Michigan.”

Bloomberg devoted a significant part of his address to the discussions about free speech campuses nationwide have faced after incidents like the anti-Islam chalkings, cautioning against limiting expression.

“One of the most dangerous places on a college campus is a safe space because it creates the false impression that we can insulate ourselves from those who hold different views,”

Bloomberg said. “In the global economy, and in a democratic society, an open mind is the most valuable asset you can possess.”

His remarks drew a mixed response from the assembled crowd of graduates and parents, with both noticeable booing and clapping throughout the Big House, and a multitude of comments on social media.

During several parts of Bloomberg’s speech, students could be heard yelling epithets at him.

Kevin Kinney, a newly graduated School of Information graduate student, said after the ceremony that he disagreed with Bloomberg’s comments on microaggressions.

“I do think the idea of microaggressions is real,” he said. “I don’t think it was very wise to minimize that. I get his point about learning different viewpoints and that’s what a university is supposed to be.”

Newly graduated LSA senior Grant Goodstein said he enjoyed Bloomberg’s speech but noted that not everyone around him did.

“I was glad that he said things that were maybe a little bit controversial — wasn’t afraid to say them,” Goodstein said.

“There was definitely a mixed reaction from the students, but I think that’s great to have and opens up some conversations.”

Beyond college campuses, Bloomberg also highlighted in his address the concept of free speech in a number of other arenas, including the current election, his experiences as mayor in banning smoking in New York restaurants and a student claim about limitation of speech in The Michigan Daily.

Speaking to the 2016 election, Bloomberg said demagoguery and extremism have become prevalent in campaign discourse.

“Our country is facing serious and difficult challenges, but rather than offering realistic solutions, candidates in both parties are blaming our problems on easy targets who breed resentment,” Bloomberg said. “For Republicans, it’s Mexicans here illegally and Muslims. And for Democrats, it’s the wealthy and Wall Street.”

Referencing policy points of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), he told grads they shouldn’t believe promises of free things.

“When a populist candidate promises free college, free health care, and a pony, or another candidate promises to make other countries pay for our needs, remember: those who promise you a free lunch will invariably eat you for breakfast,” he said. “If there were simple solutions to complex problems, we wouldn’t have those problems.”

Bloomberg’s speech also had several lighter notes; in opening his remarks, he said he had arrived in Ann Arbor Friday night to experience campus and gone “straight to Ricks’.”

“From there, I got a pie and cheesy bread from Pizza House,” he continued, listing city businesses and landmarks.

“A sandwich at Zingerman’s — even I could barely afford that.

And then I went to the Cube and gave it a spin.”

Newly graduated Kinesiology senior Sarah Kulhanek said she appreciated both the lighter and serious parts of Bloomberg’s speech.

“I just want to know who he consulted before writing about Rick’s and Pizza House because I thought that was a good move on his part,” Kulhanek said.

“I thought it was good to bring up a little bit of controversy,” she added about his remarks on freedom of speech. “This is a university. You have to be able to learn and grow as a person.”

“Safe space... creates false impression”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

3A — Fall 2016

ADMINISTRATION

Increasing tuition: a look at why costs continue to rise Hike in revenue outpaces other public universities

By LYDIA MURRAY Summer Managing News Editor

JUNE 22, 2016 - Last Thursday, the University of Michigan Board of Regents voted to increase tuition by 3.9 percent for in-state students and 4.4 percent for out-of-state students. This change will result in an increase in tuition revenue of $86.35 million.

Since 2002, tuition revenue has increased by over $800 million — a 135 percent increase — far outpacing similar institutions such as Ohio State University and the University of California system, both of which have seen approximately 52 percent increases. Both universities also face similar state funding decreases to those within Michigan. This comparison raises the question: Where is this money coming from and where it is going?

State Funding The increase in projected tuition revenue coincides with a proposed increase in state funding of 4.2 percent for the University. This state-funding proposal is the latest in a series of small increases following a 21.6 percent funding cut the University experienced in 2011 under Gov. Rick Snyder’s first budget, which featured an across-the-board 15 percent cut in funding for higher education.

The latest increase in state funding brings aggregate funding for Michigan’s higher education budget back to pre-2011 levels; however, the University’s individual state funding still remains 7.8 percent lower than 2011 levels.

Various regents at Thursday’s meeting cited state

disinvestment as the reason for the tuition increase.

Regent Denise Ilitch (D) called out state officials for this lack of prioritization of higher education, pointing to how funding on an individual basis for prisoners is higher than that of students within the state.

“The state of Michigan spends roughly 25 percent more on prisons than on education,” she said. “The state of Michigan spends roughly $34,000 per prisoner and $11,000 per student. I first would like to use my public responsibilities to encourage Michigan citizens to think about the disinvestment our state, our governor and our legislature have made with respect to the budget in not prioritizing education.”

State Rep. Adam Zemke (D–Ann Arbor) echoed this sentiment in an interview with the Daily, saying there has been no increase in the importance of higher education in his time working for the legislature.

“The increases that have been happening are really insignificant,” he said. “That is to say the emphasis on higher education as a priority in my time has not really changed. An increase at the rate of inflation is not really an increase.”

Despite the clear downward trend in state higher education funding, the University’s total revenue from state funding has decreased by only $55 million since 2003, compared to an $802 million increase in revenue from tuition.

Paul Courant, former University provost and current professor of economics, said it is important to look at how funding has changed on a larger timescale.

“The basic problem is this: there was a time, and it was way more than 14 years ago, when the state appropriation was a substantial fraction of

the University general fund budget,” he said. “If you look at it over time, there is a steady decline. Tuition has to replace each one of those declines, but there is an inability of the state appropriation to keep up with inflation, let alone to grow.”

Affordability The University maintains that it is fully committed to affordability, and the latest budget includes a 10.8 percent increase in undergraduate financial aid, which is the ninth double-digit increase in undergraduate aid in the past 10 years. However, total funding for financial aid across the University has increased by only $120.14 million since 2003.

University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald wrote in an e-mail interview with the Daily that the University aims to meet all demonstrated need for in-state students.

“No other state university has put as much emphasis on financial aid as U-M,” he wrote. “We continue to be the only state university that meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for in-state students.”

In his remarks to the board last Thursday, David Schafer, Central Student Government president, called for more student input on these decisions, as students are the ones impacted by changes in tuition.

“I have yet to hear of any structured student input on these decisions,” he said.

“Frankly, I don’t get that. It makes little sense to me. We are the ones these decisions impact. We are the ones who bear the burden of balancing school while having to find an additionally paid work on the side … This is our future we are talking about. This is our education.”

At Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting, University

Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R) criticized this increase for addressing lack of state funds while ignoring underlying societal issues of the rising cost of higher education.

“Whether it comes from the University of Michigan’s general fund or from the government, more financial aid does not solve the underlying problem of rising college costs,” she said.

“It only makes the University of Michigan less affordable, especially for middle class students and their families, who are least likely to qualify for financial aid.”

Academic Excellence Despite the University’s commitment to affordability, the general fund has still increased by approximately $802 million since 2003 from tuition revenue alone — when discounting changes in state funding, Fitzgerald wrote that, while much of the increase in general fund revenue stems from the increase in tuition, a portion of the increase in the general fund is accounted for by an increase in the proportion of out-ofstate students, inflation and investments aimed at improving the University.

“Much of the revenue increase comes from the rate increase, but there also will be an increase in the total number of students, undergraduate and graduate,” he wrote. “And we anticipate an incremental increase in the proportion outof-state students based on the rate of acceptances we’ve had from those students. The cost of running the University rises each year in part from inflation and in part from new initiatives and investments in technology and all the things that make U-M a world-class university.”

At Thursday’s regents meeting, Shauna Ryder Diggs (D) said that for the University to continue to improve, increasing

the general fund is necessary, a view shared by Regent Laurence Deitch (D).

“Divestment is not going to lead us anywhere; that is not going to lead us to the future that we need,” Diggs said. “And in order to do that we need to spend the money, as Regent Deitch said, that will invest in our future.”

In an interview with the Daily, Schafer echoed this sentiment, saying there is a balance between affordability and quality.

“I think it’s so important to balance having an accessible and affordable education with maintaining the rich quality of our institution,” he said. “I think (the budget’s) attention to academic excellence and the high quality of this University, and, subsequently, the value of our degrees is important.”

Despite University’s highlight on maintaining quality, other similar institutions have not seen the same large increase in tuition revenue as the University.

Since 2003, aggregate state funding for the University has decreased by 15 percent while the tuition revenue has increased by 135 percent.

Ohio State University — another large, public research institution — has seen a 17 percent reduction in state funding between 2006 and 2015, but the institution maintained only a 52.8-percent increase in tuition revenue in the same timeframe. Ohio State has not increased tuition since 2012.

The University of California system saw a 15 percent cut in state funding between 2006 and 2013 and experienced a 52.8 percent increase in tuition revenue during that time frame.

The UC system also maintained a three-year freeze in tuition between 2011 and 2014, when its Board of Regents voted for a

five percent tuition increase per year for the next five years.

While it is clear that the University has increased its general fund at a much faster rate than other comparable institutions, according Miles Kimball — a University economics professor — increasing the budget is essential to maintaining a high quality of education. Kimball cited the increasing wage premium for highly skilled labor as a source for the expanding budget, as higher salaries are becoming necessary to maintain a high-quality faculty.

Kimball said the UC system is now facing fiscal challenges because it has not adjusted its budget to rising costs.

“You can always ruin your University, and basically the UC system has been going in that direction,” Kimball said. “It is actually very troubled by the kind of budget straightjacket that it has been put into.”

Courant echoed these sentiments, citing the so-called “cost disease phenomenon” in which the cost of highly skilled labor has increased rapidly while the productivity of this group has not changed.

According to Courant, the University needs to pay higher salaries to faculty members to retain them and the quality of education they provide for students.

“The relative price of University activity, of University faculty in particular, as well as other skilled labor at the University, tends to rise relative to the economy as a whole,” he said.

Alternatives to Raising Tuition According to Kimball, the University does not need to raise tuition to increase its revenue and budget size. Instead, Kimball said the University See TUITION, Page 5A

4A — Fall 2016

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@michigandaily.com

JENNIFER CALFAS EDITOR IN CHIEF FALL 2015

AARICA MARSH and DEREK WOLFE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS FALL 2015

SHOHAM GEVA EDITOR IN CHIEF WINTER 2016

CLAIRE BRYAN AND REGAN DETWILER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS WINTER 2016

LARA MOEHLMAN EDITOR IN CHIEF SUMMER 2016

JEREMY KAPLAN EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR SUMMER 2016

LEV FACHER MANAGING EDITOR FALL 2015 LAURA SCHINAGLE MANAGING EDITOR WINTER 2016 BRADLEY WHIPPLE MANAGING EDITOR SUMMER 2016

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.

FROM THE DAILY

Indigenous Peoples Day The University should recognize newly created holiday

T

he Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 16 to designate the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day. A couple of days later, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners followed suit at the request of commissioner Yousef Rabhi. The new holiday, meant to replace Columbus Day, was the result of collaboration between Councilmember Chuck Warpehoski (D–Ward 5) and various local indigenous groups and their allies. The decree is obviously a welcome change, as Columbus Day has been a topic of controversy, and shows much-warranted consideration of native communities here in the Ann Arbor area. However, the county’s recognition of the holiday is somewhat diminished by the University’s questionable history with its Native American constituents. Now that progress is the law of the land, the University should follow suit by recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day and set the tone for a new era of alliance with those community members who deserve our respect.

The University was founded (both in its original location in Detroit and its current location in Ann Arbor) on what was once Native American land with the permission of the 1817 Treaty of Fort Meigs. But in the years following its conception, the school has done little to honor this grant.

Additionally, students showed their prejudiced attitudes toward Native Americans in tasteless club traditions like those of the Order of Angell — a University organization (which changed its name from the pseudotribal “Michigamua” in 2006) with a long, murky past rooted in blatant insensitivity.

In its heyday, the formerly secret society initiated its members with public rituals involving sacred Native American regalia and religious items, such as peace pipes, drums and totems. Acts such as these were called out as unacceptable by not only the indigenous community in Ann Arbor, but also various organizations on campus. Having undergone so much intense scrutiny, the Order fully ceased these despicable activities by 1989.

Further, University possession of Native American artifacts has also been a point of contention in the past. In March 2008, members of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe requested rights to what Museum of Anthropological Archaeology officials deemed “unidentifiable” artifacts, but because ownership of ambiguously cultured objects was not ruled illegal by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation

Act of 1990, their efforts were futile. It was not until two years later in 2010 that the federal court became involved and demanded the University return the remains to their rightful place.

With these instances in mind, the University should take full advantage of this opportunity to make amends with its neighbors. A good start would be to eradicate the recognition of Columbus Day from University calendars and planners; an even better effort would be to recognize local tribes like those of the Three Fires — Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatami — by hosting a day or more of events in collaboration with them.

The University of California, Berkeley, for example, holds a day-long festival that features an exhibition and gourd dancing, as well as an “Indian market” with handmade products from local tribes. Simply bringing in native speakers to share their experiences with the student body would also be a step in the right direction.

The Native American community in Ann Arbor is essential to the history of both the city and the University. Recognition of their influence is commendable, but deliberate effort by the University to acknowledge and appreciate them is warranted if we are to celebrate this new holiday with integrity.

Given our disreputable history, it is the least we can do.

Originall published on 11/23/2015.

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Ben Keller, Payton Luokkala, Aarica Marsh, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Jason Rowland, Lauren Schandevel, Melissa Scholke, Rebecca Tarnopol, Ashley Tjhung, Stephanie Trierweiler, Mary Kate Winn, Derek Wolfe.

JOE IOVINO

E-mail Joe at

jiovino@umich.edu

A

End cat-calling

s I ran in a pack with my best friends KAELA and track THEUT teammates on a bright and sunny Florida morning, I tried desperately to focus on the cadence of my footfalls and the overwhelming sense of calmness that usually washes over me as soon as I step out the door. However, I quickly found it impossible to enjoy the humorous conversation happening around me, or even the sound of the waves gently lapping the shoreline, due to the disturbing number of middle-aged men who deemed it their civic duty to comment on everything — ranging from our activity of choice (running) to our bodies. That first run in Florida lasted only 30 minutes, but my friends and I were cat-called 14 times.

Standing on a street corner, waiting for the traffic whizzing by to come to a halt so that we could cross the road, a man leaned out of his beaten-up truck and had the audacity to snap a picture of us. In one swift motion, he crossed all personal boundaries and took with him the image of our bodies — not knowing anything about who we were. I shudder thinking about where the picture is now or what it was used for. Essentially, standing there in a T-shirt and spandex, completely normal running attire for a warm climate, I realized that I had never felt more exposed and objectified in my life.

Here we were, athletes on a training run so that we could become better at our sport, and we were being reduced to mere sexual objects. Would it be appropriate to stand on the sidelines of a college football training camp and yell slurs at the boys as they sprinted back and

forth across the field? Or even more simply, at the countless shirtless male runners we saw along our route? No, of course not, because at no time in our lives have we been taught that these activities are sexual or that we have the right to invade other people’s comfort zones with our words. So why is it that, because of an inherently patriarchal society, we are expected to deal with men ignoring our athletic abilities to instead comment on the size of our chests or the curvature of our bodies?

The couple of times one of us tried to counter the remarks with a certain obscene hand gesture, the men either yelled more loudly or gave us the same motion right back. In their minds, our bodies were on display for their gratification — and they had every right to express their pleasure. How dare we take away their right to self-expression, or put in a more saccharine manner, their right to give “compliments.”

For the record, compliments are defined in the dictionary as remarks of “esteem, respect, and affection.” There is no way that these strangers have any semblance of respect for me when all they see is a sum of body parts.

They don’t know I could like the same kind of music as their daughters or that I am a student attending a prestigious university.

Furthermore, affection implies intimacy. Compliments from close friends make me feel warm and confident, while these so-called “compliments” from strangers make me feel like I have done something wrong.

They have not only made me feel uncomfortable, but have also genuinely terrified me. Once, as I was running on the shoulder of a fairly busy road, a car swerved much too close to me, and a teen-

ager leaned out and screamed something about an explicit sexual act. I f linched in surprise and sprinted onto the sidewalk, almost in tears due to my anger and frustration. I was only a freshman in high school. A man who genuinely thinks that he is complimenting random girls by shouting at them about their assets is disillusioned and stuck in a far bygone era.

What’s even more terrif ying, however, is that I have heard girls say they do not mind the jeers because they prove that they are “hot” or that they find the attention amusing. These girls are missing out on the imperative difference between a compliment and a derogatory remark. With each “hey, baby,” “how you doin’ girl” or the incredibly uncreative “damn,” the cat-caller is obtaining gratification while the act of cat-calling becomes even more socially accepted in today’s culture. I have been the recipient of this kind of harassment in Florida, in my hometown of Grand Rapids and even in Europe.

Cat-calling can seem benign, but it is just the tip of an insidious iceberg. Young girls will grow up confusing these invasive and honestly just plain creepy remarks as signs of genuine love and affection. They will think that they must use their bodies to garner male attention. They will think that what they were wearing warranted the harassment, and eventually begin to blame themselves. This is the problem with cat-calling. If a grown man can’t contain himself while driving past a group of barely-of-age girls in sports bras, our society obviously still has a lot of growing up to do.

Originally published on 3/15/2016.

Liberals, mourn Scalia Political tensions were high on June 28, 2012. All eyes were fixed on the Supreme Court, where the constitutionality of Obamacare and its individual mandate would be decided by the nine most inf luential judicial minds in the country.

The cornerstone of the president’s BRETT legacy, the GRAHAM historical legacy of the Court and the health care of millions of Americans were on the line. It was at this moment that Justice Scalia saw an opportunity to work the audience, asking one of the attorneys, “What happened to the Eighth Amendment? You really want us to go through these 2,700 pages?” implying that to read the entire law would be cruel and unusual punishment. This humor and levity will be sorely missed with the passing of the Supreme Court’s conservative anchor.

The vacancy left by the 79-year-old jurist Saturday morning has thrown the political world into chaos; President Obama has promised to nominate a replacement, while Mitch McConnell and the GOP-controlled Senate plan to block any confirmation before the next administration.

Meanwhile, three current presidential candidates sit in the Senate and will cast a vote on a nominee who would otherwise be theirs. Political pundits and journalists are calling Scalia’s death a monumental loss for conservatives, and liberals will inevitably see this as an opportunity to push the Supreme Court leftward. As a liberal, however, I would like to take this opportunity to mourn the loss of a brilliant legal mind and his unique brand of conservatism.

It may be difficult for liberals, who have long painted Scalia as the judicial equivalent of Archie Bunker, to reconcile their beliefs with his textualism. But this is a lazy oversimplification of one of the most brilliant law yers of the 21st century. Though rare, Scalia

had his liberal moments over the course of three decades on the bench. In Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, he railed against the Bush administration’s suspension of habeas corpus and its treatment of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. He consistently sided with the liberal justices in cases involving law enforcement and the protections of the Fourth Amendment.

Perhaps most importantly, he cast the deciding vote in Texas v. Johnson, invalidating a law against f lag burning and upholding a patently liberal interpretation of the right to free speech.

Though a hero to the political right, Scalia exemplified professionalism and a refined political discourse, separating a person from their beliefs.

By liberal and conservative colleag ues alike, he was affectionately referred to as “Nino,” and known as much for his love of opera as for his infectious laugh. Perhaps most famous was his long friendship with ideological opposite Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who once said of Scalia, “I disagreed with most of what he said, but I loved the way he said it.” His response: “What’s not to like — except her views on the law.”

Beyond the camaraderie and respect he showed for his intellectual adversaries, Scalia presented a compelling view of what a judge should be. “We don’t sit here to make the law, to decide who ought to win. We decide who wins under the law that the people have adopted.

And very often, if you’re a good judge, you don’t really like the result you’re reaching.” In his opinions, he quoted Sesame Street and Shakespeare. He called an arg ument “pure applesauce” and responded to a reporter with a Sicilian gesture synonymous with profanity.

There may never be a justice as colorful as Antonin Scalia.

Even if one cannot appreciate the personality and f lair he added to the high court, liberals should commemorate the ways in which Scalia’s conservatism helped refine their beliefs.

Where would the concept of a “living ” Constitution be if it had not been crafted in response to the emergence of originalist jurisprudence?

And that’s what needs to be appreciated about Justice Scalia. In stark contrast with the fear-mongering brand of conservatism that runs rampant today, full of platitudes about American values and radicalism, Scalia based his philosophy on the Constitution. He based it in irrefutable text and extensive research into what the Founding Fathers were thinking when they put pen to paper.

Disagreeing with “conservatives” like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz is easy.

Drumming up an arg ument against a wall on the Mexican border, anti-Muslim rhetoric, ostentatious foreign policy or disparaging women is easy.

What is infinitely harder is to read Scalia’s defense of Second Amendment rights in District of Columbia v. Heller and fig ure out why you disagree with it.

To piece apart his dissents on Obamacare and same-sex marriage is to investigate what it means to be a liberal and how the Constitution not only factors in, but also dictates the rhetoric of the American left.

I believe in a “living ” Constitution. I look at the vast majority of Scalia’s career and my brow furrows in disagreement as his brilliant prose takes aim at my core beliefs — from affirmative action to a woman’s right to choose and everything in between. Nine times out of 10, I will disagree. But 10 times out of 10, I will be challenged and will walk away a better liberal for the experience.

In this hyper-politicized climate, Antonin Scalia’s passing will be framed in terms of winners and losers. Will Obama be the first president since Reagan to succeed in naming three Supreme Court justices? Which candidates will get a bump in the polls as a result of their support or opposition during the nominating process?

Can the Senate GOP hold out for 11 months? Ultimately, though, there are no winners. Conservatives lost their champion, and liberals lost the man who represented reasonable opposition and, maybe more than anyone else, helped define the constitutional debates of the past 30 years.

Originally published on 2/15/2016.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

5A — Fall 2016

Hash Bash calls state marijuana laws to attention Constrast between local and federal rules draws mix of student reactions

By ALEXA ST.JOHN Daily Staff Reporter

MARCH 31, 2016 - Hash Bash — an annual April event when pot enthusiasts from Ann Arbor and beyond gather to smoke marijuana and meander around campus — will be on the University of Michigan’s Diag Saturday afternoon. Nationally recognized since 1972, Hash Bash is meant as a rally for the decriminalization of marijuana and a more lenient drug policy nationwide.

Marijuana legalization, long a controversial topic nationwide, has gained steam in recent years as multiple states have chosen to allow the drug either entirely, or for medicinal purposes.

Over the past few decades, studies have shown it has the potential to have powerful medicinal effects on conditions such as severe or chronic pain and cancer. Advocates for the drug also argue that overall prohibition has been ineffective, and doesn’t make sense when compared to how alcohol is regulated.

Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an organization that argues for reform of marijuana laws, noted that the majority of the American public is currently in support of legalization.

“The Gallup polling of today indicates 58 percent

of the population supports legalization,” St. Pierre said.

“When NORML was founded in 1970, it was 10 percent.”

According to the University Health System, however, marijuana is not recommended by some medical experts due to the fact it is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and has the ability to impair memory, judgment and coordination.

Opponents of the drug argue that the medical impacts of it aren’t yet clear, and could be significantly negative.

In Michigan, medical marijuana is legal, but recreational use is not, despite legislative pushes to legalize it fully. On campus, University policies follow federal law, meaning neither medical nor recreational use is legal — a situation that each year, Hash Bash places in sharp relief.

Balancing the purpose of Hash Bash Despite likely marijuana consumption at the event, last year’s Hash Bash only resulted in three arrests. This year’s 45th annual Hash Bash will take place on April 2, and, as usual, will be directly on campus.

The University’s Alcohol and Drug Policy states that possession of marijuana on University property is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and possible imprisonment of up to one year.

University Police spokeswoman Diane Brown said the department’s policy is that the event itself is not something UMPD would take action against, but drug consumption is.

“It’s not legal to be smoking

or possessing marijuana on the Diag at this event,” Brown said. “It’s exercising of free speech, but at the same time, the University and the police and DPSS don’t condone the use of illegal drugs or the public consumption of alcohol on our campus.”

Brown said in recent years, attendees at Hash Bash have made speeches and rallied for about an hour, and then continued their activities off campus. Once the attendees leave campus, any illegal activities are under the city’s jurisdiction. Currently, marijuana is decriminalized in Ann Arbor, resulting in only a civil infraction and a $30 fine.

“Most of the time, the crowds at this are reasonably wellbehaved — it’s just trying to manage and make sure people who look like they’re having considerable difficulty from a medical situation are provided medical treatment,” Brown said.

LSA junior Erin Dunne, who is director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and on the organizing committee for Hash Bash, said the event is crucial

for demonstrating political activism on campus.

“It’s important for this to happen on campus because it’s an opportunity for students to both be exposed to political opinions and viewpoints and hear from a lot of speakers from the political activist network, but also the national activist network,” Dunne said “It’s also an opportunity for the community to see that students care about these issues.”

Dunne said the event organizers do not advocate illegal behavior at Hash Bash and notify both the University and the city of Ann Arbor that the event will happen. Police then patrol at their discretion.

She emphasized that despite the potential for people to engage in activities that might violate University policies, the University should allow for student-led events that exercise student speech.

“Hash Bash is considered student speech,” Dunne said.

“It’s allowed to happen because of the First Amendment. It is meant to be a political rally and not a marijuana party on the

Diag, although there are some people who misunderstand the purpose of the event.”

State policies surrounding marijuana usage Marijuana — whether used for medical or recreational purposes — is currently legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

However, each state varies in what amount and type of marijuana is legalized. In Michigan, Proposal 1 dictates recreational marijuana as illegal, though it allows for legal possession of 2.5 usable ounces if used medically. So far, there are nearly 100,000 patients in the state registered for the use of medical marijuana, according to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program.

Last September, State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor) proposed legislation aiming to legalize and tax the private use of marijuana for Michigan residents 21 years and older.

“Prohibition is not working.

It’s expensive. It ruins people’s lives, and it distorts the

priorities of our law enforcement agencies,” Irwin said in a recent interview with The Michigan Daily.

His bill, House Bill 4877, would make the possession, use and purchase of marijuana legal for adults 21 and older, decriminalizing the use and possession of the substance and providing a system for licensing sellers, much like alcohol regulations. It’s modeled after similar legislation in Colorado, where recreational use is legal.

“If we learned one thing from Colorado, it’s that their system of legalized marijuana is working,” Irwin said.

The bill has drawn opposition from Republican members in the legislature, and a range of groups in the state.

On campus, LSA freshman John Sack, freshman chair for College Republicans, said he does not support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. He cited several studies regarding the use of marijuana in Colorado that have pointed to issues with people driving under the influence of marijuana, See MARIJUANA, Page 8A

Refugees displaced by war find new life in Washtenaw County Nonprofit resettles about 80 refugees to County anually

By BRIAN KUANG Daily Staff Reporter

MARCH 31, 2016 - Editor’s note: The name of a refugee in this story has been changed because of potential implications on his family or future refugees, denoted with a star.

For over half his life, Hassan* has been without a country to call home. As a small boy, he fled from Somalia in 1992 amid a civil war, arriving in Kenya alongside hundreds of thousands of other Somali refugees.

Now, Hassan, his wife, and his four children — the oldest six years old, the youngest one year old— are starting their life again in Washtenaw County.

About 80 refugees per year are resettled by Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, the only resettlement agency in the area.

Hassan and his family applied through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for resettlement as asylum-seekers in 2009.

After seven years of waiting, he learned he was one of the few to have his application approved.

According to UNHCR, less than 1% of all refugees registered with the United Nations are resettled in new countries.

Continuous warfare and famine has prevented many refugees like Hassan from returning to Somalia — one group of many worldwide that are finding their home countries inhospitable. More than 400,000 Somali refugees remain in Kenya — primarily in decades-old refugee camps — according to the UNHCR. However, while in the country they are not issued legal

work permits and are often targeted by governmentsponsored repressive action and xenophobic stigma, making it difficult for those like Hassan to find work and assimilate.

“When I was given the privilege to go the United States, I just felt happy. I felt so excited,” Hassan said. “Because where I was living, life was quite hard.”

In the 2015 fiscal year, 69,933 refugees out of a pool of more than 400,000 applicants were accepted for resettlement in the United States by the Department of State, with Burma, Iraq and Somalia the three largest countries of origin. Once approved, refugees are matched with one of nine national-level resettlement agencies, which then further divide the refugees among local affiliates like the JFS of Washtenaw. Beyond that, it’s up to the families, with some help from the local affiliates depending on local processes.

Having just arrived to Michigan in early March, Hassan said he and his family are still settling into to their new surroundings. He described many things — the colder climate, unfamiliar foods and reliable indoor plumbing — as unique challenges to adjust to, and said he is still reluctant to let his children play outside until he is more familiar with the neighborhood.

At JFS, when refugees arrive in the Ann Arbor area, they work with a case manager on a daily basis for the next 90 days.

The overall goal, according to Nathaniel Smith, a JFS resettlement case manager, is to have them be self-sufficient by the end of that period.

“We address a lot of different areas of the refugees’ life, getting them set up with all the things that they need to start functioning on their own here,” Smith said. “For the most part, they are close to being

financially self-sufficient after 90 days.”

Originally founded in 1978 to help resettle Jews fleeing the Soviet Union, JFS has worked with refugees fleeing numerous conflicts since then, including Kosovars fleeing the Balkan Wars in the 1990s, Somalis, Burmans, Afghans and Syrians.

JFS Executive Director Anya Abramazon said each new wave of refugees poses unique challenges. The most recent wave, she said, has largely been individuals fleeing conflict in the Middle East and elsewhere like Hassan, including large numbers of Iraqis who worked for the U.S. military.

“Few of (our earlier cases) came from an active combat situation where they were facing death and loss, so the level of trauma that we’re seeing is very high,” she said.

“It takes time for people to figure out how to get out of that survival mode and just start living their life.”

Assistance during the 90-day period currently includes help with registering for proper identification, school enrollment, initial medical screenings and employment services. Follow-up English language training and career services are also available for up to five years after arrival.

With this wave, and in recent years in particular, Abramazon and Smith pointed to several newer challenges.

In particular, Ambrazon noted that the recent wave has required different services because many of the refugees JFS is currently working with are young children, who have seperate individual needs.

“Kids need support,” she said. “They need time to understand the new environment, and for them it’s not as much of a challenge as it is for their parents, but it’s still a challenge.”

Smith also said currently,

DAVID SONG/Daily

Volunteer Philip Hampton helps student Hassan with comprehending contract rhetoric. Philip Hampton says he enjoys working with people from different backgrounds and learning about different cultures.

high housing costs also present a challenge in resettling refugees in the Ann Arbor area.

“Some of the challenges that JFS faces when working in Washtenaw County are perhaps the same challenges that other residents of Washtenaw County face,” he said, adding that JFS has a partnership with McKinley Housing to help find affordable apartments. “Rentals can be somewhat expensive in this area and there’s often limited availability, especially when we get larger families arriving.”

However, both also noted that for many refugees, and for their agency, the community support they’ve found in Washtenaw has been key to successful resettlement. JFS relies in part on donations of money, food and furniture from local residents and Christian, Jewish and Islamic faithbased groups. They also have interns from the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. Many of JFS’s broader services — such as a food bank and counseling — are now available to the whole community, not just refugees.

“They come here because of acceptance, because it’s a See REFUGEE, Page 9A

TUITION From Page 3A could systematically increase enrollment so that there is a both a larger student population and a higher proportion of outof-state students. The larger student body and the increase in the number of out-of-state students could then circumvent any need for tuition increases.

“There’s a missed opportunity where we could easily keep the tuition from going up simply by increasing the number of students,” he said. “I think that is a big missed opportunity, and, to the extent that, you miss that opportunity, you’re not doing an appropriate thing, because the appropriate thing would be to seize that opportunity.”

Fitzgerald wrote that the University does anticipate an incremental increase in the number of out-of-state students; however, while enrollment numbers have fluctuated in the past 15 years, the proportion of in-state students has remained consistently higher than that of out-of-state students.

The incoming fall 2015 freshmen class had 6,071 total students, 57 percent of which came from in-state and 43

percent out-of-state, compared to fall 2000, which saw 5,418 total students, with 58 percent in-state and 42 percent out-ofstate.

“You’re going to have to increase the budget,” Kimball said. “But increasing the budget doesn’t mean that you have to increase tuition.”

According to Courant, to prevent rising tuition, faculty salaries would have to rise at a much slower pace across the board. However, Courant said this could lead professors who chose careers in academia to elect different professions, which could decrease the quality of University faculty.

“You could imagine a world in which faculty salaries rose more slowly and there was less competition among universities for faculty,” he said. “And in that world the rate of growth of tuition necessary to cover the cost of the University would be lower. However, it might also be the case in that world that some of the faculty that are essential to the quality of the place now would choose to go into other lines of work.”

JOIN THE DAILY E-mail news@umich.edu for information on applying.

6A — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Lead contamination spurs fight for clean water in Flint Residents struggle with crisis’ lasting impacts as leaders seek to rebuild trust

By SAM GRINGLAS Managing News Editor

FLINT, Mich. — On a Saturday evening in October, several hundred trick-or-treaters streamed up and down Calumet Street on the city’s east side. Traffic clogged the neighborhood’s streets, lined with well-maintained Tudors, Colonials and mature trees cloaked in hues of red and yellow. Princesses, ninja turtles, witches and firemen darted between the cars, and on their front lawn, Bob and Melodee Mabbitt passed out candy from beneath a rain umbrella. The Mabbitt’s stretch of Calumet is wealthier than most of Flint’s neighborhoods, and draws kids from all over town on Halloween. But this year, along with Snickers, Crunch bars and boxes of Nerds, the Mabbitts were handing out leaflets.

The letters were bold and black, and they warned Flint parents their kids may have been exposed to toxic lead from their drinking water. “You are getting this as a courtesy to let you know that one or more of your neighbors had their tap water tested and was informed they have very high contents of

lead and other pollutants in their water,” the fliers read. Nayyirah Shariff, a Flint community organizer and friend of Melodee’s, slid the white, folded fliers into dozens of old pillowcases and plastic buckets shaped like jacko’-lanterns. “Don’t worry, there’s candy, too,” she assured a group of kids clad in raincoats. “Happy Halloween!”

In October, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) announced the city of Flint’s drinking water contained elevated levels of lead. A local pediatrician’s report the week before had shown a significant jump in the number of Flint children with elevated blood lead levels, and those samples correlated with ZIP codes in which independent water samples pointed to lead contamination.

State officials initially discounted the data. Eight days later, they reversed course. The city would again source its water from the Detroit River. For the residents of Flint, it was too little, too late. They had been ringing the alarm over the city’s water quality for more than a year, almost immediately after the city opted to treat its water in-house from the Flint River.

Flint had already planned to join a new pipeline, the Karegnondi Water Authority, which would eventually serve mid-Michigan and the state’s thumb. Knowing Flint had plans to leave, Detroit’s water authority said it would stop

supplying water to the city. At the time, Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency financial manager who, in a cost-saving move, decided that while the city waited for the KWA to come online, Flint would treat its own water for the first time in decades. Residents say officials brushed off their concerns again and again. They reported that water ran from their sinks discolored in browns, blues and yellows. Then came the hair loss, rashes that wouldn’t go away, rotting teeth, discolored shower tiles. In July, the city’s mayor drank a glass of water MARINA ROSS/Daily on local morning television Protestors rally outside of the State of the State at the Michigan State Capitol Building on January 19th. to prove the water was safe. It wasn’t. tablecloth patterned with skulls. out of necessity, this research has she only came across the alerts Melissa Mays, a Flint mother I slid into a chair next to Derek ended up a full-time endeavor. accidentally when clicking around of four, had brought us here, and Ruby, the Daily columnist and Not long after water started the city’s website; Mays said she to Calumet Street. Mays, her photographer who joined me on flowing from the Flint River and didn’t hear about them until after husband, and their four sons were the trip. A row of electric guitars into taps and showerheads across the third advisory. all diagnosed with lead poisoning hung vertically across one wall, the city, residents started noticing

By September 2014, Mays last year, and she’s spent months and another was plastered with the their water running yellow and had enough; she was convinced working with Shariff, clergy kids’ drawings and class projects. brown. It smelled funny, and tasted the problem was more than just members, activists and a ragtag Mays and Shariff, who had come strange, too. People were showing bacteria. She said her cat was collective of Flint residents to over for the interview, were seated up at Flint City Council meetings throwing up, her own hair was pressure the city, the state, the feds on the table’s long side, and I asked displaying bottles filled with the falling out and a splotchy red rash — anyone, really — to do something. how the whole debacle started. brown-colored water. “It’s a quality, had started to stretch across her In their living room, about 10 Mays spoke with dizzying speed, safe product,” Flint Mayor Dayne face. Mays’ 2-year-old niece was minutes from Calumet, Mays’ peppering a timeline of the last two Walling said at the time. “I think staying in the house then, and husband applied zombie makeup to years with talk of trihalomethanes, people are wasting their precious every time she took a bath, the all four kids, his own face and hands parts per billion, Freedom of money buying bottled water.” Four toddler broke out with a rash all already covered in the white, red Information Act requests and the months later, water on the city’s over her behind. The rash covered and black paint. Two candelabras federal Lead and Copper Rule. west side tested positive for E. only the body parts where the tub’s decorated to look like they were Mays is not a scientist or policy coli, and the city issued a series of water hit. Eczema cream didn’t covered in spider webs sat atop a analyst, but it was apparent that, boil-water advisories. Shariff said See FLINT, Page 10A

RELIGIOUS SERVICES May Peace Prevail on Earth

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

7A — Fall 2016

CAMPUS LIFE

At vigil, students gather on Diag to support France ‘U’ confirms safety of 14 students, faculty and staff in France

By LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporter

With Paris still reeling after a series of terrorist attacks hit the city Friday night, about 80 students gathered on the Diag Saturday evening to light candles in a show of solidarity with the people of France.

According to French authorities, at least 129 people were killed in shootings at a Paris concert hall and on city streets, as well as explosions near the entryways of the Stade de France soccer stadium. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, better known as ISIS, claimedresponsibility for the attacks.

Saturday’s vigil was organized by several students from France currently studying abroad at the University. They reached out to community members through social media to support those grieving civilian lives lost in their country. Students lit memorial candles and stood for a moment of silence before singing the French national anthem.

In a speech to attendees, LSA senior Bertrand de La Ronciere, a French international exchange student, highlighted his fear that the recent attacks would exacerbate racist and Islamophobic tensions he said are already present in Europe.

Shortly after the attacks, French President Francois Hollande ordered the country’s borders closed.

During the vigil, de La Ronciere challenged those gathered on the Diag to promote the acceptance and integration of immigrant communities,

particularly the thousands of refugees who have been fleeing Syria in recent months for safety in Europe and elsewhere.

“This that happened yesterday, they didn’t bring it,” he said. “They did not want it.

They did not approve it. On the contrary, this that happened yesterday is what they were fleeing from.”

Even so, de La Ronciere said Saturday’s Diag gathering made him optimistic.

“It’s a big message of hope to see that so many people are so full of solidarity,” he said.

Engineering junior Julia Habif, who has many relatives in France, said she felt comforted by the demonstration of support from students who may not be as closely connected to the country.

Habif’s family is Muslim, and she echoed de La Ronciere’s belief that she hopes Friday’s attacks do not increase racism toward Muslims.

“I see the racism,” she said.

“I see the split. I think that the more hatred there is, the more division and the more people feel isolated.”

LSA senior Roxane Chambaug, an exchange student from southern France, said the event provided her with a sense of unity at a time when she felt very distant from her home.

“To me it’s about France, but not only about France,” she said.

“It’s about all the lives that are being killed without any purpose.

Of course I’m very moved … it happened in my country and it could have happened in my city.”

Nursing junior Matt White joined in mourning the victims of the Paris attacks, though he has no direct connections to France.

“I felt like I had to come to show my respects and show that I care,” he said.

White said the University community’s demonstration of solidarity was important not only in showing support for those affected, but also in helping University students reflect on the tragic events.

“It shows that we care and that even though this happened halfway across the world, we stand with them,” he said. “And it also helps us process what happened.”

On Saturday morning, the University confirmed that all 14 University-affiliated students, faculty and staff registered as having traveled to France are accounted for.

LSA freshman Maya Bishop said she also saw the vigil as a protest against the divides acts of terrorism attempt to create.

“What happened was an affront not just to France, but to all civilized and modern countries that have these values,” Bishop said. “(Terrorism) is trying to break people apart and make them scared, and this is the only way to combat that.”

LSA junior Theresa Witt, a foreign exchange student from Germany, said the attacks in Paris hit close to home for her because of the the city’s close proximity to her hometown.

However, she said, the attacks also remind her of other global tragedies that do not seem to receive as much media attention.

She referenced the bombings in Beirut two days ago and the continuing violence in Syria, which she said the media has largely ignored compared to its coverage of the Paris attacks.

“I very strongly think about all the people in Beirut today, about Syria, where it happens daily,” she said. “I feel with all the people there.”

DETROIT

Detroit March for Justice focuses on environmental and civil issues Environmental equity cited as city’s key concern

By WILL GREENBERG Daily Staff Reporter

DETROIT — Marching from Roosevelt Park to Hart Plaza, several groups rallied together to support each other’s various justice causes.

The Detroit March for Justice, hosted by the National Sierra Club and a variety of social justice and environmental groups, drew Sierra Club executives from around the country Saturday, including club President Aaron Mair.

Represented in the march were groups like the East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Water is Life, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and others.

Marchers carried signs calling for an end to fracking and water shutoffs.

But many were there in defense of Detroit’s air, one of the pressing environmental issues in the area.

One young boy wore a sandwich board the read: “Most polluted zip code: 48217.” “(We have) all the other issues and then we have bad air,” said Rhonda Anderson, senior organizing representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign and Environmental Justice Program. “The bad air is killing us just as much as the other issues are killing us.”

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has identified several power plants in the area as the source of high sulfur dioxide levels and is working to reduce emissions at these plants to the safe level of 75 parts per billion.

The MDEQ is currently working on a State Implementation Plan to achieve proper air quality within the area that hasn’t attained safe air quality levels, including parts of

southwest Detroit, running along the Canadian border and meeting the southern edge of Wayne County’s border.

The Environmental Protection Agency must approve this SIP or require a different plan.

The sources of the SO2 identified in the SIP are Carmeuse Lime and Stone, U.S. Steel, DTE’s River Rouge Power Plant and DTE Trenton Channel Power Plant. EES Coke was also identified as a source since it provides fuel to U.S. Steel.

The SIP calls for the plants to reduce emissions enough to bring the area to the safe SO2 amount; Carmeuse Lime is planning to build a higher smokestack to further disperse its emissions, for example.

While the modeling shows the individual plants at safe levels under these new guidelines, there is a possibility of an unsafe zone, or “hotspot,” when the plants combined are operating at full capacity.

Robert Irvine, a representative from the MDEQ, said this possibility is a worst-case scenario, and that he stands by his agency’s proposal. He added that the MDEQ still needs to reply to all public commentary — which closed Monday.

“The level of control at these facilities — we consider them to be adequate and that is our conclusion in our document at this point,” Irvine said in an interview.

While MDEQ members feel confident the EPA will agree to the plan, the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter and members of the community believe it doesn’t go far enough.

At a public forum held at River Rouge High School earlier this month, MDEQ representatives took public comments from anyone who had them, a step required in the SIP drafting process. Many Sierra Club members and people from the area spoke passionately about the need for an effective, long-term solution to the pollution,

with some talking about their friends or family who became sick with asthma and other illnesses linked to air pollution.

Brad van Guilder, a representative from the Sierra Club, said the permits described in the SIP are not enough.

“This is a case where the MDEQ has the full legal authority to address this, they have the tools to be able to address it, they know how to do it,” he said in an interview. “They really need to step up and either do the right thing, or they need to cooperate with the EPA and implement a federal implementation plan as quickly as possible.”

At the march Saturday, attendees echoed these sentiments, with many people saying they were ready to see improvements after years of issues.

“We pray that Detroit stands up for everything that we are owed,” said Pastor Alonzo Bell through a microphone, leading a prayer in Roosevelt Park before the march began.

Mair, the Sierra Club president, marched with the group of about 400, leading the way and helping to hold a “Black Lives Matter” sign. Speaking at Hart Plaza at the march’s finish, Mair discussed Detroit’s environmental struggles in the context of all the city’s justice issues.

He compared Detroit to the town of Rock Ridge in “Blazing Saddles” — a movie where a governor attempts to displace town members to install a profitable rail line.

“This crime is no coincidence,” Mair said. “Now, in the wake of global climate change, this is the city that can create the green jobs; this is the city that can build the electric vehicles; this is the city that can create the wind turbines; this is the city with the workers who are ready to work.”

8A — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

MARIJUANA From Page 5A under the inf luence of marijuana, which could jeopardize safety on the road.

“I think there’s a lot of drawbacks to legalizing marijuana,” Sack said. “While I fully agree with legalizing it medicinally, I think recreational use poses a lot more risks to every person and to society as a whole.”

Though Irwin said he does not see his bill getting passed, given conservative control of both chambers in the state legislature, he has also invested time into theMILegalize campaign, a petition drive to try to legalize cannabis.

Under Michigan law, a petition drive can place a legislative change on the ballot if a group garners enough signatures.

“People on both sides of the political spectrum are realizing that prohibition isn’t working,” Irwin said. “It’s been a huge, huge failure and it’s incredibly costly. People are realizing that marijuana is a more benign substance than even things like alcohol, which are legal and available.”.

St. Pierre echoed Irwin’s statements, also saying there is little merit to arguments suggesting that marijuana use will rise following legalization.

“One out of three youth between the ages of 15 and 24 use marijuana regularly,” St. Pierre said. “If one just takes the fearful argument that there will be an increase in marijuana use, consequently there will probably be a decrease in alcohol use and binge drinking.

There will probably be a decrease in tobacco and opioid use.”

Sack, however, disagreed, pointing in particular to issues

he said educational institutions could face following a nationwide legalization of marijuana.

“If you look at Holland and Portugal, where they legalized (recreational use of marijuana), and actually Amsterdam, their mayor actually had to go back and ban students from smoking marijuana,” Sack said.

“Because they would go into class stoned, grades would drop, productivity would drop.”

St. Pierre also noted that legalizing marijuana could lead to changes in the justice system, pointing to the fact that young Black males are five times more likely to be charged with a marijuana crime than young white males.

“The data doesn’t lie that the arrests, prosecutions and worse, incarcerations, that have to do with marijuana are totally racially disparate,” St. Pierre said.

Enforcement on campus Even as state and national groups push for recreational legalization, policies on the University’s campus remain completely restrictive — no medicinal or recreational use, and a misdemeanor charge, not a civil infraction, if caught using it.

Brown said because the University receives federal funding as a public university, federal law takes precedence over state law on campus.

“In order to have legal possession of marijuana you have to have a valid medical marijuana card and there are a number of restrictions you have to adhere to,” she said.

One particular area this becomes quickly clear in is

“Hash Bash is considered student speech”

University Housing. Because University Housing policies restrict all illegal substances, students who use marijuana for medical issues are not allowed to use marijuana on campus.

Sack said while he doesn’t support full legalization, watching a family member struggle to manage their health issues due to restrictions on medical marijuana at the University led him to support medical legalization, echoing a position other students on campus also expressed.

In response to these kinds of concerns, Brown said she recognized the policy makes it difficult for those with a medical issue to manage their condition, even with a legitimate medical marijuana card, but nonetheless reiterated University policy.

However, several students said they felt that regardless of actual policy, enforcement of University policies surrounding both marijuana and alcohol is not consistent.

An LSA junior, who requested to remain anonymous because of admitting to illegal activity, recalled getting away with openly smoking and drinking in her residence halls.

“My freshman year I lived in Bursley, and there’s nothing else to do in Bursley except smoke weed,” the student said.

“I know a lot of people who smoke for (a medical) reason, but they don’t have a card, because they don’t need one here.”

She said her freshman year, she acquired marijuana most often through a mutual friend whose family grew marijuana.

“58 percent... supports legalization”

Despite smoking fairly frequently, she said she has never gotten caught for possessing marijuana, and does not know any other students who have gotten caught.

“So many people smoke at this campus,” she said. “Every party you can find shit and get it. Every party that I go to, someone is smoking weed on the back porch. It’s everywhere.

Where do people get it? How? I don’t know. It’s just there.”

The future of the legalization of marijuana Ultimately St. Pierre said he believes there are multiple reasons marijuana prohibition has been kept in place by lawmakers for so long, such as law enforcement opposition and long-term advocacy efforts against it “(These organizations) waste billions of dollars a year trying to enforce a prohibition the public no longer wants,” St. Pierre said. “If government really, genuinely would like to achieve its stated goal of reducing the amount of marijuana used — notably amongst young people — to make it illegal and propagandize against it the way they have hasn’t achieved any of its stated goals.”

Regardless of the long-term prospects for legalization, however, one thing is clear — this Saturday in Ann Arbor, at least one side of the arguments and controversy surrounding marijuana will be on full display, as it has been for the past 44 first Sundays in April.

That display, organizers said, will hopefully at the least spark some discussion about campus and state policy if nothing else.

“Hash Bash is fundamentally a rally to change laws,” Dunne said. “And get the conversation started about legalization and harm reduction.”

“Recreational use poses a lot more risks”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

9A — Fall 2016

B-SIDE SECONDARY

Members of StarKid talk return and time at alma mater Before reunion show, Arts writer spends time with members of group

By REBECCA GODWIN Daily Arts Writer

My Wednesday last week offered no evidence that it would be anything but normal — that was, until I found myself opening an e-mail from one of the original StarKids, Brian Holden, a 2008 Music, Theatre & Dance alum, inviting me to come to their rehearsal to interview the group.

I have made multiple friends through a shared love of the group.

Their shows helped remind me how much I love the theatre, and their humble start at the University left me with the hope that I, too, could create and stage my own show — which I did. So it’s pretty safe to say StarKid has had a pretty big impact on my life. I immediately cleared my to-do list, rearranged my work schedule and conveniently forgot about my classes.

For those who don’t know, StarKid is a theatre group that originated here at the University in 2009 when they performed their original musical, “A Very Potter Musical,” a parody of the Harry Potter series. They uploaded the show to YouTube, and soon the group of college friends found themselves launched into Internet fame. The production is still their most popular with more than 11 million views, but they have gone on to do many other successful parodies. The group has since moved to Chicago, and while it has added members over the years, it’s still made up almost entirely of University alumni, including “Glee” star Darren Criss.

It didn’t take long for me to make my way to the Power Center, and then suddenly I was in the room and shaking Brian’s hand and he

was introducing me to the entire group. Darren was the first to stop and introduce himself, shaking my hand and letting me know he was there to help with whatever I may need. I returned the handshake with a polite smile and pretended as though I didn’t already know his name and I wasn’t a huge fan. This would eventually become a theme throughout the day.

I sat and observed for about 20 minutes until I noticed Lauren Lopez, a 2009 Music, Theatre & Dance alum, taking a break. Lauren is best known for her portrayal of Draco Malfoy in “A Very Potter Musical,” but she has been with StarKid from the beginning and has starred in almost every production.

I approached slowly, asking what made her want to come back and do the reunion show.

“There wasn’t even a question,” she said. “It was an immediate yes, because the chance to come back to Ann Arbor, not only come back but to come back with a group of friends that I’ve known for 10 years, who we all share a college experience, and to come back to the place where literally all of this started is super special. It is just a really special opportunity.”

Very quickly, Nick Lang, 2008 Music, Theatre & Dance alum, called Lauren back up on stage, but my first StarKid interview was a good start. Nick was taking on the role of director for the concert, but he is best known for writing the StarKid shows, along with his brother, 2010 LSA alum Matt Lang. Others have assisted with the writing on different shows, but Nick and Matt are the only ones whose names can be found on every StarKid script.

The group received a break a few minutes later and Lauren came back over to talk to me. Moments later, Joey Richter, 2011 Music, Theatre & Dance alum, and Dylan Saunders, 2009 Music, Theatre & Dance alum, joined her and I was suddenly talking to a group of StarKids.

The Michigan Daily: So I asked Lauren already, but what made you guys decide to come back and do this reunion concert?

Joey Richter: Well …

Dylan Saunders: Because they asked us to.

Joey: Yeah.

Dylan: Yeah.

Joey: It was kind of like a resounding …

Dylan: No duh.

Joey: Yeah. That happened a couple years ago when there was like the third Potter thing. When they were like, “Does everyone want to come back and do this together?” and we were like, “Yeah, absolutely.” And I think that a lot of it has to do with being able to be back here, too, because there’s a lot of us who haven’t gotten the chance to spend time with each other a lot over the past couple years, but we have been lucky enough to be able to do a lot of performances with StarKid all over places, but I think coming back together in Ann Arbor is something that we haven’t done since the concert tours. But then to actually perform in a school function thing is pretty cool. Not as a concert, but doing it like an actual show where we’re doing scenes from shows.

Dylan: Yeah, it’s good to be back in a spot where it’s etched forever.

This is where we were developing a lot of this stuff, you know what I mean? It’s just cool after like a fiveyear break to be back in this exact space. It’s just like really wild and really fun.

Joey: And to be developing as human beings.

Dylan: Totally. To look back with a little “Oh, OK, I get it now.”

Lauren: To look back with a little perspective.

Dylan: Yeah. There’s a ton of that.

(Darren Criss sits and joins the conversation.)

TMD: What was the last show you guys remember doing on this stage?

Lauren: I was in a show called

“J.B.” with Dylan. Dylan played J.B. It was a big deal.

Joey: I was in “Macbeth.”

Lauren: Don’t … you can’t say that in here!

Joey: Whoops.

Lauren: What’s wrong with you?

Darren: You totally can say it.

Lauren: No you can’t.

Joey: I was in “The Scottish Play.” We said the name during the play.

Lauren: Just forget it.

Joey: I was Banquo.

Dylan: Um, yeah. The last thing I did was “Tommy” and “Pride & Prejudice.”

Darren: You were so good in “Tommy.”

TMD: How do you feel the University helped get you where you are now?

Joey: Honestly, for me it just has everything to do with meeting the friends I met here. It’s like if I didn’t go to this University and meet all these friends and have all these people that are the only people I spend time with now in my life …

Lauren: My life would be 100 percent different.

Joey: Exactly. My life would be 100 percent different.

Dylan: As a foundation, this set the stage for everything that’s happened since. Like literally everything.

Darren: When I first went out to L.A. and started meeting people in the industry, it was predicated upon the fact that I went to Michigan.

Lauren: Yeah. U of M has such a crazy alumni network.

Dylan: All of our first agents went to Michigan. *** Darren: I think this is the part where we’re supposed to talk about how great the School of Music was. I always feel bad when people are like, “What was the best part about Michigan?” and I go, “My friends, uh, the times I had.” It all has nothing to do with the actual institution. For most theatre people, artisan types, ste-

reotypical kids from high school, they tend to gravitate toward small, liberal arts colleges because it’s just sort of the vibe of the school, it’s just a bit more typical. And somebody told me, “You can always make a big place small, you can’t make a small place big.” The cool thing about this school is, yeah, there are 30,000 kids running around and our class was anywhere from 16 to 20-odd people, so we had our tiny little community, and it was great.

Dylan: It was a tiny family within a giant operation.

Joey: It was like being in a mixed-gender sorority and fraternity.

Darren: So we had the small thing, and if the small thing ever got annoying, we had the big thing.

Dylan: And being able to switch back and forth is great, especially when you’re studying an art form.

Do you know what I mean? Because you need a break sometimes.

Darren: Because there’s a huge chunk of people at this University who don’t know anything about theatre or the department, and I’m fine with that.

Dylan: Which is so fine. Which is all good because …

Darren: I don’t know things about certain parts of the math department, which is cool because when I’m on the bus, (I’m like), oh cool, you do what? Awesome. That’s amazing.

TMD: Has the dynamic changed in the group since you graduated?

REFUGEE From Page 5A “They come here because of acceptance, because it’s a very welcoming community,” Abramazon said. “Nobody is puzzled here when they hear an accent.”

Speaking in the JFS offices in Ann Arbor, where Hassan has daily appointments, he said he is optimistic for his

Dylan: Other than geographically, I mean, not really.

Lauren: We’re all a tiny, tiny bit more mature, but other than that it’s pretty much the same.

Darren: We’re still dumb enough to be doing this, so that’s good.

Lauren: Yeah, we’re dumb in the right places.

TMD: Has being so spread out made it harder to keep doing projects together?

Dylan: I think so, but the advantage is that everything is ultimately produced for the Internet.

Joey: But then it’s always really special when it happens. It always feels like a reunion. It’s like every time we do do something, it’s that feeling: “Ahh, I get to see all these people again.”

TMD: Are you guys working on any upcoming projects?

Lauren: A lot of people are doing their own side projects.

Joey: I am going to be writing and producing a musical with my sketch group, the Tin Can Bros that Brian (Rosenthal) and Corey (Lubowich) are in, and that’s happening in L.A. in March. And we’re kick-starting that right now. Joe Walker is going to be in it and, like, a bunch of other friends, so that’s pretty fun.

Dylan: Yeah, it’s a lot of individual pursuits. I just finished a cartoon for Nickelodeon, which aired last week.

See STARKID, Page 6D

family’s future. Currently, his children are attending local schools. Hassan said he plans to find work and pursue higher education to further his career, and eventually become an entrepreneur.

“The first priority that I would like to give my family is (the opportunity) to go to school and learn,” Hassan said. “I want to become a great businessman … someone who is self-confident and can employ people.”

10A — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

FLINT From Page 6A help, and the child’s doctor couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

“And I’m like, ‘What is happening to this kid?’ The rest of us were just used to it. Our skin was turning scaly,” Mays said.

“My son — my middle child — just had rashes up and down his arms, and if you tried to put lotion on it — it just burned. It was chemical burns. It was on my face, my whole cheek bone. And any time you put anything on it, even makeup, you would just scream because it hurt so bad. But they’re on T.V. saying, ‘Water’s safe, water’s safe, water’s safe.’ ” In January 2014, the city distributed a letter notifying homeowners that the city had violated the federal Safe Drinking Water Act — not for lead, but for total trihalomethanes. The city’s water was found to contain a high level of trihalomethanes — a cancer-causing chlorine byproduct. By this point, members of City Council called on the governor’s appointed emergency manager to abandon the Flint River water source, and the city of Detroit offered to start selling water to Flint again. But Flint’s emergency manager opted to stay the course. To investigate, residents called in a water activist, who told Mays not only that she shouldn’t drink the water, but that she shouldn’t cook or shower with it either. And if the city didn’t have a lead problem now, he said, they would soon. Mays didn’t know it at the time, but they already did.

“When you’re boiling the water to make spaghetti, you’re just making all of those heavy metals and all the contaminants basically bond together, and you’re basically eating poison food. When you wash your clothes, the heavy metals stay in the fabrics so it’s rubbing against your skin all day and god forbid you sweat, you’re going to absorb all of that through your pores. So I can’t wash my dishes here, I can’t do my laundry, I can’t move because I’m 16 years into a mortgage and nobody’s going to buy my poison water house.”

Mays took us into the kids’ bathroom. A five-step instruction sheet for showering was taped to the wall, written by Mays in neat, black marker. Step Two: Sit down and as the tub fills, use the cup and faucet to wash your face and hair. Rinse well. Step Four: Brush your teeth in the sink using bottled water and small cups. Don’t forget Q-tips. “Love You!” is scrawled and underlined across the bottom.

Next to it another reminder: “Brush Your Hair!” I asked how the kids took to the new routine.

“It makes them angry, and then once we found out about the lead, I took out the letting the water fill up, so they just used a big cup to let it go over their heads,” she said. “So yeah, my 17-year-old son just loves that, to sit down and use a cup to shower and to use bottled water to brush their teeth.”

Mays brought in an outside expert to test the water — Marc Edwards, a professor at Virginia Tech University who specializes in water treatment. She said she drove 62 of the test kits to neighborhoods across Flint, picked them up and helped residents complete them.

The lead levels in water at Flint resident LeeAnne Walters’ house was averaging 2,500 parts per billion. Her family was losing hair and developing rashes, too. The legal level is 15. In a September 2015 report, Edwards concluded that the corrosiveness of Flint’s water was causing lead to leach from the city’s aging pipes and into the water. The state maintained it was meeting all lead and copper standards.

On Sept. 24, Dr. Mona HannaAttisha, a University alum and a pediatrician at the Hurley Medical Center Children’s Clinic in Flint, cross-referenced that data with information the county already had — blood lead levels for infants at ages 1 and 2, which the state is required to test for kids who are at a greater risk of ingesting lead paint chips in older homes. What she found: The number of children in Flint with elevated blood lead levels — defined as 5 micrograms per deciliter or more — had increased from 2.1 percent in the 20 months prior to Sept. 15, 2013, to 4 percent between Jan. 1 and

Sept. 15, 2015. In several ZIP codes, those figures increased from 2.5 percent to 6.3 percent during that same time period.

“Everyone who has challenged the narrative — which was ‘the water is safe to drink’ — they were minimized,” Shariff said.

But the evidence built up, and eventually it was hard to ignore there was a problem. Finally, on Oct. 8, 2015 — nearly two years after Flint residents started drinking water from the Flint River — the state changed course and announced they had come up with a $12 million deal to allow the city to return to Detroit water. “I’m in full support of the return to the Great Lakes Water Authority,” Snyder said during the announcement. “We all care about the citizens of Flint.” Snyder promised to convene a task force — which includes a University professor and several University alums — that would determine what went wrong. Detroit water would again run through Flint’s pipes, and Flint’s parents could rest easy knowing their kids’ drinking water was safe.

But Mays says people shouldn’t be so quick to chalk the case up as a crisis averted. The story of water in Flint is not confined to that period of two years when the city’s water was unsafe for drinking — or by the final hurrah moment in October when the good guys fighting the good fight won the day. Flint’s challenges also reach further, into a history colored by the population loss and decay that made it easy to brush the city aside, as well as into a future that these two years will in many ways shape.

On the banks of the Flint River You could argue the city of Flint, like a lot of cities, was born from the river. The confluences between city and water stretch back far — to a time when native people fought over the river’s banks. A handful of fords, where the river could be easily traversed, made the land highly sought after. In 1819, before the great industrial might of Buick City generated wealth and helped the city’s population grow, and before the city’s slide into poverty and decay, a fur trapper and his

wife set up a post near the river’s banks. For the traders who came here — and to Michigan, a territory hugged on four sides by the Great Lakes — water was life-giving. The rivers provided habitat to beavers, and the water ferried birch-bark canoes downstream, piled up with pelts for sale back East and across the vast Atlantic.

In later years, Michigan’s rivers and lakes were clogged with logs, floated downstream for processing into lumber that would build this nation’s cities. The water fed the state’s growing agricultural economy as well as the companies that empowered the United States’ industrial might — industries that allowed old lumber towns across the Rust Belt to boom, before they would hemorrhage wealth and population a few decades later. Today, water is the basis for Michigan’s wildly successful “Pure Michigan” advertising campaign, which helps drive the state’s vibrant tourism industry in the towns dotting Lake Michigan.

For a whole lot of Michiganders, their Michigan and their Midwest does not include the vast and aging networks of pipe that snake beneath the earth, nor the sediment-colored water of the rivers Rouge, Flint, Detroit and Saginaw.

“We connect to water very emotionally, we love our water, it’s Pure Michigan, it’s why that ad campaign really sings to us,” John Austin, a University of Michigan lecturer and co-author of a report on Michigan’s ‘Blue Economy,’ told me during a phone interview later in the week. “And so we appreciate that even more than this hidden water infrastructure that brings us clean water and is essential to basic life and health.”

Today, one in five jobs in Michigan are linked to water, and Austin said the state could play a major role in developing innovative ways to use water more efficiently, particularly as water resources grow increasingly strained. But as much as Michiganders — residents of a state whose surrounding Great Lakes contain 20 percent of the

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

11A — Fall 2016

At women’s correctional facility, echoes of statewide prison woes Overcrowding and underfundlead to mental health issues in inmates

By RIYAH BASHA Summer Daily News Editor

On the night she ended her life, Janika Edmond asked her guards at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility for a suicide prevention vest, according to her family’s attorney David Steingold.

Edmond was 25 years old and was nearly finished serving time for violating parole following past convictions of assault, breaking and entering and resisting police officers. Records from the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) and Steingold show Edmond spent her sentence dealing with clinical depression, bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts, all of which were the aftermath of a deluge of emotional and financial problems she experienced as a child.

Steingold went on to detail Edmond’s request on Nov. 2, 2015, for the suicide prevention vest — a bulky smock with straps known as a Bam Bam suit — and prison guards’ dismissive reactions.

He even referenced a bet placed by prison staff members on the likelihood of Edmond’s success in receiving a vest.

Just 20 minutes later, Edmond was found deceased. Washtenaw County vital records confirm she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital four days later on Nov. 6.

Steingold said though he is not able to comment on the exact details of Edmond’s death, its causes are clear.

“Her death was occasioned by improper action of the prison and its employees,” he said.

Two corrections officers were fired over the incident this March,

and as Steingold gathers evidence in preparation for a lawsuit against MDOC, the Michigan State Police is still conducting an investigation into the death, which has not yet been officially declared a suicide.

Edmond, however, was just one of 33 suicide attempts at Huron Valley in the last year alone. She was just one of 2,287 women packed inside the facility, which is set to receive more offenders, despite the fact that it’s already more than 100 inmates above capacity.

This year alone, the prison has been in the news for stories such as women being housed in converted break rooms and offices, rationing sanitary pads and a double amputee inmate forced to crawl to shower areas. Though Edmond’s end may have been exceptional, many claim her experiences suggest common, endemic problems of overcrowding and inadequate inmate resources at Huron Valley.

MDOC spokesman Chris Gautz emphasized that prison officials are working to alleviate issues of overcrowding. Since a November Detroit Free Press article exposed the prison for housing women in offices and TV rooms, Gautz said officials at Huron Valley have devoted more time to carving out space for more inmates.

“We’re dealing with the space we have available at Women’s Huron Valley,” Gautz said. “We had to, in some housing units, convert areas that weren’t traditionally cells, and we’ve been able to take a few of those offline. We also created a new housing unit in a newer area of the facility that had about 90 beds. It’s a situation we continue to monitor daily.”

Many critics are still not satisfied.

Birmingham attorney Lynn Shecter, on behalf of three Huron Valley inmates, sued the state in a class action suit in April on claims that the overcrowding violated inmates’ basic constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment. The suit, still under

preliminary consideration by state courts, alleges the three inmates spent up to 23 hours with multiple cell partners in confined spaces. Shecter emphasized that her clients’ experiences are not isolated.

“We keep hearing the same story again and again,” Shecter said.

“When we distributed a survey to find out if (overcrowding) is a universal problem at Huron Valley, we discovered it is. And this has an effect on the mental health and attempts to rehabilitate prisoners.”

Huron Valley’s population has jumped by more than 17 percent in the last five years, though the building’s capacity has stayed the same. Gautz pointed to increased heroin use and a higher rate of women’s incarceration around the country for the rising number of Huron Valley inmates.

“Heroin usage has led to a lot of crimes women are committing to feed that drug habit, and all of our counties are sending more women to prison,” Gautz said.

However, Shecter, Steingold and a number of advocates underscored the vacuum of resources created by the influx of inmates as a greater issue than the sheer number of women housed in the facility.

“The state has abdicated its responsibility for these women,” Steingold said. “The fact they have to stand in long lines to get medications, some diabetic patients can’t access medications because of the long distances they have to walk … we’re talking about basic human needs.”

Since 2009, University of Michigan research assistant Lizzy Baskerville has facilitated a weekly acting program at Huron Valley with the University’s Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), which promotes artistic collaboration between the University community and the local incarcerated population.

Baskerville noted the precarious state of female inmates’ mental

LAURA MEYER/Daily

The sign outside of Huron Valley.

health — roughly 20 percent of the entire U.S. inmate population is diagnosed with a mental illness — and argued poor living conditions exacerbate an already stressful climate.

“The suicide stuff is an epidemic,” Baskerville said.

“Tensions are really high because they’re in such close proximity to other people. They mention often, ‘we’re all smiles in here,’ but outside, there’s tension.”

Furthermore, inmates face restricted access to medical treatment and educational services.

For instance, 454 women are on the waiting list for GED classes, while 1,151 women remain on the waiting list for vocational training — both numbers are the highest of any prison in the state. Ronald Simpson-Bey, a criminal justice advocate with JustLeadershipUSA — which is dedicated to reducing nationwide incarceration rates — and a former MDOC inmate, pushed back against state officials’ claims of a high parole rate at Huron Valley, saying the number of inmates that could be on parole is sizeable.

“There are maybe 400 or 500 women that could be on parole but aren’t for having too much toilet

paper — silly stuff like that,” he said.

As the number of inmates steadily rises, the prison staff population is experiencing the opposite trend. More than a dozen Huron Valley employees have quit in the last six months, the Detroit Free Press reported earlier this month, and current staffers are consistently being forced to work mandatory overtime hours.

Gautz and other MDOC officials have confirmed the state is working on relieving a shortage of female correctional officers, but Steingold said the current state of the prison staff is unsustainable.

“There are guards there that don’t care, that hate what they do,” he said.

Bey-Simpson said there is a positive correlation between extreme stress on staff members and tension between inmates and officers. “(Huron Valley) has been sued so many times they know how to not willfully neglect people,” he said. “These are frustrated people doing a stressful job.”

Shecter’s lawsuit, then, is not the first legal complaint against Huron Valley — nor are allegations of overworked staff unique to this

year. Many advocates view the facility’s current situation as a tipping point in a vicious cycle of prison overcrowding throughout Michigan. Despite the fact that the state’s corrections expenditures have risen only moderately in the last five years, MDOC’s funding has jumped from 3 percent of the state budget in 1980 to 20 percent in 2014.

Rosemary Sarri, professor emerita at the University’s Social of Social Work, conducted one of the first studies on Huron Valley after its opening in 1977. Sarri highlighted a tenuous history of women’s imprisonment, especially following the consolidation of four previous women’s facilities into Huron Valley in 2009.

“There’s a complete lack of funding,” Sarri said. “One in 10 of children in Michigan have a parent in prison … incarceration in this state is futile.”

Sarri and other advocacy groups like the American Friends Service Committee are at the forefront of lobbying for reforms to the state prison system, but they complain of resistance from State Attorney

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

12A — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

OPINION

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

OPINION IN REVIEW Inclusvity

Writers discussed inclusivity and free speech in response to anti-Islam chalkings on the Diag in April.

Primaries

The Daily Editorial Board voted in March to endorse Hillary Clinton in the Michigan Democratic primary and John Kasich in the Michigan Republican primary.

Flint

Writers spent much of the second half of the year discussing the response to the Flint water crisis. The Daily Editorial Board voted to endorse the movement to recall Gov. Rick Snyder over his handling of the crisis.

Meatless Monday

Arguments broke out on the pages of the Daily as columnist Ashley Austin and Op-ed Contributor Luke Higgins disagreed on the merit of East Quad’s Meatless Mondays.

Sexual Misconduct

The Daily Editorial Board took a serious look at multiple iterations of the University’s revised sexual misconduct policy, and agreed the final draft contained much needed improvements.

1B — Fall 2016

The best revenge is your paper

B

eauty, perseverance and possibility: three adjectives that embody the blend of attendees of the 21st annual Black Solidarity Conference.

Over this past Valentine’s Day weekend, more than 400 Black college stuALEXIS dents representing 50 FARMER colleges and universities nationwide networked with one another and participated in small group discussions at Yale University. The series of college uprisings regarding race relations over the past few years set the tone for the conference, titled “The Miseducation: Changing History as We Know It.” In anticipation of the conference, I was elated with the idea of being surrounded by young Black people uniting themselves in a space to learn and heal from the ongoing physical, political and economic violence administered against Black bodies. But by the time the conference concluded, I felt slightly underwhelmed by the conversations taking place.

Instead of the conference serving as a place for sharing best practices for protesting, creating tangible demands and building cross-campus alliances, our comments largely centered around the growing pains of being Black at a predominately white institution.

The barriers to inclusion, diversity and equity of Black university students at predominantly white institutions are obvious flaws in higher education institutions that students can easily rally around. However, the more obscure but

O

ever-present symptom of systemic oppression is the overlap of class and race. The consequences of systemic oppression on race and class have been conjoined as the thesis for Black mobilization, without critical examination of their intersectionality in contemporary Black movements. In consequence, some of the Black university students’ demands for racial justice can be narrow in scope.

At the BSC, I could not help but notice that there were no community college students or nontraditional students in attendance. Students at the conference primarily attended elite institutions. In the workshop titled Why Class Matters, the majority of attendees were from professional middle-class families, and a few students were from working-class families. We were able to afford the time and money to spend a weekend at Yale discussing issues pertinent to the Black community.

As much as I had anticipated learning protesting strategies from university students at this conference, I realized that the majority of Black social movements across the United States this year were grassrootsorganized, and largely led and participated by working-class Black people. Where were their voices in this conversation?

The voices of the working-class Black activists who protested in Chicago, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Ferguson. The voices of Detroit community organizers who make time to enact social change in their neighborhoods.

The students of BSC were a fusion of activists and academics in the making. Both are necessary for collective movement building. Academics and activists come from a diversity of class statuses; their class backgrounds serve as examples for building mixed-class coalitions

for racial justice. The impact of class on the structural violence that takes place in Black communities underlies the overarching goal of racial justice.

Without directly addressing class, how can we accurately and authentically ensure all Black interests contribute to the movement?

American historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. said, “The class divide is, in my opinion, one of the most important and overlooked factors in the rise of Black Lives Matter, led by a new generation of college graduates and students.” The Why Class Matters workshop facilitator used Gates’ statement to highlight that African Americans have primarily focused their efforts on fighting racial injustice, so much so that addressing class impacts has been on the peripheral of modern racial justice movements.

In my opinion, the class divide within Black America is not overlooked, but collateral to current racial justice demands.

After all, racism is inherently intertwined with economic, political and social injustice, and therefore cannot be completely untied to the struggle for racial justice and social equity. Throughout history, Blacks have consistently called for better housing policies, living wage rates, and equal access to quality education and health care.

Booker T. Washington beckoned African Americans to concentrate their energy on industrial education and accumulating wealth. The Black Panther Party’s Ten-Point Program demanded tangible policies that tackled economic inequality as a means to obtain racial equity. Today’s racial wealth gap is wider than it was in the 1960s. Economic mobility has always been a priority in Black liberation. Income and

Classes on class

n the very first day of my introductory political science class, the professor posed a question to the packed lecture hall, “Is the American Dream attainable for everyone?”

She instructed LAUREN us to discuss our SCHANDEVEL answers with those around us before sharing with the class.

Immediately, the room erupted with excited chatter as hands shot sporadically into the air.

“I think the American Dream is attainable for everyone,” one kid replied. “Because if you work hard enough, you can achieve success.”

I watched incredulously as the other students nodded in agreement, my head swimming with counterarguments.

What if your school district is underfunded? What if you live in a neighborhood where you constantly fear for your safety? What if you have to work during high school to help your family make ends meet?

As the conversation adhered to this theme for the remainder of the 90-minute lecture, I felt completely and utterly alone in my objections.

I could not comprehend why my classmates did not take into account the potential roadblocks people could face while pursuing an education or a career — unless, of course, they have never encountered those roadblocks themselves.

At the University, I have found that this is usually the case. Most students here come from disproportionately privileged backgrounds; they attended exceptional schools and lived in safe, affluent neighborhoods — and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, this undeniably advantaged upbringing has the tendency

to serve as a partition, sheltering those who live behind it from the realities of the world around them. Some of these kids are so engrossed in their fortunate lifestyles they forget that they rank among the numbered few who can actually afford to have them.

For students hailing from more modest backgrounds, these divisions can be painfully obvious, and pervade every aspect of their college experience. Some consider their socioeconomic status to be a pivotal component of their identity, though the inconspicuous nature of it means their peers usually do not detect any difference between themselves and their less aff luent constituents, as

“Some of these kids are so engrossed in their fortunate lifestyles they forget that they rank among the numbered few who can actually afford to have them.”

it is assumed that most college students are relatively well-off.

I understand the option of blending in is a privilege that most marginalized people cannot claim to have, and I recognize it as such. However, when an aspect of one’s identity slips so easily under the radar, it can both isolate and alienate them from their peers.

As far as I can tell, there is no open dialog ue on campus that addresses socioeconomic discrepancies, and because the issue is not always observable, most people do not consider it compelling enough to explore.

Popular political science or economics courses tend

to brush over the subject in favor of generalizing concepts to make them more digestible — which would be fine if there were a breadth of classes that delved deeper into it. Though there are a few here and there that analyze the implications of class structure, unless you are searching the course g uide with very specific results in mind, most of these courses are only discovered through word of mouth.

Furthermore, while the University currently has a Race and Ethnicity requirement that focuses on “comparisons of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, social class, or gender” there are only a handful of courses that emphasize the role of class in their curricula. While these courses don’t necessarily need to be required with the same stringency as Race and Ethnicity courses, increasing the availability of these classes and highlighting their importance in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary education will engage students more often in conversations pertaining to socioeconomic status.

For some people, the “American Dream” is a straight shot to success.

However, there is merit in realizing the conditions that facilitate this success do not apply to everyone. That day in lecture, I learned that not everyone is as acutely aware of this phenomenon as I am, and, frankly, it alarmed me.

College students, particularly those at prestigious universities, wield an inf luence that a select few can claim: They will undoubtedly play a major role in shaping the future of society. Raising awareness about the myriad identities and backgrounds that make up this society is something we cannot neglect.

Originally published on 2/24/16.

wealth divides within Black America have generated a secondary marginalization of lowincome Black people that social movements indirectly address.

The Black Lives Matter movement’s guiding principles do not explicitly state economic justice as a platform, but says it could be encompassed in the “Black families,” “Black villages” and “collective value” precepts.

The assessment of class impacts on Black movements needs to be more intentional in order to mobilize direct action for racial justice that is inclusive of all Black Americans.

The lack of intentional reflection about class explains why class is not overtly included in the framework of current racial movements.

How often do we ask ourselves what the strengths and limitations of our class backgrounds are, and examine how our backgrounds inform our approach to racial injustice?

How can we be more inclusive in ensuring all class divisions — poor, working class, professional middle class, upper class and even a portion of the “1 percent” — have their voices and interests in conversations around social change?

Discussing class is a messy topic. I left that workshop with more questions than answers, but I came to two realizations: 1. Cross-class alliance building is fundamental to securing Black liberation by helping the most marginalized populations and 2. Beyoncé wisely noted that the best revenge is our paper, and Blacks need to ensure everyone has the paper to bring our material and political aspirations to actualization.

Originally published on 2/25/2016.

Take a sick day

I

get sick twice a year — in late September and early March, right around the time when the daily amount of sunlight changes at the equinox.

Other than the semiannual cold and mild allergies in August, SUSAN I’m in pretty LAMOREAUX good health for the rest of the year.

While it’s nice to know when I can expect a cold to be coming on — I think it has to do with my Vitamin D levels — it doesn’t make being sick any easier, especially since these times of year coincide with a pretty heav y load of schoolwork. I can try to be prepared — by carrying tissues, eating even more fruits and veggies than usual, and fitting in adequate hours of sleep every night — but it still sucks for that week or so when I’m not up for much other than lying around in bed yet still need to drag myself to class.

According to Lisa Sturm, managing director of the infection control and epidemiolog y at the University of Michigan Health System, September and October are when University Health Services sees the greatest number of illnesses among students People are coming back to campus from all over, resulting in a general trading of germs going on in town. People touch the doors of classrooms, desktops, keyboards and public-access computing stations, the spines of books in the libraries, maybe a squirrel as they’re crossing campus, the backs of seats — the list is endless. And on every one of those surfaces there are plenty of germs to be concerned about.

See SICK DAY, Page 2B

2B — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

FROM THE DAILY

Standards significantly raised

T

The University of Michigan’s new sexual misconduct policy, now called the University of Michigan Policy and Procedures on Student Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence, is drastically more expansive than its 2013 predecessor, and even its pre-released September 2015 draft. The policy gives the University more precise tools for determining what exactly sexual misconduct is in questionable circumstances, investigators the tools to convict perpetrators who may have slid by under the old policy and the campus community at large the tools to understand the intricacies of consent and incapacitation in nuanced situations. This new policy favors the claimant in numerous ways and will likely increase the number of assaults punished, thereby raising the standards around sexual activity and changing the culture around sexual assault on our campus. It also represents significant steps forward in several areas, but will require noticeable efforts by the University to align the rightfully strict standards in the policy with societal standards about gender and sex.

In contrast to the previous policy, the new one clearly outlines the full process of reporting a sexual misconduct case to the University, uses gender-inclusive language and expands the scope of its definitions of consent and incapacitation. It also changes the role of witnesses and of the review panel and appeals process, as well as brings intimate partner violence and stalking underneath the scope of this singular policy and process.

The new policy is also vastly more transparent and organized about the process a student will embark on when they report a case of sexual misconduct.

Significantly, it notes the distinction between the two different justice systems a student can report a case to: the University and/or the police. Though under the old policy, students were advised to report to the University’s Police Department in addition to filing a report to the University, the new policy explains that reporting to the police is a completely separate process than the one students will undergo at the University.

Additionally, the policy offers resources — including specific phone numbers — for students to use to contact of variety of police forces.

While the Department of Education — which is currently investigating several Title IX complaints — and countless student activists believe the University has a responsibility to investigate and punish students for sexual misconduct, there is a national debate over whether universities are not equipped to investigate cases of sexual misconduct. Regardless of whether one believes the University should legislate these cases, the fact that the two processes are explained in a clear and detailed manner helps better educate our student body and aids in making options for students more clear.

Last April, the Daily brought to light the University’s inadequate definition of consent, noting it did not specify that silence and

inaction did not equate to consent.

The new policy specifically states, “Consent is not to be inferred from silence, passivity, or a lack of resistance,” also adding that “nonverbal communication” is not consent. This crucial change will raise the standard for consent. A respondent can no longer claim they had consent because the other party didn’t actively resist.

Along similar lines, this new policy explicitly defines what constitutes coercion and force, both of which would render one unable to give consent.

Another significant change to the definition of consent is the clarification of who is held responsible for obtaining consent.

Unlike the old policy, this new policy places direct responsibility on the party who “initiates a specific sexual activity” to obtain consent. This creates a distinction between respondent, initiator and claimant. This wording makes it explicitly clear that if the respondent, assuming they are the initiator, has failed to obtain consent, then that party will be found responsible. This seems likely to increase the number of respondents found responsible for misconduct.

The new policy also goes further to stress that a past sexual or dating relationship does not mean a person has automatic consent for current or future sexual activity, and that consent must be granted “each time (sexual activity occurs).” This is an important addition, as sexual assault in dating and romantic relationships does occur, and a previous relationship should not indicate that someone has consented for future sexual activity. To take this an additional step forward, the new policy unequivocally states that if a person withdraws consent (which can happen at any time) “sexual activity must cease immediately.” These additions protect the rights of all students engaging in sexual activity at all levels of engagement.

Rightly linked to the definition of consent in the new policy is the definition of “incapacitation,” which has been dramatically expanded upon. According to the

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SICK DAY From Page 1B So what’s the best way to avoid getting sick?

Sturm recommends a couple of common-sense measures that, for all their simplicity, get overlooked far too often: washing your hands reg ularly and being sure to cover your cough. “Your best defense is your own personal hand hygiene,” she said.

In other words, if you don’t have a sleeve or handkerchief to cough into, catching a sneeze in your hands is far preferable to nothing at all. Just be sure to wash your hands soon after, since you don’t want to then spread those germs onto other people. It’s a good idea to carry a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or backpack, so it’ll be on hand if you need it.

And in the present day more than ever, it’s important to keep up to date on vaccines, including the seasonal f lu vaccine, as f lu season runs for pretty much the entire academic year. Perhaps just as important are vaccinations against meningitis, which Sturm says is surprisingly common among Michigan’s student body.

It’s impossible to avoid germs and viruses altogether, of course, and most of us do tend to fall sick at some point during the school year.

But, by keeping yourself in good health and keeping your hands clean, you can reduce your chances. And if you do find yourself sick, Sturm

new policy, a person is incapacitated if they are in “a state beyond drunkenness or intoxication” and cannot make “informed, rational judgements.” The policy also acknowledges that intoxication varies from person to person, depending on a multitude of factors including body weight, tolerance level and food consumption. By recognizing that each individual’s level of intoxication is unique and can fluctuate based on these reasons, the University is taking a commendable step to broaden the definition of intoxication so more claimants can correctly posit their incapacitation, and so all parties can accurately gauge of when someone is incapacitated. On that note, the new policy also explicitly reminds students of state amnesty laws on drinking and extends protection against University disciplinary actions to underage students who report instances of sexual misconduct while intoxicated.

The depth at which the new JOE IOVINO policy discusses how evidence is evaluated in the University’s response process is appreciated and will also have a measurable impact on the frequency that sexual misconduct is reported. Potential complainants now have the ability to review exactly how evidence gathered during the process will be collected and evaluated, as well as by whom, and all sides have the opportunity to understand how their conduct will be evaluated by an investigation. In addition, the appeals process now includes a review by an external party, preferably one with legal expertise.

Given how much discussion currently goes into making the process fair for both sides, the option of the opinion of an external reviewer on both the evaluated facts, and the process should resolve most procedural inequities. Adding greater cross-campus equity, a student appointed by the Central Student Government will now sit on the board that will determine sanctions for students found guilty, adding to the process the student voice on these important issues.

Despite the heavy lifting this new policy does to raise the standards of sexual activity, there are steps in the process that are still questionable. Witnesses will now be required to be named to all parties in an investigation. While this new addition strives to make the process more equitable, we can’t help but be concerned that witnesses will be less likely to come forward if they know they must be named given that witnesses frequently have strong relationships with either side. The detailed processes in the new policy mostly balance the http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ rights of the complainant and the rights of the respondent; however, we feel that there is more that could be done to protect witnesses, given the sensitivity of the issues at hand and the likely personal connection between witnesses and the students in question.

In many ways, this policy is the change students, student groups, administrators and a national public eye has been looking for. But it is also a doubleedged sword. The standards this policy enforces will likely cause an increase in the number of respondents found responsible for misconduct, and that may cause students to experience a disconnect between the sexual standards they are taught in society versus the standards they are held to on our campus. However, though the disconnect may be large now, with the awareness this policy raises and educational opportunities posed, through enforcing this policy the University will be participating in one of many steps toward a better campus climate.

recommends “the old adage: rest, chicken noodle soup and f luids” as the best treatment for the common cold.

While it’s understandable that no one wants to take time off for being sick and risk missing out on important material, Sturm says it’s sometimes necessary. If you’re feverish or sick enough to vomit; if you’re blowing your nose every other minute and can’t stop sneezing; or if you have diarrhea, you should probably stay home. The good news is that with bed rest and a few doses of chicken noodle soup, most mild colds clear up within a few days. For more serious illnesses, it may become necessary to seek out professional health care from UHS or another healthcare provider.

UMHS staff, Sturm says, are required to take time off if they’re sick, and aren’t allowed to return to work until they remain free of symptoms for 24 hours or more. Perhaps that sort of policy would serve our student body well, as it would ensure that the most active germs would be contained within our apartments, dorm rooms, houses or lofts. Of course, staying home poses another challenge, as your being ill requires roommates, housemates, friends and significant others to dance around you for fear that whatever you have might be catching.

But at the end of the day, if you’re truly too sick to attend class and perform well, you’ll probably be glad you refrained

from hauling yourself across campus, just so you could sneeze on classmates, doorknobs desks and any bold squirrels who came too near.

“You’re not helping anybody, and you’re not helping yourself either. You’re not resting,” Sturm says. “Please don’t do us any favors! … Stay home.”

Ultimately, only you can make the decision, but when you’re that kind of sick, you’ll probably know. For me a couple of weeks ago, the need to stay home was signaled by a lasting headache, runny nose and a nap that took up most of my Friday afternoon. That day, I opted to trade homework for bed rest, and on Saturday I did it again. By Monday, I was ready to return to classes and the general buzz of activity on campus, but I was also really glad I’d taken time for rest when I needed to.

And trust me — if you’re sick enough to be wondering whether you should sleep in, chances are you’re leaning the right way. E-mail your professors to let them know you’re not feeling well, and ask whether there might be extra-credit opportunities you could use to make up your attendance. Then kick back with a tall glass of orange juice, a handful of tissues and maybe some of next week’s assigned reading. Or, y’know, just take a nap. I’m pretty sure you’ll be glad you did.

E-mail Joe at

Originally published on 10/23/2015.

jiovino@umich.edu

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Gracie Dunn, Caitlin Heenan, Jeremy Kaplan, Ben Keller, Minsoo Kim, Payton Luokkala, Kit Maher, Madeline Nowicki, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Jason Rowland, Lauren Schandevel, Melissa Scholke, Kevin Sweitzer, Rebecca Tarnopol, Ashley Tjhung, Stephanie Trierweiler, Hunter Zhao

Originally published on 4/6/2016.

Generate and solve Sudoku, Super Sudoku and Godoku puzzles at sudokusyndication.com!

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

3B — Fall 2016

FROM THE DAILY

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

Recall Snyder

Michigan citizens must be allowed to use their vote to give the people of Flint justice

I

t is no secret that Gov. Rick Snyder (R) is not a fan of democracy.

Two months into his first gubernatorial term, he signed Public Act 4 — a bill that would allow him to delegate total control over a democratically elected municipal government in the event the state government decided it was financially insolvent. Snyder utilized this bill in 2011 to appoint a financial emergency manager over the city of Flint, leading to a string of decisions overseen by Snyder that ultimately led to the water crisis decimating Flint today. As we’ve seen the crisis unfold, Snyder has taken democracy away from Flint and in the process ruined lives. Michigan voters must make their voices heard for justice in Flint by supporting a recall of Gov. Snyder.

T uesday night , Snyder delivered h is State of t he State address, dedicat ing much of h is speech t ime to t he Flint Water Crisis.

Snyder ack nowledged t he m ista kes he a nd his adm in ist rat ion have made, but made a number of concer ning point s rega rding how he v iews t he t imeline of t he disa ster. Snyder bega n his over v iew of event s by point ing to t he Flint cit y council’s Ma rch 2013 vote, w it h emergenc y ma nager approva l in April, to sw itch t he cit y of Flint ’s water supply to t he Ka reg nondi Water Aut horit y, a municipa l cooporat ion Flint wa s a founding member of, but st ill under const r uct ion. Ent irely absent f rom t h is discussion, however, wa s t he cha in of decisions t hat led to Flint ’s sw itch f rom Det roit Water a nd Sewage Depa r t ment to t he Flint R iver a s a n interim source. Wh ile it is t r ue t hat Flint ’s cit y council did democrat ica lly approve t he sw itch to t he K WA , t here is no ev idence show ing t he decision to use t he Flint R iver a s a n interim source wa s made in a ny democrat ic ma n ner, a nd instead wa s made by Snyder ’s appointee.

Th is m isleading statement is cha racterist ic of t he gover nor ’s ha ndling of t he disa ster in Flint .

Despite a majorit y of Mich iga n voters in 201 2 vot ing to over t ur n P ublic Act 4, Snyder sig ned a modif ied version of t he law a few weeks later, g iv ing more opt ions to loca l mun icipa lit ies decla red insolvent t ha n just emergenc y ma nagement .

But t he choice of whet her or not stay under emergenc y ma nagement wa s not g iven to t he people of Flint or ot her Mich iga n cit ies prev iously under emergenc y ma nagement prior to t he modif ied law. They were lef t under t he aut horit y of whomever Snyder chose to appoint , w it h no cont rol over t he act ions of t heir ow n loca l gover n ment s.

When Snyder chose to def y t he w ill of t he people who elected h im, he sig na led t hat t he responsibilit y for what would happen nex t would fa ll solely on h is shoulders.

Now it ’s Ja nua r y 2016, a nd Snyder is just beg in ning to dea l w it h t he consequences of his inact ion. It ha s been a yea r since Flint wa s found in v iolat ion of t he Sa fe Water Drin k ing Act , yet Snyder ’s appointee Da r nell Ea rley told Flint cit izens it would be too expensive to sw itch back to Det roit water.

It ’s been six mont hs since t he U. S. Env iron menta l Protect ion Agenc y expressed concer n over lead levels in Flint ’s water, yet Snyder ’s adm inist rat ion told ever yone to rela x in July 2015. It ’s been four mont hs since pediat ricia n Dr. Mona Ha n na-At t isha ra ised a la r m about rising lead levels in v ulnerable Flint children’s blood, yet Snyder ’s adm inist rat ion ha s just beg un to mobilize a sig n if ica nt response to t he crisis, w it h President Ba rack Oba ma most recent ly ag reeing to decla re t he sit uat ion a state of emergenc y.

Snyder ’s inact ion on t h is issue — despite forcef ully insta lling h imself as t he on ly elected of f icia l responsible for t he people of

Flint — ha s lef t us w it h no conf idence t hat he ca n solve t h is cata st rophe. Snyder ha s demonst rated repeatedly t hat t h is wa s not a n issue on h is m ind unt il professiona ls a nd t he media brought it to nat iona l at tent ion.

From t he t ime Snyder entered of f ice in 2011, he ha s cont inua lly demonst rated t hat his adm inist rat ion’s number-one priorit y would be to save t he state money, appa rent ly even at t he cost of lives. Upon ta k ing of f ice, Snyder sig ned t he most expa nsive emergenc y ma nager prog ra m in t he nat ion. Before t he new law, Mich iga n’s emergenc y ma nager prog ra m f unct ioned like most ot her states’ in t hat it a llowed state gover n ment s to appoint representat ives to oversee municipa l f ina nces for ca ses in wh ich t hey beca me insolvent . But soon a f ter ta k ing of f ice, Snyder made Mich iga n t he on ly state t hat a llows t he state gover n ment to appoint a single indiv idua l to ta ke cont rol over ent ire municipa lit ies, requiring cit y councils a nd mayors to get approva l f rom t he gover nor ’s appointees for a ll act ions. These appointees could cont rol ever y t hing in municipa lit ies, f rom f iref ighter ’s cont ract s to sewage ma intena nce. They ser ve solely at t he plea sure of t he gover nor, ma k ing t hem t he opt ima l oppor t un it y for Snyder to implement h is cost-cut t ing agenda a ny where he saw f it , w it h no inter vent ion f rom municipa l gover n ment s.

The crisis in Flint is a direct result of t he subversion of municipa l democrac y under t h is law. Elected representat ives of t he people of Flint m ight have had t he foret hought to rea lize t hat r un ning a cheaper water source t h rough lead pipes 19 t imes more cor rosive t ha n t he prev ious source m ight not be t he best for t heir const it uenc y ’s hea lt h. Flint ’s elected representat ives would have sw itched back to Det roit water when resident s sta r ted compla ining of foulta st ing water a nd ra shes.

They m ight have rea lized t hat cha rg ing people for water t hat is unsa fe to drin k, a nd t hen shut t ing of f water when resident s didn’t pay, m ight not ma ke for t he best gover na nce, yet t his is st ill somehow act ua lly happening.

But Snyder ’s appointed representat ives did none of t hese t hing s, because t he on ly t hing t hey were accountable for wa s t he spreadsheet show ing Flint wa s sav ing money.

That ’s not to say no bla me is to be sha red w it h Flint ’s gover n ment . Despite being powerless, Flint ’s mayor a nd cit y council could have been fa r more voca l in bring ing at tent ion to t he plight of Flint , a nd not could have not dism issed concer ns over water qua lit y. But wh ile accountabilit y in t he G over nor ’s Ma nsion ha s yet to come, Flint ’s gover n ment rejected it s Incumbent Mayor Day ne Wa lling in favor of cur rent Mayor Ka ren Weaver la st November. However, despite being under f ina ncia l emergenc y for more t ha n four yea rs, t he appa rent cost-sav ing emergenc y ma nagement system st ill ha s not restored democrac y to Flint . Flint ’s newly elected

mayor st ill lacks her f ull aut horit y, because t he cit y ha s st ill been cont rolled by a Receivership Tra nsit ion Adv isor y Boa rd, a boa rd made up of unelected state a nd loca l of f icia ls desig ned to t ra nsit ion t he cit y back to self-gover na nce, since la st April.

That leaves on ly one elected of f icia l to be held accountable for t he act ions t hat have plag ued Flint: Snyder. If a loca l mayor or council member took act ions t hat led to t he poison ing of his or her const it uent s, t hey would at t he ver y lea st be denied a not her ter m.

The on ly opt ion Michiga n resident s have to hold Snyder properly accountable, since he is ser v ing his second of t wo ter ms, is to reca ll him f rom of f ice. Michiga n law a llows a gover nor to be reca lled prov ided a pet it ion sig ned by 25 percent of voters in t he la st g uber natoria l elect ion to put t he issue on t he ba llot .

There is just one problem: The bipa r t isa n Boa rd of Ca nva ssers, t he boa rd appointed by t he gover nor to super v ise elect ions, ha s rejected mult iple pet it ions f rom Det roit pa stor A ngelo Scot t Brow n on g rounds f rom purely tech n ica l to t hat t he act ions Snyder ha s been accused of happened in his f irst ter m, a nd t herefore he ca n not be held responsible for t hem in his second. We f ind such log ic out rageous a nd unbecom ing of a democrat ic societ y.

There shouldn’t be a stat ute of lim itat ions on a n elected of f icia l’s exploitat ion of a v ulnerable populat ion for polit ica l ga in. We ca ll on t he Boa rd of Ca nva ssers to accept one of t he ma ny cur rent ly pending pet it ions to right t his w rong.

From t he t ime Snyder entered of f ice, he ha s demonst rated a lack of rega rd for t he democrat ic process a nd ha s lef t Flint powerless.

Now, Michiga nders must be a llowed to use t heir vote to g ive t he people of Flint just ice for t he life-cha ng ing choice t hey never got to ma ke.

Originally published on 1/20/2016 .

Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Caitlin Heenan, Jeremy Kaplan, Ben Keller, Minsoo Kim, Payton Luokkala, Aarica Marsh, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Jason Rowland, Lauren Schandevel, Melissa Scholke, Rebecca Tarnopol, Ashley Tjhung, Stephanie Trierweiler, Mary Kate Winn, Derek Wolfe

An attack on inclusivity

T

hough the anti-Islam words that appeared on the Diag earlier this week could be easily erased by a group of students with rags and buckets of water, the same cannot be said for the sentiments behind the ANNE statements, which are KATZ systemic and unfortunately long-lived.

We cannot dismiss those hostile messages with a shrug and an invocation of the importance of “free speech.” We cannot let the broader debate over “safe spaces” on college campuses obscure the fact that, whatever the motivation or intention, whoever wrote the messages gave a voice to hatred and hostility toward the religion of Islam and those who follow it. And we cannot deny that this Islamophobia dehumanizes and marginalizes millions of Muslims who are g uilty of nothing more than being Muslims, laying the groundwork for persecution and violence toward them.

Unfortunately, this is precisely what the vast majority of comments on The Michigan Daily’s coverage of the anti-Islam chalk do.

They attempt to dilute the maliciousness behind the statements and attribute the outrage that the words sparked to yet another round of the debate surrounding “safe spaces” on university campuses. “Look what we have here,” they seem to say, “another episode of ang uish for those goddamn, cry-baby liberal students, so coddled that they simply can’t handle discomfort, let alone honest disagreement.”

Forget paraphrasing. By way of example, here’s what one commenter actually wrote: “To the darling precious snowf lakes who melt into a shimmering puddle when they see chalk drawings

they don’t approve of — do you EVER hope to get a job??

You understand that ALL workplaces (even university labs) are filled with a variety of people some of whom may have different perspectives and even different values than you.” Four other commenters nodded in agreement with a “like.”

Though the chalk writings were expressing a “perspective” that’s (thankfully) “different” than that of many, that’s only the beginning of the discussion we need to be having. At a university where respect, civility and equality

“At a university where respect, civility and equality are supposed to be at the core, we cannot tolerate a “different perspective” that’s grounded in ignorance and hatred of people because of their religion.”

are supposed to be at the core, we cannot tolerate a “different perspective” that’s grounded in ignorance and hatred of people because of their religion. This is a “perspective” that exposes Muslims to the risk of physical harm and hurts them in other ways that are just as real and equally as offensive.

It doesn’t matter whether the inf lammatory words were written in chalk on the Diag

or burned into the side of Angell Hall with a blowtorch.

They must be understood as a virulent attack on our community’s obligation to be more inclusive. To dismiss the statements as harmless, let alone to defend them as protected by concepts of “free speech,” aids those who would divide the University community.

These words cannot go unchallenged.

If, instead of the anti-Islam statements, there had been swastikas, I strongly doubt that so many of the comments on the Daily’s article would’ve told offended Jews to “cry me a river.” That’s because generally, we understand and reject anti-Semitic remarks as harmful hate speech that alienates an entire population. In most quarters, malicious Jewish conspiracy theories aren’t accepted as merely expressing a “different perspective,” and Jewish slurs aren’t excused as simply an exercise of “free speech.” In this regard, Islamophobia is no different than anti-Semitism.

To be sure, freedom of speech should be broadly defined, particularly in an academic setting, where open expression of different ideologies, thoughts, beliefs, analyses, viewpoints — you name it — is essential to generating meaningful discussion of important but difficult issues. But the motivation behind the speech matters, and to pretend that the words on the Diag were inspired by anything other than hatred and bigotry is absurd. That doesn’t mean that those words can’t be uttered or written, even in the way they were. It just means that the statements, and whoever wrote them, deserve nothing more than to be swiftly condemned by both the administration and our community as a whole. It’s that simple.

Originally published on 4/6/2016.

4B — Fall 2016

F

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

That time we went viral

or years, we’ve all felt it. Life seems to be getting more and more expensive. And for years — for most of us — complaining about low pay, car payments and rising housing costs seemed to be the solution.

Then boom.

Earlier this year, Ann Arbor was ranked the eighthmost ecoZACHARY nomically ACKERMAN segregated city in the nation. We’re definitely a culture and a generation that loves our news in rankings and list form.

And sure enough, this news went viral.

Now I appreciate any wake-up call, Buzzfeed-style or otherwise.

But simply being ranked eighthworst doesn’t tell the full story. What does economic segregation really mean in Ann Arbor?

A desirable city attracts people who can choose to live anywhere.

And people who can choose to live anywhere make a city even more desirable. At first glance, it’s a nice problem to have. But it’s also a cycle that has a lot of unintended consequences — consequences disproportionately felt by those who don’t have the luxury of choice.

In any city, there’s always visible poverty. We’re quite aware of the fact that there are residents who live on

our streets. Unfortunately, it’s usually an awareness measured only in spare change. But it’s the economic hardship that we don’t see, the hardship faced by neighbors and coworkers, that’s the most pervasive and toxic to a healthy community.

Since 1979, the top 10 percent of Ann Arbor incomes have jumped almost 19 percent. That’s meaningful economic growth that you can be proud of. But that growth is matched by a staggering drop in income for the bottom 10 percent of our community — a drop of more than 14 percent. I have a hard time being proud of growth if it isn’t felt by my neighbor. And neighbors aren’t feeling that growth. In fact, they’re feeling the opposite.

There’s a timeless maxim that says work is the greatest form of welfare. But not all work is created equal, and that inequality is felt by many people. Prior to taxes, a couple both working minimum-wage jobs, with two kids, would need to spend about 44 percent of their annual combined income on a one-bedroom apartment in Ann Arbor. If they wanted to give their kids a separate room to share, that number jumps to about 58 percent, nearly double what the federal government defines as remotely affordable. That doesn’t really leave room in the budget for a car, let alone food. For the wage-earner — the person who waits our tables, serves our coffee or cleans our classrooms — life in Ann Arbor seems increasingly impossible.

But while those numbers are alarming, the story is more complicated than the richest and the

poorest. As the gap between the top and bottom of income grows, so too does the size of its middle. In Ann Arbor, the starting salary of a public school teacher before taxes is just over $38,000 — still only half the median income of the city. To live in that same one-bedroom apartment, a new teacher would need to spend nearly 40 percent of his or her annual salary on rent alone. Professionals who once lived comfortably in communities are being pushed out.

Clearly, there is a “Missing Middle” in the housing market.

As of now, Ann Arbor’s solution to rising costs and increasing inequality is to export people to Ypsilanti.

Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti may only be 10 miles apart, but our neighbor can feel a world away. With average rental rates hanging about $200 per month lower than equivalent units in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti has become our affordable housing option.

As of now, Ann Arbor’s solution to the 10 miles separating our two communities has been expanded public transit. I believe public transit to be a public good — one worthy of investment. But this isn’t a sustainable solution. It’s a bandage on a wound that’s bleeding human capital, draining our community of economic opportunity and dismantling our inclusive character.

The solution has to be holistic.

It has to take wage and transit and housing into account. It has to be thoughtful in design and decisive in implementation.

This is a crisis affecting every city across the country. As we graduate, look for work and decide where we settle, it’s a crisis that will affect each of us.

Ann Arbor City Council has pledged to do its part by creating 2,800 new units of affordable housing in the next 20 years. This can’t be lip service. This goal has to be matched with clear resolve and opportunities taken.

It’s a complex issue that has to be approached very intentionally. But we can tackle that in my next column. For now, simply put, if you work in a community or serve a community, you deserve the opportunity to live in that community.

Unfortunately for many, that opportunity is fading.

Originally published on 11/4/2015.

JASON ROWLAND | MICHIGAN IN COLOR

Nothing has changed

A s A merica ns, we pride ourselves on how fa r we’ve come f rom t he dist urbing t imes of slaver y a nd segregat ion. We v iew stories like t he follow ing, wh ich occur red in a sma ll Sout her n tow n during t he ea rly 1940s, a s best ia l a nd a rchaic, instead of recog nizing how t hey direct ly a f fected t he event s of today.

A s a young ma n wa lked pa st a young woma n, he wa s accused of piping out a “ wolf ca ll” whist le in her direct ion. Though t h is wa s undoubtedly irksome for t he woma n in quest ion, t he tow nsfolk responded in a n excessively severe ma n ner — for t he ma n had t he m isfor t une of being bor n Black in a count r y where wh ite wa s, a nd cont inues to be, t he more priv ileged shade.

Word quick ly spread t h rough t he tow n, a nd, a s a result of t he g row ing outrage, t he ma n f led nor t h to Philadelphia . However, t he ma n’s best f riend wa s later found dead behind a 50 ga llon ga s ca n deep in t he woods. The k illers couldn’t tell, or more likely simply didn’t ca re about , t he dif ferences bet ween t he t wo.

A f ter a r riv ing in Ph iladelphia , t he f leeing ma n joined t he a r my to f ight for h is count r y in t he Second World Wa r. He died during combat in Ita ly — g iv ing his life for a nat ion t hat wouldn’t g ive a ny t hing for him.

This ma n’s stor y w ill not be found in t he pages of a histor y book or in a ny documenta r y; however, it is present in my fa m ily ’s conversat ions. This ma n’s na me wa s Osbor ne Ellis, a nd he wa s my g ra ndmot her ’s uncle.

It ’s ea sy to say what happened in t he pa st is done a nd over w it h, but doing so on ly creates room for g ross ig no ra nce sur rounding moder nA merica’s issues w it h race.

A ll four of my g ra ndpa rent s

HOUSING

were well into adolescence or adult hood during, or before, t he outbrea k of t he Civ il R ight s Movement — mea ning a sig n if ica nt por t ion of t heir ch ildhood wa s spent in a t ime a nd place where event s like t hese occur red w it h relat ive f requenc y. Because ma ny opinions, v iew point s a nd habit s a re for med during ch ildhood, my g ra ndpa rent s’ generat ion ca r ried t heir worldv iew, wh ich wa s cra f ted by liv ing in a v iolent ly discrim inator y societ y, into adult hood, shaping how t hey ra ised t he nex t generat ion of A merica ns — a generat ion t hat includes my, a nd ma ny of my peers’, pa rent s.

Like clock work, socia l reproduct ion ensured t hat my pa rent s’ generat ion imprinted upon us t he perspect ives t hat t heir pa rent s, who g rew up in Jim Crow A merica , taught t hem.

Though t he pa st may seem dista nt , we a re closer to segregat ion t ha n we’d like to imag ine.

When people a sk why A f rica n A merica ns ca n’t simply forg ive a nd forget , t hey a ssume we have a choice to move on f rom t he decisions of t he pa st — decisions, by t he way, t hat were made w it hout t he consent of A f rica n A merica ns, despite t he fact t hat t hese decisions radica lly inf luenced our livelihoods. We never chose to be systemat ica lly prof iled a nd imprisoned. We never chose to be red-lined into dest it ute neighborhoods.

We never chose to be denied oppor t unit ies ba sed on t he pig mentat ion of our sk in.

How ca n we “forget ” t hese obstacles when t hey a re st ill rest ra ining us in 2016? A sking us to forg ive a nd forget implies t hat we’re t he ones keeping t he legac y of seg regat ion a live.

Whenever an A f rica n A merica n is senselessly g un ned dow n by t he police,

like we’ve seen over t he pa st few days w it h Ph ila ndo Ca st ile a nd A lton Sterling, I’m a ngered t hat people st ill a sk, “ How could t h is happen in A merica in 2016? ” Though most people who a sk t hat t y pe of quest ion a re simply too opt im ist ic about t he state of race relat ions in t h is count r y, fa iling to ack nowledge t hese rea lit ies t ur ns a blind eye to t he deep-rooted racism in A merica n cult ure.

Unt il people beg in to recog nize t he rea lit y of race relat ions in t h is count r y — t hat seg regat ion a nd oppression have never t r uly disappea red, t hey ’ve simply ta ken up new na mes a nd for ms — not h ing w ill ever cha nge. The deat hs of Sterling a nd Ca st ile a re not iso lated incident s. Their lives have just become a number on t he long list of v ict ims of systemat ic racism in t h is count r y.

Unt il people beg in to recog nize t he rea lit y of race relat ions in t h is count r y, police br uta lit y w ill cont inue to plag ue t he A f rica n-A merica n com munit y, employers w ill cont inue to g ive wh ite applica nt s preference over t heir Black counter pa r t s a nd t he c ycle of oppression w ill rema in hea lt hy a nd st rong. Th is is no dif ferent t ha n what ha s been happening in A merica since t he beg in ning, on ly now it ’s done in more subt le ways. Obv iously, some progress ha s been made. But in t he g ra nd scheme of A merica n race relat ions, we’re st ill liv ing in t he shadow of t he Jim Crow era .

When people sta r t hav ing t hese rea lizat ions, maybe we w ill be g reeted w it h compa ssion rat her t ha n condem nat ion. But I’m not holding my breat h.

Originally published on 7/ 10/2016 .

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

5B — Fall 2016

When you think of Syrians, think of Anne Frank

I

f you a re a Jew ish woma n, like myself, you a re required, by some unspoken r ule, to read t wo books a round t he t ime of your bat m it z va h: “The Dia r y of ALISON a Young Girl” SCHALOP

by A n ne Fra n k a nd “A re You There G od?

It ’s me, Ma rga ret ” by Judy Blume.

Un like stories of sur v iva l such a s Elie Wiesel’s “Night ” or f ict ions such a s Ma rk us Zusa k’s “The Book Thief,” A n ne Fra n k’s dia r y is not a Holocaust stor y. Fra n k’s stor y is act ua lly much more sim ila r to Blume’s “Ma rga ret ” t ha n it is to “The Boy in t he St riped P y ja ma s.”

Like Ma rga ret , A n ne Fra n k w rites about her f ut ure a nd boys a nd f ret s over puber t y.

A n ne Fra n k’s dia r y is a lmost more t rag ic t ha n stories of deat h ca mps a nd tor t urous Na zis because it is relatable.

A n ne Fra n k wa s a g irl t r y ing to g row a nd lea r n t he way a ll young women should, but her stor y wa s cut shor t .

When I f irst read her dia r y, I wa s st r uck by how much I related to Fra n k a nd her desire to experience a f irst k iss on t he lips. For me, it would not come for t wo more yea rs, a nd for her, it would not come at a ll.

You may not k now t hat A n ne Fra n k’s fat her, Ot to, had t ried to get a n A merica n v isa for h is whole fa m ily to im m ig rate to t he United States. A s The Wa shing ton Post so ch illingly put it , “A n ne Fra n k could be a 77-yea r-old woma n liv ing in Boston today.” I read t h is line a s tea rs well up in my eyes. I feel a n intense sadness. I a m sad because I, a s a 13-yea r-old g irl, like so ma ny ot her 13-yea r-olds,

Jew ish or not , feel a st rong con nect ion to A n ne Fra n k.

Th is is not t he on ly rea son I a m sad. I a m sad t hat A n ne Fra n k never made it to t he United States, because t here a re hundreds of t housa nds of young g irls out t here now, bot h Sy ria n a nd ot her w ise, who may never ma ke it to t he United States. The Un ited States gover n ment could not have k now n t hat A n ne

“While the situation in Syria does not involve gas chambers and giant crematoriums, it involves other horrors.

Syrian refugees face displacement and threats from their own government, much like the Jews did in Europe.”

Fra n k wa s being ta ken to a n ea rly deat h in t he BergenBelson concent rat ion ca mp in G er ma ny. But today is dif ferent . Today, w it h 20 -20 h indsight , t he Un ited States ca n save young g irls, like Fra n k, f rom deat h by a br uta l, racist gover n ment .

You may, like ma ny ot hers, fea r t hat ta k ing in Sy ria n ref ugees is ta k ing in potent ia l ter rorist s. In t he 1940s, Jews were a lso seen a s a t h reat to t he Un ited States. They were v iewed a s dir t y com munist s t r y ing to cor r upt a st r ug gling capita list economy.

The United States cur rent ly

pla ns to let 10,000 Sy ria n ref ugees in over t he nex t yea r. It is not clea r how ma ny Jew ish ref ugees t he Un ited States took in during t he World Wa r II era .

However, one t hing is clea r: Jew ish people were not of ten welcomed. Ma ny were t ur ned away because t he Un ited States gover n ment fea red t hey were spies for t he G er ma ns or radica l a na rchist s. There a re la rge collect ions on line of photos of Jew ish ref ugees on boat s being t ur ned away f rom t he Un ited States a nd Cuba . The Jew ish ref ugees who did not ma ke it to t he U. S., Ca nada or Pa lest ine faced a n a lmost cer ta in deat h at t he ha nds of t he Na zis.

While t he sit uat ion in Sy ria does not involve ga s cha mbers a nd g ia nt crematoriums, it involves ot her hor rors.

Sy ria n ref ugees face displacement a nd t h reat s f rom t heir ow n gover n ment , much like t he Jews did in Europe. The t r ut h is, A n ne Fra n k did not die f rom a g unshot or a ga s cha mber, she died f rom t y phus a long side her younger sister. Her mot her died of sta r vat ion.

Today Sy ria n ref ugees in ca mps a round t he world face sim ila r problems: food shor tages, disea ses a nd ex t remely low qua lit y of life. If stories of Jews in t he Holocaust brea k your hea r t , t hen so w ill stories of Sy ria n ref ugees.

When you t hin k of Sy ria ns, rat her t ha n pict ure a t h reaten ing ma n w it h a g un, pict ure a young woma n.

Pict ure a n A n ne Fra n k. We need to g ive Sy ria n ref ugees t he k ind of cha nce we never gave Jews.

Originally published on 2 / 18/2016 .

I

I don’t need to have kids

t all started with population growth.

During my first semester of freshman year, I took a class called Global Change.

It was, in short, a lengthy and depressing list of all the ways humans RACHAEL are severely fucking up LACEY the planet.

It was also life changing, and it became the reason why I chose to study environmental science. One of the points I took away from this class was that the world’s population is getting so large, so quickly, that many of the sustainable changes that we, as humans from all over the world, have implemented are simply overridden by the negative effects of adding so many people to the planet every year. So in that class, as an 18-year-old freshman, I made the decision that I would not contribute to this problem.

I would not have kids. Instead, I could adopt one. Or two or three, even. It was a win-win situation for everyone, and I’d save the world, etc., etc.

Then, about a year ago, my life suddenly changed forever. I’m still not sure how, but somehow I came to the shocking revelation that I, in fact, am not required to have children. Let me reiterate: It took me 20 years to realize I didn’t have to have kids. That might seem like a very obvious thing to you, especially if you are not a woman, but as ridiculous as it seems, I’m actually not surprised it took me that long. You see, we’re so trained as women to see our lives played out as follows: get a degree, get a job, get married, work for a while, have some

babies, either do or don’t give up work and be a loving mom for the rest of your life. I’ve lived my entire life planning on including the mom part — I’ve even spent time brainstorming my future children’s names (which I won’t tell you, because if they ever exist, their names will be way more unique than “Rachael,” dammit). But now when I think about that storyline — the one with babies — it seems like someone else’s story.

The more I thought about this crazy revelation, the more it made sense. I was excited. I was liberated from something I’d never actually faced. But

“It’s my body and it’s my life, and surprisingly enough, it’s my choice.

It’s not that I’ve made up my mind 100 percent to never have children. It’s that I know that I don’t have to. And wow, that is liberating.”

that didn’t matter; I didn’t realize how trapped I had felt until I let myself out of the cage. I’ve never been good with kids. Children seriously freak me out. They make me nervous, and I don’t know how on Earth you’re supposed to actually make them listen to you without bribing them with chocolate, cake or Legos (all very effective tactics on me).

And babies? Any time I hold one, all I feel is terror that I’m going to somehow drop it, and all I want is for someone to take it back as soon as possible.

I used to think that I wanted kids so I could get right all the things my parents got wrong.

I even had a kind of mental list of things I would do differently than them. For example, if I had a daughter, she would be allowed to yell at me when she was angry.

Great idea, 12-year-old Rachael.

I thought I had this parenting thing figured out.

But even if I did get right everything my parents got wrong, there’s a pretty good chance I’d also get wrong all the things they got right. There’s not really a practice test you can take for this stuff.

Whenever I tell people that I don’t want kids, without fail the response is, “That’s what you say now.” It’s so completely foreign to them that I don’t inherently want children — and don’t worry, all you child-loving people out there, I’m not a complete monster. At one point I did want kids. Yes, I still might change my mind, and no, that statement is not simply to comfort you or to assuage your fears; it is just me recognizing my freedom. And no, my “freedom” is not just laziness, apprehension or “You’re just an ignorant young person who has no idea what’s good for her.” It’s my body and it’s my life, and surprisingly enough, it’s my choice. It’s not that I’ve made up my mind 100 percent to never have children. It’s that I know that I don’t have to. And wow, that is liberating.

Instead, I can travel. I can babysit other people’s kids and then promptly return them. I can give my friends and family all that extra love inside of me. Or I can give it to cats. I can save money — a whole lot of money. I don’t have to have the ridiculously huge responsibility of literally creating a person. Now my only issue is finding a husband who also doesn’t want kids.

Oh, wait. I don’t need to have one of those, either.

MOVING IN

Originally published on 9/23/2015.

6B — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Meatless Mondays of indoctrination

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he World Health Organization released a jarring report Oct. 26 that identifies processed meat as a group one carcinogen — meaning that it has a firm link to cancer. This ASHLEY finding adds traction to AUSTIN the Meatless Monday movement, which encourages individuals to not eat meat on Mondays in order to improve their health and to promote environmental conservation.

On a weekly basis, University Dining hosts Meatless Mondays at East Quad.

University Dining presents Meatless Mondays at East Quad as a public health and environmental conservation initiative; although altruistic, the fact that students attending this dining hall on Mondays do not have the freedom to choose whether to eat meat or not brings about questions of the role of the University in limiting food options.

Meatless Mondays are an example of the extension of the University’s public health and environmental initiatives in the food realm.

Other initiatives include choosing Michigan farmers for vegetables, fruits, honey and milk served in all of the dining halls, with East Quad additionally serving meats less than 250 miles away from campus. This allows for fresh and local ingredients to be served in the dining halls, while also reducing the carbon footprint that would be created with large transportation distances.

This initiative does not controversially inf lict a limitation of choice upon

students: Yes, students are less likely to have honey in their tea from across the Atlantic, but having locally grown honey has few drawbacks for students if the University can negotiate ingredients at a competitive rate that does not alter meal plan costs.

Furthermore, University Dining has paired with a company known as Sea to Table that helps the University find sustainable fishery suppliers. Yet again, having fish that comes from sustainable and eco-friendly suppliers does little to have cause for students to object if costs are not significantly increased.

However, Meatless Mondays go much further than these other initiatives because meat consumption is such an intrinsic and natural act for a human to engage in. We are omnivores, and although some choose to become vegetarians (5 percent of Americans according to a 2012 Gallup poll), the vast majority of University students and Americans consume meat on a daily basis. In fact, the Wall Street Journal calculates that the average American adult who consumes meat eats about 0.36 pounds of meat a day. Meat provides humans with essential proteins and fats that facilitate survival, so the tendency to consume meat is functional and healthy, but of course damaging if overdone. The World Health Organization highlights in their Oct. 26 report that consumption of 50 grams (0.11 pounds) of processed meat is linked with an 18 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer. Yet, this increased risk is a relative risk increase, meaning that it does not include personal risk factors such as preexisting conditions and age in its calculations. The National Cancer Institute’s colorectal

calculator does not even include risks for those under the age of 50.

University Dining mentions the association between meat and cancer on their webpage explaining Meatless Mondays, a notable concern, but not a sweeping public health concern considering that the association is only proven for people consuming meat at ages far exceeding the mean age of a Michigan student.

Furthermore, the notion in itself that students’ access to meat should be limited oversteps a previously established boundary. The University of Michigan Dining website includes pages that provide explanations of accommodations for students with special nutritional needs or dietary constraints from religious observations. This ideolog y is compromised when East Quad only serves vegetarian options on Mondays, not accommodating the majority of students who eat meat on a daily basis.

Considering that the association between colorectal cancer and processed meat consumption for those under the age of 50 is not proven, the public health justifications do not seem to outweigh the University’s own aim to accommodate all students. After all, during various religious holidays with dietary restrictions, University Dining strives to accommodate religious students but does not universally eliminate access to meat and other foods to all students. Meatless Mondays at East Quad exemplif y a doctrine of public health and environmental sustainability being pushed onto students at the expense of student agency in food choice.

Originally published on 11/5/2015.

LUKE HIGGINS | VIEWPOINT

A vegetarian on ‘Meatless Mondays’ As a vegetarian, Meatless Mondays are convenient. I can eat whatever I choose in the dining hall that day, with more options than I normally have. This day makes me feel that the University is supportive of my dietary choices, which I have made to reduce my carbon footprint.

While I enjoy these days, many grumble and moan, complaining about the walk to another dining hall. However, these objections are completely separate from the intent of Meatless Mondays.

Implementing this day is a way for the East Quad Dining Hall to cut its carbon footprint and raise student awareness about the impact of the consumption of meat on the environment.

This day allows the Michigan community to share in this effort, regardless of dietary preference.

Diet is a daily choice that has an enormous impact on the future of the Earth — this cannot be overlooked, and students should not be ignorant of this fact. A vegetarian diet decreases an individual’s carbon footprint by 1485 kilograms of carbon dioxide annually. If just 365 individuals were to eat all their meals at East Quad on this day, it is the same as one individual adopting a vegetarian diet for an entire year.

In a Forbes article discussing the livestock industry’s greenhouse gas emissions, decreased meat consumption is cited as one of the most effective individual measures to prevent climate

change. The same article estimated that 51 percent of greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the livestock industry. The recent World Health Organization report linking meat consumption to cancer risk only adds another dimension to the educational opportunities associated with the implementation of Meatless Mondays. I commend Michigan Dining’s efforts to make students aware of the impact of their diets.

Educating students about the impact of their diets follows the University’s values. In its mission statement, the University states, “We look for tools and strategies to enhance sustainable practices in all facets of operations and seek to lead in the global quest for a sustainable future.” Furthermore, the University aims to foster “a community of learners.” The implementation of Meatless Mondays proves that these two values can go hand in hand. In this instance, the University is leading by proactively striving to achieve its mission.

I object to the argument that Meatless Mondays are an offense against student agency. Other dining halls still offer meat on these days and are accessible to the students who would prefer to follow an omnivorous diet.

The University has the right to take measures to cut its carbon footprint and educate its students surrounding the environmental impact of meat consumption.

After all, we are at this University to learn. We cannot selectively learn what is convenient or oppose advances for the reason of habit.

I will go one step further: I support the implementation of Meatless Mondays at all dining halls across campus. This would not be an attack on student liberty, but an opportunity for the University to make a statement about environmentalism and reinforce University values. As a University, we should practice environmental stewardship and take measures to reduce our carbon footprint. Meatless Mondays are a great step forward on behalf of Michigan Dining.

These days provide a way for the entire Michigan community to make a difference. It is the University’s responsibility to raise public awareness surrounding this issue specifically, as well as other environmental issues.

For these reasons, I object to the unfounded student attacks against the University’s leadership. Let’s get behind Meatless Mondays, rather than attacking a University initiative that benefits the environment and educates the University’s students. Meatless Mondays are an opportunity for us all to lead by example rather than an opportunity to complain and ignore an inconvenient truth.

Orignally published on 11/9/2015

FROM THE DAILY

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Vote Clinton, Kasich

he Michigan primary elections bring four Republican candidates and two Democratic candidates to the ballot box.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and Hillary Clinton have had a strong presence in Michigan this week. On Sunday night, both debated in Flint, and Monday, Bernie rallied students in the Crisler Center while Hillary assembled faithful supporters in Detroit. Despite Sanders’ inspiring policy agendas and Obama-esque hope, it is with confidence that The Michigan Daily Editorial Board endorses Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nominee.

Clinton is an experienced, qualified and diplomatic leader. She has served as a U.S. senator from New York, the secretary of state and as the first lady.

As secretary of state, she worked on global policy including sanctions to Iran and a ceasefire in Israel and supported Obama in bringing Osama bin Laden to justice. She may have proved her preparedness for the job as president Sunday evening in her opening statement. Sanders stated that Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder should resign and Clinton followed, saying Snyder should resign or be recalled, but added discussion about how Flint can get help now. Clinton has the experience and the expertise to implement the changes cities like Flint need.

Furthermore, having a woman as president has the potential to fundamentally change how our country views women. This is certainly not the only reason she should get the female vote, but like Obama her position in the White House will be condusive to social progress. Clinton as president can serve as a symbol for how far women can go, setting the stage for more female leaders in the future. As with every election, none of these candidates are perfect. But we are at an important stage in our country’s history and it is crucial to vote accordingly.

Sanders has created a etoric surrounding college tuition that is undeniably inspiring, calling for free tuition at all public universities.

However, Clinton has sturdy policies that address student debt and hold colleges and universities accountable for making changes toward affordability — policies that are much more likely to gain bipartisan support.Sanders also speaks passionately about big money in elections and essential campaign finance reform. Though change in this area is a noble goal, it’s far from the most important thing voters

should consider in casting their vote during primaries. Yes, Clinton’s top donors are huge companies that represent big business interests — interests that do not align with ours.

But the fact still remains that Clinton has the social stances and has support from industries to make a real change.

Clinton has changed a tremendous amount throughout her political career, with extreme flip-flopping on social issues and a lack of transparency on this flip-flopping, until recently. This warrants hesitation in trusting Clinton to stay strong to her policies. However, we choose to believe her ability to grow and learn from her changes shows a productive, nuanced and detailoriented approach to changes in policy that naturally reflect changes in our nation’s culture.

We watched Obama win the presidential election with a campaign promoting hope and optimism to the masses. And we have now watched eight years in which Obama worked tirelessly, and many times futility, to pass legislation on many of these hopes he had for our country. Though Sanders’ platform has this same hope and it is admirable, it is not realistic.

Presidents have a day job beyond promoting a political-revolution rhetoric and Clinton has the policy agendas, experience and resources to be president. *** In the Republican primary race, we find an atmosphere characterized by aggressive rhetoric that is racist, sexist, bigoted and lacking in any substantive stances on policies. Out of this mess, Ohio Governor John Kasich (R) has emerged as the most sensible option for Republican voters.

With ample experience as a member of the House Budget Committee and governor of Ohio, Kasich has a track record of not just addressing policy issues, but working in tandem with Democrats to pass legislation.

Kasich has demonstrated his

pragmatism in policies such as accepting the Medicaid expansion of Obamacare — something many Republican governors refused to do. He accepts the realities of manmade climate change, whereas other Republican candidates have refused to accept even the existence of global warming. He was influential in balancing federal budgets by collaborating with a Democratic president, Bill Clinton. As governor of a state with substantial ideological diversity, Kasich has been keen on approaching issues with practicality in mind.

Unfortunately for the governor, his relatively moderate views have gained him less than desirable polling results. The Republican voting bloc has contributed to candidates’ gradual shift alarmingly far to the right, to the point where the frontrunner is a self-avowed bigot. The two other candidates with the most delegates are darlings of the ultraconservative Tea Party Movement.

Kasich is proving to be the best out of several bad options.

Kasich is certainly not without his faults. In Ohio he is currently pushing for legislation that would defund Planned Parenthood — a critical provider of women’s health services beyond just abortion.

He has also advocated the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, a policy that would effectively strip the health coverage of millions.

However, compared to the rest of the Republican slate, there is a stark difference between Kasich’s approach and those of his competitors. For Republican voters looking for someone who has not succumbed to the unfortunate state of affairs in the Republican presidential race, John Kasich is the only viable option.

Originally published on 3/8/2016.

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Caitlin Heenan, Jeremy Kaplan, Ben Keller, Minsoo Kim, Payton Luokkala, Kit Maher, Madeline Nowicki, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Jason Rowland, Lauren Schandevel, Melissa Scholke, Kevin Sweitzer, Rebecca Tarnopol, Ashley Tjhung, Stephanie Trierweiler, Hunter Zhao.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

CAMPUS IN REVIEW

NEWS

1C — Fall 2016

newMICH ticket wins Central Student Government election

September 10, 2015 President Mark Schlissel discusses alcohol abuse and sexual assault with students representing Greek life, saying party culture tainted the University’s reputation.

September 17, 2015 President Mark Schlissel appoints Marschall Runge as the dean of the Medical School, in addition to his current position as the CEO of the University Health System.

November 19, 2015 Black Student Union honors the second anniversary of #BBUM Twitter campaign, in which students of color shared their experiences as Black students at the University.

newMICH wins executive spots, but not majority of representative seats

By TIM COHN and JENNIFER MEER Daily Staff Reporters

January 24, 2016 LSA reviews the impact of current race and ethnicity requirements to better guide the diversity, equity and inclusion plan to improve access and equity on campus.

February 18, 2016 University Health Services confirms a campus-wide norovirus outbreak, causing more than 100 students to get treated, and traces the cases back to South dining hall.

March 15, 2016 Although it has been six months since John Seto, former police chief of Ann Arbor, took over as housing security director, some students still are not comfortable with his appointment.

March 25, 2016 LSA juniors David Schafer and Micah Griggs are elected as CSG president and vice-president after running on a platform of expanding student support programs and career opportunities.

March 29, 2016 The Daily takes a look at Mcity, which is created in partnership with auto industries and the government. Mcity, located on North Campus, focuses on autonomous vehicles.

April 3, 2016 TED x U of M is held at the Power Center, focusing on creating and responding to change. The conference features more than ten TED-style talks from Ann Arbor community members.

June 26, 2016 The first annual Ann Arbor Health Hackathon brainstorms solutions to global healthcare problems, especially preventing diseases in underserved areas of the developing world.

MARCH 25, 2016 - LSA juniors David Schafer and Micah Griggs will be the 2016 Central Student Government president and vice president, according to unofficial election results released early Saturday morning.

The results will not be made official untilpending litigation is resolved. As of Friday night, four lawsuits were still pending, including several filed minutes before unofficial results were released.

The newMICH ticket of Schafer and Griggs defeated Public Policy junior Thomas Hislop, and LSA junior Cameron Dotson from the Your Michigan party by a margin of 59 votes, 3,811 votes to 3,752.

LSA senior Keysha Wall and LSA sophomore Chalse Okorom, the Defend Affirmative Action Party presidential candidate and vice presidential candidates, garnered 390 votes for third place.

Overall turnout was at roughly 20 percent of the student body, a 2 percent decrease from last year’s record turnout. This is the second-closest vote margin over the past decade in CSG history, following last year’s five vote victory for Make Michigan. newMICH ran on a platform of expanding student opportunities through mentorship programs, amplifying student voice in CSG, improving connection by instituting scholarships for low income students, and ensuring student well-being and safety by expanding Counseling and Psychological Services and Sexual Assault and Prevention Awareness Center services to North Campus. Additionally, they hope to place a student on the Board of Regents during their tenure in office, though it’s unclear whether the addition of a student is legal under Michigan’s constitution.

In remarks after the votes were released, Schafer said the first initiative the party aims to achieve would be Intergroup Relations training for all CSG representatives and Assembly members. He also noted the margin of victory for the party, calling it a powerful statement of the importance of both newMICH and Your Michigan.

“We are just humbled, humbled that thousands of students have put their trust in us, and they believed in us, and I think that it can not go unnoticed that there are so many students who voted for the first time in a Central Student Government election during their tenure here at the University because they hoped and believed in what we had to say and what we stood for,” Schafer said. “We are excited to work with every single individual, of all parties.”

Overall, he said working closely with the University administration will be important going forward to achieve his administration’s goals.

One piece of the party’s platform in particular — creating a student presence on the Board of Regents — promptedquestions about feasibility and legality in the leadup to the elections.

“I think it’s a matter of sitting down with the University administration and having these conversations about our ambitious ideas.” Schafer said.

“I think it’s going to be about engaging students, and engaging the administration, and to work on achieving these goals, or at least paving the way for us to achieve these goals.”

Griggs also noted that it was

important to work not only with the University administration, but also with the newly elected CSG representatives to push their upcoming agenda.

According to the unofficial results, Your Michigan representatives will outnumber newMICH representatives 22 to 31 on the new assembly. However, Schafer said he does not foresee any difficulty with that balance.

“I think it’s just a matter of sitting down with Your Michigan, and everyone who supported Your Michigan and getting to know them and their communities better, and working with them and their communities,” Schafer said. “Understanding that we come from the same community, cut from the same cloth, and that as Michigan students we are all here for the same reasons, to better this campus and same community.”

LSA sophomore Anushka Sarkar, chief programming officer in CSG and newMICH campaign manager, said moving forward the administration plans to combine the efforts of both parties as they contain similar goals.

“I think that it’s also important to ensure that the issues that students supported that students See CSG, Page 13C

Schlissel to Greek Life: Party culture devalues University In first all chapter gathering, administrators call for turning point

By EMMA KINERY and LARA MOEHLMAN Daily Staff Reporters

SEPT. 10, 2015 - University President Mark Schlissel discussed alcohol abuse and sexual assault — problems he said are rampant among the Greek community — during a gathering of students from every chapter of University Greek life Thursday.

The meeting marked the first of its kind, in which members of every University Greek life chapter gathered for the first time in their 170-year history on campus.

Schlissel’s argument centered on the ways in which an unfettered party culture stains the University’s reputation — not only for current students, but for the 500,000 people who graduated before them.

“The value of their degrees are gonna go down because the reputation of the University of Michigan won’t be the excitement in the Big House or our teams doing well under our fantastic new coach,” Schlissel said. “It’s not gonna be the kids who receive the Rhodes Scholarships and the Fulbright Scholarships, and

the famous professors who do the work that you’re going to get reflected on for, or the National Medal for the Arts that our faculty won this past week. It’s going to be the ‘Shmacked’ videos.

So it’s really up to you what the value of your education is going to be, what the reputation of this institution’s going to be.”

The talk was met with mixed reactions, with some students coughing loudly when Schlissel, along with other administrators, mentioned problems such as low Greek participation in the University’s sexual assault survey, among other issues.

Each fraternity and sorority was required to have at least 70 percent of its chapter attend the meeting. Those that failed to comply will face a semester of social probation, a letter to their national organization and a $1,000 fine.

The meeting comes after a year of magnified tumult in the Greek community, marked by national press coverage of numerous fraternity “ski trips” gone wrong last winter, in addition to increased scrutiny of the role of Greek life in excessive party culture in university settings throughout the country.

Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones told members of Greek life that the issues facing their community are grave.

“I fear some of you have embraced a work-hard, play-hard mentality and that you may have

FILE PHOTO/Daily

University President Mark Schlissel speaks to students during a fireside chat in September, 2014

taken to the extreme what has us on this downward spiral, and we know we have to turn this around,” she said. “It’s clear to me that if we can’t begin to make meaningful, student-led progress and change immediately on our campus, the future of sorority and fraternity life as we know it is in peril.”

Issues on campus Though Greek life represents just 22 percent of students on campus, administrators emphasized the influence members wield on campus culture.

Thursday’s meeting comes as administrators continue to emphasize the dire need for culture change in the Greek community — a point with which Blake Jones opened the conversation.

“I’m hoping tonight will be remembered as a turning point when the Greek community came together, reinforced and recognized its positive attributes, contributions and influence and was willing to thoughtfully reflect and consider the need for significant changes in the

community,” Blake Jones said.

In particular, administrators said they fear the impact of Greek life-organized parties on the University’s image.

Blake Jones said the popularity of the 2012 “I’m Shmacked” video — which showcased and glorified the party scene featuring University students — ultimately casts a shadow over the institution. The result: potential students are drawn in for the wrong reasons or others are turned off for fear of a wild social scene.

This was a point that Mary Jo Desprez, director of Wolverine Wellness, spoke to in anexclusive interview with The Michigan Daily on Sept. 4. She said balancing this kind of negative picture of the University with more positive messages that better reflect the school’s values is increasingly difficult in the digital age.

“The one thing that’s different today that we didn’t have to deal with 10 or 15 years ago is the 24/7 instant visual of party,” she said. “For those of you who saw See GREEK, Page 14C

2C — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

‘U’ traces norovirus outbreak to South Quad University confirms illness affects more than 100 students

By ALEXA ST.JOHN Daily Staff Reporter

FEB. 18, 2016 - The office of Public Affairs and the University Health Services confirmed Friday that the cause of the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak among University staff and students was the norovirus.

In regards to the more than 100 students are reported to have gone to receive treatment to date, Dr. Robert Winfield, the university’s chief health officer, said the number of students getting infected may exceed the University’s records.

“We believe that this number does not reflect the actual extent of the illness, as students are generally following our advice to self-isolate in their rooms,” Dr. Robert Winfield, the university’s chief health officer, said. “As we head into the weekend and the number of social activities increase on campus, it is especially important for individuals to practice good hand hygiene and to avoid sharing food and drinks.”

In a statement Monday, Winfield said he believes the outbreak has stabalized on campus.

“We believe the outbreak has stabilized as just a handful of new cases were reported over the weekend,” Winfield said. “The new cases were not concentrated in one specific area on campus.”

By Thursday afternoon, the number of cases of norovirus on campus had grown by an additional 30 cases on top of the 75-100 reported as of Wednesday according to Robert Winfield, executive director

of the University of Michigan Health Services.

Winfield said most cases from earlier in the week could be traced back to South and West Quad dining halls. However he noted the outbreak may have now spread beyond the dining halls.

“It appears that most (cases) have been identified as at South and West Quads, but we’ve had as of yesterday — and I don’t know (the information as of ) this morning — cases that have been seen in North Quad, Baits and Markley,” Winfield said.

“Those are small numbers as far as I know. I really don’t have numbers with respect to housing, this is just what we’ve seen in health services.”

Dining hall attendance seems to have drastically decreased over the past few days, as demonstrated by a feature in the Michigan app that shows how full the dining halls are at any given moment.

However, Winfield said now there is no need for students to be concerned about eating at the dining halls. All of the food present in South Quad on Monday was taken away and the area has been extensively cleaned, according to Winfield.

“There’s something that seems it’s in common with South Quad and West Quad dining services, but we have cases where we can’t make that connection,” Winfield said.

“Those foods are available to us for trying to identify source of illness, but they are gone from the service of food.”

In an e-mail to all LSA department chairs, to be shared with faculty members Thursday night, Monika R. Dressler, Director, LSA Instructional Support Services, provided protocol for if a student throws up or becomes sick in a classroom.

Protocol includes, “Have someone escort the student to

MATT VAILLIENCOURT/Daily

Special precautions are being taken at South Quad and other University dining halls to prevent the spread of any contagious illnesses

University Health Services or, if the student is in severe distress, call 911. Call LSA Instructional Support Services734-615-0100 immediately. ISS staff will call Plant Operations to send out a cleaning crew. LSA ISS and the Registrar’s Office will work to find alternate spaces for classes (if possible) until Building Services has had time to execute their cleaning protocol.”

In the email, Dressler confirmed at least one student has thrown up in a classroom so far. Have your students leave the room as best as they are able.

Winfield also noted that the number of cases being reported at this time are just rough estimates, saying that the University has encouraged students to avoid seeking medical services unless absolutely necessary, to avoid further spread of the illness.

This has resulted in there being no reliable way of knowing for sure what percentage of those affected are coming in and what percentage are not seeking medical help.

“Now that the word is out, which is, ‘it’s going around’ and ‘don’t come in unless you need to,’ we really have no good way of grasping the total number,” Winfield said. “From that, we can say it is continuing, but we don’t know whether it’s continuing up, flattening out or starting to drop down, and we won’t be able to find that out from these numbers.”

The best treatment, he added, depends on how sick a student is.

“We encourage people to start with ice chips if they’ve been vomiting, and then see if they can tolerate sips of water,” he said.

Once a student can drink water, doctors suggest drinking liquids such as Gatorade to

rehydrate. Winfield said it could take anywhere between a couple of hours up to three days for someone to start feeling better.

Over the past few days students have expressed concerns about the University’s spread of the notification about the virus and ongoing efforts related to academic accommodations for sick students.

Engineering freshman Steven McPherson, also a resident of South Quad, said he would have preferred to be made aware of the illness sooner. “ I really would have liked a notification e-mail earlier than two days after people started throwing up everywhere,” McPherson said.

Both McPherson and LSA freshman Cameron Misko said they found out about the illness from social media, particularly Yik Yak, and word of mouth.

Winfield said there were initial doubts about what was happening that justified the delay.

“I really wasn’t sure what was going on at first and perhaps overly cautious in getting out a communication before I understood what was going on,” Winfield said. “I was hesitant to communicate before I had a better sense of what was happening.”

Kim Broekhuizen, public affairs and media relations representative for Public Affairs, highlighted in an e-mail to the Daily that the University e-mail to students specified that students who were affected by the illness should isolate themselves until they are without symptoms for 48 hours.

The Office of the Provost has also released an e-mail to deans, encouraging faculty members to be flexible with regard to accommodating students who

“A lot of my friends...got sick”

report being ill and would be unable to attend class, take exams or turn in assignments, Broekhuizen said.

“We are still waiting for test results to confirm whether the outbreak is norovirus,” Broekhuizen wrote.

“That information is expected tomorrow afternoon or Monday.”

Professors of Stats 250, the most enrolled-in course on campus, released an e-mail Thursday specifying special midterm accommodations for students who are sick or who feel they may be sick. Reports of similar emails have been confirmed in various University classes.

“If you have experienced the symptoms that have been reported ... in the past few days and have not felt well for two days past the experience of these symptoms, do not attend Exam 1 this evening,” the e-mail read.

“We do not want you to have to take the exam while ill and do not want to expose students who would not otherwise be exposed to this illness.”

Amir Baghdadchi, director of communications for University Housing, said the most crucial thing sick students can do is isolate themselves from others.

“We have to remember that illnesses like this are extremely contagious,” Baghdadchi said.

“We’re encouraging students to stay in their rooms and avoid going to classes. If you want to get well, until 48 hours after you feel those symptoms, you should stay in your room.”

Baghdadchi acknowledged that many students, especially those sick, are concerned about getting their meals.

“Students are using Feelbetter meals, and what the students sick can do, is they can actually work with a friend to order that meal and then have that friend deliver it for them,” Baghdadchi said.

“We’re making this as available as we can for all the students who have meal plans who live in the halls.”

For students who are not affected, Baghdadchi agreed with Winfield and said there is little reason to hesitate going to the dining halls.

“Those who aren’t ill will find when they go to the dining halls that we have stepped up cleaning procedures across our system, in all residence halls and in all dining centers,” Baghdadchi said. “We are, across all residence hall bathrooms and all dining halls, using a higher level protocol for cleaning. Extra measures are being taken to keep it safe.”

There are indicators that this is not a foodborne illness but a viral-based illness, Baghdadchi added.

“We are using this special higher-level protocol, where we use cleaning agents approved by the federal government that targets specifically norovirus,”

Baghdadchi said. “The intensity of cleaning is much greater and it’s actually designed to target this kind of outbreak.”

Jeff Bogos, kitchen manager at Au Bon Pain said the staff at Au Bon Pain has been working to maintain cleaning procedures and has brought in extra hand sanitation.

“We don’t want that to spread any worse than it already has,” Bogos said.

Because produce at Au Bon Pain is ordered daily, Bogos said the restaurant has been ordering extra food to keep up with the high demands.

“We’re up probably 40 to 50 percent (in sales),” Bogos said. “The feedback from the students is they don’t want to eat (at South Quad) and I don’t blame them.”

Sick students have also complained about having difficulty getting in contact with their professors and getting special accommodations, particularly for midterms.

“The University is communicating all across faculty and through the Record and many channels so that all faculty and instructors know that this is going on on campus, and this is what students are dealing with,” Baghdadchi said.

LSA freshman Kyra Jamison lives in West Quad and said she knows two people who have been affected by the suspected norovirus.

“One of them went to UHS,” Jamison said, adding she later decided to go home to Sterling Heights to recover. “The other one said she didn’t want to walk there so she’s staying in her room all day.”

Misko who lives in South Quad, said the majority of his hall has been experiencing telltale symptoms of the norovirus.

“A lot of friends from my hall (got sick),” Misko said. “One of them did (go to UHS), but most of the other ones are just trying to handle it on their own. They are isolating themselves.”

For students who have not yet caught the illness, yet live with roommates who are sick, Misko said from what he has seen, many people are trying to avoid their roommates.

However, considering close quarters, Misko noted it seemed impossible to avoid the illness completely.

Freshman Javin Etchison, who studies exercise science at Washtenaw Community College and works at South Quad dining hall, said the dining hall has been making adjustments based on the recent outbreak.

“We’re still preparing the same food, just a little more cautiously, a lot more washing hands, changing gloves,” Etchison said. “Instead of students being able to grab the food themselves, we serve the food to them, so they can’t touch food and put it back.”

“Illnesses like this are extremely contagious”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

3C — Fall 2016

DIVERSITY

LSA reviews Race and Ethnicity requirement College conducts surveys, forums to gauge student experiences

By CAMY METWALLY Daily Staff Reporter

JAN. 24, 2016 - In coordination with diversity initiatives on campus, LSA is reviewing the impact of the current race and ethnicity requirement.

In September 2015, University President Mark Schlissel announced goals for individual units to collaborate with faculty, staff and students to design Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plans, which in turn would be used to create a comprehensive, University-wide strategic plan.

LSA is currently in the process of gathering and analyzing data to better guide its DEI plan, which is due in mid-March.

Angela Dillard, associate dean for undergraduate education, said the college is focusing on reviewing the race and ethnicity requirement and the Comprehensive Studies Program, in particular, to improve access and equity on campus.

LSA junior Sean Pitt, CSG chief of staff and member of the R&E review committee, said the description of the requirement, where it addresses class focus, is vague.

“It provides a space in which faculty may be able to deviate from the intention of the requirement,” Pitt said.

The LSA website describes the R&E requirement as a course that “addresses issues that arise from racial or ethnic intolerance.”

The classes must also satisfy two criteria: required content and required focus. The required content encompasses specific guidelines for the class, and the required focus calls for R&E courses to “devote substantial,

but not necessarily exclusive, attention to the required content.”

The LSA R&E review committee — charged with investigating the R&E requirement and making recommendations — consists of nine faculty members, four staff members, two undergraduate students, one graduate student and one postdoctoral researcher.

The goal is to understand students’ experiences and assess their learning within R&E courses, according to Dillard.

Dillard said the taskforce is conducting quantitative and qualitative research to inform recommendations. She cited focus groups, surveys, evaluation and administrative data, historical research and discourse analysis as examples of the research involved in such a process.

“We can’t make any recommendations about what to add until we have more data and evidence, and that’ll help to shape some of the things that we think

we know,” Dillard said. “And sometimes what you think you know is just not born out in the data itself and you have to change your assumptions.”

This year, LSA also implemented several other methods to collect feedback and evaluate students’ experiences within R&E classes. On Jan. 11, students who fulfilled their R&E requirement in the fall received an e-mail from Dillard inviting them to participate in an online Canvas-based discussion of the race & ethnicity degree requirement.

As well, about 70 students attended two forums this fall to provide feedback on the R&E requirement. Pitt noted that most attendees spoke in favor of maintaining and strengthening the requirement. Their feedback largely fell into three main categories: course content, course structure and course support.

In terms of reforming course content, Pitt said many students

at the forums expressed a desire for greater relevancy in their R&E classes. They favored content and courses focusing on issues of race and ethnicity applicable to society today.

“Our country and our campus is facing major issues with race and ethnicity, and it’s important that we’re able to take what we’re learning in a class dedicated to R&E and apply it to be able to interact in the society we’re living in today,” Pitt said.

The forums also brought to light issues of course structure, particularly course size. Pitt said participants preferred smaller courses to large lectures, but they were open to lectures if discussion sections adequately facilitated honest dialogue and nurtured a comfortable environment.

However, students also pointed out that GSIs may not always be properly able to lead such sensitive dialogues. Some suggested inviting a professional

from Intergroup Relations to facilitate the initial discussion section if GSIs are not trained or prepared to do so.

“It’s important that if we are transitioning to a discussionbased format, then they need to be able to make sure that students are feeling comfortable and willing to speak on behalf of their experiences,” Pitt said.

Pitt also stressed a need for greater outside support for students, faculty and GSIs involved in R&E courses, proposing a concept similar to the Sweetland Writing Center.

“For the writing requirement, we have a center dedicated to providing students and faculty with support, and when it comes to the R&E courses where oftentimes people probably feel more uncomfortable addressing these issues, we have no real support for faculty or students,” Pitt said.

In conjunction with student See LSA, Page 8C

CRIME

Six months later, students bristle at new housing director University Housing security director was involved in Aura Rosser case

By RIYAH BASHA Daily Staff Reporter

MARCH 15 2016 - 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

focused on the student body.

That is, until last summer.

Seto was the police chief of Ann Arbor at the time of Rosser’s death, and steadfastlydefended the police officer in question throughout the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s short investigation. He also oversaw the introduction of diversity awareness training and body cameras to the city police force, while affirming that Reid acted in self-defense.

Seto retired from the Ann Arbor Police Department the July after Rosser’s death, with a resume totalling a 25-year-long career in law enforcement — a career that began in University of Michigan Housing. When the

Division of Public Security and Safetyannounced at the beginning of the 2015 school year that Seto would return out of retirement to lead his old department as the director of Housing Security, University officials applauded his decision. Eddie Washington, the executive director of DPSS, cited Seto’s partnership on student safety initiatives in particular at the time of his hiring.

“Throughout his service, he built a strong record of leadership, community engagement and collaboration,” Washington wrote in an e-mail interview with the Daily.

More than a semester later, though, Seto’s position at the University remains a point of

contention for student activists.

Rackham student Maryam Aziz, an Ann Arbor Alliance for Black Lives organizer, denounced Seto’s hiring last summer, and said on March 9 she still stands by her critiques of his stances.

“It’s the fact that he’s unwilling to acknowledge or affirm people’s assertions that he took part in her death,” she said. “Even bigger than him, it’s the fact that someone who is in a position of power in the city can invalidate people’s concerns.”

Seto declined comment on cases he worked on for the city.

For some students, however, the issue goes beyond the specific case at hand, and to a potential See DPS, Page 15C

4C — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

BSU meets for twoyear anniversary of #BBUM at Trotter Students reflect on progress toward goals, current campus climate

By ALYSSA BRANDON Daily Staff Reporter

NOV. 19, 2015 - As the Black Student Union honors the second anniversary of its 2013 #BBUM Twitter campaign, dozens crowded into the Trotter House Multicultural Center on Thursday night for a candid conversation on the lasting impacts of the campaign on the University.

Started by Black Student Union members as way for students of color to share their experiences as Black students on campus, in November 2013, #BBUM went viral, accumulating more than 10,000 tweets by the first evening of its launch.

The movement captivated the attention of the University community and inspired similar efforts at other college campuses.

During Thursday’s event, which was hosted by the BSU, members displayed tweets from 2014 that were critical of the #BBUM movement.

Some attendees connected negative reactions to #BBUM with negative reactions to arecent campus demonstration on the Diag in solidarity with protests at the University of Missouri.

Several shared Facebook comments and tweets posted during and after the Diag demonstration. Another student shared an anecdote of a friend being threatened by a white man not to participate in the demonstration.

During the event, University

alum Veniece Session said there are still strides to be made in building a stronger Black community at the University.

“Being a freshman here, when I first got here, I felt like I wasn’t a good enough Black student because I wasn’t involved yet. I didn’t know what Black organizations I wanted to join,” she said. “If we as upperclassmen are here and seeing new faces, let’s be inclusive and talk to Black people. Talk to people you haven’t seen before. Let’s have some type of inclusivity within our own culture so there isn’t a hierarchy of Blackness.”

Attendees also reflected on a 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Day demonstration held by BSU members on the steps of Hill Auditorium.

Holding black signs with tweets written in white chalk, members protested low minority enrollment and demanded the University meet seven goals for improving campus climate and diversity of the student body.

A new location for the Trotter Center and an improved race and ethnicity requirement were among the demands made by the BSU. Additionally, the BSU demanded an increase to Black student enrollment equal to 10 percent.

The University has since addressed some of the demands outlined by the BSU, including granting the organization $60,000, for funding a variety of student groups on campus, an increase from the $37,000 previously allocated to the organization. The University also approved Intergroup Relations courses to count toward the race and ethnicity distribution requirement, and increased the classes’ credit value from two credits to three.

GREG GOSS/Daily

LSA sophomore Breanna Wyrick talks about her personal experiences with BBUM during the two-year commemoration at the Trotter Multicultural Center

Officials also digitized Bentley Historical Library documents with information on the Black Action Movement of the 1960s. The BSU made the demand with the aim of increasing the University’s transparency on past dealings with Black student activists.

During Thursday’s event, one student said he thinks it’s unnecessary to keep making new demands when the demands from previous Black activist movements haven’t been met.

Former BSU Treasurer Robert Greenfield, a University alum, said gaining total support from the Black community on campus is necessary to substantiate the demands.

“We first need 100-percent buyin of the Black community, and the problem is that in the past, action movements and social action on campus, there hasn’t been that 100-percent buy-in,” he said. “The football players and basketball players, we need them. I think that in the University setting, that’s the only way we’re gonna really get those demands met.”

Discussions between the BSU,

University administration and other community members are ongoing. Last week, the University held a weeklong Diversity Summit intended to garner input from the community about improving equality and inclusion on campus.

In a statement Thursday, University President Mark Schlissel thanked the BSU for participating in a meeting with him and E. Royster Harper, vice president for student life.

“I would further like to thank the members of the Black Student Union who joined Vice President Harper and me last Friday for breakfast, as part of our ongoing dialogue over the past year,” he said. “Though the breakfast had been scheduled for weeks, the timing gave us the opportunity to discuss the nationwide campus issues of racism and inequality.”

Schlissel also lauded students for engaging in dialogues about racism and discrimination on college campuses.

Along with discussing campus efforts over the past few years, presenters Thursday also dedicated time to celebrating how

#BBUM had strengthened ties within the Black community.

BSU Political Action Chair Diego Zimmerman, a sophomore in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the College of Engineering, said he remembered the warm greetings he received when he came to his first BSU meeting.

“I remember my first BSU meeting: Everybody said ‘What’s up,’ met everyone, had the best time,” he said. “I remember that feeling of community I never got anywhere else. I remembered I need to stay here — my family is here.”

LSA senior Arnold Reed, former BSU speaker, said throwing tailgates on game days helped draw Black students closer together and is something younger students should also emulate.

“I want you guys to know, especially younger students, when it comes to throwing events or doing things that you feel like you don’t normally have access to, do it,” he said. “Know that this group right here is going to always support you.”

During the event, Kinesiology senior Cap Kendall said building relationships with faculty members would also be helpful in unifying the Black community.

“I think oftentimes as undergraduates you often forget that there are faculty and professional students who are also our allies (and) are here to help us,” she said. “We need to open up more and let them participate in conversation like this.”

In an interview with The Michigan Daily after the event, LSA senior Chris James, a BSU executive board member, said holding Thursday’s event was vital in inspiring younger Black students to continue the efforts of past BSU members. “#BBUM started two years, so with the new incoming freshmen, they don’t always get to see the up close and personal of what happens on campus before they got here,” he said. “It’s so important to have this so they can carry it with themselves and keep holding the University accountable for what they say they’re gonna do. We have to keep this fire going.”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

5C — Fall 2016

ADMINISTRATION

ACADEMICS

Runge appointed as medical New, improved Medical School school dean and UMHS CEO curriculum in effect this year Regents combine two positions, effective January 1

By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter

SEPT. 17, 2015 - University President Mark Schlissel recommended Wednesday that Marschall Runge, the current executive vice president for medical affairs and CEO of the University of Michigan Health System, be additionally appointed dean of the Medical School, effective Jan. 1.

Schlissel said he hopes the appointment will facilitate joint research between the Medical School and UMHS, sparking new collaborations between medical research, education and patient care.

“I know he shares my enthusiasm for this shared alignment of all aspects of our mission and he looks forward to carrying it forward through the health system organization,” Schlissel said.

Runge’s new position as dean is part of an effort to restructure leadership at UMHS. According to Runge, UMHS has not seen the same innovation or excellence in past decade as it has in prior years.

“In many areas we continue to do well, but in others we have missed opportunities to build upon our success and on our potential,” he said.

He said for UMHS to regain its position of excellence among top medical centers, the University must hire leaders willing to take risks, make better decisions and strengthen performance in the health system and medical school.

Runge was appointed by the

regents to lead UMHS in 2014.

He previously served as the executive dean for the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Michael Johns, former Emory chancellor and executive vice president for health affairs, had filled the role in an interim capacity after the departure of former UMHS CEO Ora Pescovitz.

She announced she her departure from the University after five years in the position.

James Woolliscroft, the school’s current dean, said in an e-mail to the Medical School Community, obtained by The Michigan Daily, that he has long advocated for combining the two roles. He said he would step down in January after serving as deansince 2007.

“By explicitly and visibly linking these pieces in our … mission of research, education and patient care in one person, we enable the seamless connection between the people and resources of the medical school and the hospitals and health centers, while creating a transparent structure for both timely action and accountability,” Schlissel said.

Regent Shauna RyderDiggs (D) said the integration of patient care, research and education will make UMHS a national leader in these realms.

“This merging of our responsibilities we are discussing today is the next logical step in this process,” Ryder-Diggs said.

The first new leadership position is the executive vice

dean for clinical affairs at the Medical School and president of the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers and University of Michigan Medical Group.

Internal Medicine Prof.

David Spahlinger, currently the senior associate dean for clinical affairs and executive director of UMMG, will take this position beginning Jan. 1.

Runge said integrating the clinical enterprise with the Medical School is part of his plan to better integrate research, patient care and education within UMHS and the Medical School.

“This will drive for greater innovation, better progress and ultimately better care for patients,” he said.

Before serving as senior associate dean, Spahlinger was chief medical resident at the University during his residency in the 1980s. In 1997, he became the first medical director of the University Faculty Group Practice when it was formed.

A senior vice president and chief operating officer of the University Hospitals and Health Centers and the University Medical Group was also appointed. T. Anthony Denton, current CEO of University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, will serve in the role. Denton will work to align medical school education and research with clinical enterprise operations.

Denton began as an administrative fellow at UHMS in 1981 and served as CEO of UMHHC for 10 years.

“The merging... is the next logical step”

Changes to emphasize clinical experiences during program’s first years

By SANJAY REDDY Daily Staff Reporter

OCT. 8, 2015 - Two years ago, the American Medical Association awarded a $1.1 million grant to the University’s Medical School to implement comprehensive curricular changes. This year, the changes are going into effect.

Rajesh Mangrulkar, associate dean for medical student education at the University, is leading the way in implementing the changes.

The new curriculum exposes students to the clinical setting as early as their first year and teaches them to have a greater understanding of the sociology and humanitarian side of medicine.

Mangrulkar said these changes represent an initiative to improve the traditional medical school curriculum, which often consists of teaching basic science and anatomy for the first two years, then clinical science for the last two years.

In line with this vision, one of the programs the Medical School launched this year was an “initial clinical experience” for its first-year students. This program allows students to see firsthand how healthcare teams come together to provide good patient care, Mangrulkar said.

“Before, shadowing doctors and being in the clinic during the first year of med school was something you had to arrange

for yourself,” said Charlie Frank, a first-year Medical School student, said. “But now, every other week we are in a clinic, shadowing a diverse healthcare team that not only includes doctors but includes other important healthcare professionals such as nursing assistants and social workers.”

In addition, a new “doctoring” course has been established for first-year students, where they will learn about clinical and interpersonal skills in medicine in an intimate setting with two faculty members who will work with them for their entire four years.

Lastly, the Medical School has unveiled the MHome learning community for all of its students. The program divides students into houses, and each house has a director, faculty members, and students of all medical school years, Mangrulkar said.

This allows students to work within a smaller community, plan community service events and focus on integrating their learning across the curriculum.

Ed Hur, a secondyear Medical School student, said MHome provides a great opportunity for older Medical School students to mentor younger ones.

“The idea of the MHome is to bridge the gap between first-, second-, third- and fourth-year med students,” Hur said. “We often have meet and greets with the first-year students, where older students like myself can

give them advice on things such as research opportunities.”

Facility renovations accompany the curriculum changes. Among these is the Taubman Health Sciences Library, which underwent a $55 million renovation. The new library was designed to bolster the improved model of medical school education.

“The new library supports team-based learning that focuses on problem solving,” Mangrulkar said. “This will support the idea of students being change agents in society.”

Curricular changes are not being introduced all at once, Mangrulkar said.

For example, the “Paths of Excellence” programs that were designed to allow students to focus on a specific area of medicine are being introduced gradually. Initially optional, they will now become mandatory for the incoming Medical School class.

Frank said initial feedback from the curricular changes has been positive overall.

“The way medicine has been taught for a long time is now outdated,” he said. “The best doctors of the future are those that not only have a strong basic science understanding, but also have excellent clinical skills, teamwork skills and a social understanding.

Teaching these skills was nonexistent in medical school education before, but is now at the forefront of the new curriculum.”

“This will support... students being change agents”

6C — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Neil deGrasse Tyson talks place of humans in the universe at Hill Aud. Astrophysicist urges audicence members to explore the sciences

By IRENE PARK Daily Staff Reporter

MARCH 23, 2016 - Neil deGrasse Tyson, an awardwinning astrophysicist, author and television host, visited Ann Arbor Wednesday night for a stop at Hill Auditorium as part of his “An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson” tour. The tour began in January in Los Angeles and ends Thursday in Detroit.

The theme of Tyson’s Wednesday night talk was “cosmic perspective,” which Tyson defined as a view bigger than an

individual’s own perspective that offers a humbling but enlightening outlook of one’s place in time and space.

In his lecture, Tyson stressed that because humans are made of the most abundant elements — such as hydrogen, carbon and oxygen — they are not different or separated from the rest of the universe.

“We are literally stardust — if that doesn’t make you feel large, I don’t know what will,” Tyson said.

“We are not only in the universe, but the universe is in us.”

Tyson also addressed the importance of investing in science, technological, engineering and math research, as well as being comfortable seeing math and science in popular culture. He even suggested featuring STEM researchers on currency. “(It’s) a culture that is not afraid

to display the (STEM) brilliance of their citizens,” Tyson said.

Tyson said integrating the sciences into popular culture will help citizens become more scientifically literate, noting that the United States has both a low global ranking for math literacy in standardized assessments and a low percentage of people who believe in evolution.

In particular, Tyson is known for using Twitter to share his passion for science to a broader audience. During an interview prior to his lecture on Wednesday with the Fox affiliate in Grand Rapids, Tyson said he uses social media to help people understand the sciences.

“I offer people a way to see the world that maybe they have never been taught,” Tyson said in the interview. “You don’t have to be fluent in math or fluent in physics,

but you should at least be open to what’s going on around you.”

Tyson ended his talk with a quote from “Pale Blue Dot,” a book written by Carl Sagan, a late astronomy professor at Cornell University. The quote emphasizes how small and alone Earth is in the universe and how “there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.”

LSA senior Trevor Picard said the quote was the perfect way to end the talk.

“That quote is my favorite,” Picard said. “(I) definitely liked the part where seeing the pale blue dot underscores our responsibility to deal kindly with one another.”

Samantha Musil, an event adviser with Campus Involvement, said Tyson almost did not speak at the University of Michigan, as his promoter

GRANT HARDY/Daily

Neil deGrasse Tyson PhD, head of the Hayden Planetarium, discusses the cosmic perspective –which views humans as significant for not being separate from the universe, but rather as a part of it – in Hill Auditorium on Wednesday

originally considered just doing two shows in Detroit. “(Tyson’s promoter) thought it was possible to do two shows in Detroit because the market was big enough to support multiple events,” Musil said. “We were able to find a date for them for a show in Ann Arbor that coincided with a date in Detroit, which doesn’t always happen. So we’re very glad and fortunate that we were able to

host Dr. Tyson in Ann Arbor.”

Tyson said he is no different from hobbyists who enjoy what they do when he talks about science.

“The passion that I exhibit — it’s not fundamentally different from the passion that people who are really into what they do,” Tyson said. “I don’t think it’s unique to me or to my field. It’s unique to those who love what they do.”

CAMPUS LIFE

Former UN commissioner discusses apartheid and human rights Navanethem Pillay discusses women’s rights, refugees

By CAMY METWALLY For the Daily

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 - In a lecture hall thousands of miles away from South Africa, Judge Navanethem Pillay, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, addressed the University community in a public lecture titled “From South Africa to Rwanda and Syria.”

Though far from the sugar plantations her grandfather worked on as an indentured laborer in South Africa, Pillay spent the last few days on campus, engaging with several student groups for the University of Michigan Law School’s 2015

William W. Bishop Jr. Lecture in International Law. On Sept. 29, she spoke to undergraduates in the Human Rights Initiative as well as a number of law students in various organizations. Wednesday morning she met with the Law School’s human trafficking clinic before delivering a speech in the afternoon.

“I love the fact that students from other disciplines, like engineering and economics, also attend this, not just law students. That’s very good because human rights concerns everyone,” Pillay said.

As a minority in both race and gender, Pillay said she faced many obstacles. However, her real journey began when her father, a bus driver, and her seven siblings struggled to satisfy their hunger — both for food and education.

With schoolteachers walking door to door, the poor community in

which Pillay grew up raised funds to send “the girl with potential” to a university.

“We were all victims of discrimination and deprivation,” Pillay said. “So when I became a lawyer against all odds, it was not a singular achievement.”

When she began practicing as an attorney, gender, race and economic class proved to be growing challenges for Pillay, especially in the climate of apartheid. According to Pillay, after law school, law firms refused to hire her because white secretaries could not work for a black woman. These adversities led to Pillay starting her own law firm in 1967, the first woman to do so in South Africa’s Natal Province.

She has also served as a judge on the International Criminal Court, judge president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and acting judge of the High Court in

South Africa, appointed by Nelson Mandela himself.

“It’s an honor to come hear her speak,” third-year Law student Daniela Tagtachian said. “It’s always good to hear the story of a woman who led such a distinguished life. It’s particularly inspiring hearing a woman speak about such great things.”

In addition to protecting women’s rights and promoting the cause as a respected female role model and co-founder of Equality Now, an international women’s rights organization, Pillay also spoke of growing unrest in the world. She described the last decade as having the greatest number of wars and conflicts in different states at one time.

Pillay also discussed the crisis in Syria and the growing number of refugees. She expressed concern about the treatment of migrants

in Europe, explaining few states have adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers.

“It’s a tragic failure for the cause of human rights … I do hope the people of the United States will direct more of these asylum seekers to their country,” she said.

After her retirement, Pillay has continued to dedicate her life to the betterment of humanity by targeting the next generation. She has visited universities around the world, sharing her experiences with students.

“I hope that (students) will be caring adults, compassionate adults and care for others,” Pillay said.

“Many students I know focus on their careers, and that’s important too. But I hope when they leave here, they will be inspired to care and do something to protect the human rights of others as well.”

The Law School invited Pillay with the hope of inspiring its students and exposing them to issues beyond the Ann Arbor campus.

“We want the students to hear about the problems in the world regarding human rights,” International Law Prof. Steven Ratner said. “We want them to hear about how they can make a difference. How one person can make a difference.”

Students said they valued this unique opportunity and felt connected to the issues facing people around the world.

“I feel very grateful our school can pull in such influential and important speakers,” Public Policy senior Jessica Eller said. “It is a blessing to go to a school like the University of Michigan that can attract such prestigious figures.”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

7C — Fall 2016

Still waiting: examining mental health on campus Students share personal anecdotes coping with mental illnesses in school

By EMMA KINERY Daily News Editor

APRIL 17, 2016 - It was LSA sophomore Lauren Matson’s first night on campus freshman year when she felt it.

“I was walking back with my friend that night through the streets of Ann Arbor, and I just felt this pang of loneliness — this pang of sadness,” Matson said.

It must be homesickness, she thought. Sure, she missed her friends from home, but didn’t everyone on their first night?

The sadness, however, stayed.

Matson began having difficulty eating and keeping food down.

Some days, she would only eat a granola bar or two because of nausea. Within weeks, her bodily sickness began to negatively impact other aspects of her life too. Worried she would feel sudden bouts of queasiness, she didn’t want to leave her dorm and felt anxious about going out with new friends.

“That anxiety was what was leading me to not want to leave my dorm, or go out with my friends to do things in Ann Arbor Welcome Week,” she said.

Transitioning to college Matson’s experience is one that has familiar echoes for a lot of University students — last year 4,197 students sought help from CAPS — and for college students nationwide, with a range of different outcomes, choices and paths for each as they move forward in their college careers and lives.

For Matson, the choice was to go to Counseling and Psychological Services three weeks later, on the

advice of a friend. It wasn’t until November, however, when she would find answers.

She spent months bouncing back and forth between CAPS and University Health Service. A CAPS counselor referred her to UHS, determining the medical staff would be more suited to address her stomach problems.

The lines between physical illness and mental illness blurred.

Matson was put on medication to correct the nausea, but the medication soon stopped working. As time went on, she began to have suicidal thoughts — she said she always knew the problem was with her mind, not her stomach.

When she returned to UHS with the same symptoms of nausea, she was told she had depressive disorder. She was back to seeing counselors at CAPS, and her parents started visiting every week — or she would go home every weekend. But nothing was working.

CAPS currently does not have the resources to support long-term care, and eventually, Matson said, her counselor felt it was time to refer her to an outside counselor, who would become essential to her health improvement in the coming years.

Students seeking mental health help can also go to the University Health Service, but according to Dr. Robert Winfield, chief health officer and director of UHS, the psychiatry department only offers prescription and drug treatments.

“We don’t offer any counseling at Health Services, so there are a variety of situations where somebody wants to be evaluated for the continuation of medications,” he said. “And some of those situations are situations where somebody might choose to not get counseling or may want to focus on medications.”

There is no one cure-all for patients concerned about

their mental health, though many people choose to turn to medications over counseling after talking with a doctor. According to the Centers for Disease Control, across the United States approximately one in 10 Americans ages 12 or older take antidepressants. At colleges, these numbers are typically higher.

“Sometimes people just feel terrible with anxiety or depression but they haven’t been able to put a word on it — they just don’t feel well,” Winfield said.

“And so they may think ‘Maybe there’s something wrong with me physically,’ so they may come in not knowing what’s wrong.”

LSA junior Raivynn Smith had a similar experience with a physical sickness accompanying mental health concerns. Before transferring to the University this year, Smith took a two-year gap following a painful and difficult freshman year experience at a small private college in Illinois.

She said though it probably wasn’t when she first started experiencing her social and generalized anxiety, coming to college is when she first noticed it. Like Matson, the transition to college was difficult and her anxiety began to affect her diet.

“I had really bad panic attacks,” Smith said. “I stopped eating. I was really, really, really sick, and I ended up leaving school.”

The gap was cathartic for her, she said, though she noted that she still deals with her anxiety, especially on a larger campus like the University of Michigan where day-to-day things like going to the dining hall can be challenging.

Even for students who have already noticed and begun acting on the signs of mental health issues before college, the transition can still be significantly difficult, on top of what is an already challenging process. LSA sophomore Jarrett Reichel dealt with depression throughout high

MATT VAILLIENCOURT/Daily

school, but had a support system then — leaving home, he said, meant leaving that comfort and support.

“I had a really good support group in high school, with my friends and my family, and coming here since none of my friends came here, the transition was really difficult because I didn’t have that support group I normally had,” Reichel said.

“Then, of course, the added stress of changing your entire life.”

Reichel lived in Bursley Residence Hall his freshman year and said he found the experience to be isolating. Like many students, he didn’t make friends immediately during Welcome Week and felt alone. Everyone in his hall became tight-knit and he said he felt as though he was missing out on the college experience.

“It was a pretty rough transition — especially because everyone around me seemed as though they were having a good time, and it was kind of hard to recover from that,” Reichel said.

“It was irrational, but I felt like after the first couple of months it was almost too late (to make friends). So, that was rough, especially in regard to the future.”

Like Reichel, LSA junior Morgan Rondenelli said she

found the new surroundings in college made it easier for her to avoid addressing her obsessive compulsive disorder.

“When you’re away from home — and taking exams — it’s a huge transition,” Rondenelli said.

“Plus, it’s such an opportunity to just isolate yourself and just let things get out of control.”

A balancing act The services the University provides for students struggling with mental health issues span several arenas.

CAPS, the main University resource for mental health, spans three prongs: clinical, outreach and training. Within clinical aspects of CAPS, resources are divided between providing ongoing services and the demands of new requests and crisis appointments.

According to CAPS director Todd Sevig, the distribution of counselors currently heavily prioritizes short-term care. Sevig said one of the largest challenges for CAPS is how their counselors — to whom the largest portion of the program’s funding goes toward paying — are distributed within CAPS. Reichel said he sought help from CAPS near the end of September of his freshman year and found the experience to be

beneficial in helping him adjust to campus and learn to deal with his depression.

“It was definitely very, very helpful,” Reichel said. “Normally they don’t do (long-term) therapy there that much. Normally they just figure out what’s going on and help you find somewhere out in the community to send you to.

They kept me around.”

Reichel noted, however, that there are some issues with the current system that he believes could be resolved through increasing resources and funding to the center.

“In regard to CAPS, they have really great stuff and they have really great people and they’re doing a lot of good things to help out — there just isn’t enough,” Reichel said.

For many, that sense of not having enough is frequent with CAPS — especially with longterm care like the kind Reichel received, for which funding is noticeably limited.

Since 2011, CAPS’ budget has increased by more than 30 percent. In 2016, CAPS received $3.0 million in funding from the University’s General Fund — the vast majority of which goes to counselor salaries, according to Sevig. Other funding for projects See HEALTH, Page 14C

8C — Fall 2016

LSA From Page 3C feedback and data analysis, LSA has also recently implemented several measures to evaluate the efficacy of R&E classes.

Dillard said some instructors last semester included R&Especific questions in their course evaluations.

These questions asked whether the meaning of race and ethnicity were important topics in this

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com course, racial or ethnic intolerance in the United States or elsewhere was addressed in this course, comparisons of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, social class or gender were key topics in this course and if the course devoted substantial attention to race and ethnicity content. An open-ended question also asked students to comment on how their understanding of race and ethnicity has changed throughout the course.

“All of this stuff tells a story,”

Dillard said. “The important part is not just the data, but it’s that the data can then inform recommendations and different things we might want to do.”

This semester, Dillard said a form of embedded assessments will be implemented in six courses.

Instructors will administer pretests and post-tests to measure learning gains and outcomes.

“This is a much more elaborate way of trying to measure student learning,” Dillard said. “We need groups of students filling this out

at the beginning and filling it out again at the end, and that you use the different results to measure how much student learning has happened from the beginning of the class to the end of the class to answer the question ‘Did taking this R&E class matter?’”

Dillard also noted the upcoming Plan-A-Thon Week. The event aims to encourage students to submit ideas to be included in the LSA DEI Plan to improve the R&E requirement, with workshops to help students develop an ideas into

a strategic plan.

“We want to help people figure out how to ask those kinds of questions and who to go to as a resource for being able to put their ideas in action,” Dillard said. “For people who really want to see their idea implemented, we want to help them build the capacity and give them the support to really be able to do a good and serious job.”

But before Plan-A-Thon Week or any new initiatives, faculty, Pitt and Dillard said staff and students continue to work together to

CAMPUS RESOURCES

revamp current DEI programs.

“I just think that it’s really important for the college of LSA and the rest of the University to take a hard look at the opportunity that we have here with the R&E requirement,” Pitt said. “Originally we were ahead of the curve in introducing such a requirement, but now, it’s important to keep up with the times and make sure that we’re advancing our discourse on issues of R&E in a setting that is more conducive to the environment that we currently live in.”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

9C — Fall 2016

Controversial figures talk feminism and free speech Event at Michigan League draws large campus, state crowd By

BRANDON SUMMERSMILLER Daily Staff Reporter

FEB. 24, 2016 - A debate featuring controversial public figures Julie Bindel and Milo Yiannopoulos took place Tuesday night in the ballroom of the Michigan League.

During the debate, the two speakers exchanged arguments about feminism, debating whether the feminist movement impedes an individual’s freedom of speech.

Hosted by The Michigan Review, the event drew a crowd of several hundred people, some of whom drove across state lines to hear the pair.

Engineering senior Hunter Swogger, one of the event organizers, said the Review wanted to bring Bindel and Yiannopoulos’ voices to the University’s campus in order to expose the campus to new ideas.

“The entire point is to hear prominent people of prominent ideologies come together and speak,” Swogger said.

Yiannopoulos has been the subject of significant criticism for his opinions on individual feminists and feminist ideology, namely his views that feminists invent problems that do not exist — such as campus rape culture and the gender wage gap.

Bindel, who considers herself a second-wave feminist — a movement focused sexuality, family and workplace issues that lasted from the 1960s to the 1980s — has also received criticism for her treatment of modern feminists and the transgender community.

Both Yiannopoulos and Bindel, who are British, have been banned

from multiple universities in the United Kingdom due to their views.

In an e-mail interview with The Michigan Daily, University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald wrote that Bindel and Yiannopoulos were allowed to participate in the debate on campus because the University strives to allow freedom of speech for all students, including opinions from outside guests.

“The university feels so strongly about this topic that our commitment is codified in an official policy, called a Standard Practice Guide,” Fitzgerald wrote.

The guide states the expression of diverse viewpoints is of utmost importance to the University community because students should both be able to express their opinions and be able to be exposed to new ideas.

In response to the debate, the University’s Spectrum Center — which dedicates its efforts to LGBTQ awareness on campus — offered extended office hours to provide an alternative space for students who felt threatened by the debate.

Engineering freshman Conrad Stoll said he was surprised the center hosted a safe gathering space for members of the LGBTQ community during the debate, since both Yiannopoulos and Bindel are gay.

“I would think that would be good,” Stoll said. “There’s two renowned people who are in the queer community and I was really shocked that the Spectrum Center acted as if they were terrible.”

The Spectrum Center was not immediately available for comment Tuesday evening. A statement on their website reads, “We recognize that the rhetoric of the speakers featured in this event is incredibly harmful to many members of our campus community. The Spectrum Center will be providing a supportive alternative space this evening and holding extended

staffed hours until 9 p.m. There will be no program; our intent is to offer a relaxing, positive space for students who want to gather in community.”

During the event, Bindel noted that she was banned from multiple academic institutions following The Guardian’s 2004 publication of her article titled “Gender benders, beware,” which prompted many in the feminist community to label her as transphobic. In the article, Bindel argues that transgender women do not experience the same struggles of being women since they are born as men.

“They decided I should never ever be redeemed,” Bindel said.

“All my 35 years of unpaid activism disappeared because I was suddenly a vicious transphobe.”

Bindel said unlike modern-day feminism, her feminism advocates for the prevention of violence against young women and girls.

In his remarks, Yiannopoulos said he thought modern day feminism is dangerous because it silences men, compromising freedom of speech.

“The problem is that the particular modern ground of feminism has a problem with free speech,” Yiannopoulos said.

“There’s a particular brand of feminism which holds almost total sway in the media and in gender studies.”

During the debate, the pair touched on several gender equity issues, such as the wage gap between men and women.

Research from multiple sources, such as the federal government’s College Scorecard released last year, has shown a significant gap in pay between men and women in a variety of professions.

Bindel said the wage gap is caused by several factors, one of which is the perception of women in the workplace among their male colleagues.

“Women are punished and they’re treated very harshly for

HALEY MCLAUGHLIN/Daily

Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook, discusses the important role of entrepreneurship in the future of Detroit in Robertson Auditorium

asking directly, assertively, for a pay rise,” she said.

Yiannopoulos countered by claiming the wage gap simply does not exist. He said instead, when women are presented with the same opportunities as men, such as pursuing a degree in the STEM field, they are not as likely to complete their education.

“Women don’t work as hard,” Yiannopoulos said.

LSA senior Andrea Filisko said she came to the debate because she believes there is a real freedom of speech problem on college campuses.

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily feminists, but I do think there’s a large amount of censorship of the right of the political spectrum on college campuses,” Filisko said.

Beyond gender, the discussion also considered several other equity issues.

Yiannopoulos applauded when a questioner noted that Michigan institutions of higher education can no longer take race into account during the admissions process due to the 2006 adoption of Proposal 2 in the state.

He charged that affirmative action policies are ineffective because real change to solve educational inequalities must occur at the childhood stage of educational development.

“You improve the quality of teaching, you don’t pretend people are going to deal with a course they can’t,” Yiannopoulos said.

Bindel said she supported affirmative action, since she herself was once an underprivileged student in England but was able to attend a university with the help of state provisions.

“I don’t think that African American people who are given a helping hand to get to university are stupid or have a low IQ,” Bindel said. “I think that they’re just socially disadvantaged.”

Bindel’s statement was met with cheers and a round of applause.

LSA freshman Olive Scott said she wanted to hear from Yiannopoulos since she identifies as a feminist, an idea he rejects.

“Mainly I just wanted to hear what he had to say and why he believes the things he does,” Scott said.

The event also featured an open mic portion, during which attendees were allowed to share their views on topics discussed during the debate and ask Yiannopoulos and Bindel questions.

During the open mic portion, LSA sophomore Emily Kaufman attempted to climb onto the stage, which incited some audience members to chant GOP presidential candidates Donald Trump’s name repeatedly. Flyers for a University chapter of Students for Trump were on many of the seats in the League preceding the event.

Kaufman said she climbed on the stage to directly challenge Yiannopoulos.

After the event, Swogger said while the things both figures said were controversial, he hoped students realized it was all in good fun.

“They’re mainly just screwing around; they’re mainly just comedians,” he said. “They love making people laugh, they love making each other laugh and they don’t take themselves too seriously.”

10C — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ADMINISTRATION

Regents approve future developments, faculty appointments Final meeting is held in front of more than 60 attendees

By CAMY METWALLY and RIYAH BASHA Daily Staff Reporter and Daily Summer News Editor

APRIL 21, 2016 - During their final meeting of the academic year, the University of Michigan Board of Regents discussed issues including construction, faculty appointments and the new multicultural center in front of more than 60 attendees in the Michigan Union Wednesday afternoon.

Dean Appointments The regents approved three new deanship appointments at Thursday’s meeting, including Lynn Videka, Carol Bradford and Thomas Finholt.

Videka was appointed as dean of the School of Social Work for a five-year renewable term, effective Aug. 1, according to the action request. Videka has an educational background in nursing and social welfare, and much of her career has been devoted to academic social work and research, focusing on those served by the child welfare system and individuals with mental health disabilities.

She has held several leadership positions in the social work sphere, including president of both the National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work and the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research, as well as vice president of the Society for Social Work and Research.

Videka also holds previous deanship experience as vice president for research at the University at Albany and as dean of the Silver School of Social Work at New York University.

According to Provost Martha

Pollack, the Silver School’s annual research portfolio grew from less than $1 million to over $32 million while under Videka’s leadership.

“By focusing on interprofessional practice and scholarship and by emphasizing a public health perspective for the science of social work, she has worked to build bridges between school, university and the profession,” Pollack wrote in a recommendation. “I am confident that Lynn Videka will lead the School of Social Work to achieve its goals.”

In addition, the regents approved Carol R. Bradford, M.D. as executive vice dean for academic affairs of the Medical School, effective July 1. She is currently a professor and department chair of otolaryngology at the University’s Medical School.

Bradford has served in numerous leadership positions.

She is currently co-director of the Head and Neck Oncology Program of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and, in 2014, she was elected to the Institute of Medicine.

According to Pollack’s recommendation of Bradford, she will oversee the development and expansion of academic programs and “ensure that the education, research and clinical missions are aligned.”

Another member of the University community, Thomas Finholt, was appointed as dean of the School of Information for a five-year renewable term, effective May 1. He is currently a professor and interim dean at the School of Information.

According to Pollack’s recommendation, Finholt’s research explores the “design, deployment and use of cyberinfrastructure in science and engineering.” He has developed several innovations that aid in scientific discovery, including the first operational virtual observatory, the Space Physics and Aeronomy Research

Collaboratory and the George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation.

Finholt has held numerous academic administrative positions during his professional career including associate dean for research and innovation, senior associate dean for faculty and senior associate dean for academic affairs.

“Tim Finholt combines a clear vision for the School of Information with an impressive ability to build research and educational programs that are among the best in the field,” Pollack wrote in her recommendation.

“We are delighted he will serve as dean and confident that, under his leadership, the school will be a hub of innovative ideas, strong scholarship and engaged faculty and students.”

CSG Remarks Wednesday’s meeting also marked former Central Student Government President Cooper Charlton’s last presentation in front of the regents. E. Royster Harper, the vice president for student life, thanked Charlton for his service to the student body and cooperation with administration in a stressful year.

“You’ve helped us shepherd two major, complex, and sometimes controversial policy changes — the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the sexual misconduct policy,” she said. “Your work to make sure student voices were heard in all important decisions taken by the University is greatly appreciated.”

Before bidding farewell to the regents, Charlton reviewed seven finalized amendments to the Statement, which were aimed at increasing transparency and awareness around the amendment process and bringing student guidelines in line with the newly revised

sexual misconduct policy.

Charlton further pointed out that University President Mark Schlissel did not approve two of CSG’s proposed amendments, including one concerning the addition of a student honor pledge, which would be a nonbinding reminder to students of how their conduct should reflect the University’s ideals.

Charlton criticized the faculty’s alterations to CSG’s proposed pledge — crafted partly in response to an incident of a fraternity’s destruction of property at Treetops Resort last year.

“CSG spent an extensive amount of time developing this honor pledge ... unfortunately, during the faculty review, our proposal was altered for the worse,” he said. “Faculty that remained out of touch with students remained at the forefront of changing policies that do not solely affect faculty, but rather majorly affect students.”

Charlton thanked Schlissel for promising to include an honor

pledge in next year’s amendment process.

Newly elected CSG president David Schafer, an LSA junior, also introduced himself and incoming CSG Vice President Micah Griggs, also an LSA junior, to the regents, saying he looks forward to increasing trust between the student body and student government.

“We ran because we firmly believed student government could positively impact every student on this campus,” Schaefer said. “And we hope to make Central Student Government inclusive and representative of every student.”

Alcohol at Big House The regents approved a Class C License and Catering Permit to Sodexo Management Inc., enabling the company to serve alcohol at the 2016 International Champions Cup soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC scheduled for July 30.

Relevent Sports — a division of RSE Ventures, a multi-national sports and entertainment

venture firm with a focus on new technologies — has already received the proper licensing to host a game of the ICC Tournament at Michigan Stadium. The regents’ approval allows the company to move forward in obtaining a liquor license from the state of Michigan.

Construction & Renovations Construction plans for the exterior of the Michigan Union and the repair of the roof of North Quadrangle residence hall are set to proceed next fall after the regents’ voted to approve funding for both projects.

Renovations to the Union totaling an estimated $1,400,000 will include brick and stone repair as well as the installation of new steel lintels for support and flashings to prevent water penetration in the 97-year-old building.

Construction costs for North Quad’s roof repairs are estimated at $7,800,000 — the project’s focus will be on the replacement of 30,000 square feet of roofing on the building’s residential wing.

CSG ELECTIONS

HALEY MCLAUGHLIN/Daily

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez discusses the importance of worker voice and inclusive innovation in the production of a successful business model in the Annenberg Auditorium on Monday.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

11C — Fall 2016

TEDx UofM sees change as crucial during conference Speakers discuss topics from Syria to the environment By

BRANDON SUMMERSMILLER and ANDREW HIYAMA Dailiy Staff Reporters

APRIL 3, 2016 - TEDxUofM’s annual TED-style conference, held on Friday in the Power Center, focused on change — both creating it and responding to it.

The conference featured more than 10 TED-style talks from Ann Arbor community members including Business Administration prof. Wayne Baker, attorney Khawla Wakkaf and LSA junior Sam McMullen.

Reciprocity was the focus of Baker’s talk, in which he examined the paradox of people continualy asking one another for what they need. To examine reciprocity he created and studied a “reciprocity ring.” Participants in the ring could ask for help and others could pay it forward.

“When we first started doing this, I thought that giving was going to be the problem,” Baker said. “That’s not true. Generosity isn’t the problem — most people are willing to help. The real problem is getting people to ask for what they need.”

Baker is currently working at an Ann Arbor startup company to create a reciprocity app, based on his research with the reciprocity ring. The app would allow users to ask for help from other users for various problems, Baker said.

“I think the app has real potential to create a big, positive impact on the world by spreading the practice of paying it forward far and wide,” he said.

Following Baker’s lecture the audience was instructed to break into groups of four to create their own reciprocity ring. They were then challenged to ask for specific, tangible requests that had to be delivered within an allotted amount of time.

Engineering senior Emma Hyde said she attended the event because she herself has seen many TED and TEDx talks online and wanted to see one in person.

“Just being able to come this year was kind of a must-do before I graduate,” Hyde said. “For me as a person it’s always really important to hear about different perspectives.”

Wakkaf delivered a lecture on the current state of the Syrian people and how citizens of the world ought to use their voices for people who don’t have the opportunity to speak for themselves. The region is currently in the middle of a civil war, which has resulted in over 250,000 deaths and displaced over 6 million, according to the United Nations.

She told the story of her friend — a student at the University of Aleppo — who had to complete his studies in the face of constant violence, once walking to class half an hour after three of his neighbors had been killed by a bomb dropped in front of his apartment building.

Wakkaf said after reflecting on her and her friends’ experiences, she knew she had to create positive change, but not for the whole world and not all at once.

“I don’t have to carry the world on my shoulders,” Wakkaf said.

“All I need to do is to make small improvement in my own corner of the world.”

She also spoke about the experience of growing up and becoming disenchanted with the possibility of making a difference

EMILIE FARRUGUIA/Daily

Syrian attorney Khawla Wakkaf shares her desire to alleviate suffering in her community at the 7th Annual TEDxUofM Conference at the Power Center on Friday

in the world, but said the solution was realizing how to be content with making a difference in your own community.

“We can’t always travel thousands of miles in order to help someone,” she said. “But what we can do is open our eyes to the reality that suffering exists around us, because to change an ugly reality we first need to acknowledge its existence.”

LSA sophomore Kristy Allen, who is one of TEDxUofM’s three co-directors, said TEDxUofM chooses its speakers based on whom the staff members know and what new perspectives those people might be able to bring to the conference.

“It’s very much so based on our team just talking to people in the community and meeting people that they feel have interesting ideas,” Allen said.

Allen also noted TEDxUofM’s sense of community, and how it serves to connect individuals in new ways.

“We seek to create events that encourage an atmosphere that allows for barriers to be broken and people to interact on different

levels and have conversations that you wouldn’t normally have and think about realms that you normally wouldn’t have considered,” she said.

LSA junior Sam McMullen was also a featured TEDxUofM speaker, talking about seven months in which he attempted to live a trash-free life. He encouraged the audience to embrace the challenging nature of tackling climate change through conscious lifestyle choices.

McMullen said his experience with living a trash-free life wasn’t easy, and his effort couldn’t be completed alone.

“By living without trash, I had to enlist the help of everyone around me,” McMullen said. “My professors had to agree to let me send in homework via e-mail. My wait staff had to remember not to put the straw in the water.”

By asking for outside help, McMullen felt he was at times imposing his personal beliefs onto others. He said it got easier once he checked his ego and acknowledged the fact that what he was requesting was unorthodox.

“The beautiful thing about this

whole thing is that once people have been an accomplice to an act of trashless-ness, they start to think about their own impact,” he said. “We’re confronted with this massive issue where cause and effect are completely separated.

And if you live in the developed world like I do, you’re probably never going to see the whole impact that your lifestyle actually has.”

Following the conference was a reception at the Ann Arbor HandsOn Museum, where conference participants were provided with dinner and an opportunity to discuss the day’s talks.

At the reception, University Psychology Prof. Thad Polk said he decided to deliver a TED-style talk because he himself is a fan of TED talks.

“I’ve watched a lot of TED talks and I’m just very inspired by people sharing big ideas,” Polk said. “When I was invited I was very honored and jumped at the chance.”

Polk said he thought students were drawn to TED-style talks because of their unique format and speaker intimacy.

“It seems like TED talks have

captured a particularly compelling way to distill key ideas,” Polk said. “The speakers really try to condense down to, say, 12 to 15 minutes just one key idea and then focus on presenting it in a really passionate and compelling way and it’s extremely effective.”

Among conference attendees was LSA junior Reid Klootwyk, who went to the TEDxUofM conference to see old ideas in a new light. Klootwyk said the TED-style talk that most resonated with him was one regarding mental health and awareness by political science lecturer Lynn River.

“I realize that it’s a problem that affects a lot of students and a lot of people in general,” Klootwyk said.

“It affects everyone, and it’s really important to know.”

He added that he walked away impressed knowing students could help create and manage high profile events like the TEDx conference.

“Students can put on a big-time event like this and bring people not only from the University, but all around campus together and share perspectives on all sorts of different ideas,” he said.

12C — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Autonomous car tests at Mcity get national spotlight ‘U’ partners with private sectors and government to develop driverless cars

By ALLANA AKHTAR Daily Staff Reporter

MARCH 29, 2016 - Far away from the hills and hot weather of Silicon Valley, where Google has made headlines with their driverless car testing, the University of Michigan is helping bring the national spotlight on the race to build driverless cars to the state.

On the University’s North Campus there’s a 32-acre urban environment with freeways, dirt roads, road signs and highway tunnels — known as “Mcity.”

The field grabbed national and international attention when it opened in July 2015, becoming the world’s first site designed for testing driverless cars.

But why here?

The University did not build Mcity alone. Mcity was designed and developed by the University’s Mobility Transformation Center, a research partnership between industry and government to improve transportation safety and sustainability.

The Michigan Department of Transportation partnered with MTC to create and help fund Mcity, and the site is currently led by corporate partners like Ford, Toyota, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance and General Motors.

In partnership with prominent auto industries in Southeast Michigan and the city, state and federal governments, Mcity represents the ways local leaders are working to usher in a new era of transportation in the same area that Henry Ford redefined mobility over a century ago.

How the University leads driverless car development Alongside Mcity’s various highways, intersections and dirt roads sit graffiti covered road signs, steep hills and building facades that can be brought just inches away from the road — all details meant to create life-like scenarios to challenge autonomous vehicles.

Ford became the first motor company to test an autonomous vehicle in Mcity inNovember 2015, and they used the site again to challenge their technology in snowy conditions in January 2016.

Jim McBride, Ford technical leader for autonomous vehicles, said Mcity was an ideal site because of its simulated imperfection, creating odd scenarios driverless cars might experience in the real world.

“Mcity allows us the ability to create that situation and find a safe environment and test it repeatedly,” McBride said.

Creating all kinds of lifelike challenges for driverless cars is exactly what Mcity was designed for, according to Huei Peng, director of MTC. MTC and Mcity were created in an effort to expand development of automation and connected vehicles both at the University and in the state.

Gradual steps in advancing nondriver controlled technology, as well as in connecting cars to each other and their environment like an Internet, are ways in which engineers are moving toward fully autonomous vehicles.

“Mcity is a test track designed to have future connected automated vehicle concepts in mind,” Peng said.

Cars on the market today already have partially driverless vehicle features. Cruise control, automatic braking and assisted parking systems are features in a vehicle that occur without direct driver input, referred to as “automated.”

SAE International — originally founded as the Society of Automotive Engineers — characterizes the degree of automation in on-road vehicles in six levels, zero being completely driver-controlled and five being completely system-controlled. A driverless car is a vehicle with a system that controls all dynamic driving tasks under all roadway and environmental conditions.

Many cars on the road are at a level one standard for automation, and include features such as cruise control and automated braking. In the next few years, however, Peng said there will be an emergence of level two and level three features — like highway cruise, traffic jam assist and automated valet parking — in production vehicles.

Engineers of driverless cars are also developing wireless connection channels, called dedicated short-range communications, to allow cars to communicate with each other on the road. Peng explained that when personal computers are connected to each other, every PC becomes more useful; similarly, cars can reduce risk and improve efficiency if they connect to other vehicles.

“If we continue to broadcast the vehicle’s motion to other cars, it will make traffic safer, potentially more efficient, and (lead to) less energy consumption,” Peng said.

Even before Mcity garnered international attention, the University had been a pioneer in mobility transformation research.

Noting research on tire dynamics, engines and vehicle safety developed at the University, Peng said vehicle design and vehicle manufacturing have been pillars of strength at the College of Engineering for years.

“We have been the top, if

ZOEY HOLMSTROM/Daily

not one of the top, automotive engineering research education providers among other universities in the world,” he said. “We will continue to do that; there is no reason we give up that tradition of strength.”

Michigan as a hotbed for mobility transformation Since being elected to Congress in 2014, Sen. Gary Peters (D–Michigan) has joined the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and has actively promoted legislation to allow for more funding to implement for vehicle-to-infrastructure technology. According to Peters, these efforts are to ensure the state of Michigan’s influence in the future of mobility.

“This technology is incredibly important for our safety and it represents the future of the auto industry,” Peters said. “We have to make every effort to make sure it continues to be centered in Michigan.”

Alongside Peters’ efforts at the federal level, MDOT and state legislature have been proactive in allowing for driverless car testing on the roads. In December 2013, Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed into law a bill approving the testing of driverless cars on Michigan roads, joining only a handful of other states in approving such legislation.

Matt Smith, program manager at MDOT, said because of the auto industry’s location within the state, the Michigan state legislature has allowed for automated vehicle research on state roads long before driverless cars existed.

“The state of Michigan has allowed experimental technology on roadways for many, many years,” Smith said.

Even within Ann Arbor, local government has pushed for testing experimental automated technology. In 2013, Ann Arbor City Council approved a $622,884 federal grant to install telecommunications fiber, sensors and electronic equipment in public intersections to allow for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication in driverless cars.

Peters said the reason legislators are interested in pursuing autonomous technology in the state is to keep jobs related to the auto industry within Michigan.

Kevin Kerrigan, senior vice president of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, noted that the automotive industry continues to be the largest industry in Michigan, attracting many businesses and growing local jobs. Currently, one out of every 24 jobs in the state comes from the auto industry, according to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Jobs within the auto industry increased by 67 percent after the recession ended, compared to 10.6 percent gain in all jobs.

“A big percentage of jobs in Michigan are directly related to the auto industry,” Peters said. “If we were to lose some of the technological advantage of advanced computer systems related to cars, I would be concerned we would start losing automotive jobs to a different region of the country.”

McBride said Ford’s interest in pursuing driverless car development was in part to ensure the company stays relevant when the technology advances. Kodak and Nokia, he said, are examples of companies that could not adapt to the changes in the telecommunication and digital world, which led to their breakdowns.

“It’s very relevant right now that we maintain ownership of the software and ownership of the technology if we want to be viable in the future of transportation industry,” McBride said. “Every company wants to be relevant in the long term, and that’s not different for Ford.”

Michigan has recently taken a step further in leading the charge for automated and connected vehicles by announcing the American Center for Mobility in January — a joint partnership between government, business and University leaders to help build another driverless car testing site — this time, at 335 acres.

The new site will be placed

in Willow Run, where B-24 bombers were made for troops in a Henry Ford factory during World War II. John Maddox, assistant director of MTC and recently named president and CEO of ACM, said the new testing site was designed due to the success and demand of Mcity. While Mcity is primarily designed to test early stage research, once vehicles “graduate” from the smaller testing site, they can use the larger testing site for product development.

Maddox said Michigan’s location as the birthplace and home to the auto industry is one of a kind in the world, and puts the state in the center of driverless car development.

“There is a significant concentration of expertise and activity happening in Southeast Michigan,” Maddox said. “In fact, I would say it’s unique in the world, not just in the United States, for having such a concentration in a local area of so many companies and individuals and universities working on this automotive technology.”

The future of autonomous vehicles and robotics When asked whether the emergence of connected, autonomous vehicles will lead to a transportation revolution similar to when Henry Ford helped bring cars to the mass market in 1908, Maddox said no — it would be bigger.

He equated the growth of connected, driverless cars to how the Internet helped connect people in new ways, and brought about new job opportunities. In the same way, he said, autonomous vehicles have the potential to transform mobility to allow for a whole new economic sector.

“We will see an Internet for transportation and an Internet for cars,” he said. “Just like the Internet brought tremendous new business opportunities, new business models, the same thing will happen with the Internet for transportation.

With driverless cars, mobility will also come to groups unable to drive vehicles like the elderly and disabled, Smith said.

“We do believe that

automated vehicle technology is certainly going make the roads a lot safer,” he said. “It’s going to increase mobility, allow more traffic flow and probably allow mobility access to people who can’t drive.”

Peng also highlighted the safety benefits of driverless car technology, noting how right now motor vehicles currently kill about 33,000 people in the United States and 1.2 million people in the world per year.

He said by connecting cars together and allowing them to “speak” to each other and to the infrastructure around them, risky behavior like emergency braking, illegal turns, wrong way driving and running red lights can be dramatically reduced.

“All those behaviors, in theory, if we continue to broadcast the vehicle’s motion to other cars, it will make traffic safer, potentially more efficient, and (lead to) less energy consumption,” Peng said.

However, machine autonomy does not have to stop at vehicles.

Aerospace Engineering prof. Ella Atkins, who chairs the graduate program for Robotics at the University, said students have a lot of interest and excitement for autonomous machines.

Atkins said even aside from high-profile autonomous technology like driverless cars, small, low-powered sensors and computers will allow for a flurry of autonomous technology.

“There are a lot of opportunities for robots that never get tired, and are very patient with people not only in driving their cars for them, but also in helping them with everyday tasks,” Atkins said.

Peng, too, noted the way autonomous technology beyond self-driving has the potential to reduce ever-increasing human errors like drunk driving and texting on the road. Though he cautioned driverless cars are still far from the mass market, the technology is advancing rapidly and exponentially.

“We humans are distracted more and more every day,” Peng said. “Robots are improving every day. Guess who will win the race?”

HUMAN RIGHTS

DAVID SONG/Daily

Judge Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008-2014 and co-founder of Equality Now, recalls her experiences with apartheid and its influence on her development as both a law student and a human at South Hall on Wednesday.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

13C — Fall 2016

Students and professionals team up for A2 Health Hackathon Teams spent weekend developing solution to global healthcare problems

By ALEX COTT For the Daily

JUNE 26, 2016 - The first annual Ann Arbor Health Hackathonbrought together medical professionals, software engineers, public health workers among others to brainstorm solutions to global healthcare problems from Friday to Saturday in Palmer Commons.

The “hackathon” included 24 hours of health-related “hacking,” which involved teams pitching ideas and creating prototypes for solutions to health problems.

The event focused on preventing disease in underserved areas of the developing world.

The hackathon was created and operated by Beatrix Balogh, a research associate for the William Davidson Institute, an independent non-profit that provides emerging market solutions; Britt Johnson, a consultant at Integral Chain; Diane Bouis, the innovation programs director at The Inovo Group, an innovation consulting firm; and Neelima Ramaraju, the global health applications director at LLamasoft, a supply chain management software company.

Though there are other hackathons in Ann Arbor, the four co-founders wanted to create something different to engage a more diverse crowd.

“We wanted it to be free and available to the community,” Johnson said. “Many other hackathons are focused on the University, and coming in as a

CSG From Page 1C who supported Your Michigan wanted to make progress on are not forgotten over the course of David and Micah’s administration,” Sarkar said.

“There is a lot of overlap on mental health, sexual assault prevention, common issues like that, areas where students want progress.”

Hislop and Dotson’s Your Michigan campaign focused on a five step plan to ensure cross college equity, and to engage CAPS, SAPAC, and the Panhellenic Council to improve student safety, unite the Maize Rage student section at basketball games and to reform the University Council, a meeting of each University student government.

After the results were released, LSA junior Sierra Stone, chair of the Your Michigan party, said the experience of running was worthwhile both to the party and the campus at large.

“We’ve had an incredible time.

This has been the best experience

working professional, it’s cool to see all of the people working in startups in health and software.

There’s just such a variety.”

The co-founders brought together their past experiences to create a health hackathon that encompassed the most successful practices from other events.

“I participated in hackathons at MIT in Boston and again in Cleveland,” Johnson said. “I just loved how it brought so many different experts together in one room at one table that generally don’t have the chance to meet and talk. I liked the idea of starting with a problem and thinking through a solution with a group of people.”

Johnson added that sometimes real products have developed from hackathons.

Johnson said organizers had two goals: uncovering new ideas and uniting the community.

“Our goals are two-fold: to bring innovative thought and new design and solutions into a space where there have been a lot of traditions,” Johnson said. “The second is more local: bringing those diverse parts of our community together to talk and work on it and get to know each other.”

The event commenced Friday evening for participants to meet and exchange ideas. Saturday morning began with three keynote speakers — Eden Wells, Mark Wilson, and Hamid Ghanbari — who discussed how multifaceted nature of global health issues. “(Ghanbari) was my favorite,” rising LSA senior Jenny Tou, a participant in the hackathon, said. “He talked about global health and how multidimensional it is. Sometimes the problems intertwine so if you solve one, then you solve others as well.”

Once the hacking began,

91 participants were faced with the challenge of creating a basic product or prototype in 24 hours to crack a disease prevention problem. Seventeen teams, ranging from one to seven members, each chose a pitched idea to work on during the event.

Johnson said many pitched ideas covered hugely problematic issues in healthcare, health habits and disease and cultures.

The teams worked with a wide variety of ideas, including a website to inform the local residents about the three-milelong dioxane plume in Ann Arbor and how clean the water sources are, an app that simplified the language in insurance policies for people to better comprehend,

and a paper diagnostic strip for cardiovascular disease and other key diseases for developing countries and rural areas.

Johnson said the organizers aimed to have diverse participants, including the students.

“We tried to get a big mix of participants,” Johnson said. “We were really looking for people in health, software and tech. We wanted a mix of ages that pulled from different backgrounds, like working professionals as well as the student population.”

Tou’s team worked on a program that created a physical therapy strategy to help with limb motion in people with diseases, like multiple sclerosis.

Tou said the allotted time was

adequate since a portion of the work was done beforehand.

“I think the scope is pretty reasonable,” she said. “They had the basic coding beforehand already, so we are trying to use the wall data to calculate the angle, which should be doable in two days.”

Once the hacking ended, the teams pitched their ideas to six judges from healthcare-related fields. The teams competed for cash prizes.

First place was awarded to a team that created child-friendly mobile apps allowing children to get involved in research studies. The team in second-place developed an app prototype for patients suffering from post-

traumatic stress disorder. Third place went to Tou’s team for their physical therapy program. The winning teams were also awarded Ann Arbor SPARK’s competitive boot camp and The SearchLite’s Customer Discovery Program, which offers support through research consulting.

The Frankel Cardiovascular Center at the University, one of the event’s sponsors, gave out the award of Best Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Solution to the team that developed the disease-diagnostic strip. The People’s Choice award, which went to the crowd favorite, was awarded to a team that connected transportation to grocery stores to improve healthy food accessibility.

of our lives,” Stone said. “We created a family—a genuine family, and we were really able to begin our process in creating a really positive impact on this campus.”

The results of the election could still be altered, if candidates or parties receive demerits from pending litigation. The University Election Commission will also double check write-in votes before certifying the final results.

In the 2013 CSG election, the second-place party was ultimately awarded the executive positions after the presidential and vice presidential candidates for thefirst-place party were found guilty of influencing students and disqualified.

“The results are unofficial because up until the minute before the results come out, the candidates can still file complaints alleging that there were election code violations and the rule finds them all the way to the end of the directions,” said third-year Law student Ben Reese, CSG Elections Director.

Reese said the four pending complaints have yet to be decided

because they have not yet been processed. If it is found that individual candidates violated the election code as is alleged in the complaints, they can be accessed demerits, which would result in a 3 percent decrease in their vote total per demerit per candidate.

Demerits do not affect a party unless it receives 10 demerits, which then disqualifies all the candidates within a party.

There are three types of election code violations: minor, where a violation is worth one to two demerits; major, 2 to 3; or egregious, 4 or more demerits.

At this time, none of the political parties or individual members of executive tickets have been assessed demerits.

Reese, who has been on the commission for three years, said in the past competitors could file complaints after the results came out, but that process has been changed so people would not have the opportunity to file complaints based on who won.

“If they won, they could be high-minded and not file anything but if they lost they could try to

win by filing complaints,” Reese said. “Parties would save up their complaints until the end, but now they have to file them before the results come out.”

LSA senior Cooper Charlton, current CSG president, said he had confidence going into the election that regardless of the outcome, CSG would be in good hands.

“Going into the elections I was

confident in either party’s ability to put students first next year so I’m just excited that we once again have from what I understand high turnout,” Charlton said. “It’s just really inspiring to see they’re engaged on the issues that matter.”

Charlton added that he hoped members of the newMICH party would welcome those from Your Michigan, stressing the

importance of collaboration in CSG. “This is one way to get involved on campus and there are so many others and as long as we’re all working together to protect student voice, safety, and well being, it’s a win for everyone at the end of the day,” Charlton said.

“Student voice means students working together.”

SINDUJA KILARU/Daily

Engineering junior AJ Goldstein presents his app Balance at A2 Health Hacks at Palmer Commons on Wednesday

14C — Fall 2016

GREEK From Page 14C Shmacked’ and how quickly that went around and how many views it got — now you’re a 10th grader looking at the schools you want to go to and you type in the University of Michigan. U of M’s admissions tour had like 70,000 (views) and the ‘I’m Shmacked’ had 800,000 ... so who’s doing your recruiting and does that change the way people decide to come to schools?

“That might have been 1,000 students in that video, but we have 43,000 students here, and now you have a video that we’ll never be able to get rid of that sort of shows our campus, but it shows this one teeny-tiny bit of the story,” Desprez added. “We’ll never get that sort of traction with any counter story.”

The virality of “I’m Shmacked” seems to be representative of what Schlissel sees as an increasingly poor understanding of what it means to have “fun” at school. Referencing his roles as a father and, previously, a

HEALTH From Page 7C come from donations: The Gatof Foundation funded the creation of CAPS’ After Hours hotline and the CAPS Stress Busters app, and funding from the Logan Family Foundation created a QPR (Question Persuade and Refer) training video for new faculty and students aiming to prevent suicide.

But this increase in funding has been accompanied by significant increases in demand. Last year CAPS had more than 25,000 appointments — about 1,300 of which were crisis appointments.

The numbers break down to 4,197 individual patients seen for clinical services in the last year alone.

Every year for the past five years, CAPS has experienced an average increase in appointments of 7 to 9 percent. This year, the

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com practicing doctor, Schlissel emphasized the negative effect the party climate can have on students’ health.

“I don’t like the idea that we measure how good or bad a weekend was by how many of you ended up in an ambulance taken to our emergency room,” he said. “That’s not how we should measure how good a time we are having.”

According to the Campus Climate Survey taken last year and released over the summer, students involved in Greek life have a 40-percent higher chance of experiencing sexual assault.

At the meeting, E. Royster Harper, vice president for student life, stressed that the perception of Greek life on campus isn’t always positive.

“There are others in the community that see your behavior as racist and homophobic and sexist and unsafe,” she said.

“Some see you as giving back to the community and others see you as sucking the life out of the community. Some see only the worst in you and others only the best.”

Schlissel said the issues described are best dealt with at the student-leadership level because students are more willing to cooperate with the changes if they are promoted by fellow members of Greek life.

He noted, however, that the problems don’t have a short-term solution.

“They’re culture problems,” Schlissel said. “They’re aspects of how our culture and our behavior line up with our values and who we think we are — who we say we are.”

A turning point for Greek life Blake Jones said the need for a turning point for Greek life has been on the horizon for some time, and that the problems were evident for many years prior to the high-profile Treetops ski trip incident in January.

Over the summer, administrators began taking steps to curb these incidents by developing a task force composed of four leaders from the four branches of the Greek community: LSA senior Alex Krupiak, Interfraternity Council president; Business senior Maddy

Walsh, Panhellenic Association president; LSA senior Reid McManus, National Pan-Hellenic Council president; and LSA senior Kelly Gee, Multicultural Greek Council president.

At February’s meeting of the University’s Board of Regents, Walsh said leaders from the Greek community were planning to work with the University to shift Greek life culture. During Thursday’s event, Walsh told the assembled crowd that the taskforce had created a plan to improve the reputation of Greek life members on campus.

The first part of the plan requires all Greek organizations to participate in the Achievement Expectations Program, which mandates that all chapters record and submit to the University their philanthropic and servicehour achievements. Walsh noted that last year, Greek students raised roughly $150,000 of the $450,000 raised for Dance Marathon.

Walsh also addressed concern over social life and the Greek system.

She recommended chapters reduce the size and

visibility of their parties to downplay the association between parties and Greek life. She said this reduces the liability and risk of hosting many potentially non-Greek students, who could be the ones destroying the reputation of Greek life.

Another suggestion: reduce the amount of hard liquor at Greek parties.

Gee, the Multicultural Greek Council president, said the Greek community is working to improve diversity and inclusion.

Until this meeting, the four branches of Greek life did not ever meet together for this type of discussion. Next year, a Greek life Diversity and Inclusion taskforce will be launched for that purpose.

Walsh said compared to other universities nationwide, the University’s practices for dealing with alcohol and other behavioral issues appear fairly advanced.

“We contacted universities across the country and found, to some extent, we are above the curve,” Walsh said. “Campuses with problematic Greek life communities are implementing

sober monitors and social behavior policies which are things our Greek community at Michigan has had since the early 1990s.”

Frequent, loud coughs echoed throughout the auditorium and were regarded by several speakers as a purposeful disruption and show of disrespect.

As Schlissel spoke, members coughed so loudly that Harper, the following speaker, said while she rarely is intimidated by a large crowd, the negative atmosphere created by the coughing made her rethink her words.

Administrators weren’t the only ones to comment on the behavior. Krupiak, the IFC president, noted the display in his final comments.

“Think for a second about how much your chapter means to you,” Krupiak said. “I know it means a hell of a lot to me … But when students sit here and blatantly disrespect the leaders of our University and fellow students like myself and the three behind me, it’s flat-out embarrassing to say I’m a member of Greek life today.”

average increase for the Fall semester in comparison to that of last year was 20 to 25 percent.

During one of the first few weeks of the semester, CAPS experienced a 43 percent increase in new appointments. CAPS staff, in contrast, has not increased at nearly that pace, according to Christine Adiado, CAPS’ associate director of community engagement and outreach.

“There is a 43 percent increase from 2010 to now — our staff has not increased 43 percent,” Adiado said Sevig said the increases have prompted CAPS personnel to start looking for new answers in how they do things, a conversation he added that the program can’t have on its own.

“What we’re all trying to figure out is sort of new answers to new questions: What if next year we have a 40 percent increase? And then the year after that? What is the best way to meet that

level of student needs on mental health?” Sevig said. “That’s where we can’t figure this out on our own, we need to answer those questions together with students — including faculty, staff and administration. We can adapt, we can add, but if that level of increases continues then we have to rethink some new ways.”

For CAPS, the patient increases are a double-edged sword: While on one hand the counseling center is happy to see new clients and more students on campus seeking help, the increase in demand leads to resources stretched thin.

CAPS staff said they largely credit the recent increase in students seeking help in the past five years to an increased de-stigmatization of seeking help for mental health issues.

“I don’t know if anyone’s figured out the answer (to the increase in demand) but what people are seeing and what we’ve experienced both anecdotally and

looking at our data, there are a few multiple reasons,” Sevig said.

“The first is stigma has decreased over this time period.”

Sevig pointed to several University outreach mechanisms as potential reasons for that decrease, such as the “Do Something” campaign, which promotes a positive campus environment.

He estimated that at least 15,000 students are influenced by outreach initiatives such as those annually.

“When we wake up in the morning we are devoted to the people who walk in our doors — our clinical work,” Sevig said.

“But when we wake up we are also trying to think of literally every student and also the culture of this place, the campus climate around mental health. And that’s where I think both of these things — when I think of the last five to 10 years this is a big part of the increase.”

The wait

The limited resources of CAPS is manifested most readily for students in appointment wait time — it’s one of the most talked about complaints students have about CAPS, and one that has seen a renewed push of attention this semester.

Kinesiology freshman Shanze Noorani, who is not affiliated with any mental health advocacy groups on campus, is currently petitioning to increase funding for CAPS. To date, the petition, which emphasizes the need for shorter appointment wait times, has garnered 1,836 signatures.

“I think it’s something everyone does feel really passionately about,” Noorani said. “It’s one of those things. I think I actually got a lot of support because it’s not like a debatable thing; I think it’s pretty much across the board that everyone feels that this is an important issue — especially here at Michigan.”

Noorani said when the petition

reaches 5,000 signatures she intends to present it to University administration.

“Currently, wait times to make appointments here are approximately 3 weeks long, which is not very beneficial to those that are suffering NOW,” Noorani’s petition reads. “If funding for CAPS is increased, more staff members can be hired so more students can make appointments and work through their hardships. In order to make our campus a more conducive environment to preventing tragedies like this from occurring, mental health services should be made a priority so that those suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders can get the help that they need.”

Noorani said in her own experience, CAPS wait times have been problematic.

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15C — Fall 2016

University embryonic stem cell research continues to grow Over past eight years, University researchers make progress in field

By ALEXA ST.JOHN Daily Staff Reporter

FEB. 24, 2016 - With the aim of treating conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and some types of cancers, the University of Michigan’s stem cell research program has advanced exponentially over the past eight years, making it a state leader in the area.

The growth follows the passage of a controversial 2008 state proposal, Proposal 2, which allowed the use of human embryos for stem cell research under certain conditions. The proposal has prompted a huge spike at the University in research projects and funding for stem cells — an area of study that today, researchers say, remains with opportunities to grow, but also still faces some controversy on campus and beyond.

What a stem cell does: To understand what stem cell research means for the University, it’s first important to understand what it is. Stem cells are cells that have the capacity to produce different kinds of cells in a given tissue as well as make copies of themselves — making them uniquely useful in research.

Ivan Maillard, associate professor of cell and developmental biology, is one of several at the University who utilizes stem cells in research.

DPS From Page 3C larger disconnect between DPSS and students of color.

Rackham student Alina Kazmi, SCOR’s political action chair, said she recognizes that Seto had proper experience for the job, but added that she takes issue with the lack of student consultation during the hiring process.

“This is not the only time students have a lot of questions around a pretty significant moment for the University,” she said. “The only reason we could see was that there is not any transparency in the hiring process. You would think they don’t just pull someone out of thin air. From what I can tell, from the University’s perspective, John Seto was a great pick because he had a longstanding relationship with the University.

Aura Rosser didn’t, though she was a community member.”

Aziz agreed, and questioned whether students of color had an adequate voice in a matter as personal as housing.

“If police are here at a public university to make people feel safe, how are students, administrators, non-lawenforcement people at large involved in saying ‘this is how you make me feel safe’ in spaces

Maillard’s research focuses on blood-forming stem cells — cells that create other cells in the blood system and allow for normal production of blood cells. Bloodforming stem cells are adult stem cells typically retrieved out of individual tissues. “(Stem cells) have the potential to be used themselves as a treatment for patients,” Maillard said. “The only ones that are actually routinely used as a treatment for patients are the blood-forming stem cells.

The other types of stem cells have the potential to be useful in other conditions, especially conditions where the organs become damaged by disease or other conditions and ideally, you would need to replace the cells in the damaged organ by new cells.

You can consider using stem cells as a way to do that in the future.”

Along with helping develop treatments, stem cells have also been used to provide information about human biology and replace cells in a damaged organ.

There are several different types of stem cells —adult stem cells are found in individual tissues as stem cells that have already chosen which type of cell to become. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, are found in the embryo only at early stages, when the embryo consists of just a few cells. Usually, to be used for research, embryonic stem cells are kept at this young state to prevent them from growing into adult cells, according to MStem Laboratories, the center for stem cell research at the University.

Gary Smith, the director of the MStem Cell Laboratories, said his lab primarily focuses on making

human embryonic stem cells for single-gene disorders, such as muscular dystrophy.

“What we do is make the embryonic stem cell line from the embryo, grow it, characterize it, and then with documentation, we submit them to the National Institute of Health,” Smith said. “They review all of the documentation and then accept them — every line we’ve made has been accepted on the NIH registry … any researcher in the country can get the stem cell lines from the University of Michigan and work on them with federal funds.”

The cells are typically derived from fertilized embryos of couples who created them for reproductive purposes yet no longer need them. The embryos are either discarded as medical waste or donated with consent for research needs.

Maillard said the potential to help the patients he interacts with on a daily basis motivates his research, which often uses stem cells for bone marrow transplants as an effective treatment in many cases.

“I work with these patients,” Maillard said. “I see them in the clinic and I see their problems. I see the ones that we can help, and I also see the limitations of the field. I see the patients that we are not able to help enough and I want to be part of the solutions that we’re going to bring to these patients.”

State proposal on stem cell research The Michigan Stem Cell Amendment, more commonly known as Proposal 2, was passed by the state’s electorate in 2008. It

expanded use of human embryos in research so long as the embryos were created for the purposes of conceiving children and were not suitable for implantation or would be otherwise discarded unless used for research. The proposal also required that donations were made from consenting couples who voluntarily sought out fertility treatment.

Following the passage of this legislation, the University announced the opening of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies in 2009.

The institute was intended to facilitate the development of new stem cell lines. At the same time, President Barack Obama issued an executive order lifting restrictions placed on embryonic stem cell research by former President George Bush.

In 2015 alone, the National Institutes of Health gave $445 million in grants for human nonembryonic stem cell research nationally. The NIH also funded $180 million in human embryonic stem cell research last year.

According to the organization’s spending report, nearly $4.2 million out of that total went to the University.

The University was able to develop the state’s first human embryonic stem cell line, or group of stem cells cultured in vitro, in 2010 through the Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies. In 2012, it was announced that the University’s first human embryonic stem cell line would be added to the National Institutes of Health’s national registry.

Maillard noted that while he does not directly work with

embryonic stem cells, he thought 2008’s Proposal 2 affected the stem cell research field as a whole. “(Proposal 2) has expanded the potential of researchers at the University to derive new lines of embryonic stem cells for research purposes,” Maillard said. “It has ensured that this remains something that was possible in Michigan in general and at the University of Michigan in particular.”

However, there is also still significant controversy surrounding the research. There are many groups opposed to stem cell research, such as Concerned Women for America, a national interest group that has decried federal and state measures to make the research legal. Because the group believes that life begins at conception, they see research like that performed at the University destructive to human life.

At the University itself, there is also dissent from parts of the student body. LSA junior Rachel Crawford, vice president of Students for Life, said the organization only supports adult stem cell research.

“We do oppose all embryonic stem cell research because it destroys that human embryo,” Crawford said. “In order to procure any kind of stem cells from an embryo you have to destroy it.”

Crawford said many believe a moral question remains as to whether it should be permissible to create the excess human embryos to begin with, due to the fact that genetically mutated embryos, sometimes donated for research, often have to be

discarded.

“In the past years, adult stem cells have been used to treat more than 70 conditions but never had a condition treated by using embryonic stem cells yet,” Crawford said. “A lot of the strains that they create from them often have to be discarded because of genetic mutation.”

Maillard said from a scientific perspective, the research is justified in using embryos that otherwise would have been discarded.

“The reality is that there is not a single embryo that is used for research unless it has already been decided that it would be otherwise discarded,” Maillard said. “All the embryos that are used in research would otherwise be discarded as medical waste.”

Jason Spence, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology, works with both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells, or IPs, are grown in a dish and potentially have the ability to become any human tissue.

Spence said he began working with human pluripotent stem cells around 2006, and has multiple goals for his research, including figuring out how to take a cell that has not chosen what cell type it wants to become and coax it to become a differentiated cell. In his lab, Spence hopes to ultimately coax these cells into lung or intestinal tissue.

In discussing his work, he emphasized that he and his colleagues strictly adhere to the

here?” she asked.

At a policing forum hosted by BSU and SCOR last Saturday, however, Seto disputed reports of discomfort, maintaining he has experienced an easy transition back to the Housing Security office.

“I have yet to experience any discomfort from students,” he said. “I am here to listen and connect with members of the community.”

Haviland-Eduah, who organized the forum and introduced the event, wrote in an e-mail interview that Seto’s comments were indicative of the need for more student involvement in DPSS processes.

“This lack of awareness only underscores the importance that now more than ever, we need work with administrators across the campus to create levels of accountability and institutionalize student involvement in hiring processes that have the potential to impact student life tremendously,” he wrote.

Nonetheless, for undergraduate students at large living in University Housing, there seems to be a different gulf in understanding — though many are aware of Rosser’s death, Seto’s name is unfamiliar to most.

LSA senior Brittany Dowe, a resident advisor in Martha Cook Residence Hall, is a diversity

peer educator in her hall. Dowe works closely with University Housing in developing workshops on inclusivity and identity, but had no knowledge of Seto’s association with the University.

“Going through my training, we never heard about him or met him,” she said. “We always interacted with people a couple units down.”

LSA freshman Mariam Doudi lives in South Quad Residence Hall, and said she was never educated on civil rights issues in the city, let alone the connections to University life.

“In my time so far, those aren’t issues that have been emphasized to me as important,” she said.

Over the past year, DPSS as a whole has made several efforts to reach out to students as a part of University President Mark Schlissel’s diversity initiative. In addition to events put on by student organizers such as the policing forum, the division created a new position, diversity program manager, and Washington is in the process of creating a student advisory board contributing to all offices within DPSS. Despite these reforms, University safety officers themselves acknowledge students of color may still not be able to fully trust law enforcement. Bryan Baker, DPSS

liaison to the Division of Student Life, said at the forum security officers’ uniforms can make students feel uncomfortable.

“From personal experience, I’ve had people that haven’t come up to me, or shied away from me and that’s OK,” he said. “But

we’re making an effort to build those relationships in residence halls especially.”

Though Haviland-Eduah does not live in University housing, he wrote that Seto’s role at the University pushed him to ask more questions about students’

input with DPSS. “I think about what could happen if I have an interaction with the police, and I want to trust that I will have a good interaction, but that’s not always the case, especially as a Black man,” he wrote.

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16C — Fall 2016

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ARTS

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ARTS

1D — Fall 2016

Migos has formative moment

IN REVIEW August 5, 2015 Jon Stewart leaves “The Daily Show,” ending a 16-year tenure of unparalleled news satire that won 19 Emmy Awards and left a permanent mark on how jokes are made about politics.

November 20, 2015 Adele releases her new album 25 and sells a record 3.88 million albums during the first week. She does this without allowing the album to be available for streaming upon its release.

ZACH MOORE/Daily

Migos shares a dab with Jim Harbaugh

December 18, 2015 “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens to critical praise and the largest opening weekend ever, continuing on to gross the highest amount a film has ever made in the United States.

January 14, 2016 Alan Rickman passes away, leaving a legacy of roles large and small on both stage and screen. From Severus Snape to Hans Gruber, Rickman brought a sense of gravitas to each role he played.

Trio brings dabs and Harbaugh to Hill Auditorium

By MATT GALLATIN and SHAYAN SHAFII Daily Arts Writers

It’s Wednesday night at Hill Auditorium, and Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is dabbing onstage.

As the ultimate event of Music Matters’ SpringFest, the Atlanta rap group Migos took the stage around 9:30. After a few hours of prep by their hype-man, the audience was clearly ready. The group, consisting of Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff, immediately began rolling adlib-rap and tossing verbal alley-oops to each other. Migos are pioneers of that type of repetitive, consistent rap style, now pervasive among Atlanta’s freshman class.

New Atlanta is no doubt indebted

to their ubiquitous triplet flow.

Quavo, likely the group’s most known member on account of his features (gracing Donnie Trumpet’s Surf and a number of Young Thug’s tracks) was at the lead as the night took off. He posed for pictures, hyped up the crowd, and represented the University of Michigan in a Denard Robinson jersey. Offset was the only member not donning Michigan attire, but his Mike Tyson Supreme tee was more than acceptable for the occasion.

Most of their first raps went unrecognized by the audience, as they bobbed best they could in the unfriendly-to-standing Hill auditorium. The venue was admittedly unfit for this kind of high-energy hip-hop show, but the energy picked up as the group segued into more known territory. The drop of “Hannah Montana” was synchronized with a not wholly unexpected Jim Harbaugh appearance, who jumped around stage for

a bit and, of course, dabbed — much to the appreciation of the crowd.

Water bottles flew through the air as kids threw their faces into their arms. That moment was the clear highlight for the night, where Migos and the audience seemed most in sync with one another.

The majority of the night moved quickly back and forth between those kinds of radio-hit highlights, and slower moments when the members called out their raps like lists, leaving the audience to stand back and appreciate (or check their phones). The front of the venue was filled with kids dabbing with one hand and taking a selfie with the other. To Migos’ credit, they seemed to gauge the room relatively well, doling out popular tracks when they were needed and interacting with the audience when the performance slowed. That was clear during the DJ Carnage-produced track “Bricks,” as the lights shut off and the group called for the room to turn on their phones

(lighters are out these days). Dim iPhones waved around as the members rattled off their verses and jumped with the crowd, another high-energy point of the show.

Sometime around “Handsome and Wealthy,” the group jumped off stage and into the crowd. Takeoff climbed over a row of seats and danced with the students for most of the track, much to the disapproval of the classically-trained security team.

Not too long after that highintensity crowd interaction, Migos left, possibly mid-song, and the slightly confused audience tentatively filed out, to murmurs of “Wait, is it over?” It was a fitting ending to a very stop-and-start event. The peaks of the night, though, still remained. Daps were exchanged and Migos left with a salute, their work here still unfinished.

For those wondering, they were, apparently, headed towards Rick’s for an afterparty.

February 12, 2016 In his signature offbeat fashion, Kanye West graces the world with his much-awaited The Life of Pablo via an eclectic runway show for his collaborative fashion line with Adidas.

February 28, 2016 At the 88th Academy Awards, “Spotlight,” a film focusing on The Boston Globe’s investigation into corruption in the Catholic Church, takes home the award for Best Picture.

April 7, 2016 After 15 seasons, “American Idol” signs off the air for the last time. Over the course of its run, the show made people like Simon Cowell, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood household names.

COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW

Decorated McDonald returns to A2

By REBECCA GODWIN Daily Arts Writer

It would be an understatement to call singer and actress Audra McDonald successful. Successful doesn’t begin to encapsulate all that she has achieved. With six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and three Emmy nominations, McDonald is an entertainment powerhouse, and this Thursday, she returns to Hill Auditorium for her sixth concert at the University.

McDonald was born in Berlin, Germany but grew up in the U.S., where she eventually received vocal training at the Juilliard School in New York City. Her first role on Broadway came in 1992, while still in school, when she was cast as a replacement in “The Secret Garden.” She won her first

June 12, 2016 “Hamilton” dominates the 70th Tony Awards by winning 11 trophies, capping off a year for the show in which it entered the cultural stratosphere with grosses that set Broadway records.

with: Sondheim, there might even be some Gershwin, and there will definitely be some Roger and Hammerstein. Just a big variety.”

This concert tour is just one of the projects McDonald is currently working on. Her movie, “Ricki and the Flash,” starring Meryl Streep just came out in August, and she just finished filming the new live action of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” where she’ll be playing Garderobe, the wardrobe. She’ll even be making a return to Broadway next year in George Wolfe’s new musical “Shuffle Along.” With so many projects coming along, it would only be natural for McDonald to grow tired of the work — but work is her life, so she says, and she couldn’t see herself doing anything else.

See AUDRA, Page 6

‘Deadpool’ stays afloat with humor Senior Arts Editor

Prince’s passing marks a dark time for music. As one of the art’s most notable figures, he brought an aura of independence, artistry and character to his work, influencing scores of musicians.

by the energy there and the talent there so that’s why I keep coming back.”

McDonald was last in Ann Arbor in 2013 where she performed a tribute to George and Ira Gershwin’s musical genius at Hill Auditorium. During that concert she performed a number of classic Gershwin pieces as well as an array of other songs, including a few original pieces written especially for the singer.

Audiences can expect a similar selection this time around.

“It’ll be a plethora. The audience is pretty used to me introducing them to new songs from new composers that are making their way and then songs they know really well,” McDonald said. “I try to change it up quite a bit but there will certainly be composers that they are familiar

FILM REVIEW

By JACOB RICH

April 21, 2016

three Tony awards between 1994 and 1998 and was the first person to ever win three of the awards while still under the age of 30. In June 2014, she claimed her sixth Tony Award for her performance in the musical play “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” making her the record-holder for most Tony Awards ever won by single person.

So why keep coming to Ann Arbor? McDonald thinks it’s the talent within the University that draws her back every time.

“The school is wonderful and I think the musical theatre program has some magic pixie dust in their water or something because they keep churning out star after star after star,” said McDonald, who is currently doing a concert tour around the country. “So I’m very impressed

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds, “The Proposal”) is perhaps Marvel Comics’ most memorable character of the ’90s, and he sometimes B+ feels like a time capsule of Deadpool that decade’s pop culture. 20th Century Fox His stories are self-referential, ultraviolent and filled to the brim with the same skateboardriding, backwards hat-sporting ‘tude that filled the era’s music videos and professional wrestling shows. Lately, though, his books have felt a bit dated — the chimichanga jokes have been getting a bit tired, and the fourth-wall-breaking metahumor has, at this point, been done better elsewhere.

Thankfully, 20th Century Fox

and Reynolds’s long-in-the-making superhero vehicle provides a nice update to a character on the verge of feeling passé. “Deadpool” is a comedy surprisingly on the pulse of contemporary geek culture, gleefully satirizing the ninefigure grossing comic book films that have skyrocketed Disney and Marvel to the forefront of the film zeitgeist. While he’s killing the bad guys, Deadpool loves to spit oneliners and make fun of superhero tropes. No pop culture is safe here — from digs at Reynolds’ terrible 2011 “Green Lantern” film to a particularly nasty “127 Hours” meets Judy Blume joke (yeah, I’m not going to try to explain that one here — just see the movie), “Deadpool” ’s referential satire is refreshingly on point.

But it isn’t purely a comedy.

“Deadpool” is a decent comic-book origin story sandwiched between two huge, extraordinarily entertaining action scenes. Reynolds is a

superb Wade Wilson, a lowlife gunfor-hire with a heart of gold, who falls for Vanessa (Morena Baccarin, “Homeland”), a sassy but endearing prostitute. The two fall into a superficial but still rather sweet romance (via one of the better meet cutes I’ve seen lately), which is promptly interrupted by some bad news for Wade — he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer.

We don’t quite get enough time with the two to really care about their relationship, but we get the point. He loves her, he’s going to die and he needs to cure himself so he can be with her. Wade makes a deal with the devil: he’s deceived by the Machiavellian Ajax (the Jai Courtney-esque Ed Skrein, “The Transporter Refueled”) into undergoing a brutal mutation treatment. He’s cured, and given Wolverine-like mutant powers to boot — but his features are deformed, he’s brainwashed and left for dead. Deadpool

is born, and he’s out for revenge.

That last part probably sounds pretty familiar, huh? For all its innovation as a piece of satire, “Deadpool” doesn’t nail the formal meat-and-potatoes stuff of being a good superhero movie. Skrein’s Ajax continues the long tradition of lame, one-dimensional supervillains that plague the Loki-less Marvel films. Vanessa is an initially interesting foil for Wade, but she’s quickly packed away into a damsel-in-distress box and isn’t really given space to feel interesting again. Perhaps most obnoxiously, mutants Colossus (Stefan Kapičić, “24”) and the insufferable Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand, “Annie Undocumented”) are shoehorned into the otherwise excellent fight scenes for no perceivable reason other than to promote the upcoming “X-Men” film.

See DEADPOOL, Page 3

2D — Fall 2016

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TV REVIEW

Searing finale for ‘People vs. O.J.’ Limited series’ last episode a powerful depiction of verdict

By SAM ROSENBERG Daily Arts Writer

What a season it has been.

“The Verdict,” the miniseries finale of “American Crime Story: The People v.

O.J. Simpson,” A wrapped up an The People outstanding 10 episodes vs. OJ Simpthat covered son: American almost every Crime Story significant detail of the Season 1 Finale 1994 O.J. FX Simpson trial, from the invasive media coverage to the tense atmosphere surrounding current

racial politics. Dramatizations and small inaccuracies aside, Ryan Murphy and Co. have built a masterful depiction of one of the most infamous cases of the 20th century. What’s even more impressive is how the show transformed “The Verdict” into a stellar, breathtaking ending, even when we already knew what the outcome was going to be.

Other than the actual verdict itself, the finale touches on several important aspects regarding the trial, particularly with the closing statements of prosecution duo Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson, “Carol”) and Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown, “Supernatural”) and defense attorney Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance, “Joyful Noise”). Considering how all three lawyers were able to develop compelling points for and against O.J. Simpson, it’s amazing to see how their arguments make the case even more complex.

Additionally, it provides another showcase for Paulson, Brown and Vance’s consistently outstanding performances.

After the statements are finished, the remaining jury members are left to determine O.J.’s fate. The sequence of the trial’s ultimate decision between the jury is telling of what the case is also really about: race. Following the horrific Rodney King beating and the subsequent 1992 L.A. riots, the O.J. trial divided both Black and white americans. In terms of the actual decision, this racial divide reigned true as well: the Black jury members all believe O.J. is innocent, while the two remaining white members think he is guilty. Whether or not this was actually what happened, it’s still very unnerving to watch.

However, with only four hours until finalizing their decision, this is where things get interesting.

The titular climax of “The

Verdict” encompasses pretty much every reaction possible before, during and after O.J. is found not guilty for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Thanks to some fantastic editing and clever use of archival footage, a split-screen displays the polarized response from the lawyers, the courtroom audience and those watching on TV screens around the country.

The Black community is shown as relieved and cheering in the streets, while the white community is in total disbelief and shock. Though the verdict didn’t incite a resurgence of the ‘92 riots, there’s no doubt that the trial left some residues of tension among Americans.

Once the dust settles, “The People v. O.J. Simpson” captures some of the final glimpses of its characters, strengthened especially by the tremendous effort from Murphy’s direction and Scott Alexander and Larry

Karaszewski’s writing. First, Darden and Cochran share a passive aggressive exchange about the distortion of the truth behind the case and its lasting effect.

Cochran believes Americans are finally recognizing Black civil rights, but Darden counters him, saying that “police in this country will keep arresting us, keep beating us, keep killing us” and tells him straightforwardly that Cochran hasn’t “changed anything for Black people here.”

This, of course, is a sobering truth that continues to resonate today with police brutality against Black people in America. Later, Darden meets up with Clark and the two discuss their frustrations with not bringing justice to Nicole and Ron. But even in their disappointment, they still have each other.

Then comes O.J. (Cuba Gooding Jr., “Jerry Maguire”), relishing in his freedom but realizing that things are different

now. He’s no longer “The Juice” that every football fan loved; he’s still in shackles. The final seconds of “The Verdict” concludes with a haunting image of O.J. walking alone in his backyard and hopelessly gazing at the marble statue of himself, knowing that his reputation will be forever tarnished by this murder, regardless of his race, fame or fortune. Coupled with Bill Withers’s “Ain’t No Sunshine” scoring an epilogue montage of each character, “The People v.

O.J. Simpson” finishes on a rather devastating, eerie note: pictures of a smiling Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, ignorant to how their deaths will be taken in vain.

The O.J. verdict may not have brought justice, but “American Crime Story” shined a light on something in modern history that still matters today. And I’ll be damned if it doesn’t sweep the Emmys.

COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW

David Cross makes America great again

By NATALIE ZAK Daily Community Culture Editor

He introduced the world to its first Analrapist, delivered the most infuriating audition of all time on his ’90s sketch show “Mr. Show” and has made increasingly poor decisions under the guise of Todd Margaret. With a filmography ranging from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” to “It’s A Disaster” to “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” actor and comedian David Cross has made his mark not only on the world of comedy, but also on the world of film, television and art.

And now, he wants to make America great again.

“I am extremely excited to get back out on the road after six long years away. I was very busy writing for The View, but now that the kids are off to college, my wife’s regiment has been transferred to McMurdo Station in the South Pole, and I’m near completion on Fallout 4, it’s time to start up the bus and bring my patented, fart-inducing laugh winces to

a town near you,” Cross wrote on his Facebook page upon first announcing the “Making America Great Again!” tour.

Although this is the explanation most fans would prefer to believe, Cross’s sudden return to stand-up was a much more calculated decision, he explained in an e-mail interview with The Michigan Daily.

“We knew we weren’t going to be able to do more Bob and David’s this year because of Bob’s schedule, and simultaneously I found out that I had to have major shoulder surgery which has a long and intense recovery period where I can’t travel so I figured it was the perfect time to get the set together and hit the road,” Cross wrote.

The Bob referred to is Bob Odenkirk, a comedian, writer and actor who has accompanied Cross in projects over the years from HBO’s “Mr. Show” in the ’90s to Netflix’s revival series “W/ Bob & David” that premiered this past November.

After a six year hiatus from

stand-up, Cross is returning to his roots on the stage for a 53-stop tour. Gracing Ann Arbor with his presence at the Michigan Theater this Saturday, Feb. 13, Cross will be presenting his signature form of alternative comedy.

Known for never writing punchlines in favor of freeform stand-up, Cross has been taking his routine city by city, making improvements and changes as each performance passes. No performance is the same, and with each stop the comedic rants become slightly more finessed and calculated in their criticisms.

“I don’t really sit down and write my material,” Cross wrote.

“For the most part it’s developed on stage … Experience tells me that the last few shows of the tour will be significantly different than the first few shows of the tour.”

This alternative form of comedy that involves the use of scribbled notes and improvisation began to develop in the ’90s. Alongside comedians like Louis C.K. and Janeane Garofalo, Cross par-

ticipated in typical stand-up until venturing off into the freeform stylings of “Un-Cabaret,” an alternative comedy troupe in Boston.

Since then, freeform stand-up has developed a larger following, going as far as to have its own festival on the West Coast.

“It’s not seen as ‘weird’ or ‘amateur’ now. The fact that there is a HUGE Alternative Comedy Festival in LA (RIOT Festival) that’s in its fourth year is crazy to think about from the perspective of when the whole ‘alternative’ comedy scene started,” Cross wrote.

As an established comedian and actor, Cross has been a part of numerous projects, ranging from comedies with cult followings like “Arrested Development” to commercial successes in the form of “Kung Fu Panda.” Cross has, as a result, seen firsthand the reaction diehard fans have to fairly removed actors and actresses entering the mainstream, but he regardlessly defines “selling out” differently from what one might imagine.

“It’s changed dramatically,” he wrote. “Back in my day if you even wore a ‘Budweiser’ t-shirt on stage because they paid for your back line you’d be considered a sell out.

Nowadays you can do a commercial for a fucking bank and no-one blinks an eye.”

There is a generational stigma around artists who enter into projects solely for commercial rather than artistic reasons, and often artists, musicians and actors will suffer because of this. The second a song or show becomes critically acclaimed, or an artist participates in a critically acclaimed endeavor, their lifespans are drastically shortened.

It is difficult to explain this paradoxical phenomenon in today’s culture, because it appears to discourage success. But as Cross aptly observed, “Maybe it’s a generational thing.” And maybe Cross doesn’t notice the modern day transgression of the term “selling out” because which projects he chooses to participate in isn’t affected by his fan’s reactions or

unprovoked opinions from critics.

Cross described his participation in commercially successful projects by saying “the choice is not to be miserable” in an interview with The Believer in 2008.

Despite what criticisms may be thrown his way, an individual’s choice to make a living from their passion should in no way be viewed as selling out.

But what can the dedicated followers of Cross’s television and film career expect from his standup? They should prepare for discomfort and shock, but in the best way possible. His style is offbeat and challenging, but undeniably funny.

And so, Cross makes his return to stand-up in a stunning fashion.

As he makes his way across the United States, we can only hope that his tour will live up to the lofty precedent of its title. But in the end the final question remains: does Cross truly believe that we need to make America better?

“I don’t,” he wrote bluntly. “I was being ironic.”

FILM REVIEW

‘Brooklyn’ is a subtle, touching narrative

By REBECCA LERNER Daily Film Editor

In “Brooklyn,” the film adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s novel, we see the careful rendering of a story that has been told one thousand A times: the Brooklyn immigrant narrative. But Fox Searchlight “Brooklyn” distinguishes itself through its creators’ ability to draw the loveliness out of a

situation fraught with hardships.

“Brooklyn” begins at a fork in the road for Irish country girl Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”). She can stay with no definite prospects in Enniscorthy, Ireland with her cherished mother (Jane Brennan, “The Tudors”), sister (Fiona Glascott, “Indian Summers”) and friends, or she can immigrate to the unknown in America. As illustrated by the title of the film, she chooses the latter and sets out for Brooklyn. Eilis receives accommodations at a boarding

house run by the amusingly tart Ms. Kehoe (Julie Walters, “Paddington”) and finds a job at a department store. Some of the most humorous moments of the film come from her interactions with the women who have lived in America for a while, as Eilis’s awkwardness and social anxiety in the city is juxtaposed with their urban American experience.

These relationships between similarly aged young women could have easily devolved into rancorous competition for cheap amusement, but they always make an

effort to help and guide Eilis.

But even with friends in her boardinghouse and guidance from an Irish priest (Jim Broadbent, “Big Game”), Eilis is overcome with homesickness. Ronan a dual citizen of Ireland and America, sensitively portrays the frustration of being torn between two places.

As she adjusts to her new life, Eilis starts to take and excel at her accounting classes at Brooklyn College, unapologetically pursuing her dream of being an accountant despite being the only

woman in the class.

Her homesickness evaporates quickly when she meets Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen, “Smash”). Tony is a sweet, puppyish Italian boy with whom she locks eyes from across the room at an Irish dance. Their courtship is a nostalgic whirlwind that will make even the most coldhearted of critics sigh and long for 1950s-style bathing suits. But the sentimentality of their love never borders on sickly sweet or annoying because their romance is always firmly rooted in the

reality of their lives.

Just as everything starts to seem a little too perfect, tragedy strikes back home, pulling Eilis out of Brooklyn and sending her back home to her mother. At home, she finds comfort in the familiar. She also finds another suitor, Jim Farrell, (Domhnall Gleeson, “Ex Machina”), and the whole town seems to be pushing them together. As she decides between Brooklyn and Ireland, and between Tony and Jim, Eilis seeks to answer the question of the movie: how to, as a person of multiple identities, define the word “home.”

The emotional effects of the film would be lost without the command of the camera by director John Crowley. Crowley creates a subtle but undeniable binary between America and Ireland in his use of cinematography, shown most clearly in the scenes on the beach in both countries. In New York, Tony takes Eilis to Coney Island, and they must dash between the hoards of people to get to the water to swim, kiss and laugh. But in the sweeping shots of the Irish beach she goes to when she returns, there is no one around for miles.

With Eilis in the same bathing suit in both scenes, we can see her being entirely comfortable in either setting. Crowley presents this opposition, and we watch as she chooses her future.

“Brooklyn” is not just an immigrant narrative. It is the touching story of a young woman caught in a state of uncertainty ­— uncertainty in her family, career and relationships. The film may be set in the 1950s, but its messages of the confusion of youth and divided identity will endure for years.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

3D — Fall 2016

MUSIC COLUMN

I

Sometimes I like to sing like no one’s listening

love to sing, but I’m absolutely terrified of anyone actually hearing me try to sing.

One of the random things I really look forward to whenever I go back home from Ann Arbor for a little bit is being able to drive. And it’s not the driving itself — I’m kind of ADAM an anxious THEISEN driver — but the fact that I can queue up on my iPod all the songs I’ve heard and fallen in love with since the last time I came home. I can hear them with a full speaker system instead of just cheap headphones or laptop speakers, which is cool, but most importantly, I can try to sing along with them for the first time, testing my low-pitched monotone voice over the

recordings to see if I can deal with how it sounds.

It wasn’t long after I got my driver’s license that I started doing this. When I would drive home at night, I’d put on Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” and crank the volume up as loud as it could go, screaming along to the lyrics with my scratchy, overjoyed voice, making an extra turn or two if the song was still going as I approached my street. “Like a Rolling Stone” isn’t a fun or happy song, but driving around my hometown on empty roads illuminated by streetlights, there would just be this ampedup feeling of freedom in my body that I could only try to satisfy by attempting to merge with Dylan’s music, inserting myself into his song while it overwhelmed everything around me.

I don’t think I ever even tried to sing at all until I was like 16.

I was in something resembling a band that was really just three

guys in a basement playing music and never actually doing any gigs, and I was mainly behind the drum kit. But we revered punk and underground bands from the ’70s and ’80s.

Those singers always sounded like amateurs — a rejection of rock star hero worship — so I actually wasn’t much worse than them, technically speaking. Singers like Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols or Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening had these imperfect voices that encouraged me to imitate them. I’d turn the guitar amps way up and the microphone way down, because I wasn’t comfortable hearing my voice as anything more than a kind of barely intelligible noise mixed in with the other instruments. But the total no-holds-barred cathartic rush you get when you have a mic and can make all the sounds you want was immediately intoxicating.

So it’s actually not very cool

to scream in public, or even in a house when other people are around, but there’s a weird sort of privacy when you’re driving by yourself. You’re surrounded by strangers and your identity is shrouded by rolled-up windows. It’s like being in a dream — this transitory zone where, as long as you’re a good driver, nothing you do and nothing you think affects anyone but yourself.

It’s incredible, and now I sing almost every single time I have to drive solo. Occasionally I worry about the person in front of me seeing my performance in their rearview, but at night or on an empty road, it’s absolute bliss.

I have a special place in my heart for vocalists who really aren’t that gifted at singing.

I already mentioned Calvin Johnson, whose ridiculously low and unmelodic monotone lines up perfectly with my vocal chords, and Johnny Rotten, whose spitting British fury I

can do a decent impression of under the right circumstances, but my favorite is Craig Finn of The Hold Steady. Their record Separation Sunday was a huge breakthrough for my musical taste, and it’s still my number one in-the-car CD. Finn screams himself hoarse over the course of the album, ignoring tune and melody in favor of just yelling these hyper-literate stories of kids in Minneapolis. The dude doesn’t even seem in control of his own voice, as it cracks and takes these odd turns throughout.

He’s like an English major at a party trying to get your thoughts on Nabokov, bringing his voice up as loud as it can go just to make himself barely heard. I’m sure it’s ridiculous and off-putting to some people, but I absolutely love it. Finn’s voice is all about passion and intensity — anyone with a fiery belief in what he has to say can go up to a mic and sing, regardless of talent.

Music is really the closest you can get to inserting yourself into someone else’s artistic beauty. You can’t act unless someone casts you, and you can’t be a basketball player unless you make a team, but I can try and do exactly what Taylor Swift does whenever I put on 1989. The illusion doesn’t quite work, since I can only dream of hitting most of her notes, but if no one else can even hear me, who cares?

Really, the ability to sing along is just one more magical thing about music. Whether it’s Lou Reed or Madonna or even Young Thug if you’re feeling super adventurous, under the right circumstances you can put on their songs, lose your identity for a few minutes and slip into someone else’s amazing creation.

Theisen is currently driving to a good song. To find out what it is, email ajtheis@umich.edu.

MUSIC REVIEW

On ‘25’ Adele pieces together her twenties

By MIMI ZAK Daily Arts Writer

Ms. Adele Adkins, four years ago, would describe herself as a highly depressed, less mature, very bitter voracious smoker who paired each B+ passing day with a bottle of 25 wine. She was Adele the life of the party who said Columbia Records too much and cared too little.

Her 2011 project, the album 21, reflected this situational distress.

She was living and learning and feeling; and with all that, she produced what will probably be perpetually recognized as her best, most important work. 21 reflects just what Springsteen’s Tunnel of Love, Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, The Strokes’ Is This It, or Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours did: The indisputable condition of the creative soul is that when they are the most sad, or the most emotionally distraught, their best work is set to inevitably emerge.

Being in despair almost always means you’re the most artistically motivated. It’s in those moments of intense emotional disparity that artists are most motivated to find the answer to the question that belies the human experience: “What is the point to all this ‘love’ bullshit?”

Adele reconnects with this unanswerable query, and many more, on her just-released album, 25. She’s a mother now and has happily settled into a stable relationship with the father of her child. Adele doesn’t smoke anymore, doesn’t drink, spends time with close friends but, admittedly, spends most nights at home with her family. After all the emotional and lifestyle changes over the past four years, it’s a little surprising that all these acquired experiences wouldn’t immediately inspire and motivate an album for age 23, or at the very least for the age of 24.

But writer’s block plagued the mind of one of the world’s favorite red-heads. She held her experiences in equally high esteem, surely, but struggled to connect them to her art form. Writing sessions with an array of acclaimed individuals — Ryan Tedder, Danger Mouse, Greg Kurstin, Shellback and many others — were supposed to help spur her creativity. And a lot of that didn’t help. More time was supposed to help, too. More learning, more yearning and personal reflection: this combination should open the floodgates to Adele’s hidden

DEADPOOL From Page 1D But where “Deadpool” fails as a straightforward superhero movie, it more than makes up for in its subversive humor, and its performance from Reynolds. This is by far the most impressive work, comedic or dramatic, that Reynolds has done. His razor-sharp cadence and bravado carry this film even when it’s on its most tired dregs in

world of pain, shouldn’t it? The Almighty Adele had to eventually reemerge in the studio with some new recollection of a messed up life and mind. That’s what we have all pegged her to do, isn’t it?

Ms. Adkins, instead, decided to give herself the necessary amount of time, whatever that would be, before releasing 25. She waited for what was most honest, a key ingredient to all of Adele’s music.

This task — locating the most honest parts of yourself, or the messages that most clearly define your current emotional and mental landscape — is exceptionally arduous. And when one considers how many people plan to draw relatability and direction from whatever is produced, the difficulty of the task intensifies.

So, as the emotional epi-pen to millions, what do you do? Do you give the perpetually despaired masses what they crave: soulful, gorgeously produced pop music to underlie a nearly perfect voice speaking sonnets of lost loves, bad decisions and unfair conditions?

Adele had the formula for what would derive for her the most success — she had acquired it with 21. But she left it back there, with her frightfully distraught 21-yearold self and reemerged in the studio with the wisdom of a new mother, the depth of a lover in some comfortable, settled kind of love, and the child-like, experimental nature of one still trying to define their 20s.

The lens from which Adele envisioned 25 was less jaded and broken, but far more mature. In 25, Adele lyrically chastises herself, rather than some unnamed man of the past, for her mistakes and shortcomings and the people she has hurt. The album’s opener and first single, “Hello,” is a direct indicator of this sentiment: I royally screwed up a couple of years ago, and so did you. Let’s reconnect.

Other tracks, like “River Lea” or “Million Years Ago” drip with selfdeprecation and nostalgia. “I know I’m not the only one who regrets the things they’ve done,” sings Adele on “Million Years Ago.” She is missing her youth, missing her former self and reexamining it all from the aged wisdom of a woman who has trenched through some thick emotional shit. Other tracks like “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” and “All I Ask” follow the lyrical themes found on 21. “If this is my last night with you, hold me like I’m more than just a friend / give me a memory I can use,” sings Adele on the piano power ballad, “All I Ask.” It’s a song she co-wrote with one of her favorite musical colleagues, Bruno Mars. The

pleading and nervous expectation of future sadness leans back into 21 for just a moment. Because, as Ms. Adkins reveals, time passes and hearts mend, but the fear of future loss remains.

“When We Were Young,” the fourth track on the album, was co-written by Tobias Jesso, Jr., the Piano Man for the new generation.

Beginning as a slower piano ballad, the simplistic musicality of the song holds up against the consuming nature of both the song’s nostalgia and the singer’s emotion. Adele’s fluid syncopations with fellow artists is obvious on 25, but this artistic eye for collaboration is most successful on this fourth track.

The most precious and possibly most mature track on 25 opens with the giggles of her son.

“Sweetest Devotion” begins with the little laughs and mumbles of a child before exploding into the layered explosions of the song. In the album’s finale, Adele makes it clear that she has self-actualized as a mother and girlfriend. “Sweetest Devotion” is a postcard to her past and future self, letting them both know that at one point, and in one moment, she did figure it all out.

The musicality of 25 is less cacophonous than 21. The growth of Adele’s mind and heart has bled into her music as one of greater fluidity and smooth soul sounds.

25 does, however, hold variety: working with Max Martin, Shellback, Bruno Mars, and Danger Mouse left the album with a few more pop beats and a couple more catchy hooks. Listeners have lost the tantalizing drums of “Rolling in the Deep” and “Set Fire to the Rain,” but have gained the pop beats and sweeter versions of Ms. Adkins’ voice on “Water Under the Bridge” and “Send My Love (To Your New Lover).”

25 is a rightful follow-up to the Billboard-shattering success that was 21. The tear ducts of the listener are less empty and emotional staminas will feel less ravaged upon each listen, but Adele hasn’t rescinded her honesty.

We have observed her potential.

Adele has taken us to the peak of the mountain of despair. We’re back with her now, in the year 2015, piecing together what we have learned. Take another four or five years now, Adele, and send us a soul-pop postcard when you get to the next mountain. We’ll be waiting here, ever so patiently, to hear about what you have found there.

the second act. He’s dropping six jokes a minute, and the majority of them hit hard. T.J. Miller (“Silicon Valley”), essentially playing himself, is another highlight as Deadpool’s confidante Weasel, a smarmy hipster who somehow ended up as the proprietor of the tough-guy bar where ‘pool hangs out.

“Deadpool” is at its best when it’s poking and prodding the lurching Kevin Feige-shaped blob of the

“other” Marvel Comics movies, and isn’t quite as competent at standing freely as its own superhero film.

But with the exception of a few unfortunate clunkers (there’s a pretty transphobic joke or two in there, ugh), “Deadpool” ’s innovative, hilarious comedy is more than enough to justify the trip to the theater.

Stay until the end of the credits.

If you’ve been paying attention, I shouldn’t have to tell you why.

COLUMBIA RECORDS

Don’t worry freshmen, your year will be happier than this.

4D — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

STYLE NOTEBOOK

TV NOTEBOOK

Stop enabling Shinola Rhimes changes TV Shinola needs to remain conscious of reality

By ANAY KATYAL Summer Senior Arts Editor

Growing up in Chicago, I always had a fascination with Detroit. For so long, I considered the Motor City my sister city of sorts — while Detroit and Chicago are similar in many ways, each city manages to have its own unique, distinguishing quirks. Detroit was endearing to me, and it came to take a special place in my heart. As a result, Detroit’s fall from grace hit me harder than it did most nonresidents. Besides, a city in crisis, caused by the malfeasance and mismanagement of questionably elected politicians, is something I can empathize with fairly well. I so badly wanted Detroit to get back on its feet, that I blindly supported any shiny new initiative that emphasized any intent to “revitalize” Detroit.

Shinola soon made its mark on the fashion scene and Detroit revitalization simultaneously, touting “quality, Detroit-made goods” with a dedication to “American luxury and American quality.” With its shiny branding and lofty promises, I really wanted to like Shinola. A company that wants to give Detroiters a second chance on the backs of something that isn’t automotive? Great. A second chance on the backs of Detroitmade watches and other craft goods? Even better.

I told my Dad to go buy a Shinola watch, I extolled the merits of the company to my

friends; there was even a point where I tried saving up for my very own Shinola timepiece.

I can’t really say I fell in love with the company, because that requires a genuine, confident feeling of attachment; rather, like many others, I had a period of deep infatuation, finding myself in love with the idea of the company and its products, rather than the company itself. The slick marketing materials that tried to simultaneously appeal to a penchant for luxury goods and love for Detroit worked on me.

After the honeymoon period was over, it was pretty easy to see the false narrative Shinola was trying to sell to consumers like me.

Owned and operated by Bedrock Brands, a venture capital firm started by one of the founders of Fossil, Shinola operates under the pretense of being a homegrown Detroit company, when in reality its corporate home is found in Texas, though its individual company headquarters are in Detroit. A quick look at Shinola’s website can give a fair bit of perspective. Watches aren’t manufactured in Detroit, but rather assembled using sourced parts from suppliers in Europe (the cheapest among them being ~$550). In addition to that, you’ll find $500 leather boxing gloves, $1,500 fixed-gear bicycles and $50 felt pennants adorned with the Shinola logo as well as a $15,000 “vintage” American flag.

Shinola bills itself as a company that works for the people of Detroit, but in reality, it’s a trendy way for wealthy residents of Bloomfield Hills or Grosse Pointe (or even Chicago, in my case) to feign a sense of empathy for Detroit’s problems.

When a company that claims to

serve the city of Detroit is trying to front a piece of fabric that costs more than a brand new car, one can’t help but think there are other motives at play.

I don’t really have a problem stomaching many of the byproducts of the Detroit revitalization movement, or the waves of gentrification that have come with it. All things considered, trying to generate a sense of positivity in a city blighted by a storm of poverty and despair isn’t really a negative thing. But Shinola’s insistence on perpetuating the idea that “Detroit isn’t as terrible as you thought, and here are some shiny, expensive products to prove it” does more harm than good for the people of Detroit.

By simply choosing Detroit as a backdrop for its products, Shinola thinks it’s better than other companies in the same business.

Their ad campaigns feature smiling white people riding their expensive bicycles on city streets juxtaposed with smiling little Black children rapping, with their CEO remarking how residents of the city are “really nice” and “looked you in the eye,” as if the people of Detroit aren’t as savage as outsiders thought.

There isn’t a genuine intent to see Detroit improve on the part of Shinola. They hope that by using Detroit as Shinola’s puppet, they can push a caricatured ideal of what it means to invest in America and cities like Detroit.

I can’t see Shinola’s business model defaulting on their intended goals anytime soon, but for the sake of Detroit and its residents, remaining conscious of the reality of Shinola’s business practices would be a good first step to take.

By DANIELLE YACOBSON Daily Arts Writer

Shonda Rhimes has made it. She rules over Thursday nights on ABC, gets shout outs during Emmy acceptance speeches and loves to use the term “vajayjay.” As the creator and writer of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” and producer of “How To Get Away With Murder,” Rhimes has the attention of over 22.5 million people each week. Needless to say, she’s influential. But in the glamorous, exclusive and powerhungry world of Hollywood, influence is easily exploited, and just as easily lost. In “Year of Yes,” Rhimes’s self-help book detailing a transformative year of her life, she explores the intense pressure she felt as an African-American woman in a white man’s industry. Her experience has developed a unique perspective, which she showcases through her enthralling storytelling. She has a lesson to teach and a point to prove, so when she has the simultaneous attention of 22.5 million people, Rhimes unapologetically takes advantage of it. Her gift of storytelling has changed the landscape of modern television by depicting what the real world looks like on screen, featuring diverse casts and plot lines that break free from overused, monochromatic clichés.

Rhimes calls herself, and others who have exceeded societal expectations set by their minority label, a F.O.D. – a First. Only. Different. The title comes with the weighty responsibility of representing an entire population, with the

risk of projecting her failure onto others. “You can’t be raised black in America and not know,” she writes, describing the incredibly high stakes that accompanied her F.O.D.ness when creating “Scandal,” the first network drama in 37 years to feature a Black leading lady. If “Scandal” failed, the network would have evidence against breaking their riskfree structure of a non-Black successful female protagonist, and arguably invalidate her own accomplishments as an AfricanAmerican showrunner with her previous hit series, “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Scandal” ’s success not only spurred discussion of race representation on television, but also gave Rhimes the opportunity to continue her mission to normalize what and who people see on the screen.

One of the greatest obstacles that stands in the way of success is lack of opportunity. “How To Get Away With Murder” star Viola Davis said in her 2015 Emmy acceptance speech for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.” Davis, the first African-American woman in history to win best drama actress, demonstrates just how significant opportunity is in reshaping the demographic of network television. Shonda Rhimes has been an instrumental force in Hollywood, not only by creating deep and complex roles for minorities, but by redefining what a strong woman, of any color, is capable of accomplishing. Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington, “Django Unchained”) and Annalise

DINING & NIGHTLIFE

Keating (Davis), her two leading ladies of color, prove that a Black actress should not be restricted to the role of a sassy sidekick when, instead, they can run the White House or kick ass in court still raw and reeling from a bullet to the gut.

While many shows boast their cast’s diversity by featuring a “token gay character,” Rhimes’s explore the spectrum of human sexuality without using “gayness” as a marker of progressiveness. Instead, all three of her Thank God It’s Thursday hit series feature regular cast members that span a wide range of gender and sexual identities, and bring pressing issues in the media and popular culture to the forefront.

For example, season 11 of “Grey’s Anatomy” chronicled the coming out and transition of a transgender character, humanizing the transgender awareness movement that swept social media platforms in 2015. In an interview with NPR, Rhimes spoke to her approach towards same-sex love scenes, saying even scenes created following an identical shot-forshot sequence as a heterosexual couple’s sex scenes were met with a heavy dose of censorship.

This censorship she started was something she had to push past to show that, no matter the gender of the couples, a double standard should not exist.

Through the art of storytelling, Rhimes is able to separate her fictional people from politics, prejudices and stereotypes. Her television worlds represent what reality actually looks like. Simply put, Shonda Rhimes is normalizing diversity.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

5D — Fall 2016

B-SIDE LEAD

Love beyond the normalized binary Relationships and orientations exist beyond the standard

By SAM ROSENBERG Daily Arts Writer

Editor’s note: the name of a student has been changed, which is denoted with asterisk.

“What is love?”

It’s more than just the ubiquitous hook of the 1993 dance-pop jam by Haddaway.

To many, love has a plethora of definitions. It can represent a deep affection for another person, an intense liking toward a piece of art or, to put it more broadly, a strong bond between two or more people. However, in our society, love is often associated with sexuality, and the romantic aspect of love is frequently complemented with the sexual aspect of love. This upcoming Sunday is Valentine’s Day, which is known as the national day of celebration of our culture’s version of “love.” For decades, V-Day has commercialized “love” in advertisements, Hallmark greeting cards, presents and even film. People are motivated to spend money on loved ones, whether it’s on a thoughtful box of chocolates or on sexy gifts to spice up one’s sex life. And while the holiday can be rather heteronormative in nature, it is gradually becoming more inclusive toward non-heterosexual couples. Nevertheless, it seems to underrepresent a largely unrecognized group of people: those who don’t identify with the sexual or romantic binary.

Let’s talk about sex (and romance), baby When it comes to love, sexual attraction and romantic attraction are often paired together, yet they have completely different implications. For people with non-binary sexual and romantic orientations, the concept of “love” doesn’t necessarily mean that sex and romance always go hand-in-hand. University of Michigan freshman Allie Hodge, who identifies as asexual and biromantic, believes that love simply means being intimate with someone, but “in the way where you feel really comfortable with talking to them, where you

can share yourself fully and not worry about judgment.”

It may seem unusual that asexuality, which defines a person who feels no sexual attraction, can coexist with biromanticism, which involves romantic attraction toward persons of two or more genders.

But Hodge makes a clear point that romance and sexuality don’t need to be mutually exclusive.

“I don’t feel the desire to have sex,” Hodge said. “It’s not something that I find appealing, but I can understand people who do find it appealing. At the same time, I do feel really strong romantic attraction to people, as well as platonic.”

Before Hodge discovered her asexuality in 10th grade, she identified as demisexual, a sexual orientation in which someone feels sexual attraction only to people with whom they have an emotional bond, which seemed more socially acceptable at the time. But once she came out as asexual, Hodge received a range of positive, neutral and negative responses.

“When I do tell people (about my asexuality), I usually get questions like, ‘Have you gotten your hormones checked?’ ” Hodge said. “It’s also a common thing where people say, ‘Oh, you just haven’t had experience yet.’ ” Regardless, Hodge believes she felt accepted and comfortable once she came to the University. In addition to receiving encouragement from her mother and sister, Hodge has found support at the University and in the “ace” community — “ace” is the abbreviated slang for asexual — particularly in the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), an online resource that strives to create open, honest discussions about asexuality among sexual and asexual people alike. She has also participated in Aromantic and Asexual Awareness Day, which allows people who identify as aromantic and/or asexual to share their personal experiences with their romantic/sexual orientations.

Similar to Hodge, University graduate student Kelly* also feels a certain stigma against her romantic and sexual orientations. Kelly identifies as a lesbian in a non-sexual open relationship with a man. Even

though her romantic relationship doesn’t correlate with her sexual orientation, sexuality still plays an important role in her expression of love.

“Even if I don’t want to have sex with anyone, that doesn’t change who I’m attracted to,” Kelly said. “My sexual orientation isn’t about who I sleep with; it’s about who I love.”

Kelly, who also works as a My Voice panelist at the University Spectrum Center, mentions that she entered her current relationship with no idea of what she wanted or even a full understanding of her own sexual orientation, but that she and her partner are both constantly changing as people, as well as the nature of their relationship.

“Relationships aren’t static,” Kelly continued. “I’m not interested in sex or many types of physical intimacy with my partner, but I still love him romantically.”

Love can be seen as multidimensional, especially in differentiating between sexual relationships from romantic ones.

According to Pharmacy student Kevin Sparks, who identifies as gay and gender-fluid and also works as a MyVoicepanelist and GPS Mentor at the Spectrum Center, romantic and sexual relationships each contain distinguishing traits.

“Simply put, a romantic relationship has sex within it, but a sexual relationship has no romance,” Sparks said.

Sparks went on to elaborate the romantic relationship, in that it “involves a deeper level of shared intimacy, even outside of the sexual relationship, and moves beyond companionship and into a shared desire for one another’s bodies and commitment.”

Love comes in many forms.

The notion that love comes only exclusively in a singular combination of sex and romance isn’t always necessarily true.

When love is specifically related to sex and romance, it doesn’t have to be both sexual and romantic; it can be “either/or.”

Monogamy, polyamory, living in (somewhat) perfect harmony Monogamy has been the set standard of relationships for quite a while. But even though monogamy is perceived as “normal” by societal means, it really isn’t. Sure, we have been

evolutionarily conditioned to attract, mate and live with one person for the rest of our lives.

But should that always be the case? For people who identify as polyamorous — being in love or romantically involved with more than one person at the same time — relationships are much more fluid. Hodge talked about the beneficial aspects of polyamorous relationships, since they involve a lot of honesty and rely on a lot of trust.

“Polyamory is often looked at as cheating or being unfaithful,” Hodge said. “But it can also be super healthy, where all these people have this genuine love for each other.”

If you’re not convinced, try watching the 15-minute video made by Elite Daily, titled “A Polyamorous Couple’s Guide To Sleeping With Multiple Partners.” The clip follows Brooklyn partners Caleb and Tran, who both identify as polyamorous. They describe their journeys of having both sexual and romantic relationships with other people, while still retaining their own special relationship as “primary partners.” Throughout the video, Caleb and Tran emphasize the key elements to maintaining a healthy polyamorous relationship, which are openness, honesty and communication. They explain how they constantly discuss their anxieties about jealousy and their developing interests in other people to one another.

And because of their relentless candidness, the two are able to maintain their own loving relationship and relationships with others.

It’s easy to just assume that this couple is using polyamory as an excuse to avoid commitment.

But the video shows Caleb and Tran weighing in on the costs and rewards of polyamory, as well as their genuine, unconditional love for one another. This isn’t to say that monogamy is a limiting or bad thing (it can also be just as beautiful and dynamic). However, polyamory paves the way for people who don’t fit in the “normal” realm of relationships to explore their own identity and engage in developing strong relationships with people, whether platonic, sexual or romantic.

Embrace the ace (and other non-binary orientations)

So how should our society and culture better represent people who don’t identify in the binary?

While LGBTQ civil rights and representation are increasingly becoming part of mainstream society, a lack of media representation and education still exists for the LGBTQ community and especially for non-binary communities. Over time, sexuality and romance have become prominent in our media — film, television, music, books and specifically Valentine’s Day — and a lot of those mediums often capture sexuality and romance through a heteronormative lens.

“A lot of our society is geared towards sex,” Hodge said. “And even as an asexual, it’s sometimes hard for me to say that I really don’t want to have sex.”

Hodge said that the topic of not having sex is not widely discussed and that when it is, it’s said “in the way that it’s shamed, like, ‘Oh, you poor virgin.’ ” Moreover, media can be perceived as generating heteronormative content intentionally for the sake of maintaining the normal standard of what a “proper” sexual and romantic relationship should be. Valentine’s Day, in particular, makes this struggle for recognition among the nonbinary community extremely difficult, since the holiday caters toward predominantly binarybased relationships.

Sparks believes that the mediums and commercial outlets in our society all “knowingly promote themselves through idealistic, heteronormative, two-person relationships because they believe that will provide them with the most successful outcome and the most consumers.”

“It is not a lack of awareness that causes this underrepresentation,” Sparks continued.

“But rather a choice on behalf of a cisgender, heteronormative, binary-seeking person to disengage an integral portion of the community.”

As someone who doesn’t conform to the romantic and sexual binary, Kelly also has to constantly deal with “the assumption that people like (me) don’t exist — whether that’s because you don’t want to be in a relationship, are in more than one relationship or

in a relationship with more than one person, are in a nonsexualromantic relationship.”

While our society has yet to expand its inclusiveness toward people with non-binary sexual and romantic orientations, education can be one essential component in reaching that goal faster. This can pertain to breaking down LGBTQ and nonbinary stereotypes, informing people about the variety of terms used to describe LGBTQ and nonbinary orientations and general inclusion of people who aren’t heterosexual, heteroromantic or cisgender. Validity is particularly important, as Hodge points out, because “it recognizes that other people are different from you.”

Even the queer community, Hodge continued, doesn’t know much about non-binary terms because they’re not widely discussed. Sparks said he feels a similar way, since for him, it’s difficult expressing himself to others, as someone “whose sexual preferences far exceed the ‘vanilla’ standard that is societally acceptable.”

What’s love got to do with it?

Relationships, whether sexual or romantic, are not about always being in one fixed state.

Rather, they are about embracing multiple feelings that transcend the binary.

“People aren’t always gonna be on this black and white scale, but rather be (part of the) rainbow spectrum,” Hodge said.

It’s true that our society is progressing in accepting and embracing the LGBTQ community with an emphasis on love and pride. A national milestone was made this past summer on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn several state laws and statutes banning same-sex marriage, including Michigan’s, legalizing it nationwide. Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime performance was another great example of this as well, as a multi-colored crowd spelled out “Believe in Love,” while Chris Martin of Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé belted out a medley. But what our society must continue to strive for is acceptance of people who don’t associate with the traditional idea of love, and once we achieve that, then love can seen not as black or white, but for what it truly is: a rainbow.

6D — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

FILM COLUMN

I

‘Creed,’ and the power and weight of a name

have a confession: I love “Rocky IV.” I love it for the cartoonish ‘roided up Russian Ivan Drago. I love it for the flashiness that so aptly epitomizes the ’80s. I love that more than a third of its runtime is montage. I love that Rocky, with his slurred speech and swollen face, singlehandedly ends JAMIE the Cold War BIRCOLL by delivering a rousing victory oration about the values of being ‘Murican. I love it because it’s the definition of excess, the kind of movie that plays repeatedly on cable on slow Sunday afternoons.

I love the latest “Rocky” franchise installment, “Creed,” because it’s the exact opposite of “Rocky IV”: contemplative, emotional, slow, restrained.

It’s a boxing movie where boxing serves as the vehicle to examine complex characters who deal with real emotions and real internal conflict. It’s a

sequel that pays homage to its past, but it holds its own and could function as a completely standalone work where no one has ever heard of the Italian Stallion.

“Rocky IV” reminds me that movies don’t always have to be high art; they can exist solely for entertainment. “Creed” reminds me that high art and entertainment can exist as one; it reminds me of why I love movies.

What makes “Creed” so special very early on is a quiet scene where young Adonis Creed watches a YouTube clip of his long-deceased father, Apollo, fighting Rocky from one of the early “Rocky” films.

The clip is projected onto the wall and blown up so Creed and Balboa appear large in stature. Though the footage looks grainy, the ferocity on the faces of the fighters remains clear. The amateur boxer Adonis, dressed in shirt and tie, watches for a moment, then rises and approaches the screen, as he begins to shadow the movements and punches of the fighters. At first, it seems

touching — a son walking in the footsteps of his father. But Adonis isn’t mirroring Apollo, nor is he fighting Rocky — he’s fighting Apollo.

This image so perfectly captures the essence of the film: a son grappling with the legacy of his father, a legacy he didn’t ask for from a father that left him before he was born. Boxing is just the physical representation of this very personal conflict.

That’s why cinema is so fond of the boxing/fighting film. There is no greater exemplification of the personal struggle than the fighter’s quest for greatness; it’s boiled down and raw and brutal. Emotional tension can be felt, but physical confrontation — the crack of a rib, the spray of blood on the ring — these sounds and images resonate and boom. When these physical struggles mesh with and mirror the more emotional struggles, the audience becomes absorbed in the characters.

Suddenly, their fight becomes our fight too. And in “Creed,” the emotions resonate so loudly because its fight is so personal

and human.

Watching “Creed,” I felt like I sat ringside, cheering on our protagonist. And it wasn’t simply because the camera weaves between the fighters to create a 360-degree immersion, nor was it because of the surround sound that places the audience smack in the middle of the scene. It was because I cared — because I could relate.

Growing up, family and friends remarked how much I resembled (still resemble) my father: the same appearance, the same sense of humor, the same walk, the same voice, the same mannerisms — the spitting image of him. So for years I could only compare myself to him: was I as smart as he was when he was my age? Was I as personable? Was he stronger than me? Faster than me? What could he do that I couldn’t, and why couldn’t I do it, too?

Up until this past April, I was studying to go to medical school in large part because my father did — not because he wanted me to, but because I was still competing with him, with his name.

But his name is my name, and names and legacies do not make an individual. They are inescapable and immutable, and they help shape an identity. But they do not define that identity.

And at some point I realized that I am my father’s son and I bear my father’s name. But though he has profoundly influenced who I am, I am not my father.

And so, Adonis reaches the same conclusion by the end of “Creed,” though he achieves that catharsis through sweat and blood rather than selfcontemplation. But his internal fight to define his own selfworth is universal; who among us has not compared himself to a parent, a family member, a friend or even a younger, more successful self?

This idea of names, the weight they carry in regard to one’s pride, is a powerful concept, far more powerful than an uppercut to the jaw or a quick left jab to the ribs. “Creed” plays up the concept in so many ways: by juxtaposing a young character with an absent but wellestablished, legendary figure and by contrasting an aging

Rocky with constant reminders of his youth and success, but also by “Creed” ’s very existence as a sequel to one of the most beloved films of all time.

When a movie taps into all of these deeper levels — narratively, metaphorically, existentially — and still entertains as a crowd-pleaser, that excites as a sports picture, that moves as an interpersonal drama and manages to reflect in its characters a struggle universal but individual, then that film becomes something more, something worth remembering and cherishing.

I could never relate to “Rocky” the way so many did when it came out in 1976, but I understand “Creed.” I understand this struggle and this fight and this identity crisis. I understand the image of a young man shadowboxing a ghost. “Creed” is not “Rocky,” but it is my “Rocky,” the underdog sports drama I’ll think back on for years to come.

STARKID From Page 9A

friends.

TMD: How did the University help get you to where you are now?

Jaime: Basement Arts gave us and gave me the gumption to do stuff on my own, and to not be afraid to go against the big man and create something. The University is just a great place. It nurtures everyone’s abilities.

TMD: Is it strange having your friendships out there in the world for other people to comment on?

Jaime: It’s really weird.

Dylan: Um, yeah. There was an aspect of a lot of what we did where we were just ourselves, so like you’re presenting a version of yourself.

Jaime: It’s like a caricature of yourself out there.

TMD: Have you had any truly

memorable fan experiences?

Jaime: Fans make the most beautiful art. I’ve saved every single letter I’ve ever been given.

And that’s just the most touching.

Everybody shows their love and geeks out about it in their own way.

Oh, one girl gave us a tiger whisker on tour. Sometimes we’ll get weird, funky gifts.

Dylan: I actually got a handmade, beautiful Michigan-color quilt once. The stories I think are the most memorable to me are the ones about people who meet as a result of the group. People who forge friendships because they met each other on some kind of online forum or at a show or at a concert.

That’s the coolest to me. At the end of the day, if we can create connections with other people and allow

that to live on, that’s pretty special, I think.

TMD: What do you think has been your favorite role?

Dylan: Oh man. There’s so many factors that go into it but I think in terms of where we were as people and where we were as a company, I’d probably have to say it was in “Starship,” and I played a character called Tootsie Noodles that was based on my actual persona in a lot of ways. It was like written in some respects after things I had actually said, and it was also the first time we had left Ann Arbor and were doing it on our own, so it felt pretty special to be able to create completely original work in a new city and try to ingratiate ourselves into the city in that way.

TMD: What do you love the

most about being a part of StarKid? Dylan: (Stopping to laugh at the rehearsal of a scene) This. I can look up and see people that I haven’t seen in years and you fall right back into a routine of performing and of camaraderie and of friendship.

And then I also love that it kind of exists, for me at least, in a bit of a bubble. We do it for 48 hours and it’s beautiful and then I’m home.

It’s crazy how transient it is but also how important it is.

Jaime: Because I’m an only child, this is the closest I’ve ever come to siblings.

TMD: You guys have parodied a lot of big things, like “Harry Potter,” Disney, “Star Wars” and DC Comics. Is there anything you’d love to parody?

Dylan: A new parody? Oh man, I’ve always wanted to see StarKid do a revamped “Little Shop of Horrors” and bring back some of the puppets and puppeteering.

I’d probably also want to parody something from the ’80s like a “Ferris Bueller” or “Home Alone.”

Like, take some of the tropes from ’80s coming-of-age stories and spin them on their head. I’ve always wanted to see “Back to the Future” as a musical, too. Yeah, a “Back to the Future” parody would be pretty wild cause you’ve got three stories right there to make into a show. *** It was around this time that the dinner break was announced and I realized I had already spent three hours with StarKid. I didn’t want to be bothersome, but after Dylan invited me, I needed no further convincing to join. It ended up being one of the most entertaining and strangest experiences I’ve ever had. Multiple people stopped at the table to chat and ask for photos. And none of them seemed to care that I wasn’t a StarKid. I was sitting at the table, which meant I was going to be in the pictures. I still can’t imagine getting used to such an occurrence, but everyone handled each fan encounter with poise and politeness.

After the break, we returned to the Power Center, where the tech team was preparing to start a cue-

to-cue and the costume designer was helping everyone get into his or her first costume. I found Nick sitting off to the side on his own, so I grabbed a seat in the row behind him and asked if he had a chance to chat. He said he refused to believe that the show had sold out, and that he had never expected StarKid to have the impact it has had.

“I don’t accept that that is real,” he said. “I’m continuously surprised that people like it.”

As the night wore on, it became harder and harder to conduct more interviews. The cue-to-cue turned into a soft run of the full show, so the cast was running all over the place. I was a little disappointed I wasn’t going to be able to speak with every StarKid member, but luckily, toward the end, Joe Walker, a 2009 Music, Theatre & Dance alum who is best known for playing Voldemort in “A Very Potter Musical,” found a few free minutes and sat down to speak with me.

Walker mentioned that he is moving to L.A. to star in Joey Richter’s new musical, and he said that this show felt like “a retrospective” on the last five years of his life.

I asked him what he loved most about being a StarKid. “The jokes,” he replied. “I think our stuff is funny and it makes me laugh. That’s why I did it in the first place. Five or six years is a really long time to do one creative endeavor, but no matter what, I’ll hear a joke that was written five, six years ago for whatever, and I’ll go ‘God that is so stupid and funny,’ you know. It’ll really make me laugh. So I think that’ll be the thing that I’ll always love.”

And thus ended my final StarKid interview. I continued watching their rehearsal until the end, finally emerging from the Power Center at 10:30 p.m., almost nine hours after I arrived. As I walked home, I was struck by the fact that StarKid was truly just a group of friends trying to make each other laugh and who never imagined that one day, millions of people would know their names and be invested in their lives. It was remarkable and unforgettable to be at the center of it all.

At this point, their short break was over and Lauren, Darren and Joey were all called back on stage to rehearse, so I made my way over to Jaime Lyn Beatty, 2010 Music, Theatre & Dance alum, who had just taken a seat after rehearsing “Rogues Are We” from StarKid’s 2012 musical “Holy Musical B@ man!”

TMD: So what made you want to come back and do this reunion concert?

Jaime Lyn Beatty: This is like a dream come true. I think we all pretty much jump at any opportunity to come to Ann Arbor to be together so nothing made me. My own willpower and love for my

HEALTH | BEAUTY | FASHION

AUDRA From Page 1D “What I am is what I do. It’s who I am. I don’t know anything else. It’s the only thing I know how to do,” she said. “I have deep admiration and respect for producers, directors and writers but I know that’s not my forte.

I’m doing what I love and what I want to do.”

Performing isn’t the only passion in her life, though.

McDonald is an avid supporter of a number of charities, including Covenant House, which assists homeless youth, as well as PFLAG, which offers support for the LBGTQ community.

“These are issues having to do with equality and making sure there is social justice for everybody, and taking care of each other as citizens of the world,” McDonald said. “It is our job to take care of each other. You’ve got to give back.”

And yet, giving back isn’t just

Bircoll is currently in the real world somewhere. To find out where, email jbircoll@umich.edu.

limited to donations. McDonald understands that students may be strapped for cash, but as she explained, giving one’s time and energy is just as important as any financial contribution.

“There’s always someplace to volunteer. Just volunteer your time even if it’s just at a local homeless shelter or the children’s hospital, or something. Just volunteer your time,” McDonald said. “Giving up your time is just as important, just as valuable.”

For those students who may wish to follow in her impressive footsteps, she had this piece of advice: “Don’t turn down any opportunity to perform, whether it be at your local YMCA or church or community theater, the experience of being on stage is the same. No matter where it happens, live performance is the same dynamic, so get as much experience as you can, wherever you can.”

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

7D — Fall 2016

B-SIDE LEAD

Into the woods to the Terrified Forest Arts writers journey into a haunted forest

By EMMA KINERY and HAILEY MIDDLEBROOK Daily Arts Writer

Lights On Fall had peaked on Saturday as we drove down the winding road speckled with autumnal hues and overarching amber trees. Nature’s festive display almost made me forget the reason Hailey and I were taking a half-hour trek out of Ann Arbor.

Growing up on ghost stories and Halloween, haunted sites and lore have always intrigued me — at least, from a distance. I was eager to snag the opportunity to write about walking through a haunted forest, but it took until the day of our trip to the Terrorfied Forest for my rational mind to kick into action and my feet to turn cold. Memories of walking through haunted forests with my grandma reeled through my head: My grandma, born on Halloween and predestined to enjoy it, had laughed the whole way; while I, a middle schooler who had just overcome my fear of dogs, did not.

Around 7 p.m., we followed an arrow sign into a field at the end of the road. The late-October dusk was just beginning to settle as we stepped out of Hailey’s Jeep, and we were greeted by a man dressed in black who spoke with a deep voice. After discovering we were reporters, not actors for the forest, he led us to meet one of the owners, Cindy Murphy-Broadbent, at her house not far from the parking lot. There, we were welcomed by a dozen ghouls gathered around a bonfire, applying their terrifying makeup. A woman with bloody barbed wire wrapped around her face pressed flesh wounds to a man’s face; another woman was smearing white paint over her cheekbones while a third monster airbrushed an actor’s face Murphy-Broadbent came out of the house. She was an older woman, with cropped white hair and a lifelong passion for Halloween. As she approached, an actress mentioned that the house was decorated with spooky decor all year long.

“I just always liked Halloween,” Murphy-Broadbent said. “You can dress up if you want, you don’t have

to if you don’t want. You can give candy if you want, you don’t have to if you don’t want. You can have a lot of fun with it, or you don’t have to.

So, it’s a great holiday.”

The Terrorfied Forest was first created as a haunted hayride surprise birthday party. The party was such a hit that Murphy-Broadbent and her husband, Dean, continued to host it for five years until friends convinced them to open it to the public. Now it’s a 30-minute walk for three-quarters of a mile through the woods. The forest opens for business the second weekend of September through Halloween night, as well as on the Friday the 13th in November.

It was inching closer to 8 p.m. when the trail officially opened.

Murphy-Broadbent offered to lead us back to the entrance so she could open the ticket booth. The man who we had seen being made-up with fake flesh had now transformed into a monster; he snuck up behind us as we lingered, growling and barking. Hailey shrieked. We eagerly left the ghouls.

By now it was dark out, the entrance sign illuminated by a string of lights. It had rained earlier that day and lone clouds still hung in front of the bright, nearly full moon; it was the kind of night you’d expect werewolves to transform — and that’s not an exaggeration. It was hard not to take the ominous hint and begin worrying again.

It suddenly dawned on me that it may not have been the best idea to tell all of the actors we were reporters.

The main area was a large field that resembled a movie set: a ticket booth, haunted house, a ghoulish tree for photos and a food trailer glowing yellow, all dispersed along the edges. With half an hour until the trail opened, we naturally headed to the snacks: cider for $1.50, cider and a doughnut for $2.50. The actors, all teenagers with painted faces, were gathered there, too.

A freshman from Eastern Michigan University, dressed as Frankenstein, said he enjoyed working at the Terrorfied Forest; it was a good weekend job. He was able to spend the money he made from scaring willing individuals and save what he made from his day job.

Frankenstein said he’s never scared when he’s in the forest waiting for passersby. I understood this more later when I walked through — as the trail is lit by red lights — but at the time, I was skeptical.

Young girls with caked-on red cheeks and freckles said they worked in the Fun House, which people could pay extra to go through before the trail. They said that some people are scared, some flirt and many crack jokes. The nun said she had heard all the “nun puns” in the book. The most common: “I’ll have nun of that!”

People of all ages began arriving. By the time we left that night, the parking lot would be full. The actors explained that the week before Halloween was peak week for the haunted trail: costume parties had only just begun, but people were in the spirit.

Lights Off A single doorframe, propped up like the forgotten remains of a burned-down building, marked the entrance to the Terrorfied Forest. A costumed woman stood in the shadows as Emma and I approached, her smeared white makeup catching the glow of the orange lights overhead. In her hands was a hatchet.

“Are you two with a group?” she asked. Maybe I imagined it, but she seemed to smirk at the question, her charcoal-rimmed eyes glinting.

If the smokey-eye look was intimidating on a normal basis, this chick took it to a whole new level.

“Um,” Emma said, stalling. Survival tip number one: Never go alone.

We locked eyes with the couple next to us, high school kids on a Saturday night date, willing them to take two college students under their wing for the night. It was a low point, but fear makes people do crazy things, like sleep with the lights on for a month after watching a scary movie (this is why you should never watch “Silence of the Lambs”). Besides, we were being practical — it’s all about strength in numbers. No University of Michigan-educated person would venture into the creepy woods alone.

“Do you mind if we come with you?” I blurted. The girl, bless her, nodded enthusiastically, agreeing with our group mentality or maybe just taking pity on us. Her boyfriend gamely agreed, possibly hating us for tagging along. (Boys, take note: A haunted forest is not a romantic date. Your girlfriend will be terrified, possibly crying, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. If you want a fun fall activity, stick to scary movies and pumpkin carving.)

At the entrance to a haunted for-

VIRGINIA LOZANO/Daily

Entrance of the Terrified Forest, a haunted 30 acre experience, in Pinckney, this past October.

est — a forest that the ticket lady warned takes 30 to 40 minutes to travel through — manners were not our highest priority. So when the hostess told us to line up single file to enter, we pushed the boy to the front.

The door thudded behind us, drowning out the woman’s cackle.

“Don’t touch anything and it won’t touch you back!” she said.

In nervous silence, we walked along a narrow trail, guided by hanging red bulbs on low-slung branches. Leaves whipped around our feet in tiny tornados, hiding roots, making us step carefully in the darkness and ignore our instinct to run. Though my awareness was piqued for any type of movement — a sinister shadow lurking behind a tree, the ominous snap of a twig — I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the woods in the nighttime. The moon was nearly full, flooding the forest with light; it was almost peaceful, being outside and away from the bustle of campus.

For a while, there was no movement. We kept walking, winding through the woods. We knew that there were about 80 terrifying employees waiting for us in the forest — but where were they? I started to enjoy myself, thinking of our tour as a midnight nature walk.

This would go great with some hot apple cider.

Survival tip number two: Never let your guard down. As I peered around the bend, a throaty snarl erupted from behind a tree. A wolfcreature sprung onto the path, half crawling and jumping toward our group. We screamed and stumbled, running up a ramp that led to a shed pulsing with strobe lights.

The wolf-creature left us alone, but the shed — and the other make-

shift shacks that would follow it on the trail — brought a new terror: the fear of being in a confined space of horror, with a lurking monster and nowhere to run. (In “Silence of the Lambs,” this is the situation that frightened me the most; in the final scene of the movie, Detective Clarice Starling is unknowingly trapped in the basement with serial killer Buffalo Bill with the lights off.) At this point, the four of us abandoned all formality, clutching each other’s shirts as we entered the shed.

“This is the last thing I need right now,” Emma said, groaning.

The room was filled with swinging black tubes, like punching bags, their movements warped and disorienting from the blinding strobe lights overhead. Everything was pulsing. We wove through the tubes, gripping each other tightly, our vision blurred and jaunty — was that movement a person? Or was it just us in here? — when a stranger’s voice shrieked from the corner of the room. He staggered toward us, moving fast and in slow motion at the same time, his manic clown grin flashing between the tubes. We bolted through the door at last, the lights blinking behind us.

The trail became our friend.

It held its own horrors: redneck zombies jumped out from behind a battered car, setting our eardrums ringing with blows of their shovels on metal; a deranged girl wailed and chased us, her hands grabbing at our ankles; a man with only half a body was suspended in a tree, screaming for help. Still, we preferred to be scared in the open woods, where escape was easy and the moon offered solace, rather than be trapped in dark haunted houses.

Survival tip number three: Always bring a flashlight. From its exterior, the final stop in the Terrorfied Forest looked no different from the other shacks we had walked through. We entered the house cautiously, tugging on each other’s shirts. The room became a narrow hallway, a twisting maze, growing steadily darker and darker. Soon it was pitch black; the only light came from the ceiling, a tiny sliver of moonlight, shrouded by leaves.

An eerie silence took over as we walked in the blackness. With one hand I gripped the shirt of the high school girl, with the other I skimmed the wall, feeling for passages and corners.

“This must be what it feels like to be blind,” Emma said, behind me. Suddenly, a loud smack from in front: we’d hit a dead end. The high school boy chuckled, brushing past to backtrack. I tried to control my breathing. If Harry Potter could make it through the Triwizard Maze as a 14 year old, we could get our adult selves out of this trippy house.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of dead ends, we found the back door. We spilled out into the moonlight, laughing about the maze and the trail, walking easily to the distant glow of the ticket booth and huddles of friendly faces.

Before leaving, Emma and I posed for a picture with one of the characters, holding signs that read, “I wet my pants at the Terrorfied Forest.” (Whether this was true or not can’t be disclosed.) We waved as we walked back to the car, thanking the staff, wishing ticket holders good luck.

Somewhere in the woods, a low snarl replied.

TV REVIEW

Joy amid tragedy at the 2016 Tony Awards

By ALEX INTNER Summer Managing Arts Editor

This year’s Tony Awards had an immensely difficult task. They had to take on the evening after the deadliest shooting in A American history. However, The 70th they didn’t back down. Annual Tony Instead, the Awards Broadway CBS community came together and put on a genuine celebration of the theatrical medium. The Tonys are always my favorite of the four major awards shows. Not only does everyone seem happy to be there and showcase their work for the national audience, but the winners bring an authentic sense of joy to their moments. After a powerful opening acknowledgement by host James Corden (“The Late Late Show,” who said “all we can say is you’re not on your own right now.

Your tragedy is our tragedy”), the show went on. This year’s Tonys brought a sense of happiness that was necessary on a day like Sunday.

The host of an awards show is one of the most thankless jobs on television, but Corden embraced the position, bringing his immense skill set to the job. He was asked to sing, dance, tell jokes and deliver moments of solace to a grieving audience. He attacked each of these challenges with charm, charisma and gravitas. His opening number, while a little long, launched the night with enthusiasm and energy, as Corden moved through snippets from classic musicals in rapid succession and danced his way into our

hearts. He also got to show off his more comedic side, with little bits during the show, including ones where he showcased presenter Josh Groban’s high school performance as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” and the amount of people in the theatre community who have been on “Law & Order” by displaying pictures of them on the show.

He also introduced Andrew Rannells and Glenn Close dressed as Donald Drumpf and Hillary Clinton in “The Book of Moron” and “A Clinton Line” respectively.

It wasn’t just Corden who brought energy; the other performances from the nominated shows brought their best to the Beacon Theatre stage. The performances on the Tonys are consistently some of the best moments from awards shows, as Broadway shows share themselves with the national audience. This year’s ceremony brought us Audra McDonald tap dancing during a performance from “Shuffle Along.” The kids from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation of “School of Rock,” who play their instruments live on stage, shined in a similar way to how the cast of “Matilda” stole the show a few years ago. The cast of the closed revival of “Spring Awakening” also brought their American Sign Language-infused choreography to the telecast. Personally, the way that production incorporated deaf cast members and ASL into the show (it’s entirely signed or captioned) changed the way musicals could be done for me when I saw it in December. Jane Krakowski, Zachary Levi and Laura Benanti also brought their fantastic performances in “She Loves Me” to the stage. (Levi’s enthusiasm as he sings “She Loves Me” will never fail

to make me smile). There also was no shortage of emotional showstoppers, as Heather Headley, Danielle Brooks and the immensely talented Cynthia Erivo brought their huge voices to a number from “The Color Purple” and Jessie Mueller made me cry during her performance of “She Used to Be Mine” from Sara Bareilles’s “Waitress.”

Other highlights from the show came from its speeches, as the winners brought enthusiasm and gravity to their celebratory moments. A couple of winners brought up the shootings earlier that day. When Lin-Manuel Miranda won the Tony

for Best Original Score for writing the music and lyrics of “Hamilton,” he performed a sonnet where he wrote: “When senseless acts of tragedy remind us nothing here is promised. Not one day. This show is proof that history remembers. … Love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.”

Frank Langella, after winning Lead Actor in a Play for his performance as an elderly man with dementia in “The Father,” went up on stage and said: “I urge you, Orlando, to be strong because I’m standing in a room full of the most generous human beings on Earth

and we will be with you every step of the way.” His words show how powerful live events like this can be, attempting to bring comfort in a difficult time.

However, the night belonged to “Hamilton,” which not only took home 11 awards (one short of 2001 record set by “The Producers”), but its cast also opened and closed the show. It’s no surprise that they dominated the awards, as the show is the biggest hit Broadway has seen in years. In fact, the ceremony gained two million viewers year-to-year, showcasing the clear impact “Hamilton” has had on the

broader theater culture.

While talking to friends after the ceremony about the horrific events earlier in the day, I realized what this year’s Tonys provided.

The ceremony showed the power theater has to be a place for people to forget what’s happening. They made me laugh and they made me cry from the powerful emotions in the performances. At its best, theater whisks you away into another world. It makes you forget your problems and the problems of the world. This year’s Tonys was a beacon of joy and celebration in a day surrounded by sadness.

8D — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

SPORTS IN REVIEW

SPORTS

1E — Fall 2016

Wolverines pull away in second

half to win Citrus Bowl, 41-7

Sept. 3, 2015 The Jim Harbaugh era began unceremoniously with a 24-17 loss to Utah in the regular season opener.

Jan. 1, 2016 Michigan clobbered Florida, 41-7, in the Citrus Bowl to end the season 10-3 in Harbaugh’s first year as head coach.

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Senior fullback Sione Houma celebrates his touchdown with fifth year senior quarterback Jake Rudock in a game against Florida at the Citrus Bowl.

By JAKE LOURIM Managing Sports Editor

Jan. 29, 2016 Former Connecticut Athletic Director and Michigan football player Warde Manuel was hired as the new Athletic Director at Michigan.

March 11, 2016 With an NCAA Tournament looking unlikely, Kam Chatman’s buzzer beater against one-seeded Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament gave Michigan life.

March 25, 2016 Tyler Motte’s overtime goal gave Michigan a 3-2 win over Notre Dame and advanced the Wolverines to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Michigan football team came out and scored on its first drive of the second half.

And that’s when redshirt junior defensive lineman Chris Wormley said it happened.

The Wolverines led Florida, 24-7, at that point. On the first play of the Gators’ next series, Wormley sacked quarterback Treon Harris. That led to a three-and-out, giving the ball back to Michigan’s offense.

“And you could tell in their eyes — you could see they didn’t want to play anymore,” Wormley said.

“They were down probably three scores by then, and it’s just a good feeling, especially for a defense — to stomp on their throats.”

And still 21 more minutes of dominance remained.

When that time elapsed, Michigan celebrated on the field with the bowl trophy. Its players had talked since the end of the regular season about reaching the milestone of 10 wins. They demolished Florida, 41-7, and their

days of being demolished seemed to be in the distant past.

The Wolverines (6-2 Big Ten, 10-3 overall) had routed opponents in a similar fashion before, but this came against a marquee SEC opponent in the Citrus Bowl.

Michigan came into the bowl game with the same intensity as any other game, and the same refusal to let up. When the offense regained possession four plays after Wormley’s sack, redshirt junior wide receiver Jehu Chesson outran Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III for the second time in the game. He hauled in a 45-yard pass from fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Rudock, and senior fullback Sione Houma punched it in three plays later.

The Gators (7-1 SEC, 10-4 overall) kept the ball for just 62 seconds on their next series, and Michigan went back to work on a 12-play, 84-yard touchdown drive to extend the lead to 38-7 early in the fourth quarter.

The outcome had long been decided, and though Wormley smelled blood in the water almost

a quarter earlier, more than 12 minutes remained.

Florida’s brief window of opportunity came in the first quarter. On the Gators’ first possession, they moved the ball 55 yards in 12 plays over 4:37 but stalled at the Wolverines’ 20-yard line. On 4th-and-7, they lined up in field-goal formation, but the holder flipped the ball toward the line of scrimmage and Michigan junior cornerback Channing Stribling intercepted it.

Another turnover in the second quarter continued to separate the teams. The Gators reached the Michigan red zone again, but Harris threw an interception off his back foot to senior safety Jarrod Wilson. That was as close as Florida got for the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines’ offense rolled over the Gators’ highly ranked defense. Michigan scored points on six of its first seven possessions and moved the ball on the ground for 225 yards and through the air for 278.

Junior running back De’Veon Smith carried 25 times for 109

Chatman’s buzzer-beater leads ‘M’ past Indiana

March 28, 2016 Between 12 lead changes, Hallie Thome’s go-ahead layup was the difference-maker in Michigan’s 77-76 win over Temple to advance to the WNIT semifinals.

April 2, 2016 Legendary softball coach Carol Hutchins claimed the all-time wins record in college softall when Michigan beat Indiana, 8-0.

LUNA ANN ARCHEY/Daily

May 19, 2016 The Michigan women’s tennis team beat then-seventh ranked Miami to advance to its first Elite Eight in program history.

June 5, 2016 A year after finishing as the runner up, the Michigan softball team was bounced from the Women’s World College Series early after a 1-0 loss to Florida State.

June 10, 2016 All-American track-and-field athlete Mason Ferlic won the NCAA Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the second in program history.

yards, and Chesson caught five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, including two big plays in his matchup with Hargreaves.

And Rudock, the game MVP, was 20-for-31 for 278 yards and three touchdowns. With that performance, he moved into second place on Michigan’s all-time singleseason passing yards list.

Rudock and most of the starters stayed in until the end. In his final collegiate game, Michigan’s quarterback didn’t take a knee until the final play. Long after the Wolverines stomped on Florida’s throats, their work was done. There was no time left.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh called 2015 his favorite year in football, and Rudock and Smith agreed after the game, but only then did their celebration start. Some players will move onto the NFL or elsewhere, and some will turn their focus toward 2016.

“Guys like De’Veon and me,” Harbaugh said after the game, turning to his running back, “onward, 2016. This was the beginning of that year.”

Sophomore Kam Chatman hit the game-winning shot to send his team to the next round of the Big Ten Tournament.

By KELLY HALL Daily Sports Editor

INDIANAPOLIS — Derrick Walton stripped the ball from OG Anunoby as the final seconds of regulation ticked down and gave the ball to Kameron Chatman.

Twenty seconds later, on the opposite end of the court, the ball returned to Chatman.

Walton kicked out the ball to Chatman with 2.9 seconds to go. At the time, Walton didn’t even think it was Chatman, mistaking the sophomore forward for another sophomore forward, Aubrey Dawkins.

But the ball landed in Chatman’s hands for the biggest shot of his Michigan career.

With the game tied at 69, Chatman buried a 3-pointer from the corner right in front of the Wolverine bench to put Michigan up, 72-69.

Chatman fell back into his teammates as they mobbed him, and though the officials later put two tenths of a second back on the clock, it wasn’t enough for the Hoosiers to answer.

Michigan will head to the Big Ten semifinals after adding another marquee win to its NCAA Tourna-

ment resume.

“Kam, just a big-time shot, a bigtime player,” Robinson said. “I’m just so happy for him. He’s worked so hard, hasn’t caught all of the breaks this year, but definitely deserving of that opportunity and that moment and that shot.”

Unlike many of Michigan’s games this year, neither team ever pulled away in the first half. Both teams shot close to 50 percent, with Indiana just above and the Wolverines just below.

Sophomore guard MuhammadAli Abdur-Rakhman led the Wolverines (10-8 Big Ten, 22-11 overall) in the first frame with 12 points, with freshman forward Moritz Wagner adding seven points of his own — his first since Jan. 23.

Wagner went 3-for-3 overall, adding nine points to starting forward Mark Donnal’s 12.

“Our little thing is we call each other the bigs, we call each other the ‘hard hats,’ ” said sophomore forward Ricky Doyle. “It’s great, it’s like our own little fraternity. It’s good seeing like basically our little brother out there showing the world what he’s got. (Wagner’s) got a lot of talent, he’s a great player. Mark and

Moe, I think didn’t miss a shot out there.”

In the teams’ first meeting, on Feb. 2 in Ann Arbor, Michigan couldn’t find a way to stop the bleeding. In a disastrous first half, the Wolverines allowed Indiana to go on a 25-0 run that effectively ended the game.

Michigan coach John Beilein showed his players highlights of the last Indiana game to motivate them and remind them of the Hoosiers’ offensive onslaught.

“We’re thrilled about that win,” Beilein said on Friday. “We have a lot of respect for Indiana. And by winning this championship, in a year that I think anybody that could get eight or nine wins in this league this year really had a great team.

And they got 15 of them. So they’re a terrific team. And you all know the story at our place. They just pounded us.”

But this time, Michigan stayed strong defensively, forcing 15 turnovers and capitalizing with 22 points off of them. Junior guard Derrick Walton Jr. didn’t attempt a shot in the first half, but he dished out seven assists while holding Yogi Ferrell to seven first-half points.

Michigan-turned-Indiana forward Max Bielfeldt didn’t make any noise early in the game, but he made his presence felt while closing out the half. Wagner hit a big 3-pointer to put Michigan on top, but Bielfeldt quickly took action to give Indiana a one-point lead. Abdur-Rahkman hit another trey on the next possession, but Bielfeldt was there again to tie it up at 32 with a jumper.

The first-half action finally ended when junior guard Zak Irvin pushed off, giving the ball to Indiana with 5.7 seconds until halftime and allowing the Hoosiers to head into the locker room with a 37-36 lead.

But the second half progressed with the same seesaw battle.

Four minutes into the half, forward Thomas Bryant made a monster one-handed slam, but nine seconds later, junior forward Mark Donnal responded with a dunk of his own. Another seven seconds later, Bielfeldt hit a 3-pointer to make it 49-44 in favor of Indiana.

From that moment onward, though, the Hoosiers hit a dry spell, unable to score for more than five minutes while the Wolverines rode a 9-0 run that included an AbdurRakhman transition layup after stealing the ball on the other end.

Michigan didn’t go without scoring droughts of its own, though. Late in the second half, the Wolverines didn’t score for four minutes. Just as it looked like Michigan would get off easy, Donnal made two costly errors as the Wolverines were about to snap their scoring drought.

He walked on an easy layup, giving the ball to Indiana, and two Hoosier possessions later he committed a blocking foul for an and-one. Suddenly, Indiana had a five-point lead.

But the Wolverines battled back, including a Robinson 3-pointer that tied the game at 69, and Chatman delivered the final blow.

Saturday, Beilein is allowing his players to sleep in until about 8:30 a.m. It’s an extra half-hour from the day before, and it’s easy to assume the first thing that will come to Chatman’s mind when he awakens: the shot that changed his career and made the 2016 NCAA Tournament a possibility.

2E — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

‘M’ reaches first Elite Eight ever Rain forced a number of delays and a venue change

By PAIGE VOEFFRAY Daily Sports Writer

It was a match that is sure to go down as one of the most memorable for senior Ronit Yurovsky. In the day’s final match, she was her team’s last hope of moving onto the Elite 8 for the first time in program history, and she didn’t disappoint.

The Michigan women’s tennis team faced the No. 7-ranked University of Miami in the Round of 16 on Thursday. After the Hurricanes tied it 3-3, Yurovsky closed out the match in a three-set thriller.

Though, Yurovsky would have never gotten the chance to complete her match had the Wolverines not secured the doubles point.

The No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Mira Ruder-Hook and freshman Brienne Minor dominated their match, winning, 6-2.

They attacked at the net forcing Miami to play on the defensive, and the Michigan offense proved to be effective.

After a loss from the No. 2 doubles team, it came down to sophomore Kara Hall and Yurovksy at No. 3 doubles. Michigan’s consistency forced the Hurricanes to hit the ball into the net, putting the Wolverines up, 1-0.

After a two and a half hour rain delay, Michigan finally got to continue its singles matches, though this time indoors.

“The situation was tough, but it’s also not a bad thing for us to go indoors,” said Michigan coach

Ronni Bernstein. “We’re definitely more used to it than Miami.”

Freshman Kate Fahey and Ruder-Hook both jumped out to early leads, and it was a race to see who would put the Wolverines up 2-0.

In the end, Fahey was the first to finish her singles match with a score of 6-2, 6-1. Ruder-Hook followed only a minute later.

Though Minor did her best to battle back from a 5-0 deficit, she eventually succumbed to Miami with score of 6-3, 6-2, giving Miami its first point.

Freshman Teona Velehorschi and sophomore Alex Najarian both fell to the Hurricanes, shining the spotlight on Yurovsky.

After charging back from a 3-0 deficit, Yurovsky eventually lost the first set in a tiebreaker. She didn’t let this affect her, though.

She remained calm throughout the entire second set, even as she realized that her match decided if her college career was over or not. She won the second set with an ace, and it was smooth sailing from then on.

“I started looking at the scoreboard, which I probably shouldn’t have,” Yurovsky said. “I just have to zone in and focus on my court and stop worrying about how the other girls are doing.”

The third set appeared to be anybody’s match at first, but Yurovsky took control and finished off her opponent easily, winning, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.

Before Yurovsky could process what she had accomplished, she was greeted by her teammates.

After rain delays, changing locations of the match and going three sets, Yurovsky and the rest of the Wolverines are headed to the quarterfinals.

RITA MORRIS/Daily

Madison Ristovski’s second-quarter outburst led Michigan’s comeback.

Comeback sends ‘M’ to semifinals

By TED JANES

Daily Sports Editor

Twelve lead changes — all in the fourth quarter — did little justice in capturing the excitement witnessed at Crisler Center on Monday night.

It was pure joy for the Michigan women’s basketball team (21-13), which advanced to the WNIT semifinals for the second straight year after a down-tothe-wire battle with Temple.

The Wolverines won, 77-76, and will advance to play Florida Gulf Coast on the road Thursday

night.

Temple (23-12) led by 15 in the first quarter, but Michigan’s furious third-quarter rally tied the game at 60 heading into the final stretch.

On the Wolverines’ final offensive possession, they needed five consecutive offensive rebounds before freshman center Hallie Thome scored the goahead layup with 7.8 seconds to go.

Chance after chance, each shot bounced off the rim, but Thome — treading dangerously with four personal fouls —

banked in the much-needed last attempt.

“We knew we needed a basket and kept fighting after the ball and giving ourselves second and third and fourth opportunities,” said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico. “It was a great finish by (Thome), but then we had to get two stops to seal it, and that was even more impressive.”

Temple nearly stole back the lead on the ensuing play. Guard Feyonda Fitzgerald drove to the basket for a layup but was met in the paint by Michigan’s Danielle Williams. The ball rolled around the rim three times before falling out, but it was of little importance, as Williams had already drawn a charge.

“Honestly, it was a ‘I happened to be in the right place, right time’ kind of thing,” Williams said. “I was really excited, but there was five seconds left on the clock, so I was like, ‘We still need to win, we still need to win.’ ” A turnover on the inbounds play gave the Owls one last chance, but that shot bounced off the rim, and the Wolverines could finally breathe.

A series of clutch performances culminated in the dramatic ending. There was a third-quarter buzzer beater from sophomore guard Katelynn Flaherty, relentless drives from senior guard Madison Ristovski and lights-out shooting from junior guard Siera Thompson.

And those were just a few of the contributions that led to Thome’s final shot and Williams’ drawn charge.

“I’m just happy that (Thome)

stuck with it,” Flaherty said of the last play. “It’s been a big battle all year for her, to stay with plays and keep rebounding. She was tough and won the whole game for us.”

As Flaherty mentioned, Thome’s big moment stands out during a season in which stronger opponents have knocked the freshman around. She is 6-foot5, but Temple had a match for her with 6-foot-3 center Ugo Nwaigwe.

Nonetheless, Thome had two of the four offensive rebounds on the last play, a testament to her continuous growth.

Flaherty ended the night with a team-high 23 points, with 18 of those coming in the second half.

Temple built a 17-2 lead as the Wolverines committed six turnovers in the first quarter, but Flaherty, Ristovski and Thompson were all scoreless at that point.

Once they got going and started to hit shots, it was a whole new ballgame.

The Wolverines’ second-quarter outing was far better than their first, but their 10-point deficit at halftime meant they still had a ways to go.

They held Temple scoreless for the first five minutes of the second quarter, though, and Michigan went on a 9-0 run to cut a 15-point deficit down to five.

All nine points came from Ristovski, who scored 13 of the Wolverines’ 23 in the second quarter, helping cut the Owls’ lead to five.

That set the stage for pandemonium at Crisler, and the impossible comeback sent Michigan onward and upward to the WNIT semifinals.

“We knew we needed a basket and kept fighting.”

Ferlic, Romero named ‘M’ Athletes of the Year

By ORION SANG Summer Managing Sports Editor

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

Senior Ronit Yurovsky’s victory clinched the historic feat for the program.

WINNING THE OLYMPICS

Puzzle by sudokusyndication.com

The Michigan Athletic Department named Mason Ferlic and Sierra Romero the 2015-16 Athletes of the Year.

For Romero, this marks the second consecutive year she has been named the Female Athlete of the Year.

The senior second baseman recently finished her storied college career, during which she broke numerous school and national records while also leading her team to three appearances in the Women’s College World Series — including a runner-up finish in 2015.

In her final season in Ann Arbor, Romero became the first player in NCAA history to tally 300 runs, 300 hits and 300 RBI, while posting a .451 batting average with 19 home runs and 79 RBI. For her efforts, she was named to the NFCA All-American team for the fourth time in her career, while also winning the ASA Softball Player of the Year award after finishing as a top-three finalist in each of the previous two years.

Ferlic is coming off a weekend in which he won the NCAA Championship in the 3,000meter steeplechase, marking the culmination of a brilliant senior year that also saw him post a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time in the steeplechase.

Ferlic, also a senior, finished his career at Michigan as both a five-time USTFCCCA AllAmerican and Big Ten champion in track, as well as a two-time USTFCCCA All-American in cross country. He was a two-year captain of both teams, and helped lead the cross country ALLISON FARRAND/Daily Mason Ferlic and Sierra Romero were named male and female athletes of the year, respectively. team to its first Big Ten title in 18 years.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

3E — Fall 2016

Manuel hired as athletic director

By MAX BULTMAN Managing Sports Editor

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Tyler Motte’s goal in overtime gave Michigan a 3-2 victory over Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament.

Motte’s overtime goal lifts ‘M’ past Notre Dame in first round

By MINH DOAN Daily Sports Editor

CINCINNATI — As the Michigan hockey team headed onto the ice for the start of the overtime period, coach Red Berenson pointed at the goal on the right, where the seventh-ranked Wolverines would be attacking.

“I told (assistant coach Brian Wiseman), ‘This is the net, to our right, that Brendan Morrison scored the overtime goal in 96’,” Berenson said.

In 1996, Morrison scored the game-winning goal to lift Berenson to his first national championship at Michigan, defeating Colorado College, 3-2, in overtime.

20 years later, the Wolverines skated onto the US Bank Arena ice in Cincinnati in almost the same predicament.

Michigan and No. 12 Notre Dame were tied at two, but instead of playing for the national championship; the two teams were playing for a chance to continue on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

And with 8:19 gone in the overtime period, history repeated itself.

Junior forward JT Compher found fellow junior forward Tyler Motte with a no-look, behind-theback pass that Motte buried for the game-winning goal to lift the Wolverines to a 3-2 overtime victory.

But it wasn’t easy for Michigan.

The top line of Motte, Compher and freshman forward Kyle Connor had a frustrating night up to that point, registering 10 shots without any success, a rarity by their standards.

“We went in with the mentality to play hard, physical and with a lot of energy,” said Notre Dame forward Anders Bjork. “We did that for most of the game, obviously, just came up short at the end.”

Early in the game, it was the second line of senior forwards Boo Nieves and Justin Selman and junior forward Alex Kile that got the Wolverines on the board first.

Tic-tac-toe passing from Kile and junior defenseman Michael Downing found Selman all alone in the slot. Selman one-timed the puck over Notre Dame goaltender Cal Peterson’s left shoulder to put the Wolverines up by one with just over ten minutes gone in the game.

But Notre Dame came right back five minutes later when Bjork muscled Downing off the puck to create a two-on-one for the Fighting Irish. Instead of passing to his streaking teammate, Bjork fired the puck from inside the right faceoff circle, beating Racine stick side for his team-leading 34th point of the season.

While the two teams went into the first intermission tied, 24 seconds into the second period, Notre

Dame took its first lead of the night.

Bjork raced into the Michigan zone, handling the puck past two Wolverines before dropping off to forward Thomas DiPauli. DiPauli wasted no time, one timing the puck over Racine’s right shoulder and into the net.

The back-and-forth affair continued into the third period, when Michigan found its footing and went into attack mode.

Michigan’s pressure paid off with 9:52 left in the game, when the Wolverines found the tying goal when Nieves found sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski open at the point. Werenski fired a rocket of a one-time shot to beat Peterson stick side and knot the game at two and send it into overtime.

In goal, both Racine and Peterson had good nights, making save after save to keep their team in the game Racine finished with 28 saves, while Peterson finished with 32.

With the win, Michigan will take on No. 3 North Dakota Saturday night with the chance to make the Frozen Four.

But even if the Wolverines’ NCAA Tournament run ends Saturday night, the goal to the right of Michigan’s bench at the US Bank Arena will house not one, but two of its most timely goals of all time.

Berenson returning as coach

By KEVIN SANTO Daily Sports Editor

Red Berenson is coming back.

Eight days after the Michigan hockey team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, Berenson announced at the team’s annual banquet Sunday that he would return for his 33rd season as head coach.

Many wondered whether the 2015-16 campaign would be Berenson’s last, but at the banquet, Berenson said he had spoken with Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel and decided to continue coaching the Wolverines.

“I’m excited about the direction of the program and the challenge of working with our student-athletes to improve on a daily basis and achieve our goal of winning championships,” Berenson said in a press release Sunday afternoon.

“This season has been inspiring for our team, our staff and the fans.

Our success has been the motivation to return to help the program take another step forward. I feel fortunate to be at Michigan and appreciate the support from our new athletic director.”

In early October, undergraduate assistant coach Mike Komisarek talked about how this season was a collective effort to get the Wolverines “back where we’re supposed to be.” And they did just that, returning to the NCAA Tournament this season after missing out on a bid the three previous years. But when asked if Michigan hockey is “back” this past Tuesday, he set a high bar of expectations going forward.

“I think it was back this year,” Berenson said. “But until you put a string of years together, you can’t say that.”

Now, it seems, Berenson has returned to ensure that terminology can be used in the near future.

In 2016, Berenson led the Wolverines to the Big Ten Tournament title and the team was one win

away from the Frozen Four. Michigan’s season ended with a 5-2 loss to North Dakota in the Midwest Regional final.

Berenson won the 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year award, but his body of work goes far deeper than a conference coach of the year honor.

He took over the program in 1984, after Michigan had compiled a mediocre 92-89-8 record in the five years prior. But Berenson saw the team as a diamond in the rough.

“I just recall my whole first year when I came in, how Red was so into it,” said associate head coach Billy Powers — who was a member of Berenson’s first recruiting class — in October. “He was so into it, and he was so passionate. … He wasn’t going to accept the fact that some of these guys had been so used to losing. I was always like, ‘Man, he cares more than half our team does.’

Though Berenson notched a losing record in his first three seasons, he produced winning records in the three years that followed.

Then, in 1990-91, he left no doubt as to why he was handed the reigns in Yost Ice Arena.

The team bumped its 24-12-6 record from 1889 to 34-10-3, and began the 22-year streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances that Berenson catalyzed.

That run is the longest ever in the history of college hockey, and it was during that spell that Berenson captured his two national titles.

Among those 22 NCAA Tournament runs, 11 were Frozen Four appearances as well.

Berenson currently boasts an 835-407-89 record though 32 seasons and is just the fourth collegiate coach to reach 800 career victories.

His win total is good for fourth on the college hockey coaches all-time win list.

In 2016-17, he will return to a team that still has many questions this offseason.

The Wolverines will lose defen-

semen Michel Downing and Zach Werenski, who signed professional contracts this past week, but the statuses of star forwards Tyler Motte, JT Compher and Kyle Connor remain unknown.

In the week leading up to the announcement, Manuel, Michigan’s newly hired athletic director, had publicly stated his desire for Berenson to return if the coach wanted to. Now, he will get his wish.

In front of a crowd of media, coaches, donors and former athletes, University President Mark Schlissel introduced Warde Manuel as Michigan’s next Athletic Director on Friday in a press conference at the Michigan Union.

Manuel, who is currently the athletic director at Connecticut, will officially begin work at Michigan on March 14, taking over for interim Athletic Director Jim Hackett, who has held the position since Oct. 31, 2014.

Manuel holds three degrees from the University — a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a focus in Psychology, a master’s degree in social work and an M.B.A. from the Ross School of Business — and played defensive line on the football team for legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. He also worked in the Athletic Department in various roles between 1996 and 2005, ultimately serving as Associate Athletic Director under Bill Martin.

Given his ties with the University, Manuel said he made no effort to play coy when he was contacted about the job opening.

“I want to say it was maybe, officially, some time toward the beginning of December that (the Turnkey Search firm) reached out to see if I

had interest in the position,” Manuel said at his press conference. “I laughed when they asked me that question, like, ‘Are you really asking me if I have interest in being the Michigan A.D.?’ And (the recruiter) said, ‘Yeah, really, I just need to hear the answer.’

“And I said, ‘Hell yeah!’ ” Manuel, who was among 82 candidates Turnkey considered, inherits a self-sustaining athletic department with an operating budget of $151 million per year. Hackett, who was part of the search committee to fill his own seat, has made remarkable progress in his time, leaving the department in a state of stability.

Part of that stability came in the form of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, whom Hackett hired. Harbaugh and Manuel were teammates for one year at Michigan, and Harbaugh was the captain of the team when Manuel was a freshman.

During the press conference, Manuel reminisced about sitting in the back of team meetings as a freshman, with Harbaugh in the front as a senior. He commented on how things had come full circle, with Harbaugh leading the football team as coach and Manuel heading up the athletic department.

Hearing that, Harbaugh stood up and gave Hackett a hug, slipping Manuel a No. 79 Michigan jersey

with his name on it.

“I used to be able to fit in this,” Manuel quipped.

While he may not fit in the jersey, he should fit in well in his new position. Manuel is the most experienced athletic director Michigan has ever hired, and he has built up the foundations of relationships with some of the Wolverines’ most prominent coaches through visits during recent years.

Manuel has held his current post at UConn since 2012, and the Huskies have won six national titles with him in charge. In 2015, 13 UConn teams turned in perfect single-year Academic Progress Rates. Prior to working with the Huskies, he served as Buffalo’s athletic director from 2005-12.

Now, he returns to Michigan hoping to continue his success both on and off the field.

“There should be excitement about the future and potential for Michigan to not only win Big Ten championships but national championships,” Manuel said. “We don’t back away from it. We never have, and we never will.”

Manuel’s contract will pay him an annual base salary of $800,000 with deferred compensation of $100,000 per year. He will be paid a one-time recruitment incentive of $250,000 as well as being provided two cars, moving expenses and standard university benefits.

DELIVERY

4E — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

GAME DAY

Hutchins sets wins record

By ORION SANG Summer Managing Sports Editor

As Michigan coach Carol Hutchins embraced her players one by one after the secondranked Wolverines’ 8-0 win over Indiana Saturday, senior outfielders Olivia Richvalsky and Mary Sbonek crept up from behind carrying a large Gatorade jug.

Hutchins noticed the duo at the last second and unsuccessfully tried to escape the impromptu shower.

Nonetheless, she appreciated her players’ celebration of her new status as the all-time NCAA wins leader. Hutchins collected career win No. 1,458 on Saturday and added No. 1,459 on Sunday in a three-game sweep of the Hoosiers.

“One of my favorite things to do is to be with my team, and we were all in it together,” Hutchins said. “I told them, ‘This is not about me; this is about us.’ I think my team continues to represent every woman who’s ever played before them. That’s an important tradition to uphold, and it’s an important duty, one that comes with wearing the Block M.” Now, Hutchins can add winningest softball coach in NCAA history to a list of life accomplishments that reach far beyond the softball field.

Hutchins, as a student, successfully pursued legal action against the Michigan State administration over equal treatment of female athletes, and hosts the Michigan Softball Academy, an annual event that both increases awareness about breast cancer and raises funds for the American

Cancer Society.

“She’s more than just a softball coach,” Montemarano said.

“She’s touched so many people’s lives, she’s affected my life in such a positive way and she’s there for you no matter what. She’s worked so hard — not just in softball — for women’s rights, to affect people’s lives. It’s a blessing to play for her and to learn from her every single day.”

Hutchins was quick to attribute her record to the efforts of those around her.

“It’s an achievement by the University of Michigan softball program,” she said. “It’s not a personal achievement. It’s a reflection of every person who has ever been involved with Michigan softball, including our support staff. Everybody’s committed to the same thing. We’re very proud, and I thought our kids were very excited to be a part of that.”

The victory on Saturday was one of three of a successful weekend for Michigan.

The Wolverines (5-1 Big Ten, 27-3 overall) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the series opener Friday, before the Hoosiers (3-3 Big Ten, 20-13 overall) cut the lead to two in the third inning.

But that was the closest Indiana would get, as Michigan scored six more runs en route to an 11-5 victory.

After giving up two runs off four hits and three walks in four innings of pitching Friday, junior right-hander Megan Betsa came back strong Saturday.

Betsa tossed five innings of shutout ball, with nine strikeouts and only one walk, as the Wolverines cruised to a 8-0 run-rule

victory.

“I thought (Betsa) really stepped it up this weekend and did a great job,” Hutchins said.

“After she struggled a little bit Friday night, she came back yesterday and was just really solid in really difficult conditions — the winds were just absolutely horrendous.”

In Sunday’s game, the Wolverines’ bats stayed hot. Michigan launched four home runs, including two grand slams.

After freshman catcher Alex Sobczak started the home run parade in the second inning, senior second baseman Sierra Romero followed her lead by launching a homer — her third of the weekend — to begin the fourth inning. Later in the frame, the Wolverines extended their lead off Montemarano’s grand slam, and senior center fielder Sierra Lawrence put the game out of reach with another grand slam in the sixth.

“I’m pleased,” Hutchins said of her team’s performance. “We got better in some areas, and that needs to be our focus — just trying to get better every day. Indiana is a feisty team. They’ve got good, young pitchers, and I thought our kids did a nice job. We played well for the most part.

“We took better cuts. We put Alex Sobczak back behind the plate, and I (think) she’s getting better. And I thought we jelled as a group. I thought we really played as a team. Sometimes we get a little individual, whether that’s on the mound or at the plate.

I thought our kids were locked in as a team, and that’s when we’re at our best.”

KRISTINA PERKINS/Daily

Carol Hutchins is now the winningest coach in college softball history.

STUDENT DISCOUNTS

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ANN ARBOR IN REVIEW

ANN ARBOR

1F — Fall 2016

Two-year push for deer cull reveals divide in city values

October 12, 2015 With the departure of City Manager Steve Powers, a search is underway for his successor. Howard Lazarus, public works director of Austin, Texas, ultimately replaces him in April, 2016.

October 20, 2015 Business booms in downtown Ann Arbor, but the side effects of growth become no less real.

March 17, 2016 Ann Arbor’s deer cull turns into a polarizing political issue in its first year, drawing fierce and vocal opposition from some residents.

March 24, 2016 As a proposed Ann Arbor light rail project progresses, some residents call into question whether the city is subsidizing infrastructure that would solely benefit the University.

April 17, 2016 As the University undertakes expansive new projects, age-old tensions with the city are reawakened.

May 24, 2016 Facing months of opposition from city residents and local officials, the University cancels a controversial maintenance facility on North Campus.

June 1, 2016 The November 2015 suicide of an inmate at Huron Valley Correctional Facility illustrates systemic failures and overcrowding in the state’s prison system.

June 14, 2016 Forty-eight hours following the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre, community groups scramble to put on a performance of Mozart’s Requiem

June 15, 2016 In a split with City Council, Ann Arbor Police Chief Jim Baird calls into question the need for reformed civillianpolice oversight in the city.

July 6, 2016 The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners calls for EPA intervention on contaminated groundwater, but the City of Ann Arbor remains reluctant to follow.

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

Protestors hold signs against a deer cull in Ann Arbor parks at an Ann Arbor City Council meeting at 220 N. Main St.

Opposition to program remains at end of first year

By BRIAN KUANG Daily Staff Reporter

MAR. 17, 2016-On the evening of January 4, sharpshooters contracted by the city of Ann Arbor from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were scheduled to begin a 3-month campaign to remove 100 deer from the city — a cull — in the face of concerns over a outgrowth in deer population.

During the day, the city streets were largely quiet — the New Year had been only three days before and two days still remained in the University of Michigan’s Winter Break.

Nonetheless, by the evening a crowd of about 100 had gathered outside in front of the Washtenaw County Administration Building to protest the cull, one in what would become a series of ongoing

demonstrations. At 7 p.m., they all piled into the building as City Council’s weekly meeting commenced.

“What do we want? Stop the shoot!” they chanted, brandishing signs with similar slogans, their shouts resonating through the adjacent hallways of the building.

“When do we want it? Now!” Each speaker at the podium during public commentary was more emotional than the last, with many loudly condemning the city for undertaking the cull and council members for supporting it in a 8-1 vote.

“I see you don’t care much about facts, or public safety,” Ann Arbor resident Sabra Sanzotta, head of protest group Save the Deer, said. “Our council has been bought and sold — cheaply.”

One woman kept loudly interrupting the meeting until Mayor Christopher Taylor called the room back to order.

The start of the cull — and the corresponding outpouring of anger that night — was the

culmination of years of research and advocacy, as it became clear that Ann Arbor faces both a growing deer population and plenty of opinions on what to do about it, ultimately leading to bitter local politicking and accusations of foul play over the past few months.

There are no reliable figures held by the city or county for exactly how many deer are in Ann Arbor, or how quickly the herd has been growing. However, there are proxies for it. In 2004, there were 31 deer-car collisions in Ann Arbor, according to data obtained from the Michigan Department of Transportation. In 2015, that number nearly tripled to 88. In the city’s 2015 deer management report, an analysis by local activists estimated the city’s herd size to be between about 1,100 and 1,800.

Ann Arbor’s ecosystem is ideal for an expansion in deer population, according to Christopher Dick, associate professor of ecology at the

ANN ARBOR

University, who has spoken in favor of the cull. He said this growth would ultimately be destructive to the environment.

“Deer have definitely increased in Ann Arbor from what they were 10 or 20 years ago,” Dick said. “Without any kind of major predator, these deer populations are going to explode just because of their fertility.”

Dick referred to two previous studies conducted at the University’s George Reserve — of which he is director — where a herd of six deer in 1928 grew to 162 by 1933, and a herd of 10 deer in 1975 grew to 212 by 1980.

“At some point they’re going to become overwhelming, there’s going to be so many traffic accidents, there’s going to be so much ecological damage,” Dick said, adding that large deer populations also increase the risk of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.

Some residents noticed a problematic increase in deer as See DEER, Page 2F

ANN ARBOR

Transportation projects Washtenaw reignite city, ‘U’ tensions County sees Expansive new programs draw ire from residents

By CAMY METWALLY Daily Staff Reporter

APR.17,2016-As the University of Michigan moves forward on several pushes to increase transportation infrastructure, long-existing tension has reemerged between two entities — the University and the city — who have had a complex relationship in areas like transportation for decades.

As a constitutionally created entity, the University — relocated from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837 — legally acts as an independent actor free from the control of the state legislature and city jurisdiction. However, its location at the heart of Ann Arbor means it often impacts residents, and while Ann Arbor has no direct control over this state entity, often the city finds itself tied to University issues, and vice versa.

City Councilmember Kirk Westphal (D–Ward 2), who has served on the council since November 2014, described the relationship between Ann Arbor and the University as “a marriage with no option of divorce.”

Akin to any long-term, he added, committed relationships, communication and compromise build the healthy foundation for mutual growth and

understanding.

Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor — elected in November 2014 after serving on Council for three terms — acknowledged the University’s active presence in the city and its role as a primary engine in the community. He said both share similar end goals, but they differ in strategy and priority.

“I think there’s always going to be areas of intersection and impact, and that’s perfectly natural,” Taylor said. “With two repeat players like the city and the University, there are always going to be topics to talk about. But I think that in the end, our interests do not entirely overlap — that both institutions are benevolent and require the success of the other and have remarkably congruent long-term interests.”

Recently, the relationship has come to the forefront over several University infrastructure projects, which as an area have long been a point of contention.

The projects are largely new development plans that have received mixed feedback from different members of the community over past months.

On Feb. 25, University officials and city residents met to discuss one of them — the University’s proposed Transportation Operations and Maintenance Center, initially planned to be built on Green Road between Hubbard Road and Baxter Road.

The $38.5 million facility — approved in a 2014 Board

of Regents meeting — was scheduled to run 22 hours a day, seven days a week. The University began the process for obtaining a State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality permit for the project in January 2016.

Social Work lecturer Linh Song, president of the Glacier Highlands Neighborhood Association, estimated about 100 residents and a handful of University officials and planners were in attendance at the meeting, with residents expressing concern about traffic, noise and environmental impact.

Song, one of multiple residents in opposition to the project, said the meeting was disappointing for residents because many had not realized how far along the University had already progressed with the plans.

In response to the meeting, more than 60 members of the surrounding area formed the North East Ann Arbor Community Coalition on Feb. 28 in opposition to the project. The group includes representatives from the Green Road corridor of Green Brier, Baxter Court, Glacier Highlands, Waldenwood and Vintage Valley.

In response to the opposition, University President Mark Schlissel announced in a March 12 letter that the University will pause the project and suspend the MDEQ permit application to further listen to community feedback and analyze the impact See TRANSPORT, Page 2F

increase in heroin abuse University police officers begin carrying opiate antidote

By JACKIE CHARNIGA Daily News Editor

JUN.22,2016- At the end of June, every University of Michigan police officer will carry Naloxone, a generic version of the name-brand drug Narcan that reverses the effects of an overdose by blocking opiate receptors in the brain. This new training and policy comes two years after the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office began combating peaking opioid overdose numbers in the area. The University of Michigan Police Department is currently working on adding this additional officer training in the face of an increasing number of young people overdosing.

Marlene Radzik, the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office’s police services commander, said among the products acquired by the department between 1998 and 2000, powder and crack cocaine were the most common. Now, heroin is the drug of choice for young people between the ages of See HEROIN, Page 9F

2F — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

ANN ARBOR

County calls for EPA action on groundwater City of Ann Arbor still undecided on superfund site petition

By BRIAN KUANG Daily Summer News Editor

JUL.6,2016- Citing more than three decades of disappointment with state environmental regulators, local authorities in Washtenaw County are increasing their support for the designation of a toxic plume of groundwater as an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site — a federal designation for areas in need of major clean up of contamination.

Such a move would prompt federal intervention that would largely bypass the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, though other local officials have expressed reservations that doing so would merely hurt local property values and undermine the DEQ’s efforts.

Improper wastewater disposal by the Ann Arbor-based company Gelman Sciences from 1966 to 1986 created a large plume of the carcinogenic toxin 1,4-dioxane underneath Ann Arbor, as well as Scio and Ann Arbor Townships.

The gradually expanding plume has contaminated groundwater, forced the closure of more than 100 private residential wells and is expected to reach the Huron River in the coming decades and potentially contaminate Ann Arbor’s water source at Barton Pond.

Wednesday evening, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously for a resolution supporting a petition to the EPA for Superfund status. The Commission joins the Scio Township Board of Trustees, which voted in favor of a Superfund petition June 20, and Ann Arbor Charter Township — a separate municipality from the city of Ann Arbor — that passed its own resolution of support in March.

Despite the outcome of the vote, the Ann Arbor City Council has not formally voted on a Superfund petition, and Mayor Christopher Taylor — as well as several councilmembers — told the Daily in March that a premature petition could bring

TRANSPORT From Page 2F “In the future, our efforts to consider community interests in designing and locating facilities will incorporate more direct formal community outreach earlier in our development approval process,” Schlissel wrote.

Song said for both the center, and for University projects in general, for residents like her it comes down to one thing — a need for greater collaboration between city and University.

“What we’re looking for is a really good response, a committed response, because we’re not leaving any time soon,” Song said. “If there’s going to be development up here, can it be something that our community can collaborate on, and can it be actually part of the neighborhood?”

In the future, Song she would like the University to act proactively and engage with the community early on in the development phases, stressing the need for city leaders, University leaders and community leaders to reach out to one another.

Westphal echoed Song’s sentiment, and said there was a need for greater city representation on University projects. He noted that during his time on City Council, the city has included a representative from the University during master planning exercises regarding land use. Making that practice mutual and commonplace, he said, would be appreciated by the city, especially if it becomes more connected to the University with

unintended harm to property values.

Wednesday, Taylor told the Daily the city is still unsure of whether or not it will back a petition for superfund status — though he didn’t rule out eventually supporting such a petition — and that he doesn’t expect City Council to debate the issue in the immediate future.

“The question of whether or not to seek Superfund status is a complicated one,” Taylor said, pointing out that city staff members are continuing to work with other county stakeholders to understand the issue. “If we were to seek superfund designation, we would probably require a large amount of community input and a full understanding of how successful (the) EPA has been with respect to other dioxane sites in Michigan, what we could hope to achieve by obtaining that designation and frankly what risks we’d run by doing this.”

Scio Township Supervisor Spaulding Clark — who supports a Superfund designation — told the Daily before the county’s vote that whether a superfund petition is ultimately pursued may rest with the city of Ann Arbor’s decision. Clark also said he has more confidence in the EPA than the DEQ to manage the contamination, and that he believes concerns about loss in property values are unfounded because affected properties still have access to public water and that the contamination has been long-known to realtors and home buyers.

“If both the county and the city have no interest in making this a Superfund site, my guess is it won’t happen,” Clark said. “I think the reality is that Ann Arbor Township and Scio Township are awaiting a decision by Ann Arbor Township and the county as to whether they want to get into this.”

Although the DEQ and Pall Corporation — which acquired Gelman — have maintained a network of monitoring wells to track the plume since 1992, Washtenaw County locals have long been critical of the state’s response, and the Flint water crisis re-energized public attention in January.

In March, the DEQ promised to revise groundwater safety standards for 1,4-dioxane to be in line with EPA cancer risk

guidelines, which would grant the Michigan Attorney General standing to take new legal action against Pall Corporation for more thorough cleanup and remediation activities. In a June interview, Robert Wagner, chief of the DEQ Remediation Division, told the Daily the new regulations are on track to be submitted to the state legislature for approval in its 9-month timeframe.

Nonetheless, a persistent dissatisfaction with the DEQ’s bureaucracy was visible in the county commission’s meeting, particularly with Commissioner Yousef Rabhi (D).

“We’re dealing with an organization that has ignored us for too long … that has set timelines and then broken their timelines, and I personally have no interest in continuing to be fooled by an organization that isn’t being held true to its own standards,” Rabhi said at the County Commission session. “I don’t believe it is the fault of the staff on the ground … but the DEQ is fundamentally flawed in its structure; the DEQ does not serve the people of Michigan, it serves the interests of the polluters and the corporate interests.”

The County Commision’s Wednesday resolution also called for Governor Rick Snyder (R) to expedite the passage of the new water standards by the state legislature.

State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor), who represents most of Washtenaw County, told the Daily in late June that, despite his past frustrations, he has been encouraged by the DEQ’s latest efforts and believes a rush to petition for EPA intervention would undermine this progress.

However, Irwin also noted he does not have a firm position on Superfund designation.

“I am as frustrated as anybody else about how the cleanup has been administered around the Gelman site, and I think the DEQ is part of that frustration,” Irwin said. “But I feel as though they’ve finally started to move in the right direction for this cleanup, and now that they’ve been working with us as partners, it might be a bad time to shift to a new partner.

(The EPA) might be better, the EPA might take the situation more seriously, but they also might not, and they may also take a long time getting to the point that the DEQ has now been brought to.”

the proposed construction of a light rail transit system.

In February, University and city officials announced a renewal of plans for the light rail, which has been a dormant project since 2013. It is ultimately slated to connect downtown, Central Campus, North Campus and the Medical Center, as well as southern parts of Ann Arbor to the Ross Athletic Campus and the Briarwood area.

“The city would love being included officially in that process on the University’s side, particularly with regard to North Campus,” Westphal said. “That land is shifting now, so that’s something we’ll continue to advocate for.”

Both Song and Westphal said they viewed current University responses to their concerns as an important chapter in Universitycity relations, with the hope that they may result in a renewed interest in greater collaboration.

Since the Feb. 25 meeting for the transit center, University officials have met with councilmembers and neighborhood representatives to discuss the matter in greater detail. In an April 15 letter, Jim Kosteva, University Director of Community Relations, updated residents on recent efforts to review community feedback and reevaluate “the objectives and specifics of the proposed Transportation and Operations Complex.”

Kosteva highlighted several efforts to measure the potential impact of the project in the letter, including gathering more information regarding traffic, storm water management and the logistical details of the center. Air quality and noise evaluation data

is slated to be made available in the next few weeks, according to the letter, with future information to be released to residents as the University considers the issue.

“Simultaneously we can also confirm that we are in the process of evaluating a variety of options for the complex, including different building configurations and utilization of other site locations,” Kosteva wrote. “On behalf of everyone on the project planning team, we will be in touch again as we develop more information to share, likely in early May.” Speaking to the University’s recent efforts in response to opposition on projects like these, Taylor praised engagement initiatives and said he views ongoing conversations as a learning opportunity.

“The current conversation over the Transportation Center provides a real opportunity for us to work better together,” Taylor said. “I believe President Schlissel and the Regents are approaching community relations in just the right way. They’re interested in being good neighbors and understand that our long-term interests are substantially aligned, and I look forward to continuing that relationship.”

NEA2CC, according to members, plans to continue organizing efforts during that process through venues such as Thursday’s Board of Regent’s meeting.

“We need to keep the momentum going until we get to the answer we all know in our hearts is the right one,” reads the NEA2CC website. “Our goal is to have 100+ supporters standing behind our three neighbors who have been selected to represent

DEER From Page 1F early as 2006, but attempts by individual city council members to bring attention to the growth in both 2008 and 2010 failed to gain traction.

By 2013 and early 2014, a more visible number of Ann Arbor residents began raising concerns to both city and county leaders, and the overpopulation of deer began to be formally addressed

by Council.

A number of these concerned residents formed the local association Washtenaw Citizens for Ecological Balance by early 2014. Referred to as “WC4EB”, it sought to bring attention to the deer issue.

These actions did not go unnoticed by local animal rights groups, who were opposed to the possibility of the cull on ethical grounds. The Humane Society of Huron Valley — headed by Tanya Hilgendorf — became one of the most prominent of those voices on the issue.

“As a community, we embrace nonviolent conflict resolution and want to do everything in our power to avoid the horrific gun violence we have seen elsewhere,” Hilgendorf wrote in an e-mail interview. “Those same values should be applied to our conflicts with animals.”

Cull opponents — including HSHV — have also questioned whether deer were indeed overpopulated in the city, advocating for non-lethal methods of deer control to be explored.

However, advocates like Prof.

Dick have said over past months that they think many of the cull opponents’ positions are based on scientific misinformation.

“There’s a lot of actual science that they refer to, but it’s told in a misleading way,” Dick said, adding that studies have shown that non-lethal methods of deer management — such as immunocontraception — are ineffective.

On August 17, 2015, City Council chose to follow the lethal route to control the deer population, approving a 1700page plan put forth by city staff that would cull 100 deer each winter for the next four years in city parks. Only Mayor Chris Taylor voted against the resolution, citing the large number of constituents who were opposed.

“I fully empathize and appreciate the concerns with the deer-human interaction,” Taylor said in the meeting. “At the same time, there are many members of the community whose sense of place in their city will be substantially affected by shooting deer within our borders.”

A series of surveys and public meetings conducted by the city between November 2014 and May 2015 suggested a majority of residents favored a cull, though cull opponents have since contended that the surveys were conducted in a disingenuous manner to create an artificial affirmation for a cull.

Hilgendorf wrote that inadequate public notice was given for public meetings on deer management, and the online survey contained leading questions “claiming culling was the only effective way of managing the problem.”

She noted that even with the allegations of bias, 43 percent of respondents still voiced opposition.

“So many people knew nothing about the issue until after (City Council) voted to cull,” Hilgendorf wrote, adding that the city typically advertises such meetings with mailed postcards.

“No one received a postcard inviting them to the public meeting on deer management.”

Some cull opponents have

us.”

City officials highlighted another transportation project, the proposed light rail transit system, as a channel to improve communication and relations between all bodies. Officials from the City of Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and the Downtown Development Authority are all collaborating on this project.

“I think it’s wonderful when the city, the University and the other governmental authorities have an opportunity to work

also claimed WC4EB — whose advocacy efforts included extensive correspondence with city, county and state-level officials — were given undue influence with the council at the expense of groups opposed to the cull.

Hilgendorf wrote in an interview that though the city interviewed her for an hour in October 2014, HSHV played no role in the decision-making process, even though the city website listed them as a partner.

Hilgendorf eventually requested HSHV be de-listed as a partner, citing that she didn’t feel HSHV’s position was being given any weight, and therefore the title “had no meaning.”

She also charged that WC4EB had peddled misinformation on the issue, and spoke to Council in private “I wouldn’t say people were shut out of the official public input process,” Hilgendorf wrote, acknowledging HSHV took part in public forums. “I would say they were shut out of the backroom conversations that led to a decision to cull — largely before the public engagement process even began.”

Sanzotta cited WC4EB email exchanges beginning in August 2014, which she obtained through FOIA, to claim pro-cull groups had greatly influenced the council’s decision long before the rest of the public could weigh in.

When presented with these accusations, cull supporters — including WC4EB member Bernie Banet — dismissed the charges as ridiculous.

“All groups were communicating with council, as we have a constitutional right to do. The notion that there were some improper connections, or we had some magical power other than the information we provided is kind of laughable,” Banet said. “We did this in the public eye, and there was ample opportunity for the animal rights groups to give input. The redshirted army of (cull) opponents was at each meeting.”

Banet also said numerous city officials have ties to many of the animal rights groups opposed to the cull that are longer-standing and more substantive than their ties to WC4EB, also charging that cull opponents were the ones spreading misinformation.

“What they’ve tried to do to document this is to falsify the record,” Banet said, saying that he and other WC4EB members have been intentionally misquoted in a pamphlet compiled by Sanzotta, and other cull opponents continue to spread scientific misinformation.

City Councilmember Kirk Westphal (D–Ward 2) also dismissed the accusations, saying the council listened to all its constituents, primarily acted on the city staff’s recommendations and actually received more e-mail traffic from cull opponents.

“It falls on my charge to represent the people of my ward, and it happens that a couple of (WC4EB members) are from my ward,” Westphal said. “They certainly worked very hard, as did the anti-cull people, in gathering information, and I think we were informed by both sides.”

Though the council approved the deer management plan in August, several roadblocks and formalities remained before the cull could begin. Animal rights groups rallied from across Michigan to oppose the cull, including HSHV, the Michigan Political Action Committee for Animals and the local citizens’ group Save the Deer.

MiPACA and Save the Deer openly backed councilmember Jane Lumm’s (I-Ward 2) challenger in the November election, Sally Petersen, due to Lumm’s support for the cull.

HSHV started a “Stop the Shoot” campaign. Anti-cull websites

together,” Taylor said. “I think good things happen when entities of good will collaborate, and I think the connector is a perfect example of that.”

Westphal also acknowledged the importance of future collaboration and the potential for growth in the city and University communities. However, he said at times, both entities have proven to support different missions and serve different constituents, making friction inevitable.

He noted that friction can also come from finances, because the city’s main source of income

and e-mail newsletters emerged, and yard signs with the “Stop the Shoot” slogan appeared across the city.

The political nature of the cull opponents’ new tactics drew criticism from some of the public.

In an October 2015 open letter, Thomas Weider, local attorney and longtime HSHV contributor, criticized the organization for the lengths it was going to oppose a measure that was already approved. He also suggested that by taking a stance in an election, HSHV was violating its taxexempt status.

“Council voted 8-1 (with the two absent members also supportive) to proceed with the cull,” Weider wrote. “The issue has been decided, whether HSHV likes it or not. Please stop wasting my donation dollars.”

On Nov. 3, 2015, Lumm defeated Petersen with 64 percent of the vote and the highest voter turnout among the wards in this year’s City Council elections.

Two days later, after a marathon public hearing, all of the council but Taylor approved resolutions to temporarily allow the discharge of firearms on public land and contract USDA sharpshooters for $35,000 for the cull. A recall petition against councilmember Westphal in December and a January lawsuit — both protesting the cull — were swiftly struck down.

The cull would proceed as planned, despite the objections.

By the conclusion of the cull’s first 3-month iteration on March 1, only 63 deer had been killed, their meat distributed to local homeless shelters. An aerial survey conducted in the final week suggested the city’s deer population had still grown despite the cull.

Leading WC4EB member Maurita Holland said she was pleased by the first cull results, adding that the successful implementation would allay safety concerns from other residents. WC4EB’s current goals, she said, are now public education on the issue and the development of a comprehensive countywide deer management plan.

“We got through this first year, nobody died, no pets got hurt, so in many ways that was probably a success” Holland said.

The city’s 2015 deer management plan described a “divergence in values” in the city’s population as a significant obstacle to overcome. Among the local residents interviewed, fundamental differences in how they viewed humans’ role in nature were evident.

Though the ongoing protests about the cull have subsided since earlier this month, that divide clearly remains.

“One of the reasons we came to Ann Arbor was to enjoy the park systems, the natural habitat, the little bit of nature we were missing in downtown Detroit,” Sanzotta said. “As soon as we got here, the next thing we knew was that they were going to slaughter two-thirds of the deer they counted.”

Sanzotta added she intends to continue protesting the cull, and her group has recently filed a new lawsuit against the State of Michigan to attempt to halt it.

In contrast, local landscaper Christopher Graham noted that the original Native Americans inhabitants of Ann Arbor would hunt deer and maintain ecological balance, and said today’s cull is in the same spirit.

“If the Indians thought they shouldn’t kill deer, the deer would’ve eaten them out of house and home,” Graham said. “And if we don’t control the (deer) population one way or another, and the most cost-effective way to that is killing them, things will get out of hand.”

is property taxes, and the University, as a constitutionally created nonprofit entity, is exempt from paying property taxes.

“There’s always alarm when land is taken off the tax rolls,” Westphal said. “Any time land goes from taxed to untaxed, it impedes the city’s ability to fund services. I understand that years ago the University used to sell off unneeded parcels of land back to the private market, which would be wonderful to see.”

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

3F — Fall 2016

Petition to prevent library lot sale illustrates Residents question diverging visions for A2 downtown development funding of light rail Residents oppose construction of high-rise building on vacant plot

By ISHI MORI Daily Staff Reporter

JUN. 8, 2016- Monday, a group of Ann Arbor citizens presented 5,779 signatures to City Council in a petition aimed at halting the sale of the cityowned parking lot to a private high-rise developer.

The debate surrounding the parking lot is another episode between residents who feel downtown needs to change for further growth and those who are content with the status quo of low-rise shops. Similar issues arose in 2012 with the controversial Foundry Lofts luxury apartment development.

If City Clerk Jackie Beaudry can validate at least 4,616 of those signatures, the Ann Arbor Committee for the Community Commons can put a proposal on the November ballot to stop any sale of the city-owned lot to private developers and could instead develop a park and civic center commons.

The petition was delivered after the council voted 6 to 5 against putting the library parking lot question on the ballot in fall 2015.

Alan Haber, the leader of the petition, told the Daily he is optimistic about his prospects.

Though his group has no concrete plans on what to do with the land, Haber expressed excitement about the many possibilities a win in November could bring.

“My plan is to create a situation where everyone in Ann Arbor can imagine what it is they would like as a center of their city and somehow put

those ideas into a common pot, and we mix them up and see what comes out in the most beautiful way possible,” Haber said. “But the powers that be have labeled all those ideas irrelevant, so we’ve had to go through a political process.”

Haber suggested as possibilities a municipal auditorium, a museum of city history or an environmental education center.

Ten years in the making The 2006 Calthorpe Report, a downtown redevelopment policy plan created through public design workshops, recommended the library parking lot be converted into a “town square” and underground parking space, with residential development on top.

Following the report’s recommendations, the Downtown Development Authority approved construction of an underground parking lot in 2007, but not a town square. All proposed parks were rejected and instead two proposals for hotelconference centers — similar what is being proposed right now — were chosen. Citizen opposition prevented a hotel’s construction, and the 50-yearold surface parking lot was then remodeled as a placeholder.

Seven years later, a 2013 Park Advisory Commission survey indicated that 76.2 percent of respondents thought Ann Arbor would benefit from more downtown open spaces — like a park or town square — and 41.5 percent of pro open-space respondents chose the library parking lot in question as their first-choice spot to build such a space.

A battle of contradictions Despite large resident support, some have reservations about the petition’s viability.

City Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1) said that

though she will support either a civic center or building in the lot, the green park envisioned by many of the petitioners would be structurally difficult to build.

“For many people, what they imagine is a green park with trees,” she said. “(The surface parking lot is) a roof, and so it’s designed to hold pavement, which is a lot lighter than wet soil.”

Briere said the existing infrastructure can never house tall trees or a picnic-friendly lawn. She emphasized she would not support an impossible park any more than she would a structurally unsound building.

However, Haber claimed that there is a layer of broken rock and cement below the surface of the parking lot that can be replaced with soil.

“When they poured the roof of the top of the first floor (of the parking structure) … they have filled in 18 to 24 inches of broken rock and cement on top of the top of the parking structure,” he said. “Those 24 inches to 18 inches of rock and cement, remove that, put in some dirt.”

He also said he intends to use the Freedom of Information Act to make his claim accessible to the public.

City Councilmember Kirk Westphal (D–Ward 2) implicitly countered Haber’s assertions, arguing the parking lot was destined to become a building through a transparent public process.

“Before I was involved in city government, I participated as a citizen in the Calthorpe process for downtown over 10 years ago,” Westphal said. “The state of that particular parcel has not been contentious at all for decades, so going to the voters about a single piece of property didn’t seem to be a good use of the ballot mechanism.”

He said there is a foundation for a high-rise building embedded in the underground parking structure as per an accepted budget proposal.

“The community decided all along that this was an appropriate place to put parking underground and a high rise above, so that’s why we invested in a foundation for a high-rise building,” Westphal said. “It was decided when the underground structure was proposed and approved, because the building wasn’t proposed on top of it at the time and a foundation for a large building can go in there.”

However, Haber dismissed Westphal’s suggestion that this foundation was agreed upon democratically. He claimed that when the underground parking lot was originally developed, the developer inserted backdoor costs for building high-rises in the future.

“Into the plan for the parking structure came this plan for a foundation for a building,” Haber said. “It wasn’t approved, wasn’t public, couldn’t be FOIAed, it was under the table — corrupt, if you just want to be outlandish and honest.

“This parking structure was made with the assurance to the people that what was built underneath had no foreclosure of any possible activity or development on the top. It was an option, it was not a determination, one could call that sunk costs; they were not approved.”

Haber called the alleged dealings “sunk costs” and said the council turned its back on its constituents.

“We do not need to be strangled by the dead hand of past under-the-table city dealings to satisfy a developer and the mentality of the City Council,” Haber added.

Concerns of city unfairly funding proposed University infrastructure

By BRIAN KUANG Daily Staff Reporter

MAR. 24, 2016 - At an open house held to discuss theproposed plan for the Ann Arbor Connector Thursday night, local residents raised concerns about the University of Michigan’s financial role in the joint project and how much city residents stand to benefit.

The proposed Connector would either take the form of a light rail, a type of public transport similar to a tramway, or a high-capacity bus service. The rail would link the southern end of Ann Arbor from Briarwood Mall, through the University’s Central, Medical and North Campuses, to the city’s northern extreme at US-23 and Plymouth Road.

Thursday night’s meeting was the second held regarding the connector — another was held earlyier in the day. During both, city and University officials met with community members and students to discuss the project.

According to representatives of AECOM, the consulting firm hired to manage the project, the preliminary study on the light rail is complete, and public input will be collected before the next phase will proceed. The entire process of design finalization, procurement and construction is estimated to take between six and 12 years.

Jeremy Winsor, one of the AECOM representatives, described the Briarwood MallPlymouth Road corridor as the busiest transportation corridor in the entire state of Michigan — with 28 percent of the city’s

residents and 51 percent of the city’s jobs within walking distance of the proposed path — and the place where most of the city’s future growth would take place.

He also noted that current bus traffic between downtown Ann Arbor and North Campus — at one bus every 90 seconds per stop and 50,000 daily trips — has exhausted existing road capacity.

Winsor said the project is expected to reduce travel times along the corridor by 43 percent and increase rider capacity by 52 percent, at an estimated cost of $500 to $700 million for construction and an 8 percent increase in annual transportation operations expenditures by the city and University.

“If you were to go online to the (Federal Transportation Administration) and look at all the new projects they have around the country in major metropolitan areas, this project, for the amount of ridership, ends up looking like a bargain,” Winsor said, adding that a combination of state and federal grants would also likely pay a large portion of the cost.

However, many of the residents in attendance expressed concerns about whether the University would be the primary beneficiary of the connector at the expense of city taxpayers.

Ann Arbor resident Vince Caruso pointed out the majority of traffic along the proposed connector route is University students, saying the University should therefore pay a larger share of the costs, drawing nods of approval from the crowd.

“This is really a U of M corridor; this is not an Ann Arbor corridor … and that’s fine,” Caruso said.

“Maybe they should be asked to step up and provide a lot more funding than they previously stated they would.”

Jim Kosteva, community See LIGHT RAIL, Page 9F

4F — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

University cancels controversial North Campus maintenance center, residents hope for new era of improved City-University relations Proposed building drew organized opposition from city

By BRIAN KUANG Daily Summer News Editor

MAY 24, 2016 - Facing concerted community opposition, the University of Michigan announced Tuesday that it would be cancelling the construction of its controversial

North Campus transportation maintenance center.

The facility was originally approved by the Board of Regents in 2014 and was intended to serve as a repair center for the University’s fleet of buses and other vehicles.

However, as the project began to move forward in February, nearby residents openly opposed it amid concerns of air pollution and traffic congestion.

Under pressure from Ann Arbor homeowners’ associations and City Council members, University President

Mark Schlissel postponed the project in March to negotiate with community stakeholders.

The Northeast Ann Arbor Community Coalition — which represents nearby residents opposed to the project and numbers about 600 households — has continued to protest the board’s meetings and recently called on its members to halt donations to the University, claiming the negotiation process continues to lack transparency.

This conflict is one of the latest between the University

and city of Ann Arbor partially stemming from the University’s ability to largely circumvent city zoning laws and public input processes when undertaking new construction because its status as a state entity.

Hank Baier, the University’s associate vice president for facilities and operations, said in a press release that the University made a mistake by not soliciting community input earlier in the project, but remained hopeful for the construction of a similar facility in the future.

“The project development team understands the importance of community engagement in selecting sites for University activities,” Baier said. “In this case, we should have sought input from our neighbors earlier in the development process. Going forward, this will be our practice as we consider uses for this site as well as others.”

The decision to cancel construction came as a surprise to local residents, who showed up to a meeting with University representatives on

BEST OF ANN ARBOR

Tuesday evening expecting to learn about the expected environmental impacts of the planned facility. Instead, University representatives presented the residents with a press release announcing the cancellation of the project.

Jim Kosteva, University director of community relations, said the ultimate decision to cancel the project was made by University President Mark Schlissel and the team managing the project earlier this week.

See DEPOT, Page 9F

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

5F — Fall 2016

Requiem Mass calls for resilience after Orlando massacre Community rallies to put together memorial in 48 hours

By KEVIN LINDER Daily Staff Reporter

JUN.14,2016 In remembrance of the victims of the nation’s largest mass shooting last Sunday in Orlando, several hundred students, alumni, faculty and Ann Arbor community members packed Hill Auditorium for a performance of Mozart’sRequiem. The event, titled “Requiem for Orlando,” drew a somber crowd to mourn the victims of the attack and their families and to stand in solidarity against the hatred behind the tragedy.

In a span of just 48 hours, Austin Stewart, a musicology graduate student at the University of Michigan, and Colin Knapp, a University alum who received his bachelor’s in music in 2014, enlisted nearly 200 volunteer singers and musicians to perform Mozart’s Requiem for the event.

Prior to the beginning of the performance, several guest speakers took the stage to pay

their respects to the lives lost and to voice words of strength against social injustice and violence fueled by hate. Guest speakers included University President Mark Schlissel, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, School of Music, Theatre & Dance Dean Aaron Dworkin and LGTBQ community icon Jim Toy. Schlissel offered sympathy to all those hurt, directly and indirectly, by the tragic events that occurred last Sunday. He also mentioned the Ann Arbor’s community’s impressive ability to come together and show support in such a short notice.

“In the wake of such tragedy, it is heartening to know that we have the ability to come together as a community,” Schlissel said.

“We are artists and activists, leaders and students, faculty, staff and community members.”

Schlissel finally noted the importance of upholding values in the aftermath of violence.

“We must remember that our differences are precious,” Schlissel said. “That those of all religions, ethnicities, beliefs, sexual orientations and gender identities make us a complete community,” Mayor Taylor offered advice on how to interpret Sunday’s violence, as well as how to move forward.

“It is our first instinct to view these killings as a senseless slaughter, and in one respect this surely is true,” he said.

“The risk is in attributing too much cultural meaning to the actions of a solitary killer, for this amplifies and gives power to the despicable.”

Taylor took a distinctly pointed tone, condemning and calling for action on what he viewed as a lack of gun control, and also called for acceptance of the Muslim community.

Taylor received two separate standing ovations from the crowd, though some members of the audience shook their heads in disagreement when Taylor condemned the role of guns in American society.

“I believe that what we can do is that we can live our lives.

We can live our lives with a renewed commitment to speak out against and defeat the notion that a gun-riddled America is a safer America,” Taylor said, as he was interrupted by spontaenous applause. “We must have a renewed commitment to live our lives with openness, pride and joy, to defend and affirm the full membership of our Muslim brothers and sisters in our communities large and small”.

Jim Toy, described by Taylor as an LGBTQ icon and community legend, concluded

the speeches.

Toy asked audience members to hold hands with one another and speak words of equality and peace.

Following the introductory speeches, the performance of Mozart’s Requiemcommenced, performed by students and faculty from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, as well as local musicians.

The ensemble, composed of 50 instrumentalists and 135 singers, was assembled with just 48 hours’ notice. The piece was conducted by Kevin Fitzgerald, a University alum who received his master’s degree in orchestral conducting in 2015.

In his speech, Taylor commented that the piece was fitting for the occasion.

“It is a very appropriate work.

Mozart’s Requiem is famously unfinished, much like the lives of those lost in Orlando,” he said.

The performance was concluded with a moment of silence to respect the lives recently lost. This was followed by a series of prayers and words of faith given by community members. The group of prayer leaders included observers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Before the doors to the performance opened, a small

group of gun control activists bore signs in front of the auditorium. A group of five volunteers held orange signs that read “Moms Against Guns.”

The demonstrators came from a grassroots volunteer branch of the national organization Everytown for Gun Safety. Rosalie Wright, the leader of the group, talked about how they are trying to spread the word about gun safety and bring people together.

“If enough people engage in an organized way, then something can happen legislatively, in terms of law, awareness, gun safety for children,” Wright said. “We are going at it on all fronts.”

The group was asking people to sign a petition in support of increased gun control legislation upon entering Hill Auditorium.

According to Wright, they had “pages and pages” of signatures.

Music, Theatre & Dance sophomore Bailey McMillian said she found the performance and overall event to be beautiful.

She said the outcome of such an incredible event put on in such a short notice represents the Ann Arbor and University communities.

“The fact that we showed up here at 7:35 p.m. and there was a huge crowd already waiting

to get in was incredible,” McMillian said. “This is what I wanted U-M to be, this is what I thought it would be and what Ann Arbor would be and this is exactly what it is.”

Don Lyons, a recent LSA graduate, had a similar reaction to the event. He particularly appreciated the religious diversity expressed during the introductory speeches and the concluding period of prayer.

“I thought it was a really beautiful performance,” he said.

“I thought that it was especially great to have so many voices, difference voices of faith. It was great to hear voices that came from people of faith and those who are secular.”

Jeff Ellison, one of the choir singers and a member of University Musical Society Choral Union, said he and the members of the organization were contacted by e-mail and asked if they would be willing to volunteer their voices to the show. He said the crowd that showed up was incredible.

“It was heartwarming to see such a nice group turn out, and to feel the energy in the room was just fantastic,” Ellison said.

“This was a time of mourning and everybody came with that idea, but everybody also came with the idea that love is the way forward.”

Growing Pains: The chainging climate of Ann Arbor businesses Economic growth drives up rent and cost of living

By SHOHAM GEVA Daily News Editor

OCT. 20,2016- In 2012, the downtown Ann Arbor area saw 28 new businesses.

In 2013, there were 38 more.

By June of 2014, the last time comprehensive data was released, another 15 new businesses were already planned for the upcoming year.

Their types varied, from a new outpost of Babo’s Market in Nickels Arcade to vintage and antique store Thistle and Bess.

Alongside them, new housing developments were popping up as well, with more than ten apartment and condo complexes entering or exiting construction over the past few years.

Depending on who you ask, those eighty-four businesses represent an upwards trend that’s been happening in the area for the past few years. Or the past ten years. Or the past thirty years.

Regardless of the timeline, though, the growth is good — that’s what a number of downtown stakeholders, from the city to business owners to residents to business associations, all seem to agree on.

But for many of those same stakeholders, the changing face of downtown has also prompted concerns about another trend: the sharply rising cost of living in Ann Arbor, and what an increasingly prosperous downtown means for the economic diversity of the city.

Reasons for growth It’s difficult to point to just one reason why downtown is seeing change and growth, or how development might correlate to affluence. The way cities grow and change is

complex, and Ann Arbor is no exception.

Part of understanding what’s happening to Ann Arbor is a question of looking at national trends on prosperity, according to City Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1), who has been active in city politics since 1978.

“Affluence is just one part of this, and that goes across the entire country,” she said. “The gap between income brackets grows, the people in the middle shrink. And so what that really means is that a lot of people who twenty years ago were living comfortable lives in a place like Ann Arbor, earning $40,000 a year, are confronting the fact that they could not buy a house in Ann Arbor now.”

When it comes to the specific patterns of business growth and subsequent affluence, Maura Thomson, director of the Main Street Area Association, said it’s something a lot of downtowns are experiencing nationwide, albeit in different ways and forms.

“I am sure you can go to any downtown in America, and see similar patterns,” Thomson said. “But I think those are the lucky ones, because I think what you’re going to see in a place that isn’t maybe as economically vibrant (as Ann Arbor), is you’re going to see downtowns with stores closing but nobody filling the space.

And we don’t seem to have that problem here.”

Within Ann Arbor, the growth over the past few years seems to be connected to a multitude of factors, each influencing the city in a different way, from the type of business on the street to changes in housing density and average income.

Downtown is frequently divided up into four neighborhoods — Main Street, Kerrytown, State Street, and South University areas — for

F E AT U R E F O T O

planning purposes, and each is experiencing changes in a unique way, said Thomson.

“I think you’re going to find a different perspective in each one of the four neighborhoods,” she said. “This neighborhood, Main Street area, the student impact isn’t as great as, of course, South U. and State Street. Each neighborhood is going to have a little bit different reflection of the changes that are occurring.”

Maggie Ladd, director of the South University Area Association, agreed that different parts of the city were seeing different changes.

For the South University and State Street areas, she said change over the past years has been largely expressed in the balance of businesses, pointing in particular to a higher number of retail businesses in the area.

She said she thought the changes had more of a cyclical nature, as opposed to a push toward affluence — and that the balance between retail and restaurants could already be self-correcting in another iteration of change.

“It’s cyclical and I think what you’re seeing on State Street is more balanced than you’ve seen in the past,” she said. “Their mix is beginning to be balanced and that’s because I think you have more people living downtown and you have the IT businesses going, you have the office workers there so they create a demand.”

On Main Street, Thomson said, growth has also been signalled through a shift in the type of business, though in a different sense, and more definitively in a trend toward affluence.

“Our downtown is becoming less available to, perhaps, the mom and pop stores and local business that I think a lot of people in Ann Arbor were used to,” she said. “So I think

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Protestors call for Governor Snyder’s resignation outside his Main Street apartment in January.

we see a change, as far as the type of businesses that we see downtown, are catering to the more affluent because they are businesses that can afford to pay the rent. And in this particular neighborhood, we have seen in the last years, we have seen huge turnover in the sale of property, and that’s what drives it.”

Thomson cited several of the same factors Ladd did in explaining the shifts, pointing to more visitors, Ann Arbor’s booming technology sector and higher housing density from the new housing developments as a reason for increased prosperity in the area.

“I always use cranes as an indicator of a strong economy and if you go around downtown Ann Arbor and look, currently you’re seeing some cranes up there,” she said. “And it’s also, with the increase in residents, we’re also seeing kind of a little bit of downtown expanding a bit from what we have traditionally thought of as downtown…. residents and employers (have a) huge impact on our downtown economy.”

Business owners cite a number of reasons why they’ve chosen to expand over the past years.

Roger Hewitt is a co-owner of Red Hawk Bar & Grille as well as Revive+Replenish, a higherend restaurant and grocery store that opened in the South University area in 2010. He said he and his business partner felt that opening a business like Replenish made sense in recent years in part because of a customer base in the area that could support it.

Speaking to why the downtown area is able to support a business like Replenish, as opposed to a more wholesale, less high-end grocery store, he pointed to students and the new development of high-rises in the area in particular.

“The main thing, if you look at all the student high rises, they’re fairly expensive places,” he said. “People there have disposable incomes.”

“I think the student body as a whole probably has more of a disposable income for groceries than say, the average shopper at Meijer,” he added.

Nonetheless, Hewitt, who is also the vice chair of the Downtown Development Authority, said he thought the area has seen change and prosperity, but not necessarily in the direction of higher affluence, pointing in particular instead to a rise in mid-priced dining options.

Consequences of change What development and growth downtown means for the city in terms of its economic future is a messy

question. Across the spectrum, stakeholders in downtown are quick to note that there are both positive and negative aspects.

One thing, though, is clear — it’s expensive to live in Ann Arbor, much more so than the rest of the state.

Overall, the yearly cost of living in the city for a fourperson family is currently at $68,302, higher than any other region in Michigan, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

And, according to the 2014 Washtenaw County Housing Needs Assessment, 31 percent of Washtenaw County residents don’t make enough to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Ann Arbor, a figure that includes the median salaries of many jobs located in the city.

For Thomson, the question of balance between prosperity downtown and affordability is familiar in a personal light.

“I’m one of the people that I live in a near-downtown neighborhood, I rent an apartment, that if my rent does go up I probably won’t be able to stay this close to downtown and I might not even be able to stay in Ann Arbor,” she said.

“Which makes me — you know, I love Ann Arbor, and I’m passionate about the job I do, and I think it’s wonderful that we’re so successful. But it’s hard for people who maybe aren’t in an income bracket that will allow them to continue to stay as things continue to increase.”

In a sentiment repeated by many, City Councilmember Graydon Krapohl (D–Ward 4) said he thinks the development is good, but that there are unresolved issues downtown, especially when it comes to housing.

“Any type of growth like that is positive,” Krapohl said.

“It generates tax revenue. It revitalizes areas. I think the challenge Ann Arbor faces with our housing market is workforce housing, affordable housing for our workforce.

That’s a challenge for us and part of it is, you know, we don’t have a lot of land to expand to build a lot more housing so a lot of it is redevelopment, and redevelopment is expensive.”

Increased housing density — one of the same factors cited in discussing reasons for growth — and housing prices seems to have become a particularly noticeable issue as growth has continued in recent years.

A recent Michigan Daily survey found that locating housing downtown is currently so competitive for students that many now sign leases 10 to 12 months in advance. For residents overall, the County Housing Needs Assessment found that to keep up with the number of jobs in the city, 3,137

additional workforce housing units would be needed in Ann Arbor over the next years.

Workforce housing generally refers to housing that is affordable for individuals whose income doesn’t currently allow them to find homes within a reasonable distance to their workplace, based on the market prices.

When it comes to pricing, there are upward trends for both housing and rents. According to the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors, in October 2012 the average selling price for a house was at $216,465. In April of 2015, it was at $269,321. The median sale price of a home in the United States is currently $225,000 according to Zillow’s housing index.

Rental prices have seen a similar increase, rising by up to 10 percent in the area for 2014-2015, according to MLive, compared with a national average of 3.6 percent.

“Our downtown is definitely gentrifying,” Thomson said.

“And it’s causing neighborhoods, near downtown neighborhoods that were at one time affordable to people who, you know, were maybe working in the restaurants or working in the shops, it’s becoming so that it isn’t affordable. And I think that’s something that our city has recognized, affordable housing is a huge issue.”

High cost of living, of course, isn’t only a one-factor issue.

Briere noted that in Ann Arbor, the income of the population for both students and residents, as well as the construction that’s part of new development, also plays a big role.

“The reasons for the higher cost of living and therefore the sense of increased affluence are complex,” she said. “Some of it is how much income people get from their jobs. Some of it is they get that income because the cost of living is so high.

Some of it is we can charge this amount of money for a rental unit because U of M students have affluent parents. Part of it is that new construction in the downtown is inevitably going to be more expensive than older construction. Maybe not significantly more expensive, but more expensive.”

For some, the biggest factor in regard to cost of living is that the relationship might be flipped — higher affluence in the area prompting prosperity downtown, instead of the other way around.

Ladd also cited the need for housing affordable to the workforce, but said she thought costs were going up commensurate with national trends and the local population.

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Nationwide violence sparks dialogue on local law enforcement

Ann Arbor Pioneer High School senior Dea Chappell marches on State Street during a Black Lives Matter protest Saturday in wake of recent instances of police brutality across the nation

Over 1,000 march through downtown for Black Lives Matter protest

By ANDREW HIYAMA Daily Staff Reporter

JUL. 13, 2016 - More than 500 people gathered Wednesday at the Michigan Union to march through downtown Ann Arbor in protest of police brutality. After congregating at the Union, the protesters walked down State Street and Main Street, stopping several times along the way before regrouping at the Diag to have several people address the crowd. The Ann Arbor Police Department escorted the protest, directing traffic away.

The protest follows a recent streak of police violence –– videos showing fatal police shootings of two men, Alton Sterling of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile of St. Paul, Minnesota, launching a flurry of nationwide protests. A shooting spurred by a lone gunman last Thursday at a protest in Dallas claimed the lives of five police officers. A vigil for the victims was held last Thursday in Ann Arbor, and a smaller march Saturday through downtown was also organized in response.

Community-police relations in Ann Arbor have been sensitive

since the 2014shooting death of Ann Arbor resident Aura Rosser by police officer David Ried. The county prosecuting attorney ruled Ried’s actions “lawful self defense,” though some residents were dissatisfied and skeptical of the results of the investigation.

In December 2015, the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission put forth a 42-page report, recommending an independent audit of AAPD practices and the implementation of a civilian oversight board to independently review complaints against police officers. Although City Council voted in March to eagerly accept these recommendations, AAPD Chief Jim Baird expressed skepticism of the need for increased local oversight and stressed nothing be implemented until after an audit in a June memo.

Currently, the implementation of the HRC recommendations remains stalled, though money has been set aside in the city’s fiscal year 2017 budget for an auditor. City Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy (D–Ward 1), who also is liaison to the HRC, told The Daily in an interview Wednesday she expects a resolution to hire an independent auditor soon — which would precede ordinance changes to implement an oversight body — but was unable to provide an exact timeline.

Kailasapathy added she did not believe the implementation of

increased oversight was a reaction to deteriorating trust, but rather a check-and-balance on local government.

“This is not an indictment of our police force. This is about setting up checks and balances,” Kailasapathy said.

The atmosphere of the protest was high in energy, with marchers constantly chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” as well as, “No justice, no peace” and “hey, hey, ho, ho, these racist cops have got to go!”

Marchers were eager to get more people involved, encouraging many bystanders to join the protest.

Many passing-by cars honked in support of the protesters, and some drivers got out of their vehicles to record the protest.

Most bystanders either joined in the chants or observed in silence, but one woman, in response to the chants of “Black lives matter!” replied with: “All lives matter!”

The climate between protesters and police during the protest was friendly, with several protesters shaking the hands of police officers and speakers calling for the crowd to thank the police department.

However, protest organizer Diante Harris, a Kinesiology junior, said the department still has work to do build relationships with the community.

Harris further argued that the need for increased civilian oversight doesnt necessarily imply the police department has been

neglecting its responsibilities, adding that local officers should have nothing to fear.

“The chief is probably just thinking that this is all out of spite, or, you know, a quick reaction, but as people who pay these officers to protect and serve them, and as people that are a part of the communities that these officers work in, I don’t see what bad could come out of having a say in some of the matters,” Harris said. “Right now the police chief doesn’t want to hear that in Ann Arbor. He believes that this is a local problem, and that everyone is overreacting because of what happened to Aura (Rosser),” he continued, to boos from the crowd.

In front of a crowd of hundreds gathered on the Diag, Kinesiology senior Nas Ali lamented the death of Philando Castile, who was killed on the same street Ali lived on as a child, where his family still lives.

“Last week, when Philando Castile passed away –– I live here, I go to school here, but that happened half a block from where I grew up,” Ali said. “The cop who killed him has pulled me over so many times, and I can’t even put into words the things that he has said to me. This time it changed. As much as I’ve grieved for everyone who has happened before, this time I wasn’t removed from it. It wasn’t St. Louis. It wasn’t Florida.

It was in my backyard.”

Harris also spoke to the

experiences he’d had with police.

“Growing up, I only saw them when someone in my community was being arrested,” Harris said.

“What do you think that does to you when you’re a kid, to your psyche? You’re going to not trust the police. You’re going to be afraid of the police.”

Despite the distrust he described, Harris ended by encouraging unity.

“We need more community involvement with our police officers,” he said. “And that’s the truth — I know not everyone wants to hear that. A lot of people don’t want any unity between the police officers and the community, but they are part of the communities whether we like it or not. And we are part of the communities that they serve, whether we like it or not.”

Protester Johnny Anderson challenged stereotypes of protesters, saying their message wasn’t so unpalatable as some believed and that demonstrators like himself don’t condone violence.

“Everybody has this vision in their head, that the revolution’s going to be this violent gunfire against the government,” Anderson said. “No, it’s going to be peace, it’s going to be this right here. This is the revolution right here. CNN ain’t coming here to see this peace, ain’t nothing to talk about.”

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Ann Arbor resident Brionne Fonville said that the revolution would require more than protesting and marching.

“What I saw here tonight was beautiful,” Fonville said. “There’s so much power and potential in what we did, marching. But we need to start thinking about what we’re going to do next. You all have the same equal power and potential. I’m going to paraphrase Dr. King for a second, and all I want to say is think about what you’re doing with your life. Think about what you do every day.

Think about the people you come into contact with and think about how you can use that to bend the moral arc towards justice.”

AAPD Officer Thomas Hickey, while also encouraging communication between police and civilians, argued the AAPD has done much to engage its community.

“I can tell you that at the Ann Arbor Police Department, we have been proactive about diversity and multicultural training,” Hickey said. “We probably go above the standard for training. We pride ourselves on staying current with what’s going on, and that makes for a better police department, and probably overall transparent.

We have great communication with some of the folks here.

Communication is basically the bottom line.”

City Council pushes to raise age City Council votes to put term for purchase of tobacco products extension on November ballot Councilmember Grand dismisses need for student input on bill

By ANDREW HIYAMA Daily Staff Reporter

JUL. 18, 2016- A resolution raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21 passed its initial read with only one dissenting vote at Monday’s Ann Arbor City Council meeting. The proposed legislation will still need to be approved by the council in a meeting next month before being fully accepted.

The proposed ordinance would raise the age at which Ann Arbor retailers may sell tobacco products and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21, while also decriminalizing underage tobacco possession of both.

In a phone interview prior to the meeting, Councilmember Julie Grand (D–Ward 3) — who has been the leading proponent of the resolution — explained that, though the ordinance would explicitly affect those between ages 18 and 20, it would also indirectly target tobacco usage by younger teenagers.

“Most 15 to 17-year-olds get their tobacco products from 18 and 19-year-olds or other similar social sources, so this ordinance helps block that source,” Grand said. “What it also does for the 18 to 20-year-

olds is it provides an onset barrier when those individuals are most likely to be moving from experimental tobacco use to regular or habitual tobacco use.”

Pointing to California, Hawaii and Massachusetts as examples, Grand said she hoped a municipal ordinance would eventually pave the way for other city governments in Michigan as well as the state government.

When asked why the ordinance was being pushed during the summer, when most University of Michigan students — who would be directly impacted by the resolution — are absent from campus and unable to participate in public debate over the issue, Grand was dismissive of student input, saying she has the backing of a broad coalition comprising local medical and public health professionals.

“My main interest is developing this model and moving it out to other communities,” Grand said. “As much as I would like to get the input from the University students, that’s not my primary goal. And honestly, if they were against the ordinance, I really don’t think it would change my mind.”

While affected, University students would still be able to take a free city bus line to Meijer on Ann Arbor-Saline Road, just outside city limits and therefore not subject to city ordinances, and purchase tobacco products there. Grand pointed out that in

past cases, even if neighboring municipalities did not pass a similar ordinance, there would still be a decline in teenage tobacco usage.

All council members, except Jack Eaton (D–Ward 4), voted to support the first reading of the bill, moving it forward to be discussed at a second reading in the future, before a final vote will be held. Councilmember Eaton said that he thought the bill was a good idea but that he could not support it because of the fact that it violated state law.

“I am vividly aware of the cost of smoking, but I can’t support this ordinance,” Eaton said. “The Michigan Tobacco Products Tax Act says that we shall not impose any new requirements or prohibitions pertaining to the sale of tobacco, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here. I think that when there’s a state law that tells us not to do something, we’re illadvised to do it regardless of how passionate we are about the intent behind the law.”

Councilmembers Jane Lumm (I–Ward 2) and Graydon Krapohl (D–Ward 4) also expressed concerns about the conflict the ordinance would create with state law but voted to support the first reading.

Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy (D–Ward 1) asked City Attorney Stephen Postema what the legal ramifications of passing such an ordinance would be, but Postema said he wasn’t prepared to answer that question at the time.

Council members hope to improve voter turnout for municipal elecitons

By BRIAN KUANG Daily Summer News Editor

JUL. 7, 2016- In November, Ann Arbor residents will vote on a ballot measure that would extend the terms of city councilmembers and the mayor to four years — with the goal of boosting voter turnout in local elections — following a 7-4 vote by City Council Wednesday evening.

However, a parallel resolution seeking to overhaul municipal elections into non-partisan blanket primaries — where party identification would not be listed for candidates — failed in a 7-4 vote.

The two resolutions were introduced for debate by Council with the intention of comprehensively reforming local elections to boost sagging voter turnout.

Currently, the mayor and each city councilmember must run for re-election every two years, with five council seats up for election in any given year. Because there are no high-profile, top-ballot races — such as presidential or congressional campaigns — in oddnumbered years, voter turnout in August primary elections are often half of even-year numbers, and odd-year November turnout can be as low as one quarter of the corresponding even-year.

By extending terms of office for city councilmembers and the mayor, half of council would be up for re-election every two years during a high-profile general election that would drive turnout for down-ticket races.

Furthermore, many municipal races are not meaningfully contested in November due to Ann Arbor’s partisan election system, which is only used by two other cities in Michigan.

To be on the November ballot, candidates for city office must win either the statewide Republican or Democratic primary election in August, unless they are independent. However, given the demographic makeup of Ann Arbor, no candidate has sought election to municipal office as a Republican in Ann Arbor for over a decade, meaning many races are simply uncontested in November.

City Councilmember Jane Lumm (I–Ward 2) remains the sole nonDemocrat on City Council.

If a non-partisan election were to be adopted, then the top two receivers of votes in each August primary race would be guaranteed to advance to the November ballot, even if it would mean two Democrats would face against each other.

Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy (D–Ward 1) supported putting the nonpartisan election proposal to the November ballot, saying party labels in municipal elections often project inaccurate impressions of individual candidates to voters.

However, other councilmembers, including Mayor Christopher Taylor, argued party

labels still played an important role in informing voters on the values of candidates. Furthermore, Taylor said the lack of viability for Republican candidates in Ann Arbor is due to the ideological makeup of the city and not a result of any flaw in the city’s election system.

The extended-term ballot proposal was approved 7-4 with Councilmembers Lumm, Eaton, Kailasapathy and Graydon Krapohl (D–Ward 4) voting against, while the parallel resolution seeking to overhaul municipal elections into non-partisan blanket primaries failed 7-4 with only Councilmembers Kirk Westphal (D–Ward 2), Lumm, Chuck Warpehoski (D–Ward 5) and Kailasapathy voting in favor.

Regarding term limits, Councilmember Sabra Briere (D–Ward 1) argued that evenyear elections would not only exclusively improve voter turnout, but longer terms increase continuity of leadership and allow councilmembers to pursue longerterm agendas.

Councilmember Jack Eaton (D–Ward 4) countered Briere’s point, saying that more frequent elections for city office would force councilmembers to be more accountable to their constituents and engage the public more frequently. Eaton also argued that even though turnout is higher in even-year elections, many voters in those elections simply vote along party lines without fully understanding city issues, while voters in lower-turnout odd-years would be better engaged in local issues.

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Eastern Michigan University police officer Mike Anderson practices administering Naloxone at EMU on Wednesday.

HEROIN From Page 1F 15 to 30.

It has been 12 years since 31-year-old Ashton Marr, an Ann Arbor resident, was first prescribed Vicodin for an emergency appendectomy.

“I was able to maintain the image that I was doing okay, but my addiction hit a new low,” Marr said. “It was like it just took over my life and my mind.”

She has long since healed from her 2004 surgery, but the effects of Marr’s introduction to opioids left her with a frustrating, painful addiction. After starting the drug, continued use was all too easy. Marr said that even though she began to experiment with drugs as a student at Pioneer High School, she began to spiral out of control when she began studying at Washtenaw Community College.

“It was actually easier for me to get illegal drugs than it was for me to get alcohol,” Marr said. “People get started taking old prescriptions that they find in the medicine cabinet.”

Radzik is also well-versed in the heroin epidemic in Washtenaw County — she has been on staff with Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office for 27 years and worked as an undercover cop from 1998 to 2000. When starting road patrol in 1991, she said, it was extremely rare to respond to a heroin overdose.

“If we did, it was normally — I’m not saying this is a positive thing — it was usually a longterm, older user that had other health issues,” Radzik said.

According to Washtenaw County Public Health, more than 400 residents overdosed on opioids between 2011 and 2015. Younger white males were more likely to unintentionally overdose on heroin — with an average age of overdose of 32 — while unintentional prescription opioid overdoses were more common among older white women, with an average age of 51.

There is no discernible

DOWNTOWN From Page 5F prosperous in Ann Arbor,” she said. “The standards of living and I think the earning capacity of people that live in Ann Arbor has very much increased and so that has an effect on the prosperity of downtown. I don’t think we’re pricing people out downtown.”

Finding a balance When it comes down to the policy on how to create that affordable housing and how cost of living increases should be treated overall, the issue has been contentious for years.

At a Council retreat for strategic planning in 2012, former Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje said the city had become gentrified, according to MLive.

“I’ve seen the city gentrified from the time that I’ve been here,” Hieftje said. “It’s less affordable now, and I think that’s something we can’t ever forget. We have to continue to work in that area. We can’t forget that we need to make it possible for others to live here who may not have the best of jobs.”

A year later, at another retreat, multiple members of

set of risk factors — such as socioeconomic status, parental occupation or a familial history of drug use — that can be tied to the recent chain of overdoses.

Often, a child is injured in a sport or at a park and needs some kind of surgery. Years later, they continue an addiction to the painkiller first prescribed to them following the operation.

As the number of fatal overdoses in young adults and children spiked in Washtenaw County, Radzik started asking questions — and parents tended to repeat a similar narrative.

“Every story that I heard was the same: that their child had a sports injury and was given Vicodin or Oxycontin or in a car crash,” Radzik said. “Soon they’re addicted; they’re buying pills off the street.”

Marr’s story follows a similar path after her surgery.

She described her childhood with sentimentality: She loved Girl Scouts, did gymnastics, weathered her parents’ divorce, but says she felt normal as a kid.

After addiction found its way into her life, she said, everything changed. Living mostly out of her car, she felt tired, miserable and alone.

“Addiction for me was a very isolating experience, and I was really ashamed of it,” Marr said. “It was like it just took over my life and my mind, and I really was up and running with opioids. I truly believed I was the only heroin addict in Ann Arbor.”

New policies and combative treatments offer some hope, though. In the first five months of officers carrying Naloxone in 2014, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office reported officers’ use of the drug saved 11 lives.

According to Radzik, the number has risen to 26 since last December. Naloxone could have saved even more lives back when the number of overdoses first peaked in 2012, she said, but the department had to wait for a bill allowing non-medical personnel to administer the drug.

The sheriff office’s supply is currently funded by a grant Council raised concerns about cost of living, and affordable housing was also an oftmentioned topic of discussion in the 2014 Council and mayoral races. Most recently, in the 2015 Council elections, it resurfaced as a focus for multiple candidates.

Krapohl, who was elected in 2014, said he thought keeping housing affordable downtown would continue to be an ongoing issue for Council.

“I just don’t see how we’re going to get around it,” he said. “Because it’s an issue that affects multiple income levels within the city and our residents. And we have a relatively diverse economic group here and for the health of a city, the health and growth of any city you need to maintain that. And a big part of that is having affordable housing.”

So far, he said, it’s been hard to find a policy to promote affordable housing that had a long-term impact.

In many ways, Briere said, City Council is limited in what it can and can’t do.

The state doesn’t allow the city to mandate building sizes, or require that developers building downtown also build affordable housing. Nor is funding generally available to

that was facilitated by the Washtenaw Opioid Project, a community-based collaborative effort organized in July 2013 as part of the Washtenaw Health Initiative. Their aim is to improve access to coordinated care for the county’s low-income, uninsured and Medicaidsupported populations. The grant is currently funding the replacements for the office’s now-depleted supply of the Naloxone.

In the sheriff’s office, police are trained to administer Naloxone regardless of whether or not they can confirm the user took an opioid, as Naloxone has no harmful effects to an individual not experiencing an overdose. They are trained to administer another dose within five minutes of the first because the drug could wear off and the victim could resume overdose effects. Inserted through the nose, Naloxone could stay active in the body between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on a person’s metabolism, while opioids can last up to two hours.

University response While marijuana and prescription drug use have been consistent issues on campus, hard drug use has been climbing at the University as well, according to a 2015 report, and administrators across a number of campus units are beginning to respond to the recent spike.

Last December, the University Injury Center held an Opioid Overdose Summit to educate researchers, community members and those involved in the pharmaceutical field on current prescription drug opioid research, to prevent overdose mortality and to discuss other unresolved issues.

Central Student Government also tried to raise awareness by launching a prescription drug misuse campaign during the winter 2016 semester.

The University’s Division of Public Safety and Security is adding additional officer training as well.

DPSS spokeswoman Diane Brown said, beginning in July, all University police officers, increase housing downtown through a government effort.

“The reason the Council hasn’t moved forward is it doesn’t have sufficient revenue itself to put aside many, many millions of dollars to build and then support enough housing for young workers, for retirees, for people who are earning but who aren’t able to afford to live in Ann Arbor,” she said.

“Being able to provide housing for people who are living in public housing is pretty much the maximum we can do, at least today. It’s a source of frustration, and I don’t have an answer. If I did, I’d be promoting that answer.”

Beyond the numbers, discussing the changing face of downtown also raises another series of concerns — what it means for the character of the city.

“The fear that the people have who want the community to be stable rather than growing significantly is that not only will the charm that Ann Arbor possesses disappear, but also that the sudden growth will be followed by shrinkage,” Briere said. “And all of the changes will occur and then the new buildings will become derelict, the old houses will be abandoned, because the change

including housing security officers, will have access to and will be trained in the deployment of the Naloxone.

“We are right now finishing up our week-long training on a variety of subjects,” Brown said.

“It takes us several weeks for us to be able to take our whole group of people and put them in training. We do it in rounds, and so, by the end of the month, we will have finished the last of those rounds.”

Brown said witnessing an opioid overdose could be difficult to discern right away, which is why the training is so important.

“When you come upon somebody, there’s a wide variety of things, particularly if they’re unconscious, which overdose tends to apply,” Brown said.

“But then there’s the situations where people are going into an unconscious state from a drug interaction, and sometimes those can be a wide variety of responses based on the person.”

Radzik said purchasing prescription opioids at the street level could range from $30 to $50 in some cases, so users often turn to cheaper methods of substance abuse.

Marr made the switch to heroin after several years of abusing Vicodin.

“I didn’t seek out heroin.

Somebody proposed it to me when I complained that Vicodin wasn’t doing it for me anymore,” Marr said. “I’m shocked today to hear how easy it is to come by drugs; many times it was people that I already knew, friends.

When I made the transition from opioid-based prescriptions to heroin, I would snort it, but that became less and less effective — I built a tolerance to it — so I resorted to taking it intravenously.”

Marr said she had a dealer and would take trips to Detroit, though she said such trips are not necessary, as she claims heroin is available for sale in Washtenaw County, including Ann Arbor.

Radzik said the user, is in many cases, not the only one who suffers, as families bear much of the burden financially and otherwise.

“When a family loses a child to heroin, they have to say, ‘But they were such a good kid,’ ” Radzik said. “When a family loses a child to cancer, they don’t have to say that.”

Marr described how her addiction began to take over her life.

“I needed more and more of it to not feel sick,” Marr said.

“It wasn’t about getting high anymore. I need it to function, not just emotionally but physically.”

Marr said she never feared anything more than the feeling of withdrawal.

“My bones felt like glass,” Marry said. “I felt sick to my soul, crawling out of my skin — I felt, I’m not sure how to describe it. You’re hot and cold at the same time. You can’t sit still, but you feel even sicker trying to get up and pace around. That is a contributing factor as to is not sustainable.”

Others, she noted, think that change is what builds the city’s character, creating two ideas about the city’s future with vastly different outcomes.

Overall, Krapohl said there’s no easy answer to what the balance should be between growth downtown and cost of living, or how to to mitigate unintended effects that might come from it.

However, he noted that the solution might lie in a new approach to looking at the issue — thinking of development of the downtown, and development of the neighborhoods around it as a single concept, not ones at opposition.

“It’s a nice thing with some of the new development, new building,” Krapohl said. “It strengthens the city center.

To me the city is like a wagon wheel, and the downtown area is like the wagon hub, and you have to have a strong hub for the spokes of the neighborhood going out. I think there’s a lot of discussion at times, the development of the downtown at the expense of the neighborhoods, that to me I think they have to go together.”

why I’m still in recovery. I don’t ever want to do that again. It’s awful.”

During her time suffering from heroin addiction, Marr was almost entirely isolated from the support of her family and friends, whom she kept in the dark about her condition, mostly because she was afraid they would associate her with the stigma attached to drug addicts.

“I mostly hid it from my friends,” Marr said. “Addiction for me was a very isolating experience, and I was really ashamed of it. Being from Ann Arbor, there are certain substances that carry less of a stigma.”

Marr said she relocated to a halfway house in Brighton after several months of treatment before she moved back to a transitional home in Ann Arbor.

Along with the Brighton Center for Recovery, which helped Marr recover from her addiction, there are dozens of other recovery efforts in the area. Besides the Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project, there is The Home of New Vision, which provides treatment, transitional housing, counseling and peer support services throughout the county.

Matt Statman is the program manager for the University branch of the Collegiate Recovery Program, a nationwide initiative that offers nonclinical support to students in recovery from alcohol or other drug problems. The program launched at the University in 2012 as part of Wolverine Wellness — a section of the University Health System aimed at supporting and promoting healthy behaviors related to alcohol, drugs and sexual health — and is funded by student health fees.

“We are really focused on social support, helping students that are in recovery support each other,” Statman said.

“Everyone knows what the perception of alcohol and other drug use on college campus is.

And they need to have extra, and the University has invested in that.”

According to the CRP’s website, there are more than 10 12-step meetings a day near the University campus.

Statman said the program is supported by the Association of Recovery in Higher Education, a national movement aimed at incorporating these services into every college campus.

The program offers educational opportunities, support groups and meeting places on campus, where students in recovery can study and socialize. Statman said the program supported 47 regular participants this past academic year.

“Recovery from addiction is possible,” Statman said. “If people are struggling, there’s help and there’s hope here.”

According to Statman, alcohol continues to be the number one problem on campus, followed by marijuana and stimulant drugs like ADHD medication.

“We also do see some students that are in recovery from opioid use,” Statman said. “They tend to be students who have recovered and have then chosen to come back to school, but we still have students using opioids, but it’s not one of the top three that we have now on campus.”

As someone in recovery himself, Statman has first-hand experience with Naloxone.

“I’ve been in recovery for 15 years. I’m a U-M alum, and I was saved by Naloxone a couple times years ago by first responders,” Statman said. “I know that a lot of opioid addicts at some point end up overdosing and going to the hospital, and paramedics have been carrying Naloxone for a long time.”

Radzik said Naloxone has been a valuable tool for the department in combatting overdoses. Giving survivors another chance at life could mean another chance at recovery.

“These addicts don’t want to be addicts; every single one of them wants help,” Radzik said.

“It’s a disease.”

Marr has now been sober for three years and is enrolled as a student at Eastern Michigan University. She said she owes her life to the Brighton Center and frequently returns to give lectures on her experiences in recovery.

“When I do a talk related to recovery people often come up to me afterwards and say, ‘You just don’t look like the type,’” Marr said. “There is no type.

It can be the elderly, who now have higher rates with problems related to long-term opioid prescriptions.”

Facing Addiction, a national advocacy movement, estimates there are 23 million Americans in long-term recovery, and onethird of all American households are affected by substance abuse disorders. The movement also found that 90 percent of people in need of treatment do not receive it.

Marr said the entire community benefits when people find recovery instead of incarceration.

“When people use words like ‘junkie’ or ‘crackhead,’ that conjures up the image of people living under a bridge,” Marr said. “It just further adds to the stigma and the shame and the guilt revolving around addiction. Why add to that?

Why make it harder for them to find help?”

Marr attended an event called the Impact Forum and by chance met Derrick Johnson, the director of community engagement at the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, who offered her a job at the Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project, an organization that champions on behalf of those with substance use disorders on local, state and federal levels and works to educate the community. She is now the executive director.

“It’s really through family community support that I’ve been able to able to build a life worth living,” Marr said.

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University, acknowledged residents’ concerns.

In an interview, he said the University intends to pay for 75 percent ofthe next phase of environmental reviews, and to continue to financially contribute in subsequent phases. However, he said the exact amount the University would contribute for the entire project is still to be determined.

“It’s unquestionable that University ridership will be a primary beneficiary of this project,” Kosteva said. “We’ve paid for that system today, and we’re prepared to pay a proportional cost for any future system.”

Caruso — who said he has many family members who work or study at the University — added after the meeting that most of the proposed stops along the connector route are only at University locations, further limiting how much it could benefit city residents. “(The connector) really needs to consider being general transit, and not just U of M transit,” Caurso said.

positively to the decision to cancel construction, and many residents feel this will represent broader shift in how the University interacts with city residents. Sandy Aldrich, co-president of the Northeast Ann Arbor Community Coalition, said the University likely would not have been as receptive to community concerns before Schlissel became president.

“After speaking with many longtime Ann Arbor residents, they have indicated that, had this happened before (Schlissel’s) administration, that we would have gotten a much different response,” Aldrich said. “I do truly believe that President Schlissel is sincere in bringing a sense of partnership and openness to the University when dealing with the community.”

Aldrich also reaffirmed that, despite their efforts to protest the project, most city residents remain favorable of the University, as many of them are employees and graduates of it.

“By no means are we antiUniversity,” Aldrich said.

“Because it helps the city as well when the University becomes greater and better.”

10F — Fall 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com