2017-09-22

Page 1

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

Friday, September 22, 2017

Ann Arbor, Michigan

michigandaily.com

GOVERNMENT

Bill allows Super PAC donations in Michigan Governor Snyder signs bill with little opposition from Congress Republicans COLIN BERESFORD Daily Staff Reporter

KATELYN MULCAHY/EMMA RICHTER/Daily

Recognition and healing: How the ‘U’ copes with racist incidents

Following recent events, campus leaders and administration respond to hate KAELA THEUT, JENNIFER MEER & AMARA SHAIKH Daily Staff Reporters

Over the past year, members of the University of Michigan have both seen and responded to countless acts of hate directed at communities of color and other marginalized groups. Though the administration and campus organizations have reacted with activism and messages of support,

students — along with some faculty and staff — continue to call for more action. On Sunday, an incident of racist vandalism occurred in West Quad Residence Hall: Racial slurs were found on the dormitory doors of three Black students in the Michigan Community Scholars Program. University President Mark Schlissel tweeted to condemn the incident, but Black students still called on the president to take a more prominent stand against hate. That same day, racial slurs were spray-painted onto East Liberty and

South State Street buildings. These hateful incidents are not new. In September 2016, racist flyers featuring white supremacist messages were found on campus posting walls. In February, engineering students received anti-Black and anti-Semitic emails bolstering hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazis. Earlier this September, anti-Latino and pro-Trump graffiti was found scrawled on the Rock, a University landmark. On Wednesday night, the Black Student Union and

Students4Justice led a protest, calling on Schlissel to respond to the racially charged incidents of the past week. Afterward, a man, unaffiliated with the University, was arrested during a fight that broke out, in which he called students “n------.” On Thursday evening, Schlissel released a statement expressing sadness for the hateful acts, but pride for how the University has come together to respond. “The Black Student Union issued a strong statement regarding the See HEALING, Page 3

Gov. Rick Snyder signed a campaign finance bill Wednesday, extending the ruling of Citizens United v. FEC to the state of Michigan. This allows state representatives and candidates to collect campaign money through super PACs, which then permit them to collect unlimited amounts of money. The bill received little opposition from Republicans, passing through the state House on the back of the Republican majority — only one Republican, state Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy, voted against it. State Sen. David Robertson, R-Grand Blanc, introduced the bill in the state Senate last April. “This legislation codifies the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United which affirms corporate and unions’ ability to exercise their First Amendment rights of free speech,” Robertson told the Detroit Free Press.

The Citizens United ruling allowed for unlimited donations from corporations and unions to political candidates. Though the ruling did not change the rules in state races, many states have since amended their campaign finance laws. In 2010, following the Citizens United ruling, 24 states were forced to amend their campaign finance laws barring corporate and union donations. Now that Snyder signed the bill, there are six states that allow such contributions. State Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, opposes the law, seeing it as a way for corporations to exert unprecedented influence over Michigan races. “It empowers corporation and special interest groups to have unlimited power over the political process and that’s not what our democracy was ever supposed to be,” Rabhi said. “It was supposed to be a democracy of, by and for the people and this has created a situation where, to even a greater extent than we See BILL, Page 3

Earthfest showcases sustainability GOP bill App tracks pushes for projects, organizations on the Diag concerts,

GOVERNMENT

BUSINESS

immigrant penalties

Students and faculty find ways to get involved with environmental causes

Funding for sanctuary cities in Michigan will also be cut if bill passes

Sustainability on campus is more than the recycling bins you find in Mason Hall. In reality, University of Michigan student organizations, departments and local nonprofits are focusing their efforts on outreach and staying green in a number of ways. One example of these outreach efforts is EarthFest. The 21st annual event was held on the Diag Thursday, and, hosted by the Office of Campus Sustainability, allowed students and staff to browse through dozens of booths and learn about how to get involved with sustainability on campus. OCS Sustainability Representative Barbara Hagan said EarthFest provides new possibilities for students previously unaware of environmental organizations’ activity on campus. “Students are very interested in sustainability and how to protect the planet and how to make the world a better place,” Hagan said. “It’s our way of match-making students with a group that they may want to participate in.” University spokeswoman Dana Elger said the event sends a message that anyone can be involved in making the University a more environmentally friendly place. “People want to get engaged, they’re just not sure how to do it,” Elger said. “You have new

CORY ZAYANCE Daily Staff Reporter

Michigan state Sens. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton, and Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, are leading efforts urging Congress to pass immigration legislation aiming to cut funding for sanctuary cities and increase penalties on undocumented immigrants attempting to return to the United States. The resolutions passed through the House June 29 and was received in the Senate Sept. 10. The bill, known as Kate’s Law or U.S. House Resolution 3004, increases penalties on immigrants who have been deported and are caught attempting to return to the United States. The law is named after Kate Steinle, a resident of San Francisco who was killed by a man who had been deported and re-entered the United States several times. In a press release discussing the legislation, Schuitmaker stressed the resolution as critical to all American citizens. “This man should never have been here and Kate should still be with her loved ones,” Schuitmaker said. “This was a senseless, See PENALTY, Page 3

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ISHI MORI

Daily Staff Reporter

students, returning students. I have seniors coming up and saying, ‘Hey, I want to get involved. I care about this and I want to learn more about it.’ ” The booths were divided into sections relating to each organization’s goal: greenhouse gas reduction, transportation, sustainable food, protecting the Huron River, waste reduction and community awareness. Many were interactive, handing

out free food samples and engaging students in activities. Michigan Dining, for example, offered students free bruschetta with a display showcasing their sustainable food practices. LSA freshman Yasmeen Shakour said she learned valuable information about Michigan Dining’s efforts to source their food locally. “I always wonder where they got their food, or whether it’s

GMO-free, organic or local, so it was cool to learn about that,” she said. LSA senior Ben Iuliano, co-president of the University’s Sustainable Food Program, said he hoped to get more people interested in the environment through food and expand on the University’s sustainable food program together. “Thinking of new ways to See EARTH, Page 3

RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily

Common Cycle helps repair student bikes as a part of EarthDay on the Diag Thursday.

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INDEX

Vol. CXXVII, No. 95 ©2017 The Michigan Daily

parties in Ann Arbor

Turn Uh brings to campus business promotions and party, event invites RACHEL LEVY

Daily Staff Reporter

At a school as large as the University of Michigan, it can be hard to keep up with the neverending, cleverly titled Facebook invitations, the Diag-wide food festivals and your favorite fraternity’s themed late-nights. Business junior Mark Dager and Information junior Rachel Sartori are bringing an app to campus that could provide a solution. Turn Uh is an app allowing students to view and add events that are happening on and around campus. The platform — created by Bucknell University students Will Szamosszegi and Lucas Gregory — launched at Bucknell last year and is now expanding to other schools, including the University of Michigan. “At each of the schools (Szamosszegi) has hired interns,” Dager said. “We reached out to every relevant business on campus — a discount, or a concert, or a play — stuff that students can’t find on their own, things that students would want to go to and would want to hear about.” Sartori discussed how useful See APP, Page 3

NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6

SUDOKU.....................2 CROSSWORD...............6 SPORTS....................7


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