2018-01-26 by The Michigan Daily

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SURVIVORS. Kyle Stephens Jessica Thomashow Victim D Chelsey Markham Jade Capua Alexis Moore Olivia Cowan Rebecca Mark Bethany Bauman Kate Mahon Danielle Moore Marion Siebert Annette Hill Taylor Stevens Victim 55 Amanda Cormier Jennifer Rood Bedford Nicole Soos Ashley Erickson Melissa Imrie Victim 125 Megan Halicek Victim 48 Katelyn Skrabis Brianne Randall Victim 2 Anna Ludes Lindsey Schuett Maggie Nichols Tiffany Thomas Lopez Jeanette Antolin Amanda Thomashow Victim 105 Gwen Anderson Amanda Barterian Jaime Doski Jenelle Moul Madeline Jones Kayla Spicher Jennifer Hayes Nicole Walker Victim 75 Chelsea Williams

Stephanie Robinson Carrie Hogan Helena Weick Victim 28 Victim 10 Taryn Look Jamie Dantzscher McKayla Maroney Lindsey Lemke Nicole Reeb Lyndsy Gamet Taylor Cole Jessica Smith Arianna Guerrero Melody Posthuma Van der Veen Christine Harrison Victim 153 Victim 11 Victim 136 Kristin Thelen Katie Rasmussen Jessica Tarrant Mary Fisher-Follmer Jordyn Wieber Chelsea Zerfas Samantha Ursch Kara Johnson Maddie Johnson Marie Anderson Amy Labadie Ashley Yost Aly Raisman Kassie Powell Megan Ginter Katherine Gordan Katelynne Hall Anya Gillengerten Kaylee McDowell Lindsay Woolever Hannah Morrow Bayle Pickel Alexis Alvarado Trenea Gonzcar

MORGAN MCCAUL’S IMPACT STATEMENT When I was just two years old, I witnessed a production of Alice In Wonderland. It was full of dazzling dance numbers which captured my tiny heart, and I knew right then and there, I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up. And so that’s what I did. I spent my childhood practicing fouette turns and tour jetes, my summers preparing for Cecchetti ballet examinations, and every moment in between dreaming up choreography for a performance of my own. Dance was my life’s passion, my greatest combatant yet my greatest joy. It was my art, and it was my sport. But, it is also the vehicle which drove my unassuming body into Larry Nassar’s office. Larry, when I was just twelve years old, I walked into your office at the Michigan State University Sports Medicine Clinic, in tremendous pain and seeking help to return to the sport that I loved most. I was in the 7th grade, I stood at a towering 4 foot 10, and in you, I saw not only the medical help I so desperately needed after tearing both of my hip f lexors... I saw a physician that I aspired to be. I was your little “goof ” and so I looked to you as a role model, hoping to volunteer at MSU Sports Medicine alongside you someday. Do you remember taking me out to lunch after I job-shadowed you at the Clinic? I still have our friendly Facebook messages. In my mind, you were my both my mentor and my friend. And it wasn’t until 2016 that I realized that you molested me. Every shred of admiration I had for you is gone. Every excuse I told my twelve-year-oldself when you were penetrating me is gone. The man I thought I knew did not exist. Only a selfish predator, whose atrocities know no bounds. You violated the very principal of your calling as a former physician: Do. No. Harm. This past year and a half has been, without a doubt, the most difficult and traumatic period of my life. Your betrayal has caused me countless sleepless nights; when I do find sleep, I’m

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plagued with nightmares and when I wake up, I’m living one. This has ruined my first year at the University of Michigan and robbed me of the college experience every young girl deserves. Most tragic of all is that your crime has shaken my very image of myself... this sentiment has been echoed by hundreds of other women who’ve shared their most painful memories with this courtroom. It is perhaps your most vile transgression. But alas, Larry, you are merely a symptom of a sickness which plagues the very core of Michigan State University, threatening every little girl who steps foot on that campus; a culture of sexual abuse and the perverse, deliberate inaction to hold predators accountable. In the aftermath of Nassar’s crimes, calls have been renewed for MSU President, Lou Anna K. Simon, to resign. The fact that she has yet to do so is insulting to the hundreds of survivors like me--it is, in fact, 42 months, countless slanderous public statements by Jason Cody, calls from numerous Congressmen and -women, and one one-hundred and fifty thousand dollar slap-inthe-face of a raise too late. Since reports of Larry Nassar’s misconduct to Michigan State faculty began in 1997, two years before I was even born, I can’t help but wonder: How many little girls could have been spared from this lifelong battle, if someone at the University had done the bare minimum and listened ? Judge Aquilina, I implore you to impose a sentence against this man which sends an unmistakable message to those who perpetrate heinous crimes against young people; whether they molest and maim, or look the other way to protect their Green-And-White. Thank you, your honor.

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Larissa Boyce Bailey Lorencen Valerie Webb Whitney Mergens Marta Stern Clasina Syrovy Emma Ann Miller Amanda Smith

Victim 185 Victim 73 Victim 165 Whitney Burns Isabell Hutchins Meaghan Ashcraft Natalie Woodland Jillian Swinehart

Taylor Livingston Victim 163 Victim 183 Presley Allison Kamerin Moore Krista Wakeman Samantha Daniels Victim 159 Alliree Gingerich Megan Farnsworth Kourtney Weidner A.N. Charla Burill Lauren Michalak Vanasia Bradley Breanne Rata Erin McCann Catherine Hannum Victim 170 Jessica Chedler Rodriguez Victim 138 Morgan Margraves Victim 127 Victim 142 Victim 162 Victim 186

Alison Chauvette Anna Dayton Olivia Venuto Victim 126 Mattie Larson Jessica Howard Alexandra Romano Arianna Castillo Selena Brennan Victim 190 Makayla Thrush Emily Morales Abigail Mealy Ashley Bremer Victim 195 Brooke Hylek Abigayle Bergeron Emily Meinke Morgan Valley Christina Barba Amanda McGeachie Victim 177 Victim 178 Sterling Riethman Kaylee Lorincz Rachael Denhollander

Morgan McCaul

Morgan McCaul, University freshman, fights for justice After years of abuse at the hands of Nassar, McCaul stands alongside fellow survivors as Nassar sentenced 40-175 years SOPHIE SHERRY Managing News Editor

Morgan McCaul entered Michigan State’s medicine clinic at the age of 12. At the time, McCaul — now an LSA freshman at the University of Michigan — was an aspiring ballerina with tears in both hip flexors. She went to East Lansing in search of world-renowned doctor Larry Nassar with hopes he could provide her with the help she needed to return to dance. Nearly five years later, McCaul realized she had been sexually assaulted by Nassar under the guise of medical treatment. McCaul had seen Nassar as the physician she wanted to be. Instead, she was a victim of his abuse and manipulation. “I was your little ‘goof’ and so I looked to you as a role model, hoping to volunteer at MSU Sports Medicine alongside you someday,” McCaul’s impact statement read. “Do you remember taking me out to lunch after I job-shadowed you at the Clinic? I still have our friendly Facebook messages. In my mind, you were my both my

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mentor and my friend.” McCaul is small in stature, just like she was when she met Nassar. Yet that hasn’t stopped her from finding her voice. She is no longer a victim — instead, she is a survivor. On Nov. 22, 2017, Nassar — who earned his undergraduate degree in kinesiology at the University — pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree sexual misconduct in Ingham County Circuit Court. A week later, he pleaded guilty to another three counts of firstdegree sexual misconduct in Eaton County for treatments he administered at the Twistars Gymnastics Club in Dimondale. McCaul was involved in both civil and criminal suits against Nassar. She was never involved in John Geddert’s Twistars Gymnastics Club or USA Gymnastics, something she is grateful for, as more information about misconduct within those organizations is uncovered. “I feel really lucky that I was not in their care,” McCaul said. “I still feel passionately that those institutions need to be held accountable.” As the date of Nassar’s sentencing hearing approached, McCaul and fellow survivors spent more and more time appealing to the press to

ensure the sentencing received coverage. Since then, McCaul has been one of the leading voices in the press. That means she hasn’t had the conventional first semester than most freshmen have. She has spent her first few months of college commuting between Ann Arbor and her home in Lake Odessa, attending class on the weekdays and legal meetings on the weekends. McCaul and other survivors attended MSU Board of Trustees meetings throughout the fall, pressing them to take action. No one seemed to be listening, neither the trustees nor the media. Sentencing began Jan. 16, originally intended to end Jan. 19, with 90 survivors slated to give impact statements. The Monday before the hearing, all 90 survivors regrouped before the trial. “We were able to sit in a room and chat and see each other’s faces,” McCaul recalled. “It’s really empowering.” And then Judge Rosemarie Aquilina made a decision to allow all survivors a chance to speak and confront Nassar. As the hearing continued, the number of individuals delivering impact statements grew from 90 to 156. That didn’t See NASSAR, Page 2

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BE HIND THE STORY

Every Friday, one Daily news staffer will give a behind the scenes look at one of this week’s stories. This week, Public policy junior Andrew Hiyama covered the sentencing of Larry Nassar, the MSU doctor who pleaded guilty to molesting hundreds of his patients. “By the time we got there, the courtroom was already insanely crowded and there was only room for one of the three reporters we brought to actually get in. The other two of us had to stay in an overflow room with the proceedings being shown on a TV. Even so, not physically being there, all of the victims’ testimonies were incredibly powerful. Aly Raisman, an Olympic gold medalist, stood up there and told Larry Nassar, who in some ways had ruined the lives of hundreds of women and girls, that he was nothing. Overall, it was a very intense experience.“ Public policy junior Andrew Hiyama, “Nassar sentenced to 40-175 years in prison for sex abuse”

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ANU ROY-CHAUDHURY and ASHLEY ZHANG done the bare minimum and “Judge Aquilina, I implore Editorial Page Editors tothedaily@michigandaily.com listened?” you to impose a sentence NASSAR Senior Opinion Editors: Elena Hubbell, Emily Huhman, Jeremy Kaplan, Tara Though the hearing extended against this man which sends Jayaram, Ellery Rosenzweig From Page 1 beyond Friday, McCaul and an unmistakable message to MIKE PERSAK and ORION SANG many fellow survivors decided those who perpetrate heinous Managing Sports Editors sportseditors@michigandaily.com even include statements from to stay until Nassar received crimes against young people,” Senior Sports Editors: Laney Byler, Mark Calcagno, Robert Hefter, Max survivors’ family members and his final sentence. McCaul will McCaul said. “Whether they Marcovitch, Paige Voeffray, Ethan Wolfe support systems. have missed nearly two weeks molest and maim, or look the Assistant Sports Editors: Aria Gerson, Ben Katz, Tien Le, Anna Marcus, Ethan Sears, Jacob Shames McCaul delivered her impact of school for the hearing, but other way to protect their statement Friday afternoon supporting the women who Green-and-White.” DANIELLE YACOBSON and MADELEINE GAUDIN with her dance instructor by continued to come forward was Aquilina took note of the Managing Arts Editors arts@michigandaily.com her side. too important to her. powerful community of women Senior Arts Editors: Becky Portman, Sam Rosenberg, Arya Naidu, Dominic “This past year and a half “Coming back I feel is really and girls she dubbed “sister Polsinelli Arts Beat Editors: Danielle Yacobson, Danny Hensel, Erika Shevchek, Matt has been, without a doubt, the important because a lot of survivors” she saw in her Gallatin, Naresh Iyengar most difficult and traumatic statements that have been given courtroom. Following the final period of my life,” McCaul said in the past few days reference impact statement from survivor ROSEANNE CHAO and CASEY TIN in her statement. the community of survivors Rachael Denhollander, the Managing Design Editors design@michigandaily.com During the first week of and how people feel more first woman to go public with ALEXIS RANKIN and KATELYN MULCAHY sentencing, an investigation comfortable sharing their story, accusations in 2016, Aquilina Managing Photo Editors photo@michigandaily.com from The Detroit News and they only found their voice said, “You built an army of Senior Photo Editors: Amelia Cacchione, Emma Richter, Evan Aaron revealed MSU President Lou as a result of people that came survivors, and you are the fiveAssistant Photo Editors: Claire Meingast, Sam Mousigian, Aaron Baker, Ryan McLoughlin, Alec Cohen Anna Simon and 13 other before,” McCaul said. “So I star general.” MSU officials knew of the want to be here and show them No one knew what to expect BRIAN KUANG survivor reports and Title IX were still here for them I want going into the first day of Statement Editor statement@michigandaily.com investigations into Nassar in to learn their names I want to sentencing. But McCaul had an Deputy Editors: Colin Beresford, Jennifer Meer, Rebecca Tarnopol Sudoku Syndication 2014. State legislators, media give them a hug, show them that http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ idea of how emotional it would FINN STORER and ELISE LAARMAN outlets and students began to we are here for them.” be. Managing Copy Editors copydesk@michigandaily.com McCaul’s lawyers “We had no way to prepare Senior Copy Editors: Emily Stillman and Allie Bopp originally brought seven ourselves for what this was BOB LESSER and JORDAN WOLFF of the survivors together. going to look like and that Managing Online Editors lesserrc@michigandaily.com The group went through first day was so difficult, it Senior Web Developers: Patricia Huang, Abna Panda, Hassaan Ali Wattoo, Rebecca Tung mediation together was so cathartic, so intensely and formed a lasting emotional that it was really MEDIUM IAN HARRIS connection. hard to deal with,” McCaul said. Managing Video Editor video@michigandaily.com Senior Video Editors: Abe Lofy, Robby Weinbaum, Jillian Drzinski, Danielle Kim “But we really bonded “And I don’t think — and I mean in a way that was media cover can only do so JASON ROWLAND and ASHLEY TJHUNG unanticipated,” McCaul much, live stream can only do Michigan in Color Editors michiganincolor@michigandaily.com said. “We knew that we so much — but it is so different Senior Michigan in Color Editors: Lorna Brown, Zainab Bhindarwala, would get along but we talk to watch it from a screen than Christian Paneda, Nisa Khan, Na’kia Channey every day, we’ve gone out to to be in that room and feel that Assistant Michigan in Color Editors: Angelo McKoy, Kareem Shunnar, Maya Mokh, Priya Judge, Efe Osagie dinner together, we’ve gone energy. And to be in a room over to each other’s houses. with him. To see Larry after all ANNA HARITOS and KAYLA WATERMAN We speak every day. It kind of this is crazy. “ Managing Social Media Editors of set the grounds like we Eight days and 156 impact need to start a community, statements later, each as we need the relief that we powerful as the one before, felt from meeting each Aquilina sentenced Nassar to EMILY RICHNER CLAIRE BUTZ other.” 40 to 175 years in state prison. Sales Manager Business Development Manager One of the women Before delivering her DEANA ZHU and JEFFREY ZHANG JULIA SELSKY McCaul spoke with sentence, Aquilina reminded Marketing Managers Local Accounts Manager was Jessica Smith, a the room and all watching on CAROLINE GOLD SANJANA PANDIT Media Consulting Manager Production Manager survivor who created the the livestream, 1 in 10 children #MeTooMSU Facebook are abused before their 18th group, a forum to share birthday, calling for change. stories and raise awareness “Speak out like these The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the of the culture of abuse survivors, become part of the fall and winter terms by students at the University OF Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for plaguing MSU’s campus. army.” © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. $2. 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call for Simon’s resignation. McCaul’s impact statement echoed that sentiment. “In the aftermath of Nassar’s crimes, calls have been renewed for MSU President, Lou Anna K. Simon, to resign,” McCaul said. “The fact that she has yet to do so is insulting to the hundreds of survivors like me — it is, in fact, 42 months, countless slanderous public statements by Jason Cody, calls from numerous Congressmen and women and one $150,000 slap-in-the-face of a raise too late.” According to a 2016 lawsuit, one of the first survivors — an Olympic gymnast — stated Nassar sexually abused her in 1994, years before McCaul was even born. “How many little girls could have been spared from this lifelong battle,” McCaul said, “if someone at the university had

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‘U’ physician faces sexual misconduct accusations Pediatrician exchanged “flirtatious” emails with 11-year-old patient in 2004 MAYA GOLDMAN Daily News Editor

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Student task force to address bias REACT with Respect initiative to receive complaints, offer support services AMARA SHAIKH Daily Staff Reporter

In response to the bias incidents that have taken place on the University of Michigan campus, the Dean of Students office is launching the Response, Education and Awareness Community Taskforce (REACT) with Respect initiative. The task force will work along the Expect Respect campaign, as well as the Bias Response Team, to create a more inclusive campus environment through workshops, peer support services and more. Students who sign up for the initiative can be trained in one of two areas: preventative planning or bias incident training, and will learn how to handle issues involving identity, bias, and social and restorative justice ideas. Bias incidents have been steadily increasing on campus in the last two years. A new response log published last fall reported 80 incidents last semester alone. Julio Cardona, interim Assistant Dean of Students, currently manages the Bias Incident Prevention and Response team and the Expect Respect Campaign. Cardona further explained the development of

REACT with Respect initiative, pointing out it was created at the request of members from the student body. “It is a pilot program that was created in response to students last year expressing the desire to be more actively involved in preventing bias incidents on campus, and also finding ways that they can support the work of the Expect Respect campaign,” Cardona said. “This year we decided to pilot the program with a few students just to see how then in the future we can continue expanding it out.” Cardona also discussed the goals of the initiative: offering students who have faced bias situations support and resources to report the incident, and implementing preventative measures in collaboration with the Expect Respect campaign. “This is really almost like a student organization that is supporting and acting as an advising group,” he said. “(However it is) also providing peer support to students that may need to file a bias incident report with Student Life, but don’t know how to, or may feel that there is a sense of retaliation if they do … Also it’s helping to do more preventative events, so tabling,

flyering, chalking the Diag to tell people about what we do, but then also programming around the Expect Respect campaign through doing workshops, and meeting with other students orgs to discuss all of our initiatives.” REACT with Respect and the Expect Respect campaign are both parts of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Plan implemented by the University in 2016. Cardona highlighted the ways that REACT with Respect paralleled different aspects of the DEI both in regards to the campus-wide plan and the Student Life plan. “This pilot program aligns directly to Strategy Two of the U-M campus-wide strategic plan, and that strategy is to, ‘Recruit, maintain and support a diverse community,’” Cardona said. “Then also specifically to Student Life’s DEI strategic plan of increasing the capacity of student life programs devoted to supporting student experiencing bias and improving campus climate.” Cardona ended by explaining the importance of ensuring students’ voices are heard so the University can take action in areas that actually need it, not just ones presumed by the administration. “We really want the students’ voice and their ideas represented

in all of our work,” Cardona said. “If we need to update the Expect Respect webpage we’ll ensure that students thoughts and ideas are incorporated in it, so that way we address the current needs of students. Especially if we’re going to share resources that are about reporting a bias incident, we want to make sure that the type of resources we provide students are currently aligned to what they need, and not what we assume they need.” The program is still in its beginning phase, and searching for student participants. Megan Zabik is an LSA sophomore considering joining REACT with Respect. “It sounds really interesting to me because I think the University needs more initiative like that. I hope that it can help create a more understanding culture at the University of Michigan,” Zabik said. “The national culture isn’t very inclusive and I feel like it’s reflected at this University for sure, and it needs to change. The administration should have more initiatives like this, and I hope to support it with my involvement.”

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FROM THE DAILY

In solidarity with the survivors of Larry Nassar

ver the past week, more than 160 brave women and girls stood in a courtroom in Lansing and valiantly faced their abuser, Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor. The court and the country listened closely as the survivors told their victim impact statements, each more powerful than the last, spelling out a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse that spanned three decades. As the last day of the trial came to a close Wednesday, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced Nassar to serve 40 to 175 years in state prison after he carries out his 60-year federal sentence for child pornography. After 20 long years, Larry Nassar’s time is finally up. We, The Michigan Daily Editorial Board, as the student voice of the University of Michigan, stand in solidarity with the survivors of the horrific abuse by Larry Nassar and admire their fierce strength and bravery. We condemn the institutions that let them down. Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee all had a duty to protect these young women, but their inaction allowed Nassar’s abuse to continue far longer than it had to. We must hold these institutions — and all those who enable abuse — accountable. By so bravely sharing their stories, the survivors brought abusers to justice and have set a precedent that there is no tolerance for sexual assault. Sincerely, The Michigan Daily Editorial Board

Simon is only the beginning Over the past few weeks, all eyes have been on Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s courtroom as more than 160 survivors of sexual abuse by disgraced Dr. Larry Nassar have recounted their stories at the Ingham County Circuit Court. Last Wednesday, Dr. Nassar’s was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison. He has been accused of countless criminal sexual acts in his roles as a team doctor and athletic trainer for the USA Gymnastics team spanning over the last three decades as well as faces charges in Eaton County. These heroic women have showcased immense bravery in the face of great trauma. However, in spite of the heroism playing out in open court, accountability and justice seem to be missing. Failures on all levels must have occurred in order for Dr. Nassar to abuse patients for decades. But the pure lack of compassion and accountability that led to this serial abuse was evident on many levels in the last few weeks — first through the absence of Lou Anna Simon, president of Michigan State University, on the first day of victims’ impact statements. Yet, the failures by Simon go beyond her lack of attendance in court. According to the Detroit News, Simon and up to 14 others at MSU knew of Nassar’s abuse at least as early as 2014. Even more alarming than this was the under-oath revelation that MSU still billed survivors of Nassar’s assaults. Since the testimony, a Univeristy spokesman has said patients with outsanding bills will no longer be charged. We find the failure to protect these victims disturbing and unacceptable, and while President Simon announced her resignation Wednesday night, it is only the beginning of the institutional accountability that needs to be taken. Yet, in commenting on her decision to resign Simon stated, “As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable. As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger.” While her resignation is a sign of needed change at MSU, her rhetoric again avoids taking true responsibility for the lack of institutional oversight. Simon hid behind the MSU

Board of Trustees, who also seem driven to ignore the pain caused by Nassar’s abuse, with Trustee Joel Ferguson noting to a local radio show, “There’s so many more things going on at the university than just this Nassar thing.” This rhetoric devalues the trauma countless survivors endured, trauma which occurred under the watch of people who knew, yet did nothing. This motivation to preserve

It is the need to maintain a good reputation and avoid scandal that enables abusers like Nassar to commit these acts for years. reputation shone through when MSU Basketball coach Tom Izzo was asked for comment on the Nassar case. He offered this in reference to President Simon: “That’s a woman who has dedicated over 40 years — and I’ve been here 33 with her, and I think I know what she stands for,” and when asked specifically about the call for a change in leadership, he answered with “you have to understand there is nothing I can say that is going to be right right now, and there is nothing that’s going to make anybody right. I’ll just stick by what I said.” Our own University President Mark Schlissel also declined to take a stance on the role that MSU played in the abuse, saying “I just can’t add to the debate because I don’t have any special information.” Izzo’s response is indicative of a greater problem. Defending Simon may be the easier decision, especially given her long tenure at Michigan State. However, institutional accountability must come before their relationships with Simon and the need to maintain a reputation. If we allow complicity from those in power, there will not be any impactful change, and systematic problems

and ignorance will perpetuate. This time in society is important; #MeToo has called great attention to sexual abusers in high places. However, abusers are not the only problem. The institutions that enable them deserve blame as well. This is not only a problem with MSU or USA Gymnastics. It is a societal ill and could have impacted on our own campus, or any other one. This case draws many similarities to what occurred at Penn State University in 2011. Assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was sexually abusing young boys for decades after head coach Joe Paterno was notified. This pattern is unacceptable. Those in positions of power at universities must prioritize the safety of their students, just as those in power in other institutions must prioritize the safety of their employees, members or citizens. While this criminal case surrounding Dr. Nassar has now been closed in Ingham County, the pain and trauma he caused will remain for decades to come. While it’s easy to punish Nassar through his 60-year and 40 to 175-year prison sentences, it’s a lot harder to face the fact that those who were complicit in his reign of assaults are also guilty. The list of people who enabled Dr. Nassar includes MSU President Lou Anna Simon, but extends far beyond just her. Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee and more will share the blame in civil court, but the true evil that allowed for Dr. Nassar to inflict so much harm is in the culture of denial and doubt that falls on sexual assault and harassment on all levels within institutions. It is the need to maintain a good reputation and avoid scandal that enables abusers like Nassar to commit these acts for years. Immediate action once the first allegations are made is not only needed, but expected from universities, institutions and individuals. The time is up for this culture of secrecy, coverups and sexual assault, and in order for the next Larry Nassar to be stopped before he can hurt others, we all have to hold ourselves and our institutions accountable.

Presence, part and future

ccording to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 18 million U.S. adults meditate. How do they find the time? I tried to take up meditation during the second semester of my freshman year. I had just gone through a particularly nasty breakup, my Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program project was not what I had anticipated, and my coursework was both overwhelming and unengaging. I needed an out, a way to regain the focus and drive I had lost. So I began going to mindfulness sessions offered in the basement of the University of Michigan’s Angell Hall. That did not last very long. Meditation is not an instant peace of mind. It is also hard, especially when your mind is racing with a thousand things (which, ironically, is what causes you to attempt meditation). Meditation can also be really boring, especially if you have grown used to always having something to do or think about. I first became interested in meditation when I read Hermann Hesse’s “Siddhartha” in high school. Was I expecting a cosmic experience my first time meditating? No, but I did expect to feel something. The biggest factor that cut my meditation adventure short was time. Fitting mindfulness sessions into my busy schedule was always a challenge. I could have tried to meditate solo; however, I felt like I needed to do it with other people to hold myself accountable. Perhaps if I had felt more “at peace” after meditation I would have made the effort to continue. Perhaps if I had made the effort to continue I would have started to feel more “at peace.” The chicken or the egg. I guess I will never know. The next time I tried mindfulness was in Behavioral and Social Foundations for the Health Professions, when one day our professor walked us

through some forms of meditation in his lecture on presence. One of them, called loving-kindness meditation actually did have an impact on me. The meditation’s ethos is to cultivate goodwill and kindness by mentally sending it to various people in your life. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to reconnect with their emotions (the stress of college can make you numb), but I warn you: it is intense. I cried — no, weeped — in class during the meditation. It felt great afterward, like I was as light as a feather, but it was also exhausting. I have yet to try loving-kindness again only because it requires someone to facilitate.

Meditation is not an instant peace of mind.

I still am looking for a way to be present and mindful because I feel like I am misaligned with time. I dwell on the past while worrying about the future, all while largely ignoring the present. The past is immutable and unchangeable. Mistakes I have made, often due to nothing more than not thinking before I speak, are permanent scabs that fester until I eventually forget about them. Even in the shadowy realm of my mind where I store all the bad memories — what psychiatrist Carl Jung would call the personal unconscious — the memory of these mistakes are just waiting to erupt back into thought. Letting go, moving on: These have never been things I have been good at. Then there is the future: Something I both plan meticulously for and at the

same time know nothing about. In my favorite childhood book series, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” each hero had a fatal flaw. Mine would be decision anxiety. For every choice that I make, I worry intensely about the consequences and whether I have made the “right call.” Waiting to see if I made a good decision or not can be hell. I also feel like my time at the University is flying by too quickly, and there is so much I want to do and experience. The solution to my problems with both the past and the future would be to focus more on the present. Then I would consider my words and actions more deeply and enjoy what time I have left as an undergraduate. Realizing the benefits of presence and mindfulness is one thing, finding the right way to put it in action is another. I believe that many students are in the same position I find myself in; we need mindfulness but have not found the right path towards it. Meditation is one path, but it cannot be the only one. One path I am trying now is maintaining a planner. Now, this may seem like it should be second nature to most students at the University, but I have always struggled in maintaining one. Perhaps this is because the planner hides in my backpack or maybe it is because I move through things so mindlessly that I do not stop to think to plan ahead. For each student, the path to mindfulness will look different. So, to all my fellow Wolverines that have struggled with meditation and in finding a way towards mindfulness: I empathize with you. It is hard, but the end result—a way to stop dwelling on the past and worrying about the future—is worth it. Ali Safawi can be reached at asafawi@umich.edu

MARGOT LIBERTINI | COLUMN

#MeToo is our movement

n Jan. 13, babe.net published an article revealing an experience that a young woman (referred to in the piece and throughout this article as Grace) had on a date with comedian Aziz Ansari in September. The story describes him making multiple aggressive attempts to have sex with her, despite her many verbal and non-verbal cues that she was not into it. This accusation has been more divisive than any others that have come out of the #MeToo movement. Previously, this movement to expose sexual abusers has received enthusiastic support from feminists and decent people everywhere. The Ansari allegations have caused a sharp divide among many of those same people. Some claim this story does not describe an assault and is thus undermining #MeToo as a whole, while others argue that though it may not be rape or workplace sexual harassment, the movement has room for all stories involving sexual abuse or coercion. I adamantly agree with the latter. The allegations made against Ansari clearly describe him as continuously pressuring Grace into sexual acts after she clearly expressed she would rather not engage in them on that night. That is a clear example of sexual coercion. I’ve been disturbed at the number of people who have doubted the malice of Ansari’s actions; I’ve been even more disturbed at how many have suggested that this could decrease the legitimacy of other stories or #MeToo as a whole. I expect that kind of opinion from people like conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who immediately capitalized on the chance to ask “Is #MeToo Falling Apart?” but it wasn’t only open misogynists who were acting as though the movement was being threatened. Journalists Caitlin Flanagan , Ashleigh Banfield and Bari Weiss all had pretty strong attacks for Ansari’s accuser and the journalist who reported the story. Flanagan had previously written a piece that hailed #MeToo, calling it a “long-overdue revolution.” These are women that I’d often think were on our side;

ready to smash the patriarchy. Maybe they are, in their minds. But that isn’t enough. After meditating on this for a week or so, it seems that the writers who are attacking Grace and the author of the piece, Katie Way, for derailing the movement were only ever fighting for themselves. It is just another example of exclusive feminism, and I am quite exasperated with it. Grace’s story represents the experiences of so many young women who do not have voices as prominent as those who brought down Harvey Weinstein. Though her story was still aimed at a famous man, it made #MeToo relatable and relevant to many college-age women. It confirmed that those creepy, scary nights that made us cry — but never felt “bad enough” to call assault — are not OK and will not be tolerated. But the older, more powerful women said sit down and shut up because this is their movement. That sentiment was clearly displayed by Ashleigh Banfield. On Jan. 15 she said this during her segment on HLN: “You have chiseled away at a movement that I, along with all of my sisters in the workplace, have been dreaming of for decades, a movement that has finally changed an oversexed professional environment that I, too, have struggled through at times over the last 30 years.” I suppose that means Grace isn’t a sister, but a whiny young girl who went on a “bad date” and wants to ruin a man’s career for it. Caitlin Flanagan expanded this narrative by calling the piece “revenge porn” by a girl who “hoped to maybe even become the famous man’s girlfriend.” Well, if they disapprove of Grace’s inclusion in this movement, they can leave it. They can keep fighting for justice in cases that fit their narrow definition of abuse. But #MeToo is much larger than that. It is a movement intended to draw attention to the magnitude of the problem of sexual abuse, something that cannot and will not be done if survivors are

intimidated and silenced by those controlling the messaging. The rhetoric of these journalists, and others, is victim blaming, irresponsible, anti-feminist and exclusionary. I do not doubt that the generations of women before us have paved the way by withstanding years of abuse and harassment, and I understand that the Ansari allegations may seem far removed from the traditional conceptions of sexual abuse. As Flanagan herself wrote, “intimate accounts of commonplace sexual events of the young seem like science fiction.” The culture and norms are changing. Just because behavior has been historically deemed as commonplace or acceptable, does not mean that we must continue to allow it, or that it is not coercive or abusive in nature. Twenty-three perent of female undergraduate students experience some form of sexual assault in college, according to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. This is the terrifying and traumatic reality of modernday college women. We do not need anyone to explain the reality of sexual assault to us, we understand. We understand affirmative consent and expect it. We understand that any attempt at changing our minds after we express we are not OK with the sexual advances is coercive. We understand our trauma and our fear, and we want to fight back. We understand the importance of intersectionality in this conversation; varied identities inevitably result in varied experiences with sexual abuse. Do not tell us to sit back and carry out this movement on anyone’s terms but our own. Our understanding is correct, valid, and will be the guiding message of a movement to expose and eradicate all forms of sexual assault, harassment and coercion and the culture that allows them. Please join us, and follow our lead.

Margot Libertini can be reached at mlibertini@umich.edu

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Arts

Friday, January 26, 2018 — 5

DAILY SUNDANCE COVERAGE

Sundance: ‘Sorry to Bother You,’ ‘Studio 54,’ ‘Ophelia’ DANIEL HENSEL Daily Arts Writer

There’s verve, and then there’s nerve. Directors can spend years trying to sift a unique idea into a unique film, only to have it bastardized or otherwise enfolded into generic studio dribble. That’s the gift of a place like Sundance, seemingly the antithesis of the stuffy studio system: Here, you’re able to find voices with wild visions who, admittedly by some miracle, have found the money to construct a truly new story. From the opening moments of “Sorry to Bother You,” you know you’re in the hands of a visionary. Director Boots Riley, making his debut amid a music career with The Coup, has crafted a somewhat psychedelic, Charlie Kaufman-esque ballsto-the-wall social satire that feels so unique, so new, so gripping and unpredictable. In Oakland, Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield, “Get Out”) finagles his way into a job at a telemarketing firm, finding a hierarchy that privileges white culture and abuses lower-rung workers. What ensues is a deft

(and daft) racial satire that attacks its targets with violence and precision like an axe. The score by Merrill Garbus, who records as tUnE-yArDs is deliriously perfect, amplifying the bizarre world creation and logic that spools out from Riley’s delicious vision. It would be too easy to dismiss, or even to categorize, “Sorry to Bother You” as “Get Out”-esque (though I will admit to using the descriptor in trying to hastily describe this film). While “Get Out” targets wellmeaning white liberals, “Sorry to Bother You” takes on a larger topic: the corporate America that abuses history to serve its own purposes. Armie Hammer (“Call Me By Your Name”), who plays a sort of Silicon Valley magnate who graces magazine covers referring to him as the next genius, delivers in every scene as a snake-like villain, tantalizing in his mannerisms yet wickedly evil underneath. *** If you were anybody in New York in 1977, you knew about Studio 54. The famous — or perhaps infamous — disco club lasted for less than three years in Times Square, but its influence on American culture

has lasted far longer. Two movies in 1998 were made about the club, “54” and, to an extent, “The Last Days of Disco,” as well as the recent Netflix show “The Get Down,” which partially takes place in a Studio 54-like club. It’s safe to say that Studio 54 was the epicenter of disco, a music trend focused on sex, drugs and dancing. “Studio 54,” a new documentary from director Matt Tyrnauer (“Citizen Jane: Battle for the City”), is an unfortunately conventional documentary that nevertheless captures the highs and (much deeper) lows of the club’s tragically short run. Cultivated from archival footage and interviews with various denizens, worker antagonists and semi co-founder Ian Schrager, “Studio 54” offers a perfectly satisfying, but far from mind-blowing, account of the club. Schrager, it’s clear from the beginning, was never the talkative one. Those duties he left to co-founder and best friend Steve Rubell, a flamboyantly popular persona who appeared on talk shows and mingled with guests while Schrager stayed in the background. Rubell passed

away during the AIDS epidemic (he was closeted to his family), so Schrager is left with the responsibility of sharing their story. The club experienced a meteoric rise in 1977 — scored to a pumping disco soundtrack in the film — only to experience trouble with the IRS after they discover a major skimming scheme and drug possession. Schrager and Rubell, defended by McCarthyist lawyer Roy Cohn, enter prison. It’s not hard to find something to love in the documentary, from its cameos both in the past (Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol, perhaps the two most famous regulars of the club, appear regularly) and present (an interview with Nile Rodgers of the band Chic is illuminating) to its true crime story, one of conflicting narratives between the case prosecutor and Schrager and associates. But one could only wish that for a club that was so innovative, from its Broadway lighting designs to its inclusivity as a gay haven in an otherwise unfriendly New York, a documentary on the subject would live up to that standard as well. *** A quick note to producers:

If someone comes to you and says they have a great idea for a film, and it begins with, “Here’s where Shakespeare got it wrong,” chances are you’re in for a bad idea. A perfect example: “Ophelia,” a retelling of “Hamlet” from Ophelia’s point of view. For those like me who are generally unfamiliar with the Bard’s tale of Danish revenge, “Hamlet” follows a Danish prince who tries to murder his uncle who he suspects killed his father. Ophelia, Hamlet’s romantic interest and the daughter of the king’s advisor, has historically been reviled but feminist literature critics have sought to revise her reputation. Unfortunately, “Ophelia” might be a step back. It should be said that the film, directed by Claire McCarthy (“Little Hands”), is deceptively gorgeous, so much so that it can distract from the film’s larger (much larger) flaws. Nearly every shot, rich in color and draped in period dress and sets, feels both real and imagined, like the weaved tapestries that hang throughout Elsinore. The score, though far less intoxicating, is still somewhat lush but can be overwhelming at

MLPR

ALTIMETER FILMS

COMMUNITY CULTURE REVIEW

times, often adding an artificial layer of capital-I Importance to the movie that is almost always erased by the film’s utter ludicrousness. “Ophelia,” which could have been a well-deserved acting showcase for Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”), who plays the titular role, collapses under its own premise and is otherwise tarnished by rather mediocre performances by Naomi Watts (“The Glass Castle”) and Clive Owen (“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”). Ridley can do more with her eyes than most people can do with their entire bodies, but even she is restrained by a wildly abhorrent script that verges on camp. A third act, a complete invention that seems both conspiratorial and overly melodramatic is a complete disaster, and the rest of the film is not much better. This is a film that starts with a voiceover narration by Ridley that is something along the lines of, “This is my story … ,” a signal of subpar quality. Reworking classic texts into feminist works is a noble, even vital, goal, but “Ophelia” should serve as a cautionary tale, not an inspiration.

TV REVIEW

‘Value the Voice’ highlights Amazon’s ‘Electric Dreams’ the beauty in life struggle SAYAN GHOSH Daily Arts Writer

TRINA PAL

Daily Arts Writer

It’s the last week of Jan., and as I walk around campus, I can almost feel stress levels increasing among students. Midterms are approaching and spring break is still a month away. During times like this in the semester, I internalize my stress when I’m overwhelmed with assignments and interviews. I just let it build and build, and, sometimes during the week, I might break down. But then, I keep bottling up my stress again, not showing it externally but feeling all of its effects internally. Sometimes, we all need a reminder to just slow the hell down, stop pushing away our problems under the pretense of being busy and work through them instead. I find that one of the best ways to do this is by talking to someone about what’s on my mind. When I entered “Value the Voice” at the University of Michigan Museum of Art on Jan. 23, I had a million things racing through my head. But when I left, I felt more at peace than I ever have on this campus. “Value the Voice” is an openmic storytelling series hosted by the Comprehensive Studies Program and the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies at the University. Their goal is to emphasize the power that one’s words have. Imagine The Moth Radio Hour, but in real life. In this installment, the storytellers were all students or alumni of the University.

The theme, which was quite fitting for a new semester, was “Nobody Told Me” — stories of the reality of college life. There’s something extremely vulnerable, yet immensely beautiful, about sharing your struggles. You feel like a portion of the pain is being lifted off your chest, even though the problem may still remain. Looking at the storytellers, I could see all of these complex emotions running through their minds. Some told stories of racial discrimination they have faced, others told of family struggles. Some laughed, some cried and some did both. But in each speaker, I saw their delight in sharing their burden with others. Zanib Sareini, an alumni of the CSP and currently a graduate student at the University’s School of Social Work, shared her experience of being an Arab-American in a post-Sept. 11 America. “There was a different pressure post-9/11,” Sareini said. She recalls being told by her parents to “hold the door open a little longer, smile, don’t let them see you angry, don’t be reactive, always be nice,” and not understanding why it had to be so. As people treated her differently, she slowly secluded herself from others in an effort to stay out of trouble. Being a part of the CSP support system at the University, however, helped her through her anxiety. As she told this part of her story, CSP students in the front rows whooped and cheered. Sareini smiled back.

While she couldn’t stop the discrimination, she knew who to come to for help. Eddie Williams, a student of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, told of how his relationship with his family changed upon coming to college. He distanced himself from them, found himself too busy with homework and later discovered that his grandfather had passed away during finals. “Everybody in my family got a chance to have one last conversation except for me,” said Williams. My heart lurched when he said this. Whenever someone else tells me something intimate like this, I imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes. And when Williams said those words, I really felt it. As the night progressed, I watched storytellers pour their hearts out. Somehow, I felt like I was right up there with them. Through listening, they became a small part of my life. To all those who are conf licted, afraid or overwhelmed — find someone to tell your story to. It’s OK to be raw and vulnerable. It’s the first step towards comfort and, maybe, a sense of closure. If the storytellers at “Value the Voice” didn’t realize the impact their words could have on others, I’m sure they do now. “Value the Voice” is part of an ongoing series. The next storytellers’s lounge is on Mar. 27 at the UMMA. Stories will discuss the theme of “Triumph.”

The best sci-fi, or rather, the most effective sci-fi, walks the line between the fantastical and real. It shows that the most horrifying parts of our collective future aren’t necessarily aliens or other supernatural phenomena, but rather humanity itself and its relationship with its creations. The new Amazon series “Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams” is a flawed but intriguing addition to the canon of works such as “Black Mirror” that explore our relationship with technology and warn of the consequences. “Electric Dreams” inevitably lends itself to several comparisons with the Netflix (previously Channel 4) hit “Black Mirror.” Similar to the latter, it features a set of standalone episodes, adaptions of works by the American writer Philip K. Dick (known for “The Man in the High Castle” and “Blade Runner”). Nonetheless, it rarely captures its British counterpart’s sheer, bleak dread

and often feels rather predictable. Some episodes, such as “Real Life,” do skillfully adapt Dick’s Cold War tales and examine the possible effects of virtual reality technology. However, most of the episodes — while tackling nuanced issues — miss the mark in terms of having the effect that Dick’s stories often have on audiences. Despite its flaws, “Electric Dreams” begs the discussion once again about the different

“Electric Dreams” Season 1 Amazon approaches similar works take on the future and how we should learn from them. “Black Mirror” tackles its subjects, ranging from euthanasia to augmented reality, in a twisted, satirical (dare one say British) fashion. For the most part, “Black Mirror” episodes feel very real and their devastating effects arise from the small tweaks that the writers make to the world. Episodes of “Electric

Dreams” on the other hand have a sense of paranoia due to the fact that a lot of Dick’s works that they are based on were written in the repressive back-drop of the Cold War, the first time in history where humanity came face to face with its own ability to wipe itself out. It shares several similarities with Radiohead’s 1997 classic OK Computer, an album which, through songs such as “Paranoid Android” and “No Surprises,” creates a simultaneously frenetic and deflated reaction to modern life. Ever since “The Twilight Zone” aired in the 1960s, works in all formats of entertainment have dealt with the relationship between humanity and technology. Some may dismiss them as fearmongering and unrealistic, while others may start to resent the march of technological progress. What these shows should remind us is the fact that it is our duty to take a step back and reflect on ourselves. After all, it is not the technology that is inherently awful, but rather human nature itself that can make it have awful effects.

AMAZON STUDIOS

Arts

6— Friday, January 26, 2018

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

MUSIC NOTEBOOK

blackbear just sux and I will never get used 2 it way into his tweets, as we’ll soon see). The other mode is a clumsy attempt at imitating the braggadocious and materialistic aesthetic found in a good deal of hip hop/R&B, except with none of the humor, charm or self-awareness. The effect is cold and caustic, giving rise to songs devoid of personality with catchiness as the only redeeming factor. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. Music can still be memorable even if it isn’t meaningful, but his lyrics and aesthetic suggest that he takes himself more seriously than he should. Let’s play a game. Below are six tweets, three of which are taken directly from blackbear’s official Twitter account, while the other three have been taken from Bryson Tiller parody accounts. The game is to guess whose are whose. In the interest of fairness all letters have been made lowercase, all “you”s have been changed to “u”s, all “to”s and “too”s have been changed to “2”s and all “for”s have been changed to “4”s. 1. “wasted so much time wishing i was good enough 4 u” 2. “i loved u at my worst u only love me cuz im at my best” 3. “don’t fight 4 their attention. if they really care, u shouldn’t have 2” 4. “worst part is i’ll never know” 5. “wasted hella time on u” 6. “they ain’t down 4 u like

JONAH MENDELSON Daily Arts Writer

MOUNTAIN HEART

COMMUNITY CULTURE REVIEW

Mountain Heart to bring songwriting to Ann Arbor RYAN COX

Daily Arts Writer

American folk music, to me, is a tradition that’s as rich as the stories behind it. Combining elements from song and story, folk music has been an American tradition for years and continues to thrive all across the country. However, with music becoming more and more commercial over the past 100 years, the medium has taken motives of passion and expression and shifted to more monetary driven intentions, and it sometimes shows. This isn’t me trying to discredit any genre — it’s just a fact. As music has become more valuable, whether it be through increasing accessibility or just the sheer rise in the number of people listening to and producing their own music, it has become a commercial industry. Despite this fact, Mountain Heart — a group that borrows from folk, Americana and bluegrass — continues to write music reflecting not only their roots, but the roots of the genre as a whole. Although they’ve been around for almost 20 years, they’ve remained true to their sound and kept a tradition of storytelling alive and well. With their upcoming performance at The Ark’s Folk Festival, The Daily spoke with lead singer, guitarist and keyboardist Josh Shilling about

the group’s new album, playing in Ann Arbor and what it’s like to be in a group that stays true to its roots. Coming fresh out of recording their currently untitled album, Shilling says that they’re ready to share some new stories with audiences and return to some old ones. After their last album, Blue Skies, Shilling told his groupmates that they were going to have a really tough time “beating the songs that they wrote for that album.” Shilling said that this upcoming album is unique because while he had written most of the songs in the past, this album features songs written by the group as a collective. “As a band, we’ve never sat around together and written one song,” Shilling shared, “but with this upcoming song, ‘Restless Wind’ ... It was a collective effort. The songwriting is killer.” And the recordings feel like just that. “We’re playing and singing live,” he said. “It’s about as raw and organic as you can get. It feels like you’re in the room with us.” Continuing on with their legacy of sharing themselves with the audience, both through a recorded medium and live on stage, Mountain Heart wanted this album to feel the same live as it feels recorded. Even after playing all over the world, Ann Arbor remains as one of the group’s favorite

cities. “It really always feels like a second home to us,” Shilling said. “The fans are huge music lovers and supporters ... They really make us feel at home. It’s really special.” It’s one of the reasons why they come back almost every winter, and it’s why they decided to record their live album here back in 2007. Along with the fans, Shilling commented on how fantastic the acts are that play at The Ark, saying that he doesn’t think that he’s “ever seen a bad act play that stage … They just have great taste.” “If I lived in Ann Arbor, I’m sure I’d be hanging around at The Ark all the time,” he said. This isn’t Mountain Heart’s first time at the Folk Festival, either. About a decade ago, they graced the stage in Ann Arbor, and they couldn’t be more excited to return. “I remember the lineup then was just phenomenal,” Shilling said, “and this lineup with John Prine, Jason Isbell, Aimee Mann … all those folks. Everyone’s phenomenal. They really seem to get it right. I don’t think any artist would turn this down … Who wouldn’t want to be part of this?” Tickets are selling out quickly for both Friday and Saturday nights of the Folk Festival, but Mountain Heart will be returning in April for those who will be missing the Folk Festival and still want to be swept away by the stories of the group.

FILM REVIEW

Clunky ‘Step Sisters’ can’t move to the right rhythm MEGHAN CHOU Daily Arts Writer

As a guilty pleasure watcher of the “Stomp the Yard” movies, I had a simple request for Netf lix’s new movie “Step Sisters”: Entertain me. No need for great acting or a decent screenplay, just entertain. Unfortunately, “Step Sisters” has such a convoluted message on race, cultural appropriation and sisterhood that any enjoyment is tinged with confusion. A movie that makes fun of white people should elicit a few laughs or ah-ha moments, but perhaps “Get Out” set the bar too high. Instead, “Step Sisters” struggles to overcome a faulty premise that even its pizazzy dance numbers cannot conceal. Jamilah (Megalyn Echikunwoke, “CHiPs”), an overachieving college student, has high hopes for Harvard Law School. She also has the credentials necessary to fulfill her dream: legacy status, volunteer work at a local community center, president of a Black sorority and a killer work ethic. When the dean of Westcott University promises to write a recommendation letter for Jamilah, in exchange for her teaching an unruly and majority white sorority (Sigma Beta Beta) how to step,

she agrees. The implications of a group of white girls taking over a dance style with deep African roots make her uncomfortable, though, so she hides her association with SBB from her family and friends. (Yes, this plot sounds exactly

“Step Sisters” Netflix like “Bring It On.” No, the film does not live up to the same standard). Unlike other commercially successful female ensemble films like “Pitch Perfect,” “Step Sisters” does not have that one actor who holds up the rest of the team. Echikunwoke gives her best effort, but her character’s motivations are so poorly written that even she cannot deliver an applaudable performance. Furthermore, in comparison to other dance or singing-oriented films, the cast lacks chemistry. The oddball aspects of each individual are not explored. All that’s left are stock characters with backgrounds that allow for forced perspectives on the controversial situation. “Step Sisters” has moments of self-awareness regarding the cultural appropriation its plot toys with. At one point, Jamilah exclaims that races can’t own things — not rap, not golf, not dance. However,

the idea that white people who have trained a few weeks can beat people of color with a strong history of stepping at a national competition does not sit well. (Not to mention the unaddressed inclusion of a step group that wore traditional Chinese qipaos as their costumes, toted oriental fans and sported stereotypical haircuts. But let’s not get into that.) Mixed in with this semi-hypocritical message, “Step Sisters” makes occasional jabs at different forms of problematic liberals like Jamilah’s boyfriend Dane (Matt McGorry, “How to Get Away with Murder”), who embraces Black culture as a way to prove his “wokeness.” With the involvement of Chuck Hayward from “Dear White People” and Lena Waithe from “Master of None,” “Step Sisters” has enough talent to create a more nuanced and fresh take on race relations. The film instead tramples through sensitive issues with faux pas and cringe-inducing banter. However, the film does try to promote the idea of unity and the performances are wellchoreographed with plenty of fire. Although “Step Sisters” fails to deliver an articulate or enlightening lesson on cultural appropriation, it does make the subject more approachable.

You may have heard of blackbear. The imageconscious singer got quite popular during the latter half of 2017 after the release of his high-water mark single “do re mi,” which is actually a pretty good song. The rest of blackbear’s music is OK, I suppose. I would compare it to a well-baked loaf of white bread: Competent in execution, but bland and unsurprising. Despite his insipid but otherwise harmless music, blackbear manages to be actively insufferable due to his lyrics and persona. Blackbear is proof that singing about drugs and sex does not automatically make you cool; this is a guy who is trying way, way, too hard. Blackbear evidently wants to occupy a role similar to that of The Weeknd, but due to his astounding lack of nuance and subtlety, his persona comes off as less of a tortured yet attractive rogue and more like the three-way love child of Adam Levine, one of those guys who comment on PornHub videos and a cigarette. Blackbear has two lyrical modes, and both are hackneyed and lazy. One is the “revenge love” theme, where he has nothing to say that hasn’t been said a million times before by other “revenge love” songs (a theme that generally makes its

Classifieds

i am” Correct answer: blackbear is the author of tweets 1, 2 and 4, while tweets 3, 5, 6 belong to an assortment of inspirational Bryson Tiller parody accounts. If you aced it, congratulations, because even after writing the quiz, I still couldn’t. A quick glance at blackbear’s Twitter page will make clear that these are not isolated examples — he really is just that goddamn corny. What’s such a shame about blackbear is that he does actually possess some talent: He has a great voice and a knack for catchy melodies. His instrumentals are never particularly innovative, but they are well-crafted. The problem is both that his lyrics are intolerably vapid and that his public persona is inescapable, pervading every aspect of his music, from his inane song titles (e.g. “i hope ur whole life sux”) to his derivative and cloying lyrics (“Cause I have hella feelings for you / I act like I don’t fucking care / ’Cause I’m so fucking scared,” etc). If he would drop his odious pose, his music would be tolerable, maybe even good. But given his general lack of self-awareness or tact, I find this situation unlikely. Until that happens, it’s impossible to listen to blackbear’s music without remembering that this is the same guy who tweets stuff like, “i think of u often hope u kno.”

Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com

FOR RENT RELEASE DATE– Friday, January 26, 2018

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Big sister? 7 Way more than a whimper 11 Pixie 14 Circus equipment 15 Online marketplace 16 Madhouse 17 First U.S. national park 19 Syncopated piece 20 Calvin Klein or Perry Ellis 21 Caution 22 Spilled the beans 23 Love personified 24 Letter writing, some say 26 Oenophile’s concern 28 Bear with a purple bow tie 32 “Yada yada yada” letters 35 Co-star of the 1955 comedy “How to Be Very, Very Popular” 38 Revolutionary murdered in a tub 40 Groom’s garb 41 Generous slices 42 Subject of a 19thcentury famine 45 Menu general 46 Tar pits site 47 “Pretty please?” 49 Che’s given name 52 State-spanning rds. 56 Cross by wading 59 Digging 60 The good dishes 61 “The Mikado” band? 62 Aquanaut’s workplace ... or a hint to what’s graphically represented four times in this puzzle 64 Dram 65 Thailand, once 66 Recess 67 Fictional vigilante’s mark 68 Ballpark figs. 69 Christian of “Mr. Robot” DOWN 1 Sanctuaries

2 Substitute players 3 Frodo inherited his ring 4 Queen of mystery 5 Small-runway aircraft acronym 6 Spokane-toWalla Walla dir. 7 Software to debug 8 Scrub, at NASA 9 Aspirant 10 Drano compound 11 Biblical reformer 12 Library transaction 13 “Around the World ... ” hero 18 Affirmed in court 22 Happy hour perch 24 __-di-dah 25 Lighter brand 27 Bible book read during Purim 29 Frank’s cousin 30 Gambling parlors, for short 31 Very 32 Expressionist painter Nolde 33 Plantation near Twelve Oaks 34 Nursery purchase

36 Rural road feature 37 One demanding payment, say 39 Comparable to a beet 43 Pressed sandwiches 44 Confucian ideal 48 Cornell’s city 50 Conclude by 51 Parts of some flutes 53 First of a series

54 __ of Hearts, accused tarts thief 55 Cavalry sword 56 With “the,” TV character who first jumped the shark—literally 57 Village Voice award 58 Harvest-ready 60 Spreadsheet box 62 Employ 63 KLM rival

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Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Friday, January 26, 2018 — 7

KBA, Michigan look to keep cruising Report: Enos leaving for Alabama Enos signed a contract to join Michigan’s staff in December

ROHAN KUMAR Daily Sports Writer

The No. 16 Michigan women’s basketball team is cruising, and the road ahead looks clear. Having pummeled Michigan State on Tuesday, 74-48, the Wolverines (7-2 Big Ten, 18-4 overall) are currently on a five-game winning streak that includes victories over then-No. 8 Ohio State in Columbus, as well as a monstrous, 44-point win against Illinois. Michigan now ranks second in the Big Ten standings and is well on its way to qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. If there ever was a time for the Wolverines to take a breather and pat themselves on the back, it would be this weekend, heading into Sunday’s matchup against a bottom-feeding Northwestern team. But that is not what Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico has planned for her team. She is already planning for the trip ahead as Michigan gets set to face the Wildcats (2-5, 9-12) Sunday afternoon in Evanston. “We just have to be locked in, focused,” Barnes Arico told WTKA. “Every matchup in our league is a great matchup. You can’t go by anyone’s record.” The Wildcats graduated star forward Nia Coffey from last year’s team that finished with a 20-11 record. With four new freshmen on the roster, they are much younger than before. But with youth comes growing pains, and these have been apparent. Northwestern has lost four of its last five games and sits at twelfth in the conference. On top of the growing pains, captain Lydia Rohde’s injury midway through the season has also weakened the Wildcats. The senior guard is a gifted shooter and a key part of her team’s offense, shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc. Rohde is one of the few veterans on a team filled with youngsters.

ETHAN WOLFE Daily Sports Editor

RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily

Kim Barnes Arico and Michigan will play Northwestern this weekend.

Without her, Northwestern is without its leader. The Wildcats also suffer from the absence of another talented guard. Junior Amber Jamison — who started in 11 contests her sophomore year — has taken a leave of absence this season, weakening Northwestern’s backcourt depth further. With all the changes in the depth chart, others have had to step up. Unexpected contributions have come from freshman guard Lindsey Pulliam, sophomore forward Abi Scheid and junior forward Pallas KunaiyiAkpanah who lead the team in scoring, averaging 14.0, 12.9 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. It is unlikely the Wildcats will be able to keep up with the Wolverines and 3-point markswoman Katelynn Flaherty. The senior guard averages 23.3 points per contest and has made tremendous improvements in running the point. Against the Spartans, Flaherty showed off her passing ability, racking up six assists and creating countless scoring chances for her team

when she drew double teams. Even if Northwestern finds a way to contain Flaherty, Michigan has no shortage of firepower. Junior center Hallie Thome and junior guard Nicole Munger continue to significantly contribute to the offense, and freshman forward Hailey Brown has also shown potential. And even if the Wildcats can stump Michigan’s offense, its stout defense — it allows just 60.1 points per game — has rescued the team before. Given these circumstances, the Wolverines should have a fairly smooth ride against Northwestern, barring an unacceptable performance. But Barnes Arico wants to make sure there are no bumps at all, and wants her team to stay focused. “You just have to play the best Michigan basketball that we can play,” Barnes Arico said. “We wanna make sure that there is never a doubt moving forward that we are putting ourselves in a position to win a championship and be selected in the NCAA Tournament.”

“Every matchup in our league is a great matchup.”

The 2017 Michigan football team’s offensive woes were no secret. Watch footage of the Wolverines and it becomes apparent almost immediately. Michigan’s pass offense had the fourth-fewest yards per game and total passing touchdowns in the Big Ten, an amalgam of a porous line and indecisive quarterback play. The shiftiness of Karan Higdon and Chris Evans were a band-aid as the run game averaged 177.7 yards per game. For a 2018 season already littered with sky-high expectations, Michigan has reportedly hired Minnesota offensive line coach and run game coordinator Ed Warinner to shore up a weak offensive line — one that is also losing its most consistent talent in left tackle Mason Cole. Football Scoop broke the news of Warinner’s hire on Saturday, a report that was quickly met with speculation

on social media. The following day, Football Scoop reported that Warinner was a strong candidate to join forces with new Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel — the pair coached together at Ohio State — and no longer considered for the Wolverines’ opening. As of the publishing of this story, Warinner’s Twitter profile appears to have put these rumors to bed, despite no official statement. His profile picture and cover photo display the Block ‘M’ and a portrait of Michigan Stadium, and his biography reads “University of Michigan.” Under Warinner last season, the Golden Gophers’ run game finished third in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (182.4), led by Rodney Smith. In his previous coaching stint at Ohio State as an offensive coordinator, the Buckeyes’ rushing attack finished in the top 15 nationally in every season of his five-year tenure there. Warinner’s official title and job responsibilities have not been released yet. Currently, all

10 of the Wolverines’ available coaching positions are filled, which would relegate Warinner to an analyst role — that title limits him from coaching on-field or participating in recruitment efforts. A coaching position may be opening soon, though. Dan Enos — who was reported to have joined Michigan’s staff as a wide receivers coach on Jan. 10 — is expected to become an associate coach and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, according to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. Enos was initially hired away as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator and would have been tasked with developing a young wide receiver core that played to their inexperience in 2017. Junior Grant Perry and freshman Donovan PeoplesJones led the Wolverines’ receivers with 307 and 277 receiving yards, respectively. Michigan will have its work cut out to improve on a disappointing 8-5 season, but it’ll have to figure out its coaching staff first if it hopes to take that next step.

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh may be on the hunt for another assistant coach soon.

Against No. 6 Ohio State, Wolverines will find out how far they’ve come No. 17 Michigan was swept at home by the Buckeyes in the first two meetings between the rivals this season issues that we’re going to have going forward.” Those issues — including, but not limited to, undisciplined defense, lack of offensive depth and inconsistent goaltending — were met quite convincingly against Minnesota and Penn State. But the Buckeyes are still every bit the well-oiled machine they were two months ago. In fact, Ohio State may be even better at this point. It has won seven of its last eight, allowing just 15 goals in those games. Two weeks ago, the Buckeyes blew out the Nittany Lions, 5-1, in State College, snapping Penn State’s

11-game unbeaten streak. Ohio State relies mainly on a stingy defense that allows just 2.1 goals per game, with goaltender Sean Romeo and his .924 save percentage serving as the backbone. It is formidable on special teams, having killed 90.1 percent of its penalties, a figure which leads the nation. But the Buckeyes have their share of playmakers on offense as well. Forward Tanner Laczynski is the engine that makes their offense go, leading the nation with 23 assists and ranking third with 34 points. Mathew Weis and Mason Jobst complement Laczynski with

Ohio State relies mainly on a stingy defense.

ZOEY HOLMSTROM/Daily

Freshman forward Josh Norris is confident that the Wolverines can “beat anybody” when they play their best.

JACOB SHAMES Daily Sports Writer

It has taken over three months, but the overarching narrative of the Michigan hockey team’s season finally appears to have found some stability. The Wolverines brought their high-octane offense to Penn State in October and earned an encouraging split against the defending Big Ten champions. Two weeks later, they took four points from Minnesota thanks to two furious comebacks in the third period. The rebuilding process after a 13-19-2 season appeared to be ahead of schedule. But this momentum hit a wall shortly after, as Michigan won only one of its next seven games while allowing 4.3 goals per contest. This wasn’t a team even close to being ready for serious Big Ten contention. That is, until the Wolverines went to Mariucci Arena and swept the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis for the first time since 1977. The next week, they held the Nittany Lions — the nation’s highest-scoring offense

— to zero goals during evenstrength play en route to a second consecutive sweep, vaulting from sixth to third in the conference standings in just nine days. Michigan has seen multiple scoring lines develop, including the emergence of junior Brendan Warren, sophomore Jake Slaker and freshman Josh Norris to complement the first line of seniors Dexter Dancs and Tony Calderone and junior Cooper Marody. Sophomore Hayden Lavigne stood on his head all weekend against Penn State, saving 77 of 79 shots, and has firmly asserted himself as the Wolverines’ top goaltender. In the words of coach Mel Pearson, Michigan has figured out “how to play to have success.” “One thing that Mel always tells us is it’s about the process,” Norris said. “Especially (in the) last six or seven games, I think we’ve done a good job of sticking

to our systems and our strengths as a team.” The seventeenth-ranked Wolverines (7-7-2 Big Ten, 12-102 overall) will need to do that and more this weekend, as they travel three hours down the road to battle with No. 6 Ohio State (8-5-1, 15-5-4) in a matchup that will test just how much the Wolverines have progressed this season. On the last weekend of November, the Buckeyes defeated Michigan, 3-2 and 5-1, at Yost Ice Arena. Neither game was as close as the scores suggest. Ohio State was comprehensively better in every facet of play, and the Wolverines were, in their own words, outworked. “The makeup came off and we saw a lot of the blemishes this weekend,” Pearson said on Nov. 25. “We were able to cover some things up, (but) this weekend we saw a little bit of some of the

“One thing that Mel always tells us is it’s about the process.”

26 and 23 points, respectively. Yes, Michigan has its work cut out for it this weekend. But that’s just the reality of life in the Big Ten. There are no breaks, no rewards for success. Only really good teams, week in and week out. But the Wolverines are confident that they’re one of those teams, that they’re fit to survive the pressure cooker that is this conference. Their performance this month backs up that belief. Now, they must back it up once again. “We go into games really confident, and we know that we can beat anybody when we play our best,” Norris said. “When we have all the guys on the same string and we’re in the same boat, we have a really good chance of winning every game.”

Sports

8 — Friday, January 26, 2018

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

HAASTA LA VISTA No. 25 Michigan falls to No. 3 Purdue, 92-88

Back-and-forth stretch not enough for ‘M’

up the 3. We couldn’t do that.” Still, the Wolverines were able to match Purdue for most of the night. Early in the second half, a pair of triples and a layup from senior guard Muhammed-Ali AbdurRahkman gave Michigan a onepoint lead. He’d really start to feel it, wearing his pink-coated Jordan’s amidst a sea of black and gold, ten minutes later. With the game tied at 65, Abdur-Rakhman spotted up from the 3-point line. Calm and collected as always, he pulled the trigger even as Dakota Mathias came charging towards him. No panic, just buckets — giving the Wolverines the lead with roughly nine minutes to play. But Purdue always had an answer. It came frequently courtesy of Vincent Edwards. With a triple and pair of layups, he scored seven straight points for the Boilermakers as they went on an 11-2 run to take a nine-point lead. “You can’t stop some of the shots that Vince Edwards made,” Beilein said. “They were just too good for us tonight.” Michigan crawled back and cut the deficit to four with a minute and change left. But timely steals and 11-of-12 free-throws down the stretch sealed it for the Boilermakers. “Shots were going in,” AbdurRahkman said, “and we knew we needed to weather their storm as much as possible, then bounce back. We didn’t do that enough.” As he was for most of the night, Haas was unstoppable — especially in the game’s opening moments. A feed, spin and hook shot was the sevenfooter’s go-to combination for the Boilermakers’ first three baskets. The Wolverines couldn’t stop him from getting the ball inside. Carsen Edwards and Mathias made strong entry passes to end

game this season, one that yielded one of the best individual performances for a Wolverine in any game this season — from senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. The stretch started unassuming enough, with a missed three from junior forward Moritz Wagner. But redshirt sophomore guard Charles Matthews was there to clean up the miss, laying in a putback to get the ball rolling. That was immediately answered by a 3-pointer from Boilermaker guard Dakota Mathias. And away the teams went. For every shot there was a counter. The teams combined to shoot 24-for-30 from the field in the opening 10:50 of the second half. “This is what you come to a Big Ten school to play basketball for,” said Purdue forward Vincent Edwards. “… That second half was a dream to play basketball in. So, I mean, we all soaked it in.” It was the type of half that would have left Michigan grasping at air earlier in the season. Maybe that would have happened on Thursday, too, if it weren’t for Abdur-Rahkman. The senior hit a layup at the 18:28 mark. Then he stole the ball away from Purdue guard Carsen Edwards to start a fastbreak that ended in a dunk from Matthews that gave the Wolverines the lead for the first time in the half. Then AbdurRahkman hit three go-ahead 3-pointers in the span of five minutes, with the last one being a fall-away job from the left corner with 9:38 remaining. When the stretch was over, Abdur-Rahkman had scored 14 of his 26 total points in just 11 minutes. “I just got a couple easy shots — a layup and a wide-open

MARK CALCAGNO Daily Sports Editor

Zavier Simpson thought he had it. With his team desperate for a bucket, the sophomore point guard jutted into the lane and rolled a layup off his fingertips. A make would’ve put the Michigan men’s basketball team within one shot of Purdue. But Boilermakers guard Carsen Edwards had different plans. Edwards poked the attempt away. The Wolverines would finish the possession empty-handed. The play proved to be a microcosm of Thursday night. Michigan played one of its best games of the season, shooting 60 percent from the floor with a 13-for-23 effort from deep. Yet, like Simpson against Edwards, the Wolverines couldn’t surpass one of the country’s best. In a contest that featured 24 lead changes, No. 3 Purdue (8-0 Big Ten, 20-2 overall) outlasted the 25th-ranked Wolverines (6-4, 17-6), 92-88, at a raucous Mackey Arena on Thursday. Led by 30 points from guard Vincent Edwards, the Boilermakers made 31 of 50 attempts on the night to score the most they have in conference play. “You can’t win a game without defense — they scored 92 points today,” said junior forward Moritz Wagner. “We gotta do better defensively.” Those struggles were compounded by Purdue guards who seemingly couldn’t miss from outside, shooting 55 percent from beyond the arc. The Wolverines allow just over five 3-pointers per game. Purdue hit 11 Thursday. “I think we’re one of the leaders in the country (in 3-point defense),” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “If (center Isaac) Haas scored 40 points, we’re okay, but we weren’t going to give

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Moritz Wagner and Michigan had no answer for Purdue center Isaac Haas.

whatever chances the Wolverines had of guarding Haas down low. “He’s impossible to guard, and he’s a bad matchup for us,” Beilein said. “You probably need a twin brother to guard him in the post.” The Wolverines kept things in the first half close thanks to an unlikely source. Early in the half, Beilein pulled his starting point guard aside after a bricked 3-pointer. But Simpson made his second attempt from deep — and more — count, finishing with a career-high 16 points. In the end, though, it was yet another effort from Simpson and the Wolverines that came up just short against the Boilermakers. Their first meeting went to the wire on Jan. 9 — but two late calls and the game went Purdue’s way, 70-69. Fifth-year senior Duncan Robinson said that first matchup didn’t “sit well” on Wednesday. Thursday’s loss will feel the same way. “It’s incredible,” Beilein said. “They didn’t miss a shot and we almost came out of here with a ‘W’ ”

MIKE PERSAK

Managing Sports Editor

It would have been easy for Michigan to get swallowed up on Thursday night. Just like in Chapel Hill, and more recently in Lincoln, the Wolverines faced a halftime deficit against a high-octane offense and a defense that had their number in an environment as hostile as it gets. In response, Michigan’s offense went nuts to begin the second half, making every shot it took and averaging 2.286 points per possession through the first 10 minutes of the frame. It was an offensive onslaught that would be good enough to put away almost any game. Not against Purdue, though. The Boilermakers stood tall, taking each punch the Wolverines threw and delivering one of their own in response en route to an eventual 92-88 victory. For nearly 11 minutes, though, the teams played the most entertaining stretch of basketball in any Michigan

three — and got going early, and just played confident.” AbdurRahkman said. Added Michigan coach John Beilein: “To have MuhammadAli play that way is the expectation we have of seniors. That’s the trend I hope we’re going to see the rest of this season. (It’s) a little bit about the time when Derrick Walton took off, was about this time last year.” What the game means for Abdur-Rahkman’s future aside, the performance was one that nearly gave Michigan another marquee win. It was one that nearly thrust the Wolverines head-first into national prominence. But it didn’t. When Abdur-Rahkman hit his first layup of the half, Purdue guard P.J. Thompson answered with a 3-pointer. Matthews’ dunk was answered with a bucket from Boilermaker center Isaac Haas in the post. All three of Abdur-Rahkman’s go-ahead 3-pointers were erased by a Purdue bucket within the next minute. Twice, it was on the next possession. In the end, the Wolverines were outlasted by a tireless Boilermaker team, as the memorable back-and-forth was followed by an 11-2 run from Purdue that ultimately spelled doom for Michigan. Yet, for 11 minutes, the two teams stared each other down, daring the other to blink and lose control of the game. It didn’t matter how close the defender was or if the shooter’s feet were set, the shots were falling from wherever they were taken. For 11 minutes, the Wolverines and the Boilermakers showed what they’re each capable of when they’re on their games. Purdue simply proved it for longer.

“America, meet Purdue.” 20 twos it’s okay with us,” he said. “But we weren’t going to give up the three. We couldn’t do that. They’re just too good.” For much of the game Thursday night, though, Michigan matched Purdue shot for shot. Senior guard MuhammadAli Abdur-Rahkman played arguably the best game of his career, notching 26 points with step-back threes and even some uncharacteristic bravado. Sophomore point guard Zavier Simpson notched a careerhigh 16 points of his own. In total, the Wolverines scored an absurd 1.48 points per possession, made eight of its 12 3-point attempts, scored 52 points and got 29 points combined from Abdur-Rahkman and

junior center Moritz Wagner in the second half. And lost. Purdue took every blow, and punched back. It matched every Wagner attack with a Haas hammer, followed every AbdurRahkman deep three with a deeper one of its own. In the end, the Boilermakers emerged with a 92-88 victory, and continued on its tormenting run of dominance. Purdue ranks third nationally in the Associated Press top-25. It also ranks top10 nationally in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. “They provide a difficult matchup with size inside and the shooters everywhere. Not many teams are like them,” AbdurRahkman said. “We kept fighting

“They provide a difficult matchup with size inside.”

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

The third-ranked Boilermakers are a tough matchup for anyone with their combination of size and shooting.

he pregame theatrics at Mackey Arena are quite a

sight. Blinking lights scatter the arena, the ritual chants splatter expletives MAX at instate rival MARCOVITCH Indiana. Students line the seats to the rafters, swaying back and forth in preparation. Right before the lineup announcements and tip-off — just seconds before the lights dim and the show begins — a video starts on the jumbotron. There’s one sentence before the crowd renders it nearly inaudible. “America, meet Purdue.” With a 92-88 win over Michigan Thursday night, the Boilermakers have now won 16 games in a row. It’s a team that

embarassed Arizona and Louisville early in the year. Since, it has only steamrolled opponents on the way to a perfect conference record. It has arguably the most unguardable center in the nation, surrounding him with four players who shoot 40 percent or better from 3-point range. “You have five lights out shooters — I mean, lights out,” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “Nik Stauskas, Tim Hardaway, Trey Burke, right? But with five of them on the perimeter, with an incredible big man. It’s a very difficult challenge for everybody. “I don’t think I’m crazy, you guys have seen teams that have come into the Big Ten. Who has five guys that shoot on the run? They don’t even have to get themselves open.”

It all starts with behemoth center Isaac Haas. Each time the 7-foot-2 center touches the ball in the paint without an immediate double-team, a chorus of suprised cheer rains around the arena, as if they’re collectively getting away with some crime. Perhaps single-teaming Haas should be a crime. If given position in the lane, Haas catches and lays the ball in with incomporable inevitability. He scored all six of his team’s points in the first four minutes of the game, and notched 24 points on 14 shots in just 20 minutes. “You guys try and go guard him,” Beilein said. “It is impossible.” But that’s what makes Purdue so difficult to play: Beilein didn’t even care that Haas was dominating. “If Haas scored 40 points with

“You guys try and go guard him. It is impossible.”

until the end, but it just wasn’t enough.” And yet, perhaps based on preconceived notions or past history, the Boilermakers still aren’t getting their due nationally. The Boilermakers haven’t made it past the Sweet Sixteen since the 1999-2000 season. Last year they reached the Sweet Sixteen only to be eviscerated, 98-66, by Kansas. Only time will tell if this team is, indeed, different in the postseason. But that doesn’t faze them. “I believe we’re a really good team,” Haas said after the game, before pausing to reconsider that stance. “I believe we’re the best team in the nation. And I just want to show everybody.” America, meet Purdue. You’ll be seeing quite a bit of them come March and April. Max Marcovitch can be reached at maxmarco@umich.edu or at @ Max_Marcovitch on Twitter.