ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Community challenges benefits of new turbine University says natural gas addition will reduce greenhouse gas emissions MAEVE O’BRIEN Daily Staff Reporter
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Author Leif Wenar introduces his new book, “Blood Oil,” at the Donia Human Rights Center Distinguished Lecture in Weiser Hall Monday afternoon.
Law professor talks relationship between fossil fuels and militarism Leif Wenar addresses crowd at Donia Human Rights Center Distinguished Lecture KATHERINA SOURINE Daily Staff Reporter
More than 70 students and faculty members gathered Monday night in Weiser Hall to hear Leif Wenar’s lecture titled “Blood Oil: Tyrants, Violence, and the Rules that Run the World.” The lecture, based on Wenar’s book, explored the
history of conf lict in nations that carry rich oil deposits and the “blood oil curse” — an idea that mandates if a country is present at the time of oil discovery and mining, it will be involved in political and economic decisions involving the resource. Wenar is the chair of Philosophy and Law at King’s College London School of Law, in addition to working
GOVERNMENT
Whitmer, Dingell talk ‘U’ turnout in midterm
abundant natural resources while also suffering from issues of widespread poverty, hunger, lack of human rights, armed conf lict and refugees. “Our governments have engaged in unjust actions for the sake of oil, all over the world, for many years, especially in the Middle East,” Wenar said. “The oil curse is behind the news we see all the time.” See FOSSIL, Page 3
One week later, students still have Bird Rides mixed feelings about “Tower Time” appear in ANN ARBOR
Supporters of Michigan Time attempt to organize protest of shift in class schedules CATHERINE NOUHAN Daily Staff Reporter
College Democrats plan event to increase voter participation in November LEAH GRAHAM Daily Staff Reporter
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer and running mate Garlin Gilchrist spoke to more than 120 students Monday night at Lorch Hall during a special meeting of the University of Michigan’s chapter of College Democrats. Several local elected officials including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and state Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor, were in attendance as Whitmer and Gilchrist discussed issues ranging from infrastructure and clean drinking water to student voter turnout and the so-called “blue wave” — an anticipated influx of liberal candidates to elected office in November. “To have a good life, you gotta be able to get into a good job, which means a solid education and skills, but also, you gotta be able to get there, whether it is through public transit or through affordable car insurance or through roads that will get you there safely,” Whitmer said. “...Regional transit is critical to us making this a state where not just businesses but where we have a good quality of life.”
as a visiting professor at Stanford University, Princeton University and the Australian National University. Wenar began his lecture by outlining the current state of global affairs, tracing both national security threats and human rights abuses from war to failed states with rich oil deposits. He explained the paradox that arises when considering these states hold
Last semester, University of Michigan officials put an end to the campus tradition of Michigan Time. Upon hearing the initial announcement, students and faculty voiced their concerns but now, with a new class of freshmen entering campus on the newly designed Tower Time, the push to reinstate Michigan Time is much less prevalent but still present. Michigan Time allowed a
ten-minute grace period for students arriving to class. Classes would start ten minutes late and end at their listed times. Under
to class, while others are just waiting for the grumbling to end. Engineering senior Sam Morris has been one of the students leading the fight against Tower Time on the Facebook page, “Umich Memes For Wolverteens.” He said he has not seen many students in favor of the new system. “I have not found one person saying that they enjoy Tower Time,” Morris said. “The popular Facebook meme page ‘Umich Memes for Wolverteens’ is full of disheartened students making cathartic memes about the death of Michigan Time. A lot of them get between 500 the and 1,000 likes, ROSEANNE CHAO/Daily new Tower Time, so it’s easy to classes start at the time they see that the pulse of campus are listed and students are is pretty much on the same excused ten minutes before page.” their listed end time. Morris started an event Many ardent supporters for Monday, Sept. 10, in an of Michigan Time have been attempt to have all students bombarding Facebook pages arrive to class 10 minutes past with Tower Time memes the hour. Morris claims he did to express their disdain for it partly as a joke, however, arriving 10 minutes earlier only 100 of the 15,000 group
See WHITMER, Page 3
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With a new natural gas turbine in the works at the University of Michigan, environmentalists have expressed concerns over the University’s continued investment in fossil fuelbased energy. The Board of Regents approved an $80 million expansion to the Central Power Plant in March 2017, which serves as the main source of heat and energy for the Central and Medical Campus buildings. The project includes the addition of a natural gas turbine to the plant, which the University says will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 metric tons a year. According to the University press release last year, the installation would help get the University halfway to its
2025 goal of reducing campus emissions by 25 percent. “Our targeted greenhouse gas emissions reduction is an ambitious goal and this project marks a significant step in the right direction as well as providing a sound financial projection for the university,” Kevin Hegarty, chief financial officer, said. While no construction has begun, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality greenlit the project over the summer by granting the University an air permit for the natural gas turbine. The permit was granted after a required public hearing in August. LSA junior Timothy Arvan attended the hearing, along with a handful of faculty and community members, though he recalled no more than 15 people present. Arvan learned of the natural gas turbine over the summer while interning at the Ecology Center, a nonSee TURBINE, Page 2
members said they would be attending. Not all students are as frustrated with the end of Michigan Time. LSA junior Emily Furstenberg said she was initially surprised about the switch, but said it does not really affect her daily schedule. “I’m usually a person who gets to class early anyways, so Tower Time hasn’t affected me much,” Furstenberg said. “Most people I’ve talked to have already gotten used to Tower Time and only complain about it for 8 a.m. classes, which I get.” When the end of Michigan Time was first announced, students worried about whether professors would honor the 10-minute early dismissal, or just keep lecturing. Engineering sophomore Jeff Yin said the only reason professors are ending on the scheduled time is because students start packing up their books. “The only reason most of them let people out 10 minutes early is because people just start packing up, which makes noise,” Yin said. “If people don’t do that, professors just keep on going.” Yin also expressed frustration when Tower Time was first announced. “I was annoyed, shocked and sad I suppose,” Yin said. “I had only transferred to Michigan winter of 2017 as a See TOWER, Page 3
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVII, No.132 ©2018 The Michigan Daily
Ann Arbor, City balks Students take to electric scooters despite threats of citations from City ANDREW HIYAMA Daily News Editor
Bird Rides are familiar to residents of places like California –– and more recently, Detroit –– but the motorized scooters made their debut for anyone with a smartphone in Ann Arbor on Friday. The company says it “works closely with the cities in which it operates,” but it has a reputation for leaving “nests” of its scooters available to users of its app in cities, often without notifying city officials. Though the company communicated with city officials in Detroit ahead of the scooters’ installation there in early August, the city of Ann Arbor appeared to have been caught off guard. On Friday, the city sent an email to residents warning them that usage of the scooters could merit a ticket. “It came to the city of Ann Arbor’s attention today, Sept. 7, that a vendor, Bird Rides, Inc., has deposited motorized scooters around the City for short-term use by City residents,” the email read. “Residents should be See BIRD, Page 3
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6
SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 SPORTS....................7