2018-12-07 by The Michigan Daily

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

Friday, December 7, 2018

Ann Arbor, Michigan

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COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Academic freedom panel begins campus outreach

The panel, created after letter controversy, received criticism for lack of diversity ANDREW HIYAMA Daily News Editor

KEEMYA ESMAEL/Daily

Protestors gather at the Regents’ meeting to support the implementation of carbon-neutral initiatives at the University Thursday afternoon.

Carbon neutrality, #UMDivest advocates speak out at Regents Public comment speakers discuss ‘U’ role in climate change, Israeli occupation SAYALI AMIN

Daily Staff Reporter

The University of Michigan Board of Regents’ meeting Thursday featured 15 public comment speakers, including U-M Ann Arbor and Dearborn students as well as alumni, faculty and staff. The topics discussed included carbon neutrality, divestment from companies supporting Israel and the role of letters of

recommendation in a political context. At his annual leadership breakfast earlier this semester, University President Mark Schlissel announced he would appoint a commission to establish a timeline and distinct goals for achieving carbon neutrality. Starting in 2008 and 2009, a wave of universities mobilized around the nation to aim for carbon-neutral campuses. The University of Michigan, however, lagged

behind. Earlier this week in an interview with The Daily, Schlissel said the commission “can’t be too large.” Neurology professor Larry Junck contributed suggestions to raise awareness and educate on campus sustainability. In addition to themed semesters, he recommended multidisciplinary weekly conferences with a variety of topics and groups. “My proposal is that there be University-wide themed semesters dealing with various

aspects of climate change,” Junck said. “This is a large and great University with resources in many areas.” LSA junior Kristen Hayden said the University’s next steps toward carbon neutrality should include scientific recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the national climate assessment. “With our dedication, our See REGENTS, Page 3

The University of Michigan’s faculty panel on academic freedom is seeking input from the campus community on “the intersection of faculty members’ political ideology and their responsibilities to students,” the University announced in a press release. In addition to conducting a campus-wide online survey of attitudes on the subject, the panel will also hold a series of open meetings in December and January on the University’s three campuses to gather additional input. The University created the panel in the wake of its punishment of American Culture professor John CheneyLippold, who rescinded his offer to write a letter of recommendation for a student’s study abroad trip after discovering the program was in Israel. CheneyLippold’s punishment consists of a year-long pay

freeze, as well as a twoyear freeze on his sabbatical credits and eligibility. Several professional institutions, including the American Association of University Professors, in addition to many graduate students and faculty have criticized the University for imposing the discipline on Cheney-Lippold without due process. University President Mark Schlissel and Provost Martin Philbert announced the creation of the panel in an open letter to the campus titled “Important questions around issues of personal beliefs, our responsibilities as educators, and antiSemitism.” “As we have stated, U-M strongly opposes a boycott of Israeli academic institutions, and no school, college, department or unit at our university endorses such a boycott,” the letter read. “We will work to make absolutely clear that faculty members’ personal political beliefs cannot interfere with their See PANEL, Page 3

Yemeni Student Association hosts Piercing Journalist cultural night with cuisine, dance, dress discusses shop closes New student group brings 150 guests to event celebrating Yemeni community heritage

ANN ARBOR

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

after online campaign

struggle to get asylum

Pangea Piercing owner accused of acts of racism while assisting customers REMY FARKAS

Daily Staff Reporter

The local Ann Arbor piercing studio Pangea Piercing announced the store is officially closing its doors Thursday following its reopening last Saturday after months of controversy. The store cited harassment by “communists” and local media in its store front window on East Liberty Street as reasons for closing. In August, store owner J.C. Potts temporarily suspended businessoperations after he allegedly shared white supremacist views with his customers. Customers posted on social media describing the incidents that accused Potts of using racial slurs and expressing white unification. Dozens of individuals came forward with accusations of Potts’ white supremacist views, recounting situations in which See PANGEA, Page 3

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RIYAH BASHA & ZAYNA SYED

Managing News Editor & Daily Staff Reporter

The Yemeni Student Association at the University of Michigan opened its inaugural cultural night with a simple invitation to attendees: “We want you to experience the beauty of Yemeni culture,” LSA junior Ryan Shami told the more than 150 students gathered Thursday night in the West Quad Multipurpose Room. Shami then danced his way through the middle of the room with other board members, all clad in traditional thawbs, multicolored shawls and jambiya dagger belts unique to Yemeni men’s fashion. The women of YSA also took the floor for dabke, showing off dresses and headpieces from various regions of the country while making their way through the diverse crowds of students packed between various photo exhibits and food buffets. Guests ate dishes spanning from gallaba to harissa desserts, sipped Yemeni tea, flipped through pictures of ancient villages, castles and mountain and clapped along to the dance performances. And so went YSA’s capstone event of the semester: a celebration of not only the rich

heritage honored by Yemenis on campus, but also a growing community making its mark in bringing students together. YSA was born two years ago in 2016 with just four students who saw the a need for a space created by and for the Yemeni community. Through

informal shahee circles with the club’s signature tea service, networking with prospective students and showcases like Thursday’s cultural night, the student group has exploded from the four founders to almost 50 members and hundreds of supporters across campus. LSA

senior Sadeeque Mohamed was part of the original group in 2016, and was overcome by the “amazing” scene he saw at the cultural night.