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Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Changes to ACT policy draws mixed responses
Update to test allows students to retake single sections instead of entire exam LIAT WEINSTEIN & ALEX HARRING
Multicultural groups at U-M denounce Order of Angell DESIGN BY LIZZY RUEPPEL
UAAO, La Casa, ASA release statements condemning participation in organization ALEX HARRING & PARNIA MAZHAR Daily Staff Reporters
Three prominent multicultural groups — the United Asian American Organizations, La Casa and the Arab Student Association — at the University of Michigan have released statements condemning participation in Order of Angell, an exclusive senior honor society formerly known as Michigamua, due to the organization’s historical exclusivity and past appropriation of Native American culture. The groups announced policies that bar students who accept
membership in the society from holding a leadership position within their cultural organization. Former University President James Angell originally founded Michigamua, now Order of Angell, in 1902 to bring students from different corners of campus together and facilitate “campus synergy.” The current goal of the organization, according to members who spoke with The Daily on Friday afternoon, is to bring a diverse group of up to 25 students with demonstrated leadership on campus together to better the University. The Order’s reputation has been marred by instances of racism in the past, specifically in
regards to its nature of exclusivity and use of Native American rituals. The organization’s meeting space previously exhibited Native American statues and headdresses, and the room itself had a “wigwam-like” interior design. Michigamua also displayed photos of members taking part in Native Americanlike rituals and gave members derogatory nicknames like “Squaw,” which references female reproductive organs. The University banned Michigamua from using the seventh floor of the Michigan Union, its historical meeting space, in 2000 after native artifacts were discovered in the
space and demonstratorsoccupied the area for 37 days. The University reinstated the group as a recognized organization in 2007 after losing the distinction in 2000, and the organization renamed itself as Order of Angell the same year. Historical documents related to the Order are available in the Bentley Historical Library on North Campus. According to itswebsite, the Order “recognizes the hurt” caused by using “co-opted Native American rituals” and noted the group does not partake in any Native American practices currently and “actively condemns” doing See ANGELL, Page 3
Daily Staff Reporters
Officials at the ACT — a college admissions test taken by more than 1.9 million students each year — announced a policy change earlier this month that will allow students to retake single sections of the five-part test rather than having to sit for the entire exam in hopes of improving their score. Typically, the test takes about three hours to complete. In an email to The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald said the University would need more information from ACT officials in order to determine the impact the changes will have on admissions policies. “Clarification from ACT regarding how test information will be shared and viewable by universities is still unclear,” Fitzgerald wrote. “The admissions team will continue to monitor this situation as policies are shared and make changes to the process where appropriate.” The change comes amid concerns over testing-based
Students Ann Arbor residents discuss run race concerns about Gelman Plume in honor of Public meeting considered different locations for monitoring water wells classmate CAMPUS LIFE
ALYSSA MCMURTRY Daily Staff Reporter
University community members to paricipate in event in memory of Atharva Kharkhar SAMANTHA SMALL Daily Staff Reporter
When Atharva Kharkar, former Business sophomore at the University of Michigan, was told he had leukemia last June, he rolled his eyes and said with a smile on his face: “Honestly, life is so dramatic.” In East Lansing five years prior, Alex Powell was preparing to begin his undergraduate career at Michigan State University when he found out he was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Though they have both since passed away, both these students legacies’ live on and will be honored by students and staff of both universities during Alex’s Great State Race on November 15. Every year since 2013 on the eve of the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game, Reserve Officer Training Corps students from both colleges gear up to partake in a 64-mile relay race to deliver the ceremonious game ball. From 3 a.m. to 3 p.m., flights will trek through the almost freezing weather, blustering winds and pitch-black sky to honor Alex’s legacy. Though originally set up by Powell’s parents, this year, LSA senior and Army ROTC student Alex Zhang decided to make it more personal and run in honor of Kharkar. See RUN, Page 3
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At Larcom City Hall Monday, about 50 Ann Arbor residents and City Councilmembers attended a public meeting to discuss possible locations for monitoring water wells regarding the Gelman Plume. According to Washtenaw County’s website, the Gelman Plume is the spread of the contaminant 1,4 dioxane throughout the county groundwater that is contaminating residents’ drinking water. 1,4 dioxane
is a carcinogen that, from 1966 to 1986, the company Gelman Sciences used in their manufacturing process, in which they improperly disposed of their waste water. Brian Steglitz, water treatment plant manager for Ann Arbor, opened the event with a quick overview and introductions, sharing the reason behind the meeting. “So why are we here?” Steglitz said. “We are here because we want to make sure that we are doing everything that we can to make sure that the city’s drinking water supply is protected.”
Ann Arbor resident Mozghan Savabieasfahani, an environmental taxologist, told The Daily she feels Ann Arbor has fallen short in protecting its residents. “The spirit of actual change (is missing),” Savabieasfahani said. “The city of Ann Arbor has miserably failed from protecting us and our water supply is contaminated. We want change and the urgency to clean it up is missing.” Patti McCall, associate geologist and professional wetland scientist at Tetra Tech, broke down the plans for the monitoring well,
which is meant to test water thought to be untouched by 1,4 dioxane. If the contaminant is present, then the monitoring wells will trigger early warning signs, McCall said. McCall said the project is broken down into six phases: data collection, three-dimensional modeling, independent review, sample collection, well location recommendations and public engagement.
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anxiety, the importance of standardized testing and its role in perpetuating social inequities. Critics of the change worry it will increase the role of socioeconomic status on performance, since those who come from higher-class backgrounds likely have more resources that will help them succeed on the exam, such as access to coaching and the money to take the exam multiple times. For Michael Hartt, a junior at Grosse Pointe North High School, the change has relieved test-related anxiety. “It makes me feel less apprehensive about preparing,” Hartt said. “I know that if I get a score in section that I’m not satisfied with, I can study for that single section to get my score up.” In announcing the change, ACT leadership said a “superscore,” which is the culmination of the highest scores on each section of the test without regard to when it was taken to create a new composite score, is more indicative of how students will perform in college courses. Previously, students had to retake the test in full each time to obtain a higher score. See ACT, Page 3
MEDICINE
‘U’ faculty elected to national assocation
Three individuals named to National Academic of Medicine for their professional achievement MICHAL RUPRECHT Daily Staff Reporter
The National Academy of Medicine announced the election of 100 members at its annual meeting last Monday. Three University of Michigan faculty members are among the new class of members, including Rebecca Cunningham, James Dalton and Gabriel Nuñez. They join 53 other current and emeritus University of Michigan faculty, and living former faculty, in the prestigious society. According to the NAM website, election to NAM is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the health and medicine fields, and recognizes those who have excelled in their professions. The Daily spoke to Cunningham, Dalton and Nuñez about their research in medicine and health. Cunningham is the Interim Vice President of Research, Director of the Injury Prevention Center and a professor of emergency medicine.
KYTO BATT/Daily Patti McCall, associate geologist and professional wetland scientist at Tetra Tech, presents potential locations for wells to screen for toxic chemical plume at a public meeting in Larcom City Hall Monday evening.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 19 ©2019 The Michigan Daily
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 CLASSIFIEDS................6
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SUDOKU.....................2 ARTS...................5 SPORTS.................7