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Friday, February 28, 2020
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Spring break plans altered by worries of coronavirus
University expands travel restrictions beyond China to include South Korea FRANCESCA DUONG Daily Staff Reporter
ALEC COHEN/Daily Tad Deluca, former UM wrestler who alleged sexual assault by Dr. Robert Anderson, speaks publicaly for the first time at a press conference in Southfield, MI, Thursday morning.
‘I will not be ignored again’: Former wrestler speaks on alleged assault
Tad Deluca alerted ‘U’ in 1975 about Anderson sexual misconduct EMMA STEIN
Daily News Editor
“I spoke up by letter in July of 1975 and it was ignored and denigrated by the University of Michigan,” said Tad Deluca, former University of Michigan wrestler. “I spoke up again by letter in 2018 after hearing an NPR story about the MSU gymnasts, women who I am in awe of. Once again, the University of Michigan ignored me. I’m here today to speak up again to let the University of Michigan know that I will not be ignored again.”
Deluca, who alleged the late Dr. Robert Anderson of sexual misconduct, along with other alleged survivors Thomas Evashevski, former University wrestler, and Andy Hrovat, Olympic wrestler and U-M alum, spoke publicly for the first time at a press conference in Southfield Thursday morning. Deluca submitted a letter in 1975 accusing Anderson of sexual abuse when he was a University student from 19721976. The late Don Canham was the athletic director at the time.
In 2018, Deluca submitted another letter with the same allegations to current University athletic director Warde Manuel. Parker Stinar, a lawyer with Wahlberg, Woodruff, Nimmo and Stone, facilitated the conference. He described Deluca’s experience with Anderson and the University. “Tad was also a victim of sexual abuse,” Stinar said. “From his freshman year to junior year, Dr. Anderson performed unnecessary examinations on Tad, including testicle and rectal
examinations. Tad knew what Dr. Anderson was doing was wrong. And as a 19-year-old, he wrote a letter to the individuals who are responsible for protecting him when he was away from his parents — his coach, Bill Johannesen … included in his letter, Tad has statements such as ‘Doctor drop your drawers Anderson’ and ‘something is wrong with Doctor Anderson. Regardless of what you go in there for, he always makes you drop your drawers.”’ See ALLEGATIONS, Page 3
Amid concerns about health with the rise of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, University of Michigan students have altered travel plans for spring break. Preeti Malani, University chief health officer; Lindsey Mortenson, medical director of University Health Service; and Robert D. Ernst, executive director of University Health Service, sent an email to University students and faculty Thursday morning noting the University has expanded its travel restrictions to South Korea, moving beyond previous warnings regarding China. The additional restrictions align the University with guidance from the Center for Disease Control. “Consistent with travel warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of Michigan has expanded its travel restrictions beyond China to include South Korea,” the email stated. “All U-M related travel to these countries, including
for faculty and staff, is discouraged. Personal travel to these countries also is discouraged.” According to the email, all University-related travel to China and South Korea are discouraged, and international travelers are encouraged to build flexibility into their plans. However, while current travel within the United States is not restricted, the email does suggest precautionary measures. As of Thursday, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Michigan. However, according to the CDC, there are more than a dozen in the United States. The University will continue to monitor the situation along with health officials at the local, state and national levels to monitor the spread of the virus, the email said. There are currently 400 cases of COVID-19 in Italy as of Feb. 26. So far, 11 towns have been quarantined and numerous schools, universities and public events have been canceled due to fears related to the virus. See CORONAVIRUS, Page 3
Student campaign organizations Coalitions Dance duo mobilize prepare for Democratic primary talks love GOVERNMENT
voters for elections
CAMPUS LIFE
Supporters of Sanders, Biden, Buttigieg, Warren table, phone bank
Bipartisan and partisan groups aim to increase votes before presidential primary on March 10th
at event by SAPAC
Nia & Ness share poetry to encourage healthy relationships, discuss stories of self-acceptance
KATHERINA SOURINE
KARA WARNKE
Daily Staff Reporter
For The Daily
With the Michigan primary coming up March 10, University of Michigan administrative initiatives and student groups are spearheading efforts to mobilize student voters and increase turnout. One of the larger-scale initiatives is the Big Ten Voting Challenge, a nonpartisan coalition among the Big Ten Conference schools. The challenge was launched at the University in 2017 through the Edward Ginsberg Center and recorded an average 24 percent increase in the turnout rate among Big Ten schools from the 2014 to 2018 midterms. The University showed a 27 percent increase, nearly tripling voter turnout. According to Erin Byrnes, Lead of Democratic Engagement at the Ginsberg Center, this growth can be attributed to a combination of a strong digital and physical presence on campus. The challenge also works with nonpartisan student group Turn up Turnout to execute voter registration events, use social media for outreach and be physically present at the polls on voting day.
said. “But I do think that given that, we’ve had a very good response among students. When they leave, we’ve had people that have been like ‘You know what, I don’t agree with you, but at least now I understand your point.’” Though both supporters of Biden, LSA freshmen Adam Grimes and Kenny Larson joined Students for Biden for different reasons. Grimes said he felt personally connected to the senator because of his own involvement in Philadelphia politics, which he said Biden influenced when he was a senator of nearby Delaware.
Seventy University of Michigan students and Ann Arbor residents gathered in the Regency Ballroom at the Graduate Ann Arbor hotel on Thursday evening for an event titled “Home Is Where the Heart Is.” Hosted by SAPAC’s Consent, Outreach & Relationship Education program and sponsored by MultiEthnic Student Affairs and Central Student Government, the event was intended to encourage love and healthy relationships. The event featured performance duo Nia & Ness, a couple based in Rosendale, N.Y., performing their piece “home.” Through their work in poetry and dance, they address themes such as trauma, self-harm, self-love, healing and happiness. The pair has toured nationwide and received multiple honors for their work. The opening piece of the program delved into the problems within the world of Black lesbians, from within the Black community and from the outside. Ness’s poetry, paired with Nia’s sharp and striking dance told a story of all the people who have either sexualized, threatened or became aggressively jealous toward the couple.
See CAMPAIGN, Page 3
See SAPAC, Page 3
See REGISTRATION, Page 3
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DESIGN BY MARIAH PARKER
JASMIN LEE & IULIA DOBRIN
Daily Staff Reporters
As the Michigan Democratic primary approaches, student campaign organizations are working to spread the word about their candidate before the election on March 10. These efforts rely on members of those organizations tabling and phone banking to reach voters both on campus and in the greater Washtenaw County area. The University of Michigan’s chapter of College Democrats has hosted some debate watch parties, which were attended by members of multiple politically
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affiliated student organizations. While College Democrats does not endorse primary candidates, four other political groups — Students for Bernie, Students for Biden, Students for Pete and Students for Warren — are working to elect their preferred candidates. According to LSA freshman Andrew Schaeffler, who is co-founder and campus organizer for Students for Biden, the group is focused on reaching out to Michigan voters as the primary approaches, especially those with absentee ballots. Schaeff ler said he started the group in October 2019 when he saw there was no
student organization for Biden at the University. “In general, I think a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, (Biden) is a member of the establishment. What has he actually done?’” Schaeffler said. “That’s been pretty much the main conversation that we’ve had with students.” Schaeffler said Students for Biden has been working with both the national and state campaigns to expand its voter reach. He felt the group’s outreach efforts had a generally positive response from students. “It’s no secret that Joe Biden isn’t the most liked candidate among students,” Schaeffler
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 7 ©2020 The Michigan Daily
NEWS .........................1 OPINION.....................4 CLASSIFIEDS.............6
SUDOKU................6 ARTS...............5 SPORTS.............7