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PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION GEO members and allies participate in a walkout and strike Wednesday morning. GRACE LAHTI/Daily

NEWS

GEO accepts UMich contract offer, ends five-month strike

The union accepted UMich’s final contract offer days before classes started RILEY HODDER Daily News Editor

As of midnight on Friday, the bargaining team of the University of Michigan’s Graduate Employees’ Organization has officially ratified the University’s final contract offer, ending more than nine months of negotiations, including a fivemonth-long strike. The ratified contract will last from August 25, 2023 to May 1, 2026, and ensure that graduate student employees will be in the classroom by the time classes begin on Monday.

On August 17, with a little more than a week before classes began, GEO President Jared Eno

NEWS

asked the University to provide the union with their “last, best, and final” contract offer, to be reviewed at their Aug. 21 meeting. The meeting resulted in the union voting to authorize the contract, leaving their bargaining team free to ratify the deal before the start of the fall term.

The final contract offer saw significant gains on multiple issues that GEO brought up in their original bargaining platform. The University committed to continuing the Rackham Summer Funding Program through August 2026.

The contract also saw pay gains for graduate student workers, with Ann Arbor campus union members receiving an 8% pay increase in 2023, a 6% increase

in 2024 and 6% increase in 2025.

Graduate student workers at U-M Dearborn and U-M Flint are also set to receive annual raises for the next couple years, with Dearborn receiving a 10.5% increase over three years, and Flint receiving a 9% annually until their minimum pay aligns with Dearborn. The contract also expanded access to mental health coverage and gender affirming health care benefits, and made concessions to GEO on many other points.

In a tweet from GEO’s twitter account, GEO expressed excitement over the contract authorization, but followed-up in a later tweet saying they would continue to fight for complete pay parity for all U-M graduate

student workers.

“We fought tooth-and-nail over 10 months of bargaining and 5 months of strike action, forcing U-M to grant the largest salary increase in GEO history,” the tweet reads. “However, U-M refused to ensure pay parity across all 3 campuses. This battle is over, but the fight goes on!”

In an email, University Spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald said that the University was happy about the ratification of the contract coming before the start of the semester.

“Ratification of this new three-year contract will help to assure a smooth start to the new academic year next week,” Fitzgerald wrote.

UMich started college in the dark after massive IT outage

Students and faculty made it through the first day of classes with no Wi-Fi ASTRID CODE & EILENE KOO Daily Staff Reporters

LSA freshman Ellie Diaz was gearing up to attend her first day of classes as a University of Michigan student when a campuswide internet outage knocked out access to the school’s Wi-Fi network.

The outage also restricted access to the University’s online services, many of which provide information about courses and assignments, leaving many students unable to access their schedules, professor names, class locations and times before the start of classes on Monday.

With the help of a 540-page guide that lists every class offered at the University sent out just 12 hours before the first classes began, Diaz was able to figure out where her classes were. Still, the outage made for a shaky start to her first week of college, Diaz said. With the University’s primary class resource, Canvas, out of service for most of the day, Diaz wasn’t able to check her syllabi and said she felt less prepared than she would have liked walking into each of her classrooms.

“It’s been hard to navigate where I’m at right now in terms of homework I have for this week,” Diaz said. “I feel really behind because I don’t have the opportunity to access … the (information) on Canvas.”

U-M students and faculty on all three campuses began the fall 2023 semester without access to any of the University’s Wi-Fi networks or online resources linked to the University such as Canvas, Google Workspace and Wolverine Access. The outage was first reported Sunday afternoon by Information and Technology Services at 1:43 p.m. and is not expected to be completely restored for several days.

Though the specific cause of the outage has not been announced, an ITS update sent to the campus community at 1:50 p.m. said the University made the decision to intentionally take U-M services offline in response to a “significant security concern.”

“The team is working around the clock and already has restored access to some systems,” the update said. “That said, it may be several days before all online services return to their normal levels.”

In an email to The Michigan Daily, University spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen wrote that the investigation and restoration processes are ongoing.

“Our IT security team is still investigating the cause,” Broekhuizen wrote. “They are making progress and already today have brought back several online services.”

LSA sophomore Naomi Lupovitch told The Daily she was able to attend her American Sign Language class, but the profes-

sor decided to end the class early due to the outage and dive into course content in the next couple of classes. In other classes where her professors ran business as usual, however, Lupovitch said she struggled to take notes and digest the material without access to class resources.

“I have a language class that’s supposed to be taught with an accompanying PowerPoint … we just couldn’t access it, (so my professor) ended class early,” Lupovitch said. “I wasn’t able to take notes properly in a couple of my classes because I couldn’t get online and couldn’t access the notes they provided to us.”

The outage also left several faculty members in a difficult position as they had to find workarounds for their students who were now unable to access necessary class materials. Tad Schmaltz, chair of the Philosophy Department, told The Daily the University’s increasing reliance on online resources exacerbated the issues caused by the outage.

“Students don’t have access to Canvas and we have been relying increasingly on Canvas for classes,” Schmaltz said. “There are workarounds for PowerPoint slides, but students can’t access them on Canvas. These are inconveniences that are hopefully short-term, but we have depended more on the technology and it is really disruptive when it goes down like this.”

Despite these last-minute obstacles, Engineering sophomore Ishu Kansal said he thought his professors were able to adjust well. Kansal said he felt frustrated with the University’s communication about the situation to students — particularly freshmen — and what was expected of them on their first day as Wolverines.

“A lot of professors came prepared with material already printed out that they passed out, so all in all it hasn’t really affected us too much right now,” Kansal said. “I think it’s outrageous that the University allowed this to happen on the first day … I’m really disappointed in the administration, but I’m very proud of our professors who have navigated this difficult time so well.”

Grace Johnson, a project manager for LSA Academic Technology Services, was one of the staff members working at a popup informational booth inside Mason Hall to help students navigate campus and find their classes.

“For students who didn’t write stuff down or go look for their classes (in advance), it’s been a little bit of using some data that we had downloaded to look up what their classes are,” Johnson said. “If they have their class number and their class section, we can find it and say where that class should be.”

LSA junior Justin Berghorst

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FOCAL POINT

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UMich nursing professor faces misconduct allegations Professor Robert Stephenson was placed on leave in May

JULIAN WRAY Focal Point Managing Editor

Content warning: this article contains descriptions of sexual harassment and abuse.

On May 11, Patricia Hurn, Dean of the School of Nursing, announced that Professor Robert Stephenson had been placed on paid administrative leave. In an email to Nursing School faculty and staff, Hurn wrote that Stephenson was removed from his position as director of the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities and was barred from any contact with students or faculty.

“Dr. Stephenson is relieved of all professional responsibilities at (the School of Nursing),” Hurn wrote. “(He) has been instructed to have no contact with students, trainees or staff while on (leave).”

The announcement was the latest development in a series of concerns over Stephenson’s conduct.

For over a year, Stephenson has been the subject of an ongoing sexual misconduct complaint through the University of Michigan’s Equity, Civil Rights & Title IX Office. The case began in February 2022 when two former students came forward and alleged Stephenson sexually harassed them.

In interviews with The Michigan Daily, these students described their experiences with Stephenson. Their allegations range from inappropriate comments in the workplace and by text to sexual abuse. They also allege Stephenson fabricated evidence and provided false testimony during ECRT hearings.

An initial decision in the complaint was reached in December 2022, when an ECRT officer concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove Stephenson violated University misconduct policy. But after the complainants filed an appeal, the December findings were overruled. The former students were informed of this decision on the same day Stephenson was placed on leave.

Both former students described concerns over ECRT’s handling of the case. They alleged ECRT officers displayed bias against them and mishandled evidence, leading to retraumatization.

This article is based on interviews with former Nursing School students and an extensive review of documentation and

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correspondence related to the ECRT complaint.

Speaking on behalf of the University, spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald elaborated on the Title IX claim process. Per University policy, he did not comment on the specific allegations against Stephenson.

“ECRT recognizes that going through the investigative process is difficult and time consuming for those involved, and approaches the handling of cases with extreme sensitivity,” Fitzgerald wrote. “The goal is to provide a thorough and fair review of the matter, and to do so in accordance with significant legal regulation over these processes.”

Stephenson’s attorney, David Nacht of NachtLaw P.C., commented on the complaint against Stephenson in an email to The Daily. He did not comment on the veracity of the allegations that Stephenson engaged in misconduct. Nacht wrote that Stephenson believes himself to be a victim of discrimination based on his sexuality.

“It was predictable that the Title IX process would be weaponized against a scholar who is Gay,” Nacht wrote. “Accusations alone should carry no weight.”

According to Nacht, Stephenson intends to sue the University. He did not elaborate on the details of the intended lawsuit.

“Dr. Stephenson is filing his notice of intention to bring a lawsuit against the University and certain of its administrators in the Court of Claims,” Nacht wrote.

Nacht did not comment on the allegations Stephenson provided false evidence and testimony to ECRT. ‘In my head, I was screaming’ One of the complainants is an alum of the School of Nursing.

This source described his experience with Stephenson in interviews with The Daily. He requested anonymity, citing fears of retaliation from Stephenson. In this article, he will be referred to as Andy.

Stephenson was Andy’s doctoral advisor from fall 2015 to spring 2019. Andy was also a research assistant at the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, which was directed by Stephenson at the time.

Andy shared his account of Stephenson’s alleged misconduct with The Daily. His allegations were described in detail in ECRT reports.

From 2017 to 2019, Andy received hundreds of sexually explicit texts

and Snapchat messages from Stephenson. Stephenson’s conduct eventually escalated to an instance of alleged sexual abuse in winter 2019.

According to a December 2022 ECRT report, Andy first noticed inappropriate conduct from Stephenson in fall 2017, when Stephenson allegedly started making jokes of a sexual nature.

Andy alleged Stephenson then started sending him sexually explicit messages on Snapchat.

Stephenson allegedly described his sexual preferences and fantasies in these messages, some of which directly referenced Andy.

Andy told ECRT he initially engaged with Stephenson’s messages to avoid upsetting him and incurring retaliation. But after three months of receiving inappropriate messages on Snapchat, Andy confronted Stephenson and asked him to stop. Stephenson agreed, but he allegedly retaliated by providing less feedback on Andy’s work.

Stephenson told ECRT he engaged in correspondence over Snapchat with Andy in 2017 but denied making any inappropriate comments.

According to Stephenson, Andy once sent him an explicit message, after which Stephenson deleted Snapchat.

Stephenson did not comment on the allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to Andy in his statement to The Daily.

In the spring of 2018, Stephenson began sending Andy sexually explicit text messages. Some were sent in the form of touch messages.

Stephenson continued to send Andy explicit messages for more than a year.

“I need you to understand something,” one of the messages says. “I am in charge … You will do whatever I want whenever I want it.”

The Daily has obtained 35 such screenshots of texts Stephenson sent to Andy. The sexual scenarios and fantasies Stephenson described were often directly related to or involved Andy in some way.

“I want to make you feel ashamed about what you let me do, but also begging for more,” Stephenson allegedly wrote in one message.

Andy told ECRT that throughout 2018 and 2019, he responded to Stephenson’s messages to avoid triggering retaliation. Andy sent a number of messages that were sexual in nature but did so because he feared upsetting Stephenson by

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not responding or shutting down communication.

Andy later described the power disparity between him and Stephenson in a statement to ECRT. “Inundated with sexually explicit messages, constantly manipulated, and gaslit into believing I could not succeed without his mentorship, I was desperate to seek (Stephenson’s) approval and keep his anger at bay,” Andy wrote. “This is what drove my responses to his advances.”

Stephenson’s correspondence soon escalated. He allegedly began sending photos of himself naked and videos of himself masturbating. Andy provided screenshots of these materials to ECRT. The Daily obtained 19 explicit photos and three videos Stephenson allegedly sent to Andy.

Most of the photos included visible genitalia or otherwise sexual imagery, with Stephenson’s face appearing in eight of the images.

The videos were of a man, allegedly Stephenson, masturbating.

Stephenson admitted to ECRT that he appeared in some of the provided photos where his face was visible. He denied that any other photos were of him. Stephenson also admitted that many of these photos were stored on his phone, but he denied sending them to Andy. He did not comment on these messages or photos in his statement to The Daily.

Stephenson’s alleged harassment eventually escalated beyond text correspondence. In winter 2019, he allegedly engaged

in sexual abuse.

Andy told ECRT that Stephenson called him into his office one day and instructed him to undress.

“I have this recollection of words not wanting to come out of my mouth, even though I felt like in my head I was screaming,” Andy told an ECRT investigator.

Andy complied with Stephenson’s instructions.

Stephenson allegedly took Andy’s underwear and placed it in his desk drawer before telling Andy to dress and leave the office.

Stephenson then masturbated into the underwear. Later that day, Stephenson told Andy to come back to the office, where he returned the underwear.

Andy was set to complete his Ph.D. two months after this incident. He didn’t file a complaint at the time, fearing that it might affect his ability to graduate.

Stephenson did not comment on this incident in his statement to The Daily.

The second complainant in the case, an alum of the Nursing School, described their experience with Stephenson in an interview with The Daily. This source requested anonymity, citing fears of retaliation. In this article, he will be referred to as John. At his request, certain details of John’s allegations have been omitted to protect his anonymity.

After completing a master’s degree at the University, John took a job in a lab run by Stephenson.

John said that in 2019, he began to receive more direct attention from Stephenson. Stephenson would ask him to stay behind after meetings

and engage him in conversation about his personal life.

Around this time, Stephenson allegedly began sending John sexually inappropriate text messages, with some including photos and videos. John saved screenshots of these messages and later provided them to ECRT. He said Stephenson became angry if he didn’t engage with his messages.

“Over time, (Stephenson) began to send sexually explicit images and videos without my consent and based (academic) opportunities on how I responded and interacted with them,” John wrote in a statement to The Daily.

Stephenson’s alleged conduct created a hostile work environment for John, who feared what might happen if he confronted Stephenson or stopped responding to his messages.

“I was in long term therapy until the end of my employment in order to cope,” John wrote. “It began to feel like a hard lesson in having to live and survive in an uncomfortable situation.”

‘Nothing can prepare you to stare down at your abuser and have them lie about you for hours on end’ In February 2022, ECRT received an anonymous tip describing concerns about Stephenson’s conduct.

Andy and John, who were named in the tip, were then contacted by ECRT senior investigator Sam Warne about potentially filing a complaint.

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Ann Arbor Art Fair brings over 1,000 artists downtown Each of them came bearing unique products and a story

ABIGAIL VANDERMOLEN Summer News Editor

Nearly 1,000 artists from around the country displayed their work at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, beginning Thursday morning and concluding Saturday evening. Residents and visitors alike f locked to downtown Ann Arbor to browse the artwork, as well as booths from various local organizations and food vendors.

The Ann Arbor Art Fair is made up of three geographically connected fairs — the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original; The Guild’s Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair — which occur simultaneously. In preparation for the fair, organizers closed roads to motorized vehicles and temporarily reopened a portion of Main Street that is currently under construction.

In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Ann Arbor resident Kenneth McDermott said he attended the art fair hoping to see artists with a variety of unique styles. “(I expected) that I would see some really unique designs and artists who really kind of bring their own personal f lair to particular styles of art,” McDermott said.

One of this year’s vendors, Virginia-based artist Muthulakshmi Anu Narasimhan,

LUCAS CHEN/Daily

paints portraits. Narasimhan said her inspiration comes from a life spent living around the world — India, the Netherlands, the United States, Malaysia — and her interest in seeing the beauty in people.

“I’m kind of a nomad in a way,” Narasimhan said. “So when you move around or you feel like you don’t belong, what you do is you look for things to make your own. So then that’s what I do. I show everybody’s beauty around the world.”

Narasimhan chose paintings to display at the art fair based on their sentimental value and personal connection.

“They all have a story that is very close to my heart,” Narasimhan said. “Something every

single one of them can relate to. I feel like hopefully people will get the intention behind (the paintings) and when they see the paintings they will be drawn to the emotional background.”

Minnesota-based artist Coreen Johnson’s oil paintings depict scenes from her travels around the country from empty streets to serene lakes.

Johnson said she tried to strike a balance between urban and rural scenes when deciding which pieces to bring to the art fair.

“Sometimes your urban scenes are very place-specific, but it’s a bit of a guessing game,” Johnson said. “You just try to have a broader mix

of rural and urban … Different people like different things, so I just brought what I brought and I hope for the best.”

St. Louis-based artist Tony Cray constructed his booth with bold glass designs set against a backdrop of cheery yellow and white walls. Cray said the booth’s design was meant to be durable in order to protect his artwork, while also creating a polished environment similar to a professional gallery.

“I need something that’s durable for all of my fragile wear,” Cray said. “Although the weather’s perfect right now, in another hour or two might not be, so I need something that’s substantial in the wind and the

rain and with the crowd, so I like a display that is like a gallery space.”

Rackham student Tyler Dunston was selected by the Guild of Artists and Artisans to display his oil paintings at the Summer Art Fair as part of the Emerging Artist Program. Dunston said while his pieces are meant to recall landscapes, they are abstracted so that their resemblance to landscapes isn’t immediately obvious.

“Most of them, it was making an abstraction that kind of evokes a landscape, so it’s very hard immediately to tell that there is a landscape there,” Dunston said. “There might be something that is suggestive of

a horizon line for example, or like a landmass or the ocean, but kind of trying to make it a bit difficult almost to make that out.”

Rising Art & Design senior Emily Mann was also selected for EAP. Her booth displayed a variety of prints — including ones made by lithograph and woodblock — with a red, white and black color scheme.

Mann said in preparation for and throughout the fair, she learned how to place her artwork within her booth in a way that draws people’s attention.

“Maybe things with more detail can go on the table where they’re going to come and look at it more close, and the things that are bolder can stand up and grab their attention to get them to come over,” Mann said.

Mann said she explores geometric concepts and applies them to her work to translate her world into a two dimensional piece.

“I am interested in shapes, geometry, perspective, the translation of 3D space onto a 2D frame and then how that can be utilized to sort of talk about personal relationships, interconnectedness and the uncertainties of the future,” Mann said. “Often I use perspective or a vertical composition that sort of goes down from the top down as a sort of timeline to show something changing, and it’s sort of a metaphorical way to talk about those things.”

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CAMPUS LIFE

UMich hosts third annual Juneteenth symposium U-M community members gathered in the Union to discuss systemic racism

JUNE MACDONALD Staff Reporter

Students and faculty from across the University of Michigan met Thursday and Friday at the Michigan League Grand Ballroom for the 2023 Juneteenth symposium. This year’s theme was “Systems Check: Exploring Structural Solutions to Systemic Racism” and featured programming including breakout sessions, discussion panels, film screenings and keynote speakers, all with the intention of educating attendees about systemic racism within educational and governmental institutions.

Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth is a federal holiday that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people. The holiday was first observed in 1865, when news of Abraham Lincoln’s 1862

Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas, at the end of the Civil War. Although Lincoln’s proclamation had been signed years prior, Juneteenth recognizes the true end of slavery in the last state to allow the practice.

John Rodriguez, a strategic communications manager with the Provost’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office, told The Michigan Daily the University began the annual symposium in 2021, after President Joe Biden signed a bill recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

“What really changed the perspective of the University was when (Juneteenth) became a national holiday,” Rodriguez said.

“The first time the University celebrated was with the Women of Color Task Force … The second year, we continued that partner-

ship and continued to add on other units.”

Rodriguez said the event aimed to highlight how systemic racism impact the life experiences of people of Color in a variety of ways.

“We started with thinking about education, or voting rights, or even housing discrimination,” Rodriguez said. “You can look and track how racism has impacted the development of these types of systems. So the idea with the theme is how are these things persistent in our every day.”

The event opened with a panel on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education featuring representatives from DEI offices at Michigan State University, Central Michigan University and the University of Michigan. The panel was led

by Sloane Campbell, rising LSA senior and mass communications

chair of the University’s Black Student Union. Campbell asked the panel questions about the role of chief diversity officers on campus and said she believes the University should allocate more resources to alleviating the struggles of Black students on campus.

“It has become more clear and easily identifiable how our campuses are a microcosm of our society,” Campbell said. “It would be a true fault within our system not to focus on the struggles of Black students and people surrounding them.”

The event continued Thursday afternoon with back-to-back breakout panels titled “Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Housing Discrimination in the Black Community” and “Fighting the Voter Suppression Crisis in America.”

On Friday, the second day of

the symposium opened with a multifaith prayer breakfast at Palmer Commons. Following the service, attendees returned to the Michigan League for a third breakout session entitled “Mind the Gap: Addressing Systemic Racism Across the Education Continuum.”

The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department presented its own set of speakers at the event Friday afternoon.

The event featured Black professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders in the tech industry. Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, an EECS department alum, said in a speech at the event that the work of U-M students, especially students of Color, give him hope for the future.

“It was here that I realized I could use my training as an engineer to improve the lives of people

I grew up with on the east side of Detroit,” Gilchrist said. “We have a lot of work to do, but the students at the University of Michigan give me hope.”

The event’s keynote speaker, Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., chair of Princeton University’s African American Studies Department and political commentator, concluded the discussions Friday afternoon with an address about the significance of Juneteenth, the history of systemic racism and his own studies on the Black experience in America.

“Juneteenth is a moment in which we come to understand the significance of delayed freedom,” Glaude said. “Juneteenth is not just a holiday for Black people.

It’s an occasion for this country to reflect on its failed promises.”

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BUSINESS

Time for You to Buy an Apartment in New York City

The story behind Nickels Arcade

The historic shopping district is full of secrets and surprises MADISON HAMMOND Summer Managing News Editor

Since its opening in 1921, the covered shopping district Nickels Arcade has been a hub for University of Michigan students and the larger Ann Arbor community alike. The Michigan Daily Business beat interviewed some of these businesses to highlight the current state of the Arcade. Read the other stories here.

Since 1921, the covered shopping district Nickels Arcade has been a hub for University of Michigan students and the larger Ann Arbor community alike. From remnants of tradition to new innovations, the Arcade has maintained its original mission to bring an upscale shopping experience to the city through a diverse array of businesses, from clothing and jewelry stores to barbershops and cafes.

Frederick A. Herbert is the grandson of Tom Nickels, the founder of the Arcade, and remains a co-manager to this day. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Herbert said Nickels wanted to create an environment where Ann Arbor residents could purchase unique and high-quality goods in one place.

“Tom Nickels, my grandfather, he is the dreamer, the genius behind that building,” Herbert said.

According to Herbert, the land was initially owned by Nickels and his siblings. Herbert said compared to his siblings

who weren’t very engaged with the property, Nickels was inspired to use it to build the Arcade. “(Tom’s) dad, John, was a butcher, and they bought property in Ann Arbor on State Street where the Arcade is today,” Herbert said.

“When John Nickels died, Tom and his brother Stafford continued to be in the butcher shop … and then Tom got this idea, having never been in an arcade, having never traveled internationally, but he decided he wanted to build an arcade in Ann Arbor. He had a thought that Ann Arbor was going to be growing, that retail deserved to have a facility that had upperend tenants.”

The official opening date of the Arcade varies depending on who you ask. According to Herbert, however, the first half of the Arcade opened in 1917, while the second opened in 1921 due to construction and financial delays.

“Initially, Tom was able to build the eastern half of the arcade, but it was during World War One and supplies were not prevalent,” Herbert said. “There were a couple of tenants who moved in in 1917. He eventually acquired the rest of the property to the west, so that he owned that corridor running from State Street to Maynard Street and could continue with construction of the building, which was finally finished in the year 1921.”

Today, the property is managed

by Oxford Companies since the majority of the Nickels family no longer lives in Ann Arbor. Wonwoo Lee, chief real estate officer at Oxford Companies, said he and his team feel a special connection to the Arcade property because of its lasting impact on Ann Arbor.

ALUM ALI CHAMI/Daily

“We’re all very, very close to the arcade,” Lee said. “We are very affectionate of the historical significance of it, as well as all of the different memories that have been made in this place. Annually, we close it off to ensure that it remains a private concourse. We also decorate for Christmas and winter seasons every year.”

Some businesses — like Arcade Barbers — have been in the Arcade since its opening, while others, like One DNA, are newer. Lee said that during the process of choosing new Arcade tenants, the team deeply considers the potential impact on pre-existing businesses.

“Complementary uses (are) important to us, so we want to make sure that (the business) meshes well,” Lee said. “We don’t always get it perfect, but the (businesses) that do really kind of fit in well, they ended up staying for a long time.”

While storefronts come and go, certain aspects of the Arcade have remained the same since its opening. From the iconic skylights to the limestone columns, Herbert said the construction elements have mostly remained the same.

“It doesn’t conform to building standards today,” Herbert said. “We don’t have central air, we have no elevators, we’ve got staircases on either side. But that’s the way it’ll always be, with a light shining down through.”

Unbeknownst to many, there is a subterranean level to the Arcade that is inaccessible to the general public. Herbert said it was originally used to deliver fuel to fuel the boilers, but since the building is now heated with natural gas, the space has been repurposed as a storage facility.

“If you’re walking along Maynard Street, you will see a couple of metal doors in the middle of the sidewalk and those doors open up,” Herbert said. “There is a concourse that runs the entire 260 feet of the arcade that is an area for storage for the tenants. My mother used to roller skate down there. Today, it’s the length of the building and it’s accessible (to the businesses).”

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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 — 7A

ANN ARBOR

Affordable housing development in Historically Black Neighborhood After a year of community engagement, 63 affordable units will be added

LUCAS CHEN/Daily

CHEN LYU Daily Staff Reporter

About 100 community members gathered at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market Friday evening to attend a community forum on the new design plan for the first-floor public space in the Catherine Housing Project, a 63-unit affordable housing development that will be located in Ann Arbor’s Historically Black Neighborhood.

The design plan was the result of a full year of a community engagement-centered Community Leadership Council. The CLC consists of twelve community members with intergenerational ties to the Historically Black Neighborhood and has convened monthly since June 2022 to examine the history of the neighborhood and recommend design ideas to the developer and Ann Arbor Housing Commission.

At the event, the public first

heard from community members serving on the council about their memories of the neighborhood.

CLC member Diana McKnightMorton said the location where a luxury condominium is being built used to be her family’s barbecue business, DeLong’s. She said she was disappointed by the vanishing of Black community spaces and hopes the new public space in the Catherine Housing Project will revive the community.

“As teenagers, young Black kids had places to go which are in our community center,” McKightMorton said. “Since I became an adult, the center was taken away.

These kids had no place to go.

There’s nothing here for them … I would love to see (the public spaces) have some type of replication for the kids that they can come in, congregate and have fun so that they can tell their next generation what was going on here for them.”

One proposed design for the public space is a Fab Lab, a small

scale workshop which would allow visitors to create objects for business ideas or personal uses. Yodit Mesfin Johnson, co-organizer of the CLC and the community forum, said the idea for the Fab Lab was inspired by CLC site visits of similar spaces in other cities in Michigan, including Incite Focus in Detroit and Lake Shore Fab Lab in Muskegon.

“When we visited Muskegon, we saw folks making toys for their children using 3D printers, and we saw people using woodworking machines to make things they needed at home,” Mesfin Johnson said. “These are small scale projects, not big huge things. But what we most appreciated was the way that this allows for self determination, or empowerment for ideas, from thinking about to being able to create. It could resist the impacts of globalization and have effects on our local economies. ” Mesfin Johnson said the CLC expects the creation of the Fab Lab

to be an incremental process, given the high costs of some of the manufacturing equipment. She said she welcomed input from community members and prospective residents at every step to ensure maximum utility of the space.

“We have had this conversation about wanting — rather than buying everything and putting it into space — to actually first design the space with the community, including young people,” Mesfin Johnson said. “We want to be able to scale up to what’s needed in the future as opposed to investing a lot (and the materials) not being utilized.”

After the public forum, community members were led to the project site to learn more about the Fab Lab and invited to provide suggestions to the developer and CLC members about the future direction of the public space.

Josh Williams, executive director of Makers Work, a shared workspace in Ann Arbor, was among the forum’s attendees. In an interview

with The Michigan Daily, Williams said he was excited about the construction of a new makerspace in Ann Arbor because he believes it will yield both economic and environmental benefits to the local community.

“The idea of makerspace is that everyone can share some of these resources across a broader spectrum in order to save money economically but also reduce their environmental footprints,” Williams said. “We have some basic ideas of how things can work, and I’m hoping that there might be something we can offer to help out. But we really believe that each and every space would differ to be able to work with the local community.”

The city officials originally envisioned the public space as a business incubator. In an interview with The Daily, Karen Wanza, University of Michigan alum and a member of the CLC team, said the vision for this space

has since evolved to accommodate a broader range of creative initiatives, not necessarily limited to business endeavors. She also said she hopes to ensure the space is truly accessible to the future residents of the building.

“A business incubator requires a huge amount of resources,” Wanza said. “One of my worries is that it would turn to people who have acquired degrees in some technical fields … that might not be for the people who will be living in this building.”

Jessica A.S. Letaw, another member of the CLC and organizer of the community forum, said in an interview with The Daily that while the current design was inspired by the Fab Lab in Muskegon, she hopes the end product will not only function as a creative space, but also highlight Ann Arbor’s Black history and community.

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CAMPUS LIFE

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Last call for Angelo’s: iconic Ann Arbor breakfast cafe set to close

After over 60 years, Angelo’s will shut its doors by the holidays MARY COREY & REBECCA LEWIS Summer Managing News Editor & Summer News Editor

University of Michigan and Ann Arbor community members are mourning the news that local breakfast staple Angelo’s will close its doors at the end of this year. The restaurant, owned by husband-wife duo Steve and Jennifer Vangelatos, first opened in 1956 under the management of Steve Vangelatos’s father, Angelo. Since then, the business has not only expanded to include an in-house bakery and Angelo’s on the Side, an adjacent location exclusively for takeout and coffee, but has also grown into a beloved classic for students, alumni and Ann Arbor residents alike.

Rising LSA junior Rachel Cohn, a frequent Angelo’s customer, said she was saddened to hear the news of its closing because it is her and her friends’ go-to breakfast spot.

“Me and my friends, that was our one brunch spot that we always went to,” Cohn said. “(Angelo’s) just meant a lot to us, so it’s a little bittersweet.”

For homesick college students, a family-run diner like Angelo’s can be just what they need. Cohn said she believes Angelo’s is a favorite among U-M students in part because it feels like a homemade breakfast.

“The vibes of (Angelo’s) are very wholesome and I think some of the other brunch spots in Ann Arbor just have very different vibes and feel,” Cohn said. “Angelo’s feels more like I’m getting a homemade breakfast at my house with my friends.”

Rising LSA junior Madison Brown said she believes it is this comforting energy that makes Angelo’s stand out among Ann

Arbor’s many restaurants. “(Angelo’s) is your quintessential college diner, and I don’t think there is really something similar on campus,” Brown said. “It has this charm about it that doesn’t really have to do with flashy decor or a more modern or millennial style. It is its own little thing.”

Angelo’s is set to close in December following a $4.5 million purchase by the University of Michigan of 1100 Catherine Street, which includes the restaurant, as well as two residential apartments.

The University plans to use this land to expand the Michigan Medicine campus.

In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Steve Vangelatos said he made the decision to sell the property to the University because of a promise he made to his wife when they got married.

“I’ve been working seven days a week for 43 years,” Vangelatos said.

“I promised my wife when we got married that if she allowed me to work as much as I needed to work to make this place successful that someday I would stop working. And there was nobody that wanted to take the restaurant over and so that resulted in selling the property.”

Helping Vangelatos run this brunch spot is a team of dedicat-

ed staff. Amy Marzka, long time Angelo’s employee, told The Daily the staff is sad to see the restaurant close but recognizes how much Vangelatos dedicated to its operation.

“Everyone is sad to see the place go,” Marzka said. “But we’re happy for the owner because he has worked so hard.”

At the University’s Board of Regents meeting on May 18, Geoffrey Chatas, U-M executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the purchase made sense as the University already owns the surrounding land and could give the Vangelatos family time to close

the business.

“The University has been presented with an opportunity to purchase property from the Vangelatos family who, for decades, have been running Angelo’s, a beloved icon in Ann Arbor,” Chatas said. “When the family approached the University about the possibility of selling (the property), they explained that they want to close the business on their own terms … The property makes sense for the University to acquire since it will further the University’s options for development in the Catherine Street area.”

The sale is set to close no later than March 31, 2024 to give Van-

Design by Abby Schrek

gelatos time to close Angelo’s and vacate the property. Vangelatos said the restaurant will likely close on December 23 — like they do every year — but this time, come January, they will not reopen their doors.

“I feel like it’s going to be like we usually do every other year,” Vangelatos said. “We’ve closed on December 23 (for) the holidays and we usually would reopen either January 1 or January 2. It’ll be just like that this year, except we’re not going to reopen in January.”

Vangelatos said he would consider the possibility of reopening Angelo’s in a new location if he was able to find someone else to run it.

“I would definitely consider doing that if it was somebody that I knew would be willing to put the work in and I thought could maybe be successful,” Vangelatos said. “It’s possible, (but) it won’t be somewhere that I will be running or that I want to be really involved in.”

At the regents meeting, University President Santa Ono recognized how much the U-M community would miss Angelo’s.

“I must say that thousands of Wolverines will miss that wonderful place for brunch and for other meals,” Ono said.

Although Angelo’s has fans throughout Ann Arbor, it holds a special place in the hearts of many U-M students. Vangelatos said he is grateful for all that the University and its students have done for him, but it is time for him to end this chapter of his career.

“I really appreciate the University of Michigan and the students and, I mean, they’re a big part of our success here and then the whole town of Ann Arbor really,” Vangelatos said. “I was very fortunate to be in this position … (but now I want to focus on) spending time with my wife and my family.”

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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

GOVERNMENT

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 — 9A

UMich to launch new criminal justice study

The research team will investigate possible reforms in Michigan by polling local government officials JOANNA CHAIT Daily Staff Reporter

The University of Michigan Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy and Poverty Solutions with the Ford School of Public Policy will launch a study to evaluate attitudes toward certain criminal justice reforms by polling the local government officials of 1,856 villages, townships, cities and counties across the state. The project will build on the Michigan Public Policy Survey, which currently surveys county prosecutors, sheriffs and city police chiefs in addition to local government officials.

The research endeavor will utilize three parallel surveys: one for local government officials, one for county prosecutors and one for law enforcement officers. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Debra Horner, senior program manager of the MPPS, said while the researchers have not yet written the survey questions, they have a general idea of the topic areas they want to cover.

“We will be asking (about) the challenges and needs that local governments have, police community relations, criminal justice and prosecutorial reforms like cash bail and alternative sentencing,” Horner said.

According to Horner, the goal of the research is to evaluate the positions of local government officials, law enforcement officers and county prosecutors on criminal justice reform in order to determine how to best meet community needs. Horner said the researchers are aiming to represent a range of perspectives on criminal justice.

“Our goal is to be able to talk about how much and where there is political will for enacting change and what the barriers are that exist in different (kinds) of contexts and communities,” Horner said. “It’s very important to us to not come at this as a pro-reform survey. This

is a survey to ask about people’s attitudes on reform.”

In an interview with The Daily, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor highlighted the city government’s ongoing initiative to develop an unarmed public safety response program as part of their broader goals for criminal justice reform.

“We have conducted substantial public engagement to identify the outlines of this proposed program,” Taylor said. “We have set aside American Rescue Plan dollars to fund a pilot, and we have articulated for the city administrator the contours of a request for proposal.”

The Ann Arbor City Coun-

cil passed the Driving Equality Ordinance in June which, according to Taylor, will help prevent discriminatory practices in traffic stops.

“Most recently, the City Council passed a ordinance to prohibit a number of secondary stops,” Taylor said. “Going forward, broken tail lights, loud engine, tinted window, trim and mirror — you will not be stopped in Ann Arbor for these reasons.”

Taylor said the city of Ann Arbor is also currently in the process of finding a permanent police chief who values fair enforcement of the law.

“We’re always in the process of listening and exploring,” TayDesign by Abigail Schad lor said. “ We are currently undergoing a process to identify a permanent police chief. Certainly it’s going to be important that that chief is going to be committed to law enforcement without bias or favor.”

In an email to The Daily, rising LSA seniors Anushka Jalisatgi and Jade Gray, co-presidents of the U-M chapter of College Democrats, said they support enacting criminal justice reform in the state of Michigan and nationwide.

“Specifically, we believe that common sense police accountability policies — like banning no

knock warrants and updating use of force policies — would be a significant step in the right direction,” Jalisatgi and Gray wrote. “We cannot continue to talk about criminal justice reform without mentioning mass incarceration. It is crucial to fund community intervention programs and mental health initiatives to help stop the cycle.”

According to Horner, the CLOSUP research initiative came out of increased public attention on criminal justice reform following the murder of George Floyd.

“We began thinking about the (idea) in 2020 coming out of the George Floyd event and the protests surrounding that summer and the interest in a wideranging approach to criminal justice reform,” Horner said.

This month, the research team will begin the process of curating​​survey questions by reaching out to a range of experts with different backgrounds in the criminal justice reform field. Over the next few months, they will assess the structure of the questionnaire to ensure the questions are fair and allow all survey participants an equal opportunity to provide their opinion.

“The very first thing we do out of the gate, which we’re starting this month, is reaching out to stakeholders and people who have an interest in this topic in a variety of contexts to find out what it is we should be asking,” Horner said. “We think there isn’t a one size fits all approach to criminal ( justice).”

The survey will launch in early April 2024, and will be out in the field from April through early June. The following summer, the researchers will analyze and then publish the data on CLOSUP’s website. They will also send the findings to all survey participants.

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10A — Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

SPORTS

COACHING CAROUSEL SportsMonday: Michigan doesn’t need Harbaugh to start season, but it does need consistency PAUL NASR

Managing Sports Editor

O

f course, the Michigan football team can win these first three games without Harbaugh.

No, I’m not referring to Jack Harbaugh, although I suppose the claim could apply to him as he will be the Wolverines’ temporary assistant head coach for the first three weeks of the season. It can apply to Jack’s grandson, Jay, who’s another coach with a temporary promotion — or any of the four coaches who will split time as head coach. The claim can apply to anyone, really.

Because the Wolverines don’t need anyone in particular to start the season 3-0 during Jim Harbaugh’s university-imposed suspension. But they do need consistency no matter the opponent, and Jim’s zany coaching carousel gives that away.

I get it, nothing about the first three weeks is hard. Call it a bakery schedule, because with three cupcakes at home against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green, Michigan could be without a head coach entirely on game day

and still probably cook its opponents.

But that’s not the point of the Wolverines’ facile non-conference slate. Winning or losing isn’t really in question, and hosting Rutgers to open Big Ten play in Jim’s return to the sidelines shouldn’t be all too difficult, either.

However, Michigan still has plenty to gain from playing three Division I football teams. It can work out early-season hiccups in on-field communication between both players and coaches. It can figure out how position groups and their respective coaches handle in-game adjustments. And it can even smooth-over the usual complexities of managing lots of personnel — some of whom will be making their Wolverine debuts — all while shoring up what a chain of command looks like with so many moving parts.

All of this could be done in the low-risk-yet-real stakes that the three opening games provide, and it could strengthen the foundation of an already deep team. None of it requires Jim Harbaugh himself to be the one on the headsets orchestrating it all, as he’ll be leading

ALUM JULIA SCHACHINGER, ALUM ALI CHAMI, FILE PHOTOS/Daily

practice every day with the team during the suspension anyway.

All it requires is that consistency.

And that’s where his plan to fill his own shoes misses the mark.

Because Jim could have named someone as an understudy who would, on the one day of the week that Jim isn’t leading the team, do things as closely to what he would as possible. That’s how you take full advantage of these initial weeks, solidifying the in-game system for the 2023 roster, letting Jim step right back into it when he’s back.

But instead, Jim took a different route. He’s named four head coaches for the first three games — including a separate head coach for each half of Michigan’s week two matchup against the Rebels — while also naming his dad Jack an assistant head coach alongside

strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert as an associate head coach.

It’s a move Jim is confident in.

“I’m certain that all will be impressed with the four coaches’

point. All of those coaches are undoubtedly talented, and Jim is giving most of them a professional development opportunity that they’ll certainly apply in future roles that may include head

With an inconsistent coaching carousel to start the season, Jim is voluntarily putting them behind. ability to direct and manage the game,” Jim said in a statement.

“It’s been well documented that we have a very talented coaching staff and I believe that all 10 assistant coaches will be head coaches in the near future. They are all capable of leading a team at an elite level. I know that everyone will handle their responsibilities and help our players to be the best version of themselves on and off the field this fall and beyond.”

But that’s beside the

coaching duties. All will certainly look impressive, as the Wolverines’ roster can make anyone look impressive against three inferior opponents. But by rotating four different coaches, the team loses the consistency needed to establish a baseline of how operations will look on game day — despite being undeterred by the university-imposed suspension entirely when it was first announced.

“We rally behind him,” sophomore defensive tackle Kenneth Grant said on Aug. 21. “… I was

surprised a little bit, but it really doesn’t affect us. The group of guys we got, we’re really resilient, so we’re going to come with even more firepower.”

Regardless of that sentiment, the team loses the opportunity to exit Harbaugh’s suspension at week four. Instead, it’ll be more like week one. Four games into the season, they’ll be going through week one learnings. Jim’s week four return would be the first time the team experiences exactly how things will look like in the heat of the moment for the rest of the season.

I’m not saying they’ll lose to Rutgers, or Nebraska, or Minnesota — and I’m definitely not saying they’ll lose to Indiana. All I’m saying is that no matter how talented they are, the Wolverines are still human. As made evident by closer-than-expected wins over Maryland and the Scarlet Knights over the past two seasons, they’ll still need time to figure things out in-game.

And with an inconsistent coaching carousel to start the season, Jim is voluntarily putting them behind.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Sports

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 — 11A

‘Shemy’ Schembechler resigns from Michigan football JOHN TONDORA Daily Sports Editor

Three days after joining the Michigan football team as an Assistant Director of Football Recruiting, Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler resigned Saturday evening amid controversy surrounding his social media presence.

The son of former Michigan coach Glenn “Bo” Schembechler, Shemy previ-

ously interned at the University of Michigan from 1993-1995, working in the recruiting department. Bouncing around scouting positions in the NFL, Shemy’s short-lived return to Ann Arbor supposedly marked a homecoming for the youngest Schembechler.

However, social media users rapidly unearthed a variety of Twitter interactions that sparked concern. On a nowdeactivated Twitter account, Shemy seemed to endorse a

variety of posts that promoted racist and bigoted content via likes and retweets. Upon announcement of his resignation, Michigan Athletics released the following statement: “Effective this afternoon, Shemy Schembechler has resigned his position with Michigan Football. We are aware of some comments and likes on social media that have caused concern and pain for individuals in our com-

munity. Michigan Athletics is fully committed to a place where our coaches, staff and student-athletes feel welcome and where we fully support the University’s and Athletic Department’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Warde Manuel, Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Evidently, Shemy was aware of the stir his social media was causing even before his resignation and while already on Michigan’s staff. Some Twit-

ter users pointed out that he was removing interactions off of his page, such as likes, appearing to erase potentially controversial and incendiary content.

The damage had already been done, though, as Shemy left the program not even 72 hours later.

On Monday of the following week, as fallout continued to swirl around the Michigan football program, Shemy released a statement regard-

ing his resignation. Within his response, he issued an “unabashed and unequivocal apolog y to (his) hundreds of friends and fellow coaches in the Black community” for his actions on social media.

Nevertheless, these words may ring hollow for many as the Michigan athletic department scrambles to contain yet another public relations fiasco.

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Sports

12A — Wednesday, August 30, 2023

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Mason Parris clinches heavyweight title, three Michigan wrestlers earn All-American honors at NCAA tournament MEGAN SMITH Daily Sports Writer

BELA FISCHER/Daily

‘Why not us?’: Michigan upsets Maryland, captures first Big Ten title ELLIE RICHARD Daily Sports Writer

BALTIMORE — Step aside King Charles III, the Wolverines have taken the crown.

The No. 15 Michigan men’s lacrosse team (9-6 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) dethroned the defending conference and national champions on Saturday, beating No. 7 Maryland (10-5 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) 14-5 to secure its first Big Ten Championship in program history.

“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Michigan coach Kevin Conry said postgame. “I have a lot of respect for our seniors and graduate students … they believed, they stayed, they battled, and now we’re Big Ten champs. We have a saying back at home: ‘Those who stay will be champions.’ These guys are the epitome of that.”

This historic win against Maryland demonstrates as much. From the moment the game began, the Wolverines looked hungry for the win. Just a few minutes into the first quarter, junior attacker Michael Boehm confidently cradled the ball down the right side of the field and fired it to the left corner of the cage, putting Michigan on the board first.

While the Terrapins would tie the game shortly thereafter, the Wolverines never looked panicked. With the game knotted at one, and a Maryland attacker coming down the wing, junior defender Jack Whitney delivered a clean stick check that poked the ball free and forced a Terrapins turnover.

Michigan’s composure on defense was reflected by these forced turnovers in addition to the stellar play of freshman goalie Hunter Taylor. With 14 saves on the afternoon, Tay-

lor delivered several key stops Michigan’s favor.

And Boehm didn’t stop there early in the contest that allowed Michigan to build a lead in the — he went on to score five total goals and later received the game.

“This year’s purpose for award for the Most Valuable our whole group was to build Player of the tournament.

Even as Maryland scored relationships, and create more avenues for these guys to be to start the second half of the leaders,” Conry said. “… we game, the Wolverines kept to handed the keys over around their game plan and remained mid-year, and guys like (grad- eager to extend their lead.

This time it was senior uate attacker Bryce Clay), and (senior defender Andrew attacker Josh Zawada leading Darby) and our captains have the way, scoring off a quick cut carried the load. So it’s a real to the inside. Zawada scored big credit to them and how they another goal with the extra man advantage to finish the third have embraced it.”

Saturday’s box score cer- quarter, giving Michigan an tainly echoed these sentiments. 11-5 lead heading into the final After scoring two goals in the 15 minutes.

Although the Wolverines first quarter, Clay completed the hat trick moments into the have had a hard time closing out second quarter as he capitalized games in the past, this matchup off of an extra man opportunity. was different – much like this Steamrolling his way to the season as a whole. Michigan net, Clay fell to the ground and remained steadfast on defense snuck the ball past the Mary- throughout the fourth quarland goalkeeper to give the Wol- ter, keeping the Terrapins off verines a 6-3 advantage. Clay the scoresheet and adding two would go on to score another insurance tallies to achieve the goal later on, giving him four dominant win.

With the victory, the Wolgoals in the game and 100 total verines have secured an autopoints in his career.

“I don’t think there was any- matic berth into the NCAA one outside of our group that Tournament — another first for thought we were going to win the program.

“The guys in our locker that game today,” Clay said.

“But that’s fine. That’s how we room, the guys in our support get it done … there is a lot of staff, we all bought in and we belief in our guys and it’s a team said ‘why not us?’ ” Clay said. effort out there, so that’s how “It’s win or go home. Why not come out here, put on a show we were successful today.”

This belief, manifested in and beat the Terps?”

It’s that belief that propelled Clay’s tenacity and hunger to score, was seemingly infectious Michigan to the historic Big Ten Championship win, earning the as other players followed suit.

In fact, after the Terrapins Wolverines a spot in the NCAA scored in the second quarter Tournament and a chance to to trim the lead to 6-4, Boehm make history once again.

NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI If Michigan is able to sustain scored two goals in four seconds and forced a Maryland time- this belief and perform like it out. Maize and blue-winged did Saturday, Big Ten royalty helmets bounced up and down might just be the start. in celebration as the game’s momentum shifted further in

After three tough days of competition at the NCAA Wrestling Tournament, one Michigan wrestler remained in the finals — No. 1 heavyweight and fifth-year senior Mason Parris.

And after his last seven minutes of wrestling as a Wolverine in which he overpowered No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State throughout the entire bout, Parris stood atop the podium.

His lifelong goal of becoming a National Champion was achieved in the last match of his collegiate career.

Parris was the runner-up in the 2021 NCAA championships his junior year, losing to the Nittany Lions’ Gable Steveson, who went on to win an Olympic gold medal later that summer. Parris would fall to Steveson in the Big Ten Championship final in 2020 and 2021, taking home AllAmerican honors both years.

But this season, Parris refused to come up short.

Following a perfect 33-0 reg ular season, Parris didn’t slow down and dominated his opponents at every stage of the tournament. In the first four rounds of the tournament, he won two bouts via major decision and beat Iowa’s No. 4 Tony Cassiopi with a 16-1 technical fall in the semifinal. Preparing for the second national championship bout of his career, Parris rode the momentum he had built up in the previous rounds and remained poised.

“I wasn’t really nervous at all,” Parris told The Daily. “I

was very confident in myself and felt really good and believed in my abilities.”

In the final bout, Parris’s confidence was on full display. Going up against a familiar foe in Penn State’s No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet, whom Parris defeated for the Big Ten title just two weeks prior, Parris was in full control the entire seven minutes. Thirty seconds into the match, Parris defended a leg attack from Kerkvliet and scored a takedown on a fireman’s dump before riding Kerkvliet out in the period and garnering 2:30 of riding time.

Parris started on the bottom in the second period, earning an escape point – and Kerkvliet only scored on a stalling call near the end of the third period.

But by then, the match was over.

“That stalling call didn’t really faze him,” Michigan coach Sean Bormet told The Daily.

“Mason has had great composure and great mat and match awareness all season, which I think really shined at the NCAA championships. He was one of the most dominant competitors of all weight classes.”

Parris came back with a vengeance after missing half of last season with a herniated disk and finishing sixth at the 2022 NCAA tournament.

This year, he put in extra time in the weight room to rebuild his strength. Parris looked for redemption against those he lost to last year, including Kerkvliet who defeated him three times.

“I wasn’t at my full potential last year,” Parris told reporters after his win. “This year I wanted to come out and show I was

the best. I really had something to prove and I wanted to get revenge on all those guys that I could.”

And finally, in the last match of his collegiate career, Parris got the revenge he coveted.

As a team however, the Wolverines placed sixth with eight wrestlers competing and three being named All-Americans. Ninth-ranked fifth-year senior Will Lewan placed seventh at 157 pounds after falling to No. 7 Bryce Andonian from Virginia Tech, earning All-American honors.

No. 11 165-pound redshirt junior Cameron Amine finished fourth after winning his way through the consolation bracket — even beating the 2021 champion No. 9 Shane Griffith from Stanford to earn an All-American recognition.

“I’m super proud of our guys,” Bormet said. “I thought they put a tremendous effort on the mat.

All eight guys that we had competing at the NCAA championships scored points and were in the round of 16. They competed with a tremendous amount of heart and really represented Michigan wrestling well.”

Michigan will graduate key wrestlers this year, but Parris isn’t going far. He will remain in Ann Arbor to train for the Olympic trials in five weeks as a member of the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, with a goal to make the US World team.

And in a familiar setting with the same coaching staff, Parris will hope to take the first step to add an Olympic medal to his trophy case – alongside his newly garnered NCAA plaque.

RILEY NIEBOER/DAILY

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Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Michigan’s captains emphasize vocal leadership, learning from the past CHARLIE PAPPALARDO Daily Sports Editor

On Thursday morning, the Michigan football team announced that it had officially named six players as captains for the 2023 season through a team vote. The captains include three seniors in running back Blake Corum, defensive lineman Kris Jenkins and offensive lineman Zak Zinter, and three graduate students in linebacker Michael Barrett, cornerback Mike Sainristil and offensive lineman Trevor Keegan.

With the second-largest cohort of captains in the Wolverines’ 144 year history addressing the media, each newly minted leader explained what they understood their unique role to be and how it would change with a new title.

And throughout their conversations, one point of emphasis came up repeatedly — for each, the title of captain means that they must be more than just consistent, but vocal.

“I’ll definitely (step up),” Zinter said. “I’ve been, this offseason, becoming more of a vocal leader.

These past few years I’ve been a big guy to lead by example, and I think that still goes along with (being captain). It’s like, who are

you going to be when no one’s watching? I’ve done a really good job of that, and I’m definitely going to be a more vocal leader this year.”

But what being vocal means is different for each captain. Jenkins emphasized speaking up and following through, Corum stated that he felt the best approach was to continue “being me” and Sainristil, the only returning captain, espoused a much more fluid approach to leadership.

“I do my best to read the room,” Sainristil said. “As you figure out who your teammates are, every person needs a little something different. Some people you can’t talk to a certain way some people you can talk to a certain way. …

The way you lead a whole unit is you say what you mean to them, and you mean what you say.”

With a large room of captains, and over 120 players on the team, each is looking to embody a different style of leadership. And that’s clearly apparent based on who they name as their inspiration from the captains who led before them.

Jenkins, for his part, wants to be an energetic firebrand, making that clear in his praise of former captain Mazi Smith. What Smith did for him, he wants to do for others.

“My biggest goal is to embody

what Mazi did,” Jenkins said.

“Mazi was definitely one of the key factors in getting us hyped before a game. That’s my biggest goal, to embody his type of energy.

Because whenever we were about to play a game he definitely got me ready to run through a wall.”

That sentiment, of wanting to be for others what past leaders were for them, was consistent.

Both Keegan and Zinter, looking to inspire work ethic, showered praise toward their former teammate Andrew Vastardis, a two-time captain between 202021, and how he impacted them.

“He really changed football for me,” Keegan said. “Everything he did daily just trickled down through this program.”

Coming off a year in which two of Michigan’s five captains had transferred to a rival Big Ten school before the season’s end, this year’s cohort laid out their expectations very clearly. For themselves, the expectation is to use their voices — in unique and nuanced ways — to provide the leadership that they once needed.

And for the teammates around them, the expectation is that they try to emulate their captains — just as the current six once did.

“We have 120 leaders on this team,” Keegan said. “Everyone is built as a leader.”

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 — 13A

Getting oriented: Meet the leaders and best of Michigan football JOHN TONDORA Daily Sports Editor

With much of the 202223 Michigan athletics season wrapped up and the academic year no longer in session, the summer offseason always brings a time-honored tradition: Preseason football buzz.

And there is much to buzz about. Coming off of its first 13-win season in school history before a crushing defeat at the hands of TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his football team have their eyes laser-focused on returning to the College Football Playoff.

Despite losing 11 players to the pros this past season, the Wolverines retain much of the dynamic roster that brought them to the College Football Playoff only a few months ago. So, with the opening kickoff of the 2023-24 college football season less than 100 days away, let’s dive into the returning big names of the Michigan football team.

Quarterback: J.J. McCarthy The crown jewel of the Wolverines, it starts at the very top for Michigan with the all-American kid, quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at just under 200 pounds, the former five-star recruit’s longlauded potential became a reality for the Wolverines last season.

Throwing for just over 2,700 yards and 22 touchdowns while chipping in another seven scores with his feet, McCarthy more than flashed for Michigan. From taking over the starting job against Hawaii in Week Two to walking out of The Shoe after bludgeoning Ohio State 45-23, the Wolverines’ blonde bombshell has come as advertised — high risk, but high reward.

Even coming off a tumultuous Fiesta Bowl against the Horned Frogs that featured two pick-six interceptions from McCarthy and one nearly-Herculean comeback that was not to be, Michigan has its best QB of the Harbaugh era and a signal caller hungry for another shot.

“The TCU game in itself was practically like a whole season of experience,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Feb. 23. “Because of all the things that happened.

Behind, come back, really behind, come back, really good — every up, down and hit.”

Still 20 years old, the rising junior’s upcoming season will be his first as a Week One starter, with his hopes set on reaching even higher heights.

Running back: Blake Corum Heisman. That was the accolade on the minds of the college football community heading into Michigan’s Week 11 matchup against Illinois. Rushing for 1,457 yards to that point and 18 touchdowns, rising senior running back Blake Corum’s backfield campaign was nothing short of the best in college football.

That is, until an injury midway through an 108-yard rushing performance derailed the tailback’s season, forcing him to look onwards from the sidelines.

And although Corum’s shortened season still attracted interest from the NFL, the 5-foot-8 bowling ball behind the trenches is back for his senior season with the Wolverines. In an announcement earlier this year via Twitter, Corum stated: “Motivated by my profound love for Michigan and commitment to my education. I have decided to return for another season.”

Now, the 2022 unanimous first team All-American has another goal in mind: not just success, but

redemption.

Defensive back: Mike Sainristil Graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil is the Swiss Army knife of the Wolverines.

On the field, the wide receiverturned-nickel cornerback dazzled in his new defensive role when the lights shined brightest. A vocal leader, Sainristil commands Michigan’s self-proclaimed “no-star defense.”

Looking forward to 2023, Sainristil knows what lies ahead. After transitioning to defensive back in 2022, he looks to perfect his Renaissance man role.

“Just being able to focus on little techniques, small details,” Sainristil said March 9. “Last spring I was really more focused on learning the playbook … But now that I have a year of the playbook under my belt, I’m making sure I get with the coaches to help me find those finer points.”

As Sainristil gears up for his second year at the helm of the Wolverines’ defense, the finer points will eventually make all the difference.

Defensive line: Kris Jenkins If there was a single phrase to best describe rising senior defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, it would be the words of rising junior linebacker Junior Colson: “He’s a little crazy, but we enjoy him.”

Coming in at 6-foot-3 and hoping to reach 310 pounds by the start of the season, “crazy” might be the most measured way to describe one of the most athletic players in college football. From shouting too loud at weight room sessions to always being the most magnanimous in the room, Jenkins looks to take command of a dangerous front-seven.

Read more at michigandaily.com

GRACE BEAL/Daily

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Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Jack Conlin: Hold Barnes Arico’s program to her own standard of excellence When you look up the Michigan women’s basketball team, the results fall into two general categories.

JACK Most of what CONLIN you’ll find is related to coach Kim Barnes Arico. Topics ranging from her team’s recent exit from the NCAA Tournament, to her former star player Naz Hillmon, to recruiting and beyond.

The rest is Kevin Borseth.

On Feb. 28, 2008, following a 69-67 loss to Wisconsin, then-Wolverines’ head coach Borseth stormed into a postgame press conference, spiking his scoresheet onto the podium before exploding into a threeminute long rant about rebounding. The clip went viral, ended up on national news and still circulates on Twitter as an all-time meltdown.

‘That’s how I feel,” Borseth barked loudly to the media in the clip. “I’m damn sick of getting out-rebounded. 25 offensive rebounds, the first time we block out we get called for a damn block out. …

“I am not going to sleep.”

But besides that 15-year-old outburst, Barnes Arico makes up the rest of the Michigan women’s basketball news cycle. The reason isn’t just recency bias though. It’s because before her tenure began, there isn’t much of anything to talk about.

And now, ten years into that tenure as Michigan’s head coach, the program is in an entirely new place. All the marks of a successful season are no longer rarities

but expectations. And because of her past excellence, this season should be viewed for what it was: A letdown.

The program Barnes Arico inherited from Borseth was the definition of middling: It had five NCAA tournament berths in nearly 40 years and never made it past the second round. In the decade before her hiring, the Wolverines made only one trip to the Big Dance and just four appearances in the WNIT. But Barnes Arico has undeniably elevated them. Under her leadership, Michigan has made six NCAA Tournament bids — more than all previous Wolverines’ coaches combined. In the two seasons leading up to this one, she led them to new heights, making program-best Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight runs.

And this year, they aimed even higher.

“A big goal that the team shares is a Big Ten Championship, going to the Final Four,” sophomore guard Ari Wiggins said at Michigan Media Day on Oct. 25.

Those lofty preseason goals of reaching the Final Four and winning the Big Ten — goals that would’ve been drowned out by laughter under previous regimes — didn’t sound so ridiculous. They weren’t likely, given the strength of the Big Ten and departure of one legendary power forward. But because of Barnes Arico’s decade of work as the architect of a true contender, they weren’t outright dismissed.

In hindsight, they should’ve been.

Injuries, internal issues and just plain poor execution derailed

Olivier Nkamhoua’s name and the Michigan men’s basketball program were linked for the majority of the offseason — long before his eventual commitment back on June 7.

One reason for that stems from the Wolverines’ outright need for players after losing two starters to the NBA and three additional players to the transfer portal. But beyond that, the graduate transfer forward from Tennessee offered something that Michigan lacked last year: Strength at the power forward position.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed with kind of how my game developed,” Nkamhoua said Saturday.

“And the position that I’m at naturally and built for, that’s a stretch forward.”

In the Wolverines’ disappointing 2022-23 season, the ‘4’ continuously served as a liability. No player’s “built for” — as Nkamhoua puts it — the job.

But, that’s no longer the case.

Now, what once was one of Michigan’s biggest weaknesses may become one of its biggest strengths. Last season, Nkamhoua not only averaged 10.8 points and 5 Courtesy of Team Maize

the program’s overall history, it didn’t have a ton to be disappointed about this season: losing the Big Ten Tournament’s quarterfinal on the game’s final play then, dominating a ranked opponent in the Round of 64 before falling to the Tigers certainly ranks as one of the best finishes in the scope of program history.

But for a team led by Barnes Arico, the humiliating blowout loss following a month of lackluster performances made the season’s end especially disappointing.

The lopsided rebounding numbers, unbecoming of a team committed to being “the hardest working team in America,” decided the game for the Wolverines, sending them home one game short of a third-consecutive Sweet Sixteen and turning

KATE HUA/Daily

Putting the power back in power forward: Olivier Nkamhoua’s cookie cutter fit LINDSAY BUDIN Daily Sports Writer

the Wolverines chances to compete for either goal. For the most part, they beat teams they were supposed to beat, and lost to teams they were supposed to lose to. They dropped five of their final eight games, failing to advance past more than one game in both Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments.

And with their season on the line, they put together one of their worst showings in recent memory — ceding 46 rebounds to No. 3-seed LSU in a 66-42 Round of 32 trouncing (one can only imagine how Borseth would’ve reacted to that).

Michigan was clearly outmatched in that final game, facing off against a basketball legend in coach Kim Mulkey and one of the nation’s top players in forward Angel Reese. When considering

rebounds per contest, but he did so in 25.3 minutes of action.

While 25 minutes on average is still significant, it is likely much lower than the amount of time he will see next season. And already, Nkamhoua has confidence that he can find success with the Wolverines as an integral option.

“In the offense they run here, with a guy like Juwan, I’ll be able to adapt my game,” Nkamhoua said. “(I) still do many of those things that I was doing at Tennessee, but I also (can) adapt my game to a more NBA style offense.”

While Nkamhoua looks to make adjustments to his game, largely as he integrates into Michigan’s playstyle, there are certain things that won’t need much tweaking. His game may shift in certain aspects, but his role as a power forward will remain steadfast.

Nkamhoua acknowledges that, in today’s game, stretch fours are similar in the majority of offenses.

For the Wolverines, a program marred by turnovers and lacking a clear picture of what most of their players will actually do next year, Nkamhoua’s continuity at the ‘4’ gives Michigan some necessary security for the upcoming season.

“I’ve really found my position, wherever I play I know what I bring to the table, so the adjustment’s not that difficult,” Nkam-

houa said. “It’s easier because I know what I can do and I bring the same thing to the table, whichever team I’m on because I have a game that just suits. My game just fits in anywhere.”

After losing three of their starters this offseason, the Wolverines’ roster is clouded with uncertainty. It’s unclear what Michigan’s starting lineup will look like, with only one of last season’s starters — sophomore guard Dug McDaniel — clearly in it.

Senior forward Terrance Williams II and junior forward Will Tschetter both saw time as starters in the ‘4’ position, but neither provided consistent production warranting that starting role.

The uncertainty of the power forward position — and who would eventually step up — was the biggest question mark for the starting lineup last year.

Now, while most of its lucrative starting spots remain unsettled, the Wolverines finally have the stability they coveted last year in the ‘4’ spot.

Nkamhoua may be new to Michigan’s program, but he certainly isn’t new to the role he will serve within it. As Nkamhoua put it: “My game just fits in anywhere.”

a chance to assert themselves definitively as a perennial presence in the Tournament’s later rounds into an embarrassment on national television.

In the grand scheme of things after forty years of obscurity, it wasn’t a terrible ending. It just wasn’t up to Barnes Arico’s standard.

So when weighing the outcome of this season as a success or failure, remember her team’s preseason goals. Remember Barnes Arico’s accomplishments over the past two years. And remember that — because of her — Michigan is now a program (yes, a program) expected to compete at a high level each and every season.

A second-round exit is nothing to celebrate.

“One of the most important things when I came to the University of Michigan was building a program,” Barnes Arico said before the season at Big Ten Media Day. “Not building a team year in and year out.”

Because of Barnes Arico’s leadership in the past decade, the Wolverines have earned the right to consider themselves a top team in the Big Ten and are now worthy of a place in any discussion about strong basketball programs nationwide — a level of acclaim that seemed unthinkable a decade ago.

But with that status comes expectations, which fifth place in the Big Ten and a second-round blowout just don’t quite reach.

Barnes Arico brought Michigan into the national conversation for more than just meltdowns at the podium. In doing so, though, she created a standard that Michigan couldn’t hold up to this season.

No proper sendoff for ‘one of the best’ in O’Halloran

RILEY NIEBOER/Daily

JACK DAY Daily Sports Writer

OMAHA, Neb. — Through nearly six full innings of the Michigan baseball team’s Saturday contest with Iowa, the Wolverines’ depleted pitching staff had limited the potent Hawkeyes’ lineup to a single run. Buoyed by freshman right-hander Brandon Mann and graduate right-hander Eamon Horwedel, they sustained a possible, albeit unlikely, berth in the Big Ten Championship after a victory over Illinois on Wednesday and Friday’s monumental upset over Indiana.

But with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Iowa was threatening to put the game out of reach and extinguish Michigan’s season. A single and a subsequent botched pickoff attempt put shortstop Michael Seegers in scoring position — personifying a significant second run considering Hawkeye right-hander Ty Langenberg’s ongoing bid for a complete game shutout.

So Michigan coach Tracy Smith signaled for relief — but not for any reliever who has occupied the role consistently this season.

As the bullpen doors swung

open — and while “Paint it, Black” serenaded the fans in the stands of Charles Schwab Field — junior left-hander Connor O’Halloran, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and undisputed Wolverine ace who had thrown nearly 100 pitches just four days prior, jogged out for his second non-starting appearance of the season.

“That’s the guy we want in that situation 100 times out of 100,” senior left fielder Tito Flores said of O’Halloran. “I’ll take him over anybody (in the conference).”

But not even O’Halloran could delay the imminent offensive eruption from Iowa, prompting flashbacks from Tuesday, where a grand-slam-induced six-run fifth inning submerged his team into the losers’ bracket.

On the first pitch of his outing, center fielder Kyle Huckstorf pulverized a slider over freshman center fielder Jonathan Kim’s head for an RBI triple to extend the Hawkeyes’ lead to a pair of runs — taking the wind out of O’Halloran’s sails before he could leave the port.

Iowa then sealed a berth in the title game in the following inning, racking up three additional runs behind three base hits. O’Halloran exited before

finishing the frame, recording just three total outs. The two-game shelling from the Hawkeyes — a stark contrast to his dominant regular season — catapulted O’Halloran’s ERA above 4.00 for the first time in 2023.

“I hate it for him because he’s so competitive,” Smith said.

“But I think when he takes a step back and reflects … in the history of Michigan baseball, when you say his name, it’s going to be up there with some of the best ones that have ever played here.”

But as O’Halloran went through a tunnel of teammate high fives and returned to the visitor dugout — his afternoon, season and Michigan career terminated — a visible lack of fanfare celebrated that accomplishment-ladened three-year run. No standing ovation, no video-board tribute, not even a last vintage gem for Wolverine fans to send off their ace on the path to Major League Baseball.

Just Iowa fans celebrating their eventual advancement to Sunday’s Big Ten Championship as junior right-hander John Torroella assumed the mound, attempting to fill the sizable chasm vacated by O’Halloran.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Sports

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 — 15A

Get-right offseason primes Frank Nazar for bounceback year CONNOR EAREGOOD Managing Sports Editor

PLYMOUTH — Cooking offers insight to the life of Frank Nazar III. Not because he’s some wunderkind chef — far from it, as his teammates would suggest. Rather, cooking counts as one more skill Nazar picked up in a getright offseason.

Because after an injury cost the better part of his freshman season, including a spot at the 2023 World Junior Championship, sophomore forward Nazar is coming back to the Michigan hockey team better prepared — and that includes adding culinary arts to his resume.

“It’s nice to know that I kind of have the skill to be able to cook something up just randomly for dinner one night,” Nazar said at the World Junior Summer Showcase. “And I also have a few

roommates that might be able to cook something up.”

But getting ready for this season doesn’t mean strictly off-ice adjustments. He also took big strides to get back to his usual, fast-skating self. Compared to his performance last season coming back from his lower-body injury, Nazar can move more freely all over the ice. His mental preparation has taken a big step, too.

There’s hardly a doubt that adjusting to college is hard for a student-athlete, but Nazar’s injury complicated things. Lessons that other freshmen learned in October became his subject matter in February. As the game moved faster than ever around him, Nazar had to adjust. With enough raw talent to play in any top six, Nazar struggled to produce from a third-line role.

Now, Nazar says he’s back to 100%, including his abilities on the ice. Playing for Team USA

at the World Junior Summer Showcase gives him an opportunity to test out exactly what 100% means.

“It’s nice to get these games and kind of get a feel for where I’m at,” Nazar said. “And then get a few more weeks of training in and then head back to school.”

Playing for Team USA is more than a conditioning stint — he’s also a valuable defensive center for the Americans. Don’t think his coaches are missing the opportunity, either.

“We’re just really thankful for him that he’s gotten to full health,” USA coach David Carle said. “He’s had a really good summer (that) he’s confident in, so I think it’s a great starting point for him with this, to just kind of start fresh and have a real good camp. … But (our) hope is that he continues to showcase himself and put himself in a good position.”

This is a prelude to what could

be a bounce back year for Nazar.

Finally recovered from his injury, Nazar projects to be the Wolverines’ No. 1 center after Adam Fantilli left for the NHL. Nazar, though, isn’t counting his chickens.

“That’s not really what I’m focused on,” Nazar said. “It’s more about getting back to my game and just sticking to what I know and being the best that I can be. And if that’s what I end up earning and that’s the spotI end up playing — obviously I’ll have to earn it and just be able to stay there.”

His coach at Michigan, however, is a little more confident in what a healthy Nazar could bring.

Earlier this month, Wolverines coach Brandon Naurato showed his excitement at the prospect of having Nazar with all his capabilities.

“This might be a bold statement — why can’t he rival what

Adam Fantilli did last year?” Naurato told The Athletic. “He can do that. He’s that type of player. He’s just gotta stay healthy, which he should be, and put it together, have some chemistry with linemates. But he’s got the potential to do that.”

That chemistry wasn’t abundantly clear last season alongside forwards Jackson Hallum and Eric Ciccolini. Nazar only put up seven points in 13 games, a far cry from his 70 points in 56 games for the National Team Development Program a year earlier.

Now, there’s evidence he might get a spark from some linemates.

Should he fill Fantilli’s shoes, Nazar could center sophomore forwards Rutger McGroarty and Gavin Brindley, both of whom are also at Team USA’s camp.

Nazar even skated on a line with McGroarty in practice on Friday.

Combining his on-ice health with the off-ice lessons he’s

learned this offseason, Nazar is primed for a bounceback year after his freshman campaign left much to be desired. He’s got plenty of tools from Chicago’s development camp, where he learned to cook and even control his breathing.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever really done anything like that,” Nazar said. “ … It’s kind of just that aspect of ‘what is everybody else doing?’ or what is something that you can do.”

All this character growth can help Nazar in the long run, too. If he can stay healthy, play like his old self and even take care of his off-ice meals from time to time, that should allow for a much better, and earlier, adjustment than last season.

Just don’t ask his teammates to sample his cooking: “I don’t think I’d let him cook in my kitchen,” sophomore defenseman Seamus Casey joked.

JEREMY WEINE/Daily

Michigan softball to miss NCAA Tournament for first time since 1994 ZACH EDWARDS Daily Sports Writer

For the first time since 1994, the Michigan softball team will not be competing in the NCAA Tournament.

During the selection show on Sunday in which the regional schedule was released, the Wolverines did not hear their name called among the 64 teams selected — therefore, their season is over.

Michigan’s season ended with a heartbreaking loss in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Against Penn State, the Nittany Lions scored a walkoff run on a Wolverine error.

The final game encapsulated all of Michigan’s problems and strengths throughout the year.

Led by sophomore righthander Lauren Derkowski in the circle but plagued by mediocre hitting and inconsistent fielding, the Wolverines suffered their final blow in a disappoint-

RILEY NIEBOER/Daily

ing season with an early tournament exit.

Michigan finished with an overall record of 26-25 — just one win above .500 at .510 — the lowest winning percentage of any Wolverines team in program history. Michigan also amassed a measly 10-13 Big Ten record in the regular season, officially recording its secondlowest conference win percentage.

Under former Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins, the Wolverines never held a Big Ten or overall record below .500.

The results of this year’s campaign almost cost the program both of those streaks.

Now under longtime associate head coach and current Michigan coach Bonnie Tholl, the Wolverines entered the 2023 season looking to rebuild and refuel. After the retirement of Hutchins, Tholl took over the reins of a program including a young coaching staff and a team which featured nine new players

on a 20-person roster. While the season was meant to be a rebuilding year, the expectations for Michigan softball — especially in recent history — were not met.

Looking forward, the Wolverines will need a lot of help from their recruiting class and the transfer portal.

Although many players are new to the program, six players graduate and there is the possibility of losing more to the transfer portal.

With one of the worst seasons in program history now in the rearview mirror, Tholl and the entire Michigan softball team will attempt to use what they learned in the first season of a new era to come back stronger in future years. And while the Wolverines will not be headlined at the tournament this year, as they have been for the last 29 years, Tholl and a young Michigan roster will look to grow for the years to come.

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16A — Wednesday, August 30, 2023

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com