The Michigan Independent - Vol. 8, Issue 2 by Nina Bhattacharya

THE MICHIGAN APRIL 2012 / VOLUME 8 ISSUE2

p. 4

alternative post-grad opportunities

putting down roots p. 8

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nostalgia, creativity, & reclaiming the past

p. 19

recipe: toasted granola

THE MICHIGAN

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF // Nina Bhattacharya MANAGING EDITOR // Lauren Coffman STAFF WRITERS // Paige Lester Emma Maniere Raya Saksouk Gia Tammone LAYOUT // Nina Bhattacharya with help of Lauren Coffman CONTRIBUTORS // Eileen Divringi, Brock Grosso, William Leaf, Bennett Stein MISSION // The Michigan Independent exists to engage the community in constructive debate and to inspire activism for positive social change. FIND US // @MichIndependent themichiganindependent.tumblr.com EDITORIAL POLICY // The Michigan Independent is a non-partisan publication. Nothing published within these pages necessarily reflects the beliefs of our editorial board or any of its individual members. All content is decided by the editorial board. We reserve the right to edit all submissions and to hold them for future use. To the best of our knowledge, all printed submissions are original pieces and not previously published. The Michigan Independent does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. CORRECTIONS? // independenteditors@umich.edu Published with the help of

Proudly printed by Grand Blanc Printing, a union printer

In loving memory of Kavya Vaidyanathan

EDITOR’S NOTE:

buse and mental health are two subjects that are still stigmatized in America. At the University of Michigan, students and administrators are exploring ways to unfold the stigma and connect individuals to the resources they need. “Putting Down Roots” follows Spread Your Seeds, an organization creating a community around depression outreach and education. “Abuse Hurts” traces the beginnings of a University of Michigan initiative to promote prevention of and effective response to violence affecting members of the University community. This issue is packed with lighter material as well, showcasing alternative post-graduate opportunities and cataloguing ideas for perfectly progressive summer dates. We hope that you take advantage of the quirky and wonderful activities Ann Arbor has to offer this summer. In other news, we launched our updated website in January, posting biweekly with pieces exploring the arts and activist community on campus. Through “All Around Ann Arbor,” our weekly roundup of area events, our staff hoped to connect students with activities outside their normal campus bubble. Our ongoing “Getting Political Project” studies the roots of students’ political views through interviews with passionate campus leaders who represent a diverse spectrum of beliefs. These are just a few examples of the work of our small, but dedicated staff. Articles aside, it is almost time for me to graduate. (What? I know.) Only through the Independent did I learn how to design spreads, edit articles, and set up websites. The experience of spending late nights in the Union Computing Lab (UCL) with our managing editor, Lauren Coffman, is not something I will forget any time soon. Two years ago, I took the helm of this magazine by accident – when it was on the verge of disappearing. Since then, it has been a challenging and exhilarating adventure to rebuild a publication from the ground up. I’m proud to leave the Independent knowing it has foundation upon which it can continue to grow during the years to come. Happy reading. Independently yours,

NINA BHATTACHARYA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

HOTSPOT: RUSSAYOG Tucked above Mr. Greek’s on State St., RussaYog is a hidden gem for students seeking an alternative, holistic addition to their fitness regimen. The brainchild of Dr. Jasprit Singh -- a professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department at the University of Michigan -- the RussaYog technique incorporates free-flowing ropes with yoga postures to create a vibrant, invigorating yoga practice. The space itself is inviting. The floor is lined with colorful mats and opens to big bay windows facing State St. Wide beams cross the ceiling and act as the anchor for the thick ropes that are integral to RussaYog. RussaYog not only uses the ropes in its practice, but also short scarves (doras) that add an additional stretch to certain positions. Stressing mindful breathing, postures, and coordianted movement with breath, most RussaYog classes move at a pace accessible to both experienced and beginning yoga enthusiasts. Even more importantly, the environment is nonjudgmental and instructors often show how each participant can adapt particular poses to accommodate his or her needs. RussaYog is particularly effective at improving upperbody strength and posture, undoing the tension most students develop in front from of the computer. Drop-in classes at the studio range from $7 to $13,

photo credit: lara cooper // noozhawk.

BY: NINA BHATTACHARYA editor-in-chief

215 S. State St. (2nd floor) Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (p) 734-834-0507 (w) www.russayog.com

depending on the length of the class. An 11 class pack is priced at $75 -- a deal comparable to the University of Michigan’s U-Move class package. An added bonus? Class ends with snacks and ginger chai!

GUIDE: EXAM WEEK PRODUCTIVITY

With exams just around the corner, many of you will be camping in the Fishbowl, frantically hammering out those 8 pages you probably should have started last week. Here are a couple suggestions to make getting that ‘A’ just a little bit easier for you.

AN 8TRACKS STUDY PLAYLIST: 8tracks.com is another online music site, best known for its signature, usercreated 8 track mixtapes. The website is home to BY: NINA BHATTACHARYA over 4,600+ study editor-in-chief playlists -- more than enough music to help you focus through a night of studying.

THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE: In this established time management technique, set your timer to 25 minutes. Work until the timer goes off. Take a short break. Repeat. Particularly effective when coupled with SelfControl, an application to help you block your access to timewaster like Facebook.

PROOFREAD: Any professor will tell you in a heartbeat that spelling and grammatical errors detract from even the most innovative of essays. Try to leave yourself enough time to print your assignment and go through it with red pen. You might catch a mistake that will save you a couple of points.

SLEEP: Even a two hour nap will give your brain a necessary break from cramming for an exam. There’s no point in staying awake if you are barely functional. Waking up and tackling those last few notes with a fresh mind may very well give the edge you need to pass.

ALTERNATIVE

POST-

GRAD

EILEEN DIVRINGI

CORO FELLOWS Interested in gaining experience from a variety of sectors? In just nine months, the Coro Fellowships program gives participants the opportunity to intern in multiple different organizations, ranging from local governments, to businesses to labor unions and more. These internships are supplemented by leadership development seminars and group interviews with prominent community decision-makes. Coro Fellowships provide placements in: Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and St. Louis. // www.coro.org

contributor

More and more students are looking toward fellowship programs that have a social impact, from Teach for America to City Year. Here are a few alternative post-graduate opportunities you might have missed that seek to create change in the communities where they are based.

CODE FOR AMERICA The 11-month Code for America fellowships provide computing enthusiasts with an opportunity to turn their programming skills into public service innovations. The fellows will comprise teams of web designers, programmers and technology entrepreneurs that work with local governments to develop applications to save money and improve city services, all while receiving a crash course in public administration. City governments must apply for a team of fellows, so placement locations vary each year. // www.codeforamerica.org

HARRIET TUBMAN INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING The Harriet Tubman Center for Community Organizing is a Detroit-based nonprofit dedicated to the recruitment and development of career community organizers. During their three-month summer internship, participants will work with one or more of the Tubman Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affiliated community organizations, developing their understanding of power and organizing strategy in issue areas such as homelessness, youth violence, subsidized housing and more. This internship provides the training and experience necessary to pursue permanent organizing positions in communities across the country. // www.tubmanorganizing.org

CITY HALL FELLOWS Within the decade, almost 1/3 of all American civil servants will be eligible for retirement, while civil service careers have consistently had difficulty attracting new, young talent. Since local governments provide the vast majority of direct services to their residents, this talent gap will profoundly impact many American communities. City Hall Fellows hopes to fill that impending gap by recruiting top college graduates to be the next generation of local government and civil service leaders. Fellows are placed in a yearlong appointment with a local government agency or department and receive public-service orient leadership training. City Hall Fellowships provide placement in: San Francisco and Houston. // www.cityhallfellows.org

MICHIGAN AMERICORPS PARTNERSHIP Like a domestic version of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is a federally funded program that provides participants with a stipend to work on service projects with a variety of faith-based and community organizations. The Michigan AmeriCorps partnership is a collaborative program between U of M and AmeriCorps that places students and recent graduates with nonprofits across southeast Michigan, in fields as diverse as education, social work and economic development. Placements can last anywhere from one summer to two full years. A side benefit: all student loan payments are deferred for the full duration of the AmeriCorps service. // www. ginsberg.umich.edu/americorps

FOOD CORPS

Knowing that obesity and nutritional deficiencies disproportionately impact under-resourced communities, Food Corps provides one-year positions for college graduates to implement critical changes in Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food system. This is done through the establishment of farm-toschool programs, direct nutrition education and even the construction of community food gardens. Placement organizations include schools, farms, public health agencies and nonprofits. Currently, Food Corps has members working in 10 different states, including Michigan. // www. foodcorps.org

NOSTALGIA, creativity, reclaiming

the past

VANGUARDS 2012

“

GIA TAMMONE

staff writer

As adults, we look back at childhood with envious gazes,” reads one sign tacked outside the makeshift classroom inside the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. “Childhood was when we learned the basics… we learned that creativity falls second to following instructions… in other words, we learned to assimilate.” Undoing and challenging the rigid socialization of childhood was one goal of the 8th annual Vanguards block party, an event hosted by the University of Michigan arts advocacy group, Fighting Obstacles Knowing Ultimate Success (F.O.K.U.S.). While there may not have been any homework or exams on April 14, the F.O.K.U.S. “classroom” still had many lessons to share. Between handfuls of fruit snacks and other kid favorites, college students reworked old Barbies and action figures into creatures with three heads, six arms, or no limbs at all. Across the room, Post Secret style cards conveyed the deepest secrets of 13-year-old selves. The outpouring of nostalgic creativity was a perfect avenue to translate art into action, questioning conformity and stressing independent thinking through the appropriation of childhood activities. “The mission of this year’s Vanguard was the unlearning of all the things that we had been socialized to know in childhood,” explained Evalyn Carter, a member of F.O.K.U.S. The school theme led the event’s attendees from their early school days to the present. Elementary school housed the aforementioned Barbie reconfiguration, which was a chance to rethink the gender ideas many people still hold from the days of “girls’ toys” and “boys’ toys.” Middle school, of course, was the time when a child realizes that, in the words of Carter, “maybe boys don’t have cooties.” In honor of this explosion of hormones, the middle school station pushed participants to use painful memories of puberty to reconsider socialized ideas of sexuality.

(left) Various “classroom” activities at Vanguards. (right top) Post Secret collage. (right bottom) Maimouna Youssef, Sigma Step team, F.O.K.U.S members get funky. // photo credit: Gia Tammone

During high school, a student’s different identities ranging from the Belly Dancing Club. Former Roots other identities often come to the routine (gender identity, sexual orien- member and talented emcee Maimouforefront. To explore this issue, tation) to the unexpected (geographina Youssef, in addition to performing F.O.K.U.S used race as the theme of the cal location, linguistic ability). a killer set, summed up the event in teenager station. Six jars filled with As empowering as it is to rethink her discussion of the current state of different colored M&Ms representing long held beliefs, it is also important hip hop. “We’ve got to take hip hop the demographics of different back, because music is meant to “ cities were on display. The jars inspire.” COLLEGE IS WHERE EVERYTHING were unlabeled, inviting the At Vanguards 2012, everyyou’ve learned comes to a head, and viewer to guess the racial and one got to “take back” something you start to notice new things about ethnic breakdown of several -- teen angst, schoolyard rules your identity.” cities. The answers were surpris-- and use it for inspired new ing and thought provoking; Ann thought on identity, creativity, Arbor, for example, is not quite and all that we have (un)learned the haven of diversity that many since childhood. There won’t students make it out to be. be a quiz on this material, but Finally, college, and a station to take breaks and have fun. Underhere’s hoping everyone retains the labeled “identity crisis.” “College is standing this, F.O.K.U.S organized new lessons learned. where everything you’ve learned a “cafeteria” of kid-friendly snacks, comes to a head, and you start to noa “Recess” consisting of a bike and Gia Tammone is a sophomore in the tice new things about your identity,” skateboard decoration station, and College of Literature, Science, & the explained F.O.K.U.S member Courtney performances from artists such as the Arts, studying Political Science and Communications. Cox. The station contained a list of 30 Sigma Step Team and the Michigan

PUTTING DOWN

ROOTS BY NINA BHATTACHARYA

“S

pread your seeds is for the people who find themselves feeling unrooted on more days than others.” Creating community and battling isolation are primary goals of Spread Your Seeds, a new organization devoted to education and outreach for depression. The Spread Your Seeds LOVEFEST on April 11 highlighted the organization’s efforts to start a conversation on an often-overlooked subject. Depression is more than feeling sad; rather, it is a long lasting, often recurring illness that can have disabling impacts on an individual’s behavior, mood, and health. According to the College Mental Health Survey data collected from November 2009 to January 2010, 67 percent of University of Michigan students “sometimes feel isolated and alone.” The effort comes at a critical moment, inspired by Jordan Harris, a senior at the University of Michigan who passed away at the end of March after suffering depression. “One day, Jordan was talking to me how she was feeling low and wanted to take this meditation class. It was kind of expensive, so we started talking about brainstorming ways to fundraise for it. For some reason, this idea emerged out of somewhere and we got really excited. The idea was to sell glass vial necklaces filled with seeds and with the proceeds going to funding holistic healing opportunities,” said Poonam Dagli, one of Harris’ close roommates. “The idea was for Jordan to take a class in meditation.” “She was supposed to be at the launch party today, but then depression got the best of her,” said Candice Ammori, one of Harris’ best friends. There was a journal I had passed around to our housemates and she was the first one to

write in it. On one of the pages, she said she wanted to write a children’s book on depression and outlined some of her ideas. We thought we could turn this launch party into something that could contribute to depression outreach.” The glass vials hold a mix of seeds native to Michigan and hanging on an adjustable cord. Uncorking the vial, the wearer can spread the seeds to wherever they like to feel more rooted. Proceeds

from all the necklaces will go toward funding a children’s book on depression, one of Harris’ wishes that her friends and family hope to fulfill. Ammori also observed that destigmatizing depression was another goal of Spread Your Seeds. “It often has a connotation of being a personality flaw and your own fault. But seeing it firsthand through Jordan, I can safely say it is absolutely not true,” she said. “Depression should not just be destigmatized, but also become something

that is talked about,” added Will Defebaugh, another one of Harris’ housemates and friends. “Depression is clearly something a lot of people deal with, whether in the in more serious clinical forms like Jordan had or not. One of the biggest contributors to it is isolation and tonight is a perfect example of what want to do – get people together and get them talking and using community to talk about difficult issues.” The event reflected the organizers’ sentiments, emphasizing that depression is an illness through eyecatching signs around the room. Moreover, the space was designed encourage a supportive and safe space for everyone walking in. A masking tape tree lined the floor, asking attendees to write on its branches when they felt connected. On the other side of the room, a group of Harris’ friends collected donations and sold necklaces to benefit the children’s book. Other attendees contributed to a growing mural full of positive quotes and pictures. The event featured live music and snacks later in the evening, continuing to build the community with shared experience. The at-capacity room of people laughing, talking, and reminiscing was only a testament to the love and passion that Harris herself represented. To learn more about how you can contribute to Spread Your Seeds, please visit their website, www.spreadyourseeds.com. Nina Bhattacharya is a senior in the School of Public Policy, focusing on public health policy.

OPINION

ARE PRISONS

OBSOLETE? BROCK GROSSO

contributor

Throughout our country’s history, and increasingly in the past 40 years, our criminal justice system has to people who break laws by locking them in cages. We have been told incarceration is necessary to punish and reform those who break laws, as well to deter others from committing crimes. This rhetoric has been so ingrained in our society that we have trouble of thinking of alternative methods of handling situations where harm is committed. It is as if prisons are a natural phenomenon and not a cultural institution that has evolved over time. Our inability to think outside the cage of prisons has led to our reliance on incarceration as a response to social problems and citizen control. By developing other institutions, such as public education and drug rehabilitation, I believe we can make prisons obsolete. When I tell people that Students Organizing Against Prisons (SOAP) advocates for the abolition of prisons, I am often faced with the question, “So you just want to let everyone out of prison?” While this is a valid and expected question, it reveals a misunderstanding of prison abolition. Prisons currently fill the void left by inadequate social services, public education, and employment opportunities. Segments of our population, especially communities of color, are cut off from resources through segregation, red lining, and racial discrimination. Then, instead of investing in these communities, our policy response is to increase police presence and throw tens of thousands of people in prison. Prison abolitionists aren’t solely advocating for the elimination of prisons, but a restructuring of current institutions that would respond to social problems in a constructive manner. But, even if we begin to address problems like poverty and drug addiction through institutions such as community investment and rehabilitation, people will continue to harm each other in some capacity. Currently, we choose to respond

to far too many of these instances through incarceration. There are more effective methods to handle these situations. We must be willing to think about why harm was committed and how it can be remedied while respecting the humanity of all involved. I believe that if we truly want to create safe and just societies, we need to reexamine our criminal justice system and move away from incarceration. We must begin to respond to harm proactively, by investing in marginalized communities and allowing opportunities for these communities to grow. This means improving our public school system, creating more government administered employment, decriminalizing narcotics, and increasing access to higher education, among other necessary reforms. In the event harm does occur, we must ask ourselves if punishing the offender is an effective way to create justice. Instead, I would advocate that we take time to understand why that harm occurred, how we can address it, and how we can prevent similar harms for happening in the future. In this restorative model, I believe we can build understanding and connection in and among our communities, which is essential to creating safe spaces. But the first step in this process is deconstructing our beliefs about prisons. We must understand that mass incarceration is a conscientious policy decision, not a natural response to harm. We have to begin to handle social problems with just and effective institutions. We can choose to make prisons obsolete. Brock Grosso is a Junior in the Ford School of Public Policy. He is also on the Lead Team of Students Organizing Against Prisons (SOAP). For more information on prison abolition and how you can get involved, please email soap.lead@umich.edu.

1 SAVAGE U

SEX NEWS

YOU NEED TO KNOW BY: LAUREN COFFMAN

2 TENNESSEE The state of Tennessee has proposed curriculum for its sex ed program which would inform students of the dangers of “gateway sexual activity.” Under older Tennessee statutes, teachers would be allowed to suggest non-sexual activities to their students in an effort to prevent STIs and pregnancy.

On the heels of his successful “It Gets Better campaign,” famed internet sex advice columnist and podcaster, Dan Savage takes on the daunting subject of sex ed for college students. With visits to frat houses and health clinics, Savage provides advice for the least and most experienced viewers alike.

3 THE BLOW

JOB IS DEAD

According to the “experts” at Esquire, the era of the blow job is over, with men prefering to give, rather than receive oral pleasure. While this might signal the turning over of a new leaf in sexual equality, any COMM211 student could tell you the survey of the author’s seven middle-aged friends was less than scientific.

PROGRESSIVE SUMMER MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

For a fun and free date night, pick up a summer-themed movie from the Askwith Media Library and escape the summer heat indoors.

GREASE

ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES THE GREAT OUTDOORS I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER DIRTY DANCING ADVENTURELAND THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH MR. HULOT’S HOLIDAY

DOG DAY AFTERNOON REAR WINDOW STAND BY ME NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION THE SANDLOT MY GIRL

LATE NIGHT MOVIE

Cuddle up at a Midnight Movie at the State Theater. With campy and hipster cult classics, this provides a perfect casual date option. This summer’s offerings include The Royal Tenenbaums and Wet Hot American Summer. michigantheater.org

BY LAUREN COFFMAN

WEST WING & PIZZA Snuggle up on the couch with a slice from your favorite local pizza place and a disc of The West Wing From the Askwith Media Library. Root for Josh and Donna (or Amy) and show your political know how while discussing your dream Cabinet.

E DATE NIGHT: SUMMER LOVIN’

SUMMER DATE NIGHT SOUNDTRACK

Music to get ready to, or to impress a date with your great taste

SUMMER LOVE // Justin Timberlake

SUMMERTIME // Beyonce

OFF TO THE RACES // Lana Del Rey

SUMMERTIME //

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

AMOREENA // Elton John

SUMMER WIND // Frank Sinatra

STARRY EYED // Ellie Goulding

NIGHT MOVES // Bob Seger

PDA //

Frank Ocean

HIGH SCHOOL LOVER // Oregon Bike Trails

ANN ARBOR STREET ART FAIR

Stroll through Ann Arbor’s famed Art Fair. With performances, art boots, and competitions at both the State Street and downtown locations, there are plenty of sights to be seen at one of Ann Arbor’s most famous annual attractions.

ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL

The Summer Festival is one of Ann Arbor’s greatest institutions. This year’s offerings include performances from Feist and Ira Glass and the annual outdoor movie screenings.

ABUSE

HURTS. Looking behind the successful initiative tackling abuse in the University community.

NINA BHATTACHARYA

editor-in-chief

L’abus fait mal. El abuso lastima. Abuse hurts. Brightly colored and wallet-sized, the pamphlets from the Abuse Hurts initiative are ubiquitous in the bathroom stalls of the Michigan Union. Located next to the toilet paper, the multilingual pamphlets highlight critical facts about relationship abuse – from protection tips to campus resources – in the private space of the restroom. The intuitively designed safety cards may have launched only a year ago, but the Abuse Hurts initiative itself has been growing since 2006. Sue Kaufmann, the Associate Director of Advocacy for the Center for the Education of Women (CEW) at the University of Michigan, is one of instrumental individuals behind the initiative’s development. “We had absolutely nothing

addressing domestic violence and partner violence for anyone,” said Kaufmann, recalling her tenure as a chair and co-chair for a Washtenaw

“ WE HAD ABSOLUTELY nothing addressing domestic violence and partner violence for anyone.”

County task force on gender violence and safety. Kaufmann led the countywide collaboration from 1995 to 2004, bringing together local service providers, law enforcement, prosecu-

tors, and individuals from across the university community. “We [the university] had a violence in the workplace policy. Like a lot of policies, it was very brief, it said essentially, ‘Don’t do it.’ It listed domestic violence as one of the forms of violence we might experience on campus but there were no implementation guidelines at all,“ said Kaufmann while describing the beginnings of the initiative, which primarily targets employees of the University of Michigan. Beginning in 2006, Kaufmann and her colleagues organized interested parties across the campus to develop a comprehensive and accessible website for members of the University community. At the time, effective campus domestic violence policies were rare. Drawing on models from the federal

government and Oregon, the committee gathered enough content to launch the website. The Abuse Hurts website reflects the committee’s thoughtful attention to accessibility. It is cleanly designed and easy to navigate. In simple language, the website outlines action steps for supervisors, survivors, and colleagues and defines important terms associated with relationship abuse. The website, however, is not the only component to Abuse Hurts’ outreach efforts. The initiative trains

continuing make sure the initiative is relevant. “Abuse is a difficult issue and it’s important to continue to practice, continue to learn, continue to really be ready when and if those skills are called up,” Rider-Milkovich said, referring to the initiative’s trainings. According to Rider-Milkovich, the initiative has had a significant impact on response from individuals targeted for abuse. “I personally have talked to a number of survivors on the crisis line who first had contact through the Abuse Hurts website. They got to

FAST FACTS // SURVIVOR / term for the individual who is being targeted for abuse. Sometimes they may be referred to as “victims.”

651 / number of patients reporting intimate partner violence to University Hospital Emergency Department staff in 2009.

CONTROL / in domestic violence, control is maintained through the use of threats and intimidation. Batterers have the need to have control over their lives. That usually means eliminating

University employees working in human resources how to communicate and connect individuals to appropriate resources. Conducted through the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention Board, the final two-hour training is the result of a yearlong process. “There were 27 drafts,” said Kaufmann. “It wasn’t so much getting the guidelines on paper that was the work, as actually grappling with where did we want people to go for help and under what circumstances can we or can we not maintain confidentiality. Moreover, what do we do when people don’t want any help?” For Holly Rider-Milkovich, the Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) and a representative on the Abuse Hurts board, another challenge is

Housing,” noted Kaufmann. “It was an amazing collaboration between faculty, staff and students and community members, each providing their expertise and their perspective and really learning from each other, “ said Rider-Milkovich, who views the collaborative nature of Abuse Hurts as an effective model to reach the diverse constituencies at the University of Michigan. For students, it is easy to forget that the University of Michigan is a major employer in the region. The

some quick numbers and definitions from the Abuse Hurts website // hr.umich.edu/stopabuse

the opportunity for their partners to choose anything for themselves.

3,242 / number of adults who spend at least one night at SafeHouse Center in 2009

COERCIVE BEHAVIOR / examples of coercive behavior are when one partner requires the other to have sex, or go out in the car, or stay at home, and forces her or him to comply through pressure, threats or physical restraint.

their website and got more information and then called the crisis line, so that was a really important portal for them to get help.” Both Kaufmann and Rider-Milkovich point to the initiative’s cross-campus efforts as another strength of its multi-faceted approach. In September 2011, Abuse Hurts hosted a teach-in with SAPAC, the Women’s Studies department, and the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) to respond the real anxiety about serial sexual assaults that plagued Ann Arbor last summer. Not only was response to the teach-in immense, the initiative streamed the recorded footage for educational programs in residence halls. “We got a much broader reach than we would have without the technology and the help and support of

39 / average number of hotline calls domestic violence programs within Michigan receive every hour

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE / occurs when a person uses physical violence, coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation, stalking, or emotional, sexual or economic abuse to gain or maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.

Abuse Hurts initiative opens the conversation about abuse to the entire campus community. As a result, there is more opportunity for people to actually seek help. Although not all survivors will seek help, the Abuse Hurts initiative reinforces the University of Michigan’s commitment to creating a safe space for all of its members. “We’ve sent an institutional message that we care about this issue and that it’s important to us,” said RiderMilkovich. “We’ve said that it’s okay to talk about abuse because we’re going to talk about it too. I think that cannot be undervalued.” Nina Bhattacharya is a senior in the School of Public Policy, focusing on public health policy.

AFFIRMATIVE

ACTION 101 Campus event brings back attention to a controversial topic RAYA SAKSOUK

staff writer

There’s budding hope for a new civil rights movement on campus these days, and it seems it might be growing. On April 11, Shanta Driver -- a key player in the 2003 court victory upholding affirmative action programs at the University of Michigan Law School -- visited campus and voiced an inspiring call to action to supporters of affirmative action. Driver led the discussion at Affirmative Action 101, a forum calling on student leaders to fight back against what she calls the “resegregation” of public schools. Along the way, Driver made her case for why schools really do need affirmative action programs. It all comes down to minimizing the gap. To highlight her point, Driver asked her audience to consider the following: a white student and an African American student are both enrolled at Harvard. They are in the same year, studying biology, and they both have 4.0 grade point averages. When the time comes to take the LSAT, however, the white student scores, on average, nine points higher than the African American student. When the African American student is substituted for a Latino student in the same situation, the gap is only slightly lower at 7.8. Indeed, much of what Driver addressed in Wednesday night’s forum dealt with these test scores and the ways in which American society sees itself reflected in the numbers. What Americans are witnessing here isn’t an issue of “racial inferiority,” according to Driver, but a problem rooted within the system itself. A number of factors are undoubtedly at play when it comes to the gap in scoring. Stereotype threat, for one, is

certainly worth consideration in any assessment of results. If a standardized test is administered to a woman who is told her it is an exam to evaluate her skill in math, studies have shown that she will likely do poorly -- in accordance with society expects of her. If the same test is administered with a different reason, chances are the result will be the opposite. The same situation applies to other minority students. When African American and Latino students are administered a test they are told will determine their futures, they are more likely to be outperformed by their white counterparts. Since the passing of Proposal 2 in 2006, which banned the preferential treatment of minority groups in Michigan public schools, University of Michigan enrollment has witnessed firsthand what happens without affirmative action programs. In the five years between 2005 and 2010 -- the proposal was overturned in July of 2011 -- the enrollment of underrepresented minorities (African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans) dropped 36 percent in the college of Literature, Science and the Arts. At the law school, minority enrollment dropped 56 percent. This apparent “resegregation” of schools, as Driver describes it, inevitably results in the rise of racism on campus. In her eyes, the campus environment at the University of Michigan is “really hostile” toward minority students, and the suggestion seems to be that if enrollment continues to decline like it has the problem will only get worse. One of the many issues at hand, however, is that affirma-

} NUMBERS

tive action has never been easy to talk about. Frank discussion of the subject requires critical attention to complex issues of race and privilege. The number of students who attended Affirmative Action 101 wasn’t particularly impressive, and Driver took special note of the students who fear the negative consequences of speaking out. Her message to them: You are not alone. And indeed they aren’t. Driver is the national chair of a group called BAMN, started at UC-Berkeley in 1995 and known more formally as The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary. The group was behind the fifty thousand strong March on Washington that helped win the Grutter v. Bollinger case in 2003. Today, they continue in their aim to spark a new, reinvigorated civil rights movement. The fight was made before, she explained, and can be made again. The Supreme Court is expected to listen arguments regarding Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin this year, another affirmative action case that could determine the future of the policy for good. A decision on this case has potential to even qualify the limited use of race in admissions policies as unconstitutional. This fall, there is no doubt that affirmative action will again capture the attention of students and faculty alike at the University of Michigan, an institution deeply intertwined in the complicated and controversial history of the policy.

Raya Saksouk is a freshman in the school of Literature, Science, & the Arts.

THUMBS

DOWN BY LAUREN COFFMAN

$23.76

The estimated average date night tab in Ann Arbor, according to Yahoo’s ranking of best cities for singles.

3,800

The number of Tim Horton’s stores. The franchise has plans to open two more in Ann Arbor.

72%

Percentage of Americans in a CNN poll who support the Buffett Rule, a rule that would ensure millionaires pay a comparable tax rate to middle-class Americans.

}

THUMBS

4,100

The number of Detroit Public School teachers laid off by the state of Michigan

BRANGELINA’S ENGAGEMENT Apparently all anyone had to do was ask the kids. Finally, a nonKardashian cause for wedding frenzy.

SCHOOL OF NURSING A new building for the School of Nursing was recently approved. An important step to accommodate a growing applicant pool and address primary care.

GIRLS (WHO RUN THE WORLD) Lena Dunham’s HBO show is taking the comedy world by storm with a more realistic portrayal than its predecessors.

FOX’S “YOUR WORLD” The conservative talk show attacked Hillary Clinton’s recent appearance at a Colombian nightlife hotspot to a Jersey Shore addition. We think they are just jealous.

ORDER, BLAH BLAH It’s that time of year again when everyone remembers Order of Angell exists, distracting everyone from more important campus issues -- like tuition equality.

GIRLS (WHO DON’T RUN THE WORLD) “Girls” may portray women more realistically -- but only white women. The show’s lack of diversity (in New York of all places!) is pretty, pretty awful.

PROGRESSIVE GUIDE TO WHAT’S

GOOD FOR YOU VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS

BY GIA TAMMONE If you’re a progressive individual, chances are that if you’re not vegetarian or vegan you have a friend who is. Following are a few suggestions for meat-free dinners out that everyone can enjoy. Bonus: all of these restaurants are also gluten-allergy friendly. Seva // www.sevarestaurant.com

Jazzy Veggie // www.jazzyveggie.com

Silvio’s // www.silviosorganicpizza.com

Taste of India: Suvai // www.tasteofindiaaa.com

An obvious choice if you live on or near campus, but one worth making! Seva’s menu has a wide variety of influences from Mexican (the ever popular Enchiladas Calabaza), Thai (Cilantro-Peanut Stir Fry), and American (portobello and tempeh burgers). Be sure to check out the delicious appetizer (yam fries!) and juice options as well.

The perfect way to feel sophisticated and get your pizza fix at the same time. Silvio’s offers a seemingly endless variety of pizza options in sizes suitable for one or many. Toppings range from the typical (Hawaiian) to the fancy (spinich and goat cheese) to the unexpected (potato). And save room for dessert: the vegan chocolate cheesecake is a decadent treat you don’t want to miss.

This Main Street eatery features tasty sandwiches, pizzas, and entrees in a colorful and casual atmosphere. Plantain chips are included with sandwiches and are a delightful twist on typical sandwich fare. The employees are fun, friendly, and helpful. Even better, they offer a student discount!

Suvai has a delicious and extensive menu of Indian dishes and appetizers. The choices can be a bit overwhelming, but take comfort in the fact that you and your companions can (and should!) order multiple dishes to share. No matter what you decide on, however, make sure to get a side order of one of the tasty flatbread options.

}

VERY VEGGIE

WORDS

“I wish they weren’t called the ‘Bush tax cuts.’ If they were called some-other-body’s tax cuts, they’re probably less likely to be raised.” FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH at the Bush Institute Conference on Taxes and Economic Growth in New York City

“Sometimes when you’re feeling blue, all you need is a little maize.” PHOTO / joythebaker.com

TOASTED GRANOLA

add a little sweet PIZAZZ to your morning

4 cups oats 1 cup salted peanuts + 1 cup dried cranberries + 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup brown sugar* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*can decrease brown sugar for subtler sweetness + substitute for almonds, sweetened shredded coconut, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and so on!

{

BY NINA BHATTACHARYA, RECIPE ADAPTED FROM JOY THE BAKER

MAKE: 1 // Preheat oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 2 // Whisk oats, peanuts, dried cranberries, cinnamon, and salt.

3 // Melt butter, oil, honey, and brown sugar in saucepan until sugar is dissolved and mixture starts to boil.

4 // Whisk until well incorporated and add vanilla extract. 5 // Pour wet mixture over oat mixture and toss until toss until oats are coated.

7 // Remove, cool, snack!

“That thing is a nuisance.” REP. PETE HOEKSTRA (R-MI) on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helps women hold employers accountable for pay discrimination.

“ROFL @ ur tumblr! g2g scrunchie time. ttyl?...” HILLARY CLINTON in a submission to the acerbic, witty, and completely viral meme on Tumblr, “Texts From Hillary.”

“We got a long way to go, and we have faith. We will continue to hold hands on this journey -white, black and Latino.” TRACY MARTIN Trayvon Martin’s father on the decision to take George Zimmerman

}

6 // Spread mixture on prepared baking sheet(s) and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remember to stir oats a few times during baking!

MITCH ALBOM exercising a little University of Michigan spirit in a recent column on visiting Ann Arbor.

DE N

ST U

TE IN

RVIEW

jeff liu. WITH NINA BHATTACHARYA

ty involved with the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Studies program. Can you tell more about your involvment? The APIA Studies program is within the American Culture department. The head of the department is Professor Scott Kurashige. They offer a minor in APIA Studies and they are really involved in the Asian American community. Year: Senior They help us coordinate and orMajor: Engineering Physics ganize many of our big events, Minor: Complex Systems, Math either with logistical help or acaOrgs: United Asian American Organidemic expertise. They have also zations, Revolution coordinated a bunch of really awesome things. This year, we brought in Maya Soetoro-Ng, Barack The Michigan Independent: So, Jeff. Obama’s half-sister, for a speech on Tell us a little about yourself! education for peace and global awareI’m a senior studying Engineering ness. Last year, they held an amazing Physics, with minors in Complex Sys- Asian American activism conference tems and Math. I’m one of the out- that brought together students, pergoing co-chairs of the United Asian formers, activists, and faculty. American Organizations (UAAO), which is a coalition of 15 Asian Ameri- So, they have been a really great recan student organizations on campus. source on campus but lately the UniI’m also one of the co-presidents of veresity -- we feel -- hasn’t given them much attention and resources as they Revolution, the Chinese yoyo team. should. This year, I think they lost 4 faculty members, which was half of What is the goal of UAAO? their entire program. Michigan’s PacifSo, the goals of UAAO are multi-facet- ic Islander program, we had some of ed. One of our goals is to bring togeth- the leading experts. Losing nearly half er the Asian American community to of the entire program has been devescreate a sense of unity and to foster tating in terms of the classes they can collaboration and cultural exchange offer and the amount they can outbetween organizations. We also pro- reach. It took them 20 years to get the mote activism -- many of our student program to that size, and in one year orgs are social-based and when UAAO they erased 15 years of work. was founded it was based on social activism to fill a niche in the Asian With the ethnic studies ban in American community. We engage with Arizona and the situation here at voter registration, engagement. We do Michigan, there seems to be an eroworkshps to raise awareness of Asian sion of ethnic studies programs. American issues like the model minor- What do you think is the value of ity myth, hate crime, and health issues. ethnic studies programs? Is it still still relevant to campus? I’ve heard that UAAO has been pret-

Ethnic studies is still definitely relevnt. It would only be irrelevant when ethnic studies gets its fair share in history curriculum. Because, right now, in normal curriculum you’re lucky if you get one day on Japanese internment. You wouldn’t even get to cover other important Asian American issues.

I think it is really important to have curriculum that explains that side of the story from the perspective of someone who identifies as that ethnicity. So, it isn’t limited to Asian American studies - Native American studies, African American studies... It’s reallly important to let the people within an ethnicity to define what it means to be that ethnicity. By taking away ethnic studies, you are taking agency from that ethnicity. You’re saying, “We can tell your story better than you can” or “Your story isn’t important enough to be told.” It’s really frustrating because there’s a lot of Asian Americans here on campus who go through 4 years of school and have not heard of Japanese internment, Vincent Chin, they don’t know that Asian Americans played an important role in the civil rights movement. How has being involved in the social justice community, as well as your Asian American identity, influenced your college experience?

For a lot of Asian Americans, you come to college for the academics. Being a part of the social justice community opens your eyes, to “Oh! There are things that are more important that academics.” It’s really shaped my priorities. It’s challenged me to think why I think what I think. When you start speaking about about the larger community, you have to think about what that means. Being part of the social justice community has helped me negotiate that.

DEAR DPS, NO WILLIAM LEAF & BENNETT STEIN

S A R E M A C E C N A MORE SURVEILL

eased police cr in of st co e h T // OPINION the impact on th or w ot n is ce n lla survei our civil liberties.

contributors

Almost everyone is a criminal; if you have ever smoked marijuana, consumed alcohol underage, or walked on railroad tracks, you are guilty of a misdemeanor. If you were convicted for every offense you committed, you would probably be in prison right now. We want the police to use their authority to punish people who injure others, but the police can also harass and imprison people who have harmed nobody. Many think that the police only enforce the law, and that anyone who goes to prison is getting what they deserve, but this is not true. We are all criminals, but those of us who are not in a targeted group can ignore this fact. The police rely on complaints and do not want to enforce the law in every case. If every crime were prosecuted, courts and prisons would overflow. Politicians and their supporters would be caught in the system and they would reform the law and restrict the police. To avoid criticism, police officers only arrest people who they can get away with targeting. Officers respond to valid complaints, but they also harass homeless people, radical political groups, and racial and

religious groups with little political power. The process of choosing who to watch and arrest is largely invisible to the public. Police departments, such as the University of Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Public Safety (DPS), have internal policies, and individual officers can choose when to arrest people or let them off with warnings. Surveillance cameras make this process even more secretive and powerful. With cameras, the police do not need citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; complaints to justify who they target. Video surveillance is not limited by the size of police staff, and police officers are even less publically accountable when they do their surveillance behind a camera. We need oversight of the police in order to have a just community that protects peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; civil liberties. Surveillance cameras make it more difficult for the public to look back at the police. University Vice President E. Royster Harper and DPS leaders have suggested installing more cameras because of the recent increase in larcenies. Administrators must defend this decision against evidence from around the world showing that surveillance cameras to be largely ineffective at preventing crime. Re-

gardless of such data, some students will support the plan and many will remain apathetic because they do not think that the police will be interested in targeting them. While these students are probably right, we must not endanger the civil liberties of those whom the police are likely to target. We should only accept increased police surveillance if it will bring great benefits along with this cost. While DPS has a unique duty to promote campus safety, it must not be given free reign over our civil liberties. It is critical that DPS and University administrators look carefully at the potential costs of surveillance cameras on campus. Slightly reducing the chance that our laptops are stolen is not a good enough reason to give up what little oversight we have over the police. William Leaf, Ann Arbor Privacy Bennett Stein, ACLU-UM Undergraduate Chapter

favorite authors / WOMEN OF COLOR sister outsider / AUDRE LORDE “Sister Outsider is perhaps one of the few books I’ve read in undergrad that really challenged me to think critically about issues of social and racial justice. Lorde writes about identity in a way that compels you to do a whole of lot of self-reflection. There is never a dull moment with Audre, as she offers her readers years worth of wisdom and experience. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning how to talk openly and honestly about difference. For, as Audre once said, ‘it is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.’”

Noël Gordon Junior Political Science

Annie Sajid Senior Women’s Studies

Despite the University of Michigan’s emphasis on diversity in student population and education, it wasn’t until my senior year that I was exposed to work by women of color in my Public Policy classes. To celebrate the contributions of women of color to critical theory and literature, I contacted a few fellow students to share their favorite texts with The Michigan Independent. BY NINA BHATTACHARYA,

the house on mango street / SANDRA CISNEROS “I have read this book multiple times at different stages of my life. Its simple vignette form allows women of color to share their perspectives. It helped me think more critically about how bringing women of color (W0C) voices to the center is a revolutionary act which can spark change. “

the bridge called my back / EDITED BY CHERRÍE MORAGA & GLORIA ANZALDÚA “I recommend The Bridge Called My Back for multiple reasons, of which I will discuss two here. First, it is a great introduction into many works by women of color that are excluded in many classes and fields of study. The work provides multiple perspectives and aims to be inclusive. Secondly, and perhaps because of my own racial privilege it is problematic of me identifying this facet of this work, Moraga and Anzaldúa do a wonderful job at describing not only how, as women of color, they feel separated and excluded from aspects of the feminist movement, but also eloquently discuss that while it is frustrating to be the ones educating and fighting the institutions and hierarchies of the privileged, when it is the privileged and ignorant that often need to learn, change, etc., that they will

keep working for sustainable change and justice. Basically, I think the forwards provide a great introduction into the divides within the feminist movement, the power hierarchies and intersectionality of identities present that often go overlooked, as well as (I can only speak for my experiences) challenge readers of privileged racial identities to better understand the racial dynamics within the feminist movement, specifically the privilege of being white and the impacts of these relations. The inclusion of works by various other authors adds to the power of this piece. I highly recommend The Bridge Called My Back!”

Anne Laverty Senior Women’s Studies

WE SHALL OVERCOME

protest music mix

BY LAUREN COFFMAN & NINA BHATTACHARYA,

We all know that music is a staple of weekend dance parties and raves, but it has also helped to fuel revolutions and inspire political dissent. We've put together a list of famous protest songs from around the globe to serve as a catalyst for some of your own grassroots action. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find them online later at themichiganindependent. tumblr.com

1. Genjer-genjer (Indonesia) 2. Me Gustan Los Estudiantes (Chile) 3. We Shall Overcome (U.S.) 4. Ektu Chup Kore Shono (West Bengal) 5. Traveling Soldiers (U.S.) 6. N.E.D.A (Iran) 7. No, No Keshagesh (Native American, U.S.) 8. Solo le Pido a Dios (Argentina) 9. Virgin Mary, Redeem Us of Putin (Russia)

SENIORS.

have you crossed everything off of your michigan bucket list?

THEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STILL TIME.

contact umprojectwolverine@gmail.com get yours and support a scholarship for future wolverines. Project Wolverine is a student-run organization at the University of Michigan, sponsored by the Office of University Development and dedicated to giving back to the University of Michigan. Project Wolverine introduces a needs-based scholarship to be given first by the graduating class of 2011 and then on a yearly basis by each subsequent class.

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