The South End PDF Edition August 21-28

DON’T STARE AT ME SEE FEATURES, PAGE 6 NICOLE HAYDEN/HOMELESS HUMANS OF DETROIT

MICHIGAN PARENTS WAIVE IMMUNIZATION PAGE 2 AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 28, 2013 | WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1967 | THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU | DETROIT, MICHIGAN | FREE

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Vaccination rate dips Parents often use waivers for religious reasons

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KEITH BROWN • EG4659@WAYNE.EDU MANAGING EDITOR JILL LUBAS • JILLELUBAS@GMAIL.COM DESIGN & MULTIMEDIA EDITOR JON ADAMS • ED6239@WAYNE.EDU NEWS EDITOR WISAM DAIFI • WDAIFI@GMAIL.COM

CHRISTINA CLARK

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JAMILAH JACKSON • JAMILAH.JACKSON@WAYNE.EDU

Before you know it, it will be

SPORTS EDITOR FUAD SHALHOUT • DW8385@GMAIL.COM FEATURES EDITOR ELI HOERLER • ELIHOERLER@GMAIL.COM ONLINE EDITOR VALERIE SOBCZAK • VALERIE.SOBCZAK@GMAIL.COM COPY EDITOR SYDNEE THOMPSON • THOMPSONSYDNEE@GMAIL.COM ADVERTISING MANAGER NATALIE DIXON • NDSOUTHEND@GMAIL.COM

Michigan kindergartners had

gan’s children be vaccinated

Pertussis is naturally cyclic

immunization waivers on file

against varicella, meningo-

in nature, with peaks in disease

last year, up from about 6,900

coccus, hepatitis B, measles,

every 3-5 years. But for the past

from the year before. Three

mumps, rubella, polio, diph-

20-30 years, we’ve seen the

out of four of these exemptions

theria, tetanus and pertussis at

peaks getting higher and overall

were for philosophical reasons.

certain points throughout their

case counts going up.”

Seventeen states in the U.S. allow waivers for vac-

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PUBLICATION

The South End is published Wednesdays during the fall and winter semesters by Wayne State University students. Copies are available free of charge at various locations throughout campus. The Student Newspaper Publication Board, established by the Wayne State University Board of Governors, acts as the publisher of The South End. The board establishes and ensures compliance with publication, editorial and news reporting guidelines.

All complaints, comments and suggestions concerning the student newspaper should be directed to doso@wayne.edu.

Michigan state website.

While children whose parents refused their pertussis immu-

that time of year when the wind

cines because of philosophical

The Free Press article re-

nizations are not the cause of

starts blowing, rain starts fall-

reasons or personal beliefs. All

ported that, according to the

epidemics, a child who is not

ing, and you start coughing: flu

but three states allow religious

Michigan State Medical Society,

immunized is at least eight

season.

waivers — one of these states,

less than 72 percent of children

times more likely to catch it.

Have you or your family got-

California, includes religion as a

are fully immunized. A scary

ten your flu shots yet, or any

philosophical reason. All states

thought seeing as some of the

ent’s choice as to whether the

of your immunizations for that

allow waivers due to medi-

diseases, such as pertussis

child in their care is immunized,

matter?

cal reasons, according to the

(whooping cough), can kill a

if there is something out there

National Vaccine Information

child.

that can help to ensure the

If you answered no, you’re probably not alone.

Center (NVIC.org).

According to an article pub-

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

childhood, according to the

As a kid, you probably

“Before pertussis vaccines became widely available in the

While it is ultimately the par-

health and wellbeing of a child it should be taken.

lished by the Detroit Free Press,

remember going to the doctor

1940s, about 200,000 children

Certain diseases such as polio

“Michigan has the country’s

before the school year started

got sick with it each year in the

have been eradicated in the U.S.

fourth-highest rate of parents

every couple of years to get

US and about 9,000 died as a

with the help of vaccines. This is

getting religious or philosophi-

your shots. Although it wasn’t

result of the infection. Now we

not to say that all diseases can

cal waivers to vaccine require-

the most pleasant trip to the

see about 10,000-25,000 cases

be or will be eradicated some-

ments, according to the Centers

doctors, the quick weigh-in, a

reported each year and unfor-

day, but preventing even one

for Disease Control and Preven-

needle to the arm and a lollipop

tunately about 10-20 deaths,”

child from having to go through

tion.”

to top it off was a whole lot bet-

according to the CDC. “Since

a nasty bout of the flu, or even

The Free Press article re-

ter than a battle with the flu.

the early 1980s, there has been

a more serious disease like per-

ported that about 7,300, or 5.5

Today, it is required that

an overall trend of an increase

tussis, is worth a prod from the

percent, of the roughly 125,000

upon entry into school Michi-

in reported pertussis cases.

doctor and a sore arm.

Advertise in THE SOUTH END! share your message with readers in print and online! contact natalie dixon for more information 313-577-3494

2 I AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 28, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

A&E REVIEW

‘Tis Shakespeare in Detroit Downtown becomes backdrop to classic plays ALANA WALKER Staff Writer

For any theater or literature junkie, Shakespeare and summer are almost synonymous.

Summertime Shakespeare festivals take place in countless parks across the planet, however, the city of Detroit has had a deficiency of Shakespeare, especially in its original outdoors state.

In an effort to fill the void, Wayne State Alum Samantha White founded Shakespeare in Detroit, a non-profit production company focused on enhancing Shakespeare’s presence in the city. The company opened with a one-night performance of Othello Aug. 14 in Grand Circus Park.

The park’s folding chairs were filled MUSIC

with a diverse audience of people including seniors, children, college students and parents, all from different areas and walks of life.

“In the back of my mind, I was a bit nervous that no one would show up because Detroit has never had anything like this,” White said. “But I couldn’t have been happier with the turnout. It exceeded my expectations.”

The performance took place on a southwest facing stage with minimal set - the surrounding buildings and trees served as a backdrop.

The actors donned full Shakespearean costumes, preserving the original period of the play. The purity of the text was not distracted by flashy sets or modern adaptations, perfect for the patron looking for straight, unadulterated Shakespeare.

“This being the first Shakespeare in the Park, we wanted to keep it authentic. Especially for small children - if they didn’t understand the storyline, they could still enjoy the costumes and the characters,” White said.

All three leading characters, Othello (Hugh Duneghy II), Iago (Dennis Kleinsmith) and Desdemona (Meredith Deighton) strongly portrayed the range of emotions prevalent in the play. Iago’s soliloquies were fully engaging and entertaining, even for those who have a hard time understanding Shakespeare.

Although the stage’s microphones picked up all kinds of environmental sounds, from passing DDOT buses and the People Mover train, to brass instrumentalists and the occasional shouting homeless person walking

down Woodward, the familiarity of the sounds added a charming aspect to the fact the production was taking place in the heart of downtown.

“Probably the best feedback I’ve heard was from a woman who brought her two children, they were six and nine, and it was their first Shakespeare experience. She said they absolutely loved it and were talking about it all night,” White said.

Shakespeare in Detroit has plans to return next summer even bigger and better, as well as producing a few other intimate productions throughout the year. Judging by the audience’s standing ovation, cheers and shouts, it will be fully welcomed.

For more information about their upcoming performances, visit Facebook.com/ShakespeareInDetroit.

Essential partying Ann Delisi’s events bring new music to Majestic Cafe, WDET JESSICA FREEDLAND Contributing Writer

If there’s one party in Detroit that’s worth crashing, it’s an Ann Delisi Essential Music Listening Party.

The parties are held the third Tuesday of every month at The Majestic Café (which is only about a 15 minute walk from the David Adamany Undergraduate Library) and are free of charge.

Ann Delisi is a Wayne State alum who got her degree in music but then went on to pursue radio in the 1980s.

She started at WSU’s own radio station, 101.9 WDET, and then returned to the station again after some time away.

“The Listening Party concept was an idea that I had when I returned to WDET back in 2009,” Delisi said. “I wanted to interact with the audience and talk about music. I love hearing what people think about music, and truly enjoy watching them react to what they’ve heard,” The parties themselves are very much like casual house parties, ac-

cording to Delisi. People of all ages gather at 7 p.m. to hang out with their friends and listen to music.

Delisi plays 90 seconds of a song and then party goers discuss it. The songs with the 5-highest scores (of “yes” votes versus “no”) get played on Ann’s Essential Music radio show.

Fifteen to 20 songs will usually be played at each party.

“After we listen to music for about an hour, a local band performs a 30-minute set. The party lasts about two hours,” Delisi explained. “People have dinner and drinks while they listen and weigh in on what they’ve heard. It’s a fun atmosphere and people don’t hold back about what they think, which is quite entertaining. We are preparing to do our 38th party this month (Aug. 20). ” Just by searching “new music listening events” online, one can see that Delisi’s parties are truly unique.

(The WDET website is the second site listed in the Google search results – only after NPR.) She’d had the idea for a while, she said, but it was only when her “sidekick” Brent McKay

started at WDET that she was able to put her plan into action, pitching the idea to The Majestic Café who agreed to host the parties. This will be the third year that the parties have been held.

So we know how the parties work and how they came to be, but what about the music itself? When asked about how she goes about picking the music that party goers will hear, Delisi described the process.

“I take suggestions from people about what they would like to see on the list and I pick songs for every party, which includes different genres,” she said. “I will sometimes add a couple of songs to the list that I hope will generate some interesting discussions, which oftentimes is the highlight of the night.”

And when it comes to the live music for the night, Delisi said: “All of the artists who perform at the parties are local. I wanted to have a platform to feature artists from the Detroit area where they could perform in front of an audience of music lovers. Additionally, because of the promotional

support given to the parties, these artists and bands benefit from having their name and music promoted, as well.”

The mutual benefit of bands performing live has led to great interest in the Listening Parties, resulting in a booked schedule through February.

These parties are entertaining for music lovers and educational for music enthusiasts, but what else should party goers know about an Ann Delisi Essential Music Listening Party?

According to the party planner herself: “The thing I would say to future attendees is to pass along the feedback I get from people who come to the parties. They enjoy the concept and hearing music that they might not know; they like discussing it with a group of people, they are exposed to local artists who might be new to them - all while having dinner and drinks while hanging out with their friends.”

More information about Ann Delisi’s Essential Music Listening Parties can be found online at http://www. wdet.org/ademlp/.

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 28, 2013 I 3

A&E

Japanese punks and White Russians Funky flavors spice up city nightlife KEITH BROWN The South End Punk rock made in Japan comes to Corktown, in the form of the Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass, a blues-influenced all-girl power trio stomping into the Motor City like Godzilla on steroids.

Described as “British-influenced rock with a punk edge persona,” by Digitalgig. co.uk, the band is currently touring in support of two albums, including the studio set “Proclamation” and the concert recording “Live In Brooklyn.”

The Akabane Vulgars live show made quite an impression on Detroit audiences last year, when the group came to town on the “Return of King Zero” tour.

“The band blew the local crowd away,” said promoter Sue Static of Static Network. Static thought enough of AVOSB to invite them back for an encore performance on Aug. 22 at Corktown Tavern.

Detroit’s own White Shag and The Luckouts join in the big noise.

For more info on the bands, check out their websites: www.akabane-vulgars.com www.whiteshag.com www.reverbnation.com/theluckouts The Corktown Tavern is located at 1716 Michigan Ave. in Detroit, 313-9645103. Ages 21 & over are welcome, and cover for this show is $6.

Jackie Stahl & The White Russians Debut CD Jackie Stahl & The White Russians, a band of Motor City music notables, debut

their new CD “Jackie Does Love,” on Aug. 23, at The Elizabeth Theater.

The new group is the latest musical endeavor of veteran drummer Matthew Stahl, whose credits include The Blue Collar Boys, Catfish Mafia, Bixy Lutz and Jennifer Westwood & The Waycross Georgia Farmboys.

After learning to play the piano, Stahl began writing and recording songs in his home studio. He assembled a band including guitarist Greg Hanson (Bixy Lutz), guitarist Niko Eklund (The High Balls), bassist Paul Randolph (Jazzanova), and drummer Todd Glass of The Muggs.

Stahl describes his sound as “Dirty Americana” music, influenced by Detroit rock, country, blues, jazz and soul. The CD, “Jackie Does Love,” was engineered and produced by Stahl and recorded in his studio The Ledge. Legendary Detroit bluesman Motor City Josh co-mixed the album at The Sound Shop Studio.

One-man band Man Inc. opens the show, while Funky D recording artists The Rumpshakers close out the proceedings with a set of funky blues starting at midnight.

The Elizabeth Theater is upstairs from The Park Bar located at 2040 Park Ave. in Detroit. For information, call 313962-2933, or visit www.parkbardetroit. com. Ages 21 & over patrons welcome.

Showtime is 9 p.m., cover for the show is $8 and patrons receive a free CD. For information on Jackie Stahl & The White Russians, check out their website: http://www.reverbnation.com/jackiestahlandthewhiterussians

4 I AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 28, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

PHOTO COURTESY MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS Akaane Vulgars returned to the Motor City after it’s well-recieved tour last year.

FEATURES NICOLE HAYDEN/HOMELESS HUMANS OF DETROIT

“You just need one person to care” Project sheds light on homeless stereotypes SYDNEE THOMPSON The South End Fifty-nine-year-old Bernard Arnold faces the camera in a winter cap and jacket, his eyes tired.

“I’m a vet — was part of the clean-up in ’72 and ’73,” the text beside his portrait says. “I used to do drugs when I was younger, but I don’t anymore. But it’s hard to get help. It’s a continuous cycle. I don’t want to start any trouble so I sit here, because it can’t hurt nothing. I just hate how people look at me.”

Arnold, like approximately 20,000 other Detroiters, is homeless, but in a few weeks his photo — and his story — will be displayed on a downtown building for everyone to see. Instead of serving as a desolate backdrop to the conversation of the Motor City, Arnold and other participants in the “Homeless Humans Detroit” photojournalism project will move to the forefront of an issue that may be more relevant in Detroit than anywhere else.

Nicole Hayden, a 23-year-old Wayne State alumna, sits at a table in The Bottom Line Coffee House on 3rd Street in Detroit, Arnold’s photo, among others, in a folder in front of her.

Hayden spent many afternoons on street corners interviewing people for HHD, offering food and water in exchange for a few minutes of their time. Some people were reluctant to talk, she said, but others were excited at the chance to punch a hole through the destructive stereotypes surrounding members of the homeless community.

“I’m a timid person to begin with, so approaching a stranger intimidates me, but the first step is the hardest,” said Hayden, creator and principal photographer of HHD. “Once you do that, everyone is so nice … it usually takes no prompting; I ask one question and they just talk and talk

and talk. There’s only been a few times where it’s just like I’m prying information out, and that’s fine.

“I want to figure out a way to connect them to opportunities,” she said. “This one man that I talked to, Bernard, he recognized his predicament but he was like, ‘I hate how people look at me. I hate how it makes me feel.’ But he didn’t know how to get the resources that he needed … conversations like that, where they felt hopeless or didn’t know what to do, affected me a lot.”

Hayden said the project first began in a digital imaging class she took a couple of semesters ago, where she had to use “socially responsible photography” to address a specific issue. She chose to tackle homelessness because of the negative assumptions and criticisms she hears regarding people who ask for donations on the street.

“That just really bothers me,” she said. “I just don’t think it should matter, because if someone’s asking for help, they obviously need help. Does it matter? Are you going to judge them? These people make mistakes like I’ve made mistakes. If I wasn’t privileged enough to have a support system, I would not be where I am, you know?

“You just need one person to care about you,” she said, “and if you don’t have that, it’s hard.”

Positive feedback from the participants encouraged Hayden to expand the project after the class ended. In the process, she met Kenny Corbin, who curates the Woodward Windows project with his girlfriend, Alyssa BK. Although there’s usually an application process involved, Corbin was so impressed with her concept that he offered her space right away.

Hayden hadn’t had any specific goals in mind regarding the expansion, but “when someone is telling you (that) you can blow up your photos to like nine feet tall and

6 I AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 28, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

put them on the side of a building, you can’t say no to that,” she said.

The installation for Hayden’s windows was completed several weeks ago, but a break-in shattered the glass and delayed her project substantially — and on the same day that the project’s Kickstarter was approved.

“That was so crushing,” she said. “I looked like an insane person downtown, running back and forth like, ‘someone broke my windows!’ And I was crying and it was ridiculous, but we have a new set of windows now and Corey Wheeler is designing it for me, so we’re working together.”

Corey Wheeler, also a WSU graduate, was the multimedia editor for the South End when he organized a similar project, “A Day with the Homeless,” in 2012. Using disposable cameras, homeless volunteers documented their day-to-day experiences and returned the camera to Wheeler in return for food and $15. Hayden had never met Wheeler prior to their current collaboration, but a mutual friend told her about Wheeler’s project. Hayden forgot about it until a few weeks ago, when she stumbled across it online while doing research for her own project.

After seeing Wheeler’s designs for “A Day with the Homeless,” Hayden felt that he would be a natural fit. “I had a different designer design the original layout and my logo — Theo Dillon … but since then, Theo hasn’t been able to commit time anymore, so Corey is taking his place,” Hayden said.

The revamped project will be more expensive than the original and will be hosted at a new location, but it will also include two more posters. Hayden said she couldn’t launch the Kickstarter right away because of the modifications, but she expects it to go live within the next week or so, with a funding goal of $1,500.

If all goes well, Hayden expects the post-

ers to be installed by the end of August, where they’ll stay for three to five months.

She thinks the display will make a lasting impact on how people view homelessness.

“It’s really easy to be on the street and walk by someone even though they’re talking to you, or like it’s really easy to drive by them and not look at them and make a human connection and recognize that they’re equal to you,” Hayden said. “People just have so many judgments … you should recognize people as humans and get their story before you impart judgments, so blowing up the photos that big, you cannot walk away from that. It’s huge.”

While Hayden talks animatedly about her plans, a man across the room speaks up while watching “The Avengers” on his laptop. “I’m homeless,” he says. Hayden offers him a spot at the table, and he in turn offers his own experiences with displacement.

“It’s hard to explain (how I became homeless),” he said. “PTSD, I guess? … I was abused as a child, extensively, and the PTSD ends up — the easiest way to explain it is that certain things are very hard for me to do. Finding housing is one of them, to the point that if there’s a phone call I need to make, it can be paralytic.”

“There’s not a place for me in this culture,” he said. “I’m alone, for the most part. It’s crippling and painful, but it’s where I’m at. It’s not something I have a choice about.”

“It’s really hard to talk to someone and walk away and feel helpless; it’s like you’re not doing anything,” Hayden said. “That’s our future goal — trying to figure out how to connect what we’re doing to make an impact on (the homeless themselves).”

To find out more about Homeless Humans Detroit, visit their Facebook page or the website at homelesshumansdetroit. com.

SPORTS

Football training camp schedule The Wayne State football team began training camp on Aug. 15 as they get set to bounce back into the 2013 season. Here is a look at the rest of their training camp schedule.

BY FUAD SHALHOUT MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

8/19

8/20

8/21

9:30AM - 12:30PM

9:30AM - 12:30PM 4:00PM - 6:30PM

9:15AM - 12:00PM

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

8/22

8/23

8/24

9:00AM - 11:30PM 4:00PM - 6:30PM

9:15AM - 12:00PM

SCRIMMAGE 10:00AM - 12:00PM

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

8/25

8/26

8/27

3:30PM - 6:00PM

9:00AM - 11:30PM

OFF

SUNDAY

THURSDAY

THURSDAY

8/28

8/29

8/30

OFF - CLASSES BEGIN

3:30PM -6:00PM (ON PRACTICE FIELD)

4:00PM -6:00PM (ON PRACTICE FIELD)

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 28, 2013 I 7

v

PHOTO STORY

“FASH BASH”

VIEW THE ENTIRE GALLERY AT THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

BY ALANA WALKER On Aug. 15, fashion was the guest of honor at the 43rd Annual Fash Bash presented by the Founders Junior Council of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The fundraiser, which started back in 1970, supports the museum in various capacities. This year it raised funds for the DIA’s unrestricted operating endowment.

The night started with three brightly dressed models that were strategically placed on the front fountain for all to see. The well-dressed crowd also garnered attention, some choosing more daring outfits than others.

As the sun set, the crowed filed into the dimly lit museum atrium, which was transformed by rows of seats into a rectangular runway.

An electric violinist opened the show, followed by two male models dressed in black ensembles and sunglasses. Some three dozen models strutted around the catwalk in an assortment of jackets and coats, feathered hair accessories and jewel-toned dresses and pants.

With the city’s pending bankruptcy and the recent appraisal of the DIA’s collection, the value of the cultural institution was definitely a hot topic of discussion.

“This event doesn’t only bring fashion to the city, but it brings awareness and positivity too,” Detroiter Djenava Tate said. “The DIA captures history of art and brings it to new generations. It’s crucial to remember the turmoil Detroit is facing. We need to remain current.”

The museum’s director, Graham W. J. Beal, addressed concerns during a speech preceding the fashion show, mentioning that they plan for the museum to be around for another 130

years.

“The DIA is an important cultural institution that needs to be preserved and shared with the younger generations to understand the value of art and what it contributes to society,” Paul Weitschat of Grosse Pointe said.

“This event is important for the fundraising aspect, it’s fun for the people who participate. It’s an important booster for the city.”

PHOTOS BY ALANA WALKER/ CONTRIBUTING PHTOGRAPHER

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I AUGUST 21 - AUGUST 28, 2013 I 8