The South End October 9 - 16

Page 1

Wilson speaks SEE NEWS, PAGE 4

KRISTIN SHAW/THE SOUTH END

OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 | WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1967 | THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU | DETROIT, MICHIGAN | FREE


NEWS 5221 GULLEN MALL - STUDENT CENTER SUITE 50 - DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202 ADVERTISING: 313-577-3494 THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

STAFF CONTACT LIST 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 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JAMILAH JACKSON • JAMILAH.JACKSON@WAYNE.EDU 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

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

The South End welcomes letters to the editors regarding all inquiries and concerns from the Wayne State community. Please limit letters to 500 words. All submissions are subject to editing and may be published. Please email eg4659@wayne.edu.

CORRECTIONS

The South End corrects all factual errors published online or in print. Please email eg4659@wayne.edu.

ONLINE POLICY

The South End publishes articles online and in print. Visit our website at thesouthend. wayne.edu. While we support the right to free speech and expression, there are guidelines for morally and socially acceptable content. Comments and feedback deemed offensive are subject to editing or removal.

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.

Student Senate courts food vendors Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express coming to campus SYDNEE THOMPSON The South End The food court is often the hub of college life, but brace yourselves, Wayne State students: it’s about to get even better. Tim Michael, who serves as associate vice president in Business and Auxiliary Operations, attended the Oct. 3 meeting of the WSU Student Senate to introduce renovation plans for the main campus’ dining options, including those in the Student Center and the Towers Residential Suites. Michael was joined by representatives from Aramark Higher Education, the vendor that took over WSU’s dining and catering as of July 1. According to a WSU press release, Aramark “provides dining and facility services to more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States.” Michael said he and a committee including Student Senate, a resident advisor and administrators searched the country for a suitable partner after AVI Fresh’s contact was terminated earlier this year. “The committee, I think unanimously, recommended

that the university make the change after 13 years with AVI Food Systems from Warren, Ohio,” Michael said. “Aramark is a global company in food service business. Higher education is just one of their many markets. One of the things we liked about Aramark was that they already were providing great services to several of the universities in Michigan.” The transition from AVI Fresh to Aramark wasn’t as smooth as they’d hoped, however. “We hired Aramark a month late and AVI asked to leave a month early, so instead of having 90 days to prepare to take over our campus, Aramark had 28 days,” Michael said. “AVI served dinner on Sunday, June 30, and Aramark served breakfast on July 1, and off we went. So we really just finished our 90-day transition on Sept. 30.” In the interval, WSU has surveyed hundreds of students, taking feedback and criticisms on the quality of service and food on campus and adjusting their operations accordingly, including adding the Voice of the Consumer program. “The Voice of the Consumer is a QR code that you can log in

at any point in time and be able to provide feedback,” Matt Wilton, the director of WSU dining services and district manager for Aramark, said. “I think we now have the information on the bottom of our receipts. You’ll see some of the signs at all of the locations and you can just, at any point in time, if you have an experience that is either stellar or we need to do a rescue, just let us know.” Michael said students will not notice any Aramark branding throughout the university, because the university still owns all of its food operations and is only partnering with the company. Because of this new partnership, large construction and renovation projects are being planned throughout the next year. The Jet’s Pizza restaurant at 4718 Anthony Wayne Drive will be added to the WSU meal plan within the next several months, meaning students can order pizza to substitute a meal from the dining hall and have it delivered to their dorms. A Dunkin Donuts will open in December and a Freshii restaurant is planned to open in the month of October, both located in the Towers retail

space. The Towers Café will be renovated over the summer, and renovation on the Student Center will begin around the same timeframe. The Einstein Bros. Bagels will expand into the Starbucks space, and Starbucks will move into the Student Center. ChickFil-A and Panda Express restaurants will also move in, and the Taco Bell will be expanded into a full-fledged restaurant rather than an express franchise. Another big construction project? The addition of a spiral suitcase in the Student Center food court area. “There is going to be a new circulating stair that will go, if you think about where the front of McDonald’s was, but it’ll go down to the basement level and also go up to two or three,” Michael said. “So you’ll be able to see, as you come in on the main floor, what’s going on below and also what’s going on above.” Michael said the Board of Governors still has to approve the contracts before they can move forward with construction, but they believe it will be a continuous 15-month project starting in May 2014.

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 OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU


NEWS

What does ‘Obamacare’ mean to me? The low-down on the Affordable Health Care Act SHAWN BOHN Contributing Writer The Affordable Care Act, the most comprehensive health care reform legislation in the last half-century, has arrived with sweeping reform of the current health care system, including a mandate that all citizens carry health insurance. The signature legislation of President Barack Obama’s presidency has endured numerous obstacles, including massive logistical and technical hurdles, a Supreme Court battle and constant Republican attempts to defund it. While it’s doubtful its critics will subside, the biggest piece of the law went into effect Oct. 1. Online insurance marketplaces, some run by the federal government, others by state governments, opened nationwide to provide affordable insurance options to underinsured and uninsured Americans. The most controversial piece of the legislation has been the mandate that every citizen carry health insurance by Jan. 1, 2014, whether they’re ill or not. Those that fail to do so will face a tax penalty. The purpose of the mandate is to balance the costs of older and sicker patients with younger and healthier policyholders, as well as creating a larger pool of policyholders to share costs. This has been one of the more contentious aspects of the legislation, the idea of spreading the costs around. “I don’t think people should have to buy insurance because the guy sitting next to you can’t afford it. If you can’t afford it in the first place, how do you pay for the co-pays and deductibles?” said Rose Greco, a dietary assistant at Oakwood Hospital. There’s also the hope that with wider access to preventive care, fewer people will develop chronic health conditions, making policyholders less expensive over time. Michigan itself has an estimated 1.4 million uninsured or underinsured residents. They now have the ability to purchase insurance through an online exchange, the Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace. Purchas-

ing insurance on the Marketplace can qualify an individual for tax credits that offset the cost of their premium. Many Americans, however, are confused about what the law means for them. Will new insurance options really be affordable? Are current insurance plans affected? Who qualifies for tax credits? The confusion has caused many to worry about what effect the law will have on them. “My biggest concern is that health care as we know it now, will change. I still want to be able to see the doctors I want to see. I don’t want the positive aspects of current coverage to be negated by the new law,” said Kathy Carleton-Beh, assistant to the Huron Township supervisor. Who is affected? The ACA mandates that every citizen carry health insurance by Jan. 1, with very few exceptions. The law exempts individual taxpayers with an income below $10,000, and families with an income of $20,000 or less. Also exempt are incarcerated individuals, members of Indian tribes, and those for whom it would be against their religion to carry health coverage. The Marketplace website, healthcare.gov, lists a dozen other “hardship” exemptions. Any person not fitting these exemptions must buy insurance privately or through the online Marketplace. If you have Medicare, Medicaid, any jobbased plan or plan you’ve bought yourself, you’re considered covered and there’s no need to do anything. If you’re uninsured, or your job-based insurance doesn’t meet minimum standards of care or affordability, you may obtain insurance through the Marketplace, possibly qualifying for tax credits. Should a person fail to obtain insurance, the penalty for the first year is $95, or 1 percent of annual income, whichever is greater. For every uninsured child in the family, the penalty is increased by $47.50. The penalty increases substantially each year, reaching a level of 2.5 percent of income by 2016. How much will I pay? Your total cost depends largely on the insurance providers in your state’s Marketplace, what category of plan you purchase,

and whatever tax credits you may qualify for. Many experts estimate that the typical American family could save around $3,000 a year on policies purchased on the Marketplace. Families with annual household incomes of up to 400 percent of the poverty line, the equivalent of $94,000 for a family of four, qualify for tax credits. In their case, tax credits ensure they do not pay more than 9.5 percent of their household income. The lower the income, the higher the tax credit and possibility of qualifying for smaller copays and deductibles. A family of three with an income of $23,000 or less will qualify for expanded Medicaid on the exchange, beginning April 1. Monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs also depend on which category of plan you purchase on the Marketplace. Plans are divided into Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum categories. Platinum plans will typically have the highest premiums, but the lowest out-of-pocket costs when you need care. Bronze plans will typically have the lowest premiums, but the highest out-of-pocket costs. The category of plan you choose doesn’t affect the quality of care or the benefits you receive, but simply how much you will pay up front. If you’re a smoker, you can expect to pay a hefty fee. The ACA grants insurers the ability to charge substantially higher premiums to tobacco users. You can also expect to see big cuts to any tax credits you might receive. The Kaiser Family Foundation has provided a subsidy calculator to help people estimate how much they can expect to pay. You can find the calculator through the Marketplace website, www.healthcare.gov, or directly at kff.org. What if I’m a student? Being a student doesn’t count as an exemption from the mandate or grant you any special discounts or tax credits. However, you are able to stay on, or join, your parent’s health plan until age 26. Even if you’re married, not living with your parents, or not financially dependent upon them, you can still be on their plan until that age.

If your parents decide to buy insurance on the Marketplace, they may add you to their plan when they enroll. Those under age 30 also have the option of buying a “catastrophic” plan on the Marketplace. These policies carry lower premiums but only cover your health costs in major injury scenarios, such as a car accident. The plan covers three primary care visits per year for free, as well as no-cost preventive care. You won’t be able to lower your premiums or out-of-pocket costs from federal subsidies based on your income, however, as the catastrophic policies negate such benefits. How can I enroll in the Marketplace?

You must enroll online at healthcare.gov. You will be able to compare policies offered by 13 different insurers in Michigan. To get started you’ll need four things. Social Security numbers (document numbers for legal immigrants), employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage, policy numbers for any current health plans you have, and a completed Employer Coverage Tool, which can be found on the Marketplace website. You won’t need to do any math. The website automatically calculates eligibility for subsidies and Medicaid for you at the time of enrollment. Coverage doesn’t begin until April 1. For your plan to be considered effective for next year, you must enroll by Dec. 15. Nobody knows exactly how the law will work out in the coming years, but some Americans remain optimistic. “I’m hopeful the act will have positive effects on our society. If everyone has access to quality care, it would stand to reason that we would have a healthier society,” said Carleton-Beh. For others, the law brings an uncertainty to the future. “I think it will take time to work it out, but as of now I see a negative effect [on society] because I think it’s going to cost the government a lot of money,” said Greco, “I also think that the big insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield will keep raising their rates, because if you want good insurance you’ll pay for it.”

Top 10 Insurance Benefits The law requires that by 2014 insurers must provide certain essential benefits in all plans: • Ambulatory patient services • Emergency services • Hospitalization • Maternity and newborn care • Mental health and substance use disorder services • Prescription drugs

• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices • Laboratory services • Preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management • Pediatric services that include dental and vision care

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 3


NEWS PHOTOS BY KRISTIN SHAW/THE SOUTH END

WSU President sets higher standards Wilson boasts of WSU’s ‘unique’ qualities while making plans SYDNEE THOMPSON The South End After the audience viewed a university ad featuring the man of the hour himself, Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson gave his first university address Oct. 2 at 11:30 a.m. in the Community Arts Auditorium. The audience was packed with students, staff, faculty, government figures and alumni who welcomed Wilson’s speech with enthusiastic and frequent applause. Michael Wright, who serves as vice president and chief of staff of WSU Marketing and Communications, officiated the event. Student Senate President Adham Aljahmi also made a short speech after riding across the stage to the podium … on his skateboard. “He’s majoring in theater, shockingly,” Wright said to a chorus of laughter. “Dr. Wilson assumed the presidency exactly 62 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes and 33 seconds ago,” Aljahmi said, “And since then he quickly stopped introducing himself, shaking hands, petting dogs and kissing babies and went straight to work — of introducing himself, shaking hands, petting dogs and kissing babies.” Aljahmi praised Wilson’s “unprecedented” attention to students, faculty and staff during his short tenure, adding that although he’s not sure whether the school is luckier to have him or Wilson is luckier to have the school, either way Wilson is the correct man for the job. Wilson then walked over to the podium to begin his address. “Thank you, Adham. I don’t think I could beat your entrance, however,” Wil-

son said. “Maybe forty years ago.” Wilson outlined what he considered to be the essential attributes of WSU and the keys to its success: comprehensive, urban and public, with high research activity, an academic medical center and unity. He said one of the most attractive aspects is the sense of mission and purpose of the university, as well as its welcoming community. “I feel particularly fortunate to be a part of such a vibrant and inclusive university life,” Wilson said. “Early last week, I had an opportunity to have a conversation with the editorial board of the Detroit Free Press. One of the reporters, in trying to describe Wayne State, said something about it being a bit of an outlier — not quite University of Michigan and State in one sense, but not quite Western or Eastern Michigan in yet another sense. I politely steered him toward another word that I think has a different, more fair connotation: unique.” Wilson offered the immense and diverse opportunities WSU students have as proof of the university’s positive and unique impact, but he also said the university should strive for excellence. If a program isn’t excellent, he said, then it must either be reformed or removed. Building on this, Wilson said he has noticed that the medical school complex and the university are not “optimally aligned,” and so the relationship needs to be adjusted. “But the reason I wanted to be at a university with a medical school is a selfish one,” Wilson said. “I love academics to its core. With the many administrative leadership positions that I’ve held, one thing has always been a constant — I was always a faculty member and took

4 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

great pride in continuing to contribute to the academy. And as of Friday, Sept. 20, when the Board of Governors met, I am now officially on the faculty of Wayne State University with the school of medicine as an adjunct teacher.” Wilson mentioned other vital improvements he hopes to undertake. Research, which is one of WSU’s largest contributions, has seen the amount of grant funding and expenditures decline significantly, meaning overall productivity is also down. Wilson promised to use every strategy available to reverse the trend, including holding non-productive faculty accountable and recruiting more researchers. Graduation and retention rates are another large issue for WSU, and Wilson said a comprehensive strategic plan for improving these rates will be released later in the year. He cautioned, however, that graduation and retention rates can and have been improved at other universities through less than ideal circumstances. “For example, an increase in graduation rate by not accepting at-risk students,” he said. “You can assure that your graduates earn a lot of money by focusing on recruiting students that desire to be engineers and doctors and a limited number who wish to teach or pursue the arts. But that’s not what I’m about, and that’s not what Wayne State is about.” “A good university takes care of its students,” Wilson said. “A good university makes them feel wanted when they apply, welcomed when they arrive, supported when they are here and appreciated when they graduate … our six-year graduation rate is not good. Our state funding is increasingly being based on

performance, and the six-year graduation is one of the main metrics that are used … we’re not getting any sympathy on this — not from the state, not from the federal government, not from other Michigan universities. Not from anyone, so we need to just own this problem and do something about it. We need to make it our responsibility. “I understand that there are policies and procedures in place and for very good reason,” he said. “It would be utterly chaotic if there were not any involved, but do we really have to block students from registering for class because he or she has an outstanding balance of $200 from the previous semester? Can’t we be creative and find some way for the student to enroll while at the same time be assured that the student will honor his or her financial commitment? Do we really need to hold classes or offer student services at times convenient for us as faculty and staff rather than what’s most convenient for the students?” Wilson also stressed the importance of increasing the number of out-of-state and international students at WSU, but he also said native Michiganians and Detroiters should not be disadvantaged because of it. “Our enrollment has dipped in recent years,” Wilson said. “We have room to grow, and we must do so.” The president also addressed the common belief that WSU is always third behind University of Michigan and Michigan State. “That’s a false comparison,” he said. “We’re not trying to be the University of Michigan. That’s an apples and oranges comparison. We are what we are. We do what we do, and we’re going to be second to none at what we do.”


THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 5


NEWS

Hands off our Degas DIA artwork in danger of being auctioned to pay off city debt TIM CARROLL Contributing Writer Detroit’s art may be in danger of being sold while the city goes through bankruptcy, but not before protestors have a say. On Oct. 4, protestors gathered in front of the Detroit Institute of the Arts to speak out against the possible sale of art owned by the DIA after Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr hired New York firm Christie’s Auction House to appraise the value of the art pieces in the museum. “We are here to say that the art belongs to the people,” said Social Equality Party assistant national secretary Lawrence Porter, an organizer of the event. “If the art is to be defended, it is the working people and youth who must come to its defense.” Porter held a press conference Oct. 1 to bring media attention to the event. While once privately owned, the DIA collection was ceded to the city of Detroit in exchange for annual city funding in 1919. Because of this, the city actively owns all art in the museum. Now that the city is going through bankruptcy, the art is considered an asset of the city and is in danger of being sold

in order to settle with creditors. Orr has said many times that all options are on the table. This is what protestors are worried about and attempting to stop. They say the art shouldn’t be sold, for the sake of the DIA. If art is sold, the museum could also lose major funding from the tri-county area, who passed a tax last year funding the museum and making admission free for all Macomb, Oakland and Wayne county residents. The protest was put together by the Wayne State chapter of The International Youth and Students for Social Equality and the Social Equality Party. The groups posted flyers all over campus to rally students together for the event. “The attack on culture goes hand in hand with the dismantling of public education and the drive to take away every other social right of young people,” said IYSSE National Secretary Andre Damon, according to a wsws.org article. “The IYSSE will be fighting among students and youth to help mobilize the entire working class against the looting of one of the world’s great cultural treasures.” The city has yet to move on actually selling the art and will not make a decision until all options are considered.

PHOTOS BY JON ADAMS/THE SOUTH END

6 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU


JON ADAMS/THE SOUTH END

Selling art is a no-Gogh “DefendTheDIA’ protest elicits strong reactions JILL LUBAS The South End Cars horns blared in support as they passed by the growing throng of people collected in front of the Detroit Institute of Art on the evening of Oct. 4. Museum employees and bystanders watched – some joined in – as people marched in front of the DIA, carrying picket signs and chanting “the working class is here to fight, culture is a social right.” Students, veterans, autoworkers, and teachers, every race and age group came out to wave signs and march as part of a mass demonstration organized by the Wayne State chapter of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and the Socialist Equality Party. The demonstration was in response to the suggested selling of artwork from the museum made by Detroit’s emergency manager Kevin Orr to help pay off part of the city’s $18 million debt. “We hope this can be the beginning of a campaign to defend access to culture in Detroit and part of the whole rejection of the (Detroit) bankruptcy and the economic attack on the people,” Zac Nichol, member of WSU’s IYSSE chapter said. Nichol, a fine art major at WSU, was part of the committee that, along with other students involved with WSU’s IYSSE chapter and SEP, helped organize the “DefendTheDIA” campaign whose purpose was to educate the people, form political leadership, as well as gave a voice to the working class. The current economic struggles in Detroit, from the lease of Belle Isle, the DIA’s artwork and the Detroit Zoo’s

animals to public lighting and people’s pensions -- what happens in Detroit may set a precedent for other cities across the country. The Aug. 5 cover of TIME magazine donned a picture of the Detroit Renaissance Center and asked “Is your city next?” The accompanying article discusses how Detroit’s issues are not unique and how many cities in the U.S. need to look at their financial situation or they too could find themselves in similar circumstances. “The ruling class (the very rich) in America control both of the political parties … they want to set a precedent in Detroit for what they can get away with as far as stealing things basically, from the public that belong to them such as the pensions and the art,” Nichols said. “They have no respect for the working class and they want to see what they can get away with in Detroit.” The mass demonstration in front of the DIA was a call to action that gave people an opportunity to come show their support and let their voices be heard. “The people have to take the initiative and actually oppose this,” Nichol said. “They have to do radical things like they used to do in this country … they have to get organized and become politically conscious.” Support of “DefendTheDIA” was in the hundreds, as people from all over the city, county and beyond rallied to show that they were against the city selling off pieces of art. Some demonstrators carried handmade signs that said “Gogh away from the DIA,” “I Heart Art” and “Art belongs to the people, not the rich,” while others clapped to the beat of a drum circle that pounded out lively rhythms throughout the demonstration.

Several students from WSU came out to show their support for various reasons. “I love (the DIA’s) Friday night music performances and the film theater,” Christina Verkest, a WSU senior Spanish major, said. Allison Elam, a WSU sophomore studying public relations, said, “(I came to help) preserve the culture in the Detroit area,” while senior graphic design major Mckenzie Shell said she came to the demonstration to “spread the knowledge of art and culture from history.” Not only was the support of the participants who attended the “DefendTheDIA” demonstration overwhelming positive, but the response to the protest itself was also positive and appreciated by several members of the DIA staff who watched from the top of the museum’s steps. “We love the support. It’s been really overwhelming since this whole issue came up,” Pam Marcil, PR director at the DIA, said. “We get emails all the time asking what they can do to help. We just hope in the end, everyone does the right thing and the art will be here for everyone forever and ever.” Marcil sees the DIA as part of the city’s heritage. It is a resource, as well as a community gathering place that many people came to as children and now share with their own families. “I think (the protesting) is great,” Terry Segal, an employee of the DIA for 31 years who holds a master’s degree in fine art, said. “I believe that art helps the public trust. It’s for the people, not just of Detroit but of Michigan, the U.S. and the world.” While the majority came out to show support for the DIA, Gregory Creswell,

56, a member of the libertarian party of Michigan and lifetime Detroiter, held a different opinion. Creswell stood at the top of the fountain steps shouting “sell it” as he held up a sign saying sell the DIA. “The only function that city government should provide for is police protection,” Creswell said. “Privatize the DIA, the museums, Belle Isle and Cobo Hall. I don’t want to be forced to pay taxes to a Kid Rock concert, a Madonna concert, a Bob Segar concert, a Temptation concert … Let it sink or swim in private money, not tax money.” Although not everyone agreed, the overall turnout for the “DefendTheDIA” demonstration accomplished what it set out to do: bring awareness to the issue. Many attenders came after seeing posters hung up throughout the city and WSU’s campus; some stopped out of curiosity as to why people were marching in front of the museum. This is just the beginning for what the IYSSE hopes to do in response to recent events in Detroit. The committee is looking to expand into the city and reach out to the people of Detroit. A second meeting of “DefendTheDIA” has not yet been scheduled, but Nichol encourages people to visit defendthedia.org and also to get involved on campus. While they are an openly socialist group, students of all political backgrounds are welcome to come and engage in discussions. Nichol encourages people to come out and educate themselves on events and political consciousness. The IYSSE student group meets 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday at WSU in the Italian room in the General Lectures building.

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 7


NEWS

PIKfyve powerhouse WSU professor discovers enzyme that will help obesity, Type-2 diabetes DEBANINA SEATON Contributing Writer Research in Type-2 diabetes and obesity has expanded in knowledge and understanding as a Wayne State researcher has already discovered information to help solve both issues. Assia Shisheva, professor of Physiology at WSU’s School of Medicine, discovered an enzyme known as PIKfyve (pronounced pick-FIVE) that operates as a prerequisite for glucose to be metabolized in the body. Shisheva said she discovered the enzyme in 1998 under the auspicesof her Career Development Award from the American Diabetes Association of Cancer to look for molecules that might be involved in insulin regulated molecular mechanism of glucose uptake. One of her findings was PIKfyve. After seven to eight months of trials,

Shisheva said she was successfully able to clone the sequence of the enzyme. Shisheva wrote her first paper about PIKfyve in 1999 on its identification at a time when “everyone wanted to find something new,” she said. She said she started this as an independent research project and then pioneered in the field and took the leading position. Shisheva said the PIKfyve enzyme has many functions. The action of insulin is supposed to activate molecules in order to perform glucose uptake. Glucose uptake takes place in the muscle and fat tissues. When someone eats a carbohydrate rich meal, especially dessert, glucose levels in the blood go up and have to quickly go back down. For those with an imbalance or a problem with the regulation or action of insulin in the body, this process will not happen; the blood glucose levels will stay high and become toxic to the body.

A&E

‘D’ perfect fit Impromptu video shoot shows love to city BRYAN FINNIGAN Contributing Writer This past Tuesday, Oct. 1, around noon, anyone walking near the DeRoy or the Chatsworth Tower Apartments could hear a voice on a megaphone saying, “Who wants to be in a music video? My name is Daniel Franzese, I played Damien in ‘Mean Girls.’” Not long after Franzese had picked up the megaphone, a small crowd had gathered near the volleyball courts and was given forms to sign before taking part. “Music, motors and Coney Dogs ... We always been in the groove.” Clearly describing Detroit, these are lines from Allee Willis’ new song, “The D,” which is “her love song to Detroit,” according to Franzese, who served as actor and director of the video. Grammy award winning songwriter Willis is best known for her songs “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as “I’ll Be There for You,” which was used as the theme song for “Friends.” She wrote her most recent song “The D” along with Andrae Alexander.

Speaking of the song, she says it is, “one of the best songs of my career, very much in the spirit of my very first hit ‘September.’” “I look forward to tens of thousands of Detroiters joining me singing, playing, dancing … and showing their spirit any way they can at dozens of landmarks and little known funky locations all over the city,” Willis said. This was the plan and the purpose of the filming on Wayne State’s campus. Haley Stanbury, a participant from Tuesday afternoon, wrote, “Very well organized. A once in a lifetime experience. I’m so glad it was for support of my favorite city!” “It was lovely to meet such creative people in Detroit like Allee and Andre and Daniel. Great fun to do front walkovers and cartwheels too,” another, Mosum Trivedi, said. “Bit by bit, all the pieces make The D the perfect fit,” says the chorus of “The D.” According to Willis’ website, they will be shooting at over 35 other locations around Detroit including the Whitney, the Fisher building, Pastor Elementary, Mumford High and Quicken Loans.

8 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

PIKfyve is within the bunch of activated molecules by insulin meant to support the main action of insulin to the muscle cell surface, which will transport glucose within the cell in order to get metabolized. PIKfyve is involved in this process that took time and was identified over several years of work, she said. “When we found PIKfyve we didn’t know what it did but we are happy we found it,” Shisheva said. “This is a very important mechanism. It is in the heart of obesity and Type-2 diabetes.” She said in the human body there are only seven phosphorylated metabolytes; PIKfyve can duplicate two of them, which are phosphatidyl and inositol. Shisheva said 14 years later, she is still very excited about the enzyme and its partners that help PIKfyve to deliver its multiple cellular functions, including the action of insulin on glucose removal from the blood. “PIKfyve doesn’t deliver its function

alone,” she said. “It has partners that both help and hinder its function. It’s like driving with the brakes on or sailing with an anchor.” Not all of these partners are known, and Shisheva said to find them still require extensive research. “We are centuries ahead, but to know the secrets of PIKfyve, I’d need two lifetimes,” she said. According to an article on WSU’s Division of Research website, Shisheva wrote a more recent paper on PIKfyve entitled, “Muscle-specific PIKfyve gene distribution causes glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, adiposity and hyperinsulinemia but not muscle fiber-type switching,” published in the American Journal of Physiology, to characterize whether the new model exhibits metabolic defects. “The pathway has many elements but in continuing to find the gaps there is a possibility of it happening,” she said.


A&E COURTESY DMK.COM

Second that emotion Girl group looks to evoke feelings through music JALYNE KITCHEN Contributing Writer Damoli Harris, Melanee Felton and Kourtney Lenton from Detroit go by the name DMK. Detroit will always be known for its music, especially in Motown, and these girls want to keep that old R&B sound alive. the Winston Institute of the Arts, a nonprofit organization, is where they began singing together. The WIA eventually closed its doors, but these three didn’t let that hinder their talent and they formed the girl

group DMK. “We believe that we mesh so well because we grew up together, literally,” Lenton said. “We spent all of our adolescent years together, so we know each other very well and (that) contributes a lot toward our coherence and blend.” They love working together, but always maintain to get business done. DMK music is for everyone who enjoys timeless feel-good music. “One of the things we believe is missing from the music industry is music that provokes emotion and we believe that’s were

we come in at,” they said. DMK all agree when it comes to Detroit. “Living in (Detroit is a) blessing and a curse. Detroit is known for R&B music, but that was back in the day. The shift from that sound (to) mostly hip-hop coming from Detroit has always hindered us just a little, but (that) hasn’t and won’t stop us,” they said. “At the same time, the rich history of music, the diversity and the atmosphere around Detroit has helped shape us. We can’t ever forget our Motown roots,” Lenton said.

Individually influenced by some of the greatest musical talents, they share different inspirations. “Minnie Rippleton and Mariah Carey,” Harris said. “Whitney Houston,” Felton said. “Anita Baker,” Lenton said. The Motown groups like the Four Tops and Supremes as well as TLC, Destiny’s Child and SWV are also big inspirations to all three women. DMK believes their next move is to shock the world. For more information about the group and upcoming shows, visit www.

Galleries near WSU host variety of artists MATT HARDING Contributing Writer While many would say images of Detroit’s abandoned landscape are how the city is primarily portrayed in the wake of its bankruptcy, much has been made about the vibrant art scene in Detroit by the New York Times and TIME Magazine, among others. A lot of this emphasis is on the Detroit Institute of Arts, the collection of work that includes Vincent van Gogh’s “Self Portrait,” Rembrandt’s “The Visitation,” and Henri Matisse’s “The Window,” estimated by the Detroit Free Press to be worth a combined $270 million. The focus on the DIA oftentimes ignores local galleries and exhibitions, even ones that are well recognized in the international art community, such as the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art

Detroit and the Detroit Artists Market. Wayne State’s own Elaine L. Jacob Gallery at 480 W. Hancock is currently showing “Car Art/Crash,” which features a group of 10 international artists, including Dutch jewelry designer Ted Noten. The exhibition runs through Oct. 11, with art that shows “the quintessential urban embodiment of speed, movement, modernity (and a long-time lifeblood of the Motorcity): the automobile.” Another exhibition on WSU’s campus is the Art Department’s 2013 WSU Faculty Exhibition, which runs through Oct. 25 at 150 Art Building, near Cass Avenue and Kirby Street. The work of faculty members from the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History is featured, and includes drawings, sculptures, ceramics and photography, among other mediums. Off of WSU’s campus, at the College

for Creative Studies’ Valade Family Gallery in the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education, 485 W. Milwaukee, an exhibition of James Haefner’s work is taking place through Oct. 11. The exhibition, called “Automobiles and Architecture,” features Haefner’s photography of both subjects, specifically highlighting Detroit. “My purpose is to countermand the popular view of the city in decay. Hopefully, my series will help to communicate the promise that Detroit holds for the future by realizing the prominence that it once held,” Haefner said There are numerous other galleries and exhibitions in the city, many of which are promoted on www.artdetroitnow.com. The 4731 Gallery, named after its address at 4731 Grand River, is currently hosting “Stretch the Strangle Hold: Artists Protest War” until Oct. 5. Showings

are available by calling and making an appointment, or by emailing the curator, Bryant Tillman. The Live Coal Gallery, located near WSU’s campus at 5029 Trumbull, has a permanent collection and two gallery rooms, which are featuring “Doorways to Detroit” through Oct. 5 and “Hope + Detroit” from Oct. 11 through Nov. 22. The gallery has a suggested admission price of $5 for adults and $3 for college students. Some other galleries have pop-up exhibitions that often change every week. The Start Gallery, 206 E. Grand River, updates its Facebook page with events and the shop is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other galleries include Trinosophes and the Red Bull House of Art in the Eastern Market area, the 555 Gallery in Mexicantown and the Library Street Collective downtown.

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 9


A&E

Movie Preview: Oscar hopefuls to look for this fall

Tired from all the summer blockbusters? Can’t bear to watch another action flick or superhero movie? You’re in luck! The fall movie season is upon us, which means it’s time for studios to push out their award contenders in hope of claiming the gold statute come February. Let’s take a look at a few notable films to be released in the next few months that could factor into your own Oscar bets next year. BY BRYAN GRECO

Contributing Writer

GRAVITY

OCT. 4

The Story: Directed by Oscar nominee Alfonso Cuaron, Oscar winners Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star in a heart-pounding thriller that pulls you into the infinite and unforgiving realm of deep space. Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky become stranded in space when their shuttle is destroyed. (courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures) Oscar Chances: Low. Besides already touting all Oscar winners involved, the early word seems to be talking the most about the technical effects, with critic Joshua Rothkopf of New York Post calling this film “pure, nearexperimental spectacle.” If nominated, expect this to be mostly technical awards and possibly a Best Director for Cuaron.

12 YEARS A SLAVE

OCT. 18

The Story: In this Steve McQueen directed film, Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a New York state citizen who was kidnapped and made to work on a plantation in New Orleans in the 1800s. Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Giamatti co-star in this true story. (courtesy of Fox Searchlight) Oscar Chances: Very High. Having just won the Audience Award at TIFF last month, this may be the first sure Oscar front-runner for Best Picture. Critic Peter Howell of the Toronto Star says this film “nails the horror of America’s slavery shame but also finds humanity in one man’s determination to free himself and return to his family.” Expect this to be nominated in every major category.

COURTESY WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

THE COUNSELOR

OCT. 25

The Story: Filmmaker Ridley Scott and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy have joined forces in this motion picture about a nightmarish scenario in which a respected lawyer teams with a drug dealer and attempts to sell $20 million worth of cocaine with dangerous results. Starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt. (courtesy of Fox Films) Oscar Chances: Moderate. There haven’t been many reviews yet to indicate, but with such heavyweight players behind this, there has got to be some award potential. If nominated, expect this to be mostly in the acting categories and possibly a Best Original Screenplay for McCarthy.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

NOV. 1

The Story: In this fact-based drama, Matthew McConaughey portrays real-life Texas electrician Ron Woodroof, an ordinary man blindsided by being diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. Seeking to avoid government sanctions against selling non-approved medicines and supplements, he established a “buyers club,” which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies. (courtesy of Focus Features) Oscar Chances: High. While early reviews have indicated that McConaughey and Leto are terrific, the true story has also deeply satisfied critics, with Mark Adams of Screen International commentating that the film is “brimming with terrific performances and also punctuated by delightful visual flourishes.” If nominated, expect it to be in some of the major categories, with its best chances on Lead and Supporting Actor. 10 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU


THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

NOV. 15

The Story: Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, Martin Scorsese reteams with Leonardo DiCaprio to show Belfort’s rise to a wealthy Wall Street stockbroker living the high life and his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey co-star. (courtesy of Paramount Studios) Oscar Chances: High. When was the last time a Scorsese film didn’t score some Oscar nominations? Wolf looks closer to Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” than any of his more recent films, which could mean very good things. Expect this to be nominated in most of the major Oscar categories, including Picture, Actor, Director and Adapted Screenplay. *There are rumors this could get pushed to 2014, so keep an eye out for this one.

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

DEC. 6

The Story: This latest Coen Brothers film follows a week in the life of a folk singer (Oscar Isaac) as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles — some of them of his own making. Co-stars Carey Mulligan. (courtesy of CBS Films) Oscar Chances: Moderate. The Coens aren’t strangers to Oscar success, and this film has already garnered some very positive reviews, with critic Jon Frosch of The Atlantic saying it’s “a nearly pitch-perfect balance of biting satirical humor and deep reserves of feeling.” If nominated, expect possible Best Director, Original Screenplay, and Original Song.

AMERICAN HUSTLE

DEC. 13

The Story: David O. Russell’s new film tells the story of a con artist and his partner in crime, who were forced to work with a federal agent to turn the tables on other cons, mobsters, and politicians — namely, the volatile mayor of impoverished Camden, N.J. Starring Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams. (courtesy of Sony Pictures) Oscar Chances: High. Russell has come off some big Oscar wins and nominations for his last two films (“The Fighter” and “Silver Linings Playbook”) that there is no doubt Hustle will follow suit. If nominated, expect it to be in every major category.

THE MONUMENTS MEN

DEC. 18

The Story: Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, this dramatic thriller focuses on an unlikely World War II platoon tasked with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. From director George Clooney, the film stars George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman and Cate Blanchett. (courtesy of Sony Pictures) Oscar Chances: Low. George Clooney has proved himself an incredible actor, and his directorial films have gotten better with each new one. But while the film looks like great fun, it may not be serious enough to grab award attention. If nominated, this could possibly be in acting categories and maybe Best Adapted Screenplay.

HER

DEC. 20

The Story: In this new Spike Jonze film, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a lonely writer who develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that’s designed to meet his every need. (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures) Oscar Chances: Low. Spike Jonze is a brilliant filmmaker and has been nominated in the past, but this film may be too out there for Oscar voters. Joaquin Phoenix, having just been nominated last year for “The Master,” faces steep competition for Best Actor this year and could be shut out. If nominated, expect this to be for Best Original Screenplay. THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 11


A&E COURTESY AMC

Remember his name Heisenberg says goodbye with satisfying finale CHRIS EHRMANN Staff Writer *Note: This article will include spoilers from the entire series. “We’re done when I say we’re done,” says Walter White to Saul Goodman. No, Walter — stay a little longer? Two hours? I’ll give you another $10,000. Please? Well, the end of “Breaking Bad” came and went like Walter White himself, tying up his loose ends during the finale. It is unfortunately sad to say goodbye to this show — a show that I have spent so much time watching. I remember when the third season started and the cousins were introduced; I got chills down my back. I remember the fourth season premiere with Gale’s death; I was awestruck about what was going to happen next. I have no more season premieres to look forward to anymore. The last episode was great — not perfect, but good, structured and satisfying. I personally still feel that the Nazis had no place in “Breaking Bad.” All of the other villains — Gus, Tuco, Tio — they all meshed together naturally. The Nazis were villians all of the sudden, and to have them as the final confrontation for Walt was a little disappointing, but still good and fulfilling for

what it was. In the beginning of the episode, leading right off from where the last episode ended, Walt leaves the bar and escapes the cops by sneaking into a car. Coming as close as he can to what would be praying, he said to himself, “Just get me home and I’ll do the rest.” He proceeds to visits his old colleagues Gretchen and Elliot Schwartz, who own Gray Matter, and, using his ingenious plan, threatens them to accept the rest of Walt’s money to give to Walter Jr. on his 18th birthday. Just for good measure, he signals two hit men to shine red lasers on them to make sure they will do what he says. This was my favorite scene, because it shows the genius of Walt, and two of my favorite characters get their onscreen goodbyes. Badger and Skinny Pete, arguably the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of this Shakespearean tragedy, make their final appearance as the so-called hit men, showing up to use nothing but laser pointers to threaten Gretchen and Elliot. After Walt finishes his business with his former colleagues, he goes on to visit Skylar, and here, he tells her the real reason why he started cooking meth and why he stayed in the business: for himself. He gets to see Holly and watches

12 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

Flynn walk home from a distance, knowing well that this will be the last time he sees them. Walt then gets to work on one of the best weapon uses of the series. Walt rigs up that M60 machine gun that was flash forwarded in the premiere of season five to sit in the back of the trunk of a car for a specific moment. Walt drives his car up to the Nazis’ meth compound and parks his car in front of a building, to the confusion of a member of Todd and Uncle Jack’s gang. After finding out that Jesse has become a slave to the Nazis, Walter pushes Jesse to the ground as he pops the hood of the car and the M60 starts to fire, killing everybody inside the building except Walt, Jesse, Todd and his uncle. Then, in a moment of elation and a flash of rage, Jesse strangles Todd to death with the chains that he was enslaved with. Walt walks up to an injured Jack, who tells him to wait as he puts a cigarette in his mouth and tries to tell him only he knows where Walt’s money is, but before he can finish, Walt shoots him in the head. Walt throws the gun to Jesse and tells him to kill him. But Jesse, finally making a decision for himself, refuses to comply with what Walt wants him to do and tells him to do it himself.

Jesse gets away, which surprised me. I thought he would die, but he drives off and escapes everything that happened to him during the series. As Jesse leaves, Walt walks through the meth lab as he cradles his bullet wound. He leaves a bloody handprint on a machine, falls over and succumbs to his wound. Walt dies as the cops come running in and then, for the last time, the credit “Created by Vince Gilligan” fades in. As an episode this was still brilliant; the whole episode was full of outstanding performances, and it wouldn’t be “Breaking Bad” without symbolism. What was interesting was the way Walt moved through Gretchen and Elliot’s house and how he slipped into Skylar’s house undetected. It made him seem like a ghost, which in a way is what he was. He “died” after taking Saul’s way out, and after that, every time he was shown he was in hiding or trying to be undetected. It was also very symbolic that Walt was shot by his own gun as he was protecting Jesse. It shows that in the end, Walt still did care for Jesse, even though he manipulated him throughout the series. Dying by his own hand was the only way out for Walt, and ending it where it all began, in the meth lab, was a brilliant way to end.


FEATURES JON ADAMS/THE SOUTH END

KRISTIN SHAW/THE SOUTH END

The green ‘n’ golden years Older students experience unique slice of college life LIZ SCUTCHFIELD Contributing Writer Walking across campus in the autumn is the thing high school dreams of going away to college are made of. The campus is beautiful and vibrant. There are young, smart people everywhere, studying on benches and under trees; riding bikes, skateboards and scooters; heading to classes, lunches and libraries. They’re really headed off to their futures. Then, every once in a while there will be one — a more “mature” student. They’re usually wearing sensible shoes. They’re usually walking alone. They’re usually moving with a different sense of urgency and energy. In many ways, they’re returning to their pasts. At Wayne State, less than 4 percent of students are over the age of fifty. Nearly sixty percent are twenty-five or under. The experience for each student on campus is different, but for those 990 spending their “golden years” hauling backpacks around campus, it’s a whole new world. The last time most of them were in school, computers were something only the NASA used. For them, technology wasn’t about whether you had the latest laptop, or if you would get caught texting during class. Technology was about whether they were going to have electric or manual typewriters in typing class, and the invention of the calculator. Kenrie Lane looked back on her first time going to college in Des Moines, Iowa, in the 70s. “I had an electric typewriter when the IBM Selectric was the Rolls Royce of typewriters,” she said. “Now, it’s a dinosaur.” Lane lived at home with her parents while she earned a journalism degree from Drake University. She had won a scholarship through the local news-

paper, but it didn’t include room and board. “I didn’t like it,” she said. It was hard for her to study at home where her family didn’t always understand her workload and was often a distraction. Now, at age 60, on her second time around, she’s living on campus in a dorm. She shares a suite in Residential Towers with four other women. She guesses they are each less than 25 years old. Each suitemate has a room, and they share a common room. “I was part of the Warrior Welcome Crew, so I got to move in three days early,” Lane said. The welcome crew helps other students on move-in day. “It was unreal. All the cars parked up and down Anthony Wayne. They had it well organized,” she said. “Better than Michigan State.” Lane can say that with authority. She has moved each of her two daughters in to Michigan State University dorms in the past. One has since graduated, while the other has transferred to Eastern Michigan University. “First, you’ve got to make sure they’re straight,” she said. When it comes to her own dorm life, Lane said it’s “interesting.” Residential Towers is intended to be a quieter building, so she finds it easier to study there than she did at home when she was younger. Other things are easier too; she enjoys not having to worry about meals since she’s on the meal plan. “One good thing, I’m not doing dishes,” she said. As for the generation gap, Lane said her suitemates don’t treat her any differently than they treat each other. But still, the times are different. “People just don’t know a lot of the privileges come from our generation,” she said. “Men and women on the same floor. No one spent the night.” She remembers a time when students were fighting for these rights that students now enjoy

“because they are adults.” Now, Lane is back at school in pursuit of a degree that will allow her to teach history to middle and high school students, what she calls “the fun age.” She had taken a lot of history courses while she was at Drake. “I think I took all the history because I imagined myself being a foreign correspondent,” she said. She thought she wanted to be in the hotspots, but she got disenchanted with journalism and found herself working as an insurance claim adjuster for 25 years. It paid the bills, but it wasn’t satisfying her. “Basically, you meet people by accident,” she said, “on the worst days of their lives.” Then the bad economic times hit that industry too. “It lost its wealth, too,” she said. Lane found herself looking for more work before earning a CNA certificate through the No Worker Left Behind program. Working as a patient tech, Lane said, “I was working full time making a fraction of what I was making part time before.” That’s when she decided to do what she had wanted to do for a long time: become a history teacher. With the help of discounted tuition for students over 60, a couple of scholarships and some student loans, Lane is on track for accomplishing it – well before she turns 65. The loans aren’t a concern to her. “I have always believed it’s worth investing in yourself,” she said. As for her age, Lane sees it as a motivator, explaining that as an older student, “there’s a lot more at stake.” Another future history teacher is amongst the students in their “green and golden” years. Ed Keahey, or Mr. Ed, as he calls himself, is a 58-yearold student with a colorful past that he loves to talk about. His attention to details and mastery of the facts suggest he’ll be great at his future career.

He energetically tells of the lifetime that led him to starting at WSU this year. It starts with collecting comic books and includes working for 30 years as a “roadie” for Papa John Creech of Jefferson Starship. That job allowed him to collect comic books from places he otherwise never could have. It also left him in need of drug rehabilitation. He’s been clean and sober nearly 26 years now. It was that experience that led him to Wayne County Community College to earn an associate degree and a certificate. He was planning to work as a substance abuse counselor. “I figured I’d give back,” Keahey said, “but with the associate’s and the license you’re S.O.L.” Keahey was working for his own tree care business when his arm was badly injured in a wood chipper. He knew he was getting too old to continue doing that kind of work much longer. “My wife said she couldn’t afford to send two kids to college,” he said, laughing. They still have a couple years before their daughter will be heading to college. She was counting him as the second. Fortunately for Mr. Ed, his wife is a professor of nutrition at WSU, so he can take classes here at no cost. Because he’s always been interested in social studies, geography and history, Keahey decided he’d earn a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. He intends to teach social studies and history to high school students. He wants to teach that age “because I like the feedback,” he said. With a collection of 80,000 comic books, 110 pieces of framed comic book and rock ‘n’ roll art and a passion for telling stories, Keahey’s future students are in for unique and memorable history lessons with him as their teacher. Yes, every student has their story. Some stories are just longer.

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16 2013 I 13


FEATURES

TEDx illuminates Detroit Conference series returns to city for fifth year ELI HOERLER The South End TEDxDetroit is one answer to “what’s happening in Detroit?” An almost unanswerably vague question that took all day, over 25 speakers and dozens of experiments to answer, and was still eons from complete. An aggregation of poets, musicians, scientists, dreamers, nerds, doctors and unemployed guys with serious vision — on Oct. 3, the Riverview Ballroom was overrun with these types. It was a rare opportunity for people to push aside the blight and grime and take a microscope to some of the people keeping Detroit’s heart beating. The presentations were divided into two groups — the speakers and the labs. The speakers were in the ballroom itself, on a professionally built, professionally lit stage. The labs flooded out into the ballroom lobby and were open for people to peruse the tables and talk one-on-one with the people running them. Behind the table at one booth was Piko Piko Detroit, who are musicians in a very unique way. Their name means “bleep bleep” in Japanese, and they’re part of the emerging “Chip Tune” movement; they take old Game Boys and rig them to make electronic music. “A lot of the music … might just sound like Mario soundtracks and stuff in that vein, but a lot of it is almost indistinguishable, completely, from contemporary electronic music made on a computer,” member Travis Jorosz said. They use a Game Boy cartridge specially made by Korg to extract, alter and arrange the sounds. The result can be found on their website at pikopikodetroit.net. Other booths included a robot petting zoo, DIY neuroscience done live on a grasshopper and a 3D printer that printed small red ‘X’ souvenirs. The speakers varied widely in all ways imaginable. Lo-

cal band My Pal Val played a song, an improv comedy musician created a new song in front of everyone’s eyes, Dr. Partha Nandi talked about healthcare, Jason Hall from Bikes and Murder talked about how it all got started, and the guys from the X Games Bid even made an appearance to talk about their new project, Assemble Detroit. Author Charlie LeDuff gave one of the most engaging talks. He stormed the stage with two guys who stood behind him like bodyguards, one of whom, Chazz Miller, he had met only minutes before. Miller said he had approached LeDuff backstage and their unfinished conversation spilled out onto the stage. “(LeDuff is) one of those people — I knew if I ever got the chance I had to ask him a few things,” he said. LeDuff spoke about the state of our city and our mindset as a people — how we’re raising our kids wrong, how healthcare and pensions are messed up and the plight of the middle class. Everyone laughed while soaking up the bitter truth. When it was Les Gold’s turn to speak, everyone hushed. The pawnbroker star of “Hardcore Pawn” spoke in a booming voice about how success is achieved, citing his own triumphs and bellowing “how bad do you want it?” over and again. This is the fifth annual occurrence of TEDxDetroit, and its biggest showcase to date. This is the first year TEDxDetroit has been in such a large venue, and they filled it out well. Attendance soared past the 100+ people they have had in previous years. Attendee’s name badges cited affiliations from all over Michigan and beyond. People turned out from far and wide for the fascinating labs and informative talks. MRM Detroit, a technology company, even had a carnivallike game with prizes to be won. This year’s TEDx became more than a conference — it was a spectacle.

14 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU


ELI HOERLER/THE SOUTH END

COURTESY WSU ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 15


FEATURES

Raising consciousness on campus

KRISTIN SHAW/THE SOUTH END

Krishna movement welcomes all BRYAN FINNIGAN Contributing Writer At 9:30 on a Tuesday morning, the Gullen Mall of Wayne State is full of activity. Most of the energy is the usual scene of students and professors rushing between classes, while others are on their way to get their morning coffee. But one man seems out of place in front of the Undergraduate Library. With a shaved head, a yellow paste marking on his forehead, and saffron robes, he is spending his morning distributing small books that he carries in his messenger bag and asking for simple donations. “To help society, to help the students be aware of the origin of consciousness,” he said simply about his purpose on the WSU campus. The various books he gives to students are relatively small (between 50 and 150 pages) and have titles such as “Beyond Birth and Death” and “Chant and be Happy: the Power of Mantra Meditation.” His name is Marc. He is originally from Spain, and speaks with a heavy accent. He is a Hare Krishna devotee residing at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Temple, or ISKON, of Detroit. According to its website, “ISKCON, also known as The Hare Krishna Movement, is a monotheistic tradition within Hindu and Vedic culture.” There are an estimated 200,000 members in the United States and about 250 active members in the Detroit area. There are other ISKCON temples worldwide, and fifty in the U.S., according to the site. The Detroit temple is located at the Former Fisher mansion at 383 Lenox St. The Estate was originally built by Laurence P. Fisher, the founder of Cadillac. It is over 22,000 square feet and contains four acres of gardens. It was purchased in 1976 by Alfred Brush Ford and Lisa Reuther, whose families were formerly adversaries in the labor wars. The two then donated it to their spiritual teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is the founder of ISKCON. Today, in addition to being a place of both residence and worship for Hare Krishna monks, the Fisher Estate is open to the public, and also known as the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center. “The 25-foot high ceilings of the art gallery and grand ballroom,

along with the meticulously restored residential rooms, offer a further glimpse of a splendor seldom seen today. Situated on 4 acres of formal gardens, the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center stands as one of Detroit’s most impressive and worthwhile attractions,” according to the official website for ISKCON Detroit. Their programs page states: “You are always welcome at the temple.” Whether one is a follower of Hare Krishna or simply an architecture buff, the public is invited to enter and explore the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center. Additionally, they hold free and open programs every Sunday. Sundays, beginning at 4:15 p.m., the ISKON temple holds tours, an open Aarti Ceremony, a short lecture on the Bhagavad-Gita and a Prasadam feast. The Prasadam is food that is vegetarian, which has first been ceremoniously offered to Krishna. The literal translation is “Krishna’s Mercy,” according to a devotee. “Welcome to Sundays in Hare Krishna,” said Deva, a western devotee who resides at a temple in Ypsilanti, while looking over the entrance hall packed full of people. The people, over 70 in all, are of both western and Indian decent, sitting and eating together on the floor of the Hall. “It’s amazing to think that all over the U.S. and all over the world, others in Hare Krishna are doing the same thing right now, sitting together and taking their Sunday Prasadam,” Deva said. Raymond Brown, a junior at WSU majoring in communication science, attends the Sunday Prasadam Dinner as often as possible. Brown has been a devotee for one year and lived at the temple for a month over the summer while on a break from school. He says that being a devotee has taught him “how to deal with stress and regulate it through meditation, practice discipline, and cultivate a value system” and has given him “perspective in identity, how you relate to others and eternity… (his) place in the world.” On campus, Brown, in cooperation with other devotees, has started a free and open session for those interested in learning about Hare Krishna on Mondays from 2-3 p.m. in the Student Center, Room 16-A. More info can be found at: DetroitIskconlive.com as well as ISKCON.org.

16 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

JON ADAMS/THE SOUTH END


FEATURES KRISTIN SHAW/THE SOUTH END

ELI HOERLER/THE SOUTH END

I ain’t afraid of no ghosts Historic Fort Wayne attracts ghost hunters GABRIEL CAMERO Contributing Writer As the sun sets and the air of the Detroit River streams across the grounds and among the uniform red brick and white trimmed buildings of Historic Fort Wayne, a sense of time-travel and a spike in energy takes hold. On this seemingly forgotten corner of Clark and Livernois next to the Rouge Plant, a militant security guard presses for your business and signature. Understandable, because a branch of the Army Corps of Engineers, specializing in drudging and other nautical matters, is stationed here. The star fort, built in 1848 during an attempted Canadian revolution and updated to stone in 1861, is ahead and to the left. Across from it is a two-story eagle statue that marks the closed Native American museum. Fort Wayne never fought in a battle, but it fights a war every day against time and the elements. The soldiers of this battle are the volunteers of the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, chaired by Tom Berlucchi, that are required as members to serve in restoration and maintenance of the grounds. Their ammunition is the money from the $5 parking and $5 weekend tours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. as well as all proceeds from educational and entertainment events. One of the more popular fundraisers is the ghost tour and hunt held once a month between June and November — and twice in October — by Metro Paranormal Investigations, partners and members of the coalition. Tour admission is $50 a person. Metro Paranormal Investigations co-founder Chris Forsyth also occasionally holds a metaphysics protection class

under the same premise. At 8 p.m. some of the 17 members of Metro Paranormal Investigations, wearing their black and green team shirts, usher visitors into a makeshift auditorium to watch a video showcasing the team’s goofy-family dynamics as well as some investigation footage. The tour guides, usually founders Forsythe and Wayne Miracle, then introduce the fort and safety guidelines. Berlucchi also gives a speech welcoming the visitors and explaining the history as well as his connection, love and dedication to the fort. Berlucchi was a guide in a previous ghost tour series, but when asked about activity he said, “I’m here a lot of nights and I walk the grounds without a flashlight and I’ve never seen anything.” Metro Paranormal Investigations began in 2007 over an internet forum when Miracle and Forsythe decided to entertain their longtime passion and investigate the site of a razed Michigan town. The investigators share an intense love for science and dedication to skepticism and research. After vetting clients through an interview and a vote, their free investigations begin with a Google Maps photo of the site and research of surrounding geography as well as the site’s history and reports of paranormal activity. The team also researches possible natural and paranormal explanations. Although three years would be ideal, they usually only get a day to investigate. Late night is preferable because it’s quieter, but if activity occurs at a specific time then they’ll adjust. The site is fully covered by video cameras and the team sticks to using voice recorders, electro magnetic frequency meters, flashlights and cameras, although they will sometimes test new equipment. Each member keeps detailed reports

of their activity, which are key in the debunking process. After rigorous skeptical review, they provide a detailed report, sometimes 45-50 pages, to their client addressing the activity experienced but never confirm a haunting. This strict process yields a supposed positive active site rate of 10 percent. The Historic Fort Wayne Coalition and Metro Paranormal Investigations strongly urge against unsanctioned hunting. Daytime investigations are disruptive to the regular practices of the fort and insulting to the volunteers. Breaking in is illegal and unadvisable not only because there is an active military branch on site, but also because the investigative team checks locations for safety before allowing guests in, so it’s also dangerous. After the autumnal equinox, the tour begins with a dark walk to the front gate of the star fort where a soldier during its defense post years in the mid-19th century, William Pickett, ended a bad toothache-ridden day with a runaway canon to the head. There are occasional alleged audible voice phenomena in this area screaming, “Help me,” Forsythe said. After going through the allegedly active sally port, or in-wall tunnel, the tour enters the center field of the fort that was used for drills even in later years when the fort trained newly enlisted outgoing soldiers. Looking counterclockwise about 125 degrees will reveal the flagpole, about which an apparition of a sentry is said to walk most nights starting at 1 a.m. A diagonal path leads to the long limestone barracks building that through the years housed soldiers, families, civilian victims of Spanish Influenza as well as the overflow of Detroiters left homeless after the ‘67 riots. This is supposedly a very active site containing at times 150 different audible voice phenomena as well as one of the

fort’s strongest entities. According to the team, an 8-year-old girl named Theresa plays with toys they leave for her, carries on conversations and can make herself fully visible. They claim she is a victim of Spanish Influenza because of the style of dress she wears and the fort death records. Modern fort buildings include the old headquarters that was the Detroit command center during World War II when the city shipped out mechanical parts as well as housed POWs, some of who became American citizens. The headquarters was also a ballroom, the Medicine Bear Academy that taught native culture to American Indians and a school in the Detroit Head Start Program. Forsythe and Miracle claim to have seen a black mass moving around on the floor as well as other activity. Down the road, across from artillery that includes a Sherman tank that may have incinerated soldiers after a Panzer strike in World War II, is the Spanish-American Guardhouse or First Post Jail. An escaping soldier inmate was shot and killed by a guard here and the ensuing trial led to a law that allows such measures. Supposed activity includes a shadow figure that is seen creeping around and runs through walls, sometimes in the final path of this soldier. The tour concludes at about 9:45 p.m. in the visitor center with a brief lecture on the team’s evidence and investigation techniques. Guests are then free to investigate designated areas or leave at their will until 4 a.m. “Crime happens everywhere … the citizens of the city of Detroit will rise above all of this and the city will come back, we just have to get past all the stigmas we have ... We will come up from the ashes,” Forsythe said. Perhaps the fort could be another phoenix.

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16 2013 I 17


SPORTS

t

Warriors dominate SVSU FUAD SHALHOUT The South End

COURTESY WSU ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

The Warriors won their eighth straight dual match of the season and improved to 10-1 overall, and in the GLIAC, as it finished its road conference schedule with an 8-1 victory at Saginaw Valley State, Oct. 5. WSU took a 3-0 lead after doubles play. Yahsha Moore and Anne Li Briand earned an 8-2 victory, while sophomores Anastasia Burobina and Alex Poissant teamed up for an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles. Then, freshmen Lauren Hughes and Andrea Mitrache combined for an 8-0 victory. The Warriors dominated the singles matches winning five out of six to seal the win. Moore won a three-set victory over Saginaw Valley’s Izabella Ismailova, winning 5-7, 7-5, 10-4. Julia Kamenko won her singles match at No. 2 singles, winning 6-3, 6-0. Burobina, Briand and Poissant also posted straight-set victories in singles for the Warriors. WSU next begin a home stand Oct. 11 against Malone as they look to continue its winning streak.

Volleyball blasts through GLIAC divison ZEINAB NAJM Senior Writer The Wayne State women’s volleyball team continued to make its way through the GLIAC conference facing the University of Findlay, Northern Michigan University, and Michigan Tech University. On Tuesday, the Warriors defeated Findlay in a hard fought five-set match. WSU won the first match, lost the next two and came back to win the final two. Wayne State won the first set, 25-19 then lost 26-28 and 16-25 but would rally to earn the win. During the fourth set, the Warriors went on a 4-0 run after an important kill by Heather Weiss. The lead would stay the same as WSU went on to take the set, 25-21 and force a fifth set. The final set would be a tight one as all the others were. It began tied at three points each than the Warriors went on a 7-0 run to take a commanding lead. Candice Ottey earned the kill hat would give WSU the set and match victory. After the match the Warriors became tied with the Oilers atop the GLIAC South Division. For the first time this season, WSU played their first home game during homecoming weekend against Northern Michigan. They fell 3-1.

The Wildcats took an early lead in the first set and never looked back. They came out to a 10-2 lead and won the set 25-18. WSU would come back to earn a victory in the second set. It was a tight contest but the Warriors earned the last five of the last seven points to win, 25-20. It would be all Northern Michigan from that point on, as they won the third set 25-20 and fourth set 25-23. Despite the loss, Madison Reeves had 25 assists while Kristen Bulkiewicz collected 10 kills for the Warriors. On the following day, WSU continued their homecoming weekend against Michigan Tech University. They beat the Huskies 3-1. MTU would win the first match 25-21 but that would be all for them. The Warriors went on to take the next three sets, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-22. The Huskies took an early second set lead but the Warriors came back and made a run to put the match away. WSU lead the fourth set the entire time and finally ended a MTU threat with great play by Ottey and Bulkiewicz. The fourth and final set was a close one all the way through. It was tied 15-15 and 20-20 before a kill from Weiss. Finally, the Warriors would win on a kill from Ottey to complete the match. Bulkiewicz collected her 29th double-double in the victory.

18 I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

COURTESY WSU ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT


SPORTS COURTESY WSU AHTLETICS DEPARTMENT

Homecoming comeback Warriors trap Timberwolves ALLISON KOEHLER Staff Writer Clouds had filled the sky and the threat of rain was looming. But the forecast for the Wayne State Warriors was sunny as they went on to beat the Northwood University Timberwolves 31-17 in its ninth straight Homecoming victory. Running back Toney Davis was the star of last year’s September match-up, tearing it up on Timberwolves’ turf for 159 yards on just 29 attempts. But after the Malone game in which Davis racked up his 16th career game of 100 rushing yards or more, it was someone else’s time to shine. Though the first half left the Warriors trailing 17-10, the defense stepped up in a huge way to keep the Timberwolves from putting any numbers up on the board in the second half. “It was an exciting game if you like punts,” head coach Paul Winters said. Over Winters’ 10 years with the Warriors, his team is now 31-21 at home. Neither offense had much, if any, production the final two quarters. With the pigskin going back and forth via multiple punts, the football game played more like a tennis match. But

the Warriors had history on their side, having outscored their opponents 34-7 in the fourth quarter. In fact, it oneupped history scoring 21 to the Timberwolves’ zilch. Yes, defense was the name of the game with fumbles and interceptions abound. In the first quarter, cornerback Gerren DuHart intercepted a pass by Northwood’s Mitch Robinson, for his second career Timberwolves pick, taking him to five overall. After an injury held him out of last week’s game, senior linebacker Ed Viverette was back. “It hurt to watch my guys out there and I couldn’t help them. It was great being back on the field.” His presence was felt immediately, creating his first career interception, off a pass by Northwood’s Mitch Robinson. “It was crazy,” Viverette said, beaming. “I’m just getting some slack for not scoring.” He also contributed a sack and six total tackles including hunting down Robinson, tackling the quarterback for a 16-yard loss. Viverette needs only one-half sack to get him to number nine in the Warrior history book. “It was great to have Viv back,” said fellow linebacker Moe Davenport. “He’s one of our best players, our best

leaders. He comes to play. He played hard and made big plays like he always does.” Davenport attributes his own 10-tackle game to his teammates. “I was able to make plays because of them. The defense knew we had to come out and play hard. Everyone came out of the D and did their job,” he said. “Our linebackers are maybe our most talented position, maybe even in the league,” Winters said. “Moe Davenport, Steve O’Shell, Nores Fradi and Ed Viverette. If you look at all our big plays other than Antwon’s (Robinson) interceptions, those guys were in ‘em.” Senior safety Antwon Robinson had his second interception of the game, which eventually ended with a second Toney Davis touchdown, the 49th of his career. Big plays also came from the receiving trio of Michael Johnson, Dominique Maybanks, and Val Showers. “We needed a push,” Johnson said. “Our coaches were telling us they needed someone to make a play. It just feels good that my number was called and I was able to make the play.” Quarterback Carl Roscoe connected with Showers in a 51-yard touchdown

catch, the second of the receiver’s career. “It was a great opportunity. The play was wide open and I just had to make it,” Showers said. The senior Maybanks pitched in with his 19th consecutive game with a reception, reaching the 1000-yard receiving mark for his collegiate career. Said Maybanks, “Somebody told me last week that I was close to getting a thousand. The milestone felt good.” The last two Timberwolves attempts at the end zone resulted turnovers. On what would be the Timberwolves’ final drive, Robinson fumbled off a sack by junior defensive end Justice Akuezue, recovered by linebacker Fradi who took it 12 yards for a touchdown. To seal the deal, Robinson went up for his third interception, the 11th of his career and third three-interception game. The Warriors head to Hillsdale College next week to play the Chargers. Remaining home game pit the Warriors against Saginaw Valley, Grand Valley, and Michigan Tech. Road games are at Hillsdale, Northern Michigan, and Ferris State. Admission is no charge for students with their WSU OneCard.

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 19


v

PHOTO STORY

“WSU HOMECOMING GAME”

VIEW THE ENTIRE GALLERY AT THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU

PHOTOS BY CHRIS EHRMANN/THE SOUTH END

THESOUTHEND.WAYNE.EDU I OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 16, 2013 I 16


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.