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Interviews! Mayer Hawthorne
ANN ARBOR MUSICIAN TALKS “HIS START”, FOOD, TWITTER
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWER SHARES HIS STORY
Micah Bartelme
DIRECTOR/BARTENDER DISCUSSES HIS FILM "BILAL'S STAND"
Join the Love Movement TWLOHA Founder Jamie Tworkowski
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:
MATT FLEMING APRIL 2010
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Letters from the editors
SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT 8 Student Matt Fleming 10 Professor Ramesh Garg 14 Alumni Al McWilliams
18 20 23 25 26
COLLEGE COLLEGE LIFE LIFE Health Care Smoking Ban Medical Marijuana What Would Obama Say? Top 10 places to hook up
30 32 35 36 38 40 44
ARTS&&ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT ARTS Around YOU! To Write Love On Her Arms Yankee Air Museum Documentary Mayer Hawthorne Rate It! “Bilal’s Stand” The Afternoon Round
ATHLETICS ATHLETICS 48 Bridging the Gap 54 Bottom Line 55 Horoscope
PUBLISHER:
student spotlight:
MATT FLEMING PG. 8
TIM ADKINS JASON IDALSKI jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
EDITORIAL: AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com JOE STROMSKI joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com ATHLETICS: JASON IDALSKI jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com STAFF WRITERS: JEREMY ALLEN, JESSICA BRENT, MARISSA MCNEES, MARISSA STAPLES ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT: COLLEGE LIFE:
ART: DESIGNER: ASHLEY CRAWFORD SALES: ads@emyouthemagazine.com
PHOTOGRAPHER:
RAJ MEHTA
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Letter from the Editors Jason
Hard to believe eight months have gone by. It seems like yesterday (it was actually mid-August) I signed on here. The past eight months have been full of so many good memories for me, including some of the experiences I’ve had as editor-in-chief of emYOU! I think this is one of, if not the, best issues of emYOU! yet. Every story in here is worth reading. So, enough babbling from me. Hope you enjoy.
Stromski
I’d like to start off by congratulating each one of you who is graduating at the end of the month. Everybody else, congrats on finishing another year. Secondly, also for those of you soon-to-be-graduates, if you don’t have a sugar daddy or momma, have no money saved and aren’t already or haven’t found employment for after the big day when you walk down the isle, you are royally screwed. But on the brighter side of things, there’s no more going to class, exams or bullshit assignments professors and instructors assign you just to pass the time. Unfortunately, in this economy, the lack of school-related responsibilities is as good as it’s going to get for some of you. So, as I’ve advised before, if you aren’t lucky enough to stay in the mitten, you better have your bag packed and ready to go, just in case that ever-elusive out-of-state job offer comes knocking on your door. OK; enough with the morbid post-grad tales. Enjoy the issue; I’ve heard it’s the best yet.
Amanda
The end is near — the end of the semester, that is. Spring is finally here. Finals and graduation are just around the corner. And emYOU! is going out with a bang. This issue’s entertainment section is stacked with amazing interviews — from Jamie Tworkowski of “To Write Love on Her Arms” to Mayer Hawthorne — as well as reviews, events and stories that matter to YOU. It’s one issue you won’t want to miss.
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SPOTLIGHT
student spotlight:
MATT FLEMING BY JASON IDALSKI jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com Photos by Raj Mehta
Major: Film Studies Minor: Writing Favorite book: “Catcher In the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
Favorite music: Metal, hip hop, indie rock, classic soul
Favorite movie: Ed Wood
Favorite thing to do in spare time: Bowling, playing music
Describe yourself in three words: Real cool dude
“I work everywhere that’s cool in Ypsilanti.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Graduate school
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APRIL 2010
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into the same building six years to the day after moving in there before. He’s living there now and lived there during what was nearly his last semester of EMU. It’s a little symbolic of the circuitous path Fleming has taken to get where he is today. Out of high school, Fleming went to EMU for five years. He’d changed his major from teaching to film studies, and was also taking a lot of classes not required for his major or general education. While he was learning about things that interested him, it also meant he wasn’t near graduation yet. Burned out from school and with financial constraints taking a toll (the movie theater he was working at closed), Fleming stopped going to school and started working as a server at Tower Inn. It was there the nickname many know him by picked up steam. “I was on tour years ago in a metal band, and I bought a fake platinum chain,” Fleming said. “My best friend said ‘Who you supposed to be, Birdman?’” Fleming cawed in response, and the nickname stuck. Fleming puts a Birdman sign on his server book of Tower Inn. More importantly, working in the shadow of EMU put him in contact with former classmates and professors. “I would see people that I knew from working at Eastern, and professors that I had, and everybody was always asking me ‘Well, why aren’t you in school right now?’” Fleming said. He had his excuses: Money problems, wasn’t sure how to start again, wasn’t sure if he could do it. “A year break, two years of a break turns into not being in school for five years,” Fleming said. He eventually found the motivation to return in his own family. “It wasn’t until my sister graduated high school last year, and she was kind of discouraged about going to school,” Fleming
said. “And so I told her: ‘Look, I’ll figure out everything I need to figure out to go back to school, as long as you apply to Washtenaw and try to go to Washtenaw for at least a semester.’” Not only did his sister get good grades in her first semester at Washtenaw, Fleming got good grades in the classes he’s taking now, his first semester back at Eastern. He hopes to graduate in December; he learned on his return that he was closer to graduating than he thought. Had he known, he might’ve come back sooner. After graduation, he wants to go to grad school to expand on his film studies degree. Fleming, like most EMU students, is balancing classes with three jobs. He works six days a week: four days as a lunch server at Tower Inn, two days as a barista at the Ugly Mug and one day at the Elbow Room (he pulls a double one day). “I see people at one job, and I recognize them from whichever place, and they look at me and they’re kind of puzzled like ‘Do you work everywhere?’” Fleming said. “And I just say: ‘Yes. Yes I do. I work everywhere that’s cool in Ypsilanti.’” The saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a town to raise Fleming. “I really feel lucky to be in such a strong community, to know that you can kind of lose your path and that there are enough people in this town that genuinely care about people,” he said. “Very lucky to be in this town.”
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SPOTLIGHT
Pop quiz. Your house is on fire. After waking your roommate up and helping him get to safety, perhaps saving his life, you call…? (Assume 911 has already been called.) Parents? Best friend? Insurance company? “My first call was to Tower Inn to let them know that I wasn’t going to be able to make it to work,” said Matt Fleming of the immediate aftermath of the Feb. 25 fire on the 300 block of North Adams St. Fleming and his roommate/ best friend, Eric Cargile, lost a lot of their living room and kitchen. Cargile lost his textbooks; Fleming lost some items given to him by his grandparents and a 30-year collection of VHS tapes. They managed to save their cell phones … even if they had to run back into the burning building to get them. “If you ever want to know exactly how many people care about you, have a house fire,” Fleming quipped. “I can’t tell you how many people offered to let me stay on a couch, or if I needed any food, or if I needed any stuff. I just had an outpouring of support.” While a house fire is a disaster, Fleming is grateful for the small strokes of luck that prevented it from being worse. “Two days earlier, I overslept and didn’t wake up until noon. It was just kind of scary, that if this had happened two days earlier, my roommate and I would’ve both been asleep, and who knows what would’ve happened if I’d already left for work,” he said. “I don’t want to think about the what-ifs in that situation.” Fleming was able to find a new place to live within 48 hours. “More than anything, it was just kind of a rude awakening,” he said. “We didn’t need to be living in this house any more. People below us were grilling indoors because they didn’t have heat or electricity, started the fire down there.” In a coincidence, Fleming moved
SPOTLIGHT
professor spotlight:
RAMESH GARG BY JASON IDALSKI jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com Photos by Raj Mehta
Department: Accounting and Finance Courses taught at EMU: Corporate Finance, International Finance, Real Estate Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions, Managerial Accounting, Doing Business in India
Schools attended: Kent State University: MBA (1967), DBA (1974)
Favorite book: “Unaccustomed Earth” by Jhumpa Lahiri
Favorite music: Bollywood Music Favorite movie: “Casablanca” Favorite thing to do in spare time: Watch CNBC Describe yourself in three words: I am optimistic Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Retire from EMU. Do volunteer work to help people in need, spread financial literacy among the younger generation, and do traveling.
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“When I came to
this country, I had nothing. Now, I have everything.” WWW.EMYOUTHEMAGAZINE.COM
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taught at a school in upstate New York for four years and a school in Philadelphia for one year before arriving at EMU in 1978. “Before I came here, I used to move quite a bit,” Garg admitted. “I did not like the East Coast because of the hectic pace.” Upon arriving in Ypsilanti, he said he knew it was the place he wanted to raise his family. “I think this is the best place to teach and best place to live because the Midwest still has the values which I think are typical American values,” Garg said. “I really feel very comfortable that my children grew up here and they are all doing very well.” Garg has made his mark on Eastern Michigan in his 30-some years. He revived a “dormant” Finance Club, now healthy and thriving. The club has a guest speaker every week and occasionally takes trips to Chicago to visit the mercantile exchange and the Federal Reserve building. “At Eastern Michigan, I think we have a focus on teaching and learning. I think that’s the big thing about EMU. That’s what I like, we have small class size,” Garg said. “We look after the students who really need the most help. We admit the students because they could not get admission to some other places.” And Garg looks after his students in the classroom as well, having helped some of them graduate who might not have otherwise. “I had a student who flunked out of this class from other professors, and she had some personal family situation, where she could not take all the quizzes,” Garg said. “I knew she was a bright student, but because of her personal family circumstances she could not keep up.” Garg agreed to give the student makeup quizzes and she ended up passing the class. “Then one day I was in a neighborhood restaurant and she came running to me, says:
‘Professor Garg, I got a job at Comerica because you helped me to graduate. Otherwise I would’ve been on welfare.’” Garg says that in the past few years he’s been working on listening to his students more instead of just teaching at them. Maybe the effort’s paying off. In 2009 he received the Superior Faculty Adviser Award from the Finance Management Association, a national award. “I was totally surprised when it came in the mail,” Garg said. Garg’s teaching style is unique in that he emphasizes current events. He spends the first 5-10 minutes of each class talking about a current event, and how it relates to what they’re learning in class. “I think that’s what the student finds very interesting, when you give them a real-life example,” Garg said. He warns that financial education overall is lacking, though. “One the things that we are lacking here, that we are not giving financial literacy education to students,” Garg said. “The students really need to learn about how to better manage their money.” And they can learn some lessons on money from the guy who came to the U.S. with none of it.
APRIL 2010
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SPOTLIGHT
Humble beginnings? You could call Eastern Michigan finance professor Ramesh Garg’s start in America humble beginnings. At 21, Garg flew from India to London and on to New York, literally stopping at Ellis Island. From there he took a bus to Ohio; specifically, Kent State University. All of his belongings were packed in a suitcase … a suitcase that was lost en route. A professor in one of Garg’s classes noticed that he’d worn the same clothes for two weeks, got Garg to tell him what happened, and gave him an advance on his student loan check so he could afford clothes. “When I came to this country, I had nothing. Now, I have everything,” Garg said. Garg’s adventures in Ohio weren’t over. During the famous Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970, Garg was an amateur photographer who nearly found himself in the line of fire, taking his camera to the standoff between National Guard members and antiwar protesters. “The National Guard were facing the students. Nothing going on, and I’m telling my friend that this is very, the silence is a killer silence. Something may happen now, you know?” Garg said. “And I’m just telling my friend that I hope something doesn’t happen, you know, something bad. And before we know it, then there was shooting.” Garg had a couple paragraphs written about him in James Michener’s book “Kent State: What Happened and Why.” The book also includes a photograph of Garg’s, one of the rare, iconic images of the massacre: Allison Krause, one of the students who was shot, putting a flower in the barrel of a guardsman’s rifle. Garg is quite well-traveled. After receiving his MBA from Kent in 1967, he went back to India, then went to school in Europe for six months. He taught at Western Michigan from 1971-1973 and got his doctorate from KSU in 1974. He
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BEST MUSICAL
Proof: 1/25/10; 11:44AM Spring Awakening Publication: EMYOU Magazine. Run date: 2/1/2010 Size: 3.667” x 9.75” For: Nederlander Detroit (Fisher Theatre & others)
NOW HIRING!
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“A GROUNDBREAKING JOLT OF GENIUS!” —New York Post
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MATURE SUBJECT MATTER
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SPOTLIGHT
alumni spotlight:
AL MCWILLIAMS BY JASON IDALSKI jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com
“I have no qualms
about saying that I think I got a better education at Eastern than I would have gotten at U-M.”
People who read the Eastern Echo in the early 2000’s might remember the name Al McWilliams. The entertainment page was themed one day each week, and McWilliams (often irreverently and hysterically) had a column bashing whatever the page was about.
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SPOTLIGHT The one flaw came when the page was Martin Luther King, Jr. themed. McWilliams instead made fun of the KKK trying to change its image, a column he called one of his most memorable. But McWilliams didn’t walk away from his time at Eastern with just hate mail. A venture that started from his dorm room in 2003 has evolved into a media miniconglomerate called Quack Media. “We are sort of a threedimensional media company,” McWilliams said of his 10-person staff. “We do music, television advertising, and publishing. I think the best way to sum it up is to say that we create and market content.” The three-pronged approach may sound scattered, but that’s only because it’s how the company grew. “I was just doing kind of part time, making educational videos. So that’s how it started, then we got into music, and then we ran out of topics to cover in educational videos so we started doing stuff for Adult Swim,” McWilliams said. “And then … we picked up Found magazine and started the publishing end of things, and then each of those divisions sort of grew and then we realized we could sort of smash them all together and help companies approach the 18-35 demo.” While educational videos to the Cartoon Network program may seem like a stretch, it’s not given McWilliams’ go-get-it attitude. “When we first started doing TV I just called up the president of the Cartoon Network because nobody told me that you weren’t supposed to do that,” McWilliams said in an April 2009 interview. “She’s a great friend of mine now.” It helps explain why the “Effected” column of Quack’s Web site (quackmedia.com) is comprised of 25 companies,
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publications, a person (Quack plans to publish comedian Maria Bamford’s books) … and the Detroit Red Wings. “The Red Wings are a client of ours, and for them we do everything from put on events to create an ad campaign,” McWilliams said. “When you see anything that really seems targeted towards 18-35 … that’s us.” This includes the “Open Skate” games, the last of which is April 7 against Columbus. (Visit openskatedetroit.com for more details.) “I think a prime example (of targeting the 18-35 demographic) would be the traditional sports advertising,” McWilliams said. “Basically, when you look at a TV commercial or an in-arena program, or anything with sports, it’s basically ‘player turns around and looks tough into the camera.’ Right? How many times have you seen that? “And our thing is, well, for our demo, we’ve seen that a million times. It sort of like just bounces off, you don’t even notice it. If we do notice it, we’re like ‘lame.’” McWilliams is helping the Red Wings, as he put it, “expand away from that badass-only mentality.” Said McWilliams of his generation’s view of sports: “We look at professional sports as a fun night out. When I go to a hockey game, it’s partially because I love the Red Wings, but partially because I want to go have a good night in Detroit with my friends.” For those familiar with hearing the 18-to-35 age demographic referred to only in TV ratings, McWilliams said it’s important across the board. “18-35 is a very sought-after demo for almost everybody right now,” McWilliams said. “I think most companies are saying ‘we
want to get younger faster.’” In his younger days, McWilliams went to high school at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, a college prep/ boarding school. His college career started at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “It didn’t really work out,” McWilliams said of his time in Texas. “Dallas and I did not get along.” He transferred from SMU to EMU and graduated in 2003. “I liked being at Eastern because it was very much a place where we had all the resources and all the professors,” McWilliams said, meaning that the quality of teachers was just as high as other schools. And, as McWilliams put it, since so many Eastern students are so busy, there’s less competition for the professor’s attention and time than at other schools. “I have no qualms about saying that I think I got a better education at Eastern than I would have gotten at U-M,” McWilliams said. And he’s building a career any college graduate anywhere would be proud of.
APRIL 2010
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COLLEGE LIFE
A CHECKUP FOR OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM:
What the New Health Care Legislation Means for YOU BY AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com
It’s
what everyone is talking about lately — from the couple standing next to you as you wait in line for your morning latte at Starbucks, to your friends’ Twitter and Facebook status updates. The health care bill. And it seems that everyone has an opinion about it — regardless of whether they are young, old, conservative, liberal, politically informed or not-so-politically informed. National health care has long been an urban myth of sorts in our society. We’ve heard that it exists in other countries like Canada and France, although the taletellers are split as to whether it’s a positive or a negative in said countries. If you talk to a Republican, they will most likely link socialized medicine to months-long waiting lists. If you talk to a Democrat, they will probably tell you about the greater life expectancy in developed countries with socialized medicine. The vote may be split in regards to true socialized medicine, but lawmakers have long known that our country’s current health care system is, for lack of a better word, sick. And, although lawmakers have tried in vain to revamp and reform the system, their efforts have largely gone by the wayside — until now. In March, the Senate and House gave the final votes approving the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. The bill, dubbed “the most expansive social legislation enacted in decades” by the New York Times, marks one of the biggest changes our health care system has seen in its history, perhaps second only to the implementation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. And on March 23, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law, saying the bill is the embodiment of “the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care.” While the bill doesn’t represent true socialized medicine, it does require all Americans to obtain insurance (similar to how all automobile operators in the U.S. are required by law to obtain car insurance) by 2014. The bill prevents insurance companies from cancelling the policies of people who fall ill and prohibits lifetime limits on medical coverage. It also makes it impossible to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and makes provisions for Americans in the lowest income brackets, who may not be able to afford health care on their own.
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did you know? The EMU Baseball team recently defeated West Virginia 23-0 in a non-conference match-up on March 20? learn more at emueagles.com
APRIL 2010
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To many (especially those in other countries), it’s curious that the United States is one of the only developed countries that does not have socialized health care. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (in the year 2000), about 42.6 million Americans are uninsured (10 million of whom are children) — some reports say the number has recently risen to almost 46 million. Furthermore, according to a Businessweek article published in June 2009, Harvard researchers found 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. in 2007 were caused by health problems. And 78 percent of those bankruptcies occurred among those who had health insurance — 60.3 percent of whom had private coverage and not Medicare or Medicaid. “For middle-class Americans, health insurance offers little protection. Most of us have policies with so many loopholes, co-payments, and deductibles that illness can put you in the poorhouse. Unless you’re Warren Buffett, your family is just one serious illness away from bankruptcy,” said Dr. David Himmelstein, author of the nationwide study. While this may be frightening news for those who have some type of insurance, what about those who have no medical insurance at all? For many uninsured Americans, a visit to the doctor’s office is a luxury — and the current economy is a prime breeding ground to add to that number. For instance, in this time of mass job loss, many Americans who had health care through their former employers may find they are no longer insurable due to a pre-existing condition (such conditions range from high blood pressure to diseases like cancer and diabetes). According to a report published by the Journal of Health in September 2009, Americans without health insurance are 40 percent more likely to die than those with private insurance. In fact, the report says lack of health insurance was a factor in the death of as many as 45,000 people in 2005.
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COLLEGE LIFE
What’s wrong with the way things are?
What does the new health care legislation mean for YOU? The new health care legislation will be in full effect by 2014, although some changes will be implemented in as soon as three months. For the most part, consumers will be responsible for buying their own insurance, although more individuals will now have the opportunity to do so. Excess expenses will be covered by a 3.8 percent tax on the investment income of those making an annual income of $250,000 and more. The New York Times recently published an article detailing what the new health care legislation will mean for consumers. Here are some of the changes that may affect you:
College students
Many college-aged individuals are pleased with the new legislation as it makes dependent children up to age 26 eligible for coverage under their parents’ plans (currently the cut-offs are established on a state-by-state basis — most of them being at age 18 or 19).
Those with insurance
The New York Times reports that those who already have coverage through a large employer will be unlikely to see any drastic changes and their premiums and coverage should not be affected. However, these individuals will still benefit from new regulations such as the ban on pre-existing conditions that will apply to all policies in 2014.
Employers
Starting in 2018, employers that offer more expensive plans (more specifically, those with total premiums of $10,200 or more for singles and $27,500 for families) will be subject to a 40 percent tax
on the excess premium. Starting in 2014, employers with 50 or more employees who do not provide insurance coverage may be subject to federal fines.
Extended coverage
The New York Times reports that within three months those who have been locked out of the insurance market due to preexisting conditions will be eligible for subsidized coverage through a new high-risk insurance program. This coverage will continue until 2014, at which time coverage will be extended to a wider part of the population through Medicaid and new state-run insurance marketplaces. In 2014, those with pre-existing conditions will no longer be able to be denied insurance and annual and lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated.
Health insurance will be a requirement
Starting in 2014, Americans who do not obtain health insurance will be subject to a federal penalty. The first year, consumers will be fined $95 or 1 percent of income (whichever is greater), and the penalty would rise over time, capping out at $695 or 2 percent of income. However, according to Commonwealth Fund, families who fall below the income-tax filing thresholds would not owe anything, nor will those who are unable to find a policy that costs less than 8 percent of their income. Those whose annual income is up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level (about $29,327 for a family of four, according to the New York Times) will be eligible for Medicaid instead. For more information on the bill, visit http://edlabor.house.gov.
APRIL 2010
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COLLEGE LIFE BY MARISSA STAPLES marissa.staples@emyouthemagazine.com
YOU CAN SMOKE AT HOME,
BUT YOU CAN’T SMOKE HERE. The state Senate passed it with a 24-13 vote, the House of Representatives joined in with a 7530 vote and it has full support from Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Michigan has joined 37 states with a ban on smoking in all bars and restaurants, with the exemption of casinos and cigar bars. Many restaurants in the Ypsilanti/ Ann Arbor area are already taking on the role of banning smoking such as Beezy’s, IHOP and Max & Erma’s, to name a few. With Michigan taking the lead in no income growth and unemployment, many bar owners are scared or certain adding new restrictions may cause their business to suffer. Because some restaurants and bars already do not allow smoking, many establishments pride themselves on being able to cater to smokers. They say that is why the majority of their customers continue to use their services. Sean McShane, manager of Sticks in downtown Ypsilanti, understands
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APRIL 2010
it might scare people at first, but said his place will not take a big hit like many may suspect. “Since the law does not take effect until May 1, it will be warm outside. We can allow people to smoke on our back patio. Now, if this was to take effect during winter, we would definitely take a hit,” McShane said. McShane states that people will learn how to cope with the new law because it is not just his place, but all bars and clubs that have to participate. Regardless of the law, people will want that social interaction with others. “Only about 40 percent of my customers smoke. It’s really not as many as we’ve had in the past. At first, people will probably stay at home and drink to smoke. But many still want that social interaction with others. And when they want that feeling, people will continue to come out,” McShane said. It seems other bar/club owners in downtown Ypsilanti have similar
thoughts. R.C., manager of Pub 13 in downtown Ypsilanti, said he has loyal customers. Not only will R.C.’s customers be affected by this change, but he will too. R.C. is a fellow smoker. “As long as we can come up with the appropriate accommodations for smokers such as myself, we’ll be fine. This law is going to make ‘No Smoking’ the status quo, so it won’t just be us making the change. This is something everyone will have to get used to,” R.C. said. So, Ypsilanti might not be taking as big of a hit as some people may think. With pro-health citizens supporting this law and bars/clubs keeping a positive view with faith that their loyal customers will not leave, Ypsilanti may not step to the front of the line in money-making matters, but Ypsilanti will still stand healthy and tall. With smoke-free lungs, Michigan residents can now breathe easy.
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COLLEGE LIFE
call
R U YO
Question:
How do you feel about the smoking ban going into affect this spring? Will it play any role in how you chose which establishments you visit? Eric Ward,
Muayad Mahmoud,
Staff/Graduate, Dearborn I’m all for it. It’s not telling people they can’t use tobacco. Rather, it’s keeping everyone in the campus community from being exposed to it secondhand. I’d much rather visit a tobacco-free campus than one where I’ll walk through clouds of smoke to enter a building. I’m supportive of the statewide ban as well. It doesn’t say, “Smoking is illegal,” but does make life a lot healthier for those who have to work/serve around smokers. Smokers aren’t bad people, but the smoke from their cigarettes is.
Senior, Pittsfield Smoking, like overeating, is a human right. I don’t think the government should be so involved with people’s personal choices. The American government should instead do what other countries do, and that is simply educate the public, which is something that is greatly lacking in our nation.
Allen Kopicko,
Antonio Cosme,
Junior, Plymouth Although I am not a smoker, I do realize that a statewide ban on smoking in public establishments would excite some controversy. This legislation carries numerous economic and recreational implications. Bars, restaurants and bowling alleys may lose customers, while simultaneously gaining new customers, such as myself, who prefer a smokefree environment.
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Senior, Detroit I don’t smoke but leave the house expecting to smell like smoke when I go to bars and night clubs and think it’s OK. It’s like a war on smokers these days. I think it’s going to be interesting to see how some bars and clubs adapt. But I can’t imagine how it would change where I go, unless some establishments offered a smokers’ room or something, which would be a cool idea.
APRIL 2010
21
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COLLEGE LIFE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA:
Interview with a Local Grower BY JOSEPH STROMSKI II joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com
With Ann Arbor’s infamous Hash Bash just taking place this past weekend, it makes sense to publish a piece about marijuana. What separates this marijuana story from every other marijuana story is that this piece doesn’t focus on the effects the drug has, recreationally or medically. Instead, this piece offers an intimate look at a local grower, who legally grows marijuana for a small list of patients. As caregivers are not yet widely accepted by the general public as providing a legitimate service and for the purpose of protecting the one generous enough to sit down with me for this interview, he’ll be referred to as Silas. emYOU: Why did you get into growing marijuana? Silas: I don’t even know. I mean, at first it seemed like something fun to do, an idea that just sort of spiraled out of control. But now, I’m kind of passionate about the movement. I think it’s important that it be decriminalized for people who can actually benefit from it. And that’s what keeps me going. emYOU: How has your life changed since you’ve started growing? Silas: Wow. I’ve constantly got something that I need to take care of. I’m doing something that I don’t necessarily want everybody about to
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know about. It’s hard to wrestle with the fact that I would totally get fired from my day job if they knew what was going on. I also have something to do to consume my time in a much more relaxed atmosphere. emYOU: It’s said that gardening has therapeutic qualities to it. Do you feel that rings true when it’s weed, instead of, say, tomatoes or bell peppers? Silas: Absolutely; it’s just a plant. It just happens to be a psychedelic, but it’s still just a plant. emYOU: Have you found any personal benefits to participating in this activity? Silas: Yeah. It’s fun. I’m mean, I enjoy
gardening; it’s become less about the fact that it’s cannabis and more about the art and science behind producing a good crop. emYOU: What does it take to grow a good crop? Silas: Patience, first and foremost. I would also say that it takes a certain amount of ability to accept your own failure. You have to know that you aren’t going to get it right the first time, and you have to accept that. There’s a lot that goes into it. Depending on how much you want to grow, it can take a lot of money; for example, I’ve got a 12-plant hydroponic system, three months of care invested, and it’s cost me about five thousand dollars so far. emYOU: How long until you’re in the black? Silas: Honestly, probably this time next year; but that’s just me being pessimistic. When we talk about the money, I mean, it is about the money, but it’s also about the cause. But I’m
APRIL 2010
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COLLEGE LIFE
not a causehead, to reference “PCU,” but I think it’s important that people who need it have safe access to it. So, when am I going to be in the black? I don’t know. Let’s put it this way, for those of you reading this, it’s a not a way to make a quick buck. I don’t want to put a dollar amount on what it brings in, but I’ll just say it’s lucrative. The success of the operation is based more on how good you are at it and the quality of your product and how good you are to your patients; because you’re not actually selling pot - because that’s illegal - what you’re charging people for is the gardening. emYOU: Even though you’re doing so legally, are you worried about the image growing marijuana could place on you? Silas: Yes, in short. But I have a thing about images. I don’t know how much you want me to elaborate on it, but there’s a stigma, which is part of the reason why I rarely partake in use. emYOU: Have you found yourself more paranoid than you used to be? Silas: No. Perhaps that’s irresponsible of me, but I haven’t. I probably should be, that’s the (expletive) of it. I wish I was a little more paranoid. I think it’s because it’s easier to get through daily life not being paranoid. I’m sure I’ll learn someday, maybe the hard way, to be more paranoid, because what I do is still illegal on a federal level. Technically, the feds could come after me for what I do because it’s a Schedule I controlled substance. emYOU: If you could change anything about your operation, what would it be and why? Silas: Oh god. I wish I was better at it. But that will come with time. There’s so many things I would change now that I’m into it, but nothing that would be worth writing about. I wish I could tell everybody about it. emYOU: Recreational vs. medicinal properties? Silas: That’s like, “the question.” That’s the problem with the current law. You have the people who could legitimately benefit from it, and then you have the people who want to abuse the system. And I’m OK with the use of it recreationally, but If you want to use it recreationally, use it recreationally. It’s the people who hide behind the medical use of it to use it recreationally who are going to slow down the process of bringing safe access of cannabis to those who can genuinely benefit from it medically.
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APRIL 2010
did you know?
The EMU Men’s Indoor Track & Field team recently captured their 13th MAC title in 15 years by finishing first in the MAC Championship meet? learn more at emueagles.com
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COLLEGE LIFE
Obama’s Message to EMU Grads BY JOSEPH STROMSKI II joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com
Believe it or not, with President Barack Obama speaking at the University of Michigan’s commencement this semester, he was kind enough to send emYOU! The Magazine a copy of the speech he would have delivered at Eastern’s commencement this month, if he was able to attend. His excuse had something to do with health care, so we’ll let it slide. All the boring thank yous and acknowledgments of EMU administration, faculty, staff and Board of Regents have been edited out, as commencement is about the students. Without them, there would be no need for this fine institution. It goes a little something like this:
My fellow Americans, international students, transfer students, graduates - today is your day. You’ve dedicated the last three-and-half to seven years of your lives to the fabulous Eastern Michigan University, and even though you have a losing football team, you’re all winners today. Today is the day you are finally free to enter a world full of endless possibilities - a world where the only thing that can hold you back is yourself, and, most importantly, an America where there is affordable health care to keep you covered, even if you find yourself unemployed and in times of trouble. But I didn’t come here to promote my own agenda, so that’s all I’m going to say about health care. I’m here today to ensure each and every one of you that if you set your mind to something, work hard and don’t let the man keep you down, that you will accomplish great things. And that it’s best to
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be honest about your recreational drug use during college. Take me, for example. I’ve danced in the snow and played in the grass, but I was honest about it - and now I’m the president! It’s OK, you can laugh, that was supposed to be funny. I haven’t much time left, as I’m needed elsewhere, so I’m going to be brief: Before I leave here today, there’s one last thing I want to say, and I hope it sticks with you for the rest of your life. It’s OK to shave against the grain, it’s OK to stick out in a crowd, it’s OK to dance to the music in your head in the middle of the street in a thunderstorm. And when each of you walk out of this ceremony today, I want you to feel empowered to follow your dreams, as ridiculous as some of them may be, and if all goes well for you, you’ll end up living a long, happy life. Congratulations Class of 2010, you’ve made it.
APRIL 2010
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COLLEGE LIFE
10 places to Screw at EMU BY JOSEPH STROMSKI II joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com
It’s safe to assume every college student has seen some variation of the “101 Things to do Before You Graduate College” list. If not, it includes things like “have coffee with a professor,” “attend a football game” and “eat from every dining establishment on campus.” These lists, while fun to read, rarely (if ever) include one of the most-loved activities that college students participate in: Sex. Hot, nasty, unprotected sex*. And that’s terribly sad. So, for your enjoyment, here’s a list of the 10 most extreme places to make whoopee on Eastern’s campus. Some places are riskier than others, but a mini skirt and elastic waistband pants allow for easy access and even easier cover up.
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APRIL 2010
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1. The balcony off Room 300 in the
2.
Student Center: This location provides a fantastic view of University Park, and the safety railing lining the edge makes a great handhold.
2. Benches by the flagpoles near, or
the bridge over the pond: When you decide to romp around in this spot, be sure to hide behind the rock or else there’s a good chance you could get caught on camera...
4.
3.
3. Private study rooms in Halle Library:
Is there really any better way to spend a study break?
4.Student organization office: The small windows looking into each office help satisfy the exhibitionist in us all, without making it too obvious what’s going on behind closed doors.
6.
5.
5. Club pool at Rec/IM: Sex in a pool
is already hot; why not take it to the next level by doing it in a secluded pool when there’s other people in it. Pool orgy, anyone?
6. Mark Jefferson mall: Even though the 7.
8.
University has already broke ground for the new science complex, there’s no reason you shouldn’t break some ground yourself.
7. MLK Jr. plaza: Let MLK in on your
dreams and fantasies by turning them into reality right in front of him. Or at least his bust.
8. The roof of Sherzer observatory: As 9.
10.
soon as the weather and skies allow, grab your favorite bottle of wine and a blanket and sneak up to Sherzer’s roof for after hours and have a go at it in the most romantic spot on Eastern’s campus.
9. Between stacks of books in the
library: For when the private study rooms aren’t exciting enough.
10.The Board Room in Welch Hall: This If you have any suggestions of other great places to hook up on campus, visit this article at emyouthemagazine.com and add it in the comments section. Follow me on twitter at mfstromski or visit my blog at jstromsk. wordpress.com.
* - But wear a jimmy hat, seriously; they’re good for you. Unless you want a VD or a baby. But then again, a baby would have its upsides, like free money from the government. So, on second thought...
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one’s for seniors only. After fourplus years of being screwed over by crappy professors, instructors and administrators (you know who you are) and the ever-increasing cost of tuition, there is no better place to stick it to the man than in the very room the University’s major decisions are put into action.
APRIL 2010
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COLLEGE LIFE
1.
Show Your EMU ID Card and Save! Get discounts at more than 120 Ypsilanti-area businesses
0ANTONE 3POT
See all discounts at emich.edu/eaglediscount
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AROUND
YOU!
BY AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com 4/1: ON CAMPUS:
FIRST Robotics (through 4/3), Convocation Center
4/2: AROUND CAMPUS:
HIM, 6 p.m. Clutch Cargo’s, Pontiac Chelsea Handler, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit
4/3: AROUND CAMPUS:
From First to Last, 6 p.m., The Eagle Theater, Pontiac Cheech and Chong, 8 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
4/4: AROUND CAMPUS:
The Rocket Summer, 6:30 p.m., The Eagle Theater, Pontiac
4/5: AROUND CAMPUS:
Julian Casablancas, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit
4/6: AROUND CAMPUS:
Insane Clown Posse Record Release Party, 8 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac Leon Redbone, 8 p.m., The Ark
4/7: ON CAMPUS:
EcoArts, 5-7 p.m., Phelps/ Sellars Lounge
AROUND CAMPUS:
Broken Social Scene, 7:30 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Low Anthem, 8 p.m., Ann Arbor
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APRIL 2010
4/8: ON CAMPUS:
4/11: ON CAMPUS:
AROUND CAMPUS:
4/12: ON CAMPUS:
Sarah Vowell, 7 p.m., Pease Auditorium Renting 101, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Student Center rooms 310a and 310b Brother Ali, 7 p.m., Shelter, Detroit Drive-By Truckers, 8 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit
4/9: ON CAMPUS:
Friday Night Movie: “Sherlock Holmes,” 8 p.m., Student Center Auditorium Relay for Life - EMU, 3 p.m., University Park
AROUND CAMPUS:
Alumni Band, Wind Symphony, 4 p.m., Pease Auditorium
Percussion Ensemble and African Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Pease Auditorium
4/13: ON CAMPUS:
To Write Love on Her Arms Uchapter Tour, 8 p.m., Student Center Ballroom
4/14: ON CAMPUS:
Take Back the Night, 6 p.m., Student Center Ballroom B
To Write Love on Her Arms Uchapter Tour, 7 p.m., University of Michigan
Jazz Combos, 7 p.m., Alexander Recital Hall
Mason Jennings, 8 p.m., The Ark The Fold, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit
Carrie Underwood, 7:30 p.m., Breslin Center, E. Lansing
Bassnectar, 9 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit
4/10: ON CAMPUS:
Senior Dance Projects, 4 p.m., Pease Auditorium Jazz Combos, 7 p.m., Alexander Recital Hall
AROUND CAMPUS:
Smile Empty Soul, 5 p.m., Harpos, Detroit Daughtry, 7:30 p.m., Joe Louis Arena, Detroit Girls, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit
4/16: ON CAMPUS:
Greek Awards, 7-10 p.m., Student Center Ballroom Advanced Composition dance concert, 7:30 p.m., 106 Warner Building Symphony Orchestra Concert, 8 p.m., Pease Auditorium Opera and Orchestra, Convocation Center
AROUND CAMPUS:
Detroit Music Awards, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Stephen Lynch, 7:30 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
4/17: ON CAMPUS:
Family Film Series: “E.T.,” noon, Student Center Auditorium
AROUND CAMPUS:
“Jazz on the Town,” 6:30 p.m., Student Center Ballroom
Best Coast, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit
AROUND CAMPUS:
4/15: ON CAMPUS:
Honors Commencement Reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Student Center Ballroom Saxophone Studio Recital, 7 p.m., Alexander Recital Hall Teacher Job Fair, Convocation Center
AROUND CAMPUS:
Drake, 7:30 p.m., Meadowbrook Music Festival, Rochester Hills The Wedding Present with Girl in a Coma, 8 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac
Mayflys, 8 p.m., Savoy Thirty Seconds to Mars, 6 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Jerry Seinfeld, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit The Fiery Furnaces, 9 p.m., Majestic Café, Detroit
4/18: ON CAMPUS:
Elderquest Film Series: “Fried Green Tomatoes,” noon, Student Center Auditorium
4/20: ON CAMPUS:
Snack and Study, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Student Center Ballroom WWW.EMYOUTHEMAGAZINE.COM
4/22: AROUND CAMPUS:
Alexisonfire, 5:30 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit OK Go, 7:30 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit Amos Lee, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor
4/23: AROUND CAMPUS:
Saliva, 5 p.m., Harpos, Detroit Against Me!, 7 p.m., Headliners, Toledo, Ohio
4/24: AROUND CAMPUS:
Corinne Bailey Rae, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Tim McGraw, 7 p.m., The Palace of Auburn Hills Carrie Underwood, 7:30 p.m., Lucas County Arena, Toledo, Ohio
4/25: ON CAMPUS:
EMU Commencement, Convocation Center
AROUND CAMPUS:
Minus the Bear, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Elton John, 8 p.m., Lucas County Arena, Toledo, Ohio
4/26: AROUND CAMPUS:
Sia, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit
4/27: AROUND CAMPUS:
Angels & Airwaves with Say Anything, 6:30 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit
4/29: AROUND CAMPUS:
The Dear Hunter, 6:30 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac Help Heal Haiti featuring Boi and the 1440 Collective, 7 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac Jonathan Brooke, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor WWW.EMYOUTHEMAGAZINE.COM
4/30: AROUND CAMPUS:
Jason Castro, 6 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac
HIGHLIGHTS
4/8: Renting 101, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Student Center rooms 310a & 310b
Renting 101 is a housing fair presented by emYOU! The Magazine that features apartment complexes and housing companies from around the area, making it easy for students to easily compare options of places to live. The event features many great giveaways for students including a Nintendo Wii, TVs and even a free one-year Lakeshore Apartment two bedroom/two bath lease (stop by the emYOU! The Magazine table to enter). Entry is free and the winner is picked at random. To enter, you must come to the event. The winner will be announced April 9. To learn more, visit emyouthemagazine.com and thelakeshoreapts.com.
4/9: Relay for Life-EMU, 3 p.m., University Park
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event. For 24 hours April 9, hundreds of participants from EMU and the community will walk EMU’s track, representative of the fact that cancer never sleeps, so, when it comes to fighting the disease, we won’t either. Come join those who walk in the Relay For Life and show your support and effort to fight against this disease that affects so many. You can walk for just a few minutes, hang out for a few hours, or stay for all 24! This year’s theme is superheroes, so dress accordingly! For more information check out: www.relayforlife.org/emumi and on Twitter at twitter.com/EMURelayForLife
4/14: Take Back the Night, 6 p.m., Student Center Ballroom B
Take Back the Night is an annual march/rally/ speak-out against violence against women. This event is celebrated by women and men all over the world. This year involves a night dedicated to survivors of sexual and domestic violence. During the first half of the evening, survivors have an opportunity to tell their story in their own words to a room full of other survivors and supporters. The march/rally portion of Take Back the Night is intended to empower survivors to reclaim their night. This event is presented to show support for the awareness, prevention, and elimination of violence against women. Show your support by carrying signs, chanting and marching through campus. For more information, visit emich.edu/wcen/program.php?id=28.
4/17: Mayflys, 8 P.M., Savoy
The Mayflys, a local band consisting of EMU English professors Joe Csicsila, Charles Cunningham and Jim Knapp, will be playing live with local band Skeleton Birds in downtown Ypsilanti on April 17, at the all-new Savoy (formerly Club Divine at 23 N. Washington). This show is for people 18 and older.
4/13: To Write Love on Her Arms - Uchapter Tour, 8 p.m., Student Center Ballroom
Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love On Her Arms, will come to EMU as part of his college (Uchapter) tour to speak about his organization, its mission and its message — and much more. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. For more information, visit twloha.com.
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JAMIE TWORKOWSKI, FOUNDER OF TWLOHA
BY AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com
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million Americans experience depression every year. However, college-aged individuals are particularly vulnerable to the condition. In fact, college is sometimes called “the age of depression,” according to the University of Michigan Depression Center. The center’s Web site says the peak years for the onset of symptoms begins in the early teens and increases through the mid-20s. Some factors thought to contribute to this reality are stress, feelings of social and academic pressure, financial worries, uncertainty about important future decisions, and changes in daily routines such as sleeping, eating, exercise and alcohol use. While for some, depression can decrease motivation or result in poor academic performance, for others it can become far more dangerous, resulting in alcohol, drug abuse or self-injury. Jamie Tworkowski seems to be all too aware of this reality. He is the founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, an organization that reaches out to those who suffer from depression, addiction, selfinjury and suicidal urges, and has more followers than any other nonprofit on MySpace. Many
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of the organization’s followers are teenage and college-aged individuals — a phenomenon Tworkowski equates to “not looking like some of the charities from our parents’ generation.” “We try to invite people into a conversation about these issues,” he said. “We feel like these are things that so many people struggle with, but you don’t hear talked about that much. We try to encourage people and let them know that, if they do struggle with these things, they’re not alone.” Tworkowski will be the first to say he didn’t think he was going to start a charity. In fact, he had quite different plans before March 2006. He was an accomplished surfer who had a job working for Hurley, earning $100,000+ a year at the age of 22. However, his picture-perfect life changed when his friend and fellow employee Zeke committed suicide. It opened Tworkowski’s eyes to a very real problem. A few weeks later, a friend asked Tworkowski if he’d mind coming with him to help a teen named Renee Yohe, who was struggling with drug addiction and thoughts of suicide. Yohe was a cutter who had carved ‘(screw) up’ into her arm with a razor blade. As the story goes, Tworkowski blogged about Yohe on
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introduce people to that possibility.” Hope is something Tworkowski places a lot of emphasis on. “We print it on all sorts of things—the idea that hope is real and help is real,” he says. “We really do believe it.” Whether it’s in his speaking engagements or in responding to the many messages TWLOHA receives online, hope, love, encouragement and community are concepts Tworkowski always comes back to. “I don’t pretend to be a doctor or counselor,” he said — although he says the organization consults professionals about some of the more difficult things they come across, such as suicide notes. “The ideas of hope, love, encouragement and the idea that people need other people are not ideas that TWLOHA came up with. We feel like we’re just recycling some good ideas that we’ve come across.” One thing that fuels Tworkowski’s mission is his faith — although he’s hesitant to fully adopt the label of being a Christian. “It’s a word that comes with a lot of baggage. My friend, along with some other people, wrote a book called ‘Unchristian.’ It was based on a few years of research that they did. They found that, for many, the word ‘Christian’ brings up words like ‘judgmental’ and ‘hypocritical’ and ‘overly political,’ so I hope not to be identified as any of those things,” he says. “I do think, for all of us, our faith is the lens that we see the world through. I hope it informs what I care about. I do believe that God loves people, and I want to fight for people to be healthy and stay alive,” he said. “So when people ask me if I’m a Christian I say, ‘Yeah — but hopefully not like the ones you see on TV or the grumpy ones.’” Tworkowski says one of the things important to TWLOHA is to never offer “encouragement” that is “cheap or small.” He says sometimes — and often particularly in the church —
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MySpace, saying he wanted to find a way “to write love on her arms.” He decided to print T-shirts with the saying on them as an attempt to raise money for her treatment. When Jon Foreman, Switchfoot’s lead singer and Tworkowski’s friend, wore one of the shirts onstage and explained their purpose, To Write Love on Her Arms was born. The shirts sold out in two weeks, and the money coming in was more than was necessary for one girl’s treatment. Tworkowski hoped that through the organization he could reach out to many people like Yohe. Three years later, TWLOHA is reaching individuals across the United States and the world through tours, during which Tworkowski speaks, and through the organization’s Web presence. Tworkowski is in the middle of the UChapter Tour, which focuses on colleges and universities (he will make stops at both EMU and the University of Michigan in early April). He says it’s “powerful” to see how many people come out to his speaking engagements. “Their presence alone says that they care about the conversation, and, to me, it’s really encouraging for a campus or community to say that,” he said. Tworkowski says that his favorite part of his tours is the Q and A portion that follows his talks. He says that often these sessions become less about Q and A and more about people sharing their personal stories. “People just come and share. I think that it’s more powerful than anything I say from stage when people hear from each other and realize that these things are around us everyday — even if we don’t usually hear about them,” he said. “People who normally feel isolated get to see that there are other people who have the same questions and struggles. One of my best friends said, a while back, that maybe hope begins with the idea of believing that we’re not alone. So I hope we can
people don’t know what to say to those who are hurting, so they just try to say something. Tworkowski said he doesn’t want to do that. Instead, he says he tries to validate and apologize for “the stuff that hurts in people’s lives,” a concept he says he borrowed from Donald Miller’s ‘Blue Like Jazz,’ one of his favorite books. “There’s a part in the book where he talks about apologizing for the weight of things that have hurt people, and I think we’ve kind of tried to borrow from that idea,” he says. “A lot of times we hear people share things [they’ve never shared before] about people who have hurt them or places that they feel stuck. It’s such a surprising privilege that people would share that with us — strangers.” One thing that helps Tworkowski continue to believe in the power of hope and encouragement is the stories of those whose lives have been transformed through TWLOHA and similar organizations. “I feel that there are a lot of folks that have helped us believe that,” he says. “We’ve seen people come to believe these things, and we’ve heard lots of cool stories, so we have to believe that it can keep happening.” The next project TWLOHA is focusing on is a 24-hour online crisis network called “I’m Alive.” Tworkowski will visit EMU at 8 p.m. April 13 in the Student Center Grand Ballroom. Admission is free. For more information, visit twloha.com.
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YANKEE AIR MUSEUM a piece of
Ypsi History
BY AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com
Every year Spring Arbor University has a film festival called Lumenocular — a name which means “Light the Eye” in Latin. Here, videos compete for awards in various categories such as best editing, best performance and best sound. It may surprise you to hear the 2010 festival’s award for “Best Video: 15 Minutes or More” didn’t go to a Spring Arbor student. In fact, it went to an Eastern Michigan student named Corey Kovoch. What may be more surprising is that the award-winning film was a documentary about a piece of Ypsilanti history — the Yankee Air Museum. Ypsilanti’s Yankee Air Museum was started in 1981 by a group of individuals dedicated to preserving southeastern Michigan’s aviation history, including that of Ypsilanti’s Willow Run Airport, according to the museum’s official Web site. However, on October 9, 2004, the museum experienced a fire that destroyed the historic hangar housing the museum. However, some of the restored historic planes were saved through the efforts of museum members. The museum community has worked towards rebuilding the museum ever since — a mission documented by Kovoch’s film, entitled “Where History Flies.” Kovoch first learned about the opportunity when museum members contacted Diane Lawrence, his supervisor at EMU, looking for a student to create a film about the museum and the rebuilding process. Kovoch jumped at the opportunity. For Kovoch, aviation runs in his family. His father was a single-engine
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plane pilot, and Kovoch has fond memories of flying around Detroit and down to Cedar Point with his father. He also remembers visiting the Yankee Air Museum when he was younger, which made this project all the more significant for him. “There’s something about flying that’s so interesting — just the mechanics of it and the way that everything works is truly fascinating to me. I think it’s because it was such a part of my family,” he said. “Anytime I get a chance to travel somewhere I think: ‘Sweet — I get to fly.’” Despite all his passion about the subject, making the film was no easy task — taking almost nine months to complete. “It took much longer than I actually thought it was going to take,” he said. “But I’m really glad that it took [as long as it did] because I’m really happy with the way it turned out.” Kovoch is a self-proclaimed perfectionist, saying he finds it difficult to determine whether a project is really “done.” He admits that, if he had his way, his award-winning film still might not be completed. “I don’t know if a project will ever be truly done,” he said. “I think it’s only done when somebody else says it’s done.” Kovoch said his mission was to showcase the community that surrounds the museum as well as their events. “They are still flying their planes. They fly a B-15 every week. They are still very active and very much a community. They are doing a lot,” he said. Much like aviation, a love of film is something else in Kovoch’s blood.
“It’s been something I’ve always been interested in since I was little,” he said. Whereas he may have gotten his love of flying from his father, his love of film seems to be, in part, inherited from his mother. “One day when I was in high school I woke up and thought, ‘I just want to make movies for the rest of my life.’ At that point my mom made me a list of movies that she said I needed to see,” Kovoch said. “There’s so many movies on the list—I’m still catching up.” Among Kovoch’s favorite films are “Jaws,” “Memento,” “The Dark Knight,” and the “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” trilogies. He says he loves Steven Spielberg’s directing, in particular, and watching great directing gives him ideas for his own films. “I try to watch what they do and base my shots on that, while still throwing my own spin into it,” he said. Kovoch has used his skills in multiple ways at Eastern. He directs Eastern Weekly and EMag at Ford Studio, in addition to doing other film-related projects for the university. He plans to graduate from EMU at the end of the semester with a major in film and creative writing. He says he just wrapped up principal photography for his creative writing capstone project. Although he says his main goal is to write and direct films, he said that in the future he just hopes to work somewhere in the film industry. “It’s what I want to do,” he said. “Whenever I’m working on a film, I’m having a lot of fun.” Kovoch’s film, “Where History Flies,” can be seen on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/yfhysja.
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MAYER HAWTHORNE Nerd, Foodie and Soul Sensation BY AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com Photos by Raj Mehta
Mayer Hawthorne’s Wikipedia page advertises Hawthorne (born Andrew Mayer Cohen) as a singer, producer, songwriter, arranger, audio engineer, DJ, rapper and multi-instrumentalist — all of which is true. His Twitter account advertises his love of food — among other things. Formerly, he was an aspiring hip-hop artist performing with Athletic Mic League under the name “Haircut.” However, Hawthorne’s retro-style solo music took off after he showed a couple of demos to
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Stones Throw’s label head, Peanut Butter Wolf. At the time, Wolf said he thought they were covers rather than Hawthorne’s own original songs. The fact that Hawthorne played all of the instruments featured in the songs amazed Wolf even more. By October 13, Hawthorne’s song “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” was Starbucks’ iTunes Pick of the Week. That same month, Rolling Stone spotlighted Hawthorne in a “Breaking” artist segment. After a life of pursuing his dream, Hawthorne had finally arrived.
emYOU! The Magazine was able to catch up with Hawthorne before his Detroit show in late March, asking about The Athletic Mic League, his Mic League stage name, his thoughts on the Michigan music scene, and the extent of his “food addiction.” emYOU: I know you’re originally from Ann Arbor, right? How long ago did you move to L.A.? Hawthorne: I’ve been in L.A. for four years. emYOU: Back when you were in Ann Arbor, where did you hang out? Hawthorne: I spent a lot of time at the Bagel Factory when it was open, Encore Records, Blimpy Burger, Madras Masala. I’m a food guy. I relate everything to food. emYOU: What’s your impression of the music industry in this area? Hawthorne: Michigan has the most talented artists and musicians in the whole world, hands down. Unfortunately, there’s very little music industry there to support them. I think a lot of music-listeners in Detroit do not appreciate what they have there. They don’t understand. It’s like pulling teeth to get people to come out to a show in Detroit. The L.A. music scene is a lot more supportive of their local artists. Even the radio stations in the city place a lot more emphasis on their local artists. But, you know, Detroit’s got plenty of things to work on. emYOU: I’ve heard you’ve played with Eminem… Hawthorne: We’ve done a few shows with Eminem. emYOU: When you say “we,” you mean you and your hip-hop group the Athletic Mic League, right? Are you still working on stuff with them? Hawthorne: We’re working on some stuff right now. emYOU: Where did your Athletic Mic League name, “DJ Haircut,” come from? Hawthorne: The name came
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doesn’t get any more surreal than that. It’s hard to actually wrap your brain around it. emYOU: You’ve been an example of someone who has really pursued a
adventurous when it comes to food. I’ll try anything once. I like to try it all. emYOU: What’s the craziest thing you tried? Hawthorne: I tried some crazy stuff
dream. How hard is it to do that and actually see it through? Hawthorne: It takes an insane amount of work and dedication, and for every bit of success that I’ve had in the music industry, I’ve had 20 failures and it sucks. It’s not an easy thing to do, but I’ve always known that I wanted to make music. You’ve got to do what you love, what makes you happy. emYOU: You’ve described yourself as being a nerd. How are you a nerd? Hawthorne: Success can make you more famous, but it can’t make you less of a nerd. I’m the kind of guy that would spend six hours in a record store when everybody was ready to go five hours ago. I’m a studio nerd. I like to spend my time in the studio, recording. I’m a food nerd. I pretend that these tours are about the shows, when really, for me, it’s about the food. I just want to go around the world and eat. emYOU: What kind of food do you love? Hawthorne: I’m an equalopportunity eater. I love it all. I’m really
in Japan when I was over there — sea urchin and squid and whatnot. emYOU: And how did that taste? Hawthorne: Most of it is really good. Sea urchin I was not a big fan of – but that’s how you find out. You never know; it could be your favorite thing in the world. emYOU: Anything else you’d like to tell readers? Hawthorne: Follow me on Twitter. I love Twitter. I’m on there all day, everyday. I give away songs on there. I give away tickets to shows. I put up photos of all my favorite foods. It’s worth your while to follow me on Twitter. Mayer Hawthorne played at The Shelter in Detroit on March 26 — after which he Tweeted: “No one does it like y’all, Detroit. Tonight was one for the history books. I can’t thank you enough.” He’s MayerHawthorne on Twitter.
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from when I was a baby. When I would be taken to get a haircut, I would have a temper tantrum. And [my parents] would buy me records to keep me occupied so I wouldn’t have a fit. I’ve been collecting records since before I could read the labels on them. emYOU: How would you describe Athletic Mic League’s sound? Hawthorne: Athletic Mic League is always 10 years ahead of everybody. It’s frustrating because we put out an album and it usually goes way over everyone’s head. Then, 10 years later, people are searching for it and paying $50 for it on Ebay. emYOU: Did you ever think you would get to where you are? Hawthorne: I knew that I would get here one day, but I didn’t think it would be through soul music or as a soul singer. emYOU: Is hip-hop still your first love? Hawthorne: I don’t know if it’s my first love, but hip-hop was the first music that I really bonded with, that I felt was my own and not my parents’ music. emYOU: Why did you decide to switch gears? Hawthorne: I didn’t. I wanted to make hip-hop music, and when I moved to L.A. that’s what I was doing. It was even going pretty well. But when I met Peanut Butter Wolf he kind of flipped out about these soul music demos that I had done in my bedroom on the side just for fun, and he asked me if I’d record a whole album of that material — which is something I’d never thought about doing. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Stones Throw, a label I really loved and respected. So I said: “Sure, I’ll do it, and then I’ll go back to hip-hop stuff.” Little did we know that this project was going to explode. emYOU: Now people like John Mayer are giving you props on Twitter. How does that feel? Hawthorne: It’s super surreal. We were in New Orleans last night. We had a great show. And I was on the bus after the show in the back listening to some records that I had bought earlier in the day. There was a knock on the door, and it’s Mos Def. It
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
RATE IT! Is it a dream or is it reality? Ever since Alice (Wasikowska) was a little girl she’s had recurring dreams about being in an alternate world full of unusual creatures. At the age of 19, Alice is still a very peculiar and curious young woman and, on one fateful day, her curiosity gets the best of her. While at her surprise engagement party, she sees a rabbit carrying a watch in her peripheral vision. Unable to contain herself, she follows the rabbit to a hole in a tree and falls into Wonderland. Believing that she is dreaming, Alice is unafraid as she meets some familiar faces -- such as the Mad Hatter (Depp) and the March Hare -- from her past dreams. It isn’t long before Alice learns that Wonderland isn’t all that wonderful. The Red Queen (Bonham Carter) has Wonderland under her red thumb and
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4 out of 5
MOVIE: “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” Director: Tim Burton Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
it’s “Off with their head!” for anyone who tries to overthrow her. However, as an ominous scroll predicts Alice’s role as the future warrior of Wonderland, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur. This rendition stands out in comparison to some of the other “Alice” movies because it is based on a combination of Lewis Carroll’s written works including “Alice in Wonderland,” “Through The Looking Glass” and “What Alice Found There.” It is not, however, entirely unlike its animated Disney predecessor. Although Alice is older in this version and the story lines are different, similarities such as the “Eat Me” pill and “Drink Me” bottle pop up, along with a wise caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and a very similar tea party scene. However, some of the
characters take on different attitudes than those in the Disney cartoon, such as Depp’s version of the Mad Hatter, who (as it turns out) just may have a method to his madness. Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” is yet another movie that is part of the ever-growing 3-D phenomenon. It’s no “Avatar,” and the 3-D goggles just might give you a headache depending on your eyesight. However, much of the movie does not consist of extremely pronounced 3-D images -making it worth seeing in 2-D as well. Overall, the movie is a must-see for all ages. It’s a fantasy world of laughs with a splash of dark details. Plus, if you don’t see this film, it may be “off with your head!” -Marissa Staples
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Kirk, played by Baruchel, is an awkward, down-on-his-luck airport employee who is convinced he could never land a girl who is a “10.” When Molly (Eve), the beautiful high-end event planner mistakenly leaves her cell phone at airport security, it is Kirk who generously goes out of his way to return it to her and, well, you can pretty much guess what happens next.
The raunchy humor and hilarious interaction between Kirk and his friends and family are what save this film from its predictability and overly dramatic ending. Overall, “She’s Out Of My League” is worth seeing — although it’s not a must-see in theatres. I’d advise waiting for its release on DVD. -Marissa McNees
CD/ DVD Album: “Under Great White Northern Lights” Artist: The White Stripes
CD: 3.5 out of 5 3.5 out of 5 DVD: 5 out of 5
MOVIE: “SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE” Tower Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Director: Jim Field Smith Starring: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve
Having been a fan of Detroit’s own The White Stripes for the better part of a decade, you can image how stoked I was when I was able to finally get my hands on a live album. And then I found out it came with a DVD featuring footage from the same tour. I was happier than a pig in mud. As soon as I had the opportunity, I put the CD in to my fiancé’s car (she has a much better sound system than I do in my vehicle) and played the disc the only way there is to play The White Stripes: as loud as possible with the windows rolled all the way down. It didn’t take long for me to rediscover everything I’ve loved about The White Stripes (who haven’t recorded anything new in almost three years). The music of “Under Great White Northern Lights,” which was recorded over the course of the band’s tour of Canada in 2007, is everything Jack and Meg have always provided — and nothing more. It’s raw. It’s loud. It’s dirty. It makes you want to take a shower and smoke a cigarette.
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However, after giving the disc a second listen, there were some places that left me wanting more. One element that stands out is that, in the typical style of The White Stripes, the album is poorly recorded and a majority of Jack’s vocals are nearly impossible to understand. However, not to be discouraged, I moved on to the DVD. I’d like to be able to use my extensive vocabulary to properly review the DVD in detail, but the first thing that comes to mind is this: It’s really fantastic. Directed by Emmett Malloy, who’s famous for working on just about every music video made (ever), “Under Great White Northern Lights” seamlessly blends together Jack and Meg’s country-wide tour of Canada, during which they played in every province —whether it was a major stage show, at a nursery center, a bowling alley, from the back of a boat, on a public bus or one of a dozen other free, small-venue side shows,
with short interviews that discuss the history of the band, its love for Canada and the importance of playing shows in small towns and cities. The best part of the DVD is that the footage it captures is just as raw and dirty as the music it features. In fact, it offers some understanding of the music itself: Jack and Meg just play dirty, unrefined rock and roll — and that’s much easier to grasp when you see how much they get into playing it. Overall, the CD portion of “Under Great White Northern Lights” is best enjoyed by true fans of The White Stripes — fans who appreciate Jack and Meg for who they are and don’t expect anything different from them. The DVD, however, is perhaps one of the best music DVDs to ever be released; it offers an intimate look at The White Stripes you can’t get anywhere else and features some of the best live performances you’ll ever witness. -Joseph Stromski II
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Ever see previews for a film and think: “There’s no way I’m going to see that”? Well, that’s basically how I felt upon seeing previews for “She’s Out Of My League.” However, firsttime director Field Smith delivers an amusingly humorous yet somewhat predictable comedy that actually manages to keep audiences interested for the entire 104 minutes.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“I think these issues don’t only relate to low income individuals. I think, at that [late high school/ early college] age, we all have to take a stand in our own ways.”
Film producer, Ann Arbor native and Rush Street
and University of Michigan students and staff,” according to the film’s Web site. The project’s mission is to use filmmaking to educate and teach life skills to young people from inner-city Detroit. However, EFEX’s mission of furthering education doesn’t stop once the film is made. The films produced by the project seek to be those that educate audiences as bartender, well, tackling tough cultural and social issues that are relevant to inner-city youths in today’s society. “Bilal’s Stand” is the first EFEX produced film. It tells the story of Bilal, a young man from Detroit who is expected to spend his life working at his family’s taxi stand. However, Bilal has another aspiration — a college education — and, in the
MICAH BARTELME on his Sundance Film festival film “Bilal’s Stand” BY AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com Bartender by night, by day Micah Bartelme is an accomplished film producer, and his most recent project, a film called “Bilal’s Stand,” has been getting the attention of audiences around the United States.
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“Bilal’s Stand” is part of the EFEX (Encouraging the Filmmaking Experience) project, a “community engagement and social entrepreneurship program created by Beyond Blue Productions
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and what I love, but also gives back to the community. That was the initial attraction. Also, it’s a great film. I’m so proud. The director is a fantastic guy. I believe in him and the work that we were doing in Detroit. emYOU: The film’s title, “Bilal’s Stand,” refers to the taxi stand where Bilal works, but also to that stand that he has to take as an individual, correct? Bartelme: Absolutely. emYOU: What kind of a stand do the students that you’re working with have to face in their everyday lives? Bartelme: They have to take a stand to believe in themselves and to believe in their dreams. Bilal, in the movie, is facing adversity from multiple angles. He has family issues, social issues, cultural issues. It talks about him being black and Muslim – two things that in Detroit don’t necessarily mix. He has to make choices in his education. He has to choose whether to go out and smoke pot and drink with his friends or say his prayers and be a good Muslim. I think he finds for himself what he really believes in and what he wants to do, and he takes a stand for that — basically against all odds. I think these issues don’t only relate to low income individuals. I think, at that [late high school/early college] age, we all have to take a stand in our own ways — refusing peer pressure or standing up for what you believe in or just standing up for yourself and saying: “I’ve had enough. This is what I want to do, and I’m going to go out and get it.” emYOU: Do you have any future projects in progress? Bartelme: Right now we’re working with a foundation called Magic Wand foundation, producing a few short films for their website. We are also working on our next feature film—‘The Bottom Line’ is the working title at this point. The film specifically focuses on the health system and on young people and some of the choices they have to make. This film is about some of the issues that Detroiters face and
what people have to go through to get medical treatment, all wrapped into a compelling narrative piece. emYOU: When will this film be completed? Bartelme: We are in preproduction right now and are working on raising money while we are still focusing on selling “Bilal’s Stand.” We were hoping to have it finished this summer, but we may have to push it to late summer/early fall. The script is being written as we speak. emYOU: You also work at Rush Street in Ann Arbor. Is that correct? Bartelme: Indeed. Bartending is my first love. emYOU: What do you like about it? Bartelme: I like the energy. I’ve been doing it for about eight years. I enjoy making beverages, having a good time and helping others have a good time. emYOU: Where can readers see “Bilal’s Stand?” Bartelme: We had a recent screening at the Sundance Film Festival. One of the next local things will probably be the Detroit film festivals. Right now we’re seeking distribution. We’re showing it in Tampa this weekend and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York the weekend after. We’d love to give more local screenings. It’s just hard to get theater space and raise the money for it. We are looking forward to the Detroit-Windsor film festival, which will be the next time the film is in the area. We would love to have a DVD release, which is why we’re seeking distribution right now. We would love for everyone to be able to see it and get the word out. For more information, visit bilalsstand.com.
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end, these conflicting aspirations force him to make a very difficult choice. The film has been shown at the Sundance Film Festival and continues to be screened across the United States during select screenings and festivals. emYOU: When did you first get involved in making films? Bartelme: I got involved in making films when I was 18 years old. I was in Europe, in Prague. A group of filmmakers kind of turned me onto the idea and took me under their wing. I’ve been working professionally in films since. emYOU: Tell me about producing “Bilal’s Stand.” Bartelme: I didn’t have anything to do with the principal photography, but I’ve been completion producing on it since October of last year. I’ve taken over the sales, distribution and producing it at this point, but I wasn’t there when it was actually shot. emYOU: What attracted you to this film? Bartelme: The story itself was one of the things that really attracted me. It was born out of something called the EFEX Project, which is a program that our company runs in the Detroit Public Schools. My boss (the director of the film) started [the project] as a student while he was still at Michigan. It’s a partnership between local professionals (us), high school students and college students from the University of Michigan community. Filmmaking is the focus of what we teach these kids, but we also work on some life lessons and goals. Then, at the end of the training, the high school students get to work with us on a film project. “Bilal’s Stand” was the first film that came out of this project. I just saw a lot of value in revitalizing the community through art, especially [working with] underprivileged innercity kids who don’t usually get a lot of exposure to that kind of stuff and that kind of training, and that really attracted me as a person. It’s just really nice to be involved in something that is not only what I do
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Band: The Afternoon Round Members: Tim Clairmont (singer/ guitarist/songwriter), Rick Coughlin (lead guitarist/backup vocals), Ian Gleespan (bass/backup vocals), Martin Maginity (drummer—nickname “Irish Thunder”) Established: Fall 2007
INTERVIEW WITH BATTLE OF THE BANDS WINNER
The Afternoon Round BY AMANDA SLATER amanda.slater@emyouthemagazine.com They won emYOU! the Magazine’s Battle of the Bands on March 10 at EMU’s Student Center. Now, emYOU! sits down with Tim Clairmont of The Afternoon Round. emYOU: Tell me about being in emYOU!’s Battle of the Bands. Clairmont: It was fun. I haven’t battled in about 10 years, so it was fun to do that again. It was funny because I want to say that almost every band except maybe two or
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Photos by Raj Mehta
three have rehearsal space in the same building as us. It was just funny — we see each other all the time and all ended up in this battle of the bands. emYOU: Where do you practice? Clairmont: We practice at Spur studios in Downtown Ypsi near Depot Town. We share a space with three other bands. emYOU: Do have any plans to play again at Eastern?
Clairmont: Since the battle of the bands, it would be really cool to come back [to EMU] and play again. We have nothing officially lined up, but we’re always on the lookout. emYOU: How would you describe your band’s sound? Clairmont: I would say we’re kind of a pop-rock band with a little bit of indie, a little bit of old country and a little bit of pop kind of rolled in. I think at the end of the day,
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Clairmont: I remember we were drinking whiskey one night and whiskey just makes any idea seem more profound – at least for us, apparently. We came up with this name that we thought for a good week was [great] — The Low Acre Almanac. Now my gag reflex comes up when I even say that.” emYOU: What do you think sets you apart as a band? Clairmont: We don’t really play into any of the latest fads. I’ve always tried to keep our music well-rounded — and, I like to think, timeless. You are very likely to see both a 26-year-
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old and a 50-year-old at our shows, side by side — which I like. But, I don’t really like flavor-of-the-minute music. We consistently write songs showing that we don’t buy into whatever is catchy for the minute. emYOU: Are there any specific artists your music is modeled after or inspired by? Clairmont: I grew up with a lot of ’60s pop records like the Beatles, the Byrds, the Association. Then I found a lot of ’90s music like the Gin Blossoms and Oasis. When I got to college, I started to get into folkier alt-country stuff like Ryan Adams and Wilco. But I definitely take the ’60s pop foundation and layer it in with a lot of other little elements – depending on my mood, I guess. emYOU: Describe your songwriting process. Clairmont: I’m not one of those guys who sits down with a piece of paper and a guitar and says, “I’m going to write a song now.” I can be driving in the car and get a phrase in my head and I just try to remember it, or I’ll even text the lyrics to myself. It can be about life stuff that’s going on or based on visual things like seeing something outside. I don’t have a formula for writing songs. I wish I did. It would probably make me more disciplined. I’m sort of a fly-by-the-seat-of-mypants kind of songwriter. emYOU: What are some of your biggest accomplishments as a band? Clairmont: We recorded a fulllength album last year called “Princess of a One Horse Town.” It was good to actually get in a real studio and make a real album, which I had never done before. We’re also on iTunes now, which is cool. The battle of the bands was fun. It was a great thing to add to our list of things that we’ve done. Our shows have gradually gotten bigger, and we’re getting more into the Detroit area and that scene. We play a lot at Ypsi and the Elbow Room, the Lager House in Detroit, the Belmont in Hamtramck, the Blind Pig – just rock and roll clubs around the area.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
we’re a pop/rock band. emYOU: Where did you get your band name? Clairmont: I was living in Kalamazoo and we were wracking our brains for a name for the band. We would always go out to the brewery there. We’d say, “Hey, let’s go for an afternoon round.” Then one day, we were like, “Hey – what about The Afternoon Round?” Believe me, before that, I came up with some of the worst band names ever. So, I don’t know if The Afternoon Round is that cool of a name, but it’s better than our other prospects.” emYOU: Were there any other close contenders?
But Ypsilanti would definitely be considered our home base. emYOU: Where do you see the band going in the future? Clairmont: I would love to be doing this for a living. Touring around and making records would be great. In the near future, I see us doing a small tour and getting back in the studio for a follow-up album. emYOU: Are there any shows that you are particularly looking forward to? Clairmont: We are doing something called the anti-hoedown at the Lager House in downtown Detroit with a bunch of reallygood Detroit bands. I’m really looking forward to that. emYOU: Anything you’d like to say to readers? Clairmont: Come out to more live shows in general – not just us. Going to see live music is so important—especially to bands. There’s nothing bands want more than to have people come out. It’s a fun alternative to just going to a bar and sitting there. For more information, visit theafternoonround.com.
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ATHLETICS SCHEDULE
HOME GAMES
EMU Students receive FREE admission to all home athletic contests with a valid ID
DATE:
SPORT:
EVENT:
LOCATION:
04/06 04/09 04/09 04/10 04/10 04/11 04/13 04/16 04/16 04/16 04/17 04/17 04/17 04/18 04/18 04/20 04/23 04/23 04/24 04/24 04/24 04/25 04/25 04/27 04/28
Baseball Women’s Tennis Baseball Women’s Tennis Baseball Baseball Softball Softball Men’s Track Women’s Track Softball Women’s Track Men’s Track Softball Football Baseball Women’s Tennis Baseball Women’s Tennis Softball Baseball Baseball Softball Baseball Softball
vs Wayne State vs Western Michigan vs Kent State vs Bowling Green vs Kent State vs Kent State vs Cleveland State vs Ohio vs EMU Twilight vs EMU Twilight vs Akron vs EMU Twilight vs EMU Twilight vs Akron Spring Game vs Cleveland State vs Miami vs Western Michigan vs Ball State vs Central Michigan vs Western Michigan vs Western Michigan vs Central Michigan vs Michigan State vs IPFW
Oestrike Stadium Chippewa Club Oestrike Stadium Chippewa Club Oestrike Stadium Oestrike Stadium Varsity Field Varsity Field Olds/ Marshall Track Olds/ Marshall Track Varsity Field Olds/ Marshall Track Olds/ Marshall Track Varsity Field Rynearson Stadium Oestrike Stadium Chippewa Club Oestrike Stadium Chippewa Club Varsity Field Oestrike Stadium Oestrike Stadium Varsity Field Oestrike Stadium Varsity Field
TIME: 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 1 p.m. All Day All Day 2 p.m. All Day All Day 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 5 p.m. 1 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 3 p.m.
Join Head Coach Ron English and the Eagles for the Annual Eastern Michigan Spring Football Game
Sunday, April 18th 2:00 p.m. Rynearson Stadium Before the game, get your new and lightly used EMU Athletics gear at the 2nd annual Green & White Equipment Sale beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Equipment Sale will take place on the West concourse of Rynearson Stadium behind section 109.
Available items will include Football and Basketball jerseys, practice attire, new Adidas gear, and much more! Admission and parking is free. For more information, please call 734.487.8109.
ATHLETICS
Bridging the Huron-Eagle Divide BY JEREMY ALLEN jeremy.allen@emyouthemagazine.com
Perhaps no group was more affected by Eastern Michigan’s name change from the Hurons to the Eagles than the 1990-91 men’s basketball team. The squad, then known as the Hurons, was in the midst of one of the greatest runs the basketball team had seen in the program’s history. After a 76-56 first-round upset of fifth seed Mississippi State in the NCAA Tournament, the twelfth-seeded Hurons would next beat Penn State, 71-68 in overtime, en route to the school’s first Division I Sweet 16 birth. The Hurons were done shortly thereafter, but it wasn’t due to the outcome of the following game against the eventual Final Four participant in No. 1 North Carolina. Before being ousted by UNC, the EMU Board of Regents decided it was the perfect time for the school to remove the school’s Native American nickname, a nickname the University carried for more than 60 years. The regents said the name change came as a result of a report filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights in 1988, and a subsequent request from a Native American woman that the use of all Indian representations be removed from school logos and nicknames. The woman’s alleged plea was heard by
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the board, but follow-up requests to the regents made by the University community to hear from the woman went unanswered. The team was stripped of the Huron nickname in March 1991. During the team’s game during UNC, former EMU player Carl Thomas recalled, the scoreboard had UNC’s Tar Heel logo, but simply the letters “EMU,” void of the Huron-head logo representative of Eastern Michigan at the time. During the broadcast of the game, announcer Brent Musburger infamously referred to the team as the “Eastern Michigan No Names.” Needless to say, this was a time when more eyes were on the University than had been in a very long time. Thomas, a member of that final Huron team in 1991, recalled being interviewed about the situation by reporters. Back in Ypsilanti, a backroom scuffle of sorts ensued between the higherups (including President Lloyd Shelton, who proposed the name change to the board) and the opposition to proposed change. Students, staff, faculty, alums and students alike were up in arms about the brash move, especially given the national attention the University was garnering. Eventually, despite the opposition, the board approved the name change
and in May 1991 the Eagle nickname was officially adopted by EMU. Despite carrying the name for nearly 20 years now, the controversy over the dropping of the Huron nickname still exists. There is a visible disconnect between many Eastern Michigan Hurons and Eastern Michigan Eagles. The rage stems from the fact that a unique name such as the Hurons, which represents the Southeastern Michigan area as much as it does the Native American Tribe of the same name, was replaced by a common name like Eagles for political correctness. Some alumni have refused to donate money to the school until the Huron name is restored. Thomas, now an assistant coach with the EMU men’s basketball team, said he understands the reason some alums and supporters are upset, but isn’t one of those angered by the name change. “I consider myself a Huron simply because I played for the Hurons,” he said. “I was here when we were the Hurons and I remember seeing that EMU Huron Head on my shorts and on the jerseys when I played here. Now I identify with the Eagles. I see the Eagle Head on the court when we play and on our warm-ups and things. But above all, I identify with the E-M-U. I identify with Eastern Michigan
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but when people stopped having that identity to relate to, and had to re-identify with a new EMU, it was just hard to do. And what that does is establish a trend of not connecting.” Jim Streeter, Athletic Media Relations Director at EMU, said he doesn’t understand the continued anger from a lot of the Hurons. Streeter, who has been at the University for more than 30 years in his current position and as a student and former sports editor for the Eastern Echo, said if you’re from EMU then it shouldn’t matter whether you call yourself an Eagle or a Huron. “If you support EMU, then support EMU,” he said. No matter why there is a void of support from pre-’90s alums, the void that exists needs to be filled. It is understandable Hurons feel slighted for having their namesake stripped from them. But is it fair for politics to ruin the atmosphere that students and student-athletes of the University’s storied history have worked so hard to build? What these angered Hurons must see is that the people they are hurting most isn’t the regents or the political figures at the heads of the University. The dollars the Hurons don’t give
affect the bottom line, but the ones who don’t see the dollars are the most affected. When athletes don’t get the support they deserve because there is essentially no fan base over 40 years old (outside of the athlete’s relatives), that hurts the student-athletes. Playing in front of near-empty stadiums is not a fun feeling. Even for the fans, being in a stadium or arena and being one of the very few cheering fans is also not fun. There is a huge problem at Eastern Michigan University. Hurons need to accept that the nickname will probably not be reintroduced at EMU. Eagles need to do whatever it takes to re-welcome those who feel disenfranchised because of the name change. Whether it’s having a Huron Appreciation Night every year and bringing back the old jerseys and logos, or if it’s just offering continued, heartfelt apologies to the Hurons who helped put EMU where it was on the map of collegiate athletics, something needs to be done. There is an overwhelming gap that needs to be bridged between Hurons and Eagles, but each side needs to table the ego factor and do what’s best for EMU.
ATHLETICS
University and that’s more than how I identify with the Hurons or the Eagles.” Thomas said one thing that makes the Hurons identifiable with those most angered is that they have one logo to identify with, whereas Eagles have had to contend with multiple logos in their search for identity. “Hurons know which Huron they are because there was only one,” he said. “But looking at the fact that there have been about seven different Eagle logos, people wonder: are you the 1995 Eagle, the 2000 Eagle, the 2008 Block Eagle? Which Eagle are you? That further adds to the disconnect between Eagles and Hurons.” Scott Schultz, Director of Marketing for EMU Athletics, is hit with the problem almost routinely. One of Schultz’s main responsibilities is to increase attendance at basketball and football games, and he said he sees a lot of resistance to support the team by some angered alumni. “I think what happened is that when the name was changed, it abandoned a lot of people,” Schultz said. “It made people who had previously supported the school stop that support, and it made then-students lose an identity. Being a commuter school already impacts how related students feel,
did you know? The EMU Football team opens the 2010 season at home on Saturday, September 4th vs. Army at Rynearson Stadium? learn more at emueagles.com
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APRIL 2010
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Join us at This Year’s Relay for Life A 24-hour Walk for Cancer—Because Cancer Never Sleeps Start Time: April 9th at 3pm End Time: April 10th at 3pm For More Information visit us online at www.relayforlife.org/emumi! Or friend us on Facebook: EmuRelay
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FEBRUARY 2009
The Bottom Line BY BYJOSEPH JOSEPHSTROMSKI STROMSKIIIII joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com joe.stromski@emyouthemagazine.com
This month, for The Bottom Line, I’ve decided to write about one of the most taboo subjects to write about: religion. For starters, I know most of you are probably assuming that I’m going to bash this religion or claim that religion supreme, but I’m not, so breathe easy, my friends. In my eyes, every religion is just as important as the next one, and I fail to see why the majority of the world is blind to that fact. Now, I feel it is important to inform you that I was raised in a family that went to church every Sunday, and I spent plenty of time during the beginning of my teenage years at church camps, but today, I don’t subscribe to any religion.
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I acknowledge that there are plenty of people in this world who believe in an omniscient being; most of those who do are just regular people going about their daily lives, getting by and not forcing their beliefs upon anybody, and I can respect that. What I don’t respect, however, is people who try to force their religion upon everybody else and damn all those who disregard them to a life of eternal agony. And yes, I recognize that it’s a very small percentage of religious folk who participate in said damning activities, but they’ve managed to create such a voice for themselves that they can’t be ignored, and it’s people like that who give religion a bad name. It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a book of a religious nature or attended any religious service, but if there is one thing I remember above all else from my days in Sunday School, it’s that you should treat others as you want to be treated and that omniscient powers have no problem with genocide. Let’s focus on that first part, which is an age-old adage that everybody seems to forget by the third grade: Treat others as you want to be treated. I’ve made the conscious decision to live my life free of religion, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stand on a bench outside of the library and curse everybody who believes differently than me; it would be highly inappropriate of me. For all of you who disagree with me, let me remind you of all the good that has come from forcing religion upon people: None. Try to prove me wrong, I dare you. What it comes down to is this: Humans, all humans, need to start accepting people for who they are and what they believe in, regardless of race, color, creed, religion or any other defining characteristic. That being said, everybody, and I mean everybody, needs to start seeing him or herself as equal to everybody else. Stop describing yourself as this minority or that majority, don’t force your beliefs upon anybody and don’t feed the egos of those who do. For it’s the people who define themselves as different who are responsible for keeping certain sects, races or cultures down and for all the chaos in this world. The Bottom Line: To quote my boy Tyler Durden: “You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You’re the same decaying organic matter as everything else.” And the sooner you can wrap your head around that, the sooner the world will be a happier place. Follow me on Twitter at mfstromski or visit my blog at jstromsk.wordpress.com.
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BY MARISSA STAPLES marissa.staples@emyouthemagazine.com
MAR. 21-APR. 19 You’re not an intentionally cruel person, but some things you say to people are flat out mean. Because you are so sure of yourself, you don’t hear anyone’s viewpoint but yours. For the most part people deal with it because they love you. But when that special someone walks away, what are you going to do? Lucky Numbers: 13, 20, 25
APR. 20-MAY 20 It’s time to get on track for your career. Positive energy and resources are all around you. Utilize them! Your skills will get you a great managerial or supervising position. This will get your foot in the door. Since you are a fast learner, creative and a little shrewd, you will be promoted in no time! Lucky Numbers: 9, 12, 29
MAY 21-JUNE 20 You have the gift of gab, but stop telling your business to everybody. They may seem like they’re listening and concerned about your feelings, but they’re laughing behind your back. One day they will use everything you’ve told them against you. Look to a Virgo for emotional support. Lucky Numbers: 1, 5, 16
JUNE 21-JULY 23 You think that the wall you have up protects you, but it is honestly hurting you instead. The genuine people that are trying to knock it down are doing it for your own good. You don’t have to be alone to feel secure. A significant other will take some of that weight off your shoulders. Lucky Numbers: 4, 22, 36
JULY 24-AUG. 22 You believe that money is for spending, not for saving. This is fine, but don’t be so reckless! Before you know it, you’ll be living check to check and won’t know why. Keep a nice cushion to sleep on. A big upset is going to happen this month; you’ll need something to fall back on. Lucky Numbers: 11, 19, 32
AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 Spring is here and it’s time to focus on your body. Now we all know society’s images of women are unrealistic, so don’t fall into comparing yourself with what’s in the magazines. Allow your body to be its natural shape. Once you’re comfortable in your skin, that special admirer you have will go ahead and make a move! Your workout routine will give you even more confidence. Lucky Numbers: 8, 15, 21
SEPT. 23-OCT. 22 Your significant other seems to be taking more than giving. You know this is not right, but you continue to put up with it for reasons that you don’t even understand. Time to make a change! Treat your lover the way you are being treated and everything will go back to how it used to be. Lucky Numbers: 6, 17, 24
OCT. 23-NOV. 21 The person you are dating is receiving dirty information about you from your ex-lover. Your courting isn’t going to end any time soon, though. Luckily, your relationship holds trust. Most of the information being said is untrue and instead provides pure entertainment for the both of you. But tell your ex to cool out! Lucky Numbers: 10, 26, 31
NOV. 22-DEC. 21 You want a lot of children. Well, they may come quicker than you think! Sex is your specialty, and by now the neighbors know your name! The one that keeps coming back for more may be hiding a growing secret from you. You need to ask some muchneeded questions! Lucky Numbers: 3, 23, 30
DEC. 22-JAN. 19 You’re a little difficult to get to know, but that’s why people like you -- they like the mystery. Well, keep it up! The more people inquire about you and what you’re about, the more buzz your name gets in the spotlight. And we all know how you feel about being in the spotlight! Lucky Numbers: 7, 18, 28
JAN. 20-FEB. 18 Trust your intuition. Something fishy is going on. A certain friend isn’t what they seem to be, but it’s not as bad as you might think. This friend is tired of living in your shadow. Be nice when you tell them to find a different way to get a piece of the spotlight. (You are going to tell them, right?) Lucky Numbers: 14, 34, 38
FEB. 19-MAR. 20 Every night you have to fight to prove your love. Well, the fighting is over! ENJOY your love! Plan a vacation with your companion and see what type of pleasure it brings. Get a couple sexy outfits to pack in your bag. Lucky Numbers: 2, 14, 27
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