VOL. 22, NO. 10 The student publication of Washtenaw Community College
A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 www.washtenawvoice.com
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
COURTESY | DAMON FLOWERS
Gender-neutral restrooms introduced on campus by TAYLOR ROBINSON
building, effective at the start of the winter semester. After the board of trustees In an effort to increase revised Policy 8028: Policy on diversity and inclusion at access, success and equity for Washtenaw Community diverse people, in November College, at least one gender- 2014 by adding “WCC proneutral bathroom has been in- motes a climate of…gender troduced in every instructional identities and expressions…” it Editor
opened the doors to furthering the acceptance of those no matter what gender they are most comfortable with and express it freely. In a campus-wide email from Linda Blakey, vice president for student and academic services, in early June of 2015,
she reminded students, faculty and staff that “Title IX federal law protects all students, including transgender and students with non-conforming sexual identities.” She added that, “In the spirit of our See RESTROOMS, Page A3
Ann Arbor deer cull causes controversy The city council’s decision to cull deer takes heat from the community
by COLIN MACDOUGALL
Contributor
by COLIN MACDOUGALL
Contributor
As students returned to campus for classes last week, United States District Judge Aaron Tarrow made the decision to bring in sharpshooters to cull the deer population in Ann Arbor. Tarrow made the conclusion that hiring sharpshooters to hunt in the city would be better than “traditional hunters with carrots and six-packs of beer” and that the public was in “no immediate danger,” according to the Detroit Free Press. A lawsuit against the city-sanctioned plan to cull the deer had been brought up on Monday, Jan. 11 trying to halt Ann Arbor City Council’s decision in moving forward with the culling. The plaintiff of Ann Arbor, Sabra Sanzotta, felt that the cull will put lives in danger with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services sharpshooters firing guns into the neighborhoods of Ann Arbor. Starting Jan. 1-Mar. 1, the Deer Management Program is in effect. This comes from a decision made by the Ann Arbor City Council who voted back in August 2015 with an overwhelming 8-1 vote in favor of bringing in sharpshooters. The culling of the deers will occur in the city parks from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. January and February. The city’s parks will be closed during these times. “This was a two year process,” said Lisa Wondrash, Ann Arbor’s communications director. “The city administrator at the time had been directed to look into deer management options. He presented a report to the city council that included research that had been done and deer management in other communities.” Wondrash also noted that, “City staff held three meetings, dozens of stakeholder meetings, conducted two open City Hall surveys, two aerial surveys and with that resulting in May of 2015,
WCC administrator runs for county commissioner position
WCC is known to have deer that wander its campus. GRAY BANCROFT | WASHTENAW VOICE
the deer management recommendation report.” “We have yet to see data showing any probProtests of the city council’s decision have lem with deer in Ann Arbor that demands such a now been going on for months, l ed by the group drastic, immediate, violent and costly response known as the Friends of Ann Arbor Wildlife by the city as a whole,” Patterson said. and Nature. She noted that “Two aerial surveys were done in the winter of 2015 by the city of Ann Arbor. The highest count was 168 deer, which averages “We have yet to see data show- only six deer per square mile. According to the Arbor City Council report, Michigan Natural ing any problem with deer in Ann Ann Feature Inventory biologists recommend deer Arbor that demands such a dras- densities of 15-20 deer per square mile.” The sharpshooters the city hired from the tic, immediate, violent and costly USDA Wildlife Services were brought in to cull 100 deer this season. The city council has also response by the city as a whole.” signed on to continue to cull the deer for the next four years, according to the city council agenda. At first, 24 parks were to be closed, but on “USDA Wildlife Services is very controverWednesday, Jan. 13, the city announced that it sial and has been discovered to use a lot of cruel, would drop 10 parks from the list. inhumane practices that violate their policies,” Karen Patterson, the director of humane Patterson said. education for the Huron Valley Humane Society, Ann Arborites from Washtenaw Community says that there is no need for the cull and the is- College weighed in on the controversy. Katie sue was brought up by residents who were upset with deer eating their landscaping. See DEER, Page A3
Jason Morgan, Washtenaw Community College’s director of government and community liaison, is embarking on his campaign for the office of Washtenaw County Commissioner. Morgan has been working for WCC for three years and his job entails managing WCC’s relationships with the external community in Washtenaw County. That means keeping in contact with local, state and federal elected officials in regards to different community college issues. “What my role at WCC is, is to make sure WCC is being a really great community partner and working with our community leaders and elected officials.” Morgan first got to know the college while working in now-retired Congressman John Dingell’s office. WCC President Rose Bellanca asked Morgan if he would consider a position in government and community relations. “After about the third time she asked me
Jason Morgan, 26, of WCC embarks on his campaign for Washtenaw County Commissioner. COLIN MACDOUGALL | WASHTENAW VOICE
See MORGAN, Page A3