ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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ADMINISTRATION
In wake of outcry, ‘U’ to rethink service plan Planned shared service center will be delayed until at least April 2014
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Business Prof. Scott Masten speaks at a meeting of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs at the Fleming Administration Building Monday to discuss the University’s decision to suspend the Administrative Services Transformation.
Delay praised by faculty Shared service decision met with relief as SACUA braces for more talks By STEPHANIE SHENOUDA Daily Staff Reporter
The Senate Advisory Committee for University Affairs is praising the University’s recent decision to postpone the implementation of a Shared Services Center which was expected to save the University $5 million annually by consolidating
human-resources and finance employees, who are currently department specific to a central location. As the representative body for University faculty, SACUA has voiced its concern regarding the shared-services initiative to the administration at the last few Senate Assembly meetings. Many members expressed relief Monday that the administration has decided to delay Administrative Services Transformation. In a letter published in the University Record, University administrators announced that the moving of staff to the cen-
ter will be delayed past April to accommodate further discussion with faculty and staff. The letter noted that interviews for individuals who are expected to move to the center will continue in the meantime. University Provost Martha Pollack, the executive vice president for academic affairs, will also be establishing faculty-led committees to undertake the major issues facing the University, including faculty productivity, diversity and campus climate, and financial challenges with cost containment, according to the letter. In the letter, Pollack, E.
FACILITIES
By JENNIFER CALFAS Daily Staff Reporter
The University has plans to purchase a 16.7-acre property at 2500 South State St. previously owned by the Edwards Brothers Malloy printing for $12.8 million. Edwards Brothers, a 120-year-old company, has used the 185,000-square-foot facility as a manufacturing plant. The company is the fifth-largest book and journal manufacturer in the country and has more than $100 million in annual sales. The company plans to merge the State Street plant with its other Ann Arbor location, an 180,000-squarefoot plant on Jackson Road. Edwards Brothers announced the State Street plant’s closure in July. The property is located one mile from the University’s athletics facilities on South Campus and sits near a University commuter lot. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said the property is in a key location for the University, as it is surrounded by the Athletics Campus and other University buildings. “When strategic pieces
WEATHER TOMORROW
of property like this become available, it makes good sense for the University to pursue properties that would be in such strategic locations,” Fitzgerald said. Since the purchase has not yet been finalized, Fitzgerald said it is too early for him to disclose what the University might use the building for. The purchase must be approved by the University’s Board of Regents before it is finalized. Additionally, Edwards Brothers approved a right of first refusal from the Ann Arbor City Council, or the right for the city to be able to purchase the building before any other party. The city could purchase the property within a 60-day period of the agreement between the company and the University. The city would have to match the University’s offer on the property. While the company made this agreement with the city, Fitzgerald said Edwards Brothers also approached the University about purchasing the property. John Edwards, president and CEO of Edward Brothers, said in a statement that he is pleased with the deal. “It helps us protect jobs, stay here in Washtenaw County and be competitive in a very difficult industry,” Edwards said. Edwards’s grandfather built the State Street plant in See BID, Page 3
HI: 50 LO: 34
Daily Staff Reporter
After weeks of faculty outcry, a stack of letters from University departments and a petition signed by more than 1,000 faculty members, University administrators announced Monday they would delay the planned transition to a Shared Services Center. The Shared Services Center, a component of the Administrative Services Transformation initiative, was designed to consolidate some University departmental staff in a central service center, a move estimated to save the University about $5 million annually. In response to concerns regarding the project’s transparency and implications for University departments, the University announced
Royster Harper, vice president for student life, and Timothy Slottow, executive vice president and chief financial officer, wrote that “the passion and concern for the University’s future direction is palpable.” Though the mood of the meeting was light following this decision, most SACUA members were realistic about the fact that discussion will eventually continue. “I wouldn’t say we’re done with the (Administrative Services Transformation),” Business Prof. Scott Masten said. He added that he’s happy with See FACULTY, Page 3
CITY COUNCIL
WAT E R YO U D O I N G ?
Bid planned for 16.7-acre lot on S. State University offers $12.8M, but city can match bid to buy property
By SAM GRINGLAS
that all staff moves would be delayed until after April, the period originally slated for staffing transitions. University Provost Martha Pollack; E. Royster Harper, vice president for student life; and Timothy Slottow, executive vice president and chief financial officer, wrote in the letter the administration plans to immediately involve faculty in reevaluating the structure of the shared services program. By including faculty, the administrators wrote that they hope to create a shared services program that “is structured to meet the needs of our faculty and our students while achieving necessary cost savings.” The letter noted that the decision to delay AST’s implementation was made in consultation with University President Mary Sue Coleman. Under the plan, each school and college would work with their faculty to determine the best steps to proceed with AST. However, the University will go ahead with See SERVICE, Page 3
Crosswalk ordinance will remain unchanged After amendments pass, Hieftje vows to veto updated legislation By WILL GREENBERG Daily Staff Reporter
NICHOLAS WILLIAMS/Daily
University repair crews fix a broken 12-inch water main underneath Murfin Avenue on Monday. The water main broke late Sunday night, causing the street to flood. Crews closed Murfin Avenue all day to work on the main.
BUSINESS
On Main Street, shopping gives way to gourmet scene Area sees increase in restaurants, decrease in shops By WILL GREENBERG Daily Staff Reporter
While State Street has seen an influx of new businesses over the past few years, the changes to Ann Arbor’s Main Street have been more subtle. The street, known for its unique shopping and more upscale restaurants, is becoming increasingly foodcentric. Maura Thomson, execu-
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tive director of the Main Street Area Association, said the street transformed from a shop-heavy area in favor of an abundance of restaurants in the past five years. Dennis Serras, owner of Real Seafood Company since 1975 said he has watched Main Street’s decline in shopping attractions since the opening of Briarwood Mall in the 1973. Since then, the surrounding eateries have become more contemporary, adding fresh faces to older locations, Serras said. Serras is a co-founder of Main Street Ventures, which owns Gratzi, Palio, Chop House
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and La Dolce Vita on Main Street, and Carson’s American Bistro on Plymouth Road. The company also owns restaurants in Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and Florida. “It’s a testimony to the success of the restaurants that have been here for a long time,” Thomson said. “Other restaurateurs see the success that restaurants are having in downtown Ann Arbor and they see that this community really demands quality food and does spend some of their extra earnSee SHOPPING, Page 3
INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 32 ©2013 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
Community members came out in droves Monday night to support the current crosswalk ordinance and prevent its repeal, which was being considered before the Ann Arbor City Council. Thanks to a surprise veto promise by Mayor John Hieftje, they’ll get their wish. The original proposal to repeal the ordinance was altered after Councilmember Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3) requested that Ann Arbor instead adopt the wording of ordinance drafted by the Traverse City, Mich., city council. That vote passed 6-4, but immediately after its passing, the mayor promised to veto the proposal. “Changing the ordinance, I just don’t see a way how that can possibly help,” Hieftje said to the council during discussion before the vote. “I think the city is safer for pedestrians now than before; I think a good deal of progress has been made. Drivers are stopping for pedestrians at a higher rate now than they were a few years ago.” Traverse City’s simple ordinance requires drivers to stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking within a marked crosswalk where a traffic signal is not present. A repeal of the ordinance would have meant Ann Arbor would adopt See ORDINANCE, Page 3
NEWS............................ 2 OPINION.......................4 SPORTS......................... 5
ARTS............................7 SUDOKU........................ 2 CL ASSIFIEDS.................6
News
2 — Tuesday, December 3, 2013
MONDAY: This Week in History
WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers Before You Were Here
TUESDAY: Professor Profiles Profiles
THURSDAY: CampusProfiles Clubs Alumni
GO BLUE, GO GREEN
interesting opportunity and a good school. This is a department where I could do what I wanted to do. I’m in a relatively small field, and I had people to collaborate with which also got me interested in applying here.
What got you interested in science, and why did you choose to teach at the University?
What is your favorite class to teach? Right now I’m teaching Water and the Environment, which asks, how does water behave in the environment, and how do we use water? And then I teach a graduate class on computational technology (which deals with) the mechanics of atoms and minerals. It’s a more esoteric
I was always interested in science since I was little, even before elementary school. I started teaching here in 2002 when they had an interesting opening. I’m from Germany, and I was looking for jobs worldwide, but this seemed to be an
CRIME NOTES
FRIDAY: Photos the Week Week Photos of the
WHAT: A small exterior window was found broken, University Police reported. The damage is estimated to have occured between 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Maintenance was notified. Nothing was found missing.
WHERE: Stadium Gate 9 WHEN: Saturday at about 12:50 p.m. WHAT: University Police reported the arrest of a visitor who attempted to strike a child. The child was protected by the parent.
Tired trespasser
Runaway handbags
WHERE: Michigan Union WHEN: Sunday at 11:45 a.m. WHAT: A visitor who had not cooperated with previous staff requests was found asleep in a men’s bathroom. An officer gave him another trespass warning and escorted him away.
WHERE: University Golf Course WHEN: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. WHAT: University Police reported that two purses were taken from a vehicle parked on the golf course. One was found later in a trash can at a gas station.
MORE ONLINE Love Crime Notes?
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course, but it also has environmental applications, so we apply what we learn to how radioactive atoms behave in the environment. But the class I really like is a 300-level class called Environmental Geochemistry for more advanced undergrads. It’s essentially the chemistry of everything in the environment, from the atmosphere to groundwater to rivers to natural processes.
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— ARIANA ASSAF
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LSA senior Oliver Hecht performs with Groove on the Diag Monday.
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
Outside the law Kidding WHERE: Law Quad around WHEN: Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com
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Prof. looks at water in new way Udo Becker is a professor of earth and environmental sciences. He started teaching at the University in 2002, and his research focuses on mineral surface chemistry, nanoscience and computational mineralogy.
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Design and conservation
Yiddish movie night
WHAT: Prof. Robert Grese will give his Roosevelt Professorship lecture on the relationship between conservation and landscape design. WHO: SNRE WHEN: Today at 5 p.m. WHERE: Dana Natural Resources Building
WHAT: Students and faculty are invited to a film screening about historical interactions between American and European Jews. WHO: Judaic Studies WHEN: Today at 6 p.m. WHERE: 2022 S. Thayer
Scarcity in China
White House prisoners
WHAT: Author Damien Ma will discuss the ideas in his book, including how the impression that China is developing the world’s largest economy is the least important aspect of the country. WHO: Center for Chinese Studies WHEN: Today at 5:00 p.m. WHERE: School of Social Work Building, Room 1636
WHAT: Ken Walsh, the White House correspondent for U.S. News, will discuss various presidents’ attempts to break from the isolation of the White House and connect to the nation. WHO: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library WHEN: Today from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: Gerald Ford Library
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY
1
Passengers on a flight that landed in Phoenix on Saturday were advised to get tuberculosis shots, ABC15 reported. An airline spokesman said a passenger had a “medical issue.” The passenger’s status was changed to no-fly after departure.
2
The Michigan hockey team blew a threegoal lead in Columbus against Ohio State in the third period. But a late goal by senior defenseman Mac Bennett saved the win. >> FOR MORE, SEE SPORTS, PAGE 5
3
NBC News reported that three people were injured when a helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Antarctica yesterday. They are currently being treated by the crew of a second helicopter that was flying in tandem.
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BUSINESS STAFF Amal Muzaffar Digital Accounts Manager Doug Soloman University Accounts Manager Leah Louis-Prescott Classified Manager Lexi Derasmo Local Accounts Manager Hillary Wang National Accounts Manager Ellen Wolbert and Sophie Greenbaum Production Managers The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $110. Winter term (January through April) is $115, yearlong (September through April) is $195. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press.
Investigation discovers speed a Former medical tech gets 39 factor in deadly train derailing years for infecting patients Rail experts say automated safety technology could have prevented crash
Man reportedly used stolen syringes to infect patients with hepatitis C
that the speed limit drops from 70 talico, executive director of the rail mph to 30 mph. employees union. Asked why the train was going He said Rockefeller, 46, was so fast, National Transportation cooperating fully with investiSafety Board member Earl Weener gators. said: “That’s the question we need “He’s a sincere human being to answer.” with an impeccable record that I Weener would not disclose know of. He’s diligent and compeYONKERS, N.Y. (AP) — A com- what the engineer operating the tent,” Bottalico said. Rockefeller CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — muter train that derailed over the train told investigators, and he has been an engineer for about 11 A traveling medical techniweekend, killing four passengers, said results of drug and alcohol years and a Metro-North employee cian who stole painkillers and was hurtling at 82 mph as it entered tests were not yet available. Inves- for about 20, he said. infected dozens of patients in a 30 mph curve, a federal investiga- tigators are also examining the Outside Rockefeller’s modest multiple states with hepatitis tor said Monday. But whether the engineer’s cellphone, apparently house in Germantown, N.Y., police C through tainted syringes was wreck was the result of human to determine whether he was dis- told reporters that at the request of sentenced Monday to 39 years error or mechanical trouble was tracted. the family, anyone who trespassed in prison. unclear, he said. “When I heard about the speed, would be arrested. Calls to the “I don’t blame the families Rail experts said the tragedy I gulped,” said Sen. Charles Schum- home went unanswered. for hating me,” David Kwiatmight have been prevented if Met- er, D-N.Y. The NTSB’s Weener sketched kowski said after hearing about ro-North Railroad had installed Engineers may not use cell- a scenario that suggested that the 20 statements from people he automated crash-avoidance tech- phones while on the train, train’s throttle was let up and the infected and their relatives. “I nology that safety authorities have according to the Metropolitan brakes were fully applied way too hate myself.” been urging for decades. Transportation Authority, which late to stave off disaster. Kwiatkowski, 34, was a carThe locomotive’s speed was runs Metro-North. He said the throttle went to idle diac technologist in 18 hospiextracted from the train’s two data The engineer, William Rock- six seconds before the derailed tals in seven states before being Sudoku Syndication recorders after the Sunday morn- efeller, was injured and “is totally http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ train came to a complete stop — hired at New Hampshire’s ing accident, which happened in traumatized by everything that “very late in the game” for a train Exeter Hospital in 2011. the Bronx along a bend so sharp has happened,” said Anthony Bot- going that fast — and the brakes He had moved from job to job were fully engaged five seconds despite being fired at least four before the train stopped. times over allegations of drug It takes about a quarter-mile to use and theft. Since his arrest a half-mile to stop a train going 82 last year, 46 people have been mph, Kevin Thompson, Federal Raildiagnosed with the same strain HARD road Administration spokesman. of hepatitis C he carries. Asked whether the tragedy was U.S. Attorney John Kacavas the result of human error or faulty said the sentence “ensures that brakes, Weener said: “The answer this serial infector no longer is is, at this point in time, we can’t tell. in a position to do harm to innoBut he said investigators are not cent and vulnerable people.” aware of any problems with the Kwiatkowski admitted stealbrakes during the nine stops the ing painkillers and replacing train made before the derailment. them with saline-filled syringThe wreck came two years es tainted with his blood. He before the federal government’s pleaded guilty in August to 16 deadline for Metro-North and federal drug charges. other railroads to install automatBefore he was sentenced, ic-slowdown technology designed Kwiatkowski stood and faced to prevent catastrophes caused by his victims, saying he was very human error. sorry and that his crimes were Metro-North’s parent agency caused by an addiction to painand other railroads have pressed killers and alcohol. He told the government to extend Coninvestigators he had been stealgress’ 2015 deadline a few years ing drugs since at least 2003 because of the cost and complexand swapping syringes since at ity of the Positive Train Control least 2008. system, which uses GPS, wireless “There’s no excuse for what radio and computers to monitor I’ve done,” he said. “I know © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com HARD KNOCK LIFE. trains and stop them from collidthe pain and suffering I have ing, derailing or going the wrong caused.” way. Prosecutors asked for a
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40-year sentence. Judge Joseph Laplante said he cut the last year as a reminder that some people have the capacity for mercy and compassion. “It’s important for you to recognize and remember as you spend the next 39 years in prison to focus on the one year you didn’t get and try to develop that capacity in yourself,” Laplante said. The victims spoke angrily and tearfully of the pain that Kwiatkowski had inflicted by giving them hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus that can cause liver disease and chronic health problems. Authorities say the disease played a role in one woman’s death. “You may only be facing drug charges, but make no mistake, you are a serial killer,” said Kathleen Murray of Elmira, N.Y., whose mother was infected in Baltimore and was too ill to travel to New Hampshire for the sentencing. Linda Ficken, 71, said she is haunted by the memory of Kwiatkowski standing at her hospital bedside in Kansas for more than an hour applying pressure to the catheter’s entry site in her leg to control bleeding. “On one hand, you were saving my life, and on the other hand, your acts are a death sentence for me,” Ficken, of Andover, Kan., told him. “Do I thank you for what you did to help me? Do I despise you for what your actions did and will continue to do for the rest of my life? Or do I simply just feel sorry for you being the pathetic individual you are?” Prosecutors said Kwiatkowski deserved 40 years for creating a “national public health crisis,” putting a significant number of people at risk and caused substantial physical and emotional harm to a large number of victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Farley called Kwiatkowski’s actions “exceedingly callous” and “unbelievably cruel”
and noted that Kwiatkowski could’ve stolen painkillers without exposing his patients to hepatitis C. Defense lawyers argued that a 30-year sentence would better balance the seriousness of the crimes against Kwiatkowski’s mental and emotional problems and his addiction to drugs and alcohol, which they said clouded his judgment. “David Kwiatkowski is not a monster,” said attorney Bjorn Lange. “He didn’t set out to infect himself or anyone else with the hepatitis C virus.” In all, 32 patients were infected in New Hampshire, seven in Maryland, six in Kansas and one in Pennsylvania. Though prosecutors have not included the Pennsylvania case in their count, a spokeswoman for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has repeatedly said the hospital had one confirmed case. Kwiatkowski also worked in Michigan, New York, Arizona and Georgia. Two of the 16 charges stem from the case of Eleanor Murphy, a Kansas woman who has since died. Authorities say hepatitis C played a contributing role. “You ultimately gave my mother a death sentence,” Murphy’s son, Ronnie, told Kwiatkowski. Murphy said he would have preferred a life sentence for Kwiatkowski and didn’t understand how he had been able to continue working after his repeated firings. “His path and my mother’s path never should have crossed,” he said. The judge noted that while Kwiatkowski’s lack of a criminal record kept his sentence from going even higher, he said that was only because Kwiatkowski’s employers handled his behavior as personnel matters instead of crimes. And Kacavas said his office has begun working with other agencies to draft policy recommendations to prevent future incidents.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com DETROIT, Mich.
Tigers trade Fister to the Nationals The Detroit Tigers have traded starting pitcher Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for three players. The deal was announced Monday night. The Nationals sent infielder Steve Lombardozzi, lefthander Ian Krol and minor league lefty Robbie Ray to Detroit. The AL Central champion Tigers have been busy reshaping their roster this offseason. They traded slugger Prince Fielder to Texas and also let All-Star shortstop Jhonny Peralta leave as a free agent for St. Louis.
WASHINGON, D.C.
Supreme Court defers on state sales tax decison On perhaps the busiest online shopping day of the year, the Supreme Court refused to wade into a dispute over state sales taxes for purchases on websites like Amazon.com, an outcome likely to prompt more states to attempt to collect taxes on Internet sales. Monday’s court action means “it might be the last Cyber Monday without sales tax,” said Joseph Henchman of the Washington -based Tax Foundation. It’s all part of a furious battle — also including legislation in Congress — among Internet sellers, millions of buyers, aggrieved brick-and-mortar stores and states hungry for billions of dollars in extra tax revenue.
HONOLULU
Gay marriage legalized in Hawaii Retired professors Rod Powell and Bob Eddinger have been partners in life since 1977. On Monday, they joined in marriage on the first day it was legally possible in their home state of Hawaii. Powell says they wanted to celebrate the beginning of samesex marriages in the state as a significant moment in society’s movement toward equality and justice. The 78-year-old and 74-yearold met 36 years ago on the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii. The state Department of Health says it issued 40 licenses for same-sex marriages in the hours since it began accepting applications at midnight. Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo says almost all the licenses were issued to couples on Oahu.
SERVICE From Page 1 plans to hold job preference interviews with staff originally set to transfer to the new center. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said the letter gets across that the University has opted to take the time to consider about alternative structures. Engineering Prof. Fawwaz Ulaby, who authored the href=http://www. michigandaily.com/news/ faculty-petition-shared-services-center>petition, said the University’s announcement shows the faculty has gotten the attention of the administration. However, he added that the University’s response does nothing but delay the eventual AST implementation. Ulaby said the University should be terminating AST, not setting a timetable. He added administrators should form committees to study the best direction for University cost containment. “The fundamental problem is AST is flawed and bad for the campus, and it should be terminated — period,” he said. At LSA’s regularly scheduled faculty meeting held Monday afternoon, Pollack and Slottow again acknowledged the University’s mishandling of shared services and attempted to assure faculty their concerns would not only be considered but play a central role in future decision-making processes. “I’m committed to cost savings because I have no choice… but I’m also committed to repairing the damage that’s been done during the rollout of AST,” Pollack said. At the end of the meeting, the LSA faculty approved a motion to vote next week to support a two-year moratorium on the Shared Services Transition. The motion has been placed on the agenda for the Dec. 9 LSA faculty meeting. During the question-andanswer session, Dena Goodman, professor of history and women’s studies, asked if the administration would be willing to abandon AST all together.
News Slottow said if the University were to give up on AST, administrators would need to find savings elsewhere. From conversations with Coleman, regents and deans over the past few days, Slottow said there are still alternative options. “While I understand the sentiment to say ‘just stop it,’ the sense of a lot of people is that that would be irresponsible,” Pollack added. “It’s our responsibility to move forward, but to do it right.” One faculty member asked Pollack how the University could stand behind the vision of a few administrators while 1,100 faculty members protest the very nature of AST. “I trust the faculty more, but I want to say this, there is misinformation on both sides,” Pollack said. “I am with the faculty. I am a faculty member.” Two faculty members also raised overarching concerns regarding AST. Two faculty members questioned the University’s relationship with Accenture LLC — the consulting firm with an $11.7 million contract to implement the initiative. Slottow said administrators regret how Accenture’s selection was communicated to faculty. “That is a failure,” Slottow said. “I’m accountable for that; I feel responsible for that.” Faculty have expressed concern with Accenture’s fee as well as its reputation and connections with Rowan Miranda, the University associate vice president for finance who formerly served as lead on Accenture’s state and local government and higher education portfolios. In November, Slottow released a statement addressing faculty member’s concerns. At the LSA meeting, Slottow said AST is a complex program — a program the University does not have the resources to carry out on its own. He added that AST’s project team is composed of 24 University representatives and 10 from Accenture, aided by 100 faculty and staff from across the University.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013 — 3A
Slottow said the University held a regularly audited competitive bid process, during which a number of firms made offers for the AST contract. A team of people from across the University evaluated the bid before choosing Accenture. However, Slottow said the firm has not performed at the level administrators had hoped it would and are “looking at ways to reduce their involvement.” Chemistry Prof. Charles Brooks asked if the University would disclose records related to the decision, to which Slottow responded by inviting anyone to look at the Accenture contract. Brooks also asked why the initiative’s projected savings has fallen from $17 million in reoccurring savings to $6 million. “As far as savings go, I have been equally frustrated and very angry with those numbers,” Pollack said. However, Pollack said the decrease partly stems from the University’s decision to refrain from running the transition like a corporation. Instead of saying each department needed to find ten people to cut, the University worked with department and college leaders to figure out feasible numbers. Pollack said the University never had any intent to hide these updated projections from the faculty but has traditionally left cost containment projects for administrators to grapple with. Describing the University’s established “paternalistic” approach to cost-containment, Pollack said there has been the assumption that administrators should make decisions regarding efficiency and procurement savings, allowing faculty to focus on their research or teaching. In the future, Pollack promised to gather input from faculty on similar issues, rather than protecting them from sometimes painful cost cutting processes. “We’ve learned our lesson,” she said. “I really do appreciate the degree to which the faculty is taking this seriously.”
BENTLEY HISTORICAL LIBRARY
LONDON
French artist wins Britain’s top prize A growing body of evidence collected by U.N. investigators points to the involvement of senior Syrian officials, including President Bashar Assad, in crimes against humanity and war crimes, the U.N.’s top human rights official said Monday. The statement by Navi Pillay, who heads the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, adds to the pressure for quicker action on Syria ahead of a key peace conference planned for Geneva in January. The conference, brought on by combined U.N., U.S. and Russian diplomacy, would for the first time bring the Assad government and opponents together for face-to-face negotiations. “As we look around the world at the end of 2013, we see examples of situations where that readiness of the international community to act in time is already being sorely tested,” Pillay told a news conference that touched on trouble spots around the world. “In addition to Syria, where the scale and viciousness of the abuses being perpetrated by elements on both sides almost defies belief, the situation in the Central African Republic is deteriorating rapidly, and the alarm bells are ringing loud and clear.” —Compiled from Daily wire reports
FACULTY From Page 1 the administration’s decision to postpone the shared services initiative. Many members echoed his sentiments, noting that the decision shows the voices of the faculty have been heard. Social Work Prof. Karen Staller, chair of SACUA, said the delay provides faculty with more opportunities to participate in the next phase of research and discussion. Laura Olsen, a biology professor and SACUA member, said that LSA faculty will ask
BID From Page 1 the 1950s, so leaving the plant has been a difficult task. “Moving out of here will not be an easy thing for me to do, but it is the right move for our company,” Edwards said. As part of an effort to improve
ORDINANCE From Page 1 the Michigan Uniform Traffic Code wording, which requires drivers to stop or slow for pedestrians in the crosswalk, not including pedestrians at the edge of the walk or on the curb as the Ann Arbor ordinance currently states. The tone for the evening was set during the public comment section of the meeting, when Erica Briggs, chair of the Washtenaw County Bicycling and Walking Coalition, asked for opponents of the ban to stand and raise their hands. The move brough roughly three-fourths of the overflowing chamber guests to their feet. There were so many attendees at the meeting that city employees opened the chamber’s retractable walls. The turnout may be the result of a request for public support at the meeting that was posted onWBWC’s website. “You’re placing the blame on the pedestrians for getting hit or killed in crosswalks, not on the drivers who hit them in marked crosswalks,” Briggs told the council, describing the consequences should the law be repealed. The public hearing before the vote brought overwhelming opposition to the repeal. Ann Arbor residents — including a few University students — passionately shared personal stories and pleaded to the Council to reconsider the shift in policy. Some raised concerns that the council rushed to repeal the ordinance without a full engineering analysis. Others expressed a need for a pedestrian-friendly city and the importance of ensuring disabled people have enough street access without having to navigate oncoming traffic. Rackham student Lloyd Shelton said the changed ordinance would be exclusionary. He uses an electrically powered wheelchair and said crossing the street without the current ordinance would
for a two-year suspension of the entire initiative. “In order for people to take us seriously, we need to participate,” Olsen said. After revamping several resolutions as a result of information relayed in the article, SACUA formally endorsed the suspension of shared services. SACUA plans to round out the semester with a private meeting with Pollack this Wednesday, followed by a Regent’s update on Friday, a Senate Assembly meeting on Monday, Dec. 9, and a regular meeting with University President Mary Sue Coleman as a guest on Monday, Dec. 18.
and enhance the Athletics Campus, the Board of Regentsapproved a $6 million construction project to create a new building to centralize its operations on the Athletic Campus. Moreover, the Athletics Campus will undergo a slew of renovationsover the next few years, including 16 improvement projects.
be incredibly burdensome. “It’s about inclusion; it’s about having a society that is designed so that everybody has access to everything,” Shelton said. Still, the councilmembers who sponsored the repeal did not waiver from their stance, supporting the consistency of using the UTC law like the rest of the state. The initial vote to repeal was sponsored by Councilmembers Sally Peterson (D–Ward 2), Sumi Kailasapathy (D–Ward 1), Jane Lumm (I–Ward 2), Mike Anglin (D–Ward 5) and Kunselman, who eventually in favor of the Traverse City language. Councilmember Jack Eaton (D–Ward 4) was the sixth vote in favor. Kunselman responded to the arguments of limiting the access for the elderly and disabled by mentioning that it hadn’t been an issue before and wasn’t specifically mentioned in any previous wordings. He said he is ready to move forward. “This has been talked about since well last summer; we heard some former candidates for council who were talking about it as they were out there this last fall,” Kunselman said. “There is a different perception besides just those that are represented by the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition.” Speakers on both sides of the issue spoke to the need for increased education, enforcement and improved infrastructure, many acknowledging that the wording of the law will not automatically change the behavior of either drivers or pedestrians. Councilmembers Kailasapathy and Peterson, among others, spoke repeatedly in favor of these efforts, regardless of the law. “What (tonight) shows is there is a great need for infrastructure, and that’s what I take out of this. There’s a great need for disabled people, older people, younger people to cross the street,” Kailasapathy said in an interview. “What do we do? Put HAWK lights, crosswalks, put lights.”
U.N. says Assad may be guilty of war crimes ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Above: A view of Main Street in the 1860s. Below: A view of Main Street Monday.
SHOPPING From Page 1 ings on going out to dinner.” Although Ann Arbor is home to the University, Serras said the restaurants are often expensive along Main Street and draws an older crowd than college students. “They’re higher end; I mean, you can go into them and see the pricing on the menu. I would say the demographic is slightly older than undergrad; the undergrads come when their parents are picking up the bill,” Serras said. Maggie Long, managing partner and executive chef for the Jolly Pumpkin, also said their primary business is usually Ann Arbor locals and graduate students, adding that
undergraduates usually live too far away to frequent the area. Long said patrons are attracted by the local atmosphere and “walkability” of the street, saying the distance from campus helps avoid the bustling student foot traffic of State Street or South University Avenue. “Main Street is easy to read. You can stand on the block and look and see where you need to go,” Long said. The street’s accessibility and vibrancy is not an accident, Thomson said. “We have lamp posts that were put up on Main Street twenty-plus years ago; they’re a little bit more decorative. We have some mature trees, we have our planter beds, we have fairly wide sidewalks — all of these things that you don’t necessarily think about as a
pedestrian but that does sort of contribute to how you feel when you’re on Main Street,” Thomson said. LSA freshman Kaia Parenti has been touring the city’s food scene with her older brother Nicholas, a senior at the University. The two of them visit a new restaurant every week. Parenti has explored the dining experience in many different Ann Arbor neighborhoods now but says that Main Street has its own “welcoming vibe.” “There’s a variety of different restaurants and places to eat, and they’re all different but they all look very intriguing,” Parenti said. While Parenti admits the prices on Main Street can be steep, she said she’s happy to pay to support good food, and the money is worth the trip.
Adds pressure on embattled nation before peace talks GENEVA (AP) — A growing body of evidence collected by U.N. investigators points to the involvement of senior Syrian officials, including President Bashar Assad, in crimes against humanity and war crimes, the U.N.’s top human rights official said Monday. The statement by Navi Pillay, who heads the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, adds to the pressure for quicker action on Syria ahead of a key peace conference planned for Geneva in January. The conference, brought on by combined U.N., U.S. and Russian diplomacy, would for the first time bring the Assad government and opponents together for face-to-face negotiations. “As we look around the world at the end of 2013, we see exam-
ples of situations where that readiness of the international community to act in time is already being sorely tested,” Pillay told a news conference that touched on trouble spots around the world. “In addition to Syria, where the scale and viciousness of the abuses being perpetrated by elements on both sides almost defies belief, the situation in the Central African Republic is deteriorating rapidly, and the alarm bells are ringing loud and clear.” Pillay said the Syrian abuses — suspected massacres, chemical attacks, torture, rape and a litany of other horrors — are being well documented by an expert U.N. panel of investigators. “They’ve produced massive evidence,” she said. “They point to the fact that the evidence indicates responsibility at the highest level of government, including the head of state.” Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad was dismissive of Pillay’s remarks.
Opinion
4 — Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Lessons from taking a year off
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MELANIE KRUVELIS ANDREW WEINER EDITOR IN CHIEF
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Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
FROM THE DAILY
Abort the special interests Legislature should defer to voters on health insurance proposal
A
proposal before the state legislature could effectively ban abortion coverage from health insurance plans. Right to Life of Michigan, a group that advocates for restrictions on abortion rights, has collected enough signatures to put the initiative in front of the legislature which could be enacted without the approval of the governor or voters. The proposal poses clear limitations to women’s access to important family planning options, and the nature with which the issue has gone forward undermines the process. Lawmakers should avoid acting on the proposal and wait until the next election to allow voters to decide what A state elections board approved Right to Life’s proposal Monday because the organization was able to collect 315,477 signatures. Now, Michigan’s legislature can either review and vote on the proposal within the next 40 days or allow voters to decide November 2014. Given that the number of signatures collected only represents 4 percent of the state’s population, the process allowed the proposal to gain too much clout within the legislature, especially considering how controversial the proposal is. Last December, Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed a similar bill, stating at the time that it “just went too far.” Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D–East Lansing) calls this proposal “one of the most misogynistic proposals I have ever seen.” Michigan Right to Life has used the same method in the past to present their interests directly to the legislature. Three successful proposals, passed through the same process, created a ban on abortion coverage by Medicaid for people receiving welfare benefits, a requirement for teenagers to receive parental consent for an abortion and a ban on partialbirth abortions. Former Rep. Bart Stupak, a Democrat from Michigan, Stupak proposed a similar amendment that would ban abortion coverage by plans in the Affordable Care Act and require people to buy separate policies. The proposal was not approved, but individual states are starting to adopt similar regulations. Twenty-three states have already
chosen to opt out of the federal requirement to include abortion coverage in their plans, and eight of the 23 states have extended the ban on abortion coverage to include both public and private plans. If this privately funded ban becomes law, then a woman would not be able to receive coverage for an abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, with the exception of a liferisking condition — conditions that led to Snyder rejecting the original bill. Instead, specific insurance riders would have to be purchased before pregnancy that cover abortion, meaning the added plan requires people to prepare for unplanned pregnancies and rape — an unreasonable request. These potential added fees would be a barrier to quality health care for low-income women and families, preventing them from gaining appropriate treatment as well as creating a financial penalty for victims. Considering the importance of this issue and the consequences it poses, the proposal should not go through the state’s least democratic mechanisms. Michigan should not allow special interest groups to dictate the fate of health-insurance plans. The legislature has the ability to push the proposal to the voters and should do so. Before voting, the legislature and people need to be aware of the harmful effects that approving the proposal can create. Ultimately, the fate of this issue shouldn’t be relegated to four percent of the population.
JACOB LIGHT | VIEWPOINT
Let’s build a better Michigan Four years, sometimes five, sometimes three. It’s not a long time, but it’s a time that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. Yet, when you arrive at the Big House on graduation day, the question becomes: What did this time at the University of Michigan mean? What will you remember, and how will others remember you? Last April, the University of Michigan Board of Regents approved funding for renovations for the Michigan Unions and Recreation Sports Facilities. Building a Better Michigan was formed by student leaders to lead the call for renovations, a call that was carried forward and advocated through overwhelming support from the greater student body. The regents heard students’ voices and approved a major overhaul of buildings central to student life at Michigan. But the buildings are not going to renovate themselves, and the work is just beginning. Starting this winter, the University will begin the first stage of its renovations on Mitchell Field and the Commons Cafe in Pierpont Commons. Meanwhile, the University will choose architects and designers to implement the renovations. Now, more than ever, it’s important to make students’ voices heard to ensure that the multi-million dollar renovations reflect the needs and desires of a diverse cross-section of our student body. This is where Building a Better Michigan comes in. We are building a core of Michigan students who will be central in advocating students’ interests in the renovation process. With upcoming focus groups and the initial drafts of building updates starting next semester, we want to give students a venue to work with the University to guarantee that our tuition dollars are spent to satisfy our needs. Our core will work directly with University administrators to advise designers, planners, and architects and ensure the building renovations reflect the priorities of current and future students. The opportunity to make such a massive and long-lasting impact on the quintessential University of Michigan landmark will not be available to Michigan students again for decades — now
is the time to leave your legacy. In the coming weeks, Building a Better Michigan will reach out to students of all ages, majors and interests to build a Core that will work with the University throughout the planning stages of the renovations. We need strong voices to direct the conversation and message outward to engage the larger student body on the dramatic changes we face in the coming years. Whether you are a Varsity or Club athlete, or if you’ve walked by the Central Campus Recreation Building only once or twice, your input matters. Whether you’re in the Union for meetings every day or you think of the Union only as a five-story Wendy’s, your input matters. We want your stories — the good and the bad. Help us to identify areas of improvement, shortcomings, and structural flaws that can make the Michigan Unions and Recreation Sports Facilities more inclusive to all Michigan students. Your experiences will inform the conversation. Students interested in joining the Building a Better Michigan Core are invited to apply online or e-mail BBMcoreinterest@umich. edu. The Core will meet regularly throughout the winter semester to coordinate student engagement in the renovation project and craft a cohesive vision for the renovation projects. We’ll be holding our first student townhall meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 6:30 p.m. to explain the status of the renovation project, and identify some of the overarching goals Michigan students hope to achieve through the Union and CCRB renovations. We’re only given a short period of time to leave our legacy as Michigan students. With the overhaul of some of the University of Michigan’s most celebrated hubs of student life fast approaching, we’re presented an opportunity to make an impact on future generations of Michigan Wolverines. Building a Better Michigan wants your voice to be heard. Join our Building a Better Michigan Core, and leave your legacy at the University of Michigan. Jacob Light is an LSA junior and co-chair of Building a Better Michigan.
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I
n our society, we’re expected to run a race — a race that will last from when we enter this world right down to the moment we leave it. To move forward, to be the best, to succeed, we’re taught that we must look KATE to the future and always be LARAMIE thinking two steps ahead. The collegiate system epitomizes this reality. When you’re a college student, you’re constantly told that the decisions you make now will shape the future of your entire life — a frightening thought for anyone, particularly those with so little life experience. But my question is this: If we are forever thinking about the future, how can we find the time to figure out exactly what we want in life anyway? How can we run the race without taking a moment to stop and assess where we’re going? Two semesters ago I was hit with this reality. I was a sophomore full of ambition but running out of drive. I was tired of waking up and thinking about everything I needed to do tomorrow, never having the time to focus on today. I had to ask myself: Was the promise of an eventual degree really worth two-and-a-half more years of being exhausted and burnt out? Did I even have another option? I was nervous about leaving the University with only three semesters under my belt. After being in
public education for nearly threequarters of my life, I had no idea how to not be in school. But ironically enough, this realization was enough to push me over the edge. It was time to try something new, and for me that meant leaving the University and learning to run my life a little differently. I moved back home, found a job and got to work learning how to wake up every morning and live that day to the fullest, not worrying about what was going to happen tomorrow or next week. And as it turns out, living in the moment is something that just takes a little practice. Before I left Ann Arbor, I didn’t know how to not think about tomorrow or how not to plan and worry and wonder about my future — the race that I was currently losing. After some time, things began to slow down. I came to realize that I had been living in a bubble, a world of ambition and drive that leaves little room for exploration or self-reflection. It is often said that your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, but how great can they be if you spend them worrying about what will happen in your thirties? How are we really supposed to choose a career and follow our passions when we aren’t given a free moment to breathe? Thinking about the future is important, but if we’re always
caught up in the planning of tomorrow, we’ll never be able to fully appreciate the world of today. For those of us who are privileged enough to attend a four-year university, we should all recognize that college is a choice. It’s our decision to be here, and pushing through to finish in four years isn’t worth it if we aren’t gaining everything that could be gained if we took a moment to slow down. After a nine-month break from school, I felt like I knew what kind of future I wanted to work toward. I returned to the race, keeping in mind that the cliché, “the journey is more important than the destination,” is actually pretty true for me. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not advocating for everyone to take time off school. For many, it may not be feasible or desired. But as exams are approaching and the pressure mounts at the end of the semester, remember this: Taking a little time for yourself is just as important as doing well in your classes. Whether it’s a walk in the Arb or a night out with friends, we all need to slow down just enough to appreciate what we have and where we are. Tomorrow isn’t here yet, and as easy as it is to forget, today is all we really have. Might as well make the most of it.
I had been living in a world of ambition and drive that leaves little room for self-reflection.
— Kate Laramie can be reached at laramiek@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Kaan Avdan, Sharik Bashir, Barry Belmont, James Brennan, Rima Fadlallah, Eric Ferguson, Jordyn Kay, Jesse Klein, Melanie Kruvelis, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Adrienne Roberts, Matthew Seligman, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe AKIRA SEMBOMMATSU | VIEWPOINT
A program that forgot its fans
I don’t care too much for hamburgers. But, like most other gooddoing folks, I do appreciate a good burger. There are few things better than chewing into a juicy, mediumrare beef patty between two sesame seed buns. Credit given where credit is due. I also don’t care too much for college football. Nonetheless, one of the main reasons for my attending the University was its storied football team. Just like a good burger, good college football is something worth appreciating, and Michigan football just sounded like the best of college football. The winged helmets, the Big House, Desmond striking the pose, the rivalry with Ohio State — it wasn’t just college football. It was Michigan football. As a senior graduating in a few weeks, I’m thankful for the University. The opportunity to compete every day with some pretty bright kids, a passion for the food industry, a fellowship grant to study abroad, relationships forged with both geniuses and goons alike — I couldn’t have asked for much more from this University. With that said, Michigan football has been the single biggest disappointment about life in Ann Arbor. Of course, the losing sucks. The unfulfilled promises of Big Ten championships sting, sure. But what’s worse is the way that our program continues to rip off its best consumers: the alumni, the locals and, most of all, the students. Again, I’m not going to stand here and pretend like I’m the biggest, most passionate Michigan Football fan out there. I’m not. But some students — a lot of students — absolutely do live and die by the Team, the Team, the Team. Take my roommate, Alex. He’s a third-generation Wolverine, and he doesn’t hide it. Both of his parents have season tickets and have been taking him to Michigan Football games since he was in diapers. Legend has it some of his older family
members, in order to stay mentally sane and keep their hearts healthy, now refuse to watch the games live. Rather, they record them, read the paper the next day and only watch if Michigan won. Following, Alex is well on his way, too. He can’t watch enough YouTube clips of Fielding Yost documentaries and players from the 70s that I’ve never heard of. “Hey, Sems, have you seen this clip of (insert Michigan legend) from the 1981 Rose Bowl?” After wins, Alex grabs all of us by the shoulders and starts belting out the alma mater. The Victors? The kid was probably practicing it in his mother’s womb. During close games, he can’t help but get cynical and pessimistic, always expecting the worst, like a guy convincing himself that it’s OK that he’s about to get dumped by the love of his life. Except the love of Alex’s life has been dumping him for years. He just can’t get enough. It’s all he’s ever known. No matter how many times she breaks his heart, he will continue going to Michigan games. In 10 years, Alex will probably be coming with his kids as his parents did, sitting in the seats that he was given with his “seat licensing” donations to the program. This is the story for many Michigan students. All of this love for Michigan football, and what does it give back? A new general-admission policy with no grandfathering in of current upperclassmen. Weekly e-mails imploring students to arrive early to games so the student section looks good on TV. Endless in-game advertisements to purchase season tickets to other University sports. And above all, an annual, clockwork-like increase in ticket prices. This season, there’s a $280 tab for a seven-game schedule. Compare that to Michigan State’s season package, which goes for $150, or the $70 University of Alabama charges their students. As for Ohio State University, we finally have them
beat: their student tickets are $252 for the season. And yet … the die-hards still chase true love. I grew up in Boston. Back there, rabid Red Sox, Patriots, and other teams’ sports fans live and die by their sports teams. But the difference between Boston fans and Michigan fans is when the Red Sox started veering off their winning ways last year, fans stopped going to games. Some would call this simple economics: When the product stinks, demand should and will decrease. But Michigan fans haven’t quit showing up. We continue to drink the “Most Wins in College Football History,” “127 AllAmericans,” “42 Big-Ten Titles” Kool-Aid even as we rush for negative 48 yards and get utterly steamrolled by cross-state “Little Brother” Michigan State. Now, I do think the Wolverines are on track to get better. Better recruits, great coaches and improving facilities yet again should mean that my buddy Alex will have more recent YouTube clips to watch and should be attending a Rose Bowl in the near future. But what if things don’t get better? Why should students continue to pay five-star steakhouse money for some day old spicy California rolls from your local supermarket? Would you pay another $280 tab for a full-course Pu Pu Platter of Appalachian State, Miami (not of Florida), Utah, Minnesota, Penn State, Indiana and Maryland in 2014? Michigan football is overbought. It’s past its expiration date. Like an Ann Arbor winter, it is served cold, dry and tasteless. So improve the product. Change the price. Better yet — do both. But until then, this once historic football franchise will just become yesterday’s leftovers. Akira Sembommatsu is an Business senior.
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Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Tuesday, December 3, 2013 — 5
Late goal nearly dooms Wolverines By ALEJANDRO ZÚÑIGA Daily Sports Editor
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Senior defenseman Mac Bennett scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes remaining after Michigan surrendered a three-goal lead in the third period.
Bennett rescues ‘M’ after blown three-goal lead against Buckeyes A game with Ohio State separated by one, but this one goes to Michigan By GREG GARNO Daily Sports Writer
COLUMBUS — It was after the third unanswered goal, the one that seemed to awake a nonexistent crowd, that sophomore goaltender Steve 5 MICHIGAN Racine put OHIO STATE 4 his head down and fished the puck out of the net. Suddenly the band roared, the fans stood and the seemingly insurmountable lead collapsed from underneath the No. 3 Michigan hockey team. Then, as the new line took the ice and Racine settled back in, a flurry of Wolverines flung the puck forward with a newfound sense of urgency. Unmarked and streaking down the left side of the ice, senior defenseman Mac Bennett buried a perfect pass from junior defenseman Mike Chiasson to score the go-ahead goal, just minutes after the Buckeyes scored three unanswered goals in the third period to tie the game. Michigan (2-0 Big Ten, 10-2-1 overall) nearly went to overtime for the second straight time, but held on for a 5-4 win, just like it did one game earlier.
“That last period is embarrassing,” said a dejected and sullen Bennett. “We have to be better, and when we’re up on teams like that, we have to put the dagger in them.” Added Michigan coach Red Berenson: “When you have a 4-1 lead, you’ve got to play better than that.” This was Michigan’s first Monday game since 1982, but it wasn’t the first weekend Michigan has struggled to put away teams. There was a 7-4 victory over the Rochester Institute of Technology, in which it allowed four unanswered goals, and a 2-1 win over Boston University in which a penalty shot was needed to break the tie. Michigan’s offense scored more than three goals for the fourth consecutive game, but the offense registered just four shots in the first period. Michigan took just one shot before it scored the first goal of the game, as the defense, still missing a trio of injured players — juniors Mike Szuma and Brennan Serville as well as freshman Kevin Lohan — struggled to push the puck forward with junior forward Andrew Sinelli filling in. “We’ve got to be better (on
defense),” Bennett said. “We have to play better defensively, and we have to make sure that when we are up on teams, we can put them away.” Behind freshman forward JT Compher’s two goals in the second period, the Wolverine offense looked re-energized and poised to leave without being threatened. Compher now has five goals in the past five games after scoring his first on Nov. 15 against Nebraska-Omaha. The first goal, by Compher, came off a rebound from freshman defenseman Nolan De Jong’s shot near the blue line, nearly one minute after the Buckeyes tied the game early in the second period. His second also came in the middle frame, after he took the puck from the faceoff and slipped it past Ohio State netminder Logan Davis. In what was a period otherwise dominated by the Buckeyes statistically, the Wolverines couldn’t find a rhythm, nor crash the net when they did manage to bring the puck down. But when sophomore forward Boo Nieves crashed the boards, he fed the puck out to junior forward Zach Hyman waiting near the right circle to score off the
“That last period is embarrassing. We have to be better.”
one-timer 14 minutes into the contest. Ohio State tied the game early in the second frame, as the Big Ten’s leading scorer, junior Ryan Dzingel, tallied his ninth of the season. Dzingel skated freely to the right circle where he flipped the puck past sophomore goaltender Steve Racine as a trailing Sinelli brought him down. Racine, who saw action for the first time since he allowed three goals against Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 16, stopped 39 shots to frustrate the ninth-ranked Buckeye offense. In limited action, Racine has surrendered three or more goals three times this season. “I thought Racine held us in there,” Berenson said. “He made some key saves late in the game, but he didn’t get a lot of support tonight.” Downing’s shot near the point early in the third period looked to have sealed the game for Michigan. His goal also was the first from a defenseman this season before Bennett’s late in the game. Ohio State’s Max McCormick started the late charge with his shot from the slot to beat Racine glove side before David Gust and Tanner Fritz knocked in the second and third goals just minutes later. The Buckeyes tied it up nearly a minute later, but Bennett’s late game heroics and the Wolverines’ urgency saved the game from yet another overtime.
COLUMBUS — If there was a guide detailing exactly how to lose a hockey game on the road, Michigan followed the script to perfection Monday night at Value City Arena. The third-ranked Wolverines (2-0 Big Ten, 10-2-1 overall) committed an early infraction, presenting Ohio State with a prime opportunity to take the lead. They turned the puck over several times in the defensive zone, which forced sophomore netminder Steve Racine — who hadn’t played in more than two weeks — into making deft pad saves. Through the first 14 minutes of the game, Michigan had only one shot to the Buckeyes’ nine. But with just under six minutes remaining in the first period, forward Boo Nieves fought for the puck behind the Ohio State (0-2, 8-6) goal and won. The sophomore dropped a pass into the slot to junior forward Zach Hyman, who one-timed a shot into the net. The crowd grew silent, and the cheers from the Wolverines’ bench echoed throughout the cavernous building. It was Hyman’s first goal of the season, and the game turned with it, as Michigan eventually won, 5-4. “It was good for our team,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “Their goalie hadn’t seen any action at all. You’re lucky you might have caught him cold. After that, it was a different game.” When the first period ended, Ohio State held a 12-4 advantage in shots, but Michigan led where it counted most — on the scoreboard — 1-0. The Wolverines looked to put the game out of reach in the second period. Freshman center JT Compher scored twice on rebounds, showing off his footwork on the first tally by pass-
ing the puck across the crease to himself with his skate. Three minutes into the final frame, freshman defenseman Michael Downing’s pinpoint shot from the blue line found twine for a three-goal lead. But that’s when Michigan fell apart again, making its first period look exemplary in comparison. The Wolverines surrendered three goals in four minutes, and Ohio State pulled even. Racine entered the game boasting a .931 save percentage, but the defense in front of him was porous in the final minutes, leading to three goals. The Buckeyes fired 18 shots in the third period — more than Michigan managed in the first two frames combined. “We were on our heels,” Berenson said. “I’m not sure if we deserved to win the game.” The Wolverines did triumph thanks to senior defenseman Mac Bennett, whose gamble paid off when he pinched and scored on a simple tap-in. But the gamewinning goal, the series sweep and the perfect start to Big Ten play did little to alleviate the team’s frustration. “The performance in that third period, me personally, I’m very upset about it,” Bennett said. “And I’m sure there’s a lot of guys in the locker room that aren’t very happy, either.” Added Compher: “We talked about burying teams at the end. When we have the knife to their throat, putting them away. We didn’t do that tonight.” Michigan’s tepid start and late collapse let Ohio State dig itself out of a shallow grave, and it very nearly cost the Wolverines. But they twice stopped momentum when it was skewed heavily in the Buckeyes’ favor to escape. “The best team doesn’t always win,” Berenson said. “We got lucky they didn’t score that winning goal. It’s as simple as that.” So for tonight at least, it was better to be lucky than good.
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Junior forward Zach Hyman scored his first goal of the season Monday night.
No coaching changes in the works, Hoke says By ZACH HELFAND Daily Sports Editor
A little before 5 p.m. Saturday, Al Borges emerged from the Junge Family Champions Center adjoining Michigan Stadium, toting a suitcase on wheels. His NOTEBOOK offense just had likely its best performance of the year in a heartbreaking 42-41 loss to Ohio State. His game plan and play calling had been immaculate. Dressed in a suit, he walked through the parking lot and away from the stadium. Many wondered if he would return there again, at least as Michigan’s offensive coordinator. On Monday, Michigan coach Brady Hoke seemed to provide the answer. “I anticipate the staff (returning),” Hoke told reporters after an event at Detroit’s Ford Field, according to multiple reports. Asked to clarify if that meant no coaching changes, Hoke said that is “correct.” Under Borges this season, Michigan’s offense sputtered often, especially on the ground.
The running game was second to last in the Big Ten. It rushed for negative yardage in back-to-back games. A young offensive line surrendered sacks by the dozen that left redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner hobbled at the end of games. That led to speculation that Hoke or Athletic Director Dave Brandon could make a change. Last week, after rumors questioning Hoke’s job security caused star recruit Jabrill Peppers to reopen his recruitment, Brandon issued a statement of support for Hoke. He also mentioned defensive coordinator Greg Mattison by name. Borges, though, was absent. “The transformation and improvement of our defense under the leadership of coach Greg Mattison has been outstanding,” Brandon wrote. “Our coaches have worked hard to blend and develop schemes that bridge the gap between what was previously done and what they ultimately hope to run on both sides of the ball.” Hoke will evaluate his personnel and staff at some point before Michigan’s bowl game or in the
offseason. Brandon has said he will do the same. But when asked whether the coaching staff decision was a “we’ll-see situation,” Hoke replied, “No.” BIG TEN AWARDS: Turns out, the Big Ten voters had just as much trouble figuring out whether sophomore Devin Funchess is a tight end or wide receiver as opposing defenses did. Funchess won the KwalickClark Tight End of the Year award and was named an All-Big Ten selection by the media. The coaches, though, put him on the second team, behind Iowa’s C.J. Fiedorowicz. Funchess had 47 receptions for 727 yards and six touchdowns. Fiedorowicz had 26 receptions for 253 yards and six touchdowns. It is likely he suffered from the confusion over his position. Funchess was one of several Wolverines to earn postseason honors. Fifth-year senior tackle Taylor Lewan also won an individual award, the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was a consensus All-Big Ten selection. Fifth-year senior Jeremy Gal-
lon was named to the second-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, behind Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis and Penn State’s Allen Robinson. Redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner and fifth-year senior kicker Brendan Gibbons were honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media. On defense, redshirt sophomore Blake Countess was an AllBig Ten selection by the media and a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches. Junior defensive end Frank Clark was named to the secondteam All-Big Ten by the coaches. Clark, senior defensive tackle Jibreel Black and junior cornerback Raymon Taylor received an honorable mention by the media. NOTES: After the event at Ford Field, Hoke said Gardner will return next year. … The Big Ten conference won’t suspend Ohio State starting right guard Marcus Hall, the conference said in a statement. Hall, and an additional player from each team, was ejected from the game against Michigan on Saturday. As he left the field, he threw his helmet, kicked a bench
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Michigan coach Brady Hoke said he expects to keep his coaching staff intact.
and held up middle fingers to the crowd. “The officials and coaching staffs from both institutions did a good job of containing the situation once it started,” the statement said. “As bad as it was, we’re fortu-
nate the incident did not escalate any further. More can, and should, be done by both coaching staffs in the future to prevent similar incidents from detracting from this rivalry.”
Sports
6 — Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan to meet Duke, Jabari Parker in Raleigh By DANIEL FELDMAN Daily Sports Writer
After a cupcake at home, the Michigan men’s basketball team will enter the belly of the beast to test its true caliber. As part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the 22nd-ranked Wolverines (5-2) will travel to play Duke and famed fresh- Michigan man standout at Duke Jabari Parker. Parker, who Matchup: was named the Michigan 5-2; Preseason ACC Duke 6-2 Rookie of the When: Year as well Tuesday a member of 9:20 P.M. the preseason Where: All-ACC team, Cameron has gone on to Indoor justify the high TV/Radio: praise. The ESPN Chicago native is averaging 23 points and eight rebounds per game through the 10th-ranked Blue Devils’ (6-2) early slate. “Everybody talks a lot about Jabari Parker, and obviously he’s special,” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “He comes in there doing things that Kobe did as a first-year pro and LeBron did as a first-year pro. He’s a tremendous, tremendous player.” The spotlight will remain on Parker, but on the other side of the court, the status of Michigan’s unexpected superstar, Nik Stauskas, remains uncertain. Still hobbled from a sprained ankle that he suffered against Charlotte in the Puerto Rico TipOff championship game, Stauskas was held out of the Wolverines’ game last Friday against Coppin State. His status for the game will depend largely on how he practiced on Monday. With Stauskas’s availability yet to be announced, Beilein said that fifth-year senior forward Jordan Morgan and sophomore forward Mitch McGary would start up front if the guard is held out. If Stauskas can play, McGary still may start, but that has also yet to be announced.
TERESA MATHEW/Daily
Freshman point guard Siera Thompson is second on the team in scoring with 14 points per game, but she has averaged 19.7 per game in the last three games.
PATRICK BARRON/Daily
Sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III will likely be tasked with guarding freshman phenom Jabari Parker Tuesday.
Regardless of whether the Wolverines go with one big man in the starting lineup or two, the game plan will still be the same. No matter if Stauskas is out or not, Michigan has a height advantage. After the 6-foot-8 combo of Parker and Rodney Hood (20 points per game), no other player of that size or above averages more than 16 minutes or 5.8 points per game. With that in mind, expect Michigan to look to get the ball under the basket more than it has so far this year. “We’re looking to maybe go inside a little bit,” said sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III. “Feed Mitch, feed the post, and hopefully that’ll work. And especially with them running the floor, that’ll really open up things.” With the possibility of Stauskas not playing at 100 percent or possibly at all, the Wolverines could rely on reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week Zak Irvin.
Classifieds
By ALEXA DETTELBACH Daily Sports Writer
1. This team isn’t in rebuilding mode.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jabari Parker of Duke is one of the nation’s best players as a freshman.
The freshman guard scored a career-best 24 points last Friday in place of Stauskas and, accord-
Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com
RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
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ing to Robinson, “his confidence is sky-high right now.” Though Michigan will face plenty of competition on the court Tuesday, off it the Wolverines will be competing with the Cameron Crazies, the raucous student section that calls Cameron Indoor Stadium home. “There’s several venues around the country that have this type of setting,” Beilein said. “There’s more than a few. That’s why college basketball is so special. But when you look at those type of environments, Duke is one of those special ones as well. It’s another opportunity for us. You don’t remember every win, but you remember wins against topflight, top-coached teams on the road.” With just 1,200 seats in the student section, fans began camping out in Kryzewskiville, named after Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski, on Saturday afternoon for the desired spots. Comparing the expected atmosphere to Iowa State this year and Michigan State from last year, Robinson knows what Michigan will be walking into. “The crowd’s going to be into the game,” he said. “Everybody is going to be on our backs about everything.”
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Someone forgot to tell the women’s basketball team that this was supposed to be a transition year. Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico used the phrase “transition season” all throughout the summer, as lip service to say the team wasn’t expected to be competitive. But after posting a 5-3 record, the Wolverines are more than ready to follow up Barnes Arico’s impressive first year as head coach. Michigan lost five seniors, including four starters, and more than 80 percent of its offense from last season. But it’s compensating by playing strong team basketball and finding offensive production up and down the roster. “On game day, we always have a lot of energy, and that’s important,” said freshman guard Siera Thompson. “We practice really hard and are always ready for game day.” Hard work has been a staple of Barnes Arico’s program since she took over. She often cites her squad as the hardest working team in America. And it’s largely due to work ethic that the Wolverines have been able to make up for their lack of size and inexperience. 2. The Wolverines can run with the big dogs. Michigan faced its first ranked opponent of the season on Saturday when it lost to No. 15 Louisiana State, 64-62. The Wolverines trailed by seven at halftime, but they fought back. A second-half surge had Michigan tied with LSU (6-1) with 20 seconds left, but a Tiger tip-in broke the stalemate and ended the game. What made the game even more impressive was the absence of the leading scorer, juniortransfer guard Shannon Smith, who sat out the game after hurting her back in Friday’s win over Texas Tech. Losing Smith’s 17.3 points per game is a lot to overcome, especially against a top-20 team, but four other players scored in double-digits and Michigan’s defense stepped up to contain LSU. With four Big Ten teams ranked in the Top 25, the Wolverines will face their share of ranked opponents before the season ends. Michigan also has a date with No. 5 Notre Dame on Dec. 14. But after their performance against the Tigers, the Wolverines have given every indication that they can run with ranked opponents. 3. Siera Thompson is no one-hit wonder.
@The BlockM
The freshman point guard has started all but one game for Michigan and has been a force in the last three games. Thompson is second on the team in scoring
with 14 points per game, while also averaging 4.5 rebounds. But in the last three games, Thompson has averaged 19.7 points per game and set her career high twice in that span. “In the beginning of the year, she (was) struggling (and) kind of hit the wall a little bit,” Barnes Arico said. “But we’ve been spending some extra time talking to her, encouraging her. She’s really responded the last couple games and found her stride.” But Barnes Arico isn’t surprised by Thompson’s production. She was the leading scorer over the summer when the team played three games overseas during its trip to Europe. “Overseas this summer, she was incredible,” Barnes Arico said. “(During one game) she was 7-for-9 from three. And I picked on her after, saying, ‘Are you going to be a one-hit wonder? I mean, you can’t repeat this performance.’ And we had three games over there, and she did it every game.” 4. Michigan isn’t dependent on one scorer. At the beginning of the season, all signs pointed to Shannon Smith as the team’s only big scorer. But through eight games that hasn’t been the case. The Wolverines found contributors throughout their lineup — four players average double-digit points, and 12 players have seen the court this season. Thompson has become an unexpected difference maker for Michigan and has joined Smith as the go-to scorer. Additionally, junior forward Cyesha Goree has played an invaluable role for the Wolverines, averaging 10.9 points on 62-percent shooting and seven rebounds per game. Goree has started all eight games and has been critical to the team’s success. Michigan also has junior forward Nicole Elmblad, the team’s only returning starter, and sophomore guard Madison Ristovski, who average 12.3 and 9.3 points per game, respectively. Elmblad, the team’s lone captain, also leads the team with nine rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. The Wolverines’ ball movement and team offensive success has made up for their small lineups and inexperience and is a big reason they are sitting two games above .500. 5. Bold Prediction: Michigan will make the NCAA Tournament. Sure it’s a long way off, but the Wolverines have shown that they can play with Big Ten opponents and compete in the conference. Early season predictions pinned Michigan as a team that could miss out on the NIT Tournament, but early season production could set Michigan up to finding its way to a third straight NCAA Tournament berth by the end of the season.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FINE ARTS NOTEBOOK
FROM THE FILTER
Evolution of street art By GILLIAN JAKAB Daily Arts Writer
NICKELODEON
“I can see my house from here.”
Looking past the business of sequels Unnecessary follow-ups damage original’s brand By ALLEN DONNE Daily Arts Writer
Whether a direct successor or a continuation of a previous series, it’s always difficult to judge sequels. While writers may feel they want to give dedicated fans what they deserve, sometimes the sequel may taint how some view the series as a whole (think “The Matrix” trilogy). It’s also difficult to completely emulate the original installation, which will cause critics to claim the sequels are uncreative. So what exactly makes for a satisfying sequel? Here, we will examine the reception of sequels and spinoffs and how they are viewed strictly in television or film. Perhaps the most relevant, recent example of a continuation series is “The Legend of Korra.” This past Friday, the second season First seen on concluded. While
the filter
Tuesday, December 3, 2013 — 7
I will not divulge any details of the season finale, there has been a disappointing aspect of the show since its announcement. When “Avatar: The Last Airbender” released, there was a certain charm in the art form and the Chinese-influenced themes of the show. The series had a quaint, traditional feeling to it with a protagonist that the viewers learned to empathize with. As the protagonist Aang grew, we cheered; when he struggled, we lamented those losses. Unfortunately, “The Legend of Korra” — while a worthwhile series — loses much of this influence. The traditional Chineseinfluenced aspect of the show has largely disappeared, and the show progressed towards a ’30s setting. For those watching “The Legend of Korra” for the first time, they won’t miss the aspects of its predecessor. Instead, they’ll view the show as a standalone entity. Those following the series until its end, though, may feel as if something is missing. The protagonist, Korra, a hot-headed and standoff-ish character, serves almost as a foil to Aang from the original series. Having fans acclimate to such a change can be tur-
DISNEY
Jack Nicholson wants his sunglasses back.
bulent — especially if these fans are purists. Despite the disjunction, though, fans still are satisfied with the show’s direction and quality, making this a successful sequel. Other shows and films are not quite as lucky. One of the most commonly cited examples is “Scrubs.” After NBC’s abrupt cancellation of the show, ABC picked up the series for a satisfying conclusion. As much as fans feared the show would tank, the season finale lived up to its expectations and more. What followed, however, was a train wreck. With the show’s resurgence and success, “Scrubs” was renewed in the form of another series — after the show had already been brought to a final conclusion. The result was a terrible spin-off with few cameos from the original cast. The hospital-converted-into-medicalschool setting had no relevance to the charm of the original series. As a result, the most recent season is not viewed as a part of the original series. The problem of sequels made for profit becomes a large issue — especially in the film industry. There doesn’t need to be an explanation to say the “Star Wars” prequels were a desperate attempt to generate revenue. And while these directors may mean well for their fans, the viewers’ reception is not always the kindest. Take “Iron Man 2,” for instance. No one really remembers what happened in the movie. In fact, its storyline and lack of action clearly indicated that the movie was made for revenue while “The Avengers” was being produced. These sequels are only successful for the sake of being marketable. In the larger scheme of things, they are forgotten and viewed as a separate body of work. While it may seem as if I hate sequels, this is not the case. For instance, “Toy Story” and the original “Star Wars” trilogy are great examples of what sequels can be. Even the prequel to “Monsters Inc.” made me smile over the summer. The issue of a sequel, however, is when it’s made for no purpose other than money. If there is anything to take away, it should be that the quality of a sequel affects how audiences view a series. If great, the series is a fluid, enjoyable ride. If terrible, then it should probably never be viewed except as an example of how terrible a movie could be. — A version of this article was published on the Daily Arts blog, The Filter, on Nov. 24, 2013.
Is street art a genre of art history to be preternaturally preserved in museums for millennia or is it more like the sand art of Buddhist monks, matter-of-factly scattered to the next wind in cycles of rebirth? Sistine Chapel or Snapchat? Banksy, “nom-de-tagueur” of the world’s most famous unidentified street artist, amped up the dialogue on the fine art of graffiti with his October “residency” in New York titled “Better Out Than In.” Banksy’s work, like that of many street artists, challenges the art world’s conventional channels of trade: galleries and museums. On West 24th Street in Manhattan, Banksy “showed” two of his pieces by hanging them with industrial chains from an overpass. Viewers were guided by velvet ropes between orange traffic cones, and welcomed at a bench created from a plank of wood resting on cinder blocks — Banksy had mocked up a gallery space with street paraphernalia on a public thoroughfare in Chelsea’s haute gallery district. His NYC work included a stint where a homeless man sold unidentified pieces of Banksy’s art for laughable fractions of the prices they would fetch in art world sales. He placed his final mark in Long Island City, Queens — home of 5Pointz, described by its website as “the world’s premiere ‘graffiti Mecca,’ where aerosol artists from around the globe paint colorful pieces on the walls of a 200,000-square-foot factory building.” 5Pointz, whose tag line is “the Institute of Higher Burning,” is across the street from MoMAPS1, the hip outpost of New York’s Museum of Modern Art. With an art institution in such close proximity, you’d think there’d be more advocates for the preservationist side of the debate. But the sand art winds were gathering. For a few years now, the Wolkoff family, which owns the 5Pointz factory building, has been threatening to end the communal, 11-year-old street art space with a plan to build a high-rise residential complex. This did not fly with
the 5Pointz community and their supporters. Jonathan Cohen, longtime NYC street artist known as “Meres One,” is the founder and “curator” of 5Pointz. He has led efforts to save the monumental walls of street art and establish it as a dynamic graffiti museum. His efforts have ranged from filing a lawsuit under the Artists Rights Act to applying to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for landmark status. None of the efforts, however, had been fruitful and 5Pointz remains vulnerable. In Banksy’s conclusion to his NYC residency, he plugged a final plea for the place that unifies so many of his fellow street artists: “And that’s it. Thanks for your patience. It’s been fun. Save 5Pointz. Bye.” It would not be enough. In the early hours of Nov. 19, a night when the winds howled at 30 miles per hour, gusting to 40, the owners whitewashed the entire 5Pointz building. A Wolkoff family member said he thought it was the “humane” thing to do; because he appreciated the art, he didn’t want to see it dramatically destroyed during demolition. The protestersturned-mourners of the site see no kindness in the decision. Examples of their outcry from images posted to the Facebook group “Save 5Pointz” include: “Wolkoff = art murderer” and “you can’t whitewash my city.”
We couldn’t save 5Pointz. In Ann Arbor, Graffiti Alley on Liberty Street is a communal spot, like 5Pointz was, for local street artists, as well as for musicians and dancers. You probably know the regulars there, or at least the Michael Jackson dancer. Besides being a spot for street performance, or a place to take some cheesy photos, the alley has been home to some world-class street art. Its ever-changing walls strongly invoke the meditative practices of Buddhist monks, who create intricate works of art from grains of sand and then immediately let them blow away. In 2008, one of the walls was whitewashed, wiping clean the layers of tags and images. The
alley was able to take that blow and resile because, even in its normal state, without a whitewasher, street art is ephemeral — work may only live a short time before being covered by another’s tag. What is essential is that there be space for it. The fleeting character of street art has not deterred the art world from co-opting what was once considered vandalism. Keith Haring’s giant works in New York’s subways or Banksy’s messages are now lauded by the art establishment as masterful artwork, which is not a problem. Graffiti and street art can be appreciated both organically in public spaces and curatorially in museums and galleries. Upon discovering Banksy’s work, another street artist quickly tagged over his red heart-shaped balloon found in Red Hook, Brooklyn, while the building owner took it upon himself to preserve the work under plexiglass. The only tragedy would be if street art ceased to exist outside the museums and collections. That’s why space is key. It’s no secret that public art is openly valued in communities. Artists are commissioned to create murals like the one opposite graffiti alley on Liberty Street. Government art councils establish public art funds for its sole purpose. But it would be stultifying to allow commissioned artists to monopolize public spaces. Shouldn’t at least some of the public art in communities spring spontaneously from the hands of the public? Of course, there will and should always be the street artists who push the boundaries of where to display their work. Most of us still want to see rules broken and feel awed by spotting street art at unfathomable heights or on inaccessible spots. But places like 5Pointz and Graffiti Alley point out the benefits of space available for the democratized expression of art. It doesn’t need to be those exact spaces forever, but there does need to be space and a sufficient period of time to attract art. How much time? Less than the two millennia since Greek and Roman sculpture, but more than the time it takes to scatter sand in the wind.
FILM REVIEW
Action-packed ‘Homefront’ By CONRAD FOREMAN Daily Arts Writer
Around this time of year, the onslaught of holiday cheer overwhelms a lot of us — and no, that doesn’t make those people B Grinches. The point Homefront is: We could use a little At Quality 16 and Rave something to juxtapose Open Road the kumbaya, let’s all get along, everything’s merry feeling of the season. Enter: “Homefront.” The film stars Jason Statham (“Parker”), and if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about why this is a good change of pace from holiday joy, you must not know his work. Phil Broker (Statham) is a former DEA agent, who, as a wildly entertaining opening sequence depicts, has made some enemies in his day. Looking to settle down, Broker moves to a small town in Louisiana with his daughter (Izabela Vidovic, “Because These Kids Are…”). Broker tries to keep his head down and mind his own business, but an altercation between his daughter and a boy at school entangles him with two meth-heads (Kate Bosworth, “Superman Returns” and James Franco, “127 Hours”) with a talent for disruption, ignorant of the magnitude of their actions. Penned by Sylvester Stallone (“Rocky”), the story, an adaptation of Chuck Logan’s novel of the same name, provides all the required ingredients for a suc-
OPEN ROAD
“Who’s got the meth?”
cessful action movie: a former tough-guy trying to turn over a new leaf, a smooth-talking villain with just the right mix of charm and detestability, a slew of thugs looking to exact revenge on said hero and, of course, plenty of butt-kicking. Confrontations between Statham and Franco’s cronies include a large batch of handto-hand combat sequences that leave the bad guys licking their wounds and Statham basking in his own bad-assness. Luckily, for a film that relies heavily on action to carry the load, “Homefront” finds its strength in director Gary Fleder (“Runaway Jury”). Fleder uses
Statham, Franco kick ass. the camera to conjure intensity and calm when appropriate;
his crane shots in the opening scene and precise direction of the fighting throughout the film highlight his impressive work. Predictably, however, the characters are about as deep as sandbars. One-dimensionality haunts the film, which only contains cursory exploration of characters’ more complex motivations and struggles. Of the adults, performances are mostly bleh, with Bosworth providing the most emotionally striking material. The real acting chops belong to the young Vidovic. She taps into a wide range of emotions and is by far the most endearing part of the film. “Homefront” is far from a perfect film. Hell, it’s far from a great film. But, it provides a cool story centered around a rugged veteran of the genre like Statham doing what he does best: kicking ass. In this way, the film is a complete success.
Arts
8 — Tuesday, December 3, 2013
FILM REVIEW
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FROM THE FILTER
HBO
“Holy sheet, this is good.”
‘Americans’ talk between the sheets New HBO documentary looks at sexual partners By GRACE HAMILTON Daily Arts Writer
HBO has successfully broken accepted boundaries again, pushing its nosy head B+ into the realm of extreme Americans privacy and in Bed the business of others and, Available for in this case, streaming finding its way into their HBO
beds. The new documentary, “Americans in Bed,” is 81 minutes of interviews, featuring 10 couples of every sort imaginable. The cast might be the most colorful one on television: straight, gay, lesbian, old, young, overweight, Muslim, Catholic, innocent, cheaters, polygamists and probably everything in between. You name it, someone else thought of it too, making sure not to exclude them from this very candid and often charming exploration of relationships. “What are we looking for and how do we know when we’ve found it,” as one spouse puts it, seems to capture the focus of the film.
The audience is introduced to each new couple as they climb into bed, where the rest of the interview takes place. The footage bounces back and forth between the 10 couples, each contributing some version of the story of how they met, the nature of their sex lives, their opinions on marriage and — most importantly — revealing the idiosyncrasies that make their relationships unique. Most sections of the interview are in a single shot, and the camera often lingers longer than what feels appropriate. Given the explicitness of content in popular culture today, the audience should be accustomed to these kinds of intimate displays. That being said, the reaction of listening to these couples talk about their love for each other is surprising: Even with all our exposure to naked bodies, sex on screen and the often powerful drama of fictional lives, the camera and the audience often feel intrusive. Still, this discomfort only further contributes to the rawness of the film. It is personal to the point that the viewing experience almost mimics the intimacy that we are watching take place. On top of that, the film does not manipulate its subjects or their words into portraying a single message or one revolutionary answer to the meaning of love. It does not seek to justify its purpose as a creative work with such a solution, choosing instead to remain simple and straightforward. “Americans in Bed” lets the audience be the judge of such a purpose and the subjects, who often contradict each other, speak for themselves. This is extremely refreshing. The major takeaway from the film is not particularly novel: sex and love mean different things for different relationships, which function in different ways, and that is okay. Though it seems obvious, in light of the flood of commentary on “healthy relationships” today, many people forget this. The subjects help to remind the audience that it’s okay to be vocal about their insecurities and completely honest; “I thought it was terrible,” one partner said of his first time with the other, sitting directly next to him. These individuals represent real relationships, and these real people’s stories sound a lot more similar to our own than those in the Romantic Comedy section on Netflix or Taylor Swift songs. “Americans in Bed” reveals how love is pretty much never the magical “love at first sight,” and the audience should find these acknowledgements remarkably comforting. Even in watching for a few minutes, these couples might help to affirm that your relationship is indeed normal after all and does not need fixing. And for the romantics out there, despite many of the unromantic details of relationships given attention by the film, on the whole, this is as tender as it gets.
SHOWTIME
“See, I told you I’m famous.”
Melodrama steals the show on ‘Homeland’ By CHLOE GILKE Daily Arts Writer
Showtime’s CIA spy drama “Homeland” has been subject to a fair amount of unjust criticism and mockery. Though everyone I’ve talked to agrees that the first season of “Homeland” is truly great television, most fans aren’t as eager to praise the second season. Frequently cited for unbelievability, last year’s season of “Homeland” arguably took a turn away from serious, “Zero Dark Thirty” territory toward the ridiculous car chases and screaming matches prevalent in the worst seasons of “24.” Many claim that the heartbreak (both the turmoil of the main romantic couple and one character’s induced heart attack) was over-the-top, and cite Dana’s car accident as one of the most ridiculous and uninteresting plots on TV. And with the main villain caught and a major character out of the picture, the third season seemed dead on arrival. Yet, “Homeland” manages to still be one of the most unique and interesting shows on TV today. Despite some plotlines that border on ridiculousness, every twist in the storyline is delightfully unexpected. Even in an age where anyone can check Twitter for episode spoilers, “Homeland” is chock full of action that can’t fit into fewer than 140 characters. Watching the show takes your First seen on full attention: Look
the filter
away for one minute and you might miss the revelation of a bomber’s identity or a character’s pregnancy. The writer’s assume that their viewers are intelligent and engaged, and the plot slows for no one. The long “previously on” segments preceding every episode are there for a reason: It’s your one chance to catch up with the events of the last few episodes. From the time the jazzy theme song begins, you’re on a roller coaster ride of twists and turns of loyalty and conspiracy. And despite the comparisons, “Homeland” is no “24.” Its characters are not stock heroes and bland baddies, but nuanced and often inscrutable. Take former prisoner of war Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis, “Band of Brothers”) as an example: Despite almost three full seasons exploring his possible connections to the terrorist organization of Abu Nazir, viewers still aren’t sure whether he is trustworthy. Despite suicide vests and brutal murders pointing toward his guilt, the American public thinks he’s a war hero, and for a while, his family is eager to agree. Lewis’s portrayal of Brody is opaque and brilliant. Brody is powerful but a wild card, and I am doubtful that even he knows where his loyalties lie. Even our CIA Operative heroine Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes, “My So-Called Life”) can’t sort out her feelings for Brody. Despite being convinced he is a terrorist, she and Brody engage in a whirlwind affair.
SHOWTIME
“You can’t keep being a Dana fan, Carrie. You’ll only end up heartbroken.”
The stakes couldn’t possibly be higher — not only does their relationship put Carrie’s job and Brody’s marriage at risk, it sparks a national security threat. (You can’t say the same for the main couple on “The Vampire Diaries,” can you?) And in a show so jam-packed with action and character, substance and flash, it says a lot that Carrie and Brody’s storyline is the most engaging. Between Brody’s PTSD and secret double life and Carrie’s bipolar disorder, the two are so terribly dysfunctional that they compliment each other in the most destructively perfect way. Their relationship is a contradiction that shouldn’t work, but Danes and Lewis sell it so completely that you can’t help but root for the doomed pair.
Every time it starts to slip, it pulls you right back in. I cannot stress enough that the criticisms the second and third seasons of “Homeland” have received should be taken with a grain of salt. Later episodes definitely had some glaring issues. Especially when the show strays away from the personal lives of the CIA operatives and Brody family and tries too hard to be a serious spy drama, the twisty plots can feel a little heavy-handed. Every villain the show introduces will pale in comparison to Abu Nazir, an obvious (but no less terrifying) fictionalization of Osama bin Laden. And the show is at its most explosive when Carrie and Brody share the screen, and so far this season, we haven’t been treated to the legendary DanesLewis chemistry yet. But every time I am almost ready to give up on “Homeland,” I’m sucked back in. Despite a bit of a drop-off in quality from its first episodes, I still trust “Homeland” ’s writers completely. The bipolar nature of the show makes it that much more interesting to watch. The manic energy of its best moments make up for the slower parts, and truthfully, the crazy fun is the best part of the show’s appeal. It’s impossible to predict what might happen next on “Homeland,” but I know whatever it is, it will be absolutely nuts. — A version of this article was published on the Daily Arts blog, The Filter, on Nov. 19, 2013.