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ACADEMICS

Provost to honor six scholarship nominees JAMES COLLER/Daily

The new Blimpy Burger on S. Ashley Street hosted a soft opening Thursday. The original location was closed in 2013 to make room for the new Munger Graduate Residence Hall.

Blimpy Burger hosts soft opening at new location Ann Arbor favorite aims to celebrate grand reopening next week By WILL GREENBERG Daily News Editor

Blimpy is back. At its new location on Ashley and West Liberty streets, the historic, Ann Arbor-favorite

Blimpy Burger held an operational soft-launch Thursday in preparation for an anticipated full opening late next week. Rich Magner, owner of Blimpy for more than 20 years, said he invited about 50 people to the restaurant Thursday, calling it a “test run” for his staff at the new location. Magner said he invited investors, construction workers and others involved in getting the restaurant up and running. “It went well; people seemed

to like it,” Magner said. Following 60 years at its South Division Street location, Blimpy Burger was displaced in 2013 after the University purchased the property for $1.5 million to build the Munger Graduate Residence Hall. The graduate residence hall was funded in large part by a $110 million donation from University alum Charles Munger, a real estate mogul. At the time, the donation was the largest in University history, though it

was topped a few months later by a $200 million donation from fellow real estate magnate Stephen Ross. The residence hall, projected to cost $188 million and house 600 graduate students, is expected to open in fall 2015. Magner said moving Blimpy Burger into its new home took longer than he had originally hoped. After looking into a new location that didn’t work out, Magner signed the lease for the See BLIMPY, Page 3A

Students to compete for overseas study as Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell scholars By AMABEL KAROUB Daily Staff Reporter

Six University students have been nominated to represent the leaders and best overseas. The University Provost’s Council on Student Honors has nominated six students for three of academia’s most prestigious scholarships — the Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University, the Marshall Scholarship, which places students in the United Kingdom and the Mitchell Scholarship in Ireland. The University’s nominees are LSA senior Ana Guay, LSA graduate Zeinab Khalil, LSA senior Stephanie Leitzel, LSA graduate David Moore, LSA senior James Nadel, and Kevin Bain, a Business senior with dual enrollment in LSA. These students will compete with thousands of others for one

ELECTION 2014

JUDICIAL RACE

Peters calls for loan reform, climate action U.S. Senate candidate aims to stimulate economic growth By BEN ATLAS Daily Staff Reporter

With six-term Sen. Carl Levin’s (D–Mich.) retirement, the election for Michigan’s first open seat in the U.S. Senate race in 20 years is underway. In a midterm cycle that could spell the end of Democratic control of the Senate, Rep. Gary Peters (D–Mich.) hopes to keep the seat within his party. From 2009 to 2013, Peters served Michigan’s 9th Congressional District — made up mostly of suburban Oakland County — and has represented the redrawn 14th district since 2013. Prior to his election to Congress, Peters served for almost five years as the state’s lottery commissioner and was a member of the Michigan State Senate from 1995 to 2002. Before entering politics, Peters worked as a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch and Paine Webber

for more than 20 years. He also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1993 to 2005, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. The Pontiac native received his undergraduate degree from Alma College, earned an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy, a law degree from Wayne State University Law School and a master’s degree in philosophy from Michigan State University. A recent poll from Public Policy Polling has Peters leading Republican opponent Terri Lynn Land 47 percent to 40 percent. Here is where Peters stands in five policy areas:

of the few coveted spots offered by these elite scholarship organizations. University Provost Martha Pollack will host a reception Monday where the nominated students will speak. Students interested in applying for the scholarships in the future are also invited to attend. Leitzel was the only University student nominated for the Mitchell Scholarship. Leitzel said prospective students first apply to a University committee that selects the nominees. “You prepare for it for quite a while,” she said. “You apply to Michigan first and there’s a committee at Michigan that selects people for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell.” Leitzel decided to apply to the Mitchell Scholarship because of her fascination with Irish culture and history. The Mitchell Scholarship awards as many as 12 winners per funded year of study at any university in Ireland. Leitzel said the scholarship would be a “perfect fit” for her, as she hopes to become a historian with a speSee PROVOST, Page 3A

Probate judge race focuses on experience Julia Owdzie, Tracy Van den Bergh square off By EMMA KERR Daily Staff Reporter ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

A new ArborBike station was recently installed outside of South Quad, which is one of five across Ann Arbor.

Jobs, economy and the deficit One of Peters’ top priorities in Congress has been to stimulate economic growth by supporting small businesses. In 2010 he co-sponsored the Small Business Jobs Act, which funded state programs that lend to small businesses and manufacturers. He has also emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship and startups in creating jobs and is a co-chair of See PETERS, Page 3A

ArborBike kiosks open to students, A2 residents Program offers five on-campus locations By TANYA MADHANI For the Daily

Ann Arbor’s first bikeshare program, ArborBike, is up and running, with locations both on and off campus for student

and city resident use. The Clean Energy Coalition, a nonprofit environmental organization based downtown, is working in partnership with the University, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and the city of Ann Arbor, launched its first bikeshare program Thursday. ArborBike will ultimately have 14 stations around the

city by the spring, five of which will be on campus. Riders rent bikes using an electronic check kiosk and are able to return them to any of the stations. “(Former University President Mary Sue Coleman) had pitched the idea to us when she had visited a bike share community and felt this was something that would benSee BIKE, Page 3A

Following August’s five-way primary, two judges remain in contest for the Washtenaw County Probate Court judicial seat in the Nov. 4 election: incumbent Julia Owdziej and Tracy Van den Bergh. Owdziej was appointed to her current seat as Probate Court judge by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder last June after the retirement of Nancy Wheeler, the former Washtenaw County probate judge. Owdziej and Van den Bergh received the most votes out of the five primary candidates, with 31 percent and 28 percent, respectively. Owdziej has served for nearly 15 years as a juvenile court referee, a position that handles juvenile abuse and See JUDGE, Page 3A

They have an award for that Trophies, trophies. (And Michigan has won 22 of 23.)

WEATHER TOMORROW

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INDEX

NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU.....................2A OPINION.....................4A

ARTS.....................6A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A S P O R T S S AT U R DAY. . . . . . . 1 B

News

2A — Friday, September 26, 2014

MONDAY: This Week in History

TUESDAY: Professor Profiles

WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers

THURSDAY: Student Profiles

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FRIDAY: Photos of the Week

LEFT

Students on the Diag write public responses to a range of questions about sensitive issues, including seuxal assault. (Abby Kirn/ Daily)

420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com PETER SHAHIN DOUGLAS SOLOMON

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RIGHT Before the football game against Utah on Sept. 20, various planes flew over Michigan Stadium to mark the 100th anniversary of the Aerospace Engineering Department. (James Coller/ Daily)

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CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES

Mental health series

Domino’s Pizza Poetry info session presentation

Confucius and beyond

WHAT: A presentation on the way LGBTQ microaggressions impact student health. WHO: Counseling and Psychological Services WHEN: Today from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. WHERE: Michigan Union, Anderson Room

WHAT: Domino’s Pizza is looking for innovative sophomores, juniors and seniors to join their team. WHO: The Career Center WHEN: Today from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Student Activities Building

WHAT: Music fit for Confucius will be performed in honor of Confuscius week. WHO: Confucius Institute WHEN: Today from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. WHERE: School of Music, Theatre & Dance

International student jobs

Screening and vaccines

WHAT: A workshop will provide international students with information on searching for jobs in the United States. WHO: International Center WHEN: Today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. WHERE: Rackham Amphitheater

Korean studies The Second colloquium City

WHAT: A screening of the film “Vaccines — Calling the Shots” will be followed by a discussion. WHO: Rick Science Center WHEN: Today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. WHERE: School of Public Health, SPH II Auditorium (Room 1020)

WHAT: Hae Yeon Choo, professor of sociology, will speak about maternal guardians in Korea. WHO: Center for Southeast Asian Studies WHEN: Today from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. WHERE: LSA Building Room 4154

WHAT: Poets Robert Hass and Brenda Hillman will engage in conversation. WHO: Author’s Forum WHEN: Today from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery

WHAT: The famous improvisational comedy group will perform this weekend in Ann Arbor. WHO: Michigan Union Ticket Office WHEN: Tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. WHERE: The Ark, 316 S. Main St.

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY

The parents of Michael Brown received a video apology from Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson, The Huffington Post reported. Jackson said he was sorry for their loss and for how the police handled the subsequent protests.

The Michigan football teams gets its first crack at Big Ten competition when Minnesota comes to town. But now, the conference is the butt of jokes, and not the power it once was years ago. >> FOR MORE, SEE FOOTBALLSATURDAY

The body of a Clemson University fraternity pledge was found under a bridge Monday, the Greenville News reported. Police are investigating whether or not the death was due to hazing.

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BUSINESS STAFF Madeline Lacey University Accounts Manager Ailie Steir Classified Manager Simonne Kapadia Local Accounts Manager Lotus An National Accounts Manager Olivia Jones Production Managers Nolan Loh Special Projects Coordinator Jason Anterasian Finance Manager 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.

Housing website founded by alumni sees rapid growth Cribspot has raised $600K in startup funds from local investors By HILLARY CRAWFORD Daily Staff Reporter

Each September, the stresses of a housing search kick in for thousands of University students. Cribspot, a startup that serves multiple universities, is aiming to make the hunt easier. University alumni Jason Okrasinski, Tim Jones and Evan Dancer, each of whom graduated in 2013, decided to work on a solution to the housing problem they experienced year after year. Cribspot is an online aggregator that gathers and crowdsources a variety of options for off-campus housing. The website focuses mainly on the “mom and pop” landlords

whose apartment spaces are more off the beaten path than larger property management companies. In addition to allowing students to search through thousands of houses and apartments, the aggregator provides users with the option to pay for rent online with a debit or credit card. The startup originated as a marketing project at the Ross School of Business, where students were required to engineer a product to alleviate an unsolved problem. While Okrasinski and Jones quickly identified the college housing search as a stressful process that could be easier, developing a solution took some time. During their senior year, the team constructed a website called a2cribs in a course. By the time Okrasinski and Jones had finished the course removed the website it had received 40,000 hits.

After graduating, the founders pursued jobs and moved to different cities. After about a month, the trio decided to quit their jobs, return to Ann Arbor and transform an undergraduate homework assignment into a full-time occupation. The site officially launched as Cribspot in September 2013. “The perception of startups has changed a lot so it’s a lot easier to take that jump,” Okrasinski said. “We’re young and we have the opportunity to do that.” After working closely with venture capital firm Huron River Ventures over the summer, Cribspot raised $660,000 — completely funded by Michigan-based businesses and investors. Okrasinski said many of the funds would not have been acquired if it were not for the connections made with other startups in the area. “It’s actually a really growing community of startups in Ann Arbor and Detroit,” he said. “There’s maybe a handful of startups, so it’s a tightknit community and all together, it’s just a really great place to start a business and really start to grow it.” Cribspot has helped 56,000 renters — 15,000 of them local — find leases since September 2013, according to their website. The site has also shared 1,600 sublets submitted by its users. Cribspot is headquartered in Detroit but has offices near 15 campuses including the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Iowa, Pennsylvania State University, Ohio State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Texas at Austin. Though the company has spread past state boundaries, its leaders are trying to involve current University students interested in gaining business experience or launching their own startup. This past summer, the Ann Arbor office hired 10 interns.

EVAN VUCCI/AP

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Attorney General Eric Holder, speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday to announce Holder is resigning.

Eric Holder to step down from post as Attorney Gen. Replacement to be named in coming months WASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Holder, America’s first black attorney general and an unflinching champion of civil rights in enforcing the nation’s laws, announced his resignation Thursday after leading the Justice Department since the first days of President Barack Obama’s term. He is the fourthlongest-serving attorney general in U.S. history. Holder, the administration’s point man on the civil rights investigation into the police shooting of an unarmed 18-yearold in Ferguson, Missouri, won’t leave until a replacement is confirmed, which means he could remain in office for months. Senate Republicans signaled they were preparing for a confirmation fight after years of battles with Holder. Said Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell: “I will be scrutinizing the president’s replacement nominee to ensure the Justice Department

finally returns to prioritizing law enforcement over partisan concerns.” In an emotional ceremony at the White House, Obama called Holder “the people’s lawyer” and credited him with driving down both the nation’s crime and incarceration rate — the first time they have declined together in more than 40 years. “Through it all, he’s shown a deep and abiding fidelity to one of our most cherished ideals as a people, and that is equal justice under the law,” Obama said. Holder responded by speaking of how he was inspired as a boy by Robert Kennedy’s leadership on civil rights at the Justice Department, his voice choking as he expressed his thanks to Obama and his own family. “You got through it,” Obama could be heard telling Holder as the audience stood and applauded. In a speech earlier this week, Holder described the dual perspective he brought to the job and how it applied to the Ferguson shooting, in which a young black man was shot and killed by a white policeman. He said he had the utmost respect for

police as a former prosecutor and the brother of an officer. But, he added, “As an AfricanAmerican man who has been stopped and searched by police in situations where such actions were not warranted, I also carry with me an understanding of the mistrust that some citizens harbor.” Holder told The Associated Press in an interview that he’s not sure whether the Justice Department will finish its investigation into the shooting before he leaves. “I don’t want to rush them,” Holder said. He said once out of office, he will direct attention to “issues that have animated me” during his tenure, including criminal justice and civil rights. “If you asked me what my biggest regret was, I would say that it was the failure to pass any responsible and reasonable gun safety legislation after the shootings in Newtown,” Holder said. He said he thought in the aftermath of the school shootings in Connecticut that the nation would embrace change that was “not radical but really reasonable” on gun ownership.

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PROVOST From Page 1A cialty in medieval Ireland. “I love Ireland and I just want to live and study there for a year,” she said. “So I hope they’ll see that when they look at my application.” James Nadel is also interested in European history. He was nominated for the Marshall Scholarship, a scholarship for study at a

BLIMPY From Page 1A Ashley Street spot in spring 2014. Magner said he would have liked to reopen before the Ann Arbor Art Fair this past summer, but various delays arose with contractors and arranging permits with the city. The menu, prices and general operations are all the same, except for the basic burger, which raised from $2.35 to $2.99. Otherwise, Blimpy hasn’t raised prices since 2008. One addition will be

PETERS From Page 1A the House Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Peters hopes to make Michigan “the startup capital of the Midwest” by tapping into the state’s education system, its venture capital community and export infrastructure. While not particularly vocal about the issue on the campaign trail, Peters has not been shy about the need for deficit reduction, and he has voted against Democratic budget proposals that did not include deficit reduction plans. The federal debt is currently greater than $17 trillion, and the Congressional Budget Office currently projects a $492 billion budget deficit for the 2014 fiscal year. Higher Education Campaign aide Zade Alsawah said Peters believes supporting higher education is fundamental to economic growth and job creation. He has supported curbing the rise of student loan interest rates and “also supports expanding Pell Grants and direct loans as impor-

BIKE From Page 1A efit (the University) community,” said Heather Seyfarth, program supervisor of CEC, in an e-mail. “Meanwhile, the city was also exploring the feasibility of a bike share program.” CEC acted as a third party by negotiating funds and grants, ultimately being named as ArborBike’s primary owners and operators. “It was a joint effort and (the CEC) felt it would be best to have a third-party and that’s how we got involved as a non-profit,” Seyfarth wrote. Capital costs were covered by a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant. The city of

JUDGE From Page 1A neglect cases. She led Van den Bergh by three percentage points in the primary, and has continually emphasized that experience is key in this election. “Just the fact that I have now almost a 15-year record of already being on the bench, already making decisions, as opposed to someone who’s been an attorney not quite eight years yet, is just a huge difference,” she said. Owdziej graduated from Detroit College of Law and said her experience thus far as probate judge has been both rewarding and trying, as she works to reorganize and embrace the heavily family law-centered docket. “I was pleased with the (election) results,” Owdziej said. “The

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number of institutions in the United Kingdom. Nadel wants to spend a year studying Sephardic culture at the University of Cambridge. Nadel, who is the managing editor of the Michigan Journal of History, said the role not only prepared him for studies as a Marshall Scholar, but also stimulated his interest in many different subjects. “We get so many submissions, and having to read all of them has really jump-started a lot of

my other intellectual pursuits,” Nadel said. “It definitely allows you to see a lot of different historical contexts that you can then choose your favorites from.” Nadel said out of nearly 1,000 students nominated for the Marshall scholarship, 40 are ultimately selected. He said the University’s support would benefit him in the selection process. “Michigan presents a really good case for me, which is always nice to hear,” he said.

credit card and debit card capabilities, as well as electronic gift cards to replace paper gift certificates. The restaurant is now further from Central Campus, a change that Magner said may decrease student patronage. But contrary to what most people think, Magner said, roughly half of Blimpy’s business comes from Ann Arbor locals. He said the new location will still draw plenty of townies, and he hopes students will still come out. “Our first two weeks of September (at the old location), when

South Quad and West Quad had mostly freshmen in them, except for football Saturdays, are two of the slowest weeks of the year,” Magner said. “The reason is, the townies stay away because they think students are back and traffic and parking is worse the first few weeks of school.” Magner said his staff, about one-third of which carried over from the old location, may have another “super-soft” launch with another small group of guests before the full open, which is expected to be the end of next week.

tant tools for students,” Alsawah wrote in an e-mail. Like Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, Peters has also supported increased investment in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

between Land and the congressman on several women’s issues. Peters supports the pro-choice movement and has backed legislation to reverse the Supreme Court’s June Hobby Lobby decision, which stated that corporations should not be required to provide insurance that covers the purchase of contraceptives. Peters is also a strong supporter of equal pay for equal work, which has been an emphasis for Democrats across the board this midterm season.

Climate Change and the Environment Though outside interest groups have focused significant attention on the controversial piling of petroleum coke in the Detroit River, which they claim negatively impacts heart and lung health, there are other important climate and environmental issues to consider. “(Peters) believes that climate change poses a real threat to our Great Lakes and agricultural producers, but it also presents a big economic opportunity for Michigan to continue leading in clean energy solutions,” Alsawah wrote. To accomplish this, the congressman supports the expansion of investment and tax credits in clean energy manufacturing and production. Women’s Issues The Peters campaign and its allied support groups have emphasized the wide gap

Foreign Policy The potential move from the House to the Senate would force Peters to take on a more prominent role in foreign policy formation, as his work in the House has focused largely on financial issues. Based on his experience in the Navy Reserve, Peters views sending American troops to war as “the toughest decision a Member of Congress could make,” Alsawah wrote. Peters opposes deploying ground troops in Iraq, Syria and other areas of conflict. He instead favors using airstrikes as well as equipping and training moderate Arab forces to combat the advance of the Islamic State.

Ann Arbor matched 25 percent of the funds from CMAQ. The University’s Planet Blue initiative is ArborBike’s title sponsor, and pledged $600,000 over its first three years. Despite Michigan’s harsh winters, Seyfarth said Michigan’s climate wouldn’t affect business for ArborBike. CEC will be closing down and storing the stations during the winter and reinstalling them in April. “We are exploring the possibility of leaving them out in future years,” she said. “In other bike share communities that have snow, some are starting to leave them out all year due to popularity.” Public Policy senior Bobby Dishell, Central Student Government president, said CSG

approached the University with a request to offer discounts to students. Currently, costs of membership cards to use the bikes range from $6 for 24 hours to $65 for one year. The first 60 minutes of every ride are free and each additional 30-minute period accrues a $3 fee. The bikes, which are provided by B-Cycle, have pre-installed GPS trackers to both monitor riders’ trip and prevent the bikes from being stolen. Seyfarth said theft hasn’t been a problem in other cities with bikeshare programs, and she hopes ArborBike continues to spread throughout the city. “We hope to increase ridership and expand the system,” Seyfarth said.

other three folks who didn’t make it through have significant probate and general law experience.” Van den Bergh’s background includes experience in social work and she currently works as an attorney with Legal Services of South Central Michigan. A graduate of the Michigan State University College of Law, she practices as an attorney with a focus in family law and works with mental illness cases. Van den Bergh, who has been endorsed by the Ann Arbor Democratic Party, said though this is a non-partisan seat, she hopes to make decisions fairly and with her personal values in mind. “I really consider myself the progressive in this case,” she said. “Personally, I’m a Democrat and so I support Democratic ideals.” While other candidates running identified themselves as progressive, Van den Bergh is hopeful

that in this narrowed-down election, those Democratic votes will shift her way. Endorsement support has been strong from Ann Arbor, where she has garnered the support of Democratic mayoral nominee Christopher Taylor (D–Ward 3) as well as other City Council members such as Stephen Kunselman (D–Ward 3) and Chuck Warpehoski (D–Ward 5). “I may not have the length of experience, and if you look at my endorsement list, you’ll see i have been endorsed by attorneys who have been practicing for decades. Julia has not tried a case or represented a client in twenty years. Honestly, I think having a fresh perspective having so much experience in social work and in practicing law.” There will be two upcoming forums prior to the general election on Oct. 8 and Oct. 15.

Friday, September 26, 2014 — 3A

Detroit mayor to regain control of city government Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr to remain involved in bankruptcy trial DETROIT (AP) — The dayto-day operations of Detroit’s city government are back in the hands of its elected mayor and city council. State-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr on Thursday signed one of his final orders and relinquished control of the city after 18 months of state oversight. “The city is more than ready,” Orr told reporters before signing Order 42 putting the ninemember council and Mayor Mike Duggan back in charge of Detroit’s finances, police department and other facets of city government. “This is really a good day for the city. We have a little bit more to go, but this is the right thing to do.” Orr was appointed in March 2013 to manage Detroit’s troubled finances, and he took the city into the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. His exit becomes effective if and when federal Judge Steven Rhodes approves the city’s restructuring plan in bankruptcy court. The bankruptcy plan would wipe out

$7 billion of Detroit’s $12 billion in long-term, unsecured debt while restructuring city services. The orderly transition of responsibilities from Orr to the city reflects the continuing cooperation between Detroit and Lansing, Gov. Rick Snyder said in a statement. “Together, we have confronted problems that have lingered for decades,” Snyder said. “There have been difficult decisions and sacrifices. Hard work is still ahead of us. We remain focused on improving the quality of life for all residents and building a strong and sustainable financial foundation for the city.” Orr’s contract expires this weekend. He still keeps the title of emergency manager, but his duties primarily will involve shepherding Detroit through the bankruptcy. “We’ll know where we are a year or two from now and whether it was worth it,” he said of taking Detroit into bankruptcy. Order 42 returns “democracy back to the city of Detroit,” Duggan said during a press briefing after the council approved its resolution. Orr, Duggan and councilmembers spent three days hashing out the deal. Sticking points involved financial concerns tied

up in bankruptcy court, including a pending bond issue that required the city to have an emergency manager. “We had a lot of questions,” said Council President Brenda Jones. “We do not want to stand in the way of the bankruptcy proceedings.” Orr, who gradually has been returning responsibilities to elected officials, is still expected to testify during the bankruptcy trial, which is scheduled to last until mid-October. He and his team have reached deals that will pay most of the city’s creditors far less than they are owed. An agreement with the state, businesses and foundations keeps pension cuts down while preventing the sale of cityowned artwork to satisfy some of the debt. The restructuring plan also sets aside $1.7 billion to improve police, fire and other city services. When Orr took over the city was all but broke. Tax revenue was not enough to cover spending and the city’s bills. There was no money to pay off $5.7 billion in retiree health care obligations or $3.5 billion in pension liabilities. City services were poor and an under-manned and underequipped police force struggled to keep the crime rate down.

Hamas, Fatah reach deal during Egypt negotiations Partial agreement signals step forward in governing the Gaza Strip GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The militant Palestinian Hamas group and its rival Fatah movement on Thursday reached a partial agreement on governing the Gaza Strip, signaling a major step forward in reducing their deep-seated enmity. Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian official said President Mahmoud Abbas’ government, which runs the West Bank, will press forward with a United Nations bid to set a deadline for Israel to end its occupation of lands captured in the 1967 war, after efforts to enlist American support for the effort ran aground. “Work with the Americans about the possibility of joint action in the Security Council has reached an impasse,” said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, adding that he expects the Palestinian delegation in New York to propose a U.N. resolution on the issue within three weeks. The purpose of the resolution is to set the groundwork for the formal establishment of a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, after days of discussions with Fatah leaders in

Cairo, Hamas’ deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzouk seemed upbeat in describing the new Gaza deal. “We and Fatah have reached a deal today on reconciliation,” he said. “The deal states that a (unity) government can officially assume control over government institutions in Gaza.” The deal struck behind closed doors in the Egyptian capital is the sixth official accord between the two groups, but with major issues not yet resolved — including salaries for Hamas employees in Gaza and control over the coastal territory’s security forces — concerns over possible new confrontations between the factions remain. Outlining the deal’s provisions, Abu Marzouk said the new unity government will start making some payments to government officials in Gaza, though the question of full salaries has been left to future negotiation. Also, he said, the government will jointly man border crossing points with Israel and Egypt and jointly administer a hoped-for Gaza reconstruction process, funded by donations from European and other western countries. “We have set the reconstruction as high priority,” Abu Marzouk said. Hamas and Fatah have a long history of dashed hopes. They agreed in April to form a unity

government in Gaza, now ruled by Hamas, but the government never really took hold amid longstanding tensions between the factions. The tensions appear to have spiked in recent weeks over Fatah claims that Hamas’s conduct of the recent Hamas-Israel war led to unacceptably high losses of life and damage to property. The 50 day conflict in July and August in the Gaza Strip killed more than 2,100 Palestinians and left more than 18,000 homes destroyed or severely damaged. In the spring, Abbas worked out a tentative agreement with Hamas under which he would head a temporary unity government of experts in both the West Bank and Gaza until elections could be held. However, major issues were left unresolved, including the fate of 40,000 government employees hired during the Hamas era and control over the Gaza security forces. Hamas was mired in a severe financial crisis when it struck the deal, but has become emboldened since the end of the war because fighting with Israel boosted its popularity among Palestinians. The need to present a joint front ahead of planned donor talks for Gaza’s reconstruction may be pushing the rival factions together now, even if sustainable reconciliation remains to be achieved.

Opinion

Page 4A — Friday, September 26, 2014

Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com PETER SHAHIN EDITOR IN CHIEF

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KATIE BURKE MANAGING EDITOR

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

Evaluating our policies

The process of investigating sexual assaults lacks transparency

he University’s policies for investigating sexual assault and caring for survivors constitute an important piece of the fight against sexual violence on college campuses. While the University should be commended for the resources it currently offers survivors, those resources aren’t extensive enough. Furthermore, the University’s investigative processes are far too opaque to effectively deal with this grave issue. The University should expand the resources, such as the SANE program, implement new emergency responses and clarify existing investigation methods. Taking into account the prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses, the University should strive to make the health and safety of survivors a top priority. The University offers resources such as Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center and Counseling and Psychological Services to help survivors cope with sexual assault, but there are currently few emergency resources offered that address immediate care. Current University and SAPAC protocol recommend that survivors of sexual assault should go to the University Hospital to undergo a medical exam within 96 hours of the incident in order to preserve vital evidence of sexual assault. While SAPAC offers 24-hour support and a crisis hotline through which survivors can request an advocate to accompany them to the emergency room, this is the closest the University comes to an emergency medical response. The University should have an emergency response team within the Division of Public Safety and Security to aid survivors, especially when the timely collection of evidence and rapid medical treatment is vital. After an assault, survivors often experience trauma or feelings of intimidation, and many may feel embarrassed to discuss the assault with another individual. Having to travel to the University Hospital — a remote location in relation to the majority of the student population — may discourage survivors from seeking help. Although many medical practitioners are certified to care for survivors of sexual assault, a sexual assault nurse examiner receives specific certification and training to best help these unique patients. Near campus, the only SANEs available are at the University Hospital and at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital. However, some universities offer a SANE program on campus, such as Oregon State University’s Student Health Services. In order to provide more comprehensive care to students, the University of Michigan should consider creating a more centralized clinic — or at least an intermediary location for the time being — designed to specifically treat and help survivors. Since February, the University has been under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for a possible Title IX violation in which a student claimed to be sexually harassed and the school “failed to promptly and equitably respond to complaints.” This investigation makes it clear that there are questions about the efficacy of the University’s protocol for investigating these situations and little information has been made available to students about this investigation process. The entirety of this process needs to be made clearer, from where students should go directly after an incident to the subsequent

steps the University takes in investigating. The difficulty in proving that a sexual assault has occurred is one potential barrier to coming to a resolution in a potential investigation. Establishing whether or not consent was given is also blurred in situations in which alcohol is consumed by both parties. Such inconsistencies make it difficult to come to a decision when reconstructing the events. The University’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, which is posted online, states that the Title IX coordinator is solely responsible for “the final decision on whether, how and to what extent the University will conduct an investigation.” And if the complainant requests confidentiality or that there be no investigation, a panel consisting of the Title IX coordinator and “staff members” will decide possible courses of action. It is unclear exactly who sits on this panel; the policy states only that the interests of “the University, law enforcement, survivors of sexual misconduct, persons accused of sexual misconduct and/or other offices as deemed necessary and appropriate under the circumstances” are to be represented on the panel. The University should endeavor to make public more information about the steps of its investigative process to the extent that it doesn’t compromise the confidentiality of the survivors of sexual assault. Only then can the public hold both investigators and the investigative process accountable. Better educating the community on investigative practices and thereby opening these practices to scrutiny would give the University a valuable opportunity to reassess its strategies with regard to sexual assault. A clear, specific and well-enforced investigative protocol would only serve to help survivors of sexual assault by more effectively holding offenders accountable. Such a protocol also has the potential to facilitate necessary improvement of campus culture surrounding sexual assault. While the University can work to address internal problems regarding sexual assault investigation, the U.S. Department of Education must work to consistently enforce Title IX. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights must impose real penalties on universities for the mishandling of sexual assault cases. Though the current consequences for Title IX violations range from rewriting policies to staff turnover, no college or university has endured the highest penalty of losing funding. The Department of Education, and the federal government as a whole, must work in conjunction with institutions of higher education to provide a better environment for sexual assault survivors and overall awareness of the issue of sexual assault.

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Barry Belmont, David Harris, Rachel John, Nivedita Karki, Jacob Karafa, Jordyn Kay, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Paul Sherman, Allison Raeck, Linh Vu, Meher Walia, Mary Kate Winn, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe

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Let’s talk about gaydar

et’s talk about the term “gaydar” and how everyone should quit using it. Hopefully I’m not the only person who takes issue with this term. Whose bright idea was it to conceptualize gays and lesbians as MICHAEL identifiable blips SCHRAMM on an imaginary radar? I can only wonder if my entrance into a room sets off a frenzy of mental alarms. For those of you who haven’t heard the term, “gaydar” refers to one’s ability to discern others as gay or lesbian. People provide a multitude of reasons for having developed a good gaydar. Some cite spending years in cities with large gay populations. Others will talk about how their intimate gay friends have made them attuned to identifying other homosexuals. Some will just say it’s a natural skill they’ve developed over time. I’m calling BS on all of those explanations, because none of those assist in labeling someone as gay or lesbian. Sexuality is rooted in attraction, so you could only definitively label someone as same-sex attracted if you saw them taking sexual or romantic interest in a same-sex partner. But noting sexual attraction is rarely why someone claims to have a “good gaydar.” If this were the only factor, we’d all have perfect senses. We’d see Joe kissing Jeff at a party and immediately know they both like boys. “Gaydar” as a term

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

n a warm autumn Ann Arbor morning earlier this semester I went to the Fishbowl to finish a programming assignment for one of my classes. I was wearing a sundress and makeup because the weather was nice and, more importantly, I JULIA subscribe to the ZARINA belief that looking fly as hell and writing computer code don’t have to be mutually exclusive activities. As I sat down at a computer the man beside me turned and said, “Oh, these are all actually CAEN computers in this area”, referring to the software used by the College of Engineering that only engineering students can log on to. It was an innocent enough statement at face value but it represents something that many students face every day: I didn’t look like what this person thought an engineer should look like, and as a result, he immediately placed me into a category different from himself. In engineering, as well as in many other fields, there is pervasive and subconscious mentality that there exists a set definition of what a “real engineer” is and if someone doesn’t fit it, they don’t inherently belong. As a woman, I have my own experiences with discrimination in engineering, as do many of my fellow students. “I wish my son was as lucky as you,” one of my parent’s friends once mentioned offhandedly to me, “it’s unfair that girls take the spots of guys like him just because schools need to have a certain number of female engineers.” It’s an exhausting logical fallacy, the underlying belief that these positions could be taken away from someone innately entitled to them in the first place, and one that overlooks many of the realities that women and other historically underrepresented demographics in engineering face. The fact that there are a number of successful engineers who are women of color, who are gay, who are from low socioeconomic backgrounds, does not mean it’s “easier” to be any of those identities. In many cases, being a woman in engineering means that you still have to prove that you deserve to be where you are at every turn. To get straight A’s to be considered just as smart and capable as your male colleagues who have average GPAs. To have to be higher up in a company than the man you graduated with in order to receive the same paychecks as him. The lack of equality in engineering isn’t just a woman’s problem or a Person of Color’s problem; as a community, we need to examine our culture critically. Although many engineers would

would be unnecessary. This really only leaves one explanation for why someone could identify another as same-sex attracted: identifying them based on cultural constructions of how homosexuals act (read: effeminate men and butch lesbians). Think about how problematic and socially backward that is. For one, we’re stripping homosexuals who fulfill stereotypes of their individuality. A gay man with pink hair now lives in a world where people believe his hair assists in mirroring his sexuality. This devalues his decision to be himself and instead lumps his potentially very personal choices into clichés. Secondly, if we continue to accept “gaydar” and general stereotyping as correct, we’re sending a message that gay men are and should be feminine. Similarly, we’re implying that lesbians are and should be masculine. That’s a problem. Though gay men (like any men) can and should be feminine if they want, effeminacy doesn’t constitute gayness. Masculine gays and feminine lesbians do exist, so we’re essentially telling these people they’re not as homosexual as their stereotypical counterparts. Not only does this subtly disconnect these members from their sexuality, it also typecasts gays and lesbians. Can we please just make sexuality about attraction and not about stereotypes? Third, it’s just politically backward. If you couldn’t see someone, you’d be wrong to assume their race through only hearing them talk about their favorite food (sushi, fried chicken or tacos). If that’s

crossing a line, why wouldn’t we feel the same disdain towards assigning a sexuality based on masculinity or femininity? Fourth, “gaydar” contributes to the gender binary between men and women. If a man can only be feminine if he’s classified under a specific subspecies of man, we’re not really teaching men that they can have feminine characteristics. The same goes for masculinity in women. If you’re a feminist seeking social equality, you should be fighting against “gaydar.” Fifth, we’re stripping gays and lesbians of their ability to address their sexuality on their own terms. Coming out can be a really personal and sensitive topic. By already deciding someone’s sexuality, you’re taking something potentially very personal from them. If I haven’t already made my point clear, it’s really imperative that “gaydar” and its general use are stopped. If you’re gay and are using your instincts for the purpose of pursuing someone romantically, I guess it’s acceptable. However, in any other use, especially among people identified as heterosexual, it’s not acceptable. I know it can be hard to avoid assuming someone’s sexuality. We’ve been conditioned by our environment to have the thought cross our minds, but that’s not an excuse to allow it to continue. Fight the urge to classify someone, and instead let them reveal themselves to you. It’s the right thing to do. Michael Schramm can be reached at mschramm@umich.edu.

Owning it like to believe that a culture that values technical skills would award merit based on ability and performance alone, the facts speak to a much more biased truth, one that can be quantified in part by looking at the wage gap among different demographics within engineering. Women earn a third less than their male counterparts — a statistic that doesn’t begin to account for the additional inequalities that People of Color, both men and women, face in the workplace. These statistics provide just one indication that the culture of engineering doesn’t view technical ability to be the only indication of value. Googling the phrase “what makes a good engineering culture?” returns a number of results, all of which, interestingly, have almost nothing to do with engineers themselves. From “push relentlessly towards automation,” to “optimize for iteration speed,” few of the suggestions address any application of human behavior. The nature of engineering has changed though, as engineers we work in a society where the social element of our work has the potential to have as much impact as the purely mechanical aspects in today’s global, knowledge-based economy. Although these occupational expectations have evolved, many leaders in the STEM fields still shy away from addressing the social injustices that are pervasive in our community. Luke Bruski is one of the students in the College of Engineering who is working to change the conventions that lead to these types of disparities. As Executive Director of Own It, a student organization focused on social justice topics as they relate to engineers, Luke explains that his group’s mission is “a challenge to the Michigan community to be our most authentic selves.” Formed in 2013 by Nick Clift, a masters student in the Engineering Global Leadership honors program, Own It has hosted a number of on-campus events, seminars, and speakers focused on leading inclusion and advocating for diversity in the College of Engineering. Luke emphasizes that Own It exists not to advocate for a narrow or specific interpretation of inclusion, but to provide a space for people of all identities to speak for themselves. Their major goal is to host a keynote event once a semester and have it represent a theme that they do supporting events around. The group’s first keynote featured the Vice President of Rockwell Automation, Ed Seaburg, and one of the directors for Amazon Baby, Stephanie Landry, who discussed their experiences surrounding LGBTQ issues in the workplace with a packed Chesebrough Auditorium. This semester, Own It’s semester theme and keynote event will address the topic of gender dynamics, focusing on the

experiences of women and transgender engineers. The students of Own It are not armchair philosophers or passive activists, either. Perhaps the most powerful element of these events are the speakers and the leaders themselves: engineers from both within and beyond the university who have personally experienced the issues they are advocating for and are actively invested in the belief that engineering can be a culture that encompasses a variety of identities — gay, female, black, transgender and many others — and distinguishes them as unique and valuable contributions to our profession. For many in STEM fields, there’s an attitude that these topics are not contenders for the most critical issues we face in our profession, and that addressing subjects in the humanities is somehow a less noble pursuit than circuit design or differential equations. But engineering doesn’t exist in a vacuum and having a viewpoint that fails to consider ourselves and the people we are designing for as part of the same system is especially nearsighted. Social justice isn’t outside the scope of a valuable engineering culture, it’s an increasingly integral part of it. There is wellestablished research that shows that diverse teams produce better results in academia and in the workplace, and an economic motivator for social change such as that is often the most powerful catalyst for the people already in power to stop viewing the success of others as a zero-sum game that comes at the expense of their own. What I challenge our community to do, and what groups like Own It work to promote, is for all of us to look well beyond that reason. That begins with giving these topics the space they deserve and demand in our community and by listening to and learning from the people who experience them on a daily basis. One valuable aspect of our engineering culture is that it holds in high regard the ideal that we should be always continue learning and strive for improvement, for the best possible system or solution. We are not exempt from that process. Until we embrace these topics and address these issues that affect so many in our community, our profession is inherently lacking. There is currently one dominant narrative in engineering that is vastly unreflective of us as a whole. We’re not all white, straight, cisgender males. We shouldn’t all be expected to act like we are, and we don’t all want to be. Our identities are not just something to be accommodated, but something to be embraced and seen as inherently integral and valuable to engineering as a profession. Julia Zarina can be reached at jumilton@umich.edu.

News

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

No injuries reported in Alaska earthquake

NEWS BRIEFS OMAHA

American recovers from Ebola After three weeks in isolation, an American doctor who contracted Ebola while working in West Africa says he’s grateful for the specialized care that allowed him to recover and remains concerned about the people he was trying to help. Rick Sacra, 51, was released from the Nebraska Medical Center Thursday after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared him. He returned home to Holden, Massachusetts Thursday evening. “The CDC has declared me safe and free of virus! Thank God! I love you all,” Sacra said with a smile at a news conference as his wife and many of the people who cared for him since he arrived in Omaha on Sept. 5 watched.

MOORE, Okla.

Man stabs and kills two women before police shoot him An “angry employee” at a food distribution center in suburban Oklahoma City stabbed two women, killing one of them, Thursday before an off-duty law enforcement officer shot the suspect, police said. Moore Police Sgt. Jeremy Lewis told reporters at the scene that the suspect attacked the first two people he encountered at Vaughan Foods in Moore before the offduty officer who was working at the business shot him. The surviving victim and the suspect, a man, were both hospitalized. The motive for the attack was unclear, but Lewis said the suspect and the victims were apparently not involved with each other outside of their work at the business.

PLACERVILLE, Calif.

Amid drought, rain treats Northern California wildfire A day of light rain brought big gains against a Northern California wildfire Thursday, dramatically reducing the number of homes that are threatened by the flames from several thousand to just hundreds. In addition, calls for evacuation in two communities were reduced from mandatory to voluntary, leaving just one neighborhood under strict evacuation orders, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. It wasn’t immediately clear how many people remained away from their homes. The rains had brought fears of flooding and dangerous conditions in the King Fire’s huge burn area east of Sacramento, but they remained light and helpful to the firefight. A flash flood warning in effect for several hours was called off in early evening.

LIMASSOL, Cyprus

Syrian refugees refuse to leave ship More than 300 people, apparent refugees f leeing from Syria, refused to leave a cruise ship that rescued them from a small boat stranded off Cyprus, a cruise line official said Thursday. Salamis Cruise Lines Managing Director Kikis Vasiliou said that the people are insisting that they be taken to Italy instead. “They want us to send them to Italy,” Vasiliou told reporters at the east Mediterranean island’s main Limassol port. “The authorities, they have to decide what they want to do.” Vasiliou blamed Cypriot authorities for keeping him in the dark about how they intend to resolve the situation.

—Compiled from

5A — Friday, September 26, 2014

Magnitude 6.2 quake causes only minor damage

T U.S. AIR FORCE, STAFF SGT. SHAWN NICKEL/AP

In this photo released by the U.S. Air Force, a U.S. Navy F-18E Super Hornet receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over northern Iraq after conducting airstrikes in Syria as part of U.S. led coalition airstrikes on the Islamic State group and other targets in Syria.

U.S. hits al-Qaida cell planning terror attacks Arab states join American coalition in skies over Syria BEIRUT (AP) — When the United States opened its aerial campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria this week, its first salvo also hit an al-Qaida cell it says was planning terror attacks — a move that has injected more chaos into the conflict and could help President Bashar Assad. Amid fears they could be targeted next, two rebel factions already have evacuated their bases, and residents in areas under the control of other Islamic brigades cower at home, wondering whether their

districts will be hit. While al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, known as the Nusra Front, is considered a terrorist group by the United States, among the Syrian opposition it has a degree of support and respect because its fighters are on the front lines alongside other rebels battling Assad’s forces. To them, the U.S. strikes, which hit several Nusra Front facilities and killed dozens of its fighters, appeared to signal an American move to take out any rebel faction that adheres to an Islamic ideology — a large segment of the rebellion against Assad. U.S. officials say the strikes were aimed at a cell of hardened jihadis within the Nusra Front called the Khorasan Group, which Washington says poses a

direct and imminent threat to U.S. and Western interests. On Thursday, FBI director James Comey acknowledged that the U.S. did not have precise intelligence on where or when the group might attack, adding that there was no indication the airstrikes had disrupted the cell’s plots. “It’s hard to say whether that’s tomorrow, three weeks from now or three months from now. But it’s the kind of threat you have to operate under the assumption that it is tomorrow,” Comey told reporters in Washington. U.S. intelligence officials say the group has been trying to perfect a non-metallic bomb that can get past airport security and be used to blow up an airplane in flight.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A powerful earthquake shook a large swath of Alaska on Thursday morning, knocking things off shelves and causing people to take cover but bringing no immediate reports of injuries or major damage. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, and it hit at 9:51 a.m. The epicenter was about 80 miles northwest of the state’s largest city, where it was strongly felt, the Alaska Earthquake Center said. The quake lingered for at least a minute in some areas. The earthquake center is in Fairbanks, 250 miles northeast of the epicenter, but it was felt, even there, said Sara Meyer, a center research technician. “It was about 15 seconds of long-period shaking, sort of like you’re on a boat,” Meyer said. Staffers at the Nesbett Courthouse in downtown Anchorage felt the shaking in their office on the top floor of the six-story building. “My computer tower fell off my desk,” judicial

assistant Ellen Bozzini said. Everyone stood in doorways until an evacuation was ordered. Then they took the stairs outside, where they waited for about 20 minutes before being allowed back in the building. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury, and no tsunami was expected, according to an emergency management official. The fact that the earthquake’s center was, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 63 miles underground softened its impact on the state, experts said. Bryan Fisher, incident commander for the state emergency operations center, said the office has received scattered reports of things flying off shelves. But there have been no reports of any infrastructure damage. The Alaska Railroad stopped all trains to check the tracks and bridges for damages, which is a procedure after earthquakes, Fischer said. In the MatanuskaSusitna Borough north of Anchorage, closer to the epicenter, there were reports of books knocked off shelves but no serious damage, borough spokeswoman Patty Sullivan said. “We all felt it,” she said, adding she was sitting in

her parked minivan when the quake happened. She believed someone was playing a joke on her and purposely shaking her van. “I got out, expecting to find a laughing face,” she said. In Willow, about 40 miles north of Anchorage, a clerk at the town’s hardware and grocery store said everything shook but nothing fell off the shelves. “Everything just rocked around,” Anne Holliday said. “It’s an old building, just rickety.” Debra Pearce, who works for Alaska Auction Company, said she has lived in Alaska for years and this was the strongest quake she felt since a 1964 temblor. That earthquake — a magnitude 9.2 — was the second-highest magnitude ever recorded, and the quake and resulting tsunamis killed 131 people. “This was akin to that, the way it hit real hard and rolled and rolled and rolled and rolled, and you didn’t know if it was just going to pick up or not,” Pearce said. Sandy Lee, who owns Sandy Espre Cafe in midtown Anchorage, said she didn’t feel the earthquake as she was driving to work. When she got to her business, she didn’t know what had happened. Coffee syrup bottles littered the floor, and dolls had fallen off of shelves.

Ukrainian leader says peace is on the horizon President Poroshenko confident in reform plan KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s leader said Thursday that “the most dangerous part of the war” has passed and that the conflict with pro-Russia separatists in the country’s east is on the wane. Artillery fire, however, still rang out in the region’s largest city. In a news conference in Kiev outlining a six-year plan for Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko said: “I have no doubt whatsoever that my peace plan will work and that the main and most dangerous part of the war is behind.” Poroshenko’s plan includes reforming all major government agencies in the country. The president said he hoped those reforms would make the country ready for membership in the European Union by 2020. But Poroshenko spent much of the news conference fielding questions about a conflict in the east of the country, where fighting between government and rebel forces has killed at least 3,500 people since mid-April. His peace proposal, which was laid out soon after he became president in June, were the foundation for agreements this month aimed at ending

the fighting. The first step was a cease-fire called three weeks ago that in the beginning was repeatedly violated. In recent days, reports of violations have decreased notably, although on Thursday the city council of Donetsk, the largest rebel stronghold in the region, said that artillery fire and other explosions could be heard throughout the city during the day. Poroshenko also said he is working to arrange a meeting within the next few weeks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but stressed it was contingent on whether the ceasefire was implemented or not. Poroshenko, who has been at pains to justify striking a deal with the Russia-backed rebels, spent much of the news conference defending his decision to sign a peace agreement with the insurgents and said he believed Russian policy toward Ukraine had turned a corner. “At the beginning, Russia’s objective was clear,” he said. “Certain people in the Kremlin administration thought Ukraine was a giant with feet of clay. They thought they could just push us, and the entire southeast of the country would dissipate.” “I would sincerely like to believe that the relation of Russia (toward Ukraine) and their plans are changing — there has been a kind

of transformation.” Ukraine and Western countries claim that Russia sent troops and equipment into eastern Ukraine to back the separatist rebels, something Russia denies. Russia was a party to peace talks that led to a cease-fire in the region on Sept. 5. In another agreement signed Saturday, all sides agreed to remove heavy artillery from the front lines, creating a buffer zone that would help enforce the cease-fire more effectively. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations praised the cease-fire deal reached in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, and condemned violations of it in a statement issued Thursday. “The cease-fire agreement offers an important opportunity to find a durable political solution to the conflict, in full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” they said, urging Russia to withdraw all of its forces and weapons from Ukraine. The G-7 added that sanctions against Russia “can only be rolled back when Russia meets its commitments related to the cease-fire and the Minsk agreements, and respects Ukraine’s sovereignty,” warning that in case of adverse action its members would stand ready to “further intensify the costs on Russia for non-compliance.”

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TANYA BINDRA/AP

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, a healthcare worker sprays disinfectant in the area they found a man suspected of suffering from the Ebola virus in Kenema, Sierra Leone, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014.

Officials quarantine sick in Sierra Leone Districts are sealed off to control Ebola outbreak FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Sierra Leone on Thursday took the dramatic step of sealing off districts where more than 1 million people live as it and other West African countries struggle to control the Ebola outbreak that has claimed thousands of lives. With three new districts under quarantine, about one-third of Sierra Leone’s 6 million people are now living in areas where their movements are heavily restricted. In parts of Sierra Leone and in neighboring Liberia where these cordons have been used in this outbreak, food prices have soared, some markets have shut and the delivery of goods has slowed. “There is a desperate need to step up our response to this dreaded disease,” the Sierra Leone government said. “The prognosis is that without additional interventions or changes in community behavior, the numbers will increase exponentially and the situation will rapidly

deteriorate.” President Barack Obama warned a meeting at the United Nations on Thursday that the world is not doing enough to stop the outbreak, saying there is “a significant gap between where we are and where we need to be.” The Ebola outbreak, the world’s largest ever, has hit Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea hardest and is believed to have sickened more than 6,200 people. Senegal and Nigeria have also had Ebola cases, but it appears the disease has been contained in those countries. U.S. health officials warn that the number of infected people could explode to 1.4 million by mid-January, adding that the outbreak could peak well below that if efforts to control the outbreak are ramped up. The outbreak’s unprecedented scale and geographic spread have pushed governments to impose severe measures like the cordons, but the disease has continued to overwhelm efforts to contain it. In an address to Sierra Leone on Wednesday night, President Ernest Bai Koroma put Port Loko, Bombali, and Moyamba districts under isolation with immedi-

ate effect, allowing only people delivering essential services to enter and circulate within these areas. The restrictions will remain in place until the chain of transmission is broken, officials said. In other parts of Sierra Leone, including the capital, Freetown, homes will be put under quarantine when cases are identified, according to a government statement. Security forces surrounded a house in a Freetown slum on Wednesday, quarantining residents inside, after a popular herbalist who lived there died from Ebola. The forces will ensure that no one leaves or enters until it’s clear that no one else in the house has been infected. Two districts near the outbreak’s epicenter — Kenema and Kailahun — were isolated about two months ago. In all, the movement of more than 2 million people is now restricted in Sierra Leone. A sharp increase of cases in the capital is driving the outbreak’s spread in Sierra Leone, the World Health Organization said Thursday, also noting that the three districts newly cordoned off are experiencing increased infections.

Arts

6A — Friday, September 26, 2014

EVENT PREVIEW

Michéle Ramo to dazzle Kerrytown World Jazz Orchestra performing on Friday By CAROLINE DARR Daily Arts Writer

This year, the Kerrytown Concert Hall is celebrating its 30th anniversary. In 1983, the house’s Michéle founder Deanna Ramo Relyea was looking for World Jazz a studio to Orchestra develop her Kerrytown Consinging and piano skills cert House and was September 26, shown the 8:00 p.m. historic house $5 on Fourth Avenue. Reylea transformed the gutted house into a unique space that has hosted local and international acts of all genres since that first spring in 1984. The new executive director Lynne Aspnes was one of the first acts the House showcased. “I started teaching at the University in the fall of 1985 and I was looking for a place to do a concert,” Aspnes said. “Someone said you have to talk to Deanna and look at Kerrytown so I came down and we talked and set up a program for January 1986. That was the first time I worked here. It feels like it was just yesterday, it’s just been a blink of the eye and it’s 30 years later.” The House occupies a unique niche within the Ann Arbor music scene. In addition to concerts, the House hosts benefits, student recitals and meetings for groups like the Ann Arbor Piano Guild. The teaching studios on the second

floor provide space for private lessons for young artists to develop their skills. “It’s very personal,” Relyea remarked. “It’s a place you become personally attached to. You feel like you’re part of the evening when you sit in an intimate hall and hear something that’s unique. It’s a place where people can do their creative work that’s accessible, that’s not booked a year in advance and is flexible. It’s a community, a village.” The genres showcased at the House have evolved through the years. “When I was first playing it was mostly classical and chamber music,” Aspnes said. “What’s really interesting is moving from that into this incredibly edgy jazz that’s very front line, sort of emerging groups and artists and genres.” One of those groups is the Michéle Ramo World Jazz Orchestra, which will be playing today, Friday, Sept. 26. Ramo, an international classical and jazz sensation, was born on the coast of Sicily. At age 12, he began playing mandolin, then guitar, then violin, all within a six month period. He played with barbers in the piazza and was eventually sent to the conservatory for music to train in the violin. He was the youngest in the history of Italy to make a major symphony orchestra without having finished his degree, but left for the United States in 1987 to study jazz. Ramo’s wife and musical partner Heidi Hepler, a singer and lyricist, studied with the Michigan Opera and Theatre Department at Interlochen and has performed at jazz festivals around the world. Together the pair have

performed their innovative jazz across the globe. “We’ve done everything from coffee shops to Carnegie Hall and everything in between,” Ramos remarked. Both artists come from classical backgrounds, which adds a unique element to their jazz. “His violin is unbelievable because he has this deep classical training (and) then went into jazz with it,” Hepler said. “It’s not easy to switch from classical to jazz. I think when something really feels natural and the fire is in your belly for it and you do it for the love of it, it becomes a part of you. He’s from classical and I’m from classical, and we branched out beyond that so it was like love at first note.” This Friday’s performance will be a selection of Latin Jazz featuring a wide variety of instruments. “The type of repertoire will cross between jazz, original Brazilian and gypsy jazz and traditional Brazilian, which is called Choro,” Ramos said. “Choro means music for the people on the street and we are the only group in Michigan that plays it.” The set will feature Ramos on the mandolin, guitar and violin, Hepler singing and Howard Alden, a jazz guitarist from New York, on guitar and banjo. Traditional Brazilian instruments such as the pandeiro, a small tambourine and the cuica, a small hand bongo, will also be utilized to transport the audience into the Brazilian jungle. As stated by Ramos, “it will be an international level of musicianship that night,” and one that no one should miss.

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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

TV NOTEBOOK

HBO

‘Books are for losers.’

You don’t need the books to love ‘GoT’ By DREW MARON Daily Arts Writer

When I tell people I’m a huge “Game of Thrones,” fan, they usually ask the same question: “So you read the books, then?” Instead of sheepishly denying that I’ve yet to read the mammoth sized opus that is George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” I proudly admit the truth: “No, I haven’t read the books and won’t do so until the series is over.” I love television. I also love reading and literature. Over the summer, I read upwards of 30 books and graphic novels. And not one of them “A Song of Ice And Fire.” Sure, every time I travelled to a bookstore, I’d find my hand f loating over an unsold paperback of “Game of Thrones.” “Go ahead,” I’d tell myself, “just do it, already!” So now I finally want to be out with the damn thing: I’ve had every opportunity to read the books of “A Song of Ice and Fire” and, until the show is over, shall refuse to open a single page. Why? There are a number of usual reasons I list off. There’s the “Godfather” excuse: “you love The Godfather film, right? So why not read the original book by Mario Puzo.” The book “The Godfather” is frequently cited as one of the best crime novels of the 20th century and the movie would not exist without it ... but Santino Corleone’s horse-like appendage is also a recurring motif. I love reading. It’s why I’m studying English and writing here at one of the greatest colleges in the world. I believe storytelling is the truest form of connection between human beings. Storytelling is a universal tool. However, when such a tool is out of reach for almost a quarter of the population, the universal truths cease to be collectively understood. Then there’s the screen: film

and television. Early pioneers of film like Dziga Vertov and Sergei Eisenstein saw the video camera as a gateway into a universal language of expression, understandable regardless of class, gender, religion, or politics.

We’re approaching a time of change in storytelling. Now, we live in a time where all you need to visit Westeros is a friend’s HBOGo account (which HBO CEO Richard Pleper has already stated you’re free to do). Some of the greatest and most talented writers and creative minds living today are in television, and I’d be lying if I said that some of the things I’ve watched rival the greatest works of literature ever produced. I mean, one of my professors, an expert in the field of drama and literature, told us that he thought “Breaking Bad” might be the greatest work of writing produced since “King Lear.” The point is we’re approaching a time of change for the platforms of storytelling. The art forms of thousands of years ago are breaking down into new ways of spreading ideas and information about the world we live in. “Game of Thrones” is an excellent example of that. Here is a television show applying the stories, characters, ideas and content of a literary work with almost no compromise. To read a book where the main character dies at the end is undoubtedly surprising, but to watch a show where the first season ends with the main character’s public execution: that’s just game-changing. This past year, the series

finale of “Breaking Bad” felt like more than just the last chapter of a long-running book. I remember so vividly the final Sunday where groups of my friends all sat around a large TV, awaiting the ultimate fate of Walter White. It reminded me of things like the Super Bowl or even the way the Moon Landing had been watched many years ago. These were events that drew people from different lives together in front of a single screen for a singular purpose in watching something significant unfold before them. There was a sensation hanging about the room that like we reached new territory as one people, not the moon but something still deep within, traveling aboard the USS Walter White. When the series ended and Badfinger’s “Baby Blue” began playing, all of us looked at each other and I had a sudden realization: we had all ended this journey together. Some of us had been watching since the very beginning, while others just caught up with a last minute binge not an hour before the finale. Yet, we had all experienced the same journey and ended it together. There were no tears at the end of the finale, nor were there applause. Instead, I looked to my friend and uttered one word: “wow.” It’s moments like those why I will never underestimate the power of television. Like literature, it is a gateway to connect with human beings times and nations apart from our own. Yet, its universal appeal lets us reconnect with something we as a nation have forgotten in the power of the written word and of the stories housed within their corridors. The stories remain the same, but the delivery mechanisms will always change. If you watch “Game of Thrones,” you are experiencing “A Song of Ice and Fire,” regardless of what it says on your bookshelf.

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Friday, September 26, 2014 — 7A

EVENT PREVIEW

TV REVIEW

‘Night For Singing’ By REBECCA GODWIN Daily Arts Writer

ABC

‘You know what was a good movie? “Kangaroo Jack”’

‘Black-ish’ a fresh addition to ABC New minorityfocused sitcom succeeds By ALEC STERN Senior TV Editor

For the last five years, ABC’s primetime schedule has trended downward, both from a creative and Acommercial Black-ish standpoint. ABC But perhaps the Wednesdays network’s at 9:30p.m. most egregious misstep has been its handling of the post-“Modern Family” timeslot. Since the start of the five-time Emmy award winning comedy, its 9:30 p.m. lead-out has amounted to a revolving door of remarkably similar, “Friends”-inspired comedies — “Cougar Town,” “Happy Endings,” “Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23,” “Super Fun Night,” “Mixology” and others, few of which worked and only the first of which is still running (albeit on a different network). Despite consistent attention and acclaim, “Modern Family” has yet to bestow its ratings success and good fortune upon a series worthy enough to maintain it. That is, until now. “Black-ish” is the sitcom ABC has been waiting for — smart, engaging, relevant and laugh-out-loud funny. Starring Anthony Anderson (“Guys With Kids”) as Andre, a father who fears his family has lost touch with Black culture, “Black-ish” is a diversified depiction of American family that is still sorely lacking on broadcast television. But just as “Scandal” paved the way for a host of minority-led dramas with its success (such as this year’s “Red Band Society,” “Empire” and “How To Get Away With Murder”), “Black-

ish” has the potential to do the same for its genre. All told, it’s one of the best half-hours to premiere in years. What’s most surprising about “Black-ish” is how introspective it is for a comedy series — it goes beyond its one-note conceit and instead successfully navigates a much more thoughtful story. On the surface, the comedy poses the question, “are we Black enough (or only Black-ish)?” Sure, it’s funny and edgy and most certainly pushes broadcast television’s (rather white) envelope, but there’s so much more to the sitcom than a cheap logline and a catchy title. In reality, “Black-ish” is far more contemplative. How does a family maintain a unified racial identity when each generation’s experience is so different? How does a father embrace change without neglecting his storied past? And of course, how have white guys Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke become the Kings of R&B? “Black-ish” also extends outside its box as a family sitcom, with some of its strongest scenes playing out in the workplace. Where “management is diverse, but senior level management, not so much.” Where Andre becomes his company’s first black Senior Vice President, only to discover he’ll be in charge of the “Urban” division. And where Andre’s boss asks him to bring his “swag” to a presentation. “Just keep it real,” he advises Andre. Such moments will undoubtedly elicit a varied response from the audience, ranging from mindless laughter to concern over the character’s seemingly very realistic treatment. And in anticipation of that,“Blackish” cleverly props up two of its lead characters to represent this dichotomy — one an angel on Andre’s left shoulder, one a devil on the other (which is

which, however, you’ll have to decide for yourself ). Andre’s father, Pops, (Laurence Fishburne, “Hannibal”) would posit that his son has lost touch with his roots, allowing his son to play field hockey over basketball and joining the “white firm” when he could have already been CEO of the Black one. On the other hand, Fishburne’s foil is Andre’s wife, Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross, “Reed Between the Lines”), who encourages her husband to stop dissecting every little thing, holding it up to preconceived standard. Not only are the characters exceptionally well-cast (can Fishburne do any wrong?) but also written with dimension, elevating the series’ ensemble nature. But that’s not to say “Blackish” is perfect (though series premieres rarely are). The series is undone by pacing issues in its final act that dilute the impact of the episode’s big moments. And despite how inventive the writers seem to think it is, the “bro mitzvah” is slowly turning into one of entertainment’s newest tropes. However, “Black-ish” does so much right in its first offering that these criticisms are more nit-picky than do they substantially detract from the premiere’s success. In the end, despite what society might dictate and despite what the voices in his head — mainly Pops’ and Rainbow’s — might tell him, Andre is just a father trying to make the best decisions for his family. And in that regard, “Black-ish” is a series for everyone; the rare “broad” comedy that doesn’t substitute the wit of its narrative in favor of drawing in the masses. Because the best comedies can be both smart and far-reaching, and “Black-ish” is just that — never dull nor dumb, universal in its appeal and ultimately, the perfect companion for “Modern Family.”

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Within the University of Michigan, there are dozens of singing and performance groups, from small student A Grand a capella Night For groups to the large Singing university 4 p.m. glee clubs. September 28th The School Hill Auditorium of Music, $5 - $18 Theatre & Dance’s upcoming event, “A Grand Night For Singing,” brings together a number of these groups to perform in the same concert, a rare occurrence. The concert event, which was started in 2010, is an opportunity for the campus community to see some of the variety performers currently studying in SMTD. “The goal of this concert is to present excerpts and vignettes from each of these ensembles in order to let the community see all the singing possibilities that are happening on campus,” said Professor Jerry Blackstone, who is the director of Choral Activities, chair of the

conducting department and the concert’s artistic director. “So they will hear performances by the Chamber Choir, the University Choir, the Women’s Glee Club, the Men’s Glee Club, the Orpheus Singers and the Opera Theater. They will hear two soloists and they will hear performances by the musical theatre program. It’s a real showcase.”

Musical groups unite. The concert does not highlight all of the singers on campus, but great care went into selecting those individuals and groups who will be performing. The two soloists, one male and one female, were chosen by the chair of the voice department to represent solo singing, while the others groups were selected to showcase the spectrum of singing that can be found within the school. “We always try to highlight something from the musical theater program, so I ask the

director to put something together; the same is true for the opera folks,” said Blackstone. “We always want the Campus Ensemble to be represented and within the music school, there are three major choirs which we would like to be represented as well.” Though not every genre of music can be heard in the concert, an effort was made to showcase as many different types of music as possible. “The program that I’m working on right now is quite varied from musical theatre pieces to some folk pieces to some classical pieces as well,” said Blackstone. “I think there will be a lot of variety of tempos, variety of languages, variety in the way it looks on stage.” For Blackstone, however, he is excited for audience members to participate in the last big number of the night: a big sing-a-long to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night For Singing.” “We always end the concert with singing,” said Blackstone. “Most people know it and enjoy singing to it and everyone leaves with elevated spirits; it’s a wonderful and joyous way to end the concert.”

VIDEO GAME REVIEW

ACTIVISION

‘How are we supposed to pee in these suits?’

Damning ‘Destiny’ By JACOB RICH Daily Arts Writer

“Destiny” is a shockingly small-scale video game, especially considering the big promotional C buzz-words thrown Destiny around by its PS4 publisher: Epic New (reviewed), Franchise. PS3, XBox Peter Dinklage. One, XBox Paul 360 McCartney. Activision 10-year support plan. 500 million-dollar budget. It’s no wonder that gamers across the globe expected huge things from “Destiny.” Games almost never receive this level of backing — not that much money, not that much forethought and certainly not those big names. The funny thing is, you can tell precisely where the huge budget went. The graphics, for one thing, are absolutely incredible — scifi vistas have never looked this amazing in a game, and both the characters and enemies are flawlessly animated during gameplay. Its soundtrack almost matches its graphical brilliance; it has a keen sense of wonder and is expertly orchestrated by acclaimed Halo composers Marty O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori. The staff credits song was written and performed by the one and only Paul McCartney, and yes, it’s awesome. The core gameplay is nearly perfect. You should be used to Bungie’s brand of extraordinarily tight first-person shooting if you’ve played any of the “Halo” games, but it somehow feels even better now that Bungie’s mixed it with a host of different class-based powers and upgradable skills. A fun, intricate loot system gives routine upgrades to your arsenal. It’s almost becoming cliché to say so at this point, but “Destiny” indeed feels like a combination of “Halo” and “Borderlands.” It’s a multiplayer loot-shooter with a strong emphasis on combat above all else. Enemies are designed to

be extremely fun to shoot, with headshots and critical hits in particular creating satisfying ‘pops’ (By the way, how on earth is this game rated T and not M? It’s probably because Bungie kept all of that controversial “sex” stuff out, protecting our impressionable children by having them slaughter hundreds of aliens instead). Unfortunately, the problem isn’t what “Destiny” is, it’s what it isn’t. This would be an unfair claim to make in almost any other review. Things should be judged by what they are, not what they could have been. But since “Destiny” was artificially hypedup to monolithic proportions, it’s necessary to explain just how short it fell from expectations. “Destiny” has an extremely poor implementation of narrative, staggeringly small scope, and worst of all, almost zero mission variety. The story is presented in poorly-written, uninteresting chunks that fail to cohere, due to the majority of the game’s story content being locked away in Bungie’s website via “grimoire cards” — unlockable images that contain paragraphs of story-related text. Can you imagine if “Halo’s” lauded story was portrayed this way? What if “Halo’s” characters rarely talked and all you could glean about The Arbiter or Sgt. Johnson was from lazily written, aloof-sounding text snippets on the internet? This feels sad and lazy. Even worse are the cutscenes, with such laughably bad direction and dialogue that even the most philistine movie fan would scoff. I would have rather the game had no story than such a tease of one. Above all else, though, the lack of mission variety is the game’s most vital flaw. It is downright insulting how little there is to do in this game. Each mission plays out virtually the same way: you begin by landing in the same area of each planet each time. Then, you travel between mission locations either on foot or on your landspeeder (this traveling gameplay does not evolve in any way over the course of the game).

At each mission location, you fight a group of typically several waves of enemies, sometimes with an uninteresting boss at the end. That’s it. There are only 4 major explorable planets, albeit each with their own unique enemies. This is the extent of gameplay evolution in “Destiny.” There are different aliens with different weak points to kill. The game doesn’t feel big at all. I have no way of measuring it, but to me the world of “Destiny” felt about two thirds the size of “Borderlands 2,” one of the game’s chief inspirations. As I said, the combat is superb, and your character’s combat options will evolve in meaningful ways over the course of the game. But when it’s literally the only thing you do — kill things in similar fashion over and over again — the strength of the core gameplay will only go so far in keeping you entertained. A good amount of “Destiny,” especially when played alone, is boring. There is one shining moment of creative gameplay variety; one of the missions on the moon. It plays differently than any other mission in the game, and it was my favorite of them all. Why weren’t there more like it? “Destiny” also has a competitive multiplayer mode. It plays just as well as in any “Halo” game, with a good amount of well-designed maps, but lacks both split-screen and any sort of Forge-style creative mode. There are no custom gametypes. I found it interesting that your singleplayer character is also your multiplayer avatar (experience gained in both multiplayer and the campaign feed the same xp bar), but other than that, there’s no reason to move on to this from “Halo;” the multiplayer in “Destiny” is Bungie’s least complete yet. “Destiny” is not a bad game, but it could be so much more than it is right now. Perhaps somewhere down the line of Bungie’s purported 10-year support plan, it will be great. But until then, your money is better spent elsewhere.

Sports

8A — Friday, September 26, 2014

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

VOLLEYBALL

‘M’ enters B1G play Wolverines have worst record in conference, but time to improve By MATTHEW KIPNIS Daily Sports Writer

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Michigan cross country coach Kevin Sullivan is the program’s most decorated runner, having won 16 Big Ten titles.

Sullivan returns to lead By MATTHEW KIPNIS Daily Sports Writer

When Kevin Sullivan ran on the track in the 1990s, he was almost always being followed by other runners. The most decorated runner in Michigan history constantly led the pack, winning 16 Big Ten championships, 14 NCAA championships and eight Big Ten Athlete of the Year Awards over his four years in cross country and track and field. This year, Sullivan returns to the program in which he found the bulk of his success in another leadership role — as the head coach of the men’s cross country team. Coaching isn’t new for Sullivan, as he served as a volunteer assistant for Michigan, Illinois and Florida State. But he has always wanted to return to Michigan in the top position, and on July 14, he got the opportunity. “From the time I graduated as an athlete, basically the first thing I did was continue here as a volunteer coach with (former Michigan cross country coach Ron Warhurst),” Sullivan said. “The goal and the idea all along was that this was a job I wanted to eventually graduate into.” His path back to Michigan hasn’t been as clearly laid out as the courses he used to run. In 2008, the job was open, but Sullivan didn’t feel the timing was right because he had the chance to start his own business. Instead, he opened Capital City Runners, a fullservice specialty running store in Tallahassee, Florida. He worked as an analyst for Big Ten Network and as an editorial research assistant for Ontario Sports TV during the 2012 Olympics. However, there was always something pulling him back to Michigan. This summer, when the position opened up again, Sullivan decided to seize the moment, because he didn’t know when it might become available

a third time. “I had such great experiences here as an athlete that I wanted to be able to come back and be a part of seeing a lot of other athletes have those same experiences,” he said. “From winning individual Big Ten championships, to team championships, to All-Americans, to national champions, I want to be able to help guide our athletes to reach those same milestones.” As an athlete, Sullivan was able to focus on improving himself, but now he has new pressure and responsibility. He has to think about the team and the 28 runners who must simultaneously perform their best in order to succeed. One of Sullivan’s favorite memories as a Michigan athlete was his distance medley relay NCAA title. It wasn’t just about himself, but the group work that he relished, making coaching a natural position for Sullivan. Now, as a coach, in order to have the entire team firing at the same time, Sullivan has focused on making sure each runner is versatile, mimicking his skill set while at Michigan. Sullivan has stressed that adaptability to his runners. “It is important that as a coaching staff and as a track and field team that we remember we are not just about running well in cross country,” he said. “We are not just about trying to run well on the track. We have got to do both those as efficiently as possible.” While the team already has a very strong distance team on the cross country side with a number of athletes who can run the 5K, 10K and 3K steeple chase at a high level, Sullivan is working on reviving some of the middledistance traditions at Michigan. Under former coach Alex Gibby, training had more of a mileage-oriented goal, meaning the team put in extra miles to build strength in the longer races. Now, there’s an additional emphasis on mid-

race tactics along with the long-distance training, making practices more balanced. “In terms of the program in general, the obvious change was the head coach,” said fifth-year senior James Yuan. “We’re the same people on the same team, and working toward the same goal: to be Big Ten champs and to improve our national ranking. With Coach (Sullivan) coming in, that was just a re-emphasis on the positive direction we want to take with the program. Everyone was already on board, so that made that particular change particularly easy.” The Michigan program was on the rise during Gibby’s last three years in Ann Arbor, finishing eighth in the Big Ten in 2010, to tied for third in 2011, to second the last two years. While a fall in the standings could be feasible with a team consisting of 15 rookie runners, Sullivan believes there is cause for optimism. “I think that even though maybe some guys were apprehensive about the coaching change, they realized I am not coming in not knowing how to perform at a high level,” Sullivan said. “I bring a lot of experience just from my own competitive background and some of the coaches I worked under, so I think that has built some confidence in the team and some trust that maybe would have taken a little longer if it had been someone else that had come in here and taken over.” Michigan is looking to take the step from second to first in the Big Ten. It will be a tough jump, with Indiana returning most of its scorers from its championship team last year and Wisconsin returning some of its leaders from its third-place team, but Sullivan is working on instilling the mentality of being champions. Though Sullivan is no longer running the courses, he’ll be running through his athletes’ minds, molding them to replicate the success he once had.

In the first five weeks of the season, the Michigan volleyball team has seen mostly new Michigan opponents. The at Purdue, Wolverines played a trio Indiana of unfamiliar Matchup: teams in Indiana 9-3; Arkansas, Purdue 10-2; a pair of Michigan 5-5 top-ranked When: opponents in Friday 7 P.M., the ACC and Saturday two teams in 7 P.M. Oregon. TV: BTN+ This (Friday) weekend, Michigan will return to familiarity when it starts Big Ten play. The Wolverines (5-5 overall) will travel to Indiana for a pair of Big Ten matches against No. 15 Purdue (10-2) and Indiana (9-3) on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. The Big Ten has historically been a powerhouse for volleyball, with two finalists from the 2013 NCAA Tournament hailing from the conference. But Michigan coach Mark Rosen has never shied away from that level of competition. “We are in week five of the

season, which is still pretty early,” Rosen said. “I think that any time we can play good teams, it can make us better. It should be good competition that will force us to play at a really high level.” But conference openers and road matches haven’t boded well for Michigan. The Wolverines are 14-18 in Big Ten openers and are 0-3 on the opposing teams’ home courts this season, compared to a 3-2 home record and 2-0 neutral-site record. Michigan is coming off what Rosen considers its best match of the season: a straight-set win over Eastern Michigan last Saturday. That alone is reason for optimism, but at the same time, the Wolverines had one of their worst matches of the season Friday night in a four-set loss to Kansas State. “We have seen both sides of it pretty recently, but we have got to make sure we are being more consistent on the good side and not the other side,” Rosen said. “Certainly, we haven’t been as consistent as we wanted to be, and there have been matches we would have loved to play better and execute better, but I think we are moving in a good direction.” But Michigan still has yet to have its entire team on the court at the same time due to injuries and illnesses. Senior setter Lexi Dannemiller has yet to play in a match this season, and the Wolverines are just starting to return other players from injuries. Rosen admitted the hardest

“We have got to make sure we are being more consistent.”

part of the season so for has been setting a consistent lineup. Finding the right combination of players and system to use is something that Rosen has been constantly changing all season. “We certainly want to try to stabilize what we are doing with our lineup and stabilize what we are doing with our personnel,” Rosen said. “I think that will help us be more consistent.” Staying within their style of play is key for the Wolverines as they enter this weekend’s fixtures. Purdue will challenge Michigan with left-handed outside hitter Annie Drews, who had a match-high 12 kills in the Boilermakers’ last win against Notre Dame. She also leads the team with an average of 4.15 kills per set. “Drews is definitely someone that takes a lot of swings for them, and she has is a very effective player for them,” Rosen said. “They have other good players around her, and she is someone who is going to be impactful in the match.” Indiana is a strong team as well, with dominant middle blockers and defensive specialist Country Harnish averaging 4.78 digs per set. On offense, outside hitter Amelia Anderson leads the Hoosiers with 3.39 kills per set. Although Big Ten play may be a familiar time of the season for the Wolverines, the two opening matches are extremely important as they try to climb out of a hold they aren’t particularly familiar with: having the worst record in the Big Ten.

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Wolverines host Spartans Michigan boasts second-best record in the Big Ten By SYED FAHD AHSAN For the Daily

The Michigan women’s soccer team is set to host Michigan State on Saturday in what could prove to be a turning point for both teams, which come into the fixture under completely MSU at different circumstances. Michigan The Matchup: MSU 0-3-1; Wolverines (3-1-0) will Michigan have their 3-1-0 sights set on When: the top of the Saturday standings this 7 P.M. weekend, as Where: they boast the U-M Soccer Stadium Arena second-best record in the Big Ten behind Iowa and Penn State. The Spartans (0-3-1), on the other hand, haven’t quite lived up to expectations. Yet to register a win in the Big Ten, Michigan State will be fighting to stay in the conference race. “They are a good team that’s just been unlucky this season, they lost three games by just one goal,” said Michigan coach Greg Ryan. On the other side of the field, the Wolverines’ five-game winning streak was brought to an end last weekend at Rutgers, but Ryan downplayed the loss. “We were just really fatigued by the time we played Rutgers,” Ryan said. “We’ve only had twogame weekends so far, and it’s tiring. In fact, we gave the girls two days off after the game, and they look like they have new life

TERESA MATHEW/Daily

The Michigan women’s soccer team hopes to rebound from a loss to Rutgers.

back in them.” Having played nine different starting lineups in their first 10 games, the Wolverines might be able to send out their strongest starting lineup without fear of exhaustion. After scoring 15 goals in its first seven games of the season, Michigan State has failed to score since it played Wisconsin two weeks ago. Michigan redshirt freshman forward Ani Sarkisian has hit a slump of her own. Having not scored since bagging three goals over two games, on Sept. 9-11, she too will be looking to break her cold streak.

“They look like they have new life back in them.”

With Ryan favoring a counterattacking 5-3-2 formation, which utilizes the pace of the team’s wingers and wing-backs, Michigan will almost certainly have quite a few chances on goal. “These formations have been working well for us so far,” Ryan said. “Even though we aren’t yet sure exactly how we’ll play, you can expect something along those lines.” At the end of the day, all statistics and prior matches go out the window when a rivalry is involved. With both teams having something to prove in the Big Ten as well as in the rivalry, Saturday night’s game is bound to be a thriller.

Find the recap of this game online Check MichiganDaily.com and @theblockm Saturday

September 26, 2014: Minnesota

B1G: BACK, BUT NOT BETTER

Michigan’s road to the B1G title game By ALEXA DETTELBACH Daily Sports Editor

Everyone has heard the criticism the Big Ten conference has received over the first month of the college football season. No. 22 Ohio State lost starting quarterback Braxton Miller in the preseason. No. 9 Michigan State and No. 19 Wisconsin had difficult Pac-12 and SEC matchups, respectively, in week two. Despite Michigan’s early struggles, the East division is still up for the taking — and Michigan coach Brady Hoke won’t let you forget it. But the Wolverines (2-2) toughest games will come on the road against the Buckeyes and Spartans. Under Hoke’s tenure, Michigan has yet to beat either team away from Michigan Stadium. For now, it’s still a possibility. Here’s a look at Michigan’s path to the Big Ten Championship, and how it stands up against the competition:

night game this season didn’t go so well, but maybe it will find more success in New Jersey. Rutgers’ Athletic Department is planning a “black-out” against the Wolverines and expects the prime-time matchup to draw the biggest crowd of the season. But the Scarlet Knights have struggled with injuries, the worst one coming last week in their win over Navy, when starting running back Paul James tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Senior quarterback Gary Nova has had an up-and-down season thus far, with the low point coming in a five interception, 13-10 loss to the Nittany Lions. His favorite target is junior Leonte Carroo, the Big Ten’s fourth-leading receiver. On defense, the Scarlet Knights sport the conference’s best defensive end duo in David Milewski and Kemoko Turay. The two have combined for a conference-best seven sacks, and Michigan’s work-in-progress offensive line will have its hands full containing them. To the average fan, this game should be a cakewalk for the Wolverines, but playing Rutgers, at night and on the road is the quintessential trap game. Look out for this one.

The East division is up for the taking.

vs. Minnesota (3-1): The Golden Gophers rely on a powerrunning game that averages 5.1 yards per carry to move their offense. Last week against San Jose State, Minnesota backup quarterback Chris Streveler only completed one pass for a Golden Gophers’ passing attack that ranks last in the conference, but ran for 161 yards and a score in his first career start. Minnesota coach Jerry Kill was “cautiously optimistic” Wednesday that starter Mitch Leidner will be back against the Wolverines. But the Golden Gophers look to running back David Cobb to keep them in games. The senior has run for 539 yards and four touchdowns on 92 carries through four games. On the other side of the ball, Michigan’s offense should find some success against Minnesota’s defense, which allows 383.3 yards per game. But that same unit has forced 13 turnovers, which could be problematic for a Wolverine offense that has already allowed over 12. at Rutgers (0-1 Big Ten, 3-1 overall): Michigan’s first road

vs. Penn State (1-0, 4-0): The Nittany Lions have stormed back into the Big Ten championship conversation after the NCAA lifted sanctions. From 2011 And it came at a perfect time, as Penn State is the only undefeated team in the East division. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg and firstyear coach James Franklin have turned the Nittany Lions into a formidable foe. While Hackenberg makes Penn State’s passing attack eighth in the nation, its run game was ineffective until last week against UMass. But even after exploding for 228 yards against the Minutemen, the Nittany Lions average a meek 3.3 yards per carry. Michigan’s dominant front seven could stifle an already struggling ground game. On defense, Penn State has been dominant, leading the nation in rush defense and allowing just

FootballSaturday, September 26, 2014

49.5 yards per game. The Nittany Lions also rank sixth in scoring defense, holding teams to just 11 points per game. While Michigan’s home night game should draw a crowd of over 110,000, it’s also the Wolverines’ most difficult home matchup. It will have been five years, 11 months and 24 days since it last triumphed over Penn State. at Michigan State (2-1): With Ohio State a shell of itself without Miller, the Spartans are Michigan’s biggest road test this season. Connor Cook resumes his place behind center, but like last season, it’s Michigan State’s defense that tells the tale. The Spartans held Eastern Michigan to one yard of total offense in the first half of their Sep. 20 matchup. While Michigan State’s loss to No. 2 Oregon in week two skewed its defensive numbers, nobody is underestimating this unit. Offensively, the Spartans rank first in the conference in scoring, largely thanks to its 73-point performance against the Eagles. They’ve beaten opponents by an average of 48.5 points in their two wins. Cook leads a Michigan State offense that relies on the passing attack over the ground game, so the Wolverine secondary will need to play a big role if it wants to pull the upset. vs. Indiana (2-1): The Hoosiers rank second in the Big Ten in total offense, and last season, they showed the Wolverines just how explosive their offense can be in a 63-47 shootout. Much of Indiana’s offense comes on the ground, averaging 310.1 yards per game, but that plays into Michigan’s defensive strengths. Defensively, the Hoosiers struggle in the secondary, ranking second-to-last in the conference in pass defense. Through four weeks, Indiana has the Big Ten’s most impressive win, a 31-27 performance on the road over then-ranked No. 18 Missouri last Saturday. at Northwestern (1-2): After an impressive start in 2013, the Wildcats are on a slide that stretches back to last year. This season has been a struggle for Northwestern, which lost its first two games of the season before getting a win against Western Illinois. But the easy

JAMES COLLER/Daily

The Michigan football team’s goal of winning the Big Ten is still attainable.

part of the Wildcats’ schedule is over, and now they face Penn State, Wisconsin and Nebraska in three of their first four weeks of conference play. Offensively, Northwestern is last in the Big Ten in scoring, and second to last in total offense. The Wildcats have also struggled on defense, allowing 397 yards per game and eight touchdowns. Last year, it took Michigan three overtime periods to beat the Wildcats, and if the Wolverines are still struggling by this Nov. 8 matchup, it could be an ugly game for the conference. vs. Maryland (3-1): In Michigan’s last home game of the season, it can expect the Terps to ride sixth-year quarterback C.J. Brown and explosive receiver Stefon Diggs. Brown has remedial arm strength, but can beat defenses with his legs. Diggs is Maryland’s biggest weapon and averages 12.4 yards per catch. Maryland’s defense, which is ranked worst in the conference, is a different story. The unit struggles on both rush and pass defense allowing 199.2 and 287 yards, respectively. The

latter figure is the worst in the conference. at Ohio State (2-1): Michigan fans know how close the Wolverines came to pulling the upset over a top-5 Buckeyes squad last season. With J.T. Barrett leading Ohio State instead of Miller, Urban Meyer’s team has started off differently. By the time the Wolverines make it to Columbus, the freshman will have a full season of experience under center, which could change things. That being said, Ohio State has a rough offensive line that has given up eight sacks in three games (seven in its loss to Virginia Tech). Defensively, the Buckeyes’ biggest weakness is their run defense, which ranks 13th in the conference, allowing 180.7 yards per game. Their pass defense, though, is the best in the Big Ten and has recorded five interceptions. Michigan-Ohio State matchups are always entertaining, but with Hoke fighting for a job, this could be the Wolverines’ last chance to give it everything they’ve got before change envelops the program.

It wasn’t even brown: The jug’s big history By ALEJANDRO ZÚÑIGA Managing Sports Editor

This is the trophy game that started them all. And, unlike the Heroes Trophy (Iowa vs. Nebraska, if anyone’s curious), this one wasn’t crafted by a graphic design company, nor was its beginning marked with a press release. No, this one began organically in 1903, and it has endured ever since. That October, legendary Michigan coach Fielding H. Yost’s squad ventured west for what was billed as the biggest game in years against Minnesota. The Wolverines had never lost under Yost, and, at that point in the 1903 season, were undefeated and hadn’t conceded a point. Concerned that the Gophers might taint the water supply to gain a competitive advantage, Yost instructed student manager Tommy Roberts to travel into Minneapolis and purchase a jug for the game. Roberts spent 30 cents on the container, which at five gallons wasn’t exactly little and hadn’t yet been painted brown. That afternoon, Greater Northrop Field was packed to capacity in expectation of the clash. Fans who couldn’t purchase tickets even took to climbing trees and telephone poles to watch the game. Clean water or not, Yost’s Wolverines were statistically dominated by Minnesota. But the Golden Gophers still trailed throughout much of the game, and ultimately scored a gametying touchdown with about two minutes remaining. Then all hell broke loose. The fans stormed the field, the referees deemed it impossible to resume play before sundown, and the game ended early in a 6-6 tie. “Minnesota supreme in Western football,” blared the headline in the next day’s Sunday Tribune. “Yost and Michigan practically beaten.” In their haste to leave Greater Northrop Field, Yost’s squad had left the water jug in the visitors’ locker room. The morning after the game, custodian Oscar Munson found it and brought it to Minnesota Athletic Director Dr. Louis J. Cooke, who had it hung it

in his office. But before then, Cooke and Munson inscribed it: “Michigan jug. Captured by Oscar, October 31, 1903.” Then, they wrote the final score: “Minnesota 6,” in large letters, and in much smaller type, “Michigan 6.” The teams didn’t meet again until 1909, but the incident wasn’t forgotten. In a pep rally before the game, Minnesota’s captain told Michigan’s players that they could earn their jug back with a win. The Wolverines agreed, and they won, 15-6, finally returning their container to Ann Arbor. Upon reclaiming it from the Golden Gophers in 1920, Michigan painted the schools’ block ‘M’s’ onto the trophy and created columns so that each years’ result could be recorded. Including a victory in 1920, Michigan won 12 of the next 14 matchups. The rest of the rivalry has proceeded in much the same fashion. The Wolverines lead the series, 73-24, with three ties. So if Michigan wins Saturday and parades the jug to the student section, or if the Gophers win and snatch the trophy from the Wolverine sideline, take note. It’s another chapter in a story 111 years in the making. For more, the Daily recommends The Little Brown Jug: The MichiganMinnesota Football Rivalry by Ken Magee and Jon M. Stevens. The book is available at local retailers, online and at arcadiaretailers.com.

BY THE NUMBERS Michigan vs. Minnesota

Consecutive victories for Michigan in the series.

Points the Wolverines had surrendered in 1903 before Minnesota “beat” them.

Consecutive victories for Minnesota over Michigan from 1934-1942.

Times the Wolverines faced Minnesota in 1926 due to a scheduling issue.

FILE PHOTO/Daily

The Michigan football team reclaimed the Little Brown Jug from Minnesota in 1909 and has dominated the rivalry ever since.

Run defense will be crucial By MAX COHEN Daily Sports Editor

The Daily breaks down Michigan’s contest with the Golden Gophers. Michigan pass offense vs. Minnesota pass defense You’re in luck if you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months and don’t know who the Wolverines’ quarterback is, because neither does anyone else. Michigan coach Brady Hoke said he won’t reveal whether fifthyear senior Devin Gardner or sophomore Shane Morris will be his team’s quarterback until game time Saturday. Both quarterbacks struggled last weekend, each throwing inaccurate passes and combining for four interceptions. Morris replaced Gardner in the fourth quarter, and the quarterbacks combined to complete 18 of 39 attempted passes. Neither quarterback could get the Wolverines into the red zone. The Golden Gophers’ pass defense had mixed results facing its only major-conference opponent in TCU two weeks ago, surrendering 258 passing yards and two touchdowns while creating one interception. With the Wolverines’ quarterback situation up in the air, this matchup is too. Edge: Push Michigan rush offense vs. Minnesota rush defense Hoke said this week that he considers sophomore Derrick Green to be his featured running

back. After finding few holes last season, Green has found his groove with improved vision and blocking in front of him. He didn’t have a particularly standout performance against Utah, rushing for 59 yards on 14 carries, but consistent contribution can still be expected. Last week, the Golden Gophers allowed just 68 rushing yards to San Jose State. It was a rebound performance after the Horned Frogs gashed Minnesota’s run defense for 169 yards the previous week, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Edge: Michigan Minnesota pass offense vs. Michigan pass defense Like the Wolverines, the Golden Gophers’ quarterback situation is also unsettled, but for different reasons. Starter Mitch Leidner missed last weekend’s game with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Wednesday, Minnesota coach Jerry Kill said he was “cautiously optimistic” that Leidner would play. Without Leidner, the Golden Gophers’ passing game was nearly non-existent. Backup Chris Streveler threw as many interceptions as completions in his seven pass attempts: one. Edge: Michigan Minnesota rush offense vs. Michigan rush defense The Golden Gophers’ offense relies heavily upon their ground game. Last weekend, Minnesota ran the ball 58 times with Leidner out of the lineup.

Running back David Cobb leads the rushing attack. Against San Jose State, he gashed the Spartans for 207 yards on 34 carries. It was his second game rushing for more than 200 yards this season. Against Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 6, he ran for 220 yards. In four games, he has 539 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Still, Cobb didn’t perform as well against TCU, the team’s best opponent. In that game, he rushed for 41 yards on 15 carries. Michigan could pose a similar challenge. Run defense has arguably been the Wolverines’ biggest strength this season. Michigan has given up fewer than 100 yards rushing in three consecutive games, allowing few long runs in the process. Edge: Michigan Special Teams The Wolverines’ punt return team was in disarray last weekend in the second quarter against the Utes when it had 10 players on the field and allowed a punt return touchdown. On a positive note for Michigan, its kicking game has improved since senior Matt Wile missed three field goals in the season’s first two games. Minnesota kicker Ryan Santoso has encountered his share of struggles as well, converting only one of three field goal attempts this season. And as always, junior Dennis Norfleet will be an asset to the Wolverines in the return game. Edge: Michigan Prediction: Michigan 27, Minnesota 10

TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com

Big Ten struggling to stay relevant Conference fails to redeem itself after 2-5 bowl record By GREG GARNO Managing Sports Editor

The state of the Big Ten conference lives trapped in the shadows. Few non-conference wins come easily, whether playing against teams from the MidAmerican Conference or the Southeastern Conference, and they’re constantly reminded of it. The Big Ten has become the butt of jokes on Twitter, and TV pundits are quick to criticize it for failing to stay competitive. The Big Ten Conference is like New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter: It was once great, but now, it’s mediocre with flashes of talent and struggles to play defense. But just when you’re ready to say they’re the worst of the Power 5 conferences, they redeem themselves. They’re an enigma of a league. The current state of the Big Ten is up in the air, entering a conference slate where it hopes to remain relevant in the College Football Playoff era. Four teams now have a feasible chance to play for a national championship. Only one Big Ten team — Michigan State — is in the top 15. Last week, the Big Ten finished 4-1 against teams from the Power 5, highlighted by Indiana’s win over No. 18 Missouri. This comes after the conference was 1-10 against Power 5 opponents in the first three weeks. “You’ve got to come every week, and some weeks are better than others,” said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini in the Big Ten’s teleconference Tuesday. “I think there’s a lot of parity, and there are a lot of good football teams out there. It’s hard to bring it week to week. “All the stuff people are making judgment on anybody, any team, any conference after

PAUL SHERMAN/Daily

Attendance at Michigan Stadium has come dangerously close to dipping below the 100,000 mark this season. That would snap a streak that began on Nov. 8, 1975.

two or three weeks is ludicrous. That’s why you play a full season. You see every week the highs and lows or the team people are high on, then the next week, they’re writing them off.” Whether it likes it or not, the Big Ten is struggling to win against programs around the country. It entered last Saturday 2-12 against FBS teams with winning records. The losses stand out much more than the wins. Michigan’s 31-0 defeat to Notre Dame, or Wisconsin’s late collapse to LSU in the first week of the season punctuate the conference’s performance. Even its best teams — the Spartans and Ohio State — couldn’t save the conference’s reputation when they lost to Oregon and Virginia Tech, respectively, in Week 2. And the Big Ten’s 2-5 record

“There’s a lot of parity, and there’s a lot of good football teams.”

FootballSaturday, September 26, 2014

in bowl games last season doesn’t help. “If you base it on nonconference games, then yeah, criticism is warranted,” says Sporting News college football columnist Matt Hayes in an interview with the Daily. “They’ve struggled a lot in these games and that’s really kind of compounded. “I think the overriding thing, though, is talent. That’s the issue — the teams (in the Big Ten) that are recruiting successfully are the two teams that had guys coaching in the SEC, because they know the commitment it takes.” Big Ten teams that recruit around their respective schools struggle to find the talent that exists in the South. Naturally, that’s part of the reason why members of the SEC find more success, or Texas schools and southern California schools

compete better than the Big Ten. “We’ve got a lot of good football teams in our conference,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz in the teleconference. “I think the teams have represented the conference very well, and I’m sure they’ll continue to. I’m happy certainly when anybody in the league wins.” It’s tough for the Big Ten to boast that it has the oldest program in college football when Rutgers has long been a laughingstock. Having the winningest program doesn’t mean as much when the Wolverines have won just two out of four games this year. There’s a narrative about the Big Ten’s inferiority, but it is unfair, says Hayes. Teams like LSU or Oregon are perennial powers and tough to beat, regardless of which team is playing them. “I’m aware of what’s going on in the conference

“I think the teams have represented the conference well.”

with other teams,” said Penn State coach James Franklin on Tuesday. “But I don’t really study it or spend a whole lot of time thinking about it or being concerned about it.” So when Michigan coach Brady Hoke says his team’s goal of winning the Big Ten is still possible, he could be right. The state of the Big Ten right now is up in the air, and one upset alters the way the rest of the conference shakes out — ask Wisconsin, which finished 4-4 in league play and still won the Big Ten Championship in 2012. The state of the Big Ten allows a team like Michigan to have a chance to win it, even after its 2-2 start to the season. It sticks in the minds of poll voters and the selection committee that chooses the four teams for this year’s playoff. “They say they’re 13 different minds, but how can what has happened over the last decade not slip into their mindset when they’re picking between Team A and Team B?” Hayes said. But when you’re stuck in the shadows, it’s tough not to.