CELEBRATING OUR ONE-HUNDRED TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Monday, November 10, 2014
Ann Arbor, Michigan
michigandaily.com
BANKRUPTCY CASE
GOVERNMENT
New fiscal plan for Detroit approved by court Judge Rhodes deems adjustment plan feasible as city exits bankruptcy proceedings By NEALA BERKOWSKI Daily Staff Reporter
DETROIT — In the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse Friday afternoon, Judge Steven Rhodes determined Detroit’s proposed plan of adjustment is feasible, marking a new chapter for the city as it exits bankruptcy. The decision comes more than a year after the city of Detroit became the largest municipality to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy in U.S. history. The decision states that the city filed for bankruptcy in good faith, that the plan of adjustment is feasible, passes “fair and equitable” and that it is in the best interest of creditors. In his decision, Rhodes wrote to the city of Detroit at large, thankSee DETROIT, Page 3A
TERESA MATHEW/Daily
Members of the Indian American Student Association perform in “Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity,” the organization’s annual cultural dance show, Friday at Hill Auditiorium.
Cultural show celebrates ‘Spark of Festivity’ Annual IASA event highlights pageantry of Indian festivals
By TANYA MADHANI Daily Staff Reporter
The 31st Annual Indian American Student Association cultural show filled Hill Auditorium Friday evening. This year the show was titled
“Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity” and featured 10 different dance groups, each representing a different Indian festival. The balcony section of the show was packed with University students, students from other schools and IASA alumni, as everyone stood for the American and Indian national anthems performed by 58 Greene and Maize Mirchi, respectively. When the lights dimmed, the balconies chanted the show’s name as the introduc-
tory video for Kalyara played on two screens at each side of the Hill stage. The audience chanted “Raas” as the first dance group, Raas, took the stage by forming the block ‘M,’ with maize and blue lighting behind them. Three hours before the show, the Classical dance group was huddled in Room A on the third floor of the League. Most of the girls in the group had begun an extensive process of spraying their hair down, applying meticulous
makeup and pinning jewelry. It took three different people to get one girl ready head-totoe with her outfit, makeup, hair and jewelry. The three choreographers for Classical, LSA sophomore Sahithi Akasapu, Ross senior Ishika Rajan and LSA junior Kinari Shah, had been at the League since noon. This year marked the return of the Classical dance group after missing the show last year. Rajan said she and the other See IASA, Page 3A
Dems.’ Senate legacy rides on Peters
Lone new Democratic senator to follow Carl Levin’s 35-year run By SHOHAM GEVA Daily Staff Reporter
Over the two-year lead up to Tuesday’s midterm elections, six Democratic U.S. senators announced their retirement, including one from Michigan, Sen. Carl Levin (D), a 35-year veteran of the upper chamber. Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D–Detroit) won the election to succeed him, beating out Republican challenger Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Secretary of State, to become the next U.S. senator from Michigan. The win was a unique one for Democrats in a night that saw the GOP wrest control of the SenSee ELECTIONS, Page 3A
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CSG, ‘I Will’ campaign launch workshops to discuss sexual assault Participating in national dialogue, new program lays foundation for action By WILL GREENBERG Daily News Editor
PHOTOS BY ROBERT DUNNE AND MCKENZIE BREZIN/Daily
As a part of the University’s Vetrans Day celebrations, University veterans participate in the fifth annual Army-Navy wheelchair basketball game at Chrisler Arena Sunday.
Annual basketball game honors veterans Army, Navy ROTC programs face off in wheelchair rivalry By EMILIE PLESSET Daily Staff Reporter
Instead of tennis shoes, rubber wheels raced back and forth around Crisler Center Sunday night as part of the fifth annual
Army vs. Navy Wheelchair Basketball game in honor of Veterans Day. The game was the final event of the University’s Investing in Ability Week and the second event of the University’s weeklong celebration of the nation’s armed forces. About 52 University veterans of the United States Navy and Army, as well as University ROTC cadets and professional wheelchair basketball players,
battled against each other in the popular rivalry game. Team USA Paralympians Scot Severn, an army veteran and member of the Paralympic track and field team, and Paul Schulte, co-captain of the United States Paralympian basketball team, also participated in the event. “Veterans Day comes and it goes and you think, ‘OK have I done anything meaningful with this,’” Shulte said. “This is
a chance to help celebrate along with them.” While Navy beat Army for the second year in a row with a score of 44-37, the game brought the two branches of the armed forces together to honor those who have served. “It’s an opportunity to say thank you to the many people that served,” said Gerald Hoff, the event’s organizer and an See WHEELCHAIR, Page 3A
As conversations on sexual assault continues to grow on campus, the Central Student Government has partnered with the I Will campaign to facilitate peer-to-peer efforts to address the issue. Sunday morning, a group of more than 20 students attended a workshop to discuss education, awareness and resources, as each relates to sexual assault prevention. The meeting was the first of several meetings meant to build a foundation for future action. CSG President Bobby Dishell, a Public Policy senior, and LSA senior Hannah Crisler, director of I Will, hosted the event and invited Engineering Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen; Jen Wegner, assistant director of Student Affairs for the School of Engineering and Holly RiderMilkovich, director of the Sexual
Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, to help facilitate group discussion. While students had varied affiliations with different groups and schools on campus, the workshop was designed to include students already passionate about the issue themselves. Students from across campus, student government representatives among them, shared thoughts on where the University has fallen short in handling sexual assault and offered ideas of how to improve. However, this first workshop was not focused on finding immediate solutions. Organizers acknowledged the importance of first removing the stigma surrounding the discussion of sexual assault and aimed to consider new ideas to tackle the issue. “We are in a marathon, not a sprint,” Rider-Milkovich told the room. Still, by the end of the session, the attendees landed on a handful of ideas that could be implemented in the near future. Most notably, the idea of expanding the required prevention training to all student groups — including clear language about sexual See CSG, Page 2A
Thank God it’s over It wasn’t pretty — almost laughable — but Michigan hung on to beat Northwestern
» INSIDE WEATHER TOMORROW
HI: 52 LO: 28
GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know.
NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Daniel Karr: Fostering bipartisan friendships MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS
INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 25 ©2014 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A SUDOKU..................... 2A OPINION.....................4A
ARTS........................... 5A CL ASSIFIEDS............... 5A S P O R T S M O N DAY. . . . . . . . . .1 B
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
2A — Monday, November 10, 2014
MONDAY: This Week in History
TUESDAY: Professor Profiles
WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers
THURSDAY: Student Profiles
RUN FOR(R)EST
CHANGES ON THE HOMEFRONT
Greek system hosts informal rush 70 years ago this week (Nov. 12, 1944)
40 years ago this week (Nov. 15, 1974)
20 years ago this week (Nov. 14, 1994)
Due to a drop in membership caused by conditions during the Second World War, the Pan-Hellenic Board announced that several houses including Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Xi Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha were approved to hold an informal rush process. Excluding first-semester freshmen, transfer students and eligible women were allowed to attend the three-day event held in the Undergraduate Office of the Michigan League. The Pan-Hellenic Rushing Regulations were strictly upheld during the informal rush process.
University enrollment of Black students declined from 7.3 percent to 7 percent over the course of an academic year. These numbers fell short of the 10-percent mark set in place by regents in 1970 following the Black Action Movement (BAM) strike. Opportunity Program Director George Goodman said the University could be “reasonably expected” to meet this quota by the 1975-76 academic year. The regents promised to the meet this 10 percent mark by the fall of 1973.
The Wolverines came out victorious in their game against the Minnesota Gophers, earning the Little Brown Jug for the eighth consecutive season with a score of 38-22. The team was down 15-7 at the end of the first half, but came back in the second half behind three touchdown passes by quarterback Todd Collins. Collins set the Michigan single-game passing record with 352 yards in the air. With his second score of the game, Wheatley set a new Michigan career scoring record of 318 points. — BECKY WEILAND
THE FILTER
From the vault Women’s diving BY VANESSA WONG
BY CAROLYN KODIS
Daily Arts reporter Vanessa Wong explores Krzyszt Kieslowski’s “Three Colors” movie trilogy, looking at the way storylines and themes from each come together throughout the series of films.
The team won against Penn State this weekend. Senior diver Carey Chen finished first place twice in a row on the three-meter springboard and one-meter board. Junior diver Sarah Kamstra placed second on one-meter board.
THE FILTER
WHAT: University social media director Nikki Sunstrum will discuss the coming of age process through the lens of online engagement and answer audience questions. WHO: Center for Campus Involvement WHEN: Today at 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Michigan Union, Au Bon Pain
“Girls” review
The 1975
BY CATHERINE SULPIZIO
BY ARIANA ASSAF
Daily Arts discusses observations from the trailer for season four of Lena Dunham’s critically acclaimed comedy series “Girls” on HBO. The trailer explores ongoing conflicts between the six main characters.
Daily Arts covers the performance of the 1975 at the Filmore in Detroit earlier this week. As Assaf writes, “the four band members ... were jamming through their nightly routine and loving it,” in this nostalgic performacne.
WHAT: African Studies scholars and digital humanities researchers will discuss the role of new technology in the study of African history. Registration is required. WHO: African Studies Center WHEN: Today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Erlicher Room, North Quad
unable to adequately process incident reports between 2012 and 2013. This year, students have continued the discussion through the “Carry the Weight” campaign and CSG’s participation in the national “It’s On Us” campaign. Crisler said I Will, which is now in its fourth semester at the University, has started working with the Athletic Department to provide basic sexual assault prevention training classes. She said they have not done work with the Interfraternity Council yet, but she agreed with the idea of creating informative signs at parties. Crisler was aware of the demands on the Diag but said I Will is not specifically working toward achieving those specific aims. While Sunday’s event only yielded a couple dozen students, Dishell, Rider-Milkovitch and the other organizers acknowledged that different people from different communities have varying needs and hope to include as many voices as possible moving forward. Crisler said having a diverse set of contributors is something she has prioritized but stressed that it must be done in the right
Business Manager 734-418-4115 ext. 1241 dougsolo@michigandaily.com
Newsroom
News Tips
734-418-4115 opt. 3
news@michigandaily.com
Corrections
Letters to the Editor
corrections@michigandaily.com
tothedaily@michigandaily.com
Arts Section
Editorial Page
arts@michigandaily.com
opinion@michigandaily.com
Sports Section
Photography Section
sports@michigandaily.com
photo@michigandaily.com
Display Sales
Classified Sales
dailydisplay@gmail.com
classified@michigandaily.com
Online Sales
Finance
onlineads@michigandaily.com
finance@michigandaily.com
kgburke@michigandaily.com jcalfas@michigandaily.com
SENIOR NEWS EDITORS: Ian Dillingham, Sam Gringlas, Will Greenberg, Rachel Premack and Stephanie Shenouda ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS: Allana Akhtar, Neala Berkowski, Claire Bryan, Shoham Geva, Amabel Karoub, Emma Kerr, Thomas McBrien, Emilie Plesset, Michael Sugerman and Jack Turman
EUGENE STAYT/Daily
Runners depart on a 5K route at a fundraiser race sponsered by Habitat for Humanity Sunday in the Arb.
WHAT: Oscar-winning filmmaker Malcolm Clarke will screen two of his award-winning documentaries, Prisoner of Paradise and The Lady. A discussion will follow. WHO: Residential College WHEN: Today from 5 to 10 p.m. WHERE: East Quadrangle, Keene Theater
African studies Free concert WHAT: The Campus symposium Symphony Orchestra and
THE FILTER
Editor in Chief 734-418-4115 ext. 1251 pjshahin@michigandaily.com
Katie Burke Managing Editor Jennifer Calfas Managing News Editor
Online lecture Film screening
SPORTS
420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com PETER SHAHIN DOUGLAS SOLOMON
EDITORIAL STAFF
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
ON THE WEB... michigandaily.com
FRIDAY: Photos of the Week
the Campus Philharmonia Orchestra will offer a free performance for the public. WHO: School of Music, Theater and Dance WHEN: Today at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Hill Auditorium CORRECTIONS l Please report any error in the Daily to corrections@michigandaily.com.
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY
1
Two Americans held for two years in captivity in North Korea arrived back on American soil Saturday, CBS reported. Their release was brokered through a visit by James Clapper, Jr., U.S. director of national intelligence, to the country.
2
The Michigan men’s soccer team’s season ended Sunday with a 1-0 loss in the Big Ten quarterfinals. The Wolverines fell at Ohio State and will miss the NCAA Tournament. >> FOR MORE, SEE SPORTSMONDAY
3
Citizens of Catalonia, an autonomous community under Spanish nationality, went to the polls to vote on independence Sunday, BBC News reported. Spain has declared the vote, which is non-binding, unconstitutional.
Megan McDonald and Daniel Wang Editorial Page Editors
opinioneditors@michigandaily.com
SENIOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Aarica Marsh and Victoria Noble ASSISTANT EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Matthew Seligman and David Harris
Greg Garno and Alejandro Zúñiga
Managing Sports Editors sportseditors@michigandaily.com
SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS: Max Cohen, Alexa Dettelbach, Lev Facher, Rajat Khare, Jake Lourim and Jeremy Summitt ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS: Max Bultman, Minh Doan, Daniel Feldman, Simon Kaufman, Erin Lennon, Jake Lourim and Jason Rubinstein
John Lynch and Akshay Seth Managing Arts Editors
jplynch@michigandaily.com akse@michigandaily.com
SENIOR ARTS EDITORS: Giancarlo Buonomo, Natalie Gadbois, Erika Harwood and Alec Stern ASSISTANT ARTS EDITORS: Jamie Bircoll, Jackson Howard, Gillian Jakab and Maddie Thomas
Teresa Mathew and Paul Sherman Managing Photo Editors
photo@michigandaily.com
SENIOR PHOTO EDITORS: Allison Farrand and Ruby Wallau ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS: Luna Anna Archey, Virginia Lozano, James Coller, McKenzie Berezin, and Nicholas Williams
Carolyn Gearig and Gabriela Vasquez Managing Design Editors
design@michigandaily.com
SENIOR DESIGN EDITORS: Amy Mackens and Alicia Kovalcheck
Carlina Duan Magazine Editor
statement@michigandaily.com
DEPUTY MAGAZINE EDITORS: Max Radwin and Amrutha Sivakumar STATEMENT PHOTO EDITOR: Ruby Wallau STATEMENT LEAD DESIGNER: Amy Mackens
Mark Ossolinski and Meaghan Thompson Managing Copy Editors
copydesk@michigandaily.com
SENIOR COPY EDITORS: Mariam Sheikh and Alisha Qiu
Austen Hufford
Online Editor
ahufford@michigandaily.com
VIDEO EDITORS: Paula Friedrich and James Reslier-Wells SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR: Brianne Johnson
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.
way. She said the best way is to create a welcoming, safe environment to everyone on campus and invite all voices rather than systematically find students of difassault prevention into the stuferent identities and recruit them dent honor code and requiring simply because they fit a certain Greek Life-affiliated parties to demographic. display signs specifying the defi“You don’t want to have peonitions of consent —was on the ple in the room voicing opinion list of demands anonymously because they are transgender, or posted on the Diag in October. because they are gay, or because CSG Vice President Emily they are Asian, or Latina, or AfriLustig, an LSA senior, said it’s can American,” she said. “You possible the ideas presented Sunwant those voices, but you don’t day could be presented as legwant them there just because islation at CSG meetings in the they identify as that.” coming weeks. Moving forward, Rider-Milkovich said she was Crisler and Dishell said they hope pleased with the event and supstudents will return to these ports the emphasis on trying Tim Ireland/AP Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, front right, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, front center, and leader of the work sessions, with an open invito educate students as part of Labour Party Ed Miliband, front left, hold wreaths during the service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, tation for more students to get a multi-level approach to tackLondon, Sunday. involved. ling the issue. The process was Issues with sexual assault on described to students as first campus came to the forefront last starting with short-term outwinter following the report of comes —providing expertise to former kicker Brendan Gibbons’ students and motivating people permanent separation from the to get involved. The goals then University for violating the Stuprogress into ultimate outcomes, dent Sexual Misconduct Policy. including modified behavior, A CSG taskforce investigated the changed policies and changed University’s handling of the incipractices, and then finally longSudoku Syndication http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ dent and found that the administerm goals of better overall envitration mishandled the Gibbons ronment. the foot of the Cenotaph, built music, the march of around case and that the University was In an interview after the event, after World War I to remember 10,000 veterans, and the sense Rider-Milkovich discussed the those who lost their lives. that Britain and much of the feasibility of some of the ideas Large crowds, including a Commonwealth has come to from the meeting. She echoed leather-lunged enthusiast who a halt to recognize those who University President Mark managed to shout “Hooray” have lost their lives in battle. Schlissel’s loudly enough to be picked Prime Minister David CamEASY remarks on mandating fraternities put up signs, saying it up by national television, eron called this year’s event would be an overstep of the UniLONDON (AP) — Queen Eliz- thronged the surrounding particularly poignant because versity administration’s power, abeth II honored fallen soldiers streets on a cold, clear day in 2014 marks the 100th anniverwith the Greek system being govfrom Britain and the Common- the capital. sary of the start of World War erned primarily by IFC and the wealth Sunday in a dignified The annual ceremony I. He also cited the 70th annihouses being private property. ceremony at the heart of cen- remains a national focal point, versary of the D-Day landings Rider-Milkovich did emphatral London. much as it was when Elizabeth and the conclusion of Britain’s size the influence of alcohol on The 88-year-old monarch was a young princess. There military operations in Afghansexual assault incidents. placed a poppy-laden wreath at is the mournful symphonic istan. She also provided her definition of “rape culture,” a term used by a couple of students on experienced the harm,” she said. areas that need improvement some of the new ideas back to her Sunday and one often used when However, she said she liked are SAPAC education on North school. discussing assaults at parties. the idea of getting students Campus and reaching out more Presley said art installations She explained that it’s a national more involved in education and to male survivors, students with can actually be a good outlet trend — not just something that empowering their peers — one disabilities and veterans, among to share experiences for survithe University experiences. She idea along those lines was a type others. vors — she gave the example of added that media and social of “guerilla campaign” where Art & Design senior Anica whiteboards where people are norms heavily influence this cul- students would flyer and give out Presley, a member of the CSG welcomed to contribute. She said ture and too often the tendency is stickers across campus. She also Assembly, attended the event and it promotes anonymity and typito blame the survivor of an inci- advocated strongly for bystand- said sexual assault prevention is cally creates better discussion. dent. er intervention intiatives and a topic she has been interested “I definitely will follow up on “(People) inappropriately improving training for students in for a while, particularly in the guerilla intervention,” she © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com SQUIRTLE. place the emphasis for preven- so they feel comfortable stepping light of recent events on campus. said. “Unannounced art work can tion or inappropriately place the into a situation if necessary. She said she intends to return to be really influential in how peoresponsibility on theatperson who Rider-Milkovich said other future meetings, hoping to bring ple interact with the space.” Generate and solve Sudoku, Super Sudoku and Godoku puzzles sudokusyndication.com!
CSG From Page 1A
SUDOKU
8
5
9
6
7
3
2
7
1
4
5
2
7
2
4
6
3
6
5
9 7
5
4
4
9
6 7
8
9
1
9
Queen leads U.K. in WWI ceremony This year marks 100th anniversary of the beginning of the ‘Great War’
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
DETROIT From Page 1A ing its residents for their engagement and activity throughout the proceedings. “A large number of you told me that you were angry that your City was taken away from you and put into bankruptcy,” he wrote. “I heard you. I urge you now not to forget your anger. Your enduring and collective memory of what happened here, and your memory of your anger about it, will be exactly what will prevent this from ever happening again. It must never happen again.” In a press conference following Judge Rhodes’ decision, Governor Rick Snyder, Mayor Mike Duggan, Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, City Council President Brenda Jones, lead mediator Judge Rosen and Court Administrator David Weaver thanked the court and each other for cooperation. “I think what you saw today was the best of us,” Orr said. “The best of Detroiters, the best of Michiganders, the best of Americans.” Rosen said the amount of cooperation between the three branches of government will be the legacy of this bankruptcy and that the goal was not for this case to precedent setting. “I think the legacy of this bankruptcy will be teamwork,” he said. “All the folks you see up here at one point or another throughout the bankruptcy worked together.” Duggan said Detroiters are already able to feel some of the positive changes to city services with the plan of adjustment, adding that “every Detroiter owes Judge Rhodes a debt of gratitude.” The city has been implementing some of these changes over the past five or six months, and will also add an additional police officers and 200 firefighters. Last week, Detroit had its fastest EMS response time in 12 years.
ELECTIONS From Page 1A ate, securing at least seven new seats, including the seat of every other retiring senator — in some states, results will be determined by a second runoff vote — and a majority in both branches of Congress. That sweep means that Peters will be entering a significantly different Senate than the one Levin will leave at the end of December. Levin is the current chair of the Armed Services committee, one of the senate’s most powerful and prestigious, and the fourth most senior member overall. “Now, because the Republicans control the Senate, it’s going to be an entirely different scenario,” said Aaron Kall, director of the University’s Debate Team and expert on election politics, of Peters’ prospects in the Senate. “It’s a completely different kind of scenario going in as the minority party, and I think (Peters) is certainly going to try to chart his own path, in doing it from a different perspective.” Levin’s legacy — and ensuring it was continued — was a significant focus throughout the campaign for Democrats. At a rally leading up to the election in October, U.S Rep. Sandy Levin (D–Royal Oak), Carl Levin’s brother, emphasized the importance of keeping the seat Democratic, referencing the fact that Democrats have struggled to turn out voters during the midterm elections. “You can sum it up this way,” Levin told the crowd. “2016 can wait. And that’s especially true as to who’s going to be the senator. My brother ... he’s up North campaigning for this ticket and we owe him gratitude. He never gives up fighting. This is what all of us face — who’s going to carry on his work of 36 years?” When it comes down to their policies, Sen. Levin and Peters share both similarities and a few
News
In the closing arguments of Detroit’s bankruptcy trial Oct. 27, the city’s legal representation asked Rhodes to confirm Detroit’s broadly consensual plan that would discharge $7 billion in claims and reinvest $1.7 billion in the city. The court also decided the cuts to pensions are reasonable, despite some employees who argued their pensions were protected under the Michigan Constitution, and city assets like works in the Detroit Institute of Art could be sold to pay for pensions. Rhodes said he wouldn’t be surprised if some pensioners appealed the decision but he predicts the likelihood of success on an appeal is about 25 percent. He added that court must acknowledge that these cuts will lead to hardship, in some cases severe, but that sacrifice is necessary in order for the city to be fixed. Everyone involved in the plan will be “making sacrifices to contribute to this process and the city’s future,” Rhodes said. The DIA settlement was also declared favorable for the city and creditors. The court agreed with the DIA’s argument — the art is held under a public trust and that certain pieces of donated artwork had specific restrictions on their transfer. “The DIA stands at the center of the city as an invaluable beacon of culture,” Rhodes said, “To sell the DIA art would forfeit the city’s future.” Rhodes also approved all aspects of the grand bargain — the agreement which removed ownership of the DIA from the city of Detroit — and other agreements like the state contribution agreement, the LTGO settlement and fees. Though creditors have argued that raising taxes or selling DIA art could lead to creditors being paid back more, the court decided that in compliance with Chapter 9, creditors have received all that is reasonable given the current situation. ““It is a vast understatement to say that the pension settlement is reasonable. It borders on
the miraculous,” Rhodes wrote in the decision. “No one could have foreseen this result for the pension creditors when the City filed this case. The plan’s proposal is only possible because of the pension settlement and the Grand Bargain.” Rhodes said raising taxes would lead to further population decline, and increases in property taxes would generate little additional revenue. In the latest Census Bureau report, the city dropped to having only 700,000 residents. Rhodes also agreed that the city has made an effort to monetize other city assets, such as the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Bruce Bennett, the attorney from law firm Jones Day who is representing the city, spent a good portion of his time at the closing arguments discussing the feasibility of the plan, highlighting the two major qualifications: that the city meets its financial obligations and be able to recover and provide adequate city services. The next steps for Detroit will be to improve its municipal services, which have been unable to protect the health and wellbeing of Detroiters, Rhodes said. “Detroit’s inability to provide municipal services runs deep, and it has for years,” he said. “It is inhumane and intolerable and it must be fixed. This plan can fix these problems.” The court also agreed with Martha Kopacz, a court-appointed expert, who testified that Detroit’s plan of adjustment is feasible. Rhodes confirmed three components of feasibility: the long term workability of the plan, the available capital resources to carry out the plan, and the commitment of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit City Council to implement the plan. Attorney David Heiman thanked Rhodes on behalf of everyone in the courtroom, for sense of fairness, intelligence, poking and prodding and sense of humor. He also said that Detroit would not be here today if it were not for him.
notable differences. Levin made foreign policy a major focus of his tenure, serving on the Armed Services Committee and related committees on intelligence and national security. He has also worked on a variety of economic policy issues: he is a senior member on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and the co-chair of the Senate’s Auto Caucus. He also serves as the co-chair of the Great Lakes Senate Task Force. Earlier this year, along with Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D–Michigan) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D–New Hampshire), Levin and Peters introduced a bill to provide more capital for small businesses to grow and expand, reflecting their shared economic focuses on small business. Peters ran on a platform that also included raising the minimum wage, supporting the Affordable Care Act, pay equity and protecting the environment. Like Levin, he has emphasized the Great Lakes as part of his environmental protection platform, holding a tour at the start of his campaign to talk to local businesses about their relationships with the Lakes. Throughout the campaign, Peters did not focus on foreign policy, but in a September e-mail interview, Zade Alsawah, deputy communications director for the Peters campaign, said Peters viewed sending troops to war “the toughest decision a Member of Congress could make,” and referenced his 12 years of experience in the U.S Navy Reserve. However, Kall said due to the nature of the current Senate many of those policies, shared with Levin or not, may not be feasible for Peters, at least for his first few years. “Once he gets to the Senate, with the new map and the new reality and the Republicans in charge, I think that many of his prominent agenda items are going to have to be scaled back a little bit, and if legislation is passed in Congress, it’ll have to
be more conciliatory,” he said. Several of those issues, minimum wage in particular, did not make it through Congress this legislative session when the Senate was under Democratic control. While Peters won’t have the seniority and corresponding influence Levin has, he was the only Senate candidate to campaign with the president, standing on the stage with him at a Detroit rally three days before the election. Kall said that choice could give him an advantage in terms of influence from another source. “As far as the new senators go, he could have the best relationship with the president, because while others were — because of the president’s low approval ratings and sentiment in the country — not willing to embrace the president, he was out front by himself.”
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
@MICHIGANDAILY
Monday, November 10, 2014 — 3A
TERESA MATHEW/Daily
Members of IASA. the University’s Indian American Student Association take dance in “Kalyara: The Spark of Festivity,” the organization’s annual cultural dance show Friday at Hill Auditorium.
IASA From Page 1A choreographers had been preparing their routine since the summer. “We started towards the end of the summer and we finished midSeptember, so we did it in pieces,” Rajan said. “But the whole thing we worked on in three weeks to a month.” Because IASA does not have an audition process for their cultural dance show, members for each group are chosen through a lottery system. “It’s really hard to teach classical to people that aren’t trained,” she said. “Most people who do classical dance have been dancing for a very long time and a lot of girls haven’t ever danced, so that was really hard but it was really fun and they look really good now.” At the same time, 30 feet away in the basement of Hill Auditorium, cultural show co-chairs Ria Barad, a Ross senior, and Roshni Kalbavi, an LSA senior, gave out last minute directions to Show Core, the team that helps orga-
WHEELCHAIR From Page 1A insurance representative at the University of Michigan Health System. “It’s an opportunity to make the University of Michigan campus more veteran and disability friendly.” The event, which was free to the public, included performances by the University Dance and Cheer teams as well as the 338th Army Band between each quarter. Additionally, the University Tri-Service Color Guard performed the National Anthem. Vietnam veteran Mike Lantry, a University alum and former Michigan football player, was honored as the game’s Grand Marshal. After his discharge from the Army, Lantry walked onto the football team as a 23 year-old freshman and played
nize and produce the IASA cultural show every year. Barad and Kalbavi were already dressed in formal saris three hours before the show. They huddled with the rest of Show Core, around a small monitor, to check the transition graphics that will be displayed between each dance and presentation. Barad and Kalbavi, who had not known each other before being co-chairs, have been working on the theme and execution of Kalyara since March. “We planned this show, but our show would be nothing without the students,” Barad said. “We have students putting in their time and effort and it’s their time and effort that makes our show good, not necessarily our planning. It is the collaboration of all these students that actually makes the show a success and that’s rewarding to watch every year.” Kalbavi said the booklets for the show were changed to reflect the festivity theme, with the transitions between each dances explaining what each festival represents. “We don’t want to be a religious show but we want to educate our
audience on different festivities that we celebrate, because it’s so different,” Kalbavi said. “I’m a South Indian, so I celebrate Pongal. But not everyone celebrates Pongal. There were a few festivals that I was educated on myself.” Barad said she hoped the audience in the show was exposed to the various cultures in India. “By sitting here, I can still learn about India,” Barad said. “There are so many different facets of India that even Indians don’t know. Even making these videos I’ve learned so much. Hopefully we’ll see that people learn something too while they’re here instead of just finding their friend on the stage.” Classical, which performed fourth, mixed their soundtrack with both classical Indian rhythms and modern music, such as the instrumental version of MIA’s “Bad Girls.” “We have fusion dances, for example, that put together songs that I didn’t think could ever be played the same minute,” Barad said. “Songs that appease your parents and songs that probably make them skeptical and it’s just amazing to see the students put this together.”
under Bo Schembechler in the early 1970s. Lantry later played for the Dallas Cowboys. “I’m really proud that I’m a veteran,” Lantry said. “So little has been talked about, it’s always been about football. It’s nice to be acknowledged as a veteran and I really appreciate that.” Hoff said the University community has embraced the event more than in previous years. Before the game started, about 40 student athletes met with
Lantry, Severn and Schulte, including University Basketball Coach John Beilein and the men’s basketball team, who discussed game strategies with the players. “It’s a great way to celebrate Veterans’ Day,” Hoff said. “It brings together our University of Michigan students, it brings together our general public and it’s one of the rare opportunities that they get to meet some of these veterans and actually get to see them play.”
Opinion
Page 4A — Monday, November 10, 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
MEGAN MCDONALD and DANIEL WANG EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS
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.
KEVIN CHUNG | MICHIGAN IN COLOR
That’s not me When Peter Griffin got in a feud with Mr. Washee Washee, the owner of Super Cowboy USA Hot Dog Rocket Ship American Cleaners Number One in an episode of Family Guy, I couldn’t help but sigh. Once again, the stereotypical accent was there. Once again, the absurd names were there. Once again, the hostile foreigner typecast was there. Once again. Watching this made me reflect on a dialogue session last semester about the poor media representation of minority groups. From this session, I became frustrated about how I do not see myself on TV, in movies, in magazines, or in most media forms. I first want to say that I acknowledge the harmful and dangerous media portrayal of other minority groups, and I do not mean to deduct any attention or significance from their perspective. My goal is not to claim who has it worse, or that other representations are no longer relevant. This isn’t to discount the skewed media representation of AsianAmerican women and other women of color, or how heteronormative our media representation can be. This is my frustration, identifying as a Chinese American man, with the media industry. We exist — I exist, but not in the typecasted manner found on TV or in movies. I am not a token socially awkward nerd. I am not the austere owner of a Chinese restaurant, nail salon, or dry cleaners. I’m not a wise kungfu master who will teach you how to channel your inner xi. I’m not a fetishized exotic flamboyant Asian. That’s not who I am. I am more than that; we are more than that. I’m tired of being the quiet side character. I want to see that I can be the lead character, and not just a neighbor or side story. I want to see that I can model the latest fall fashions alongside my white peers. I want to see a show that isn’t solely centered around my ethnic identity. I want to see a show that doesn’t
cast a Korean person as a Chinese character, or pretend to speak Japanese when it’s really Vietnamese. I want to see a show that doesn’t cast the Chinese character as the know-it-all brainiac who makes others feel incompetent. And I’m tired of being desexualized and emasculated by the media. I want to be more than narrow lines for eyes and a bucktooth for a smile. I want people to see my sexy features unskewed; my taste in fashion, the curves of my lips, the crescent of my eyes, and my killer smile. I want to see that I’m capable of developing a relationship without mockery that my partner could do better. I want to see that I’m desirable, and not in a fetishized way. I want to see that my beauty is not limited to the only other Asian character on the cast. I do want to acknowledge that there are some better Asian-American representations in the media. For example, ABC is airing a new series called “Fresh Off The Boat” based on Eddie Huang’s experiences of being an ethnic minority in a predominantly white setting. But let’s not stop there. I refuse to passively accept the harmful ways I’m portrayed. I refuse to idly let these racist media typecasts represent me; to propagate a false image of the Chinese-American identity. This destructive narrative needs to change. No more typecasting. No more exotification. No more desexualization. I have a voice. I am plural. I am a stunning, sexy Chinese-American man finding my way in a white patriarchal society who is significant enough to have my own narrative and can take the spotlight. Let’s see that on TV. Michigan in Color is the Daily’s opinion section designated as a space for and by students of color at the University of Michigan. To contribute your voice or find out more about MiC, e-mail michiganincolor@umich.edu.
LINDSAY HURWITZ | VIEWPOINT
A misleading representation Oct. 8, 2014, was a beautiful, sunny day in Michigan, one of those rare days where even the weather seems to be telling you that nothing can go wrong. After my last class I walked from the MLB to the UGLi to finish up some work. However, upon walking through the Diag I was faced by a mock checkpoint supposed to be representing the walls between the Israeli and Gaza borders. I peacefully approached the makeshift desk and simply asked someone to explain what was being demonstrated. I soon found myself surrounded by pro-Palestinian students, each quickly throwing out arguments one after another to explain why the wall is unfair and a disgrace to human rights. They concluded by claiming that Israel is an “apartheid state,” which was my cue to step in. The walls stationed in the Diag created the illusion that there is a humongous, thick, impenetrable wall between Israel and Gaza. But, this barrier is actually mostly fence. In fact, less than 5 percent of the barrier is actually concrete wall — the rest being a fence. The less than 5 percent that is concrete was instituted in order to protect civilians from sniper fire, leaving the rest of the barrier to be composed of chain link or barbed wire. Simply claiming that this security fence is unjust is a blatant disregard of the correlation between the end of suicide bombings and this barrier. As I iterated to the pro-Palestinian students that day, I am not making a blanket statement that all Gazans are dangers to the Israeli society. However, observing the connection between the decrease in suicide bombings and the creation of the barrier is critical. Since the barrier was constructed, suicide bombings in Israel have become incredibly infrequent. Still, this demonstration in the Diag alludes to the idea that only Israel is so harsh as to implement a barrier on its border. Yet, many borders have barriers, including the very country we live in. The border fence between the United States and Mexico is not nearly as closely scrutinized by the international community, as maintaining a checkpoint where people cross from one country to another is considered a standard practice. The Ceuta border fence between Spain and Morocco exists in order to stop illegal immigration and smuggling. In fact, this fence is composed of barbed wire and watchmen as well. So too, the security fences between Israel and Gaza have helped limit terrorism, drug smuggling and other crimes within Israel. The implementation of the
security barrier has directly impacted the decrease in suicide bombings, smuggling and terrorism, which cannot be ignored. The aspect of my conversation with these students that sticks out the most in my mind is the lie that Israel is an apartheid state. All Israeli citizens are granted equal rights under Israeli law. Actually, there are numerous Palestinians residing in Israel who work there and are properly paid. Israel causes no harm to these Palestinians, and to the contrary, helps them sustain proper lives in Israel. Palestinians are denied many rights in places like Lebanon, and women are denied basic human rights in countries like Saudi Arabia. In fact, 24 percent of Israeli citizens are considered to be Arab, and many of these Arabs serve in the country’s legislature. Arabs are cared for by Israeli hospitals and learn in Arab-Israeli schools because Arabic is considered an official Israeli language. Israeli citizens include whites, Blacks, Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians, atheists and more. Each of these people maintain the right to vote and is equally permitted in all public places. To the contrary, since 1997 the Palestinian Authority has declared that selling any amount of Gazan property to an Israeli is considered treason — punishable by death. But, these facts are blatantly ignored in the pro-Palestinian checkpoint demonstration, making Israel seem an unlawful and shameful country. Additionally, Operations Solomon, Moses and Joshua airlifted approximately 35,000 Ethiopian Jews who were impoverished in other lands to start anew in Israel. The state of Israel maintains a law granting Muslim power Waqf control over Arab holy sites — along with the Jewish Temple Mount, the holiest site for the Jews. Israel is a progressive and liberal democracy, one that allows free press, complete religious freedoms, full rights for women and minorities, recognizes gay marriage and holds free elections. While I fully support the right of the pro-Palestinian students on this campus to present their side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I felt that these students blurred the lines between Palestine awareness and antiIsrael sentiments. I recognize that this debate is heated and incredibly complex, yet I find it an injustice to a country that I love to enable these falsehoods to be spread effortlessly on my campus. Lindsay Hurwitz is an LSA sophomore and a CAMERA fellow.
M
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
The paradox of Adderall
y family is big on medication. Ever since I was little, if I had the slightest headache, my mom shoved two capsules of Advil into my hands and told me to go and lie down. In Ms. Sweigart’s fifth grade class, after I I’d gotten a C+ on a science test I ABBY hadn’t studied for, TASKIER I sat down with both Ms. Sweigart and my mom in the science classroom, posters of the periodic table and Einstein cloaking the walls, and spoke about the ways in which I could improve my study habits. With tears streaming down my face, because, after all, getting a C+ in fifth grade meant a lifetime of failure, we spoke about the possibility of introducing Adderall into my daily diet. This aim for my academic success didn’t take shape until ninth grade, when homework required more than the filling out of worksheets. I went to a psychiatrist, a kind woman who prescribed me a low dosage of Adderall — “boosters” — she called them, for those times in the middle of the day when I just couldn’t seem to focus. For those instances requiring long-term concentration, she prescribed me a bottle of high dosage Adderall. “Only to be taken on rare occasions,” she had said, smiling. Well, upon reflection, throwing bottles of stimulants at a lazy 14-yearold doesn’t seem to yield what my parents had hoped would be outstanding results. And contrary to our belief systems at the time, medication cannot be substituted for motivation. I began to take the pills, but not during the day, when class material became so daunting that I’d instead revert to teenage fantasies in my head rather than attempt engagement. Instead it was during the nighttime, when the only living things awake were me and the birds cooing outside of my window. This practice was maintained throughout my four years of high school. I left all of my work until the last minute, and many times, until after the deadline, because my enabler — Adderall — ensured that I’d produce something eventually. On Adderall, I didn’t just feel efficient, I felt like a motherfucking genius. My eyes scurried over pages upon pages of texts in a matter of hours — texts assigned for weeks’ worth of consumption. I wrote what I believed to be papers with highly sophisticated argumentation clouded by hundreds of typos and heaps of incoherency. But my brain became a flawless generator of insight, and its consistent ability to counteract my academic apathy in the presence of
stimulants became a means for an addiction. What accompanied my brain during those quiet nights and early mornings, though, were heart palpitations, headaches and aggressive pangs of agitation. When I’d arrive at school the following, with the medication still pulsing through my veins, someone’s foot tapping on my chair could have caused me to chew my own hand off — or theirs. An addiction brought on by the need for academic success became socially, emotionally and physically debilitating. And frighteningly, I’d never really considered it an addiction, until now, when I recall my legitimate inability to produce work without my elixir. Furthermore, I preferred to look into my teachers’ eyes, aware they’d read through my landscape of lies, rather than to simply trust my own intelligence. But what if this said more about unfair academic expectations than it did about me? During my senior year of high school, a mixed forum was held for students, teachers and parents alike to discuss what we’d gained from watching the 2010 documentary, “Waiting for Superman.” The film provides a commentary on the American public school system’s failures, and the ways in which kids have adopted ridiculously high expectations for themselves, causing them to be overworked. I myself was lucky enough to attend a well-resourced private school in Washington D.C., and the forum consisted of myself and other privileged students and parents discussing a school system which we knew virtually nothing about. Still, I sheepishly walked up to the podium and proposed this: what if some people just aren’t motivated by school? The responses varied. A couple of teachers afterwards commended my honesty, a parent took me aside to say, “I don’t think that’s true,” and surprisingly, many of my peers nodded in agreement. So maybe I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get pumped up about school, just the only one secretly killing myself with stimulants. I came to college with the hope that university courses would finally ensure my genuine interest in school, but alas, introductory level social sciences didn’t seem to change a now fiercely maintained commitment against formal education. Within the first two months of my freshman year, I registered with Counseling and Psychological Services in the attempt to hash out my real problem:
a lack of work ethic only aided by the few remaining capsules of Adderall buried in my drawers. During my second appointment with my baldheaded therapist with a flashy smile, he told me to pick up the plant in his office, hold it in between my arms and walk around for three minutes. I did so, skeptically, and once I put the plant down he asked, “Do you know what that was for? That was to show you the weight of your parents’ expectations.” Are you fucking serious? I was, for once, looking for constructive advice on how to utilize an education I had so miserably taken for granted, and in turn, I’d had to carry around a pot of lavender. I guess what has helped me get over the habit of self-medicating is finding classes that have actually mattered to me. Perspective is the only remedy for apathy, and my appreciation for my education has been founded upon a perspective I’ve gained from classes and extracurriculars alike. But the inability to make deadlines still haunts me, and procrastination is the bane of any college kid’s existence. Recently, a friend’s mom spoke to me about how the creator of “The West Wing,” Aaron Sorkin, would snort multiple lines of coke and splay hundreds of pieces of paper at his feet in order conjure up his critically acclaimed dialogue. “Hey!” I said, “That sounds like how I write papers!” No laughs were exchanged because dependency isn’t funny, it’s scary. I was medicated early on with the assumption that my unidentified aversion to putting forth effort would be cured. But what professionals should have encouraged was the pursuit to identify my aversion. If it became apparent that a rigid academic environment wasn’t right for me, then that should have been OK, because our modern definition of education is so boxed in that it doesn’t allow for us to exhibit our intelligence accordingly. I still sometimes use stimulants in a pinch, as do many of my friends, as do so many college students, sometimes for recreational use. But we, as students, as people, should learn to trust our intelligence and trust that our motivation will follow passion. And passion, I believe, will very rarely be found within the confines of a classroom. Also, I wrote this in two hours, just on coffee.
We need to learn to trust our intelligence and trust that our motivation will follow passion.
— Abby Taskier can be reached at ataskier@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Devin Eggert, David Harris, Rachel John, Jordyn Kay, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Michael Paul, Allison Raeck, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Mary Kate Winn, Jenny Wang, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe MICHAEL PAUL | VIEWPOINT
Not a ‘Michigan Man,’ but the right man Michigan football is at a crossroads. Whether University President Mark Schlissel likes it or not, his choice for Athletic Director could very well be a decision that defines his tenure. I know that there are more important things to life than football, but as one who genuinely bleeds maize and blue, I’m hard pressed to find an activity I enjoy more than scaring the green people in East Lansing. It’s something that we Wolverines take so much pride in. By leaving the post of Athletic Director, Dave Brandon has shifted the spotlight from himself to Schlissel and now it’s shining brighter than ever. The former Brown provost, not even five months on the job, has his work cut out for him. His pick can both restore order and help us contend for national championship, or drop us deeper into the doldrums of college football purgatory. He must tread carefully. When Dave Brandon hired Brady Hoke in 2011, much fanfare was made regarding Hoke’s previous ties to Michigan. Hoke served as part of Lloyd Carr’s staff from 1995 to 2002, carrying various
titles like defensive line coach and assistant head coach. Students and alumni were cheering for Hoke. Former players like Tom Brady and Charles Woodson endorsed the pick. Everyone loved the Hoke hire. Especially the fact that he was a Michigan Man. Let’s stop right there. What exactly is a Michigan Man? Is it someone who has attended the University in a certain capacity or is it someone who shares the same beliefs and values as the University? Whatever it is, those that asked for Hoke’s hire are currently asking for his head. And those that asked for Rich Rodriguez, the previous head coach, to step down because of the lack of ties to the University, now wish he never left. By the way, Rich Rod is now 7-2 at Arizona with notable victories over California and Oregon. It burns doesn’t it? Mediocre seasons like the current one and the past several give rise to a group of fickle fans and it is with this bandwagonnery (yes I made this word up) that I back President Schlissel in his decision to select the best person for the job of Athletic
Director, regardless of previous ties to the University. Let’s face it. If Michigan football was 9-0 right now and in some parallel universe, Brady Hoke happened to have ties to OSU (my fingers won’t allow me to type out the full name), we would all be ecstatic. Also, just because you don’t have ties to the University doesn’t mean you can’t acquire them. President Schlissel at a recent press conference said,“Despite the fact that I’ve been here for only 110 days, I feel like a ‘Michigan Man’ already.” The wolverine nature can be learned. The belief in integrity and working for each other are some values one can learn by attending this University and embracing its culture. Don’t get me wrong. I am in no way saying that if another football player was chosen to lead this athletic program, nepotism has occurred and the end of the world is near. I am just asking that the person being chosen for the job be picked based on merit and experience and that he/she believes that Michigan football deserves to be in a much better place than it is today. Michael Paul is an LSA junior.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and viewpoints. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while viewpoints should be 550-850 words. Send the writer’s full name and University affiliation. to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Monday, November 10, 2014 — 5A
MOVIE REVIEW
WARNER BROS.
Time is a flat circle, Renesmee.
USA
Welcome to Litchfield.
‘Interstellar’ falls Coupe shines bright under own weight in USA’s ‘Benched’ Despite special effects, Nolan’s latest doesn’t deliver By ANDREW MCCLURE Daily Arts Writer
Brace yourself for the inevitable philistine contending that B+ Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” trivializes time-folding State wormholes Theater, and ignores Rave and quantum Quality 16 mechanics. This movie Warner Bros. by and large demonstrates Nolan’s filmmaking prowess as both an entertainer (“The Dark Knight” ’s nocturnal, nihilistic Gotham) and deconstructionist (the limited nature of words in finding one’s identity in “Memento”). To a fault, “Interstellar” is a hyperambitious love letter that envelops time and space to remind us that only human connection will ultimately drive progress. Nolan likes to manipulate time in his films, typically to rediscover some form of lost love. Unlike his previous work, “Interstellar” augments his oeuvre by attempting to build, then break, hearts without sacrificing bent minds. He guns for the heart and mind, both equal in daring and sugariness. To not mince words, this film will leave even the most stoic jaws glued to their laps by its astonishing visual fireworks and umpteenthdimension hallucinogenics — an unashamed nod to Kubrick’s genre-establishing “2001: A Space Odyssey.” But Nolan (who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan), in its three-hour running time, creates a lean film to which the 80-20 rule applies: 80 percent of the visual awe-acrobatics, which borders at times on irksome incredulity, and backed by the 20 percent of lived-in, raw human feeling. However, this emotion and the script too often bleed with melodrama and poetic recitation: Dylan Thomas’s “Rage, rage, rage against the
Interstellar
dying of the light” might be the best line — and it was stolen. The film is set in the near future when World Series games are played on teeball-sized fields with empty bleachers because, well, who has time and money for recreation when people gotta eat? Matthew McConaughey plays Coop, a sharp former NASA pilot who turned farmer because the world “needs good farmers” as corn is one of the only not-yet-depleted resources left. Thanks to his super-inquisitive, mini-him daughter Murph (played young by newcomer Mackenzie Foy and all grown-up by Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”), the two discover the “best kept secret” in a U.S. that can’t afford to fund anything but farming: NASA’s underground headquarters. Much to Murph’s dismay, NASA elects Coop as chief pilot on a mission to find a new habitable planet. Father and daughter split on wretched terms. “Mankind was born on earth. It was never meant to die here,” Coop muses to former professor named Brand (played with assured elegance by Michael Caine, “The Dark Knight”). The shuttle mission to find a new home is crewed by Professor Brand’s daughter Amelia (played with typical theater-camp overacting by Anne Hathaway, “The Dark Knight Rises”) and two other astronauts. Once coasting from Earth’s atmosphere, the team lets witty robot TARS (standup comic version of HAL from “2001”) take the driver seat as they embark on a twoyear spaceflight nap toward a wormhole that will zip them to a new galaxy. I’m hard-nosed to say the wormhole traveling sequence reaches heights unseen in special effects artistry. The problem with this “ideal candidate” planet is that one hour there equates to seven years back on earth. Chop, chop, goes Coop, who wants to rekindle things with Murph before she checks into a nursing home. The remaining film, albeit grows closer to figuring out mankind’s destiny, rather revolves around family and promise. Nolan stretches to marry their microcosmic familial bond to the larger-
ALRIGHT ... WE’RE FUNNIER THAN MATT McCONAUGHEY
@MICHIGANDAILY
than-life predicament of saving the human race, but doesn’t ever make us care enough about the daddy-daughter detachment in the first place. It’s challenging, however, to not first mention McConaughey’s ace performance. The guy has had a peerless last few years and in “Interstellar,” we find him at his most altruistic, where lines are blurred between save-the-world explorer and unconditionally loving father. The Nolan brothers create some timely heart-wringing moments — none more lachrymose when Coop reviews his videoconference tapes from his kids. Decades later on Earth are merely hours for Coop. They grow up before his eyes in minutes. It’s overwhelming but profound. In post-production, Nolan simply gave resident musical composer Hans Zimmer a love letter from father to daughter, but without access to film footage. The result is a hair-raising score that meets the stunning imagery and, ultimately, an indecisive, tellall script at a crossroads: an occasionally emotive love story that humbles its space-cowboy ego without ever reconciling with the unrelenting sappiness.
By MATTHEW BARNAUSKAS
a case of culture shock. Having defended the rich, Nina now must represent the poor. Her coworkers are a group of misfits, most notably Phil Quinlan (Jay Harrington, “Better Off Ted”), a jaded, daydrinking lawyer. The pilot goes a little paint-by-numbers with Phil and Nina, playing off the pair’s immediate sexual tension, which is aided by Coupe’s chemistry with Harrington. As Phil tries to offer Nina a drink, “Did anybody ever tell you it’s rude to turn down a drink,” she counters, “Did anyone tell you that you talk like a date rapist.” Inside the courtroom Nina is a fish out of water, dealing with the grouchy and apathetic Judge Don Nelson (Fred Melamed, “In a World...”) who just wants to get through the day as fast as possible. Nelson is probably the most standout of the rest of the supporting cast, who are mostly relegated to the background, as his cantankerous personality clashes with Nina’s overachieving sensibilities. Also in the court as assistant district attorney is Trent (Carter McIntyre, “Drop Dead Diva”), Nina’s ex-fiancé. Trent’s barely defined, and the show makes it clear that all the audience really needs to know is he’s a douche. Written by series creators Michaela Watkins (“Saturday
Daily Arts Writer
The new USA comedy “Benched” doesn’t spend a lot of time waiting to play to its greatest strength, series star Eliza B+ Coupe. Having previously starred as Tuesdays Jane on the at 10:30 all too short– USA lived “Happy Endings,” Coupe continues to bring the type-A personality humor she utilized to “Benched” protagonist Nina Whitley. Nina is a high-strung, careerminded corporate lawyer who’s sacrificed almost all of her personal life to reach the top of her field. But when she loses out on the position as partner at her firm, Nina goes on a bridge-burning tirade. “I gave you everything for nothing!” Nina screams as she proceeds to smash possibly every breakable object in her reach. The breakdown is one of the episode’s greatest moments, and Coupe sells the absolute frustration that has boiled over in her character who proceeds to call out most of her colleagues before having to awkwardly wait for the elevator to go down. Now reduced to being a public defender, Nina finds herself in
Benched
Classifieds RELEASE DATE– Monday, November 10, 2014
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Night Live”) and Damon Jones (“G.I.L.F”), “Benched” takes a relatively smart look at the position of a woman in the profession of law. Despite her excellent track record, Nina struggles to gain recognition in the workplace. At her corporate firm she’s passed over by her male superior in favor of a younger, more attractive coworker. Postmeltdown, Nina’s turned into mostly a subject of gossip and is most noted for her breakdown and having slept with Trent. At one point Nina questions, “Is there any gossip out there about my good qualities?” as she’s been reduced by her coworkers to a parody of herself. The writing successfully passes off that even though Nina is out of her element, she is a smart and competent enough lawyer to successfully adjust to her new surroundings and earn the respect she deserves; therefore, her win at the end of the episode feels genuine and not contrived. A lot of credit for the successes of the episode goes to Coupe, who brings the necessary intelligence to the character of Nina while giving her the vulnerabilities that come with her uptight attitude. Even though the secondary cast needs some further definition, “Benched” can comfortably lean on its leading lady as it settles in.
Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com
FOR RENT
PARKING
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 Digital periodical, briefly 5 Part of CBS: Abbr. 9 Comics title character who married Irving 14 Kitchen floor covering, in Kent 15 __ Ness monster 16 Earth pigment 17 Sooner State city 18 Architectural Scurve 19 Rays of light 20 Taking the top spot 23 Roman fountain 24 Volcano in Sicily 25 “What’s happenin’?” 28 In the least favorable case 31 Brit’s “Bye-bye” 32 Cleopatra’s undoing 35 Slim and muscular 36 Annie with a gun 38 With 40-Across, remaining focused 40 See 38-Across 41 Gold purity measures 42 Brother of Cain 43 Item in a P.O. box 44 This, in Seville 45 Fed up with 48 For what reason 49 Capricorn’s animal 50 Creates 54 Betting it all 58 “Hot corner” base 60 Cowboys quarterback Tony 61 R&B singer India.__ 62 Exposed 63 Explorer __ the Red 64 Reject as false 65 Brass or bronze 66 CPR pros 67 It’s a long story DOWN 1 Put into office 2 Insignificant
3 Japanese cartoon style 4 Premium chocolate brand 5 Walk laboriously, as through mud 6 Quotable Berra 7 The stuff of many postcard photos 8 Burglaries 9 Hooded snake 10 King beaters 11 “It’s not true!” 12 Pants bottom 13 Decade tenths: Abbr. 21 Knucklehead 22 Chanted 26 Sch. with a Chattanooga campus 27 Subscriptionbased home entertainment 29 Churchill of the United Kingdom 30 Charity’s URL ending 31 Fight stopper, for short 32 Cockeyed 33 Hidden supply 34 Free-spirited socializer 37 Poise
39 Former NBA center __ Ming 40 U.K. award 42 Painting or sculpture 46 “No argument from me” 47 Electrical capacitance units 49 Dizzy with delight 51 Divided country 52 Barely managing, with “out”
53 Parting words, perhaps after the visit suggested by the starts of 20-, 38-/40- and 54-Across 55 Twistable cookie 56 Fail to mention 57 Mythical birds 58 TV schedule abbr. 59 Actor Holbrook
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
! NORTH CAMPUS 1-2 Bdrm. ! ! Riverfront/Heat/Water/Parking. ! ! www.HRPAA.com ! 5 AND 6 Bdrm Campus houses for 2015‑ 2016, check out Joyce Properties at www.joycea2.com AVAILABLE NOW! $745 or Best 344 S. Division‑ Efficiency Furnished, Water & Free Ethernet 734‑761‑8000 Primesh.com HOUSES AVAILABLE MAY 2015 8 Bdrms – 720 Arbor ‑ $5560 Tenantspayallutilities.ShowingsM‑F10‑ 3 w/ 24 Hr notice required. Call 734‑996‑1991 WWW.CARLSONPROPERTIES.COM 734‑332‑6000 WWW.CHURCHSTREETRENTALS.COM 734‑320‑1244 715/721 Church‑ Central Campus/Across from East Quad. 1 & 2 bdrm apts avail for 2015‑2016
xwordeditor@aol.com
11/10/14
SERVICES THESIS EDITING. LANGUAGE, organization, format. All Disciplines. 734/996‑0566 or writeon@iserv.net
HELP WANTED FULL TIME COMMERCIAL CLEANERS: CLEANING IN ANN ARBOR M‑F 7‑3:30PM. MUST PASS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECK AND DRUG SCREENING. www.aarocompanies.com or call 586‑759‑3700
By Teresa Colby (c)2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
11/10/14
THE LAWYERS CLUB Dining Service (551 S. State) is HIRING STUDENT STAFF for lunch and dinner. $9.00 hr and a meal during your shift CONTACT: Holly Downey hkdowney@umich.edu or 734.763.5161
“PRIME” PARKING FOR Sale 721 S. Forest “Forest Place” $125 per month~Paid in full up front Limited Passes Remaining Now thru April or August 2015 734‑761‑8000 primesh.com
Arts
6A — Monday, November 10, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
TV REVIEW
DISNEY
Michelin’s product placement is OUT OF CONTROL.
‘Big Hero 6’ clever social commentary Kim Kardashian guests on ‘2 Broke’
CBS
Where’s Josh Groban?
Disney’s new animated flick features diverse cast By VANESSA WONG Daily Arts Writer
Listen up and listen carefully: “Big Hero 6” has adorable superhero robots, a car chase, great social representation and a touching A moral storyline, which no doubt equates to Rave and movie success. Quality 16 Hiro Tamada (Ryan Disney Potter, TV’s “Supah Ninjas”), a 14-yearold genius, spends his time inventing robotic technology. He invents microbots controlled by thought that impress Professor Robert Callaghan (James Cromwell, “Secretariat”), who offers him a place in the prestigious “nerd school” college program that his older brother Tadashi (Daniel Henney, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine“) also attends, and Alistair Krei (Alan Tudyk, TV’s “Suburgatory”), a corporate tycoon who offers to buy Hiro’s invention. Ultimately, he chooses to follow in Tadashi’s footsteps and go to college, but amidst the goofy brotherly celebration that follows, disaster strikes: the university building ignites in flames and Tadashi dies trying to save Professor Callaghan. The loss
Big Hero 6
hits Hiro hard. He cloisters himself in his room, refusing to enroll in his classes, continue working on his projects or respond to his friends’ attempts to reach out to him. When Hiro says “ow” in reaction to dropping something on his toe he inadvertently activates Baymax (Scott Adsit, TV’s “30 Rock”), Tadashi’s health-care robot. Oh, Baymax. Inflating out of the box to a plump, waddling figure with circular, unblinking eyes, he self-describes his interface as “cuddly” and aims to improve everyone’s mental and emotional health. His genuine selflessness shines through misunderstandings of social conventions, like when Hiro’s failed attempt to teach him how to fist bump results in his own, idiosyncratic interpretation that is adorably hilarious. When Hiro and his friends form the Big Hero 6 group and undertake an expedition to bring down a villain who stole his microbots for evil purposes, Hiro updates Baymax’s programming to fit the job. He teaches Hiro about the importance of not letting anger lead to revenge and, eventually, helps Hiro recover from Tadashi’s death. This is perhaps one of the most diverse animated films yet. We’ve seen people of color featured as Disney leads before, but “Big Hero 6” handles it in a modern fashion similar to “The Princess and the Frog”, where the characters are treated as actual human beings rather than having their race exploited
for an ethnic storyline. It’s refreshing to see, and marks a step up in terms of social representation in media. Additionally, “6” both defies stereotypes and embraces individuality. When Hiro nervously approaches the stage for his presentation, Gogo (Jamie Chung, “Sorority Row”) tells him to “stop whining and woman up.” She also takes the wheel over from Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr., TV’s “New Girl”) in a car chase when he refuses to drive aggressively enough for her liking. Gogo, you go! With regards to Wasabi, he, screaming loudly whenever something scary happens and overly abiding to all rules, breaks down the perception that a Black male must be intimidating. Even Honey Lemon’s (Genesis Rodriguez, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”) stylish and hightech purse outfitted with color bombs embraces her girly girl persona instead of mocking it for its supposed superficiality. Rounding out the “Big Hero 6” crew is Fred (T.J. Miller, “Transformers: Age of Extinction”), an enthusiastic comic book and superhero fanatic. The group uplifts the whole film with their boundless energy and optimism just as they do to Hiro. With a lovable and wellfleshed out cast of characters and a compelling, funny plot, “Big Hero 6” doesn’t fail Walt Disney’s name. It may be a children’s movie, but its appeal stretches wide and far.
WHAT’S NEW ON
READ THE LATEST ARTS NEWS ON THE
DAILY’S ONLINE ARTS BLOG
By HAILEY MIDDLEBROOK Daily Arts Writer
“I know how hard us girls really work to keep our businesses going, so I’ll take a cupcake,” said Kim Kardashian, B delivering what was probably the best line of her 60-second Mondays appearance in the season at 8:00 p.m. four premiere CBS of “2 Broke Girls.” Despite coming from the definition of an air-headed icon, the quote gets at something deeper than Max and Caroline’s hardships in getting their cupcake business running — it alludes to the struggle of the show itself to find its footing in the cutthroat world of comedy. “2 Broke Girls,” created by Michael Patrick King (“Sex and the City”), first premiered on CBS in 2011 and was met with mixed reviews. The show is set in a seedy Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, outside the rich district of NYC, and it follows two “broke” roommates Max Black (Kat Dennings, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”) and Caroline Channing (Beth Behrs, “Castle”) and their struggle to save enough money waitressing to open a cupcake shop. Despite their shared dream, the two girls are polar opposites: Max is the daughter of a single,
2 Broke Girls
working-class mother, who is assumed to have some sort of drug addiction and a slew of deadbeat boyfriends, while Caroline, new to the blue-collar life, is a former high-class socialite and Wharton graduate whose father was caught in a shady Ponzi scheme and lost all of his money. The two find each other while working at a Brooklyn diner and form a bond reminiscent of a more grown-up Maddie Fitzpatrick and London Tipton from “The Suite Life of
Despite their shared dream, the two girls are polar opposites. Zack and Cody.” Max is raunchy and realistic while Caroline wears her Paris Hilton-esque hair like a shield, desperately holding onto the belief that her current pennilessness is just a phase. The unlikely pair’s chemistry steals the show — their rapid-fire banter, though often borderline offensive, is why “2 Broke Girls” was renewed for a fourth season, in no less than the prime time slot formerly occupied by “How I Met Your Mother.” That’s a lot of pressure on two broke girls. Fortunately for the
show — and Max and Caroline’s window-run cupcake stand — Kim Kardashian agreed to make an appearance. In the episode, an agent for the Kardashians comes to the cupcake window to ask if the girls would agree to be filmed for “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” because the family was passing through and wanted footage of being out-and-about in Brooklyn. Caroline, ecstatic about the idea of being around “popular” people, agrees immediately; Max is more hesitant, but after several jabs at the family (“I’ll give you five good reasons why we shouldn’t: Kim, Kamber, Klondike, and the little ones Krispy and Kreme”), she agrees that the media-famous Kardashians would give them great publicity. In a turn of events, the family pulls out of the filming, claiming that the shop is too far to walk to in heels. Outraged, Max bakes a batch of “hate cupcakes,” transcribed with sayings like “bite me,” and delivers them to the Kardashians’ hotel; then, bending all the rules of fan-star reality, Kim tweets a picture of the cupcakes with the chilling caption “not cool.” She has a change of heart, however, because later — in the climactic moment of the show — Kim rolls up to the girls’ stand in her limo. The starstruck girls give her a cupcake on the house, though Kim deftly slips them a $100 tip before sauntering away.
HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT
‘INTERSTELLAR’?
TO APPLY TO DAILY ARTS, E-MAIL AKSE@UMICH.EDU
SportsMonday B
The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | November 10, 2014
WHAT THE HELL?! ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Michigan - 10 Northwestern - 9
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily Quarterback Devin Gardner had an off afternoon, throwing two interceptions. ALLISON FARRAND/Daily The Michigan football team’s defense recorded six sacks, and senior defensive end Frank Clark jumped the snap on a two-point conversion to help seal the win.
‘M’ tops ’Cats in ugly game Wolverines stop Northwestern on 2-point conversion to clinch win By MAX COHEN
But the Wolverines were able to muster enough scoring to pull out the last-second, 10-9 victory. The win marked the first time Michigan has won consecutive games in more than a year. The Daily looks at the good, bad and ugly from the Wolverines’ narrow win.
Daily Sports Editor
The Good: The Michigan football team was able to ride a strong defensive performance to a win over Northwestern on Saturday, combining for six turnovers in a game that was scoreless at the half.
LET’S BALL
Michigan’s defense seemed to will the team to victory. The unit bottled up the Wildcat offense for most of the afternoon, particularly in the first three quarters.
n The Michigan football team isn’t the attraction it once was. That role has been taken over by the basketball team. SportsMonday Column, Page 2B
Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan and senior defensive end Frank Clark were seemingly all over the field throughout the game. Ryan had 11 tackles and an interception, consistently anchoring the Wolverine linebacker corps. Clark helped make the game’s defining play, pursuing Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian on his two-point conversion attempt until he slipped. Clark spent much of the afternoon in the Wildcats’ backfield, recording 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Michigan’s defense had been
hoping for an increase in big, game-altering plays after making just a handfull of them in previous weeks, and it came through with six sacks and two interceptions. The Bad: The Wolverine offense struggled mightily throughout most of the game. Because of the work of the defense, the offense was gifted tremendous field position multiple times throughout the game, but was frequently unable to convert. See UGLY, Page 2B
When winning isn’t what it should be
L
et me paint you a picture. Ryan Field is so empty at kickoff that when Northwestern comes out of the tunnel you’re almost unaware of the small ALEXA crowd — half DETTELBACH of which is rooting for Michigan — that doesn’t
BREAKING EVEN
n The Michigan football team’s win brought it back to .500 and within a victory of reaching bowl eligibility. Page 4B
make much noise. An incredible rendition of the National Anthem from Jim Cornelison opens up, and is one of the few highlights on the afternoon. And the crowd spends the next three hours doing more laughing and groaning from missed opportunities than cheering, as the game ends with two touchdowns and six combined turnovers. But most glaring of all, in Michigan’s ugly, ugly, ugly 10-9 See NOT PRETTY, Page 2B
SportsMonday
2B — November 10, 2014 who threw the ball into traffic and was intercepted by Northwestern safety Ibraheim Campbell.
UGLY From Page 1B Michigan started its last three offensive drives of the first half in Northwestern territory, but was unable to come away with a single point. The Wolverines struggled to move the ball throughout the game and turned the ball over three times. Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner threw two interceptions, the first of which could have been caught by sophomore tight end Jake Butt. The second interception was the product of a poor decision by Gardner,
NOT PRETTY From Page 1B win Saturday, was that Brady Hoke wasn’t doing much clapping during the game. And when Hoke isn’t clapping, you know you have a problem. The players certainly seem to recognize that much. “It’s really frustrating that (the offense) doesn’t capitalize on the situations that we’re put in, but a win is a win,” said redshirt junior center Jack Miller. “It could’ve been a lot easier. … It’s both frustrating and nice. “Thank God for the defense. … Thank God for them, they played great and bailed us out.” Miller’s right, it was a win, but it was so painful to watch that it almost didn’t feel like one. So where do you draw the line and realize a win isn’t what it should be? Is it when your mobile quarterback takes too long to commit to the run with the open lane, despite an open 20 yards ahead of him? What about if he waits and waits and waits before he decides to take off, gains just six yards and the team is forced to punt two plays later? Or when a future firstround draft pick at wide receiver drops several important balls, commits multiple penalties and even
The Ugly: Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to use all of the space in today’s paper for this section. There are normal football mishaps, and then there are the mishaps that happened in Saturday’s game. There was the Michigan turnover that occurred when junior wide receiver Devin Funchess was in motion and the shotgun snap hit him in the chest as he ran in front of Gardner.
fumbles the ball when he runs in motion and moves in front of the center as the ball is snapped? What about when a horribly, and I mean horribly, shanked punt is one of Michigan’s only chances to get past midfield, but in response, it goes three-and-out and punts? Is it when defensive tackle Matthew Godin intercepts Northwestern four plays later and the Wolverines get within field goal range only for the attempt to be blocked just before the half? Or when the Wolverines are inside Northwestern’s 25-yard line for just the second time in the first half and Gardner throws an ugly interception? What about when he steps back to pass and trips over himself? Is that where the line is drawn for a win not feeling like a win? Is that when Hoke’s claps aren’t warranted? Is that where that warm fuzzy feeling fans get when their favorite teams win disappears? It’s getting to feel that way. What about when the disorganization on the Wolverine sideline is so glaring they receive three warnings from the officials for interference? Or what about when Michigan has a fourth-andone on Northwestern’s 16-yard line, and, instead of kicking an
“We’re not going to go to the Rose Bowl — we failed at that.”
MICHIGAN HAS A LONGER WINNING STREAK THAN MICHIGAN STATE. TAKE THAT! FOLLOW US ON TWITTER FOR MORE GREAT INSIGHTS @THEBLOCKM
There was the Northwestern punt when a low snap bounced on the ground and led to a 20-yard punt. And the muffed Wildcat punt return that the Wolverines recovered. Michigan also got in on the special teams fun when senior Matt Wile’s 41-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter was blocked. Even the game’s deciding play was ugly. Siemian slipped on the game’s final play, ending Northwestern’s threat with an uncoordinated fall to the ground.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTSMONDAY COLUMN
What bye week?
Check MichiganDaily.com for more football coverage. easy field goal, the Wolverines go for it with a terribly executed run up the middle from sophomore De’Veon Smith, a running back who has struggled all season with following his blocks? Does that ruin the joy of a win? Where do you draw the line? Sure Michigan won, but it sure didn’t feel like it. Everyone saw the turnovers, ugly plays and missed opportunities — and it all overshadowed the final score. But if you were on the sidelines after the game, you’d know the line was nowhere in sight for the Wolverines. Michigan won, and nothing else seemed to matter. “A win is a win,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a nice flight home. Getting the ‘W’ at the end of it is what matters.” When senior defensive end Frank Clark stopped the potential game-winning two-point conversion with three seconds remaining, the Michigan sideline erupted toward midfield to swarm Clark in a sea of excitement. “You really have nothing to lose,” Clark said. “You just want to make it to (a) bowl. We’re not going to the Rose Bowl — we failed at that. We’re not going to the Big Ten Championship — we failed at that this year. All we can do is finish the season strong. “All we can do is finish the season, and that’s it.” Even if the line has been drawn already. Dettelbach can be reached at adettel@umich.edu or on Twitter: @asdettel.
BY THE NUMBERS Michigan Football
11
Students in the Northwestern student section at kickoff.
19
Combined number of punts and turnovers between both teams.
19
Combined points scored by both teams.
4,433
Days since Michigan last won a game by scoring 10 points.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Though the Michigan football team has its biggest game of the year remaining, excitement has shifted to the hardwood.
For now, Michigan is a basketball school T here weren’t very many people at the Michigan football team’s game Saturday against Northwestern, and by the end, most of the 42,429 fans who showed up at Ryan Field probably wished they hadn’t. The afternoon featured as many punts and turnovers as points (19). Both teams made comically bad mistakes. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald’s ALEJANDRO decision to ZÚÑIGA go for two with three seconds left instead of forcing overtime with an extra point probably came as a relief to both fan bases — win or lose, at least the embarrassment would finally be over. Michigan redshirt junior center Jack Miller called the game “frustrating,” even though the Wolverines won. And if it aggravated Miller, imagine how it felt to everyone who watched. It’s Nov. 10, 2014, and the Ohio State game is three weeks away. But the excitement for the season’s biggest game has lost its luster. Almost everyone is already looking forward to the men’s basketball season. There’s a reason just 42,429 people arrived to a stadium that can sit thousands more, just like there’s a reason all but one of the Wolverines’ home football games this year
have been attended by belowcapacity crowds. And it’s not all because of the high ticket prices or the bad weather. Watching them just isn’t a pleasurable experience. You can’t even blame the Wolverines’ .500 record as the sole reason for the lack of interest. In 2008 and 2009, Rich Rodriguez’s first years at Michigan’s helm, Big House crowds didn’t dip below capacity once. Not once. The Wolverines went 8-16 in those years. The team wasn’t winning, but people came to watch Tate Forcier, Denard Robinson and the electric offense with the hope they might witness something truly special. Truth is, Michigan football simply isn’t enjoyable to watch anymore. As the Wolverines proved Saturday, even a win can be maddening. And fans who want an entertaining program are rightly ditching the gridiron for the hardwood. On the football field, Michigan is fighting its way to a mediocre bowl game, just like it did last year. There’s plenty of talent, but a hobbled quarterback and an NFLcaliber wide receiver who drops routine catches are a hard sell. It’s not fun to watch a team that gave up a punt-return touchdown earlier this year because it only had 10 players on the field. It’s not fun to watch a team that suffered a historic defeat in the last scheduled game of a storied
As the Wolverines proved, even a win can be maddening.
rivalry. It’s not fun to watch Devin Gardner, a fifth-year senior, miss open receivers and throw brutal interceptions. For Michigan football fans, optimism is hoping the team performs poorly enough there’s a new coach next year. And that’s not very enjoyable. Meanwhile, on the basketball court, season tickets have sold out for the second year in a row, and students have again purchased more than their allotment of seats. The Wolverines will begin the season by raising last year’s Big Ten championship banner, and though they might not repeat, they’re projected for another NCAA Tournament appearance. For Michigan basketball fans, optimism is knowing a team that might struggle in November and December could be competing at an elite level by January and February. This may never be a basketball school. There’s too much tradition and too much history embedded into the football program to disregard its relevance, even on off years — or off decades. If or when Michigan hires a new football coach, interest may return to higher levels. But for now, in November 2014, Michigan fans are prepared to enjoy basketball. They’re prepared to leave this miserable, painful football season behind and focus on a sport where optimism means real success, not a bowl game sponsored by an automobile mechanic. They’re excited for Saturday in Ann Arbor, game day, when the lights of the Big House will be off and the doors to Crisler Center will be open.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! We’ll steal all your data
Zúñiga can be reached at azs@umich.edu and on Twitter @ByAZuniga.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Beilein: Selfie promo ‘great idea’ By LEV FACHER Daily Sports Editor
In October, Michigan men’s basketball coach John Beilein was convinced that the NOTEBOOK positional battle between forwards Mark Donnal and Ricky Doyle would see a leader emerge by the time the season started. Less than a week before the Wolverines’ first regular-season game, he has a winner, but by way of process of elimination rather than superior in-practice performance. Beilein cited an “overly cautious” approach in dealing with a slight ankle sprain and “another slight problem” sustained by Doyle, a true freshman. As a result, the bulk of the practice minutes at the low post position have gone to Donnal, a redshirt freshman. “(Freshman forward D.J. Wilson and senior forward Max Bielfeldt) have had minutes, and now Ricky’s back at full go,” Beilein said Thursday. “I’m hoping to get Ricky some really good time in this upcoming game (against Wayne State) so that he gets in there more. Beilein said he’ll continue distributing minutes relatively evenly “until someone clearly gets in front of somebody else,” though he acknowledged that Donnal already held the distinct advantage of a full year with the team as a redshirt. NOT A “TRADITIONAL” BIG: Beilein said D.J. Wilson’s overall athleticism and ability to play multiple positions opens up many opportunities for the Wolverines to vary their formation. “It changes us defensively
immediately, because we can do a few other things that you can’t do with a traditional big, so that’s been helpful,” Beilein said. “And his attitude about playing two positions has been absolutely terrific.” Beilein said that getting Wilson meaningful minutes is more of a priority than establishing him at a particular position. “He’s going to become a natural forward at one of the forward spots eventually,” Beilein said, adding that Wilson has been eager to get on the floor regardless of where he is placed. SQUAD 99 SELFIE: Traditionally, the Wolverines host an open practice for the Maize Rage — the Crisler Arena student section — in the preseason. This year, the team decided to open it up to the full fanbase, and promoted the event by promising the latest in social media trends to Michigan’s most devoted supporters. Those who stuck around following the one-hour workout had the opportunity to take pictures of the do-it-yourself variety with players and coaches. “I thought the selfie promotion was one of the best ideas I’ve ever been around,” Beilein said. “To sign autographs, you’re spending a lot of time with your head down, asking people’s names. … It’s just not as personal.” Beilein referred to the ability to put his arm around fans and engage with them on an even plane as a refreshing experience, especially when compared to the sometimes-drab routine of sitting at tables and distributing signatures. “I thought it was a great idea,” Beilein said, “and we should do it every year.”
SportsMonday
November 10, 2014 — 3B
‘M’ falls to Buckeyes. Again. Wolverines’ offense can’t capitalize on chances in Big Ten Tournament By WES ROMAN Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan men’s soccer team saw its up-and-down season come to an end after a frustrating 1-0 loss at Ohio State in 0 the first MICHIGAN OHIO STATE 1 round of the Big Ten tournament Sunday afternoon. The issues that plagued the Wolverines (3-4-2 Big Ten, 6-9-3 overall) Sunday were symptomatic of their entire season — conceding early, creating chances but not goals. In the 19th minute, an Ohio State cross from the left wing eventually found its way to forward Danny Jensen, who headed home from six yards to give the Buckeyes an early lead. Redshirt junior forward Colin McAtee looked the most dangerous for Michigan throughout the first half, tallying multiple shots, but even he couldn’t bring Michigan back. The reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week found himself in some dangerous attacking positions, but Buckeye goalkeeper Alex Ivanovic — last week’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week — got the better of him on several occasions. McAtee’s task became all the more difficult when his attacking partner, freshman Ahinga Selemani, left the match in the 12th minute after sustaining a lower-body injury and couldn’t return. The Wolverines did appear,
SAM MISIGIAN/Daily
The Michigan men’s soccer team likely ended its season after dropping a narrow contest to Ohio State in Columbus on Sunday. The Wolverines will now have to hope the selection committee places them in the NCAA Tournament.
if only for a couple of moments, to have leveled the score in the 36th minute. McAtee received a headed pass from junior winger William Mellors-Blair and put it in the back of the net, but was ruled just offside by the referee. The official’s decision was questioned by a few from the Michigan bench, but to no avail. McAtee, again, nearly scored just two minutes later. A perfectly weighted through ball from the midfield appeared to put McAtee in a one-onone with Ivanovic, but the goalkeeper read the situation and beat the Michigan striker to the ball to ease the threat. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, that would be their last solid chance. The second half was a much more disappointing period
for the Wolverines. Not only did Michigan fail to create anything near the quality of the chances of the first half, but it also found itself, on several occasions, fighting just to keep the deficit at one. In what turned out to be the final game of his college career, fifth-year senior goalkeeper Adam Grinwis did himself proud with crucial saves. His most memorable moment came in the 61st minute, when he cut down midfielder Yianni Sarris’s angle, which forced his volleyed effort over the bar for a harmless goal kick. The Wolverines failed to maintain the possession they enjoyed in the first half, and instead resorted to sending long balls from the back four up to the strikers. These efforts
can only be characterized as speculative — at best — and never amounted to much, as Ohio State’s (6-3, 9-6-4) back four dealt with them rather easily. Michigan could feel hard done by the result or look to take some positives from it, but it won’t matter much at this point. The reality is that its second consecutive loss to its biggest rival has ended a season full of high expectations in a premature and disappointing fashion. Editors’ note: Michigan coach Chaka Daley did not respond to the Daily’s request for comment.
Soccer’s over. We’re not. Check MichiganDaily.com throughout the week for updates
SportsMonday
4B — November 10, 2014
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
When needed, Wolverine Offense struggles in win front seven stops Wildcats FOOTBALL
By MAX COHEN Daily Sports Editor
EVANSTON — Devin Gardner watched Northwestern’s final drive on the sideline, standing next to backup quarterback Shane Morris. He paced the area between plays, delivering quick messages to the rest of his offense. At the beginning of the drive, the offensive players had been loose on the sidelines, offering brief smiles, believing their defense could bail them out one final time. But as the drive progressed, the mood had tensed. There were still some smiles, but they were rooted in disbelief. Gardner stood stoically next to Morris, watching as the Michigan football team’s margin for error disintegrated. When the Wildcats lined up the potential game-winning two-point conversion with three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Gardner waved his arms and jumped repeatedly, reduced to a cheerleader alongside his offensive counterparts with the game on the line. Redshirt junior center Jack Miller said he was talking to God before the deciding moment. When Michigan made the stop, the offensive players joined in celebration with the defense, meshing into the unified team the Wolverines have insisted they’ve been all season. Gardner was there too, taking in the victory. Most of the game’s moments weren’t as sweet for the fifthyear senior. Michigan was in the position of a close game because of the offense’s overall ineptitude. Gardner repeated the performances Wolverine fans have become accustomed to seeing, throwing two interceptions — both of a different nature. This time, the defense prevented his mistakes from resulting in another loss. The first interception was blamed only partially on
Gardner. His errant pass late in the second quarter could’ve been broken up by the intended wide receiver, sophomore tight end Jake Butt, something Michigan coach Brady Hoke acknowledged after the game. “We’ve got to help (Gardner) and outcompete for the ball,” Hoke said. But a mistake was made regardless of where the fault was placed, and Wolverine defense made sure the impact of the turnover was felt only briefly. It took just four plays for Michigan to get the ball back. Defensive end Frank Clark batted a pass into the air, and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Matt Godin sprawled out for an interception. It wasn’t the last time Gardner tempted fate during the game. His next interception came late in the fourth quarter, and that time, there was nowhere else to place the blame. This time, no Michigan wide receiver had a chance at the ball. It floated into the arms of Northwestern safety Ibraheim Campbell, who then sprinted 79 yards to the Wolverine 15-yard line. Michigan’s defense once again saved Gardner, despite the precarious field position. It drove the Wildcats back 28 yards in just three plays, forcing a punt. While the defense continuously stymied the Wildcats, the Wolverine offense appeared to be in a battle against itself. The mistakes were constant, and they weren’t just Gardner’s. There were wellplaced balls dropped by wide receivers, a fumble by redshirt sophomore Drake Johnson and another turnover when a snap hit junior wide receiver Devin Funchess in the shoulder when he was in motion. After the game, Clark tried to shift the blame from Gardner, saying the quarterback did enough to win. Hoke implied a similar message, giving Gardner an
endorsement typically reserved for quarterbacks who don’t make the plays to win the game. “He managed the team very well,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said. Minutes earlier, Gardner had been one of Michigan’s last players to leave the field. He walked off slowly, looking into the stands. The Michigan contingent gathered near the tunnel screamed compliments his way, and he offered back a smile and an enthusiastic wave. The game’s hero, senior defensive end Frank Clark, remained on the field, basking in victory. When Gardner disappeared into the tunnel, the cheers grew louder for Clark, who followed soon after. He stopped to sign autographs for some overjoyed children, their smiles one final reward for saving the game for the Wolverines.
By GREG GARNO Managing Sports Editor
EVANSTON — It had come down to this, to the moment when the clock had been stopped. It came down to a stopped clock with three seconds remaining and the Michigan football team leading Northwestern, 10-9. It sat on the verge of a make-orbreak moment in a game that had otherwise been dreadful to experience. And the Wolverines’ front seven, who had been there to burst into the backfield and prevent a touchdown, had failed in a rare moment. The front seven watched as the Wildcats beat the secondary and reached the end zone. There was no attempt at an extra point. Northwestern was either going
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Brady Hoke has yet to solve his team’s offensive woes after Saturday’s win.
to score and win or be stopped and lose. Now, the front seven, which had been strong for most of the season as it had been all game, was faced with the pressure of stopping a play from the 2.5yard line as the clock stood still at 0:03. Michigan’s best chance of qualifying for a bowl game dropped down in its three-point stance and stared its future in the eyes. “It’s just the nerves (running through my mind),” said senior defensive end Frank Clark. “That’s just being the athlete in the sport — you’re going to feel some type of nerves. It wasn’t just nerves, but like, a will.” Everything before the clock had stopped had been about a will, though. The unit had forced six sacks, allowed minus-nine rushing yards and grabbed two interceptions. Northwestern’s leading rusher, Justin Jackson, averaged 90.8 yards per game, but finished with 35 yards on the day. Siemian, who had otherwise burned Michigan’s secondary, struggled to get the ball past the front seven. He had a ball tipped by Clark that fell to redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Mathew Godin. And Siemian had another pass snagged in the middle of the field by redshirt senior Jake Ryan. “The defense answered the bell a lot,” said Michigan coach Brady Hoke. “They faced some challenges, some adversity and did a nice job with it. But that’s why they came to Michigan. They count their blessings.” So the Wolverines faced the most adversity at the moment when the clock had stopped at three seconds and only 2.5 yards separated them from the makeor-break moment. Jackson remained lined up well behind the tight end. The receivers
stood inside the numbers, and then Northwestern called their receivers to motion twice. The Wolverines knew the play. Last year, the Wildcats had run the same play in the red zone. Coaches radioed in and the front seven lined up wide, waiting for Siemian to inevitably run out for more room and to find a player running an out route. “We kind of knew what they were doing,” Ryan said. “We’re just playing our defense. And if something changes, we just out there and play like we know how to play. There’s nothing crazy about it.” So when Siemian took the snap, the front seven moved to contain — except for Clark. The senior rushed right to the quarterback and manhandled his way past the offensive line. Then Siemian, as if he predicted what was coming, slipped, fell and dropped to the ground. The clock remained stopped. Clark didn’t stop running, though, as he sprinted to midfield, jumped up and thrust his hands into the air. And he kept moving, off to the sideline where he slammed his helmet and yelled to the crowd. “Ball game! Ball game!” he exclaimed. Redshirt sophomore defensive linemen Chris Wormley and Tom Strobel held each other at the head. They smiled and they yelled after making the stop. Ryan walked around the sideline, celebrating with every person in his sight. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison wrapped his arm around Clark, speaking praises into his ear. He let Clark go, where he sat on the bench, buried his hands in his face and wept. Then the clock started to tick and the moment passed. The front seven had succeeded when it was needed most.
VOLLEYBALL
Dannemiller leads ‘M’ to salvage weekend split By SERENA SAAKE For the Daily
Senior setter Lexi Dannemiller held the ball for a split second high in the air before releasing it to freshman outside hitter Claire Kieffer-Wright, who completed the kill over the top of the net, scoring the winning point of the second set. The play was one of 40 assists Dannemiller recorded Saturday night against Minnesota. “I’ve said it all along,” said Michigan volleyball coach Mark Rosen. “This is Lexi (Dannemiller’s) team; she’s pulling the strings.” And she certainly pulled all the right strings during Staurday’s game versus Minnesota to control the court. The Wolverines triumphed over the Golden Golphers in a three-set sweep (25-21, 25-18, 25-19), in large part due to Dannemiller. After a heartbreaking fifthset loss to No. 4 Wisconsin Friday night, Dannemiller said she felt the victory was especially good for the team. “We came back and fought with the attitude that it’s a new day and we have to go beat Minnesota,” Dannemiller said. “And that’s exactly what we did.”
Her 40 assists on Saturday brought her career total up to 5,039, moving her to third place on Michigan’s all-time assists list. She now tails second-place Linae Mendozza (1994-1997) by just 34 plays, a barrier she is likely to overcome within the next match. “She’s something special,” Rosen said. “She runs the offense better than any setter we’ve ever had.” Dannemiller’s accomplishment is especially impressive given she is still recovering from a groin injury she suffered earlier this season. More so, Rosen says Dannemiller’s injury is one that is best cured with time and rest, two things Dannemiller does not have during demanding season play. “It’s going to be there until we stop playing,” Rosen said. “But once she gets out there, you barely notice because she’s so tough and competitive.” The only clue to Dannemiller’s injury was after the game when she could be seen with an enormous ice pack strapped to her thigh. But, she shows no signs of pain on the court, understanding that as the sole senior on the
“This is Lexi’s team; she’s pulling the strings.”
team, Dannemiller has to lead by example. “They feel fortunate to play with her,” Rosen said. “But she doesn’t put herself above them. She just really loves playing with the younger girls.” As a setter, Dannemiller is unlikely to score points off of kills and thus her accomplishments are often pushed to the background. But she is responsible for setting her young teammates up with the opportunity to score. Her skill in getting the opposing middle blocker off balance has been crucial in her teammates’ success this season. With underclassmen like freshman outside hitter Adeja Lambert and Kieffer-Wright making huge splashes on the team, it’s clear Dannemiller’s contributions extend beyond her game. Dannemiller has yet to consider her options for after graduation, although Rosen said he felt that she will have several opportunities to continue to play. For now, she is focusing on finishing out a strong season with the Wolverines. But even as her final season comes to a close, Dannemiller is still putting the team’s success as a whole before her own personal goals. “I just want to keep pushing my teammates to be the best they can be,” Dannemiller said. “We’re just going to keep getting better every single day, right down to the end.”
THE FOOTBALL BEAT HAD TO SUFFER THROUGH SATURDAY’S GAME. PLEASE SEND HELP TO 420 MAYNARD ST.
presents its first ever
Wine Tasting, Student Exhibition & Auction Fundraiser Michigan Union 530 S. State Room 2nd Floor Rogel Ballroom
Friday December 12th 2014 7:00-11p.m. $40 per person Contact Sarah Paspal at spaspal@umich.edu or (734) 418-4115 ext. 1244 for tickets.