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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Monday, February 1, 2016

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STATE

University efforts in Flint spark concerns ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Hillary Clinton speaks to supporters at a town hall meeting at Eagle Elementary School in Clinton, Iowa on January 23, 2016.

Nation’s focus shifts to Iowa residents as caucuses begin All eyes turn to state as it begins the 2016 election primary process By SAM GRINGLAS Daily Staff Reporter

During the past weekend, Michigan Daily journalists spent three days in Iowa covering

candidates from both parties as they compete for their party’s nomination in the 2016 presidential election. Look for continuing coverage from the Daily in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, the first in the nation, on Monday. DAVENPORT, Iowa — By 3:15 p.m. on a balmy Saturday late in January, only a couple of campaign volunteers were still hanging around the front door of the Masonic Center in Clinton, Iowa when a big blue bus slid down the

building’s back alley. The supporters who had come here to see Bernie Sanders had by then gone indoors, where they waited eagerly in tightly packed rows of metal folding chairs for their candidate to arrive. With all the action now inside the center’s dated basement, the streets turned quiet. The sun hung low, and most of the few stores lining Fifth Avenue had already closed up for the night. Across First Street, a train barreled by on tracks that

Group of students, faculty pen letter after closed meeting on research projects By EMILY DAVIES Daily Staff Reporter

stand between Clinton and the Mississippi River. In an alley that hugged the back of the Masonic Center just off a street that was also empty, there was Sanders — a presidential candidate who the next day would draw 2,200 people to a rally in Decorah, Iowa. But now there were no “Feel the Bern” chants. No camera crews lay in wait. Sanders’ wife, Jane, emerged first. An adviser or two followed. Then, the See IOWA, Page 3A

A group of University faculty, staff, alumni and students raised concerns in an open letter last week to University President Mark Schlissel over what they characterized as a lack of engagement with the Flint community in the University’s tri-campus efforts about the city’s ongoing water crisis. “In order to serve the people of Flint, we must vigilantly work to dismantle the concentration of knowledge and power that created the Flint water crisis, and to ensure that the same denigrating and dismissive systems are not replicated

SPORTS

ACADEMICS

‘U’ introduces Warde Manuel to lead athletics UConn athletic director will start work March 14 By MAX BULTMAN Managing Sports Editor

In front of a crowd of media, coaches, donors and former athletes, University President Mark Schlissel introduced Warde Manuel as Michigan’s next Athletic Director on Friday in a press conference at the Michigan Union. Manuel, who is currently the athletic director at Connecticut, will officially begin work at Michigan on March 14, taking over for interim Athletic Director Jim Hackett, who has held the position since Oct. 31, 2014. Manuel holds three degrees from the University — a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a focus in Psychology, a master’s degree in social work and an M.B.A. from the Ross School of Business — and played defensive

line on the football team for legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. He also worked in the Athletic Department in various roles between 1996 and 2005, ultimately serving as Associate Athletic Director under Bill Martin. Given his ties with the University, Manuel said he made no effort to play coy when he was contacted about the job opening. “I want to say it was maybe, officially, some time toward the beginning of December that (the Turnkey Search firm) reached out to see if I had interest in the position,” Manuel said at his press conference. “I laughed when they asked me that question, like, ‘Are you really asking me if I have interest in being the Michigan A.D.?’ And (the recruiter) said, ‘Yeah, really, I just need to hear the answer.’ “And I said, ‘Hell yeah!’ ” Manuel, who was among 82 candidates Turnkey considered, inherits a self-sustaining athletic department with an operating budget of $151 million per year. Hackett, who was part See MANUEL, Page 3A

through the University’s response,” the letter read. The letter was spurred by an event closed to the public, Friday, during which about 140 faculty members from the University’s Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses met to discuss potential collaborative research projects surrounding the water crisis. The meeting was led by UM-Flint chancellor Susan Borrego and provost Douglas Knerr. The research in question is part of the University’s effort to address Flint’s leadcontaminated water and its detrimental health effects, which stemmed from the city’s decision to change its water source from Detroit Water and Sewerage Department water to the Flint River. The river’s water was corrosive to lead in Flint’s old pipes, leading to high levels of lead in the public water for 18 months. Citing the fact that the See FLINT, Page 3A

Greek life director announces plans for retirement AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Ian Culver, a Kendall College of Art & Design student, presents his team’s product for Makeathon, a 36 hour design competition, at the Art and Architecture Building on Sunday.

Annual Makeathon aims to spark innovative ideas In third 36-hour competition, students of all majors compete By JENNIFER MEER For the Daily

The third annual Makeathon, a 36-hour design competition, was held this weekend at the North Campus Art and Architecture Building. The MPowered event aimed to allow

students of any major at any point of study, ranging from undergraduates to Ph.D.s, to create innovative art designs and products. The event consisted of a Product Design Competition, a Fine Arts Showcase and a Case Competition in which teams competed for awards and recognition. The event began Friday evening in the Chrysler Auditorium with an introduction to the competition. After that, teams spent Friday night coming up with design

ideas and strategies, and then used the remainder of the weekend to work on them. During the production process, teams only had a list of materials and a workspace. For the Product Design Competition’s “Around the House” category, one team created an automatic bartending machine. A member of the team, Engineering sophomore Scott Laorr said his team had what he described as a spontaneous creation experience. “We had never done this See MAKEATHON, Page 3A

Mary Beth Seiler to leave post this year after long tenure at University By CAMY METWALLY Daily Staff Reporter

After 37 years of working for the University’s Office of Greek Life, Director of Greek Life Mary Beth Seiler confirmed her plans to retire this year in an interview with The Michigan Daily on Jan. 19. Seiler shared in an interview the challenges and successes of Greek life during her time as director, acknowledging the negative media attention and difficulties faced by the community over the past year, but overall praising the current and future state of Greek life. Last winter, the University’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu caused thousands of dollars worth of damage at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Mich, prompting See GREEK LIFE, Page 2A

Penn Statement The Michigan men’s basketball and hockey teams beat Penn State in New York City

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News

2A — Monday, February 1, 2016

MONDAY: On the Daily

TUESDAY: Campus Voices

ON CAMPUS CLIMATE

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily LSA senior Devon Jones talks about his experiences with microaggressions in a discussion about campus climate facilated by the Central Student Government at the Michigan Union on Friday.

WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers

derived from class work and external productions. WHO: School of Music, Theatre & Dance WHEN: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. WHERE: Duderstadt Center (Media Union)Gallery

Panel on Europe’s political shift WHAT: A panel of University professors will discuss the rise of rightwing parties in Hungary, Poland and France. WHO: Center for European Studies WHEN: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. WHERE: School of Social Work Building - 1636

WHAT: Oriol Sans will conduct the UPO’s first concert of the winter semester, featuring Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1. WHO: School of Music, Theatre & Dance WHEN: 8:00 p.m. WHERE: Hill Auditorium

U.S. Postal Service Job Fair

WHAT: Ann Arbor Post Office is seeking staff for paid positions. A job fair will be held in collaboration with The Career Center. WHO: The Career Center WHEN: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. WHERE: 7920 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor MI 48103, UA 190 Union Hall

GREEK LIFE From Page 1A significant scrutiny on Greek life at the University. Members from other University Greek life chapters also vandalized Boyne Highlands, a ski resort in Harbor Springs, Mich. Seiler said though such incidents of destructive behavior stem from individuals’ actions, they ultimately reflect on the organization as a whole. “This past year has been uniquely challenging,” Seiler said. “It became difficult at times to maneuver that and figure out the best way to proceed.” She said the incident was a wakeup call for everyone, and emphasized the ways Greek life has developed positively since the incident, including a 30-member task force which was created over the summer by former Greek life leaders to reinforce the values of the Greek community, such as brotherhood and sisterhood, leadership and service. The task force began conducting research and benchmarking to evaluate possible improvements to the Greek life on campus. The group plans to share their

THURSDAY: Twitter Talk

FRIDAY: Photos of the Week

On the Daily: Michael Moore Water is not the solution to the crisis in Flint — according to award-winning filmmaker and activist Michael Moore. Despite community efforts at the University and around the nation to provide clean water to Flint residents, Moore said sending water bottles will not help the city’s water crisis. In a letter addressed to “America” on his website, Moore said sending clean water cannot undo the damage already present in Flint’s citizens exposed to the water. He said the brain damage in citizens with elevated levels of lead in their blood will have to suffer neurological impediments, lower IQs and behavioral problems all throughout their lives. “No check you write, no truckloads of Fiji Water or Poland Spring, will bring their innocence or their health back to normal,” Moore said. “It’s done.” Moore said sending water to the city is only a temporary solution, as Flint’s 102,000 citizens each require at least 200 bottles of water per day for cooking, bathing, washing clothes, doing dishes and eating.

CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES

Theatre University design exhibit Philharmonia WHAT: Students will Orchestra showcase their porfolios,

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Instead, Moore is demanding the removal and arrest of Governor Rick Snyder (R), who he says is the perpetrator of the crisis. Moore said Snyder caused the crisis by replacing elected officials in majority Black and poor cities, like Flint and Detroit, with state-appointed emergency managers, and by cutting costs and services to make up for cutting taxes for the rich. Toxically high levels of lead have been cited in Flint’s water after switching its water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River in a cost-cutting measure. Since the switch in April 2014, researches reported critically high levels of lead in the blood of in thousands of Flint children, which can lead to serious behavioral problems into adulthood. Over the past month, students across all three University campuses — Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn — have responded to the crisis through providing aid and promoting discussion on how to move forward. The University’s Prevention Research Center and the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center are partnering in a campaign to send water bottles to the city.

Film screening

EXCEL guest lecture

WHAT: University Professor Silvia Pedraza will host a screening and discussion of “War and Peace,” a film on the Latino struggle for civil rights in the United States. WHO: Department of Latina/o Studies WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHAT: Music publishing executive Jim Kendrick will discuss legal issues for musicians, from copyright to rental income. WHO: School of Music, Theatre & Dance WHEN: 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Earl V. Moore Building- Room 2058

Lecture on Khorsabad

WHAT: Melissa Eppihimer from the University of Pittsburgh will give a lecture on the heroes of Khorsabad, the ancient Assyrian capital. WHO: History of Art WHEN: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. WHERE: Kelsey Museum of ArchaeologyLecture Hall

recommendations at the end of this semester. In an interview with the Daily on Friday, University President Mark Schlissel emphasized the importance of the Greek life task force, as well as other restorative efforts initiated since the Treetops incident last year. “The whole community was sort of carrying this black eye that came from essentially inexcusable behavior driven by alcohol and other substances, and I think it was a real cold water on the face moment for our community,” Schlissel said. “It’s forced many people to pay attention who previously haven’t been paying close enough attention.” In an e-mail interview, immediate past Panhellenic Association council president Maddy Walsh, a business senior, said she admires Seilers’ patience and hard work as director of Michigan Greek Life. “It’s hard to imagine having the patience to work with 18-21 year olds for 37 years,” Walsh wrote, “but she treats every stressed out college student with the respect, care, and time that she would give her own family.” Walsh is on the search

TED Talks WHAT: Karen Bantel will host a screening and discussion of two TED talks. WHO: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute WHEN: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. WHERE: Turner Senior Resource Center, Please report any error in the Daily to corrections@ michigandaily.com.

committee to replace Seiler, so she declined to comment on what she hopes for in a new director. Schlissel noted that though he has no direct involvement in the appointment of the new director of Greek life — E. Royster Harper, vice president of student life, is overseeing the search committee — he remains invested in the process. “It is an area that I care about,” Schlissel said. “Hopefully we’ll get somebody who is excited about Greek life and wants to help it thrive by helping us and helping the students involved minimize this risk behavior.” Walsh added that Seiler successfully engaged with such important issues within Greek Life within this past year as the ski trip incidents, sexual misconduct on campus and diversity initiatives. “With Mary Beth by our side, my board was able to move our community beyond the incidents of ski trip, strengthen our partnership with SAPAC, improve our new member education program, and focus on Diversity and Inclusion within the four councils,” she wrote. Through the task force, Seiler said as a community, Greek life continues to take steps toward improvement moving forward. “In Greek life, we’re constantly looking at our issues and our problems and trying to figure out what we can do to better address them,” Seiler said. “We’re always looking at ways to make things better.” Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones noted in an e-mail interview that Seiler was recognized this past December at the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors for her role as the longest serving Greek Life professional in the country. The University has also started an endowed leadership development fund for Greek Life that was named in her honor. Jones said the search process for a new director, which is set to be completed in mid-April, will be largely student-led. “The consistent engagement of strong student self governance and leadership of the community will continue to support the new director” Jones wrote. “Student voice and engagement in the search process is also essential.”

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY

Amid reports of child trafficking. more than 10,000 children may have disappeared from asylum reception centres since arriving in Europe during an ongoing migrant crisis across the continent, BBC reported.

The Michigan men’s basketball and hockey teams both beat Penn State at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

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At least 50 people were killed in ISIS attacks on the Shia shrine of Sayyida Zeinab in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the BBC reported. The 5 years of civil war in Syria has resulted in more than 250,000 deaths and 11 million people displaced.

Hussein Hakim Finance and Operations Manager Claire Ulak Production Manager Jordan Yob Marketing Manager Matt Pfenning UAccounts Manager Asja Kepes Local Accounts Manager Chris Wang Classifieds Manager Colin Cheesman National Accounts Manager Anna He Special Guides and Online Manager Claire Butz Layout 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.

Undergrads to gain access to high performance computers Students can now apply to use system for research projects By ALEXA ST. JOHN Daily Staff Reporter

To facilitate and encourage undergraduate work on research requiring high-performance computing resources, the University Advanced Research Computing – Technical Services is launching a new program allowing students the use of a computer system called Flux. Flux is a shared computing cluster operated by ARC-TS that is available throughout campus. It is a large computer with thousands of individual processors that students can use for highpowered computing uses. Originally, Flux high-powered computing resources were only available for faculty members and graduate students working on postdoctoral research. However, the resource has been extended to include undergraduates who have a research activity that could require and benefit from using Flux. Eric Michielssen, associate vice president for research, is responsible for advanced research computing and coordinating computational and data science for the entire campus. He said launching this program is an attempt to make access to research computing resources easier and less intimidating to undergraduate students. “Before, all science was done using theory or experimentation,” Michielssen said. “Now, we don’t have to develop new theories to understand some phenomena. We don’t have to go into the lab and do physical experiments, we can simulate all of these phenomena on a computer and use a computer as our virtual lab bench.” This initiative also encourages undergraduates to receive

endorsement from a faculty member, and though graduate students and faculty pay for accessing Flux with money that often comes from research grants, undergraduates can access Flux free of charge. For undergraduates to apply to use Flux, they must fill out a form on the ARC-TS website to request its resources through Flux for Undergraduates and include an abstract of the research project requiring the resource. Despite opening up the resource to undergraduate students, Michielssen said because of the faculty and graduate research going on requiring extensive use of the machine, it will be available with some limits. For undergraduate students working with faculty members, the faculty member will endorse the student and justify their need for access to the computer resource, and the student, whether they are individual students or a part of a student organization, will be given an account. Michielssen said ARCTS wants students to work with a faculty member. The University has only been using Flux for about six years, but nearly all 19 schools and colleges have found a way to use the resource. “We didn’t quite know how this facility would be used,” Michielssen said. “We didn’t quite know how to partition off a section to enable undergraduate access. Frankly, it has been a very steep learning curve, and if we could have done it two years ago, we would have.” Michielssen said though Flux just opened and undergraduate use is lower, it could rise in the future. “That would be a great problem to have and we will do our best to accommodate (undergraduates),” Michielssen said. “We want undergrads to be fully aware of the potential of computational and data science both as a career path and as an avenue

for further study.” Rackham student Jonathan Stroud, organizational chair of the Michigan Data Science Team, said being one of the pilot student groups to use Flux has allowed the team to try many different things. The MDST competes in competitive data science competitions against data scientists from around the world in online prediction challenges. “People can make predictions about certain data sets and you can go forward on how accurate your predictions are,” Stroud said. “We submit those predictions to a website that has all those answers hidden and they score us on how well we did and rank us against other teams around the world.” Stroud said the opportunities offered by this system are unique and advantageous for their team. “As far as we know, we’re the only group that does anything like this at any university,” Stroud said. “They’ve given us a lot more resources than we’ve ever really anticipated. We’re still figuring out how we want to use all of this.” Stoud said before having access to Flux, it was difficult for members of the team to run any computations on their personal computers that required more than a few hours to run because the students would need their computers for other uses during that time. “These are really computation intensive tasks that (students) are running,” Stroud said. “It really helps on Flux being able to have this remote system that’s always going to be up.” Krishna Garikipati, associate director for research at the Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering, said there was previously a gap between research opportunities and undergraduate students.

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

Monday, February 1, 2016 — 3A

MAKEATHON From Page 1A before,” Laorr said. “We came into it with nothing prepared. We actually came up with the idea in line to register and didn’t start anything until the morning of construction. That’s when we started doing all of our designs and coding. We came into the morning with an idea and we went for 24 hours, with two hours of sleep, but for the most part, we went nonstop. It didn’t even start to take form until 10 p.m. last night. It was mostly all virtual until then.” The Fine Arts Showcase was new to the event this year and emphasized artistic ability with the winning team creating a webbased virtual reality experience. The fine arts team used an Xbox Connect sensor, typically used for motion tracking, as a 3D scanner. From there, the team created a virtual world, accessible through any smartphone, and hooked it up to cardboard goggles. The team was quick to point out the collaborative, hands-on nature of the process. “The most influential part of the 36 hours has been the people who have come through and demoed as we have been working on it — this was other people in Makeathon, staff members and some friends,” said Art & Design sophomore Sam Bertin, “The energy too. Everyone was so just excited every step of the way.” Art & Design senior Chris Withers, also a member of the team, agreed and said teamwork contributed to the experience. “Everyone has had suggestions,” he said. “We got coding advice from people. It was the perfect place to be to get all the help we needed to make it happen.” The event’s Case Competition was sponsored by the National InstrumentsCorporation. The

task required teams to create a functioning robot prototype that could climb stairs. Rohan Dasika, Engineering senior and one of the directors of the Makeathon, said the case was focused on structure. “We wanted to look at making from a very structured, judging point of view, as opposed to open making,” Daskia said. “The purpose was to bring in a case and a have very, very specific problem to be solved and students would be judged against the rubric.” Engineering senior Christopher Shih said he enjoyed his team’s creation process. “The 36 hours were stressful but not impossible,” Shih said. “It was definitely hard. I’ve been awake for over 24 hours. But the experience of just getting the robot to work — for instance, out of the 36 hours, ours worked on hour 35. That’s the positive reinforcement — that what we did for the last 36 hours worked and actually fulfilled its purpose. Otherwise, you don’t waste 35 hours, and you do learn things. Even if you fail there is very much to be learned from experiences like this.” The event culminated in an awards ceremony Sunday afternoon, in which cash prizes were given out in each category. “The importance of the event is to spread the culture of making across campus,” Dasika said. “This is one of the avenues that people can choose to come — explore creativity, explore making and bring their ideas to life. Classes get very routine and monotonous and it’s just doing problems and readings. People here have learned a tremendous amount. I think this sort of experience is very valuable in today’s world. And especially with how the culture of business is shaping up, I think these are the skills that are going to carry people forward in the future.”

Opinion

4A — Monday, February 1, 2016

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Inner conflict, the right way

ecently, I was reminded of an old is that he was not special in and of himself. story regarding a prince residing Siddhartha — or anyone else of high moral in contemporary India. Living in a character — did not achieve such status upon sumptuous palace, the exiting the womb. His life teaches us that we prince had everything are all capable of reaching a more patient, his heart desired — enlightened state of consciousness through food, beautiful women, work. Character is developed over time, not entertainment and an inherited. For most people, it takes years of endless supply of material training and discipline to mold and shape our goods. Sequestered visceral, immediate drives. in the confines of his So, how do you battle with your evil, home, over a few days, corrupting self in the postmodern era? he decided to venture At 22, having been stuck in the structures outside the palace walls. SAM of student life, I’ll readily admit that I don’t He instantly became COREY know shit. However, there are many people stunned after witnessing who have fought internal battles with three tragic realisms eventual success. of life: We all get old, get sick and die. As For instance, take the life of Warrick Dunn. luxurious as his life had been, he knew there In 1993, the former NFL running back lost was no escaping these facts. his mother after a bank robber shot her. For Agitated by what he saw, and burdened by many years, Dunn struggled with pain and unfulfilled desires, the prince ventured into anger, until 2007 when he forgave the stillthe world to find the meaning of life. After imprisoned killer. For years, Dunn fought years of learning under a sage and becoming an the instinctual urge to seek revenge, thereby ascetic, he reached enlightenment on his own retaining malice and spite. Instead, he worked — understanding the true nature of oneself to release the anger from his life and began a and the world — by simply sitting under a nonprofit, helping single mothers buy homes tree. Alone, he discovered the beauty in being — a long-time dream of his deceased mother. present and conscious. Or Linda Sarsour. As a 35-year-old If it’s still not obvious, I’m talking about community activist for the Arab American Siddhartha, the Buddha. Association of New York, she fights By reaching nirvana, or supreme liberation, Islamophobia and advocates reform for Siddhartha came to realize the Four Noble immigration policy, the voter registration Truths, which, in essence, state that your system and the criminal justice system. unconditional desires can never truly be Linda turns to reconciliation, diplomacy satisfied, and in order to rid yourself of these and community development to abate cravings, one must become meditative, ubiquitous hate speech, particularly aimed mindful and balanced. at Muslim Americans. She’s involved in a I recite this story not because I swath of issues, concerning many sectors of practice Buddhism, but rather to instill an the American public, including fundraising understanding behind the human flaws we’re $1,000 to rebuild Black churches that have exposed to so often in the news. Looking back been burned down. at 2015, corruption in the quest for power was Or M.K. Asante. A 33-year-old rapper, rampant. Whether it was from celebrities, author and professor at Morgan State politicians or business owners, each sector University, Asante grew up in strife. of society was in hot water over their own According to his memoir, “Buck,” his brother Watergate-type scandal. This, of course, was in and out of jail, his mother struggled is nothing new. Humans inherently tend with psychological ailments and his father toward corruption. Like a had walked out of his two-sided coin, our more life. Embittered, Asante insidious habits linger was involved in the behind those that are more Like a two-sided coin, underground economy endearing qualities. But and had alienated some our more insidious the news provides us with the people closest to habits linger behind of a medium with which to him. With the help of his those that are more mother, uncle and new interpret a basic fact of humanity: Everyone faces administrators, endearing qualities. school internal struggles that he confronted the issues they must fight or confront in his life — external and to prevent their problems internal — eventually going from inflicting harm onto others. to college and becoming a positive influence Though Siddhartha’s beliefs appear dated, to society. they remain equally valuable today. As many These people are warriors who have know, power tends to corrupt. And absolute fought hate, struggle and suffering. Their power corrupts absolutely. This phrase helps biggest source of meaning is understanding, explain part of the human condition; once we reconciliation and facilitating the development have something — in the form of sex, drugs, of others. They embody an important lesson: money, materials, etc. — we want more of it When we connect with others on a human level in an attempt to abate our endless desires, and expand one another’s capabilities, our drawn to pursue something that’s ultimately desires and dissatisfaction seem to dissipate. unsatisfying. We often strive for pleasure and As the philosopher Peter Singer explains, satisfaction, living to scratch every itch in the connecting with others and aiding them in immediacy of each moment. their struggle is one way to release you from the It’s important to recognize this reality “hedonic treadmill” stimulating a consuming, not only because there’s much to learn from desiring lifestyle. errors in human judgment (or lack thereof ), In four years at this University, for what but more importantly so we can try to curb little I know, it seems that these people have our own corrupting tendencies. These discovered something important: Finding problems are deeply personal; they linger happiness comes from an appreciation for constantly within us and can’t be simply kept the long-term, discovering inner peace in the at bay by the continuous hamster wheel of moment and dedicating oneself to the causes achieving transient pleasure. of others. Speaking optimistically, no one has to live in a state of constant yearning. Perhaps Sam Corey can be reached at the most beautiful part of Siddhartha’s tale samcorey@umich.edu.

“

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

Let me say that I’m a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid fat and ugly, and Ben, you’re a terrible surgeon. Now that we’ve got the Donald Trump portion out of the way...” — Senator Ted Cruz responding to a question about Trump’s boycott of the Jan. 28 Republican debate.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Peace with the uncontrollable

s a child, I felt like I knew many things for certain. I was Indian — Malayalee, to be exact. I was brought up in BHARAT Kuwait and Dubai, NAIR both quite dry, torrid places. I had a best friend and was generally well liked. I did pretty well in school, so I must’ve been decently smart as well. I believed these bits, all taken together, created me for who I truly was. Everything was good, and I was just fine. A few years into my teenage years, I somehow found myself with a lot more down time. Imposed with this space and time, I often spent time by myself in my dim, silent room and I — diligently, perhaps to a fault — let my mind wander. I thought about myself, my existence and the things we think to ourselves when we can’t sleep. Most nights, it felt refreshing, almost enlightening. However, at some point I had a specific recursive thought enter my mind. An itch far below skin and bone. This time, I left that room uncertain. I was Indian, certainly, but I had not grown up in my motherland. All my years were split somewhat evenly between Kuwait and Dubai. Yet, citizenship was never awarded to immigrants, as per the law of those rather arid lands. I was caught between two homes; one I had never lived in and one that was never truly mine. My circle of friends never failed to change, my best friends always seemed to move away and my grades were never as high or consistent as they used to be. All that was me had changed. The ground was trembling and I was about to fall. Many years were spent trying to find my footing. I tried looking for something solid, but nothing seemed reliably stable, everything always changed. The journey seemed a little futile and a lot more disheartening

and tiresome and arduous. It really did feel pointless, but, during yet another night in the same room, I asked myself if that was really true. I reasoned to myself that whatever I was looking for was somewhat antithetical. When things changed, I felt like I lost control, but this was simply because I had given away this power. I had let the uncontrollable define me. Indeed, a little detachment was due. With this newfound wisdom, the daze slightly faded. However, I still wanted to find out the extrinsic that held meaningful weight. I searched for things that were relatively time invariant, things that were true and would continue to be. I could only find one thing, and that was my family. People will come and go, the ground will quiver, but my family will always love me, and I can’t help but

I had to make changes in my life... I attempted and succeeded in stripping all that was insignificant. feel unbearably blessed. After all this, I felt like I had to do something. I had to make changes in my life, otherwise this would all be for naught. So, I attempted and succeeded in stripping all that was insignificant. One of the most powerful decisions I made was to cut many people out of my life. I’ve lost a lot of relationships and damaged many more. Sometimes, I wonder whether this was the right thing to do or whether I went about it the right way. Most nights, I sleep thinking that it was right, but then again, other

kinds of nights exist, too. Somewhat serendipitously, I came across a certain piece by Peter Wessel Zappfe, a 20th-century philosopher born in Tromsø, Norway. In his 1933 essay, “Den Sidste Messias” (The Last Messiah), Zappfe talks about the paradox of the human condition and the panic that ensues. One of his remedies for this panic is called anchoring. “The mechanism of anchoring also serves from early childhood; parents, home, the street become matters of course to the child and give it a sense of assurance,” he notes. According to Zappfe, flaws in the one’s ability to properly address the human condition resulting from discovering that one’s anchoring mechanism was false provoked a sense of despair. This sounded somewhat familiar. One of Zappfe’s points I found particularly intriguing: “When a human being has eliminated those of his anchorings that are visible to himself, only the unconscious ones staying put, then he will call himself a liberated personality.” I can understand this as a goal, but as long as you have tethers on this earth, it seems unfathomable. This is interesting to ponder over; would it really be possible to attain this state in a somewhat practical fashion? And if so, would it be worth it? This leaves me uncertain and curious and inexplicably excited. Frankly, there’s still a bit of me that is a little timid, slightly anxious over what will inevitably arrive. Worried over the uncontrollable and my unpreparedness. But many have lived with the same fear before me, and many more will do so much after I have lived — I suppose there’s some comfort to be had in that. Alas, the unscratchable itch persists, and I’ll just have to learn to live with it. Bharat Nair can be reached at bnair@umich.edu.

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Caitlin Heenan, Jeremy Kaplan, Ben Keller, Minsoo Kim, Payton Luokkala, Aarica Marsh, Anna Polumbo-Levy, Jason Rowland, Lauren Schandevel, Melissa Scholke, Rebecca Tarnopol, Ashley Tjhung, Stephanie Trierweiler, Mary Kate Winn, Derek Wolfe, Hunter Zhao

Making morality palatable

ffirmative action has played a key role in increasing the enrollment of underrepresented minorities at universities ever since the 1960s. Without access to this tool, minority enrollment has been difficult to maintain. Look at our own university: Ever since affirmative ROLAND action was banned DAVIDSON in 2006, Black enrollment has steadily dropped from 7.1 percent in 2005 to 4.1 percent in 2015. Supporters of this policy often advocate for it through one of three avenues. Some argue people of color have suffered centuries of discrimination and admittance to places of higher learning acts as a form of reparations. Others believe that normatively, a university should reflect the demographics of the people it is meant to serve (e.g. the state of Michigan is 14.2 percent Black and thus so should be the state’s flagship university). The last common argument is that diversity has intrinsic value and we should always strive to create more diverse spaces. Unfortunately, these arguments aren’t compelling to many groups (primarily whites, Asians and Indians) who feel as though affirmative action disadvantages them. Proposal 2, the initiative banning affirmative action at the University, was passed by a huge 16-point margin. It’s clear that the rhetoric promoting affirmative action hasn’t been effective. But there’s a way of discussing affirmative action that is rarely explored that looks more specifically at its benefits. Rather than viewing diversity as a hazy ideal, we can instead look at how it benefits students of all races. The most obvious benefit of diversity is that it exposes students to a variety of viewpoints. This creates more worldly, thoughtful students who can internalize and learn from these myriad perspectives.

That being said, it’s easy to conceptualize how this benefits students in humanities, but what about students earning STEM degrees? Different cultures have different ways of examining the same problem. As a child, my dad often told me the story of man’s greatest invention. One intrepid inventor created an adhesive spray that created a reusable sticky surface, but couldn’t find an application for it. This inventor was giving a lecture on his creation and one of his coworkers, Arthur Fry, who sang in choir, was in attendance. Fry was often frustrated that his sheet music wouldn’t stick to his music stand and quickly realized that the spray solved the problem. Eventually, they combined these two ideas and invented sticky notes. While there is no mention of race in this story, it does illustrate the value of cross-cultural interaction. Every student comes from a different background, bringing different experiences and insights to the classroom. However, to create these interactions in the first place, we need a diverse student body.

There are plenty of people who find ethical arguments supporting affirmative action compelling. Unofortunately, these people are not a majority. Diversity also has value beyond these intergroup discoveries. Working in diverse groups also makes you smarter. Sheen S. Levine, a professor at the University of Texas, Dallas, recently discovered that people in racially heterogeneous groups are better able to predict bubbles in the stock market than

teams composed of just white or just Black people. The reasoning goes that when you work in a group of people who don’t look like you, you don’t automatically trust them and default to their judgment. This creates more intellectual friction and helps people arrive at the correct answer. There are plenty of people who find ethical arguments supporting affirmative action compelling — people who believe it morally correct to give minorities a leg up in college admissions due to our nation’s legacy of systematic discrimination. Unfortunately, these people are not a majority. Many Americans believe this argument is either inappropriate or ineffective. Supporters of affirmative action can bolster their argument now by emphasizing the empirical benefits of affirmative action; benefits that will extend toward people of all races. While civil rights groups have often discussed mass incarceration as a human rights violation, we’ve only begun to see bipartisan progress in reducing our prison population after lobbyists began framing it in terms of monetary costs. If you go to the American Civil Liberties Union’s webpage on mass incarceration, the majority of the points listed are about the fiscal toll rather than the deep racial disparities this policy has exacerbated. There’s an important lesson here: Sometimes to create progress, we need to tailor our rhetoric and focus on making our arguments palatable. This isn’t to downplay the importance of educating Americans about the effects of our country’s history of racism, but this cultural and moral change takes time, and creating legislative change can take even longer. By recognizing this and fighting pragmatically within our current system while working hard to transform the moral fiber of our country, we can create lasting change in the social justice arena. Roland Davidson can be reached at mhenryda@umich.edu.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION

Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and op-eds. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while viewpoints should be 550 to 850 words. Send the writer’s full name and University affiliation to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.

Arts

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

EVENT PREVIEW

Monday, February 1, 2016 — 5A

FILM REVIEW

McKenzie to read Oscar shorts somber fiction at Literati but essential viewing By JOE WAGNER

By KELLY MARTINEK Daily Arts Writer

On Tuesday, author Elizabeth McKenzie will read from her second novel, “The Portable Veblen,” at Literati as part of their “Fiction Elizabeth at Literati” McKenzie series. “The Portable Literati Veblen” is about Tuesday, Feb. a young couple, 2 at 7 p.m. Veblen and Paul, and their rocky Free engagement. It’s about love, about the two learning to deal with each other’s families and, somehow, about Veblen’s friendship with a squirrel. The New York Times calls it “a screwball comedy with a dash of mental illness; a conventional tale of family pathos; a sendup

of Big Pharma; a meditation on consumption, marriage, the nature of work.” Despite a squirrel being one of the characters in her novel, McKenzie said she has never been to Ann Arbor before. Her story is set in her home state of California. In an interview with the Michigan Daily, McKenzie said she wanted to be a writer her whole life, from childhood to her time as an undergraduate at University of California — Santa Cruz to her graduate studies at Stanford. “That’s all I ever really wanted to do,” she said. “I didn’t know if it would become a job or not.” She said she loves to teach writing workshops and prove to people that they’re capable of writing fiction and that they are more creative than they thought themselves to be. She also offered

some advice to aspiring authors. “Be prepared to feel like a student all your life,” McKenzie said. “There’s always more you can know and it isn’t necessarily something you’re going to learn quickly or master quickly. I don’t mean that in a bad way, I mean that in a really positive way. It’s like you build your life around the pursuit, not necessarily around achieving one goal.” In addition to reading from “The Portable Veblen,” McKenzie will spend time talking to fans at her event on Tuesday. She said her favorite part of readings is getting to talk to people about writing, literature and her books. “People have contacted me from the places I’m going saying they’re excited about the book and that feels good,” she said. “It’s nice to go somewhere people have read the book and like it.”

For the Daily

If there is one commonality between this year’s Oscar nominated live-action shorts, it’s that they are all depressing — but in the best of ways. In such a small period of time, the shorts are able to evoke real, heartfelt emotion. The miniature movies — powerful, thought provoking and often political — leave one wanting more from their storytellers. All five of the nominees hold their own while telling drastically different tales. The nominees are “Ave Maria,” “Shok,” “Everything Will Be Okay,” “Stutterer” and “Day One.” The short film is a peculiar medium in which the storyteller must get in, do their thing, and get out all within 40 minutes or less as regulated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Yet, beautiful stories are able to be told through the short film. What makes a good short film, however, is not necessarily what makes a good movie. A short film must be wholly unique, something never been seen on the screen, or at the least a very original take on something that has. To be successful, the short film can’t simply be some action scene for twenty minutes and then be over. It must ask a question of the audience. It must make them empathize. It must make them think and respond to the

TV NOTEBOOK

USA

question posed. Ultimately, the short film is like a personal statement from the director and the storytelling team. They demonstrate their prowess and potential as filmmakers. A short should give insight into what kind of interesting and creative stories these individuals tell, how they tell them, perhaps even why they tell them and most importantly, what kind of films they are capable of making in the future. A short film is in itself a work of art but it is also an essential marketing mechanism for the filmmakers. Shorts that are successful in the award circuits often create opportunity for filmmakers in the feature length movie world. Those truly exceptional shorts keep the audience wanting more, wanting a feature from its creators. The majority of the nominees this year did just that. “Ave Maria” is a dark, comical encounter in which a family of religious Jews’ car breaks down and they must seek help and work together with a group of nuns who have taken a vow of silence. The short is thought provoking about the situation in the West Bank while simultaneously being humorous. Perhaps the most depressing of all the short films is “Shok.” It is the story of two young boys growing up and trying to survive during the Kosovo War. “Shok” was powerful, making the audience cringe, and react.

For those unfamiliar with this conflict, the short makes one only want to learn more. The German-Austrian co-production “Everything Will Be Okay” starts with a divorced husband picking up his daughter from her mother’s house and later, he tries to steal her away. The film depicts fatherly love in a unique way but the short was, as a whole, slightly boring. It drags on; but perhaps, the film intentionally does so as the father clings onto the last of his relationship with his daughter. “Stutterer,” the shortest short lasting only 12 minutes, is a depiction of the inner life of someone who stutters. It is touching, sad and cute. Although the film is about a stutterer, the emotions evoked are universal. The only American short nominated is “Day One” in which the audience sees a glimpse into the first day on the job of an interpreter for the United States Army. The short is jarring. It twists and turns and keeps the viewer at the edge of their seat waiting to know what happens next. Although the Oscars as whole may lack diversity, the shorts do not. They tell a wide array of stories, quite different than the films nominated for best picture. The shorts are, for the most part, excellent and may point in the direction the Oscars, and film at large, will take in the future.

Have you ever been burgled by someone so handsome?

USA network ratings shift By ALEX INTNER Daily Arts Writer

In 2011, USA Network was the most watched network on cable in both total viewers and the all important 18-49 demographic. Their summer lineup, anchored by such hits as “Royal Pains” and “Burn Notice,” both averaged over five million viewers. Viewers also used “Burn” to launch a new show, “Suits,” to an average of four million in the summer. The network had a cohesive brand, all pulled together under the tagline “Characters Welcome” and with a “blue skies” sense of optimism and fun. Fast-forward to 2015 and the picture looks very different. “Burn Notice” has long since ended its run, “Pains” and “Suits” are a shadow of what they once were (only getting 1.5 million and 2.3 million viewers respectively during their summer runs). The “Characters Welcome” brand and most of the shows that went along with it ended, and most of the new shows which the network used to replace them have failed. Neither “Graceland,” “Rush” and “Complications” made it past a third season before cancellation. These signs point to a network in transition. The USA Network “brand” is in flux, with the network trying to push into more edgy programming. As the track record suggested, it’s not completely working. However, there’s one series which can point to the network’s success: “Mr. Robot.” The show does not have good ratings, but it’s more of a sign of USA’s new brand than anything else they’ve done before. Before “Mr. Robot” even premiered, it was renewed for a second season after the pilot was released several weeks early. This is not something the USA Network of a few years ago would have done. It was a bold statement to put that announcement out there before most of the public had seen the show, and it was a sign of the network’s confidence in what they had. They looked at the show’s

tone, its unique cinematography and direction (like the visual flourish that happens when Elliot (Rami Malek, “The Master”) was tripping on morphine) and its buildup of drama when making the renewal decision. Yet, from a ratings perspective, “Mr. Robot” ’s were not good at all. The show averaged 1.4 million viewers and a 0.5 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. (Those numbers would double or sometimes triple when a week’s worth of DVR viewing is factored in). That’s about 30 percent below its leadin, “Suits,” and on par with the series “Rush,” which was cancelled in 2014. Where “Mr. Robot” has proven successful for the network is in critical buzz and awards. According to the Hitfix Critics Poll, which measures critic’s top 10 lists, the show placed highly on many top 10’s. (It finished in the number four spot on our list.) It also won the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Drama (with pending nominations at the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild Awards.) USA is ideally looking to leverage all this attention into Emmy nominations in the summer. By renewing the show early and showing confidence in what they had, USA is showcasing a major shift in strategy. They’re focusing on buzz and awards in renewal decisions, instead of just looking at the ratings. Instead of the formal populist approach, it’s similar to how FX handles its critically acclaimed shows. “Fargo” and “The Americans” don’t exactly pull in crowds like “Sons of Anarchy” and “American Horror Story,” but the network respects the critical buzz and awards attention they bring so they keep them on the air. USA has never really taken this approach with its programming before. “Mr. Robot” is darker and more offputting than any of the shows on USA’s air in 2011. It’s the most “brand-defining” series for them since the premiere of “Suits” in 2011, and will likely be a model for development in USA Network for years to come.

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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Get cheeky with 5 __ and whistles: enhancements 10 Vile Nile snakes 14 Harbinger 15 Chinese or Japanese 16 Great, in ’90s slang 17 Salon request for prom night 18 “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here!” poet 19 When doubled, American Samoa’s capital 20 *Football player using a tee 23 GOP member 24 Woman of la casa 25 Wipe clean 27 __ Dakota 30 Moves furtively 33 Kitten-lifting spot 36 Not worth discussing 38 Director DeMille 39 Ventilate 40 Decorate, as with parsley 42 In the style of 43 French good-bye 45 It’s prohibited 46 Rap fan 47 Hummingbird’s diet 49 Get more mileage out of 51 House overhangs 53 Some car deals 57 T-shirt sizes, for short 59 Secondary business venue, as for auto accessories ... and, literally, where the starts of the answers to starred clues can go 62 Mini-exam 64 Ancient region of present-day Turkey 65 Racer Yarborough 66 Speeder’s payment 67 Lovers’ meeting 68 Sch. near the Rio Grande 69 Fir or ash 70 Enjoy a cigar 71 Places to sleep

DOWN 1 “__ on!”: “Dinner!” 2 More than sufficient 3 Family car 4 Ice-cream truck treat 5 Consequence of selfish acts, some say 6 Actor Morales 7 “The Mod Squad” role 8 Hanukkah pancake 9 Scornful looks 10 Smartphone download 11 *Split the taxi fare 12 Numbered book part 13 Call it a day 21 Suffix with 22Down 22 Cowboy’s home 26 Witness 28 Pulled in different directions 29 Hold in high respect 31 Narc’s discovery 32 Do in, as a vampire 33 Tandoori flatbread 34 White House worker

35 *Travel website pitched by William Shatner 37 Fork feature 40 Tropical fruit 41 Love of one’s life 44 Pilot’s prediction: Abbr. 46 Grizzly youngster 48 Gets new supplies for 50 Salty expanse 52 Tempest

54 Slide on ice 55 Sought morays 56 Arthur Murray moves 57 Floor plan meas. 58 Sierra Club founder John 60 Greek war goddess 61 Take a chance on 63 New York’s Tappan __ Bridge

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Arts

6A — Monday, February 1, 2016

TV COLUMN

50 shades of Chloe: Seeing myself on TV I

love the arts for a lot of reasons, but I mostly love seeing myself. For me, art allows innumerable points of entrance and reference, a million spots to get attached and relate things to myself or my life. Selfish young millennial that I am, I love appro- CHLOE priating other GILKE artists’ narratives into something that serves me. When I watch something funny or weird or dramatic, I don’t just take it for what it is — I see shades of my own funny, weird, dramatic existence. I’ll watch an episode of “The Office” and think of the friendships (and crushes) that bloomed in the chilly upperfloor newsroom I spent three or five nights a week in. I’ll listen to “Caravan” by Van Morrison and remember silly nights traipsing through Ann Arbor like a band of hippies. I’ll listen to Courtney Barnett and that weird empty feeling that has been bugging me for the last month or two will be echoed through my earbuds and sound beautiful. When I say that I love some piece of art, it’s usually because it speaks to me like this. I see myself. I know that art has its own merits and matters beyond what some narcissistic college student can relate back to her boring life. But, again, I am selfish. I’m writing a column with my name attached to the headline and picking and choosing the shit I think is important to talk about. And right now, I think we should talk about “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is The CW’s latest underrated TV masterpiece. The show has received a fair amount of critical acclaim, with leading lady Rachel Bloom receiving a Golden Globe and several laudatory reviews from The Michigan Daily. But the show doesn’t have the numbers it deserves. It’s on the brink of possible cancellation, and only a few of my friends watch it. I loathe reading columns that are just extended advertisements for an underappreciated gem. Read/love/listen to/watch this thing! Accept my sublime taste in the television arts! But I’ll forgo my moral oppositions, because I am selfish and desperately want you to watch this show. Yes, you. I am speaking

to you just like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” speaks to me. Trust me, you’ll love this show. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is brilliant. Rachel Bloom is a true star — like Tina Fey’s wit and Chloe Gilke’s musical confidence merged into an extraterrestrial purveyor of joy. She manages to make Rebecca Bunch — a character who would be ridiculously unlikable on paper into someone you love and empathize viscerally with. Rebecca is a little crazy. She moves from New York City to West Covina, Calif. in pursuit of a guy she dated as a teenager. But, as the show’s theme song says, “the situation is a lot more nuanced than that.” She’s moving because the tumult of New York is exhausting. She’s tired of chasing greatness and climbing the corporate law ladder and ignoring the emptiness of it all. She wants to be happy and live close to the beach, and she could use a fresh start. Reader, it’s hard not to see yourself in that. Whether or not your own psychological situation is as similar to Rebecca’s as mine is — frankly, we’re both a little unhinged and tend to pin our dreams and aspirations on a place or a person and hope they’ll be enough to make us happy again — there are a million points of entry here. She’s funny and joyful, like I’m sure you are. She’s sometimes clueless but also very smart and ambitious. She (and nearly every character on the show) loves to sing, and the show takes musical cues from the likes of Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Billy Joel. Surely some of that appeals to you? “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is preoccupied with relatable struggles like making friends. It’s crazy hard to make friends, right? Rebecca is lonely and wishing she had a crew of people who love her, as I’m sure has preoccupied you at one point. I watch episodes like last week’s “I’m Going to the Beach with Josh and His Friends!” and feel both incredibly grateful for my own crew of friends and the selfish desire to demand more from them and wish that they could be like characters in a TV show and always hanging around waiting for their leading lady to give them a storyline. Rebecca desperately wants to be liked and to be loved. Like her show! Love her show! If you care about romance, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” has some great fodder for your desperate imagination. Rebecca’s object of desire, the dopey-charming Josh Chan, is sweet and sup-

portive, and his and Rebecca’s scenes are especially tender. Where she’s a ball of nerves, Josh is happy as the California sunshine, and the sparks of their scenes together keep Rebecca going through the tougher parts of her life. When I watch the show, I remember all the rays of sunshine that I’ve loved, who gained even more light by my own desperate pursuit of their glow. There’s also Greg, the snarky third leg of the love triangle, who has an obvious crush on Rebecca, though she can’t see past her ideal love for Josh. Maybe my brain is fried from too much TV — but reader, I’m almost certain you’ve been in a situation like this. Either you’ve loved someone who can’t see you beyond a settling second pick or you’ve broken a few hearts. I can tell. You may be uncertain about my recommendation, since I love and frequently write about depressing shows (“The Leftovers”) or procedural dramas about stoic lawyers who secretly love each other (“The Good Wife”). Rebecca Bunch may be a lawyer with depression, but I swear this show has appeal beyond my own selfish appreciation of seeing things I love and relate to. Rebecca is a dynamic female character unmatched by most of her network peers. Making comparisons to other TV shows is dumb, but I’d compare her to Amy Jellicoe on “Enlightened” or Valerie Cherish of “The Comeback” — she’s a little broken, but driven and sparkling and completely whole. The show’s balance of humor and primo plot development is like something you’d watch on HBO, maybe “Girls” or “Silicon Valley.” The musical numbers are like the funniest “SNL” digital shorts put to life. As “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” enters the critical time when network execs decide if it’s worth keeping around or should go in the trash bin of shows that will inevitably be revived in 15 years, this is your call to watch the show. Watch “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” for the music and silliness. Watch it because you’ve been depressed and want to watch other people making a go at happiness. Watch it because you’re looking for someone like you, even if she doesn’t look like or act exactly like you do. Watch it because I’ve given my passionate, selfish recommendation. Gilke is trying to see shades of herself in Megan Fox. To help her think of another celeb, email chloeliz@umich.edu.

FILM REVIEW

COHEN MEDIA GROUP

Paul Dano, where is that wig from?

‘Hitchcock/Truffaut’ cinema geek’s dream By LAUREN WOOD Daily Arts Writer

In 1962, renowned French filmmaker and icon of the French New Wave, François Truffaut, sat down for an

interview with the massively popular American director Alfred Hitchcock. At the time, although most of Hitchcock’s films were blockbuster hits, they were generally regarded by critics as gimmicky and

thin, their innovative suspense techniques superficial rather than masterful. When asked who his favorite filmmaker was, Truffaut responded Alfred Hitchcock, shocking his fans and shedding a new light on

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

STYLE NOTEBOOK

KIM KARDASHIAN

She’s so cute I want to pick her out of the ground like a root vegetable.

Why can’t I be a Balmain ballerina? By HANNAH SPARKS

Why is it that celebrity children are so enticing? Maybe it’s because they have access to things the average person, can only dream of, but will likely never have, i.e. unlimited amounts of travel and designer everything. For me, the endless amount of designer clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, coupled with the ability to easily get involved in the fashion industry, is what I envy the most. Suri Cruise is the first stylish celebrity offspring I had ever learned about — really the first child tabloid sensation of our time. She already has a heel collection that will forever exceed mine. Oh and side note, that collection reportedly includes some custom red bottom shoes (AKA Louboutins.) That’s right people, a nine-year-old already has Louboutins — let that sink in. Brad and Angelina Jolie-Pitt have six children, three of which are adopted. These children have attended movie premieres, red carpet events and have been featured in movies as well as fashion magazines alongside their parents. There have been rumors that “Brangelina” are looking to adopt again, and to be honest, I find myself wondering — why not me? Jealous is the way I feel when I see yet another Instagram post of North West wearing custom Balmain. Exactly 13 weeks ago, Kim Kardashian West posted a picture of her beloved Nori in an adorable Balmain outfit, with the caption “My little Balmain Ballerina.” Why, why can’t I be a Balmain Ballerina? Besides the fact that I can’t dance or afford Balmain, why can’t that be me? I think I was born into the wrong family. Look, I love my family and they’re great; but are they Gucci great?

Oh, the Wests… There are open doors around every corner for these accidental starlets. Exhibit A: Romeo Beckham. Romeo is one of David and Victoria Beckham’s four children. He was a trailblazer for the Beckham children and celebrity children alike when he debuted his first Burberry ad campaign for Spring/Summer 2013. He then starred in two more Burberry campaigns, both notably being the Christmas campaigns for 2014 and 2015. I have a soft spot for Romeo, and although I am seven years his senior … I will wait for him. Lily-Rose Depp, the daughter of the talented and attractive actor Johnny Depp, has recently been working closely with Karl Lagerfeld. While last year she only found herself as the star of Chanel’s 2015 eyewear campaign, I can predict with 99 percent accuracy that us peasants will see her popping up in more of these high-profile campaigns. Most recently, Jaden Smith, who The New York Times deemed “The New Man in a Skirt,” played a major part in the ad campaign for Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2016. Jaden (the son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith for those who may not be aware of the power family) is someone I find to be extremely innovative. While he stars in the campaign (mega cool to begin with) he’s also causing a shift in the way we see gender. I forgot to mention that Jaden is not a part of the men’s campaign. Jaden is in the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2016 women’s campaign, and yes he wears a skirt. Of course men have been involved in women’s wear campaigns before, but not one of them has ever been dressed from head to toe in women’s clothing. My thoughts on this are as fol-

lows: hell yes, Jaden Smith! He sports the skirt much better than the other three female models standing beside him, so honestly, what if he wants to wear women’s clothes? He clearly does it better than most of us. If you’re able to look past traditional gender roles (which is what this campaign promotes) then you’ll see that a boy in a skirt is nothing to fret over. Jaden is using his fame for fashion in addition to representing the change this generation is eager to demonstrate and hastily needs. Taking all of what I’ve said into consideration, I have to remind myself that these celebrities live their lives under a magnifying glass. They have no room for error, unless they want it to be broadcasted all around the world. All of their insecurities and flaws are on display and constantly under fire. To me however, the pros seem to outweigh the cons in this situation. Fine, let the people see the awful paparazzi shots of the huge pimple in between my eyes (which is basically like a small planet.) As long as I’m holding that Prada bag, seeing my newfound high fashion career on the horizons, I couldn’t care less. The good, the bad, the ugly, the expensive and the designer are all elements in these children’s lives. Although I may never forgive them for having famous parents, which allows them to navigate life a little more easily, I will always love them. I will continue to stalk all blogs, Instagrams and Twitter accounts having to do with these young and stylish stars. Tagging my friends in the pictures of famous kids with their amazing clothes (that I am jealous of) is something I promise to do. I swear my allegiance to wish and work hard to one day (hopefully) get on their level of designer delights.

the masterful composition of Hitchcock’s dramatic thrillers. The subsequent conversation between the two directors is recorded as one of the most influential dialogues in filmmaking history, inspiring another wave of directors across the world. First published as a book, the documentary “Hitchcock/ Truffaut” delves into this conversation through the eyes of some of the most popular directors of today. Big names like Wes Anderson (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”), David Fincher (“Gone Girl”), Akira Kurosawa (“Seven Samurai”) and Martin Scorsese (“Goodfellas”) claim that it was this book that allowed them to access filmmaking in a way that pushed past entertainment, and revealed the construction behind the magic they witnessed on screen. For these directors, the published transcript of this conversation became a cinematic bible, with shot by shot breakdowns of Hitchcock’s most compelling scenes and straightforward dialogue regarding the most powerful ways to engage an audience through film. While any conversation with Hitchock or Truffaut would be valuable, it’s the candid rapport between the two that makes their

conversation so influential. As the two try to learn from each other, those listening are given a direct line to learn from them as well. It seems almost obvious to say that film is a visual medium, and the careful construction of the image is what pulls an audience in. Looking at this construction, the documentary works to dismantle the notion that to be regarded highly, cinema must be “serious,” and must have a fully logical framework. In many ways, this is exactly what Hitchcock’s films are not — the logic is shaky and the actions overdramatized to the point of disbelief. However, as Scorsese notes at one point in the documentary, instead of appealing to realism, Hitchcock appealed to the “spirit of realism,” an even more powerful device that kept audiences across the country at the edge of their seats. While the documentary focuses on the work of Truffaut and Hitchcock through the eyes of today’s most famous directors, it also inadvertently gives us a window into the minds of these directors at work. When analyzing Hitchcock’s pervasive religious themes, Fincher notes that in watching films, it can be almost unsettling how much

we learn about the filmmaker, their fears, their obsessions and their deepest desires. This is a sentiment echoed by all commentators in the film, and reveals a facet of their work that may have otherwise been overlooked. Hitchcock’s films communicate his darkest obsessions in a way that makes them acceptable for an audience, and in doing this, he gave permission to the next generation of filmmakers to do the same. While somewhat slow at times, “Hitchcock/ Truffaut” works as a largely informational documentary. To those interested in filmmaking, the in-depth discussion of cinematic technique, the construction of the image and the revelatory aspects of passion project movies is engrossing. But, the documentary’s continual references to the large archive of Hitchcock and Truffaut’s works could serve to alienate those less involved, although the pull of celebrity gives a splash of excitement to the otherwise informational film. In the same way as the original book, the documentary stands not as art within itself, but as inspiration for those just as fascinated by the image as these famous filmmakers.

For the Daily

SportsMonday B

The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | February 1, 2016

blue y rk

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Michigan 79, Penn State 72 Michigan 6, Penn State 3

JAMES COLLER/Daily

THE NEW BOSS

n Warde Manuel was introduced as Michigan’s new athletic director on Friday. Page 2B

EW YORK — Frank Sinatra said if you can make it in New York, you could make it anywhere. In 2013, the Big Ten took note and decided it wanted to be a part SIMON of it: New KAUFMAN York, New York. So the conference, once called the Western Conference, started spreading the news — it was headed east. The Big Ten penned an eightyear partnership with the Pinstripe Bowl to have one of its schools play in the annual post-season game at Yankee Stadium. Next, it added two East Coast schools in Rutgers and Maryland. Then, it announced plans to host the men’s basketball Big Ten Tournament in the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. and Madison Square Garden in New York in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The deal with Madison Square Garden also included the arena being the home of the inaugural “Super Saturday,” a basketball-hockey double header between Michigan and Penn State, the first true test to see if the Big

NO PRESSURE

n With little margin for error, Michigan seeks a national championship. SportsMonday Column, Page 2B

Ten could make it there. An hour after the Michigan men’s basketball team edged Penn State on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, it looked like Sinatra was right — the Big Apple would be fruitful for the Big Ten. American Whiskey — a restaurant and bar just three blocks from the arena — played host to hoards of Wolverines fans celebrating the victory. And why not celebrate? Michigan, their Michigan, played just around the corner in The World’s Most Famous Arena, and thanks to a 20-point performance from Zak Irvin and a doubledouble from Derrick Walton Jr., they were winners for the afternoon. So they turned the Midtown bar into a sea of maize and blue — a scene you’d expect at Skeeps, but not at a bar just a few blocks from Times Square. The schools took to the hardwood first, before the the floor came up and the ice came out. Michigan started the day with a 7-0 run on the court and never gave the lead back, downing Penn State, 79-72. Then, at night, the Michigan hockey team used four thirdperiod goals to roll past the Nittany Lions, 6-3. One venue. Two Michigan wins. See KAUFMAN, Page 4B

SportsMonday

2B — February 1, 2016

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

SPORTSMONDAY COLUMN

Avoiding the pressure under the banners

month before the Michigan women’s gymnastics team rose to No. 1 in the national poll on Jan. 11, the Wolverines couldn’t even field a full team for their own exhibition JAKE meet. LOURIM The week of the meet, one gymnast split her toe open on a fall and needed six stitches. Another missed on a bar mount and sprained ligaments in her neck. Another was ill most of last fall. “We just seemed to have had whatever was going around,” said coach Bev Plocki on Wednesday. The morning of the meet, another gymnast got sick and yet another had a personal emergency. “It was almost like, ‘Don’t anybody else come talk to me!’ ” Plocki said with an exasperated smile. “But look where we are now.” Where they are now is fully healthy and ranked in the top five in the country with a legitimate shot to win the national championship in April. Michigan struggled at the exhibition meet, losing to Eastern Michigan. Four weeks later, the Wolverines were in Cancun, Mexico, scoring a season-high 196.975, winning the meet and garnering the No. 1 national ranking the next week. “We did not at all like the way that we performed or the impression that we potentially gave people at how we looked in that (exhibition),” Plocki said. “I think there was a little bit of a pride factor that, gosh, we gotta come back from Christmas and pull this together and go out and

prove to some people what we’re capable of doing.” *** Gymnastics doesn’t have stopwatches or yard markers or goals. It has a human judge who sits in a chair and gives points to routines, almost entirely based on the success of the routine but, invariably, also based on perception. “Let’s face it — our sport is judged subjectively,” Plocki said. “A human being sits in a chair, and they have a perception about whether you’re going to be good or whether you’re going to be average.” So the path to a championship at the end of the season requires not just practicing and refining all of a team’s routines but also proving to the rest of the country that team can execute them. By the spring, the judges know who the top teams are and who they expect to be at the top of the scoreboards. “We want to expect ourselves to be there,” Plocki said. “But we need them to expect us to be there too.” That process starts from the beginning of the season. The Wolverines have now competed in five meets at five different sites in front of five different sets of judges, scoring at least 196 every time. Each week, they prove to more people that they can be in that top tier. At the exhibition against Eastern Michigan, they slipped up. “I’m not saying that we were

thinking about what the judges thought at the (exhibition), but big picture, yeah,” Plocki said. “I don’t know if they streamed that or not — good heavens, I hope they didn’t — but if that was people’s impression of us out of the gate, they would have been like, ‘This is going to be a rough year for Michigan.’ ” They would have been wrong. The Wolverines have slowly erased that impression week by week with their improvement in training and their high scores in meets. From the beginning of the season, Plocki has been open about her belief that Michigan can win a national championship. In her 27 years at the helm of the program, almost no other program has been that consistent. She has won 20 Big Ten championships, including 13 of 14 at one point, and 11 regional championships. In her career, the Wolverines have reached the Super Six 10 times and won eight individual national titles. The national championship is the only achievement that has eluded her, though not for lack of trying. Michigan has finished second twice, third once and fourth twice. To make it over the top, the Wolverines must improve every week — which made Friday’s meet such a shock. In its fifth meet of the season, Michigan scored its lowest total against its toughest Big Ten opponent (Nebraska), suffering its first loss of the season. In the first four, the Wolverines scored 196.975, 196.925, 196.950 and 196.900, putting them right in

“That would be pressure. And it’s got to be about having fun.”

ROBERT DUNNE/Daily

Michigan coach Bev Plocki’s team has its sights set on a national championship after overcoming adversity last fall.

the thick of the upper echelon of teams. This weekend’s meet put them just outside that group. That’s how small the margin for error is, and that’s how important it is for them to stay consistent all season. The rest of the year leaves little room for another slip-up. “We want to prove to everybody in the country that we are consistent and we’re consistently good and we’re continuing to get better,” Plocki said. “I want every athlete on my team to absolutely believe with every fiber of their being that not only do they deserve to be at the Super Six, they expect themselves to be at the Super Six.” *** Three weeks ago was Michigan’s first home meet of the season. The Wolverines won with a score of 196.925, but they made a mistake on every event, according to Plocki. At the end

of the meet, they gathered and said to each other, “Boy, that felt like work.” Since the beginning of the season, Michigan has believed it could win the national championship, but sometimes, that comes with an expectation of winning the national championship. That’s what Michigan tries to avoid. “That would be pressure,” Plocki said. “And it’s got to be about having fun. I’m a firm believer that sports should be about having fun. If you are not enjoying what you’re doing, you should not be doing it.” For the most part, the Wolverines have overcome their mistakes this season. But Plocki believes that if all goes well, they can get to the point where they don’t even make those mistakes. “I like going to the football games where we score a touchdown every drive, and it’s just all cheering and fun,” Plocki said. “I get headaches when it’s

the close, back-and-forth games, and whoever has the ball last is probably going to win. Those stress me out.” Twenty-two Big Ten title banners hang from the rafters in the gymnastics team’s firstclass practice facility. It’d be easy to buckle under those expectations. The first thing freshman Olivia Karas noticed on her recruitment visit, however, was that the entire team was together stretching and talking before practice, having fun. Already, the Wolverines have suffered multiple setbacks this season — injuries, illnesses and finally Friday’s loss. They have an incredibly small margin for error, and it’s getting even smaller. Michigan won’t be consumed by the pressure, though. What fun would that be? Jake Lourim can be reached at jlourim@umich.edu or on Twitter @jakelourim.

Michigan seeks stability in Manuel Cornhuskers top ‘M’ in upset win WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

By JAKE LOURIM

Managing Sports Editor

By AVI SHOLKOFF Daily Sports Writer

In gymnastics, a poor showing in only one event can dramatically alter the final result of the meet. No matter how well a team performs in the rest of the contest, it must maintain its consistency throughout to get the victory. After stellar performances in vault, uneven bars and floor, the No. 3 Michigan women’s gymnastics team failed to maintain its lead in the beam event, losing to No. 17 Nebraska (3-0-0 Big Ten, 5-0-0 overall), 196.775-196.550. “Part of what we have to do is learn how to finish meets,” said Wolverines assistant coach Dave Kuzara. “(Whether) we finish on beam or finish on another event, we didn’t finish as strong as we normally had.” Friday night was just the second time this season that Michigan (2-0-1, 5-0-1) has finished on beam. While at home, the Wolverines end with floor, with its glamorous dance and acrobatic moves to make the end of the meet seem like a grand finale. At Nebraska, Michigan was not afforded that luxury. While the Wolverines lost the meet, many individuals achieved top scores and attained career highs. Continuing on her impressive season, freshman Olivia Karas won the all-around title in Friday’s meet and tied for first in vault. She also tied her career high in floor with a score of 9.950. Other bright spots for the Wolverines included senior Austin Sheppard, who set her season high in uneven bars. Freshman Emma McLean attained a 9.875 on floor, the best of her young career, while junior Nicole Artz led the entire meet with a 9.975 in floor to set her career high. When asked which players

stood out in Friday’s meet, Kuzara mentioned Karas’s great season and also offered praise to other young athletes. “It would be silly not to mention Olivia,” Kuzara said. “Week in and week out, (she is) really doing a great job. (Sophomore) Brianna Brown competed in the all-around in full, and with all of her skills, (she) did a great job. Emma McLean put together two good events competing in the lineup spots.” The loss marked the first time this season Michigan has scored under a 49 in an event, a core factor behind the Wolverines’ first loss this season. Its season average in beam prior to the meet was a solid 49.225. Kuzara explained that some mishaps on the beam caused the team to receive a lower score. “We had a few bobbles,” Kuzara said. “Obviously, we want to perform to the best of our ability, and we fell short of that, but it’s time to start thinking about the next competition.” Though Michigan suffered its first defeat of the season, it will take many lessons from this meet and use them in practices to prepare for its next competition in two weeks. “Every meet, you get a little bit more feedback from the judges,” Kuzara said. “Sometimes you really take that information and really work on the finer points with what we’re doing.” As the first half of the season draws to a close, Michigan no longer sits at the top of the Big Ten standings. In addition, its ranking will drop because of its performance Friday night. Yet, Kuzara remains optimistic and believes the loss will motivate the team. “When you have a little bit of a hiccup, it tends to refocus everybody,” Kuzara said. “This is a great team, a great group of women. We’ll get back in the gym, and we’ll work real hard.”

During and after Warde Manuel’s introduction as Michigan’s next athletic director Friday, there was talk from several people about the state of college athletics today. The business has never been bigger, more publicized or more prominent. No one delved into specifics, but almost every aspect of the enterprise is becoming more popular. The University’s Athletic Department operates with a $151 million budget. Former football coach Lloyd Carr noted how different merely recruiting is than when he coached from 1995 to 2007. “This is not a job that is honorific or that’s a hobby. This is a job that is enormously complex,” said University Regent Mark Bernstein (D–Ann Arbor). “The stakes are very high, not just financially — it’s really not even a rounding error at the University — but for the safety of our students. This is a tumultuous moment in college athletics, and I think it’s only going to get bumpier. To have someone who has been engaged and involved in that his whole career … that’s who you want. “This is not a job or a moment to engage in an experiment.” In Manuel, who will begin work March 14, the University hired a sitting athletic director for the first time in its history. Those who provided input into the search hope that experience will help Manuel navigate the challenges of the job. “I think it’s important that our leadership, both our athletic director and our administration, appreciate how complicated that is,” Bernstein said. “I think Warde gets that. I think that he, in many ways, has demonstrated an appreciation for the importance of the wellbeing of student-athletes, the place that athletics plays as it

GRANT HARDY/Daily

Warde Manuel is Michigan’s first-ever athletic director with prior experience as an athletic director.

relates to the University and the culture of the University.” The last search for a full-time athletic director — excluding Schlissel’s appointment of Jim Hackett in the interim starting Oct. 31, 2014 — gave the University Dave Brandon, who came, like multiple other athletic directors, from a business background. Manuel has been a college athletics administrator for almost his entire career. Just as appealing are his ties to the University as a former football player, alumnus and associate athletic director. “It’s very difficult for anyone who has not been at this university, or a similarly situated university, to understand the very unique role that athletics plays at this university,” Bernstein said. “Not just the importance of athletics on its own, but the relationship of athletics to a university that

“This is not a job or a moment to engage in experiment.”

aspires to greatness in the academic sphere also.” At one time, University President Mark Schlissel appeared to be one of those people. Before coming to Michigan, he was the provost at Brown. In July 2014, six months into his tenure, Schlissel noted at a Board of Regents meeting that athletics were not part of the mission statement of the University. But in two years as president, Schlissel has made several important decisions regarding in athletics, most notably appointing Hackett as interim athletic director, which had positive results. “What I’ve come to learn, actually, as I try to grow into being a ‘Michigan Man,’ is the cultural role athletics plays in our community,” Schlissel said. “It’s not the core mission of the university — I don’t think anyone makes that mistake — but it’s a deep part of our culture. It’s the window through which many people see and remain attached to the University through the years, through the decades, all around the country, all around

the world.” From 1921 to 1988, the University had just three athletic directors. Since 1988, a span just over half as long, Manuel is the eighth athletic director. The University sought a candidate who could add stability, and Manuel, 47, has the ability and desire to do so. “This was really the first real search for an athletic director that this university has engaged in in two decades,” Bernstein said. Schlissel hosted an event at his house Thursday night to celebrate Manuel’s arrival along with people from every part of Manuel’s life: neighbors, friends and teachers from his past. After slowly stabilizing over the past 15 months, the University hopes Manuel can continue that effort. “Certainly Jim Hackett was an exceptional leader at an important moment,” Bernstein said, “and Warde is the same.”

For more Manuel coverage Check MichiganDaily.com’s sports page

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SportsMonday

February 1, 2016 — 3B

Wolverines race to blowout win Thompson keeps Thome posts WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Banham in check

career-high 31 points to power Michigan

By TED JANES Daily Sports Writer

By CHRIS CROWDER Daily Sports Writer

With one minute left in the third quarter of the Michigan women’s basketball team’s matchup MINNESOTA 76 against MICHIGAN 92 Minnesota on Sunday, Katelynn Flaherty was not playing like her usual self. Her teammates and coaches praise her shooting stroke, saying that sometimes they feel like every shot she puts up will go in. The junior guard was having a lackluster day, so she decided to pass. Flaherty’s pass from the arc to the right block near the baseline ended up in the hands of senior guard Madison Ristovski for an improbable but momentumbuilding bucket. It was a close call, but like the rest of the game, the Wolverines found a way to score when it mattered most. “That was a new play we just put in,” Flaherty said. “It was funny because (Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico) was like, ‘Throw it if it’s there.’ Then I waited one second and was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to throw it.’ It was a great play, and I’m happy we executed it well.” Flaherty and others set up freshman center Hallie Thome for a career-high 31 points. Michigan (4-6 Big Ten, 12-9 overall) also made 25 free throws off of 26 fouls, an important factor in its 92-76 victory. The teams got off to a slow start, as the Wolverines led, 8-7, by the first timeout with 4:59 left in the first quarter. Michigan has become accustomed to runand-gun style games when it has to score large amounts of points

ZOEY HOLMSTROM/Daily

Freshman forward Hallie Thome scored a career-high 31 points in the Wolverines’ 92-76 win over Minnesota.

in transition. The Gophers (6-4, 14-7) slowed the pace of the game down, and by shooting 4-for-11 from distance in the opening stanza — 8-for-31 in total — they led 22-16 at the end of the quarter. Minnesota’s next 3-pointer by guard Shayne Mullaney gave the Golden Gophers a seven-point lead early in the second quarter. A minute later, the Wolverines missed two 3s but regained possession with two offensive rebounds as Flaherty scored her first basket of the game after missing her first three shots. Michigan closed the gap to two at the next timeout with 4:39 left in the second quarter by way of feeding the ball into the post, especially to freshman center Hallie Thome. Two possessions later, junior guard Siera Thompson’s and-one gave the Wolverines a 34-31 lead. They rode the momentum to carry a 44-39 advantage into halftime. Thome led all scorers with 18 points in the half.

“Every time they went on a run, we had an answer,” Barnes Arico said. “Hallie was a dominating presence for us inside … For her to be able to come in as a freshman and score 31 points and have an incredible day like she did today, that’s pretty special.” The teams got off to a crawling start again at the beginning of the third quarter, as they combined for just eight points in the first three minutes after the halftime break. Michigan continued to dish the ball to Thome, as she used her height advantage and post moves to earn easy layups. The Gophers led for a short amount of time midway through the quarter, but with four minutes left in the third, a layup by freshman guard Boogie Brozoski gave the Wolverines the upper hand again. Thome passed her career high in the third quarter, giving her 26 points on the afternoon. Soon thereafter, Flaherty’s 3-pointer

WRESTLING

Wolverines fall to top-ranked Penn State, top Northwestern Coon the lone bright spot as Nittany Lions dominate By MIKE GRIFFIN Daily Sports Writer

As it continues to plow through a challenging Big Ten schedule, the No. 8 Michigan wrestling team faced two difficult opponents over the weekend, taking on Northwestern at home on Friday and Penn State in Happy Valley on Sunday. Sunday, the Wolverines made the trip to Pennsylvania to face the top-ranked Nittany Lions. Both squads arrived with undefeated records in the Big Ten and possess multiple wrestlers capable of competing — and succeeding — at the National Championships in March. Facing Penn State’s bulldozing lineup, which featured four top-ranked wrestlers, the Wolverines struggled, losing all but two of the matchups. The Wolverines were, however, unwilling to go quietly. Sophomore Garrett Sutton, unranked and facing the No. 17 wrestler in his weight class, 165 pounds, took a close one-point loss after asserting himself with an early lead. Though his opponent, Shakur Rasheed, worked his way back to a tie, it took a riding time point for the Wolverine to earn the win. “He did a nice job,” McFarland said. “He needs to work on bottoms. He gave up a riding time point, but I thought that he did a nice job of competing hard. Garrett just

wasn’t able to get to his feet from the bottom position.” Pantaleo, facing the topranked wrestler at 149 pounds, Zain Retherford, put together a decent outing. Though McFarland mentioned that Pantaleo was disappointed with his performance, the sophomore, who mentioned Friday that he felt confident about the match, held his own against Retherford. Junior Adam Coon was, as he has been all year, a bright spot for the Wolverines in an otherwise dim outing. He scored a major decision over unranked Jan Johnson and exhibited a level of tactical skill that was indicative of his improving status on the national stage. “I thought he did a great job,” McFarland said. “He wrestled hard and put together some different attacks, which is always good to see. He had some good upper body stuff, and was mixing it up well. It was good to see him get those attacks off.” Friday’s match against a rebuilding Northwestern squad went much differently. The Wolverines dominated the first half of the meet, scoring two pins and a major decision at the 184, heavyweight and 174 categories, respectively. Redshirt freshman Davonte Mahomes, ranked 13th at 174, shut down Northwestern’s Mitch Sliga. Minutes later, Domenic Abounader, eighth-best in the nation at 184, took down his opponent, Regis Durbin, in under two minutes. Fourth-ranked Adam Coon, Michigan’s heavyweight brawler, needed just 40 seconds to defeat Conan Jennings, finishing out the half. Coon, in particular, felt that his victory

“It went back and forth, he just missed on the finish.”

was another step toward his championships dreams. “A national championship is the goal, for sure,” Coon said. “If I wrestle the way that I’m supposed to wrestle and keep training the way I am, there’s no reason that I can’t be at the top of the podium. I just have to make sure that I’m focused. I was focused today.” The lone competitive match of the half occurred between sixthyear senior Max Huntley and Northwestern’s Jacob Berkowitz. Huntley, who is undefeated on the season, needed a riding time point and a late escape to earn the victory. Michigan coach Joe McFarland emphasized after the match that Huntley showed great poise, given the man he was wrestling. “That kid’s hard to wrestle,” McFarland said. “He’s a little unorthodox at times, and I think that threw Max off a little bit. I was happy with the way that he wrestled, though. He kept fighting through positions, made some adjustments and got a nice win.” In the second half of what was an otherwise unspectacular meet, the match at 149 pounds pitted Michigan’s Alec Pantaleo against Northwestern’s best wrestler, Jason Tsirtsis. After two backand-forth periods, the Wildcat took advantage of Pantaleo’s apparent finishing issues and gained the upper hand, earning a takedown in the overtime period to secure a win. “It went back and forth, and he just missed on the finish in overtime,” McFarland said. “Those two had never competed against each other before, and he’s looking forward to a rematch. He made a few mistakes, and he knows that. Against a guy like him, you just can’t afford to make those kinds of mistakes. But it was a great match, and as I told Alec, it was a great, great effort.”

gave Michigan a nine-point advantage on what started as a relatively quiet performance from the Wolverines’ top scorer. Boosted by Flaherty’s improved shooting and Thome’s prowess down low, Michigan took a 64-55 advantage into the final quarter. Minnesota cut the lead to two with just over six minutes left in the final stanza, but Flaherty came alive to score two quick baskets. Senior forward Kelsey Mitchell’s layup with 4:27 left gave Michigan an eight-point lead. The Wolverines had no problem closing out the lead from there, which is something it has struggled with all season. “In practice we’ve really been focused on finishing games,” Flaherty said. “We’re valuing the ball, loose balls and charges. That really helped us win today.” Unlike Flaherty’s assist, Michigan didn’t just slip by with the win. It took command in a much-needed conference matchup in a turbulent season.

When Katelynn Flaherty came into the postgame press conference after the Michigan women’s basketball team’s 92-76 win over Minnesota, the sophomore guard wanted to know one of the specific stat lines. Flaherty glanced at the score sheet and quickly looked astonished. “Woah,” Flaherty said in awe. “She took 31 shots?” She was referencing Michigan’s opponent, Minnesota guard Rachel Banham, who scored 29 points on a 13-for-31 shooting effort. Banham’s performance, though high-scoring, was innefficient. The Wolverines (4-6 Big Ten, 12-9 overall) contested nearly every shot she took. Banham had to carry the load, as three of Minnesota’s starters failed to score. Michigan junior guard Siera Thompson, who prepared for the matchup all week long, was responsible for defending Banham. “We’ve watched (Banham) on film so much — her tendency to go right, her tendency to shoot any open jumper that she has,” said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico. “(Thompson) did a great job trying to keep the ball on her left hand and trying to keep the ball out of her right hand, and just have her hands up and constantly be near her and not give her any space.” Unlike Banham, Thompson wasn’t her team’s leading scorer on the day — that title fell on freshman center Hallie Thome, who had a career-best 31 points. Flaherty supported Thome with 24 of her own, but Barnes Arico felt that the biggest difference maker was Thompson. Facing off against Banham

on defense, Thompson was a big reason that Minnesota’s best player missed 18 of her shots. “Banham finished with (29 points) and a great stat line, but everything she did was contested, and everything she did was challenged,” Barnes Arico said. “I was really proud of (Thompson’s) effort all day.” Thompson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Banham has been on Michigan’s scouting report since earlier this month. The Wolverines beat Minnesota on Jan. 10, and in that game, Banham went for 21 points. But just three days prior, she had one of the best individual performances in school history. Against Illinois on Jan. 7, Banham set a school record with 10 3-pointers for 39 points. She also had seven rebounds and eight assists in the 106-75 rout of the Illini. “We were fortunate that we had an opportunity to play against them prior to this matchup, because our turnaround time from our last game was not that much,” Barnes Arico said on Sunday. “(Thompson) knew what her matchup was going to be … we were prepared.” Sunday, for Banham to shoot just 1-for-10 from beyond the arc was a huge victory for Michigan. The one 3-pointer that she did convert was a wide-open shot. Everything else, thanks to Thompson, was contested. Thompson’s quiet performance may have gone unnoticed next to Thome’s career day and Flaherty’s always-consistent scoring, but Banham felt the effect. Michigan and Minnesota don’t have any other scheduled meetings this year, but the Big Ten Tournament begins in just over a month. If the Wolverines meet Banham again, Thompson will be ready.

Hometown heroes shine By JUSTIN MEYER Daily Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Saturday night, somewhere deep in the labyrinth of yellowed walls that crisscross the underbelly of Madison Square Garden, a few men stood tall in their black coats as Michigan hockey players high-stepped across an expansive concrete hangar. The staffers watched quietly as soft footsteps and biting commands from the coaching staff hung heavy in the air. It sounded like anticipation. Just two nights earlier, the Wolverines defeated No. 15 Penn State, 7-4, for their first road win over the Nittany Lions since the 2013-14 season. Freshman phenom forward Kyle Connor talked afterward about treating the “Super Saturday” matchup — which featured a basketball-hockey doubleheader at New York’s Madison Square Garden — like any other Big Ten game. But that was before the plane touched down amid the skyline at sunset. It was before the team checked into the flashy hotel on 7th Avenue and before it stepped onto the ice under the retired jersey of New York Rangers captain Mark Messier hanging in the rafters. Trying to block out the distractions is understandable, but this was more than a Big Ten game. The hometown kids were up to the challenge. Senior forward Boo Nieves, a New York Rangers prospect hailing from the eastern part of the state, made his mark first. With the Wolverines trailing early in the third, Nieves fielded the cross-ice pass from sophomore defender Sam Piazza and buried the puck into the netting. Nieves threw his hands to the air in what looked to be astonishment, and wheeled toward the crowd. Tie game, 3-3. Minutes later, Upper Saddle River, N.J., native and fellow senior Justin Selman beat Penn State’s netminder with a quick release before tumbling to his

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Senior forward Boo Nieves scored in his return to the East Coast on Saturday.

back and celebrating from the ice. Michigan up, 4-3. It wouldn’t get any closer than that. Michigan goaltender Steve Racine, hailing from Williamsville, N.Y., put on a show in the back half of the game. The senior stopped 11 third-period shots and didn’t allow a goal in the final 35 minutes. The Wolverines finished with a 6-3 victory and a statement win. “We know if it’s not going to be you, it’ll be the guy next to you,” Selman said. “We have faith in that.” This Michigan team has never been short on heroes. Saturday night, the seniors stepped up to lead a third-period turnaround with grit and tenacity. “There is no question they’ve had their ups and downs,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “If you ask Boo how his game was here against Cornell in his freshman year, it wasn’t very good. He really was frustrated by being able to play in this venue against a tough team. And our team didn’t play well, Racine didn’t play well, Selman didn’t play well — but look at

them now, they’re completely different players.” If there was one Big Ten matchup to circle on the calendar, this was it. Penn State has been playing some of the best hockey in the conference all year, and the Nittany Lions have a recent history of playing upset to the Wolverines NCAA Tournament hopes. But Michigan embraced the spotlight, playing like a team capable of winning a national championship. The Wolverines outscored Penn State, 13-7, during the series and seven different players recorded a tally. After the weekend sweep, Michigan took control of the Big Ten lead and leapt to fourth place in the PairWise Rankings. But the sum of those parts doesn’t capture the impact of the win. It doesn’t capture the look of pure astonishment on Nieves face, or of Selman scoring the winning goal in front of throngs of friends and family. The Wolverines needed a hero heading into the third period Saturday, and it could have been anyone. But the way it happened felt right.

SportsMonday

4B — February 1, 2016

‘M’ holds off Penn State Wolverines finish off season sweep with fourth straight win By KELLY HALL Daily Sports Editor

NEW YORK — Shep Garner sank a three, and then Davis Zemgulis hit another one. All of a sudden, Penn State MICHIGAN 79 PENN STATE 72 was within five points of the Michigan men’s basketball team with less than five minutes to go. After the Wolverines (7-2 Big Ten, 17-5 overall) controlled most of the game, the Nittany Lions (2-7, 11-11) gave them a late scare. But then redshirt sophomore guard Duncan Robinson responded with a layup, and sophomore guard MuhammadAli Abdur-Rakhman followed with another one to give the Wolverines a 68-59 lead. The short scare was over, and the Michigan faithful knew it, starting a “Let’s Go Blue” chant that rang through the rafters of Madison Square Garden. Michigan safely controlled the Nittany Lions from then on out, resulting in a 79-72 victory in the “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” The late contest wasn’t the first time the Wolverines felt pressured. Michigan started the game with a 7-0 run and didn’t allow the Nittany Lions to get on the board until almost four minutes into the game. Penn State soon retaliated, though, going on an 8-0 run that lasted 3:44 and tied the game up at 13. Junior guard Derrick Walton Jr. awakened the Wolverines after he chased down Payton Banks, stole the ball and took it to the opposite end to convert

KAUFMAN From Page 1B The big winner, though? The Big Ten. In its first real taste of exclusively Big Ten action — Michigan played two non-conference games at MSG in 2012 — the five boroughs showed it could be a great spot for this Power Five conference. “I think that they speak with their feet; they show up at games,” Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said on the Big Ten Network during a live show at a New York bar that attracted hundreds of fans on Friday. “So it’s a really nice marketing agreement with Madison Square Garden. We said we wanted to be part of this community. It’s a competitive community. It’s one of the great sports areas in the world. We’re just trying to become part of it and relevant.” The conference looked awfully relevant Saturday. The push to move east has been a hit with fans and schools alike. A combined 27,387 fans filled the Garden for the day’s two games. “The crowd was great,” said Michigan basketball coach John Beilein. “They were loud. You could really hear them today. Michigan travels well. Penn State traveled well today. We love having our fans from this area of the country come out and support. They really helped us come out and win this game today.” Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson thinks the trip served a more practical purpose: preparing his team to potentially play in bigger venues in the postseason. “I think it’s a good experience for our players and our team as a whole,” Berenson said after his team’s win. “Hopefully by the end of the year, you’re playing in a big venue like this, so I want our team to be used to it.” Robert Rosenberg graduated

on a fast-break layup. It gave Michigan a 25-17 lead, all just seconds after a possession that included a made 3-pointer from Aubrey Dawkins. “I’ve said it time and time again, that this group of guys is really resilient,” Walton said. “Game by game, we’ve given runs and withstood runs, we’ve never gotten too hot or too low within either one, so tonight was another great example where we couldn’t get a shot in a couple possessions in a row … then we were able to connect on some. “Just with the character of this group, we always know that down the road that we have the guys who make the big plays.” The Wolverines played well enough in the first half to make up for their miscues. One of their worst showings during the Nittany Lions’ 8-0 run came on three Penn State free throws after redshirt sophomore guard Duncan Robinson fouled Isaiah Washington on a triple. Just before that, Robinson missed a 3-pointer of his own on his way to 2-for-6 shooting on the day. Though Robinson wasn’t his typical, sharp-shooting self (granted, he sat most of the first half after committing two fouls early on), junior forward Zak Irvin picked up the slack. Irvin made the first 3-pointer of the game and closed out the first half with a buzzer-beating triple on his way to 7-for-12 shooting and 20 points. When Michigan faced the Nittany Lions on Jan. 2, Walton was effectively shut down on offense, scoring just six points. He avoided a repeat performance at the Garden, however, scoring

“This is amazing. ... They should do it more often.”

Kaufman can be reached at sjkauf@umich.edu or on Twitter @sjkauf. He can also be reached on Venmo and would be appreciative of any contributions after a weekend that included a $16 New York bagel.

For more basketball and hockey coverage Check MichiganDaily.com throughout the week

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Abdur-Rahkman leads Wolverines By JACOB GASE Daily Sports Editor

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Zak Irvin led Michigan with 20 points in Saturday’s win against Penn State.

13 points. During the teams’ first meeting, Walton was able to control Garner and hold him to six points on 2-for10 shooting, but this time, Garner led the Nittany Lions with 22 points. The two guards were responsible for most of the game’s late excitement. Penn State came out of halftime firing, making three shots in a row, but Michigan was always there to retaliate. In the second

“I’ve said it time and time again, this group of guys is resilient.”

from Michigan in 2000 and lives in New York now. He’s been back to Ann Arbor for football games since graduating, but hasn’t seen a basketball or hockey game in more than a decade. Saturday, he brought his 7-year-old son Danny — who says he’ll be playing soccer at Michigan in a few short years — to his first hockey game. “This is amazing,” Rosenberg said. “Michigan has a huge New York population. … It’s great. They should do it more often.” They should do it more often, and Saturday was proof. The New York crowd was just as excited to see pucks fly and basketballs go up as it is every New Year’s Eve to see the ball drop not too far away. The Garden is set to host “Super Saturday” through 2019. Next year, Wisconsin and Rutgers will play in basketball, and the Badgers will take on Ohio State in hockey. With some 85,000 Big Ten alumni in Manhattan and 13,000 Michigan alumni in New York City, the conference can’t afford to fall asleep on The City That Never Sleeps. After the final horn sounded in Michigan’s win on the ice over Penn State, Michigan alumni belted out “The Victors” and Nittany Lions fans sang their alma mater. Perhaps they should steal a page from Sinatra, though, and sing a new tune. If I can make it there — I’ll make it anywhere — It’s up to you — New York, New York.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

half alone, Irvin and AbdurRakhman combined for 17 points. The Nittany Lions also committed 13 fouls, almost twice as many as did Michigan, and the Wolverines took advantage of it, making 23-of-31 shots at the line. “I just think we all knew that shots weren’t falling,” Irvin said. “So we had to get in the rhythm at the free throw line for easy buckets.” The Wolverines won without senior guard Caris LeVert, who has been sidelined for the past eight games with a lowerleg injury. With the win, they remained one game out of first place in the Big Ten.

NEW YORK — Standing at just 6-foot-3, Muhammad-Ali AbdurRahkman isn’t exactly a force in the paint, but the sophomore guard looked like one at times on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. With the Michigan men’s basketball team clinging to a not-too-comfortable sevenpoint lead early in the second half against Penn State, AbdurRahkman drove to the basket and had his shot blocked by the Nittany Lions’ Brandon Taylor. But instead of abandoning the play, Abdur-Rahkman calmly grabbed the ball back for an offensive rebound and skillfully weaved through multiple defenders for a successful second layup. And then late in the second half, after Penn State fought back to within five points, Abdur-Rahkman converted another contested layup off a perfect pass from junior guard Derrick Walton Jr. to bring Michigan fans to their feet in the divided Garden. It was that kind of day for the young guard, who Michigan coach John Beilein has frequently praised for his “East Coast”-style scoring ability. Abdur-Rahkman — who wouldn’t even be in the starting lineup if not for senior guard Caris LeVert’s nagging lowerleg injury — finished the game with 15 points and five rebounds, including two offensive boards that he followed up with baskets. Abdur-Rahkman’s impeccable post awareness isn’t a new sight for the Wolverines, but it was especially helpful in a game where the Wolverines made just six 3-pointers and had a rare size advantage over their opponent.

“We couldn’t get a basket except for him (early on),” Beilein said. “Those were those East Coast baskets I talk about. He gets into a seam, he pivots like three or four times — the ‘Ali Shuffle’ — and then he ends up finding something. He’s really good at getting his feet in the lane, getting balance.” With shots not falling from the outside like they did in Michigan’s first matchup with Penn State on Jan. 2 — when the Wolverines made 10 3-pointers in the first half — Beilein knew that attacking the rim was his best option. “We’re gonna take what people give us,” Beilein said, “and (the Nittany Lions) were switching a lot of screens. We’ve been seeing it over and over and over again, and we’re still scoring points, so we’re finding new things to do.” Saturday, Michigan tended toward the first option, with Abdur-Rahkman leading the charge. The overall battle in the paint was close — both teams scored 34 points down low, and Penn State actually outrebounded Michigan 36-34. But most of the game’s big plays at the rim — including multiple converted and-1s from junior forwards Zak Irvin and Mark Donnal and, of course, Abdur-Rahkman’s impressive layups — came from the Wolverines. “(Abdur-Rahkman) has got a great feel around the basket for a guard,” Beilein said. “Obviously, he’s from the state of Pennsylvania, so it’s big for him when he plays his home state. He’s really been a guy that I’ve watched just embrace any challenges we have — steadily, just get more of a mindset that, ‘College basketball is rough and tough, and I’ve gotta roll up my sleeves if I wanna play.’ ”

‘M’ sweeps Nittany Lions Wolverines earn long-awaited win over Penn State at the Garden By KEVIN SANTO Daily Sports Writer

NEW YORK — It was a situation that has become all too familiar to the No. 6 Michigan hockey team: entering the third MICHIGAN 6 PENN STATE 3 period, trailing, in danger of failing to close out a series. But this one had a little more to it. It came in the “World’s Most Famous Arena” — Madison Square Garden — in front of a Penn State-dominated crowd. And it came against the Nittany Lions — the team that has all but ruined the Wolverines’ NCAA Tournament hopes the past two years, the team Michigan went 1-3 against in the 2014-15 season, and the team that bounced the Wolverines from the 2014 Big Ten Tournament in the first round. That’s why, in the days leading up to the series, a handful of Michigan’s players knew they “owed one” to the 15th-ranked Nittany Lions (6-4-0-0 Big Ten, 16-7-3 overall). And behind a senior class — one that has arguably known the pain inflicted by Penn State the most — Michigan (7-1-2-1, 16-34) managed to give the Nittany Lions what it felt it owed them, capturing a 6-3 victory off a fourgoal third-period effort. “The big thing was on the schedule, we played Penn State, we had a lot of respect for Penn State,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “They’ve had their way with us for the past couple of years. I think our team really wanted to show that we’re a better team than we’ve shown in the past.” For roughly 15 minutes, the first period remained scoreless — something that has become uncharacteristic for the Wolverine

offense that is leading the nation with 4.95 goals per game. But then the breakthrough finally came off the stick of junior forward Alex Kile after 14:55 had ticked off the clock. After a quick combination between sophomore forward Dexter Dancs and senior forward Boo Nieves, Kile got the puck on the edge of the left circle and fired a quick wrist shot past Penn State goaltender Eamon McAdam. The goal gave Michigan a 1-0 lead, but that advantage was short-lived. Just five minutes later, with the Wolverines 42 seconds away from leaving the first period unscathed, Penn State forward David Goodwin equalized the game off a deflection in front. Michigan seemed unfazed, though, as it opened the second frame with an answer of its own. After going on the penalty kill immediately following the faceoff, the Wolverines capitalized on Penn State’s costly turnover at its offensive blue line. Junior forward Max Shuart picked up the puck and quickly fed it to junior forward JT Compher. The Wolverine captain went in on the breakaway and dangled McAdam before finishing it coolly with a backhand. The Nittany Lions countered with an equalizer off the stick of forward Andrew Sturtz two minutes into the frame, before forward Ricky DeRosa netted a go-ahead goal just under three minutes later. While Michigan closed out the rest of the period with a number of chances, including a five-shot flurry in the final minute, the Wolverines entered the third with a one-goal hole to climb out of. That’s when Nieves announced himself to the Garden. Just over two minutes into the third period, the New York Rangers’ prospect buried the puck into an open net after receiving a perfect cross-ice pass from sophomore Sam Piazza. “It’s awesome,” Nieves said. “To play (at Madison Square Garden) for the second time — it’s even better this time that we got

JAMES COLLER/Daily

Justin Selman’s goal gave Michigan the lead Saturday against Penn State.

a win. It’s definitely something that you keep in the back of your mind. But I was more focused on getting a team win and making sure we take care of things on our Michigan end first.” The game was tied at three. The Wolverines had 18 minutes to change the script Penn State has written for this young rivalry. And senior forward Justin Selman came up as the man to change it. With 10:50 gone on the clock, sophomore forward Tony Calderone dished the puck to Selman in front. The senior fired without hesitation, and lit the lamp to give Michigan its first lead since the opening two minutes of the second period. From there, junior forward Tyler Motte ensured the advantage wouldn’t be lost again, finding twine with 5:15 left to play and adding an open-net goal as well, giving the Wolverines a 6-3 lead.

Though the junior took a hard hit late in the third, Berenson indicated that he didn’t suffer any injuries that will force him to miss time. “We just have a winning attitude this year, a never-saydie attitude,” Selman said. “We have a lot of confidence in the guys in the room. We know if it’s not going to be you, it will be the guy next to you. We have faith in that. We just keep to what works and we’ve seen it work countless times now.” For Michigan, the comeback victories seem to be becoming the norm. Time after time, the Wolverines have leaned on a third-period effort to salvage points in the Big Ten. And as Michigan put Penn State away in Madison Square Garden Saturday night, it was similar to all those comeback victories of the past in a lot of ways. But at the same time, this one had a little more to it.