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Thursday, September 7, 2017
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Big Ticket Productions to host Mac DeMarco Canadian musician to perform at Hill Auditorium on October 21 ANAY KATYAL
Managing Arts Editor AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily
Nao, a robot used for a project in the developmental psychology department, is just one example of the University’s commitment to cutting edge robotic technology.
College of Engineering to complete drone testing facility by end of year
Transport, military purposes, data collection all possibilities with new space ANDREW HIYAMA Daily Staff Reporter
It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, it’s a new improvement to robotics research at the University. Construction began last month for the College of Engineering’s new, 9,600-square-foot, 50-foothigh, state-of-the-art dronetesting facility, and will be completed by the end of the year according to a University of Michigan press release. S. Jack
Hu, vice president for research, said the facility will be the best of its kind. “We’re giving our students and faculty the most comprehensive, safe testing facilities possible for these vehicles, which hold great promise for a wide range of applications,” Hu said. Varying in size, drones have the potential to be used for military purposes, transport, environmental surveillance, data collection and package delivery, among other things. The $800,000 project, dubbed
M-Air, will be a netted, outdoor facility, which aerospace engineering professor Ella Atkins says allows testing to be as realistic as possible while still remaining safe. “The reason it’s important to have an outdoor facility is a lot of the hardest questions in handling these vehicles involve imperfect navigation, bad weather, wind, the kind of environmental conditions that you can’t really create in an indoor space,” she said. “It’s just too perfect indoors ––
the temperature, lighting, no precipitation.” Federal Aviation Administration regulations restrict researchers to conducting outdoor drone flights at low altitudes, and only to where they can still be seen by the operator. Additionally, outdoor drone flights on the University’s campus must go through a University approval process to avoid interference with University hospital helicopters and other See TESTING, Page 3
Canadian singersongwriter Mac DeMarco will be the latest musician to grace the University of Michigan’s campus thanks to a performance slated for Oct. 21 at Hill Auditorium. In bringing DeMarco to campus, student group Big Ticket Productions seeks to shake up the general type of artists who have come to Ann Arbor more recently. “Looking at the past four years, I can’t think of a show that was booked by a student org at Hill that expanded beyond the rap realm so we made it one of our goals for this term,” said Business senior Daniel Madion, artist booker for Big Ticket Productions. Additionally, the change of pace is something that has been quietly desired by students on campus as well. “Before booking this year’s
show, we sent out anonymous surveys around campus and one of the major themes was getting a new sound in Hill,” Madion said. DeMarco’s Hill Auditorium appearance is a one-off performance for Michigan before he ships off for the European leg of his tour, according to Big Ticket. The performance also doubles as DeMarco’s first time playing in Ann Arbor. “Not to say that we don’t love bringing hip-hop artists to campus — they’ve each been amazing shows — but this year we’re excited to represent a different genre of music,” Madion said. “Mac is an incredibly talented musician and we’re so excited to have him play.” Tickets to the performance will start at $15 for students with valid UM IDs and $25 for the public. Tickets will be available both online and in-person at Michigan Union Ticket Office beginning Sept. 7 at 9 a.m.
Two solar pavilions constructed to LSA final Local shop exam policy contribute to ‘U’ sustainability efforts under fire
ACADEMICS
BUSINESS
to change, dean says
Grant funds solar panels built at Palmer Common, Bob and Betty Beyster buildings
Dean Andrew Martin aims to reduce having exams on last day of class
Students at the University are taking “going green” to another level. With the recent construction of two solar pavilions, students will now be able to socialize while powering their phones, laptops and tablets on renewable energy on campus. The two pavilions are located near Palmer Commons on Central Campus and the Bob and Betty Beyster Building on North Campus, respectively. Business junior Grant Faber, vice president of Students for Clean Energy, the organization which facilitated the initiative, shared the group’s intention for the pavilions. After receiving a $25,000 grant from the Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund, the Students for Clean Energy purchased the pavilions from Harvest Energy Solutions. Each pavilion is made up of a 315W solar panel, LED lights for night use, an energystorage battery, four AC outlets and six USB ports. “It creates an outdoor, solar-powered workspace that would serve as an open-air space for student collaboration and learning, all powered by clean energy,” Faber said. “Students can now use these pavilions day or night for
CARLY RYAN & KAELA THEUT
Daily Staff Reporters
LSA Dean Andrew D. Martin confirmed faculty will place a special emphasis on ensuring professors hold their exams solely during the designated exam period in the upcoming academic year. “For many years, the LSA Faculty Code—the governing document of the LSA faculty— has mandated that all faculty members refrain from having final exams on the last day of class or during an earlier instructional time,” Martin wrote in an email to the Daily. Students who still have classes going on at the time of certain exams say they have found this to be difficult, while others say they appreciate the chance to focus on other finals or have a lengthier break. Regardless, Martin said there are adverse consequences in pushing up finals they will be addressing. “We’ve learned from conversations with our See EXAMS, Page 3
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CORY ZAYANCE Daily Staff Reporter
studying and hanging out, and they will be able to charge their devices using 100 percent clean energy while doing so.” University alum Jayson Toweh, former president of Students for Clean Energy, has high hopes for the solarpowered pavilions. “I hope people get more of an awareness about renewable technology and for more students to have an
opportunity to engage with it,” Toweh said. The mission of Students for Clean Energy is to encourage the University of Michigan to utilize cleaner and more renewable sources of energy. According to Faber, this project helps further these goals by helping raise awareness about clean energy, working to combat climate change and attempting to
begin a motion to reduce dependence on foreign oils. LSA sophomore Anna Kang shared her thoughts on the new solar pavilions. “I think people too often forget about how their decisions now create the world of tomorrow,” Kang said. “Renewable energy is a focus on creating a healthier earth for generations to come, See SOLAR, Page 3
COURTESY OF MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS & NICHOLS ARBORETUM
An example of a solar panel installation, the Michigan Solar House is located in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
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Vol. CXXVII, No. 84 ©2016 The Michigan Daily
for political shirt sales
Underground Printing removed merchandise from online after backlash MAYA GOLDMAN Daily Staff Reporter
What first started as a simple, local business venture was shut down when fears of customer disapproval became priority. Underground Printing stopped selling political merchandise last month in an effort to stay politically neutral, according to Underground Printing co-owner Rishi Narayan. The company, which began when co-owners Narayan and Ryan Gregg were students at the University of Michigan in 2001, is primarily a custom T-shirt company. With two retail stores in Ann Arbor and several more on other college campuses around the country, it has established itself as a major college apparel outfitter. The company also sells printed apparel on Amazon. Last year, it began to experiment with selling political merchandise, and released “Not My President” shirts and “Make America Great Again” apparel. Narayan said the decision to See PRINTING, Page 3
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6
SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 SPORTS....................7
News
2 — Thursday, September 7, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ON THE DAILY: STEAKHOUSE CHOPS FOOTBALL SEASON SALES Football fans looking forward to additional perks associated with University of Michigan wins are going to be disappointed this year. Ruth’s Chris Steak House will no longer be offering its Score Big Promotion, which gave customers a discount of up to 50 percent off on their food depending on Michigan’s margin of victory. When asked whether the promotion would continue this year, the restaurant’s Facebook page stated it would not be valid for 2017, replying with, “That was 2016’s promotion only.” “Attention #UMfootball fans! When Michigan wins, you win!” last year’s Facebook post read, with hashtags such as #supportthehometeam and #thisishowitsdone included
in the main body. Following every UM win, the restaurant received an overwhelming number of reservations and customers bringing up the discount. Michigan’s win against Rutgers University last fall is likely one of the reasons it won’t be bringing the promotion back; with a 78-0 point score, the game marked the largest margin of victory in approximately 90 years. The restaurant quickly pointed out its terms and conditions capped the discount at 50 percent, much to the dissatisfaction and amusement of multiple customers. Though this deal won’t be coming back, the restaurant hinted at a new surprise to come this season. - RHEA CHEETI
FRE E-Z A
Angela Dillard @adillard4 Welcoming our #HAILScholars to campus & back to campus #Umich -- cool event for networking & resources @UMichStudents Brenda Lawrence @RepLawrence #DREAMers are not numbers, they are people like Ola, a pre-med student of @ UMich. We fight for her, we fight for Dreamers.
JOHN YAEGER/Daily A student receives free pizza as part of a back-to-school promotion at Pizza House on Wednesday.
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES LGBTQ Welcome Festival
Dead Horses Free Student Welcome Show
WHAT: Students can come to Regent’s Plaza for free food and games, and to meet with queer faculty and staff on the University of Michigan OUTlist, and other members of the queer student community. WHO: Spectrum Center WHEN: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. WHERE: Regent’s Plaza
WHAT: This four-piece folk band is hosting a free welcome show for students at the Ark. Come to the door with any student ID and get free admission. WHO: Michigan Union Ticket Office WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: 316 S. Main Street
Growing Hope Urban Farm Volunteering
Dutch Lunch WHAT: Dutch immigrants and other Dutch speakers meet weekly to eat lunch and speak Dutch. Dutch treats are passed around, but it is suggested you bring your own l unch. WHO: Germanic Languages & Literatures WHEN: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: Modern Languages Building, Room 3308
WHAT: This volunteer opportunity provides a chance to help others grow their own healthy food. WHO: Maize Pages Student Organizations WHEN: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: 922 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti
Marine Corps Leadership Workshop
The Hunting Ground Film Screening
WHAT: Continental breakfast and lunch are included in this free, one-day workshop, as well as team-building and problemsolving events and various speakers. WHO: Barger Leadership Institute WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Michigan League, Henderson Room
WHAT: This free film screening provides an startling perspective on campus sexual assault and institutional coverups. SAPAC will facilitate group discussions after the film. WHO: Michigan Community Scholars Program WHEN: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE: Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. 5th Ave.
M Farmers Market at the University Hospital
Microsoft Company Day
WHAT: The M Farmers Market is open every Thursday in September, and farmers sell fresh, locally grown produce at low prices. WHO: MHealthy WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: University Hospitals Courtyard
Daily Staff Reporter
Welcome Week has come and gone — but with every year comes a controversy and the question of safety and inclusion with Greek Life and student-run parties. Themed parties A trend often seen is the adoption of a minority’s cultural traditions by a majority group, called cultural appropriation. This summer, the University’s chapter of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity recently faced criticism for a planned Ancient Egyptianthemed party, which was later canceled after facing backlash from University student Sudoku Syndication activists and social media.
engaging in these ignorant stereotypes,” she wrote. “My Egyptian roots are far more significant than a simple costume or a lame party.” University members of Delta Sig were unable to comment on the situation. The situation echoes the 2013 Theta Xi incident, when the University’s chapter of the frat planned to host a “World Star Hip Hop Presents: Hood Ratchet Thursday” party. The party was canceled due the theme’s appropriation of Black culture which offended many. The invite page, hosted by now University alum Allen Wu, called all “rappers, twerkers, gangsters (no Bloods allowed), thugs, basketball players, bad bitches, ratchet pussy.” Wu went on to justify the party’s theme by stating it was directed toward hiphop music, not African American culture. In an opinion piece published by the Daily, EASY Wu explained his longing for a society where music genres are not immediately associated with a racial identity. “It pains me to see that ‘hip-hop parties’ are immediately cast under a racial lens, even if not so intended,” Wu wrote. “Just because we celebrate and enjoy the music and terminology used by predominantly Black hip-hop artists, that does not mean we are attempting to appropriate Black culture.” Wu still received disapproval. Due to students’ concern with the party’s theme, an email from University officials condemning © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. the party was sent to all students. The email was See PARTIES, Page 3
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REPORT: @umich among 10 best schools for female entrepreneurs!
Prof. Dynarski @dynarski 45 degrees today. This is when the Michiganders start to stand out among the student masses: By your flipflops we shall know ye.
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University students follow-up on issues with “themed” events, social media pages The fraternity’s nowdeleted Facebook invitation invited people to “honor our Egyptian roots and join us on the night of September 1st to celebrate our newly built pyramid” and “come to Delta Sig as a mummy, Cleopatra or King Tut it doesn’t matter to us. Get your best ancient Egyptian robe and headdress and be ready to party in the desert. Be careful though, it’s going to get HOT.” Business junior Yasmeen Afifi, president of the University’s Egyptian Student Association, voiced her concerns about the party theme in a Facebook post. As an Egyptian herself, Afifi found the party’s theme disrespectful. “It is more saddening to see students from the top public university in the United States
Ross School of Bus. @MichiganRoss
WHAT: A recruiter from Microsoft, as well as University alumni and other Microsoft engineers will be available to talk to. Free food will be provided for anyone who brings their resume. WHO: Engineering Career Resource Center WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Duderstadt Connector
Question of cultural appropriation raised during welcome week parties KENNEDY WARNER
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SOLAR From Page 1 which, for me at least, seems like a small sacrifice to make throughout our daily lives.” The 2016 annual report from the University’s Planet Blue stated that, compared to 2006 levels, the University has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent and has achieved a 10-percent reduction in energy consumption in general fund buildings. Faber, however, believes more can be done. Faber suggested implementing a power purchase agreement, otherwise known as a PPA. A PPA is a contract between a producer of energy and a buyer. Faber cited Michigan State University’s current PPA, which provides
PRINTING From Page 1 sell political gear was purely a business experiment, based on current nationwide cultural trends. “It’s just something we were kind of messing around with on Amazon,” Narayan said. “We’re not making a political statement in any way. … It’s just what’s out there in Americana. Like, there are cat T-shirts, too. Sometimes we just try to follow some of those trends.” As a custom shirt company, Narayan said giving customers ways to express themselves is their primary goal, and wearing political merchandise is an important way to do that for people of all political parties. Furthermore, Narayan added the company initially felt it was important to create merchandise for both sides of the aisle to stay politically neutral. “Ultimately, our customers are just expressing their ideas and opinions,” he said. “We do sell a variety of different types of shirts on Amazon and other platforms … but our position is that we’re going to help our customers express themselves and we should always take a neutral standpoint so that we’re helping our customers express whatever their ideas are.” However, this August, Underground Printing decided to halt its sales of political clothing for the time being. While there was no outright
EXAMS From Page 1 students that deviating from this policy has adverse consequences for some of our students,” Martin continued in the email. “This a special emphasis of the dean’s office this year, making clear that it is our expectation that exams are administered during the times established by the Registrar’s Office.” LSA junior Meghan Clark said she is concerned whether the new emphasis on changing exam times will affect travel
TESTING From Page 1 aircraft. The M-Air facility will technically be considered indoors, therefore test flights taking place within it do not require any such approval. “The FAA regulations don’t guarantee safety. They’re intended for responsible, experienced pilots, and on more tested systems,” Atkins said. “Our students aren’t experienced pilots. They, and our faculty members, are building new hardware that’s not necessarily going to work the first, second, third or even the fourth time.” And mere yards away, the University and Ford Motor Company will be partnering to begin construction of the $75 million, four-story, 140,000-square-foot Ford Motor Company Robotics Building later this fall, which
News
5 percent of its electricity through solar power and could save the university $10 million over the next 25 years. “Our society must shift to using primarily clean energy for a myriad of reasons, including but not limited to economic competitiveness, national security, grid reliability and resiliency, reduction of pollution, fuel independence and mitigation of climate change,” Faber said. “I firmly believe that UM has the power to be a leader in ending the fossil fuel era and to claim all of the benefits from doing so.” Toweh shared the future achievements he would like to see due to the impact of the solar-powered pavilions. “I’d like to see more rooftop solar panels,” Toweh said. “I’d like to see more buildings, like
the libraries, dorms or Angell Hall to have these.” Kang said she believed it is important to emphasize clean energy practices within the University. “Having a platform to speak out from is always a blessing to have, and the University has an extremely large platform itself,” Kang said. “Distributing these ideas through a wellknown name will help to spread the lifestyle and attain the ultimate goal of a better earth.” The two pavilions will provide students with a new space to study and relax, while providing an easy, clean way to power their devices. When asked whether she planned on using the pavilions, Kang responded confidently: “I think it goes without a doubt that I would.”
backlash to its merchandise, Narayan said the company worried it would make some customers feel uncomfortable coming to UGP with their apparel orders. “There hasn’t been (any backlash),” he said. “We have decided due to recent events that we feel like the best way to remain nonpartisan is to remove ourselves from any kind of political shirt on Amazon. For us, it’s super important that someone who is conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, to feel comfortable coming to us and printing their shirt.” Narayan emphasized Underground Printing does not tolerate apparel orders that promote hate or violence, but it also wants to protect the role clothing plays in freedom of expression. “So as long as it fits within our content requirements, we feel like it’s not our position to make commentary on what someone is saying, and we felt like with the emotion tied around it, we felt like the best way to handle it was to step away from that arena,” Narayan said. Members of the University community felt mostly ambivalent about Underground Printing’s foray into political merchandise. LSA senior Enrique Zalamea, president of University’s chapter of College Republicans, applauded UGP’s business acumen in all parts of the experiment. “Kudos to them for taking the opportunity to make some more money and expand into
more markets,” Zalamea said. “(But the fact that they’ve stopped selling the shirts) doesn’t come as a surprise given that a good business would stop selling irrelevant merchandise … the elections were a year ago, I don’t think many people would buy Hillary or Trump campaign shirts anymore.” Public Policy senior Rowan Conybeare, chair of the University’s chapter of College Democrats, agreed with Zalamea that Underground Printing was just making a good business decision by moving into the political sphere. She said she feels the whole process is pretty noncontroversial. “I don’t think that it sends that strong of a message,” Conybeare said. “If they were selling both Democrat and Republican gear and they only pulled one of them, that would have sent a stronger message. This is just showing they don’t want to get involved in politics.” When asked if Underground Printing would ever venture into the world of political merchandise again, Narayan said the company wouldn’t cross it off the list, but he doesn’t see it returning to it any time soon. “I don’t want to say no, we’d never sell it again, but I think that right now we feel like it’s not a good area to be in if you’re trying to stay nonpartisan,” Narayan said. “It’s easy to seem like you’re supporting one or the other.”
plans for returning home over Winter Break. “Typically, the only exams
I had before finals were scheduled that way because they were late in the week,” she said. “Being from across
the country, I’m worried this new rule could make it more difficult for me to travel home for breaks.” LSA junior Ellie Wilson echoed this concern, stating it is easier to plan for breaks knowing exams can be held in the final week of class. Yet, she noted that professors adhering to the LSA code prevent multiple exams on the same day. “On one hand, it’s nice to plan ahead knowing that exams are during the last week,” she said. “However, it can be very difficult when finals for various classes overlap.”
will house a three-story, indoor drone “fly zone” with a more interactive environment than M-Air. Together with Mcity, the expansive, state-of-the-art autonomous vehicle-testing facility just down the road, the Marine Hydrodynamics Lab, M-Air and the Ford Motor Company Robotics Building will provide students and faculty unfettered access to the full spectrum of robotics testing. Alec Gallimore, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, said the addition gave the University unique national standing in engineering. “When M-Air opens, Michigan Engineering will be the only engineering school in the country — perhaps in the world — with access to cuttingedge robotic test facilities for air, sea and land,” he said. “This is a key piece in our long-term plan to give our faculty and
students best-in-class resources as they work to solve society’s greatest challenges and most exciting opportunities.” Atkins said the possibilities for the facility are endless. “We have a need for a safe flight area to try out anything students want to fly in a way that doesn’t place at risk people, other aircraft, cars, et cetera, so having this netted facility allows that to happen, whether it’s a freshman bringing a gadget with them from home and they want to try it out, or whether it’s a student team or a class or a Ph.D. student trying to do some elaborate research,” she said. She added it won’t be just for students and faculty to use –– the College of Engineering is hoping to use the facility to host outreach events for the community, from races to design contests, “or just supporting robotics in the community in general.”
It can be very difficult when finals for various classes overlap
PARTIES From Page 2 signed by E. Royster Harper, the University’s vice president for student life, Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones and Greek Life Director Mary Beth Seiler. “We were deeply disappointed to learn that members of a university fraternity had planned an offensive themed party for November,” the letter stated. “The language of the invitation and theme of the party denigrated all women and African American/ black identified people through racial stereotypes and cultural appropriation.” The hashtag #BBUM — Being Black at the University of Michigan — was started by the Black Student Union as a reaction to the party theme.
We were deeply disappointed to learn that members of a university fraternity had planned an offensive themed party
The hashtag has grown into a movement that has sparked national conversation about diversity and inclusion on campus. When the Theta Xi party theme broke to the public, the Black Student Union twitter account posted a screenshot of what appears to be an email, denouncing the party’s theme. Cultural appropriation from frats is an often heard tale: In May, the Baylor University chapter of Kappa Sigma frat was suspended for their “Cinco de Drinko” party in which students came dressed in sombreros, some in brown face. In 2016, Bowdoin College, in Maine, had a similar party. For Afifi, the issue of white people appropriating minority cultures spans wider than Greek Life at the University. She wrote on Facebook she believed these fraternities, made up of predominately white males, need to step back and recognize their place in society as a majority group. Considering throughout history white people have oppressed minority groups, Afifi wrote she found it inappropriate for these fraternities to comfortably craft these themed parties. “This is much larger than just a party; it is the privilege
Thursday, September 7, 2017 — 3
that led this frat to think this was remotely okay that needs to be analyzed. White people need to cognizant of their identity and their role throughout history,” she wrote on her public Facebook post. Safety At the bottom of many events on Facebook, hosts include a warning message. Debs Cooperative House has previously included the statement: “No racism, homophobia, sexism or any other forms of being a dick is allowed here. Don’t be that person.” A former social fraternity— known as a metal frat — hosted a “300 Underwater New Year’s Party” on Sept. 2. The Facebook invite page read: “ABSOLUTELY NO SEXIST, RACIST, HOMOPHOBIC, TRANSPHOBIC, ABLEIST, ETC BEHAVIOR OR LANGUAGE WILL BE TOLERATED. THOSE WHO VIOLATE OTHERS AND CREATE DISCOMFORT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE PARTY AT THE HOUSE’S DISCRETION. DON’T BE THE WORST.” In some cases, fraternities have made it clear that behavior deemed culturally inappropriate will not be tolerated, but there still remains a question if this warning to partygoers is enough. One University student, who is in a fraternity, said although his organization never puts out a direct disclaimer, good behavior at their parties is expected. “It is understood and assumed that that type of behavior is unacceptable. Honestly, we tend to stay away from any kind of parties with a theme that’s a country/ religion/etc.” he said. Members of Greek Life claim these incidents of inappropriate behavior have occurred rarely in previous years. Yet, it still remains an issue fraternities and hosts must be consciously aware of when throwing a party. “It’s just important to be upfront about our inclusive policy,” LSA junior Summer Stern, “300 Underwater New Year’s Party” co-host, said. “It’s important to us that people feel OK in the house.” One LSA junior, who requested to remain anonymous, said they find Greek Life to be “inherently sexist.” They went on to explain fraternities are free to plan parties; however, sororities would be punished and/or banned if they did the same. “In regard to each party, I think it is no different than a regular house party or bar scene, excluding the everyso-often case of inappropriate sexual behavior that is sometimes reported and sometimes not,” they said. An LSA senior, who is in Greek Life, believes these types of written statements
are “a step in the right direction.” The student said though the statements have good intentions behind them, they often fall short of solving the issue of inappropriate behavior. “I think ultimately individuals are going to make mistakes, whether it be a simple slip up or purposefully, and it is always hard to control people who are not initiated members of your organization,” the student said. “Nobody can force another how to act or speak, but we can all encourage one another to make good choices.” An LSA junior in Greek Life who requested to remain anonymous, does not think the written statements accomplish much. While the statements are meant to eliminate negative behavior, they may not do enough to stop the issue from happening. “Despite the disclaimer, it does not ensure that people don’t show up to the party degrading a racial/ethnic group,” this student said. “However, I believe it is a good effort from the frat and shows a good intention that they are putting the disclaimer out there.” Nevertheless, the issue of cultural appropriation across the campus, to some, is growing. The University recently created a new position: a “bias incident prevention and response coordinator.” “The core work of the Dean of Students Office includes promoting a safe,
It is the privilege that led this frat to think that this was remotely okay that needs to be analyzed. White people need to be cognizant of their identity
respectful, healthy, and inclusive campus community, enhancing students’ Michigan experience, providing support services and managing critical incidents impacting students and the campus community, and recognizing and responding to emerging needs within the student population,” the University of Michigan’s website stated, according to the article. The Daily reached out to multiple official chapters on campus, who in return declined to comment.
RE ACT
HALEY MCLAUGHLIN/Daily
CSG President Anushka Sarkar discusses reactions to acts of racial discrimination on campus at the first CSG meeting in the Union on Tuesday.
Opinion
4 — Thursday, September 7, 2017
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HANK MINOR | COLUMN
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BEN CHARLSON | COLUMN
Fantasy football needs reality check
A
s leaves start to change color and classes begin this fall, a wave of football hype spreads across campus. For many University of Michigan students, the return of the football season provides relief from the classroom — a part of a work hard, play hard mentality that is a uniting force across campus. For many, NCAA football takes a backseat to professional football come Sunday. The NFL, a weekly refuge from work for countless students and employees, has now captured the attention of the vast and lucrative fantasy football community that is perhaps most crucial to the leag ue’s consistent success. But the rise of the NFL has come with a fair share of problems, earning unfavorable media attention for the concussion epidemic and domestic violence issues. Despite fantasy football’s growth into a booming industry, it has worked to hide and ultimately perpetuate the prevalence of domestic violence across the leag ue. The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have come under fire for their mistreatment of various domestic violence cases in the past few years. NFL players Ray Rice, Josh Brown and Ray McDonald were all suspended on domestic violence allegations, but many claim their punishment did not match the violent nature of their crimes. In the case of Rice, a video surfaced of him violently beating his wife, Janay Rice, in a hotel elevator. For someone without the privilege and fame of a threetime pro-bowler and Super Bowl champion, this type of concrete evidence could lead to jail time. Instead, the NFL “cracked down” with a measly two-game suspension — the same penalt y that has been handed out for failing a drug test. In the wake of their actions, the NFL received tremendous backlash and moved to harshen their protocol for sexual assault and domestic violence punishment.
However, this topic remains at the forefront of the league and has resurfaced in the past few months. Ezekiel Elliott, a Dallas Cowboys first-round draft choice, allegedly abused his then-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson in July 2016, for which he faced a six-game suspension as of August 2017. Though this is a step up from the NFL’s weak punishment in past cases, the severity of the allegations is clouded out by the very reason Elliott garnered so much attention on the field — fantasy football. One read through ESPN’s fantasy website reveals a string of articles and videos about Elliott, but virtually none of them comment on the morality and character of his actions. Rather, the main theme is: “Where will Elliott be drafted?” By focusing on Elliott’s draft position and projected points for the year, talk about the second-year running back has gradually moved away from his domestic violence case. Masking the severity of these cases is a dangerous trend that elevates the status of athletes and causes them to deviate from social norms, offering them an excessive sense of pride, or hubris, and the belief that they can commit illegal acts and still get away with it. Earning millions of dollars should not earn any athlete a free pass from domestic violence. Glorifying superstars for their statistics and treating them as tradable commodities creates a sense of immortality, potentially leading to more violence in the future. If anything, spectators and the media must strive to hold athletes to a higher standard, especially as fantasy football opens up an escape route for players whose performance attracts so much attention. It is this relationship between sports and the media, as one of the most influential in the entire entertainment industry, that allows companies like ESPN and Fox Sports to shape and alter public opinion through their coverage. Once SportsCenter, ESPN’s f lagship program, takes a
NIA LEE | NIA CAN BE REACHED AT LEENIA@UMICH.EDU
stance on an issue, especially a sensitive topic like domestic violence, it has the tendency to become the main perspective viewers take as well. While nearly monopolizing the world of sports, ESPN has used its power to alter the timing of the NFL Draft, the schedule of NCA A football games and the entire conference structure. Because of its inf luence, the station has a responsibility to maintain moral high ground on any and all controversial topics. Even as football season approaches and viewers demand predictions and rankings for the upcoming year, the network should not allow for turning a blind eye to domestic violence. Thus, as ESPN fantasy insider Matthew Berry continues to harp on Elliot’s second-round draft value, the public too will continue to forget his act of domestic violence. Even as the NFL harshens punishments and speaks out against these cases, it has found an opponent in fantasy football. As participants, we must also play a role. To neglect domestic violence and sexual assault because of an athlete’s performance sets the stage for continued violence against women, a scary prospect given the safety net handed to these athletes. On our campus, domestic violence awareness and prevention is a constant and impactful theme. There are numerous lectures, counseling resources and programs devoted to eliminating domestic violence from our community, especially among athletes. As students, we have the duty to make use of these resources and be upstanding citizens if and when a situation arises — either in person or through an online draft board. So even if Elliott is available when it comes to your pick, give it some consideration. Maybe don’t take him at all.
Ben Charlson can be reached at bencharl@umich.edu.
Can the ship steer itself ?
S
tephen Bannon’s ouster from the White House brought the sort of speculation we’ve heard a number of times before: Is the Trump administration stable enough to continue functioning? Core members are in and out at the president’s whim, staff members lie, cheat and steal for a slim personal advantage and the work atmosphere is more “Game of Thrones” than “The West Wing.” I am inclined to believe that Bannon’s removal will benefit the stability of the Trump administration and the country overall. The “deep state” has outlasted its primary enemy and will be able to properly resume its work: actually running the country. Removing Trump’s advisers is not a fix because the ultimate source of instability in the White House isn’t Bannon, Reince Priebus or Michael Flynn — it’s Trump himself. That said, removing Bannon removes one of the last lucid powers in the West Wing, one with the attention span and future vision to carry out effective — albeit disastrous — change. I see this as enabling the “deep state” to further restrain the president. The way we consume political news in this country requires a core narrative of dynamic characters — the beleaguered chief of staff, the malevolent chief strategist, the strategically patient vice president — and as a result, we often see their actions as much more consequential than they really are. Despite all that has happened, Congress still functions. The judiciary still functions. And — though it has
some trouble with Trump — the executive branch still functions. Our government was designed to be slow-moving and cumbersome — to be a massive shipping barge, not a skip. Trump and his companions may loot what they can while they’re in power, and the man himself may do some cultural damage in covering for white nationalists, but the captain cannot sink his ship without the help of his crew. When Trump axed U.S. support for the Paris climate accord, lower-level executives — governors and mayors — contradicted him and offered their continued support. French President Emmanuel Macron’s own ambitions certainly played a large part in keeping the accord together, but I think these lowerlevel promises also played a significant role. A child-king’s advisers have the real power. Their deals are the ones that succeed and their promises are the ones that are upheld. A similar dynamic is playing out in the United States, as states and cities conduct pseudoforeign policy. There is also the issue of political donors when we’re discussing the Americans with legitimate access to power. Trump was not all that popular when it came to campaign contributions, and “alt-right” figures modeled in his image are likely to fare even worse. U.S. elections depend heavily on access to funds, especially when we step back from the presidency and consider lowerlevel elections. Finally, I’d like to address the delusion that Bannon and company will be more powerful now that they “have (their) hands back on (their) weapons.” As
Cersei Lannister from “Game of Thrones” put it, “power is power.” Money, knowledge and speech are all ancillary to the cold reality that, once installed in office or position, power rests with the politician. Breitbart propaganda, white nationalist rallies and thinly veiled “free speech” protests are all legitimate dangers, but when a mayor says the statues are coming down, they come down. When a governor says to make the racists disperse, the police disperse them. The delusion that a media campaign against the government will be effective thrives on the same desperation that brought the “alt-right” to prominence in the first place: a desire to be the victims, even when all evidence is to the contrary; a desire to be the underdogs, even when they have significant institutional power. The “alt-right” is, as a result, condemned to live in a perpetual struggle: When you are defined entirely by powerlessness, power destroys you. I don’t want to gloss over the legitimate problems posed by Trump’s position and the damage he can do. We have more than three years left with an executive who is unwilling to learn, at the mercy of his emotions and completely immune to nuance. I do, however, want to push back on the frantic terror that we will imminently be swallowed up by the racists, once again ascendant and ready to implement their ideas as real policy. Only power is power, and they are incapable of wielding it.
Hank Minor can be reached at hminor@umich.edu.
WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM? Come to The Michigan Daily’s mass meetings! Mass meetings will be located in our newsroom at 420 Maynard St. on Sept. 10, 13, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Hope to see you there! KEVIN LIU | OP-ED
What I learned at airborne school
T
his past summer, I attended Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga. BAC is a three-week course where service members from all branches attend to become qualified in successfully exiting an aircraft and landing on the ground, minimizing any injuries. The first two weeks are a training phase where BAC students learn how to properly exit an aircraft, conduct a parachute landing fall, use the main and reserve parachutes and prepare for emergency landings. Jump week is the culminating week where students must successfully conduct five jumps from an aircraft. From my five jumps, I was able to remind myself of key takeaways that have affected my career at the University of Michigan. Jumping into the unknown: When you’re inside the aircraft, be it a C-130 or C-17, you typically aren’t the first person to jump out of it. The advantage of being the first person to jump out of the aircraft is that you can observe the drop zone prior to jumping out of the door and thus has a clear view of what you are jumping into. In my experience, I was typically placed in the middle or the rear of the line in performing mass-exit jumps. Here you can only see the people in front and behind you. Once the jumpmaster signals “Green light, GO,” you have no choice but to move forward and jump without hesitation into the abyss. Tying this in with my experience at the University, I’ve encountered brief moments of turbulence, and I was unsure about the decisions I ought to make because the consequences were unforeseeable. Personally, I’ve had better experience jumping right into actions than second-guessing myself,
because even though I may not have the most ideal patch of grass to land on, at least I can enjoy the ride on the way down. Hard Landings: After exiting the aircraft, you experience a brief gust of air that blows your body parallel to and away from the aircraft, prior to the deployment of your main parachute. After your main parachute deploys, you inspect the canopy for any rips or tears and gain canopy control. During your descent, you maintain situational awareness of your position relative to your fellow jumpers to prevent any accidental collisions. At 200 feet, you pull down and hold onto your risers in the opposite direction of your drift to ease your descent prior to landing on the ground. For my first jump, I hit the ground HARD. Contrary to executing a proper PLF on all five points of contact, I landed on the balls of my feet, glutes and upper back on a hard dirt road. Even though I acted on the training I received to the best of my ability, I still managed to eat dirt. Likewise, at the University there’s going to be that one problem set, quiz or exam that you spent hours preparing for. You frequently attended office hours and study group sessions and reviewed every past assignment, but your best still wasn’t good enough to do well on that exam. This happened to me after receiving terrible marks for my first midterm in NERS 311. Nevertheless, I picked myself up, ref lected on what went wrong, and readjusted my method of action which eventually improved my performance in NERS 311 and my PLFs in further jumps. Pulling your Reserve: During my last jump, I pulled my reserve parachute when
I was about 200 feet above the ground because my main parachute had some serious twists and I thought I was falling at a rate faster than my fellow jumpers. I was attempting to undo the twists in my parachute by trying to separate the risers while doing bicycle kicks in the air. Due to my limited depth perception, I believed myself to be falling at a faster rate than usual, so I panicked and pulled my reserve parachute to prepare for the worst. After I pulled my reserve, my main parachute untwisted and ref lated so my reserve parachute f lew up and wrapped around me during my descent to the ground. The reserve parachute’s failure to inf late was an indication that I did not need it to land safely. By the time I landed, I was berated for using the reserve in a nonlife-threatening situation. However, I did what I was trained to do in pulling my reserve when I felt that my life was at risk. So, at the University, don’t be afraid to use the resources available to you to ask for help. This can be tied to almost anything at the University — be it academics, social life, mental health, etc. If you don’t understand what your professor went over in class, address and resolve the situation as soon as you can instead of putting it off until the last moment. Even if the situation doesn’t exhibit any present treachery at the moment, it is better to deploy your reserve parachute 200 feet above ground than 70 feet if and when your main parachute fails.
Kevin Liu is a senior majoring in nuclear engineering and radiological sciences and an ROTC Cadet.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALBUM REVIEW
Thursday, September 7, 2017 — 5
FILM REVIEW
FINGERPRINT RELEASING Channing Tatum in ‘Logan Lucky’ ATLANTIC Lil Uzi Vert in a crowd
Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Luv is Rage 2’ is the new emo Lil Uzi Vert returns on his newest release and exposes his mastery of hip hop and emo despite the album’s weak links MATT GALLATIN Daily Music Editor
Above all else, Lil Uzi Vert’s new album Luv Is Rage 2 is present. It is simultaneously the best indicator of where rap is today and a perfect harbinger of where it will be, for better or for worse. It’s funny to think how Uzi’s skyrocket to fame largely came from a place of derision. His verse on Migos’s “Bad and Boujee” was the target of plenty of memes — particularly that ubiquitous, croaking verseopener, “yeah yeah yeah.” It’s comparable to how Young Thug blew up after the widespread confusion over what the hell he was saying on the Rich Gang hit “Lifestyle.” But many mistakenly took that emphasis on style as an omission of content. Sometimes it was true. Plenty of Young Thug’s lyrics are simply non sequiturs. Plenty of Uzi’s lyrics are pointless. Plenty aren’t though, and what Uzi has done better than nearly any other up-andcoming rapper now is marry that focus on an aesthetic style with lyrics and a delivery that are deceptively profound. It’s an approach that feels particularly fitting for the rap scene today, where personality and style seem constantly at the forefront. With the overabundance of Soundcloud rappers and the ease with which a flow can be co-opted, rappers who are going to truly make it need to separate themselves from the pack. A consuming, recognizable persona is one of the best ways to do that. Uzi could have stopped there. His sing-song voice has a way with melody, and it’s often easy to remember the rhythm of his tracks because of how well he can simply ride a beat. It’s reminiscent to how Young Thug’s voice can function more like an instrument than spoken word. Uzi’s voice, though, actually blends with his production in a slightly different way, seeping into the bass lines and synths, whereas Thugger’s voice often stands on its own plane. He works particularly well with producers who fill rhythm into every gap and let Uzi slide along within the space between percussion.
Burgeoning producer Maaly clear stand out on the album, Raw certainly has such an ear, showcasing the same kind of and has managed to achieve straightforward honesty that turn up perfection more than he does on “XO TOUR Llif3.” once with Uzi; the A$AP Mob This is where Uzi truly track “Runner,” for example, excels. He has plenty of fun, and “Money bouncy, loud Longer,” from tracks, and these Luv is Rage 2 Uzi’s well received aren’t too far Lil Uzi Vert Lil Uzi Vert Vs. off from that The World, are formula. But Atlantic two of the most instead of simply infectious tracks flexing over the I’ve heard in years. Raw’s beat beat and repeating the same pattern has a strong influence clichés we’re so used to in the here, and he lends a hand on genre, Uzi turns that on its track two, nine, 10, 13 and 15. head. But his newest release, Luv We haven’t seen work quite Is Rage 2 (the follow-up to his like this since his debut, so debut mixtape Luv Is Rage), it’s fitting that Luv Is Rage 2 manages to marks its follow up. Uzi’s last solidify Uzi’s two releases, Lil Uzi Vert Vs. reach past just The World and The Perfect club anthems. Luv Tape, while both well Nowhere is merited as party music, didn’t this better scratch too far below the exhibited than shiny rhinestone surface, with the last two perhaps the exception of “You tracks, “Dark Was Right.” But even on that Queen” and track he sounds like he’s in a “XO TOUR haze, attempting to make an Llif3.” apology but getting lost in his The latter, fame on the way. released as Rather, the best precursor a single in to this album is the final track March, became from Luv is Rage, “Paradise,” a an enormous, pop-inspired song that walks unexpected the line between optimism hit, and is and sadness: “Paradise / It’s certainly one somewhere that I’ve never of Uzi’s best. been before / I just wanna be All of those there when I wake up.” Uzi inherently wants better, but lets himself messy thoughts he has tried to play in the limbo. That gray articulate before — listlessness, area felt lost in some of his later solitude, sadness — come tracks, replaced with material to fruition in what equates obsessions, but it comes back to a shimmering scream for in full force on this release, and help, equal parts Future and the result is songwriting that is Bright Eyes. It’s a direct and at once nuanced and controlled. compelling expression of a On the addicting “X,” he asserts rapper’s struggle “Yeah my life’s with depression a mess / But I’m and substance also blessed.” abuse, tackling “Neon Guts,” his mental assisted by state after his Pharrell, is both breakup with a celebration and ex-girlfriend the manifesto of Brittany Byrd. an alien. His only friends But what Uzi are Xanax — loses on this “Please, Xanny, confessional is make it go the succinctness away” — and that made his dead presidents last two projects (money) — “All my friends are so approachable. The first four dead.” The track is unflaggingly tracks and The Weeknd feature honest and cuts right to the could all be cut and nothing heart, Uzi’s voice breaking notable would be lost. It’s the with exhaustion at the chorus baggage that comes from Uzi (a hallmark of emo bands from wanting to push further but the ’80s and on, which this being unsure of where to cut track is reminiscent of ). back. There’s a danger that The former, “Dark Queen,” comes when your album starts deals with the complexity of his off on such a low note — some relationship with his mother may simply stop listening over a brooding, spacious entirely. beat produced by Maaly Raw Nonetheless, Lil Uzi Vert and Rex Kudo. He addresses has accomplished what he set her directly, talking about out to do here, and if this is any her concerns for him and his indication, his trajectory from appreciation for her. It’s a here is starred.
All of those inherently messy thoughts he has tried to articulate before — listlessness, solitude, sadness — come to fruition
It’s a direct and compelling expression of a rapper’s struggle with depression
Soderbergh’s ‘Lucky’ is an Appalachian masterpiece Director of ‘Ocean’s 11’ brings us a film founded in location and ingenuity with new movie ‘Logan Lucky’ JACOB RICH
Daily Arts Writer
There is absolutely no edge to “Logan Lucky,” and that might just be its strength. It’s a heist movie without a single gun: simple entertainment where the audience is asked to do nothing but engage with likable people doing interesting things. It’s sweet, soulful, energizing and, best of all, original. It’s almost singular in 2017. It’s also fascinatingly apolitical, especially considering the first 15 minutes are nearly indistinguishable from a Trump campaign ad. A hardworking, handsome white guy (Channing Tatum, “Magic Mike”) loses his job at a coal mine. Of course, it’s not Jimmy Logan’s fault or even his boss’s — an HR employee twists Obamacare’s famous buzzword, “pre-existing condition,” against him after noticing a limp in his leg. It’s an excellent little summary of the modern American financial struggle, and even kalemunching leftists like myself will be instantly pulled into having sympathy for this guy. Rather than blaming any of the usual suspects for his crisis (the Democrats, immigrants, bureaucracy, brown people), Jimmy’s brother, a one-armed bartender played lovingly by Adam Driver (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), instead suspects that they’re
suffering from a generations- classy Bond, but the two are old family curse. The two equally professional. have grisly injuries, and their It cannot be overstated just folks are dead. The solution? how much fun each and every Successfully rob the Charlotte scene in this movie is. The Motor Speedway during the southern mundanity of “Logan biggest NASCAR race of the Lucky” is just as exciting year, thereby as the sexy lifting the professionalism curse. Of course “Ocean’s “Logan Lucky” of it’s that. Why Eleven.” wouldn’t it be As usual, w that? Soderbergh’s Rave Cinemas, From there, muted Goodrich Quality 16 camerawork it’s a rollicking two hours that perfectly feel like one, as services what we watch the he’s trying to brothers and a accomplish. steadily growing Soderbergh crew of likable rednecks loves actors, and his simple, prepare for and execute journeyman style makes you the aforementioned heist. love them too. It’s the people There are of course echoes of that take focus, not f lashy director Steven visuals or stunt set pieces. I Soderbergh’s remember one of the very first previous work lessons I had in film school on the “Ocean’s” was about how directors franchise, but effectively use movie stars, not as much and my professor played scenes as you would with George Clooney from expect — there’s Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight.” no cool tech, just I could see that lesson thirty entertaining years from now being taught ingenuity from with this movie, with Tatum. the characters. There’s an intricate dance that There are weird Soderbergh does with celebrity little touches persona, expectations, in-thelike a heist moment acting presence and recruitment editing rhythm that makes at an apple his movies feel alive. More so bobbing contest, than any other film this year, a hand-off “Logan Lucky” feels like it has with a mysterious man in a a pulse. full bear suit in the woods “Logan Lucky” isn’t doing and an explosive made from very well at the box office. gummy bears and a plastic It’s not part of any shared bag. Joe Bang (Daniel Craig, universe, there’s no sex, no “Spectre”), the bank robber violence, no corporate tie-ins, broken out of prison by the no hundred-million-dollar ad Logan brothers to guide campaign. It’s just a good oldtheir heist, is a delightfully fashioned movie, the kind that iconoclastic character that are not long for this world. plays off of Craig’s James Bond This will probably be one of persona — Bang is nearly the the last ones, so enjoy it now, polar opposite of the cold, in theaters, while you still can.
It cannot be overstated just how much fun each and every scene in this movie is
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Arts
6 — Thursday, September 7, 2017
DAILY ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE COLUMN
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
CONCERT REVIEW
NETFLIX Stars of Netflix’s ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ revival
Ian Harris: The problem with neverending shows All hail Green Day: on the How the resounding influence of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and punk band’s lasting legacy ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ turns to beating a dead horse
REPRISE RECORDS
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day
television series that don’t air every year in the way most Daily Entertainment Columnist series do. And while this is potentially cause for rejoice “Let’s all promise that in ten for the various fans of these years from today, we’ll meet shows, it also makes it harder again, and we’ll see what kind for audiences to interpret what of people we’ve blossomed it is they are watching. Take into.” These words, spoken by “Wet Hot American Summer: Bradley Cooper in the original Ten Years Later.” At surface “Wet Hot American Summer,” level, it would seem like this is form the basis for the second the natural place to conclude season of the Netflix revival the “Wet Hot” franchise once that began two years ago with and for all. They have now gone “First Day of Camp.” “Wet Hot back in time with “First Day of American Summer” is just the Camp” and made it all the way to latest franchise to enter into the point originally mentioned a state of what I like to call in the feature film. One would “Perpetual Ending Purgatory.” think there isn’t much more Other offenders of this include that can be mined out of these “Arrested Development” and characters and storylines at the BBC series “Sherlock.” this point. But without any In essence, these are series kind of confirmation one way that never truly end, but also or the other that this is really do not continue in any kind the grand finale for the Camp of regular fashion. There Firewood gang, the climax of won’t be another season of the miniseries loses much of its “Sherlock”... until there is. Purgatory” is especially potential impact. “Arrested Development” fans prevalent among Netflix “Sherlock” Series 4 is another have spent the better part of a revivals and other kinds example of why it’s important decade now waiting on a Season of sporadically-appearing for an audience to know if they are watching the conclusion RELEASE DATE– Thursday, September 7, 2017 to a story or merely another chapter. That whole series Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis focused a lot on ACROSS 2 Certain 39 Track events with 52 Outcropping 1 Drains the impact that something mechanical lures 53 Songwriter 5 Takes from page 3 Early late-night Loeb 42 “Strange Magic” Sherlock and to screen, say host 55 __ de force gp. John Watson’s 11 One of 4 Ice cream treat 57 “Dancing 44 Museum with adventures Beethoven’s 5 Polish removers Queen” Goyas and El nine: Abbr. 6 Apply carefully had had on the quartet Grecos 14 Party with tiki 7 Latin I verb 58 Bubbly maker 47 Recital bonus people around torches 8 “Friday the 13th: 48 Red wine option 59 Old fast fliers them and it 15 Flashy Chevy Jason Lives,” 49 Gary who played 61 Player in an really tried to 16 With 36-Down, sequentially indoor tree Beethoven in Dr. Seuss classic 9 Torrid Zone bring the series 62 Soweto’s “Immortal with the subtitle parallel country: Abbr. Beloved” full circle “The Simplest 10 Junior in a number Seuss for 11 Words of ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: Youngest Use” of ways. It reproach 17 Cowardly Snoopy 12 Up-and-down toy ended in a nemesis? 13 Downloaded way that could 19 Seagoing “I see” video format be viewed as 20 French film icon 18 Jewish folklore Brigitte an ending, figure 21 “The Racer’s 22 Mother of Isaac but could Edge” 24 Recipe amt. also easily 22 Urban air 26 B’way buy be continued concern 27 Many of its knives 23 Much have a limited on from any 25 Curriculum __ lifetime warranty number of 27 Gloomy route to 28 Arkansas team years from Oz? 29 Mrs. Gorbachev 32 Actress Vardalos 30 Compute now. To an 33 Butte relative 31 Salon worker extent that 34 RadioShack 32 Twice-monthly was probably predecessor tide the point. 35 Automaker 36 See 16-Across Ferrari But should it 38 Sicilian high point 09/07/17 xwordeditor@aol.com 37 Watched closely have been? 40 Fictional London We live in a alter ego 41 United culture that 43 Halt is obsessed 45 Belonging to us with dusting 46 Embarrassed off old things three-person Vegas act? and bringing 50 Kentucky pioneer them back to 51 Divided sea go through 52 Applaud the same 54 Old PC monitor 56 “Altogether ooky” motions all family name over again and 60 Rocker Ocasek this inability 61 Primary mixes that affect 17-, to let anything 27- and 46end is slowly Across but surely 63 Query degrading 64 Fire up 65 Attract pigeons the overall for, say quality of long 66 Bluster form western 67 Colorful fish storytelling. 68 2016 N.L. East champs Even the creators of DOWN By Kurt Mengel and Jan-Michele Gianette these shows 1 Untidy type 09/07/17 ©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC don’t have IAN HARRIS
5 to wrap up story threads left over from the long gestating Netflix-sponsored Season 4. All this after the show originally concluded in a pretty satisfying way back in 2005. This “Perpetual Ending
This “Perpetual Ending Purgatory” is especially prevalent amongst Netflix revivals
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Green Day’s recent concert at Darien Lake in Buffalo is a testament to what makes the band a uniting, everlasting force DOMINIC POLSINELLI Daily Arts Writer
When you mix a couple rock stars in their 40s with copious amounts of pyrotechnics, a few killer sax solos, the energy of DIY punks and a groundbreaking catalogue of music, you get the greatest band in the world playing music today. But before I dive into the details of Green Day’s set at Darien Lake, NY, we’re going to rewind to March of this year to the third Green Day show I had ever attended.
Ms. Green’s dedication is a small component of what has made and kept Green Day so important over the years
It’s the evening of Mar. 27, a Monday, and I’m making my way into Joe Louis Arena to wait for my friend to arrive while enjoying one of punk rock’s most important bands, Against Me!, open the show. After their set, my friend and I make our way into the crowd to find her (now our) friend, an incredibly special fan from the U.K. she had met a few years ago in Europe at a Green Day show. This special fan is Fran Green — yes, her last name is literally Green — and her dedication to Green Day is on a newsworthy level (she’s actually been interviewed by the local news in Iowa). Fast forward to the morning of Aug. 26 to find me on my way to Darien Lake ( just past Buffalo) with my friend and none other than Fran Green herself after spending four weeks in the United States following Green
any idea if they are ever done. Both the creators of “Wet Hot American Summer” as well as the creators of “Sherlock” have been coy about whether or not there will be more seasons of their respective shows, and Mitch Hurwitz (the mastermind behind “Arrested Development”) has been very open about saying he has long had the last beat of the current “Arrested” storyline planned out with the feeling that beat is supposed to give the audience
Day’s tour. That evening, I saw Green Day for my fourth time; for Fran, it was her 57th show. Ms. Green’s dedication is a small component of what has made and kept Green Day so important over the years. Green Day is a band that unites people across continents, forms friendships and shapes adolescent identities. She’s not alone in her adoration, as Green Day continues to play stadiums and arenas to hundreds of thousands of fans; rising from modest roots in the East Bay punk scene, the band found quick success in cementing themselves in the annals of punk rock’s history. Having been formed over 30 years ago, the band hasn’t missed a beat in performance, performing with youthful energy entirely unique to Green Day within the arena rock scene. Green Day’s performances have turned them into legend, striking awe into the crowd while retaining the down-toearth relatability that is the basis of punk music. During “St. Jimmy,” an excited fan screamed from behind me, “I love you, St. Jimmy!” ref lecting Armstrong’s mythological status as a musician, blurring the line between fictional and real hero. When Armstrong looks into the eyes of his fans, the connection is electric. Whether he’s playing to thousands — which I witnessed last fall at the Fillmore Detroit — or tens of thousands, the frontman exudes an aura of understanding, comfort and passion. After all these years, you just know he still gets it. And this is Green Day’s real magic. They’re all about having fun (i.e. their outlandish attire during “King for a Day,” which included tutus, pirate hats and funky sunglasses), but they also don’t shy away from real life issues; Billie Joe isn’t afraid to say “This is for all the weirdos out there” or just a straight up “Fuck Trump.” I mentioned this in the past in my review of 2016’s comeback record Revolution Radio, but Green Day has a knack for mixing important personal and political notions into their music — something
that translates into their performance. As a now “seasoned” veteran of Green Day performances, my only real qualm with their set is the elaborately drawn out “King for a Day.” The song itself is fun and all, but the approximately 20-minute charade with inclusions of cover snippets from “Shout,”
being, “Oh wait, so there’s more.” Oh wait, so there’s more. Those five words could essentially sum up the entirety of the way stories have come to be told on the big and small screens in the 21st century. The end is never the end. Sure the credits might roll but there’s always something after the credits. Maybe this is the end for this particular group of characters, but it’s certainly not the end of this universe.
There will be prequels and sequels and reboots until the end of time and for the most part we will gladly accept these derivative works into our lives because they provide us with more of the same. But without the ability to provide us with true endings, more and more movies and TV shows are failing to provide us with true meanings. That is the greatest sin of all. Oh wait, so there’s more. Just once, it would be nice for there not to be.
Green Day’s performances have turned them to legend, striking awe into the crowd while retaining the down-to-earth relatability that is the basis of punk music
“Hey, Jude” and other rock classics starts to drag in comparison to their own music. They could easily fit four songs in that time frame, even treat the longtime fans to oldies like “One of My Lies” or “One for the Razorbacks” to supplement the usual staple “2,000 Light Years Away.” Nonetheless, it’s a treat in itself to still have Green Day performing at the top of their game. With sets including classics from the ’90s to modern bangers off their most recent record, the band shows no signs of slowing in the near future. Having already garnered multiple generations of fans passed along from parent to child and friend to friend, Green Day is a band built upon emotional connection — a
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Thursday, September 7, 2017 — 7
In new role, Jay Harbaugh doesn’t run to form KEVIN SANTO
Managing Sports Editor
Tyrone Wheatley may have left Michigan’s coaching staff for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but very little has changed. Now under the tutelage of Jay Harbaugh, Michigan’s running backs have been quick to point out how interactive their new position coach is. Stereotypes may suggest an authoritarian relationship between a coach and a player. Harbaugh doesn’t fit that stereotype. “Because Coach Jay has never played the position, sometimes we see things that he may not see,” said sophomore Karan Higdon. “And sometimes it’s vice versa, which is really good because we’re able to converse about it and try and get each other to see and get to a mutual
understanding. And it’s been great because it’s enabled us to reach our full potential.” Added Harbaugh: “For me, they’re an extension of me on the field. So it’s invaluable to hear what they’re seeing and what they feel, and then try to use that to either make corrections or adjustments over the course of a practice (or) game. Good information from veteran guys that you can trust is really really crucial.” The one thing that hasn’t changed, though, is that the Wolverines are sharing the responsibilities of the backfield once again. Granted, Chris Evans was the undisputed starter against then-No. 17 Florida, as the sophomore notched 22 carries to fifthyear senior Ty Isaac’s 11. But when Harbaugh addressed the media Wednesday afternoon, he
made it clear that the group will continue sharing carries, while also adding that he wants the trio — Evans, Isaac and Higdon — to virtually become interchangeable as the season progresses. “I think it’s a great thing,” Harbaugh said. “They’re all different. They have unique skillsets. I think that makes it a little bit hard on the defense, when you’re getting different guys thrown at you and they have different styles and different types of moves and ways of hitting certain runs. “It is what it is. They’re not the same so you can’t treat them all the same. Ideally, if they all have the same amount of competency then they are interchangeable, and they’re just gonna hit certain runs in their own way.” Against the Gators, each back’s strengths were certainly
SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
Running backs coach Jay Harbaugh has drawn praise for communicating well with the members of his backfield.
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Sophomore running back Karan Higdon scored Michigan’s lone rushing touchdown in its season opener.
on display. Isaac turned 11 carries into 114 yards and functioned as an effective — if unconventional — thirdand-long weapon. Evans took the bulk of the carries for 78 yards and came just shy of a touchdown after tripping near the end zone on the opening drive. And finally Higdon, though limited to just seven carries, managed to punch in the Wolverines’ lone rushing touchdown on two consecutive carries from Florida’s 10-yard line. Between the three, Michigan managed to rack up 221 yards on the ground. Though it may only be one game, Michigan’s running game is shaping up to look eerily similar to last year’s combination of Evans, Higdon and De’Veon Smith. Realistically, it’s not very surprising. The denomination as the starting back still undoubtedly matters, but each has been
Big Ten Breakdown: Week One The Daily provides a brief overview of what is happening around the Big Ten ORION SANG
Daily Sports Editor
WEST Illinois Previous result: W, 24-21 vs. Ball State Top performer: Linebacker Tre Watson - 12 tackles, one fumble recovery, one interception Upcoming matchup: vs. Western Kentucky Iowa Previous result: W, 24-3 vs. Wyoming Top performer: Running back Akrum Wadley - 116 yards, 24 carries Upcoming matchup: at Iowa State Minnesota Previous result: W, 17-7 vs. Buffalo Top performer: Wide receiver Tyler Johnson - six receptions, 141 yards, one touchdown Upcoming matchup: at Oregon State
Northwestern Previous result: W, 31-20 vs. Nevada Top performer: Quarterback Clayton Thorson — 352 passing yards, 2 TDs Upcoming matchup: at Duke No. 9 Wisconsin Previous result: W, 59-10 vs. Utah State Top performer: Quarterback Alex Hornibrook - 244 passing yards, 3 TDs Upcoming matchup: vs. Florida Atlantic Nebraska Previous result: W, 43-36 vs. Arkansas State Top performer: Running back Tre Bryant - 192 rushing yards, 1 TD Upcoming matchup: at Oregon Purdue Previous result: L, 35-28 vs. then-No. 16 Louisville Top performer: Wide receiver Jackson Anthrop - 7 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TDs
Upcoming matchup: vs. Ohio EAST No. 2 Ohio State Previous result: W, 49-21 vs. Indiana Top performer: Running back J.K. Dobbins - 181 rushing yards Upcoming matchup: vs. No. 5 Oklahoma No. 4 Penn State Previous result: W, 52-0 vs. Akron Top performer: Running back Saquon Barkley - 172 rushing yards, 2 TDs Upcoming matchup: vs. Pittsburgh No. 8 Michigan Previous result: W, 33-17 vs. then-No. 17 Florida Top performer: Linebacker Devin Bush Jr. - 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks Upcoming matchup: vs. Cincinnati Michigan State Previous result: W, 35-10 vs. Bowling Green
Top performer: Quarterback Brian Lewerke - 250 passing yards, 3 TDs Upcoming matchup: vs. Western Michigan Rutgers Previous result: L, 30-14 vs. then-No. 8 Washington Top performer: Quarterback Kyle Bolin - 178 passing yards, 2 TDs Upcoming matchup: vs. Eastern Michigan Maryland Previous result: W, vs. thenNo. 23 Texas Top performer: Quarterback Tyrell Pigrome - 239 total yards, 3 total TDs Upcoming matchup: vs. Towson Indiana Previous result: L, vs then-No. 2 Ohio State Top performer: Wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. - 11 receptions, 149 yards, 1 TD Upcoming matchup: at Virginia
quick to give the company line: that the number of carries they receive is irrelevant. But — after all — there is still a majority of carries to be earned, and the trio is well aware of that. “They’re certainly competitive,” Harbaugh said. “Every running back is gonna want the ball. They’ve done a great job being unselfish as a group — rooting for each other’s success and still taking advantage of their own opportunities. I expect them to want the ball more. “As a coach, you’re just gonna assume that everyone’s gonna have a healthy discontent with their role, because they think that they’re ‘the guy’. And if you’re recruiting the right guys that’s gonna be the case. They’re done a really good job balancing that — that kind of natural selfish instinct as a back — with. ‘Hey I’m a team guy, this is a team within a team.’ ”
BY THE NUMBERS Michigan’s ground game against Florida
215
Rushing yards against the then-17th ranked Gators.
49
Rushing attempts — the most since last November.
119
Yards on just 11 carries for fifth-year senior Ty Isaac.
4.4
Yards per carry.
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SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will and the Michigan football team are one of three ranked teams competing in the Big Ten East after the first week of the season.
Sports
8 — Thursday, September 7, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Secondary adapting to new defensive scheme Despite sharing one start between the two of them, safeties Josh Metellus and Tyree Kinnel showcased their potential as a duo against then-No. 17 Florida on Saturday, combining for nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. BETELHEM ASHAME Managing Sports Editor
Of all the position groups Michigan had to rebuild on the defensive side of the ball, the secondary was expected to have the most pieces to replace. When it came to the defensive backfield — especially at safety — the picture was blurry, to say the least. The two new starters — junior Tyree Kinnel and sophomore Josh Metellus — had only one career start between them. With the way they played Saturday in Michigan’s season-opening victory over Florida, though, you wouldn’t have noticed their inexperience. The safety duo tallied nine tackles in their first career starts, including 1.5 tackles for loss by Kinnel and a forced fumble by Metellus. The two played the vast majority of the game, as defensive coordinator Don Brown opted for a tight rotation within the secondary. Working in tandem for such long stretches, Kinnel and Metellus had the opportunity to continue growing as a joint unit. Kinnel has spoken highly of his new position partner before. And Monday, he did so once again. “(Metellus) did everything well. He was talking to me all
the time, making checks as I was making checks,” Kinnel said. “He covered a lot more than me in that game, just because of (the Gators’) offense, and I felt like he covered really well.” While two safeties is typically the norm, Brown and his staff utilized a 3-3-5 scheme, which they debuted against Florida with positive results. The shift gifted Kinnel and Metellus with even more help manning the secondary in sophomore defensive back Khaleke Hudson. Between the free safety, strong safety and VIPER — the hybrid position Hudson started at — the three defensive backs shuff led through a variety of responsibilities. Kinnel spent most of his time as the free safety, while Metellus and Hudson moved back and forth between strong safety and VIPER pretty evenly in different formations. The ability to switch between Hudson and Metellus has added an extra dimension to an already-complex defensive scheme. So far, the transition has been seamless for the trio of safeties. According to defensive backs coach Brian Smith, the added wrinkle has been a “luxury.” “That versatility, being able to move in different places,
“As a (defensive back), you always have to think that the ball is coming your way every snap. That’s the Way you have to prepare for it.”
SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
Junior safety Tyree Kinnel earned the first start of his career this past weekend when Michigan faced off against the Gators in the AdvoCare Classic.
helps out the defense as a core — getting guys lined up and giving the offense different looks,” Smith said. Kinnel described the process of switching as situational, where the defense has to read the offense and react quickly. Since the shifts are not necessarily incumbent upon a run or pass play, the practice keeps all three on their toes. “As a (defensive back), you always have to think that the ball is coming your way every snap,” Smith said. “That’s the way you have to prepare for it. … You can’t look at it any differently or you won’t have as
much success.” While the technical aspects are still a work in progress, the foundation seems firmly built. Throughout Michigan’s fall camp, the theme for its budding defense was “f lying to the ball,” as Kinnel called it. “Coach Brown and (defensive line coach) Mattison told us, ‘Here at Michigan, we run to the ball,’ ” Kinnel said. “And we took that in, we took it personal, and I think we did a pretty good job on Saturday. “I thought our communication was on point. There are some things that we have to clean up… (but) when
we play fast and hard, it covers up a lot.” While the secondary looked to be on the same page Saturday, Smith admitted that it took a long time for the unit to find its footing. It wasn’t until the final week of fall camp that it all began to come together. “That last week, they did a great job communicating,” Smith said. “That’s something we had been stressing all camp, all the way back to the spring, being different guys back in the secondary, not having been used to working together. “And you could it see that last week. Guys were calling
out, making all the checks, not just the safeties, the whole secondary, the linebackers, they all were working together.” Though growing pains are bound to reveal themselves as the season progresses, whenever those troubles arise, Kinnel, Metellus, Hudson and the rest of the defense will be able to look back at Saturday and see what they are capable of together. “It definitely sets the tone,” Kinnel said. “We got that out on film that everyone can see that we play fast and play hard. We just have to keep it up, keep getting after it.”