ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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ADMINISTRATION
E. Royster Harper talks Greek life, #UMDivest U-M Vice President of Student Life emphasizes need for campus unity KAELA THEUT
Daily Staff Reporter ALEC COHEN/Daily
Laverne Cox shares her college experience as part of the 2017 CEW Spectrum of Advocay and Activism Symposium in Rackham Wednesday.
“Ain’t I a woman?”: Laverne Cox discusses influences, experiences
Star of “Orange is the New Black” encourages student protest of Richard Spencer KAELA THEUT
Daily Staff Reporter
Delivering personal messages of hope and empowerment for the future to University of Michigan students was “Orange is the New Black” star Laverne Cox, who took the stage of Rackham Auditorium Wednesday night. Over 300 people gathered to watch Cox, a transgender, African-American actress and activist, deliver her speech “Ain’t I a Woman? My Journey
to Womanhood” to conclude the 2017 Center for the Education of Women Spectrum of Advocacy and Activism Symposium. Hundreds more tuned into the livestream of the speech, shown at various locations around campus. Before the event, due to its popularity, students gave out their tickets to Black women on campus so those who could benefit most from listening to Cox could take advantage of the opportunity to hear her. “It’s a horrible thing that you don’t expect people to support you,
but being Black on this campus, you don’t expect it because of the way that a lot people act and what a lot of people do — you just don’t expect people to care,” LSA junior Mayah Wheeler said in October regarding the generosity of ticket givers. Anna Kirkland, director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, began the night by describing the unusual political circumstances of the past year — especially pertaining to women’s rights. “It has been an extraordinary
year to be a scholar of gender in this country, and by that I mean well beyond the ordinary, and not in the sense of good,” she said. “Laverne Cox sits here when we need her most.” Cox spent a large portion of her speech describing her childhood in Mobile, Ala., and the various experiences that have influenced her identity as a transgender Black woman.
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The Michigan Daily: So we’ll start with one of the most relevant issues — last night, the Central Student Government Divestment Resolution passed. To begin, where do you go from here? There are a lot of students saying this motion will increase tensions on campus. How do you mitigate these tensions in the wake of this resolution and the events of the past year, especially when some students feel as if they are being targeted? Royster: So, I’ve been thinking about a couple of things — one, it’s interesting to me that we start with the rock, that targets Latinx students, we start with the national climate that targets everybody, it’s just who’s in the queue to be targeted, and then we have our own experience on our campus, so far no one has been missed. And then we have our own internal conversations and debates about, really, a really complex issue.
It’s the same kind of debate about a complex issue about controversial speakers — who should be on campus — so if our values around free speech, what we find right now is that we have another set of issues, contest, divestment, that is in the center of what we say as an institution we’re committed to … which is free speech, multiple points of view — sometimes that speech targets and hurts different communities. So I’ve been struck by when you pull out content, the tension for us has really been about when we have these areas that we fundamentally disagree about, we just don’t have a lot of experience debating the issue without hurting the relationships. And so whether it’s Richard Spencer, same issue, it’s the content, multiple points of view about the content, and same challenge — how do we engage in that decision without hurting our community and our relationship?
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Republicans in state Senate vote to Sophomore SAPAC and establishes allow concealed weapons in schools Lyft join for
CAMPUS LIFE
CAMPUS LIFE
clothing company
Vote held three days after Texas church shooting, also allows guns in churches, bars
Lakeshore Drive works to promote “individuality and living your best life”
The Michigan Senate passed legislation last week allowing licensed gun owners to carry concealed handguns inside schools, churches, bars and other traditionally gun-free zones. Bill 584 is a part of a three-bill package that will now move to the state House of Representatives after passing almost completely along party lines with a 25-to-12 vote. The vote came three days after a mass shooting in Sutherland Spring, Texas, causing some to suspect Senate Republicans fasttracked the bill to take advantage of the urgency of the tragedy. Considering the context of multiple mass shootings in the United States this year, Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, who introduced the bill, said these events make the bill’s passing more relevant. “I believe citizens have the right to be free and safe and secure and to defend themselves and their loved ones. Responsible, well-trained, licensed gun owners may be one of those deterrents to those individuals who seek out gun-free zones as opportunities to commit heinous crimes,” Meekhof said, as reported in The Washington Post. However, the bill faced emotional backlash. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, state Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, said other concealed
RACHEL LEVY
Daily Staff Reporter
Before starting his freshman year at the University of Michigan, LSA sophomore Cooper Kirby asked himself if college was truly something he wanted to do. Luckily, he later found a way to balance academics and his interest in fashion, and has just released a new clothing brand this year. “It’s been tough to juggle with school work, but it’s been great,” Kirby said. Kirby and his close friend Ryan Murray, a sophomore at Michigan State University, co-founded Lakeshore Drive, a clothing brand and company that works to promote “individuality and living your best life.” “We wanted to project this idea to our audience through living your Lakeshore Drive,” Kirby said. “Your lakeshore is your paradise, it’s a place you’d always rather be or anything you’d always rather be doing, and your drive is what always pushes you further, it’s going to keep you going.
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CARLY RYAN
Daily Staff Reporter
weapons carriers do little to help in mass shooting incidents and shouldn’t be used to justify the bill. Public Policy junior Lauren Schandevel, communications director of the University of Michigan’s chapter of College Democrats, agreed with Warren and said Meekhof’s logic is misguided. “This legislation is both poorly timed and poorly conceived,”
Schandeval said. “The idea that more guns in prohibited areas will help prevent mass shootings has been prevalent in our legislature for some time, and it is sorely misguided.” Though Democrats nicknamed the bill “Pistols in Preschools,” Linda Brundage, executive director of the Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, said there will also be adverse effects on college campuses.
“Students need to be worried,” Brundage said. “Students go to bars, students go to large stadiums, other venues. I mean, it is an issue, and it will just stifle intellectual development, I think, in a lot of different ways. And suicide is very high among the college-age population.”
bystander training
Lyft to also provide $10 toward rides between 12 and 6 a.m. for students ANNA HARITOS
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Daily Staff Reporter
For the month of November, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center is teaming up with Lyft to provide students $10 off a Lyft ride between midnight and 6 a.m. throughout Ann Arbor. This promotion is part of SAPAC’s new bystander intervention training program for Lyft drivers on campus. The passes will be available at SAPAC’s tabling events in Mason Hall throughout November, which is Better Bystander Month — hosted by SAPAC’s Bystander Intervention and Community Engagement program. According to LSA senior Julia Berg, one of the volunteer coordinators for SAPAC’s BICE, Better Bystander Month aims to raise awareness throughout the University of Michigan community about how to have conversations about bystander intervention. FILE PHOTO/Daily
The Michigan State Legislature building.
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INDEX
Vol. CXXVII, No. 32 ©2017 The Michigan Daily
NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................6
Read more at MichiganDaily.com
SUDOKU.....................2 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 SPORTS....................7
News
2 — Thursday, November 16, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ON THE DAILY: SHRI THANEDAR FACES FRAUD ALLEGATIONS Avomeen Holdings LLC, the chemical testing business is suing founder Shri Thanedar in federal court for making “fraudulent and misleading” claims regarding his company’s revenues to inflate the value of its sale. Thanedar, a University of Michigan alum and Democratic gubernational candidate, sold his controlling stake earlier this month, seven years after he founded the company, according to a report by the The Detroit News. The complaint alleges Thanedar overstated the company’s monthly revenue, directed employees to reduce large fluctuations in the month-to-month figures and lied about the methods his company used to record revenue. “However, purchaser has discovered … that in the critical months leading up to close, Thanedar made fraudulent and misleading representations to purchaser regarding Avomeen’s financial practices and the nature and amount of Avomeen’s monthly revenues and earnings.
In essence, Thanedar falsely portrayed Avomeen as an entity with consistent, growing month-tomonth revenue during the critical period leading up to Purchaser’s investment transaction,” the lawsuit reads. Thanedar denied the lawsuit’s allegations in a text to a reporter from The Detroit News but declined to make further comment. “I patently deny every claim contained in this document and intend to fight it. Because this is a pending legal matter, I am prohibited from saying more at this time,” Thanedar wrote in a statement. Thanedar received approximately $20 million from the sale of his majority interest in the company to the Chicagobased equity firm High Street Capital, retaining a minority interest through his company Chemreal. Thanedar’s knack for business has figured prominently in his
campaign rhetoric. In 2016, he made Entrepreneur of the Year. headlines for giving $1.5 million in bonuses to his employees, and - ANDREW HIYAMA & was named Ernst and Young’s CARLY RYAN
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The cast of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, a musical being put on by the student group MUSKET, at their first dress rehearsal in the Power Center Monday. Their opening night is this Friday.
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CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES Around the World in 80 Days: A Cartographic Journey
Chinese Cooking Class
Trans Journalcore/Zine Workshop
Family Night: Winter Wonderland
WHAT: A workshop about media of expressing gender identity through hardcore journaling and zines will give queeer and trans artists the opprtunity to create. WHO: Spectrum Center WHEN: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. WHERE: Shapiro Undergraduate Library
WHAT: This family-friendly event will feature crafts, an ice cream bar and a screening of “Happy Feet.” WHO: Center for Campus Involvement WHEN: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Pierpont Commons, East Room
Paint No Pour
Lost in Translation
WHAT: In an event inspired by national heritage months, students can participate in creative expression and celebrate multiculturalism. WHO: Trotter Multicultural Center WHEN: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE: Trotter Multicultural Center
‘He Named Me Malala’ Screening
What will the future hold for low-income people?
WHAT: This live storytelling event will give audience members the opportunity to hear storytellers’ international experiences. WHO: International Programs in Engineering WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: North Quad, Room 2435
WHAT: Girl Up Michigan in offering a free screening of this documentary. WHO: Maize Pages Student Organizations WHEN: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. WHERE: Rackham Amphitheatre 4th Floor
WHAT: The executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy will analyze policy in the context of low-income people. WHO: Poverty Solutions WHEN: 4:30 to 6 p.m. WHERE: Weill Hall, Annenberg Auditorium
WHAT: Using maps from the Clark Library, a race around the world in 80 days will be presented. WHO: University Library WHEN: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. WHERE: Hatcher Graduate Library, Clark Library
WHAT: Students can learn how to cook easy and healthy Chinese dishes while learning about Chinese culture. WHO: Confucious Institute WHEN: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: South Quad, Demo Kitchen
“Doctors of Tomorrow” works to increase diversity in medicine Daily Staff Reporter
On Wednesday, students came to campus to learn clinical skills, such as how to calculate heart rate, listen to a heartbeat through a stethoscope and test one another’s reflexes. The students jumped at the opportunity to answer every question, and were eager to engage with the medical students conducting the lessons. These weren’t traditional college students, however; instead these were 35 students from Cass Technical High School in Detroit who came to the University of Michigan as part of the Doctors of Tomorrow initiative. About once a month, the students come to meet Sudoku withSyndication their mentors, learn about different parts of medical school
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Cass Technical high schoolers were brought to the medical school Wednesday MOLLY NORRIS
kellee @sizzlingfajita
and participate in hands-on of mentorship and clinical EMMA KINERY NATHAN GUPTA Editor in Chief Business Manager interactive activities. enrichment, and try to get them 734-418-4115 ext. 1251 734-418-4115 ext. 1241 Doctors of Tomorrow was to the point where we can try to kineryem@michigandaily.com nathankg@michigandaily.com started in 2012 by University get them to come to Michigan surgeon Jonathan Finks. as sort of a pipeline program, Finks said it stemmed out of a continue to mentor them while realization that there is a lack they’re here and eventually help NEWS TIPS ARTS SECTION PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION of diversity in the Medical those who are interested get into news@michigandaily.com arts@michigandaily.com photo@michigandaily.com School and particularly a lack medical school.” LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SPORTS SECTION NEWSROOM of students from Detroit. After The high school students, tothedaily@michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com 734-418-4115 opt. 3 investigating, Finks and his team who are selected through a EDITORIAL PAGE ADVERTISING CORRECTIONS found African Americans made competitive application process opinion@michigandaily.com dailydisplay@gmail.com corrections@michigandaily.com up only 6 percent of the Medical by members of the DoT team School class. from the University of Michigan “Medical schools across as well as faculty at Cass Tech, the country work hard to are each paired with one or two attract talented students from first-year Medical students. AMELIA CACCHIONE and EMMA RICHTER underrepresented groups, but Each month, the students Managing Photo Editors photo@michigandaily.com Senior Photo Editors: Zoey Holmstrom, Evan Aaron, Alexis Rankin, the problem is that for students learn something different REBECCA LERNER Zach Moore from underrepresented areas, at their visits — everything Managing Editor rebler@michigandaily.com Assistant Photo Editors: Claire Meingast, Katelyn Mulcahy, Aaron often it can be hard to get into from learning how to take Baker, Sam Mousigian, Kevin Zheng college, hard to do well, hard to blood pressure to shadowing ALEXA ST.JOHN LARA MOEHLMAN Managing News Editor alexastj@michigandaily.com stay in college,” Finks said. “And physicians. They also participate Statement Editor statement@michigandaily.com http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ Senior News Editors: Riyah Basha, Tim Cohn, Lydia Murray, so we try to reach kids when they in a capstone project, where they Deputy Statement Editor: Brian Kuang, Yoshiko Iwai Nisa Khan, Sophie Sherry are younger through a program work on a health issue such as Assistant News Editors: Jordyn Baker, Colin Beresford, Rhea nutrition or youth violence Cheeti, Maya Goldman, Matt Harmon, Andrew Hiyama, Jen ELIZABETH DOKAS and TAYLOR GRANDINETTI Meer, Ishi Mori, Carly Ryan, Kaela Theut and try to come up with Managing Copy Editors copydesk@michigandaily.com a project they can do to ANNA POLUMBO-LEVY and REBECCA TARNOPOL Senior Copy Editors: Marisa Frey, Ibrahim Rasheed Editorial Page Editors tothedaily@michigandaily.com help solve it. The students work in conjunction DYLAN LAWTON and BOB LESSER Senior Opinion Editors: Anu Roy-Chaudhury, Ashley Zhang, with community service Managing Online Editor lesserrc@michigandaily.com MEDIUM Max Lubell, Madeline Nowicki, Stephanie Trierweiler Senior Web Developers: Erik Forkin, Jordan Wolff organizations in Detroit on BETELHEM ASHAME and KEVIN SANTO their capstones. ABE LOFY Managing Sports Editors sportseditors@michigandaily.com Since the high school Managing Video Editor video@michigandaily.com Senior Sports Editors: Laney Byler, Mike Persak, Orion Sang, Senior Video Editors: Gilly Yerrington, Matt Nolan, Aarthi students are also freshman, Max Marcovich, Ethan Wolfe, Chris Crowder Janakiraman, Emily Wolfe the program is one of nearAssistant Sports Editors: Rob Hefter, Avi Sholkoff, Matthew Kennedy, Paige Voeffray, Mark Calcagno, Jacob Shames peer mentoring, as Adrianne JASON ROWLAND and ASHLEY TJHUNG Michigan in Color Editors michiganincolor@michigandaily.com Haggins, who conducted a ANAY KATYAL and NATALIE ZAK Senior Michigan in Color Editors: Christian Paneda, study on the DoT program, Managing Arts Editors arts@michigandaily.com Adam Brodnax, Halimat Olaniyan, Tanya Madhani, Sivanthy explained. Haggins said the Senior Arts Editors: Dayton Hare, Nabeel Chollanpat, Vasanthan mentors and the mentees Madeline Gaudin, Carly Snider Arts Beat Editors: Danielle Yacobson, Danny Hensel, Erika found the program to be ELLIE HOMANT Shevchek, Matt Gallatin, Naresh Iyengar Managing Social Media Editor incredibly rewarding and Senior Social Media Editors: Kayla Waterman and Anna Haritos helpful. MICHELLE PHILLIPS and AVA WEINER “The high school students Managing Design Editors design@michigandaily.com appreciated the consistent contact that they were able CAYLIN WATERS to achieve, despite the fact Brand Manager EMILY RICHNER that medical students are CLAIRE BUTZ Sales Manager typically very busy, as well Business Development Manager JUEUI HONG as the high school students JULIA SELSKY Special Projects Manager Local Accounts Manager being busy taking care of CAROLINE GOLD their own academic work,” SANJANA PANDIT Media Consulting Manager Production Manager Haggins said.
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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 September-April are $250 and year long subscriptions are $275. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan in Color
Thursday, November 16, 2017 — 3
The Black-Asian Coalition: Past, present, and future ASHLEY TJHUNG Managing MiC Editor
& ADAM BRODNAX Senior MiC Editor
BEGINNINGS The Black-Asian Coalition was started in January 2015. Sean Dajour Smith, a class of 2017 alum, and Sarah Hong, a class of 2016 alum, connected through their community action and social change minor and their shared interest in coalition building. Sarah wanted to create a space where members of the Asian Pacific Islander American community could confront antiBlackness. Smith, on the other hand, thought it could be an opportunity to link people who did not necessarily interact daily. “We just wanted to get friends in the room who wouldn’t normally be in the room together,” he said. “It started as a Black-Asian solidarity conversation.” The first meeting was held in February 2016 at the Shapiro Undergraduate Library, and the initiative grew from there. Intentionality in building the space became a deeply rooted value from the beginning, even with the naming of the group. “One of the things that Sean mentioned was when he organized before he came to U-M, other people would call and use the Black community when it was helpful for them, but never reciprocated the effort,” Hong said. “So we wanted it to be intentional that this is a space for addressing the anti-Blackness that exists within our community.” The coalition was a success. They met six times during that semester, with roughly 50 total attendees. However, when Hong graduated in May 2016, the BAC disappeared for a short time. PHASE TWO The BAC would never have restarted if not for a chance encounter. While walking across the Diag, Smith ran into a friend, Sean Liu, a class of 2016 alum, who wanted him to restart the BAC. Smith was reluctant to begin meetings without an Asian co-organizer, but Liu persuaded him to reach out to a friend of his, Business senior Chelsea Racelis. While Smith initially felt unsure about a new partner, he was blown
away upon meeting Racelis. He believed she valued the same principles of intentionality and coalition-building he did. Seeking one more facilitator, Smith approached LSA junior Zainab Bhindarwala about joining the coalition as an organizer. Drawn in by the concept, Bhindarwala was also swayed by the “strong sense of purpose and urgency” displayed by Smith and Racelis. After their initial meeting, they met several times to plan and build the space as intentionally as possible. ORGANIZING THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS At the University of Michigan, community organizing is most often associated with structured organizing and mass mobilization. The BAC takes a different approach. From their organizing experiences, the founders believed there was a lack of spaces dedicated to fostering relationships between different groups of people. They also wanted to create a space where people would feel energized instead of the burnout often associated with social justice. These principles led to the BAC’s focus on face-toface interaction and sustainable change that persists after the emotional high from the latest rally. “Once you see people affected of those you hold dear and near, your views on a lot of things can shift,” Smith said, “and you start to fight because you have that sense of accountability for others.” LSA junior Kortez Brinson, a BAC participant, also stated the importance of creating connection. Prior to attending the University, he was an organizer in the Mikva Challenge Foundation and Chicago Student Union. There, he sought similar communityorganizing experiences and the BAC fit that need. “To me, a lot of the organizing at the University has a lot of emotion in it, a lot of structure, almost too much structure,” he said. “In the BAC, we’re focused more on coming into this room and getting back to what organizing is. A lot of what that is is getting into communities, coming together and networking with a bunch of people we don’t know.” The BAC believes that by bringing two unlike groups into a room together, it can create
friendships, and from there inspire these two groups to build coalition together. Instead of focusing on the growth of the coalition, Smith, Racelis and Bhindarwala care more about the growth of individuals. “We created a centralized space so individuals could have a context to connect with one another,” Smith said. In building these individual relationships, they hope that it will encourage them to support one another. This idea is rooted in the notion that if the BAC stops existing, these individual relationships will continue to persist. “When you get a Black student and an Asian student that feel comfortable and willing to hit each other up just for a conversation, you officially can say you’re successful,” Brinson said. “From these connections, you get passion and understanding between each other that can make change in society.” INTENTIONALITY Instead of advertising, the group relies on word of mouth and personal networks to bring new people into the space. It believes that it shouldn’t have to persuade people to come to this space because it believes people should feel compelled to come to this space on their own beliefs and morals — things that BAC doesn’t want to influence. “We don’t need to convince anyone to come, because if we need to convince someone, then that person isn’t intrinsically motivated to engage with the space,” Racelis said. While unconventional, the technique seems to be working. More than 60 people were at the last meeting and half had never been there before. This has become a common theme since the first meeting last January. Rather than the same set of people attending, from the experiences of Michigan in Color’s interviewees, more often than not, a majority of the room is filled with strangers. When organizing meetings, the three focus on intentionality and inclusivity. Every decision is chosen to meet their overarching goals of combating anti-Blackness and remaining accessible for all. “We held a session about colorism and that was good
because it affects multiple communities in different ways, but it also has global reach,” Bhindarwala said. “It comes up in very different ways in Black and Asian communities, but everyone there could relate.” However, intentionality should not be confused with structure. While the three are deliberate in their actions, they try not to impose their agendas in the space. They intentionally build a space with the hopes of producing organic conversations. WHY THE BAC MATTERS For many participants, like Music, Theatre & Dance senior Stone Stewart, the BAC is a unique space on campus. It is a chance to hang out with friends, meet new people and deepen understanding of others’ experiences. “If someone told me that I was about to go to this social function with 90 strangers, then I would have no reason to go,” Stewart said, “but it works with BAC.” “A lot of people want to have diverse friend groups, but it can be hard to reach out and it can be awkward,” Bhindarwala said. “Being in the same space at the same time can stop this segregation.” Black and Asian students learn from one another — an intentional construct. In other spaces, Black students are often expected to teach others about systemic oppression — an emotionally draining process that can dissuade Black students from returning. “We recognize that when Black people are entering the space, they feel like they might have to be educators as Asian folks are trying to decolonize their own anti-Blackness,” Bhindarwala said. “We put emphasis on making sure that Black folks don’t feel like educators.” This space fosters learning and encourages each group to engage with the other. With the understanding these two groups come into this space with largely different purposes, there is a common understanding that this is a space to engage and to build relationships with each other in hopes for them to separately collaborate outside the BAC. To Stewart, he believes this space is “so fundamentally human and it’s all about building that genuine connection with others.”
Yet this space is special in which these two groups come together for many reasons, one of them being to learn about how these two cultures interact. “Whether we realize it or not, Black and Asians take a lot from each other, good or for bad,” Stewart said. “Most of the time we just aren’t interacting.” There was a general sentiment held by the participants about the necessity for this space on campus. In the dominant narrative, Blacks and Asians are often used against each other in order to invalidate the struggles of Blacks in the United States. Interviewees from both racial groups felt that same tension. Stewart, who identifies as biracial (Japanese and Caribbean), said, “I think Black and Asian people and the way we are portrayed in society are at such odds with each other.” Brinson, who is Black, shared a similar sentiment, saying: “I believe there is a lot of tension between Black and Asian students. Not even naturally, more so that there are forces pushing the tension.” This has ripple effects and often influences how these two groups are raised and taught to view each other. “The overall goal (of BAC) is that if we’re in a neighborhood together, I’m comfortable enough going up to an Asian family and saying, ‘Hello, how you doin’?’ I want my kids to kick it with their kids, to actually have a good time with them,” Brinson said. “We’re still both minorities, we’re still both working hard to establish a foundation in this world, but we are not enemies, and we are not competing against each other.” THE FUTURE As the BAC continues to grow, so do the organizers. “Doing BAC and even just being with Sean and Zainab has taught me a lot about organizing,” Racelis said. “You can organize from a place of real love, and now I like surrounding myself with those people.” This idea of organizing from a compassionate place was reiterated in our interview with Hong as well who said: “We have that call-out culture in social justice, but we shouldn’t be shaming people in that way, (but) because (BAC) is so open and willing to listen, we are more peaceful and willing.”
Organizing from a place of love and compassion is also evident with how BAC participants engage with the space. BAC participants have reiterated how they enjoy being in this space beca use it’s where participants feel empowered to bring their full selves to every meeting. Additionally, the organizers are working to incorporate the feedback and needs of the BAC’s participants. “People want opportunities to be together. Now we realize once a month isn’t enough to meet,” Racelis said. “Many ask if it’s every Saturday, and now we have a lot of momentum. We want to facilitate different ways for people to come together. Whether through movie nights, potlucks, etc.” Racelis spoke about how members haven’t even touched the majority of the content that they discussed when initially building this space. During our interviews with Smith, Racelis and Bhindarwala, they spoke about Smith’s metaphor for the BAC. He often compares this space to an airport: “We wanted focus more on the individuals. We wanted to build everything on the ground and then (let them) take flight, rather than building while in the air.” The idea behind this metaphor is there is power in facilitating the context for these individuals to interact with while they’re in the same space. Participants in the BAC are often active members of their own communities and student organizations. Each of these student organizations and individuals can be seen as a plane that comes into the BAC. They land for an hour, develop relationships, re-energize themselves, connect on a humane level and then leave once the hour is done. In hope, BAC works to use this hour as an incubator for building meaningful relationships across these groups that will persist outside of the BAC. The BAC organizers continuously emphasize that this space is temporary. BAC may exist now, but in a few years, it may not. Knowing this, the organizers hope that they foster a space conducive for these individual relationships to flourish and persist, and that the relationships and mindsets created will last for a lifetime.
Focus, luck and perseverance: Firm roots, fluid futures My father’s road to success VALERIE LÊ
MiC Contributor
One day in 1975, 21-year-old Giang Lê decided to skip class for the first time. He sat outside his dormitory at Van Hanh University in Saigon with a few friends when a car suddenly braked in front of them. Giang’s mother signaled from the car and told him to pack — a choice that would change his life forever.
It was the spring of 1975 and the Vietnam War was coming to a close, with a northern communist victory in sight. Giang’s family of 10 had lived through most of it, including the Summer of Flames, a series of communist attacks in 1972. “It wasn’t unusual to go to school and hear someone had gotten killed,” he said. As class president, Giang organized strikes, but was wary of classmates who were “undercover informants for the communists. They would try to drive demonstrations away from our goals, turning into anti-American protests.” Three of Giang’s brothers were studying abroad in the United States while Giang stayed in Vietnam. Only students who passed the Baccalaureate with top honors could apply to college overseas, something Giang credits to school shutdowns. Failing students were drafted. Staying behind was an enlightening experience for Giang. “It allowed me to see the real Vietnam,” he said. “I had the opportunity to participate in
leadership with my fraternity and do a lot of charity work. My brothers, who lived only in Hue and Da Nang, didn’t know what the rest of the country was like.”
However, Giang’s mother, Nhan, knew the family had to flee the violence and destruction. To persuade her adamant husband, she said they were just going to visit their sons abroad. “She was very street smart,” he said. At the airport, Nhan carried Vietnamese embassy papers with the family’s identifications. She folded the letterhead to make the papers look like official American documents and waved them in front of police, who were overwhelmed with hundreds of desperate people. “This was a turning point,” Giang revealed. “We left and I had $1 in my pocket.” Leaving Vietnam also presented a complexity of emotion. Initially, Giang’s family was ecstatic to escape. But, “It was a very sad day. I felt like I betrayed my country and my friends. They were giving students guns, preparing for bloodbath. I knew we were losing the war to the communists. They were barbaric; I was sure many friends would die. I had organized funerals for their families. I can’t believe I did that. I never cried until the end. After we landed in the Philippines, I couldn’t speak for days.” The Vietnamese government announced surrender to the North soon after. From there, Giang went
to Guam for a few months, then a camp near Panama City. He barely knew English. He contacted his brothers and stayed in Middletown, Conn. After settling down, Giang graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s in accounting. Embracing America, Giang’s late parents gave back to the community and created cultural touchstones for the Vietnamese population, opening a local grocery store, video store and
It’s what you do for society that counts
establishing Hai An Pagoda, a Buddhist temple, where Giang is now president. Today, Giang lives in Darien, Conneticut with his wife and daughters. He is a corporate vice president at New York Life. Though Giang leads a very successful life, he never forgets his past and how hard his parents worked. “I will always try to do community work and help others. My me always said it doesn’t matter if you go to a big school and get prestigious degrees, it’s what you do for society that counts.”
ANGÉLICA DE JESÚS & GLORIELA IGUINA- COLÓN MiC Contributors
November is Puerto Rican Heritage Month, a time to acknowledge the past, act in the present and hope for the future. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, we have been wrestling with feelings of guilt, despair and anger. Guilt for not being there, despair with feeling useless and anger with institutional apathy. For all the people who have felt this way, this is for you. We write this in honor of those who are on the island, of those came before us, of those who are hopeful, of those who are fighting across seas and still loving the same island que nos dió a luz — that gave birth to us, that brought us light. Too often news clips and press releases fail to capture the way Puerto Ricans feel in their own words, so we interviewed six Puerto Rican women who are defining for themselves what it means to be Puerto Rican. Being Puerto Rican has never been, is and will never be a monolith of experience, but one thing connecting us is how we carry Puerto Rico, and that which came before us, in our hearts. This is our story in our words. When we were young our mothers would say, “Te las arreglaste para nacer en una isla,” “You figured out a way to be born on an island.” Not the island of Puerto Rico, but the island of Manhattan (Gloriela) and Hawaii (Angélica). Despite this poetic coincidence, we often found ourselves feeling inadequate. We wanted to be born on that island, not this one. We longed to be
surrounded by the sounds and smells that enveloped us and let us know we were home. When asked what Puerto Rico means to her, Yomaira Figueroa, assistant professor of Afro diaspora studies in the departments of English and African American and African Studies at Michigan State University, said, “This island … that is both a homeland and an impossibility. … I am so proud of our diasporic histories and how we have cleaved to ‘home’ across generations and against structures and policies that were created to sever these ties.” So how do we strengthen our ties? Our struggle to reconcile
This is our story in our words
responsibility and respect, of dancing the lines between insider and outsider, ref lect the consequences of colonial policies governing Puerto Rico, wherein Puerto Ricans living in the continental United States have greater political say than those on the island. Given these geographic and political dynamics, how can we engage respectfully with our island counterparts? Where do we go from here? Recognizing the poderosas (powerful women) already doing the work feels like a great start. The women’s voices woven throughout this article exemplify the different and beautiful ways
Boricuas are empowering each other to continue reclaiming, remapping and rebuilding our beloved Borinkén. María Levis Peralta, founder of consulting firm Impactivo, spoke about the importance of leveraging our political opportunities: “Puerto Rico has one nonvoting member in Congress. This means that at the federal-level Puerto Rico only has advocacy power. Thankfully, our power is more expansive than many realize. Puerto Ricans in the diaspora are one of the most powerful tools we have to make our voices heard in Congress. Congress members listen to their constituents and we must utilize our political power to advocate for our island and its future.” We are already powerful and through our relationships with each other, we are empowered to make change. Through teaching students about the real-life consequences of colonialism — like Delia Fernandez, a professor of history at Michigan State University — the work and voices of Boricua’s communities are able to highlight the political fortitude of ancestors and elders who taught us how to remain resilient in the face of oppression. During Puerto Rican Heritage Month, we are ecstatic to celebrate Boricuas who are using their voices and stories to disrupt disparaging narratives about Puerto Ricans and improve the lives of those on the island and those in the diaspora. Remembering Figueroa’s words, “I am bound up with my kin, ancestors and communities on our island and in diaspora,” our futures are linked and we women are the ones whom we are waiting for.
Opinion
4 — Thursday, November 16, 2017
JOSIE TOLIN | COLUMN
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TOM AIELLO | COLUMN
I
Making fun cheaper
was invited to a bar crawl this and miscellaneous costs to the past weekend. Though I love equation, and attending the Charley’s, The Brown Jug and University costs $29,526, if you’re Rick’s, the thought of going to each lucky enough to live in-state. in quick succession That’s about two-thirds made me anxious. of the average Michigan I tried to do a quick household income. The mental calculation University social scene of how much mixed shouldn’t require lowdrinks, beer and cover and middle-income from each bar would students to shell out cost me. The number enormous amounts was intimidating. of cash on top of the Having a social already exorbitant life at this university costs of attendance. TOM is expensive. Bar A number of AIELLO covers, drinks, tickets factors contribute to to movies and concerts, Ubers and the University’s overly classist dinners at Ann Arbor’s many fine social scene. First, it seems as if restaurants are not kind to student almost every social event requires budgets. However, the alternative attending one of Ann Arbor’s is often staying in alone while often costly dining, drinking or your friends have a blast. At the entertainment establishments. least socioeconomically diverse Going to a friend’s birthday dinner public university in the nation, this at Sava’s, seeing Mac DeMarco phenomenon is especially disturbing. perform at Hill Auditorium and If the University of Michigan buying a movie ticket for the is to become a place where people Michigan Theater each costs a of all incomes feel welcome, lot of money. Nightlife further wealthier students should be more squeezes one’s budget. The two conscious of their peers’ ability to most popular bars on campus, pay when making social plans. Rick’s and Scorekeepers, charge The median annual parental covers to get in and offer pricey income is $154,000, three drink menus. Even the ubiquitous times the Michigan average. coffee date at Espresso Royale or A full two-thirds of students Starbucks requires a few bucks come from the top 20 percent for a latte. Students build their of national incomes, while less social lives around activities at than 4 percent come from the these establishments; almost bottom 20 percent of incomes. every date, get-together or night Perhaps most depressingly, the out with friends comes with a University ranks last out of all high cash premium. public universities in terms of Some institutional features economic mobility for students. of the campus social scene The University’s predominance further exclude students of lower of wealthy students naturally socioeconomic status. Institutions breeds a campus culture in like Greek life and club sports which money is often taken for charge entry dues or require granted. And even if the University expensive gear to participate. admitted more low- and middle- Additionally, the time commitment income students, would they even of these activities precludes want to stay in an environment some who participate from where social pressures encourage working part-time jobs. These nonstop spending? organizations play a large role in The University’s tuition the campus social scene — they are partially explains this an easy place to make friends and exclusivity. In-state tuition has often host large parties. been consistently rising and I recognize many of these now sits at $14,826. Consistently organizations offer financial decreasing state funding has assistance. However, the encouraged the University monetary barriers may still prove to accept more out-of-state prohibitive to many students students who pay sky-high of lower socioeconomic status. tuitions. Furthermore, Ann Because financial barriers exclude Arbor’s housing costs are a many less wealthy students, these full 73 percent higher than the organizations help maintain national average. Add books physical and social separation
between the University’s wealthy and less well-off students. Furthermore, these organizations’ exclusivity is especially harmful to economic mobility given their facilitation of beneficial personal connections to successful peers and alumni. Unequal access to these institutions only further isolates poorer students from campus social activities. When students miss event after event, maintaining friendships on campus becomes very difficult. It can be embarrassing to admit you can’t get dinner because your bank account can’t weather it. I know I’ve told friends I couldn’t make it to an event when I really just couldn’t afford it at the moment. Missing these social events means missing crucial moments of friendship. Other everyday realities on campus also exclude students of lower socioeconomic status from the University’s social scene. The most obvious is housing. As a recent Daily survey indicates, students of lower economic status tend to live farther from campus, and students with more money tend to live closer to campus, restaurants and bars. High rents and simple geography give richer students easy access to the popular hangout spots in the city. With the recent crop of luxury student high-rises that cost up to $1,999 a month, rich students can live, quite literally, on top of the bars. I recognize that many students frequently enjoy social activities that require virtually no money, such as watching Netflix with friends or hanging out in the Arb. Additionally, I’m not arguing all students should swear off Skeep’s forever and live as hermits. I only ask that wealthier students become a little more conscientious when asking friends out to dinner, concerts and the bar. Perhaps a night out could be swapped for a movie night at home, a concert could be swapped for a trip to the UMMA and a fancy dinner could be swapped for a homemade meal with friends. These activities may not solve the University’s diversity problem, but they may make the University just a little more inclusive for students of lower incomes.
FRANNIE MILLER | CONTACT FRANNIE AT FRMILLER@UMICH.EDU
Tom Aiello can be reached at thomaiel@umich.edu.
W
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Why minimize?
hile I’m no modern coaches alike have adopted lifestyle guru, this philosophy to advise I have in fact their audiences and clients. noticed the frequent use For people like these who of the qualifier swear by simplicity, “minimalist” as one thing is certain: an antecedent for Material gains are many of the current stressful. “hottest trends.” With the rise (And yes, I do of consumerism realize I sound like and materialism a middle-aged white well underway, mom as I type this minimalism might be phrase.) Recently, the antagonist we’ve I’ve heard friends all been waiting for. JOSIE and acquaintances This isn’t extremist TOLIN alike refer to their nor counterculture; preferences as those of a it’s simplistic, accessible and minimalist — be it musical conscious. It promotes the taste, clothing choice or purchase and possession of living arrangement. I’ll admit essentials only, straying from it too — I even found myself materialism without completely searching Pinterest the other avoiding the economic role of day for “minimalist tattoo the consumer. ideas,” unaware of my own reasons for my attraction to this particular aesthetic. Though “minimalism” is a term most classically associated with the fundamentalist artistic movement of the midto-late 20th century, its current application seems to encompass everything from literature to architecture, from zero-waste practices to marketing techniques. However contradictory this may sound, evidence of minimalism is far-reaching and relatively conspicuous at The psychology of picking this point in our society. and choosing what to eliminate In the midst of all this is endlessly fascinating and minimizing, I’ve come to subject to variation between wonder what composes the individuals. In my own life, core appeal of the movement. I find myself most prone to Could sustainable living excess in — wait for it — food practices finally be receiving transactions. These purchases the attention they deserve? are noncommittal; if I decide Is the push to minimize I don’t need the food, I’ll perhaps a manifestation of be able to dispose of it with the anti-capitalist leanings only a slight pang of guilt. held (stereotypically) by These same qualities don’t many younger folks? Might necessarily apply to other mental health play a part consumer items — much more in this aversion to excess? guilt accompanies the disposal While the current trend is of a never-before-worn shirt or associated most generally with a never-before-used blender. an outdoorsy demographic of Getting in touch with millennials, it really does seem personal consumer tendencies to have a diversity of merits. is important, and it’s exciting Blogs, magazines and that the trend toward newsletters devoted to minimalism might inspire minimalism have sprung up people to do exactly this. left and right over the past So, why then is the movement couple of years, written and to minimize so commonly run by experts on the trend. associated with hippieSelf-help columnists and life wannabes in their early-to-
Having fewer belongings creates a stronger personal attachment to what is already owned.
mid 20s? Instead of focusing on individualized definitions of the word, people often think of the lifestyle trend as attractive and pristine in this geometric, Instagram-worthy way. In the same manner that vegan and vegetarian diets are criticized for their inaccessibility on a broader socioeconomic scale, so too is the movement for simple living. These criticisms are perhaps pointed at a specific subcategory of minimalism that has developed exclusively in wealthy spheres, unfortunate portrayals of a generally inclusive philosophy. This subcategory is not undeserving of the criticism it receives, but it vastly oversimplifies something that can (and should) be highly personal. Having fewer belongings creates a stronger personal attachment to what is already owned, decreasing the subjective expendability of these items and increasing the likelihood of fixing what is broken rather than disposing of it. This is good — this is sustainable and monetarily efficient. Recently, I’ve heard many people openly describe their consumerist style as “only buying things with lifetime warranties,” which is exciting. This definition of careful consumerism seems to be contingent upon an item’s permanence or semi-permanence, a pretty honorable philosophy. Attachment to material items, however few there may be, still does constitute a sort of materialism. Some claim minimizing can become an obsession, similar to the toxic excitement of consumerism. Getting caught up in the aesthetics of minimalism can be obviously unhealthy, but the philosophical practice itself is grounded in individual needs and priorities. There’s something comforting in minimums, in really tapping into lifestyle preferences and attempting to make those a simplistic reality. The less mind space is occupied by more peripheral and superf luous life accessories, the better. Josie Tolin can be reached at jostolin@umich.edu.
TALIA KATZ | OP-ED
The only fascist bigot in the classroom
I
magine you are a social justice warrior in college. You believe that Bernie Sanders’s ideas are novel. You are passionate about raising the minimum wage. You believe women have a right to free and safe abortions. You think college tuition ought to be free for all Americans. Now, imagine that you are the only student among 20,000 who holds these beliefs. Not only that, people think you are an inherently bad person for stating those opinions. They tell you that you’re a stupid and entitled idealist and an ignorant communist. They casually comment how people like you are vile because you are from an urban area and you voted for Hillary Clinton. You are a proverbial punching bag in class discussions. According to the people you see every day, you are not just wrong, you are evil. You are not just of a different opinion, you are hateful. You don’t just disagree, you are the enemy. This is me. Except I hold conservative beliefs, and the rest of my peers are leftists. I applied to the Ford School of Public Policy because I wanted to narrow my studies to my passions and pursue a career in policy analysis. I knew that by enrolling in a public policy school, let alone the University of Michigan, I would have to endure heated political debates. I welcomed the challenge. I was excited to sharpen my debate skills and question my own opinions by hearing a diverse array of perspectives. After just two and a half months in the public policy undergraduate program, I am
fearful. I have been called racist for criticizing some affirmative action programs. My classmates claim that my unabashed support of Israel stems from a baseless hatred of Arabs. They call conservatives like me rednecks, brainwashed by Fox News and detached in desolate “f lyover states.” I have been called a bigoted elitist before even getting the chance to open my mouth. Due to this pervasive toxic rhetoric, I now sit quietly and hold my tongue. Say a classmate claims that women who are pro-life are hypocritical and indoctrinated by the patriarchy, and multiple people chime in in agreement while the professor nods her head. I avoid putting a big target on my head and lie low. I silently listen while my opinions are called sexist, Islamophobic, bigoted and fascist. Most of my professors are not objective facilitators; rather, they encourage students to marry their ideologies while deeply hating all others. I am not the only one taking note of the threatening classroom environment. I overheard a peer accusing another student of being a white supremacist because he wanted to “play devil’s advocate” and suggest that water purification and distribution should not be wholly funded by the government. Another classmate pulled me aside one day while walking out of a lecture on gun control. She whispered in my ear, “I am a conservative, too.” I asked her why she was whispering. With fear in her eyes, she said, “I don’t want people to hate me.”
The vilification of dissenters and self-aggrandizing is antithetical to the mission of higher education. A college campus should be a place to challenge one another respectfully and form opinions by hearing a diversity of perspectives. The University strives to cater to those who feel even mildly offended, but I and those like me are easy targets for insults. I am not asking the University to silence liberals’ offensive statements, and I am not asking anyone to cater to me because I hold unpopular opinions. I am asking for my peers and my professors, especially in a public policy program, to foster open and considerate dialogue. The University and students alike tout the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, but there is little to no emphasis on diversity of thought. That needs to change. Instead of shouting down speakers, hold a separate event to debate their perspectives. Instead of throwing out words like “bigot” and “xenophobic,” listen to the other side’s reasoning. Develop empathy while not assuming the worst of people with different opinions. Open-mindedness and respect are critical once we graduate from our ideologically homogenous university and find ourselves in a diversity of environments. We all want to see a world that is peaceful, inclusive and prosperous. We just have different ideas on how to get there. So, let’s talk to one another. Let’s listen carefully. Let’s ask questions. Maybe we will both learn something. Talia Katz is a public policy junior.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Thursday, November 16, 2017 — 5
BOOK REVIEW
TV REVIEW
Obsession & reinvention in Trevor’s ‘Book of Wonders’ Characters in the recent collection struggle with a loss of control NATALIE ZAK
Managing Arts Editor
STARZ Kerrigan and Seimetz are back again with season 2 of ‘The Girlfriend Experience”
‘Girlfriend’ revels in its darker, radical season 2 A show centered on the lives of escorts returns with a twist MORGAN RUBINO Daily Arts Writer
Last season, we uncovered that the world of an escort is overf lowing with lies, secrets, scandals, and the obvious, sex. Thanks to dynamic character arcs and a re-invented structure, season two of Starz’s “The Girlfriend Experience” is racking up to be even darker, bolder and more mystifying than the first. This time around, the dramatic thriller diverts from its singular storyline format and enables showrunners, Lodge Kerrigan (“Keane”) and Amy Seimetz (“Upstream Color”), to indulge in their individual inspirations and construct two separate narratives — which air successively yet never intertwine. This autonomy, stemming from the creators’ desire to rupture the boundaries of premium-cable TV, not only allows audiences to explore the varying realm beyond the work of an escort, but also to consider the psychological complexity, corruption, and divide between the socially high and low. Kerrigan’s story, titled “Erica and Anna,” invades midterm election season in Washington, D.C. where Erica (Anna Friel, “Limitless”), the authoritative investment head of a Republican political action committee, drafts call girl, Anna (Louisa Krause, “The Abandoned”) to dig up dirt and slaughter the reputation of her client and dark money donor, Mark (Michael Cram, “Flashpoint”). This account, through its themes of apathy, the connection between human relationship and currency, and blatant coldness, is reminiscent of season one of the series, and once again offers a glimpse into the twisted relationship linking sex, money, and power.
The story is dark and sterile, both in concept and staging, as almost no light enters the hotel room or office where the drama ensues. This aura strategically mirrors the gritty nature of the clandestine plot, and successfully promotes the show’s overall dismal tone. Moreover, Friel and Krause’s discerning execution of their characters showcases an interestingly-ironic emotionality and honesty inside of two icy, successhungry personas. Is Anna breaking confidentiality agreements to simply make money? To seek justice? And just what she is willing to
The Girlfirend Experience Season 2 Premiere Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. Starz expose and exploit to gain what she wants? The skillful cast of actors is enough alone to keep watching “The Girlfriend Experience,” and the weight of their paltry characters’ significance in a much grander U.S. affair is extremely relevant in our current political landscape. On the other hand, Seimetz’s story, titled “Bria,” seems as though it will offer more drastic and introspective character development, using a humanizing lens to document the life of an escort. This narrative follows former GFE worker, Bria (Carmen Ejogo, “The Purge: Anarchy), who, along with her reluctant and bratty step-daughter, enlists in the Witness Protection
Program to escape the impending danger of her abusive relationship. She is trained by U.S. Marshal Ian (Tunde Adebimpe, “Portlandia”) to believably take on a new name, background, and job, and is relocated to a small town in New Mexico to spend some time off the grid. However, halfway through her premiere, she is willfully tempted back into escorting and is on the hunt to make extra money from high-profile clients. This story sheds light on the persuasive and addictive essence of escorting, and sharply juxtaposes Bria’s carefree, high-profile life with the culture shock that emerges after she is thrust back into a dull and unfulfilling environment. The acting is impeccable, the concept is intriguing and I envision this storyline as provoking even more hair-raising moments of screaming “No, don’t do it!” at the screen. Due to Ejogo’s nuanced portrayal, after just one episode I already find myself rooting for Bria, and hoping that she will come to realize the extent of the peril of re-entering the sex business. Ultimately, the second season of “The Girlfriend Experience” has a lot of potential to comment on the deeper social and internal struggles of the leading ladies, chronicling their raw emotion in a stern and poker-faced world. The experimental structure leaves room for a multitude of twists and turns, and the expert acting brings characters normally left in the shadows to the forefront of their narratives. While the duo of unrelated stories may seem distant from each other, an underlying motif of deceit ties them together and further unearths the unique artistic value of this series.
HEY GUYS CHECK OUT MY AWESOME VANS AND COOL T WANNA KNOW WHERE I GOT EM HAHA SALVO WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT LMAO DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO STOP TALKING LIKE THIS? DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS? JOIN STYLE E-mail arts@michigandaily.com for information on applying.
“If literature should teach us anything, surely it should teach us that literature is not the only thing that matters in life.” Such a peculiar conclusion for a character to come to in a short story, but it is the one that Theobald Kristellar reaches at the end of “Sonnet 126.” It is the conclusion, as a matter of fact, that many characters in Douglas Trevor’s recent collection “The Book of Wonders” eventually reach. The stories in this collection broach many subjects — lost love, neglect, embezzlement, fraud, the classics — but they are all united under one: obsession. It is present in each story, be it an obsession with literature, a person, their studies, a library or faucets (yes, water faucets). It is the paranoid fixation of an obsession that seizes us when the rest of our life is falling to shreds. And that’s where the characters of “The Book of Wonders” find themselves: falling to pieces in one way or another and trying to rebuild on a cracked foundation. Colin, Herbert and Theo, the protagonists of “The Detroit Frankfurt School Discussion Group,” “The Program in Profound Thought” and “Sonnet 126” respectively, display this struggle to rebuild in the face of depression. They are all professors of literature caught in the barren world of middle age having experienced little success professionally or romantically. Faced with their own stagnancy and, subsequently, their own mortality, these characters find themselves f loating, almost ghostlike, in a world devoid of meaning outside their copies of “Paradise Lost” and Horkheimer’s “Critical Theory.” So instead they try to become alcoholics, commit fraud to feel alive or simply isolate themselves from the rest of the world and hide in a library, until one small shift in what seems to be their predestined demise causes them to stop, reevaluate and rebuild.
Their trajectory is reminiscent of Newton’s First Law: An object in motion must stay in motion until acted on by an outside force. In the case of these characters, they are on their slow descent into meaninglessness until some unsuspected force intervenes. For Colin it is a stranger from Detroit looking to apply the Frankfurt School of Thought to his perishing community, for Herbert it is a new dean who finally notices the money he has been embezzling from Excellence University and for Theo, it is a lost Shakespearean couplet. All big or small events in their own right, but they provide enough of a jolt, enough of a force, to ignite change in the three men’s lives. Because in the obsessions of
“The Book of Wonders” Douglas Trevor SixOneSeven Books October 17, 2017 others, these characters find a renewed sense of meaning in their own lives. “Detroit Frankfurt School” and “Sonnet 126” draw us near to various obsessions, wrap us in a character’s intense fixation on the Frankfurt School of Thought and Renaissance literature and make us feel it, while “Profound Thought” lags behind in this regard. There is some charm missing from Herbert’s plight that makes it less enrapturing than Colin’s and Theo’s; a piece of personal familiarity that leaves us less invested in Herbert’s demise than the others. “Endymion” leaves us on this note as well. Literature is heavily inlaid with other protagonists’ and supporting characters’ lives outside the realm of academic work. As we see in “Endymion” this extends as far as a Greek mythology meeting the streets
of Boston. Taking the myth of Endymion, a beautiful man cursed to forever sleep beneath Selene, the moon, who was in love with him, Trevor reverses the roles. Endymion is obsessed with turning our narrator Cynthia into his moon, and lonely and desperate as she is, she gives into it, no matter how much weight it means she may have to gain to achieve this. Like Herbert’s story, however, her narrative lacks balance; there isn’t enough of a compromise between plot and character, and as a result, Cynthia’s internal monologue inspires more revulsion than it does sympathy. But even in their shortcomings, these stories still succeed. It is simply because they stand in comparison to perfectly crafted stories, like “The Librarian” and “Faucets,” that their quality is questioned. To speak of the role of obsession in this collection is to speak of “The Librarian,” “Faucets” and “Book of Wonders.” These stories drag us deep into the psyche of their protagonists, as we are exposed to their hopes, fears and uncontrollable tendencies. One centers around a child’s need to turn on faucets, another a librarian’s inability to stop touching things — tables, books, plants, faces, eyelashes, things — and a woman’s possessive control over a singular notebook. Unlike “Frankfurt” and “Sonnet 126” whose protagonists find themselves saved in another’s obsession, these stories take us into people who foster them, whose identities are intrinsically tied to the compulsive behaviors that envelope them. And because they cannot separate themselves from what compels them, they find themselves clinging to this false sense of control, making their stories so devastating. There is little, if anything, indicating to them that this sense of control is exactly that: false. There is little, if anything, to suggest to them that their obsession isn’t the only thing that matters in life. So it’s that much harder for them to reach the same conclusion Kristellar does.
EPITAPH
SINGLE REVIEW Just over three years after releasing their most recent album Keep You, Pianos Become The Teeth has finally resurfaced with a new single from their forthcoming record Wait For Love, titled “Charisma.” The track kicks the band into an uncharacteristically quick tempo while retaining its penchant for tender melodies. The track immediately greets us with a driving bassline, noting significant change from their pacing on Keep You. The rest of the composition follows suit and keeps up with fuzzy rhythm guitar and soaring melody guitar joining the rapid bass and drums. The song is an undeniable departure from the
atmosphere on Keep You, but it also holds a familiar structure of softly blended compositions that undercut emotional vocals, character-
“Charisma” Pianos Become the Teeth Epitaph istic of PBTT’s most recent work. As a former screamo band, PBTT has a come a long way from their previously abrasive, albeit still gorgeously composed style. On “Charisma,” lead vocalist Kyle Durfey has traded in the pensive, withdrawn tone that was
used on much of Keep You for an outward, observant sound, mirrored in the track’s lyricism. It’s warm and inviting, far from the suffocating longing on the band’s previous material. “Charisma” begs the obvious question of where exactly the band is headed with this new record. The track sees PBTT at their poppiest yet, using their unique melodies to welcome and uplift in an unprecedented form for the band. Never stagnant, PBTT has consistently evolved their sound with each release, and if “Charisma” is any indication, Wait For Love won’t be an exception. — DOMINIC POLSINELLI
Arts
6 — Thursday, November 16, 2017
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
DAILY ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURE COLUMN
Batman v. Superman v. Marvel v. My Patience
There’s a scene in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” in which Wonder Woman sits at a computer and proceeds to click through folders of other superheroes waiting to appear in other movies. When watching this, one feels as though they have suddenly been dropped into a Warner Bros. production meeting, and you can almost see the dates and dollar signs of these future films dancing in front of you. This is what it has come to. Two hundred million dollar movies starring BATMAN and SUPERMAN have become nothing more than trailers for future movies. The budding DC film universe has had three misses and one critical hit in this past summer’s “Wonder Woman” and now we are at last faced with what this has all supposedly been for: “The Justice League.” I wanted to like “Batman v. Superman.” Some things in it were really good. Ben Affleck kills it as Batman. Wonder Woman was cool for the 5 seconds she was in. But that movie was, for the most part, a complete mess, an idea in search of a reason for its existence. Now we’re faced with that reason in “Justice League,” and if the result is lackluster, does “Justice League” just become the stepping-stone to “Justice Universe” or some other future product that will make all this nonsense worthwhile? It’s hard to say. Marvel fans would likely point to the ever-expansive Marvel movie-verse as evidence that this can work “if you just do it right,” but the real question is if it’s time to stop doing it at all. I would rather see another “Batman v. Superman” than another “Ant-Man” or “Thor.” Frankly, these DC movies try and they fail. Sometimes they fail in extremely epic fashion, but they do try. So we’ve reached a crossroads of
garbage. We now have a choice. DC movies that try and fail or Marvel movies that barely try at all. Does it even matter what we choose? Both are going to make ungodly sums of money anyways. Superheroes are dominating the multiplexes. Super villains are plotting more and more intricate schemes to try to defeat our increasingly contract bound heroes. The greatest scheme of all though is that of the movie studios that have somehow tricked mainstream audiences into accepting the same exact thing on repeat, with sequels and spinoffs and sequels to the spinoffs and spinoffs to the sequels, forever. DC and Marvel aficionados fill the film internet subculture with
IAN HARRIS their endless bickering over which franchise is superior. When both franchises feature paper-thin storytelling and no end in sight, what does it matter? And that’s just the thing. Marvel studios have spent so much time building themselves up their “Cinematic Universe” that they’ve really lost sight of what this is all about. Will both “Justice League” and whatever the next Avengers movie is make tons of money? Yes. Does that mean that they are successful motion pictures? No. It’s true that filmmaking is a business but it’s also an art. Disney and Marvel fundamentally changed the way film series are structured with their buildup to “The Avengers,” yet I can’t help but
feel that with each new film in their universe all they accomplish is that they dilute the entire enterprise. The true strength of a movie is shown not when it is released, but how it fares given time. Great films, true classics, are passed down from generation to generation. When a film resonates with someone born 30 years after it was released, that is the mark of classic. The generation before us had Star Wars, we had Harry Potter. Those are the types of stories that are told and retold, shared and discovered by new children year after year. They are stories that resonated enough with people that they show them to their kids. I do not claim to be a seer; the future may indeed prove me wrong, but I find it hard to believe that 20 or 30 years from now we will be sitting down with our children and saying, “Here’s a real classic, kids: It’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron.’ Sure you have to see the previous seven movies exactly like it (‘Iron Man,’ ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ ‘Iron Man 2,’ ‘Thor,’ ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Iron Man 3,’ ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ for those counting) to understand what’s going on, but I’m sure you’ll like it. Oh, and it’s got great special effects!”` The number of superhero films being released these days is just astounding. With the oversaturation of these films we can only hope and pray that sooner rather then later audiences will just say “enough” to superhero movies altogether. The alternative is a world in which men and women in capes destroy cities and save the planet from destruction every other week, and moviegoers keep paying eight dollars each time to see them do it. In a world where every hero is super, no one is.
WARNER BROS
MUSIC VIDEO REVIEW Kimbra’s music is constantly evolving — she found her roots in jazz, grew into pop and is moving into a new era of electronic funk. Nonetheless, her work is consistent and electric, no matter what it is inf luenced by. It’s been three years since her last release, her critically acclaimed sophomore effort The Golden Echo, which veered into more experimental territory for the New Zealand artist, and her videos from that album mirrored this change. Now, as the first singles are released for her upcoming 2018 album Primal Heart, this shift into the future is notable. Kimbra is growing with her music, and the music video for second single “On Top of the World” shows this clearly.
In the video, Kimbra’s contorted dance moves shudder to the harsh beat of the song, as she sings in a matrix of four stone pillars, teetering in a dark, desolate landscape. Though the minimal-
“On Top of the World” Kimbra Warner Bros ist setting seems too simple at first, “On Top of the World”’s entrancing sound follows the artist through black, edgy costume changes and increasingly complex lyrics and tempo. She seems witch-like, but almost more powerful than that, as the
chant-like verses continue into thumping chorus after chorus. In a way, the video almost exactly mimics the emotion and primal beat of the song, evoking the dark empowerment detailed in its words. Repeating again and again, “I’m on top of the world / See me top of the herd,” the artist pushes forward into the space around her. As the columns around her start to shake and fall while the song advances, it becomes clear that Kimbra means business — she is truly on top of the world, ready to make her mark in a world that once held her down. - CLARA SCOTT
BOOK REVIEW
‘The King is Always Above’ is a sensitive & subtle work Alarcon’s cements himself as a successor to Marquez & O’Connor
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RELEASE DATE– Thursday, November 16, 2017
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 El Misti’s land 5 Want as a price 8 Debit card action 13 Shock jock Don 14 Invoice stamp 16 Schumer’s “Trainwreck” co-star 17 Attend 18 News provider in front of a camera 20 Takes too much, briefly 22 Field mouse 23 Head light 24 1993-2002 FordNissan minivan 28 Status symbol suit 29 Pull 30 Lion’s home 31 Squad 35 Cut corners 39 Subj. for many an au pair 40 Banish 42 __-wop 43 Best Picture Oscar nominee directed by Ava DuVernay 45 Little chirp 46 Big name in banking 47 __ de Triomphe 49 Musical works 51 Many a Poe work 57 MLB playoff event 58 Like webs 59 Bailed-out insurance co. 60 Half a boilermaker ... and what’s aptly hidden in 18-, 24-, 40- and 51Across 63 Avian crop 66 Like Wrigley Field’s walls 67 Fraught with danger 68 Luke’s sister 69 Works behind, as a bar 70 List-ending letters 71 Reef dwellers DOWN 1 Many a JPEG file 2 Expressive rock genre
3 Means of spreading dirt? 4 Wheels with a history 5 On the mark 6 Shrewdly informed 7 Former name of the Mariinsky Ballet 8 “Shameless” network, briefly 9 Bellicose sort 10 Pet pendant 11 Comedy duo Key & __ 12 Computer warning 15 Sub station 19 Hide 21 One rising at dawn 24 Guys 25 Clear data from 26 Actress Wilson of “Sleepless in Seattle” 27 Without a clue 32 Clairvoyance letters 33 Put away the dishes? 34 Stooge with bangs 36 Contrarian’s reply
37 Econo Lodge, e.g. 38 Composure 40 Oakland Raiders’ quarterback Derek 41 Informed about 44 Color that isn’t an Earth tone? 46 Manicure concern 48 Twenties, say 50 Vardon Trophy org.
51 Order clothes 52 Advil alternative 53 Strand at a chalet, maybe 54 Apple tablet 55 Girl in “Calvin and Hobbes” 56 Like argon and krypton 61 Burnable media 62 TiVo button 64 Feel sick 65 “That __ close!”
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11/16/17
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ROBERT MANSUETTI For the Daily
On April 28, 1945, Benito Mussolini was executed. His lifeless body was dragged to a public square in Milan, where it was defiled by the crowd gathered there and hoisted upside down with a meat hook on a half-built gas station. An infamous photograph of the hanging depicts hundreds with their gazes fixed upon the expressionless corpse swaying between the clouds. In the title story of Daniel Alarcón’s latest short story collection “The King Is Always Above the People,” postcards portraying an unnamed dictator in a pose similar to the deceased Mussolini are sold as souvenirs. Those postcards bear inscriptions of the same name as the collection: a seven-word phrase that encapsulates the main concern behind the set of ten stories. The world Alarcón has crafted reflects the current state of the Americas, both North and South. Social unrest, immigration and opportunity all frame the political backdrop that is present in every story, yet never explicitly detailed. The characters that populate this world are uncared for by society, ready to explore what lies ahead but unable to leave their past behind. Alarcón blends all these elements to craft powerful stories that animate the voices of the voiceless. Often, the opening story is most vital to the lifeblood of a collection, and “The Thousands” is no exception. In only three pages, it relates the hardships of an unnamed people as they attempt to make new lives for themselves on fallow land in jury-rigged homes made from plastic tarps, rubber tires, quilts and other odds and ends. Despite government attempts to intervene and enumerate this people, they remain united under the titular label the cartographers gave them, a name they liked “because numbers are all [they] ever had.” And though the characters present in the subsequent stories are not explicitly one of “The Thousands,” they are cut from the same cloth. Much
like the many oppressed and underprivileged persons in countries south of the border, they are people who are easily described by their numbers, with their names and stories going unnoticed. However, through rich prose and a conventional yet unfamiliar approach to the short story form, “The King Is Always Above the People” shines a crucial light on the thousands, if not millions, of people whose true lives are kept hidden from the rest of the world. The characters Alarcón has drawn up for the collection are imperfect human beings, stuck between the past and the future. They kill, they indulge themselves, they take advantage
“The King Is Always Above the People” Daniel Alarcón Riverhead Books October 31 of others but they have the capacity to love, to change, to better themselves. What makes them complex is their endeavors to act on that capacity, which often results in failure but opens the door for important growth and understanding. All of the stories’ main characters are explicitly male; their masculinities are harmful to them and becomes a burden they must confront. In the tightly crafted “República and Grau,” this conflict is observed through three different lenses: youth, adulthood and old age. Maico is a ten-year-old boy who is forced by his easily-angered father to “apprentice” under an elderly, blind street beggar in order to help keep his family afloat financially. In working with the beggar, Maico realizes that the old man’s blindness is more than physical and is able to clearly see that his father’s machismo and anger stems from misguided yet well-intentioned efforts to protect him. Through a brilliant ending, Maico achieves clarity about the future unknown to
any of his elders. Though this clarity is unattainable for most adult characters in the whole collection, it is what drives them. The collapse of the titular structure in “The Bridge” and how it disrupts life as the story knows it represents the unsustainable present, which should link past and future but is slowly collapsing under the weight of thousands All of the stories in “The King Is Always Above the People” revolve around how choices in the present determine a future still unknown, but they all approach it distinctly through varied narratives and writing styles. “The Ballad of Rocky Rontal” is an aptlynamed narrative about a Los Angeles gangbanger’s quest for redemption after a life of violence, entirely written in the second person. Halfway through “The Provincials,” a story about a boy and his father’s uneasy return to their hometown, the story trades in paragraphs for a screenplay that illustrates the boy masquerading in an unattainable role he’d been preparing his entire life, a young man who successfully left behind his home country for a better life in the United States. And in “Abraham Lincoln Has Been Shot,” the totemic figure of American values is now a statesman from modern-day Chicago with a male lover and aspirations to be a poet before all of this is quickly taken away from him with a single bullet. Through each of these stories, Alarcón builds an innocent setting that invites the reader to lovingly study it and contemplate its deeper meaning long after the book is closed. The characters he presents reveal an oft-neglected, yet urgent viewpoint which is necessary for all to experience. Through subtle politics which slyly makes themselves known through Alarcón’s writing, he has created a backdrop all too familiar to the happenings of the world today. While Daniel Alarcón has a ways to go before he is a true equal to Flannery O’Connor and Gabriel García Márquez, like the back-cover blurbs say he is, “The King Is Always Above the People” has proved him to be a remarkable modern voice for Latin America.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Thursday, November 16, 2017 — 7A
Wolverines likely without Hill at Wisconsin Sweep helps ‘M’ bounce VOLLEYBALL
TED JANES
Daily Sports Writer
Sophomore cornerback Lavert Hill was immediately placed into concussion protocol last weekend, exiting the Michigan-Maryland game at halftime. Hill, who has two interceptions and eight passes defended this season, is unlikely to take the field when the 24th-ranked Wolverines (5-2 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) face off with No. 5 Wisconsin (7-0, 10-0) this Saturday. As of Wednesday, Michigan secondary coach Mike Zordich said that Hill wasn’t participating in any practices. “That’s a wait-and-see kind of thing,” Zordich said. “I know he’s in the protocol right now. … That means that he has to see a doctor every day, certain symptoms have to go away, and if they stay, then other certain things happen.” As Michigan’s top cornerback this year, Hill usually matches up against the opponent’s top wide receiver, but Zordich isn’t too concerned about Hill’s absence. He expressed full confidence in the team’s other starting cornerbacks — sophomore David Long and redshirt junior Brandon Watson. He stated that Long and Watson have both been improving each day in practice, and even without Hill, Michigan will be “absolutely fine.” “(Long), daily, has been getting better,” Zordich said. “(Watson) doing the same… What’s great about it is they’re taking the coaching. It means something to them, and you can tell by their performance and their technique.” Behind Long and Watson, the younger cornerbacks have impressed Zordich as well. True freshmen Ambry Thomas, Benjamin St. Juste and Jaylen Kelly-Powell
have all entered games for a few reps, despite mostly contributing to special teams. Thomas is the most likely to get more minutes with Hill out, but St. Juste and Kelly-Powell both made appearances in the defensive backfield against the Terrapins. Kelly-Powell mainly practices at nickelback, where he serves as a fifth defensive back in addition to the typical two corners and two safeties. As Zordich explained, KellyPowell has been asked to play nickelback, cornerback and safety at different times this season, and was a bright spot at each of those. In the future, though, Zordich foresees KellyPowell developing mostly as a nickelback where he can cover slot receivers — something he showed that he could do well against Maryland. “He’s like a little magnet,” Zordich said. Kelly-Powell arrived in Ann Arbor as a four-star recruit
from Cass Technical High School in Detroit. One of many highly-touted prospects from Cass Tech, he was ranked as the No. 1 safety in the state of Michigan and 21st-best in the country. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that Kelly-Powell handles significant defensive back minutes in Hill’s absence. Those duties will fall almost entirely on Watson, Long, and Thomas, while junior Tyree Kinnel and sophomore Josh Metellus will be the Wolverines’ starting safeties against Wisconsin. The Badgers are a run-heavy team, which has been the defense’s focus this week, but quarterback Alex Hornibrook still presents a threat with a 64 percent completion rate and a 155.6 quarterback rating. “We can’t afford to fall asleep on the back end,” Zordich said. “(Hornibrook has) got a hell of an arm.” Three Wisconsin receivers
— Quintez Cephus, Jazz Peavy and George Rushing — are all out this week with injuries. Cephus is Hornibrook’s top receiver with 501 yards and six touchdowns this season. Still, Michigan must account for tight end Troy Fumagalli. The 6-foot-6 senior has three receiving touchdowns this year, and Michigan’s secondary will have to keep their eyes on him coming off the line. “We have good tight ends on our team, so it’s nothing that we haven’t seen,” Metellus said. “We cover for a living.” It doesn’t matter that Wisconsin runs the ball on 77 percent of its plays and three of its receivers aren’t able to suit up this weekend. Hill’s absence makes the other 23 percent of plays that much more important. “They’ll just pound it, pound it, pound it,” Zordich said. “Then all of a sudden,” CLAP, “play action or rolling out. We’ve gotta be ready for that.”
ARNOLD ZHOU/Daily
Sophomore cornerback Lavert Hill will likely miss Saturday’s game, as he is still going through concussion protocol.
back after rough stretch BENNETT BRAMSON For the Daily
The serve was long — a fitting way for the Michigan volleyball team to clinch a 3-0 victory over No. 8 Michigan State, the best serving team in the Big Ten. After losing two of their last three matches, the Wolverines had a chance to bounce back at home in front of a sold-out crowd against their in-state rivals. After handling the Spartans easily in the first set on its way to a 25-20 victory, Michigan won the second and third sets — but by much slimmer margins. The Wolverines maintained a steady lead throughout the first set. Michigan State did not pose much of a threat; Michigan took the lead and did not relinquish it. The teams were tied just once after the game began — and that was with the score tied at two. Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Wetterstrom led the way in the first set with six kills, including two huge spikes that cut off Spartan scoring runs. After the match, Michigan coach Mark Rosen praised Wetterstrom for her play. She finished with 15 kills and a team-high .423 hit percentage. “She’s a producer,” Rosen said. “She’s someone that makes everybody else better around her. … She’s fearless. I think that fearlessness, you know in athletics if you’re fearless, you’re dangerous, and that’s exactly how she is.” The second set was a more hard-fought battle than the first. There were multiple break points, in addition to a whopping 23 lead changes, before the Wolverines ultimately came out victorious.
According to Rosen, this set was the make or break moment of the match. A 2-0 lead allowed Michigan to relax slightly, as opposed to what its mentality would have been had Michigan State won the set and tied up the match. “To us on the bench (in the third set) we felt like, ‘Hey, we got them where we want them’ because they were kind of panicking,” Rosen said. “I think had the second set gone their way, all of the sudden it’s 1-1, it’s a whole different mindset.” One of the defining moments of the second set was when senior opposite hitter Katherine Mahlke made a huge dig, putting her body on the line by crashing into the scorers table as she saved the ball. The Wolverines would eventually win the point, garnering huge applause from the packed crowd. That play exemplified the type of grittiness junior libero Jenna Lerg thought Michigan needed in order to win the match. “We just had nothing to lose,” Lerg said. “We don’t have a ranking to lose, they have a ranking to lose. We’re trying to fight these last three, four matches we have because we want to play in (the) postseason and they have stuff to lose. … We were kind of balls out today.” The third and final set was very similar to the second, as it came down to the very last point. Ironically, in a game in which the Wolverines made so many aggressive and fearless plays, with players sliding and diving all over the court, the game ended without a single Michigan player even touching the ball.
Gritty showing proves Flaherty to face tough test in Asia Durr fruitful for Wolverines VOLLEYBALL
ETHAN SEARS
Daily Sports Writer
TIEN LE
Daily Sports Writer
Centimeters separated senior opposite hitter Katherine Malkhe and the scorer’s table as she sprawled over it to save a loose ball. With a backward flick of the wrist, she pushed the ball back into play and watched as her teammates finished off the point to salvage a seemingly dead play. Michigan State called a timeout promptly after to calm the atmosphere, but it proved useless as Michigan continued on with its sweep of the eighth-ranked Spartans in three sets. Though the Wolverines dominated the set count, every point mattered in each of the closely-contested frames. Players such as junior outside hitter Carly Skjodt, junior libero Jenna Lerg and freshman middle blocker Kiara Shannon recognized this and made plays on the ball every time the opportunity was given. In the midst of a second set that involved 23 lead changes, Lerg dove forward at the ball inches above the ground. In a last-ditch effort, she threw her arm underneath to propel the ball to sophomore setter MacKenzi Welsh, who then set up Adeja Lambert as the senior outside hitter cut to the net. The ball, killed by Lambert, curled off two Spartan blockers and out of bounds, and Michigan was rewarded for its effort with a 21-20 lead. “I think it’s more so of a mindset than a physical skill,” Lerg said. “Even if the ball is two centimeters off the ground, just making effort for it because you never know when you can get it and when you can’t. “We have this saying in the gym, that’s ‘Let the ball decide. Don’t decide if you can get the ball. Let the ball decide.’” Skjodt followed suit, recording 12 digs and numerous hustle plays that would have lost the Wolverines the point if they were not made. One notable play was a one-handed dig, similar to Lerg’s, that produced
a Michigan State error and a Michigan lead in the third set. Meanwhile, Shannon contributed to the Wolverines’ effort with her refusal to allow roll shots past her. As a Spartan player tried to float a soft ball above her, she would tip it to Welsh off of a block attempt, rather than put the burden on a pursuing Lerg to receive it. With the Wolverines’ grit and aggression, the pressure was on the Spartans to make similar plays. Despite leading the nation in service aces, Michigan State failed to replicate that effort, and instead gave up nine service errors and 15 attacking errors. Defensive gambles allowed Michigan to benefit from those errors. Each player took it upon themselves to be accountable for every point scored against them. This allowed the Wolverines to play without hesitation — making the aggressive block or assist instead waiting for the dig, or jumping to the sideline for a stray ball without fear of injury. “Your mindset controls how you react,” said Michigan coach Mark Rosen. “If you’re nervous, or you’re afraid, or you’re not confident, then you look slow, or you look like you’re caught off guard. Defensively, I thought we scrapped really well, especially earlier in the match. And we just created so many scoring opportunities in transition because of our defense.” The importance of these extra efforts was emphasized by the score’s closeness. With the Wolverines scrapping for every point, everything mattered in a game where the second and third sets ended 29-27 and 25-23, respectively. “The worst misnomer in sports is, ‘Oh, this team wants it more than the other team,’” Rosen said. “Every team wants it. It’s mentally being in the right place, where you’re confident, and relaxed and able to react. And tonight, our players were in that zone where they let each other play and not think. Because as soon as you think, the game’s too fast.”
The Michigan women’s basketball team won its first two games of the season, just as it was supposed to do. It let George Mason hang around, but eventually put away the Patriots by 14. Two days later, the Wolverines dismantled Liberty, 74-50. In No. 5 Louisville, its opponents in Thursday’s Preseason WNIT semifinals, Michigan gets its first real test. The Cardinals made the Sweet 16 last season before falling to Baylor and don’t seem to have lost much. They’ve come out of the gate strong with a 3-0 start, including an overtime victory against No. 9 Ohio State in Columbus. Their other two opponents more closely resemble the Wolverines’ – Southeast Missouri State and Toledo were both stomped by Louisville. Michigan may find itself especially stretched on defense. Senior guard Katelynn Flaherty has stepped into point guard on offense seamlessly, but she’s still
adjusting on defense and the Cardinals won’t make it easy. Asia Durr, their lead ballhandler, is a scorer perhaps on par with Flaherty herself. The junior guard is averaging 23 points per game on 48.9 percent shooting from the field. That includes a 47-point performance that pushed Louisville past Ohio State. Offensively, Flaherty may have to carry a larger load than normal. That should be no trouble – she’s just nine points away from passing Diane Dietz as the program’s all-time leading scorer after all. Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico has also stressed that Flaherty gets more touches in practices. “I think our team started to realize that they have to find her,” she told WTKA on Tuesday morning. “And that’s something, for some of our young kids especially, they’re coming from high school where they had the ball in their hands 95 percent of the time. Now you have a player like Katelynn Flaherty on your team where, ‘Oh my goodness, where is she? I have to find her, I have to locate her to
try to get her touches.’” If the Wolverines decide to slide Flaherty over to another player on defense, redshirt junior Arica Carter is a likely candidate. She’s less of a scorer than Durr, averaging just six points per game. That would likely mean sliding junior guard Nicole Munger onto Durr, which may be more palatable for Barnes Arico. Freshman forward Hailey Brown will have a big role to play as well. The Cardinals start three guards — Jazmine Jones being the third — creating a potential matchup problem for Michigan, which starts Brown in its frontcourt alongside senior forward Jillian Dunston and junior center Hallie Thome. Though Louisville will have a speed advantage, Brown matches up well with Jones in terms of height and could snatch some rebounds away from the sophomore as well. Brown’s play on the boards will become all the more vital if Thome gets into foul trouble. That was the case against Liberty, when Thome committed four fouls, and the
Canadian freshman stepped up to the plate. “If we lost Hallie Thome last year at any point, we were in a panic and we were like, ‘Oh my goodness, how are we gonna get through the next few minutes with Hallie on the bench?’” Barnes Arico told WTKA. “And now, Hallie was in foul trouble the whole game the other night and we were okay. It was the first time that we were ever okay with her not in the game.” Against a team like Louisville, Thome getting into foul trouble would be a much bigger problem. The Cardinals have dominated the boards thus far this season. Over their first three games, Louisville has outrebounded opponents by 14, 18, and 30, respectively. The Wolverines are no slacks on the glass, but if Thome gets into foul trouble, things could get dicey. The Cardinals are likely to be the toughest opponent Michigan faces until Ohio State – perhaps even all year. The Wolverines are unlikely to pick up a victory on the road, but this game will test their mettle and show us if this is really a contender.
MAX KUANG/Daily
Senior guard Katelynn Flaherty has transitioned well to point guard on the offensive end, but will now be tasked with stopping Lousiville’s biggest scoring threat.
8A — Thursday, November 16, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Tyree Griffin presents next test for Michigan MIKE PERSAK
Daily Sports Editor
The Michigan men’s basketball team wasn’t supposed to get its first major test until it went to Hawaii. Last Saturday, though, North Florida stayed close with the Wolverines Southern for most of the Miss at game. Monday, Michigan Central Michigan Matchup: pushed them Michigan even further. (2-0); Now, Michigan Southern (2-0) isn’t in any Mississippi (1-0) position to take teams lightly. When: Thursday Thursday, 7 P.M. ET Southern Where: Crisler Mississippi (1-0) will Center be the next TV/Radio: challenger. BTN PLUS The Golden Eagles struggled last season, finishing with a dismal 9-22 record and placing near the bottom of the Conference USA standings. This wasn’t abnormal for Southern Mississippi, which has won a combined 20 games in its three seasons under coach Doc Sadler. Even still, the Golden Eagles provide some things that Michigan hasn’t seen to this point. For one, they predominantly play man-to-man defense. The Ospreys and Chippewas both employed variations of a zone, and the Wolverines had mixed results. Thursday will be the first glimpse of how Michigan will fare against a more traditional defense. Additionally, Southern Mississippi may possess the most talented player the Wolverines have faced thus far in guard Tyree Griffin. Griffin started
15 games for Oklahoma State in 2015-16 before transferring at the end of the season. After sitting out last year, Griffin is now the focal point of Sadler’s offense – he led the team with 21 points in their season opener. Michigan coach John Beilein is friends with Sadler, so he’s familiar with his style of play. In fact, at his press conference Wednesday, Beilein was complimentary of his counterpart. “(His teams have) always been … very much of a containing manto-man, fundamentally-sound teams, play from the inside out,” Beilein said. “He’s done a great job at just getting players to play fundamentally sound and just win with strong, strong, man-toman defense.” For its own part, Michigan will be looking to do something it hasn’t done yet this season: blow out a lesser opponent. The Wolverines’ game against North Florida did end up looking more lopsided than it was, as they got hot from three-point range and simply overpowered the Ospreys. Against Central Michigan, though, Michigan never truly found its groove offensively, and it only won by seven points. Perhaps the Wolverines’ first look at a man-to-man defense will allow their superior talent to shine through, as they’ll face more one-on-one opportunities. There’s also a case to be made for Michigan simply not having gelled together yet. With so many new faces, that will simply take time. After Southern Mississippi, though, the Wolverines are essentially out of time. Maui is five days away, and with it, the first Power 5 conference teams Michigan will face. If things aren’t figured for Beilein’s team by then, there’s a far better chance their perfect record will be soiled.
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Now starting, McKeon needs celebration work The Wolverines’ starting tight end was the butt of some jokes after he scored his first touchdown against Minnesota and proceeded to shush his own crowd ORION SANG
Daily Sports Editor
When it comes to celebrating, Sean McKeon is no Odell Beckham Jr. The sophomore tight end scored his first career touchdown in the first quarter of Michigan’s 33-10 win over Minnesota on Nov. 4. McKeon, of course, was pretty excited — perhaps too much so. After sprinting in untouched, he ran straight to the corner of the endzone and promptly shushed his own home crowd. McKeon realized towards the end what he had done. But it was already too late, so he went on with it before returning to the bench and celebrating further with teammates. “I was pretty emotionally fired-up,” McKeon said, smiling, Tuesday night. “Just had a lot of adrenaline going through. Not really sure why I did that, but I guess it was kinda funny.
“It might be my thing now, but we’ll see. They all made fun of me a little bit for it. It’s alright.” Sophomore left guard Ben Bredeson counts McKeon as one of his best friends on the team. He was happy that McKeon finally scored — and also admitted he was “one of the major guys” who gave McKeon “some crap” for his celebration. “I saw it the next day, actually, and sent it to him immediately,” Bredeson said Tuesday night. “Just wanted to make sure that he knew that I knew.” So it was clear McKeon hadn’t practiced his celebrations. But he had worked on everything that went into scoring the touchdown. McKeon’s two biggest goals this offseason were to bulk
up to 250 pounds and earn the starting tight end job. He currently weighs 245 after losing some weight during fall camp. He did hit 250 at one point, though, and he’s also the starter now, leading Michigan in receptions and receiving yards in two of the past three games. His 25 catches, 256 receiving yards and two touchdowns — first, second and first, respectively, on the team — are simply the fruits of his offseason labor. McKeon spent a lot of time in the weight room over the summer. He also spent a lot of time with redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Peters, often texting his friend to join him at Schembechler Hall. “From day one, we’ve been
They made fun of me a little bit for it. It’s alright.
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Sophomore tight end Sean McKeon aspired to become Michigan’s starter, and now leads the team with 25 catches.
working out together, throwing and catching balls together,” McKeon said. “We used to come in on weekends, early mornings, and throw. I think we’ve got a good connection because of that.” All of that work built on the foundation McKeon laid his freshman year — a foundation that began with the help of former tight end Jake Butt. McKeon, who enrolled early in the winter of 2016, recalled leaning on Butt in those early days. The freshman from Massachusetts was the neophyte. The veteran AllAmerican was the mentor. McKeon watched film of Butt running routes. He followed his lead in blocking exercises. The pair completed drills that used tennis balls instead of footballs. One of those involved McKeon using one hand to snag balls bounced against a wall. Another involved him turning around quickly to catch balls thrown by Butt. Naturally, it took some time to adjust. “I wasn’t too great at it at first, but after a little bit, I got a little better,” McKeon said. “That helped out a lot and just catching footballs, too. Footballs and tennis balls. It’s all about hand coordination and reaction time.” McKeon still talks to Butt occasionally. Just two weeks ago, Butt — a fifth-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos this past spring — FaceTimed his young protégé. The two caught up on life and, obviously, football. The latest piece of advice he gave McKeon was to strengthen his neck and shoulders while staying flexible. Of course, there was nothing about touchdown celebrations. That’s for McKeon to learn on his own.
Conversation with Pearson brings Marody’s play to new heights BENJAMIN KATZ Daily Sports Writer
For Cooper Marody, the road to recent success started with a serious talk. Three weeks ago, Michigan hockey coach Mel Pearson called the junior forward into his office for a conversation about his practice habits. Heading into an important series in State College against then-No. 15 Penn State, Pearson needed to ensure one of his team’s biggest stars was practicing to the fullest, working his hardest and playing his best come game time. He underscored taking practice as seriously as any game only builds better habits for when the lights shine brightest. Until that point, Marody hadn’t fulfilled Pearson’s hopes in practice, and it showed. In the first four games, he registered a lone assist in the Wolverines’ regular season opener against St. Lawrence and displayed little other offensive production. The two discussed his status on a team that now ranks fourth in the country with 3.9 goals per game. They spoke about his oft-lackadaisical approach to practice and what is expected out of a leader day in and day out. “You can tell when someone is working hard and paying attention to detail and he wasn’t,” Pearson said. “We knew he was going to have a prominent role, so we just wanted to make sure. Sometimes as a player, you maybe don’t understand it or you think you’re working hard, but sometimes you don’t know. “He just needed a reminder and we had to let him know he’s an important part of our team, but he had to be one of the hardest working players. I’m not saying he was just going through the motions, I just thought he thought he was working. He needed reminders — the subtle, kind reminders.” The meeting paid off. Marody has notched three goals and 12 assists in his last six games. Over that span, the
RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily
Junior forward Cooper Marody has excelled since having a conversation with Mel Pearson about his practice habits, notching 15 points in the last six games.
Brighton, Mich. native has recorded multi-point outputs in each contest, highlighted by three-point performances in both matchups against Penn State and a game-winner and two assists in a 7-2 rout over Ferris State on Nov. 3. And as Marody thrived, so did Michigan. The Wolverines split series against the highly-touted Nittany Lions and Bulldogs and collected a win and tie — both in exciting comeback fashion — against then-No. 4 powerhouse Minnesota. In short, Marody has been instrumental in slowly transforming a team originally picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten preseason coaches poll into an early dark horse NCAA Tournament contender now ranked 17th in the nation. “I can’t say it’s that conversation, but from that point on, he’s been really, really good,” Pearson said after Friday’s 5-4 overtime victory against the Golden Gophers.
“He’s fun to watch, he’s dangerous and he’s working so much harder than he was the first few weeks.” Both Pearson and Marody had eerily similar answers about where the latest outburst came from. A workmanlike attitude, attention to detail, confidence and chemistry on the first line with senior forwards Dexter Dancs and Tony Calderone all point to Marody’s recent surge. However, it all starts with a positive mentality in practice. “There’s a direct correlation between his work ethic and his production,” Pearson said. “I think part of it is mentally, you’ve got to punch it in mentally and prepare. … He started to pick it up when we went into Penn State, which we needed him (to do) in a tough rink. It’s not a coincidence his hard work paid off. Sometimes it doesn’t, but I’m glad it did in this instance because it reaffirms working hard in practice.”
A big Tom Brady fan, Marody constantly watches his videos, which emphasize the importance of practice. Nevertheless, even after taking cues from the former Michigan football star, Marody believes Pearson’s gentle nudging came at the right time. “(Brady) stresses that when he was here, he had to prove himself every day and practice every day like they were trying to replace you,” Marody said. “I knew the importance of practice from that, but it was just a great reminder by Coach to talk about that and just try to approach every practice like it’s a game and it needs to be like that.” Pearson showed Marody videos of himself, illustrating when low energy in practice translated to miscues in games. Marody wasn’t in proper position, didn’t capitalize on opportunities to move the puck and was often beat up and down the ice. The coach also noted the
tough position Marody’s level of effort put him in. How could Pearson continue to reward one of his best players with extra ice time, especially on the power play, when he wasn’t a top worker? But over the past three weeks, Marody has changed his mentality and become more of a role model during practice. It has paid dividends for both himself and his teammates. Dancs credits some of Michigan’s recent success to Marody’s newfound determination. “Coop’s a super talented player,” Dancs said. “He has elite offensive skills and I think with a guy like that when he has confidence, he’s really scary to play against. I think that over the last six games, he’s gained that confidence and now that he has that confidence, you get more and more and keep going and going and it’s like a locomotive going forward. … He’s on the top of his game.”
It was a tough climb to the top. Marody is focused on playing his first full season as a Wolverine. In January of his impressive freshman campaign, he was sidelined with mononucleosis for the remainder of the season. The next fall, he was ruled academically ineligible to play — partly due to the previous year’s illness — and laced up for just 18 games as a sophomore. Now healthy, Marody is on track for career-highs in all categories. His 16 points this season are seventh-best in the NCAA and his 13 assists rank second. Tied for first in the Big Ten with 10 points — one goal and nine helpers — Marody was named the conference’s Third Star of the Week following his two-goal, two-assist weekend against Ferris State. But to Marody, none of the accolades matter when it comes to the upcoming tasks at hand, such as facing top Big Ten opponents like No. 9 Wisconsin this weekend and making a run at the NCAA Tournament. “I think it’s an honor to be given those things, but I don’t put much self-worth into that at all,” Marody said. “It’s nice to receive awards and acknowledgment, but that can’t be your focus. You can’t be doing things to receive awards, you do things to help your team and help yourself be the best player you can be. “I think the road is just starting for our team. We’re just 10 games in and it’s going to be a long season and we have to be better moving forward. The past is the past and we’ll focus on the future.” For Marody, that future looks bright. A serious talk, which redirected Marody’s course, led to a player with a newfound confidence and a necessary spark in his game. It didn’t take long for Marody to return to his elite playmaking abilities from his freshman year. All it took was a conversation with his coach.