Thursday, July 5, 2018
ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY SEVEN YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
inside
Crime
NEWS
Man charged in Sharp case
Republican debate Gubernatorial candidates outline plans for Michigan’s economy, infrastructure.
Police arrest suspected killer of retired U-M prof
>> SEE PAGE 3
OPINION
Physics of free speech
By RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Summer Daily News Editor
Julia Montag discusses the recent lawsuit and free speech on campus. >> SEE PAGE 5
ARTS
AARON BAKER / DAILY
Kamasi Washington ascends Heaven and Earth is his most nuanced release yet. >> SEE PAGE 6
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
Ignorance isn’t the right choice
“I had forgotten saying something is not always as easy as you think.”
>> SEE PAGE 9
SPORTS
Four recruits Michigan football recruiting has been on a rampage, signing four recruits in three days to push them to the third-ranked 2019 class >> SEE PAGE 12
INDEX Vol. CXXVII, No. 122| © 2018 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ............................... 4 ARTS/NEWS..........................6 MiC......................................... 9 SPORTS................................ 10
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Schlissel issues response to SCOTUS travel ban ruling U-M condemns upholding of ban, student orgs rally By ALICE TRACEY Summer Daily News Editor
University President Mark Schlissel released a statement June 26 condemning the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold President Donald Trump’s travel ban on seven countries, the majority of which are predominantly Muslim. In the response, Schlissel wrote the University is proud to be one of more than 30 American universities to have filed a joint amicus brief, or legal document submitted by non-litigants, with the Supreme Court regarding the travel ban. Filed in March, the brief argues the travel ban prevents institutions from recruiting talented international scholars. Schlissel also wrote the University’s international population, comprising students from 128 countries, enriches
the institution culturally and academically. “Diminishing the quality and breadth of our academic community will threaten the aspirations for peace and prosperity we all share,” Schlissel wrote. “We will continue to admit students in a manner consistent with our non-discrimination policy, and to those who have earned their place here, we remain committed to fostering an environment where all can flourish.” According to Donya Khadem, a co-director of the Michigan Immigration and Labor Law Association, the travel ban is troubling because international students are a crucial part of the University community for a variety of reasons. “There are roughly, I think, a million international students in the U.S. at colleges and universities and they add not only to the intellectual value of our country, but they also add a lot to the economic product of the university,” Khadem said. “They pay money to come, so the school is affected not only bybeingnotabletorecruitenoughtalent when this happens, but also financially.”
Khadem also said international faculty are a valuable asset to institutions of higher education because their backgrounds can enhance their teaching. Schlissel was one of the first university presidents to respond to the initial executive order, signed by Trump in January 2017, that blocked travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. He maintained the University would only release immigration status information when required by federal law and emphasized the University’s commitment to supporting students regardless of their immigration status. LSA senior Yezeñia Sandoval, the external director of Latino student organization La Casa, shared with The Daily an official statement she wrote on behalf of La Casa in response to the travel ban. In the statement, Sandoval praised Schlissel for committing to not releasing immigration status unless absolutely necessary, but said the University can still improve in terms of inclusion.
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A man has been charged in the homicide of 77-year-old Robert Sharp, a retired University of Michigan chemistry professor. The suspect, Isom Martez-Nygel Hamilton,was arraigned in Washtenaw County court Friday on charges of open murder, armed robbery, first-degree arson, first-degree home invasion and mutiliation of a dead body. 29-year-old Hamilton was arrested in connection with Sharp’s death on June 11. Sharp taught chemistry at the University for 39 years before retiring in 2008. Police discovered Sharp’s body after a welfare check was requested for him by a neighbor after he failed to show up to a community meeting. Hamilton had been on parole since November 2017 for assault of a police officer, possession of a dangerous weapon and first-degree arson, after serving four years in prison for the charges. Hamilton worked at a Wendy’s restaurant that Sharp frequented. According to MLive, Hamilton had burglarized Sharp’s home several times, including stealing Sharp’s wallet and computer. After allegedly murdering Sharp, Hamilton attempted to burn Sharp’s body to cover his tracks. The officers who performed the welfare check observed heavy smoke residue in the home and found Sharp in the basement of his home on Alpine Drive. The U.S. Marshals helped police track down their suspect. Hamilton is currently being held without bond and will have a preliminary examination on July 19. This is a developing story. Please check back at michigandaily.com for more details.
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2 NEWS
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Police task force addresses brutality Citizens identify policy issues around police violence By RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Summer Daily News Editor
The city of Ann Arbor held a Police Task Force meeting Thursday evening to discuss and suggest revisions of the policy regarding the Ann Arbor Police Review Board. City Council had finalized the creation of a task force in March to create higher accountability for the Ann Arbor Police Department. Area residents had called on the city to create the task force after police brutality incidents occurred in the city, including the 2014 shooting death of Aura Rosser and the arrest of Ciaeem Slaton at the Blake Transit Center in September. Richard Friedman, co-chair of the Police Task Force, explained Thursday’s meeting specifically hoped to address the review board’s role in incident review, especially with the recent Blind Oig restaurant incident. The previous weekend, a Black man was arrested after Sudoku Syndication a fight intiated by a white man broke out.
The Black man was the only indivdual arrested during the incident. “As a task force, we don’t have any role to investigate this,” Friedman said. “But, this is the type of incident for which the commission we’re working on is designed to address, I think. We hope that it will have a good review process to address incidents like that.” TransformingJusticeWashtenawand the Collective Against White Supremacy both submitted revision requests for the commission’s establishment. TJW members Maren Spolem and Julie Quiroz addressed TJW support of the commission but raised concerns regarding what the commission sees the core issue to be. “TJW is committed to the creation of a police commission that is independent, transparent, representative and adequately funded,” Spolem said. “We’ve reviewed your template and while there are many points in the template with which we agree, fundamental differences remain.
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Gubernatorial candidate Patrick Colbeck speaks with The Michigan Daily in The Daily newsroom Friday
TMD talks to Sen. Patrick Colbeck Candidate discusses his campaign for state governor
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and implement solutions. “I’m an engineer so I actually solve problems,” Colbeck said. “Everybody else, they’re much better speakers. I had my one technical speaking course at Michigan but that was about it. The By GRACE KAY key is people are looking for someone Summer Managing News Editor who can solve problems and whatever the policy issue across the board is, I’ve By RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Read more at MichiganDaily.com http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ demonstrated that I can go into the Summer Daily News Editor details on any of the different policy issues that we’re facing at the state Editor’s Note: The Michigan level and I can find solutions to those Daily does not officially endorse problems.” “Mixing things up” Patrick Colbeck for governor. The Colbeck says voters are ready for Daily continues to reach out to EASY other gubernatorial candidates for something new, because they are tired of “politics as usual.” Colbeck believes comments and interviews. The Daily recently met with he can bring authenticity to his role and Michigan gubernatorial candidate implement real solutions to problems in Patrick Colbeck to discuss his platform Michigan such as poor education, bad and goals if elected. Colbeck is running roads and high taxes. “When you talk about fixing the against Attorney General Bill Schuette, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and Jim Hines for roads, I don’t frame the problem for the Republican candidacy. The primary 58 seconds out of a one-minute reply and then have a two second response election is set to take place Aug. 7. Colbeck says he is the only on how to fix it. I actually spend all my Republican candidate who can beat time, probably talking too fast trying to the Democrats in the general election, squeeze it into a minute, and say, ‘Here’s the solution,’” Colbeck said. “I’ve gotten emphasizing his grassroot support. “I can win the general election,” people that have declared Independent Colbeck said. “There’s not going to be too or Democrat that come up and want to much enthusiasm to go get out the vote support my campaign because they’re in the general election and, frankly, the tired of people with the marketing Michigan Democratic Party chair talks blitz and not any substance. So, the big about me being the biggest threat to the differentiator and the way I set up is that I’ve got substance in my narrative and in Democrats in the general election.” Colbeck says despite the media my solutions.” attention focused on opponents Schuette and Calley, he is willing to go Read more at MichiganDaily.com © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. RED, WHITE, & BLUE puzzle by sudokusyndication.com beyond merely performing one-minute sound bites to provide detailed strategies
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NEWS 3 U-M awarded for campus health and safety efforts Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
National org commends work against sex assault, alcohol abuse By ROB DALKA COURTESY OF WDIV
Republican candidates argue over Michigan’s future in final debate
Aspiring governors target each other’s political histories By GRACE KAY Summer Managing News Editor
By RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Summer Daily News Editor
Michigan’s four Republican gubernatorial candidates gathered Thursday night at WDIVTV in Detroit for their final debate before the Aug. 7 primaries, discussing immigration policies, gun violence, income tax regulations and economic growth. Despite having similar platforms, Attorney General Bill Schuette, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, state Sen. Patrick Colbeck and physician Jim Hines butted heads over their professional histories, Trump’s endorsement of Schuette and their plans for improving education and infrastructure in Michigan. Moderator Devin Scillian launched the debate, asking the candidates to present opening remarks. Calley, who currently holds second place to Schuette in the polls, highlighted his experience working with incumbent Gov. Rick Snyder, saying he helped cut taxes and led Detroit out of bankruptcy. He also criticized Schuette for relying too heavily on President Trump’s endorsement. Schuette defended himself, explaining Trump supports him as a gubernatorial candidate because he will continue to cut taxes. While Calley seemed to dismiss Trump’s support of Schuette, Schuette responded it should be a defining reason for
voter support. “The endorsement of President Trump, I’d call that huge,” Schuette said. Meanwhile, Colbeck said even though the media seems to only highlight Schuette and Calley, he is the only Republican candidate who can truly challenge the Democrats. “There’s no enthusiasm for them besides the media and the politicos,” Colbeck said. Hines described himself as an outsider, noting the other candidates are term-limited, career politicians. Gun violence In light of Thursday’s shooting in Annapolis, Maryland, Scillian asked the candidates to comment on gun safety. All the candidates stressed their support for the Second Amendment, with Schuette noting his membership in the NRA. The candidates all brought up the idea that criminals, not guns, are the real problem. “One thing I know for sure it that you can’t stop violence from criminals by going after lawabiding citizens,” Calley said. “We have to get to the heart of the problem here.” Both Colbeck and Calley said the state needs to make its schools more shooting-resistant. Colbeck proposed eliminating gun-free zones in schools, saying they increase the risk for a mass shooting. Schuette said mass shootings are a result of the mental health crisis in America. “The Democrats and Whit-
mer will take guns away from law-abiding citizens and that is wrong,” Schuette said. Immigration Addressing another nationwide crisis, Scillian brought the immigration debate into the conversation. All the candidates expressed discomfort with the concept of separating children from their parents but supported strong borders. “We need to secure the border, and we can even build a wall,” Calley said. “But separating kids from their parents, that’s just not who we are.” Colbeck and Schuette spoke out against sanctuary cities. “If the Democrats had their way they would make the entire state of Michigan a sanctuary state,” Schuette said. Colbeck added sanctuary cities should not be tolerated in the state of Michigan. Education The candidates discussed Michigan’s troubling drop in performance in public schools and outlined their plans for improving the state’s education system. “Money will not solve this problem,” Hines said. “We need to go back to the basics.” Hines iterated a common theme of the night, a need for a higher standard for education in Michigan, saying the state needs to eliminate the Common Core and implement reading coaches in the classroom.
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Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan was awarded two Prevention Excellence Awards by the Campus Prevention Network in recognition of the University’s efforts in sexual assault and alcohol abuse prevention. The annual meeting was held on June 8 in New Orleans. The Campus Prevention Network supports large college campuses across the United States in their efforts to address health and safety challenges including sexual assault and high-risk alcohol consumption. “By providing innovative research, proven and promising prevention strategies, and opportunities to engage and benefit from the collective wisdom of peers, the Campus Prevention Network is uniquely positioned to help campuses make breakthrough progress on the critical health and safety issues impacting the lives of our students, staff, and faculty,” the Campus Prevention Network mission statement says. In being recognized by both awards in the same year, the University stands out as one of the institutions at the forefront of sexual assault and alcohol abuse prevention. “Of the 133 colleges and universities that have completed the sexual assault inventory and the 112 that have completed the alcohol inventory, fewer than 10 percent earned the distinction of being a Prevention Excellence Award honoree,” according to The University Record. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald stressed the importance of these issues and expressed the gratitude the University feels in being recognized for its efforts. “Sexual assault and alcohol abuse are two very important issues facing college students across the nation,” Fitzgerald said. “For U-M to be recognized on the national level for its prevention education and programming is a real honor.”
Fitzgerald also pointed out that it is the people who work hard in making the University a safe place for everyone that ultimately deserve the credit for their work. “It’s important recognition of the commitment of our staff, faculty and students involved in this ongoing work to educate our community on ways to reduce harm and improve safety of the Ann Arbor campus community,” Fitzgerald said These efforts include the Community Matters programs, which all incoming students must complete. These programs provide students with information and learning opportunities concerning alcohol and other drugs, sexual assault, healthy relationships, bystander intervention and campus policies and resources. The University’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center is dedicated to fostering a respectful and safe environment for all members of the University’s community. The staff and student volunteers engage in programs that support those who have been impacted by sexual assault, intimate partner violence, sexual harassment and stalking. “These awards remind us that our work to create healthy and safe communities takes intention, dedication and collaboration,” SAPAC Director Kaaren Williamsen said in a University Record article. “Our partnerships throughout Student Life, and collaborations with students, student organizations, faculty, staff and community partners, are key to making sure our programs are effective and responsive to the needs of our campus.” University Health Service dedicates much of their time to alcohol abuse prevention and participates in many programs, including Stay in the Blue and BASICS-IMEP. BASICS-IMEP Director Marsha Benz, who is also a motivational interviewing trainer and UHS Planet Blue lead, commented it was nice to receive validation for their efforts and that it would inspire their work going forward and continue to engage with the communit y.
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4 OPINION
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ETHAN KESSLER | COLUMN
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HANNAH HARSHE | COLUMN
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We have a glitter shortage
ou know that episode of “Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse” where Malibu has a glitter shortage and all hell breaks loose because Barbie is supposed to attend a Hollywood premiere that night and she doesn’t want her fans to see her without any glitter? I feel like that’s a pretty accurate depiction of how my summer’s gone so far. My “dreamhouse” is a little apartment on Central Campus, and toward the end of the school year, my roommates and I began to allow ourselves to consider the prospect of summer. Summer. The word itself drips with glitter. We all have jobs and internships, of course, but we’re used to being at the library until the early hours of the morning every single day. When you can’t remember the last time you got seven hours of sleep without feeling guilty about it, the idea of having nights and evenings completely void of homework sounds like something out of a fairytale. But now summer’s here. We’re almost two months in, actually. And though our shoulders are tanner and our living room is packed to the brim with box fans we bought from CVS, it doesn’t really feel like summer. Day-to-day life doesn’t live up to the anticipation that the word “summer” carries. Why? My theory is that the University of Michigan has a glitter shortage. When I was in seventh grade, my mom told me I could practice wearing makeup. I couldn’t wear it to school, but I could wear it around the house.
Naturally, I spent hours at the family computer watching tutorials from girls with usernames like juicystar07 and itsbl0ndie. When my mom went grocery shopping, I tagged along to journey through the cosmetics aisle. I used crumpled $5 bills I’d earned from babysitting to pay for pink lipstick and blue eyeliner. The first time I was finally allowed to wear makeup to school, I covered my eyelids with silver glitter, just like I’d practiced so many times before. I felt glamorous all day. I wasn’t just another gangling, awkward middle schooler. I had created art on my face that showed I was a stylish, dazzling it-girl. Well, last night, I sat cross-legged in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom and listened to my roommates laughing and singing as I put on my makeup. Foundation. Concealer. Blush. Eyebrow gel. Black eyeshadow to create the illusion of longer lashes. Thick, dark mascara that my mom got me for Christmas. No glitter. Not even a drop. I’m finally old enough to wear whatever I want and I don’t even wear any glitter? Come on. Adulthood is a total rip-off. During our walk down South University Avenue on the way home after our glitterless night out, my roommate, Shannon, and I asked ourselves why it doesn’t feel like summer yet. “It feels like we’re just waiting for summer to start,” she said. “Like it’s going to be fun and exciting and full of adventure, but it just hasn’t happened yet.” “I think we’re still trying to figure
out who we are beyond homework,” I said. “’Cause during the school year, all we did was study and go to class and we never had to figure out who we were and what we wanted to do. And now that we have the time to do that, we’re just lost.” I wouldn’t say that seventh grade was the highlight of my existence, but that may be the last time my identity came from myself and not from my grades or my job or my resume. I knew what I wanted. I wanted more followers on my Justin Bieber fan account on Twitter and I wanted to wear as much glitter as humanly possible. Now, all I want is good grades, and when classes end and I no longer have an ability to earn good grades, I don’t know what I want. How sad is that? The thing is, I’m not the only one who deep down inside is meant to be wearing glitter. How do I know this? Because if you walked down the hallways of Mill Creek Middle School in 2010, I wasn’t the only one with glittery eyelids. I wasn’t the only one whose first taste of independence was the ability to wear as much glitter as I wanted. Before we started spending every spare moment in the library, we all used to daydream about being glitzy and glamorous. When did we become so boring? It doesn’t feel like summer yet because I’m glitter-deficient. That’s bad news. The good news? You can buy glitter eyeshadow on Amazon for $3. Anyone want me to order some for you? Hannah Harshe can be reached at hharshe@umich.edu.
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Protect and serve
he Supreme Court’s latest term recently concluded with a slew of divisive decisions on several crucial issues, as well as groundbreaking news over Justice Anthony Kennedy’s departure from the Court. Overshadowed by these developments, however, was the decision handed down by the Court in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case whose implications were eagerly anticipated when the Supreme Court heard arguments late last year. The Court’s 7-2 ruling in favor of baker Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who in 2014 refused to serve a same-sex couple, failed to produce a conclusive standard for the balance between religious freedom and antidiscrimination protection. Regardless of future action, there remains an issue of greater interest that goes beyond the Colorado cakeshop and the gay couple to whom it denied its services: that even in Colorado – one of only 20 states that protects LGBT citizens from discrimination by public accommodations – a couple like Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins could be so plainly deprived of their civil rights and then be rejected after taking their case to court. Following the progression (or lack thereof ) of the litigation, it soon becomes impossible to dismiss the great injustice of the status quo. More than anything, the Masterpiece Cakeshop case demonstrates the need to define sexual orientation as a federally protected class. Conflict ensued shortly after Craig and Mullins, a same-sex couple seeking a cake that would suit their marriage ceremony, found themselves at the counter of Masterpiece Cakeshop. The bakery was headed by Phillips, a devout evangelical Christian who refused to make the couple one of his bespoke wedding cakes on the basis of Craig and Mullin’s sexual orientation. Namely, Phillips’ counsel sought to obfuscate his impropriety by framing the case as one of stifled personal expression, with Phillips as a victim at the hands of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The
Court’s conservative justices generally concurred, judging the Masterpiece Cakeshop incident along the lines of a similar Colorado case wherein a customer brought a cake design bearing an anti-homosexual message to a bakery, but baker Marjorie Silva’s refusal to fulfill his order was upheld.
“Regardless of future action, there remains an issue of greater interest that goes beyond the Colorado cakeshop.” The justices’ cry to the supposed double standard the Silva case presents, however, amounts to little more than conservative selfpity. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission sided with Silva precisely because she would have refused the customer’s same design request to any customer. It is not relevant that the man requesting the cake’s message was doing so in light of his own religious beliefs – it was the simply the content of the message, not the identity of the customer, that disgusted Silva, a characterization proven by the fact that she offered to sell him a plain cake and icing bag later so he could implement the design himself. Phillips, on the other hand, based his refusal to serve Craig and Mullins solely on the basis of their identity. As dissenting Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pointed out, Craig and Mullins were not even able to arrive at their proposed design before Phillips rejected them. This proves that Phillips’ rationale lay with the identity of his customers and not with the content of any services they had requested of
Continue reading on page 5.
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Protect and serve by Ethan Kessler continued below:
him, placing him squarely in violation of Colorado law and simultaneously exempting him from any defense contingent on the artistic nature of his cakes. Nor is it relevant that Phillips’ defense presented his beliefs as complex; providing samesex couples with cookies and birthday cakes, as opposed to wedding cakes, was considered by Phillips to be compatible with his faith because these goods are devoid of association with marriage. Much like the relationship between Easter and Christianity, or Yom Kippur and Judaism, samesex marriage (especially after its nationwide legalization) is such a fundamental part of an LGBT lifestyle that discerning between “same-sex wedding cakes” and their heterosexual counterparts constitutes, in effect, discrimination of samesex couples. In light of the numerous merits of the case against Phillips, the language used in the court’s opinions is all the more astonishing. Accompanied by commentary that, by and large, overlooked Phillips’ obligation to subject his privately held beliefs to the civil rights of others, the decision handed down on June 4 exemplifies the need for broad, statutory consideration of sexual orientation as a protected class. Pragmatically, this would relieve LGBT citizens from relying on statelevel protections from discrimination in public venues. These protections can flounder where present, as exemplified by the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, and enable severe injustice where absent, as is the case in many states. Federal protections, on the other hand, would extend to all LGBT
Americans the assumption of equality, affording categorical protection that only a select few groups currently enjoy. Anyone doubtful of the legitimacy, if not the consequence, of these protections, could find justification for them in the current array of federally protected classes. From race and national origin to sex and disability, these classes comprise the immutable aspects of one’s character, those elements not up for change. Just as one does not choose the color of their skin, nor should one be forced to reconsider their religion, sexual orientation has yet to be proven as a matter of choice, and a wide body of research positively suggests otherwise. While the freedom of religion undoubtedly remains one of the most sacred and justly guarded protections enshrined in the Constitution, Phillips’ actions in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case prove unqualified for justification on these grounds. Notwithstanding the sincerity of his beliefs, free expression does not supplant the state’s obligation to combat the disruption caused by discrimination, as the court has observed multiple times prior and as was even cited by Justice Kennedy. Recognizing sexual orientation as a protected class acknowledges the principles undergirding existing federal protections, while ensuring LGBT citizens are not again subjected to the privately held, albeit genuine, religious beliefs of others with whom they share the public space. Ethan Kessler can be reached at ethankes@umich.edu.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and op-eds. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while op-eds should be 550 to 850 words. Send the writer’s full name and University affiliation to emmacha@umich.edu
OPINION 5
JULIA MONTAG | COLUMN
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The physics of free speech
ewton’s third law of motion states every action has an equal and opposite reaction. It implies forces always exist in pairs. For example, if you attempt to push a car uphill in neutral, you can feel it pushing back against you with the same force in the opposite direction. Ever jump off a pool raft? I bet as you lurched forward, the raft recoiled backwards. Action, reaction. President Donald Trump, along with the University of Michigan and several of its student organizations, seem to be overlooking this simple, axiomatic doctrine. Last week, the Trump administration joined national advocacy group Speech First in its lawsuit against the school’s bias response policy, claiming the rules wrongly supervise free speech and limit conservative student expression on campus. One event that comes to mind occurred earlier this academic year when several U-M students slapped on the firetruck-red, infamous “Make America Great Again” hats, which I’ve come to understand as an unspecified invitation—a symbol that suggests, “Yes, I support Trump and I understand you may not, but I invite you to engage in a political debate, one in which neither of us will win because both of us have rigid, deep-rooted political and social views.” So these students squatted in the Diag, the sunny square of Central Campus that is used as a shortcut to most destinations, and expressed their right allocated in the First Amendment, the privilege of free speech. They exuded their unspoken yet implicit political opinions, which were later clarified by New York Times writer Anemona Hartocollis to include “that abortion after 12 weeks is murder; that the welfare system is being abused; that there should be a border wall and that the wage gap between men and women is based on women’s choices, not discrimination.” It’s as if they did research on today’s most contentious debates and put on a hat to declare their positions on the matters; they sowed the seeds of controversy, sat back and waited for them to sprout. According to Hartocollis, at the end of the day, after being called “racist or, in one case, shoved and
spat on, for supporting President Trump,” the students in question felt penalized for engaging in free speech and abused for expressing their views, particularly by the University’s Bias Response Team. According to the team’s website, it addresses “incidents that may reflect bias against members of the University community based on their identity.” The team became involved in this free speech case after a significant surge in incident reports, which represents an increase in students seeking its support. The Bias Response Team defines bias as “conduct that discriminates, stereotypes, excludes, harasses or harms anyone in our community based on their identity (such as race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion).” The Team, which is not unique to Michigan’s campus, interpreted the aforementioned behavior – wearing red nationalist hats and instigating political friction – as offensive, as “bias.” The hat-wearers recognized that these carefully worded policies were being misused to punish them for their actions; in a greater sense, conservative students in support of the hat-wearers felt disproportionately deterred from expressing their opinions. Those who experienced similar discouragement, first across the nation then on our campus, formed a group, eponymously named “Speech First.” It sued the University in May for violating the constitutional right of free speech. The lawsuit claims the Bias Response Team silences viewpoints, that the antiharassment policies are “unconstitutionally overbroad,” and “the effect of these amorphous prohibitions … (has a) profound chilling effect on protected expression.” As summarized by NBC writer Lucas Maiman, the regulations deter students from voicing their opinions, for views deemed as offensive are threatened with discipline from the Bias Response Team. “Speech First’s members are afraid to voice their views out of fear that their speech will be reported to the university as ‘harassment,’ ‘bullying’ or a ‘bias incident,’” said Speech First President Nicole Neily in a
statement attached to the lawsuit. “Without the space to debate and argue, students won’t ever be forced to confront the underlying assumptions framing their worldviews,” the lawsuit states, quoting a New Republic article. The same article also claims groups like the Bias Response Team will “result in a troubling silence” on campuses across the nation. Now, I believe a school has a certain right to protect its students, but a line does need to be drawn in order to determine the extent to which university involvement is allowed. The line may be a fine one, albeit a crucial one, and one whose threshold should be determined by U-M students and faculty. The U.S. court system outlines free speech as the right to use certain “words and phrases to convey political messages” and to “engage in symbolic speech.” As Wolverines and Americans, we must find a way to feel protected yet not monitored. This specific event, however, reminds me that political discord is natural. Actions and reactions. Applying Newtonian physics, every extremely polarized statement yields one that is equally provocative and oppositely charged. The Speech First members behind this lawsuit, the ostensibly self-professed “Students A, B and C,” have their opinions on the gender wage gap; I, however, have my own, and they must recognize on a campus of our size, most beliefs are matched with their antitheses. I think the wage gap between women and men is not based on decisions made by the former, but rather, based on a longstanding bias in our world, one that started centuries ago. I also believe one can and should say what one wants in the Diag, and one can and should fight for the right to do so freely. Students A, B and C will do this, and they will demand they not get harassed and spat upon, shoved and discriminated against, “bullied” for their beliefs, and I will do the same. I, too, will say what I want about abortions and immigration, and maybe I’ll publish it in The Michigan Daily; if I don’t shove you, I expect not to be shoved back. Actions and reactions.
Emma Chang can be reached at emmacha@umich.edu
6 ARTS
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MUSIC REVIEW
FILM COLUMN
Riding the New Kamasi Washington rises Wave: Volume 4 on new ‘Heaven and Earth’ YOUNG TURKS
STEPHEN SATARINO Daily Arts Writer
RYAN COX
Daily Arts Writer
Jazz can be a little confusing. Since its roots in the early 1920s, listeners’s definitions of jazz have since changed drastically. Known as one of the only true original American artforms, its ever expanding characteristics and development of subgenres are truly daunting. This might contribute to why many older generations believe the genre is on the way out. However, millennial favorite Sebastian from “La La Land” might have been overreacting a bit when he said that jazz is dying. Kamasi Washington’s newest album, Heaven and Earth, is a pristine example of how jazz is thriving. The album itself is huge: Spanning just over two and a half hours, a full listen is certainly a commitment. However, even after my first full listen, I never found myself dozing off. Although there are a few tracks that don’t hit as hard as others, they all hold their own unique characteristics. There are three sections to the album. The first section, “Earth,” represents “the world as I see it outwardly, the world that I am part of,” Washington explained prior to the release of the album. The second half, “Heaven,” represents “the world as I see it inwardly. Who I am and the choices I make.” However, a week after the release of the album, Washington released an EP titled The Choice, with a similar cover to Between Heaven and Earth. Apparently, this release was included with physical copies of the album, but was recently released digitally. It fits well in the overall context of the album, but brings about new musical concepts (as well as a Carol King and a Five Stairsteps cover). The tracks are at once dense and transparent. Heaven and Earth is so different, much like Washington’s previous full-length album, The Epic,
from any other jazz album I’ve ever heard, and this is largely thanks to the wide range of tonalities achieved through varying instrumentation. From the very get-go, a full orchestra and choir accompany a full rhythm section to create an overwhelming sheet of sound that is harmonically rich and full within the first 30 seconds of the opening track, “Fists of Fury.” Without getting into the ongoing debate over what constitutes as jazz, I will say that this album does take a lot of notes from jazz albums of a varying character. Not only does he directly reference the likes of Freddie Hubbard or Ron Porter (who’s also featured on the album), but in his compositions and solos, it’s easy to see how artists like Wayne Shorter, Thundercat, Chris Potter and even Max Roach influenced his work. This choir and orchestra are so unique and characteristic of Washington’s music, but even when
Heaven and Earth Kamasi Washington Young Turks they’re not used, tracks like “HubTones” and “The Invincible Youth” feel full by taking on different styles and bringing other instrument groups to shine. On “The Invincible Youth,” for example, Cameron Graves and Thundercat’s playing truly shines and fills a space that feels appropriate and rich. The “Heaven” section of the album was where this album really differed from some for Kamasi’s previous work. Tracks like “The Space Travelers Lullaby” and “Song for the Fallen” truly went in directions I was not anticipating, and they fit the inward direction Washington strived for. “Show Us the Way”
is an interesting callback to The Epic’s opening track, “Change of the Guard,” and the closing track, “Will You Sing,” is a fantastic closer that sums up the album’s themes nicely. However, sometimes these grand instrumentations presented in the album feel undeserved. These epic moments seem to pop up in every other track, and they seem to consume the track. Don’t get me wrong, the choir and orchestra sound absolutely breathtaking, but because they hit hard right in the beginning, middle and end, the album reaches several climaxes without subjecting the listener to any other experience. Along with this, Washington’s solos sometimes feel similarly structured. They’re technically and artistically amazing. As a saxophonist myself, I’m blown away by his sound and technique. However, they often take the same direction throughout songs and utilize the same extended techniques every time. They’re mind blowing solos, but it feels like my mind is being blown in the same way every song. These complaints may seem really petty, and that’s because they are. This album as a whole feels like a complete sonic stroke of genius. The fact that Washington can yet again create an album lasting over two and a half hours while keeping the material fresh and consistent is certainly an accomplishment. While many see Washington’s music as the resurgence of jazz in American popular culture, I wouldn’t quite say that myself. Jazz has been growing and advancing since its conception and continues to do so today, even before Kamasi rushed onto the scene. However, because of Washington’s forward thinking and collaboration throughout generes, Heaven and Earth is an album that sets new standards for modern jazz musicians (and every other musician, for that matter) for years to come.
François Truffaut’s 1962 romance “Jules and Jim” chronicles the development of a tragic love triangle between three European writers through the first half of the 20 century. Best friends, the German Jules (Oskar Werner, “Fahrenheit 451”) and the French Jim (Henri Serre, “The Fire Within”), each stumble helplessly in love with the beautiful Catherine (Jeanne Moreau, “The Lovers”) and all her dangerous eccentricities. Told in three acts that each take place years apart, Truffaut uses benchmarks like the first World War and Jim’s disappearing French mustache to indicate that time has passed. Telling the story spread out over time is a step away from the fastpaced, almost real-time standard of the New Wave, becoming reminiscent — ironically, due to the whole pretense of the movement — of a book. Instead of explaining the thoughts and desires of its characters through the limited scope of one or two insulated incidents, “Jules and Jim” shades toward showing the development of the characters over the course of their lives, more like “Les Misérables” than “Breathless.” And the presence of history even gives the film the same feeling of weight as something like “Les Mis,” turning it into a story about much more than just love turned sour. “Jules and Jim” has the atmosphere of a big film. Despite all the great set-up, the love triangle that drives the narrative doesn’t satisfy. Jules and Catherine marry initially, but she doesn’t stay loyal to him for very long. By the time he has returned from the war, they have their first child and she has turned cold. Catherine’s infidelities are declared with the same lack of gusto with which someone might announce they have buttered a piece of toast. It’s hard to do justice to how passé
the characters respond. It really just feels like Jules and Jim don’t care that the woman they are so dedicated to doesn’t seem to give a damn about them. The frustrating part is how near-perfectly the love triangle is laid out. When Catherine begins to slide out of love with Jules, there should be tension. Instead, Jules resigns himself to living across the hall with his entomology work, asking Jim to love her so he can continue to see her in his life. But I have to stress: There’s an absence of emotion in any of these interactions. Jules has no resentment for either his best friend or his wife, who his best friend is trying to conceive a child with. It’s an absolute whiff. And even as Catherine continues her adulterous tour-de-France outside of the two friends, neither rise to question her, as though they’re so captivated, so in love, that they can’t say a word. I don’t buy it. The film lacks the passion it needs to pull off the circumstances it sets up. It’s not all loss. “Jules and Jim,” though unable to resonate emotionally with me, is unquestionably a beautiful film. Truffaut seemed to have developed as a photographer in the two years since his debut feature “400 Blows,” his eye for composition almost unmatched here. And if not quintessential New Wave in its narrative approach, “Jules and Jim” can sit comfortably as a revolutionary picture by its drive to experiment. At times shrinking to a pinhole or expanding from a point, Truffaut’s frame takes the viewers’ eyes on a carefully manicured tour of European countrysides and tempered city vistas. The director even goes so far as to halt the picture altogether with a few momentary freeze-frames on Catherine’s face, as though burning her image into the film-reel as it is
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MUSIC NOTEBOOK
COLUMBIA
The modern boy band or, the anatomy of a hearthrob ASIF BECHER
Summer Editor in Chief
Harry Styles is staring at me, and his eyes are bright green, wide open and beautiful. He’s kneeling down to come closer and his gaze is a straight shot directly down the center of the camera lens, piercing right through the screen to meet mine. “I’ve got a fire for a heart,” he says in a low clear voice, as if the nearly 800 million people watching didn’t already know. Harry’s stare, and my subsequent heart-pounding magnetic reaction to it, is no coincidence. The fact that I feel as though he’s looking at me and me alone isn’t a mistake, because he doesn’t just happen to be a pretty boy looking into a camera, and I don’t just happen to be unable to look away. A lot of people are born with good faces, but heartthrobs aren’t made by accident. Even though every aspect of a boy band performance is deliberately, artfully calibrated to maximize irresistibility, heartthrobs do their best to make it all seem effortless with those floppy mops of hair they all seem to have, falling into their eyes whenever they hunch over the mic stand. It’s tantalizingly messy, makes you want to run a hand through it — and that’s exactly the point. Shirts are always unbuttoned just one too many, in a quiet masterclass of revealing just enough to make you want more. In videos if they’re not looking dead on at the camera they’re usually backlit, with the roving lights crossing shadows over their faces, lighting the backs of their shoulders, the
slopes of their necks, the tips of their curls. The cuts in their videos are quick, images rushing one after the other like a memory — a flash of a smile, a hit of the drum, a couple strides across the stage. It makes the viewer feel like you’re always chasing after them, always trying to get a better look. It’s both mesmerizing and menacing, because the promise of a heartthrob is not unlike the promise of a pick-up artist. They look you in the eye and they swear that you light up their world like nobody else, that they hold a want that’s all-consuming and all for you. Then they smile, flip their hair out of their eyes and move on to the next girl at the show. The heartthrobs of the world chose their audience of young girls carefully, harnessing the power of teenage obsession by giving it a focus and tangible shape in the form of a boy with a guitar. If you ask me, there’s not much separating a boy band and a rock star, not in performance style, looks or audience demographics — the only discernible difference is the genre of music and the credibility that follows when the critical world assigns rock musicians a heavyweight status they don’t offer to boy bands. An ineffable rock star swagger unites the two, a type of posturing that can’t be taught, but can be harnessed with laser precision on the audience to incite a violent fervor of teenage lust. There’s a classic performance of Zeppelin doing “Stairway” at Madison Square Garden that puts the swagger on display. Robert Plant makes even the act of standing up seem lazy, his body propped
up at an angle, barechested in just a vest and all that curly hair. You pay close attention to his every move: The way his hand curls around the microphone, every pulse of his hips, every arc of his neck when he lets his hair fly back. Jimmy Page is close by. You can barely see his face. He’s slumped over his guitar. He’s wearing a dark jewel-encrusted jacket open with nothing under, and he’s covered in blue light — hair, skin and fretboards all glinting. They drip an almost alien sexuality, making an otherworldly spectacle of their very bodies on the stage. A careful push-pull of parts obscured and parts revealed. A shirt flaps open but the face is covered in the dark. A guitar gleams bright for only a second before the light roves somewhere else. You can’t tear your eyes away by design, because sex and lust were always the pulse that drove the charisma of classic rock stars. The fantasy of the heartthrob has remained remarkably consistent over the years, because by and large, teenage girls haven’t changed. If you went to a Stones concert in ’64, a Zeppelin concert in ’74 or a One Direction concert in 2014, the audience would be pretty much the same. Still a deafening roar of screams, still throwing their bras onstage, still reaching their hands in the air, to dance, yes, but mostly to grab hold of the boys onstage, because they feel (just as they’ve always felt) the pulse underneath the upbeat pop songs, the pulse of sexuality that’s being sold. It’s no accident that boy bands like One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer are marketed to
teenyboppers, just barely on the cusp of discovering their sexuality, suddenly presented with a few perfect specimens onto which they can safely project all of their dreams and desires. Harry Styles would never spread rumors about you the way the boys at school do. All Harry Styles wants to do is look you in the eye, tuck a stray hair behind your ear and sing just for you about how beautiful you are. It’s a fantasy, a pushpull of what to reveal and what to obscure, all in the process of making real what had only ever been a figment of the imagination of teenagers everywhere. In 5 Seconds of Summer’s single “Youngblood,” lead singer Luke Hemmings sings, “You push and you push and I’m pulling away / pulling away from you.” Here he’s tapping into the heart of the boy band’s promise, the promise of the oh-so-charming pick-up artist. “Youngblood / say you want me, say you want me,” he sings, almost taunting his audience, who wants him to want them as badly as they do him, knowing full well it’s the only desire that he could never ever satisfy. To them, he’s pushing and pulling away, but they want to be the girl he’s singing to, the one he wants so bad it hurts. But he’s not singing to them and he never will — he’s singing to their hunger, the indescribable desire screaming out of control that all teenage girls carry with them. It’s funny, because boy bands are almost universally dismissed as light and disposable, but there’s nothing delicate or gentle or any of the other attributes we call stupid and code feminine about the hunger that propels them. There is a fundamental violence in a horde of girls chasing these boys through a mall like they want to eat them alive. Or in a stadium full of people chanting the name of a boy until their throats are hoarse, like a teen girl funhouse mirrored two minute hate. They form a mob, screaming and starving, an obsession that’s both completely insane and completely innocuous. Innocuous because it’s a well regarded fact, universally understood that this is just what teenage girls do. They bare their teeth with tears running down their faces and young blood pulsing through their outstretched hands reaching for the stage, curling into fists and punching the air, clawing and screaming, making presents of their very bodies — making any excuse to get closer.
ARTS 7
SINGLE REVIEW: “CRUSH” A lot of pop music today wants to set the mood for a hot and heavy night — choose any song on the soundtrack for “50 Shades of Grey” — but Cigarettes After Sex offers something for the after. As the name of the band suggests, their slow and ambient music extends the blissful few moments when the real problems of the world haven’t yet returned and the entire universe feels like only two people. Their 2012 EP, I., promised sexy, meditative music for the future. “Dreaming of You” had simple reverb synth chords mixed with bold hi-hats and cymbals. The subtle lyrics left room to fill in the blanks: “You’re the one calling out / you’re the one that’s calling me to heaven.” After a 5 year hiatus, Cigarettes After Sex returned last year with a debut self-titled album that hinted at the catastrophe to come and deterioration of the band’s signature allure. Most of the songs on their 2017 album retained what made the EP so sensual and such easy listening. But the last track, the explicitrated “Young and Dumb,” marked a misunderstanding of the band’s best qualities. The lyrics on the track try hard to evoke lust, but end up too straightforward and very cringe-worthy as lead vocalist, Greg Gonzalez, sings, “You are a patron saint of sucking cock.” Dear God, why would you write that? The newest single from Cigarettes After Sex, “Crush,” unfortunately follows the example of “Young and Dumb.” “Crush” begins with potential as Gonzalez uses his restrained and high voice — a whisper on the verge of a scream — to the band’s advantage in combination with pure, but suggestive, lyrics like, “photographs you sent / of you lying in your swimsuit on the bed.” Then the chorus begins and destroys the seductive vibe established in the opening verse when Gonzales sings repeatedly, “I wanna fuck your love slow.” “Crush” proves Cigarettes After Sex has un-learned the lesson they taught the music world in their initial EP: Sexiness is not found in explicitness. - Meghan Chou, Summer Senior Arts Editor
8 NEWS
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
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RELEASE DATE– Thursday, July 5, 2018
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
FOR RENT
DOWN 1 Road warning sign
2 “It’s clear now” 3 String game 4 Patterns that repeat 5 “Entourage” agent Gold 6 Fix 7 “A diamond is forever” sloganeer 8 Golfer known as “The Big Easy” 9 Foggy Bottom river 10 Winter coat 11 Tyrant 12 Springfield hangout 15 Sit around 19 Body image, perhaps 21 Scott of “Hawaii Five-0” 25 What waiters wait for 26 Set on 27 Audition (for) 28 Out of patience 30 Distracting literary device 31 Best-dressed goal? 32 “American Dad!” dad
33 Karate studio 35 Pipe cleaner 38 Rind 40 Nabisco nibble 43 About 80% of the world’s species, according to the Smithsonian 45 Italian tenor Andrea 46 Like games needing extra innings
48 Type of IRA 50 Goes around 52 Mahogany or oak 53 Covert “Over here!” 54 Vocalist James 55 Balance sheet liability 58 Creative thought 59 Scatters, as seed 61 Major 62 Low-lit 63 Paranormal claim
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Agnes Davidson and C.C. Burnikel ©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
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07/05/18
07/05/18
On June 30th, over 1,000 community members gathered for the “Families Belong Together” Rally on the University of Michigan Diag to protect family separation. PHOTOS BY MAX KUANG
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Cristal maker 4 Challenging 8 English town worth its salt? 13 “Queen of the South” TV network 14 Moon of Uranus 16 Goat sound? 17 Got together 18 Target, for one 20 “Goodfellas” Oscar winner 22 What a muff may protect 23 Has debts 24 Dairy producer 28 “Cheers” spin-off 29 Hungers 33 Campus official 34 Returning GI’s diagnosis 36 Crush a test 37 A bit off 38 Ad Council ad 39 18-time MLB All-Star Carew 41 Crime scene letters 42 Bowen of “Modern Family” 44 Bunny slope lift 46 After that 47 Act that warms up the crowd 49 Baby bodysuits 51 Instant Pot function 53 Player on three FIFA World Cup champion teams 56 Ballet shoe part 57 “Molly’s Game” actor Elba 60 Typical annual meeting attendee ... or what 18-, 24and 51-Across each can be, in a way 64 Words of assent 65 Nation 66 Cluster of small stars? 67 Fresh 68 Aster family member 69 Scalawags 70 Pump output
TOGETHER
Thursday July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Ignorance isn’t the right choice By EFE OSAGIE MiC EDITOR
Coming back home for the summer after being away at college is quite an interesting experience. You realize not much has changed and almost everything is the way you left it, yet inside, you feel like you have transformed so greatly within such a short time that you sort of stick out like a sore thumb among the rest of your peers. It takes a while to adjust back into the usual swing of things. At first, coming back home for the summer felt great. I missed my family, I missed my friends, I missed being able to drive and knowing my city like the back of my hand. I especially missed the food and not having to depend on the halal section of the South Quad dining hall to fulfill my daily protein intake. However, being away from home for so long and being immersed in a more open-minded, diverse and positive environment made me forget some of the most pressing issues I resented about my hometown in the first place. Among these issues are rampant homophobia, relentless gossiping and judgment, racism and anti-Blackness, slut-shaming and so much more. Though only a 45-minute drive, my college campus feels like a world away from my predominantly ArabMuslim hometown of Dearborn. I had forgotten the daily Twitter wars that take place when people begin bashing each other or putting others down for making choices that do
not coincide with their own religious beliefs. I had forgotten how some words on a screen could make me feel so unsettled and angry as I witness my LGBT friends being attacked online by people who once smiled to their face in high school. I had forgotten that blood-boiling feeling when a friend or coworker makes a tonedeaf remark and you have to decide quickly whether to listen to the urge in your heart telling you to call them out or the knot in your throat telling you to let it slide. I had forgotten saying something is not always as easy as you think. The suffocating feeling of knowing something is wrong but not knowing what to do about it still resurfaces, though I try my best to keep it at bay and not engage in negativity. I am not trying to bash my hometown. I love it with all my heart; it is a part of me and a huge chunk of my identity. My family is wonderful and my friends are amazing; I had a good education and the city can really come together and support each other when it needs to. However, it would be incognizant to pretend issues do not exist that have been fostered by generations of ignorance and bathed in hatred. Mental health issues are ridiculed, gay people are ostracized, girls are bullied and “exposed” and people are hurt, day in and day out. I often hear my hometown referred to as a “bubble,” where many people get trapped, refusing to challenge their belief systems and think outside the norms with
which they have grown up. On one hand, I understand this is not entirely the fault of a community that was compelled to move into a small city of people of their similar background out of fear of hatred by settling elsewhere. Many people in this city come from families of immigrants, people who have known pain and racism and economic inequality all their lives. This is all they know; this is generations of ideals passed down. However, I do believe it is the personal responsibility of each individual to learn about others, expand their horizons and confront their flawed behaviors. There is no excuse for remaining ignorant. That is a choice. Growing up in this city, it took me a while to recognize myself as part of the problem and unlearn so much of the negativity that was spewed around me constantly. I, as did many others, took it upon myself to learn from marginalized groups and empathize with struggles and causes outside of my own. As I strive to constantly be learning and growing, I try to challenge the harmful notions around me while still holding true to my faith. I strive to call out injustice where I see it in hopes that we as a collective may take small steps toward a kinder and more understanding community. My community is often the target of hate, but we cannot expect people to come together for us if we cannot come together for them, or even for ourselves.
MICHIGAN IN COLOR 9
The problem with supporting Kanye West By KAREEM SHUNNAR MiC EDITOR
On February 2016, musical artist Kanye West tweeted out “BILL COSBY INNOCENT !!!!!!!!!!” but I’m sure this escaped your memory, didn’t it? There is plenty to say about Kanye West, but there are plenty of memories that appear to be missing in the minds of our young social activists. After West showed his support for President Donald Trump and claimed slavery was a “choice,” many people rushed to defend the 21-time Grammy Award winner. The few memories that seem too conscious within the public mind are West is a “musical genius” who is suffering from “mental illness” and still “grieving the loss of his mother,” though one has to wonder if this a way for fans to validate his behavior. Even celebrities rushed to support West, like Chance the Rapper who tweeted, “Black people don’t have to be democrats.” It’s pretty clear though West’s actions continuously prove his incompetence, people will still defend him no matter what he does because they fell in love with the “old Kanye.” Minority communities have worked to try and support West, and this makes sense because of his cultural significance. In 2004, West released the album “College Dropout”, which won a Grammy award for Best Rap Album. After his debut album, West collaborated with artists such as Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco and John Legend resulting in multiple songs reaching No. 1 on iTunes. In addition, West’s fearless nature has never been hidden from the public. For example, after the Category 5 storm Hurricane Katrina demolished New Orleans in 2005, West did not back away from calling former President George W. Bush
someone who “doesn’t care about Black people.” This was a time when the African-American community appreciated West’s vocalness on issues that affected their lives. Even West’s rap lyrics have always provided deep insight into different societal struggles while still maintaining a very high energy. However, to support West because he is the victim of his circumstances would be nothing but a twisted fantasy. As West released his newest solo album “Ye” as well as a collaboration with musical artist Kid Cudi titled “Kids See Ghosts,” I was both shocked and disappointed to see how many of my friends have continued to support him. The issue with West is not that he is a Republican or even that he supports Trump, the problem is West continues to present himself as a minority who uses his own voice to abuse other minority populations. West’s tweet declaring Cosby’s innocence clearly shows his inability to see the sheer significance of sexual assault. His blatant disrespect for women portrayed in this tweet shows he has continued to go unscathed while equally working to silence voices. Meanwhile, his claim that slavery was a choice is so disrespectful to centuries of struggle; it doesn’t just negate the struggles of African-American slaves, but also the people from all around who were pillaged and colonized by communities in power. And minorities all over the world gave him a No. 1 album. Isn’t that just hypocritical? After Trump’s election, I saw a lot of tweets about how those who voted for him decided racism was not a final straw. Do we hold any standards for those we support with our money? In these moments, I’ve come to realize even those who have felt the quick prick of racist
comments are all right with having blood flow if the beat is good enough or if the rap verse slams. Though West’s comments are bad, it is much more than that — this is the type of grotesque behavior that leaves a particularly nasty taste in your mouth, not because of the flavor but, rather, how long it lasts. West’s comments are the reason why people feel marginalized because people actually look up to him. If you see your coworker listening to Kanye West’s album or it happens to play on the radio, you are reminded some people in the world don’t acknowledge your struggles as valid. For me and for so many other people, hearing the comments made by those people is a constant reminder that the factual evidence of abuse against minorities will never be enough to be acknowledged by millions of Americans. West may be a “musical genius” or “mentally ill” or grieving for his mother, but he has also experienced the same racial prejudice that we all have, only he chose to silence the voices of his own race once he gained additional socioeconomic benefits in order to promote his music. And we supported him for doing that. For those who bought his album, who posted it on their Instagram story, do you have any right to be angry with those who use hate to fuel their social status? So next time I see another minority tweet about conservative commentator Tomi Lahren or wishing to stand up for the immigrant children separated from their parents, I have to wonder, did their pockets ever support a different narrative? West is a not a victim and the words you sing along to hold more oppressive blood than your hashtags can try to counterbalance. And don’t you forget that.
10 SPORTS
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
RYAN MCLOUGHLIN / DAILY
Former Michigan heavyweight Adam Coon qualified for the Greco-Roman World Team but came up short in the Freestyle World Team Trials against Nick Gwiazdowksi
Coon makes one World Team but falls in another JACOB KOPNICK
Summer Managing Sports Editor
On Friday, there was an airplane hovering somewhere over the Midwest. This is not a shocking revelation, but what was in that plane makes the story intriguing. Sitting inside was 285pound wrestler Adam Coon, a recently-minted Michigan alum who had just qualified for the Senior World Wrestling Team — a glorious position paired with elite company. For any other wrestler that weekend, it could be assumed that they would’ve been flying back home to celebrate or rest after their showing at the World Team Trials in Tulsa, Okla. But Coon is not any other wrestler. After downing long-time opponent Robby Smith in the Greco-Roman World Team Trials, Coon couldn’t let himself celebrate. He had to fly to Bethlehem, Penn. to compete in the Freestyle World Team Trials. Attempting to qualify for both squads, Coon had to consistently remain in attack mode in order to see his goals
realized. Coon would then go on to drop the two matches — essential for making the team — to another former opponent, world bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski, in the Final X event at Lehigh. It was a weekend to remember for the heavyweight with highs and lows, and, as he described it, the longest sleep of his entire life. Coon’s two showdowns arose under very similar circumstances, but would end with two drastically different outcomes. To kick things off, Coon began his World Team qualification campaign against a man he had just lost to in the U.S. Open, a tournament prior to the World Team Trials — four-time Greco World Team member and 2016 Olympian Robby Smith. In the U.S. Open, Smith was able to set the tone early and cruise to a 5-0 victory over the Michigan man. But since being named an NCAA All-American automatically qualified Coon for the World Team Trials, a rematch seemed inevitable. Closing the gap set during
the Open, Coon looked like a new man on the mat and outmuscled Smith for a 3-1 first round win in a best-of-three series. Looking to put things away and earn his spot on the World Team, Coon entered into an impeccably close second match. Narrowly trailing late into the bout, Coon laid it all on the line and slammed the big man down for a last-second pin to put Smith away for good. “It was a little different strategy that goes into wrestling with him,” Coon said. “I made some small adjustments in strategy, and it worked on a bunch of small positioning things that took a lot of work. And it was just that small change that ended up leading to a pin. I mean he’s a fierce competitor, so it was great to be able to take a couple away from him, but I know he’s gonna be able to come back very strong, so I have to make sure I’m ready to go when he comes back.” Coon also found success in his ability to pummel with Smith and hold his position, which ultimately led to the victory. Being able to set your
position against a guy with the command and upper-body strength of Smith is no easy feat. In fact, it had seemed almost impossible for Coon until the Finals. Coon couldn’t revel in his achievement, though, as he had a plane to catch. During his travels, Coon had to completely switch gears while attempting to avoid fatigue. Switching from Greco to Freestyle is a tall order as leg attacks are forbidden in Greco. Adding on an entire half of the body as a target can certainly throw a wrench in any wrestler’s approach. “Once Greco was done, it was just a quick transition, (I) didn’t really have much time to celebrate,” Coon said. “Just get to the airport and start thinking about Freestyle, just getting my mind ready for the leg attacks because in Greco, obviously, you don’t have the leg attacks. So, it’s just thinking about a different style as we’re travelling through and just change your mind and recover.” In Bethlehem, another familiar opponent was waiting
for him. This time it was two-time NCAA Champion Gwiazdowski, commonly referred to as, “Gwiz.” The Final X was not the first time Coon saw Gwiz on the other side of the mat. The two squared off most notably in the 2015 NCAA Championships where Coon fell 7-6 to the thenreigning champ. With a notion of how to best defeat Gwiz, Coon gave the best-of-three series everything he had before falling in straight matches 6-1 and 6-1, respectively. It was here that Coon’s plan — to become the first man to qualify for both the Greco and Freestyle World Teams since 1981 — came to an end. “He did a really good job defending my stuff,” Coon said. “I, on the other hand, let him get to his attacks too much. I didn’t do a really good job executing the plan we had in place while he did, so that just gave him the results that happened.” There’s no doubt that fatigue was another huge factor that played into this showdown. With hardly any recovery time, the mountain just seemed a bit too steep for Coon. But never the one to make excuses, the Michigan alum gives all credit to his opponent. “Exhaustion might’ve played a factor, but at the same time, I’m not gonna make excuses,” Coon said. “He was better than me that day, and obviously, if we wrestle another day, I’d like to go after him again, but on that day he was the better wrestler, so he’s the World Team guy for sure.” Coon can’t be that upset, though, as he did make one World Team. From here, Coon will train in anticipation of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in October of this year. “It’s been a few years since I’ve been on one of these world teams, so I haven’t been wrestling [wrestlers from other countries] for a long time,” Coon said, “So I’m really looking forward to testing my skills against the best in the world just to see where I fit in on that pecking order.” Being able to focus on one style will be good for the heavyweight, and with any luck, the plane to Budapest will be the only one Coon will have to take in his time competing for a championship.
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS 11
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
‘M’ hires new assistant coach Yvonne Sanchez TIEN LE
Summer Managing Sports Editor
On Monday, t he Mich iga n women’s ba sketba ll opted to go w it h a vetera n of t he ga me w it h t he tea m’s h iring of it s latest a ssista nt coach, Yvon ne Sa nchez. Sa nchez ha s been coach ing for 23 yea rs, whet her in a n a ssista nt or head coach posit ion. Sta r t ing her coach ing ca reer in her nat ive state of New Mexico, she ser ved for six yea rs a s a n a ssista nt coach at New Mexico State before work ing at Sa n Diego State for a brief st int before t ra nsit ioning to t he Un iversit y of New Mexico. In A lberquerque, she wa s an a ssista nt for eleven yea rs before being promoted to head coach in 2011, where she led t he Lobos to a Women’s Ba sketba ll Inv itat iona l ber t h t w ice before leav ing in 2016. A f ter a yea r ’s absence f rom coach ing, she ret ur ns to t he profession but t h is t ime a s t he Wolverines’ a ssista nt coach — specia lizing in coaching t he g ua rds. A f ter t he depa r t ure of f irst-tea m A ll Big Ten g ua rd Kately n n Fla her t y, development in t he posit ion would help mend t he hole lef t by Mich iga n’s a ll-t ime leading scorer. What Sa nchez bring s is somet h ing Mich iga n ha s had t rouble w it h over t he pa st couple sea sons — experience in creat ing stabilit y for latesea son f in ishes. “ When f illing t h is a ssista nt coach ing posit ion, I t hought it wa s rea lly impor ta nt to bring in someone w it h a lot of experience — whet her t hat wa s a s a head coach or a n a ssista nt coach,” sa id K im Ba r nes A rico to MG oBlue. “ Yvon ne bring s a ton of bot h w it h her to Mich iga n. She is well-respected a mong st her peers a s well a s recr uit s. I
t h in k she ha s a n out sta nding persona lit y a nd con nect s well w it h people a ll over t he count r y.” The Wolverines saw a successf ul sea son w it h a ret ur n to t he NCA A Tour na ment for t he f irst t ime since t he 201 2-13 sea son. However, t heir ber t h wa s t h reatened by a lackada isica l f inish, where t hey lost four of t heir la st six reg ula r sea son ga mes. Wit h Sa nchez, t hey look to f ix t hat a nd improve in t he development of g ua rds. Wit h a recr uit ing cla ss t hat ha s t wo point g ua rds in t he top 100 — including f ive-sta r recr uit A my Dilk — development of t he f irst-yea rs w ill be essent ia l for success. “She w ill bring a not her dimension in a ll a spect s of our prog ra m, f rom recr uit ing to work ing w it h our point g ua rds,” Ba r nes A rico told MG oBlue. “ I had a n oppor t unit y to work w it h her about 15 yea rs ago on t he A ll-A merica n com m it tee a nd have followed her ca reer ever since. They had a ton of success at New Mexico during her t ime t here, reaching a Sweet 16, g row ing such a la rge fa n ba se, a nd recr uit ing some g reat players. We a re excited to have her join us in A n n A rbor.” Wit h t he h iring of Sa nchez, t he prog ra m ha s ta ken a step for wa rd to stabilit y a nd consistenc y t hat should push Mich iga n to t he nex t step a f ter t hey saw t heir sea son end in t he second round of t he tour na ment . “ I a m excited a nd honored to be able to work at a phenomena l place like t he Universit y of Michiga n,” Sa nchez sa id. “ K im a nd her sta f f have done a n incredible job in A n n A rbor, t heir success is on t he rise, a nd I a m look ing for wa rd to work ing w it h such a n incredible tea m of sta f f a nd players.”
“The program has taken a step forward to stability”
FILE PHOTO / DAILY
The Michigan field hockey team looks to continue its success from a year ago where it advanced to the Final Four
Season Preview: ‘M’ Field Hockey ARIA GERSON
Daily Sports Writer
When then-junior forward Emma Way tipped a pass between the legs of Northwestern goalkeeper Annie Kalfa on Nov. 12 — completing a hat trick — it all but sealed the Wolverines’ 18th win in a row. Minutes later, it was official: for the first time since 2003, the Michigan field hockey team was going to the Final Four. And though the Wolverines met their demise in the NCAA semifinals against Maryland, the Final Four run capped off Michigan’s best season in years — a season few saw coming at the beginning of it. After years of relative mediocrity, the Wolverines put everyone on watch. This year, after losing two key pieces to a defense that last season served up 16 shutouts and finished second in the country in goalsagainst average, Michigan will have to retool its identity if it wants to build on last season’s result. But with a wealth of young talent and the continued development of returning players, the Wolverines have the pieces to contend again. Gone are midfielder and back Katie Trombetta — the 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year — and goalkeeper Sam Swenson, named the 2017 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Instead, sophomore Halle O’Neill and senior Maggie Bettez will anchor the Wolverines’ defense. As a true freshman, O’Neill
didn’t expect to start right away, but it soon became clear that her presence bolstered the back line. Her performance was good enough to earn her a spot on the U21 National Team. Bettez, meanwhile, also turned heads with her aggressiveness in the backfield— and while their contributions were relatively unsung, their development could provide the foundation for another elite defensive unit. With sophomore goalkeeper Sidonie LaPlante — who has just three career appearances — facing the daunting task of replacing Swenson, a strong back line could go a long way. The offense, meanwhile, returns its most prolific goal-scorers in senior Emma Way and junior Meg Dowthwaite. The tandem led Michigan in the postseason — Dowthwaite’s overtime goal in the NCAA Round of 16 against Syracuse broke a scoreless tie, and Way’s hat trick provided all the offense the Wolverines needed in their quarterfinal against the Wildcats. Dowthwaite was an AllBig Ten First Team selection last season. And while the midfielders are Michigan’s least-experienced group, they have the potential to develop into one of the conference’s top units. Junior Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort — who co-led the team in assists last season — and sophomore Kayla Reed return as starters, and with 10 midfielders on the roster, coach Marcia
Pankratz will have a lot of depth to experiment with. Among those midfielders are two notable incoming freshmen in Kathryn Peterson and Sofi Southam. Peterson, ranked the No. 8 recruit in the nation, is a versatile passer who is strong offensively and defensively. Southam — like Fernandez Lacort a product of Argentina — was selected for the elite USA Field Hockey U21 Junior National Camp. The Wolverines once again face a tough schedule that will give them the opportunity to test themselves against the top teams in the country. Among the slate is a rematch with the Terrapins — a perennial Big Ten powerhouse — as well as games against Connecticut and North Carolina, the other Final Four teams. Michigan upset the Tar Heels last year, but the Huskies — the eventual national champions — served up one of the Wolverines’ three losses. Michigan’s schedule also features four other tournament teams in Wake Forest, Northwestern, Penn State and Stanford, all four of which it defeated in 2017. Though the Wolverines lost several top players, last year’s Final Four squad also featured several standout underclassmen who will now have the chance to step up and lead the team. If they can build on last season and take their games to the next level, Michigan’s graduation losses might soon be forgotten.
12 SPORTS
Thursday, July 5, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FOOTBALL
Recruiting Update: Michigan adds four prospects to classes JACOB KOPNICK
Managing Sports Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF @UMICHFOOTBALL TWITTER
Junior quarterback Shea Patterson signed a contract with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday
Shea Patterson signs with Rangers AVRAHAM SHOLKOFF Daily Sports Writor
Michigan football quarterback Shea Patterson signed a contract with the Texas Rangers as reported by the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday. Not to worry, Wolverines fans, as the contract is set for 2019 after this upcoming football season. Patterson participated fully in spring practices and will compete with redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters, redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey and freshman Joe Milton. NCAA rules allow players to become professional in one sport while retaining their collegiate eligibility in another. Many have taken advantage of this permission, including to ensure a position on a major league roster regardless of the sport. Patterson hasn’t played competitive baseball in nearly three years — since his junior season of high school for Calvary Baptist Academy. After he transferred to IMG Academy for his senior season, he did not play, as he became an early enrollee at Ole Miss. Still, the Rangers sought to add the former-high school third baseman to their farm
system when they drafted him in the 39th round in the MLB Draft last month. It isn’t entirely uncommon for a quarterback to be drafted to the Major Leagues. For instance, Michigan legend Tom Brady was drafted by the nowdefunct Montreal Expos in the 1995 MLB draft despite
“Patterson hasn’t played competitive baseball in three years.” not playing baseball in college. This year, the Oakland Athletics drafted Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the ninth overall pick in the draft. Murray intends to play one final season of college football for the Sooners before reporting for Spring Training in March 2019. Unlike Patterson though, Murray played two seasons of baseball in college for Texas A&M. In 2017 as a left fielder, Murray struggled, hitting just .122 in 27 games. However, this season, Murray played
center field and hit .296 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI. Before transferring to Michigan, Patterson arrived in Oxford, Miss. as a muchheralded recruit for the Rebels. 247sports ranked him as the top quarterback in his class — the very same class as Wolverine teammate Peters — and the fourth-best player overall. For Ole Miss, Patterson played 10 games in two season, passing for 3139 yards and 23 touchdowns. Last year, before suffering a right knee injury against Louisiana State in his seventh game of the season, Patterson threw for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns with a passer rating of 151.5. Michigan’s combined quarterback trio of John O’Korn, Wilton Speight and Peters combined for a mere 2,226 touchdowns, a paltry nine touchdowns and a meager 110.3 passer rating in 13 games. Patterson will look to improve on the Wolverine quarterbacks’ lackluster season Sept. 1 when Michigan takes on Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Come February though, Patterson could consider forgoing his final year of eligibility for the Wolverines and pursue a baseball career.
In the past few days, Michigan recruiting has continued its rampage on the recruiting trail and added another four elite talents to its 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes. It all began on July 1st with the commitment from four-star running back Eric Gray — the nation’s top-ranked allpurpose back. Picking Michigan over Alabama, Penn State, Texas A&M and others, Gray looks to become a lethal weapon in Wolverine coach Jim Harbaugh’s traditional offense. The Memphis, Tenn. native was smitten with Michigan after his official visit. When he was in Ann Arbor, Gray got to stay with quarterback Shea Patterson and met with current running backs senior Karan Higdon and junior Chris Evans. But what really put Gray over the top was the encouraging words from Harbaugh himself. “You’re talking to coach Harbaugh and he’s telling you how good you are,” Gray told The Michigan Insider. “He’s been on a championship team. He’s been to the Super Bowl. And for him, having been to the Super Bowl, coached at the 49ers, to tell me how good I was — that I can come in and make a big impact — it blew my mind to say that.” After Gray’s surefire commitment, the next two dominoes to fall were three-star strongside defensive end David Ajabo and four-star defensive tackle Denver Warren. Ajabo adds to a fast-growing and heav y-hitting 2019 class while the Wolverine
faithful will have to bide their time before seeing Warren at the Big House after his 2020 graduation date. Born in Nigeria and raised in Scotland, Ajabo has only played football for one year— but already is showing elite athleticism that will make him a versatile piece of any defense. Highlighting that athleticism, Ajabo posted a video to Twitter back in May documenting a personalbest 10.93-second 100yard dash attempt. Announcing his commitment on Twitter, Ajabo expressed how grateful he was that he ended up playing a sport he knew little-tonothing about. Ajabo came to America in hopes of playing basketball, but his physicality, size and speed allowed him to quickly excel at football and now get his own locker room in Ann Arbor. Becoming the third commit in the 2020 class, Warren is a beast at defensive end and will most certainly add to the ethos of a dominant Michigan defensive line. At 6’3”, 300-pounds, Warren felt very confident about his future after a mid-June visit and immediately placed the Wolverines in a final group with Cincinnati, Illinois, Minnesota and Penn State. While already tagged with a fourstar rating, Warren has nowhere to go but up. The big man will look to build his toolset in his upcoming junior season. Warren’s commitment marked Michigan’s second four-star recruit in two days and a bold statement from the recruiting staff. Rounding out the week
was three-star safety Quinten Johnson. Johnson’s commitment came as no surprise to the Wolverines, as Johnson’s place with Michigan was all but locked up after his mid-June visit. After his commitment, the Washing ton D.C.-native was enthusiastic about his future with the Wolverines. “The thing that attracted me to Michigan is the university’s prestige both on and off the field,” Johnson told The Michigan Insider. “It’s truly the best university to get both big-time academics and athletics. The plan put in place both on and off the field sets me up for the rest of the life and I was able to make a lot of connections with a lot of people while I was there.” As pundits analyze his game, Johnson was quick to draw comparisons to a former Michigan legend — Cleveland Browns safety Jabrill Peppers. “The player that I was compared to the entire trip was Jabrill Peppers,” Johnson said. “They want me to play the same as him in the Viper position, mainly on defense and punt return, with minimum of offense and also earning playing time as a freshman.” With Johnson’s commitment, the Wolverines’ 2019 recruiting class ranked jumped to third in the nation and first in the Big Ten — sitting only behind Alabama and Texas A&M. Needless to say, if Michigan continues its intensity on the recruiting trail, its talent-base will continue to grow and with it even larger expectations.