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Tuesday, February 19, 2019
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Stop Trump Ann Arbor protests the President’s national emergency Activist group addresses issues of immigration enforcement through “rapid-response events”
MDining staff offered no extra pay for polar vortex Students not considered critical employees, not compensated for work during days off LIAT WEINSTEIN Daily Staff Reporter
ALLISON ENGKVIST/Daily A protestor speaks out against Trump’s national emergency during the March Against the Fake National Emergency down Liberty Street Monday afternoon.
CLAIRE HAO
Daily Staff Reporter
About 60 people gathered at the Ann Arbor Federal Building on Monday and marched in protest of President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration. Organized by local organization Stop Trump Ann Arbor, the protest was one of 262 noontime Presidents Day protests around the nation coordinated by MoveOn, a national organization focusing on education and advocacy through petitions, supporting campaigns and mobilizing events. On their website, MoveOn
referred to the protests as “rapid-response events.” “Donald Trump has declared a #FakeNationalEmergency – an illegal power grab from an unhinged man to push his racist, dangerous policies,” the MoveOn website reads. “We’re mobilizing rapidresponse events on Presidents Day – Monday, 2/18 – against Trump’s fake crisis and racist deportation force and to stand with immigrant, Muslim, and Black and brown communities to stop Trump’s dangerous and illegal power grab.” On Friday, Trump declared a national emergency to obtain funding Congress had refused him in their latest
spending bill for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The national emergency would provide access to about $8 billion in total with about 7 billion pulling from military construction projects, counter-narcotics programs, and a Treasury Department asset forfeiture, which is more than the $5.7 billion Trump had originally requested from Congress. Trump already received $1.3 billion from Congress to build more fencing on the border. The move has divided Republicans lawmakers, some of whom joined the Democrats in opposing Trump’s national emergency declaration. The
administration is also facing legal pushback, much of which focuses on Trump’s Friday remarks about the declaration. “I could do the wall over a longer period of time,”” Trump said Friday. ““I didn’t need to do this. But I’d rather do it much faster.”” Jessica Prozinski, co-founder of Stop Trump Ann Arbor and co-organizer of Monday’s protest, explained one goal of the protest was to impel Congress to reject Trump’s declaration and override any potential veto.
See PROTEST, Page 3
MDining student employees were not paid overtime nor given any extra compensation for their work during the polar vortex when all events and classes were canceled due to severe cold weather, University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said. Jennifer Plascencia, LSA senior and MDining employee, said MDining was conflicted about whether to stay open during the polar vortex. She said she ultimately decided to work during those two days to make it easier for residents to eat, despite knowing she would not get extra pay. “Given our dining hall size, we could have easily just closed and said ‘you guys can go eat at South Quad or wherever else you want to eat,’” she said. “But we didn’t. We opened up both days and it went well.” From Jan. 30 to the morning of Feb. 1, the University issued an emergency reduction of operations as a result of frigid, below-zero temperatures across the Midwest. The polar vortex,
ACADEMICS
which killed more than 20 people around the country, set record temperature wlows for Michigan and resulted in the closure of many schools, businesses and universities. The last time the University canceled classes and other campus events was due to a snowstorm in February 2015. In the past 40 years, the University has only closed four times. Fitzgerald said because student employees are not “critical employees,” they do not have to report to work when there is an emergency reduction of operations. He also said this status prevents student employees from receiving extra benefits during an emergency reduction of operations, which is what occurred during the polar vortex. “Specific to MDining, student employees are not designated as ‘critical employees,’” Fitzgerald said. “So they are not required to work when there is a reduction in operations. If they choose to work those days, they are paid their regular hourly rate.”
See MDINING, Page 3
CAMPUS LIFE
LSA Honor Congressional representatives discuss Council hosts bipartisan approaches policy issues ‘Your life, Debbie Dingell and Fred Upton talk environment, healthcare, immigration your rules’
Panel talks health care for LGBTQ patients
LSA Honors Director evaluates the impacts of rule-following in students’ daily lives
U-M Spectrum Center, OutMD host discussion highlighting disparities present in medical services
BARBARA COLLINS Daily Staff Reporter
Mika LaVaque-Manty, LSA Honors Program director and associate professor of political science, addressed the ways in which rule-following affects one’s life during the LSA Student Honor Council speaker event titled “Your life, Your rules” Monday night. LaVaque-Manty used his background in philosophy to examine the ideas of multiple philosophers including Mencius, Aristotle and Immanuel Kant. In his presentation, LaVaque-Manty explained how the actions a student takes may have a major effect on their future and said students should consider the reasoning behind their decisions. “My argument today is not going to be against instrumental reasons — that is, doing things because we get something out of it — but I’m going to suggest that there are other reasons beyond instrumental reasons, or that sometimes it’s actually helpful to not think in terms of instrumental reasons,” LaVaque-Manty said. See HONORS, Page 3
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ISOBEL GRANT For the Daily
On Monday night, the Ford School of Public Policy hosted U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and Fred Upton, R-Mich., to participate in an installment of the Conversations Across Difference Policy Talks speaker series. The event was hosted at Annenberg Auditorium in the Public
Policy School. Titled “Voices from Across the Aisle,” the event was co-sponsored by the Program in Practical Policy Engagement and student organization WeListen as a means of discussing the political divide in American politics. The audience consisted of about 200 Ann Arbor residents, ranging from local professionals and community members to University of Michigan
faculty members and students. The event concluded with a reception where during which all of the attendees were encouraged to stay and mingle with the speakers as a means of encouraging further discussion in a less formal setting. Michael Barr, dean of the Public Policy School, brief ly addressed the audience at the start of the night to introduce the premise of the forum.
“Congresswoman Dingell and Congressman Upton … do represent different parties and different constituencies, parties and peoples with sometimes different ideologies and different policy positions,” Barr said. “This session will look at the manner by which such divergence helps or sometimes hinders the democratic process, in how we can work better together. See BIPARTISAN, Page 3
DANIELLE PASEKOFF Daily Staff Reporter
The University of Michigan Spectrum Center collaborated with the Rackham Graduate School and medical student organization OutMD Monday to host a panel of LGBTQ-affirming medical professionals. During the event held at Rackham Auditorium, University faculty and health service professionals discussed their experiences with LGBTQidentifying patients and offered advice to undergraduate and graduate students seeking reliable and friendly health care. OutMD is a student organization within the Medical School for LGBTQ-identifying medical students and their allies. OutMD helped organize the event and aims to spread the word regarding disparities LGBTQ patients face within medicine and health care.
SARAH KUNKEL/Daily Ford Prof. Brendan Nyhan, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Congressman Fred Upton discuss how they work towards unity in Congress despite differing opinions at the Voices from Across the Aisle Policy Talk at Ford Monday.
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Protestors march down Liberty Street at the March Against the Fake National Emergency Monday afternoon.
FINNTAN STORER Managing Editor
Center for campus involvement talks relationships Hot Topic Series discusses interacial partnerships and addresses bias on campus, using funds gathered from a Diversity, Equity and inclusion grant from the University Attendees began by discussing their own identities and how they handle meeting new people.LSA junior Divya The Center for Campus Gumudavelly said she thinks Involvement hosted a about the impact stereotypes conversation Monday night have on people’s perceptions on professional, casual of her.“Regardless of who and romantic interracial you are or where you come relationships as a part of their from, everyone already has Hot Topic Series. The event was a preconception of what you entitled “Unpacking Interracial might be like based on what Relationships”. CCI began they see initially.” Gumudavelly the series using the funding said. “When I introduce myself, they received from a Diversity, even if it is just saying my name Equity and Inclusion grant they correctly or people are like, ‘Oh received to encourage open your last name is really hard,’ discussions about common just sort of breaking what sort issues in the University of of conceptions people have of Michigan community. me and to get to know me and LSA junior Sunanda not go off stereotypes.” Adibhatla, DEI program Alt responded by highlighting coordinator for CCI and the event’s discussion facilitator, the difference between her and said she hopes the conversation Gumudavelly’s experiences. She said she does not consider will lead to ideas on how to Sudoku Syndication generalizations people might eliminate stigmas surrounding think about her when they first meet. “I don’t ever think about a stereotype when I meet someone,” Alt said. “But that’s probably a lot EASY of my privilege as a white woman from this country, that I just want people to think, ‘Oh she was nice.’” Rackham student Ismael El-Tayuddin discussed the importance of having interracial relationships and interacting with people from all different cultures and backgrounds. He suggested talking with a close friend about their culture to properly understand it and then bring this new knowledge to all future experiences. “I think it helps also to learn about other cultures by proxy,” El-Tayuddin said. “So if you have someone that you feel comfortable talking about © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. MOON. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com issues with … you can get minority groups.“ There’s still a lot of tension with people of different backgrounds,” Adibhatla said. “And we have some sort of subconscious biases towards how we interact with people. And the question is, how do we eradicate that or at least become aware of it? ”CCI program advisor Jamie Alt said she hoped the event would open students’ minds and lead to further conversation about interracial relationships.“ To be able to expand people’s minds about topics that are sometimes really challenging or give people a sense of fear that they can’t talk about that because of their identity or something,” Alt said. “So just trying to break those barriers about what it means to talk about topics that are around diversity, equity and inclusion.”
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PROTEST From Page 1 “We are calling on Congress to smack Trump down and say that this is not a valid national emergency, and if he tries to veto that, we need to get their twothirds majority to overrule his veto,” Prozinski said. “Our democracy is absolutely at stake. If Trump gets away with this, there are no checks and balances in our system any longer.” Prozinski also condemned Trump’s previous actions, specifically the administration’s family separation policy in the summer of 2018. “Trump’s national emergency is fake,” Prozinski said. “The real national emergency is Donald Trump. The real national emergency is that children were in cages, children have died in ICE custody. … We condemn the racism in Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the border, and we will continue to do anything we can to resist until we get Trump out of office.” The Ann Arbor event started with short speeches by co-organizers Prozinski and Adam Nash. In his remarks, Nash portrayed the declaration as unconstitutional, arguing instead for power from the
BIPARTISAN From Page 1 I t h i n k it ’s a n especia l ly appropr iate way for us to spend t h is a f ter noon of President s Day.” He f u r t her empha si zed t he i mpor t a nce of t he event by h ig h lig ht i ng t he need for open discou rse bet ween members of dif ferent pa r t ies. “A s you wel l k now, t hese a re ex t remely cha l leng i ng t i mes for ou r nat ion w it h f rac t ious polit ica l discou rse, g r id lock a nd pa r t isa n sh ip i n ou r nat ion’s capit a l, a nd a n i ncrea si ng lack of t r ust i n i n st it ut ion ever y where,” Ba r r sa id . “The relat ion sh ip bet ween Represent at ives Di ngel l a nd Upton is t he a nt it hesis of pa r t isa n polit ics operat i ng today i n Wa sh i ng ton .” Ba r r ’s com ment s were fol lowed by a n i nter v iew seg ment feat u r i ng Di ngel l a nd Upton moderated by P ublic Polic y professor Brenda n Nyha n . Di ngel l a nd Upton sha red t hei r persona l t houg ht s about bipa r t isa n sh ip i n reg a rd to a nu mber of issues such a s i m m ig rat ion , t he economy, hea lt h ca re a nd t he env i ron ment . In a l l of t hei r respon ses, t hey empha si zed t hei r i ntent ion to work
HONORS From Page 1 LaVaque-Manty discussed a famous ethical question most commonly known as the trolley problem. In the hypothetical situation, a trolley car is headed down a track that has five people tied to it. To save these individuals’ lives, a person is next to a lever that can switch the track of the trolley, but the new track has one person tied to it, meaning the person pulling the lever will be responsible for their death. LaVaque-Manty said he disagrees with the ideology behind the trolley problem along with other similar hypothetical situations because they do not take the human experience into account. “The problem with the trolley problem is that it doesn’t really ask who you are,” LaVaqueManty said. “It assumes that you just land here at this switch out of nowhere. Its other problem
so last minute, and during the workday,” Prozinski said. As a student at the University in the 1990s, Prozinski engaged in activism around issues such as affirmative action, antifascism, rape and sexual harassment, and homeless rights. Until Trump’s victory, Prozinski had not been an activist for a while, she explains. “I started Stop Trump Ann Arbor right after Trump was elected,” Prozinski said. “I’m a former activist, I haven’t been active in a long time, but then when Trump got elected, I had to start organizing again.” Ann Arbor resident Cathy Helton attended the event with a sign that read, “This president is our national emergency.” When explaining her sign, Helton referenced Trump’s words. “Congress is supposed to make decisions about funding, but now this president, he even gave his speech and said he didn’t have to do this now, which implies this isn’t an emergency,” Helton said. “This is something he wants to do for his campaign and for his base. … I really do think he is our national emergency.
people. “We cannot normalize every step we take down this hole,” Nash said. “Some people say this emergency declaration is good — this just paves the way for our next Democratic president to declare an emergency to implement single-payer health care or gun control. But no — it’s very dangerous reasoning. No president should have this unchecked power. … The power has to come from the people. … People don’t understand how much power we have when we are united, when we are organized, we are working together to resist.” Protesters walked for about an hour down Liberty Street with various handmade signs, chanting slogans such as “D.C. sellouts read our lips, no Trump dictatorship.” LSA freshman Danielle Wachter said she came to the protest because she feels the proposed wall is not only ineffective but also does not warrant declaring a national emergency. “The thing is a border wall won’t do anything to fix what he wants to fix, but also that’s not what a national emergency is,” Wachter said. “As president you can’t just declare a national emergency when you don’t get what you want. That’s the equivalent of throwing a tantrum. … I think we need to check him in any
way possible.”
toget her to f i nd solut ion s to t hese issues despite t hei r dif ferent polit ica l ideolog ies. “ I made t he decision t hat f i rst ly, ever y issue I’ve ever worked on ha s been bipa r t isa n ,” Upton sa id . “ I’l l meet you across t he a isle. I’ve got a lot of f r iends li ke Debbie on t he ot her side of t he a isle a nd a lot of Republica n s on my side t hat wa nt to work toget her.” Di ngel l bu i lt on Upton’s poi nt by not i ng t he i mpor t a nce of overcom i ng pa r t y bou nda r ies to preser ve A mer ica n democrac y. “ I’m wor r ied about what is happen i ng i n t he f ut u re of t h is cou nt r y,” Di ngel l sa id . “ I t h i n k ever y A mer ica n’s got a respon sibi lit y to st a nd up to elec t people t hat a re goi ng to do what ’s r ig ht . A nd we need to wor r y about t h is democrac y. I t h i n k we live i n t he g reatest la nd i n t he world — u n ited we st a nd a nd div ided we fa l l.” At one poi nt i n t he discussion , Nyha n prompted t he spea kers to ex plore t he possible mer it s of pa r t isa n sh ip usi ng h is backg rou nd k nowledge of polit ica l science. “ L et me a lso g ive a plea for t he va lue of bipa r t isa n sh ip a nd pola r i zat ion ,” Nyha n sa id .
“Somet i mes t he pa r t ies do disa g ree a nd t hat ’s a n i mpor t a nt pa r t of ou r democrac y, too. We just need to ma ke su re not to lose sig ht of t hat . Polit ica l scient ist s t h i n k pa r t ies a re essent ia l to democrac y; pa r t ies help … Contest i ng t he issues of ou r days is i mpor t a nt to ou r polit ica l s ystem s, too.” The for u m wa s st r uc t u red to provoke t houg ht i n t he audience. At tendees were prov ided w it h sma l l pieces of paper upon ent r y to t he for u m a nd encou ra ged to f i l l t hem w it h quest ion s t hey wou ld li ke t he spea kers to add ress at t he end of t he event . Upton empha si zed t he i mpor t a nce of t h is i nterac t ion . “ I t h i n k t hat pa r t of t he rea son we’re here today is to t a l k about what rea l ly is happen i ng,” Upton sa id . “ Where is t he bipa r t isa n success? A nd for us to get encou ra gement f rom you t hat we’re on t he r ig ht t rack here. … Pa r t of it is a n educat iona l ex per ience on bot h sides.” Ma ny at tendees of t he event concu r red w it h Upton’s rema rk s, ex pressi ng a desi re for com mu n icat ion a s a mea n s of lea r n i ng more about t he v iews of ot hers. Abig a i l Or r ick , P ublic Polic y g raduate st udent , ex pla i ned t hat she chose to
at tend t he event because she wa nted to broaden her ow n worldv iew. “ I t h i n k t hat t he Ford School is predom i na nt ly libera l a s (for) t he belief s of ma ny of t he st udent s here a nd so I t h i n k t hat t hat ca n somet i mes lead it self to … st udent s bei ng i n a bubble a nd not necessa r i ly bei ng ex posed to ot her v iew poi nt s,” Or r ick sa id . “A nd so I t h i n k t hat hav i ng event s li ke t h is where you a re listen i ng to people who a re out doi ng t he rea llife polic y-ma k i ng i n t he world work i ng across t he a isle, I t h i n k t hat ’s rea l ly va luable to be able to w it ness a nd hea r f rom .” Towa rd t he end of t he event , WeListen Co -President s K ate West a a nd Bret t Za slavsk y reiterated t he i mpor t a nce of bipa r t isa n cooperat ion a s per t a i n i ng to t he ef for t s of t hei r org a n i zat ion . “Cong resswoma n Di ngel l a nd Cong ressma n Upton a re except iona l exa mples of what we a s a n org a n i zat ion a re t r y i ng to do,” Za slavsk y sa id . “ We’re ver y t ha n k f u l to t he Ford School for br i ng i ng t hem i n a nd rea l ly t a k i ng i n it iat ive on t h is event a nd for let t i ng us be a pa r t of t he sor t of faci lit at ion of it .”
is that it asks you to think about the hypothetical, which is pretty hard to predict what we actually would do in that situation.” LaVaque-Manty said his biggest issue with the trolley problem is that it does not discuss enough personal traits to make the situation more realistic. “The problem I’m interested in is that it doesn’t assume that you have any kind of history,” LaVaque-Manty said. “It doesn’t assume anything about your motives, it doesn’t tell a story about how you got there, it doesn’t say anything about what makes you use that switch — it just assumes this.” LaVaque-Manty continued his presentation by discussing questionnaires regarding character, such as the character and fitness test required to pass the bar exam or the FBI security clearance process. LaVaqueManty said in his experience as a professor, he has been asked about the character of former students who were applying for
security clearance. Because he believes many students at the University of Michigan will be in these possible situations in the future, LaVaque-Manty advised students to leave a good impression on their professors. “It’s helpful to remember what actually matters down the line are aspects of what we consider features of your character more than your intelligence or your grades,” LaVaque-Manty said. Additionally, LaVaqueManty considered how a professor constructs a letter of recommendation. He broke down the structure he uses for writing his letters into four categories: an introduction, academic substances, personal attributes he has noticed and a summary. LaVaque-Manty emphasized the idea of building a relationship with your professors so they are able to write a substantial number of personal attributes. “Showing those transcripts and talking about grades tells you all you should care about are
grades,” LaVaque-Manty said. “It’s helpful to try to remember that every time you (focus on grades), you are actually sending a signal that either gives people an opportunity to say something beyond any merits or makes it impossible to do that.” LaVaque-Manty said students should question whether their reasoning behind their behavior is ethical. “I’m not suggesting that you should be so extreme as to think anything you do, you have to actually think, ‘What is my reason for doing that?’” LaVaque-Manty said. “But it’s worth our while to think about what our reasons are for our ethical behavior.” To conclude his presentation, LaVaque-Manty asked students to focus on larger ideas when evaluating their decisions. He said the most important question students should ask themselves is who they want to be.
While most protestors were Ann Arbor residents or University of Michigan students, three high school students travelled about an hour from Davison, Mich. for the event. One of the Davison High School students, Brian Hall, a self-professed Republican, explained he came to participate in the protest because he believes it is important for students to be politically involved. “I came out here today because I believe what the president’s doing is wrong and subverts the fundamentals of democracy,” Hall said. “I’m actually a Republican, but I think it’s important for people not to be blinded by their own ideology. … This is where students are really important, because students can literally change the course of our country. … In my government classes, I’ve learned a lot about what people can do to inf luence government, and I’ve realized that you don’t have to be an adult, you just have to be you.” The Facebook event for the protest was shared on the Stop Trump Ann Arbor page on Saturday. The event came into action over the past three days, Prozinski explained. “I was really pleased with the turnout today, especially
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MDINING From Page 1 An MDining employee and LSA freshman, who asked to remain anonymous due to concerns about potential repercussions at his job, said he didn’t feel like he had much of a choice as to whether he could come to work or not. “If we have a shift during those days, we were required to come in for work as usual,” he said. Steve Mangan, senior director of MDining, declined to comment on the issue. When contacted by The Daily, South Quad supervisor Chuck Adams declined to comment on the situation due to MDining policy. He said living in East Quad made it easier for him to go to work during the polar vortex. However, he said he felt other employees who had to commute to the dining hall in sub-zero temperatures should have received more compensation than just a few extra hours of vacation. “Honestly, for many of the students, many of us live in East Quad, so it wasn’t really that hard for us to go to work,” he said. “But for many of the cooks and many of the chefs who actually had to travel to get to work
DOCTORS From Page 1 The spea kers on t he pa nel each had a u n ique perspec t ive t hat a l lowed st udent s to bet ter u nderst a nd t he breadt h of t h is topic, f rom bot h a st udent a nd a med ica l pat ient perspec t ive. The pa nel wa s moderated by Pau l A r t a le, academ ic prog ra m ma na g er for g raduate st udent eng a g ement at R ack ha m . A f ter receiv i ng feedback f rom a n L GBT Q g raduate st udent t a sk force reg a rd i ng topics t hey w ished to see i mplemented by t he school , A r t a le a nd h is col lea g ues beg a n c u rat i ng an event foc u sed on educat ion a nd st udent eng a g ement su r rou nd i ng L GBT Q -a f f i r m i ng med ici ne. “ The g oa l is to g ive pa r t icipa nt s t he oppor t u n it y to a sk ex per t s whatever quest ion s t hey have, so hopef u l ly t hey ca n g et some specif ic adv ice t hat wou ld help t hem i n t hei r sit uat ion ,” A r t a le sa id . When a sked a bout t hei r for ma l educat ion su r rou nd i ng a f f i r m i ng med ica l ca re a nd t reat i ng L GBT Q pat ient s, t he pa nel ist s a g reed t hat l it t le to no cou rsework wa s of fered reg a rd i ng t h is prac t ice. Pa nel ist s ex pla i ned it t a kes t i me a nd out side resou rces to lea r n a bout prov id i ng hea lt h ca re i n a ma n ner t hat welcomes t ra n s, non-bi na r y a nd queer i nd iv idua ls. One of t he pa nel ist s, Dia na Pa r r ish , a ca re ma na g er t h roug h at t he Un iversit y Hea lt h Ser v ices, sa id lea r n i ng to be a n a f f i r m i ng prov ider requ i red self-ref lec t ion a nd d ist a nce f rom her persona l ident it y i n order to bet ter u nderst a nd L GBT Q ex per iences wh ich may d if fer f rom her ow n . “A t u r n i ng poi nt for me i n bei ng a n a f f i r m i ng prov ider wa s recog n i zi ng severa l yea rs a g o t hat bei ng queer myself is not enoug h — t hat ’s not t he whole stor y,” Pa r r ish sa id . “ I rea l ly appreciated bei ng i nt roduced to t he concept of c u lt u ra l hu m i l it y a s opposed to c u lt u ra l competence.”
and leave late at night, definitely for them they probably deserved better compensation than what they got.” The University’s Standard Practice Guide Policies, which sets the terms for how employees are compensated during developing emergency conditions, emergency reduction of operations and reduction of operations, said regular staff were given one extra hour of vacation time for each hour worked during the two days classes and events were cancelled. However, because students working for MDining are classified under the SPG policies as temporary employees, they are paid only for time worked and do not receive extra benefits. Plascencia said this lack of extra compensation didn’t seem to deter most of her student co-workers from coming into work. “Overall, I would say that we were well-staffed both days,” she said. “I mean, the job that we have is not a job that you can’t show up for because if nobody shows up to work, then students can’t eat. So the attitude of a lot of us was just to show up and do what we had to do.”
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A f f i r m i ng hea lt h ca re is necessa r y for ma ny members of t he L GBT Q com mu n it y, a s pat ient s mu st en su re t hat t hei r physicia n s a re u nderst a nd i ng a nd accept i ng of t hei r ident it y. Discr i m i nat ion , m ist reat ment a nd ig nora nce a re ju st a few reac t ion s L GBT Q i nd iv idua ls ca n receive when f aci ng a hea lt hca re prov ider, a nd f i nd i ng t he r ig ht prov ider ca n t a ke t i me a nd energ y. Accord i ng to t he pa nel ist s, t h is a f f i r mat ive at t it ude shou ld spa n beyond t he pat ient ’s pr i ma r y physicia n to t he st a f f members a nd ot her employees i n a med ica l env i ron ment . A poor i nterac t ion at t he f ront desk or w it h a nu rse may i n h ibit t hei r com for t w it h i n t he doc tor ’s of f ice env i ron ment , especia l ly for t ra n sg ender a nd nonbi na r y people. A not her pa nel ist , Daph na St rou m sa , a cl i n ica l lec t u rer a nd obstet r icia n-g y necolog ist i n M ich ig a n Med ici ne, noted t he st reng t h a nd resi l ience of t he L GBT Q com mu n it y a nd u rg ed aud ience members to work tog et her to en su re people a re sa fe a nd com for t a ble i n t hei r env i ron ment s. “ We hea r a lot a bout how d if f ic u lt it is to be (L GBT Q ), a nd t hat ’s t r ue, but I t h i n k it ’s wor t h ment ion i ng how st rong t h is com mu n it y is,” St rou m sa sa id . “ I t h i n k we a s a com mu n it y, a s a com mu n it y of prov iders, as a com mu n it y of pat ient s, ca n bu i ld on t he st reng t h to u se ou r net work s.” Med ica l School st udent A nuj Patel , co -president of O ut M D, at tended t he event hopi ng to educate t he g reater ca mpu s com mu n it y a bout t he con f l ic t s L GBT Q people f ace i n t he med ica l f ield . “ L GBT Q people f ace a lot of hea lt h ca re d ispa r it ies,” Patel sa id “ For i n st a nce, t hey have h ig her rates of ment a l hea lt h ( problem s), depression a nd su icide. These (event s) a re rea l ly i mpor t a nt to lea r n a bout ways L GBT Q people ca n feel more com for t a ble i n hea lt h ca re env i ron ment s a nd f i nd prov iders t hat a re r ig ht for t hem .”
Opinion
4 — Tuesday, February 19, 2019
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ETHAN KESSLER | COLUMN
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RAMISA ROB | COLUMN
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Mental illness is not a lack of willpower
he most common misconception regarding mental health is the pervasive idea that you can address it by simply exercising willpower. According to a Texas survey, about 40 percent of people believe that depression is a lack of willpower. Similarly, I have had countless short-sighted conversations with my friends, family members and even Uber drivers who render medical and therapeutic assistance irrelevant by contending that depression or obsessive compulsive disorder can be combated with tenacity, as if individuals who seek treatment aren’t trying hard enough. These individuals — who are not mental health professionals — believe themselves to be doctors at the mere suggestion of mental health and begin diagnosing themselves and others. When we hear the phrase “heart disease,” no one ever declares themselves a cardiologist or diagnoses everyone they know with cardiovascular diseases. Yet, when it comes to mental illness, one that involves another organ — the human brain — we all presume credibility to offer unwarranted easy solutions, such as “just pull it together” or “try calm.com.” I recently had an argument with my cousin when he jokingly mocked my harrowing experience with clinical depression in high school by calling me “weak” and then describing his “depressive episode” when he was upset with the outcome of the 2018 general elections in Bangladesh. We must eliminate such insidious inanities in mental health conversations and educate ourselves. J Raymond DePaulo, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has stated, “‘Stressful’ life events can lead to depression in some people and discouragement in others. One is an illness, the other is a natural response to misfortune,” and we must learn this crucial distinction. Contrary to the erroneous belief that individuals with mental illness are weak and do not have the willpower to fight, I have always tried hard and I have persevered. No matter how much I meditated or worked out, I could not concentrate and multiple times I could not sleep for even a minute for up to five days in a row, but not a single person was aware of my pain. I concealed the scars of my selfinflicted injuries and I went to class every single morning. In sophomore year, at my lowest point, when I realized I was on the verge of death, I fought every part of what was happening in my mind and dialed 911 myself and was immediately hospitalized for an attempt to commit suicide. Seeking help to find a will to exist in this world was my willpower. From my experience, I have noticed that people often conflate depression with ordinary sadness, anxiety disorders with impatience, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with casually zoning out in class, bipolar disorder with mood swings. As Maria Yagoda
wrote in her essay in Broadly, “I exercise, I eat fruits … I do all the things that people suspect will cure me of depressive episodes, which they mistake for sadness … and I still need pills.” Likewise, when I tell individuals that I take Adderall for ADHD, as prescribed by my doctors, they insist they also have ADHD but can function without medication, — tacitly hinting I am weak because I take pills. The unsolicited declaration that you have been through the same amount of misery but you are stronger than those who receive treatment reflects grave ignorance about mental health. These misinterpretations demonstrate our inability to accept mental illness as a biological, chemical imbalance. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders defined mental illness as “a behavioral or
Seeking help to find a will to exist in this world was my willpower psychological syndrome or pattern … the consequences of which are clinically significant distress … that reflects an underlying psychobiological dysfunction.” In other words, mental illness is a biological issue and, just like any other physical illness, it requires intervention that often includes medication. But psychiatric medication is another aspect of mental health that is heavily stigmatized. The universal distaste for medication as treatment for mental health is the reason why I eschewed psychiatric help for years, why many of my friends prefer to suffer alone and potentially why Kanye West has publicly announced stopping his medication for bipolar disorder, without a doctor’s recommendations. Even the term “pill-shaming” has been coined to hypothesize the widespread shame attached to psychiatric medication. The societal mentality that those who take pills are “weak” was stated as a prevailing factor for people to abandon their medication. The narrow-minded presumption that mental illness is choice or a temporary state of mind you can handle with positivity, yoga and a couple of breathing exercises is the reason why I chose to quell my horror and added another layer of pressure on myself when my life was hanging by a thread. A study mentions that clinician Julie Hanks has said, “Believing that someone can control their illness isn’t just unhelpful; it ‘may create another layer of pain or shame when the person suffering fails to make themselves feel better.’” A 2004 report by the World Health
Organization stated that between 30 and 80 percent of people with mental health concerns never receive mental health treatment. Clinical psychologist David Susman analyzed the report and stated that fear and shame, lack of insights and feelings of inadequacy were some of the main reasons behind people not seeking help. On the brighter side, Edmund S. Huggins accounts his own clinical experience and concludes that mental health treatment does “improve symptoms and quality of life by about 20 to 40 percent for most patients.” I strongly believe that if I had reached out for help earlier, high school and college wouldn’t have been so difficult for me, because my life significantly improved once I started the appropriate medication. But psychiatric care is undeniably tricky and dysfunctional. Improving the accessibility for mental health care is also a topic worth debating. Medications from pharmaceutical powerhouses are suspicious and it took me a plethora of different psychiatrists and multiple different combinations of Ritalin, Lexapro, Xanax, Clonazepam, Trazodone, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Ambien, Seroquel, Lamictal and Benadryl (I might even be missing some) to find the regimen that works for me. I have many concerns regarding the lengthy process of getting help, but that is for another column. First, we must accept the medical and biological component of mental health because to deny it is to sustain the delusive notion that mental illness is a period of heartbreak one can will their way out of. Though it can be flawed, medical treatment is a necessity for many individuals: It can address symptoms and prevent relapses. Research shows that depression has nothing to do with being lazy and weak and that therapy and medication can precipitate recovery. A depressed person cannot simply force themselves to be happy because often times they cannot even control their source of happiness when they are experiencing a shortage of dopamine, the neurotransmitters that regulate emotions, especially motivation and reward. We must understand that mental illness does not indicate personal failing in any way because it has nothing to do willpower. We have to stop pushing individuals to fight a debilitating disease that is not in their own control because this pressure has cost many lives. A 2018 study published by Psychiatric Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that untreated severe mental illness is a significant factor in the rising suicide rates in the United States. Thus, in order to save lives, we must implore individuals going through a rough time to reach out to a counselor and psychiatrist because it can ease their pain and make their lives more livable.
Ramisa Rob can be reached at rfrob@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 tothedaily@michigandaily.com.
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Illegitimate resistance
he arrangement of powers between lawmakers and law enforcement can seem very simple in the abstract. Lawmakers make the laws, and law enforcement enforces those laws. In practice, this relationship can be a bit more complicated. Politics and personal convictions muddy up an otherwise clear delineation of authority. In Washington state, authority has been muddied up beyond mere complication. Sheriffs in a dozen counties have committed to stop enforcing the expansive gun control law I-1639, passed in November by state referendum, at least until courts have decided on its constitutionality. Genuine, yet still illegitimate, the Washington sheriffs’ principled resistance illustrates a larger, troubling ideology of extremist Second Amendment interpretation. What should first be made clear is that the sheriffs in question are not unaware of the moral dilemma posed by their actions. On one hand, there is the duty of law enforcement to carry out orders as they are given. This expectation is what enables us, as citizens, to trust that laws are worth the paper they are printed on. As Attorney General Robert Kennedy pointedly remarked to white Georgians in 1961, on the subject of federally mandated school desegregation, “… (M)y belief does not matter – it is the law. Some of you may believe the decision was wrong. That does not matter. It is the law.” Washington state’s current attorney general, Bob Ferguson, has similarly reminded the sheriffs that “as public officers, (their) duty is to abide by the will of the people (they) serve, and implement and enforce the laws they adopt.” On the other hand, society does well to ensure that law enforcement still maintains its oath to high principle. It is reassuring to have our laws enforced by real human beings, and not by blindly loyal androids devoid of moral conviction. Whichever of these conflicting commitments the 12 sheriffs prioritize, in this case, is aptly laid out by Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones: “I swore an oath to defend our citizens and their constitutionally protected rights. I do not believe the popular vote overrules that.” In essence, the actions of the sheriffs then constitute a
rule departure, or the deliberate decision by authorities to not properly discharge their duties as their office requires. Are such acts inherently wrong? Recent American history would have us lean toward the affirmative. From Southern whites who resisted federal civil rights legislation to Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her infamous refusal to issue marriage licenses for gay couples, public officials supplanting professional loyalty with personal judgment have generally been overruled swiftly and without lasting repercussions. Yet, the protestors do not likely view themselves in such light. To them, such dissidence is for the ultimate good of the people, whose liberty is secured by strong gun rights and thereby threatened by the referendum. Intelligent individuals could debate endlessly on the merits of this abrogation of traditional legislative power. In this case, however, one needs only to look at the sheriffs’ purported justifications for dissidence to see that they are, indeed, wrong to disobey the Washington referendum. By reasonable standards, the actual policy measures put forth by I-1639 are wholly acceptable. The law raises the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, and requires those purchasing them take a training course, pass an enhanced background check and wait 10 business days before their purchased rifle can be delivered to them. What is at all unreasonable about a state requiring its residents to be of responsible age and capacity to own guns? How about a state ensuring guns are not sold to those with dangerous pasts or in unsound states of mind? To those propositions, a truly reasonable gun enthusiast would not balk. Guns are powerful implements, so requiring gun owners to prove they are generally responsible and capable is far from the radical imposition these sheriffs have decried it as. Yet preventive measures such as these are often lamented by Second Amendment extremists as futile — as one of the participatory dissidents, Sheriff Bob Songer of Klickitat County fatalistically explains, “Bad guys are going to have guns regardless.” Songer
may find it shocking that banks still enclose their cash in vaults, a truly useless protection against robbers who could seemingly “get in regardless.” In addition to putting forth entirely reasonable public safety measures, I-1639 successfully avoids imposing undue burdens on responsible gun owners. It does not categorically ban any type of firearm, and thereby protects the existing gun protections of all Washingtonians above the age of 21. Those who would invoke traditional definitions of the American militia in decrying this age increase would be hard-pressed to explain why a militia comprised of Americans aged 17 and up is impinged by gun purchase limits set at 21 years of age, but not at 18 years of age (as is the case in most of the country). And, even though the law prevents 18 to 21-yearold Washingtonians from owning semiautomatic rifles, a host of other firearms are still purchasable for hunting or home defense. Yet it is perhaps in one of I-1639’s other provisions that the core of the problem is best illuminated. The law, in addition to these measures, establishes penalties for those adults careless enough to leave their firearm in the reach of children and burglars. Here, the state is attempting to reduce the risk that irresponsible gun owners leave their weapons vulnerable to theft or improper discharge. By imposing regulations for safe storage of firearms, it is protecting both the property and loved ones of firearm owners who would otherwise not know better. Likewise, several of Washington’s sheriffs appear to be protecting their citizens from what they believe to be misguided instincts. These sheriffs’ views on state authority, however, provide shaky ground for their subversive stand. That these views are highly problematic and faulted make them even more inadequate. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is right to call his officers back to attention.
Ethan Kessler can be reached at ethankes@umich.edu.
REED ROSENBACHER | COLUMN
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How does shuffle actually work?
ou have probably found yourself in the same position a number of times: dying to listen to music, but unsure of exactly what you want to listen to, so you pull out a favorite playlist and hit shuff le. But what does the shuff le button actually do? What does it mean to shuff le through songs? How do your imaginations of shuff le actually align with the reality of how it functions? What can this tell us about psychology’s infusion with consumer technology? Originally, I thought shuff ling was a randomizer that gave you as random a song as possible. For a while, this was how most shuff ling programs operated, but streaming services like Spotify started receiving complaints that the shuff le button was not random enough. For the coders at Spotify, this complaint was perplexing, as their code was based on the FisherYates Shuff le, which is often considered to be one of the best algorithms for randomization. The people over at Spotify had a meeting and tried to dissect what the problem was. Their answer came down to an issue of human psychology. Imagine that someone flips a coin: If the person got heads five times in a row, on the next flip the person would expect to get tails because they have already flipped heads so many times. Of course, the rules of probability tell us that on the sixth flip, the chances of getting heads or tails is the same, as it is not influenced by the previous flips. But how does this relate to a Spotify playlist? Imagine that you are using a “truly random” shuffler and you hear “Gold Digger” by Kanye West. When you hit shuffle again, your expectation is that you won’t hear “Gold Digger,” but of course the probability of
hearing “Gold Digger” is the same as any other song in the playlist. Spotify realized that people didn’t want “true randomness,” but rather the human expectation of what should be random. So they recreated their algorithm based around clustering. The essential idea of the new algorithm is that when people shuffle music, what they really want is an equal spread of artists and genres over the course of the listening experience. If someone has a playlist with Kanye West, Prince, Lou Reed (who knows why you would), that person would not want to listen to 10 songs from the same artist in a
All of this manipulation of how shuffling works is indicative of a much larger trend in the tech world row. Instead, they would want about three songs from each artist over the course of the ten songs. For lovers of Apple Music, don’t worry — they have also adopted a similar mechanism of somewhat non-totally random shuffling. Yet, despite this intensive manipulation of the algorithm and how it aligns with the human psyche, I can’t help but find myself frustrated with the shuffle button. It often seems like songs deeper into the playlist don’t get played, and for some long playlists, I do want to hear the same song twice in a listening session. What’s interesting about this is that it would be easy for Spotify to offer users the ability to select
from different types of shuffling in the settings. Yet there is no customization feature, on any platform, for how the shuffling works. While a certain part of me wants to reject the idea that tech companies like Spotify have the ability to understand how the human mind perceives randomness, I must admit that I would not want to hear the same song twice in a row on a shuffle playlist. Yet I still find myself feeling like the current algorithm is not random enough. It feels too calculated and cautious. All of this manipulation of how shuffling works is indicative of a much larger trend going on in the tech world. Often times, tech companies are viewed as providing us with products that serve a function that seems to exist in a semi-objective way. Technology often hides under science’s guise of objectivity. For example, the order of Google search results, how your newsfeed (on any social media platform) is created, and even the infrastructure necessary to make the internet function is all hidden, obscured and made to seem a basic necessity rather than a privilege. Tech companies no longer design their products to solve a problem, such as finding a piece of information. Their aims have extended much further. Now the information must be presented in the prettiest and most convenient way possible. Much of the consumer tech world is dominated by design decisions that attempt to profit off the functions of the human psyche. Shuffle play is a “fake random” button that manipulates how our brains function, which underscores a more interesting story about what makes consumer tech succeed. Reed Rosenbacher can be reached at rrosenb@umich.edu.
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 — 5
FILM REVIEW
MUSIC REVIEW
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
DOMINO
‘Happy Death Day’ swaps Panda Bear lulls listeners smartness for low sci-fi into a trance with ‘Buoys’ grace of a dying animal, it plays more as padding than anything Daily Arts Writer else. It’s hard to care about any of this to begin with — especially the slasher stuff that the script You certainly can’t accuse seems to forget more often than “Happy Death Day 2U” of not — but without any character wasting its time. No sooner have growth to ground itself in, it viewers been dropped back into feels especially extraneous. the world of the surprise 2017 The one undeniably bright slasher hit than the story picks spot is Jessica Rothe (“Forever up with a new day, a new time My Girl”) returning as Tree. loop and a new killer in a baby What few laughs are to be had mask. Lest this all start to sound mostly come from her righteous a little too familiar, “Happy fury at having to Death Day 2U” relive Monday pulls off one the 18th again twist by signaling after already early on that having done so 11 this is no longer times, as well as a horror movie. the general hardOh, there’s still Universal Pictures edged charm she a knife-wielding Ann Arbor IMAX 20+. Goodrich Quality 16 exudes in every psychopath on single scene and the loose, but the few dramatic that’s more a moments that pesky annoyance work do so for this time around. the same reason. Instead, with a story centering on the hitting you over the head with Rothe’s work is always grounded multiverse and time travel and nonsense, because to stop would in something human while the a host of other pseudo-science be to admit there’s no substance rest of the film all too rarely is. Even in the movie’s worst mumbo jumbo, it embraces the and lose your attention. This reaches an infuriating moments (the aforementioned silliness at the core of its premise and plays as an out-and-out sci-fi extreme in the third act, which endless third act) it’s easy to features enough genre-bending return to her performance and comedy. I can respect the daringness for an entire franchise, let alone find something enjoyable. If it would take to genre-hop like a single film. By this point, every there were ever any doubt that that — it’s the sort of move that character arc has either been the superstar in the making is a lot of series wouldn’t even finished or dropped entirely, the glue holding this nascent think of making — even if the so as “Happy Death Day 2U” franchise together — and if movie itself never lives up to moves from the sci-fi insanity you saw the original, for all its that initial shock to the system. of the rest of the film to a heist merits, there shouldn’t be — then Instead it ties itself in knots, sequence to the twisty finale of if nothing else, “Happy Death layering one sci-fi trope on top the slasher subplot with all the Day 2U” should serve as its cure. JEREMIAH VANDERHELM
of another and drowning an underdeveloped A-plot in a wash of underdeveloped B-plots. The idea at its core isn’t so much “less is more” as it is “no, more is more, stupid,” so it jettisons the simple efficiency of the original film in favor of a surprisingly confusing story that all too rarely gives you something to hold on to in the midst of all the madness. Instead, true to the fast-paced opening scenes, it never stops moving, never stops
‘Happy Death Day 2U’
MUSIC NOTEBOOK
ENSIGN RECORDS
Nostalgia, The ’90s, and O’Connor’s enduring legacy MIRIAM FRANCISCO Daily Arts Writer
Rolling Stone declared 2018 “a year of nineties obsessions.” We’re one month into 2019, and our cultural fixation on the ’90s — the clothing, the movies, the music — looks as though it’s finding its footing, not losing steam. This phenomenon is strongest among college students, I think; people who were born in the 1990s but have no memory of it. My friends and I take pictures of each other with disposable cameras; we part our hair down the middle
and wear giant jackets and it makes us feel cool. The nineties happened just recently enough that we’re able to fetishize those years in a way that feels accurate but isn’t, and this is part of the appeal. It can be anything we want it to be. We’re curating a version of the ‘90s for ourselves to live through, and to do so we punctuate the soundtrack of our days with the music of the era — Run-D.M.C., Melissa Etheridge, Blondie, the B-52s. These are the conditions in which I was first exposed to Sinéad O’Connor. She showed up on my Spotify Weekly playlist in
early January, a decidedly nonanalog introduction. Suddenly it was 1990 again, the first year of a decade whose complexities I was born too late to remember, whose decadent simplicity is so very appealing. Sinéad O’Connor is an enduring mystery. Her career has taken sharp turns and unexpected detours, her public persona shifting from brave to bizarre and back again. In the ‘90s she became an international icon with her shaved head, dark eyebrows and weird outfits. She built a reputation as a badass Irish pixie, someone who relished
JIM WILSON
Daily Arts Writer
As the saying goes, you can’t always get what you want. It’s hard for something to be g reat every time. Sometimes, sights are set too high. That is exactly what happened with Buoys, the latest release from Noah Lennox, more widely known as Panda Bear. That is not to say that the album is bad. It’s actually very good, but something is off. In his sixth album, Panda Bear, co-founding member of Animal Collective and frequent solo act, tries something new. Gone are the days of humongous, lush soundscapes and curious lead samples. On Buoys, he only utilizes his highly processed voice, swampy basslines, compressed synthesizers, an acoustic g uitar and the occasional sound sample. It’s a strange combination of sounds, but for the most part, it works. The looped g uitar licks nestle with bubbling bass while the synth strikes veer any where and every where with no regard. It sounds disorienting, not in a nauseating way, but a hypnotizing one. Singles “Dolphins” and “Token” are instances where this effect is executed f lawlessly. They sound like the listener is swimming through a highly
voicing unpopular opinions. In 1992, years before abuse in the Catholic church was widely discussed, O’Connor tore up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live and told a shocked and silent live audience to “fight the real enemy.” On tour in the United States, she stirred controversy for refusing to sing if the national anthem was played before her concerts. O’Connor has always embraced contradiction. She’s a loud feminist in baggy clothes, an unmarried mother, an angry radical, a sexy pop star. “You know that I can thrill you,” she sings on “I Want Your (Hands on Me).” “I want you, call me to you / I wanna move, will you? I really wanna feel you.” She pivots to police brutality on “Black Boys on Mopeds”: “England’s not the mythical land of Madame George and roses / It’s the home of police who kill black boys on mopeds.” She wants sex; she wants a more just world; she wants love but forgets how to give it. This is the Sinéad of 1990’s “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” her second and most wellknown album. In the music video for “Nothing Compares 2 U,” she is beautiful and mad in a black turtleneck. Her voice rises sharply and then drops to a whisper: a wounded bird, a wounded woman. “I could put my arms around every boy I see / But
viscous f luid where sounds travel just a little too fast. It’s mesmerizing. In fact, it is almost fascinating to hear. All of Buoys unfolds like this, and it’s g reat. However, it also leaves listeners wanting more. Lennox is a little too deep in his own zone with this album. It sounds like he found the exact sound he wanted for the album, then refused to explore other soundscapes. Album standout “Inner Monolog ue”
‘Buoys’ Panda Bear Domino Recording Company
is the only song to break the mold. The song begins with a vocal sample of a woman’s trembling voice, which is soon joined by a droning horn blast and a meandering g uitar. Shortly after, Lennox’s voice replaces the horn blasts, and the song erupts into a f lurry of sound. It is unlike any other song, both on the album
they’d only remind me of you,” she sings, the camera zoomed in on her pale, angular face, and you believe every word she says. Then there’s the strange, darker Sinéad, the one who
and elsewhere in the industry. “Inner Monolog ue” serves as an example as to why it is so important to diversif y within the album’s set sound. It yields absolutely fantastic results. However, “Inner Monolog ue” is the exception, not the rule. The other songs on Buoys just do not live up to the standards that previous Panda Bear releases set forth. While albums like Person Pitch and Tomboy both alter and contort their sound in different ways with each subsequent song, Buoys allows its sound to steep to the point of stag nation. It is admirable that Lennox tried this new sound, that much is certain, but he merely evolves his own sound rather than expanding upon it. All in all, Buoys is a wonderful collection of songs. The issue is that the highs are few and far between. Aside from the album’s sound as a whole, no individual song takes a step outside of the realm of the expected. Buoys just does not thrill. It doesn’t disappoint, but there is such little diversit y that it is hard to be satisf ied upon the album’s completion. Panda Bear has opened the door for an intrig uing new sound, but for the most part, Buoys leaves listeners with a craving for something that isn’t there.
Similarly unsettling incidents pepper recent news coverage of O’Connor. In 2016, she went missing but was later found safe, riding her bicycle around a suburb of Chicago. She brief ly had two face tattoos. She appeared on Dr. Phil for a televised therapy session about her mother. When she converted to Islam in 2018, she legally changed her name to Shuhada’ Davitt. These incidents cast O’Connor as both vulnerable and volatile, an artist whose actions are directed by some unknowable combination of mental illnesses, childhood traumas and a frustrated excess of talent. This is all to say that listening to “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” 29 years after its release is an experience that cannot be divorced from the person O’Connor has become in the intervening time. Here lies the persistent difficulty of nostalgia: We know how it all turned out. But does that really matter, when our current infatuation with the ‘90s is so fun? It’s a relief to revisit the cultural artifacts of an era that seems far less dangerous than the current one. “Whatever it may bring / I will live by my own policies / I will sleep with a clear conscience / I will sleep in peace,” O’Connor sings on “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” With that fuck-off attitude, her placid anarchy: I just want to keep listening.
These incidents cast O’Connor as both vulnerable and volatile, an artist whose actions are directed by some unknowable combination of mental illnesses, childhood trauamas, and a frustrated excess of talent.
cried and ran offstage at a Bob Dylan tribute concert, who wrote an open letter to Miley Cyrus telling her to dress more conservatively, who said Prince punched her over her cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
Arts
6 — Tuesday, February 19, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
DAILY HEALTH & WELLNESS COLUMN
STYLE NOTEBOOK
The Austrian foothills: otherwise, my own mecca When I was much younger, I thought my family’s annual “The Sound of Music” Christmas tradition was very dumb. We didn’t celebrate Christmas, so when ABC Family rolled out its holiday programming, we’d record the 1965 classic on our DVR, watch about an hour of the film each night over the course of a few days, and bask in the joy of every damn word of “My Favorite Things.” By the time I headed to the University of Michigan, every fiber of that movie had become ingrained into my existence, for better or for worse. Fast forward to this past spring: I had spent three program-structured days in Vienna, Austria, and I now had a full day to explore. I had recently been made aware of the eminent accessibility of “The Sound of Music” tour in Salzburg. It sounded like a lock, but finding company for the cross-country trek would prove difficult. I asked my roommate if he had any interest in going. “I need to get a haircut,” said Derek. “And there’s also an all-youcan-eat sushi place across the street.” I thought the movie buffs we’d befriended would take the bait. Not so much. “Uh… no,” said Will. Eli too. “Sorry dude.” There’d be no hesitation on my end. I booked my train and tour tickets, party of one, while at an evening wine and cheese tasting. Auf wiedersehen, future FOMO-havers. — Upon arriving in Salzburg, I felt… out of place. Everyone was extremely good-looking, and they were all wearing pastel-colored dress shirts, a stark contrast from my t-shirt and jogger sweatpant getup. Alas: After a quick beef chili bowl, I was ready to see the hills come alive. At the tour bus meeting point I was greeted by a really cheerful tour guide
named Eva, who was from Uruguay and really, really, really, loved “The Sound of Music.” I took a seat by the window — a strategic decision — and prayed I’d win the random new friend lottery. Soon after, another solo traveler, a 50-ish-year-old South Korean man named Roy, took the
is impossible and maybe even unimportant. It was incredible, of course, seeing with my own two eyes the Mirabell Gardens and Hellbrunn Palace, the very images that at a young age fortified a soul-defining indoctrination. But the sightseeing, on its own, doesn’t capture “The Sound of Music”’s essence, nor should it have to. The people were enough. —
JOEY SCHUMAN seat next to me. He explained that he’d found a ton of success in global software investment, and even though he used a bunch of terms that flew way over my head, I gathered generally that he was celebrating his life victory with a solo trip around the world. He exuded unadulterated joy. Joy — that’s what brought everyone to Salzburg. “The Sound of Music” should be everything I hate in a movie — it’s next-level sappy and cliché — but it’s about good guys beating bad guys, family, love and figuring out what brings you joy. And it includes the waterworks factory that is “Edelweiss.” There’s no telling how the movie brings together a solo American college student and the wine-friendly, tattoo-sleeved young Australian surferbros who sat in the back of the bus and drained out Eva’s informational snippets with a deafening “Oye aim sixtain GOWING awn saiventaind,” all while making me secondhand drunk. It just does. That kind of uncapturable magic is why describing the tour itself
Still, what I’ll remember most from the excursion is the train ride back to Vienna. I’d say it was the most perfect three hours of my entire life — and it was — but even that wouldn’t do the experience justice. It was transcendent. The sunset gleamed off those Austrian foothills with rays that were so majestic that I began to question if Julie Andrews had telepathically transmitted some sort of happiness serum into my freshly Berlin-ed, emo-charred insides. I could only attempt to alleviate my otherworldly emotion with periodic tosses of Haribo candies into my mouth, but I had a smile on my face so gosh darn big that the gummy bears just kind of popped back out onto my seat as if I was some kind of broken automated puppet. To the spooked German toddlers that were seated across the aisle: If you’re reading this, I apologize. I am sane and stable, and I even write about health and wellness for my university newspaper. In America! Here I am, back in America. There’s a lot more stress and zero Austrian foothills. Now I often find myself wondering if Favorite Things are meant to be enjoyed in rare, if not fleeting, glimpses. It’s a question I might need many years worth of maturity to properly answer. For the time being, however, I do know this: For one day, in those winding hills of Mondsee, among the drunk Aussies and Roy the South Korean investment magnate, I had found my own little slice of heaven.
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Release Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
FOR RENT
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Deep opera voices 6 Quaint “you” 10 “SOS” pop group 14 From square one 15 Pair on a Disney World hat 16 Little brook 17 *Sore loser’s reaction 19 Live __: party hearty 20 Temporary period 21 Clytemnestra’s son 23 Soap-making chemical 24 Often 26 Road’s end? 27 Versatile vehicle, for short 28 Handel’s “Messiah” is one 32 Vertical billiards stroke 35 Not fresh 36 Ambient music pioneer Brian 37 Apple computer 38 Fifth and newest member of the set that includes the starts of the answers to starred clues 39 NYPD rank 40 Zero, like chances 41 “Full court” NBA defense 42 Pat Conroy’s “The Prince of __” 43 Corporate infosharing system 45 Hawaiian dish 46 “Chestnuts roasting __ open fire” 47 Online craft store 49 Rap sheet abbr. 52 Elks, in Canada 55 __ Kodak 57 Top poker cards 58 *Valentine recipient 60 Ready for harvesting 61 Half of Mork’s sign-off 62 Novelist Joyce Carol __ 63 Smartphone ancestors, briefly
64 Cookbook amt. 65 “Elder” Roman scholar
DOWN 1 Fragrant herb 2 Ecstasy’s opposite 3 Fry 4 “Your Highness” 5 Unappreciative one 6 Pedro’s “I love you” 7 WWII General __ Arnold 8 Crumbled sundae-topping cookie 9 Cold War power: Abbr. 10 Noble Brit 11 *Finale to fight to, with “the” 12 Treatment for gray hair 13 Swiss peaks 18 Irritate but good 22 90° from sur 25 How food may be seasoned 27 Trojans’ sch. 29 Male sheep 30 Thrilla in Manila boxer 31 “My bad!”
32 Revealing skirt 33 Protein building block 34 *Hip-hop trio with a condimental name 35 “Peter Pan” pirate 38 Reception server 39 Three, on a sundial 41 Breathe heavily 42 Kid’s favorite store, often
44 Elevates 45 10th-grader’s exam, for short 48 Start a golf hole 49 Vintage violin 50 Megan’s “Will & Grace” role 51 Anxious 52 __ speed: “Star Trek” rate 53 Fails to be 54 Q-tip 56 Greenish-blue 59 Nav. rank
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Paul Coulter ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
02/19/19
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WIREIMAGE
Streetwear and luxury: Should they still mix? PRIYDARSHINI GOUTHI Daily Arts Writer
The past few years have witnessed a significant rise in streetwear. Actually, more than just significant — it has been a colossal wave that hit the fashion industry and does not show any intentions of stopping. This style is often characterized by casual clothing and bright colors, inspired from skatewear, and has its roots in various parts of the world, from Japan to Britain to California. It is undeniable that streetwear has evolved over generations, and what started as something that was equated with cheap and easily accessible clothing for everyone; however, society’s youth is now morphing into the exact opposite. The single underlying reason for this transformation is the unfortunate integration of street style with luxury brands and high fashion. The integration between the two seemingly polar concepts begin with the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Supreme, along with the sudden surge in the popularity of names like Vetements and Balenciaga. Brands such as Louis Vuitton have for the longest time been known as symbols of not only wealth, but also markers to distinguish and elevate the meaning of “couture.” These names represent decades of the history of fashion and have always taken pride in
the fact that they do not seem to follow the herd. However, I believe their recent work with streetwear screams the contrary. I do not deny that the style has become so much more than just a trend — it has transformed into a culture that is ubiquitous, but eccentric at the same time. But the fact that a culture is shared by a massive group of people reflects an ideology that is larger than a single person or trend. More importantly, fashion has always helped bind communities and help translate that sentiment of belonging into an appearance, but the injection of luxury into this culture is creating an increasingly wide gap. There is now a group that partakes in the propagation of the style, not because they are emotionally attached to it, but because it has become the new cool thing. The division is a crack that soon will not be able to be filled and will radically change both worlds. Names like Burberry and Chanel that are now visibly shifting to a more trendy image have always been associated with pieces of fashion that are in fact pieces of art on the runway. More importantly, these brands are synonymous with classy dressing that reflects the rich heritage of the brand. By merging with streetwear, they are no longer doing justice to either of the sides. At the end of the day, the streetwear domain should
be dominated by those firms that share its culture and history, and luxury names do not fall in those categories. On the other hand, I also fear that companies like Burberry could end up losing their essence and it factor, the sense of elusiveness projected by their designs, shows and retail experience. If luxury names continue to merge and expand into numerous styles and areas, this sense of exclusivity would eventually fade. Don’t get me wrong — I have no problem with streetwear as a style. There have been times where I too engage and advocate for it, but I don’t want to advocate for the mixing of ideas that do not share a common story. Fashion is more than just clothing: It is the expression of a sentiment. It is the telling of a tale, and to do so without truly belonging to that sub domain is diminishing the importance of the human and societal aspect to fashion. Yes, the Chanel high tops sneakers and Gucci hoodies that spell “I am trendy but I can also afford the apparently finer things of life” are enticing. There has been a point in most of our lives where we want to wear the branded, yet common clothes. However, isn’t the very point of streetwear to be something that can be shared by everyone? Luxury clothing isn’t meant to echo these ideas. It’s time that we stop trying to mix oil and water.
CULTURE NOTEBOOK
A love story with yoga ISABELLE HASSLUND
Daily Community Culture Editor
Yoga is a strange art. Strangers sharing a communal space, yet finding privacy in the four corners of our yoga mats. Some hate it with a burning passion, others get a rush from it. There is no in between. I fall into the latter category. Instead of trying to come up with reasons of why all the yoga haters out there should give it a second chance, it’s probably more interesting to tell a love story (fitting, since Valentine’s Day just passed). This is the love story of me and yoga. My relationship with yoga first started in high school. A combination of stresses led me to develop an extremely unhealthy relationship with my physical body and my mind. I went to a performing arts high school in New York City, where I was trapped in a cinder block building for 12 hours at a time due to long rehearsal schedules and performance classes that extended our academic school day. I would commute on the subway in the morning at very early hours and back home late at night, getting little to no hours of daylight.
Being a professional performer, it is easy to fall into a cycle of self-loathing and self-hate, as we are constantly being judged and hired for our looks and talents. As a woman of color in the performing industry, I faced unique challenges in the performing world. I began to scrutinize my body, the way that my curves looked in a tight leotard, the fact that my singing voice sounded “princess-ey” and “white,” further limiting the roles I would be able to be cast in. I developed a disconnect with my body, choosing to ignore my curves and tan skin and detach my mind from my body in hopes that I would feel more content. Of course, this was not the case. I ended up developing a very hateful relationship with myself. I let the voices of those who put me down merge into my own voice, and I felt lost as to how to find my own voice again. Junior year of high school, I opted to take yoga as my gym credit. I heard it was easy, and that we even got to sleep once a week during class! I did not expect to be impacted in the way I was. Yoga gave me the gift of breath. Even though breath is a crucial part of
singing, I did not realize the importance of breath in everyday life, calming my anxieties and connecting my mind to my body. It was the key to a healthier attitude and a healthier mind. By using breath to move through postures, I was able to better connect with my body. I became more aware of the subtleties of my body movements, which improved my dance and performance technique. My body was no longer a foreign object to me. It became familiar, and I grew to be more comfortable in my own skin. I began taking ownership of my body, listening to it and nurturing it by making sure I eat healthy foods, even though it was easier to just order a plate of greasy fries to rehearsal. I became a happier person, and I was eager to explore my body and mind further. Meditation is also a crucial part of my yoga practice, as my mind flies at 100 miles per hour at any given moment of the day. Without meditation, I am not sure I would have left high school with mental composure.
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Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 — 7
Connection between Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske fuels Wolverines THEO MACKIE
Daily Sports Writer
Zavier Simpson bided his time, wrapping behind the basket before splitting two defenders with a no-look bounce pass. Just as the pass reached its apex, Jon Teske came streaking into the lane, collected the ball and emphatically slammed it home, giving Michigan a double-digit lead it would never relinquish. That scene came late in the second half of the Wolverines’ 65-52 win over Maryland on Saturday, but it’s emblematic of a larger trend that has come to define their offense over the
past three months. Simpson — Michigan’s offensive conductor — leads all Big Ten point guards in assist-toturnover rate, while Teske has flourished as its interior linchpin, averaging 10.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in conference play. “A little bit under-recruited guys that came in with a little edge about them,” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “A lot of people doubted whether they maybe
could play at Michigan, either one of them. And I love the way they work together. They really have a great feel for each other.” Early last year, the chemistry between the two would have appeared completely foreign. Teske played just 12 minutes a game, while Simpson was still finding his foothold in a three-headed point guard rotation. This summer, that all changed.
People doubted whether they could ... play at Michigan.
Simpson had already emerged as the exemplification of the Wolverines’ hardnosed identity, but Teske’s offseason was filled with questions of whether he could replace the departed Moritz Wagner. In October, when Beilein expressed his confidence in Teske to replace Wagner’s 3-point production, it was met with a justified skepticism — Teske had attempted just two threes in his first two seasons in
Ann Arbor and missed both. But those within the program knew better. “Aw man, they were doing that at pickup,” said sophomore forward Isaiah Livers, referring to the unofficial scrimmages players hold over the summer to keep up their conditioning before official practices start in October. Ask Teske himself and you’ll get an answer that goes even further back. “I’d say (it developed) as soon as we got on campus,” Teske said after he and Simpson combined for 41 points in a win over Northwestern last month. “We came in as freshmen together, so we’ve been through a lot of ups and a lot of downs.” No matter what answer you get, the consensus is a distinct lack of surprise. And with the rest of Michigan’s starting five finding their share of offensive travails over the past few months, the pair’s consistency has been among the Wolverines’ defining strengths. “The ‘5’ man and point guard have to have a really good connection on the court as well,” said sophomore guard Jordan Poole. “Cause everything kinda runs through them. And being able to have a big man who controls everything how he does in the middle and being able to have (Simpson) lead how he does from the point guard position is huge.” On the rare occasions that Teske and Simpson don’t shine, the results are obvious. When
We’ve been through a lot of ups and a lot of downs.
Maryland cut a 15-point deficit to three midway through the second half Saturday, Teske’s offense was a major culprit, as he made just 1-of-10 shots over the opening 35 minutes. Then, Simpson, as he so often does, sprung his center open for consecutive baskets, part of a two-minute stretch in which Teske singlehandedly outscored the Terrapins, 7-2, extending Michigan’s lead from six to eleven and effectively icing the game. It’s not just that Maryland game, either. The pair’s bond has shone through in all of the Wolverines’ most impressive wins — Simpson last failed to assist Teske in a game on Jan. 22 against Minnesota. “It allows him to play — pop, roll, slip, do anything he can do,” Simpson said. “And it opens up not just for himself but also for others so that’s always good.” Just like on the court, Teske’s answer is on the same page. “He always knows where I am on the court and I know he’ll make the right decision and the right pass for me to go finish,” Teske said. “And he has the confidence in me to go finish around the rim or pick and pop and shoot the three.” So when Teske streaks to the basket off a feed from his point guard, it can be easy to forget the questions that surrounded him just four months ago. But then he’ll set a screen for Simpson at the top of the arc and, when his defender cheats off him, pop out beyond the 3-point line to nail a three. And each time, it will elicit some sort of surprise from the uninitiated, reminding Michigan fans of the doubt they used to carry. Teske and his teammates, though? They knew this was coming all the way.
Being able to have (Simpson) lead how he does ... is huge.
ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
Junior center Jon Teske has developed a strong connection playing alongside Zavier Simpson, as the two scored nine and 12 points, respectively, on Saturday.
For Lambert, a vision falls into place ‘M’ tops Dartmouth, 11-10, in 3OT TIEN LE
JACK KINGSLEY
When Denver’s Brett Stapley finessed the puck past two defenders and the goaltender for the overtime goal to beat North Dakota on Feb. 2, Michigan freshman forward Jimmy Lambert tweeted a compliment for his former teammate. The two played together on the same line for three years in the British Columbia Hockey League. And for all the skill and talent Stapley exhibited, the show never got old for Lambert, who had “front-row seats.” Lambert, however, put on a show of his own, scoring 142 points through his three-year stay with the Vernon Vipers — the team for which the two played. Lambert was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. His grandfather started taking Lambert ice skating at the age of two. Going to public ice sessions offered at his local rink, his grandfather taught him how to skate, bit by bit, until Lambert reached four when he was given his first mini-hockey stick. Then, Lambert took off and sought to perfect his craft through the junior league. He moved to British Columbia and joined the Vipers after three years in Saskatoon’s midget league. There, under Vernon’s coach Mark Ferner, Lambert developed into a better player in all aspects. “The program there was awesome,” Lambert said. “Mark Ferner, our coach, he really helped me develop as a player, on both sides of the puck. He’s very understandings of how players play the game and really wants them to get to the next level. “That’s the goal of junior hockey, that’s to help players get scholarships and he’s done that for many years with his job in Vernon. He’s sent multiple players to (the) NCAA, and he’s very good at developing players.” Ferner, a two-time BCHL coach of the year, had a keen
As time ran down in the first overtime period, Molly Garrett took an open shot in front and missed wide. She immediately went down with an injury. Less than 5 minutes later, the junior midfielder was back on the field. Forty-eight seconds into the second overtime period, she had the same opportunity, but this time she converted for her fourth goal of the season, breaking the tie and giving the Michigan women’s lacrosse team (4-0) an 11-10 win over Dartmouth (0-2). “I was kind of just putting my head down saying ‘This one’s mine, this one’s for the team,’ ” Garrett said. While Garrett’s heroics decided the game, the Wolverines seemed to pull away with 15 minutes left in the second half. They came out of halftime strong, scoring five goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half to take a 10-7 lead. Sophomore attacker Caitlin Muir was a big reason for this, scoring one goal and assisting on two early in the half thanks to her stellar play behind the Dartmouth goal. Additionally, Michigan’s
Daily Sports Writer
Daily Sports Writer
ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
Freshman forward Jimmy Lambert has displayed speed and vision this season.
understanding of not only the game but his roster as well. Lambert’s game is built on speed, puck control and, most importantly, vision. Pitting him with a skill-based player like Stapley complemented his style and the two led the team to two division finals and a semifinal. From there, Lambert reached junior hockey. He moved up to the NCAA. When Michigan came calling, he didn’t hesitate to accept. “I definitely can say, if you’re going to school in Canada, you’re not going to be getting the same things we’re getting here for sure,” Lambert joked. But the collegiate level proved to be a taller task than initially expected. With only four games left in the regular season, Michigan coach Mel Pearson noted that despite the strides he’s made so far, Lambert has a long way to go. “He’s just learning what it takes to be a good player,” Pearson said. “Just an average player at this level.” Through 25 games, Lambert has just totaled eight points, starkly contrasting the prior year, when he had 61 points in 55 games in the BCHL and was top-20 in point totals of the entire league. “He’s got to play stronger on the puck, he’s got to play faster on the puck, he’s got to handle the puck better, he’s got to release it quicker,” Pearson said. “I think that reflects in his numbers a little bit. He’s on the power play, and he gets a little good shake on a regular line, but his numbers
don’t blow you away. But it’s an adjustment. And I don’t know if he was totally prepared for the adjustment that it takes.” Pearson has implored Lambert to take things more seriously, through preparation for games or practices. There are many different routines or styles of hockey — different ways to play, practice or prepare. As Pearson puts it, Lambert’s yet to find his own. But he has started to put things together. “I’m working on making sure I’m a little better in the defensive zone,” Lambert said. “And I like to think I have some offensive upside, definitely need to start putting the puck in the net a little bit more.” It’s clear what Lambert’s strengths are. Despite his numbers on the stat sheets being limited, the ones on there have been created by his speed and vision. Knowing not only where his teammates are, but his opponents as well, he likes to keep tabs on all the players on the ice at all times. Marked, unmarked, open or contested, he’ll know and make the play with the puck to get the best shot available. “He’s got a good knowledge of the game, good hockey sense,” Pearson said. “Gets up and down pretty good, and he’s got some of the intangibles you look for in a player. I think he’s a good team guy, I know he’s a good team guy.” Even if Lambert hasn’t yet put it all together, he has the vision that will allow it soon.
play in the draw circle greatly improved in the second half. After controlling just four of 11 draws in the first half, the Wolverines controlled the first five of the second half, and only lost one in the first 15 minutes. When they were winning draws, they were at their best. “Draw controls were huge,” said Michigan coach Hannah Nielsen. “The Dartmouth draw girl is extremely talented and we won the battle 15-10 there.” After a strong start to the half, Michigan let Dartmouth back into the game but could have put them away with better offensive play down the stretch. The Wolverines led by three with less than nine minutes to play in regulation when a turnover by senior defenseman Gabby Burns and a foul by junior defenseman Quinn Melidona led to a Dartmouth goal on the advantage, cutting the lead to 10-8. Michigan’s defense recovered after the goal, but its offense never did. In the final eight minutes of regulation, the Wolverines turned the ball over three times, committed four fouls, and earned two yellow cards. Senior goalkeeper Mira Shane and the defense bailed them out, making big saves and
forcing Dartmouth turnovers, but eventually, the sloppy play caught up with them. The Big Green scored on two free position shots in the final 1:47, tying the game at 10-10 and forcing overtime. “I think it was just youth and inexperience in close games from our offense,” Nielsen said. “We had times where our defense was getting us back the ball and we were taking the first option or just taking less than 90-plus percent opportunities.” Even though Dartmouth came back, the Wolverines showed resiliency in overtime. They continued to play hard so they wouldn’t lose a game that they seemed to have control of late in the second half, culminating in Garrett’s game-winner. Now 4-0 after two wins this weekend, Michigan is off to its best start in the history of the program. While there are still improvements to be made, winning close games like this will be extremely beneficial as the season progresses. “I think it shows how mature we are and how we’ve grown as a program and how we’re able to handle that and have those people out there to keep each other calm, cool, collected,” Garrett said. “We can handle it.”
ASHA LEWIS/Daily
Junior midfielder Molly Garrett scored the double-overtime goal to give Michigan an 11-10 victory over Dartmouth.
Sports
8 — Tuesday, February 19, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Daniel Dash - Daily Sports Writer Adam Steinberg sat in his office, feet up on his desk, and considered a tradeoff that would alter the trajectory of his coaching career and tennis legacy. The June 2014 calendar on his wall seemed like a ticking time bomb. As Steinberg leaned back in his chair, he pondered swapping the soft sand of Malibu’s beaches for Ann Arbor’s brutal winters. He weighed the prospect of leaving the national powerhouse he established as the head coach of the Pepperdine men’s tennis program — where he was sitting on a 265-92 record over 13 years — for Michigan, which hadn’t advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2008. While contemplating this, it occurred to Steinberg that the change of scenery would amount to much more than just leaving palm trees in his past. As his eyes wandered around his office, Steinberg recalled some of his greatest achievements during his memorable tenure with the Waves. An NCAA championship banner, 2006 National Coach of the Year plaque and over a decade’s worth of team photos dangled from the wall — enveloping Steinberg in the nostalgia of his most successful coaching stint to date. But when push came to shove, Steinberg’s competitive edge — a driving force in his playing days on Long Island and at Penn State — wouldn’t let the task of righting the ship at Michigan slip through the cracks. “It was a very hard decision,” Steinberg said. “Pepperdine was special, but after being there 12 years, I was ready for a new challenge. Not many times in your life does a Michigan come along with that combination of athletics and academics. It was just too good to pass up at that stage of my life.” After 13 seasons, a 2006 national title and 10 West Coast Conference Tournament championships, Steinberg called Pepperdine Director of Athletics Steve Potts to inform him of his decision. With that, he punched his ticket to Ann Arbor, where a program mired in mediocrity stood stagnant at a crossroads between contention and irrelevance. When Steinberg stepped down at Pepperdine, it wasn’t the first time he left a successful head coaching post in favor of a new challenge. The first time, it was June 2002. A 36-year-old Steinberg had just wrapped up his fifth year as the head coach at Alabama. Under his tutelage, the Crimson Tide finished the season ranked inside the top-25 in four of five seasons. Though Steinberg was one of the country’s youngest coaches at the time of his Pepperdine interview, experience was one of his strong suits. He became the head coach at St. John’s in 1990, just two years after the end of his playing career at Penn State. During his five-year tenure with the Red Storm, Steinberg guided the program to a 61-22 overall record — highlighted by a conference championship in his debut season
— before accepting a job as Northwestern’s assistant coach after the 1995 season. He spent two years there, where he helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and 2002. It was at that point that Pepperdine Director of Athletics Dr. John Watson gave Steinberg a call about the Waves’ head coaching job. “In the interview process, he answered all the questions (the way) I wanted him to in tennis and student development, but also as human beings,” Watson told The Daily in a January phone interview. “He was an ethical person and a strong leader. He has a strong personality, but he’s also compassionate and understanding. When Watson formally offered him the position, Steinberg looked him in the eye and made a guarantee before even picking up his pen to sign the contract. “You will have a national championship in four years.” Sure enough, the Pepperdine players dumped a cooler of Gatorade on their coach after upsetting Georgia in the NCAA Tournament final four years later. “Winning is important to him,” Watson said, “but not everything to him — he wants his players to be successful on the court, but more importantly successful in life.” Michigan’s academic prestige, coupled with the camaraderie of its athletic pride and tradition, was enough to sway Steinberg to pack his bags. Before he was an All-American, Michigan’s captain and national singles runner-up, 2018 graduate Alex Knight was just another redshirt freshman. A little more than a month before Steinberg was named the Wolverines’ head coach, Knight’s phone buzzed as a call came in from then-coach Bruce Berque, who recruited Knight and welcomed him with open arms as an early enrollee. Their relationship was short lived. After the team failed to advance past the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season, then-Athletic Director Dave Brandon decided it was time for a change. Berque had been fired, bringing his decadelong stint in Ann Arbor to a close. “Winning and inclusivity wasn’t (Berque’s) primary goal,” Knight said. “He would admit it too — he didn’t crack down on a few guys he should’ve. The reason for the (shortcomings) was a kind of clown culture.” When Brandon hired Steinberg, his new leader embodied the much-needed attitude change he sought throughout his national search. As a result, Knight and his teammates saw their goals align with Steinberg’s from the start. “After (Berque was fired), players wanted an environment that was positive, fun and hard-working,” Knight told The Daily three weeks ago. “(Steinberg) came in and said the exact same things, and we had to start from ground zero to lay the foundation for
the program.” With a blueprint in place, the team began to build. When Steinberg joined the fold, Brandon also brought back Sean Maymi, the Wolverines’ former associate head coach under Berque from 2006-2011. Knight credits Maymi with installing the program’s work ethic, accountability and precise attention to detail. Still, Steinberg’s cultural renovation didn’t yield immediate results. Michigan posted a 7-17 record in 2015 — its worst season since 1992. Despite the poor record, the program’s entire outlook changed. “It was such a shock in terms of how far off we were from being a good program,” Knight said. “We went from, ‘You come to practice, you try to get away with as much as you can, then you leave and go party’ to ‘Hey, every minute of practice is a gift, and you need to come out extra, and your number one priority needs to be getting your teammate better.’ ” Because players grow up representing only themselves at tournaments and national draws, most struggle when they’re asked to buy into a team atmosphere in college. After a lackluster season, Steinberg and Maymi took a creative approach when they went back to the drawing board. The next season, they put the burden of leadership on everybody’s shoulders by redefining the role of a “captain.” All 11 players on the roster received the title, and the idea made a massive difference on the practice court. “When you practice, you’re not practicing for yourself,” Tishman said. “You’re focusing on getting your teammates better. The idea is that if all 11 guys are doing that, it’s going to come back around to help you. In theory, your tennis goes through the roof. And it has worked beyond words.” The mindset took Michigan to new heights, as the Wolverines won 21 matches in 2016 — a season that marked the team’s transformation from bottom feeder to contender. Michigan’s 14-win turnaround set a program record, and the entire roster wholeheartedly embraced Steinberg’s culture. By the end of the season, it had become an enduring staple of the program. “You support and play for each other,” Steinberg said. “It’s something bigger than yourself. (This program) takes the individuality out of tennis, which is hard because these kids have only ever experienced playing for themselves. We try to create ‘team’ each day. I did it for 12 years at Pepperdine, and I’ve done it every day here. “To me, college sports are all about pride and passion and playing for your school, so you have to show it. I tell (the team), ‘Never apologize for being passionate about something in your life.’ We don’t accept anything less.” Now, the passion in Michigan tennis is more apparent than ever. “Michigan is the only
program in the country that truly preaches team first,” Knight said. “Tennis is usually an individualistic sport, but college tennis is a completely different animal. (Michigan’s culture) is unique to Steinberg. “He’s the best coach in the country.” *** Just two years after Steinberg’s hiring, No. 24 Michigan put its growth to the test against sixthseeded Wake Forest in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. The Demon Deacons — who entered the match having already eclipsed the 30-win milestone — were widely expected to cruise past the Wolverines. To their surprise, Michigan came out strong, riding its team-first philosophy to a hard-fought doubles point. Moments later, the Wolverines took fourth singles via retirement. Wake Forest eventually battled to back to complete the comeback on its home court, but Michigan boarded its flight home with no shortage of takeaways. “We went right to the end with them,” Steinberg said. “After that, I could see we were really ready to move forward. That was a big turning point because you could see the guys believing they belonged for the first time.” From there, the Wolverines knew the future was bright. With the infrastructure in place, Steinberg began to score big wins on the recruiting trail. When Steinberg gets on the phone with a high school prospect, the first topic of discussion is his program’s culture. He knows it’s not for everyone, and finding the right puzzle pieces while recruiting is crucial to his team’s success. After working with a mixture of Berque’s recruits and his own, Steinberg was finally able to bring in personalities that aligned with his philosophy. Headlined by bluechips Andrew Fenty and Patrick Maloney, Steinberg put together the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class in 2018. In Knight’s eyes, that’s the key to taking the next step. “The only rebuilding that ever has to be done is personnel,” Knight said. “The culture is there — with that comes not only a good work ethic in everything you do, but inclusivity. When freshmen come in, it’s like a family — whereas before (Steinberg’s arrival) it was an environment of hazing and upperclassmen being different. Now it’s inclusive.” Though Knight and his classmates have graduated, their posters still hang in Ann Arbor’s Varsity Tennis Center, a reminder of their impact on the program. By buying in from the start, Knight’s class paved the way. Putting the team first takes sacrifice. It takes humility. It takes emot ion-
al strength. But above all else, it can’t be done without giving. Steinberg is no stranger to that. After Pepperdine won the national championship in 2006, his players knocked on Dr. Watson’s door to call in a favor. When the team was invited to the White House for a celebration, the players went to Watson at Steinberg’s request to ask if they could fly back two days earlier than scheduled. When Watson asked why, the players told him they wanted to go to an underprivileged side of town and run a daylong tennis clinic for kids. Fresh off their championship, the Waves coordinated and carried out the children’s tennis clinic. After spending a humid day on makeshift communal courts, the team joined the families for dinner at a cluster of tattered public picnic tables. The parents — who could barely afford food for their own children — prepared a potluck meal to express their heartfelt gratitude. “They were there all day long encouraging those kids,” Watson said. “Not to become professional tennis players, but to understand the value of the sport and know how it can build relationships with other people.” The next day, President George W. Bush praised the young men for giving back. “That’s what champions do — they give back,” Bush said in a presidential address. Though Knight will never sit in the Oval Office, he reflected on a similar takeaway. “This culture teaches giving, and through giving you get,” Knight said. “The end goal with setting up that kind of culture wasn’t just to have a good tennis team, it was to become better men who lead better lives. Now we’re seeing the fruits of that success.” *** Today, Steinberg’s office calendar marks February 2019. The Wolverines — fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance last season — are locked and loaded with talent throughout the roster. The synergy of the program’s culture and increasingly-talented recruiting classes could propel Michigan to the same heights Steinberg reached at Pepperdine sooner rather than later. “Our goal here is to win Big Ten
cha mpionsh ips and national championships,” Steinberg said. “That’s what Michigan is all about. With the support, the facilities, and everything else we have here, that has to be the goal. It was a big part of the allure of this job. The academics, the college town, the name, the block ‘M’ — it all means so much.” Since the day Steinberg arrived, the team-first attitude has grown contagious. Once players embraced it as fact, wins started to come. They kept coming, and they haven’t stopped since — the Wolverines boast a 66-21 record over the last three seasons. But unlike most of the nation’s top programs, Michigan isn’t operating on a title-or-bust mentality. Instead, winning admittedly takes a back seat to the program’s philosophy. “I learned selflessness and how rewarding it truly can be,” Knight said. “If you give everything, you get a million times more than what you would’ve gotten and you truly get better. That’s something that truly applies to life, to relationships, to family, to random people on the street. “Obviously, the goal is to win championships. That’s Michigan. But the end goal is to become better people, and that has certainly changed my life.” After 27 years of coaching, the tennis court has naturally become Steinberg’s classroom of life. It may lack desks and chairs, but it isn’t missing the most important component: a teacher devoted to his craft. “That’s the secret: This (culture) makes you a better person,” Steinberg said. “I feel like that’s the most important part of my job — helping these kids understand life’s not about ‘you’ as much as it’s about being unselfish, giving and caring about others, whether it be on the tennis court or anywhere else in life.”