Thursday, June 20, 2019
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
inside
District judge files response to ‘U’ petition
NEWS
Flu vaccine Researcher leads team in finding universal influenza vaccine
Response criticizes attempts from ‘U’ lawyers to excuse Schlissel from court
>> SEE PAGE 3
OPINION
Pura Vida Anne Else highlights Costa Rica’s commitment to environmental policy >> SEE PAGE 5
ARTS
Hippo Campus The band sat down with the Daily after their energetic Bonnaroo performance >> SEE PAGE 6
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
My name
Subarna Bhattacharya shares sentiments behind her Bengali name, which translates to “the color of gold”
>> SEE PAGE 9
SPORTS
Baseball Team is one win away from College World Series Final
>> SEE PAGE 12
INDEX Vol. CXXVIII, No. 114 © 2019 The Michigan Daily
NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION ............................... 4 ARTS...................................... 6 MiC......................................... 9 SPORTS................................ 10
michigandaily.com
ALEX HARRING & CLAIRE HAO
Photos by DARBY STIPE/Daily & BARBARA COLLINS The University students and other demonstrators are arrested and given citations during a sit-in in President Mark Schlissel’s office on March 19 (left) and attend their arraignment hearing on Monday morning (right).
Climate Strike demonstrators appear in court for trespassing Arraignment results in Sept. 9 date for pre-trial BARBARA COLLINS & CLAIRE HAO
Summer Managing News Editor & Summer News Editor
On Monday morning, six demonstrators charged with trespassing from March’s Climate Strike appeared in court for the first time. All parties pleaded not guilty to the charges and the pre-trial was set for Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. On March 15, 2019, 10 individuals, including two minors, were arrested and given citations for trespassing following a seven-hour sitin at Fleming Administration Building. Demonstrators, who came from the Washtenaw County Climate Strike earlier that day, refused to leave until administration addressed a list of demands, which included a one-hour public meeting with University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel in which questions regarding the University’s plan to address climate change and
carbon neutrality were not screened beforehand. In a March 21 letter addressed to members of the Climate Action Movement, Schlissel responded to the requests of the demonstrators, where he said the University has been “actively engaging” with community members and Climate Action Movement organizers on issues regarding carbon neutrality. “To achieve our shared goal of carbon neutrality as soon as possible, it is essential that the community engage in identifying and understanding the challenges and contributing to the solutions necessary to convert from fossil fuels to non-carbon sources of energy,” Schlissel wrote. “I will continue to look for opportunities to engage with your membership and the broader community on these issues — everyone has a role to play.” Following the Climate Strike, Schlissel held a public meeting on April 9 to discuss the University’s actions to address climate change. Issues discussed at the meeting included divesting from fossil fuels and the makeup of the President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality, which includes energy industry representatives. Two months after the Climate Strike, all individuals except the
two minors were charged with trespassing misdemeanors. The trespassing complaint is identical in all cases, and the maximum sentence that can be imposed is $250 fine and/or 30 days in jail. When asked about the decision to charge demonstrators, University spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen wrote in an email to The Daily the University does not decide whether to bring criminal charges and directed The Daily to the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office. “Thousands of students participate in the climate action rally without incident,” Broekhuizen wrote. “Hundreds others protested in the president’s office in the following weeks. Still others addressed the Board of Regents in public meetings. Only a small number are now facing charges because they refused to leave the Fleming Building.” In response to why the office pressed charges, Steven Hiller, chief assistant Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney, wrote in an email to The Daily the prosecutor’s office cannot discuss the facts of a case before it is adjudicated to respect the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
Read more at michigandaily.com
Summer Managing News Editor & Summer News Editor
U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow responded to an order from the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday afternoon, criticizing University of Michigan attorneys for not participating in “good faith” and accusing the University of going “extraordinary” lengths to ensure President Mark Schlissel did not have to publicly appear in court during the ongoing Doe v. University of Michigan lawsuit. “The University’s attorneys appear to be more concerned with keeping the President out of the public eye than with prompt resolution of this case and providing a fair process for adjudicating sexual misconduct claims,” Tarnow wrote. Tarnow’s response is filed after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a last-minute appeal by the University to delay the June 13 public settlement conference for the lawsuit at which Schlissel was scheduled to appear. In the response, Tarnow addressed a University petition filed at the same time asking the Sixth Circuit Court to not require Schlissel’s attendance and move the conference off-the-record and closed to the public. Deborah Gordon, the plaintiff’s attorney, has not yet filed a response. In the order, Raymond Kethledge, circuit judge for the U.S. Sixth District Court of Appeals, requested responses from Gordon and Tarnow within 10 days and wrote the settlement conference would be delayed until further notice.
Read more at michigandaily.com
2 NEWS
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
‘U’ hosts STEM diversity plenary SEISMIC conference holds first annual summer meeting MELANIE TAYLOR Summer News Editor
SEISMIC, a coalition of American research institutions striving to create more accessible STEM curriculum to underrepresented minorities, held its first annual summer meeting this week on the University of Michigan campus. Funded by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan foundation in November, the project’s emergence culminated this week in a conference, uniting all participants for the first time. Over four days, nearly 40 representatives from the 10 participating universities, which collectively enroll about 350,000 students, gathered to discuss Sudoku Syndication how to foster a mindset in which STEM is a viable course of study
for anyone who wishes to pursue it. SEISMIC director Tim McKay, University professor of physics and associate chair for the undergraduate program, welcomed the group Tuesday evening at the Michigan League. McKay explained he and others had been traveling since February to nine of the 10 participating schools, meeting with representatives and introducing the project to administrators and students. “The most important goal of this … in-person meeting, is to make this collaboration real,” McKay said. “To form the kinds of personal connections and commitments to one another which will let us accomplish some of our most ambitious dreams.” McKay said he realized over the course of his travels how difficult STEM diversity improvement would be to achieve.
Read more at michigandaily.com
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Activists rally to #ImpeachTrump Community members congregate on Diag Saturday afternoon
Eli Savit, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School and a 2020 Washtenaw Prosecutor candidate. He discussed Trump’s past actions and controversies, like “Trump University,” before calling for Trump’s impeachment. KRYSTAL HUR “It is crucial for the rule of law Daily Staff Reporter http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ that we do this,” Savit said. “If we do not impeach Donald Trump, On Saturday afternoon, we are sending the message not about 50 people gathered in just today, but for generations front of the Federal Building that if you are rich, and if you are in Ann Arbor for the Rally to powerful ... then you are above Impeach Trump. The event the law. That you won’t be held was part of a nationwide day, to account. And not only that — titled #ImpeachTrump: Act to that nobody will even try.” He concluded by urging Defend Democracy, planned by Move On, By the People and Congress to take action. “Donald Trump took an oath other organizations including to faithfully execute the laws of Women’s March. P. Deisha Myles, community the United States. So did every activist and anti-fracking member of Congress,” Savit said. advocate, acted as lead organizer “Donald Trump has failed that oath. Congress needs to abide it.” of the rally. Myles spoke about her “I’m hoping that we can persuade Debbie Dingell to advocacy work for immigration support the impeachment and indigenous rights before inquiry begun by Rashida Tlaib,” reading from a speech she had Myles told the Daily. “The longer previously presented to State (Donald Trump is) in office, the Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia. “I’m the granddaughter of a more people are being genuinely survivor of an Indian boarding hurt.” Before the event, attendees school and I see alarming gathered to make signs. parallels to that time and today Afterwards, they stood by the … Going after the children to street holding up their signs. break the spirits of the adults Attendees took turns using a forced them to comply to a U.S. megaphone to lead chants, such nationalistic agenda,” Myles as “Call Pelosi, impeach Trump,” said. “It’s history repeating and “Trump is not above the itself.” law.” Read more at michigandaily.com The event then officially began with a speech from
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Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS 3
Ford School responds to latest phishing scam at ‘U’
Officials warn hisers pretend to be staff members inquiring about student ability KRYSTAL HUR
Daily Staff Reporter Illustration by Kathryn Halverson
‘U’ researcher on team close to discovering flu vaccine Professor leads study examining potential universal vaccination for influenza MICHAL RUPRECHT Daily Staff Reporter
Earlier this month, a team of scientists published a study in Nature Medicine journal that could lead researchers closer to a universal vaccine for influenza, commonly known as the flu. Principal investigators include Aubree Gordon, University of Michigan assistant professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health, and Florian Krammer, professor of microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Krammer said the team found that a region of the flu virus is conserved from strain to strain that could provide protection for the human immune system. The conserved region is called the membrane proximal stalk and it’s part of the hemagglutinin, which has a head section that changes frequently. When stalk antibodies bind to this region, the virus is neutralized by blocking fusion of viral and endosomal membranes, which inhib-
its development of the HA. There are multiple mechanisms involved in the pathway and the researchers still don’t know which mechanism is most important for protection in humans. “The head changes all the time. That’s why we have to get the flu shot every year because there’s so much variation … That the antibodies that recognize this year’s flu shot usually don’t recognize next year’s,” Krammer said. “If you want a vaccine that gives protection for a long time, you can’t target the head, but targeting the stalk might be an option.” The eight-month observational study relied on data from a cohort in Nicaragua. Krammer said the lab developed specialized assays, known as an investigative procedure, to conduct analysis of the samples from the cohort. One of the assays his lab used is called an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which was a binding assay used to determine antibody titers or concentrations.
Krammer said the binding assay could be done quickly and easily standardized, which could allow studies in the future to use the same assay. In an email to The Daily, Fatima Amanat, a graduate student at ISMMS, one of the researchers on the project, said the team’s research is important because the flu is easily transmitted. “Translational research is extremely essential,” Amanat said. “Research that allows us to take what we learn from small animal models and understand immune response in humans is very important nowadays.” Krammer said his study could lead to a universal flu vaccine—a vaccine that could provide better and longer-lasting protection against multiple subtypes of the virus. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases outlined the importance of creating a universal influenza vaccine in a paper last July. Krammer added the study was partially funded by NIAID.
Amanat agrees with Krammer and said the study will provide an outline for other scientists that plan to test new vaccines. “Influenza virus is a huge public health burden and despite having annual vaccination, influenza virus can cause widespread disease,” Amanat said. “It is great to now finally have a vaccine strategy in place that targets the stalk domain of HA and provides protection in humans.” Krammer said another benefit to a universal flu vaccine would mean greater accessibility for a larger group of people. He said other diseases like measles and smallpox have higher vaccination rates than the flu, with it becoming universal, this might lead more people to consider vaccination. “There’s people who are really anti-vaccination and I don’t think they’re easy to convince to get vaccinated,” Krammer said. Read more at michigandaily.com
The University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy was the target of phishing scams this past week after Public Policy students, faculty and staff received an email last Tuesday from phishers masquerading as staff members inquiring about their recipients’ schedule availability. In an email statement to The Daily, Sol Bermann, University interim chief information security officer, explained phishing is a phenomenon that affects organizations worldwide. “Phishing remains the most common method used by cyber-criminals to get unauthorized access to systems and data,” Bermann wrote. “U-M, and organizations the world over, are constantly being plagued by phishing attacks. There is no technical way to stop them all. Instead, we rely on the University community to understand how to identify and avoid phishing at work and in their personal lives.” In an interview, Bermann told The Daily while Google’s barriers act as the biggest defense against phishing attempts, the University supplements such systems with its own tools, like a Chrome extension built by Bermann’s team and Information Assurance. “We have a lot of threat intelligence tools that feed our network defenses, like our firewall or intrusion detection devices,” Bermann
said. Bermann also said while phishing attempts have become sophisticated over the years, they are not nuanced enough to assume phishers would specifically target the Public Policy School or even higher education institutions as a whole. Part of the reason, he explained, is because they’re often sent by the millions. He expressed his belief the recent Public Policy School phishing storm is part of such a widespread attack. “Those seem more of a routine phishing attack, and I don’t know that it’s just attacking or just targeting Ford,” Bermann noted. So far this year, the University has released 26 phishing alerts. One email impersonated the University Library, while another appeared to be from University President Mark Schlissel. As far back as 2005, students and staff fell victim to phishing emails that asked for their TCF Bank account information. There have been several more instances reported over the years, such as fake payroll emails in 2018 and spear phishing attacks that targeted University staff in 2013. To help prevent such attacks, the University implemented Duo Two-Factor Authentication early last year and has a section titled “Phishing and Suspicious Emails” on its Safe Computing website. Read more at michigandaily.com
4 OPINION
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
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ZACK BLUMBERG | COLUMN
F
or many Americans, the U.S. trade war with China has been fought abstractly. Stock prices dropped, and reports have come out explaining how tariffs on Chinese imports will raise the price of everything from iPhones to washing machines. Within America, the conflict hasn’t escalated beyond tariffs and empty threats, despite being, in part, a conflict over global political ideologies. However, 8,100 miles away from Washington, the trade war and America’s shifting approach toward China have absolutely massive implications for the future of the Chinese autonomous territory of Hong Kong. The region has existed in a state of political limbo for the past two decades, and increasing tensions between China and the West could mean the end of Hong Kong as we know it. Hong Kong, home to over 7.4 million people, is a global business hub with a complicated past. After the first Opium War ended in 1842, the Qing Dynasty was forced to give the island of Hong Kong — at that point little more than a fishing village — to the victorious British. The British gradually expanded their control beyond the original island, and eventually pressured China into signing a 99-year lease (traditionally the longest possible real estate lease) in 1898, which gave the British full control over the territory. Largely politically autonomous and culturally British, the island prospered as an outpost of Liberal democracy. In the 1980s, with the 99-year lease nearing its end and no specific plan for the future of Hong
As the west turns on China, Hong Kong’s future hangs in the balance Kong in place, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping introduced the “one country, two systems” idea. Under Deng’s plan, Hong Kong would become part of China, but would remain administratively autonomous, allowing it to operate its own government with a capitalist economic system, separate from communist China. Hong Kong has operated under this model of governance since the transfer of the territory from Britain to China in 1997. In the 22 years since Hong Kong became Chinese, the “one country, two systems” model has been largely effective, if not perfect. Hong Kong has continued to prosper financially, and it is ranked as the freest economy in the world. Simultaneously, the government has remained largely protective of citizens’ individual rights. After thousands of protestors took to the streets in 2003, Hong Kong legislators agreed not to pass a bill which would have allowed Hong Kongers found guilty of treason, sedition, secession or subversion against mainland China’s government to be sentenced to life in prison, which would have allowed China greater control over the city-state. However, things have been changing in recent years. In 2014, Hong Kongers took to the streets to protest again after China announced they would vet candidates for Hong Kong’s 2017 elections, infringing on the region’s freedom. In those 2017 elections, Carrie Lam, a pro-mainland candidate, was elected Chief Executive of Hong Kong despite being unpopular in the city. This is largely
thanks to the backing of the mainland Chinese government, which controls many seats on the election committee. After being elected, Lam talked about “The work of uniting society,” along with other ideas which stand in direct contrast to the “one country, two systems” ideology. Now, another round of protests have arisen after Hong Kong’s government announced their intent to pass a bill allowing certain criminals to be extradited to mainland China for trials. Lam, in a style typical of the mainland Chinese Communist Party, refused to even engage with the protestors on a political level, saying they were acting like spoiled children. All of China’s recent encroachments on Hong Kong’s sovereignty, combined with a rapid anti-China shift among many Western powers, puts Hong Kong’s future in a very precarious position. Though China consistently prioritizes cultural and societal unity over both human rights and diversity, it used to make sense for China to respect Hong Kong’s autonomy. When China first reclaimed Hong Kong in 1998, it was not the economic superpower it is today. That year, China was seventh in the world in GDP, well behind the United States and a host of its allies: Japan, Germany, Britain, France and Italy. At a time when the world was still unquestionably dominated by capitalist liberal democracies, having a prosperous capitalist, cosmopolitan outpost was a reputation booster for China, a country known for repressive communism and economically totalitarian five-year plans. By keeping
Hong Kong open, China was able to attract global investment to the city, which is today home to the highest concentration of ultra high-net-worth individuals (defined as a net worth over $30 million) in the world. It is also considered an “alpha+” level world city, meaning it is classified as a “city which is a primary node in the global economic network” (this is the second highest ranking, after “alpha++”). However, China’s geopolitical position today is far different than it was back in 1998, a change that has drastically altered world affairs. By promoting itself as a manufacturing hub for wealthy Western nations, utilizing economic protectionism and occasionally just outright ignoring global trade rules, China has rapidly grown and accumulated wealth. Today, with the second biggest gross domestic product in the world, an ambitious list of global projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative and expanding claims over regions such as the South China Sea, China is clearly a global superpower. China’s rapid ascension means Hong Kong, which once served as a valuable attraction for western powers, is now more of a liberalist thorn in the country’s side. Now, with the U.S. leading a Western charge against China over their illicit trading practices, China has less reason than ever to worry about the west’s perception of liberalism in Hong Kong. When analyzing the political future of Hong Kong, it is important to consider the geographical realities of the situation. Though Hong Kongers firmly identify as being from Hong Kong, not China, as evidenced by their
history of large-scale protest against Chinese encroachment on their rights, and although the city is culturally and economically quite Western, Hong Kong’s defining feature is its location. Ultimately, the city is still an island located just across the river from mainland China. In any dispute over the political future of Hong Kong, China, with its large army, deep resource pool and geographical position will have the upper hand against both the West and Hong Kong itself. Taking everything into account, it is clear that Deng’s idea for “one country, two systems,” with a Hong Kong largely free of Chinese political influence, will soon be a thing of the past. As China continues to expand and flex its geopolitical strength, how much influence it will exert over Hong Kong is now the relationship’s major issue. China has both grown more powerful and become more repressive in recent years, but Hong Kong is still an economic and political bright spot, even if it is not as crucial as it once was. With that in mind, China will likely act cautiously when approaching Hong Kong, with the goal of limiting its autonomy without causing too great a global uproar. China will likely not touch Hong Kong’s economic freedoms, a major component of what makes the city so attractive, but will work to continuously chip away at the city’s political liberalism, suppressing dissent against mainland China and forcing residents to follow communist policies. Zack Blumberg can be reached at zblumber@umich.edu.
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
AKAASH TUMULURI | COLUMN
ANNE ELSE | COLUMN
Costa Rican environmental policy is pura vida
I
n Costa Rica, there is a relaxed pace in both wild life and human nature. It is a place to truly take in the untouched world around you. When I visit, my favorite spots to explore are the empty miles of coast line, waterfalls or jungle pathways. Beaches are stripped away of human presence and footprints through the circuitous cycle of washing waves. To experience Costa Rica is to understand the beauty and importance of a place that values the natural world. This reverence for the earth can only be accomplished through the attention of people and the prevention of immense destruction that is relatively easy for humans to impose upon the natural world. I have read about the vast environmental programs that the Costa Rican government wants to implement, and it is inspiring for the rest of the world. It plans to become a plastic-free and carbon-free country through policy work and environmental determination. There have been a few conflicting prediction dates on when it will all come together, but they are currently working on steps to reach a carbon-neutral state. Costa Rica is already one of the leading countries in renewable energy. Its renewable energy sources provide the country with about 99 percent of its energy needs. This dedication to sustainable energy resources allows the country to uphold its conservation efforts. Through the environmental plan, Costa Rica projects that it will get to a point of “zero net emissions.” This means that its conservation efforts, such as reforesting and managing land correctly, will offset the amount of emissions being produced. This balancing act means that the country is limiting carbon emissions as well as taking a proactive role in the management of its expansive rainforests and beaches. In addition to its carbon-neutral advancements, the nation announced its plans to become completely plastic free by 2021. This would make it the first country to complete such a task. The country as a whole is working to replace plastics with biodegradable or sustainable alternatives in order to reduce the harmful impact of plastics in landfills and oceans. While visiting Costa Rica, I saw this reduction of plastic across several fields. I noticed national advertisements for alternatives, as well as local efforts to reduce waste. Handmade posters decorated the walls of cafés that promoted a plastic free environment. Coffee shops only provided compostable materials and cardboard straws.
OPINION 5
Family-run souvenir shops skipped plastic bags and posted up phrases like “Do you really need a bag? Say NO to plastic bags.” It was a hopeful sight to see that the Costa Rican people really supported the country’s push for environmental change. This underscores that community level passion is instrumental in fueling the drive for governmental and nation-wide policy. Some skeptics have explained that these ambitious plans will be too difficult to achieve by 2021. In an article from Vox, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, the country’s minister of environment and energy, explained that “some people have misunderstood the President’s declarations because we don’t plan to ban the use of fossil fuels, we plan to phase them out through new policies and incentives so that eventually, down the road, they will be useless.” It is clear that this will not be a one-step process of simply banning everything that stands in the way of environmental purity. Most of the country’s emissions come from the transportation sector, which is reportedly one of the hardest areas to decarbonize quickly. The high demand for transportation and private ownership could be due to the expansive lands and distance between cities. In addition to the large territory, I noticed that most roads wind through jungles and mountains, which seemingly makes it even more difficult and slow to travel by car. These long distances ultimately create a higher need for gas and thus higher rates of emissions. The government’s fix for this is to incentivize cleaner options such as electric cars in order to reduce the carbon footprint in the transportation front. From international news to local observations, it is clear that this Central American country is trying to raise awareness and care for the beautiful environment it calls home. Though some of the government’s claims are difficult to achieve without some large overhauls of emissions and product usage, the mere fact that it is instigating these changes is quite revolutionary. Costa Rica is looking to be the first country to achieve its goals and set policies and passion for the betterment of its people’s future. I only hope that the rest of the world looks to its intelligence and vigor in its strive for a sustainable nation and seeks to follow suit. Anne Else can be reached at aelse@umich.edu.
T
White art on white walls
he Met, MoMA, the DIA, even our very own UMMA: There’s one thing these so-called “high art” institutions have in common — the art is usually displayed on white walls. This is done intentionally to avoid distraction, to create a void-like space in which you can experience the art while expelling your prior biases, so you may receive each piece of art with a more open mind. Those in charge of the walls can’t seem to be influenced by their own design, however, as the problem with these white walls is that most of the art that adorns them is, in fact, white — and male. And there, again, we see the same story played on repeat, even in a world that supposedly prides itself on progressive openmindedness and being ahead of the curve. A recent study done by a group of professors looked at 18 major American art institutions — including the Met, the Art Institute of Chicago and the DIA — and found 85 percent of the artists represented at these institutions were white. 87 percent were male. Compared to the U.S. Census data — which shows only 60.7 percent of the American population self-identify as “white alone, not Hispanic or Latino” and 49.2 percent identify as male — those raw numbers are appalling. This same study found 60 percent of museum staff are women, though they only compose 43 percent of those in leadership or directorial roles. 72 percent of museum staff are white. The argument to this is that many of these museums include, and in some cases, prioritize historical collections, and American museums are inclined toward procuring European historical art, which was generally made by white, male artists. And this was a time when women and people of color were marginalized from the art community. Let’s set aside the
idea that prioritizing said European art encourages a limited view of history that legitimizes outdated Western ideals of race and gender power dynamics. Let’s instead take a look at the galleries that feature work from contemporary artists — postenlightenment era work that one would expect to be more open and representative — and we find that it isn’t. A study looking at the top 45 galleries in New York City found 78.4 percent of the artists represented by these galleries were white, 85.4 percent of the American artists were white and 70 percent of all artists were male. This is a problem that persists.
You can’t fix a problem you don’t know exists
The confusing bit is that most art schools are, in fact, more diverse and female-dominated than this. Of the 125 students studying at the Yale School of Art, 70 are women — that’s 56 percent. Our own School of Art and Design claims the “majority of our undergraduate students self-identify as women, a trend observed nationally and globally in schools of art & design.” Stamps also reported that 27.7 percent of its students identified as part of a minority group, which, while still notably white, is not over 80 percent white, and is continuing to trend up. Both the study on U.S. Museums and NYC galleries were done through crowdsourcing — taking starting points of data, such as gallery rosters or exhibition artist lists, and asking mem-
bers of the community to fill out the demographic information to the best of their knowledge. Now, this may seem like an unreliable method for procuring data, but that is not a reason to dismiss these studies. First, the numbers of both studies have been updated upon both of their releases, after having been scrutinized by the public and corrected for errors. Second, this represents at least a glimmer of data in an arena in which little to no demographic data is available. You can’t fix a problem you don’t know exists. So how do we fix this? It starts at the top. Gallery owners and exhibition curators need to make a point of procuring work from people of color and women. While many art students are a part of these minority groups, they — rightfully so — may not feel they are able to “make it” in the gallery art world and therefore decide to pursue different avenues with their degrees. Buying art from more marginalized communities emboldens those, with or without a degree, to realize their art can be on those white walls too. Art needs to be prioritized as a part of early education, which is, sadly, negatively trending with more and more art programs being cut in underprivileged communities — areas that are generally the most diverse. Galleries and museums are slowly beginning to shake this antiquated representation, but it’s not happening anywhere near quickly enough. White walls are starting to feel constricting, archaic, monotonous. So, hell, let’s paint the walls black, brown, pink or whatever color you’d like. It’s not quite the subtlety you think of in “high art,” but I’m over subtle. Those white walls could use a splash of color. Akaash Tumuluri can be reached at tumula@umich.edu.
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6 ARTS
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MUSIC INTERVIEW
ROLLING STONE
Views from ‘Roo 2019: A chat with Hippo Campus STEPHEN SATARINO Daily Film Editor
JONAH MENDELSON Daily Arts Writer
Hippo Campus opened Bonnaroo’s Saturday evening sets with an energetic performance that prevailed over the scorching heat. The Minnesota band played hits from both of their last two albums — Landmark which dropped in the winter of 2017 and Bambi that followed a year later — the sixtyminute set showing their range as a collective, while giving a taste of their development from one project to the next. After the show, all five members of the band (lead guitarist Jake Luppen, lead guitarist Nathan Stocker, bassist Zach Sutton, drummer Whistler Allen, trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson) sat down with The Daily to talk about the evolution of their sound, their first musical influences and their band’s code of conduct in the event of mass hysteria. The Michigan Daily: How does playing at a massive festival like Bonnaroo compare to a smaller, more intimate show? Zach Sutton: I think you answered your own question. It’s definitely less intimate at a festival. At a show, especially at a smaller
show with a smaller venue, smaller attendance, you have the opportunity to be more subtle, more intimate, more … quiet, even, whereas at festivals you kind of have to keep the ball rolling, keep the energy up. I can’t say I prefer one or the other, they’re both different. They’re both super fun. Nathan Stocker: One’s a buffet and one’s the main course. TMD: ‘Bambi’ felt like a big change from ‘Landmark,’ both in terms of the electronic instrumentation and the confessional themes. Would you say those changes are connected? ZS: Definitely. NS: Yes. Jake (Luppen)? What do you have to say about that? Jake Luppen: … ZS: Process, process … JL: Mmm, I don’t know, what do you guys think? ZS: Well I personally feel like there’s a correlation. We spent a lot of time separate from each other, writing Bambi with our computers, outside of the room jamming together. And that happened because of natural changes — whether that’s with our producer or just learning more about production — and then that was reflected in the lyrics and in the content because we drifted more outside of the ‘Basement,’ as we call it. JL: I think the electronic elements helped us strip things down because everything was so clean.
It allowed us to strip all the songs down to a minimal amount of instruments while still allowing them to be as loud and aggressive as we wanted them to be. TMD: Do you see that as a future direction for Hippo Campus? JL: I don’t know, I feel like we’ll probably make a record that sounds totally different from Bambi next … cause we’re in the business of making records that sound different. ZS: That’s right. JL: Every time. DeCarlo Jackson: (Mumbling a melody) Burr-pa-burr ... JL: Yeah, something like that. TMD: Speaking of future projects, Jake, you recently posted on twitter about a future demos album. You just released ‘Demos 1’ a few days ago. What will that (future album) be? Will that just be ‘Demos 2’? JL: Well, you know, what naturally follows one is typically two. (The band laughs) NS: What normally follows one? When I say I have to go to the bathroom, and they ask which number, I say number one. JL: It’s not demos three. NS: And when I say I have to go to the bathroom a few hours later, they don’t ask, they know. He’s going number two. TMD: What track would you say you’re the most proud of? ZS: In our discography?
TMD: Yeah. ZS: I like “Warmglow” the best. It’s different from the rest, and I fuck with it. NS: I can back that. I like different songs for different reasons, you can’t really pick one. But that’s sort of the point, to reach closer and closer to all of them completing a puzzle, but it’s never really ending, that search for the right pieces. TMD: Okay, so, you all are stranded on a deserted island. Something’s gone terribly wrong, it’s just the five of you. Who is the first to resort to cannibalism and eat the others? That or some other depraved nonsense. JL: Zach (Sutton). ZS: You think I’m gonna — NS: You’re gonna eat one of us first. Yeah. JL: Zach’s the most violent one. DJ: Or at least suggest it (cannibalism), like. NS: Yeah, you’re like, “Guys, just thinking, we’re all hungry.” ZS: Guys, I would never do that. NS: It’s not about you never doing it, it’s about you being the first one — ZS: Genuinely, I think it would be you, Nathan. You’d be like, “We’ve gotta look at the facts.” NS: The first one to be eaten would definitely be Whistler (Allen). Whistler Allen, silent until now, smiles. Whistler Allen: That’s not the question. ZS: Unfortunately, I agree with you (Nathan). (The band laughs) NS: Whistler would be eaten first. We wouldn’t be able to find DeCarlo (Jackson) ‘cause he’d be playing trumpet somewhere. ZS: ‘Cause he’d have his trumpet, undoubtedly. NS Jake would leave a breadcrumb trail of shit he brought with you. DJ: Just a whole stack of hotel cards. NS: Zach would be working out or something. And I’d be doing what I’m doing right now, analyzing all of it … Yeah you know, maybe I would do it. TMD: So what was the transition like, adding a fifth member (Jackson)? ZS: Seamless. NS: Yeah, there wasn’t really much of one. JL: (to Jackson) How’d you feel? DJ: How’d I feel? Man, I felt a whole lot of things. It was really hard. JL: Really? DJ: I mean, it’s a tough group to
play with, because you can’t overplay, but if you underplay everyone will assume you don’t exist. It was a tough in-between to find. At the same time, I tried to make the transition as easy as possible on everyone else. In the sense that I tried to only make things better — I tried my best not to get in the way too much. TMD: How did you get started with the group? How did you integrate or meet? DJ: Umm, we all went to high school, so I’ve known these guys since they sucked at writing music. NS: For the record, we still suck at writing music. DJ: You didn’t let me finish my sentence, either. TMD: Do you guys have any artists that you remember latching onto growing up? Kind of as your first influence? Your first favorite artist? NS: Enya. ZS: Was that? Because that was big for me. NS: Enya was big. ZS: The first record I bought was Black Parade by My Chemical Romance. DJ: Ah. ZS: And I stand by that as being a big influence on everything I do — extending past music. DJ: Fallout Boy Infinity On High. Pfff, crazy. JL: Led Zeppelin had this live album called How the West Was Won, and I used to listen to that all the time. TMD: Who are your guys’ favorite active artists? ZS: The Brother Brothers. I cannot get enough of The Brother Brothers. NS: The Brother Brothers are really good. TMD: I’m not familiar with them, what are they like? ZS: Folk. NS: Twins. ZS: They are brothers, come to find out. They covered Buck Meek’s song on their I think first and only record — NS: No, it’s their second record. ZS: Second record? Some People I Know, something like that … (singing) “Sam Bridges burned down to El Paso / Chasing the sound of speed.” NS: Anyway, anyone else? DJ: Oh and Nilüfer Yanya, Nilüfer Yanya. Is that how you say it? NS: (singing) “Mahhhliah, mahhliah.” Great. Great record. ZS: And Fontaines D.C. JL: Recently Club Night put out a really cool album, about a month ago, I think.
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
STYLE NOTEBOOK
ALBUM REVIEW
A word on Pride amid capitalism SAM KREMKE Daily Arts Writer
NPR
‘Diaspora’ is a talent show JIM WILSON
Daily Arts Writer
As the old saying goes, the most qualified person is not always the best for the job. We’ve heard this for much of our lives, whether it be in reference to getting an internship, a job, a seat in a graduate program or, hell, even a significant other. Someone can have every accolade to their name, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be the right fit. Sometimes, it takes more than just a shining résumé; some people just have the “it” factor. It might be their demeanor, attitude or specific skill set, but when someone has the “it” factor, it’s obvious. In the case of D.C. rapper GoldLink, he has a knack for finding the “it” factor, especially when it comes from a singer or rapper that still has a lot to prove. For much of GoldLink’s career, he has taken growing talent that has yet to see the spotlight and made amazing music with them. Take his 2017 sleeper hit “Crew” for example. He collaborated with Shy Glizzy, a rapper perpetually trapped at the brink of breakout success, and Brent Faiyaz, a silky-voiced newcomer still trying to get his feet off the ground, and together, they struck gold. Each man brought their own unique panache to the track, and this is credited to each respective artist’s hunger and desire to breakout. Now that GoldLink has risen to a higher profile, it would make sense for him to start seeking out bigger feature artists. Diaspora does see bigger names hitting the tracklist, however, Goldlink continues to put on lesser-known talent. Diaspora is an incredible collection
ARTS 7
of songs steamed in GoldLink’s sound. No one else sounds like him, and he knows it. He leans into his nasally voice and bouncy, seamless flow and finds collaborators who will augment his sound without altering it. On “Zulu Screams,” Diaspora’s energetic lead single, GoldLink takes his danceable and electronics components and fuses it with Maleek Berry’s afrobeats touch. Berry, a world star who has yet to break through to the U.S. mainstream, proves to be a perfect fit on the song. His joyous voice and exuberant production perfectly accent GoldLink’s dance-influenced sound.
Diaspora GoldLink RCA Records
Berry puts his own unique touch on the song, proving GoldLink’s ability to get the best out of collaborators. GoldLink further demonstrates this ability with outstanding songs like “Joke Ting” and “Rumble.” On “Joke Ting,” guest feature Ari PenSmith delivers an excellent hook that matches and blends in with the laid-back vibe of GoldLink’s delivery. What’s more, she even matches the tone of his braggadocious and slicktalking verse. PenSmith flexes a little bit with lines like, “‘Cause my whole squad on swole, you don’t wanna get involved / Get close, you might choke, we ain’t on a joke ting,” which perfectly drives GoldLink’s verse home. Further, on “Rumble,” GoldLink brings
on DMV rapper Lil Nei as well as Jackson Wang, solo artist and member of Korean boy band GOT7, both of whom bring lighthearted performances to an already boisterous and jovial track. Despite the prominence of newcomers on Diaspora, GoldLink also performs without assistance. Tracks like the reminiscent and chill “Tiff Freestyle” and the frantic, dextrous “Manic” both show that GoldLink is more than capable of carrying a song by himself. Surprisingly, however, GoldLink does also bring in a few high-profile artists to collaborate with him. Pusha T, Khalid and Tyler, the Creator all make appearances, but they aren’t just there to boost streaming numbers. They were all clearly chosen because GoldLink felt that they were the most fit artist for their respective songs and that no one else could do it better than them. And it’s true. Each artist has a great and personality-filled performance, with Khalid taking home the title of best feature. Replace these artists and the tracks wouldn’t have had the same synergy and dynamicism. With Diaspora, GoldLink tightens the screws from his last release, At What Cost. He crafts more enjoyable songs, varies his flows and has better beat selection. No song reaches the heights of “Crew,” but he comes close with both “Zulu Screams” and “U Say.” What’s more, GoldLink proves that his ability to find the perfect artists to fit his songs is unmatched. No feature is wasted, and no feature is unwanted. Everyone involved in the project delivers, but especially the mastermind behind the project himself, crafting an album that is distinctly GoldLink.
Let’s start this gig off by stating the obvious: The meaning of Pride Month has changed, or at least expanded, drastically. This short bit of gay dribble is not a sound-off about how Adidas shouldn’t be releasing a collection of rainbow colored sneakers that may or may not stand to benefit the community it seeks to represent in any way whatsoever. There are reasons why they should, there are reasons why they shouldn’t, there are things they could do to make it feel less exploitative and they’re going to release them anyway. Its existence serves better as a barometer of Pride and its relationship to mass commercialization than a lightning rod for social critique because, to be honest, there are too many of those to keep track. There is press circulating the dauntingly fastpaced, streetwear and sneakerfocused section of the internet detailing their choice to support LGBTQ+ athletes (the other being to quietly cut ties for a made-up reason and hope nobody notices). Articles covering it describe the move as an obvious one, but in effect congratulate them for doing so. We as consumers are unlikely to see, let alone pay any real attention to, the seemingly obligatory and phoned-in statements given by mega-corporations during the month of June. Yet, they manage to communicate something beyond their own sentiments performed in the name of self-interest — they represent the ill-matched marriage between social progressivism and our current market. It’s fascinating and soul-gouging to observe how companies posture themselves, intention-
ally or not, as morally-upright champions of discredited identities and communities. It’s also very easy to look in the rearview mirror, think about icons of queer liberation like Crystal LaBeija or Martha P. Johnson, and wonder if all their strife amounted to highly profitable identity badges and not much else. There are a lot of articles detailing exactly how rainbow capitalism works, how it spits on what the first pride parades set out to do. Detailing how vitally important it is to support queer creators, companies that actually support the community through and through and to be able to discern them from hollow attempts at a cash grab via color gradient. If you’re reading this one, odds are you’re already aware of this concern (and if not, feel free to click on some highlighted words and get yourself up to speed). The truth is that there is very little to say that hasn’t already been said in this way, and Pride Month continues to be treated as an injection of capital during a time of the year when sales are normally down. Markets prey on the marginalized, and it’s bigger than pride packs or tank tops that say Make America Gay Again on them. It’s bigger than the consumer that buys those products (really, buy the shoes if you like them, you’re not going to be sentenced to eternal damnation over a pair of Continental 80s). It’s bigger than the companies that provide those products, too — even the ones coming from the most genuine place and providing the greatest amount of support are operating in an unethical market that rewards all entities that adhere to a fashionable, adulterated and constantly shifting morality.
The meaning of Pride Month has changed, or at least expanded, drastically.
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8 ARTS
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Going all-in on ‘Rounders’ ANISH TAMHANEY Daily Arts Writer
“Rounders” is far and away the most stressful movie I have ever seen. The tightly wound caper of law student and aspiring poker pro Mike McDermott, played by a young and devilish Matt Damon (“Downsiz-
ing”), is as compelling as it is excruciating. There is a case to be made that the film’s ceaseless momentum and satisfying payoffs are the result of quirky characters and strong storytelling. However, there is a potentially more worthwhile reason “Rounders” still holds up so well: its understanding of the actual mechanics of poker. For this final installment of my series on poker hands in movies, I’ll
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take a look at how “Rounders” takes advantage of the logic of poker to sharpen its story and characters. While the previous films I discussed, “Maverick” and “Casino Royale,” missed the mark in their poker games, “Rounders” is far more reliable. It’s a poker movie that refuses to hold a viewer’s hand, clearly constructed by screenwriters (David Levien and Brian Koppelman, “Billions”) who
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
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ACROSS 1 Hogwarts professor played by Rickman 6 Monk style 11 “It’s __-win situation” 14 Groovier part of a 45? 15 Achille __: hijacked liner 16 Baseball commentator Darling 17 Brief CV 20 Ristorante rice dish 21 Votin’ no on 22 The geographic center of the 48 states is in it 24 Make music with one’s mouth closed 27 Decide that one will 29 Cargo unit 30 Spanish article 31 __ deck: cruise ship feature 32 System starter? 34 “Paper Moon” pair 36 Dessert potables 39 Quarterly Nielsen ratings periods 42 Wind up 43 Free of charge 47 Ranch nickname 48 French pronoun 50 They may hold rosés 52 Some facial decor 55 Katmandu native 56 Hard to watch 57 Indentations 59 What happens tomorrow ... and a hint to this grid’s circled letters 64 “Lord, is __?” 65 Under-the-sink fitting 66 Get ready to refinish 67 Writer Rand 68 Some globe users 69 With great passion
DOWN 1 Old conscription agcy. 2 Bethesda-based medical org. 3 Gussied up 4 Sub need 5 Preoccupies a lot 6 Moral flaw 7 Terra firma 8 Disappoint, in slang 9 1967 NHL Rookie of the Year 10 “The Tell-Tale Heart” writer 11 Salad green 12 Insignificant 13 Zen harmony 18 Boy who may be adopted 19 Took a load off 22 Kenan’s Nickelodeon pal 23 “Green Book” Oscar winner Mahershala __ 25 Van Morrison hit with the line “A fantabulous night to make romance” 26 Writer Rice
28 Thanksgiving mo. in Canada 33 Fall behind 35 Reaches after getting away, as a safe haven 37 __-FREE: contact lens solution 38 Forbes rival 39 Lesser Antilles isl. country 40 Ponderous 41 Clarify
44 Qualifying phrase 45 “Hacksaw Ridge” director Gibson 46 Tire letters 49 Brush aside 51 Go over again 53 Rembrandt van __ 54 As of yet 58 Cookbook amts. 60 Modern rte. finder 61 Tour de France time 62 Zilch 63 Make like a mole
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FILM NOTEBOOK understand the card game and its enigmatic draw. It would be one thing for “Rounders” to simply employ reasonable card game behavior. But the reason I find it so entertaining on repeat viewings is that it actually uses poker to shape its narrative. First, let’s take a look at the film’s first big hand and one of its most upsetting moments. On a confident streak, Mike ventures to The Chesterfield, a seedy, noirish hideout run by Russian mobster Teddy KGB (John Malkovich, “Velvet Buzzsaw”). In what starts out as a modest pot, Mike hits a full house, nines full of aces. After he and Teddy eventually shove, the latter flips his higher full house, aces full of nines. Not only is this a realistic hand I have been ruined by and which has ruined plenty of others in poker, but it’s one that allows Mike’s judgment to feel reasonable and foolish at the same time. He was there along with us the whole time, explaining his methodology in reading Teddy, squeezing maximum money out of him. As a result of this believable set-up, the expression Damon wears upon the realization of his defeat (and loss of $30,000) is utterly heart-sinking. The movie’s first game serves more than one purpose. It does a decent job of convincing a viewer of Mike’s gambling chops while also taking a large swing at his confidence as a player. Everything after this bad beat is the painfully tense process of Mike being lured back into the game, building back up that confidence and putting it to the test. One of the film’s less believable but thoroughly entertaining scenes is the infamous judges’ game, which is something of an institution at Mike’s law school. When Mike drops off a few papers for a professor, he can’t help but insert himself into the game. It’s not totally clear what game the judges are playing, though it seems to involve community cards, multiple rounds of betting and a low limit. After only a few moments, Mike is able to read every judge’s hand and wagers for a summer clerkship with Judge Marinachi. “Well, you were looking for that third three, but you forgot that Professor Green folded it on fourth street and now you’re representing that you have it. The DA made his two pair but he knows they’re no good. Judge Kaplan was trying to squeeze out a diamond flush but he came up short, and Mr. Eisen is futilely hoping that his queens are
going to stand up. So like I said, the Dean’s bet is $20,” he says with admirable confidence. On all accounts, this moment makes no sense. It’s impossible, even for a seasoned poker professional, to simply glance at a group of strangers and read their hands back to them. And yet, every time I rewatch it, I don’t care. The calm boldness of Damon’s line-reading is so captivating that it covers up the general ridiculousness of the situation. The scene certainly breaks the laws of reality that govern the rest of the film. It’s a cheat, and I’m OK with it, simply because it’s so rare for this movie to cut corners. When it actually happens, it’s so smoothly rendered that I can suspend my disbelief. While I can look past the improbability of the judges’ game read, the biggest flaw of “Rounders” is the tell of its villain, KGB. The hustling mobster should by all means have every part of his body language under control. Still, he can’t refrain from munching on a tray of Oreos that invariably sits next to his chip stack. From the very beginning of the movie, we see him take apart the Oreos, cookie from creme, and either eat them or discard them. And when Mike finally realizes this was Teddy’s tell all along during the final game, we can’t help but wonder why he — or anyone else — never noticed. After admitting he knows Teddy’s tell, he rips apart the mobster’s aggression in a run that is so satisfying it makes up for the stress of everything before. The reason that this obvious tell stands out so unavoidably in “Rounders” is that the movie is otherwise subtle with its gameplay. Like I said, “Rounders” takes no time to explain the complexities of Texas Hold’em. So when it drops on the audience a piece of information as glaring as Teddy’s Oreo tell, we can’t help but feel like it was unearned. While I can’t vouch for every poker movie I’ve mentioned on this series, I say without a doubt that “Rounders” is my favorite poker movie. As a nostalgic capsule of the ’90s and a story that plays by realistic poker outcomes, I return to it frequently to learn something new each time. “Rounders” above all demonstrates that for poker to succeed in storytelling, it must at a minimum abide by the way the game is really played, and at best, use the emotional swings to develop character.
“Rounders” is far and away the most stressful movie I have ever seen.
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MICHIGAN IN COLOR 9
My name: the color of gold SUBARNA BHATTACHARYA MiC Contributor
; the color of gold. In Bengali, my mother tongue, pronounced: shoo-bornah. The name given to me by my parents, recent immigrants to the Western Hemisphere, lovingly gazing down at their firstborn child in this new world. The color of gold. My memories of the first three years of my life are backlit in a warm light, created by the love of being brought up in a household of doting parents, grandparents and aunts. I was the center of my little world, seeing everything with innocence and curiosity. The color of gold. Pretty soon, I started pre-school, where I began to learn English, surrounded by my English-speaking teachers and classmates for hours at a time. There, everyone called me by the actual spelling of my name, Subarna (pronounced: soohbarn-ah). As a toddler, I obviously didn’t have the mental capacity to think anything about this difference; it was just an addition to my life, something that I went along with. Even though I spent a good deal of my day in preschool, I never truly had fun until I came home and played in my backyard with my grandfather watching me in the warmth of the afternoon, sunlight peeking through the leaves of his extensive garden. And so my life went on, with me going through my primary education, and eventually middle school and high school, all the while being known as Shuborna (or my nickname, Mumu) at home and Soobarna to the rest of the world. This was never something I questioned, even when I was old enough to realize that the English pronunciation did not align with the way my language intended it to. In fact, at one point I saw this as something to be happy about; I essentially had two identities, something to clearly distinguish my two lives of home and school. I didn’t let one part of my life into the other, and my name made sure of that. Sometime during the later stages of high school, I remember telling some of
my Indian friends that the name they had been calling me by for all these years, the name that led to silly nicknames like “subs” and “subie”, wasn’t the way my name was meant to be. When I told them the actual pronunciation of my name, they, for lack of a better term, freaked the heck out. Among many comments, one reaction that remains in my mind is one of them saying in an exasperated tone, “Shuborna? That sounds SO weird.” The comment left me feeling a bit uncomfortable, but I didn’t really dissect the interaction until later. Now, almost two years later, here is my response. No one else in this world besides my parents and I, besides the ancient language of Bangla itself, can determine what is and is not an acceptable way to pronounce my name. My name belongs entirely to myself and my long line of ancestors who have preserved the Bengali culture throughout centuries of good times and bad, through war and oppression and colonialism, and my name, , the color of gold, reflects all of these struggles; the struggles of my sevenyear-old father fleeing his village in the midst of war, the struggles of my mother as a newly married bride in Canada, separated by oceans and continents from her Mother India, the struggles of my family as they raised my brother and I in a world they had grown up only reading about and seeing on television. My name, , the color of gold, is a testament to the strength of my family as every single moment in every single one of my ancestors’ lives has led to me being where I am today. Today, in a place where the truth of my name, its authenticity, the way it was planted on this earth, is reduced to “Shuborna? That sounds SO weird”. A world where my name, , the color of gold, has its light dimmed by someone else’s own perception of the world. Since that experience, I’ve always been wondering if there will ever be a time when I can let my two lives eventually merge into one. Now, after my first year of college, I feel like that day is coming closer and closer. Throughout the past few months, I’ve found myself opening
; the color of gold. In Bengali, my mother tongue, pronounced: shooborn-ah. The name given to me by my parents, recent immigrants to the Western Hemisphere, lovingly gazing down at their firstborn child in this new world.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANURIMA KUMAR
up to the people around me more than I ever did in high school, and I’ve been struggling less and less with what people think of me or how I look as I walk down the street; as cliche as it sounds, college has liberated my mind and my spirit, bringing me closer, day by day, to accepting myself. But the question that still remains is, who actually is this “myself”, this soul that is finally being unearthed after digging through so may layers? Is she Soobarna, the name I hear most often throughout my day, or is she Shuborna, the name I’m known by only in a small fraction of my world? As I go on with my life, as I make my mark on this world, how do I want to be remembered? I’d like to think that I want to be remembered as the name that connects me most directly to my roots, the name that calls to mind the most captivating ray of sunshine hitting the earth. In an ideal world, I would have everyone call me by my true pronunciation, Shuborna. But my logical side is constantly nagging, pointing out all of the people who, for almost nineteen years, have called me by Soobarna; people who I
call my best friends, who I know will continue to be in my life for years to come. Is it fair to ask them to switch all of a sudden? While I was in the process of writing this piece, quite a few of my friends on campus asked if they should call me by the true pronunciation of my name; at first, I leaned towards letting them make the decision, saying something like, “only if you’re comfortable switching”. But I realized that this goes against everything that has been bothering me; the whole point is to empower myself, to give myself control over the way I present myself to the world. By letting others choose the pronunciation of my own name, I am continuing to relinquish the power that I had already been giving up for years, the power of defining my position in this world. All it takes is a simple correction: “actually, my name is pronounced this way.” It’s not that hard to do. Though I still feel strange doing it, I know that once that change has become universal, the world will finally know me in my purest, most golden form.
10 SPORTS
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Trio of Wolverines projected as potential second-round picks AKUL VIJAYGARGIYA
Summer Managing Sports Editor
On June 20, Jordan Poole, Ignas Brazdeikis and Charles Matthews will have a new home — that is, assuming all three are drafted on draft night. With none of them expected to come off the draft board in the first round, the former Wolverines figure to be available in the second round and even after the draft. “In the second round, you’re not drafting stars, you’re drafting guys you expect to make your team,” said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas on a conference call. “You would like to be rotation players, perhaps one day starters. But it’s pretty rare that you get to middle of the second round finding a star-caliber player. It’s not unheard of, but it’s pretty darn rare.” Bilas had high praise for Poole and Brazdeikis and believes that both have shown enough to get drafted in the second half of the night. Though Poole seemed to show more promise with his shooting and ability to pass, Bilas admired Brazdeikis’ aggressive mindset. But regardless of each player’s pros, Bilas indicated that both are still raw talents that have a long way to go before becoming a staple in the NBA. “Jordan Poole would be
probably the best prospect of the three (Michigan players), I would say,” Bilas said. “He’s a good creator, I think a good passer. Did a good job of seeing open people off of ball screens. I think he could be a secondary ball handler in the NBA and facilitate at times. But a good, solid shooter. Shot just under 40% from three, makes over 80% of his free throws. “I think Ignas Brazdeikis has a good shot of getting drafted. I’ve got him ranked right in the second round. Another guy that’s got talent, tough-minded. I think he has ability to play in the NBA. He can score, he can use either hand. He shot a pretty decent percentage from three. I think he’s going to continue to get better. One of the things I liked about him a lot is he attacks closeouts, doesn’t shy away from anything.” The oldest, and perhaps most NBA-ready, is Charles Matthews. In pre-draft workouts, he proved himself to be one of the best defensive prospects in the draft after anchoring Michigan on
that end of the f loor for the last two years. But on June 8, his journey took a turn for the worst when he tore his ACL in a pre-draft workout with the Boston Celtics. As a result, Matthews may have to play his way onto a professional league roster once he’s completed his recovery, though Bilas hopes teams will recognize his motor and defensive potential on draft night. However, with poor shooting performances during the NBA Combine backed by subpar shooting percentages as a Wolverine, Matthews’ draft stock is very much up in the air. “I was really sad to see that Charles Matthews got injured because I think he would have been drafted,” Bilas said. “It will be interesting to see whether that injury affects that. He’s well-built for an NBA player, so he’s got size, a wingspan of 6-foot-9, 6-foot-10. Can guard multiple positions. I always saw him as being a solid defender, he can switch. He’s got a good motor, plays really hard.”
I think Ignas Brazdeikis has a good shot of getting drafted.
NATALIE STEPHENS/Daily
Former Michigan guard Charles Matthews is one of the top wing defenders in the draft.
With former Michigan coach John Beilein with the Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s safe to assume that each Wolverine will get looks from their college mentor — Brazdeikis even had a pre-draft
workout with Beilein and the Cavaliers on Monday. And though nothing is guaranteed, expect at least one of the Michigan trio to have his name called towards the end of
Howard to earn $11.2 million, assistant coaching pool raised ETHAN SEARS
Managing Sports Editor
Michigan is paying its head coach less, and its assistants more. Thus is the trade-off when you lose John Beilein and hire assistants who have held head college jobs and sat on NBA benches. Juwan Howard, introduced last month as the Wolverines’ new basketball coach, will make $11.2 million over a five-year deal, per his memorandum of understanding. The deal was obtained by The Daily via a Freedom of Information Act request. Annually, Howard’s deal starts at $2 million, going up by $100,000 in each of the five years. Unlike Beilein’s contract, it
features buyouts for both parties. Should Howard be fired without cause in his first year, it will cost the Michigan athletic department $5 million. That number drops by $1 million in each year of his deal. On the other side, if Howard leaves the Wolverines “for other basketball related employment,” he will owe the athletic department half of the University’s buyout for that year. The lack of a similar clause in the deal Beilein signed last summer allowed him to leave Michigan for the Cleveland Cavaliers without any financial consequence. If Howard, who has interviewed for multiple NBA head coaching jobs, including this offseason, does the same thing, it will cost him. Though Howard’s annual salary is significantly less than the
$3.8 million Beilein was earning, Michigan upped its assistant coaching pool by $275,000. Saddi Washington, the only assistant coach retained from Beilein’s staff, saw his annual salary raised from $305,000 to $330,000. As for the new guys, Phil Martelli will earn $450,000 per year and Howard Eisley $375,000, per their memorandums of understanding. Last year, assistants Luke Yaklich and DeAndre Haynes earned $300,000 and $275,000, respectively, with Washington as the highest-paid assistant. Martelli now holds that title, in line with his long career coaching Saint Joseph’s. All three assistants are on twoyear deals, with the University holding an option for a third year.
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Michigan coach Juwan Howard is set to $11.2 million over five years with the Wolverines.
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS 11
Christan Bullock showing he belongs in the starting lineup ABBY SNYDER
Daily Sports Writer
OMAHA, Neb. – The Michigan baseball team is having a good time. They’re having so much fun, in fact, that sophomore center fielder Jesse Franklin has dubbed the ballpark where they’ve been playing their games “TD AmeriPlayground.” No other Wolverine, perhaps, is having more fun than Christan Bullock. The junior left fielder made some starts early in the season, including two against Binghamton on opening weekend as well as all three games at The Citadel. After some struggles, though, Michigan coach Erik Bakich replaced him, putting redshirt senior Miles Lewis in left field instead. But as the Wolverines have continued to fight for their season, coming up with clutch victories when they needed them most – and when they seemed least likely – Bullock has been at the center of it all. He’s been a regular starter since
late May and has played a key role in several of those clutch victories. He had three hits and scored three runs in Michigan’s defeat of Nebraska on May 25 in the Big Ten Tournament. In the two victories over Creighton in the regional, Bullock combined for a single, a double, and a home run as well as three walks and another run scored. And in the Wolverines’ win-or-gohome victory over No. 1 UCLA in the Super Regional, Bullock had a walk, a double, a triple, two runs and a stolen base. Not too shabby. “It’s exciting just to have the opportunity to do things that help the team win,” Bullock said. “I just want to play for my brothers.” As far as raw athletic ability goes, Bullock is, as Bakich puts it, “unbelievable.” He’s shown flashes of power-hitting potential and stellar defensive ability at times throughout the season. Most importantly, he’s the team’s fastest baserunner, something that’s resulted in him being used as a
pinch runner in many situations. Not to mention, he’s compiled 13 stolen bases on the season. “He’s a gamechanger with his speed,” Bakich said. “He can turn a walk into a triple within a few pitches. He’s one of those guys that when he puts it all together, I think he’s got a chance to be one of the more dynamic, explosive players, not only in the conference, but maybe in the country. I think he’s got an incredible toolset.” For Bullock, the bigger issue has been consistency. Harnessing that speed. Finding a way to control that power-hitting and being able to tap it when needed. The difference-maker for Bullock during this time of the season – and what’s helped him make the jump back into the starting nine – is discipline. He’s beginning to understand the importance of not just the games, but the practices, the meetings, the training sessions. He’s dedicated to the team, not just in the big moments, but in every moment. “Consistency is just his key to his
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Junior left fielder Christan Bullock has reemerged as a starter this postseason.
success,” Bakich said. “We’ve worked really hard on that consistency, starting in the training sessions and carrying over into the games. He’s always been a gamer, where he wants to turn it on in the game. As he’s matured in our program, he’s understood the importance of all the little things, the attention to detail.” Now, Bullock is finally seeing
the payoff of that discipline, that dedication. On the highest stage in college baseball – one of the biggest in collegiate athletics – he’s coming up huge for the Wolverines with overthe-shoulder catches, stolen bases and clutch hits in tense moments. “Being consistent always pays off,” Bullock said. “I’m just trying to do anything to help win a game.”
Erik Bakich named Coach of the Year KENT SCHWARTZ Daily Sports Writer
With the sun beating down on Creighton’s patchy turf practice field, the Michigan baseball team walked to the left field line and waited in the ranks for practice to begin. Slowly after them came the man who would run practice, dressed in the same clothes as each of the players — distinguishable by only a bright yellow string around his neck. He blew his whistle, and the players were off. While other coaches were mingling about the infield or watching the players warm up from afar, Michigan coach Erik Bakich was amidst the players, with them every step. On Saturday morning, three hours prior to the Wolverines’ first game in the Men’s College World Series since 1984, Bakich was given the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Coach of the Year Award. “It means we’ve got great players, great coaches, great support staff, great player’s parents, great coaches wives. We talk about deflecting individual
honors all the time because they’re not done by any one person,” Bakich said. “All the credit, in my opinion, goes to all the other people that make this team great and that touch our program. So it’s a nice award, and I said this when I accepted it, I accept this on behalf of our team and all the people that I just mentioned because they’re the ones who did it.” It’s always been about making something bigger for this team. In the team’s mind, this isn’t the 2019 Michigan baseball team, it’s team 153 — just another in a long line of baseball teams for the program. But don’t let Bakich’s deflection take your mind off him. He’s the one who created that culture, who sets the tone. He’s the one who tells freshman left-hander Walker Cleveland after his first collegiate win, “Remember, it’s about the team.” He’s taken those steps to make this team bigger than a group of 35 students. “You know, the first year I was here, there were no minority players on our team,” Bakich said. “Maybe this is just a personal philosophy or preference, but I just feel that at this school, especially
given its legacy, our roster should look like the United States of America.” Bakich’s talents go beyond culture setting, though, and throughout the year he’s made tough calls and spent days working with his team to put them in the position they’re in. In the middle of the Big Ten season, he switched left-hander Tommy Henry to a Saturday starter after a few games of struggling, and Henry settled back down in his new role. As the playoffs began, he dropped season-long closer, freshman right-hander Willie Weiss in favor of one of his two starting pitchers. He also dropped senior outfielder Miles Lewis from the starting lineup, who started 59 games this year, in favor of a hothanded Christian Bullock. The Wolverines may have gotten hot at just the right time. They may have caught “lightning in a bottle,” and shocked college baseball with their run, but as Bakich alternated between hitting fly balls to the outfield and gently knocking ground balls to his son twenty feet away, it was clear that Bakich was the one who put the bottle there.
ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
Michigan coach Erik Bakich has led the Wolverines to a 48-20 record this season.
12 SPORTS
Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Henry untouchable in complete-game shutout against FSU ABBY SNYDER
Daily Sports Writer
OMAHA, Neb. – Nine innings. 100 pitches. Most starting pitchers reach that number in five, maybe six innings. Seven or even eight, on a really good night. Not Tommy Henry. And not in Omaha. In the biggest game of the Michigan baseball team’s season, the junior left-hander pitched a complete game of three-hit baseball Monday, shutting out Florida State in a 2-0 victory for the Wolverines. “We got the best pitching performance of Tommy Henry’s career,” said Michigan coach Erik Bakich. “We needed a strong performance, and he gave us something magical tonight. I think we’re all just in awe.” Facing a Seminole lineup that has been especially dangerous with the long ball, to which Henry has been notably susceptible all season – the Seminoles have 81 on the season so far – pitching coach Chris Fetter helped come up with a plan to mix up Henry’s pitches and keep the ball low and around the plate all night. The plan required nearly flawless execution. And that
was exactly what Henry gave Michigan. It was a testament to the consistency and dedication that Henry has shown all season, all while battling bicep tendonitis in the second half of the season that saw him struggle with his consistency. “The first thing I think about when I think of Tommy is his discipline and consistency and how truly consistent he is throughout the year,” catcher Joe Donovan said. “That’s been Tommy the entire year. The discipline to keep the balls low in the zone, to not miss. If he does have a miss, the next pitch was – I think he shook me off after a hung breaking ball, and the next one was one of the dirtiest ones I’ve ever caught from him. “That’s him in a nutshell: keeping the ball low in the zone, pounding it, discipline, taking breaths, the whole nine yards on it, and that’s been what we’ve seen from him this entire time. That’s just Tommy Henry for you.” For Henry, the execution and mindset Monday were routine. Coming off a dominant start in the Wolverines’ eventual 4-2 victory over No. 1 UCLA, Henry was confident in the plan, and more importantly, in his pitching. “We just tried as a pitching
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Junior left-hander Tommy Henry threw a complete game shutout en route to a 2-0 victory over Florida State on Monday.
staff to come out here and do what we’ve done all year – attack the strike zone and play the numbers,” Henry said. “A great hitter is going to get out seven out of ten times, so if you attack the strike zone, you force the issue, and let the defense work, and you saw that tonight.” Henry also got plenty of help
from his defense, which seemed to be exactly where the ball fell all night, as well as from sophomore center fielder Jesse Franklin, who crushed the first pitch he saw in the top of the first inning for a towering home run that ensured Henry pitched the whole game with a lead. Pitching from ahead changed
his mindset completely. “Pitching with a lead is much easier than pitching behind or in a tie game,” Henry said. “It gives you the freedom to just attack and to watch the defense work and let them make the plays, not have to do too much. So to be able to do that from the first time you step on the mound is fun.”
Michigan one win away from CWS Final after 2-0 shutout KENT SCHWARTZ Daily Sports Writer
OMAHA, Neb. — As the number of innings played marched closer to nine, the Michigan baseball team found itself in another close pitching duel. The Wolverine offense was sputtering, but Tommy Henry was there to give them every chance they needed under the lights. The junior left-hander went all nine innings for Michigan (48-20 overall, 2-0 World Series) Monday, totalling nine strikeouts in just 100 pitches en route to a 2-0 win over Florida State (42-22, 1-1). Henry was given the benefit of playing with a lead thanks to early fireworks as sophomore center fielder Jesse Franklin swung at the first pitch offered to
him, launching a rocket to right field that sailed over the bullpen and into the upper deck for a 1-0 lead in the first inning. “Going into the game we weren’t necessarily thinking to swing at the first pitch or anything like that,” Franklin said. “As hitters in general we were just trying to look for fastballs early in the game to hit hard.” Added Michigan coach Erik Bakich: “I think any team that scores first has a little bit of a confidence and a looseness about them that allows our — the freedom of being able to take chances on the bases, to employ some different types of plays, whether it be first-and-third plays or just being aggressive on the bases.” The Seminoles attempted an answer with a leadoff double to
center field in the bottom of the first. A diving Franklin couldn’t make the highlight reel catch, and Mike Salvatore was in scoring position with no one out. But their offense floundered as three straight batters were retired. They wouldn’t get another baserunner until the fifth inning, as Henry shut down Florida State, barely breaking a sweat. Of the five batters he allowed on base, two were hit by a pitch. “It’s easy when you can trust those guys behind you and just kind of watch them work and let them make the highlight plays,” Henry said. When the Seminoles made contact, though, it would seem to always go to a Wolverine defender. Junior left fielder Christian practically stood still, letting fly balls nestle into his waiting glove.
“Coach Schnabel and Coach Brdar, the defensive positioning tonight I thought was fantastic, as well,” Bakich said. “It seemed like we had a lot of at ‘em balls tonight and that’s because our guys were standing in the right spot.” Seminole right-hander CJ Van Eyck countered with his own magic, striking out nine batters and stifling any momentum Michigan could gain. “Tommy covered up a lot of mistakes offensively tonight,” Bakich said. “Not making adjustments to some tricksters out of the bullpen, the sidearm guy and then the backwards mixer lefty.” But the Wolverines fought through their at-bats. Bullock had a nine-pitch at-bat, and the team had six at-bats with six pitches or more against Van Eyk.
All the work tired him out, and Michigan found success against him again in the fifth inning as he surpassed 100 pitches. Two straight singles from sophomore designated hitter Jordan Nwogu and Franklin put runners on the corners with one out and the game saw its first scoring opportunity since the second inning. Van Eyck struck out junior right fielder Jordan Brewer, but senior first baseman Jimmy Kerr hit a two-out single to put the Wolverines up 2-0. It was all that they needed with Henry on the mound. It didn’t matter that they struck out 17 times, it didn’t matter that Bullock had to make plays in left field and it didn’t matter that Nwogu’s fifth-inning slide into third will make its rounds all over the internet. Henry was just that good.