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Task force emphasizes grad mental health issues Committee hosts forum for Rackham community to explore personal wellness AYSE ELDES

Daily Staff Reporter

Lyss Shumaker, Alexandra Ellard and Kerrigan Fitzpatrick are three student parents at the University of Michigan.

ALEC COHEN/Daily

‘A hidden population’: Student parents advocate for better resources at ‘U’

Undergraduates face challenges balancing schoolwork and parenting ALICE TRACEY

Daily Staff Reporter

Last winter, LSA student Alexandra Ellard had to miss 10 days of class. Due to extreme weather, many Metro Detroit area public schools and facilities were closed. This meant Ellard couldn’t take her almost 2-year-old son, Oliver, to day care, and the road conditions were too dangerous to bring him along on the 40-minute drive to campus. She had no choice but to stay home. Ellard, who will be graduating this May with a General Studies degree, reached out to her professors. A few of them allowed her to attend their classes

remotely, through platforms such as BlueJeans, Skype or Google Chat. But others, she said, threatened to fail her. “There are no protective policies for undergraduate students that protect them from attendance discrepancies when it comes to not having dependent child care,” Ellard said. One of the professors who refused to accommodate Ellard taught a class on gender and organization, which Ellard needed to graduate on time. After appealing her case to the Organizational Studies department chair and talking to an ombudsman, she said she was finally allowed to pass the class.

“I had to fight to pass the class, and she still gave me a D plus,” Ellard said. “You find yourself very often having to choose whether to be a good parent, or be a good student, and that I find to be a very huge problem.” According to Ellard, whether a student parent is offered accommodations depends almost entirely on the professor. Some of her professors have been helpful, even allowing her to bring her son to class when child care was unavailable, whereas others have not been as receptive. “I’ve had professors hold Oliver during class so that I could stay,” Ellard said. “I’ve had other professors tell me that Michigan is

for the leaders and best and when I became a parent I forfeited that opportunity.” Sociology professor Barbara Anderson, who is collaborating with the University of Michigan’s Center for the Education of Women on issues surrounding student parents, said professors may not understand the situation student parents are in. “Some faculty see it as their choice to be parents, and I don’t think that’s the right way to think about it, and I don’t think it’s helpful,” Anderson said. The University does not See PARENTS, Page 2

Rackham student Julio Ferreira is finishing his second year in the College of Engineering: a critical year for a PhD student. In a few months, he will need to complete his dissertation proposal. Lately, Ferreira has been feeling overwhelmed with the workload he needs to undertake. “I really like doing what I do, but I feel like I need some outlet or something,” Ferreira said. Ferreira, through his personal life, is familiar with mental health issues. On Thursday, he attended the Rackham Mental Health Task Force’s town hall for graduate students to learn what resources were available to him. The town hall was part of Rackham’s wider efforts to address mental health issues among graduate students on campus. Registration for the town hall was at full capacity with nearly 100 attendees. The Rackham mental health task

force first informed attendees about resources available and feedback it has received on its activities. Meghan Duffy, task force chair and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, said many students are unaware of the support mechanisms in place. “One of the most common things we’ve heard is that a lot of people don’t know what resources are available,” Duffy said. Duffy also noted students and staff do not know when to utilize which resources. In addition to informing students about the available options, however, the task force is looking to make improvements regarding mental health in three areas: Rackham as a whole, departments within Rackham and individual graduate students. This year, the task force will aim to identify specific changes to make at these levels and develop a plan to support identified changes, See HEALTH, Page 3

Lecture examines relationship Program Activists talk power between religion, politics in Japan supports CAMPUS LIFE

structure, security

ACADEMICS

Visiting professor addresses complex nature of country’s history

faculty in research Center for Academic innovation launches new project, aims to promote engagement

MSA, others, highlight oppressive nature of surveillance state in the United States MELANIE TAYLOR

KRISTINA ZHENG

Daily Staff Reporter

Approximately 40 students gathered Thursday evening in the Samuel T. Dana Building to participate in a conversation surrounding the modern state of surveillance in Muslim, Arab, Southeast Asian and North African communities in the United States. LSA junior Fareah Fysudeen, MSA vice president external said the event and two accompanying events later this month are meant to cultivate responsible and effective action from the Muslim and Arab communities on campus. “The most important thing is that we’re mobilizing Muslim youth in a way that’s informative and educational and deeply looking at the social fabric of the world around us,” Fysudeen said. According to Palestinian Youth Group presenter Jenna, who requested The Daily not use her last name to protect her identity as an activist, colonialism and the subsequent Islamophobia it spurred has allowed a culture in which surveillance is accepted and normalized. See ACTIVISM, Page 3

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ALEC COHEN/Daily Levi McLaughlin, Associate Professor in the Department of Philsophy and Religious Studies at North Carolina State University, discusses the role of religioun and politics in Japan in Weiser Hall Thursday afternoon.

VARSHA VEDAPUDI Daily Staff Reporter

Approximately 50 people came to Weiser Hall Thursday afternoon for a presentation from Levi McLaughlin, Toyota Visiting Professor of Japanese Studies. The Center for Japanese Studies and the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures hosted the lecture as part of the CJS Noon Lecture Series. In his lecture, McLaughlin discussed the relationship between religion and politics in Japan. He is a professor at North Carolina State University and the author of “Soka Gakkai’s Human Revolution: The Rise of a Mimetic Nation in Modern Japan.”

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Addressing the complex nature of religion in Japan, McLaughlin shared a personal experience he had visiting Japan a few years ago while staying with his friends’ parents. “They had kept one room entirely for this huge, Buddhist altar,” McLaughlin said. “We were talking about why I was there and the topic of religion, and as he was replacing the water in the altar, he goes, ‘We’re not religious,’ and I wish I was filming this because it’s the perfect example of what it’s like to talk about religion in Japan.” He noted how religion in Japan ties into the public’s relationship with the royal family. “Many regard some access

to the royal couple as access to the divine and treat it as a life cycle,” McLaughlin said. “The events surrounding the emperor and the royal family is in a way, constituent of their own identities.” Additionally, McLaughlin said there are other religious groups such as Buddhists, Christians and New Religions branched under the Liberal Democratic Party who impact politics in the country. He said these groups influence legislation, mobilize votes, create power for politicians and impact public discourse. McLaughlin also discussed specific religious groups such as Jinja Honcho and the Soka Gakkai. He said these groups

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have the power to possibly disrupt the government in its current state. Rackham student Sophie Hasuo, who does research in the Center for Japanese Studies, said the lecture challenged her understanding of Japanese national belonging. “It complicated the whole religion and politics division that you can connect to other regions as well,” Hasuo said. “It brought a human centered perspective to a really complicated topic that only scholars grapple with.” Allison Alexy, Women’s Studies and Asian Language and Cultures assistant professor, said the lecture taught her more about the interaction of politics and religion in Japanese culture.

In an effort to broaden public engagement, the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation is launching a new project support program titled the Public Engagement Faculty Fellowship. The new project will provide an opportunity for faculty — regardless of discipline or prior public engagement experience — to work on projects aimed at engaging the public with the guidance and support of the CAI and other units across campus. The fellowship comes as part of President Mark Schlissel’s Faculty Public Engagement initiative, which he announced in 2017. Rackham student Kimberly Ransom, who has done work with public engagement, noted the importance of work that involves people outside of academia. Ransom currently researches Black childhood in and around the formerly segregated Rosenwald Schools in rural Alabama. “I think public engagement is so important, particularly around scholarship, because it allows you to put research into action, and it allows you to use scholarship to bridge knowledge within academe with community knowledge,” Ransom said.

NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 CLASSIFIEDS................5

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News

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MONDAY: Looking at the Numbers

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WEDNESDAY: This Week in History

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FRIDAY: Behind the Story

B EHIND THE STORY Every Friday, one Daily staffer will give a behind the scenes look at one of this week’s stories. This week, LSA sophomore Parnia Mazhar on her story “Hundreds gather for ‘No War On Iran’ demonstration”: “I think the most powerful aspect of the event was hearing the different speakers. It ranged from students to veterans to faculty members, and each of them had personal experiences relating to war with the U.S. and the Middle Eastern region and you could definitely see the reaction of the attendees and the demonstrators and how much they resonated with the speakers.” “It was really cool to see the hundreds, almost a thousand, people that were there, especially because it was very cold outside. It was in the afternoon/early evening so I’m sure that everyone had other things that they could have been doing so the fact that they chose to stand out there and support a cause they’re really passionate about was really cool to see and it definitely shows the power that people can have regarding issues, even if it is on an international scale, you can always exercise your right to protest.”

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I think that working-class people in the United States have more in common with Iranian working-class people than they do American billionaires. We should be standing in solidarity with the families, the innocent people who are living in Iran, who will die due to our government’s actions in their nation — our illegal actions in their nation.”

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LSA sophomore Noah Streng at the ‘No War On Iran’ demonstration

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PARENTS From Page 1 maintain statistics on the number of student parents on campus — many choose to not self-report, Ellard said, and the most recent survey information that is publicly available is from 2005. The Center for the Education of Women has estimated student parents make up about 1.5 percent of the student body, with the majority at the graduate level, according to CEW Director Tiffany Marra. Nationally, student parents make up a significant population of college students, representing more than 1 in every 5 undergraduates. About 70 percent of those student parents are mothers. Of the 3.8 million undergraduate student parents in the country, approximately 17 percent attend public,

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4-year universities like the University of Michigan. “Certainly there’s a large enough population, at the undergraduate level, even, where it shouldn’t be ignored,” Marra said. Marra said student parents face large-scale, systemic challenges on campus, and their lack of visibility inf luences the way the University allocates its resources and offers support. “There seems to be a perception on campus that students here, their life is committed to just school, and that they don’t have responsibility outside of school, which just isn’t true for students with children,” Marra said. “They’re a hidden population. Being hidden, people don’t think about you first. They expect you to accommodate to the system that’s been built for the majority.” According to Anderson, the University has been reluctant to take action

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on behalf of student parents, in part because the administration has little idea how many student parents attend the University and hasn’t taken many steps to find out. “They want evidencebased programs, which is a good idea in general, but they don’t know how many there are and they aren’t being very innovative in finding out how many there are, so it’s kind of like you run around in a circle,” Anderson said. “They need to think about it more seriously.” Anderson added the University has been active with its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts but tends to talk about identities students hold as separate from one another. “A lot of the problems and challenges people face are all interconnected,” Anderson said. “They’re related to older students, they’re related to students who have gone back to school, they’re sometimes related to race, and they are related to low socioeconomic status. You can’t effectively talk about all these things in isolation.” CEW works closely with student parents, offering confidential counseling and advocating for students with children. In supporting student parents, one issue CEW focuses on is affordability. For the last 50 years, the center has offered a scholarship to students who have gaps in their education or have dependent children. According to Marra, CEW gave out about half a million dollars through the scholarship last year, and expects to disburse $600,000 this coming year. She estimates more than 40 percent of qualified applicants

receive the scholarship, with an average award of $7,000 each. LSA student Kerrigan Fitzpatrick, who will graduate in May with a degree in psycholog y and lives with her daughter in Ann Arbor, said she’s generally impressed by the University’s financial resources, though she is unable to account for her dependent child in her financial aid applications. Fitzpatrick said one helpful scholarship is the Office of Financial Aid’s child care subsidy. With the high cost of child care in Ann Arbor, however, the subsidy doesn’t quite make ends meet. “It’s such a huge help, but the only thing is it covers half a semester’s worth of day care, and for a day care that’s the cheapest I found in Ann Arbor,” Fitzpatrick said. Child care is a central concern for student parents, and isn’t easy to find. Ellard noted the Towsley Children’s House on Central Campus has a two-year waitlist and gives preference to graduate students. She agreed the child care subsidy has been a big help with paying for day care for her son, though she said last semester the funds were delivered a month late. The Office of the Provost also allocates “emergency funds” to CEW, which can be used to support student parents. Ellard said labeling these scholarships “emergency funds” on the Students with Children website is misleading, because many students might not realize it applies to them. “The biggest problem is that financial aid for student parents is categorized as emergency aid,” Ellard said. “If I’m a freshman, and I’m a parent, I had a kid in high See PARENTS, Page 3

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PARENTS From Page 2 school, and I’m looking at that website, I’m not thinking that me having a child is an emergency.” In general, Ellard said it was challenging to find sources of financial aid through the University when she returned to school as a student parent. “It was damn near impossible to get financial aid without making an unbelievable amount of phone calls and asking the same questions over and over and over again,” she said. “I’m really blessed to have parents who have helped support me and to have a boyfriend who can work and who has a degree and a full-time job, but I know there’s plenty of parents out there who don’t.” The high cost of living in Ann Arbor can also present a challenge when it comes to supporting a family. Especially because child care is so expensive in Ann Arbor, Marra said many student parents may choose to live elsewhere and commute, adding stress to their academic lives. “Now they’re a commuter, as well as a student with a kid, which is now two challenges that can get in the way of their academic success,” she said. For student parents who do live in Ann Arbor, typical student housing often isn’t the best fit. Fitzpatrick, who found out she was pregnant between her sophomore and junior years, took a year and a half off, then found housing with three other women near Main Street after returning to school. She said the house was not an ideal environment for her young child. Fitzpatrick now lives in family housing in Northwood, which she says is a better living situation for her daughter. Senior Associate Director for University Housing Amir Baghdadchi said Northwood IV and V offer family-friendly amenities such as multiple bedrooms, in-unit washers and dryers, school buses, playgrounds, community centers and close access to one of the University’s day care centers. One of the main benefits, he said, is a vibrant community of kids — there’s even trick-or-treating on

Halloween. “If you’re a kid, the action’s not at Stadium, you’re not going to do anything down there,” Baghdadchi said. “We want to make sure that from their point of view, it’s a rich, interesting experience.” Though Fitzpatrick and her daughter have benefited from Northwood family housing, she said it’s difficult to pay her $1,200 monthly rent as a single mom. “It’s so nice, there’s kiddos running around, it’s so quiet, it’s an ideal family housing, but it’s so expensive,” Fitzpatrick said. Finances aside, another major concern for student parents is balancing multiple commitments. LSA student Lyss Shumaker — who transferred to U-M in 2017, took time off for her pregnancy, and returned in 2018 when her daughter, Violet, was 9 weeks old — said she almost dropped out. “It was so difficult to balance being a new parent and being a full-time student,” Shumaker said. “I remember being up in the middle of the night with her because she was still a newborn, and I was just studying stats.” Shumaker, who will graduate in May with a degree in psychology, said extracurricular meetings are difficult to schedule because she’s taking care of a young child with her own needs and an early bedtime. “Sometimes it can be hard for other students to understand the extent of the responsibilities,” Shumaker said. “For example, if we have a project that we need to work on, it can be hard to be like, well I have a one-hour slot here.” In brainstorming ideas for how the University could better accommodate student parents, Ellard said it’s important to confront deepseated misconceptions about what a successful Wolverine looks like. “I think it’s way more political than anything, I don’t think it really has to do with resources,” Ellard said. “I hate to say it, because I love U of M and I bleed maize and blue, but I really think it’s the stereotypical UMich snobbery of, ‘You have to be a certain type of person that goes here.’ They preach their diversity,

News but I feel like their diversity has a boundary.” Building a community for undergraduate student parents In light of the lack of sufficient support described to The Daily by undergraduate student parents at the University of Michigan, students with children are advocating for their needs on campus, bolstered by the Center for the Education of Women. LSA students Alexandra Ellard, Lyss Shumaker and Kerrigan Fitzpatrick are moving forward with advocacy on campus, building community among undergraduate student parents and pushing for greater support from the University. As student parents themselves, Ellard, Shumaker and Fitzpatrick, alongside other student parents, are focusing on expanding available resources and

needs together. “As we find each other in the dark corners of the University, we’re trying to build a community,” Shumaker said. “We had our first meet up a few weeks ago, and it was small, but one of the goals that we’re trying to accomplish is just, let’s start with the stories, let’s start with the experiences of student parents and see where the needs truly are.” Unfortunately, Ellard said, it can be hard to recruit student parents to the group because many are hesitant to come forward, and CEW cannot reveal names since its counseling is confidential. “Because of the social stigma on campus about having children, and the fear of being treated differently by professors and administration, a lot of parents don’t identify as parents because they just don’t want people to know,” Ellard said. Ellard’s dream is to launch a nonprofit supporting student parents at U-M,

If Michigan is for the leaders and best, and single moms and parents in general are some of the hardest workers ever, why are we not making this more of an atmosphere where parents are welcome? making sure future student parents feel welcome on campus. They are working to establish a group for undergraduate students with children. Shumaker said during her first semester she felt as if she were the only student parent at U-M. “There was no network of other student parents that I could reach out to,” Shumaker said. “When I transferred in, my adviser gave me a list of lactation rooms on campus, but that was the extent of the University’s support of me as a student mom. At that time, I felt very isolated on campus.” The budding student parent group had its first meeting at the end of last semester. Shumaker said she hopes student parents will be able to connect and advocate for their

since the University doesn’t have a center devoted to connecting student parents with resources. She noted Michigan State University does. Ellard plans to start identifying potential donors next semester. Fitzpatrick and Shumaker are also working to secure funding from optiMize for a project with two main goals: student parent advocacy and child care support. Shumaker said optiMize has been supportive of their ideas thus far. The first goal of the project is to create a document outlining what student parents can reasonably ask of their professors in terms of accomodations. According to Shumaker, her professors have generally been supportive, but there are no formal guidelines

Engineers browse, learn about organizations at first EnginFest New ESG festival features approximately 40 clubs, provides opportunity for recruitment NAVYA GUPTA

Daily Staff Reporter

The Engineering Student Government held EnginFest, a club fair for engineering organizations, on Thursday at the Duderstadt Center to promote interest in engineering student groups. The fair consisted of about 40 student organizations ranging from engineering societies advocating diversity in the field of engineering to professional fraternities. Engineering senior Hannah Leszczynski, president of ESG, said the fair was essentially

ACTIVISM From Page 1 “Islamophobia is a system of power and prejudice, and it’s not always necessarily against Muslims,” Jenna said. “It’s very racialized … mainly based off of physical characteristics, or perceived beliefs and perceived origin.” Jenna said this creates an uphill battle in which Muslim or Arabpresenting communitites are expected to reduce the pejorative assumptions around them by voluntarily inviting police into their communities. PYG presenter Jenin, who also requested The Daily not use her last name, explained how such behavior creates a “bad Muslim– good Muslim binary” based in the notion of respectability politics. “Respectability politics is

Festifall for engineering students. She said the event enabled students to interact with student organizations pertaining to their engineering interests specifically. “I was part of the center for campus involvement advisory board and something that was discussed was Northfest, Festifall, as well as Winterfest,” Leszczynskyi said.“I realized that we did not have a North Campus Winterfest, so to speak. The idea came about as to having something similar on North Campus as we do for Winterfest.” Engineering junior Meredith Allen, ESG vice president, said the main purpose of EnginFest was to

the idea of presenting a political critique without showing any form of emotion, because as soon as you show emotion, you’re automatically seen as irrational,” Jenin said. “I mean, you can’t be reasoned with, because you can’t talk about critiquing the power structure without getting emotional.” Jenin said painting Islamophobia as a “misunderstanding” that can be solved by outreach to greater society simplifies and undermines its power. “Imagine we’re in a video game right now,” Jenin said. “We’re finished with Level 3 and we have to destroy a huge monster, and this monster has a superpower: producing minions. We have to kill the minions, and all we’re doing is killing all the minions. It’s not being productive because their minions are endless. That’s

make recruiting easier for student organizations. “I think that the main goal was to help engineering organizations be able to recruit for this new semester,” Allen said. “And I think it has been great so far – the tables have people signing up and there’s been a lot of traffic coming through.” Some students who spoke to The Daily agreed EnginFest was useful in spreading awareness about Engineering student organizations. Engineering sophomore Joshua Goldstein, however, said he felt the fair did not offer much pertaining to his major.

exactly how Islamophobia is — we’re not actually tackling the source.” Noting how most social movements borrow structural techniques from Civil Rights– era Black nationalist groups like the Black Panther Party, Jenin stressed the importance of looking at surveillance techniques used in that period as well. She and Jenna highlighted the similarities between the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Counterintelligence Program used during the Cold War and the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Violent Extremism initiative. In the 1960s, COINTELPRO advised agents to “neutralize” Black nationalist groups without due process for fear of their “propensity for violence.” According to Jenna and Jenin, CVE is the same program under a different name.

“I noticed that they don’t have anything related to IOE (Industrial and Operational Engineering),” Goldstein said. “I’d like to see stuff related to that.” Engineering freshman Chimmuanya Iheanyi-Igwe told The Daily that having a concentrated group of organizations made the search for interesting organizations easier. “Last semester I didn’t go to one of (the fairs) and it made it really hard because it was overwhelming trying to figure out which (club) you want to join,” Iheanyi-Igwe said. “I think this gives more of an inner perspective of how (the club) works.”

“These tactics we see are so prevalent, still present and still targeting the same people,” Jenna said. “(The targets) all challenge established beliefs on both domestic and international policy.” According to the PYG presenters, COINTELPRO and CVE were successful because they forced powerful activist organizations to deal with internal power struggles following the assasination of a leader or amid an unnecessary legal fight. Both of these things, presenters said, drain human and monetary resources. “The goal of surveillance isn’t just to collect information,” Jenin said. “It is to use this information to disrupt political advocacy.”

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Opinion

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SHAD JEFFREY II | COLUMN

Iran and the legacy of Donald Trump

n the wake of Qasem Soleimani’s death and the responding remarks made by Iranian officials, many Americans are scared for what’s coming next. Articles are speculating on the looming threat of “World War III,” and social media is being flooded with content about selective service and the mobilization of the American war machine. This may be the realization of the risk involved in electing President Donald Trump to office. The nightmare of the brash businessman recklessly waging war and the interests of the American people against a foreign power has come to fruition. Seemingly, launching America into yet another war in the Middle East will become Trump’s legacy as his term comes to a close. This stands to be contested, as it is difficult to hypothesize about events we aren’t certain will occur at all. The question remains: Will going to war in Iran help or hurt Trump’s chance of being reelected? Immediately, I want to think it will hurt Trump’s chances. Provoking a foreign power in a region that many within the United States believe we shouldn’t be intervening in at all won’t translate to more votes at the polling stations. Starting a war has to be Trump’s last straw, right? It is not that simple to say, as supporters of Trump’s regime nearly seem to be blindly loyal to his actions. The effect entering into war with Iran would have on Trump’s presidency is so contingent on how events unfold that it’s difficult to speculate on what will happen. After all, there is no certainty to the events or duration of this hypothetical war. If war is avoided, is that

a testament to Trump’s White House? If war is successful and short-lived, then is that a testament to the strength of the Commander in Chief? Per an article published by the New York Times discussing the exchange of threats between the U.S. and Iran, it is possible that Trump may have taken action against the Iranian General in order to distract from the impeachment proceedings occurring stateside. Congress returned from a long holiday break with the conversation diverted toward the new and seemingly more important issue of military action. It seems Trump’s involvement in Iran has been a successful ploy to get Congress and the media off of his back about impeachment.

Starting a war has to be Trump’s last straw, right?

In fact, Trump repeatedly accused former President Barack Obama of doing exactly this in 2011. In an article for CNN, Andrew Kacynski states, “In media appearances prior to the 2012 election, Trump repeatedly predicted that Obama would start a war with Iran in order to win re-election.” Kacynski explains that the drone strike on Soleimani is a way of waging war with Iran, and that in doing so, Trump can distract the American public

from other issues surrounding his administration as we get settled into election season. Given this, it would seem that Trump saw the logic behind the motivation he suspected from former Obama. With Trump’s administration being at risk of losing office, it would seem that starting a war with Iran could potentially bolster nationalism and a sense of strength in the executive branch, as well as distract from the impeachment proceedings facing Trump. It’s difficult to believe starting a war would increase the popularity of a president who is already widely contested. While it may be Trump’s intention to levy support through war, it’s not certain it will play out according to plan. However, Trump remains untested during war time (a quality that I prefer the president to keep throughout their term), and thus the world may meet General Trump for the first time: results TBD. Ultimately, Trump’s escalation of the tension between Iran and the U.S. will hurt him during the election cycle because his actions are so unwarranted. Trump isn’t going to bolster a high approval rating for waging war with Iran because the action against Iran comes as such a shock to both Congress and the American people, and it isn’t in response to a clear, defined event or issue. Whether this conflict progresses into full-blown war or not, Trump’s outward actions of hostility and the provoking of a foreign power may not translate into the votes he wants come November. Shad Jeffrey II can be reached at shadj@umich.edu.

MADELYN VERVAECKE | CARTOONIST CAN BE REACHED AT MIVERVAE@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.

Hegemon in decline

n 1991, the United States enjoyed a global inf luence so vast it was unrivaled in human history. The Roman, Ottoman and Mongol empires would have marveled at the breadth of America’s political and economic leadership across the world. After the fall of the Soviet Union and Saddam Hussein in the First Gulf War, the U.S. established itself as the uncontested superpower in the post-Cold War era. America’s decline: The 21st century has seen a descent of U.S. inf luence across the globe. The U.S, which once created integral international institutions, such as the U.N. and IMF, reverts to isolated nationalism and the oncetrusted American military is forever associated with wars and cultural ineptitude. America’s geopolitical and economic decline is coming at a time when its leadership is needed most. Autocracy is replacing democracy in countries like Turkey and Venezuela, but the people of these countries can no longer look to the U.S. as the moral defender of liberty it historically claims to be. In October 2019, the Trump Administration bent to the will of the Turkish autocrat Recep Tayyip Erdogan by withdrawing strategically vital troops and gaining nothing in return. Has the U.S.’s power declined so far that it caters to the convenience of Turkey’s president for life? China’s rise: China’s economic boom has placed U.S. economic leverage — a favorite American diplomatic tool — in jeopardy as well. As China takes the lead on many major economic projects, countries become less reliant on the American economy for support and aid. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been dubbed a 21st century Marshall Plan after exuberant Chinese investment has gone into countries from South Asia to Western Europe to

North Africa. Additionally, the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) showed China’s disregard for U.S. power as the Chinese brushed off American dissent while gaining support from the U.S.’s Western allies. Despite U.S. efforts to prevent countries from joining the new international institution, there are 74 member countries and 26 prospective members. The BRI and the AIIB reveal that China wants their geopolitical clout to match their GDP, both of which will pass those of the U.S. if the status quo continues.

The 21st century has seen a descent of U.S. influence across the globe.

Rise of revisionists: America’s decline from hegemony has been met with a rise of revisionism. Xi Jingping, Vladimir Putin and Ali Khamenei consider their respective countries hamstrung by the U.S.created international system. Thus, China, Russia and Iran have lashed out against the current system with the goal of replacing it with a less democratic world order. Each of these countries have pushed back against the international order without being held accountable: Iran has bombed Saudi Aramco, Russia has invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine and China has committed atrocious human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims. In 1991, it would have been inconceivable for the U.S. to watch these hostilities from the sidelines, but American power has been whittled down to a point

where it can be disregarded by revisionists. What can be done? Globalization has fostered the sentiment that discrepancies in cultures and countries lead to the illumination of staunch divides in values and beliefs. Of course, this is true, and the U.S. benefits from these differences more than any country in the world. A plethora of immigrants, belief systems and ideologies laid the foundation our democracy is built upon. However, the U.S. must realize that many of the moral values America stands for are objective. Liberty, prosperity and human rights are undeniably important ingredients to human f lourishing that should be defended and advanced by the U.S. The dangers of moral relativism can be seen across the globe today. Uyghur Muslims, Syrian Kurds and Yemeni children are largely ignored by the world order and abused by immoral powers. If it is inevitable that the U.S. economy is to be surpassed and the military not as powerful, so be it. But America’s response to a multipolar world should be a retrenchment in our values, not an abandonment. The U.S. government can reverse its decline of inf luence by supporting the marginalized and giving them an ally in the international order. Diplomatic feats such as the Marshall Plan and the First Gulf War were accomplished through advocacy and defense of objective values, as well as a sense of moral obligation, not selfish ambition. The world needs an America that is willing to speak for the voiceless, feed the starving and stand for the oppressed. Without it, the world order could further descend down the path of chaos and violence that revisionist powers have already begun. Bennett Neuhoff is a junior in the Ford School of Public Policy. He can be reached at bennettn@umich.edu.

JENNY GURUNG | COLUMN

The best and worst of the decade for women

oward the end of the year, I got many notifications for opinion pieces reviewing the best movies, books and pop culture moments of the decade. Something I haven’t read enough about is the little progress made in narrowing the gender gap in the past decade. Don’t get me wrong, the gender equality movement has made many great improvements, but that progress has stagnated and leveled off in many aspects. With the 2020 election drawing closer, attention should be drawn to the issues of sexual violence and the gender wage gap to prompt dialogues with policymakers and voters. The 2010s saw many milestones for women. In the past year Greta Thunberg spoke about climate change, Simone Biles set gymnastics world records and scientist Katie Bouman captured the first-ever image of a black hole. This decade also saw the evolution of mass communication and social media platforms like Twitter, which has arguably become one of the most informative platforms today. This has helped social movements not only gain momentum, but also reshape the dialogue surrounding issues such as sexual and gender-based violence. The #MeToo movement that gained traction a few years ago brought awareness to the issue of workplace harassment, especially among congressional aides and women in Hollywood, prompting a legislative response by Congress. These responses include the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act and the BE HEARD Act that strengthened protections for victims and held perpetrators liable.

In an open letter to presidential candidates, debate moderators and the media, #MeToo demanded “real solutions” from presidential candidates during the November 2019 Democratic debate, especially since there have been “zero questions about sexual harassment policy out of over 4,000 debate questions in two decades.” #MeTooVoter was introduced as a way for voters to show support for an agenda that centered around accountability policies and reforms. Voters and supporters tweeted about the debate’s allfemale moderator panel. The message invited policymakers

The 2010s saw many milestones for women.

to work together with debate moderators and media organizations to address the systemic issues that prevent sexual violence accountability from institutions and communities. Social movements have reshaped the dialogue around issues such as sexual violence, but they fail to bring into attention that this past decade has seen slow improvement in the gender wage gap. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, from 2008 to 2017 “the weekly gender wage gap narrowed by just 2.0 percentage points.” The gender wage gap has persisted due to factors like gender discrimination, workplace harassment and work experience. This is clear in sports, where only 40 percent of women’s college

teams and about three percent of men’s college teams are coached by women, and higher administrative leadership roles are male-dominated. However, the current gender wage gap is narrower among young adults than among workers overall. In fact, countries like Britain have recently pledged to increase female leadership in their largest publiclytraded companies to 30 percent. Despite a steady narrowing of the gender gap and the empowerment of young women, there has been too little action taken by policymakers to address this problem in the past decade. Women’s issues need to be brought to the attention of policymakers by young voters, especially as our generation joins the workforce. To address gender equality in the coming decade, UN Women has mobilized governments and communities to commit to its Generation Equality campaign. Generation Equality aims to achieve equality for every person — not just women — through small actions that have big impacts. It invites people to read and learn more about different issues with monthly action packs, weekly newsletters, infographics, slogans, GIFs and various toolkits on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Using movements and campaigns like #MeTooVoter and #GenerationEquality, we can invite policymakers to have discussions about the gender wage gap, sexual violence and the lack of female leadership. Communities of young voters can utilize social media, the most powerful tool in our toolkits, to learn, inform and spread awareness to start the conversation. Jenny Gurung can be reached at jennygrg@umich.edu.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Arts

Friday, January 10, 2020 — 5

TV INTERVIEW

Representation and ‘Ramy’ ALLY OWENS

Senior Arts Editor

In honor of Ramy Youssef receiving the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy at the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards, The Daily is rerunning an interview with him. *** Despite the countless positives associated with the recent surge in representation within our media landscape, it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of accomplishment. The mere presence of diverse faces does not mean that the seemingly neverending journey toward parity has been completed. That’s right, whites. Put your pussy hats back on, this party’s far from being over. Currently, to be a person of color with a platform in the media, your visibility comes at the cost of your individualism. The beast of fame is indiscriminate in its scrutiny of those in the public eye, but only those from marginalized groups know the fatiguing extent to which their identities amplify this magnification. In the same way that the only Black kid in class is expected to retain a doctorate in American slavery by middle school, creators of color are expected to use their projects to speak for an entire community. Part of this stems from a longstanding legacy of underrepresentation. When a people has been deprived of representation for — well — forever, each starved member has ample time to dream up their own unique expectations that one show cannot possibly satisfy. This pattern also stems from the long-established normalization of the privileged, and the resultant “othering” of everyone who does not meet a certain criterion. Even shows featuring niche sects within privileged groups, take Irish Catholics for instance, avoid the expectation to speak for all members of the community. This is because, as Ramy Youssef (“Mr. Robot”), creator of a new, self-titled Hulu show, pointed out in his group interview with The Michigan Daily, privileged groups have historically been afforded the right to nuance. Marginalized groups? Not so much. Ramy Youssef is out to combat this norm. To the untrained eye, “Ramy” appears to be yet another vehicle for a stand-up comedian too lazy to think up a title for a show loosely based on themselves. There’s been “Seinfeld,” “Roseanne,” “Ellen” and even (yes, I’m bringing it up) “Mulaney.” Only this time, the old trick comes with a layer of complexity unfounded in its predecessors: “I think it’s really important to have people authentically being themselves. And I think, for me, my approach in calling the show ‘Ramy’ was to highlight from the beginning that this is just one Arab-Muslim story.” In developing “Ramy,” Youssef made it his mission to create a show with subtleties usually only reserved for white, presumably Christian

Currently, to be a person of color with a platform in the media, your visibility comes at the cost of your individualism. The beast of fame is indiscriminate in its scrutiny of those in the public eye, but only those from marginalized groups know the fatiguing extent to which their identities amplify this magnification

secularity. While most comedies geared towards the coveted 18-34 demographic evade discussing religion in an earnest way and feature characters either ambivalent toward or outwardly disinterested in any element of faith, “Ramy” attempts to bridge this

In developing “Ramy,” Youssef made it his mission to create a show with subtleties usually only reserved for white, presumably Christian characters. In doing so, he has forged a path for future creators of color who dream of a day when their identities can be present in their work without overshadowing the actual story, or at the very least, express themselves in their work without the constant anxiety of appeasing everyone within a community.

divide by crafting a nuanced depiction of a man who is not attempting to escape his religion and culture, but, on the contrary, to “be his best spiritual self.” A distinction that is on display from the onset of the series, in the first episode alone, fictional Ramy Hassan must have an awkward conversation with his hookup regarding her misconceptions about his faith. She assumed he was “culturally Muslim” in the same way that she was “culturally Jewish.” She was incorrect. I couldn’t help but picture the scene as a meta exchange between Youssef himself and other popular coming-of-age comedies of today. Comedy and religion are an odd couple of sorts — with their only successful merger to date being the archaic setup for jokes about a rabbi and a priest inexplicably sharing a drink at Applebee’s. Youssef is not blind to this reality, reasoning that, “church, the mosque, the temple … whatever are almost always the punchline.” As much as I like to perceive millennials and Generation Z as a hold-no-punches bunch, shying away from no topic too taboo, I had to wrangle with the possibility that maybe we did avoid religion like Christmas Eve mass. Just because I am a disillusioned Catholic (read: only stuck around for the wine, then bounced), does that mean that I cannot appreciate a show about someone else’s relationship to their faith? My fear in beginning Youssef’s series with this in mind was that it would be akin to the Christian movies they showed at my Catholic middle school: preachy, poorly acted and (maybe?) with an arc related to high school football. It would be an understatement to say that this is not “Ramy” in the slightest. No spoilers: There’s a condom full of water, a cringe-inducing car makeout and hookah. There are clearer traces of “Atlanta” inherent in “Ramy” than the Catholic school staple, “Facing the Giants.” Rather than being a hindrance to my enjoyment,

LUCASFILM LTD.

What our film writers watched over the break DAILY FILM WRITERS In my memory, Winter Break 2019 will always be defined by “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” While I watched some (far superior) movies like “Little Women” and “Knives Out” during this holiday season, my brain still can’t let “Skywalker” go. It’s a beautifully crafted, wonderfully performed, roller coaster ride of a waste of time. While there are imaginative planets and exciting battles aplenty, the movie is

—Sabriya Imami, Daily Arts Writer

It’s a beautifully crafted, wonderfully performed, roller coaster ride of a waste of time.

crushingly soulless. It lacks what makes the Star Wars movies worth watching — a heart. Every other film in the saga, even the prequels, had at least one character whose motivations, successes and defeats meant something, or at least could be understood on basic emotional terms. “The Rise of Skywalker” does not. Its screenwriters forced a resurrected Emperor Palpatine into the story, and the personal conf licts built up during the first two movies are sidelined, altered or ignored to accomodate a villain never meant to be in the trilog y in the first place. Palpatine is only there for nostalgic purposes, and his rise takes the entire film down. Yet, while “Star Wars” stumbled, two other smash hits from this holiday season, “Knives Out” and “Little Women,” blazed a new way forward. They took well-worn, nostalgic blueprints, like Agatha Christie mysteries and a classic novel, and updated them with emotive characters and prescient topics. Nostalgia has its place, and it can add a touch of familiar f lavor to movies whose main concerns are affecting plots and believable characters. “The Rise of Skywalker” shows, though, that it should never, ever, be the full meal. —Andrew Warrick, Daily Arts Writer

characters. In doing so, he has forged a path for future creators of color who dream of a day when their identities can be present in their work without overshadowing the actual story, or at the very least, express themselves in their work without the constant anxiety of appeasing everyone within a community. Produced by A24, “Ramy” is now kin to some of the most talked-about coming-of-age stories of recent years: “Lady Bird,” “mid90s,” “Eighth Grade,” the list goes on. Although this is exceptional company to be in, I had to wonder, in addition to centering on an Arab-American man, how else does “Ramy” distinguish itself as a narrative from the seemingly never-ending stream of projects falling under the category of Confused Millennial Finding Him/Her/Their selves™? Youssef’s answer was unexpected to say the least. And not just because genteel women never discuss it during dinner. Religion. Make no mistake — Youssef, dressed as though he could have just clocked out from a long day at VICE News, is not out to convert the masses or spread the word of how “cool” religion can be like a cargo short-clad youth group leader. His aim in emphasizing religion in his passion project is merely to shed a light on the crossroads he has been met with throughout his life in attempting to own his faith while willingly participating in aspects of

Rather than being a hindrance to my enjoyment, Youssef’s exploration of religion provided for a compelling internal struggle that was refreshing to see.

The plots didn’t always make sense (I still don’t really know what happened in “Quantum of Solace,” if I’m being honest), but I feel like with James Bond, the action is what matters most anyways. James Bond’s stunts — a lot of which were performed by Craig himself — were amazingly done and often had us rewinding the DVD to see them again. “Skyfall” was by far my favorite installment, though, mostly because we finally got to see more of M (Judi Dench, “Shakespeare in Love”). When the new movie comes out in April, I know for a fact that my family will be first in line to watch 007 kick butt again.

As someone who grew up with an older sister who was determined to be a spy, I’m not sure why it took so long for me and my family to watch the James Bond movies starring Daniel Craig (“Knives Out”). But we gave it a shot over winter break, and, to no one’s surprise, we loved them. I’m not sure why we liked them as much as we did, especially considering “Casino Royale” consisted mostly of an hour-long poker game that I only half understood and yet was completely enthralled by.

Aside from the milquetoast mediocrity of “Bombshell” and the nonsensical wormhole of a Star Wars movie, I filled my break with films released earlier in the year that I had missed out on. One was “High Life,” which I found to be one of the most legitimately compelling and tragically under-discussed movies released in 2019. Claire Denis’ ability to tell a harrowing human drama without the constraints of linear storytelling is a glorious thing to behold. While the film’s quiet conversations and symbolism-drenched imagery lent themselves to a slow pace, I

But Hogg enforces an unwavering subjectivity around the film, placing a viewer so unquestionably in Julie’s perspective that all her decisions seem inevitable more than unwise.

was never truly bored. The movie also made me realize the largely untapped potential of arthouse actress Mia Goth (“Suspiria”). Another 2019 catch-up movie I saw over break was Johanna Hogg’s (“Unrelated”) autobiographical feature, “The Souvenir.” It follows a young film student as she gets involved with a heroin-addicted older man. Nothing about the film’s plot makes conventional sense — it is nearer to a living, breathing diary of Julie’s life (Honor Swinton Byrne, “I Am Love”) than a story. But Hogg enforces an unwavering subjectivity around the film, placing a viewer so unquestioningly in Julie’s perspective that all her decisions seem inevitable more than unwise. We are not here to judge Julie, and by extension Hogg. We are fascinated but powerless observers. I have never before seen a film that wraps you up as completely in its own intimacy as “The Souvenir” does. It’s why I watch movies. —Anish Tamhaney, Daily Film Editor

Youssef’s exploration of religion provided for a compelling internal struggle that was refreshing to see. In discussing the possibility of renewal by Hulu, Ramy and co-star Dave Merheje (“Mr. D”) both expressed high hopes for a second season. With commercial and critical praise continuing to pour in for the show, this appears to be a very plausible matter. And for Youssef, who was credited with penning about half of the first season’s episodes, he shows no signs of writer’s block: “The importance [of “Ramy”] lies in that we get to highlight that you can be very specific and do ten episodes in a season and there’s still so much that hasn’t been touched. And I think if there’s anything that is important about (this), it’s that. We get to highlight how hyperspecificity is a wealth of story and probably profitable too.”

A24

Arts

6 — Friday, Janurary 10, 2020

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Revisiting 2019’s darling: Atwood’s ‘The Testaments’ ELISE GODFRYD Daily Arts Writer

In light of Margaret Atwood’s recent acceptance of the 2019 Booker Prize and Goodreads Choice Awards for Fiction with “The Testaments,” we are revisiting one of our writer’s review of the highly acclaimed novel. *** As I read “The Testaments,” Margaret Atwood’s latest Booker Prize-nominated novel, I was reminded of a case study of Darwin’s finches I learned about in an anthropology class I took last year. Throughout the 1970s, biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant observed the finch population of the Galápogos Islands. As a result of a severe drought that radically changed the food supply available to the finches, natural selection worked to alter the makeup of the population in response to the demands of this new environment, resulting in the production of a completely different species of bird. The Grants disproved Darwin’s belief that evolution needed hundreds or thousands of years to significantly change a population — in some cases, it only needs a few years to create astounding change. When it comes to Atwood’s “The Testaments,” it’s arguable that things line up with the Grants’s story quite well — only the novel’s characters are the finches, and Gilead is the drought. In “The Testaments,” we learn that Gilead, the apocalyptic and theocratic dystopia of Atwood’s modern classic “The Handmaid’s Tale,” has continued its reign of terror well after the events of the latter novel. However, while “The Handmaid’s Tale” chronicled the very first years of Gilead, readers of “The Testaments” get to witness what has become of this regime — how it has evolved in its cruelty and, more poignantly, how the women who have grown

up inside it hardly even resemble the women who lived before them just decades ago. The young girls who have grown up inside Gilead might as well be a different species — feminism is a foreign concept to them, heinous crimes like murder and sexual assault are everyday occurrences and they don’t even know how to read. Just as Darwin’s finches were products of a drought that reshaped their environment, the women of “The Testaments” are products of Gilead and its culture of hate and shame and oppression. The prospect of centuries upon centuries of human advancement crumbling within just a few decades is genuinely terrifying and truly fascinating to read about, and Atwood’s talent for visualizing this creatively is without a doubt the novel’s greatest asset. The haunting and frightening world of Gilead introduced in “The Handmaid’s Tale” has made its mark on our culture, spawning its own Emmywinning Hulu adaptation. There are many reasons why “The Handmaid’s Tale” has had the cultural impact it’s had — the parallels Atwood draws between her fictional Gilead and our own society’s internalized patriarchy are biting, deeply disturbing and impossible to forget. Aside from any political and social resonance the book might have, though, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is simply a great work of literature, a beautifully written and fully realized account of one woman’s journey as she’s forced to go through a living hell. Given all of this, it’s clear that “The Testaments” has a lot to live up to. You could say that the book should be read as its own entity, independent from its predecessor, but I don’t think this is what Atwood wants from her readers at all — she refers back to “The Handmaid’s Tale” constantly. And although “The Testaments” is written from the perspective of a different narrator (three narrators, in fact), all

BOOK REVIEW

‘Space Invaders’: a dreamlike look at Pinochet’s Chile SEJJAD ALKHALBY For The Daily

Writers have rarely shied away from historical tragedies like genocide, war and oppressive governments.The Orwells of the world have dissected and shown the dangers of humanity’s most destructive ideologies. Nona Fernandez takes a different approach to writing about one such ideology in her book, “Space Invaders.” The novel follows the experience of a group of school children at the height of the Pinochet regime in Chile. Under Pinochet, the Chilean people faced suppression of dissent, mass killings and violations of human rights. What sets “Space Invaders” apart from most other political fiction is its focus on the lived experiences of the characters. There is

virtually no reflection on the abstracted political conflicts of the time period; the novel only reflects on their effects on the human beings involved. While the unconventional subject matter works to keep the reader interested, the similarly unconventional structure is not as well executed. The novel is told in the form of memories recalled through the characters’ dreams. These former classmates, now adults, try to piece together the collective experience of their youth in hopes of making sense of the horror they lived through. As a result, the narrative is made up of disjointed images of militant classroom routines, brutal violence and their classmate Estrella, who has mysteriously gone missing. This explanation may seem a bit confusing, but that’s because the structure is too. Basic plot points were at times difficult to pin down due to

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Release Date: Friday, January 10, 2020

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 They may be counted 6 “Masterpiece” airer 9 Hideaway 13 Disinclined 14 One in the script 16 Tribal leader 18 Joint venture? 21 Neon tips? 22 “C’mon, play along” 23 A toddler may be put down for one 24 Curtails, with “in” 26 Of inferior quality 28 Joint venture? 31 Winter Olympics event 32 Programming pioneer Lovelace 33 Hustle 37 Combustion residue 38 Like the object of an “Aww!” 42 U.K. singer Rita __ 43 Food packaging abbr. 45 Cause of some royal sleeplessness 46 Salt Lake City team 47 Joint venture? 52 Coastal evergreen 55 Character usually seen in 41-Down 56 Nail 57 Pink drink 59 “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very __ Day”: 2014 film 62 Joint venture? 65 Trauma pro 66 Timbuktu’s land 67 “Stronger” rapper West 68 1975 Wimbledon winner 69 Coddling, briefly 70 Place DOWN 1 Plum used to flavor spirits 2 Jazz band staple 3 Adheres to a healthy diet 4 E. African land

5 It commonly involves spiders 6 “I’d love that!” 7 Auction action 8 Last-second online auction participant 9 Moved out 10 Furry TV ET 11 Tony winner Menzel 12 Summarize 15 Food recall cause 17 Auctioned wheels 19 Fivesome 20 Tolkien brutes 25 Halloween __ 27 “Reflection” musician Brian 28 Map out 29 Subterfuge 30 It’s expected 34 As much as possible 35 “Wonderfilled” cookie 36 Coarse file 38 Not without ramifications 39 “The Problem with __”: 2017 documentary about racial stereotypes

40 Blissful 41 Pacific weather phenomenon 44 Iraq war issue, briefly 46 Currency mkt. money 48 Real hoot 49 “To recap ... ” 50 Boo 51 Smart set? 52 Cautious

53 Automaker whose current models end in X 54 “The Big Bang Theory” crowd 58 “Actually ... ” 60 “Game of Thrones” girl __ Stark 61 Turned green, say 63 Japanese drama 64 Skin pic

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01/10/20

BOOK REVIEW

POLITICS AND PROSE

three of the women it gives voice to are intricately and permanently bonded to Offred, and this bond is a central catalyst for the decisions they end up making. So, I’m going to compare “The Testaments” to

These women deserve more. They each deserve a novel of their own “The Handmaid’s Tale.” I think I have to. And, as I contemplate their differences, I’m more and more aware of the inferiority of “The Testaments” in nearly every respect. For one, its prose, in relation to “The Handmaid’s Tale” at least, is unrefined and often unconvincing. One narrator in particular utters lines so unnatural, so cringeworthy I could hardly stomach them (“I am fucking sorry, but we are

frequent jumps in the timeline. While the lack of extensive character development for each classmate is forgivable because of the novel’s focus on the collective rather than any individual experience, it does make it difficult to keep track of the characters. That said, the novel does have its bright spots. As difficult as the structure is to follow, the dreamlike recreation of the characters’ memories in individual moments is beautifully rendered. The prose is clear and full of emotion, placing the reader right in the mind of a child facing unspeakable violence. It captures the instances of abject horror uninhibited by the rationalizations of an adult mind. A child, having no understanding of the political motivations of the regime, is not able to assimilate these events to a narrative. The child then sees the events for what they are: senseless violence. In the same way that the events of a dream rarely make sense and simply are what they are, the children’s experiences don’t make sense to them, adding to their emotional impact. By refusing to articulate the ideology that motivates the actions of the Pinochet regime, Fernandez can present the real pain, fear and death that it caused with full force. Considering the novel’s strengths, it’s difficult to fault Fernandez for the disorienting structure. To

in a hot mess emergency here!”). At certain points it reads like a young adult novel, which certainly isn’t detrimental in and of itself but feels completely out of place in the context of its predecessor. Simply put, this kind of writing belongs nowhere near a Booker Prize, and it certainly wouldn’t be in the running for the award if it weren’t the brainchild of Margaret Atwood. A more glaring and upsetting criticism, though, and what may just be the book’s fatal flaw, is the superficial and stereotypical characterization of its narrators Atwood opts for. All three narrators are two-dimensional, archetypal embodiments of the cultures they come from, and there simply aren’t enough pages in this plot-heavy novel to flesh them out further. These women deserve more. They each deserve a novel of their own. I don’t want to sound like I despise this book. I don’t in the slightest. “The Testaments” is an addictive read with an uplifting (albeit slightly unearned) resolution. I admire its ambition, its aspiration to give voice to as many women as possible. Most importantly, it doesn’t make me love “The Handmaid’s Tale” any less. Ultimately, though, if I do decide to return to Gilead, it won’t be by way of “The Testaments.”

an extent, such ambiguity is necessary to capture the states of mind of children who are so lost and confused. Fernandez can certainly be commended for her willingness to experiment, though one must wonder if the story would be better told in the form of poetry. Fernandez treads a fine line between the poetic, dreamlike world she creates and the maintenance of a clear narrative throughout — a line which she falls just barely on the wrong side of. Regardless, the book is engaging, thoughtprovoking and worth the read.

“Space Invaders” Nona Fernandez Graywolf Press Nov. 5, 2019

The Jonas Brothers play their last show of 2019 KAITLYN FOX Daily Arts Writer

Walking into the Imperial Ballroom at The Atlantis, I was immediately struck by the strange mix of spectators: drunk adults stumbling to their seats, young children looking confused and teenage girls excitingly gasping every time they saw motion backstage. After a successful year since their latest album Happiness Begins and the conclusion of their sold-out tour, the Jonas Brothers wrapped up 2019 by playing one last show at The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Unlike arenas the band filled during their tour, the resort’s ballroom accommodated only a few hundred people and was filled with both locals and tourists. The band offered special seating for residents of the island, where one could catch a glimpse of the brothers peeking through the makeshift curtains, sending the audience into a frenzy. Twenty-year old fans sported their old Jonas Brothers merch and waved signs with pictures of their younger selves (specifically when the band last played on the island back in 2009). In the main part of the ballroom, the tourist section was an array of young fans and older folks in search of entertainment for the night, creating an odd mix of dancing fans and confused spectators who preferred to remain seated for most of the show. While the show was not an official stop on the tour, the band incorporated a few elements from their American performances and mainly followed the tour’s set-list. They opened with “Rollercoaster,” a song off their new album, then immediately jumped into a throwback with their 2006 hit “S.O.S.” Much of the first half was dedicated to their newer music, including “Cool” and “Only Human,” two fan favorites off the new album. “I Believe” and “Hesitate,” two love ballads off the new album, were also sprinkled into the set. Also featured from the new album was “Comeback,” the epitome of the brothers’ reunion.

As they’ve done in previous shows, the brothers took song requests from the audience, showcasing throwback songs that haven’t been heard live in years, and Nick and Joe both showcased work from their solo careers with “Jealous” and “Cake by the Ocean.” Scanning the crowd, it was clear some of the audience members have never heard the band’s older music before as they remained seated and politely tapped their feet to the beat of some of the band’s most well-known songs like “When You Look Me in the Eyes” and “Lovebug.” Others, mainly women and young girls below the age of thirty, were on their feet for the entirety of the show, belting lyrics and attempting to dance along in the cramped rows of seats. The band didn’t have much to say in between songs except that they were glad to be playing their last show of the year in the Bahamas. The brothers offered a toast before speeding through a medley of some of their older songs including “Mandy,” “Paranoid” and “Play My Music.” Kevin attempted to share a few words in the middle of the show, but his broken microphone left the audience confused, adding to the awkwardness of the night. They finished up the performance with three of their most popular songs, starting with “Year 3000” before breaking into “Burnin’ Up.” They came full circle wrapping up 2019 with “Sucker,” a single they released nearly a year ago and the impetus for their reunion and newfound success. While the brothers’ island performance certainly lacked the same vigor and showmanship from their American shows, the trio was still able to transport a crowd of twenty-somethings back to their childhoods. Perhaps this show felt different because the band was not equipped with the fireworks and light show from their tour, or maybe it was simply because they were burnt out after a long year. Regardless, witnessing the reunion of the band that created the music I first fell in love with thirteen years ago will always be an experience filled with nostalgia, tears and lots of dancing.

Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Friday, January 10, 2020 — 7

‘M’ returns to Big Ten play in Notre Dame series Tru Wilson announces decision to grad transfer ROHAN KUMAR Daily Sports Writer

In the first half of the season, much was uncovered about the Michigan hockey team. From the offense’s recurrent struggles to the proven abilities from the defense and Michigan at goaltending, it’s fairly Notre Dame clear what to Matchup: expect on any Michigan 2-7-1 Big Ten, given night. It has yet to 7-11-2 overall; Notre Dame be unveiled, 5-3-2, 10-7-3 though, how exactly the When: Friday 7 P.M. ET, Wolverines Saturday 6 will fare P.M. ET against No. Where: 14 Notre Compton Family Dame. Before Ice Arena the new year, TV/Radio: Michigan played in NBC Sports/ series against NBCSports.com five of its six conference opponents — but not the Fighting Irish. Both series between these two teams are still on the horizon. This weekend in South Bend will be the first indicator of how the two teams really match up. But regardless of not having faced Notre Dame yet this season, the Wolverines have a clear picture of what is ahead. “They’re strong defensively,” Michigan coach Mel Pearson said. “They’re a very systematic team. They play their systems well as a group and as a team. They don’t beat themselves so you have to go and make plays and beat them. That’s the difficulty with playing against them.” Goaltender Cale Morris is

ARIA GERSON

Daily Sports Editor

ALEXIS RANKIN/Daily

The Michigan hockey team will be searching for its first sweep of Big Ten play when it travels to South Bend this weekend.

part of why the Fighting Irish can be so hard to defeat. Last season he had the eighth-best save percentage in the nation, and he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist the season before. His save percentage of .916 this season isn’t quite as good as in the past, but he still possesses the ability to trouble an offense. “You need to get lots of pucks on him and get bodies in front of him,” said fifthyear senior forward Jacob Hayhurst. “The harder it is for him to see that puck every time we get an opportunity, the harder it’s going to be for him to save it. We want to get pucks and bodies to the net all game.” That sentiment of spraying pucks at the net and establishing position near the crease is everyday language in hockey. It’s something the

They play their systems well as a group and as a team.

Wolverines have stressed time and time again. Michigan has lived up to the first part of the mantra, as it has notched the ninth-most shots on goal in the nation. The issue resides in the latter half as the Wolverines convert less than seven percent of those shots. And against a talented goaltender in Morris, it’s all the more important that Michigan gets to the crease to help sneak the puck between the pipes. To Pearson, Notre Dame is similar to the Wolverines in that its offense doesn’t score a ton and thus doesn’t create much distance. But since the Fighting Irish limit their mistakes, coming back from even minimal deficits against them can be tough. “They’re really good if they

get out ahead of you,” Pearson said. “They just suffocate you, so we’re gonna have to get out, try to play with that lead and then just stay with it.” To prevent Notre Dame from establishing an early lead, Michigan will need to focus on players such as forwards Mike O’Leary and Cam Morrison, who lead the team in points. If the Wolverines can do that while making improvements on the attack, the team could start the year on a positive note. “We’ve had great games with them,” Pearson said. “We’ve found ways to win. We’ve played well defensively for the most part against them, too. So I think we match up well with them. It’s going to be good, really good games. But again, we have to score.”

We’ve played well defensively ... against them, too.

Redshirt junior running back Tru Wilson announced Thursday that he will pursue a graduate transfer. “I appreciate everything the University of Michigan has done for me these last 4 years,” Wilson said in a tweet. “I will graduate in the spring and will transfer to finish my last year of college football. God bless and Forever Go Blue.” Wilson’s news doesn’t come as a major surprise given that he was already the thirdstring running back this year and the room doesn’t get any less crowded with the return of Chris Evans and the addition of a highly regarded freshman in Blake Corum. Formerly a walk-on, Wilson earned a scholarship prior to the 2018 season and carved out a complementary role for himself. In 2018, he was third on the team with 364 rushing yards and led all players with at least 15 attempts at 5.9 yards per carry. Despite missing two games due to injury in 2019, Wilson was again third on

the team with 220 rushing yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry — second among players with at least 15 carries. Wilson also scored two touchdowns in his Michigan career, with one in each 2018 and 2019. Despite Wilson’s loss, the running back room still projects to be deep next year. Freshman Zach Charbonnet and redshirt freshman Hassan Haskins, who split time at the position in 2019, will both be back. Evans — who was the Wolverines’ second-leading rusher in 2018 but missed the 2019 season due to a suspension — has been reinstated for the 2020 season and will be a fifthyear senior. Corum is a four-star recruit and could push for playing time right away. Additionally, Michigan has redshirt freshman Christian Turner, who played a reserve role in 2019, and freshman Giles Jackson, who has been used as an H-back. Wilson, who played in one game during his freshman season in 2016, was granted a medical redshirt for a fifth year of eligibility. As a grad transfer, he will be immediately eligible wherever he goes.

I appreciate everything ... Michigan has done for me.

ALEC COHEN/Daily

Redshirt junior running back Tru Wilson is seeking a graduate transfer.

Columbus collapse Hillmon scores just six second-half points as Michigan falls to Ohio State, 78-69 KENT SCHWARTZ Daily Sports Writer

COLUMBUS — A quick turn, her hips quickly blocking out any defenders’ hope of defending the shot — another two points for sophomore forward Naz Hillmon. Then, just as quick, Ohio State marauded down the court and nailed a three. It was a taunting, haunting back and forth throughout the game. The Buckeyes owned the three-point line. The Michigan women’s basketball team, meanwhile, owned the paint. In the end, the three outpaced the Wolverines’ (11-4 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) inside dominance on Thursday as Ohio State (9-6, 2-2) won, 78-69. An intense third quarter saw Michigan and Ohio State battling for a lead after a string of threes brought the Buckeyes back into the game. The Wolverines drew fouls in the quarter, but couldn’t capitalize, shooting 7-for-12 from the line in the third and 65.4 percent in the game. “We didn’t really finish well today when we were at the line,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “That’s something that we kind of (had throughout the season), up and down days at the line through the course of the season and is something that we work on every day in practice, and we’ve definitely improved, but today wasn’t our greatest night.” Michigan’s stalwart inside defense kept the Buckeyes at bay, limiting them to just 24 points in the paint throughout the game. A majority of Michigan’s points in the first quarter came from a fast-paced offense where Ohio State struggled to get set. When it set, however, it was a different story: with the paint clogged, sophomore guard Amy Dilk and senior forward Kayla Robbins struggled to add a second component of offense.

The two attempted to drive to the basket countless times, only to be forced outside and throw up ambitious layup attempts from six feet away. Dilk went 3-for-16 from the field. For a team like Michigan that scores almost all of its points in the paint, 3-point shooting plagued it once again — on both sides of the ball. “We’re not a tremendous 3-point shooting team, that’s not the strength of our team,” Barnes Arico said. “And I think people take that away from us. (Junior forward) Hailey Brown couldn’t get going till late, we gotta get (freshman guard) Michelle Sidor to get in there and be able to give us some production from the outside, but (senior guard) Akienreh (Johnson) couldn’t get them to fall tonight.” Ohio State, meanwhile, did get them to fall. Starting with a missed interception attempt from Robbins in the final minute of the first quarter that led to an open shot, the Buckeyes found success behind the line no matter the pressure Michigan threw at them — shooting 60 percent from three the rest of the half. In the second quarter alone, only one field goal wasn’t from three for the Buckeyes. The Wolverines would get a couple of quick layups and seemingly grab momentum, only to be yanked backward by a three in the face of Johnson, or Hillmon, or Brown. “Of course (the spread offense is) a lot different, a lot more space to cover,” Hillmon said. “Some of that we definitely have to work on because a lot of the bigs in the Big Ten can stretch out like that. So just working on that in games like this will help us in the long run.” It’s a problem that continues to plague Michigan this season: its offense must be hyper-

efficient to keep up with an opponent that hits its threes. On Thursday, Ohio State did just that. Despite that, Hillmon nearly singlehandedly kept the Wolverines in the game, finishing the first half a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and willing them into half with a three point lead, 38-35. In the first half, it was hyperefficient. Yet, Michigan couldn’t close the door, leaving it slightly ajar for Ohio State. As the game counted down, in front of a hostile crowd, the Buckeyes blew the door off its hinges. Two travels led to five Ohio State points in the span of thirty seconds, gifting them late-game momentum that the Wolverines couldn’t take back. “I think their threes really deflated us,” Barnes Arico said. “They shot the ball really exceptionally well, we’ve done a pretty good job of covering that all year long, we just couldn’t get any momentum going at any time.” Unlike the Buckeyes, Michigan didn’t have the momentum changer of a 3-pointer. Unlike the Buckeyes, Michigan couldn’t answer with a big bucket.

JACK KINGSLEY Daily Sports Writer

COLUMBUS — At halftime of Thursday night’s game, it was looking good for Michigan. The Wolverines led Ohio State by three at the break, but it felt like they had control. The Buckeyes shot just 40 percent from the floor in the first half. Their leading scorer, forward Dorka Juhász, was held to just three points. The only reason they were in the game was that they shot 7-for-15 from 3-point range — uncharacteristic for a team that shot just 28.5 percent from deep entering the game, and likely to drop in the second half. Most importantly for Michigan, sophomore forward Naz Hillmon was at her best. Hillmon tallied 18 points and nine rebounds in the first half, all without missing a field goal. She was especially dominant on the offensive glass, pulling in six offensive rebounds and converting those into five second-chance points. In losses to Florida State and Maryland, Hillmon logged two and three first-half points, respectively, in part due to early foul trouble. Without their biggest offensive weapon

KEEMYA ESMAEL/Daily

Sophomore forward Naz Hillmon scored 24 points in Thursday’s loss to Ohio State.

in rhythm, the Wolverines had difficulty scoring efficiently or gaining any momentum. On Thursday, she didn’t pick up a foul until the second half. “Not having to sit on the bench definitely helps just because it takes a lot to get going,” Hillmon said. “Sometimes when you’re in foul trouble you get the opportunity to see what’s going on, but I’d rather be on the floor figuring out what’s going on than on the bench. It definitely helped my flow of the game.” Since those two games, getting Hillmon going early was a focus for Michigan, and after the first half, it looked as though she would carry the Wolverines to a victory. Hillmon was also partially responsible for Ohio State’s interior struggles. The Buckeyes’ four forwards that played in the first half combined for 12 points while shooting just 4-for-13 from the floor. Since she and junior forward Hailey Brown weren’t in foul trouble, they were able to play aggressively in the paint, not giving Ohio State’s bigs any room to work and preventing second-chance opportunities — the Buckeyes reeled in just one offensive rebound in the half. But in the second half, Ohio State made a defensive adjustment. The Buckeyes packed the paint and pushed Hillmon as far away from the basket as possible. “That took away some of our spacing angles to get her the ball,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “Every time we were trying to get (Hillmon) the ball it was getting tipped or deflected because there were a lot of people around her.” Senior forward Kayla Robbins scored 10 first-half

points, preventing Ohio State from devoting its full attention to Hillmon, but Robbins picked up her second foul early in the second quarter and sat for the final seven minutes of the first half. She couldn’t get going again early in the second half, and with none of the Wolverines’ other scorers playing particularly well, stopping Hillmon was the Buckeyes’ only focus. “We really need to figure out how we can get somebody else going,” Hillmon said. “It definitely was key that Kayla got in some foul trouble because she’s such a great help on offense and defense.” Because of the increased attention, Hillmon was only able to attempt one field goal in the second half. She still drew fouls and got to the line — she attempted six free throws in the half — but scored just six points. Without her constant offensive production, Michigan struggled. The Wolverines stuck with Ohio State in the third quarter, but in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes got hot, shooting over 70 percent and outscoring Michigan by nine. The Wolverines couldn’t keep up without Hillmon’s dominance, resulting in a 78-69 loss. When Michigan has played its best, its secondary scorers have contributed just as much as Hillmon. Against Syracuse, Robbins led the way with 23 points. Against Michigan State, sophomore guard Amy Dilk scored 23. In both games, four Wolverines finished in double figures. But in Thursday’s second half, nobody could supplement Hillmon’s production, and Michigan saw a conference road game against a rival slip away.

Not having to sit on the bench definitely helps ... to get going.

‘M’ prevails in double overtime JACOB KOPNICK Daily Sports Editor It was a boring game. Then it wasn’t. It was a game in which senior guard Zavier Simpson couldn’t hit a dart board with a shotgun. Then he was leading the offense in double overtime. In a back-and-forth slugfest characterized by sloppy basketball, a tense second half and two thrilling overtime periods, the Michigan men’s basketball team clung onto the narrowest of leads to steal away a win from Purdue in double overtime, 84-78. In the initially-sluggish-then-absolutely-electric affair, two struggling offenses played a game of, ‘Who can play the sloppiest game of basketball in a win?’ Thursday, that just so happened to be the Wolverines. Michigan (11-4 overall, 2-2 Big Ten), hobbled by the injury to its second-leading scorer, junior forward Isaiah Livers, tried any and everything to fill the offensive gap and put points on the board against Purdue (9-7, 2-3). In the first half, those efforts were spent in vain with the first 20 minutes of play shrouded by turnovers. The Wolverines went just 3-for-12 in the first half, and Simpson attempted just two shots himself in the first 20 minutes. The second half opened in the same vein with Simpson missing the mark on his first four shot attempts from deep. A terse showdown characterized the remainder of the game, though, highlighted by an immense showing from Boilermakers forward Trevion Williams, who stepped up for star forward Matt Haarms after he went down early with a hip injury. Williams finished with a whopping 36 points and 20 boards while maintaining Purdue’s slim lead for most of the second half. “Well they play people one-on-one in the post, and he’s a good little post player, so we just tried to get him the basketball,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “So when Matt went out, we wanted to focus on going to (senior center Jon) Teske and trying to score, trying to get to the free throw line, layups, post moves.” Added Teske: “He did very well. Watching him on film, I knew what he has, and he came in and he did his job. He led his team, and with Haarms hurt, he had to do a little more, and they were playing through him.” Michigan was finally able to break the lead and tie the game following an offensive rebound, made-layup and ensuing 3-point shot from Teske. The final five minutes of the game were a back-and-forth slugfest with each point feeling like an insurmountable mountain. With the clock ticking down, the Wolverines were called for a goaltend to put Purdue ahead by two, setting up a Michigan possession where Simpson drove to the hoop for the tie. The Boilermakers then called timeout for their final look at the basket with 15 seconds remaining. Guard Aaron Wheeler drove to the basket in an attempt to find Williams. The pass was a bit too much for Williams to handle, though, allowing freshman forward Franz Wagner to deflect his shot and send the thriller to overtime. From there, it was the Zavier Simpson show. Any sense of a shooting slump flew out the door, and Simpson took charge on offense. “It’s just about staying locked in,” Simpson said. “I don’t like to think about myself, and tonight showed. I took one or two shots in the first half, and I came out and had 22 points. So it’s about staying locked in and just putting things inside a box, and putting things like that inside right now and make sure we win and make sure I’m doing everything I can to put my team in a winning position.” And the show would carry throughout both of the ensuing overtime periods, with Simpson finishing his stellar performance with 22 points and nine assists. As overtime ticked on, excitement built upon each shot. Each dribble. Each make. The match wasn’t a question of who wanted it more, but more of which team could execute in the big moments. The first overtime decidedly announced that neither team was worthy, and following a Williams miss in the post and another miss on a half-court Simpson heave, the game was sent to double overtime. Teske started the second period of free basketball early with an and-one layup at the rim. Not wanting to be outdone, Simpson promptly hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to send Crisler Center into a frenzy, taking a 74-68 lead. Then the shots just kept falling and Michigan never looked back, with Wagner hitting a 3-pointer to spread the lead to nine. Suddenly, the offense that seemed so anemic in the first half had come to life when it mattered most. In the end, Purdue missed the big ones and Simpson hit them. Ask anyone around the program, and they’ll let you know why. “He’s a senior, he wanna win so bad, you can just see it in the way he plays,” said sophomore guard David DeJulius. “He just willed us to win because he’s a senior, and he wants to go out with a bang.”

8 — Friday, January 10, 2020

Sports

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Simpson leads way in victory DANIEL DASH Daily Sports Writer

FINAL 2OT

MICHIGAN 84 PURDUE 78

SIMPSON: 22 pts, 9 asts

Alexis Rankin / Daily | Design by Jack Silberman

For the first 18 minutes of the Michigan men’s basketball team’s win over Purdue, Zavier Simpson didn’t even take a shot. Coming off Sunday’s loss in which he shot the ball a career-high 18 times, it felt strange. After all, the senior point guard played all but one minute of Thursday’s first half. But Simpson took over the game after the break, pouring in 18 secondhalf points on 7-of-11 shooting to propel the Wolverines past the Boilermakers, 84-78, in double overtime. When Michigan quickly fell behind in the second half, it was Simpson who spearheaded the comeback. By the time his teammates missed their 15th shot from beyond the arc, he’d seen enough. He took matters into his own hands. Simpson’s quick first step and elite vision allowed him to get to the rim seemingly at will, while his ability to collapse the defense created open looks for others. Throughout the second half, he blew past guards on the perimeter and finished crafty layups and improbable hook shots over bigger defenders. At times, he was the team’s lone source of offense. And when the Wolverines needed a jolt at the beginning of the second overtime period, he knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing. Then senior center Jon Teske and freshman wing Franz Wagner followed suit, giving Michigan a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. For Purdue coach Matt Painter, it was all too familiar of a sight. Simpson has now scored in double figures in each of his four career starts against the Boilermakers. Painter has seen this side of Simpson for what must feel like an eternity, dating back to when he began recruiting him as a junior in high school. “(Simpson) is just a winner,” Painter said. “He won in high school, he’s won here. That’s just who he is. Guys who are winners — guys like Mike Conley that came through the Big Ten — if they score four or six points, it’s no big deal. If they have to score 24, then so be it. That’s what winning is about. … He can will his team to victory.” Painter wasn’t alone in feeling that way. Michigan coach Juwan Howard, too, was unsurprised by Simpson’s heroics. “(Simpson) is one of the best point guards in college basketball,” Howard said. “One of the best leaders in college basketball. One of the toughest competitors in college basketball. A kid who’s been counted out so many times and has always figured out how to rise to the occasion. He trusts himself. We trust him. His teammates follow his lead and energy.” In Simpson’s case, it boils down to more than just a box score. He’s one of the country’s fiercest competitors, and the first thing anybody around him notices is his will to win. “He also knows each and every possession he has a coach that’s going to be leaning on him to provide leadership,” Howard said. “He embraces that. It’s not like he’s running away from that challenge. Yes, it’s big shoulders that he has to carry with all the accountability I’ve given him, all the trust I’ve given him. “But, he’s earned all of it. We’re just happy that we have our Tom Brady.” In Simpson, Howard sees himself. He says he’ll never forget the first time he called Simpson’s mother, Bobbie Carter. It was right after Howard accepted the job in May — a typical introduction between a new coach and current player’s parent. But to this day, one comment from the conversation stands out. “The two of your birthdays are close to one another,” Howard recalls Carter saying. Howard’s grandmother played a major role in his upbringing. One thing he remembers well is her affinity for astrology. With such close birthdays, she told Howard that he and Simpson both share the Aquarius horoscope. “We both can be bull-headed,” Howard said. “I will always add stubborn. … We also are both toughnose competitors. But the beauty of it is that we both trust one another, and I’ve earned his trust.” Now, that trust can dictate the direction of the Wolverines’ season. And with Simpson at the head of the snake, Howard knows he can rest easy. Howard often refers to Simpson as his Tom Brady. Painter likened him to Mike Conley. Throughout his tenure in Ann Arbor, he’s been compared to a pitbull. But when Teske — Simpson’s co-captain — was asked to give a comparison, his answer was most telling. “He’s Zavier Simpson.”