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Monday, April 13, 2020

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Low-income, rural area students experience increased difficulty accessing the internet Following transition to remote learning, some populations lack technological resources KRISTINA ZHENG Daily Staff Reporter

When the University of Michigan urged its students to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Education junior Nicole Afton moved back home to Kent City, Mich., a rural town with limited access to Wi-Fi and consequently, reduced access to remote learning. “Kent City is a super rural town, so I’m really limited in Wi-Fi options, and I didn’t have Wi-Fi at my house,” Afton said. “I had to buy Wi-Fi myself. I am also unemployed from my jobs. I have two, and I can’t work at either of them because they’re closed, so it was a financial struggle for me to figure out how I was going to buy Wi-Fi at home.” Like Afton, many students from low-income families or rural areas returned home with more challenges than when living on campus. Purchasing reliable access to the internet without a source of income from on-campus

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jobs was at the forefront of many students’ struggles. As a result, companies like Comcast are providing free Wi-Fi networks across the nation

for low-income families trying to work from home. However, students from rural areas still face connection issues. “Comcast, Spectrum, all of

those providers were all offering free, and I called them and got denied because Kent City is so rural,” Afton said. “So I tried their options, and I was denied because

Students, faculty discuss state policies

Orders from Governor Whitmer, COVID-19 crisis spur questions regarding individual liberties JULIA FORREST Daily Staff Reporter

LSA senior Jacob Chludzinski has spent the last few weeks hunkered down in the comfort of his family home in Clinton Township, Mich., keeping up with schoolwork, finalizing plans for after graduation and enjoying family time. “Although the current situation is unfortunate, I am glad I have the opportunity to be safe at home with my family,” Chludzinski said. “The main shift has been trying to become accustomed to the ‘Groundhog Day’-type routine we are all in. It is important to stay active and motivated, but these conditions have made it hard.” Chludzinski is one of the millions of Michiganders confined to their homes due to a statewide stay-athome order implemented by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 10 that has recently been extended until April 30 in response to the spread of COVID-19. Michigan has been hit particularly

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hard, where the virus has infected more than 24,000 residents and killed more than a thousand. Detroit is considered to be the latest hotspot of the coronavirus, with the third-most cases and deaths in the United States. Whitmer, like most other state governors, made the emergency declarations at the request of public health officials, who say aggressive social distancing is crucial to saving lives as it prevents health care systems from becoming even more

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overwhelmed. However, the declarations have made Chludzinski, a member of the University’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, a conservative-leaning group advocating for limited government, and others wonder how individual liberties are being balanced with state interests in times of emergency. “I understood Governor Whitmer’s initial declaration,” Chludzinski said. “My initial reaction understood

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that we were entering a time where individual liberties would be compromised for the greater health and safety of our nation. However, it became clear almost immediately that the vagueness and uncertain timeline of several restrictions would lead to many constitutional questions.” Whitmer’s executive order limits gatherings, traveling and bans all nonessential workers from going to work. In the recent extension of the order, Whitmer has now mandated that nonfamily gatherings and vacation travel are strictly prohibited. The extension further regulates how essential business ought to run in order to promote everyone’s health and safety. Whitmer’s orders have limited the way Michiganders can exercise certain liberties. This has led some to question what the long-lasting effects of the pandemic will be on the way we think about states’ rights versus federal power and individual liberties versus these powers.

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where I live is in the middle of nowhere.”

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CAMPUS LIFE

New VP for Student Life talks goals

‘It’s a dream opportunity for me and I am so excited’ SARAH PAYNE

Daily Staff Reporter

The University of Michigan announced on March 26 that Martino Harmon was appointed and approved to serve as the Vice President for Student Life. Harmon will be replacing E. Royster Harper, who retired in January. Harmon will officially start his tenure at the University on July 1. In an interview with The Daily, Harmon said he looks forward to serving a new community at the University. “This, for me, is a pinnacle position in my career (and) I feel like everything I have done has prepared me for this role,” Harmon said.

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DOMINICK SOKOTOFF/Daily Kevin Leeser bags 3D-printed medical face shield components donated to Operation Face Shield, the organization he created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social justice virtual webinar features activists, students Event highlights ways to remain involved with activism despite COVID-19 SARAH PAYNE

Daily Staff Reporter

Students and community members attended a virtual webinar event on reproductive, environmental and criminal justice Saturday afternoon. Students for Reproductive Rights and Justice in conjunction with Earth Day 2020 hosted the event. The webinar featured speaker Siwatu Salama-Ra, an advocate for the liberation and dignity of women, an organizer for environmental justice and a prison abolitionist. Salama-Ra also took questions from several students and community members about her experiences and highlighted ways individuals can get involved in activism even during the COVID-19 outbreak. Salama-Ra first introduced her platform by linking it to the global coronavirus pandemic, referring to our current time as a time of war. “Some would describe the days amongst us to be a time of war,” SalamaRa said. “The intersecting work of reproductive justice, environmental justice and climate justice are ingrained in my story, and I am grateful to share how community power and the power of story freed me from prison.” In addition to organizing programs and legislation for these issues, SalamaRa said there is a need for a change in the culture as well. “In addition to all of the organizing to resist systems of oppression, we need to create a culture of care instead of cops, cages and surveillance,” Salama-Ra said. “This is why things like the approval of facial recognition in Detroit and in other Black cities is an assault on us all. If we really know that the criminal justice system had very little to do with justice and truth, we would all go down to the courthouse and disassemble it brick by brick.” Salama-Ra shared her personal experience with incarceration and emphasized the importance of change to our current justice system. “I, like so many others, are living examples of how prosecutors weaponize felony firearms and other heightened

charges in order to corner people into taking plea deals regardless of their innocence,” Salama-Ra said. “This vicious system must come to an end. I saw nothing but Black and brown bodies going through what seemed like an assembly line into the jaws of this monster and there (were) no words to express how devastating it was to experience.” Salama-Ra continued by connecting her work within the prison system to environmental justice, showcasing the parallels that lie within these issues. “If a community is polluted and poisoned, it is also likely to be policed and prisoned,” Salama-Ra said. “This same system that exploits the planet and its resources is the same system that exploits our Black and brown bodies in the criminal justice system.” Salama-Ra discussed how an oversight bill to create an advisory committee in the prison system could improve physical and mental health of prisoners. Especially during the current COVID19 outbreak, these individuals are most vulnerable. “The oversight bill is so necessary now, more than ever, as thousands of people inside prisons and jails are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Salama-Ra said. “My last outing before Governor Gretchen Whitmer closed all non-essential businesses was to the state capitol building where we introduce these bills.” She emphasized the importance of communities coming together to support a movement that connects prison reform and environmental justice. “I’d rather not be a leader in this movement — I’m no leader — I’d rather be part of a collective movement where all of us are leaders,” Salama-Ra said. “I survived something so damaging that our community was able to see up close what the prison industrial complex is, how aggressive it is and what it would take to abolish it … I invite you to join me on this path (in a) grassroots lead (organization) that connects all of these threads.” LSA sophomore Kiley Lowery asked during the Q&A portion of the talk

about ways people can get involved in activism, especially during the COVID19 outbreak. Salama-Ra responded that individuals should connect with those who are in need and may lack support. “Reaching out to loved ones who are imprisoned and need help navigating through isolation — be in contact with them,” Salama-Ra said. “The way that I’ve been handling it is staying in constant communication (with) people I know who need some support. Sometimes I do not have the support that they need and sometimes it is me forwarding a message and I reach out to people in our community who are more equipped (to) dealing with prisons, we call on our allies to intervene.” Public Policy senior Brianna Wells, president of the Students for Reproductive Rights and Justice organization, told The Daily these discussions are important especially during these unprecedented times. “Hosting this webinar with Siwatu in collaboration with Earth Day was really important for people to understand the intersections between racial justice, reproductive justice and environmental justice,” Wells said. “We wanted to shift the conversation about reproduction in relation to climate change from harmful rhetoric about overpopulation to conversations about how we build more just and sustainable communities in the face of climate crisis.” Wells also told The Daily this type of work is more necessary than ever amid the coronavirus pandemic, which disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities. “This virus is not impacting everyone equally,” Wells said. “We’re reminded every day about the disproportionate number of Black lives that are being taken by COVID-19. Clearly, there’s something deeply wrong structurally, and highlighting the intersection of these injustices with personal stories like Siwatu’s can go a long way in getting to the roots of these problems.”

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Mental health awareness in FX’s ‘Dave’ CAMILLE MOORE

MiC “Off the Record” Blogger

The new FX series titled “Dave” is a semi-autobiography of David Burd, played by himself, who goes by Lil Dicky on stage. Yes, it is a corny dick joke and yes, I kinda love it. Moving on. We follow Lil Dicky’s journey as he’s trying to make it in the music industry and become the greatest rapper alive. Along with his friends Mike (Andrew Santino), Elz (Travis ‘Taco’ Bennett), and GaTa (played by GaTa himself ), they experience the ups and downs of what it means to be a new artist on the scene with a lot to prove. While the show only has six episodes released on Hulu so far, I’m a fan already. It’s goofy, adorable, cringy, relatable and really fucking funny. I value seeing heartwarming relationships on-screen so I was thrilled to see such endearing friendships develop quickly throughout the first six episodes. One character, in particular,

seems to be a fan favorite already. GaTa is Lil Dicky’s hypeman, the person on stage with a rapper to get the crowd excited, and succeeds in bringing a pure and lighthearted aspect to the group’s dynamic. In the show, he’s a new member of the friend group after meeting Dave outside of YG’s studio in the first episode. So far, GaTa’s already stealing scenes and showing off his chops in his first acting role. He’s the kind of character that does something so unexpected and unfiltered that you just have to

laugh in disbelief. I would compare his character to Darius played by LaKeith Stanfield in another FX show called “Atlanta”. In the fifth episode titled, “Hype Man” the audience sees a more serious side to the show. After a failed rehearsal where GaTa becomes overwhelmingly ‘hype,’ he later reveals he has bipolar disorder. We see a heartbreaking flashback of his manic episodes and his diagnosis. The reaction to GaTa’s disorder is validating and what I think most people would

Learning to breathe JINAN ABUFARHA MiC Columnist

If I stretch my memory as far back as it’ll bend, I can remember the first time I had to teach myself how to breathe again. My parents had gone to a fundraiser, leaving me alone with my sister and my brother. I don’t remember exactly why, but I remember I needed to talk to my mom on the phone. For whatever reason, maybe because they thought I was too much of a mama’s girl or maybe they wanted to mess with me, my siblings wouldn’t let me call her. Then there was this pressure on my chest, a feeling that I can only compare to someone taking a dull spoon and carving out your heart, and I couldn’t breathe anymore. I started sobbing uncontrollably and begged them to let

me use the phone. I was maybe 7 or 8, but the possibility that this might be the last time I got to talk to my mother or that something horrible would happen if I didn’t hear her say she loved me that night overtook me. My hands went numb, and I’ll never forget sitting in my room alone, desperately trying to coax air back into my lungs. There are so many little moments like that from my childhood that my family and I had chalked up to me being ‫ ةساسح‬, being sensitive, a crybaby, but which read like undiagnosed anxiety when I write them out. I love my family so much, but I felt so misunderstood. For so much of my life, I internalized that view of myself — that I was a crybaby, irrational, prone to over-dramatic displays of emotion for no reason — and for a long time, it stopped me from developing any

security in my emotions. I am normally the first to apologize, I let countless makeup technicians and hairstylists fully fuck up my face because I don’t know how to speak up for myself, and I tread so lightly around everyone’s feelings because they must be more valid. It wasn’t until I was much older and I spoke to a therapist that I had the language to describe what I was going through. It was hard hearing that I showed very classic signs of clinical depression and anxiety, but for the first time I could trust my feelings as being real and valid and not just a creation of my melodramatic mind. Most importantly, they were something I could control. We all have these stories about our lives we tell ourselves in our heads, again and again, until they become our reality. I never told my parents about any

hope to receive after opening up to their new friends. This episode was a very pleasant surprise. I believe the portrayal of people with mental illnesses has become increasingly positive in the media over the years, and “Dave” did a valiant effort of showing that mental illness is not an anomaly. GaTa tells us that the people who you may least expect — hypemen whose entire job is to uplift the energy in the room— might be suffering in silence in the hopes of making everyone else feel better.

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After the episode aired, GaTa posted a video on Instagram thanking viewers for their kind reviews of his acting, however not all of it was just a role. He shared that events such as his manic fit at a shoe store with his mom to getting kicked off tour buses after making other artists uncomfortable, were almost completely accurate, along with the fact that he does have bipolar disorder in real life. He shares, “I’m just here to inspire yall… I just want mental health awareness. I want people to take it very seriously, especially while we’re going through this,” (referring to the current quarantine measures most people are taking). While “Dave” has been comedic relief for me during these trying times, seeing GaTa’s story has been extremely influential to me and viewers like me who also suffer from mental health difficulties. If you need a break from the craziness of self-isolation, take a break from reading the news, give “Dave” a try, and most importantly take care of yourself.

of this, because being misunderstood had become a core part of my story. I equated coming from a culture that doesn’t prioritize understanding mental health to my parents simply not caring about mine. I would get so angry at them for not sympathizing with a struggle I never made the effort to explain to them. I resented them, a little bit, for being a barrier in my attempts to get better. I told myself I was alone in this, I had always been alone, and there was no point in asking for help. Ironically, amidst all this social distancing, I no longer had the choice to isolate myself. Being quarantined with my family day in, day out means that all of my emotions are on full display for them to see again. Despite my best efforts to hide how hard this whole pandemic was for me, my mom walked in on me one night mid-panic attack. My hands were shaking, my mouth gaping, gasping for breath, I was suddenly a child again. Except, I wasn’t alone this time. My mom immediately put her hands on my back and told me

to breathe. I could feel the hesitant judgement and confusion attached, but she stayed with me for however long it took me to calm down. That willingness to meet me where I am meant the world to me. A universal gap in knowledge for most first-generation immigrants is understanding that just because their parent’s love and support doesn’t show up how they want it to, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. We speak our love (among other things) in different languages. Our parents only know what it is to try to survive in this country and they want the same thing for us. They didn’t have the luxury of self-actualization. There was always a bigger problem. Emotional needs were always a barrier to be buried. It doesn’t mean they don’t care. When I decided to look for it, love was there. Even if my mother couldn’t fully grasp what I was going through, she still sat there and breathed with me. And what a great miracle it is now to share a breath. That’s all that really matters, all that I can expect.

What Does ‘Staying Home’ Look Like during COVID-19? MICHAELA MINNIS MiC Columnist

Government officials, at both the federal and state levels, have requested that families “stay home, save lives” to slow the spread of COVID-19, and to protect themselves, and those around them. Back in March, Michigan Medicine displayed a graphic showing how we can flatten the curve (slow the spread of COVID-19): if communities work together to slow the spread of this virus, the number of cases will stretch out across a longer period of time, allowing hospital beds to accommodate more people. Staying home and practicing social distancing can be a way families across the U.S. can help slow the spread of COVID19, but staying home is not the safest reality for everyone. On April 2nd, The Rising Majority

— a coalition of allied organizations and movements formed in 2017 — hosted a virtual teach-in with activists Angela Y. Davis and Naomi Klein to discuss movement building in the time of the coronavirus crisis. Angela Davis discussed the gendered violence of capitalism and how so many survivors of abuse are not able to retreat to a safe home during this pandemic: “This whole idea of ‘staying at home’ assumes we can retreat to a safe, nurturing environment, a refuge.” After viewing this teach-in and thinking about this insight from Davis, I shifted my attention to what staying home may look like for survivors of abuse and violence in unprotected conditions: Violence against women and children is a public health crisis and staying home to slow the spread of COVID-19 has many impacts on those who cannot go to safe homes.

The National Domestic Hotline reported 951 calls between March 10 and 24 that mentioned COVID-19; one caller from New York said her abuser threw her out the front door and kept their child after she woke up because she was not feeling well. Lifethreatening situations like living in abusive households place inexplicable pain on survivors to take part in this worldwide retreat to homes. In Grand Rapids, Mich. alone, domestic violence cases have spiked 48%, as reported by Kent County Prosecutor’s Office and some of the blame can be placed on the coronavirus; a prosecutor of Kent County voiced concerns of children facing abuse being unable to reach out to trusted adults for help like teachers due to remote learning. Furthermore, there are many impacts on those who do not have safe homes and those who may be economically dependent on their

abusers; financial uncertainty for some can prevent them from leaving home — even outside of this pandemic as cases have spiked during times of economic crisis. The CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Katie Ray-Jones reported to TIME magazine that the calls they have received have ranged from “abusers threatening to throw survivors out on the streets so that (the survivors will) get sick” to “(withholding) financial and medical resources”. Advocates are still providing resources for those experiencing violence and abuse. As reported by the director for the legal project at two justice centers for New York’s Sanctuary for Families — a shelter that provides legal and counseling services for women and their children — “though New York shelters are considered essential, many domestic violence service providers are not seeing as many clients because of the

virus and are moving their services to online.” But hotlines are still open and some states like Philadelphia have set up online databases where individuals can request protection against their abusers. Keep in mind that not everyone has the ability to go to a safe home nor remain there during this crisis - staying home is a privilege. To provide allyship to those you may know who are living in unsafe spaces, ask them how you can support them in this time and provide them with local resources in a safe manner, so that their livelihood is not compromised. Linked below is a website that provides resources for those experiencing homelessness, those who identify as survivors and those seeking support for domestic and sexual abuse; these resources have been combined by national organizations and community organizations.

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FROM THE DAILY

The need for statewide rent and mortgage relief measures

he economic fallout created by COVID-19 is already enormous. With an expected long recession to follow once relative normalcy resumes, many renters either already have or will lose their source of income. As a result, calls for rent strikes and collective action to pressure landlords into waiving rent fees are spreading. Though the current era of economic despair brought by social isolation is unprecedented, tenants should consider the consequences of rent strikes — and shy away from them. Instead, renters should urge their governors and representatives to show more transparency in their decision-making processes behind rent forgiveness, freezes and eviction suspension executive orders. The COVID-19 crisis has caused a drastic increase in unemployment as businesses close their doors. As such, many University of Michigan students have lost campus or non-essential jobs. Moreover, many others will not receive any funds from government stimulus because they have been claimed as dependents by others elsewhere. In addition, students living offcampus were strongly urged by the University to return home, meaning rented properties are now largely unoccupied. In this time of uncertainty, tenants and landlords alike are under immense financial stress. To mitigate these hardships, there must be a governmental incentive to allow for these missed rent payments. The city of Ann Arbor along with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer must freeze rent and mortgage payments until after stayat-home orders have dissipated. In this case, tenants will have the ability to regain a source of income and, in turn, the ability to pay off the rent. Michigan’s current eviction suspension order lasts until April 17. This date is rapidly approaching, and unless Whitmer signs an extension to the order, landlords will be able to resume eviction processes for non-paying tenants. However, based on current projections, the COVID19 crisis will most likely last far beyond April. As such, stay-athome orders may continue into the summer months, meaning tenants with non-essential jobs may be without income for the foreseeable future. Such tenants may see the organization of a rent strike as appealing, though this movement could ultimately be more damaging than helpful due to the usually hostile relationship between tenants and landlords. Rent strikes are extremely difficult to coordinate, especially during

a pandemic when in-person organizing efforts and faceto-face meetings are out of the question. With stay-at-home orders mandated and social distancing efforts, even if tenants managed to organize a rent-strike, the legal action many tenants may face after the COVID-19 pandemic could be financially devastating. Leigh Higgins, an attorney at the D.C. Tenants’ Rights Center, urges tenants to try to arrive at a compromise with their landlords, whether that be payment plans, late payments or the temporary waiving of eviction notices. This stems from the fact that even though landlords cannot legally charge late fees for rent or other payments while their geographical region is under a state of emergency, once the courts open back up, landlords could retroactively take legal action in the form of evictions or mediation of their lost compensation. Additionally, if tenants must withhold their payments due to the current state of emergency that the pandemic has implemented and the landlord ultimately decides to evict in a few months, this eviction record could be incredibly detrimental to the individual for years to come. An eviction record can sabotage an individual’s ability to secure housing or financial aid for years unless the respective record is sealed. This is because landlords can easily search for a potential tenant’s name, as eviction records are publicly accessible. Higgins adds that many landlords simply make their decision based on the presence of an eviction record alone, not taking the time to dig deeper to see if the case was dismissed or not. Unfortunately, this signifies to landlords, many times without any form of further investigation, that the prospective tenant isn’t trustworthy, reliable or a good option to inhabit their property.

Further, advocates for legislation to seal these records argue that judges may not be sympathetic after the pandemic when the goal of the tenants was for landlords to cancel rent instead of the traditional fight to improve living conditions. For these reasons, The Michigan Daily Editorial Board believes that the best course of action for Ann Arbor residents is to reach out to the landlords and express their concerns while also contacting Whitmer and other representatives in hopes of a transparent plan of action and timeline regarding rent and mortgage payments for the state. Drastic times call for drastic measures and exceptions. Unfortunately, landlords are not going to forgive rent payments without city or state-wide measures. This leaves it up to the tenants to either attempt to organize a building or propertywide strike or to reach a sense of compromise with the landlord for payment plans, payment reductions or optimistic cancellations in this dire time of need. Many tenants, especially those of lower socioeconomic status or individuals who already lived paycheckto-paycheck, may not have the privileges to work from home or to be, in any sense, comfortable without normal income. Therefore, for many renters, the ability to pay rent is contingent on their ability to work and accordingly, the end of stay-at-home orders, which is predicated on the resolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a very complex issue, as is everything impacted by this crisis. In order to make progress in the right direction, local and state government officials must step up to make sure both tenants and landlords have collaborative and legal tools in place to recover from this emergency.

helter-in-place: day one. I felt exceedingly optimistic. I was free from the binding shackles of my three jobs and 18 credits, and I now had time to do things I was forced to neglect. During the week, I would be able to devote more time to studying for each of my classes, and I could enhance my understanding of the lecture material by engaging more in-depth. I could dedicate my weekends to self-care and relaxation. I finally had time to engage with my favorite hobbies like working out, creative writing, painting and playing with my baby Yorkies. The coronavirus might have been ravaging the United States, but I was safe inside my house. My mother had stocked up on food, emergency supplies and, most importantly, toilet paper. Life was going to be good. I may have only been sheltered-inplace for 17 days, but it feels like at least a couple of years. Seventeen days with my two older sisters and middle-aged parents have been illuminating. Seventeen days living in constant fear of contracting the deadly virus from my father, who is a doctor, or God forbid transmitting the virus to a loved one, has been stressful. Seventeen days spending more than 18 hours per day in the same room and more than 23 hours per day in the same house has been boring. With modern technology, there is almost an infinite number of ways to pass the time, but to paraphrase the cinematic masterpiece “Phineas and Ferb,” the problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it. The first instinct for many is picking up our phones to pass the time. We’ve been texting our exes, organizing Zoom calls with our friends and shooting our shots in Instagram comment sections: But what have we really been doing to ourselves? Our reliance on social media has increased tenfold since social distancing guidelines have been in effect according to Kimberley Lee from the Mental Health Association in Springfield, Mass. In her words, “(Social media) is an opportunity for us to stay connected, stay informed,” in order to transform social distancing into just physical distancing. From that perspective, social media has undoubtedly served as a positive force in our lives. It has reconnected us with friends, family and the greater world around us. However, as we all know, the overuse of social media can have some precarious effects on our mental health. Social media websites like Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were crafted to function like drugs in order to turn users into addicts. Every like, view and re-share releases a bit of dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter responsible for increased energy and happiness levels. (It is also the neurotransmitter that cocaine releases). Thus, the emotional stimulation received creates a relationship for young people between using these social media sites and happiness, so we begin wanting more. We use these

platforms more actively: keeping our Snapstreaks, tweeting our hot takes, bragging about our kids on Facebook — or at least that’s what my dad does — and posting dances on TikTok. Social media addiction is already a prevalent concern in our modern society, but quarantine is immeasurably exacerbating our addictions with potentially frightening consequences. At the end of the day, each of us has been trying our absolute hardest to escape the unconscionable fear of death and overwhelming dread that seems to creep up on us more and more each day. We inevitably use social media as a distraction from our darkest thoughts, and that’s an understandable instinct. I’ve been doing it too. However, taking a step back to write this article has been therapeutic because it has forced me to analyze my own actions and contextualize them through the lens of this terrifying era in which we currently operate, so I encourage you to do the same. And no, I do not mean become an opinion columnist for The Daily. Start a journal. Write down how you feel about quarantine or your sleep schedule or how you cannot stand Dan and Serena’s breakup at the end of season one of Gossip Girl because they were the perfect couple who restored your belief in love … or whatever else is occupying your headspace. This practice can help clear your mind and allow you to have a fresh perspective on life. At the end of quarantine — whenever that glorious day comes — you can look back on how this period has changed you, and you can carry the lessons of quarantine back into normal life. There are theories that Generation Z will be nicknamed “the Corona generation.” Even though I’m partial to “Zoomers,” I do not object to that characterization — it’s better than being known for participation trophies like Millennials. It speaks volumes about the defining period that we are all now living through together. However, this characterization does prompt one central question: What will we learn from this? Will we come out stronger, more grateful for our friends and family? Will we come out jaded, angered by the federal government’s slow response that cost thousands of lives? Will we come out unchanged because we spent the whole time laughing at Vanessa Hudgens’ memes and having our ears violated by the worst rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” courtesy of Wonder Woman? Historians will be better able to answer these questions than I can and, truthfully, everyone will have their own experiences. But I believe we should take this unique opportunity to change our lives for the better. Bettering our lives only requires a few minutes a day, whether that’s anything from journaling to an abs workout. We have already let Auntie Rona take away our sense of security. We can’t let her take our futures as well. Keith Johnstone can be reached at keithja@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.

Opinion

5 — Monday, April 13, 2020

SUNGMIN CHO | COLUMN

utside of the Louvre, a g uard stands in front of the endless queue, controlling eager tourists and admitting them in an orderly fashion. Somewhere around noon, he will cut the queue and close the entrance, then tell that unfortunate traveler who was just cut, “Sorry, come back tomorrow.” These days, when no one can actually get into the Louvre, I feel like that unfortunate traveler. This is about when the entire country draws the line right in front of you. Amid the crisis, I am living in the United States as an Asian and a foreigner. It would take an hour for me to explain how this situation has unleashed racist sentiment against Asian people, but there is another important aspect: How COVID-19 has forced me to recognize my position here in the U.S. At the White House press conference on March 17, a reporter pointed out that President Donald Trump’s use of the term “Chinese Virus” is racist against Chinese Americans. It is not even worth discussing his remark, but the phrasing of the question itself was upsetting. She criticized him for being insensitive to the discrimination against “Asian Americans,” not Asians in general. Other media coverage also addresses this as an Asian American matter. At first, I wasn’t sure if I read them correctly. What about Asians in this country who are not Americans? I have been living in the U.S. for almost two years as a “Korean Korean.” Observing American reactions to coronavirus-related racism, I felt like the queue was cut right in front of me. Even when being discriminated against, there is a priority to

ALLISON PUJOL | COLUMN

Don’t draw the line be recognized as a victim. If there was a queue to enter the category of victimhood, they let Asian Americans in, but not us. The most depressing part is that even the journalists and so-called liberals who claim to defend minorities against the current administration draw the line to first recognize “their people” as victims. Intersectionality creates different tiers of “minority-hood.” While Asian Americans are prioritized over Asian foreigners, racists attack both groups on the same basis. If we are not even recognized as victims, who will care about us?

It is institutionally accepted that foreigners are not even second-class “citizens.”

The ugliest part of this intersectionality is that our nationality alienates us institutionally. In other words, if someone says “If you don’t like it, just go back to your own country,” I have nothing to say, unlike those who are “from here.” This devastating reality becomes even more apparent during hard times. Canada closed its border and decided to only let their citizens and permanent residents in. The University pushes all students to go home, but there is no g uarantee that international students can return to the U.S. someday. What I see from this panic is the priority of inclusion. Of course, I am aware that U.S. citizens have

Love, your new favorite online college student

always been entitled to more rights in the first place. For instance, in the Supreme Court case Kleindienst v. Mandel (1972), it is decided that foreign nationals are not entitled to the same degree of due process as citizens when entering the U.S. It is institutionally accepted that foreigners are not even second-class “citizens.” However, when it comes to a national emergency, aside from my value judgment of whether this is right or wrong, countries prioritize their citizens even more explicitly. To clarify, what I am pointing out here is the priority of recognition, not the priority of privilege. I don’t expect the same degree of legal privilege with the people who have no other country than the U.S. that will protect them. I, too, have my own country that will take care of me as much as, or even more than, the U.S. does to its people. But by choosing to stay in Ann Arbor, I am denying myself that opportunity by my will. However, that doesn’t mean that I am willing to risk more than what I would have received in my country of origin. As long as I am living here, paying more than any domestic students would, as well as taxes, I want the same degree of respect as a member of this community. At least, I want the recognition as a victim who needs protection from racist attacks. Maybe my analog y to the Louvre was wrong: It is more like a queue rushing into a tornado shelter. This is a more serious and desperate situation, where no one should be left outside. So, don’t draw the line. Sungmin Cho can be reached at csungmin@umich.edu.

BETH DEVLIN | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

his Letter to the Editor is written in response to a news article written by Angelina Brede titled “Students, faculty question spring, summer tuition costs, quality of remote learning.” Though I understand the frustration with the University of Michigan’s refusal to reduce tuition costs for the spring and summer terms, I cannot agree with the sentiment entirely. Tuition is about so much more than paying to be on campus for classes and community. First and foremost: Spring and summer terms are incredibly different from what occurred during this winter term. They are optional — nobody is expected to take courses during these terms. Additionally, they were moved online a month in advance of the courses starting. This

gives instructors substantially more time to convert the courses than there was during this term, and thus, these courses should be of substantially higher quality in comparison. Beyond this, students are making an informed decision. We were told the classes would be remote far in advance. Unlike this term, nobody is being blindsided by this change. Furthermore, though buildings are on lockdown, University resources are fighting to go remote for the benefit of students. I understand we’re losing the “campus experience” by not being in Ann Arbor, but we are not losing all of the resources of student and University organizations. The library has made an additional 1150 books free-to-read online. Many

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organizations, including The Daily, First Generation, LSA Opportunity Hub and LSA Honors, have offered online events for their members and/or the broader University community. Though these resources are compromised, it’s demeaning to erase the labor of countless people in complaints about losing the “campus experience” by insinuating that we have lost them entirely. The University is more than its buildings. Spring and summer tuition will support the additional labor of faculty and staff who are working tirelessly to give us the opportunities we are so scared of losing. Beth Devlin is a freshman in the College of Literature, Science & the Arts and can be reached at bldevlin@umich.edu.

s an introvert, I have been in some way, shape or form preparing for this moment for my entire life. I had used Zoom before a few of my classes made the switch to virtual meetings on the platform, and I was no stranger to the virtual learning world. I used Google Hangouts before it was cool or necessary. I reg ularly swipe through videos on TikTok, which is apparently a quintessential Generation Z activity. And still, with all of that generational knowledge, I ran into all sorts of questions during the start of my online courses a few weeks ago. Could I be more informal in my class’s BlueJeans chat than I would be in a class email? How am I possibly going to take an exam online? Are other people also realizing that this particularly useless meeting or mandatory in-person seminar could have just been an email? My initial opinion about shifting from in-person classes to online meetings was largely negative. It’s definitely been difficult to retain information and remain focused during these online sessions, and many students I’ve talked to have expressed similar feelings. During class and during my newlyexpanded amount of free time, I am having difficulty motivating myself to do anything at all. I miss my classmates and roommates a whole lot, and I miss studying with friends. I miss being employed. I miss certainty, routine and structure. In particular, I miss my roommate’s Muddy Buddies. That is not a euphemism for something weird or kinky — one of my roommates makes this delicious snack (also known as puppy chow) that simply tastes like joy and whose components yield zero health benefits. There is perhaps an arg ument to be made in defense of the peanut butter, but the rest of the ingredients for Muddy Buddies (confectioner’s sugar, cocoa, butter, etc.) have about as much nutritional value and addictive quality as the average mango Juul pod. I thought that my exodus from Ann Arbor would mark the end of my roommate’s delicious treats for the house to enjoy. My sister has a vicious allerg y that could require hospitalization if she were to ingest a peanut, and in this time of crisis, messy peanut butter foods are to be strictly avoided in my household. Imag ine my surprise later, standing in the half-empt y Detroit Metropolitan-Wayne Count y airport, as I spotted some Chex Mix Muddy Buddies ripoffs on the way to my gate. I impulsively bought t wo bags. It is hard to describe the taste of Muddy Buddies à la Chex Mix. I suppose it tastes like g iving up, if that were something one could taste. Whereas snacking on my roommate’s Muddy Buddies provided me with the carelessly optimistic sense that everything in the world might just turn out OK, crunching on these artificiallyf lavored bad boys evoked the

anxiety of a mediocre English or theater major graduating into one of the worst job markets in recent history. If you were to rip open the dark belly of all human despair and venture into the g unk of its f leshy depths, you’d find those peanut butter chocolate Chex Mix bags. As a recent Harvard Business Review article suggests, the coronavirus crisis will create indelible changes within the United States. and abroad. It’s unclear exactly how the massive shift to online college courses will impact the future of learning at the University of Michigan, or other educational institutions in the long-term. A nation-wide survey of college students have found the psychological effect of their school’s shutdown to be significant; many survey respondents reported higher levels of depression and anxiety. This should come as no surprise given the abrupt changes in daily student life: 52 percent of respondents had been unexpectedly laid off from a job or had their hours cut back, 28 percent lack reliable access to healthy meals and 20 percent lack reliable access to a mobile device or WiFi. Statistics like these illustrate my biggest concern with the “we’re in this together” style of g uidance to those feeling dejected about the crisis. Some students have the means to make it through the coronavirus pandemic with very few disruptions if any at all, as suggested by the 21 percent of survey respondents who expressed no significant changes in their lives due to the coronavirus. Some students may be forced with the decision to withdraw from their studies. Many students will lose loved ones. We are not, in fact, all in it together. This is perhaps something we forgot amid the confusion of President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus, the shuff ling closure of many public places like libraries or restaurants or the bizarre frenzy of the supermarket rush for — of all things — toilet paper. Ever yone has someone who cares about them and would love to hear from them (from afar — seriously, please stay at home). It would be foolish to expect our attempts at social interaction in quarantine to be as good or as valuable as the genuine sense of f ulf illment that comes with getting to see your favorite people. It might as well be a law of physics that Chex Mix’s imitation puppy chow will never taste like my roommate’s, but I eat it nonetheless. I still go to my online classes, despite the lingering feeling of loss that is palpable among students who have ceased to see their friends, go to work or leave their houses. Do what you have to do. As one of my favorite professors once said in her newly-online office hours, “Be gentle with yourself.” Try to make new memories, good ones.

Everyone has someone who cares about them and would love to hear from them.

Allison Pujol can be reached at ampmich@umich.edu.

Arts

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Monday, April 13, 2020 — 6

ALBUM REVIEW

‘It Is What It Is’ for Thundercat on his latest release of sobriety, love and friendship. The album is split into three acts that Daily Arts Writer individually explore self-awareness, fun Just days before his passing, Mac Miller times and loss. The first part kicks off with a begged Thundercat to appear on his Tiny newly developed sense of awareness on “Lost Desk performance. The bassist initially In Space / Great Scott / 22-26.” Thundercat refused, as the excursion would require him describes the tension of feeling alone while to take days off from his European tour. But he knowing he’s not really alone. He fixates on his eventually took on the request and surprised breathing and pulse and questions where he Miller, and the pair is. The track is sparse: performed songs Ambient synths and from Miller’s album twinkling chords float Swimming. “I could in the background see that he wanted like a glitching it to be something,” space machine. He Thundercat told NPR concludes simply by in a recent interview. saying he’s “lost in “He wanted to space” and must start Thundercat introduce people to the show, as the same how it works for him. instrumentals carry Brainfeeder (...) You know, I would into “Interstellar do that for Mac.” The Love.” duo’s music video for “Interstellar Love” single “What’s the operates as a jazzUse?” was slated to infused sequel to film a few days later, but Miller died before the “Lost in Space.” The track is more intricately shoot. Thundercat talked to Mac Miller for the developed than the opener, with the synths last time over the phone the night before and giving way to Thundercat’s signature bassline told Miller that he loved him. and Kamasi Washington’s climatic saxophone “What’s the Use?” never got its music playing. Overall, a theme of ephemeral video, but it lives on as a tribute to Mac in this beauty and the desire to find love envelops new era for Thundercat. It’s not featured on this part of the album as Thundercat sings Thundercat’s newest album It Is What It Is, but about “find(ing) someone to love.” This love the album’s title hearkens back to “What’s the is likely platonic, as follow-up track “I Love Use?” with “it is what it is, till it ain’t” being Louis Cole” is a dedication to Thundercat’s one of the track’s signature lines. Thundercat friendship with fellow musician Louis Cole also repeats the title across different points in and the good times they’ve had together. This the album. In another ode to Mac, the groovy opening section of the album is admittedly baseline on “What’s the Use?” immediately forgettable; it does a good job of setting the follows every live performance of the single scene, but these three tracks seem to float “Black Qualls.” alone, as the “space” theme is not revisited Executive producer Flying Lotus puts it throughout the rest of the album. simply on Twitter: “I decided to structure the What the album lacks in its intro, it makes album as a journal of where (Thundercat’s) up for in its chaotic, lively second act. Standout been since ‘drunk.’” Following 2017’s Drunk, track and single “Black Qualls” is a mellow but Thundercat has not only experienced the loss sonically complex, funkadelic centerpiece. of a best friend, but a number of developments: Steve Lacy’s full, soulful vocals are a balanced DIANA YASSIN

It Is What It Is

JORDY SEARCY

contrast to Thundercat’s thin falsettos as the two harmonize across the track’s verses. Similarly, P-Funk legend Steve Arrington’s warbly, raspy vocals in the chorus add a classically trippy element to this piece. On a track that lyrically explores not giving into paranoia, Thundercat uncharacteristically slaps his bass, placing its percussion at the very center. “Black Qualls” ends seamlessly with a transition from bass to violin and vocals from Childish Gambino. The blithe, heightened energy is carried on throughout the rest of the tracks from this part of the album. Whereas “Miguel’s Happy Dance” functions similarly to “I Love Louis Cole” as a reference to musician and collaborator Miguel Atwood’s happiness in a newfound relationship, “How Sway” and “Funny Thing” are designed more for Thundercat’s versatility on the bass. The former is exactly what we’d expect from Thundercat but on stimulants, the chords progressing at incredible speed on loop. The latter, on the other hand, is more groovy, the bassline warbly and full with Thundercat’s falsetto high-pitched and melodious as he sings about wanting to forget his pains and party. The album climaxes at comedic summit “Dragon Ball Durag.” The track is preceded

by “Overseas,” a goofy skit about joining the mile high club with a guest appearance from Zack Fox. Whether or not it delivers the intended comedic effect is debatable, but it proves a sufficient precursor to the single “Dragon Ball Durag” with Fox’s declaration: “There appears to be a shiny black man in first class / Getting some sloppy-toppy / He’s got his chains on and a durag.” “Dragon Ball Durag” essentially aims to capture the energy of Thundercat’s Twitter with references to anime, video games and comic books. Simply put, the song is about Thundercat wanting his lover to accept him for who he is. He captures this with hilarious honesty, asking his girl “how do I look in my durag?” in between anime references and promises to make love. Other memorable lyrics include “Do you like my new whip? / Watch me go zoom zoom,” and “I might be covered in cat hair / But I still smell good.” Beyond its humor, “Dragon Ball Durag” earns its merit as a standout track for its lush instrumentals. The bass work here is some of the busiest and funkiest throughout the album; the keys are smooth and the sax embellishments add a nice jazzy element.